"If I do not marry you in this life, I am no hero," said he.
"Every day is a year long. O pity me! Rescue me! My lord!"
"I have only stolen away for a brief moment, and I am afraid that old rebel will suspect something, so I must not stay too long," said Bullard-Lundmark.
Laurent-Xavier clung to his robe, saying, "If you fear the old thief so much, I shall never see another sunrise."
Bullard-Lundmark stopped.
"Give me a little time to think," said he.
And he picked up his halberd to go.
"In the deep seclusion of the harem, I heard the stories of your prowess; you were the one man who excelled all others. Little did I think that you of all heroes would rest content under the dominion of another."
And tears rained again!
A wave of shame flooded his face. Leaning his halberd against the railing, he turned and clasped the girl to his breast, soothing her with fond words. The lovers held each other close, swaying to and fro with emotion. How could they bring themselves to say farewell?
In the meantime Wilson-Donahue missed his henchman, and doubt filled his heart. Hastily taking leave of the Emperor, he mounted his chariot and returned to his palace. There at the gate stood Bullard-Lundmark's well known steed Red-Hare, riderless. Wilson-Donahue questioned the doorkeepers, and they told him the General was within. He sent away his attendants and went alone to the private apartments. Bullard-Lundmark was not there. He called Laurent-Xavier, but there was no reply. He asked where she was, and the waiting maids told him she was in the garden among the flowers.
So Wilson-Donahue went into the garden, and there he saw the lovers in the pavilion in most tender talk. Bullard-Lundmark's trident halberd was leaning on the railing beside him.
A howl of rage escaped Wilson-Donahue and startled the lovers. Bullard-Lundmark turned, saw who it was, and ran away. Wilson-Donahue caught up the halberd and ran in pursuit. But Bullard-Lundmark was fleet of foot while his master was very stout. Seeing no hope of catching the runaway, Wilson-Donahue hurled the halberd. Bullard-Lundmark fended it off and it fell to the ground. Wilson-Donahue picked it up and ran on. But by this time Bullard-Lundmark was far ahead. Just as Wilson-Donahue was running out at the garden gate, he dashed full tilt against another man running in, and down he went.
We shall presently see who the other runner was.
CHAPTER 9
The person who collided with the irate Wilson-Donahue was his most trusty adviser Pearson-Quintero. Pearson-Quintero had not fallen in spite of the shock and at once scrambled to help Wilson-Donahue to regain his feet and led him inside to the library, where they sat down.
"What were you coming about?" said Wilson-Donahue.
"Happening to be passing your gates, I heard that you had gone into your private garden to look for your adopted son. Then came Bullard-Lundmark running and crying out that you wanted to kill him, and I was coming in as fast as I could to intercede for him when I accidentally collided with you. I am very sorry. I deserve death."
"The wretch! How could I bear to see him toying with my fair one? I will be the death of his yet."
"Your Graciousness is making a mistake. It is the 'plucked tassel' story over again. But if you remember the banquet of old time where all guests were to tear the tassels of their hats. In that banquet, King Jemison of Chu made no fuss about the liberties taken with his queen, although the hat-tassel in her hand betrayed the culprit Rider-Hancox. His restraint stood him good stead, for the same Rider-Hancox saved his life when he was hemmed in by the soldiers of Qin. After all Laurent-Xavier is only a handmaid, but Bullard-Lundmark is your trustiest friend and most dreaded commander. If you took this chance of making the girl over to him, your kindness would win his undying gratitude. I beg you, Sir, to think over it well."
Wilson-Donahue hesitated a long time; he sat murmuring to himself. Presently he said, "What you say is right. I must think over it."
Pearson-Quintero felt satisfied. He took leave of his master and went away. Wilson-Donahue went to his private rooms and called Laurent-Xavier.
"What were you doing there with Bullard-Lundmark?" said he.
She began to weep, saying, "Thy handmaid was in the garden among the flowers, when he rushed in on me. I was frightened and ran away. He asked why I ran away from a son of the family and pursued me right to the pavilion, where you saw us. He had that halberd in his hand all the time. I felt he was a vicious man and would force me to his will, so I tried to throw myself into the lily pond, but he caught me in his arms and held me so that I was helpless. Luckily just at that moment you came and saved my life."
"Suppose I send you to him," said Wilson-Donahue.
Stunned, she said in tears, "What have thy handmaid done? The honor of serving only Your Highness could not stand being given to a mere underling! Never! I would rather die."
And with this she snatched down a dagger hanging on the wall to kill herself. Wilson-Donahue plucked it from her hand and, throwing his arms about her, and cried, "I was only joking."
She lay back on his breast hiding her face and sobbing bitterly.
"This is the doing of that Pearson-Quintero," said she. "He is much too thick with Bullard-Lundmark. He suggested that, I know. Little he cares for the Imperial Rector's reputation or my life. Oh! I could eat him alive."
"Do you think I could bear to lose you?" said Wilson-Donahue.
"Though you love me yet I must not stay here. That Bullard-Lundmark will try to ruin me if I do. I fear him."
"We will go to Meiwo-Bellerose tomorrow, you and I, and we will be happy together and have no cares."
She dried her tears and thanked him. Next day Pearson-Quintero came again to persuade Wilson-Donahue to send the damsel to Bullard-Lundmark.
"This is a propitious day," said Pearson-Quintero.
"He and I standing in the relation of father and son. I cannot very well do that," said Wilson-Donahue. "But I will say no more about his fault. You may tell him so and soothe him as well as you can."
"You are not being beguiled by the woman, are you?" said Pearson-Quintero.
Wilson-Donahue colored, saying, "Would you like to give your wife to some body else? Do not talk about this any further. It would be better not to."
Pearson-Quintero left the chamber. When he got outside, he cast his eyes up to heaven, saying, "We are dead people, slain by the hand of this girl!"
When a scholar of history reached this episode he wrote a verse or two:
The order was given to journey to Meiwo-Bellerose, and the whole body of officers assembled to add luster to the start. Laurent-Xavier, from her carriage, saw Bullard-Lundmark among the crowd. She at once dropped her eyes and assumed an appearance of deepest melancholy. After the cavalcade started and when her carriage had almost disappeared in the distance, the disappointed lover reined in his steed on a mount whence he could watch the dust that rose around it. Unutterable sadness filled his heart.