"Burroughs, Edgar Rice - The Mad King" - читать интересную книгу автора (Burroughs Edgar Rice)

THE EFFECT of his words upon the girl were quite different
from what he had expected. An American girl would have
laughed, knowing that he but joked. This girl did not laugh.
Instead her face went white, and she clutched her bosom
with her two hands. Her brown eyes peered searchingly into
the face of the man.

"Leopold!" she cried in a suppressed voice. "Oh, your
majesty, thank God that you are free--and sane!"

Before he could prevent it the girl had seized his hand
and pressed it to her lips.

Here was a pretty muddle! Barney Custer swore at himself
inwardly for a boorish fool. What in the world had ever
prompted him to speak those ridiculous words! And now
how was he to unsay them without mortifying this beautiful
girl who had just kissed his hand?

She would never forgive that--he was sure of it.

There was but one thing to do, however, and that was to
make a clean breast of it. Somehow, he managed to stumble
through his explanation of what had prompted him, and
when he had finished he saw that the girl was smiling in-
dulgently at him.

"It shall be Mr. Bernard Custer if you wish it so," she said;
"but your majesty need fear nothing from Emma von der
Tann. Your secret is as safe with me as with yourself, as the
name of Von der Tann must assure you."

She looked to see the expression of relief and pleasure
that her father's name should have brought to the face of
Leopold of Lutha, but when he gave no indication that he
had ever before heard the name she sighed and looked
puzzled.

"Perhaps," she thought, "he doubts me. Or can it be pos-
sible that, after all, his poor mind is gone?"

"I wish," said Barney in a tone of entreaty, "that you
would forgive and forget my foolish words, and then let me
accompany you to the end of your journey."

"Whither were you bound when I became the means of
wrecking your motor car?" asked the girl.

"To the Old Forest," replied Barney.