CHAPTER ELEVEN.
ANOTHER INVITATION.
Several days passed, and at each fresh meeting Andrew Forbes looked athis fellow-page inquiringly, as if asking whether he had spoken out yet;but the lad's manner was sufficient to show that he had not, thoughFrank was very cool and distant when they were alone.
Then Andrew began to banter his companion.
"Head's all right yet," he said one morning, laughing; and he gave it aslow twirl round like a ball in a socket. "Feels a bit loose sometimes;not at all a pleasant sensation. You're all right still, I see. Felt abit nervous about you, though, once or twice."
Frank frowned slightly; but Andrew went on.
"I noticed one of us trying the point of his sword; and twice over afterdark I saw men watching this window, and that made me think that youmust have spoken, especially as I saw Lady--well, never mind names--examining something she had drawn out of the bosom of her dress. Sheslipped it back as soon as she saw me, but I feel certain that it was asort of bodkin or stiletto. `That's meant for poor Frank,' I said tomyself; for, you know, in history women have often done work of thatkind. But, there, you don't seem to have any holes in you; so I supposeyou are all right for the present."
"How can you joke about so serious a matter?" cried Frank.
"Because I want to put an end to this miserable pique between us," criedAndrew warmly. "It's absurd, and I hate it. I thought we were to bealways friends. I can't bear it, Frank, for I do like you."
"It was your doing," said the lad coldly.
"No. It was the wretched state our country is in that did it all."
"You always get the better of me in arguments," said Frank, "so I am notgoing to fight with you in that way. But I know I am right."
"And I know that I am right," cried Andrew.
"I shall not, as I said before, try to argue with you. We could neveragree."
"No; it wants some one else to judge between us, and I'll tell you who'sthe man."
"I don't see how we can speak about our troubles."
"No need to," said Andrew. "He'll know all about it. Let's leave it toold Father Time. He proves all things. But, I say, Frank, don't beobstinate. There's a meeting of the friends the day after to-morrow.You'll come with me if we can get away?"
"I shall do all I can to stop you from going!" cried Frank.
"By betraying me?"
"No; I can't do that. I promised to be your friend; and though it maybe my duty, I couldn't do such a treacherous thing."
"As if I didn't know," said Andrew, laying his arm on the lad'sshoulder. "Do you think I would have been so open if I had not beensure of you? There, you will come?"
"Never again."
"Never's a long time, Frank. Come."
"Once more, no!"
"To take care of me, and keep me from being too rash."
"I can't betray you and your friends," said Frank sadly; "but I can doall that is possible to save you from a great danger."
"And so can I you. I'm right."
"No; I am right."
"You think so now; but I know you will come round. In the meantime,thank you, Frank. I knew, I say, that you would be staunch; but I'lltell you this: a word now from you would mean the breaking up of thatparty in the city, and, unless I could warn them in time, the seizureand perhaps death of many friends, and amongst them of one whom I love.I told him everything about you, and of our friendship, and it was hewho bade me to bring you out in the Park there, so that he might see youfirst, and judge for himself whether he should like you to join us."
"You mean Mr George Selby?"
"Yes, I mean Mr George Selby," said Andrew, with a peculiar smile andemphasis on his words. "It was a very risky thing for him to come hereclose to the Palace with so many spies about; but throwing biscuits tothe ducks was throwing dust in the people's eyes as well."
"Yes. I felt that it was a trick," said Frank sadly.
"Obliged to stoop to tricks now, my lad. Well, he was delighted withyou, and told me how glad he was for me to have such a friend. He saysyou must be of us, Frank, so that in the good times ahead you may be oneof the friends of the rightful king. You'll like Mr George Selby."
"I hate him," said Frank warmly, "for leading you astray, and for tryingto lead me in the same evil way."
"Tchut! Some one coming."
The "some one" proved to be the Prince with a train of gentlemen, nearlyall of whom were Germans, and they passed through the anteroom on theirway out.
"See that tall, light-haired fellow?" said Andrew, as soon as they werealone again.
"The German baron?"
"Yes, the one in uniform."
"Yes. He's the Baron Steinberg, a colonel in the Hanoverian Guards."
"That's the man. He came over on Saturday. Well, I hate him."
"Why? Because he's a German?"
"Pooh! I shouldn't hate a man because he was a foreigner. I hate himbecause he's an overbearing bully, who looks down on everything English.He quite insulted me yesterday, and I nearly drew upon him. But Ididn't."
"What did he do?"
"Put his hand upon my shoulder, and pushed me aside. `Out of the way,booby!' he said in German. A rude boor!"
"Oh, it was his rough way, perhaps. You mustn't take any notice ofthat."
"Mustn't I?" exclaimed Andrew. "We shall see. That isn't all. I hatehim for another thing."
"You're a queer fellow, Drew. I think you divide the world into twosets--those you hate and those you love."
"And a good division too. But these German fellows want teaching alesson, and somebody will be teaching it if they don't mend. Oh! Ihate that fellow, and so ought you to."
"Why? Because he is a German?"
"Not for that. I'll tell you. I didn't see you yesterday, or I'd havetold you then. You were in the big reception-room?"
"When my father was on duty with his company of the Guards?"
"Yes, and your mother was in the Princess's train."
"Yes, and I didn't get one chance to speak to her."
"Well, that fellow did; he spoke to her twice, and I saw him staring ather insolently nearly all the time the Princess and her ladies werethere."
"Well?"
"That is all," said Andrew shortly. "They'll be at her drawing-roomthis afternoon, and if I were you I should go and stop near Lady Gowanas much as I could."
"I should like to," said Frank, looking at his friend wonderingly; "butof course I can't go where I like."
A few minutes later one of the servants brought in a note and handed itto Frank, who opened it eagerly.
"No answer," he said to the man; and then he turned to his companion."Read," he said. "From my father."
"`Come and dine at the mess this evening, and bring Andrew Forbes,'"read the lad, and he flushed with pleasure.
"Of course you will not come," said Frank mockingly. "You could not becomfortable with such a loyal party."
"With such a host as Captain Sir Robert Gowan!" cried Andrew. "Oh yes,I could. I like him." He smiled rather meaningly, and then theconversation turned upon the treat to come, both lads being enthusiasticabout everything connected with the military.
This was broken into by the same servant entering with another note.
"My turn now, Frank," said Andrew merrily; "but who's going to write tome?"
To his annoyance, as he turned to take the note, the man handed it toFrank and left the antechamber.
"Well, you seem to be somebody," cried Andrew, who now looked nettled.
"From my mother," said Frank, after glancing through the missive.
"Lucky you; mother and father both here. My poor father nowhere, hidingabout like a thief. Talk about friends at court!"
"It does seem hard for you," said Frank. "See what she says."
"H'm! `So sorry not to be able to speak to you yesterday. Come to myrooms for an hour before the reception this afternoon. I long to seeyou, my dear boy.'"
/> Andrew handed back the letter with a sigh.
"Lucky you, Frank. I say, don't repeat what I said about yesterday."
"Of course not."
"That's right. Men talk about things when they are alone which wouldfrighten ladies. She might get thinking that I should get up a quarrelwith that Steinberg."
"I'm sure my mother wouldn't think anything of the sort," said Frank,smiling at his friend's conceit.
"Oh, I don't know," said Andrew importantly. "Yes I do, though. It wasa rather stupid remark. But I wish I were you, Frank," he continued,with a genuine unspoiled boyish light coming into his eyes, which lookedwistful and longing. "Perhaps, if I had a mother and father here in thecourt, I should be as loyal as you are."
"Of course you would be. Well, they like you. You're coming to dinewith my father to-night, and I wish I could take you with me to see mymother early this afternoon."
"Do you--do you really, Frank?" cried the lad eagerly.
"Of course I do; you know I always say what I mean."
"Then thank you," cried the lad warmly; "that's almost as good asgoing."
"I'll ask her to invite you next time. Hallo! where are you off to?"
"Only to my room for a bit."
"What for? Anything the matter?"
"Matter? Pish! Well, yes. I'm thinking I'd better be off, for fear,instead of my converting you, you'll be taking advantage of my weakness,offering me a share in Sir Robert and Lady Gowan for a bribe, andconverting me."
"I wish I could," said Frank to himself, as his companion hurried out ofthe room. "Why not? Suppose I were to take my mother into myconfidence, and ask her to try and win him away from what is sure to endin a great trouble!"