“What is it?” he asked, trying to bend forward and see. But she held him fast, as, with an effort, she recovered herself.
“The very man we were speaking of,” she answered in a hurried undertone. “Don’t let him see you. Do we want a third person on our walk home?”
“Hardly,” Von Tressen laughed, as they slipped back among the thick underwood. But it was too late, for the Count came down the ride at a hand gallop and hailed them. His quick eyes had doubtless detected their presence at the moment Philippa saw him.
CHAPTER XVI
ZARKA’S WARNING
There was a note of jeering exultation in the Count’s voice as he called to them, as it were a warning that it was no use their trying to escape him. They were clearly in view and could but come forward.
“So our forest has even now no terrors for you, Fräulein,” the Count cried, hiding, as was his wont, any particular feeling that may have been uppermost in his mind. “I trust—— Ah, I see you have a protector. It is good. Well met, Lieutenant.”
His greeting was suave, almost hearty, a good deal too polite, both the lovers thought. He met Von Tressen’s salute with his characteristic fixed smile, and turned to Philippa.
“You are coming back to Gorla’s? Yes? You will let me bear you company.”
Intention rather than request was suggested by his tone. The proposal could not well be refused, and although Von Tressen looked doubtfully at Philippa, as though he rather expected her to decline the additional escort, she made but a feeble demur.
“We shall be taking you out of your way, Count.”