“I really must tell you now, Mr. Bergwyn,” declared Gatrina; “although I said just now it would not interest you. Elma has made it interesting and quite amusing, although the adventure she speaks of was very far from being amusing. You know there are still some brigands left in the Bosnian and Herzogovinian hills.”
“Brigands?” I exclaimed in a tone of astonishment.
“I am afraid we must admit it. Well, some of them conceived the idea that if they carried me off they would get a good ransom; and they did it. But they did not get the ransom, for I escaped. After a most exciting ride I was saved by a peasant with a big dog, called Chris; and because you have a dog of the same name, I really believe the baroness thinks you must be a peasant in disguise of an American millionaire. Isn’t it ingenious and clever of her?”
“I did not say anything of the kind,” snapped Elma, viciously.
“Of course, we have tried to let as little as possible get known of the matter, Mr. Bergwyn, but this delicious theory of the baroness’s has made such a joke of it, that really I think I must tell everybody now. Would you mind if I were to say plainly that you are not an American gentleman but a Bosnian peasant, and that I know that to be true because you have a big dog called Chris? It’s such a convincing reason, you see.”
“Anything that would associate me with you, Princess, would be a pleasure,” I returned, with a bow and a smile, as if I were paying her a mere conventional compliment.
“You are trying to make me appear very ridiculous, Gatrina,” exclaimed Elma, angrily.
“I declare I shall tell the Queen and get her to let us have a tableau in which I should be the maiden in distress, and you the peasant rescuer, Mr. Bergwyn. You could get a very picturesque dress, you know; and I am sure you could play the part. But to make it complete we ought to have the baroness in, because it’s her idea; and yet I don’t see what part to give her,” and Gatrina laughed.
“I think I can offer a suggestion,” said I, deliberately. “We could reverse the thing; and instead of the Baroness being the one to discover the truth, let her have planned your abduction.”
Elma started, her eyes flashed with sudden anger at me, and she changed colour.