'Who spoke of him?' she exclaimed angrily. 'I said the Waldgrave Rupert. I wish you to go with him to see that he does not run any unnecessary risk.'
I coughed dryly, and stood silent.
'Well?' my lady said with a frown. 'Do you understand?'
'I understand, my lady,' I answered firmly; 'but I cannot go.'
'You cannot go! when I send you!' she murmured, unable, I think, to believe her ears. 'Why not, sirrah? Why not, if you please?'
'Because my first duty is to your excellency,' I stammered. 'And as long as you are here, I dare not--and will not leave you!'
'As long as I am here!' she retorted, red with anger and surprise. 'You have still that maggot in your head, then? By my soul, Master Martin, if we were at home I would find means to drive it out! But I know what it is! What you really want is to stay by the side of that puling girl! Oh, I am not blind,' my lady continued viciously, seeing that she had found at last the way to hurt me. 'I know what has been going on.'
'But Count Leuchtenstein----' I muttered.
'Don't bring him in!' my lady cried, in such a voice that I dared go no farther. 'General Tzerclas has told me of him. I understand what is between them, and you do not. Presumptuous booby!' she continued, flashing at me a glance of scorn, which made me tremble. 'But I will thwart you! Since you will not leave me, I will go myself. I will go, but Mistress Marie shall stay here till we return.'
'But if there is to be fighting?' I said humbly.