A Visit and Its Consequences

"Baldos, you behaved very nicely yesterday in exposing the duplicity of
those young women," she said.

"I am happy to have pleased your highness," he said steadily.

"It may interest you to know that they ceased to be ladies-in-waiting
after that exposure."

"Yes, your highness, it certainly is interesting," he said, as he fell
back into position beside Haddan. During the remainder of the ride he
caught himself time after time gazing reflectively at the back of her
proud little head, possessed of an almost uncontrollable desire to touch
the soft brown hair.

"You can't fool that excellent young man much longer, my dear," said the
countess, recalling the look in his dark eyes. The same thought had been
afflicting Beverly with its probabilities for twenty-four hours and
more.

Count Marlanx welcomed his visitors with a graciousness that awoke
wonder in the minds of his staff. His marked preference for the American
girl did not escape attention. Some of the bolder young officers
indulged in surreptitious grimaces, and all looked with more or less
compassion upon the happy-faced beauty from over the sea. Marlanx
surveyed Baldos steadily and coldly, deep disapproval in his sinister
eyes. He had not forgotten the encounter of the day before.

"I see the favorite is on guard," he said blandly. "Has he told you of
the lesson in manners he enjoyed last night?" He was leading his guests
toward the quarters, Baldos and Haddan following. The new guard could
not help hearing the sarcastic remark.