"Yes, I believe it is," Dehra answered carelessly. "It is soft for the
horse and little travelled and I enjoy the quiet of the forest." Then
she deliberately turned and smiled at me. And Lady Helen saw it.
At the top of the hill above the Palace the way narrowed and I fell
behind; and, dismounting, I affected to be fixing something about the
girth. I wanted to see the Princess go down that tree-lined way as
once before I had seen her. Then they came to the bend; and, leaning
against my horse's shoulder, I waited. Would she remember?
Suddenly, she turned and waved her hand, exactly as she had done that
other time; only, this time, it was a beckon to follow, not a farewell.
I sprang to saddle and dashed ahead, almost fearing to find her
vanished and it only a dream. When I rounded the corner, the Princess
and Lady Helen were turning into the drive that led from the road to
the Palace; and, once again, Dehra waved me onward.
They awaited me at the gate; and, with the guard standing at attention,
we rode into the grounds. I noticed that the Princess acknowledged the
salute with her crop as though it were a sword. I had returned it with
my hand.
"Your way is the correct one," she said.
"But yours is much the prettier," I answered.
"Maybe that's why I used it," she laughed.
"It is sufficient justification," I assured her.
"His Majesty does not think so--he insists that the Colonel of the Blue
Guards should conform to the regulations."
"I salute my superior officer," I said, and used my crop as she had
done.
"How delightful to be a Colonel," said Lady Helen. "I would wear the
uniform all the time--if it were becoming."
"How could it be otherwise?" I exclaimed.
"No sarcasm, sir," she said sharply.
"No, Major Dalberg, no sarcasm," Dehra cautioned, "or you will be
asking, presently, if I won my commission on the field of battle."
"I would rather not imagine you on the field of battle," I answered.
"Well, you needn't," she laughed. "It's an infliction of birth. It
belongs to the eldest child of the King without regard to sex."
"It's a pity, in your case, the crown does not follow the Colonelcy," I
thought--but I did not say it.
At one of the private entrances we drew up. The Princess was out of
saddle as quickly as myself; but the Lady Helen waited.
"If you don't want to stay I can contrive some excuse," she whispered,
as I lifted her down.
"I'm quite willing to risk a royal breakfast if you are," I answered.
"Brave man," she mocked, gathering up her skirt; "you wouldn't flinch
at leading a forlorn hope."
"Watch me follow one," I retorted, as I brought up the rear.
"Which one?" she asked over her shoulder; but I did not answer.
The breakfast was served in a charming little room--which I assumed to
be a portion of the Princess' private suite--and was of the sort to
provoke more early morning rides along the Old Forge Road.
"This may be a bit unconventional," said Dehra, addressing Lady Helen,
rather than me, "but, if the English Ambassador can stand it, I will
answer for the King of Valeria."
"And I'll answer for the American Ambassador," I volunteered.
"Then the others don't matter," Lady Helen laughed.
"You surely have relieved us very much, Major Dalberg," the Princess
added. "Lady Helen and I have been so concerned for your reputation;
you risk so much, you know, in breakfasting alone with two unmarried
young women."
"I'm quite sensible of my danger," I answered, and looked blandly from
one to the other.
The Princess kept her eyes on her plate; but Lady Helen gazed at me in
some surprise.
"If you're not better behaved, sir, I'll take you away at once," she
said.
"You're only putting a premium on a continuance of it," said Dehra.
"No, I'm not, Your Highness; he hasn't finished his breakfast."
"You're very wise," the Princess laughed.
Lady Helen shook her head. "You see, I've known Major Dalberg a long
time," she said.
"Oh! then you had met before the night of the Ball?"
I looked at Dehra wonderingly. Had she forgotten that I myself had
told her, on the terrace, how long I had known the Radnors.
"We were old dinner and cotillon partners in Washington," Lady Helen
explained. "He was very kind to me there."
"That wasn't a very difficult task, was it, Major Dalberg?" Dehra
asked, fixing her blue eyes on my face.
"Please, Your Highness--please," exclaimed Lady Helen, holding up her
hands.
"I think," I replied, "that Lady Helen is, in herself, the best answer
to Your Highness's question."
Just then there came a step in the corridor and the King stood in the
doorway.
"Good morning, Lady Helen," he said, taking her fingers and raising
them to his lips in the beautiful old-fashion; "it is a pleasure to see
you here again." Then he bent and kissed Dehra on the forehead, and
turning to me said, extending his hand: "And, Major Dalberg, you are
very welcome."
Frederick was monarch of a powerful nation, but he could, if he so
wished, make those about him forget his crown and see only the
quiet-mannered gentleman. With a word of excuse to us he drew the
Princess aside to a window embrasure. I turned to Lady Helen.
"So," said I, "you've been here before?"
She smiled.
"And this is not your first breakfast with Her Highness?" I went on.
Another smile.
"And, doubtless, you have often met her at the Old Forge?"
Once again a smile.
"And were engaged to meet her there this morning?"
"You are too discerning, Major," she said, with a shrug. "You should
have been a detective."
"Quite right," I agreed. "I am always the last to detect a plot or to
find the criminal."
She looked at me through half-closed eyes.
"Which means?"