"Outside this room I am an outlaw and a fugitive, hunted like a wolf.
I dare not even call my yacht lest the Queen should be compromised
and attacked. I must go to Tower Hill and signal the _Mary Rose_."
"And you have lost everything in guarding me."
"What was there to fight for if the Queen were lost? I stayed until
I could leave you secure. Now I must fight." He took the aerograph
from the desk. "So far as I can see the Queen is safe, and yet--I
will leave you this instrument. If ever you are in danger, release
this key and touch it so--three sharp strokes repeated again and
again. The signal shall be forwarded by my London agents, and the
answer will be four double strokes."
"And you will come?"
"Instantly."
"Mr. Brand, I want to send Gloucester away. He's dangerous."
"Then have him closely watched. Enemies are invaluable, for their
every movement is an index of danger to be overcome. Send Gloucester
away, and at once the enemy is warned of your policy. That would be
fatal."
"Forgive me, dear friend,"--Margaret hid her white face in her hands
trying to stop the tears--"I have been such a coward while you are so
brave! Yes, I will stay as a woman always must, while the men go out
to fight."
"And after this," he said, wistfully; "knowing how weak I am for the
Queen's defence, you will still depend on me, still trust me?"
She threw her head back, gazing upon him steadfastly for a minute,
her eyes half closed.
"I must be a fool," she said, between tears and a terrible
broken-hearted laughter. "You came to me and talked about things I
don't understand, can't understand, don't want to understand. I only
believe! I was an Empress, you were Mr. Brand--now you're the wind,
and I'm a leaf in autumn. Trust you? Depend on you? Yes, I do!"
Her face became radiant, her eyes full of light. "You serve me
through disgrace and outlawry, you're ruined like I am, fallen, a
broken man, and yet stronger, greater than ever, because nothing can
frighten you. Don't look at me--your eyes fascinate me--I hardly
know what I'm saying----" she reached out her arms to him. "I am
become blind, led only by your eyes. Go and save England!"
The room was nearly dark, for only a small lamp burned dimly on the
desk, but now a great red glare came in through the window space, and
shone in flickering radiance on the wall. Out of the distance rose
an awful murmur, the swelling volume of harsh-throated riot, the
crackle of musketry, the shouts of men.
"Mr. Brand," said the Queen, "I dare not let you go. The streets are
dangerous, you never could reach the Tower."
"I must go disguised."
"What disguise could save you? Ah, yes--I see--the officers of my
Guard. They can go any where!"
"Give me a strong horse, Queen, and the uniform of an officer of the
Guard."
"An officer can't ride, Mr. Brand, without an orderly."
"Give me that lad outside the window there. I like him."
"My cousin, the Duke of Lancaster," said the Queen. "You have chosen
well. Bring him here, Mr. Brand."
The American crossed the room, opened the window, and summoned the
sentry, who made his salute to the Queen.
"Tom," said our Lady, "do you love me?"
He knelt and kissed her hand. "Quick, Tom," said the Queen. "Order
two horses, the best we have, and bring an officer's harness for Mr.
Brand, use this,"--she gave him her signet ring. "Take brevet rank
as subaltern, and if you live, I'll confirm it. Now run!"
His Royal Highness looked sideways at the American, then sideways at
the Queen, then, with a malicious understanding chuckle, was gone
like a flash.
The Queen sat thinking. "There is danger still," she said presently.
"The destroyers are patrolling everywhere, and your yacht on her way
to the Tower was chased by the Channel Fleet just come from
Portsmouth. Instead of running, she rose up high, soaring miles into
the air. The Fleet could not follow because no man could breathe up
yonder. But they say the yacht must come down, so they have
scattered out to watch. Must she come down?"
"Not till I want her."
"What are your plans?" she asked presently.
"To get the yacht," he answered, "bring the Fleet to terms, recapture
Lyonesse, collect my squadron, find my Ministers of State, and weld
them into a strong Cabinet. Then I hope to hang Ulster, seize the
departments, set up the Queen's provisional Government, call a
General Election, and declare war with the Allies. Meanwhile the
Queen must keep our enemies amused."
"But if you die in the Queen's service?"
He laughed. "They'll throw my body into a ditch and cry, 'So perish
all the Queen's enemies!'"