The Princess Dehra Part 33

And so Captain Hertz, of the Third Lancers, had not done quite the usual growl, when he got the order to march at once with his troop, selecting such a route as would bring him to the Inn a few minutes before four o'clock, taking care to approach it from the West; and to halt there and await further instructions.

He had confided to his subaltern that it was a crazy sort of proceeding to be manuvring against old Scartman's Inn; but if it had to be done, it was at least considerate to choose as the objective point, a place where they could have a good meal to eat, and the keeper's pretty daughters to philander.

And between thinking of the victuals and the damsels, the Captain so hurried the march that they reached the Inn unnecessarily early; yet they had no reason to regret it, for the tap-room was cool and pleasant, the food to their taste, and the girls' cheeks prettier and softer than ever-though it would seem that, lately, the last were becoming much more difficult to taste.

"What's got into the hussies?" Hertz demanded, rubbing his face, as the Lieutenant and he went out into the courtyard; "They used to be mild enough."

"You've been falling off in looks the last year, my dear fellow," Purkitz laughed-"can't say I much blame the girl-I've no finger marks on my cheek, you see!"

"Huh!" grunted Hertz, "solid bra.s.s; wouldn't show the kick of a mule.-What in Heaven's name are we sent here for any way!-'await further orders'-that may mean a week."

"And why not," the Lieutenant laughed; "the victuals are delicious, and the girls--"

"Oh, go to the devil!"

"And even father, himself, will do for company in a pinch."

The Captain laughed, too. "Not if I can get away-did you ever see such a countenance? It positively makes me ill."

"Poor old Scartman," said Purkitz; "he's a good man, but there is no denying that 'the Lord made him as ugly as He could and then hit him in the face.'"

From the eastward, came the sound of a galloping horse.

"Our orders, I hope," Hertz exclaimed. He glanced at his watch. "A quarter of four-I wonder what silly business we're to be sent on, now."

The hoof-beats drew swiftly nearer, but from where the two officers were standing, the high wall of the courtyard obscured the road, and they sauntered slowly across toward the gateway. As they reached it, a big black horse swept around the corner and was upon them before the rider could draw rein.

Hertz gave a cry of warning and sprang aside, tripped on his spur, and sprawled in the deep dust; while Purkitz's wild jump landed him with both feet on his superior's back, whence he slid off and brought up on Hertz's head, thereby materially augmenting the fine flow of super-heated language that was bubbling from the Captain's dirt-filled mouth-nor did the loud guffaw and the shrieks of feminine laughter, that came from the house, serve to reduce either the temperature or the volume.

Meanwhile, the cause of it all-a slender, sinuous woman, black gowned and black veiled-sat the big horse motionless and silent, waiting for the human tangle to unloose itself.

Coated with dust-his uniform unrecognizable, his face smeared and dirty-Hertz scrambled up.

"What in h.e.l.l do you--a woman!" he ended, and stood staring.

"Yes, my man, a woman," said she, "and one very sorry for your fall-you are the landlord, I presume."

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.

The voice laughed softly.

"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."

The inn-keeper bowed.

"Certainly, madame-and the gentleman?"

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."

Old Scartman coughed and hesitated.

"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.

"This is what madame wishes?"

"Yes," said she-"and remember, no interruptions, now nor later-understand?"

He bowed with rather unusual grace, for one of his appearance and calling.

"Perfectly, madame-does madame think I look so like a fool?"

She surveyed him an instant.

"No, my good man, I don't," and closed the door; "but I wouldn't care to tell you what you do look like," she ended.

Going over to the window, she fixed the curtain so as to permit her to see in front of the house, and then, removing her veil, she drew out a tiny mirror and deftly touched to place the hair that was disarranged. As she finished, she heard horses approaching, and she saw, through the open gateway, a sudden commotion among the Lancers who were lounging at ease by the roadside, their mounts picketed under the trees. She knew that her man was coming.

A sergeant ran in and said a word to Hertz who, free now of his dust and anger, was sitting on the steps with Purkitz, hoping to get a glimpse of the face behind the veil, and staring at the windows with calm persistency.