Princess Maritza | Page 5

inch by inch, against whatever tide
might run.
For some little time he had been staying with Sir Charles and Lady
Martin, two people who had looked into his eyes when he had denied
the charges brought against him, and had believed him.
As he crossed the lawn toward the house he met his host.
"I have had an adventure, Charles; I have met a princess."
"There are some pretty rustic maidens in the village. I have been struck
with their beauty myself."
"I mean a real Princess; at least, she said so," Desmond answered. "She
was playing truant from school, a large white house, on the other side
of the downs."
"Do you mean a tall, red-headed girl?" asked Sir Charles.
"Have you seen her?" Desmond asked.

"No, but I know all about her."
"Ah, I thought you couldn't have seen her, or you wouldn't describe her
as a tall, red-headed girl. She's the most beautiful woman I ever saw.
She spoke the truth, then; she is a Princess?"
"Oh, yes, but the sooner she forgets the fact the better for her and
for--for everybody. She is the descendant of a line of rulers chiefly
remarkable for their inability to rule, and her chance of ascending the
throne of her fathers is absolutely nil, fortunately for Europe. You are
not a student of contemporary history, Desmond, or you would know
something about Wallaria and its exiled Princess."
"I am not a diplomat, but a soldier--at least, I was," Desmond answered.
"Still, I should like to improve my knowledge."
"That is easily managed," said Sir Charles. "If you come into the library
I can find you a heap of literature concerning this little wasps' nest of a
state, and when you have mastered the position, thank your natal stars
that you were not born to take a hand in ruling it. It is a menace to
Europe, Desmond, that's the truth of the matter. Wallaria may at any
time be the cause of a European war. If this Princess of yours had her
way, that time would not be long in coming."
For the remainder of the day Desmond Ellerey filled a corner of the
library with tobacco smoke, and his head with a thousand details
concerning Wallaria. When he went to dress for dinner he felt that he
had been reading an absorbing romance, and blessed the good fortune
which had brought about the meeting on the downs.
"Helen and I have been talking about you, Desmond," said Sir Charles
after dinner.
"Not revising your opinion of me, I hope."
"No," said Lady Martin, "but thinking of your future. Why not travel
for a little while, Desmond; for a year or so? It will give time for the
truth to leak out. It will leak out, you know, even as a lie does."

"I have made up my mind to go abroad," said Desmond quietly. "I shall
clear out of England before the month is over. It has been awfully good
of you both to have me here at a time when most of my friends found it
convenient to forget me. I shall not come back until the men who were
so ready to accuse me have eaten their words and the country so ready
to dispense with my services asks for them again."
"That will come in time," said Lady Martin.
"I am glad to hear your determination," said Sir Charles. "Where are
you going?"
"To Wallaria."
"Wallaria!" "Why not? It seems there is room for a soldier there."
Sir Charles looked grave.
"But, Desmond, supposing--"
"I know what you would say," returned Ellerey quickly. "Supposing
Englishmen should have to fight against Wallaria, and I should have to
carry arms against my country; well, with whom does the fault lie, with
England or with me? England has dispensed with my services,
believing a lie; she drives me from her, and makes me a renegade.
What allegiance do I owe to England? I will offer my sword to Wallaria,
and if she will have it, by Heaven, she shall."
Lady Martin put her hand upon his shoulder, pressed it in kindly
sympathy for a moment, and then left the room.
"Sleep on it, Desmond, you will think better of it in the morning," said
Sir Charles.
"You have been very good to me, both of you," said Ellerey, turning
round suddenly when Lady Martin had gone. "I can never thank you
enough. It seems poor gratitude to pain you now. Such a contingency as
we imagine will probably never arise, but I have decided to go."

"The Princess has bewitched you."
"Nonsense. Am I not offering my sword to the usurper, her enemy? My
ambitions have been nipped like a tree in the budding here, and I see a
new outlet