Gossip of Some Consequence

As he hastened from the council chamber, his eyes swept the crowd of
eager, excited women in the grand hall. From among them he picked
Beverly and advanced upon her without regard for time and consequence.
Despite her animation he was keen enough to see that she was sorely
troubled. She did not shrink from him as he had half expected, but met
him with bold disdain in her eyes.

"This is the work of your champion," he said in tones that did not reach
ears other than her own. "I prophesied it, you must remember. Are you
satisfied now that you have been deceived in him?"

"I have implicit confidence in him. I suppose you have ordered his
arrest?" she asked with quiet scorn.

"He is under surveillance, at my suggestion. For your sake, and yours
alone, I am giving him a chance. He is your protege; you are responsible
for his conduct. To accuse him would be to place you in an embarrassing
position. There is a sickening rumor in court circles that you have more
than a merely kind and friendly interest in the rascal. If I believed
that, Miss Calhoun, I fear my heart could not be kind to him. But I know
it is not true. You have a loftier love to give. He is a clever
scoundrel, and there is no telling how much harm he has already done to
Graustark. His every move is to be watched and reported to me. It will
be impossible for him to escape. To save him from the vengeance of the
army, I am permitting him to remain in your service, ostensibly, at
least. His hours of duty have been changed, however. Henceforth he is in
the night guard, from midnight till dawn. I am telling you this, Miss
Calhoun, because I want you to know that in spite of all the indignity I
have suffered, you are more to me than any other being in the world,
more to me even than my loyalty to Graustark. Do me the honor and
justice to remember this. I have suffered much for you. I am a rough,
hardened soldier, and you have misconstrued my devotion. Forgive the
harsh words my passion may have inspired. Farewell! I must off to undo
the damage we all lay at the door of the man you and I are protecting."