Rosemary found herself alone with Elza in the early part of the
afternoon. The doctor had been over in the morning to see Maurus, and on
the whole the bulletin was satisfactory: "The patient was doing well. If
he was kept very quiet there would be no complications. He was no age,
and on the whole had led an abstemious life. The most important thing
was to keep all worry, all agitation from him, both now and in the
future."
Both now and in the future! Elza dwelt on those words when she told
Rosemary just what the doctor had said.
"The future!" she murmured with a weary little sigh. "Of course, the
doctor does not know. Perhaps I ought to tell him what the future holds
in store for poor Maurus."
The nursing sisters had arrived overnight. Rosemary had caught sight of
them about the house during the course of the morning, with their
white-winged caps that made them look like doves with outspread wings.
Their felt shoes made not the slightest noise as they walked. They were
very sweet and very restful, entirely incompetent but exceedingly kind,
and full of gentle pity and kind advice to the patient, who became
terribly irritable as soon as they ministered to him.
After lunch Rosemary persuaded Elza to come out with her into the
garden. It was the first bright moment in the day. Neither morning nor
early afternoon had kept the promise made by the dawn. Storm clouds
hung, heavy and leaden, over the mountains, and dull rumblings
proclaimed the return of thunder. But about three o'clock there was a
break in the clouds, and a pale sun shot fitful gleams of silvery light
upon park and garden. It was oppressively hot. Rosemary led Elza to the
summer-house and made her sit down. Elza was fidgety. It almost seemed
as if she did not want to be left alone with Rosemary. She made one
excuse after another: Maurus! the chef! the stables! But Rosemary
insisted.
"Listen to me, Elza, darling," she said firmly. "I want your full
attention for two minutes."
Elza turned her big blue eyes upon Rosemary and murmured like an
obedient child: "Yes, dear! What is it?"
Rosemary had the papers in her hand: the newspaper articles which she
had written during the night. The hand that held the manuscript shook
ever so slightly, but her voice was quite steady.
"I want you," she said to Elza, "to read very carefully what I have
written here. They are newspaper articles which General Naniescu would
like to see published in England and in America. When you have read them
you will understand why. He wants this so badly that on the day these
articles are published Philip and Anna will receive a full pardon,
Kis-Imre will not be taken from you, and if you wish, you can all leave
the country for a time until things settle down and better times come
for you all."
She thrust the papers into Elza's hands and turned to go.
"I will leave you to read quite quietly," she said.
But Elza's round blue eyes were still staring at her.
"I don't understand you, dear," she murmured vaguely.
"Of course you don't, darling," Rosemary rejoined gently; "but you will
when you have read what I have written. The gipsy was quite right; it is
in my power to save Philip and Anna, but only to a certain extent,
because it is you alone who can decide if I am to exercise that power or
not. God bless you, darling!"
She put her arms round Elza and kissed her tenderly. Thank Heaven all
self-pity, all selfish introspection had gone from her. Her thoughts,
her love, her pity were all for Elza. But it had to be. Elza must
decide. _Her_ people! _Her_ son! _She_ must decide!
When Rosemary hastened across the lawn she turned once more toward the
summer house. Elza was still sitting there, staring with big, blue eyes
into vacancy. Every line of her attitude indicated bewilderment. She had
the packet of paper in her hand and was tapping it against her knee.
Poor Elza! A heavy sob rose from Rosemary's aching heart.