Miss Fairfax of Virginia: A Romance of Love and Adventure Under the PalmettosRathborne, St. George
General
Miss Fairfax of Virginia: A Romance of Love and Adventure Under the Palmettos
Rathborne, St. George
Love stories; Virginia -- Fiction
"I am not surprised, since I have reason to believe she is here. In
fact the woman disguised as a Sister of the Holy Grail was Georgia, his
niece, and the girl in the picture."
Darby's thin lips gathered as though prepared to emit a whistle, for
like a flash he comprehended a very important matter in connection with
his employer; but his will got the better of his inclination and not
the faintest sound followed.
"More than this, sir, I am afraid he has some connection with these
reckless schemers you have come here to watch."
"It would not surprise me--the senor general is of Spanish descent and
doubtless loves the institutions of Spain, so that with his generous
and ardent nature he is ready to risk all he has in order to help the
wretched mother country in her great hour of need. It does not matter,
since they will accomplish nothing here. These Irish plotters are
master masons in the art of promising much and having some one else
pull their chestnuts from the fire. Still, it is our duty to know the
many strings perfidious Spain has to her bow."
"Just so, sir. I am going now."
"My blessing go with you, Darby. I shall anticipate a rich and racy
story when we twain meet again. Meanwhile, again farewell."
When he stood alone Roderic heard a clock in a not distant belfry chime
the hour.
"Eleven--plenty of time for a man of his superior intelligence to
accomplish it all. By Jove! I would like to see the result. I would
wager he does it to the queen's taste, and that with two Richmonds in
the field Warwick or Jerome or any other man would find it hard to
tell the genuine from the artificial. Reminds me of Shakespeare's two
Dromios. Well, there's nothing for me to do but take it quietly until
morning, when I'll give my noble duke a run for his money. Ye gods, I
can imagine his amazement. But he is not the man to let one failure
daunt him. I rather imagine we two may yet face each other with sword
or pistol in hand. That, gives me little concern just now, however much
it may later on. All seems quiet around the hotel, so I presume the
coast is clear."
He found no difficulty in gaining his apartment unobserved, and there
proceeded to woo the gentle goddess of sleep.
A methodical man, he was able to awaken at just the hour he desired.
Perhaps a somewhat superficial knowledge of Wellington's usual habits
guided him in this matter quite as much as his own desires.
An observation convinced him that the day had broken fair and
singularly cool, so that all nature appeared to rejoice.
He dressed with perhaps a little more care than ordinary and stood
before the glass arranging the ends of his four-in-hand.
"I wonder if her eyes still glow with their old intoxicating light?" he
muttered.
From which one might readily imagine the dreams that had accompanied
his slumber must have dealt more or less with the owner of those
heavenly orbs.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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