“Absurd,” sneered the count. “You brought the bandit here in the first place, realizing that it would give you standing with the Grand Duke, and knowing all the time that the way had been paved for his escape. If you had no hand in his escape, how did you know he had gotten away before coming here?”
“He came after us,” said Hal, “and would have led us away had it not been for Alexis.”
“Absurd,” said the count again and turned to the Grand Duke. “You see,” he said, “how foolish that is. You should have concocted a better story,” he added to Hal.
Now the Count de Reslau was one of the Grand Duke’s closest friends, and, as the Duke had said, he had implicit confidence in him. It was only natural, therefore, that he should be impressed with his reasoning.
He advanced upon the two lads, and pointed an accusing finger at each.
“The count is right!” he exclaimed in a loud voice. “I can see it all! You are traitors! I would have sworn by your honor in spite of the short time I have known you. You have rendered me, I still believe, valuable service; but you have caused me to play into the hands of the enemy in other matters.”
“Your Excellency,” said Chester, stepping forward. “Count de Reslau possibly means well, but he is badly mistaken. His reasoning is at fault. We are innocent of this charge.”
“You deny it?” fairly shouted the Duke.
“Of course they deny it,” said the count. “It is hardly probable they would admit being traitors and spies.”
“I understand perfectly,” declared Nicholas as he stepped to the door of his tent.