“Where all good women should be at nine o'clock—in bed,” replied Dangloss, shortly. “But will you obey her command?”
“So she commands me to escape!” said Lorry, smiling. “I dare not disobey my sovereign, I suppose.”
“We obey her because we love her,” said the captain of the guard.
“And for that reason, I also obey. But can this thing be accomplished without necessitating explanations and possible complications? I will not obey if it is likely to place her in an embarrassing position.”
“She understands perfectly what she is doing, sir. In the first place, she has had my advice,” said Dangloss, the good old betrayer of an official trust.
“You advised her to command you to allow me to escape?”
“She commanded first, and then I advised her how to command you. Axphain may declare war a thousand times over, but you will be safe. That's all we—I mean, all she wants.”
“But I cannot desert my friend. How is he to know where I've gone? Will not vengeance fall on him instead?”
“He shall know everything when the proper time comes. And now, will you be ready at the hour mentioned. You have but to follow the instructions—I should say, the commands of the writer.”
“And be free! Tell her that I worship her for this. Tell her that every drop of blood in my body belongs to her. She offers me freedom, but makes me her slave for life. Yes, I shall be ready. If I do not see you again, good friends, remember that I love you because you love her and because she loves you enough to entrust a most dangerous secret to your keeping,—the commission of an act that may mean the downfall of your nation.” He shook hands with them fervently.