Blood Royal Read Free Page B

begun. He’s a traitor – an insolent traitor. And I’m going to put him in his place. Tell ’m to shut t’door.”
    Grieg threw back his head and laughed.
    “I congratulate you,” he said, “upon your – salvage .”
    Then he turned on his heel and walked out of the room.
    What happened in the next half hour may as well be imagined as set down. One drunken man is as good or as bad as another, and by the time the Duke was asleep both George and I were bitterly cursing the folly which had led us to take up his cause. Having gone so far, however, we felt that we could not leave him to the mercies of Grieg, and that at a village of which he knew less than its name. We, therefore, decided that next morning we must in decency carry him where he wished and that, after that, we would wash our hands of a business which could breed nothing but trouble and was thankless indeed.
    We then spun a coin to determine which of us two should pass the night in the chamber in which the Duke slept, and when – I confess, to my relief – the lot had fallen upon George, I bade him ‘Good night’ and was glad to get out of the room.
    Rowley met me at the foot of the staircase to say that Bell was watching the major’s door, but I thought this precaution needless and bade them take their rest by the side of the car. This was happily simple, for, since there was no coach-house but a gigantic hall, I had driven the car clean into the inn itself, to the great content of the landlord and all his staff, who were never tired of regarding so unfamiliar a guest.
    I also told the servants that if Grieg sought to leave the house they were to let him go, for I had no wish at all to hold him prisoner or, indeed, to set eyes on him again. With that, I gave Bell the pistol which George had taken from Grieg, in case the latter should endeavour to damage the car. Such an attempt seemed to me likely enough, for, since his abduction of the Duke had so miscarried, it would plainly be to his interest to apprise those he served of his failure before the Duke reappeared : and, as he could scarcely expect assistance from us, to delay the Duke’s return was the best he could do.
    Bell took the pistol, and then with an air of apology offered me one in its stead.
    “I should go armed, sir,” he said, “until we’re out of the wood.”
    I slid the thing into my pocket and went to my bed.
    Nothing disturbed me that night, and I was afoot at seven of a beautiful day.
    We had brought a suitcase from Salzburg, and the landlord remembered our ways, so Bell had made everything ready for me to bathe and change. As soon as my toilet was done I went straight to Hanbury’s room, to find him smoking at the window and the Duke still sleeping like the dead. While George was dressing I took his place in the room, and then between us we persuaded the Duke to rise.
    The latter refused point-blank to leave his bed, upbraiding us fiercely for rousing him and declaring that the pain in his head was not to be borne. On our persisting, he started to curse and swear and threw a glass at Hanbury when at last he ripped off the clothes. Once he was up, however, he took himself in hand and behaved more civilly, though he gave us no thanks.
    Breakfast he would not, but demanded some China tea. When I told him that no sort of tea was to be had of such an inn, he abused the house with great freedom and asked me what the devil I meant by bringing a man of his standing to such a place. At that, I called Bell and told him to bring some spring water, commending this to the Duke as likely to serve his distemper rather better than anything else, and, though he looked very black and muttered a rudeness which I think he had not the courage to say aloud, I am glad to remember that he presently took my advice.
    Then he looked out of the window and saw the Rolls.
    “That’s more like it,” he said. “When do we start?”
    “As soon as you’re ready,” said I, “we’ll drive you wherever