Читать книгу No Way Home - Bowen Marjorie - Страница 8

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These same words were being spoken by Martin to his mistress as they rode together under the avenues of limes planted on the ancient fortifications: "He has gone to Stuttgart, from there he could watch us." They sat their hired horses well, and Madame Daun, in a fashionable riding suit, showed nothing of the languor that had kept her confined to her elegant apartments in the Drei Mohren.

"Why should he do so?" she asked, wearily. "He certainly had no suspicions or he would not have left the posting house early this morning without even trying to see us."

"Yet I am not satisfied," replied Martin. "He has much help, the police, the two ducal courts—we have but our wits—the English residents, probably, wherever he goes."

"His errand is hardly one that he could confide to the police."

"He will have every assistance," answered Martin, impatiently. "The Regent himself must have granted him leave of absence for this special purpose."

"Do not speak of it, pray!"

"I must, at least, think of it. We cannot stay in the Drei Mohren. I shall take that Wilhelmsruhe house, a hunting lodge, not for some time used. It will suit us very well."

"For how long?" she asked, fearfully.

"I do not know. We must play these parts until we can shake him off. Remember what is on that."

"Cannot we fly, at once? To Austria—to Italy?"

"That would be to attract attention. We must go to earth."

She glanced in terror at his rude taffeta mask, it was only by his voice she could guess at his mood. The lovely day lay heavily upon her as, with the tone of a master, he bade her ride ahead, while he fell into a servant's place behind her as they returned to the town of Dinkelsbuhl.