Beverly of Graustark

by George Barr McCutcheon

  CHAPTER XV

  THE TESTING OF BALDOS

  A few hours later, all was dark and silent within the castle. On thestone walks below, the steady tread of sentinels rose on the still air;in the hallways the trusted guardsmen glided about like spectres orstood like statues. An hour before the great edifice had been bright andfull of animation; now it slumbered.

  It was two o'clock. The breath of roses scented the air, the gurgle offountains was the only music that touched the ear. Beverly Calhoun,dismissing Aunt Fanny, stepped from her window out upon the great stonebalcony. A rich oriental dressing-gown, loose and comfortable, was hercostume. Something told her that sleep would be a long time coming, andan hour in the warm, delightful atmosphere of the night was moreattractive than the close, sleepless silence of her own room. Everywindow along the balcony was dark, proving that the entire household hadretired to rest.

  She was troubled. The fear had entered her head that the castle folkwere regretting the advent of Baldos, that everyone was questioning thewisdom of his being in the position he occupied through her devices. Hertalk with him did much to upset her tranquillity. That he knew so muchof the fortress bore out the subtle suspicions of Dangloss and perhapsothers. She was troubled, not that she doubted him, but that if anythingwent wrong an accusation against him, however unjust, would be difficultto overcome. And she would be to blame, in a large degree.

  For many minutes she sat in the dark shadow of a great pillar, herelbows upon the cool balustrade, staring dreamily into the star-studdedvault above. Far away in the air she could see the tiny yellow lights ofthe monastery, lonely sentinel on the mountain top. From the heightsnear that abode of peace and penitence an enemy could destroy thefortress to the south. Had not Baldos told her so? One big gun would dothe work if it could be taken to that altitude. Baldos could draw aperfect map of the fortress. He could tell precisely where the shellsshould fall. And already the chief men in Edelweiss were wondering whohe was and to what end he might utilize his knowledge. They werewatching him, they were warning her.

  For the first time since she came to the castle, she felt a sense ofloneliness, a certain unhappiness. She could not shake off the feelingthat she was, after all, alone in her belief in Baldos. Her heart toldher that the tall, straightforward fellow she had met in the hills wasas honest as the day. She was deceiving him, she realized, but he wasmisleading no one. Off in a distant part of the castle ground she couldsee the long square shadow that marked the location of the barracks andmessroom. There he was sleeping, confidently believing in her and herpower to save him from all harm. Something in her soul cried out to himthat she would be staunch and true, and that he might sleep without atremor of apprehensiveness.

  Suddenly she smiled nervously and drew back into the shadow of thepillar. It occurred to her that he might be looking across the moon-litpark, looking directly at her through all that shadowy distance. She wasconscious of a strange glow in her cheeks and a quickening of the bloodas she pulled the folds of her gown across her bare throat.

  "Not the moon, nor the stars, nor the light in St. Valentine's, but theblack thing away off there on the earth," said a soft voice behind her,and Beverly started as if the supernatural had approached her. Sheturned to face the princess, who stood almost at her side.

  "Yetive! How did you get here?"

  "That is what you are looking at, dear," went on Yetive, as ifcompleting her charge. "Why are you not in bed?"

  "And you? I thought you were sound asleep long ago," murmured Beverly,abominating the guilty feeling that came over her. The princess threwher arm about Beverly's shoulder.

  "I have been watching you for half an hour," she said gently. "Can't twolook at the moon and stars as well as one? Isn't it my grim old castle?Let us sit here together, dear, and dream awhile."

  "You dear Yetive," and Beverly drew her down beside her on thecushions. "But, listen: I want you to get something out of your head. Iwas _not_ looking at anything in particular."

  "Beverly, I believe you were thinking of Baldos," said the other, herfingers straying fondly across the girl's soft hair.

  "Ridiculous!" said Beverly, conscious for the first time that he wasseldom out of her thoughts. The realization came like a blow, and hereyes grew very wide out there in the darkness.

  "And you are troubled on his account. I know it, dear. You--"

  "Well, Yetive, why shouldn't I be worried? I brought him here againsthis will," protested Beverly. "If anything should happen to him--" sheshuddered involuntarily.

  "Don't be afraid, Beverly. I have as much confidence in him as youhave. His eyes are true. Grenfall believes in him, too, and so doesMr. Anguish. Gren says he would swear by him, no matter who he is."

  "But the others?" Beverly whispered.

  "Baron Dangloss is his friend, and so is Quinnox. They know a_man_. The count is different."

  "I loathe that old wretch!"

  "Hush! He has not wronged you in any way."

  "But he _has_ been unfair and mean to Baldos."

  "It is a soldier's lot, my dear."

  "But he may be Prince Dantan or Frederic or the other one, don't youknow," argued Beverly, clenching her hands firmly.

  "In that event, he would be an honorable soldier, and we have nothing tofear in him. Neither of them is our enemy. It is the possibility that heis not one of them that makes his presence here look dangerous."

  "I don't want to talk about him," said Beverly, but she was disappointedwhen the princess obligingly changed the subject.

  Baldos was not surprised, scarcely more than interested, when a day ortwo later, he was summoned to appear before the board of strategy. Ifanyone had told him, however, that on a recent night a pair of dreamygray eyes had tried to find his window in the great black shadow, hemight have jumped in amazement and--delight. For at that very hour hewas looking off toward the castle, and his thoughts were of the girl whodrew back into the shadow of the pillar.

  The Graustark ministry had received news from the southernfrontier. Messengers came in with the alarming and significant reportthat Dawsbergen was strengthening her fortifications in the passes andmoving war supplies northward. It meant that Gabriel and his peopleexpected a fight and were preparing for it. Count Halfont hastily calledthe ministers together, and Lorry and the princess took part in theirdeliberations. General Marlanx represented the army; and it was he whofinally asked to have Baldos brought before the council. The Iron Countplainly intimated that the new guard was in a position to transmitvaluable information to the enemy. Colonel Quinnox sent for him, andBaldos was soon standing in the presence of Yetive and her advisers. Helooked about him with a singular smile. The one whom he was supposed toregard as the princess was not in the council chamber. Lorry opened theexamination at the request of Count Halfont, the premier. Baldos quietlyanswered the questions concerning his present position, his age, histerm of enlistment, and his interpretations of the obligations requiredof him.

  "Ask him who he really is," suggested the Iron Count sarcastically.

  "We can expect but one answer to that question," said Lorry, "and thatis the one which he chooses to give."

  "My name is Baldos--Paul Baldos," said the guard, but he said it in sucha way that no one could mistake his appreciation of the fact that hecould give one name as well as another and still serve his own purposes.

  "That is lie number one," observed Marlanx loudly. Every eye was turnedupon Baldos, but his face did not lose its half-mocking expression ofserenity.

  "Proceed with the examination, Mr. Lorry" said Count Halfont,interpreting a quick glance from Yetive.

  "Are you willing to answer any and all questions we may ask inconnection with your observations since you became a member of thecastle guard?" asked Lorry.

  "I am."

  "Did you take especial care to study the interior of the fortress whenyou were there several days ago?"

  "I did."

  "Have you discussed your observations with anyone since that time?"


  "I have."

  "With whom?"

  "With her highness, the princess," said Baldos, without a quiver. Therewas a moment's silence, and furtive looks were cast in the direction ofYetive, whose face was a study. Almost instantaneously the entire bodyof listeners understood that he referred to Beverly Calhoun. Baldos feltthat he had been summoned before the board at the instigation of hisfair protectress.

  "And your impressions have gone no further?"

  "They have not, sir. It was most confidential."

  "Could you accurately reproduce the plans of the fortress?"

  "I think so. It would be very simple."

  "Have you studied engineering?"

  "Yes."

  "And you could scientifically enumerate the defects in the constructionof the fort?"

  "It would not be very difficult, sir."

  "It has come to our ears that you consider the fortress weak in severalparticulars. Have you so stated at any time?"

  "I told the princess that the fortress is deplorably weak. In fact, Ithink I mentioned that it could be taken with ease." He was not lookingat Count Marlanx, but he knew that the old man's eyes were flaming.Then he proceeded to tell the board how he could overcome the fortress,elaborating on his remarks to Beverly. The ministers listened in wonderto the words of this calm, indifferent young man.

  "Will you oblige us by making a rough draft of the fort's interior?"asked Lorry, after a solemn pause. Baldos took the paper and inremarkably quick time drew the exact lay of the fortress. The sketchwent the rounds and apprehensive looks were exchanged by the ministers.

  "It is accurate, by Jove," exclaimed Lorry. "I doubt if a dweller in thefort could do better. You must have been very observing."

  "And very much interested," snarled Marlanx.

  "Only so far as I imagined my observations might be of benefit tosomeone else," said Baldos coolly. Again the silence was like death.

  "Do you know what you are saying, Baldos?" asked Lorry, after a moment.

  "Certainly, Mr. Lorry. It is the duty of any servant of her highness togive her all that he has in him. If my observations can be of help toher, I feel in duty bound to make the best of them for her sake, not formy own."

  "Perhaps you can suggest modifications in the fort," snarledMarlanx. "Why don't you do it, sir, and let us have the benefit of yoursuperior intelligence? No, gentlemen, all this prating of loyalty neednot deceive us," he cried, springing to his feet. "The fellow is nothingmore nor less than an infernal spy--and the Tower is the place for him!He can do no harm there."

  "If it were my intention to do harm, gentlemen, do you imagine that Ishould withhold my information for days?" asked Baldos. "If I am a spy,you may rest assured that Count Marlanx's kindnesses should not havebeen so long disregarded. A spy does not believe in delays."

  "My--my kindnesses?" cried Marlanx. "What do you mean, sir?"

  "I mean this. Count Marlanx," said Baldos, looking steadily into theeyes of the head of the army. "It was kind and considerate of you toadmit me to the fortress--no matter in what capacity, especially at acritical time like this. You did not know me, you had no way of tellingwhether my intentions were honest or otherwise, and yet I was permittedto go through the fort from end to end. No spy could wish for greatergenerosity than that."

  An almost imperceptible smile went round the table, and every listenerbut one breathed more freely. The candor and boldness of the guard wonthe respect and confidence of all except Marlanx. The Iron Count waswhite with anger. He took the examination out of Lorry's hands, andplied the stranger with insulting questions, each calm answer making himmore furious than before. At last, in sheer impotence, he relapsed intosilence, waving his hand to Lorry to indicate that he might resume.

  "You will understand, Baldos, that we have some cause for apprehension,"said Lorry, immensely gratified by the outcome of the tilt. "You are astranger; and, whether you admit it or not, there is reason to believethat you are not what you represent yourself to be."

  "I am a humble guard at present, sir, and a loyal one. My life is yoursshould I prove otherwise."

  Yetive whispered something in Lorry's ear at this juncture. She wasvisibly pleased and excited. He looked doubtful for an instant, and thenapparently followed her suggestion, regardless of consequences.

  "Would you be willing to utilize your knowledge as an engineer bysuggesting means to strengthen the fortress?" The others stared in freshamazement. Marlanx went as white as death.

  "Never!" he blurted out hoarsely.

  "I will do anything the princess commands me to do," said Baldos easily.

  "You mean that you serve her only?"

  "I serve her first, sir. If she were here she could command me to die,and there would be an end to Baldos," and he smiled as he said it. Thereal princess looked at him with a new, eager expression, as ifsomething had just become clear to her. There was a chorus of coughs anda round of sly looks.

  "She could hardly ask you to die," said Yetive, addressing him for thefirst time.

  "A princess is like April weather, madam," said Baldos, with rare humor,and the laugh was general, Yetive resolved to talk privately with thisexcellent wit before the hour was over. She was confident that he knewher to be the princess.

  "I would like to ask the fellow another question," said Marlanx,fingering his sword-hilt nervously. "You say you serve the princess. Doyou mean by that that you imagine your duties as a soldier to comprisedancing polite attendance within the security of these walls?"

  "I believe I enlisted as a member of the castle guard, sir. The duty ofthe guard is to protect the person of the ruler of Graustark, and to dothat to the death."

  "It is my belief that you are a spy. You can show evidence of good faithby enlisting to _fight_ against Dawsbergen and by shooting tokill," said the count, with a sinister gleam in his eye.

  "And if I decline to serve in any other capacity than the one I now--"

  "Then I shall brand you as a spy and a coward."

  "You have already called me a spy, your excellency. It will not make ittrue, let me add, if you call me a coward. I refuse to take up armsagainst either Dawsbergen or Axphain."

  The remark created a profound sensation.

  "Then you are employed by both instead of one!" shouted the Iron Countgleefully.

  "I am employed as a guard for her royal highness," said Baldos, with asquare glance at Yetive, "and not as a fighter in the ranks. I willfight till death for her, but not for Graustark."