Lieutenant Purkitz gave a shout, and leaned against the gate.
“Landlord!” he gasped, “landlord!—that face—oh, that face!” and went off into a fit of suppressed mirth.
The woman looked at him and then at Hertz, and though the thick veil hid her features completely, there was no doubt of her irritation.
The Captain bowed. “Madame will pardon the ill manners of my clownish servant,” he said, indicating Purkitz; “I am Captain Hertz, of Her Highness’ Third Lancers. Yonder is the landlord; permit me to call him.”
She leaned down and offered him her hand.
“A thousand apologies, my dear Captain, for my reckless riding and my awkward tongue—there is small excuse for the former, I admit, but my veil may explain the latter.—You are not hurt?”
A voice so soft and sweet must have a face to match it, and Hertz went a step nearer.
“Madame can cure everything but my heart, if she but raise the veil,” he said.
“Then, sir, I am afraid to raise it—your heart would not survive the shock. Good-bye, and thank you,” and she spurred across to where old Scartman was standing near the stables.
“I am to meet some one here at four o’clock,” she said; “has my party come?”
Boniface’s shrewd little eyes had taken her in at a single glance.
“Gentleman, I suppose?” he asked.—“None of them?” jerking his thumb toward the two lancers.—“No? then he’s not here yet.”
She glided gracefully out of saddle, and hooked up her skirt.
“Put my horse in the stall nearest the door,” she ordered; and herself saw it done. “Now, I want a room—the big one on the lower floor—for an hour or so.”
She considered.... “He is one high in rank, very high—indeed, no one in Valeria is higher—tell him I’m here; and admit him instantly; but don’t, do you hear me, don’t tell him I’m a woman.”
“But please you, madame,” he ventured, “if I’m to tell him you’re here, but not to tell him you’re a woman, how’s he to be sure you are you?”
“True, O patron of rendezvous!” she laughed. “If he ask for proof, you may tell him I’m the one who knows.”
“Now, that’s more to rule,” he said, with a nod and a chuckle.
They went into the house, and he opened the door into the big room.
“Yes,” said she—“and remember, no interruptions, now nor later—understand?”
He bowed with rather unusual grace, for one of his appearance and calling.
