“I’m afraid that’s about it, your ladyship,” said Wright hoarsely, when she paused and looked at him. “Of course there’s Lord Cyril——”
“I fear that Lord Cyril must have been arrested as well, for he has not come here as he said he would. Well, there is no need to be frightened. They can’t possibly do the Marquis any harm. I am going now to the Queen-Regent. If any one can help us she can; and I hope that when I have explained the circumstances she will give me an order for Lord Caerleon’s release, and let us leave for England at once. But, of course, it is possible that she has no power without consulting M. Drakovics, and it may even be necessary to apply to the British Minister to bring pressure to bear, which might mean some delay. Nurse, I want you to begin to pack everything at once. If Lord Caerleon is sent to prison, of course I shall go with him——”
“Oh, my lady! to prison!” cried nurse tearfully.
“And then you and Robert must take the children back to England, starting to-night. They must be kept out of danger. Wright, I must have you here, for you know the country——”
“My lady, I wouldn’t go back now, not if you was to send me!” said Wright, with ferocious resolution. Nadia inclined her head.
“I knew you would feel that, Wright. Now, nurse, please dress the children to come to the Palace with me. Phil, be brave; we are going to see what we can do to help father. Let nurse wash your face and put on your best hat.”
With a last choking sob Philippa obeyed, calling up memories of Lady Nithsdale, Jeanie Deans, and other heroines who had pleaded for the lives of imprisoned relatives. Their examples so fortified her that she was even able to rebuke Usk for asking in a doleful whisper whether they cut people’s heads off the very moment they were taken prisoner, and to inform him that if he frightened mother and made her cry, it would be his fault if—if anything dreadful happened; but here the reprover belied her own admonitions by winking away a few tears very hastily.
A few minutes later M. Stefanovics, who was waiting in the hall of the Villa to receive a visitor whom the Queen was expecting, hurried to the door on hearing a carriage drive up, only to find that the lady who mounted the steps with her children was quite a stranger to him. One of the footmen stopped her before she reached the threshold, saying that visitors were not at present admitted to view the Villa, as the Queen was residing there; but she astonished him by saying that her business was with the Queen, and passed on. The rest of the servants were too much impressed by her manner to bar her way; but at the door she was met by M. Stefanovics himself.
“I wish to see the Queen,” she said, barely noticing him.
“Pardon me; but has madame received her Majesty’s commands to present herself at this hour? No?” as she shook her head; “then perhaps she is an early friend of the Queen? In that case——”