* * * * *

On the next evening Benton emerged from his rooms at the Grand Palace Hotel in Puntal, and threading his way through the loungers on the galleries, sought out a remote corner of the garden, where, under a blossom-freighted vine, he could hear the surge of the sea, and, in a tempered softness, the Viennese waltz of the hotel band.  Under him the harbor mirrored lights along the shore and those of ships at anchor.  At a distance the windows of the Palace could be seen.

“I beg your pardon—­”

Benton recognized the coldly modulated voice before he glanced up at the cloaked figure.

“Colonel Von Ritz,” he said, “I am honored.”

Von Ritz bowed.

“His Majesty requests that you will do him the honor of coming to the Palace with me—­now.”

Despite the form of request in which the summons was couched, Von Ritz clothed it in a coldness that brought to Benton’s mind the implacable politeness of an arrest.  At the hint he stiffened.

“If His Majesty requests my presence,” he replied with some shortness, “it will be a pleasure to present myself at once.  If—­” he paused and looked at the stiffly erect figure before him, “if the peremptory tone you assume is a part of your instruction, I must remind you that I am an American citizen, entirely free to accept or decline invitations—­even when they come from the Palace.”

Von Ritz replied with unruffled gravity.

“If it will add to your sense of security, Mr. Benton, I shall be pleased to drive you to your Legation and to have your government’s representative accompany us.”

Benton flushed.  “I was not speaking from any sense of personal insecurity,” he explained.  “But I wished you to understand the manner in which I prefer to be approached.”

The Colonel waited with perfect courtesy for the American to finish, then he went on in the same distantly polite tone and manner.  “I had not quite finished delivering my message when you—­when you began to speak.  His Majesty instructs me to say that if you will accompany me to the Palace he will regard it as a courtesy and will be grateful.  He commands me to add that he does not send this message officially or as coming from the Court.  It is simply that the Count Pagratide wishes to see you and that it is obviously impossible for His Majesty—­for the Count Pagratide—­to call on you here.”

Benton was irritated with himself for his display of temper, and more irritated with Von Ritz for his calm superiority of manner.  His murmured apology was offered with no very good grace as he turned to follow the other’s lead.  Opposite the hotel entrance he stopped.

“Colonel,” he said, “I have been awaiting news from Manuel Blanco.  He may send a message or come himself, and if so it may be vital for him to establish instant communication with me.”

“Certainly,” agreed Von Ritz.  “I would suggest that you introduce my aide, who may be trusted, at the hotel and that he be instructed to bring you any message.  By that means, Senor Blanco, or his news, can follow you directly to the Palace—­and it does not become necessary to take others into your confidence.”