The Traitors Part 48

"I fear," Brand said, "that Domiloff's schemes are more deeply laid than we at first believed. What a pity that he was ever allowed to remain in Theos."

"I sent him to the frontier once," Ughtred said. "He came back secretly."

"But your police?"

"Theos has no police now," Ughtred answered. "They are fighting at Althea. We could not afford to leave a hundred able-bodied men in the city."

Brand reined in his horse. The two men were on a hill from which the outposts of the Turkish army were distinctly visible. Brand took out his gla.s.ses and swept the country steadily for several minutes.

"I have a proposition to make," he said, after he had finished his survey. "I do not think that there will be any fighting to-day. If you like I will return to Theos and endeavour to find out what is going on."

The King held out his hand.

"If you will do this for me," he said, simply, "it will be the service of a friend. I think that I need friends now very badly."

So Brand turned his horse's head towards Theos, and the King rode down into the camp alone.

CHAPTER XL

"You!"

Marie of Reist rose with a sudden swift movement from the sofa where she had been lying.

"I trust that my visit is not as unwelcome as it seems to be surprising," he remarked, crossing the room towards her. "I am taking advantage----"

She held up her hand--a quick, impulsive gesture of silence.

"Hush!" she whispered. "Do not say another word. Follow me and tread lightly."

He followed her into the circular stone wall, hung with ancient paintings, and where no light ever came save through those wonderful stained gla.s.s windows, the gift of an Emperor to Rudolph of Tyrnaus.

They pa.s.sed along a pa.s.sage, up some stairs, and into a sitting-room.

She closed the door softly, and stood for a moment with her hand still upon the handle, listening. Then, as all seemed quiet below, the fear pa.s.sed from her eyes, and she smiled upon him.

"Are you mad to come here?" she asked, softly. "You ought not to show yourself in the streets. Do you not know that you are the most unpopular person in Theos?"

"I can a.s.sure you that I was not aware of it," he answered. "In any case, who in this house would be likely to wish me harm?"

"You are quite safe here, I think," she answered, ignoring his question. "My brother and some friends were in the next room down-stairs. I was afraid that they might hear your voice."

He sat down on the sofa beside her.

"I am not inclined," he said, "to quarrel with my good fortune. But as a matter of fact, it is your brother whom I wish to see. There is no reason why I should not--that I know of."

She shook her head.

"Nevertheless," she said, "be content to stay with me. It will be better for you. Oh yes, a very great deal better."

Brand moved a little nearer. It was certain that there was much which he could learn from her.

"It is very pleasant to see you again, Countess!" he remarked.

She shrugged her shoulders.

"Countess?"

The colour flushed under his tanned cheeks. He looked away.

"Marie, then--if you will permit!"

"I do permit," she murmured, "only you must not say it very often--until I get used to it. Oh, my friend, how glad I am to see you, and yet how dangerous it is. Why do you go on filling all the newspapers in Europe with your letters from Theos, and your praises of the King? You have made enemies here. You are even now being sought for."

He smiled grimly.

"I thought that I must be becoming unpopular," he said. "People are so anxious to find me that they send bullets--mostly very badly aimed ones--after me in the street. I do not understand it."

She shuddered and glanced nervously around her. The window by which they sat was commanded by another in the eastward wing of the house.

She looked at it for a moment, and her eyes were full of fear once more.

"Even now," she murmured, "I believe that we are being watched. Look, do you see anything?"

He stood by her side, but the window was empty enough. Below, the square and streets beyond were strangely empty. A sense of desolation brooded over the place.

"I see nothing," he answered. "I really don't think that we need alarm ourselves."

She drew him away to the lounge heaped with furs and drawn up to the fire. An easel was standing in one corner of the room, and behind a piano. The walls were hung with water-colours and sketches, and the air was fragrant with the odour of burning logs. Beyond was an inner apartment.

"You are the first man, except Nicholas my brother," she said, "who has ever been in here. Remember that, please, and be very obedient.

You will do all that I tell you. Will you promise?"

"Blindly," he answered, "if you will ask me nothing impossible."

"I shall not do that. I am going to ask you something for your own good. You must leave off writing those letters to the English newspapers."

He was suddenly very quiet and still. But he turned and looked at her.

"Why?"

"Because it is for your safety, for the good of Theos, and because it is my wish."

"Your wish--and whose else?"

"My brother's."

There was a moment's silence. She saw signs of a new sternness about the closely-drawn lips, the steel-grey eyes, from which a momentary tenderness seemed to have vanished.