“And for more than a little while,” the Archduke replied; “and if you do have to draw, try to forget you’re fencing with pointed weapons, and bear in mind only that you must not be touched.”
“Goodness Armand, you make me afraid,” she said, with a little shiver; “I don’t want to fight any one.”
“Please God you won’t have to, dear, but if you do, remember that the surest way to save your life is to take the other fellow’s.”
She shivered again. “I shouldn’t want to be a man.”
He slipped his arm around her and bent down.
“Let me send you back to the Palace, sweetheart,” he whispered—“for my sake go back.”
“It is for your sake I’m going on,” she answered, “and—I’ll kill the other fellow if I have to—but I don’t want to.”
The carriage drew in to the curb and stopped. It was on a side street near the rear gate of the Ferida, and as the Archduke got out, two officers in quiet uniforms and capes, who were walking slowly along, halted, and, after a glance, came up and saluted. They were De Coursey and Marsov.
“I thank you for your attendance,” said the Archduke; and leaving it for Moore to acquaint them with as much of the business in hand as was necessary, he linked arms with the Regent and they went leisurely on; there was ample time, and they reached the entrance as the Cathedral bell rang the hour.
The great gate was closed and locked, but in it was a small one, so cleverly hidden among the frets and ornaments that the Archduke had trouble in locating it, and still more in finding the catch, which Mrs. Spencer had engaged would not be fastened.
Across the street a number of men were loitering, and two came hastily over; but recognizing Colonel Moore, who had stepped out to meet them, they made a quick salute and were returning, when he called them back.
“It will be for you to see that we are not locked in,” he said, and following the others, who had already entered, he closed the gate behind him.
The drive ran between great oaks straight toward the house, but, a little way in, a narrow walk branched from it on either side and wound through trees and between hedges to the side gates, and thence on to the front. Mrs. Spencer’s apartments were in the wing on the right, and her instructions were to proceed by the path on that side until opposite the rear of her suite; then by another path that bisected the first, and which, crossing the driveway between the rear and side gates, led to the house and close under her windows; there, at the first small door, they were to knock.