“If you air alluding to that unfortunate darkey, I guess——”
“I am not alluding to him, but to a smart man that must take his place. I wouldn’t hand over my worst enemy to that smooth-tongued Dago back of us, after the time we’re going to give him to-day. No, sir; what that smart man of yours has to do is to try and give you the slip right at the foot of the hill here, and after a real hard fight, with as much yelling and general violence as he can get in for the money, to lead the chase way back into Dardania. You will have despatched a messenger as soon as he began to be ugly to entreat the doctor to come and try his influence on him, see?”
“You want the doctor out of the road for a bit, is that so? Well, sir, I like the notion, and I know the man that’ll tumble to it. We’ll make a real handsome nigger out of him.”
“That’s so, but there mustn’t be any waste of time. You’ve just got to break the record getting to Paranati and back. Pour out the dollars like water if they’re needed. I’ll have Lady Usk’s Dutchy go with you to do the talking, for I must stay and fix things up here, but I’ll meet you in the village, and the patient needn’t begin his star performances before then.”
“And what about her Majesty’s message that I brought you?”
“I guess her Majesty will just have to wait until this row is hoed. If she’s so mad that she gets reconciled again, it won’t hurt me, any way.”
With this reckless defiance of Queen Félicia, Mr Hicks sped the mate and Jakob on their way, and himself returned along the road to meet Usk and Helene. He found them waiting faithfully, but fuming, at the appointed spot, and he unfolded the plan he had elaborated as he rode. To one point Usk objected strongly.
“I won’t have Helene mixed up in the rescue,” he said. “She can stay in the village, and we’ll pick her up as we come back.”
“I don’t see but we must have her come with us,” said Mr Hicks doubtfully, “or we won’t be enough for the business. You, sir, will have your hands full getting the rope to your uncle and helping him down it, and Lady Usk will be wanted to hold the doctor in talk, for I must be way down the hill with Bradwell’s outfit. Then when the doctor is sent for to help us, you must distract the janitor’s attention while the Count slips past. If the charms of your conversation will do it, so much the better, but if not, then the six-shooter I warned you to bring will come into play. I must have Lady Usk wait with William and the buggy at the turn of the track out of sight of the gateway, for there’s no other way of getting the Count down the hill without being seen. You have the waterproof apron on the buggy, Lady Usk, I hope? I guess you’ll admire to take your part in saving the Count, won’t you? Don’t you go and have an upset down the hill; drive gently till you’re through the village, but then just take it out of the horses until you’re past the Pannonian frontier-post. I’ve had a word with the boss there. He can’t do anything to help us, for fear of a frontier incident, but once you’re safe across he’ll see you’re not followed.”
“But supposing these Dardanian fellows fire—she may be hit!” cried Usk.