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diff --git a/old/14284-h/14284-h.htm b/old/14284-h/14284-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4580dc9 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14284-h/14284-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,15414 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Truxton King, by George Barr McCutcheon. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Truxton King, by George Barr McCutcheon + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Truxton King + A Story of Graustark + +Author: George Barr McCutcheon + +Release Date: December 7, 2004 [EBook #14284] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRUXTON KING *** + + + + +Produced by Rick Niles, Charlie Kirschner and the PG Online +Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/cover.jpg"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="45%" alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<br /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"> +<br /> +<a name="frontispiece.jpg"></a> +<a href="images/frontispiece.jpg"> +<img src="images/frontispiece.jpg" width="45%" alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>"'DON'T YOU KNOW ANY BETTER THAN TO COME IN HERE?' +DEMANDED THE PRINCE"</b><br /> +<br /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>TRUXTON KING</h1> +<h2>A STORY <i>of</i> GRAUSTARK</h2> + +<h4>BY</h4> +<h3>GEORGE BARR McCUTCHEON</h3> + +<div> +<h5>Author of "Graustark"<br /> +"Beverly of Graustark"<br /> +etc.</h5></div> + +<div> +<h4>WITH ILLUSTRATIONS<br /> +BY HARRISON FISHER</h4> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<br /> +<img src="images/002.png" width="10%" alt="" title="" /><br /> +<br /> +</div> + +<div class="center"> +NEW YORK<br /> +DODD, MEAD & COMPANY<br /> +1909<br /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<div class="center"> +<table summary=""> +<tr> +<td align="right">CHAPTER</td> +<td> </td> +<td align="right">PAGE</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">I</a></td> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_I">TRUXTON KING</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">1</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">II</a></td> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_II">A MEETING OF THE CABINET</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">23</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">III</a></td> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_III">MANY PERSONS IN REVIEW</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">40</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">IV</a></td> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_IV">TRUXTON TRESPASSES</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">59</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">V</a></td> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_V">THE COMMITTEE OF TEN</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">80</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">VI</a></td> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_VI">INGOMEDE THE BEAUTIFUL</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">94</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">VII</a></td> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_VII">AT THE WITCH'S HUT</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">114</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">VIII</a></td> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">LOOKING FOR AN EYE</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">130</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">IX</a></td> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_IX">STRANGE DISAPPEARANCES</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">147</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">X</a></td> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_X">THE IRON COUNT</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">161</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">XI</a></td> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XI">UNDER THE GROUND</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">177</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">XII</a></td> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XII">A NEW PRISONER ARRIVES</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">190</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">XIII</a></td> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">A DIVINITY SHAPES</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">205</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">XIV</a></td> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">ON THE RIVER</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">219</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">XV</a></td> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XV">THE GIRL IN THE RED CLOAK</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">231</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">XVI</a></td> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">THE MERRY VAGABOND</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">245</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">XVII</a></td> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">THE THROWING OF THE BOMB</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">263</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">XVIII</a></td> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">TRUXTON ON PARADE</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">278</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">XIX</a></td> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">TRUXTON EXACTS A PROMISE</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">295</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">XX</a></td> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XX">BY THE WATER-GATE</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">312</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">XXI</a></td> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">THE RETURN</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">329</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">XXII</a></td> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">THE LAST STAND</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">345</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">XXIII</a></td> +<td> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">"YOU WILL BE MRS. KING"</a></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">357</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + +<div class="center"> +<table summary=""> +<tr> +<td>"'Don't you know any better than<br /> +to come in here?' demanded the<br /> +Prince" (<a href="#page_067">page 67</a>)</td> +<td align="right"><i><a href="#frontispiece.jpg">Frontispiece</a></i></td> +</tr> +<tr><td></td></tr> +<tr> +<td>"'You are the only man to whom I<br /> +feel sure that I can reveal myself<br /> +and be quite understood'"</td> +<td align="right"><i>Facing page</i> <a href="#p104.jpg">104</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td></td></tr> +<tr> +<td>"'Bobby! Don't be foolish. How<br /> +could I be in love with <i>him</i>?'"</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#p158.jpg">158</a></td> +</tr> +<tr><td></td></tr> +<tr> +<td>"'His Majesty appears to have—ahem—gone<br /> +to sleep,' remarked<br /> +the Grand Duke tartly"</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#p366.jpg">366</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>TRUXTON KING</h1> +<h2>A STORY OF GRAUSTARK</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I" />CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>TRUXTON KING</h3> + + +<p>He was a tall, rawboned, rangy young fellow with a +face so tanned by wind and sun you had the impression +that his skin would feel like leather if you could affect +the impertinence to test it by the sense of touch. Not +that you would like to encourage this bit of impudence +after a look into his devil-may-care eyes; but you might +easily imagine something much stronger than brown +wrapping paper and not quite so passive as burnt clay. +His clothes fit him loosely and yet were graciously devoid +of the bagginess which characterises the appearance +of extremely young men whose frames are not fully +set and whose joints are still parading through the last +stages of college development. This fellow, you could +tell by looking at him, had been out of college from two +to five years; you could also tell, beyond doubt or contradiction, +that he had been in college for his full allotted +time and had not escaped the usual number of "conditions" +that dismay but do not discourage the happy-go-lucky +undergraduate who makes two or three teams with +comparative ease, but who has a great deal of difficulty +with physics or whatever else he actually is supposed to +acquire between the close of the football season and the +opening of baseball practice.</p> + +<p>This tall young man in the panama hat and grey flannels +was Truxton King, embryo globe-trotter and +searcher after the treasures of Romance. Somewhere +up near Central Park, in one of the fashionable cross +streets, was the home of his father and his father's father +before him: a home which Truxton had not seen in two +years or more. It is worthy of passing notice, and that +is all, that his father was a manufacturer; more than +that, he was something of a power in the financial world. +His mother was not strictly a social queen in the great +metropolis, but she was what we might safely call one +of the first "ladies in waiting." Which is quite good +enough for the wife of a manufacturer; especially when +one records that her husband was a manufacturer of +steel. It is also a matter of no little consequence that +Truxton's mother was more or less averse to the steel +business as a heritage for her son. Be it understood, +here and now, that she intended Truxton for the diplomatic +service: as far removed from sordid steel as the +New York post office is from the Court of St. James.</p> + +<p>But neither Truxton's father, who wanted him to be a +manufacturing Croesus, or Truxton's mother, who expected +him to become a social Solomon, appears to have +taken the young man's private inclinations into consideration. +Truxton preferred a life of adventure distinctly +separated from steel and velvet; nor was he slow +to set his esteemed parents straight in this respect. He +had made up his mind to travel, to see the world, to be a +part of the big round globe on which we, as ordinary +individuals with no personality beyond the next block, +are content to sit and encourage the single ambition to +go to Europe at least once, so that we may not be left +out of the general conversation.</p> + +<p>Young Mr. King believed in Romance. He had believed +in Santa Claus and the fairies, and he grew up +with an ever increasing bump of imagination, contiguous +to which, strange to relate, there was a properly +developed bump of industry and application. Hence, it is +not surprising that he was willing to go far afield in +search of the things that seemed more or less worth while +to a young gentleman who had suffered the ill-fortune +to be born in the nineteenth century instead of the seventeenth. +Romance and adventure, politely amorous but +vigorously attractive, came up to him from the seventeenth +century, perhaps through the blood of some +swash-buckling ancestor, and he was held enthralled by +the possibilities that lay hidden in some far off or even +nearby corner of this hopelessly unromantic world of +the twentieth century.</p> + +<p>To be sure there was war, but war isn't Romance. Besides, +he was too young to fight against Spain; and, +later on, he happened to be more interested in football +than he was in the Japs or the Russians. The only thing +left for him to do was to set forth in quest of adventure; +adventure was not likely to apply to him in Fifth Avenue +or at the factory or—still, there was a certain kind +of adventure analogous to Broadway, after all. He +thought it over and, after trying it for a year or two, +decided that Broadway and the Tenderloin did not produce +the sort of Romance he could cherish for long as +a self-respecting hero, so he put certain small temptations +aside, chastened himself as well as he could, and +set out for less amiable but more productive by-ways +in other sections of the globe.</p> + +<p>We come upon him at last—luckily for us we were not +actually following him—after two years of wonderful +but rather disillusioning adventure in mid-Asia and all +Africa. He had seen the Congo and the Euphrates, the +Ganges and the Nile, the Yang-tse-kiang and the +Yenisei; he had climbed mountains in Abyssinia, in +Siam, in Thibet and Afghanistan; he had shot big game +in more than one jungle, and had been shot at by small +brown men in more than one forest, to say nothing of the +little encounters he had had in most un-Occidental towns +and cities. He had seen women in Morocco and Egypt +and Persia and—But it is a waste of time to enumerate. +Strange to say, he was now drifting back toward the +civilisation which we are pleased to call our own, with a +sense of genuine disappointment in his heart. He had +found no sign of Romance.</p> + +<p>Adventure in plenty, but Romance—ah, the fairy +princesses were in the story books, after all.</p> + +<p>Here he was, twenty-six years old, strong and full of the +fire of life, convincing himself that there was nothing for +him to do but to drift back to dear old New York and +talk to his father about going into the offices; to let +his mother tell him over and over again of the nice girls +she knew who did not have to be rescued from ogres and +all that sort of thing in order to settle down to domestic +obsolescence; to tell his sister and all of their mutual +friends the whole truth and nothing but the truth concerning +his adventures in the wilds, and to feel that the +friends, at least, were predestined to look upon him as a +fearless liar, nothing more.</p> + +<p>For twenty days he had travelled by caravan across the +Persian uplands, through Herat, and Meshed and +Bokhara, striking off with his guide alone toward the +Sea of Aral and the eastern shores of the Caspian, +thence through the Ural foothills to the old Roman highway +that led down into the sweet green valleys of a land +he had thought of as nothing more than the creation of +a hairbrained fictionist.</p> + +<p>Somewhere out in the shimmering east he had learned, +to his honest amazement, that there was such a land as +Graustark. At first he would not believe. But the English +bank in Meshed assured him that he would come to +it if he travelled long enough and far enough into the +north and west and if he were not afraid of the hardships +that most men abhor. The dying spirit of Romance +flamed up in his heart; his blood grew quick again +and eager. He would not go home until he had sought +out this land of fair women and sweet tradition. And +so he traversed the wild and dangerous Tartar roads for +days and days, like the knights of Scheherazade in the +times of old, and came at last to the gates of Edelweiss.</p> + +<p>Not until he sat down to a rare dinner in the historic +Hotel Regengetz was he able to realise that he was truly +in that fabled, mythical land of Graustark, quaint, grim +little principality in the most secret pocket of the earth's +great mantle. This was the land of his dreams, the land +of his fancy; he had not even dared to hope that it +actually existed.</p> + +<p>And now, here he was, pinching himself to prove that +he was awake, stretching his world-worn bones under a +dainty table to which real food was being brought by—well, +he was obliged to pinch himself again. From the +broad terrace after dinner he looked out into the streets +of the quaint, picture-book town with its mediæval simplicity +and ruggedness combined; his eyes tried to keep +pace with the things that his fertile brain was seeing +beyond the glimmering lights and dancing window +panes—for the whole scene danced before him with a +persistent unreality that made him feel his own pulse in +the fear that some sudden, insidious fever had seized +upon him.</p> + +<p>If any one had told him, six months before, that there +was such a land as Graustark and that if he could but +keep on travelling in a certain direction he would come +to it in time, he would have laughed that person to +scorn, no matter how precise a geographer he might have +been.</p> + +<p>Young Mr. King, notwithstanding his naturally reckless +devotion to first impressions, was a much wiser person +than when he left his New York home two years before. +Roughing it in the wildest parts of the world +had taught him that eagerness is the enemy of common +sense. Therefore he curbed the thrilling impulse to fare +forth in search of diversion on this first night; he conquered +himself and went to bed early—and to sleep at +once, if that may serve to assist you in getting an idea +of what time and circumstances had done for his character.</p> + +<p>A certain hard-earned philosophy had convinced him +long ago that adventure is quite content to wait over +from day to day, but that when a man is tired and worn +it isn't quite sensible to expect sleep to be put off regardless. +With a fine sense of sacrifice, therefore, he went to +bed, forsaking the desire to tread the dim streets of a +city by night in advance of a more cautious survey by +daylight. He had come to know that it is best to make +sure of your ground, in a measure, at least, before taking +too much for granted—to look before you leap, so +to speak. And so, his mind tingling with visions of fair +ladies and goodly opportunities, he went to sleep—and +did not get up to breakfast until noon the next day.</p> + +<p>And now it becomes my deplorable duty to divulge the +fact that Truxton King, after two full days and nights +in the city of Edelweiss, was quite ready to pass on to +other fields, completely disillusionised in his own mind, +and not a little disgusted with himself for having gone +to the trouble to visit the place. To his intense chagrin, +he had found the quaint old city very tiresome. True, +it was a wonderful old town, rich in tradition, picturesque +in character, hoary with age, bulging with the +secrets of an active past; but at present, according to +the well travelled Truxton, it was a poky old place about +which historians either had lied gloriously or had been +taken in shamelessly. In either case, Edelweiss was not +what he had come to believe it would be. He had travelled +overland for nearly a month, out of the heart of +Asia, to find himself, after all, in a graveyard of great +expectations!</p> + +<p>He had explored Edelweiss, the capital. He had ridden +about the ramparts; he had taken snapshots of the fortress +down the river and had not been molested; he had +gone mule-back up the mountain to the snowcapped +monastery of St. Valentine, overtopping and overlooking +the green valleys below; he had seen the tower in +which illustrious prisoners were reported to have been +held; he had ridden over the King's Road to Ganlook +and had stood on American bridges at midnight—all the +while wondering why he was there. Moreover, he had +traversed the narrow, winding streets of the city by day +and night; never, in all his travels, had he encountered a +more peaceful, less spirit-stirring place or populace.</p> + +<p>Everybody was busy, and thrifty, and law abiding. +He might just as well have gone to Prague or Nuremburg; +either was as old and as quaint and as stupid +as this lukewarm city in the hills.</p> + +<p>Where were the beautiful women he had read about and +dreamed of ever since he left Teheran? On his soul, he +had not seen half a dozen women in Edelweiss who were +more than passably fair to look upon. True, he had to +admit, the people he had seen were of the lower and +middle classes—the shopkeepers and the shopgirls, the +hucksters and the fruit vendors. What he wanted to +know was this: What had become of the royalty and +the nobility of Graustark? Where were the princes, the +dukes and the barons, to say nothing of the feminine +concomitants to these excellent gentlemen?</p> + +<p>What irritated him most of all was the amazing discovery +that there was a Cook's tourist office in town and +that no end of parties arrived and departed under his +very nose, all mildly exhilarated over the fact that they +had seen Graustark! The interpreter, with "Cook's" on +his cap, was quite the most important, if quite the least +impressive personage in town. It is no wonder that this +experienced globe-trotter was disgusted!</p> + +<p>There was a train to Vienna three times a week. He +made up his mind that he would not let the Saturday +express go down without him. He had done some +emphatic sputtering because he had neglected to take +the one on Thursday.</p> + +<p>Shunning the newly discovered American club in Castle +Avenue as if it were a pest house, he lugubriously wandered +the streets alone, painfully conscious that the +citizens, instead of staring at him with admiring eyes, +were taking but little notice of him. Tall young Americans +were quite common in Edelweiss in these days.</p> + +<p>One dingy little shop in the square interested him. It +was directly opposite the Royal Café (with American +bar attached), and the contents of its grimy little windows +presented a peculiarly fascinating interest to him. +Time and again, he crossed over from the Café garden to +look into these windows. They were packed with weapons +and firearms of such ancient design that he wondered +what they could have been used for, even in the Middle +Ages. Once he ventured inside the little shop. Finding +no attendant, he put aside his suddenly formed impulse +to purchase a mighty broadsword. From somewhere in +the rear of the building came the clanging of steel hammers, +the ringing of highly tempered metals; but, although +he pounded vigorously with his cane, no one came +forth to attend him.</p> + +<p>On several occasions he had seen a grim, sharp-featured +old man in the doorway of the shop, but it was not until +after he had missed the Thursday train that he made up +his mind to accost him and to have the broadsword at +any price. With this object in view, he quickly crossed +the square and inserted his tall frame into the narrow +doorway, calling out lustily for attention. So loudly +did he shout that the multitude of ancient swords and +guns along the walls seemed to rattle in terror at this +sudden encroachment of the present.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" demanded a sharp, angry voice at his +elbow. He wheeled and found himself looking into the +wizened, parchment-like face of the little old man, whose +black eyes snapped viciously. "Do you think I am +deaf?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't know you were here," gasped Truxton, forgetting +to be surprised by the other's English. "The +place looked empty. Excuse me for yelling."</p> + +<p>"What do you want?"</p> + +<p>"That broad—Say, you speak English, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," snapped the old man. "Why shouldn't I? +I can't afford an interpreter. You'll find plenty of +English used here in Edelweiss since the Americans and +British came. They won't learn our language, so we +must learn theirs."</p> + +<p>"You speak it quite as well as I do."</p> + +<p>"Better, young man. You are an American." The +sarcasm was not lost on Truxton King, but he was not +inclined to resent it. A twinkle had come into the eyes +of the ancient; the deep lines about his lips seemed +almost ready to crack into a smile.</p> + +<p>"What's the price of that old sword you have in the +window?"</p> + +<p>"Do you wish to purchase it?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly."</p> + +<p>"Three hundred gavvos."</p> + +<p>"What's that in dollars?"</p> + +<p>"Four hundred and twenty."</p> + +<p>"Whew!"</p> + +<p>"It is genuine, sir, and three hundred years old. Old +Prince Boris carried it. It's most rare. Ten years ago +you might have had it for fifty gavvos. But," with a +shrug of his thin shoulders, "the price of antiquities has +gone up materially since the Americans began to come. +They don't want a thing if it is cheap."</p> + +<p>"I'll give you a hundred dollars for it, Mr.—er—" he +looked at the sign on the open door—"Mr. Spantz."</p> + +<p>"Good day, sir." The old man was bowing him out of +the shop. King was amused.</p> + +<p>"Let's talk it over. What's the least you'll take in real +money?"</p> + +<p>"I don't want your money. Good day."</p> + +<p>Truxton King felt his chin in perplexity. In all his +travels he had found no other merchant whom he could +not "beat down" two or three hundred per cent. on an +article.</p> + +<p>"It's too much. I can't afford it," he said, disappointment +in his eyes.</p> + +<p>"I have modern blades of my own make, sir, much +cheaper and quite as good," ventured the excellent Mr. +Spantz.</p> + +<p>"You make 'em?" in surprise.</p> + +<p>The old man straightened his bent figure with sudden +pride. "I am armourer to the crown, sir. My blades are +used by the nobility—not by the army, I am happy to +say. Spantz repairs the swords and guns for the army, +but he welds only for the gentlemen at court."</p> + +<p>"I see. Tradition, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"My great-grandfather wrought blades for the princes +a hundred years ago. My son will make them after I +am gone, and his son after him. I, sir, have made the +wonderful blade with the golden hilt and scabbard which +the little Prince carries on days of state. It was two +years in the making. There is no other blade so fine. +It is so short that you would laugh at it as a weapon, +and yet you could bend it double. Ah, there was a +splendid piece of work, sir. You should see the little +toy to appreciate it. There are diamonds and rubies +worth 50,000 gavvos set in the handle. Ah, it is—"</p> + +<p>Truxton's eyes were sparkling once more. Somehow +he was amused by the sudden garrulousness of the old +armourer. He held up his hand to check the flow of +words.</p> + +<p>"I say, Herr Spantz, or Monsieur, perhaps, you are the +first man I've met who has volunteered to go into rhapsodies +for my benefit. I'd like to have a good long chat +with you. What do you say to a mug of that excellent +beer over in the Café garden? Business seems to be a +little dull. Can't you—er—lock up?"</p> + +<p>Spantz looked at him keenly under his bushy brows, his +little black eyes fairly boring holes into King's brain, so +to speak.</p> + +<p>"May I ask what brings you to Edelweiss?" he asked +abruptly.</p> + +<p>"I don't mind telling you, Mr. Spantz, that I'm here +because I'm somewhat of a fool. False hopes led me +astray. I thought Graustark was the home, the genesis +of Romance, and I'm more or less like that chap we've +read about, who was always in search of adventure. +Somehow, Graustark hasn't come up to expectations. +Up to date, this is the slowest burg I've ever seen. I'm +leaving next Saturday for Vienna."</p> + +<p>"I see," cackled Spantz, his eyes twinkling with mirth. +"You thought you could capture wild and beautiful +princesses here just as you pleased, eh? Let me tell you, +young man, only one American—only one foreigner, in +fact—has accomplished that miracle. Mr. Lorry came +here ten years ago and won the fairest flower Graustark +ever produced-the beautiful Yetive—but he was the +only one. I suppose you are surprised to find Graustark +a solid, prosperous, God-fearing little country, whose +people are wise and happy and loyal. You have learned, +by this time, that we have no princesses for you to protect. +It isn't as it was when Mr. Lorry came and found +Her Serene Highness in mediæval difficulties. There is +a prince on the throne to-day—you've seen him?"</p> + +<p>"No. I'm not looking for princes. I've seen hundreds +of 'em in all parts of the world."</p> + +<p>"Well, you should see Prince Robin before you scoff. +He's the most wonderful little man in all the world."</p> + +<p>"I've heard of nothing but him, my good Mr. Spantz. +He's seven years old and he looks like his mother and he's +got a jewelled sword and all that sort of thing. I daresay +he's a nice little chap. Got American blood in him, +you see."</p> + +<p>"Do not let any one hear you laugh about him, sir. +The people worship him. If you laugh too publicly, you +may have your hands full of adventures in a very few +minutes—and your body full of fine steel blades. We +are very proud of our Prince."</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, Mr. Spantz. I didn't mean <i>lesé +majesté</i>. I'm bored, that's all. You wouldn't blame me +for being sore if you'd come as far as I have and got as +little for your pains. Why, hang it all, this morning +that confounded man from Cook's had a party of twenty-two +American school-teachers and Bible students in the +Castle grounds and I had to stand on my toes outside +the walls for two hours before I could get a permit to +enter. American engineers are building the new railroad; +American capital controls the telephone and electric light +companies; there are two American moving picture +shows in Regengetz Circus and an American rush hand +laundry two blocks up. And you can get Bourbon +whisky anywhere. It's sickening."</p> + +<p>"The Americans have done much for Edelweiss, sir. +We don't resent their progressiveness. They have given +us modern improvements without overthrowing ancient +customs. My dear young sir, we are very old here—and +very honest. That reminds me that I should accept +your kind invitation to the Café garden. If you will +bear with me for just one moment, sir." With this +polite request, the old man retired to the rear of the +shop and called out to some one upstairs. A woman's +voice answered. The brief conversation which followed +was in a tongue unknown to King.</p> + +<p>"My niece will keep shop, sir, while I am out," Spantz +explained, taking his hat from a peg behind the door. +Truxton could scarcely restrain a smile as he glanced +over his queer little old guest. He looked eighty but was +as sprightly as a man of forty. A fine companion for +a youth of twenty-six in search of adventure!</p> + +<p>They paused near the door until the old man's niece +appeared at the back of the shop. King's first glance +at the girl was merely a casual one. His second was +more or less in the nature of a stare of amazement.</p> + +<p>A young woman of the most astounding beauty, attired +in the black and red of the Graustark middle classes, +was slowly approaching from the shadowy recesses at the +end of the shop. She gave him but a cursory glance, in +which no interest was apparent, and glided quietly into +the little nook behind the counter, almost at his elbow. +His heart enjoyed a lively thump. Here was the first +noticeably good-looking woman he had seen in Edelweiss, +and, by the powers, she was a sword-maker's niece!</p> + +<p>The old man looked sharply at him for an instant, and +a quick little smile writhed in and out among the mass +of wrinkles. Instead of passing directly out of the shop, +Spantz stopped a moment to give the girl some suddenly +recalled instruction. Truxton King, you may be sure, +did not precede the old man into the street. He deliberately +removed his hat and waited most politely for +age to go before youth, in the meantime blandly gazing +upon the face of this amazing niece.</p> + +<p>Across the square, at one of the tables, he awaited his +chance and a plausible excuse for questioning the old +man without giving offence. Somewhere back in his impressionable +brain there was growing a distinct hope +that this beautiful young creature with the dreamy eyes +was something more than a mere shopgirl. It had occurred +to him in that one brief moment of contact that +she had the air, the poise of a true aristocrat.</p> + +<p>The old man, over his huge mug of beer, was properly +grateful. He was willing to repay King for his little +attention by giving him a careful history of Graustark, +past, present and future, from the time of Tartar rule +to the time of the so-called "American invasion." ills +glowing description of the little Prince might have interested +Truxton in his Lord Fauntleroy days, but just at +present he was more happily engaged in speculating on +the true identify of the girl in the gun-shop. He recalled +the fact that a former royal princess of Graustark +had gone sight-seeing over the world, incognita, +as a Miss Guggenslocker, and had been romantically +snatched up by a lucky American named Lorry. What +if this girl in the gun-shop should turn out to be a—well, +he could hardly hope for a princess; but she might +be a countess.</p> + +<p>The old mart was rambling on. "The young Prince has +lived most of his life in Washington and London and +Paris, sir. He's only seven, sir. Of course, you remember +the dreadful accident that made him an orphan +and put him on the throne with the three 'wise men of +the East' as regents or governors. The train wreck +near Brussels, sir? His mother, the glorious Princess +Yetive, was killed and his father, Mr. Lorry, died the +next day from his injuries. That, sir, was a most appalling +blow to the people of Graustark. We loved the +Princess and we admired her fine American husband. +There never will be another pair like them, sir. And to +think of them being destroyed as they were—in the most +dreadful way, sir. Their coach was demolished, you +remember. I—I will not go into the details. You know +them, of course. God alone preserved the little Prince. +He was travelling with them, on the way from London to +Edelweiss. By some strange intervention of Providence +he had gone with his governess and other members of +the party to the luggage van in the fore part of the +train, which had stopped on a side track below the station. +The collision was from the rear, a broken rail +throwing a locomotive into the Princess's coach. This +providential escape of the young Prince preserved the +unbroken line of the present royal family. If he had +been killed, the dynasty would have come to an end, and, +I am telling no secret, sir, when I say that a new form +of government would have followed."</p> + +<p>"What sort of government?"</p> + +<p>"A more modern system, sir. Perhaps socialistic. I +can't say. At all events, a new dynasty could not have +been formed. The people would have rejected it. But +Prince Robin was spared and, if I do say it, sir, he is the +manliest little prince in all the world. You should see +him ride and fence and shoot—and he is but seven!"</p> + +<p>"I say, Mr. Spantz, I don't believe I've told you that +your niece is a most remarkably beau—"</p> + +<p>"As I was saying, sir," interrupted Spantz, so pointedly +that Truxton flushed, "the little Prince is the idol of all +the people. Under the present regency he is obliged +to reside in the principality until his fifteenth year, after +which he may be permitted to travel abroad. Graustark +intends to preserve him to herself if it is in her power +to do so. Woe betide the man who thinks or does ill +toward little Prince Robin."</p> + +<p>King was suddenly conscious of a strange intentness of +gaze on the old man's part. A peculiar, indescribable +chill swept over him; he had a distinct, vivid impression +that some subtle power was exercising itself upon him—a +power that, for the briefest instant, held him in a grip +of iron. What it was, he could not have told; it passed +almost immediately. Something in the old man's eyes, +perhaps—or was it something in the queer smile that +flickered about his lips?</p> + +<p>"My dear Mr. Spantz," he hastened to say, as if a +defence were necessary, "please don't get it into your +head that I'm thinking ill of the Prince. I daresay he's +a fine little chap and I'm sorry he's—er—lost his parents."</p> + +<p>Spantz laughed, a soft, mirthless gurgle that caused +Truxton to wonder why he had made the effort at all. +"I imagine His Serene Highness has little to fear from +any American," he said quietly. "He has been taught to +love and respect the men of his father's land. He loves +America quite as dearly as he loves Graustark." Despite +the seeming sincerity of the remark, Truxton was +vaguely conscious that a peculiar harshness had crept +into the other's voice. He glanced sharply at the old +man's face. For the first time he noticed something sinister—yes, +evil—in the leathery countenance; a stealthiness +in the hard smile that seemed to transform it at once +into a pronounced leer. Like a flash there darted into the +American's active brain a conviction that there could +be no common relationship between this flinty old man +and the delicate, refined girl he had seen in the shop. +Now he recalled the fact that her dark eyes had a look +of sadness and dejection in their depths, and that her +face was peculiarly white and unsmiling.</p> + +<p>Spantz was eyeing him narrowly. "You do not appear +interested in our royal family," he ventured coldly.</p> + +<p>Truxton hastened to assure him that he was keenly interested. +Especially so, now that I appreciate that the +little Prince is the last of his race."</p> + +<p>"There are three regents, sir, in charge of the affairs +of state—Count Halfont, the Duke of Perse and Baron +Jasto Dangloss, who is minister of police. Count Halfont +is a granduncle of the Prince, by marriage. The +Duke of Perse is the father of the unhappy Countess +Ingomede, the young and beautiful wife of the exiled +"Iron Count" Marlanx. No doubt you've heard of him."</p> + +<p>"I've read something about him. Sort of a gay old +bounder, wasn't he? Seems to me I recall the stories that +were printed about him a few years ago. I remember +that he was banished from the principality and his estates +seized by the Crown."</p> + +<p>"Quite true, sir. He was banished in 1901 and now +resides on his estates in Austria. Three years ago, in +Buda Pesth, he was married to Ingomede, the daughter +of the Duke. Count Marlanx has great influence at the +Austrian court. Despite the fact that he is a despised +and discredited man in his own country, he still is a +power among people high in the government of more +than one empire. The Duke of Perse realised this when +he compelled his daughter to accept him as her husband. +The fair Ingomede is less than twenty-five years of age; +the Iron Count is fully sixty-five."</p> + +<p>"She ought to be rescued," was King's only comment, +but there was no mistaking the gleam of interest in his +steady grey eyes.</p> + +<p>"Rescued?" repeated the old man, with a broad grin. +"And why? She is mistress of one of the finest old +castles in Austria, Schloss Marlanx, and she is quite +beautiful enough to have lovers by the score when the +Count grows a little blinder and less jealous. She is in +Edelweiss at present, visiting her father. The Count +never comes here."</p> + +<p>"I'd like to see her if she's really beautiful. I've seen +but one pretty woman in this whole blamed town—your +niece, Herr Spantz. I've looked 'em over pretty carefully, +too. She is exceedingly attract—"</p> + +<p>"Pardon me, sir, but it is not the custom in Graustark +to discuss our women in the public drinking places." +King felt as if he had received a slap in the face. He +turned a fiery red under his tan and mumbled some sort +of an apology. "The Countess is a public personage, +however, and we may speak of her," went on the old man +quickly, as the American, in his confusion, called a waiter +to replenish the tankards. The steely glitter that leaped +into the armourer's eyes at this second reference to his +niece disappeared as quickly as it came; somehow it left +behind the impression that he knew how to wield the +deadly blades he wrought.</p> + +<p>"I'd like to hear more about her," murmured Mr. King. +"Anything to pass the time away, Mr. Spantz. As I +said before, I journeyed far to reach this land of fair +women and if there's one to be seen, I'm properly eager +to jump at the chance. I've been here two days and I've +seen nothing that could start up the faintest flutter +around my heart. I'm sorry to say, my good friend, that +the women I've seen in the streets of Edelweiss are not +beauties. I won't say that they'd stop a clock, but they'd +cause it to lose two or three hours a day, all right +enough."</p> + +<p>"You will not find the beautiful women of Edelweiss in +the streets, sir."</p> + +<p>"Don't they ever go out shopping?"</p> + +<p>"Hardly. The merchants, if you will but notice, carry +their wares to the houses of the noble and the rich. +Graustark ladies of quality would no more think of +setting foot in a shop or bazaar than they would think +of entering a third class carriage. Believe me, there are +many beautiful women in the homes along Castle Avenue. +Noblemen come hundreds of miles to pay court to them."</p> + +<p>"Just the same, I'm disgusted with the place. It's not +what it's cracked up to be. Saturday will see me on +my way."</p> + +<p>"To-morrow the garrison at the fortress marches in +review before the Prince. If you should happen to be +on the avenue near the Castle gate at twelve o'clock, you +will see the beauty and chivalry of Graustark. The +soldiers are not the only ones who are on parade." There +was an unmistakable sneer in his tone.</p> + +<p>"You don't care much for society, I'd say," observed +Truxton, with a smile.</p> + +<p>Spantz's eyes flamed for an instant and then subtly resumed +their most ingratiating twinkle. "We cannot all +be peacocks," he said quietly. "You will see the Prince, +his court and all the distinguished men of the city and +the army. You will also see that the man who rides +beside the Prince's carriage wheel is an American, while +Graustark nobles take less exalted places."</p> + +<p>"An American, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Have you not heard of John Tullis, the Prince's +friend?"</p> + +<p>"Another seven-year-old?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all. A grown man, sir. He, your countryman, +is the real power behind our throne. On his deathbed, +the Prince's father placed his son in this American's +charge and begged him to stand by him through thick +and thin until the lad is able to take care of himself. +As if there were not loyal men in Graustark who might +have done as much for their Prince!"</p> + +<p>King looked interested. "I see. The people, no doubt, +resent this espionage. Is that it?"</p> + +<p>Spantz gave him a withering look, as much as to say +that he was a fool to ask such a question in a place so +public. Without replying, he got to his feet and made +ready to leave the little garden.</p> + +<p>"I must return. I have been away too long. Thank +you, sir, for your kindness to an old man. Good day, +sir, and—"</p> + +<p>"Hold on! I think I'll walk over with you and have +another look at that broadsword. I'm—"</p> + +<p>"To-morrow, sir. It is past time to close the shop for +to-day. Come to-morrow. Good day."</p> + +<p>He was crossing the sidewalk nimbly before King could +offer a word of remonstrance. With a disappointed sigh, +the American sank back in his chair, and watched his odd +companion scurry across the square. Suddenly he became +conscious of a disquieting feeling that some one +was looking at him intently from behind. He turned +in his chair and found himself meeting the gaze of a +ferocious looking, military appearing little man at a +table near by. To his surprise, the little man's fierce +stare maintained its peculiarly personal intentness until +he, himself, was compelled to withdraw his own gaze in +some little confusion and displeasure. His waiter appeared +at his elbow with the change.</p> + +<p>"Who the devil is that old man at the table there?" +demanded young Mr. King loudly.</p> + +<p>The waiter assumed a look of extreme insolence. "That +is Baron Dangloss, Minister of Police. Anything more, +sir?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. What's he looking so hard at me for? Does he +think I'm a pickpocket?"</p> + +<p>"You know as much as I, sir," was all that the waiter +said in reply. King pocketed the coin he had intended +for the fellow, and deliberately left the place. He could +not put off the feeling, however, that the intense stare of +Baron Dangloss, the watch-dog of the land, followed him +until the corner of the wall intervened. The now incensed +American glanced involuntarily across the square +in the direction of Spantz's shop. He saw three mounted +soldiers ride up to the curb and hail the armourer as he +started to close his doors. As he sauntered across the +little square his gaze suddenly shifted to a second-story +window above the gun-shop.</p> + +<p>The interesting young woman had cautiously pushed +open one of the shutters and was peering down upon the +trio of red-coated guardsmen. Almost at the same instant +her quick, eager gaze fell upon the tall American, +now quite close to the horsemen. He saw her dark eyes +expand as if with surprise. The next instant he caught +his breath and almost stopped in his tracks.</p> + +<p>A shy, impulsive smile played about her red lips for a +second, lighting up the delicate face with a radiance that +amazed him. Then the shutter was closed gently, +quickly. His first feeling of elation was followed instantly +by the disquieting impression that it was a mocking +smile of amusement and not one of inviting friendliness. +He felt his ears burn as he abruptly turned off to +the right, for, somehow, he knew that she was peeping +at him through the blinds and that something about his +tall, rangy figure was appealing to her sense of the +ridiculous.</p> + +<p>You will see at once that Truxton King, imaginative +chap that he was, had pounced upon this slim, attractive +young woman as the only plausible heroine for his prospective +romance, and, as such, she could not be guilty of +forwardness or lack or dignity. Besides, first impressions +are always good ones: she had struck him at the outset +as being a girl of rare delicacy and refinement.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Baron Dangloss was watching him +covertly from the edge of the Café garden across the +square.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II" />CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>A MEETING OF THE CABINET</h3> + + +<p>At this time, the principality of Graustark was in a +most prosperous condition. Its affairs were under the +control of an able ministry, headed by the venerable +Count Halfont. The Duke of Perse, for years a resident +of St. Petersburg, and a financier of high standing, +had returned to Edelweiss soon after the distressing +death of the late Princess Yetive and her American husband, +and to him was entrusted the treasury portfolio. +He at once proceeded to endear himself to the common +people by the advocacy of a lower rate of taxation; this +meant the reduction of the standing army. He secured +new and advantageous treaties with old and historic +foes, putting Graustark's financial credit upon a high +footing in the European capitals. The people smugly +regarded themselves as safe in the hands of the miserly +but honest old financier. If he accomplished many things +by way of office to enhance his own particular fortune, +no one looked askance, for he made no effort to blind or +deceive his people. Of his honesty there could be no +question; of his financial operations, it is enough to say +that the people were satisfied to have their affairs linked +with his.</p> + +<p>The financing of the great railroad project by which +Edelweiss was to be connected with the Siberian line in +the north, fell to his lot at a time when no one else could +have saved the little government from heavy losses or +even bankruptcy. The new line traversed the country +from Serros, capital of Dawsbergen, through the mountains +and canyons of Graustark, across Axphain's broad +steppes and lowlands, to a point at which Russia stood +ready to begin a connecting branch for junction with +her great line to the Pacific. All told, it was a stupendous +undertaking for a small government to finance; it +is well known that Graustark owns and controls her public +utility institutions. The road, now about half completed, +was to be nearly two hundred miles in length, fully +two-thirds of which was on Graustark territory. The +preponderance of cost of construction fell upon that +principality, Dawsbergen and Axphain escaping with +comparatively small obligations owing to the fact that +they had few mountains to contend with. As a matter +of fact, the Dawsbergen and Axphain ends of the railroad +were now virtually built and waiting for the completion +of the extensive work in the Graustark highlands.</p> + +<p>The opening of this narrative finds the ministry preparing +to float a new five million gavvo issue of bonds +for construction and equipment purposes. Agents of +the government were ready to depart for London and +Paris to take up the matter with the great banking +houses. St. Petersburg and Berlin were not to be given +the opportunity to gobble up these extremely fine securities. +This seemingly extraordinary exclusion of +Russian and German bidders was the result of vigorous +objections raised by an utter outsider, the American, +John Tullis, long time friend and companion of Grenfall +Lorry, consort to the late Princess.</p> + +<p>Tullis was a strange man in many particulars. He +was under forty years of age, but even at that rather +immature time of life he had come to be recognised as +a shrewd, successful financial power in his home city, +New York. At the very zenith of his power he suddenly +and with Quixotic disregard for consequences gave up +his own business and came to Graustark for residence, +following a promise made to Grenfall Lorry when the +latter lay dying in a little inn near Brussels.</p> + +<p>They had been lifelong friends. Tullis jestingly called +himself the little Prince's "morganatic godfather." For +two years he had been a constant resident of Graustark, +living contentedly, even indolently, in the picturesque old +Castle, his rooms just across the corridor from those +occupied by the little Prince. To this small but important +bit of royalty he was "Uncle Jack"; in that +capacity he was the most beloved and at the same time +the most abused gentleman in all Graustark. As many +as ten times a week he was signally banished from the +domain by the loving, headstrong little ruler, only to +be recalled with grave dignity and a few tears when he +went so far as to talk of packing his "duds" in obedience +to the edict.</p> + +<p>John Tullis, strong character though he was, found +this lazy, <i>dolce far niente</i> life much to his liking. He +was devoted to the boy; he was interested in the life at +this tiny court. The days of public and court mourning +for the lamented Princess and her husband wearing away +after an established period, he found himself eagerly +delving into the gaieties that followed. Life at the Castle +and in the homes of the nobility provided a new and +sharp contrast to the busy, sordid existence he had known +at home. It was like a fine, wholesome, endless dream to +him. He drifted on the joyous, smiling tide of pleasure +that swept Edelweiss with its careless waves night and +day. Clever, handsome, sincere in his attitude of loyalty +toward these people of the topmost east, he was not long +in becoming a popular idol.</p> + +<p>His wide-awake, resourceful brain, attuned by nature to +the difficulties of administration, lent itself capably to +the solving of many knotty financial puzzles; the ministry +was never loth to call on him for advice and seldom +disposed to disregard it. An outsider, he never offered a +suggestion or plan unasked; to this single qualification +he owed much of the popularity and esteem in which he +was held by the classes and the masses. Socially, he was +a great favourite. He enjoyed the freedom of the most +exclusive homes in Edelweiss. He had enjoyed the distinction +of more than one informal visit to old Princess +Volga of Axphain, just across the border, to say nothing +of shooting expeditions with young Prince Dantan of +Dawsbergen, whose American wife, formerly Miss Calhoun +of Washington, was a friend of long standing.</p> + +<p>John Tullis was, beyond question, the most conspicuous +and the most admired man in Edelweiss in these serene +days of mentorship to the adored Prince Robin.</p> + +<p>There was but one man connected with the government +to whom his popularity and his influence proved distasteful. +That man was the Duke of Perse. On more +than one occasion the cabinet had chosen to be guided +by the sagacity of John Tullis in preference to following +the lines laid down by the astute minister of finance. +The decision to offer the new bond issue in London and +Paris was due to the earnest, forceful argument of John +Tullis—outside the cabinet chamber, to be sure. This +was but one instance in which the plan of the treasurer +was overridden. He resented the plain though delicate +influence of the former Wall Street man. Tullis had +made it plain to the ministry that Graustark could not +afford to place itself in debt to the Russians, into whose +hands, sooner or later, the destinies of the railroad might +be expected to fall. The wise men of Graustark saw his +point without force of argument, and voted down, in the +parliament, the Duke's proposition to place the loan in +St. Petersburg and Berlin. For this particular act of +trespass upon the Duke's official preserves he won the +hatred of the worthy treasurer and his no inconsiderable +following among the deputies.</p> + +<p>But John Tullis was not in Edelweiss for the purpose +of meddling with state affairs. He was there because he +elected to stand mentor to the son of his life-long friend, +even though that son was a prince of the blood and controlled +by the will of three regents chosen by his own +subjects. He was there to watch over the doughty little +chap, who one day would be ruler unrestrained, but who +now was a boy to be loved and coddled and reprimanded +in the general process of man-making.</p> + +<p>To say that the tiny Prince loved his big, adoring +mentor would be putting it too gently: he idolised him. +Tullis was father, mother and big brother to the little +fellow in knickers.</p> + +<p>The American was a big, broad shouldered man, reddish +haired and ruddy cheeked, with cool grey eyes; his +sandy mustache was closely cropped and turned up ever +so slightly at the corners of his mouth. Despite his +colouring, his face was somewhat sombre—even stern—when +in repose. It was his fine, enveloping smile that +made friends for him wherever he listed, with men and +with women. More frequently than otherwise it made +more than friends of the latter.</p> + +<p>One woman in Graustark was the source of never-ending +and constantly increasing interest to this stalwart +companion to the Prince. That woman was, alas! the +wife of another man. Moreover, she was the daughter +of the Duke of Perse.</p> + +<p>The young and witty Countess of Marlanx came often +to Edelweiss. She was a favourite at the Castle, notwithstanding +the unhealthy record of her ancient and +discredited husband, the Iron Count. Tullis had not seen +the Count, but he had heard such tales of him that he +could not but pity this glorious young creature who +called him husband. There is an old saying about the +kinship of pity. Not that John Tullis was actually in +love with the charming Countess. He was, to be perfectly +candid, very much interested in her and very much +distressed by the fact that she was bound to a venerable +reprobate who dared not put his foot on Graustark soil +because once he had defiled it atrociously.</p> + +<p>But of the Countess and her visits to Edelweiss, more +anon—with the indulgence of the reader.</p> + +<p>At present we are permitted to attend a meeting of +the cabinet, which sits occasionally in solemn collectiveness +just off the throne room within the tapestried walls +of a dark little antechamber, known to the outside world +as the "Room of Wrangles." It is ten o'clock of the +morning on which the Prince is to review the troops from +the fortress. The question under discussion relates to +the loan of 5,000,000 gavvos, before mentioned. At the +head of the long table, perched upon an augmentary pile +of law books surmounted by a little red cushion, sits the +Prince, almost lost in the hugh old walnut chair of his +forefathers. Down the table sit the ten ministers of the +departments of state, all of them loving the handsome +little fellow on the necessary pile of statutes, but all of +them more or less indifferent to his significant yawns and +perplexed frowns.</p> + +<p>The Prince was a sturdy, curly-haired lad, with big +brown eyes and a lamentably noticeable scratch on his +nose—acquired in less stately but more profitable pursuits. +(It seems that he had peeled his nose while sliding +to second base in a certain American game that he was +teaching the juvenile aristocracy how to play.) His +wavy hair was brown and rebellious. No end of royal +nursing could keep it looking sleek and proper. He had +the merit of being a very bad little boy at times; that +is why he was loved by every one. Although it was considered +next to high treason to strike a prince of the +royal blood, I could, if I had the space, recount the details +of numerous fisticuffs behind the state stables in +which, sad to relate, the Prince just as often as not came +off with a battered dignity and a chastened opinion of +certain small fry who could not have been more than +dukes or barons at best. But he took his defeats manfully: +he did not whimper <i>lesé majesté</i>. John Tullis, +his "Uncle Jack," had proclaimed his scorn for a boy +who could not "take his medicine." And so Prince Robin +took it gracefully because he was prince.</p> + +<p>To-day he was—for him—rather oppressively dignified +and imperial. He may have blinked his weary eyes a +time or two, but in the main he was very attentive, very +circumspect and very much puzzled. Custom required +that the ruling prince or princess should preside over +the meetings of the cabinet. It is needless to observe +that the present ruler's duty ended when he repeated +(after Count Halfont): "My lords, we are now in session." +The school-room, he confessed, was a "picnic" +compared to the "Room of Wrangles": a fellow got a +recess once in a while there, but here—well, the only +recess he got was when he fell asleep. To-day he was +determined to maintain a very dignified mien. It appears +that at the last meeting he had created considerable +havoc by upsetting the ink well while trying to fill his +fountain pen without an injector. Moreover, nearly half +a pint of the fluid had splashed upon the Duke of Perse's +trousers—and they were grey, at that. Whereupon the +Duke announced in open conclave that His Highness +needed a rattling good spanking—a remark which distinctly +hurt the young ruler's pride and made him wish +that there had been enough ink to drown the Duke instead +of merely wetting him.</p> + +<p>About the table sat the three regents and the other +men high in the administration of affairs, among them +General Braze of the Army, Baron Pultz of the Mines, +Roslon of Agriculture. The Duke of Perse was discussing +the great loan question. The Prince was watching +his gaunt, saturnine face with more than usual +interest.</p> + +<p>"Of course, it is not too late to rescind the order promulgated +at our last sitting. There are five bankers in +St. Petersburg who will finance the loan without delay. +We need not delay the interminable length of time necessary +to secure the attention and co-operation of bankers +in France and England. It is all nonsense to say that +Russia has sinister motives in the matter. It is a business +proposition—not an affair of state. We need the +money before the winter opens. The railroad is now +within fifteen miles of Edelweiss. The bridges and tunnels +are well along toward completion. Our funds are +diminishing, simply because we have delayed so long in +preparing for this loan. There has been too much bickering +and too much inane politics. I still maintain that +we have made a mistake in refusing to take up the matter +with St. Petersburg or Berlin. Why should we prefer +England? Why France?"</p> + +<p>For some unaccountable reason he struck the table violently +with his fist and directed his glare upon the astonished +Prince. The explosive demand caught the ruler +by surprise. He gasped and his lips fell apart. Then +it must have occurred to him that the question could be +answered by no one save the person to whom it was so +plainly addressed. He lifted his chin and piped up +shrilly, and with a fervour that startled even the intense +Perse:</p> + +<p>"Because Uncle Jack said we should, that's why."</p> + +<p>We have no record of what immediately followed this +abrupt declaration; there are some things that never leak +out, no matter how prying the chronicler may be. When +one stops to consider that this was the first time a question +had been put directly to the Prince—and one that +he could understand, at that—we may be inclined to +overlook his reply, but we cannot answer for certain +members of the cabinet. Unconsciously, the boy in +knickers had uttered a truth that no one else had dared +to voice. John Tullis <i>was</i> the joint stepping-stone and +stumbling-block in the deliberations of the cabinet.</p> + +<p>It goes without saying that the innocent rejoinder +opened the way to an acrid discussion of John Tullis. If +that gentleman's ears burned in response to the sarcastic +comments of the Duke of Perse and Baron Pultz, they +probably tingled pleasantly as the result of the stout +defence put up by Halfont, Dangloss and others. Moreover, +his most devoted friend, the Prince, whose lips were +sullenly closed after his unlucky maiden effort, was finding +it exceedingly difficult to hold his tongue and his +tears at the same time. The lad's lip trembled but his +brown eyes glowered; he sat abashed and heard the no +uncertain arraignment of his dearest friend, feeling all +the while that the manly thing for him to do would be to +go over and kick the Duke of Perse, miserably conscious +that such an act was impossible. His little body trembled +with childish rage; he never took his gaze from the face +of the gaunt traducer. How he hated the Duke of Perse!</p> + +<p>The Duke's impassioned plea was of no avail. His +<i>confrères</i> saw the wisdom of keeping Russia's greedy +hand out of the country's affairs—at least for the present—and +reiterated their decision to seek the loans in +England and France. The question, therefore, would +not be taken to Parliament for reconsideration. The +Duke sat down, pale in defeat; his heart was more bitter +than ever against the shrewd American who had induced +all these men to see through his eyes.</p> + +<p>"I suppose there is no use in kicking against the +pricks," he said sourly as he resumed his seat. "I shall +send our representatives to London and Paris next +month. I trust, my lords, that we may have no trouble +in placing the loans there." There was a deep significance +the dry tone which he assumed.</p> + +<p>"I do not apprehend trouble," said Count Halfont. +"Our credit is still good, your Grace. Russia is not the +only country that is ready to trust us for a few millions. +Have no fear, your Grace."</p> + +<p>"It is the delay that I am apprehensive of, your Excellency."</p> + +<p>At this juncture the Prince, gathering from the manner +of his ministers that the question was settled to his liking, +leaned forward and announced to his uncle, the premier:</p> + +<p>"I'm tired, Uncle Caspar. How much longer is it?"</p> + +<p>Count Halfont coughed. "Ahem! Just a few minutes, +your Highness. Pray be patient—er—my little man."</p> + +<p>Prince Bobby flushed. He always knew that he was +being patronised when any one addressed him as "my +little man."</p> + +<p>"I have an engagement," he said, with a stiffening of +his back.</p> + +<p>"Indeed?" said the Duke dryly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, your Grace—a very important one. Of course, +I'll stay if I have to, but—what time is it, Uncle +Caspar?"</p> + +<p>"It is half past eleven, your Highness."</p> + +<p>"Goodness, I had a date for eleven. I mean a engagement—an +engagement." He glanced helplessly, appealingly +from Count Halfont to Baron Dangloss, his +known allies.</p> + +<p>The Duke of Perse smiled grimly. In his most polite +manner he arose to address the now harassed Princeling, +who shifted uneasily on the pile of law books.</p> + +<p>"May your most humble subject presume to inquire +into the nature of your Highness's engagement?"</p> + +<p>"You may, your Grace," said the Prince.</p> + +<p>The Duke waited. A smile crept into the eyes of the +others. "Well, what is the engagement?"</p> + +<p>"I had a date to ride with Uncle Jack at eleven."</p> + +<p>"And you imagine that 'Uncle Jack' will be annoyed if +he is kept waiting by such a trivial matter as a cabinet +meeting, unfortunately prolonged?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know just what that means," murmured the +Prince. Then his face brightened. "But I don't think +he'll be sore after I tell him how busy we've been."</p> + +<p>The Duke put his hand over his mouth. "I don't think +he'll mind half an hour's wait, do you?"</p> + +<p>"He likes me to be very prompt."</p> + +<p>Count Halfont interposed, good-humouredly. "There +is nothing more to come before us to-day, your Grace, +so I fancy we may as well close the meeting. To my +mind, it is rather a silly custom which compels us to keep +the Prince with us—er—after the opening of the session. +Of course, your Highness, we don't mean to say that you +are not interested in our grave deliberations."</p> + +<p>Prince Bobby broke in eagerly: "Uncle Jack says I've +just <i>got</i> to be interested in 'em, whether I want to or not. +He says it's the only way to catch onto things and become +a regular prince. You see, Uncle Caspar, I've got +a lot to learn."</p> + +<p>"Yes, your Highness, you have," solemnly admitted the +premier. "But I am sure you <i>will</i> learn."</p> + +<p>"Under such an able instructor as Uncle Jack you may +soon know more than the wisest man in the realm," added +the Duke of Perse.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, your Grace," said the Prince, so politely +that the Duke was confounded; "I know Uncle Jack will +be glad to hear that. He's—he's afraid people may +think he's butting in too much."</p> + +<p>"Butting in?" gasped the premier.</p> + +<p>At this the Duke of Perse came to his feet again, an +angry gleam in his eyes. "My lords," he began hastily, +"it must certainly have occurred to you before this that +our beloved Prince's English, which seems after all to +be his mother tongue, is not what it should be. Butting +in! Yesterday I overheard him advising your son, +Pultz, to 'go chase' himself. And when your boy tried +to chase himself—'pon my word, he did—what did our +Prince say? What <i>did</i> you say, Prince Robin?"</p> + +<p>"I—I forget," stammered Prince Bobby.</p> + +<p>"You said 'Mice!' Or was it—er—"</p> + +<p>"No, your Grace. Rats. I remember. That's what I +said. That's what all of us boys used to say in Washington."</p> + +<p>"God deliver us! Has it come to this, that a Prince of +Graustark should grow up with such language on his +lips? I fancy, my lords, you will all agree that something +should be done about it. It is too serious a matter. +We are all more or less responsible to the people he is to +govern. We cannot, in justice to them, allow him to +continue under the—er—influences that now seem to surround +him. He'll—he'll grow up to be a barbarian. For +Heaven's sake, my lords, let us consider the Prince's future—let +us deal promptly with the situation."</p> + +<p>"What's he saying, Uncle Caspar?" whispered the +Prince fiercely.</p> + +<p>"Sh!" cautioned Count Halfont.</p> + +<p>"I won't sh! I am the Prince. And I'll say 'chase +yourself' whenever I please. It's good English. I'll +pronounce it for you in our own language, so's you can +see how it works that way. It goes like—"</p> + +<p>"You need not illustrate, your Highness," the Premier +hastened to say. Turning to the Duke, he said coldly: +"I acknowledge the wisdom in your remarks, your Grace, +but—you will pardon me, I am sure—would it not be +better to discuss the conditions privately among ourselves +before taking them up officially?"</p> + +<p>"That confounded American has every one hypnotised," +exploded the Duke. "His influence over this boy is a +menace to our country. He is making on oaf of him—a +slangy, impudent little—"</p> + +<p>"Your Grace!" interrupted Baron Dangloss sharply.</p> + +<p>"Uncle Jack's all right," declared the Prince, vaguely +realising that a defence should be forthcoming.</p> + +<p>"He is, eh?" rasped the exasperated Duke, mopping his +brow.</p> + +<p>"He sure is," pronounced the Prince with a finality that +left no room for doubt. They say that fierce little Baron +Dangloss, in striving to suppress a guffaw, choked so +impressively that there was a momentary doubt as to his +ever getting over it alive.</p> + +<p>"He is a mountebank—a meddler, that's what he is. +The sooner we come to realise it, the better," exclaimed +the over-heated Duke. "He has greater influence over +our beloved Prince than any one else in the royal household. +He has no business here—none whatsoever. His +presence and his meddling is an affront to the intelligence +of—"</p> + +<p>But the Prince had slid down from his pile of books and +planted himself beside him so suddenly that the bitter +words died away on the old man's lips. Robin's face was +white with rage, his little fists were clenched in desperate +anger, his voice was half choked with the tears of indignation.</p> + +<p>"You awful old man!" he cried, trembling all over, his +eyes blazing. "Don't you say anything against Uncle +Jack. I'll—I'll banish you—yes, sir—banish you like +my mother fired Count Marlanx out of the country. I +won't let you come back here ever—never. And before +you go I'll have Uncle Jack give you a good licking. +Oh, he can do it all right. I—I hate you!"</p> + +<p>The Duke looked down in amazement into the flushed, +writhing face of his little master. For a moment he was +stunned by the vigorous outburst. Then the hard lines +in his face relaxed and a softer expression came into his +eyes—there was something like pride in them, too. The +Duke, be it said, was an honest fighter and a loyal Graustarkian; +he loved his Prince and, therefore, he gloried +in his courage. His own smile of amusement, which +broke in spite of his inordinate vanity, was the sign that +brought relief to the hearts of his scandalised <i>confrères</i>.</p> + +<p>"Your Highness does well in defending a friend and +counsellor," he said gently. "I am sorry to have forgotten +myself in your presence. It shall not occur again. +Pray forgive me."</p> + +<p>Prince Bobby was still unappeased. "I <i>could</i> have you +beheaded," he said stubbornly. "Couldn't I, Uncle +Caspar?"</p> + +<p>Count Halfont gravely informed him that it was not +customary to behead gentlemen except for the most +heinous offences against the Crown.</p> + +<p>The Duke of Perse suddenly bent forward and placed +his bony hand upon the unshrinking shoulder of the +Prince, his eyes gleaming kindly, his voice strangely free +from its usual harshness. "You are a splendid little +man, Prince Robin," he said. "I glory in you. I shall not +forget the lesson in loyalty that you have taught me."</p> + +<p>Bobby's eyes filled with tears. The genuine humility of +the hard old man touched his tempestuous little heart.</p> + +<p>"It's—it's all right, Du—your Grace. I'm sorry I +spoke that way, too."</p> + +<p>Baron Dangloss twisted his imperial vigorously. "My +lords, I suggest that we adjourn. The Prince must have +his ride and return in time for the review at one o'clock."</p> + +<p>As the Prince strode soberly from the Room of Wrangles, +every eye was upon his sturdy little back and there +was a kindly light in each of them, bar none. The Duke, +following close behind with Halfont, said quietly:</p> + +<p>"I love him, Caspar. But I have no love for the man +he loves so much better than he loves any of us. Tullis +is a meddler—but, for Heaven's sake, my friend, don't +let; Bobby know that I have repeated myself."</p> + +<p>Later on, the Prince in his khaki riding suit loped gaily +down the broad mountain road toward Ganlook, beside the +black mare which carried John Tullis. Behind them rode +three picked troopers from the House Guard. He had +told Tullis of his vainglorious defence in the antechamber.</p> + +<p>"And I told him, Uncle Jack, that you could lick him. +You can, can't you?"</p> + +<p>The American's face was clouded for a second; then, to +please the boy, a warm smile succeeded the frown.</p> + +<p>"Why, Bobby, you dear little beggar, he could thresh me +with one hand."</p> + +<p>"What?" almost shrieked Prince Bobby, utterly dismayed.</p> + +<p>"He's a better swordsman than I, don't you see. Gentlemen +over here fight with swords. I know nothing about +duelling. He'd get at me in two thrusts."</p> + +<p>"I—I think you'd better take some lessons from Colonel +Quinnox. It won't do to be caught napping."</p> + +<p>"I daresay you're right."</p> + +<p>"Say, Uncle Jack, when are you going to take me to +the witch's hovel?" The new thought abruptly banished +all else from his eager little brain.</p> + +<p>"Some day, soon," said Tullis. "You see, I'm not sure +that she's receiving visitors these days. A witch is a +very arbitrary person. Even princes have to send up +their cards."</p> + +<p>"Let's telegraph her," in an inspired tone.</p> + +<p>"I'll arrange to go up with you very soon, Bobby. It's +a hard ride through the pass and—and there may be a +lot of goblins up there where the old woman keeps herself."</p> + +<p>The witch's hovel was in the mountain across the most +rugged of the canyons, and was to be reached only after +the most hazardous of rides. The old woman of the +hills was an ancient character about whom clung a thousand +spookish traditions, but who, in the opinion of John +Tuilis, was nothing more than a wise fortune-teller and +necromancer who knew every trick in the trade of hoodwinking +the superstitious. He had seen her and he had +been properly impressed. Somehow, he did not like the +thought of taking the Prince to the cabin among the +mists and crags.</p> + +<p>"They say she eats boys, now and then," he added, as +if suddenly remembering it.</p> + +<p>"Gee! Do you suppose we could get there some day +when she's eating one?"</p> + +<p>As they rode back to the Castle after an hour, coming +down through Castle Avenue from the monastery road, +they passed a tall, bronzed young man whom Tullis at +once knew to be an American. He was seated on a big +boulder at the roadside, enjoying the shade, and was +evidently on his way by foot to the Castle gates to watch +the <i>beau monde</i> assembling for the review. At his side +was the fussy, well-known figure of Cook's interpreter, +eagerly pointing out certain important personages to +bun as they passed. Of course, the approach of the +Prince was the excuse for considerable agitation and +fervour on the part of the man from Cook's. He +mounted the boulder and took off his cap to wave it +frantically.</p> + +<p>"It's the Prince!" he called out to Truxton King. +"Stand up! Hurray! Long live the Prince!"</p> + +<p>Tullis had already lifted his hand in salute to his +countryman, and both had smiled the free, easy smile of +men who know each other by instinct.</p> + +<p>The man from Cook's came to grief. He slipped from +his perch on the rock and came floundering to the ground +below, considerably crushed in dignity, but quite intact +in other respects.</p> + +<p>The spirited pony that the Prince was riding shied and +reared in quick affright. The boy dropped his crop and +clung valiantly to the reins. A guardsman was at the +pony's head in an instant, and there was no possible +chance for disaster.</p> + +<p>Truxton King unbent his long frame, picked up the +riding crop with a deliberateness that astonished the man +from Cook's, strode out into the roadway and handed it +up to the boy in the saddle.</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Prince Bobby.</p> + +<p>"Don't mention it," said Truxton King with his most +engaging smile. "No trouble at all."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III" />CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>MANY PERSONS IN REVIEW</h3> + + +<p>Truxton King witnessed the review of the garrison. +That in itself was rather a tame exhibition for a man +who had seen the finest troops in all the world. A thousand +earnest looking soldiers, proud of the opportunity +to march before the little Prince—and that was all, so +far as the review was concerned.</p> + +<p>But, alluringly provident to the welfare of this narrative, +the red and black uniformed soldiers were not the +only persons on review that balmy day in July. Truxton +King had his first glimpse of the nobility of Graustark. +He changed his mind about going to Vienna on +the Saturday express. A goodly number of men before +him had altered their humble plans for the same reason, +I am reliably informed.</p> + +<p>Mr. King saw the court in all its glory, scattered along +the shady Castle Avenue—in carriages, in traps, in +motors and in the saddle. His brain whirled and his +heart leaped under the pressure of a new-found interest +in life. The unexpected oasis loomed up before his eyes +just as he was abandoning all hope in the unprofitable +desert of Romance. He saw green trees and sparkling +rivulets, and he sighed with a new, strange content. No, +on second thoughts, he would not go to Vienna. He +would stay in Edelweiss. He was a disciple of Micawber; +and he was so much younger and fresher than that distinguished +gentleman, that perhaps he was justified in +believing that, in his case, something was bound to "turn +up."</p> + +<p>If Truxton King had given up in disgust and fled to +Vienna, this tale would never have come to light. Instead +of being the lively narrative of a young gentleman's +adventures in far-away Graustark, it might have +become a tale of the smart set in New York—for, as you +know, we are bound by tradition to follow the trail laid +down by our hero, no matter which way he elects to fare. +Somewhat dismayed by his narrow escape, he confided +to his friend from Cook's that he could never have forgiven +himself if he had adhered to his resolution to leave +on the following day.</p> + +<p>"I didn't know you'd changed your mind, sir," remarked +Mr. Hobbs in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Of course you didn't know it," said Truxton. "How +could you? I've just changed it, this instant. I didn't +know it myself two minutes ago. No, sir, Hobbs—or is it +Dobbs? Thanks—no, sir, I'm going to stop here for +a—well, a week or two. Where the dickens do these people +keep themselves? I haven't seen 'em before."</p> + +<p>"Oh, they are the nobility—the swells. They don't +hang around the streets like tourists and rubbernecks, +sir," in plain disgust.</p> + +<p>"I thought you were an Englishman," observed King, +with a quizzical smile.</p> + +<p>"I am, sir. I can't help saying rubbernecks, sir, though +it's a shocking word. It's the only name for them, sir. +That's what the little Prince calls them, too. You see, +it's one form of amusement they provide for him, and I +am supposed to help it along as much as possible. Mr. +Tullis takes him out in the avenue whenever I've got a +party in hand. I telephone up to the Castle that I've +got a crowd and then I drive 'em out to the Park here. +The Prince says he just loves to watch the rubbernecks +go by. It's great fun, sir, for the little lad. He never +misses a party, and you can believe it or not, he has +told me so himself. Yes, sir, the Prince has had more +than one word with me—from time to time." King +looked at the little man's reddish face and saw therein +the signs of exaltation indigenous to a land imperial.</p> + +<p>He hesitated for an instant and then remarked, with a +mean impulse to spoil Hobbs's glorification: "I have +dined with the President of the United States."</p> + +<p>Hobbs was politely unimpressed. "I've no doubt, sir," +he said. "I daresay it was an excellent dinner."</p> + +<p>King blinked his eyes and then turned them upon the +passing show. He was coming to understand the real +difference between men.</p> + +<p>"I say, who is that just passing—the lady in the victoria?" +he asked abruptly.</p> + +<p>"That is the Countess Marlanx."</p> + +<p>"Whew! I thought she was the queen!"</p> + +<p>Hobbs went into details concerning the beautiful +Countess. During the hour and a half of display he +pointed out to King all of the great personages, giving +a Baedeker-like account of their doings from childhood +up, quite satisfying that gentleman's curiosity and involving +his cupidity at the same time.</p> + +<p>When, at last, the show was over, Truxton and the +voluble little interpreter, whom he had employed for +the occasion, strolled leisurely back to the heart of the +town. Something had come over King, changing the +quaint old city from a prosaic collection of shops and +thoroughfares into a veritable playground for Cinderellas +and Prince Charmings. The women, to his startled +imagination, had been suddenly transformed from lackadaisical +drudges into radiant personages at whose feet +it would be a pleasure to fall, in whose defence it would be +divine to serve; the men were the cavaliers that had called +to him from the pages of chivalrous tales, ever since the +days of his childhood. Here were knights and ladies +such as he had dreamed of and despaired of ever seeing +outside his dreams.</p> + +<p>Hobbs was telling him how every one struggled to provide +amusement for the little Prince at whose court these +almost mythological beings bent the knee. "Every few +days they have a royal troupe of acrobats in the Castle +grounds. Next week Tantora's big circus is to give a +private performance for him. There are Marionettes +and Punch and Judy shows, and all the doings of the +Grand Grignol are beautifully imitated. The royal band +plays every afternoon, and at night some one tells him +stories of the valorous men who occupied the throne before +him. He rides, plays baseball and cricket, swims, +goes shooting—and, you may take it from me, sir, he +is already enjoying fencing lessons with Colonel Quinnox, +chief of the Castle guard. Mr. Tullis, the American, has +charge of his—you might say, his education and entertainment. +They want to make of him a very wonderful +Prince. So they are starting at the bottom. He's quite +a wonderful little chap. What say, sir?"</p> + +<p>"I was just going to ask if you know anything about a +young woman who occasionally tends shop for William +Spantz, the armourer."</p> + +<p>Hobbs looked interested. "She's quite a beauty, sir, I +give you my word."</p> + +<p>"I know that, Hobbs. But who is she?"</p> + +<p>"I really can't say, sir. She's his niece, I've heard. +Been here a little over a month. I think she's from +Warsaw."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll say good-bye here. If you've nothing on +for to-morrow we'll visit the Castle grounds and—ahem!—take +a look about the place. Come to the hotel early. +I'm going over to the gun-shop. So long!" As he +crossed the square, his mind full of the beautiful women +he had seen, he was saying to himself in a wild strain of +exhilaration: "I'll bet my head that girl isn't the nobody +she's setting herself up to be. She looks like these I've +just seen. She's got the marks of a lady. You can't +fool me. I'm going to find out who she is and—well, +maybe it won't be so dull here, after all. It looks better +every minute."</p> + +<p>He was whistling gaily as he entered the little shop, +ready to give a cheery greeting to old Spantz and to +make him a temporising offer for the broadsword. But +it was not Spantz who stood behind the little counter. +Truxton flushed hotly and jerked off his hat. The girl +smiled.</p> + +<p>"I beg pardon," he exclaimed. "I—I'm looking for +Mr. Spantz—I—"</p> + +<p>"He is out. Will you wait? He will return in a very +few minutes." Her voice was clear and low, her accent +charming. The smile in her eyes somehow struck him as +sad, even fleeting in its attempt at mirth. As she spoke, +it disappeared altogether and an almost sombre expression +came into her face.</p> + +<p>"Thanks. I'll—wait," he said, suddenly embarrassed. +She turned to the window, resuming the wistful, preoccupied +gaze down the avenue. He made pretence of inspecting +the wares on the opposite wall, but covertly +watched her out of the corner of his eye. Perhaps, calculated +he, if she were attired in the gown of one of those +fashionables she might rank with the noblest of them in +beauty and delicacy. Her dark little head was carried +with all the serene pride of a lady of quality; her features +were clear cut, mobile, and absolutely flawless. He +was sure of that: his sly analysis was not as casual as +one might suppose under the circumstances. As a matter +of fact, he found himself having what he afterward +called "a very good look at her." She seemed to have +forgotten his presence. The longer he looked at the +delicate profile, the more fully was he convinced that she +was not all that she pretended. He experienced a thrill +of hope. If she wasn't what she pretended to be, then +surely she must be what he wanted her to be—a lady of +quality. In that case there was a mystery. The thought +restored his temerity.</p> + +<p>"Beg pardon," he said, politely sauntering up to the +little counter. He noted that she was taller than he had +thought, and slender. She started and turned toward +him with a quick, diffident smile, her dark eyes filling +with an unspoken apology. "I wanted to have another +look at the broadsword there. May I get it out of the +window, or will you?"</p> + +<p>Very quickly—he noticed that she went about it clumsily +despite her supple gracefulness—she withdrew the heavy +weapon from the window and laid it upon the counter. +He was looking at her with a peculiar smile upon his lips. +She flushed painfully.</p> + +<p>"I am not—not what you would call an expert," she +said frankly.</p> + +<p>"You mean in handling broadswords," he said in his +most suave manner. "It's a cunning little thing, isn't +it?" He picked up the ponderous blade. "I don't wonder +you nearly dropped it on your toes."</p> + +<p>"There must have been giants in those days," she said, +a slight shudder passing over her.</p> + +<p>"Whoppers," he agreed eagerly. "I've thought somewhat +of buying the old thing. Not to use, of course. +I'm not a giant."</p> + +<p>"You're not a pigmy," she supplemented, her eyes +sweeping his long figure comprehensively.</p> + +<p>"What's the price?" he asked, his courage faltering +under the cool, impersonal gaze.</p> + +<p>"I do not know. My uncle has told you?"</p> + +<p>"I—I think he did. But I've got a wretched memory +when it comes to broadswords."</p> + +<p>She laughed. "This is such a very old broadsword, +too," she said. "It goes back beyond the memory of +man."</p> + +<p>"How does it come that you don't know the price?" he +asked, watching her narrowly. She met his inquiring +look with perfect composure.</p> + +<p>"I am quite new at the trade. I hope you will excuse +my ignorance. My uncle will be here in a moment." She +was turning away with an air that convinced King of +one thing: she was a person who, in no sense, had ever +been called upon to serve others.</p> + +<p>"So I've heard," he observed. The bait took effect. +She looked up quickly; he was confident that a startled +expression flitted across her face.</p> + +<p>"You have heard? What have you heard of me?" she +demanded.</p> + +<p>"That you are new at the business," he replied coolly.</p> + +<p>"You are a stranger in a strange land, so they say."</p> + +<p>"You have been making inquiries?" she asked, disdain +succeeding dismay.</p> + +<p>"Tentatively, that's all. Ever since you peeked out of +the window up there and laughed at me. I'm curious, +you see."</p> + +<p>She stared at him in silent intensity for a moment. +"That's why I laughed at you. You were <i>very</i> curious."</p> + +<p>"Am I so bad as all that?" he lamented.</p> + +<p>She ignored the question. "Why should you be interested +in me, sir?"</p> + +<p>Mr. King was inspired to fabricate in the interest of +psychical research. "Because I have heard that you are +not the niece of old man Spantz." He watched intently +to catch the effect of the declaration.</p> + +<p>She merely stared at him; there was not so much as +the flutter of an eyelid. "You have heard nothing of +the kind," she said coldly.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll confess I haven't," he admitted cheerfully. +"I was experimenting. I'm an amateur Sherlock Holmes. +It pleases me to deduce that you are not related to the +armourer. You don't look the part."</p> + +<p>Now she smiled divinely. "And why not, pray? His +sister was my mother."</p> + +<p>"In order to establish a line on which to base my calculations, +would you mind telling me who your father +is?" He asked the question with his most appealing +smile—a smile so frankly impudent that she could not +resent it.</p> + +<p>"My mother's husband," she replied in the same spirit.</p> + +<p>"Well, that is <i>quite</i> a clue!" he exclaimed. "'Pon my +soul, I believe I'm on the right track. Excuse me for +continuing, but is he a count or a duke or just a—"</p> + +<p>"My father is dead," she interrupted, without taking +her now serious gaze from his face.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon," he said at once. "I'm sorry if +I've hurt you."</p> + +<p>"My mother is dead. Now can you understand why I +am living here with my uncle? Even an amateur may +rise to that. Now, sir, do you expect to purchase the +sword? If not, I shall replace it in the window."</p> + +<p>"That's what I came here for," said he, resenting her +tone and the icy look she gave him.</p> + +<p>"I gathered that you came in the capacity of Sherlock +Holmes—or something else." She added the last three +words with unmistakable meaning.</p> + +<p>"You mean as a—" he hesitated, flushing.</p> + +<p>"You knew I was alone, sir."</p> + +<p>"By Jove, you're wrong there. I give you my word, +I didn't. If I'd known it, I'd surely have come in sooner. +There, forgive me. I'm particularly light-headed and +futile to-day, and I hope—Beg pardon?"</p> + +<p>She was leaning toward him, her hands on the counter, +a peculiar gleam in her dark eyes—which now, for the +first time, struck him as rather more keen and penetrating +than he had suspected before.</p> + +<p>"I simply want to tell you, Mr. King, that unless you +really expect to buy this sword it is not wise in you to +make it an excuse for coming here."</p> + +<p>"My dear young lady, I—"</p> + +<p>"My uncle has a queer conception of the proprieties. +He may think that you come to see me." A radiant smile +leaped into her face, transforming its strange sombreness +into absolutely impish mirth.</p> + +<p>"Well, hang it all, he can't object to that, can he? +Besides, I never buy without haggling," he expostulated, +suddenly exhilarated, he knew not why.</p> + +<p>"Don't come in here unless you expect to buy," she +said, serious in an instant. "It isn't the custom in Edelweiss. +Young men may chat with shopgirls all the world +over—but in Edelweiss, no—unless they come to pay +most honourable court to them. My uncle would not +understand."</p> + +<p>"I take it, however, that you would understand," he +said boldly.</p> + +<p>"I have lived in Vienna, in Paris and in London. But +now I am living in Edelweiss. I have not been a shopgirl +always."</p> + +<p>"I can believe that. My deductions are justified."</p> + +<p>"Pray forgive me for offering this bit of advice. A +word to the wise. My uncle would close the door in your +face if—if he thought—"</p> + +<p>"I see. Well, I'll buy the blooming sword. Anyhow, +that's what I came in for."</p> + +<p>"No. You came in because I smiled at you from the +window upstairs. It is my sitting-room."</p> + +<p>"Why did you smile? Tell me?" eagerly.</p> + +<p>"It was nature asserting itself."</p> + +<p>"You mean you just couldn't help it?"</p> + +<p>"That's precisely what I mean."</p> + +<p>"Not very complimentary, I'd say."</p> + +<p>"A smile is ever a compliment, sir."</p> + +<p>"I say, do you know you interest me?" he began +warmly, but she put her finger to her lips.</p> + +<p>"My uncle is returning. I must not talk to you any +longer." She glanced uneasily out upon the square, and +then hurriedly added, a certain wistfulness in her voice +and eyes. "I couldn't help it to-day. I forgot my +place. But you are the first gentleman I've spoken to +since I came here."</p> + +<p>"I—I was afraid you might think I am not a gentleman. +I've been rather fresh."</p> + +<p>"I happen to have known many gentlemen. Before I +went into—service, of course." She turned away abruptly, +a sudden shadow crossing her face. Truxton +King exulted. At last he was touching the long-sought +trail of the Golden Girl! Here was Romance! Here +was mystery!</p> + +<p>Spantz was crossing the sidewalk. The American +leaned forward and half-whispered: "Just watch me buy +that broadsword. I may, in time, buy out the shop, +piece by piece."</p> + +<p>She smiled swiftly. "Let me warn you: don't pay his +price."</p> + +<p>"Thanks."</p> + +<p>When Spantz entered the door, a moment later, the +girl was gazing listlessly from the window and Truxton +King was leaning against the counter with his back +toward her, his arms folded and a most impatient frown +on his face.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" he said gruffly. "I've been waiting ten minutes +for you."</p> + +<p>Spantz's black eyes shot from one to the other. "What +do you want?" he demanded sharply. As he dropped his +hat upon a stool near, the door, his glance again darted +from the man to the girl and back again.</p> + +<p>"The broadsword. And, say, Mr. Spantz, you might +assume a different tone in addressing me. I'm a customer, +not a beggar."</p> + +<p>The girl left the window and walked slowly to the rear +of the shop, passing through the narrow door, without +so much as a glance at King or the old man. Spantz was +silent until she was gone.</p> + +<p>"You want the broadsword, eh?" he asked, moderating +his tone considerably. "It's a rare old—"</p> + +<p>"I'll give you a hundred dollars-not another cent," +interrupted King, riot yet over his resentment. There +followed a long and irritating argument, at the conclusion +of which Mr. King became the possessor of the +weapon at his own price. Remembering himself in time, +he fell to admiring some old rings and bracelets in a +cabinet near by, thus paving the way for future visits.</p> + +<p>"I'll come in again," he said indifferently.</p> + +<p>"But you are leaving to-morrow, sir."</p> + +<p>"I've changed my mind."</p> + +<p>"You are not going?"</p> + +<p>"Not for a few days."</p> + +<p>"Then you have discovered something in Edelweiss to +attract you?" grinned the old armourer. "I thought +you might."</p> + +<p>"I've had a glimpse of the swells, my good friend."</p> + +<p>"It's all the good you'll get of it," said Spantz gruffly.</p> + +<p>"I daresay you're right. Clean that sword up a bit for +me, and I'll drop in to-morrow and get it. Here's sixty +gavvos to bind the bargain. The rest on delivery. +Good day, Mr. Spantz."</p> + +<p>"Good day, Mr. King."</p> + +<p>"How do you happen to know my name?"</p> + +<p>Spantz put his hand over his heart and delivered himself +of a most impressive bow. "When so distinguished +a visitor comes to our little city," he said, "we lose no +time in discovering his name. It is a part of our trade, +sir, believe me."</p> + +<p>"I'm not so sure that I do believe you," said Truxton +King to himself as he sauntered up the street toward the +Hotel. "The girl knew me, too, now that I come to +think of it. Heigho! By Jove, I <i>do</i> hope I can work +up a little something to interest—Hello!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Hobbs, from Cook's, was at his elbow, his eyes +glistening with eagerness.</p> + +<p>"I say, old Dangloss is waiting for you at the Regengetz, +sir. Wot's up? Wot you been up to, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Up to? Up to, Hobbs?"</p> + +<p>"My word, sir, you must have been or he wouldn't be +there to see you."</p> + +<p>"Who is Dangloss?"</p> + +<p>"Minister of Police—haven't I told you? He's a keen +one, too, take my word for it. He's got Sherlock beat a +mile."</p> + +<p>"So have I, Hobbs. I'm not slow at Sherlocking, let +me tell you that. How do you know he's waiting to see +me?"</p> + +<p>"I heard him ask for you. And I was there just now +when one of his men came in and told him you were on +your way up from the gunshop down there."</p> + +<p>"So they're watching me, eh? 'Gad, this is fine!"</p> + +<p>He lost no time in getting to the hotel. A well-remembered, +fierce-looking little man in a white linen suit +was waiting for him on the great piazza.</p> + +<p>Baron Jasto Dangloss was a polite man but not to the +point of procrastination. He advanced to meet the +puzzled American, smiling amiably and twirling his imposing +mustachios with neatly gloved fingers.</p> + +<p>"I have called, Mr. King, to have a little chat with you +about your father," he said abruptly. He enjoyed the +look of surprise on the young man's face.</p> + +<p>"My father?" murmured Truxton, catching his breath. +He was shaking hands with the Baron, all the while +staring blankly into his twinkling, snapping eyes.</p> + +<p>"Won't you join me at this table? A julep will not +be bad, eh?" King sat down opposite to him at one of +the piazza tables, in the shade of the great trailing vines.</p> + +<p>"Fine," was his only comment.</p> + +<p>A waiter took the order and departed. The Baron produced +his cigarette case. King carefully selected one +and tapped its tip on the back of his hand.</p> + +<p>"Is—has anything happened to my father?" he asked +quietly. "Bad news?"</p> + +<p>"On the contrary, sir, he is quite well. I had a cablegram +from him to-day."</p> + +<p>"A cablegram?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I cabled day before yesterday to ask if he could +tell me the whereabouts of his son."</p> + +<p>"The deuce you say!"</p> + +<p>"He replies that you are in Teheran."</p> + +<p>"What is the meaning of this, Baron?"</p> + +<p>"It is a habit I have. I make it a practice to keep in +touch with the movements of our guests."</p> + +<p>"I see. You want to know all about me; why I'm here, +where I came from, and all that. Well, I'm ready for +the 'sweat box.'"</p> + +<p>"Pray do not take offence. It is my rule. It would not +be altered if the King of England came. Ah, here are +the juleps. Quick service, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Remarkably so, due to your powers of persuasion, I +fancy."</p> + +<p>"I really ordered them a few minutes before you +arrived. You see, I was quite certain you'd have one. +You take one about this hour every day."</p> + +<p>"By Jove, you have been watching me!" cried Truxton +delightedly.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing in Edelweiss, Mr. King?" asked +the Baron abruptly but not peremptorily.</p> + +<p>"Sight-seeing and in search of adventure," was the +prompt response.</p> + +<p>"I fancied as much. You've seen quite a bit of the +world since you left home two years ago, on the twenty-seventh +of September."</p> + +<p>"By Jove!"</p> + +<p>"Been to South Africa, Asia and—South America—to +say nothing of Europe. That must have been an +exciting little episode in South America."</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know all about your participation in the revolution +down there. You were a captain, I understand, +during the three weeks of disturbance. Splendid! For +the fun of the thing, I suppose. Well, I like it in you. +I should have done it myself. And you got out of the +country just in time, if I remember rightly. There was +a price placed on your head by the distressed government. +I imagine they would have shot you if they could +have caught you—as they did the others." The old +man chuckled. "You don't expect to return to South +America, do you? The price is still offered, you know."</p> + +<p>King was glaring at him in sheer wonder. Here was +an episode in his life that he fondly hoped might never +come to light; he knew how it would disturb his mother. +And this foxy old fellow away off here in Graustark +knew all about it.</p> + +<p>"Well, you're a wonder!" in pure admiration.</p> + +<p>"An appreciated compliment, I assure you. This is all +in the way of letting you know that we have found out +something concerning your movements. Now, to come +down to the present. You expected to leave to-morrow. +Why are you staying over?"</p> + +<p>"Baron, I leave that to your own distinguished powers +of deduction," said Truxton gently. He took a long +pull at the straw, watching the other's face as he did so. +The Baron smiled.</p> + +<p>"You have found the young lady to be very attractive," +observed the Baron. "Where have you known her before?"</p> + +<p>"I beg pardon?"</p> + +<p>"It is not unusual for a young man in search of adventure +to follow the lady of his choice from place to +place. She came but recently, I recall."</p> + +<p>"You think I knew her before and followed her to Edelweiss?"</p> + +<p>"I am not quite sure whether you have been in Warsaw +lately. There is a gap in your movements that I can't +account for."</p> + +<p>King became serious at once. He saw that it was best +to be frank with this keen old man.</p> + +<p>"Baron Dangloss, I don't know just what you are +driving at, but I'll set you straight so far as I'm concerned. +I never saw that girl until the day before yesterday. +I never spoke to her until to-day."</p> + +<p>"She smiled on you quite familiarly from her window +casement <i>yesterday</i>," said Dangloss coolly.</p> + +<p>"She laughed at me, to be perfectly candid. But what's +all this about? Who is she? What's the game? I don't +mind confessing that I have a feeling she is not what she +claims to be, but that's as far as I've got."</p> + +<p>Dangloss studied the young man's face for a moment +and then came to a sudden decision. He leaned forward +and smiled sourly.</p> + +<p>"Take my advice: do not play with fire," he said +enigmatically.</p> + +<p>"You—you mean she's a dangerous person? I can't +believe that, Baron."</p> + +<p>"She has dangerous friends out in the world. I don't +mean to say she will cause you any trouble here—but +there is a hereafter. Mind you, I'm not saying she isn't +a good girl, or even an adventuress. On the contrary, +she comes of an excellent family—in fact, there were +noblemen among them a generation or two ago. You +know her name?"</p> + +<p>"No. I say, this is getting interesting!" He was +beaming.</p> + +<p>"She is Olga Platanova. Her mother was married in +this city twenty-five years ago to Professor Platanova of +Warsaw. The Professor was executed last year for conspiracy. +He was one of the leaders of a great revolutionary +movement in Poland. They were virtually anarchists, +as you have come to place them in America. +This girl, Olga, was his secretary. His death almost +killed her. But that is not all. She had a sweetheart +up to fifteen months ago. He was a prince of the royal +blood. He would have married her in spite of the difference +in their stations had it not been for the intervention +of the Crown that she and her kind hate so well. +The young man's powerful relatives took a hand in the +affair. He was compelled to marry a scrawny little duchess, +and Olga was warned that if she attempted to entice +him away from his wife she would be punished. She +did not attempt it, because she is a virtuous girl—of +that I am sure. But she hates them all—oh, how she +hates them! Her uncle, Spantz, offered her a home. +She came here a month ago, broken-spirited and sick. +So far, she has been exceedingly respectful to our laws. +It is not that we fear anything from her; but that we +are obliged to watch her for the benefit of our big +brothers across the border. Now you know why I advised +you to let the fire alone."</p> + +<p>King was silent for a moment, turning something over +in his head.</p> + +<p>"Baron, are you sure that she is a Red?"</p> + +<p>"Quite. She attended their councils."</p> + +<p>"She doesn't look it, 'pon my word. I thought they +were the scum of the earth."</p> + +<p>"The kind you have in America are. But over here—oh, +well, we never can tell."</p> + +<p>"I don't mind saying she interests me. She's pretty—and +I have an idea she's clever. Baron, let me understand +you. Do you mean that this is a polite way of +commanding me to have nothing to do with her?"</p> + +<p>"You put it broadly. In the first place, I am quite +sure she will have nothing to do with you. She loved +the husband of the scrawny duchess. <i>You</i>, my good +friend, handsome as you are, cannot interest her, believe me."</p> + +<p>"I daresay you're right," glumly.</p> + +<p>"I am merely warning you. Young men of your age +and temperament sometimes let their fancies lead them +into desperate predicaments. I've no doubt you can take +care of yourself, but—" he paused, as if very much in +doubt.</p> + +<p>"I'm much obliged. And I'll keep my eyes well opened. +I suppose there's no harm in my going to the shop to +look at a lot of rings and knick-knacks he has for sale?"</p> + +<p>"Not in the least. Confine yourself to knick-knacks, +that's all."</p> + +<p>"Isn't Spantz above suspicion?"</p> + +<p>"No one is in my little world. By the way, I am very +fond of your father. He is a most excellent gentleman +and a splendid shot."</p> + +<p>Truxton stared harder than ever. "What's that?"</p> + +<p>"I know him quite well. Hunted wild boars with him +five years ago in Germany. And your sister! She was +a beautiful young girl. They were at Carlsbad at the +time. Was she quite well when you last heard?"</p> + +<p>"She was," was all that the wondering brother could +say.</p> + +<p>"Well, come in and see me at the tower. I am there in +the mornings. Come as a caller, not as a prisoner, +that's all." The Baron cackled at his little jest. "<i>Au +revoir!</i> Till we meet again." They were shaking hands +in the friendliest manner. "Oh, by the way, you were +good enough to change your mind to-day about the +personal attractiveness of our ladies. Permit me to observe, +in return, that not a few of our most distinguished +beauties were good enough to make inquiries as to your +identity."</p> + +<p>He left the American standing at the head of the steps, +gazing after his retreating figure with a look of admiration +in his eyes.</p> + +<p>Truxton fared forth into the streets that night with a +greater zest in life than he had ever known before. Some +thing whispered insistently to his fancy that dreariness +was a thing of the past; he did not have to whistle to +keep up his spirits. They were soaring of their own +accord.</p> + +<p>He did not know, however, that a person from the +secret service was watching his every movement. Nor, +on the other hand, is it at all likely that the secret service +operative was aware that he was not the only shadower +of the blithe young stranger.</p> + +<p>A man with a limp cigarette between his lips was never +far from the side of the American—a man who had +stopped to pass the time of day with William Spantz, +and who, from that hour was not to let the young man +out of his sight until another relieved him of the task.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV" />CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>TRUXTON TRESPASSES</h3> + + +<p>He went to bed that night, tired and happy. To his revived +spirits and his new attitude toward life in its present +state, the city had suddenly turned gay and vivacious. +Twice during the evening he passed Spantz's +shop. It was dark, upstairs and down. He wondered +if the unhappy Olga was looking at him from behind the +darkened shutters. But even if she were not—la, la! +He was having a good time! He was gay! He was +seeing pretty women in the cafés and the gardens! Well, +well, he would see her to-morrow—after that he would +give proper heed to the Baron's warning! An anarchist's +daughter!</p> + +<p>He slept well, too, with never a thought of the Saturday +express which he had lain awake on other nights to +lament and anathematise. Bright and early in the morning +he was astir. Somehow he felt he had been sleeping +too much of late.</p> + +<p>There was a sparkle in his eyes as he struck out across +town after breakfast. He burst in upon Mr. Hobbs at +Cook's.</p> + +<p>"Say, Hobbs, how about the Castle to-day—in an hour, +say? Can you take a party of one rubbernecking this +A.M.? I like you, Hobbs. You are the best interpreter +of English I've ever seen. I can't help understanding +you, no matter how hard I try not to. I want you to +get me into the Castle grounds to-day and show me +where the duchesses dawdle and the countesses cavort. +I'm ashamed to say it, Hobbs, but since yesterday I've +quite lost interest in the middle classes and the component +parts thereof. I have suddenly acquired a thirst +for champagne—in other words, I have a hankering for +the nobility. Catch the idea? Good! Then you'll guide +me into the land of the fairies? At ten?"</p> + +<p>"I'll take you to the Castle grounds, Mr. King, all +right enough, sir, and I'll tell you all the things of interest, +but I'll be 'anged, sir, if I've got the blooming +nerve to introduce you to the first ladies of the land. +That's more than I can ever 'ope to do, sir, and—"</p> + +<p>"Lord bless you, Hobbs, don't look so depressed. I +don't ask you to present me at court. I just want to +look at the lilacs and the gargoyles. That's as far as I +expect to carry my invasion of the dream world."</p> + +<p>"Of course, sir, you understand there are certain parts +of the Park not open to the public. The grotto and the +playgrounds and the Basin of Venus—"</p> + +<p>"I'll not trespass, so don't fidget, Hobbs. I'll be here +for you at ten."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hobbs looked after the vigorous, happy figure as +it swung down the street, and shook his head mournfully. +Turning to the solitary clerk who dawdled behind the +cashier's desk he remarked with more feeling than was +his wont:</p> + +<p>"He's just the kind of chap to get me into no end of +trouble if I give 'im rope enough. Take it from me, +Stokes, I'll have my hands full of 'im up there this morning. +He's charged like a soda bottle; and you never +know wot's going to happen unless you handle a soda +bottle very careful-like."</p> + +<p>Truxton hurried to the square and across it to the +shop of the armourer, not forgetting, however, to look +about in some anxiety for the excellent Dangloss, who +might, for all he knew, be snooping in the neighbourhood. +Spantz was at the rear of the shop, talking to a +customer. The girl was behind the counter, dressed for +the street.</p> + +<p>She came quickly out to him, a disturbed expression in +her face. As he doffed his hat, the smile left his lips; +he saw that she had been weeping.</p> + +<p>"You must not come here, Mr. King," she said hurriedly, +in low tones. "Take your broadsword this morning +and—please, for my sake, do not come again. I—I +may not explain why I am asking you to do this, but I +mean it for your good, more than for my own. My +uncle will be out in a moment. He knows you are here. +He is listening now to catch what I am saying to you. +Smile, please, or he will suspect—"</p> + +<p>"See here," demanded King, smiling, but very much in +earnest, "what's up? You've been crying. What's he +been doing or saying to you? I'll give him a—"</p> + +<p>"No, no! Be sensible! It is nothing in which you +could possibly take a hand. I don't know you, Mr. +King, but I am in earnest when I say that it is not safe +for you to come here, ostensibly to buy. It is too easily +seen through—it is—"</p> + +<p>"Just a minute, please," he interrupted. "I've heard +your story from Baron Dangloss. It has appealed to +me. You are not happy. Are you in trouble? Do you +need friends, Miss Platanova?"</p> + +<p>"It is because you would be a friend that I ask you to +stay away. You cannot be my friend. Pray do not +consider me bold for assuming so much. But I know—I +know <i>men</i>, Mr. King. The Baron has told you all about +me?" She smiled sadly. "Alas, he has only told you +what he knows. But it should be sufficient. There is no +place in my life for you or any one else. There never +can be. So, you see, you may not develop your romance +with me as the foundation. Oh, I've heard of your quest +of adventure. I like you for it. I had an imagination +myself, once on a time. I loved the fairy books and the +love tales. But not now-not now. There is no romance +for me. Nothing but grave reality. Do not question +me! I can say no more. Now I must be gone. I—I +have warned you. Do not come again!"</p> + +<p>"Thanks, for the warning," he said quietly. "But I +expect to come in occasionally, just the same. You've +taken the wrong tack by trying to frighten me off. You +see, Miss Platanova, I'm actually looking for something +dangerous—if that's what you mean."</p> + +<p>"That isn't all, believe me," she pleaded. "You can +gain nothing by coming. You know who I am. I cannot +be a friend—not even an acquaintance to you, Mr. +King. Good-bye! Please do not come again!"</p> + +<p>She slipped into the street and was gone. King stood +in the doorway, looking after her, a puzzled gleam in his +eyes. Old Spantz was coming up from the rear, followed +by his customer.</p> + +<p>"Queer," thought the American. "She's changed her +tactics rather suddenly. Smiled at me in the beginning +and now cries a bit because I'm trying to return the +compliment. Well, by the Lord Harry, she shan't scare +me off like—Hello, Mr. Spantz! Good morning! I'm +here for the sword."</p> + +<p>The old man glared at him in unmistakable displeasure. +Truxton began counting out his money. The customer, +a swarthy fellow, passed out of the door, turning to +glance intently at the young man. A meaning look and +a sly nod passed between him and Spantz. The man +halted at the corner below and, later on, followed King +to Cook's office, afterward to the Castle gates, outside +of which he waited until his quarry reappeared. Until +King went to bed late that night this swarthy fellow +was close at his heels, always keeping well out of sight +himself.</p> + +<p>"I'll come in soon to look at those rings," said King, +placing the notes on the counter. Spantz merely nodded, +raked in the bills without counting them, and passed the +sword over to the purchaser.</p> + +<p>"Very good, sir," he growled after a moment.</p> + +<p>"I hate to carry this awful thing through the streets," +said King, looking at the huge weapon with despairing +eye. Inwardly, he was cursing himself for his extravagance +and cupidity.</p> + +<p>"It belongs to you, my friend. Take it or leave it."</p> + +<p>"I'll take it," said Truxton, smiling indulgently. With +that he picked up the weapon and stalked away.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later he was on his way to the Castle +grounds, accompanied by the short-legged Mr. Hobbs, +who, from time to time, was forced to remove his tight-fitting +cap to mop a hot, exasperated brow, so swift was +the pace set by long-legs. The broadsword reposed +calmly on a desk under the nose of a properly impressed +young person named Stokes, cashier.</p> + +<p>Hobbs led him through the great Park gates and up +to the lodge of Jacob Fraasch, the venerable high steward +of the grounds. Here, to King's utter disgust, he was +booked as a plain Cook's tourist and mechanically advised +to pay strict attention to the rules which would be +explained to him by the guide.</p> + +<p>"Cook's tourist, eh?" muttered King wrathfully as they +ambled down the shady path together. He looked with +disparaging eye upon the plain little chap beside him.</p> + +<p>"It's no disgrace," growled Hobbs, redder than ever. +"You're inside the grounds and you've got to obey the +rules, same as any tourist. Right this way, sir; we'll +take a turn just inside the wall. Now, on your left, +ladies and—ahem!—I should say—ahem!—sir, you may +see the first turret ever built on the wall. It is over four +hundred years old. On the right, we have—"</p> + +<p>"See here, Hobbs," said King, stopping short, "I'm +damned if I'll let you lecture me as if I were a gang of +hayseeds from Oklahoma."</p> + +<p>"Very good, sir. No offence. I quite forgot, sir."</p> + +<p>"Just <i>tell</i> me—don't lecture."</p> + +<p>For three-quarters of an hour they wandered through +the spacious grounds, never drawing closer to the Castle +than permitted by the restrictions; always coming up to +the broad driveway which marked the border line, never +passing it. The gorgeous beauty of this historic old +park, so full of traditions and the lore of centuries, +wrought strange fancies and bold inclinations in the head +of the audacious visitor. He felt the bonds of restraint; +he resented the irksome chains of convention; he murmured +against the laws that said he should not step +across the granite road into the cool forbidden world beyond—the +world of kings. Hobbs knew he was doomed +to have rebellion on his hands before long; he could see +it coming.</p> + +<p>"When we've seen the royal stables, we'll have seen +everything of any consequence," he hastened to say. +"Then we'll leave by the upper gates and—"</p> + +<p>"Hobbs, this is all very beautiful and very grand and +very slow," said King, stopping to lean against the +moss-covered wall that encircled the park within a park: +the grounds adjoining the grotto. "Can't I hop over +this wall and take a peep into the grotto?"</p> + +<p>"By no means," cried Hobbs, horrified. "That, sir, is +the most proscribed spot, next to the Castle itself. You +<i>can't</i> go in there."</p> + +<p>King looked over the low wall. The prospect was +alluring. The pool, the trickling rivulets, the mossy +banks, the dense shadows: it was maddening to think he +could not enter!</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't be in there a minute," he argued. "And +I might catch a glimpse of a dream-lady. Now, I say, +Hobbs, here's a low place. I could jump—"</p> + +<p>"Mr. King, if you do that I am ruined forever. I am +trusted by the steward. He would cut off all my privileges—" +Hobbs could go no further. He was prematurely +aghast. Something told him that Mr. King +would hop over the wall.</p> + +<p>"Just this once, Hobbs," pleaded his charge. "No one +will know."</p> + +<p>"For the love of Moses, sir, I—" Hobbs began to wail. +Then he groaned in dismal horror. King had lightly +vaulted the wall and was grinning back at him from the +sacred precincts—from the playground of princesses.</p> + +<p>"Go and report me, Hobbs, there's a good fellow. Tell +the guards I wouldn't obey. That will let you out, my +boy, and I'll do the rest. For Heaven's sake, Hobbs, +don't burst! You'll explode sure if you hold in like that +much longer. I'll be back in a minute."</p> + +<p>He strode off across the bright green turf toward the +source of all this enchantment, leaving poor Mr. Hobbs +braced against the wall, weak-kneed and helpless. If he +heard the frantic, though subdued, whistles and the +agonized "hi!" of the man from Cook's a minute or two +later, he gave no heed to the warning. A glimpse behind +might have shown him the error of his ways, reflected in +the disappearance of Hobbs's head below the top of the +wall. But he was looking ahead, drinking in the forbidden +beauties of this fascinating little nook of nature.</p> + +<p>Never in all his wanderings had he looked upon a more +inviting spot than this. He came to the edge of the +deep blue pool, above which could be seen the entrance to +the Grotto. Little rivulets danced down through the +crannies in the rocks and leaped joyously into the tree-shaded +pool. Below and to the right were the famed +Basins of Venus, shimmering in the sunlight, flanked by +trees and banks of the softest green. On their surface +swam the great black swans he had heard so much about. +Through a wide rift in the trees he could see the great, +grey Castle, half a mile away, towering against the dense +greens of the nearby mountain. The picture took his +breath away. He forgot Hobbs. He forgot that he was; +trespassing. Here, at last, was the Graustark he had +seen in his dreams, had come to feel in his imagination.</p> + +<p>Regardless of surroundings or consequences, he sat +down upon the nearest stone bench, and removed his hat. +He was hot and tired and the air was cool. He would +drink it in as if it were an ambrosial nectar in—and, +moreover, he would also enjoy a cigarette. Carefully he +refrained from throwing the burnt-out match into the +pool below: even such as he could feel that it might be +desecration. As he leaned back with a sigh of exquisite +ease and a splendid exhalation of Turkish smoke, a +small, imperious voice from somewhere behind broke in +upon his primary reflections.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing in here?" demanded the voice.</p> + +<p>Truxton, conscious of guilt, whirled with as much consternation +as if he had been accosted by a voice of +thunder. He beheld a very small boy standing at the +top of the knoll above him, not thirty feet away. His +face was quite as dirty as any small boy's should be at +that time of day, and his curly brown hair looked as if +it had not been combed since the day before. His firm +little legs, in half hose and presumably white knickers, +were spread apart and his hands were in his pockets.</p> + +<p><a name="page_067" id="page_067" /> +King recognised him at once, and looked about uneasily +for the attendants whom he knew should be near. It is +safe to say that he came to his feet and bowed deeply, +even in humility.</p> + +<p>"I am resting, your Highness," he said meekly.</p> + +<p>"Don't you know any better than to come in here?" demanded +the Prince. Truxton turned very red.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry. I'll go at once."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm not going to put you out," hastily exclaimed +the Prince, coming down the slope. "But you are old +enough to know better. The guards might shoot you if +they caught you here." He came quite close to the trespasser. +King saw the scratch on his nose. "Oh, I know +you now. You are the gentleman who picked up my +crop yesterday. You are an American." A friendly +smile illumined his face.</p> + +<p>"Yes, a lonely American," with an attempt at the +pathetic.</p> + +<p>"Where's your home at?"</p> + +<p>"New York. Quite a distance from here."</p> + +<p>"You ever been in Central Park?"</p> + +<p>"A thousand times. It isn't as nice as this one."</p> + +<p>"It's got amilies—no, I don't mean that," supplemented +the Prince, flushing painfully. "I mean—an-i-muls," +very deliberately. "Our park has no elephunts or taggers. +When I get big I'm going to set out a few in the +park. They'll grow, all right."</p> + +<p>"I've shot elephants and tigers in the jungle," said +Truxton. "I tell you they're no fun when they get +after you, wild. If I were you I'd set 'em out in cages."</p> + +<p>"P'raps I will." The Prince seemed very thoughtful.</p> + +<p>"Won't you sit down, your Highness?"</p> + +<p>The youngster looked cautiously about. "Say, do +you ever go fishing?" he demanded eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Occasionally."</p> + +<p>"You won't give me away, will you?" with a warning +frown. "Don't you tell Jacob Fraasch. He's the +steward. I—I know a fine place to fish. Would you +mind coming along? Look out, please! You're awful +big and they'll see you. I don't know what they'd do +to us if they ketched us. It would be dreadful. Would +you mind sneaking, mister? Make yourself little. +Right up this way."</p> + +<p>The Prince led the way up the bank, followed by the +amused American, who stooped so admirably that the +boy, looking back, whispered that it was "just fine." +At the top of the knoll, the Prince turned into a little +shrub-lined path leading down to the banks of the pool +almost directly below the rocky face of the grotto.</p> + +<p>"Don't be afraid," he whispered to his new friend. "It +ain't very deep, if you should slip in. But you'd scare +the fish away. Gee, it's a great place to catch 'em. +They're all red, too. D'you ever see red fish?"</p> + +<p>Truxton started. This was no place for him! The +Prince had a right to poach on his own preserves, but +a grown man to be caught in the act of landing the +royal goldfish was not to be thought of. He hung +back.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I won't have time, your Highness. A friend +is waiting for me back there. He—"</p> + +<p>"It's right here," pleaded the Prince. "Please stop +a moment. I—I don't know how to put the bait on the +pin. I just want to catch a couple. They won't bite +unless there's worms on the hook. I tried 'em. Look +at 'em! Goodness, there's lots of 'em. Nobody can +see us here. Please, mister, fix a worm for me."</p> + +<p>The man sat down behind a bush and laughed joyously. +The eager, appealing look in the lad's eyes went +to his heart. What was a goldfish or two? A fish has +no feeling—not even a goldfish. There was no resisting +the boyish eagerness.</p> + +<p>"Why, you're a real boy, after all. I thought being +a prince might have spoiled you," he said.</p> + +<p>"Uncle Jack says I can always be a prince, but I'll +soon get over being a boy," said Prince Bobby sagely. +"You <i>will</i> fix it, won't you?"</p> + +<p>King nodded, conscienceless now. The Prince scurried +behind a big rock and reappeared at once with a willow +branch from the end of which dangled a piece of thread. +A bent pin occupied the chief end in view. He unceremoniously +shoved the branch into the hands of his confederate, +and then produced from one of his pockets a +silver cigarette box, which he gingerly opened to reveal +to the gaze a conglomerate mass of angle worms +and grubs.</p> + +<p>"A fellow gets awful dirty digging for worms, doesn't +he?" he pronounced.</p> + +<p>"I should say so," agreed the big boy. "Whose cigarette +case is this?"</p> + +<p>"Uncle Caspar's—I mean Count Halfont's. He's got +another, so he won't miss this one. I'm going to leave +some worms in it when I put it back in his desk. He'll +think the fairies did it. Do you believe in fairies?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, Peter," said Truxton, engaged in impaling +a stubborn worm.</p> + +<p>"My name isn't Peter," said the Prince coldly.</p> + +<p>"I was thinking of Peter Pan. Ever hear of him?"</p> + +<p>"No. Say, you mustn't talk or you'll scare 'em away. +Is it fixed?" He took the branch and gingerly dropped +the hook into the dancing pool. In less time than it +requires to tell it he had a nibble, a bite and a catch. +There never was a boy so excited as he when the scarlet +nibbler flew into the shrubbery above; he gasped with +glee. Truxton recovered the catch from the bushes and +coolly detached the truculent pin.</p> + +<p>"I'll have 'em for dinner," announced the Prince.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to catch a mess?" queried the man, +appalled.</p> + +<p>"Sure," said Bobby, casting again with a resolute +splash.</p> + +<p>"Are you not afraid they'll get onto you if you take +them to the Castle?" asked the other diplomatically. +"Goldfish are a dead give-away."</p> + +<p>"Nobody will scold 'cept Uncle Jack, and he won't +know about it. He's prob'ly gone away by this time." +King noticed that his lip trembled suddenly.</p> + +<p>"Gone away?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. He was banished this morning right after +breakfast." The announcement began with a tremor +but ended with imperial firmness.</p> + +<p>"Great Scott!" gasped the other, genuinely shocked.</p> + +<p>"I banished him," said the Prince ruefully. "But," with +a fine smile, "I don't think he'll go. He never does. See +my sign up there?" He pointed to the rocks near the +grotto. "I did it with Hugo's shoe blacking."</p> + +<p>A placard containing the important announcement, +"NO FISHING ALOUD" stared down at the poachers +from a tree trunk above. There was nothing very peremptory +in its appearance, but its designer was sufficiently +impressed by the craftiness it contained.</p> + +<p>"I put it up so's people wouldn't think anybody—not +even me—would dare to fish here. Oh, look!" The +second of his ruddy mess was flopping in the grass. +Again Truxton thought of Mr. Hobbs, this time with +anxious glances in all directions.</p> + +<p>"Where do they think you are, your Highness?"</p> + +<p>"Out walking with my aunt. Only she met Count Vos +Engo, and while they were talking I made a sneak—I +mean, I stole away."</p> + +<p>"Then they'll be searching for you in all parts of the—" +began Truxton, coming to his feet. "I really must +be going. Please excuse me, your—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't go! I'll not let 'em do anything to you," +said the Prince staunchly. "I like Americans better than +anybody else," he went on with deft persuasiveness. +"They ain't—aren't afraid of anything. They're not +cowards."</p> + +<p>Truxton sat down at once. He could not turn tail in +the face of such an exalted opinion.</p> + +<p>"I'm not supposed to ever go out alone," went on the +Prince confidentially. "You see, they're going to blow +me up if they get a chance."</p> + +<p>"Blow you up?"</p> + +<p>"Haven't you heard about it? With dynamite bums—bombs. +Yes, sir! That's the way they do to all +princes." He was quite unconcerned. Truxton's look +of horror diminished. No doubt it was a subterfuge +employed to secure princely obedience, very much as the +common little boy is brought to time by mention of the +ubiquitous bogie man.</p> + +<p>"That's too bad," commiserated Truxton, baiting the +pin once more.</p> + +<p>"It's old Count Marlanx. He's going to blow me up. +He hated my mother and my father, so I guess he hates +me. He's turrible, Uncle Caspar says."</p> + +<p>King was very thoughtful for a moment. Something +vivid yet fleeting had shot through his brain—something +that he tried to catch and analyse, but it was +gone before he could grasp its significance. He looked +with new interest upon this serene, lovable little chap, +who was growing up, like all princes, in the shadow of +disaster.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the fisherman's quick little ears caught a +sound that caused him to reveal a no-uncertain agitation. +He dropped his rod incontinently and crawled to +the opening in the shrubbery, peering with alarmed eyes +down the path along the bank.</p> + +<p>"What is it? A dynamiter?" demanded Truxton uneasily.</p> + +<p>"Worse'n that," whispered his royal Highness. "It's +Aunt Loraine. Gee!" To King's utter dismay, the +Prince scuttled for the underbrush.</p> + +<p>"Here!" he called in consternation. The Prince +stopped, shamefaced on the instant. "I thought you +were going to protect me."</p> + +<p>"I shall," affirmed Bobby, manfully resuming his +ground. "She's coming up the path. Don't run," he +exclaimed scornfully, as Truxton started for the rocks. +"She can't hurt you. She's only a girl."</p> + +<p>"All right. I won't run," said the big culprit, who +wished he had the power to fly.</p> + +<p>"And there's Saffo and Cors over there watching us, +too. We're caught. I'm sorry, mister."</p> + +<p>On the opposite bank of the pool stood two rigid members +of the Royal Guard, intently watching the fishers. +King was somewhat disturbed by the fact that their +rifles were in a position to be used at an instant's notice. +He felt himself turning pale as he thought of what +might have happened if he had taken to flight.</p> + +<p>A young lady in a rajah silk gown, a flimsy panama +hat tilted well over her nose, with a red feather that +stood erect as if always in a state of surprise, turned +the bushes and came to a stop almost at King's elbow. +He had time to note, in his confusion, that she was about +shoulder-high alongside him, and that she was staring +up into his face with amazed grey eyes. Afterward +he was to realise that she was amazingly pretty, that +her teeth were very white and even, that her eyes were +the most beautiful and expressive he had ever seen, that +she was slender and imperious, and that there were dimples +in her checks so fascinating that he could not +gather sufficient strength of purpose to withdraw his +gaze from them. Of course, he did not see them at the +outset: she was not smiling, so how could he?</p> + +<p>The Prince came to the rescue. "This is my Aunt +Loraine, Mr.—Mr.—" he swallowed hard and looked +helpless.</p> + +<p>"King," supplied Truxton, "Truxton King, your +Highness." Then with all the courage he could produce, +he said to the beautiful lady: "I'm as guilty as +he. See!" He pointed ruefully to the four goldfish, +which he had strung upon wire grass and dropped into +the edge of the pool.</p> + +<p>She did not smile. Indeed, she gave him a very severe +look. "How cruel!" she murmured. "Bobby, you deserve +a sound spanking. You are a very naughty little +boy." She spoke rapidly in French.</p> + +<p>"He put the bait on," said Bobby, also in French. +Here was treachery!</p> + +<p>Truxton delivered himself of some French. "Oh, I +say, your Highness, you said you'd pardon me if I were +caught."</p> + +<p>"I can't pardon you until you are found guilty," said +the Prince in English.</p> + +<p>"Please put those poor little things back in the pool, +Mr. King," said the lady in perfect English.</p> + +<p>"Gladly—with the Prince's permission," said King, +also in English. The Prince looked glum, but interposed +no imperial objection. Instead he suddenly shoved the +cigarette box under the nose of his dainty relative, who +at that unpropitious instant stooped over to watch +King's awkward attempt to release the fishes.</p> + +<p>"Look at the worms," said the Prince engagingly, +opening the box with a snap.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" cried the young lady, starting back. "Throw +them away! the horned things!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, they can't bite," scoffed the Prince. "See! I'm +not afraid of 'em. Look at this one." He held up a +wriggler and she fled to the rock. She happened to +glance at Truxton's averted face and was conscious of +a broad grin; whereupon she laughed in the quick staccato +of embarrassment.</p> + +<p>It must be confessed that King's composure was sorely +disturbed. In the first place, he had been caught in a +most reprehensible act, and in the second place, he was +not quite sure that the Prince could save him from +ignominious expulsion under the very eyes—and perhaps +direction—of this trim and attractive member of +the royal household. He found himself blundering +foolishly with the fishes and wondering whether she was +a duchess or just a plain countess. Even a regal personage +might jump at the sight of angle worms, he reflected.</p> + +<p>He glanced up, to find her studying him, plainly perplexed.</p> + +<p>"I just wondered in here," he began guiltily. "The +Prince captured me down there by the big tree."</p> + +<p>"Did you say your name is Truxton King?" she +asked somewhat sceptically.</p> + +<p>"Yes, your—yes, ma'am," he replied. "Of New York."</p> + +<p>"Your father is Mr. Emerson King? Are you the +brother of Adele King?"</p> + +<p>Truxton stared. "Have you been interviewing the +police?" he asked before he thought.</p> + +<p>"The police? What have you been doing?" she cried, +her eyes narrowing.</p> + +<p>"Most everything. The police know all about me. +I'm a spotted character. I thought perhaps they had +told you about me."</p> + +<p>"I asked if you were Adele's brother."</p> + +<p>"I am."</p> + +<p>"I've heard her speak of her brother Truxton. She +said you were in South America."</p> + +<p>He stared the harder. Could he believe his ears?</p> + +<p>She was regarding him with cool, speculative interest. +"I wonder if you are he?"</p> + +<p>"I think I am," he said, but doubtfully. "Please pardon +my amazement. Perhaps I'm dreaming. At any +rate, I'm dazed."</p> + +<p>"We were in the convent together for two years. Now +that I observe you closely, you <i>do</i> resemble her. We +were very good friends, she and I."</p> + +<p>"Then you'll intercede for me?" he urged, with a +fervent glance in the direction of the wall.</p> + +<p>She smiled joyously. He realised then and there that +he had never seen such beautiful teeth, nor any creature +so radiantly beautiful, for that matter.</p> + +<p>"More than that," she said, "I shall assist you to +escape. Come!"</p> + +<p>He followed her through the shrubbery, his heart +pounding violently. The Prince, who trotted on ahead, +had mentioned a Count. Was she married? Was she +of the royal blood? What extraordinary fate had made +her the friend of his sister? He looked back and saw +the two guardsmen crossing the bridge below, their eyes +still upon him.</p> + +<p>"It's very good of you," he said. She glanced back at +him, a quaint smile in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"For Adele's sake, if you please. Trespassing is a +very serious offence here. How did you get in?"</p> + +<p>"I hopped in, over the wall."</p> + +<p>"I'd suggest that you do not hop out again. Hopping +over the walls is not looked upon with favour by the +guards."</p> + +<p>He recalled the distressed Mr. Hobbs. "The man +from Cook's tried to restrain me," he said in proper +spirit. "He was very much upset."</p> + +<p>"I dare say. You are a Cook's tourist, I see. How +very interesting! Bobby, Uncle Jack is waiting to take +you to see the trained dogs at the eastern gate."</p> + +<p>The Prince gave a whoop of joy, but instantly regained +his dignity.</p> + +<p>"I can't go, auntie, until I've seen him safe outside +the walls," he said firmly. "I said I would."</p> + +<p>They came to the little gate and passed through, into +a winding path that soon brought them to a wide, main-travelled +avenue. A light broke in upon Truxton's mind. +He had it! This was the wonderful Countess Marlanx! +No sooner had he come to that decision than he was +forced to abandon it. The Countess's name was +Ingomede and she already had been pointed out to him.</p> + +<p>"I suppose I shall have to recall Uncle Jack from +exile," he heard the Prince saying to the beautiful lady. +Truxton decided that she was not more than twenty-two. +But they married very young in these queer old countries—especially +if they happened to be princes or +princesses. He wanted to talk, to ask questions, to proclaim +his wonder, but discreetly resolved that it was best +to hold his tongue. He was by no means sure of himself.</p> + +<p>Be that as it may, he was filled with a strange rejoicing. +Here was a woman with whom he was as sure to fall in +love as he was sure that the sun shone. He liked the +thought of it. Now he appreciated the distinction between +the Olga Platanova type and that which represented +the blood of kings. There <i>was</i> a difference! +Here was the true Patrician!</p> + +<p>The Castle suddenly loomed up before them—grey and +frowning, not more than three hundred yards away. +He was possessed of a wild desire to walk straight into +the grim old place and proclaim himself the feudal +owner, seizing everything as his own—particularly the +young woman in the rajah silk. People were strolling +in the shady grounds. He felt the instant infection of +happy indolence, the call to luxury. Men in gay uniforms +and men in cool flannels; women in the prettiest +and daintiest of frocks—all basking in the playtime of +life, unmindful of the toil that fell to the Sons of +Martha out in the sordid world.</p> + +<p>"Do you think you can find your man from Cook's?" +she asked.</p> + +<p>"Unless he has gone and jumped into the river, your—madam. +In any event, I think I may safely find my +way out. I shall not trouble you to go any farther. +Thank you for overlooking my indiscretion. Thank +you, my dear little Prince, for the happiest experience +of my life. I shall never forget this hour." He looked +boldly into her eyes, and not at the Prince. "Have you +ever been in New York?" he asked abruptly.</p> + +<p>He was not at all sure whether the look she gave him +was one of astonishment or resentment. At any rate, +it was a quick glance, followed by the palpable suppression +of words that first came to her lips, and the substitution +of a very polite:</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I love it." He beamed. The smile that +came into her eyes escaped him. If he could have seen +it, his bewilderment; would have been sadly increased.</p> + +<p>"Say!" whispered the Prince, dropping back as if to +impart a grave secret. "See that man over there by the +fountain, Mr. King?"</p> + +<p>"Bobby!" cried the lady sharply. "Good-bye, Mr. +King. Remember me to your sister when you write. +She—"</p> + +<p>"That's Aunt Loraine's beau," announced the Prince.</p> + +<p>"That's Count Eric Vos Engo." Truxton's look turned +to one of interest at once. The man designated was a +slight, swarthy fellow in the uniform of a colonel. He +did not appear to be particularly happy at the moment.</p> + +<p>The American observed the lady's dainty ears. They +had turned a delicate pink.</p> + +<p>"May I ask who—" began Truxton timidly.</p> + +<p>"She will know if you merely call me Loraine."</p> + +<p>"So long," said the Prince.</p> + +<p>They parted company at once, the Prince and the +lady in the rajah silk going toward the Castle, King +toward the gates, somewhat dazed and by no means +sure of his senses. He came down to earth after he +had marched along on air for some distance, so to speak, +and found himself deciding that she was a duchess here, +but Loraine at school. What a wonderful place a +girl's school must be! And his sister knew her—knew a +lady of high degree!</p> + +<p>"Hobbs!" he called, catching sight of a dejected figure +in front of the chief steward's door.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's you, is it?" said Mr. Hobbs sullenly.</p> + +<p>"It is, Hobbs—very much me. I've been fishing with +royalty and chatting with the nobility. Where the +devil have <i>you</i> been?"</p> + +<p>"I've been squaring it with old man Fraasch. I'm +through with you, sir. No more for me, not if I +know—"</p> + +<p>"Come along, Hobbs," said the other blithely, taking +Hobbs by the arm. "The Prince sent his love to you."</p> + +<p>"Did he mention Cook's?" gasped Hobbs.</p> + +<p>"He certainly did," lied Truxton. "He spoke of you +most kindly. He wondered if you could find time to +come around to-morrow."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V" />CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>THE COMMITTEE OF TEN</h3> + + +<p>It has been said before that Truxton King was the +unsuspecting object of interest to two sets of watchers. +The fact that he was under the surveillance of the +government police, is not surprising when we consider +the evident thoroughness of that department; but that +he should be continually watched by persons of a more +sinister cast suggests a mystery which can be cleared +up by visiting a certain underground room, scarce two +blocks from the Tower of Graustark. It goes without +saying that corporeal admittance to this room was not to +be obtained easily. In fact, one must belong to a certain +band of individuals; and, in order to belong to that +band, one must have taken a very solemn pledge of +eternal secrecy and a primal oath to devote his life to +certain purposes, good or evil, according to his conscience. +By means of the friendly Sesame that has +opened the way for us to the gentler secrets, we are permitted +to enter this forbidding apartment and listen in +safety to the ugly business of the Committee of Ten.</p> + +<p>There were two ways of reaching this windowless +room, with its low ceilings and dank airs. If one had +the secret in his possession, he could go down through +the mysterious trap door in the workshop of William +Spantz, armourer to the Crown; or he might come up +through a hidden aperture in the walls of the great +government sewer, which ran directly parallel with and +far below the walls of the quaint old building. One +could take his choice of direction in approaching this +hole in the huge sewer: he could come up from the river, +half a mile away, or he could come down from the hills +above if he had the courage to drop through one of the +intakes.</p> + +<p>It is of special significance that the trap door in +Spantz's workshop was reserved for use by the armourer +and his more fastidious comrades—of whom three were +women and one an established functionary in the Royal +Household. One should not expect ladies to traverse a +sewer if oilier ways are open to them. The manner of +reaching the workshop was not so simple, however, as +you might suppose. The street door was out of the +quest ion, with Dangloss on the watch, day and night. +As much as can be said for the rear door. It was necessary, +therefore, that the favored few should approach +the shop by extraordinary paths. For instance, two of +the women came through friendly but unknown doors +in the basements of adjoining houses, reaching the +workshop by the narrow stairs leading up from a cobwebby +wine-cellar next door. Spantz and Olga Platanova, +of course, were at home in the place. All of +which may go to prove that while ten persons comprised +the committee, at least as many more of the shopkeepers +in that particular neighbourhood were in sympathy with +their secret operations.</p> + +<p>So cleverly were all these means of approach concealed +and so stealthy the movements of the Committee, that the +existence of this underground room, far below the street +level, was as yet unsuspected by the police. More than +that, the existence of the Committee of Ten as an organisation +was unknown to the department, notwithstanding +the fact that it had been working quietly, +seriously for more than a year.</p> + +<p>The Committee of Ten represented the brains and the +activity of a rabid coterie in Edelweiss, among themselves +styled the Party of Equals. In plain language, +they were "Reds." Less than fifty persons in Graustark +were affiliated with this particular community of anarchists. +For more than a year they had been preparing +themselves against the all-important hour for public +declaration. Their ranks had been augmented by occasional +recruits from other lands; their literature was +circulated stealthily; their operations were as secret as +the grave, so far as the outside world was concerned. +And so the poison sprung up and thrived unhindered in +the room below the street, growing in virulence and +power under the very noses of the vaunted police of +Edelweiss, slowly developing into a power that would +some day assert itself with diabolical fury.</p> + +<p>There were men and women from Axphain and Dawsbergen +in this seed circle that made Edelweiss its spreading +ground. They were Reds of the most dangerous +type—silent, voiceless, crafty men and women who built +well without noise, and who gave out nothing to the +world from which they expected to take so much.</p> + +<p>The nominal leader was William Spantz, he who had a +son in the Prince's household, Julius Spantz, the Master-of-arms. +Far off in the hills above the Danube there +lived the real leader of this deadly group—the Iron +Count Marlanx, exile from the land of his birth, hated +and execrated by every loyal Graustarkian, hating and +execrating in return with a tenfold greater venom. +Marlanx, the man who had been driven from wealth and +power by the sharp edict of Prince Robin's mother, the +lamented Yetive, in the days of her most glorious reign,—this +man, deep in his raging heart, was in complete +accord with the desperate band of Reds who preached +equality and planned disaster.</p> + +<p>Olga Platanova was the latest acquisition to this select +circle. A word concerning her: she was the daughter +of Professor Platanova, one time oculist and sociologist +in a large German University. He had been one of +the most brilliant men in Europe and a member of a +noble family. There was welcome for him in the homes +of the nobility; he hobnobbed, so to speak, with the +leading men of time Empire. The Platanova home in +Warsaw was one of the most inviting and exclusive in +that great, city. The professor's enthusiasm finally carried +him from the conservative paths in which he had +walked; after he had passed his fiftieth year he became +an avowed leader among the anarchists and revolutionists +in Poland, his native state. Less than a year before +the opening of this tale he was executed for treason and +conspiracy against the Empire.</p> + +<p>His daughter, Olga, was recognised as one of the most +beautiful and cultured young women in Warsaw. Her +suitors seemed to be without number; nor were they confined +to the student and untitled classes with whom she +was naturally thrown by force of circumstance. More +than one lordly adventurer in the lists of love paid +homage to her grace and beauty. Finally there came +one who conquered and was beloved. He was the son of +a mighty duke, a prince of the blood.</p> + +<p>It was true love for both of them. The young prince +pledged himself to marry her, despite all opposition; +he was ready to give up his noble inheritance for the +sake of love. But there were other forces greater than +a young man's love at work. The all-powerful ruler of +an Empire learned of this proposed mesalliance and was +horrified. Two weeks afterward the prince was called. +The will of the Crown was made known to him and—he +obeyed. Olga Platanova was cast aside but not forgotten. +He became the husband of an unloved, scrawny +lady of diadems. When the situation became more than +he could bear he blew out his brains.</p> + +<p>When Olga heard the news of his death she was not +stricken by grief. She cried out her joy to a now cloudless +sky, for he had justified the great love that had +been theirs and would be theirs to the end of time.</p> + +<p>From a passive believer in the doctrines of her father +and his circle she became at once their most impassioned +exponent. Over night she changed from a gentle-hearted +girl into a woman whose breast flamed with a +lust for vengeance against a class from which death +alone could free her lover. She threw herself, heart and +soul, into the deliberations and transactions of the great +red circle: her father understood and yet was amazed.</p> + +<p>Then he was put to death by the class she had come to +hate. One more stone in the sepulchre of her tender, +girlish ideals. When the time came she travelled to +Graustark in response to the call of the Committee of +Ten; she came prepared to kill the creature she would +be asked to kill. And yet down in her heart she was +sore afraid.</p> + +<p>She was there, not to kill a man grown old in wrongs +to her people, but to destroy the life of a gentle, innocent +boy of seven!</p> + +<p>There were times when her heart shrank from the unholy +deed she had been selected to perform; she even +prayed that death might come to her before the hour in +which she was to do this execrable thing in behalf of the +humanity she served. But there was never a thought +of receding from the bloody task set down for her—a +task so morbid, so horrid that even the most vicious of +men gloated in the satisfaction that they had not been +chosen in her place. Weeks before she came to Graustark +Olga Platanova had been chosen by lot to be the +one to do this diabolical murder. She did not flinch, +but came resolute and ready. Even the men in the Committee +of Ten looked upon the slender, dark-eyed girl +with an awe that could not be conquered. She had not +the manner of an assassin, and yet they knew that she +would not draw back; she was as soft and as sweet as the +Madonnas they secretly worshipped, and yet her heart +was steeled to a purpose that appalled the fiercest of +them.</p> + +<p>On a Saturday night, following the last visit of Truxton +King to the armourer, the Committee of Ten met in +the underground room to hear the latest word from one +who could not be with them in person, but was always +there in spirit—if they were to believe his most zealous +utterances. The Iron Count Marlanx, professed hater +of all that was rich and noble, was the power behind the +Committee of Ten. The assassination of the little +Prince and the overthrow of the royal family awaited +his pleasure: he was the man who would give the word.</p> + +<p>Not until he was ready could anything be done, for +Marlanx had promised to put the Committee of Ten in +control of this pioneer community when it came under +the dominion of anarchists.</p> + +<p>Alas, for the Committee of Ten! The wiliest fox in +the history of the world was never so wily as the Iron +Count. Some day they were to find out that he was +using them to pull his choicest chestnuts from the fire.</p> + +<p>The Committee was seated around the long table in the stifling, +breathless room, the armourer at the head. +Those who came by way of the sewer had performed +ablutions in the queer toilet room that once had been a +secret vault for the storing of feudal plunder. What +air there was came from the narrow ventilator that burrowed +its ways up to the shop of William Spantz, or +through the chimney-hole in the ceiling. Olga Platanova +sat far down the side, a moody, inscrutable expression +in her dark eyes. She sat silent and oppressed +through all the acrid, bitter discussions which carried +the conclave far past the midnight hour. In her heart +she knew that these men and women were already thinking +of her as a regicide. It was settled—it was ordained. +At Spantz's right lounged Peter Brutus, a lawyer—formerly +secretary to the Iron Count and now his sole +representative among these people. He was a dark-faced, +snaky-eyed young man, with a mop of coarse +black hair that hung ominously low over his high, receding +forehead. This man was the chosen villain +among all the henchmen who came at the beck and call +of the Iron Count.</p> + +<p>Julius Spantz, the armourer's son, a placid young man +of goodly physical proportions, sat next to Brutus, +while down the table ranged others deep in the consideration +of the world's gravest problems. One of the women +was Madame Drovnask, whose husband had been sent +to Siberia for life; and the other, Anna Cromer, a rabid +Red lecturer, who had been driven from the United +States, together with her amiable husband: an assassin +of some distinction and many aliases, at present +foreman in charge of one of the bridge-building crews +on the new railroad.</p> + +<p>Every man in the party, and there were eight, for +Olga was not a member of the Ten, wore over the lower +part of his face a false black beard of huge dimensions. +Not that they were averse to recognition among themselves, +but in the fear that by some hook or crook Dangloss +or his agents might be able to look in upon them—through +stone walls, as it were. They were not men to +belittle the powers of the wonderful Baron.</p> + +<p>As it sat in secret conclave, the Committee of Ten was +a sinister-looking group.</p> + +<p>Brutus was speaking. "The man is a spy. He has +been brought here from America by Tullis. Sooner or +later you will find that I am right."</p> + +<p>"It is best to keep close watch on him," advised one +of the men. "We know that he is in communication with +the police and we know that he visits the Castle, despite +his declaration that he knows no one there. To-day's +experience proves that. I submit that the strictest caution +be observed where he is concerned."</p> + +<p>"We shall continue to watch his every movement," said +William Spantz. "Time will tell. When we are positive +that he is a detective and that he is dangerous, there +is a way to stop his operations."</p> + +<p>His son grinned amiably as he swept his finger across +his throat. The old man nodded.</p> + +<p>"Dangloss suspects more than one of us" ventured +Brutus, his gaze travelling toward Olga. There was +lewd admiration in that steady glance. "But we'll fool +the old fox. The time will soon be here for the blow +that frees Graustark from the yoke. She will be the +pioneer among our estates, we the first of the individuals +in equality; here the home seat of perfect rulership. +There is nothing that can stop us. Have we not the +most powerful of friends? Who is greater and +shrewder than Count Marlanx? Who could have +planned and perfected an organization so splendid? +Will any one dispute this?"</p> + +<p>He had the floor, and having the floor means everything +to a Red. For half an hour he spoke with impassioned +fervour, descanting furiously on the amazing +virtues of his wily master and the plans he had arranged. +It appeared in the course of his remarks that +Marlanx had friends and supporters in all parts of +Graustark. Hundreds of men in the hills, including +honest shepherds and the dishonest brigands who +thrived on them, coal miners and wood stealers, hunters +and outlaws were ready to do his bidding when the time +was ripe. Moreover, Marlanx had been successful in +his design to fill the railway construction crews with the +riff-raff of all Europe, all of whom were under the +control of leaders who could sway them in any movement, +provided it was against law and order. As a +matter of fact, according to Brutus, nearly a thousand +aliens were at work on the road, all of them ready to +revolt the instant the command was given by their +advisers.</p> + +<p>Something that the Committee of Ten did not know +was this: those alien workmen were no less than so many +hired mercenaries in the employ of the Iron Count, +brought together by that leader and his agents for the +sole purpose of overthrowing the Crown in one sudden, +unexpected attack, whereupon Count Marlanx would +step in and assume control of the government. They +had been collected from all parts of the world to do the +bidding of this despised nobleman, no matter to what +lengths he might choose to lead them. Brutus, of +course, knew all this: his companions on the Committee +were in complete ignorance of the true motives that +brought Marlanx into their operations.</p> + +<p>With a cunning that commands admiration, the Iron +Count deliberately sanctioned the assassination of the +little Prince by the Reds, knowing that the condemnation +of the world would fall upon them instead of upon +him, and that his own actions following the regicide +would at once stamp him as irrevocably opposed to +anarchy and all of its practices!</p> + +<p>In the course of his remarks, Peter Brutus touched +hastily upon the subject of the little Prince.</p> + +<p>"He's not very big," said he, with a laugh, "and it +won't require a very big bomb to blow him to smithereens. +He will—"</p> + +<p>"Stop!" cried Olga Platanova, springing to her feet +and glaring at him with dilated eyes. "I cannot listen +to you! You shall not speak of it in that way! Peter +Brutus, you are not to speak of—of what I am to do! +Never—never again!"</p> + +<p>They looked at her in amazement and no little concern. +Madame Drovnask was the first to speak, her glittering +eyes fastened upon the drawn, white face of the +girl across the table.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to fail? Are you weakening?" she +demanded.</p> + +<p>"No! I am not going to fail! But I will not permit +any one to jest about the thing I am to do. It is a +sacred duty with me. But, Madame Drovnask—all +of you, listen—it is a cruel, diabolical thing, just the +same. Were it not in behalf of our great humanity, +I, myself, should call it the blackest piece of cruelty the +world has ever known. The slaughter of a little boy! +A dear, innocent little boy! I can see the horror in all +of your faces! You shudder as you sit there, thinking +of the thing I am to do. Yes, you are secretly despising +me, your instrument of death! I—I, a girl, I am to +cast the bomb that blows this dear little body to pieces. +I! Do you know what that means? Even though I +am sure to be blown to pieces by the same agent, the +last thing I shall look upon is his dear, terrified little +face as he watches me hurl the bomb. Ah!"</p> + +<p>She shuddered violently as she stood there before them, +her eyes closed as if to shut out the horrible picture +her mind was painting. There were other white faces +and ice-cold veins about the table. The sneer on Anna +Cromer's face deepened.</p> + +<p>"She will bungle it," came in an angry hiss from her +lips.</p> + +<p>Olga's lids were lifted. Her dark eyes looked straight +into those of the older woman.</p> + +<p>"No," she said quietly, her body relaxing, "I shall not +bungle it."</p> + +<p>William Spantz had been watching her narrowly, even +suspiciously. Now his face cleared.</p> + +<p>"She will not fail," he announced calmly. "Let there +be no apprehension. She is the daughter of a martyr. +Her blood is his. It will flow in the same cause. Sit +down, Olga, my dear. We will not touch upon this +subject again—until—"</p> + +<p>"I know, uncle," she said quietly, resuming her seat +and her attitude of indifference.</p> + +<p>The discussion went back to Truxton King. "Isn't it +possible that he is merely attracted by the beauty of +our charming young friend here?" ventured Madame +Drovnask, after many opinions had been advanced respecting +his interest in the shop and its contents. "It +is a habit with Americans, I am told."</p> + +<p>"Miss Platanova is most worthy of the notice of any +man," agreed Brutus, with an amiable leer. Olga +seemed to shrink within herself. It was plain that she +was not a kindred spirit to these vicious natures.</p> + +<p>"It is part of his game," said Julius Spantz. "He +knows Olga's past; he is waiting for a chance to catch +her off her guard. He may even go so far as to make +pretty love to you, cousin, in the hope that—no offence, +my dear, no offence!" Her look had silenced him.</p> + +<p>"Mr. King is not a spy," she said steadily.</p> + +<p>"Well," concluded William Spantz, "we are safe if +we take no chances with him. He must be watched all +the time. If we discover that he is what some of us +think he is, there is a way to end his usefulness."</p> + +<p>"Let him keep away from the shop downstairs," said +Peter Brutus, with a sidelong glance at the delicate +profile of the girl down the table.</p> + +<p>She smiled suddenly, to the amazement of her sinister +companions.</p> + +<p>"Have no fear, Brutus. When he hears that you +object, he will be very polite and give us a wide berth," +she said. Peter flushed angrily.</p> + +<p>"He doesn't mean any good by you," he snapped. +"He'll fool you and—poof! Away he goes, rejoicing."</p> + +<p>She still smiled. "You have a very good opinion of +me, Peter Brutus."</p> + +<p>"Well," doggedly, "you know what men of his type +think of shopgirls. They consider them legitimate +prey."</p> + +<p>"And what, pray, do men of your type think of us?" +she asked quietly.</p> + +<p>"Enough of this," interposed William Spantz. "Now, +Brutus, what does Count Marlanx say to this day two +weeks? Will he be ready? On that day the Prince and +the Court are to witness the unveiling of the Yetive +memorial statue in the Plaza. It is a full holiday in +Graustark. No man will be employed at his usual task +and—"</p> + +<p>Brutus interrupted him. "That is the very day that +the Count has asked me to submit to the Committee. +He believes it to be the day of all days. Nothing should +go amiss. We conquer with a single blow. By noon +of that day, the 26th of July, the Committee of Ten +will be in control of the State; the new regime will be +at hand. A new world will be begun, with Edelweiss as +the centre, about which all the rest shall revolve. We—the +Committee of Ten—will be its true founders. We +shall be glorified forever—"</p> + +<p>"We've heard all this before, Brutus," said Julius +Spantz unfeelingly, "a hundred times. It's talk, talk, +talk! What we need now is action. Are we sure that +the Count will be prepared to do all that he says he +will on the 26th of July? Will he have his plans perfected? +Are his forces ready for the stroke?"</p> + +<p>"Positively. They await the word. That's all I can +say," growled Peter. "The death of the Prince is the +signal for the overthrow of the present government and +the establishment of the new order of equal humanity."</p> + +<p>"After all," mused Julius, Master-at-arms in the +Castle, "it is more humane to slay the Prince while he +is young. It saves him from a long life of trouble and +fear and the constant dread of the very thing that is to +happen to him now. Yes, it is best that it should come +soon." Down in his heart, Julius loved the little Prince.</p> + +<p>For an hour longer the Committee discussed plans for +the eventful day. Certain details were left for future +deliberations; each person had his part to play and +each one was settled in his or her determination that +nothing should go amiss.</p> + +<p>The man they feared was Dangloss. They did not +fear God!</p> + +<p>When they dispersed for the night, it was to meet +again three days hence for the final word from Marlanx, +who, it seems, was not so far away that communication +with him was likely to be delayed. A sword hung over +the head of Truxton King, an innocent outsider, and +there was a prospect that it would fall in advance of +the blow that was intended to startle the world. Olga +Platanova was the only one who did not look upon the +sprightly American as a spy in the employ of the +government—a dangerously clever spy at that.</p> + +<p>Up in the distant hills slept the Iron Count, dreaming +of the day when he should rule over the new Graustark—for +he would rule!—a smile on his grizzled face in +reflection of recent waking thoughts concerning the +punishment that should fall swiftly upon the assassins +of the beloved Prince Robin.</p> + +<p>He would make short shrift of assassins!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI" />CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>INGOMEDE THE BEAUTIFUL</h3> + + +<p>A light, chilling drizzle had been falling all evening, +pattering softly upon the roof of leaves that covered +the sidewalks along Castle Avenue, glistening on the +lamp-lit pavements and blowing ever so gently in the +faces of those who walked in the dripping shades. Far +back from the shimmering sidewalks, surrounded by the +blackest of shadows, and approached by hedge-bordered +paths and driveways, stood the mansions occupied by +the nobility of this gay little kingdom. A score or more +of ancient palaces, in which the spirit, of modern aggression +had wrought interior changes but had left the exteriors +untouched, formed this aristocratic line of +homes. Here were houses that had been built in the +fifteenth century,—great, square, solemn-looking structures, +grown grey and green with age.</p> + +<p>There were lights in a thousand windows along this +misty, royal road—lights that reflected the pleasures +of the rich and yet caused no envy in time hearts of the +loyal poor.</p> + +<p>Almost in the centre of the imposing line stood the +home of the Duke of Perse, Minister of Finance, flanked +on either side by structures as grim and as gay as +itself, yet far less significant in their generation. Here +dwelt the most important man in the principality, not +excepting the devoted prime minister himself. Not that +Perse was so well beloved, but that he held the destinies +of the land in Midas-like fingers. More than that, he +was the father of the far-famed Countess Marlanx, the +most glorious beauty at the Austrian and Russian +courts. She had gone forth from Graustark as its most +notable bride since the wedding day of the Princess +Yetive, late in the nineties. Ingomede, the beautiful, had +journeyed far to the hymeneal altar; the husband who +claimed her was a hated, dishonoured man in his own +land. They were married in Buda Pesth. All Europe +pitied her at the time; there was but one form of prophecy +as to her future. There were those who went so +far as to say that her father had delivered her into the +hands of a latter-day Bluebeard, who whisked her off +into the highlands many leagues from Vienna.</p> + +<p>She was seen no more in the gay courts for a year. +Then, of a sudden, she appeared before them all, as +dazzlingly beautiful as ever, but with a haunting, wistful +look in her dark eyes that could not be mistaken. +The old Count found an uneasy delight in exhibiting +her to the world once more, plainly as a bit of property +that all men were expected to look upon with envy +in their hearts. She came up out of the sombre +hills, freed from what must have been nothing less than +captivity in that once feudal castle, to prove to his +world that she thrived in spite of prophetic babblers. +They danced from court to court, grotesquely mis-mated, +deceiving no one as to the true relations that +existed between them. She despised him without concealment; +he took pride in showing that he could best +resent her attitude by the most scrupulous devotion, so +marked that its intent could not be mistaken.</p> + +<p>Then the Duke of Perse resumed his residence in Edelweiss, +opening the old palace once more to the world. +His daughter, after the death of the Princess, began her +extended visits to the home of her girlhood. So long as +the Princess was alive she remained away from Edelweiss, +reluctant to meet the friend who had banished +her husband long before the wedding day in Buda Pesth. +Now she came frequently and stayed for weeks at a time, +apparently happy during these escapes from life in the +great capitals. Here, at least, she was free from the +grim old man whose countess she was; here, all was +sweet and warm and friendly, delicious contrast to the +cold, bitter life she knew on the Danube.</p> + +<p>Without warning she came and without farewells she +left Edelweiss on the occasion of these periodical visits. +No word was ever spoken concerning her husband, except +on the rare occasions when she opened her heart to +the father who had bartered her into slavery for the +sake of certain social franchises that the Iron Count +had at his disposal. The outside world, which loved her, +never heard of these bitter passages between father and +child. Like Cinderella, she sometimes disappeared from +joyous things at midnight; the next heard of her, she +was in Vienna, or at Schloss Marlanx.</p> + +<p>If the Duke of Perse repented of his bargain in giving +his daughter to the Iron Count, he was never known to +intimate as much. He loved Ingomede in his own, hard +way. No doubt he was sorry for her. It is a fact that +she was sorry for him. She could read his bitter +thoughts more clearly than he suspected.</p> + +<p>Of late she came more frequently to Edelweiss than +before. She was seen often at the Castle; no court +function was complete without the presence of this +lovely noblewoman; no <i>salon</i> worth while unless graced +by her wit and her beauty.</p> + +<p>John Tullis was always to remember the moment when +he looked upon this exquisite creature for the first time. +That was months ago. After that he never ceased +being a secret, silent worshipper at her transient shrine.</p> + +<p>Ten o'clock on this rainy night: A carriage has +drawn up before the lower gates to the Perse grounds, +and a tall, shadowy figure leaves it to hurry through the +shrub lined walks to the massive doors. A watchman in +the garden salutes him. The tall figure dips his umbrella +in response, characteristically laconic. A footman +lifts his hand to his forelock at the top of the steps +and throws open the doors without question. This +visitor is expected, it is plain to be seen; a circumstance +which may or may not explain the nervousness that attends +him as he crosses the broad hall toward the +library.</p> + +<p>Tullis had long since ceased to be a welcome visitor in +the home of the Duke of Perse. The men were openly +unfriendly to each other. The Duke resented the cool +interference of the sandy-haired American; on the +other hand, Tullis made no effort to conceal his dislike, +if not distrust, of the older man. He argued—with +unofficial and somewhat personal authority,—that a +man who could trade his only child for selfish ends +might also be impelled to sacrifice his country's interests +without cramping his conscience.</p> + +<p>The Countess was alone in the long, warm-tinted +library. She stood before the dying embers in the +huge old fireplace, her foot upon one of the great iron +dogs. Her smiling face was turned toward the door as +he entered.</p> + +<p>"It is good of you to come," she said, as they shook +hands warmly. "Do you know it is almost a year since +you last came to this house?"</p> + +<p>"It would be a century, Countess, if I were not welcomed +in other houses where I am sure of a glimpse of +you from time to time and a word now and then. Still, +a year's a year. The room hasn't changed so far as I +can see. The same old tiger-skin there, the rugs, the +books, the pictures—the leopard's skin here and the—yes, +the lamp is just where it used to be. 'Pon my +soul, I believe you are standing just as you were when +I last saw you here. It's uncanny. One might think +you had not moved in all these months!"</p> + +<p>"Or that it has been a minute instead of a year," she +supplemented. His quick, involuntary glance about him +did not escape her understanding. "The Duke has gone +to Ganlook to play Bridge with friends," she said at +once. "He will not return till late. I have just telephoned—to +make sure." Her smile did more than to +reassure him.</p> + +<p>"Of course, you will understand how impossible it is +for me to come here, Countess. Your father, the Duke, +doesn't mince matters, and I'm not quite a fool." Tullis +squinted at the fire.</p> + +<p>"Do you think ill of me for asking you to come +to-night?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all," he said cheerfully, "so long as you are +quite sure that your father is in Ganlook. He would +be perfectly justified in kicking me out if he were to +catch me here. And as I'm rather cumbersome and +he's somewhat venerable, I don't like to think of the +jar it would be to his system. But, so long as he isn't +here, and I am, why shouldn't I draw up a chair before +the fire for you, and another for myself, with the +cigarettes and a world between us, to discuss conditions +as they are, not as they might be if we were discovered? +Shall I? Good! I defy any one's father to get me out +of this chair until I am ready to relinquish it voluntarily."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you superintended the 'going-to-bed' of +Prince Robin before you left the Castle?" she said, lying +back in the comfortable chair and stretching her +feet out to the fire. He handed her a match and watched +her light the long, ridiculously thin cigarette.</p> + +<p>"Yes. I never miss it, Countess. The last thing he +does, after saying his prayers, is to recall me from +exile. He wouldn't be happy if he couldn't do that. +He says amen and hops into bed. Then he grins in a +far from imperial way and announces that he's willing +to give me another chance, and please won't I tell him +the latest news concerning Jack-the-giant-killer. He +asked me to-night if I thought you'd mind if he +banished your father. They've had a children's quarrel, +I believe. If you do mind, I am to let him know: he +won't banish him. He's very fond of you, Countess." +She laughed gaily.</p> + +<p>"He is a dear boy. I adore him. I think I quite +understand why you are giving up your life to him. At +first I wasn't sure."</p> + +<p>"You thought I expected to gain something by it, is +not that so? Well, there are a great many people who +think so still—your father among them. They'll never +understand. I don't blame them, for, I declare to you, +I don't fully appreciate it myself. John Tullis playing +nurse and story-teller to a seven-year-old boy, to the +exclusion of everything else, is more than I can grasp. +Somehow, I've come to feel that he's mine. That must +be the reason. But you've heard me prate on this subject +a hundred times. Don't let me start it again. +There's something else you want to talk to me about, +so please don't encourage me to tell all the wonderful +things he has said and done to-day."</p> + +<p>"It is of the Prince that I want to speak, Mr. Tullis," +she said, suddenly serious. "I don't care to hear +whether he stubbed his toe to-day or just how much he +has grown since yesterday, but I do want to talk very +seriously with you concerning his future—I might say +his immediate future."</p> + +<p>He looked at her narrowly.</p> + +<p>"Are you quite serious?"</p> + +<p>"Quite. I could not have asked you to come to this +house for anything trivial. We have become very good +friends, you and I. Too good, perhaps, for I've no +doubt there are old tabbies in Edelweiss who are provoked +to criticism—you know what I mean. Their +world is full of imaginary affairs, else what would there +be left for old age? But we are good friends and we +understand why we are good friends, so there's the end +to that. As I say, I could not have asked so true a +friend into the house of his enemy for the mere sake +of having my vanity pleased by his obedience."</p> + +<p>"I am quite sure of that," he said. "Are you in +trouble, Countess? Is there anything I can do?"</p> + +<p>"It has to do with the Prince, not with me," she said. +"And yet I am in trouble—or perhaps I should say, I +am troubled."</p> + +<p>"The Prince is a sturdy little beggar," he began, but +she lifted her hand in protest.</p> + +<p>"And he has sturdy, loyal friends. That is agreed. +And yet—" she paused, a perplexed line coming between +her expressive eyes.</p> + +<p>John Tullis opened his own eyes very wide. "You +don't mean to say that he is—he is in peril of any sort?"</p> + +<p>She looked at him a long time before speaking. He +could feel that she was turning something over in her +mind before giving utterance to the thought.</p> + +<p>At last she leaned nearer to him, dropping the ash +from her cigarette into the receiver as she spoke slowly, +intensely. "I think he is in peril—in deadly peril."</p> + +<p>He stared hard. "What do you mean?" he demanded, +with an involuntary glance over his shoulder. She interpreted +that glance correctly.</p> + +<p>"The peril is not here, Mr. Tullis. I know what you +are thinking. My father is a loyal subject. The peril +I suggest never comes to Graustark."</p> + +<p>She said no more but leaned forward, her face whiter +than its wont. He frowned, but it was the effect of +temporary perplexity. Gradually the meaning of her +simple, though significant remark filtered through his +brain.</p> + +<p>"Never comes to Graustark?" he almost whispered. +"You don't—you can't mean your—your husband?"</p> + +<p>"I mean Count Marlanx," she said steadily.</p> + +<p>"He means evil to Prince Robin? Good Heavens, +Countess, I—I can't believe it. I know he is bitter, +revengeful, and all that, but—"</p> + +<p>"He is all that and more," she said. "First, you must +let me impress you that I am not a traitor to his cause. +I could not be that, for the sufficient reason that I only +suspect its existence. I am not in any sense a part of it. +I do not <i>know</i> anything. I only feel. I dare say you +realise that I do not love Count Marlanx—that there is +absolutely nothing in common between us except a +name. We won't go into that. I—"</p> + +<p>"I am overjoyed to hear you say this, Countess," he +said very seriously. "I have been so bold on occasion +as to assert—for your private ear, of course—that you +could not, by any freak of nature, happen to care for +Count Marlanx, whom I know only by description. You +have laughed at my so-called American wit, and you +have been most tolerant. Now, I feel that I am justified. +I'm immeasurably glad to hear you confess that you do +not love your husband."</p> + +<p>"I cannot imagine any one so stupid as to think that +I do love Count Marlanx, for that matter, that he +loves me. Still, I am relieved to hear you say that you +are glad. It simplifies the present for us, and that is +what we are to discuss."</p> + +<p>"You are very, very beautiful, and young, and unhappy," +he said irrelevantly, a darker glow in his +cheeks. She smiled serenely, without a trace of diffidence +or protest.</p> + +<p>"I can almost believe it, you say it so convincingly," +she said. For a moment she relaxed luxuriantly into +an attitude of physical enjoyment of herself, surveying +her toe-tips with a thoughtfulness that comprehended +more; and then as abruptly came back to the business +of the moment. "You must not spoil it all by saying +it too fervently," she went on with a smile of warning. +He gave a short laugh of confusion and sank back in +the chair.</p> + +<p>"You have never tried to make love to me," she went +on. "That's what I like about you. I think most men +are silly, not because I am so very young, but because +my husband is so ridiculously old. Don't you think so? +But, never mind! I see you are quite eager to answer—that's +enough. Take another cigarette and—listen to +what I am going to say." He declined the cigarette +with a shake of his head.</p> + +<p>After a moment she went on resolutely: "As I said +before, I do not know that my suspicions are correct. +I have not even breathed them to my father. He would +have laughed at me. My husband is a Graustarkian, +even as I am, but there is this distinction between us: +he despises Graustark, while I love her in every drop of +my blood. I know that in his heart he has never ceased +to brew evil for the throne that disgraced him. He +openly expresses his hatred for the present dynasty, +and has more than once said in public gatherings that +he could cheerfully assist in its utter destruction. That, +of course, is commonly known in Graustark, where he is +scorned and derided. But he is not a man to serve his +hatred with mere idle words and inaction." She stopped +for a moment, and then cried impulsively: "I must +first know that you will not consider me base and disloyal +in saying these things to you. After all, he is +my husband."</p> + +<p>He saw the faint curl of her lip. "Before that," he +argued simply, "you were a daughter of Graustark. +You were not born to serve a cause that means evil to +the dear land. Graustark first made you noble; you +can't go back on that, you know. Don't let your husband +degrade you. I think you can see how I feel about +it. Please believe that I know you can do no wrong."</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<br /> +<a name="p104.jpg"></a> +<a href="images/p104.jpg"> +<img src="images/p104.jpg" width="40%" alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>"You are the only man to whom I feel +sure that I can reveal myself and be quite understood."</b><br /> +<br /> +</div> + +<p>"Thank you," she said, returning the look in his +earnest grey eyes with one in which the utmost confidence +shone. "You are the only man to whom I feel +sure that I can reveal myself and be quite understood. +It isn't as if I had positive facts to divulge, for I have +not; they are suspicions, fears, that's all, but they are +no longer vague shapes to me; they mean something."</p> + +<p>"Tell me," he said quietly. He seemed to square his +broad shoulders and to set his jaw firmly, as if to resist +physical attack. She knew she had come with her fears +to a man in whose face it was declared that he could +laugh at substance as well as shadow.</p> + +<p>"I am seeing you here in this big room, openly, for the +simple reason that if I am being watched this manner +of meeting may be above suspicion. We may speak +freely here, for we cannot be heard unless we raise our +voices. Don't betray surprise or consternation. The +eyes of the wall may be better than its ears."</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say you are being watched here in +your father's house?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>"I don't know. This I do know: the Count has many +spies in Edelweiss. He is systematically apprised of +everything that occurs at court, in the city, or in the +council chamber. So you see, he is being well served, +whether to an evil purpose or to satisfy his own innate +curiosity, I do not know. He has reports almost daily,—voluminous +things, partly in cipher, partly free, and +he is forever sending men away on secret, mysterious missions. +Understand, I do not know that he is actually +planning disaster to Graustark. Day before yesterday I +saw his secretary in the streets—a man who has been in +his employ for five years or more and who now pretends +to be a lawyer here. His name is Brutus. I spoke with +him. He said that he had left the Count six weeks ago +in Vienna, determined to set out for himself in his chosen +profession. He knows, of course, that I am not and +never have been in the confidences of my husband. I +asked him if it was known in Edelweiss that he had +served the Count as secretary. He promptly handed +me one of his business cards, on which he refers to himself +as the former trusted and confidential secretary of +Count Marlanx. Now, I happen to know that he is still +in my husband's service,—or was no longer ago than +last week."</p> + +<p>"My dear Countess, he may be serving him legitimately +as an attorney. There would be nothing strange in +that."</p> + +<p>"But he is still serving him as confidential secretary. +He is here for a purpose, as my husband's representative. +I have not been asleep all these months at Schloss +Marlanx. I have seen and heard enough to convince +me that some great movement is on foot. My intelligence +tells me that it has to do with Graustark. As he +wishes the Prince no good, it must be for evil." +"But there is nothing he can do. He has no following +here. The Prince is adored by the people. Count +Marlanx would not be such a fool as to—"</p> + +<p>"He is no fool," she interrupted quickly. "That's +why I am afraid. If he is plotting against the Crown, +you may depend upon it he is laying his plans well. +John Tullis, that man is a devil—a devil incarnate." +She turned her face away.</p> + +<p>A spasm of utter repugnance crossed her face; she +shuddered so violently that his hand went forth to +clutch the fingers that trembled on the arm of the chair. +He held them in his firm grasp for a moment. They +looked into each other's eyes and he saw the flicker of +undisguised horror in hers. An instant later she was +herself again. Withdrawing her hand, she added, with +a short laugh of derision: "Still I did not expect +heaven, so why complain."</p> + +<p>"But you are an angel," he blurted out.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe the Count will agree to that," she +said, with a reflective twinkle in her dark eyes. "He +has not found me especially angelic. If you imagine +that I cannot scratch back, my dear friend, you are +very much mistaken. I have had the pleasure of giving +him more than one bad half hour. You may be sure +he has never called me an angel. Quite the other thing, +I assure you. But we are straying from the point."</p> + +<p>"Wait a moment, please," he commanded. "I want to +say to you here and now: you are the gentlest, loveliest +woman I have ever known. I don't say it idly. I mean +it. If you gave him half as good as he sent, I rejoice +in your spirit. Now, I want to ask if you expect to +go back to live with the da—with him."</p> + +<p>"That, Mr. Tullis, is hardly a matter I can discuss +with you," she said gently, and he was not offended.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not, Countess, but now is the time for you +to decide the issue. Why should you return to Castle +Marlanx? Why keep up the farce—or I might say, +tragedy—any longer? You love Graustark. You love +the Prince. You betray them both by consorting with +their harshest foe. Oh, I could tell you a thousand +reasons why—"</p> + +<p>"We haven't time for them," she interrupted, with +mock despair in her face. "Besides, I said we cannot +discuss it. It requires no learned argument to move +me, one way or the other. I can decide for myself."</p> + +<p>"You should divorce him," he said harshly.</p> + +<p>She laughed easily, softly. "My good friend, if I +did that, I'd lose your friendship." He opened his lips +to remonstrate, but suddenly caught the undercurrent +of the naive remark.</p> + +<p>"By Jove," he said, his eyes glowing, "you must not +risk finding me too obtuse."</p> + +<p>"Bravo!" she cried. "You are improving."</p> + +<p>"I could provide a splendid substitute for the friendship +you speak of," he said coolly.</p> + +<p>"Poof! What is that to me? I could have a hundred +lovers—but, ach, friends are the scarcest things in the +world. I prefer friendship. It lasts. There! I see +disapproval in your face! You Americans are so +literal." She gazed into the fireplace for a moment, +her lips parted in a whimsical smile. He waited for her +to go on; the words were on her tongue's end, he could +tell. "A divorce at twenty-five. I believe that is the +accepted age, isn't it? If one gets beyond that, she—but, +enough of this!" She sprang to her feet and stood +before him, the flash dying in her eyes even as it was +born that he might see so briefly. "We diverge! You +must go soon. It is best not to be seen leaving here at +a very late hour—especially as my father is known to +be away. I am afraid of Peter Brutus. He is here to +watch—<i>everybody</i>."</p> + +<p>She was leaning against the great carved mantel post, +a tall, slender, lissome creature, exquisitely gowned in +rarest Irish lace, her bare neck and shoulders gleaming +white against the dull timbers beyond, the faint glow +from the embers creeping up to her face with the insistence +of a maiden's flush. He gazed in rapt admiration, +his heart thumping like fury in his great breast. +She was little more than a girl, this wife of old Marlanx, +and yet how wise, how clever, how brilliant she was!</p> + +<p>A face of unusual pallor and extremely patrician in +its modelling, surmounted by a coiffure so black that it +could be compared only to ebony—black and almost +gleaming with the life that was in it. It came low on +her forehead, shading the wondrous dark eyes—eyes +that were a deep yellowish green in their division between +grey and black, eyes that were soft and luminous +and unwaveringly steadfast, impelling in their power to +fascinate, yet even more dangerously compassionate +when put to the test that tries woman's vanity.</p> + +<p>There were diamonds on her long, tapering fingers, and +a rope of pearls in her hair. A single wide gold band +encircled her arm above the elbow, an arm-band as old +as the principality itself, for it had been worn by +twenty fair ancestors before her. The noblewomen of +Graustark never wore bracelets on their wrists; always +the wide chased gold band on the upper arm. There +was a day, not so far back in history, when they wore +bands on their ankles.</p> + +<p>She was well named Ingomede, the Beautiful.</p> + +<p>A soft, almost imperceptible perfume, languorous in +its appeal to the senses, exuded from this perfect creation; +added to this, the subtle, unfailing scent of young +womanhood; the warm, alive feel of her presence in the +atmosphere; a suggestion of something sensuous, clean, +pure, delicious. The undescribable.</p> + +<p>"Does Baron Dangloss know this man Brutus?" +asked Tullis, arising to stand beside her. A sub-conscious, +triumphant thrill shot through him as an instantaneous +flash of his own physical superiority over +this girl's husband came over him. He was young and +strong and vital. He could feel the sensation of being +strong; he tingled with the glory of it. He was +thirty-five, Marlanx seventy. He wondered if +Marlanx had ever been as strong as he.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," she said thoughtfully. "I have not +spoken to him concerning Brutus. Perhaps he knows. +The Baron is very wise. Let me tell you how I happen +to know that Peter Brutus is still serving Count +Marlanx and why I think his presence signifies a crisis +of some sort." Tullis stood facing the great fireplace, +his back to the hail. He observed that she looked +toward the doors quite as often as she looked at him; +it struck him that she was extremely cautious despite +her apparent ease.</p> + +<p>Her voice, always low and even, second lower still. +"In the first place, I have a faithful friend in one of +the oldest retainers at Schloss Marlanx. His daughter +is my maid. She is here with me now. The old man +came to see Josepha one day last week. He had accompanied +Count Marlanx to the town of Balak, which +is in Axphain, a mile beyond the Graustark line. Peter +Brutus was with my husband in Balak for two days. +They were closeted together from morning till night in +the house where Marlanx was stopping. At the end +of two days Brutus went away, but he carried with him +a vast sum of money provided by my husband. It was +given out that he was on his way to Serros in Dawsbergen, +where he expected to purchase a business block +for his master. Marlanx waited another day in Balak, +permitting Josepha's father to come on to Edelweiss +with a message for me and to see his daughter. He—"</p> + +<p>"And Josepha's father saw Brutus in Edelweiss?"</p> + +<p>"No. But he did see him going into Balak as he left +for Edelweiss that morning. He wore a disguise, but +Jacob says he could not be mistaken. Moreover, he was accompanied +by several men whom he recognised as Graustark +mountaineers and hunters of rather unsavoury +reputation. They left Brutus at the gates of Balak +and went off into the hills. All this happened before I +knew that Peter was living in Edelweiss. When I saw +him here, I knew at once that his presence meant something +sinister. I can put many things together that +once puzzled me—the comings and goings of months, +the secret reports and consultations, the queer looking +men who came to the Castle, the long absences of my +husband and my—my own virtual imprisonment—yes, +imprisonment. I was not permitted to leave the castle +for days at a time during his absences."</p> + +<p>"Surely you will not go back again"—he began hotly.</p> + +<p>"Sh!" She put a finger to her lips. A man-servant +was quietly crossing the hall just off the library. "He +is a new man. I do not like his appearance."</p> + +<p>"Do you think he heard us or observed anything? I +can make short work of him if—" He paused significantly. +She smiled up into his face.</p> + +<p>"He did not hear anything. We've frightened him +off, if he intended to play the eavesdropper." The +servant had disappeared through a door at the end of +the hall.</p> + +<p>"Then there were the great sums of money that my +husband sent off from time to time, and the strange +boxes that came overland to the castle and later went +away again as secretly as they came. Mr. Tullis, I am +confident in my mind that those boxes contained firearms +and ammunition. I have thought it all out. Perhaps +I am wrong, but it seems to me that I can almost +see those firearms stored away in the caves and cabins +outside of Edelweiss, ready for instant use when the +signal comes."</p> + +<p>"God! An uprising? A plot so huge as that?" he +gasped, amazed. It is fortunate that he was not facing +the door; the same servant, passing once more, might +have seen the tell-tale consternation in his eyes. "It +cannot be possible! Why, Dangloss and his men would +have scented it long ago."</p> + +<p>"I have not said that I am sure of anything, remember +that. I leave it to you to analyse. You have the +foundation on which to work. I'd advise you to waste +no time. Something tells me that the crisis is near at +hand."</p> + +<p>"Why should Josepha's father tell these things to +you?"</p> + +<p>"Because, if you will pardon my frankness, I have +protected his daughter against Count Marlanx. He +understands. And yet he would not betray a trust imposed +upon him even by the Count. He has only told +me what any one else might have seen with his own +eyes. Wait! The new servant is in the hall again." +She clapped her hands sharply and called out "Franz!"</p> + +<p>The new man appeared in the doorway almost on the +instant. "You may replenish the fire, Franz." The +man, a sallow, precise fellow, crossed deliberately and +poked the half dead fire; with scrupulous care he selected +two great chunks of wood from the hopper near +by and laid them on the coals, the others watching his +movements with curious interest. There was nothing +about the fellow to indicate that he was other than what +he pretended to be.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it strange that we should have fires in July?" +she asked casually. "The mountain air and the night +fogs make it absolutely necessary in these big old +houses."</p> + +<p>"We had a jolly fire in the Prince's room when I left +the Castle. Our monarch is subject to croup, you see."</p> + +<p>"That is all, Franz." The man bowed and left the +room. "What do you think of him?" she asked, after a +moment.</p> + +<p>"He has a very bad liver," was all Tullis deigned to offer +in response. The Countess stared for a moment and +then laughed understandingly. "I think he needs a +change."</p> + +<p>"I have a strange feeling that he is but one of a great +many men who are in Edelweiss for the purposes I mentioned +before. Now I have a favour to ask of you. Will +you take this matter up with Baron Dangloss as if on +your own initiative? Do not mention me in any way. +You can understand why I ask this of you. Let them +believe that the suspicions are yours. I trust you to +present them without involving me."</p> + +<p>"Trust me, my dear Countess. I am a very diplomatic +liar. You need have no fear. I shall find a quick way +of getting my friend Dangloss on the right track. It +may be a wild goose chase, but it is best to be on the safe +side. May I now tell you how greatly I appreciate your +confidence in—"</p> + +<p>She stopped him with a glance. "No, you may not tell +me. There is nothing more to be said."</p> + +<p>"I think I understand," he said gently.</p> + +<p>"Let us change the subject. I have uttered my word +to the wise. Eh bien! It may not be so bad as I think. +Let us hope so, at least."</p> + +<p>"I have a vague notion that you'd rejoice if we should +catch your ogre and chop his head off," said he, coolly +lighting a fresh cigarette. She liked his assurance. He +was not like other men.</p> + +<p>Glancing up at his sandy thatch, she said, with a rueful +droop at the corners of her mouth, a contradictory smile +in her eyes: "I shall rejoice more if you do not lose +your head afterwards."</p> + +<p>"<i>Double entendre</i>?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all."</p> + +<p>"I thought, perhaps, you referred to an unhappy +plight that already casts its shadow before," he said +boldly. "I may lose everything else, my dear Countess, +but <i>not</i> my head."</p> + +<p>"I believe you," she said, strangely serious. "I shall +remember that."</p> + +<p>She knew this man loved her.</p> + +<p>"Sit down, now, and let us be comfy. We are quite +alone," she added instantly, a sudden confusion coming +over her. "First, will you give me that box of candy +from the table? Thank you so much for sending it to +me. How in the world do you manage to get this wonderful +New York candy all the way to Graustark? It is +quite fresh and perfectly delicious."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Fifth Avenue isn't so far away as you think," +he equivocated. "It's just around the corner—of the +world. What's eight or nine thousand miles to a +district messenger boy? I ring for one and he fetches +the candy, before you can wink your eye or say Jack +Robinson. It's a marvellous system."</p> + +<p>He watched her white teeth set themselves daintily in +the rich nougat; then the red lips closed tranquilly only +to open again in a smile of rapture. For reasons best +known to himself, he chose not to risk losing the thing +he had vowed not to lose. He turned his head—and +carefully inspected the end of his cigarette. A wholly +unnecessary precaution, as any one might have seen that +it was behaving beautifully.</p> + +<p>Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly as she studied his +averted face in that brief instant. When he turned to +her again, she was resting her head against the back of +the chair, and her eyes were closed as if in exquisite enjoyment +of the morsel that lay behind her smiling lips.</p> + +<p>"Are you enjoying it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Tremendously," she replied, opening her eyes slowly.</p> + +<p>"'Gad, I believe you are," he exclaimed. She sat up +at once, and caught her breath, although he did not +know it. His smile distinctly upset her tranquillity.</p> + +<p>"By the way," he added, as if dismissing the matter, +"have you forgotten that on Tuesday we go to the +Witch's hut in the hills? Bobby has dingdonged it into +me for days."</p> + +<p>"It will be good fun," she said. Then, as a swift afterthought: +"Be sure that the bodyguard is strong—and true."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII" />CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>AT THE WITCH'S HUT</h3> + + +<p>The next morning, before setting forth to consult the +minister of police at the Tower, he called up the Perse +palace on the telephone and asked for the Countess, to +tell her in so many words that he had been followed from +her door to the very gates of the Castle grounds. Not +by one man alone, for that would have excited suspicion, +but by half a dozen at least, each one taking up the +surveillance in the most casual manner as the watcher +before him left off. Tullis was amazed by the cunning +which masked these proceedings; there was a wily brain +behind it.</p> + +<p>The Duke's secretary answered the call. Tullis was +completely bowled over by the curt information that the +Countess Marlanx had left Edelweiss before six that +morning, to join her husband, who was shooting wild +boars with a party in Axphain.</p> + +<p>"When does she return?" demanded the American, +scarcely believing his ears. She had said nothing of +this the night before. What could it mean?</p> + +<p>"I do not know, sir."</p> + +<p>"In a day or two?"</p> + +<p>"She took sixteen trunks, sir," was the laconic reply, +as if that told the story in full.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm damned!"</p> + +<p>"I beg pardon, sir!"</p> + +<p>"I beg <i>your</i> pardon. Good morning."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>In the meantime, our excellent young friend, Truxton +King, was having a sorry time of it. It all began when +he went to the Cathedral in the hope of seeing the charming +aunt of the little Prince once more. Not only did +he attend one service, but all of them, having been +assured that the royal family worshipped there quite as +regularly and as religiously as the lowliest communicant. +She did not appear.</p> + +<p>More than all this, he met with fresh disappointment +when he ambled down to the armourer's shop. The +doors were locked and there was no sign of life about +the shuttered place. The cafés were closed on this day +of rest, so there was nothing left for him to do but to +slink off to his room in the Regengetz, there to read or +to play solitaire and to curse the progress of civilisation.</p> + +<p>Monday was little better than Sunday. Hobbs positively +refused to escort him to the Castle grounds again. +No amount of bribing or browbeating could move the +confounded Englishman from his stand. He was willing +to take him anywhere else, but never again would he risk +a personally conducted tour into hot waters royal. Mr. +King resigned himself to a purely business call at the +shop of Mr. Spantz. He looked long, with a somewhat +shifty eye, at the cabinet of ancient rings and necklaces, +and then departed without having seen the interesting +Miss Platanova. If the old man observed a tendency +to roam in the young man's eye, he did not betray the +fact—at least not so that any one could notice. Truxton +departed, but returned immediately after luncheon, +vaguely inclined to decide between two desirable rings. +After a protracted period of indecision, in which Olga +remained stubbornly out of sight, he announced that he +could not make up his mind, and would return later for +another inspection.</p> + +<p>At his room in the hotel, he found a note addressed to +himself. It did not have much to say, but it meant a +great deal. There was no signature, and the handwriting +was that of a woman.</p> + +<p>"<i>Please do not come again</i>." That was all.</p> + +<p>He laughed with a fine tone of defiance and—went back +to the shop at five o'clock, just to prove that nothing +so timid as a note could stop him. This, however, was +after he had taken a long walk down Castle Avenue, +with a supplementary stroll of little incident outside the +grim, high walls that enclosed the grounds. If any one +had told him that he was secretly hoping to find a crevasse +through which he could invade paradise, I make +no doubt he would have resented the imputation soundly. +On the occasion of this last visit to the shop, he did not +stay long, but went away somewhat dazed to find himself +the possessor of a ring he did not want and out of +pocket just thirty dollars, American. Having come to +the conclusion that knight-errantry of that kind was not +only profligate but distinctly irritating to his sense of +humour, he looked up Mr. Hobbs and arranged for a +day's ride in the mountains.</p> + +<p>"You'll oblige me, Mr. Hobbs, by removing that band +from your cap. I know you're an interpreter. It's an +insult to my intelligence to have it flaunted in my face +all day long. I'll admit you're what you say you are, +so take it off before we start out to-morrow."</p> + +<p>And so, minus the beguiling insignia of office, Mr. Hobbs +led his hypercritical patron into the mountain roads +early the next morning, both well mounted and provided +with a luncheon large enough to restore the amiability +that was sure to flag at mid-day unless sustained by +unæsthetic sandwiches and beer.</p> + +<p>The day was bright and clear, warm in the valley where +the city lay, cooler to cold as one mounted the winding +roads that led past the lofty Monastery of St. Valentine, +sombre sentinel among the clouds.</p> + +<p>A part of Edelweiss is built along the side of the mountain, +its narrow streets winding upward and past countless +terraces to the very base of the rocky, jagged +eminence at whose top, a full mile above the last sprinkling +of houses, stands the isolated, bleak Monastery. The +view from these upper streets, before one enters the +circuitous and hidden Monastery road that winds afar +in its climb, is never to be forgotten by the spectator, no +matter how often he traverses the lofty thoroughfares. +As far as the eye can reach, lies the green valley, +through which winds the silvery river with its evergreen +banks and spotless white houses-greens and whites that +almost shame the vaunted tints of old Ireland as one +views them from the incoming steamers. Immediately +below one's feet lies the compact little city, with its red +roofs and green chimney pots, its narrow streets and +vivid awnings, its wide avenues and the ancient Castle to +the north. To the south, the fortress and the bridges; +encircling the city a thick, high wall with here and +there enormous gates flanked by towers so grim and old +that they seem ready to topple over from the sheer +fatigue of centuries. A soft, Indian summer haze hangs +over the lazy-lit valley; it is always so in the summer +time.</p> + +<p>Outside the city walls stretch the wheat-fields and the +meadows, the vineyards and orchards, all snug in the +nest of forest-crowned hills, whose lower slopes are +spotted with broken herds of cattle and the more mobile +flocks of sheep. An air of tranquillity lies low over the +entire vista; one dozes if he looks long into this peaceful +bowl of plenty.</p> + +<p>From the distant passes in the mountains to the east +and north come the dull intonations of dynamite blasts, +proving the presence of that disturbing element of progress +which is driving the railroad through the unbroken +heart of the land.</p> + +<p>It is a good three hours' ride to the summit of Monastery +Mountain. And, after the height has been attained, +one does not care to linger long among the chilly, +whistling crags, with their snow-crevasses and bitter +winds; the utter loneliness, the aloofness of this frost-crowned +crest appals, disheartens one who loves the fair, +green things of life. In the shelter of the crags, at the +base of the Monastery walls, looking out over the sunlit +valley, one has his luncheon and his snack of spirits +quite undisturbed, for the monks pay no heed to him. +They are not hospitable, neither are they unfriendly. +One seldom sees them.</p> + +<p>Truxton King and Mr. Hobbs were not long in disposing +of their lunch. It was too cold for comfort in their +draughty dining-room, and they were not invited to enter +the inhospitable gates. In half an hour they were +wending their way down the north side of the peak by +gradually declining roads, headed for the much-talked-of +home of the Witch in Ganlook Gap, some six miles +from Edelweiss as the crow flies, but twice that distance +over the tortuous bridle paths and post roads.</p> + +<p>It was three o'clock when they clattered down the stone +road and up to the forbidding vale in which lurked, like +an evil, guilty thing, the log-built home of that ancient +female who made no secret of her practices in witchcraft. +The hut stood back from the mountain road a +hundred yards or more, at the head of a small, thicket- +grown recess.</p> + +<p>A low, thatched roof protruded from the hill against +which the hut was built. As a matter of fact, a thin +chimney grew out of the earth itself, for all the world +like a smoking tree stump. The hovel was a squalid, beggary +thing that might have been built over night somewhere +back in the dark ages. Its single door was so low +that one was obliged to stoop to enter the little room +where the dame had been holding forth for three-score +years, 'twas said. This was her throne-room, her dining-room, +her bed-chamber, her all, it would seem, unless one +had been there before and knew that her kitchen was +beyond, in the side of the hill. The one window, sans +glass, looked narrowly out upon an odd opening in the +foliage below, giving the occupant of the hut an unobstructed +view of the winding road that led up from +Edelweiss. The door faced the Monastery road down +which the two men had just ridden. As for the door +yard, it was no more than a pebbly, avalanche-swept +opening among the trees and rocks, down which in the +glacial age perhaps a thousand torrents had leaped, but +which was now so dry and white and lifeless that one +could only think of bones bleached and polished by a sun +that had sickened of the work a thousand years ago.</p> + +<p>This brief, inadequate description of the Witch's hut +is given in advance of the actual descent of the personally +conducted gentleman for the somewhat ambiguous +reason that he was to find it not at all as described.</p> + +<p>The two horsemen rode into the glen and came plump +upon a small detachment of the royal guard, mounted +and rather resolute in their lack of amiability.</p> + +<p>"Wot's this?" gasped Mr. Hobbs, drawing rein at the +edge of the pebbly dooryard.</p> + +<p>"Soldiers, I'd say," remarked Mr. King, scowling quite +glumly from beneath the rim of his panama. "Hello!" +His eyes brightened and his hat came off with a switch. +"There's the Prince!"</p> + +<p>"My word," ejaculated Mr. Hobbs, and forthwith began +to ransack his pockets for the band which said he +was from Cook's.</p> + +<p>Farther up the glen, in fact at the very door of the +Witch's hut, were gathered a small but rather distinguished +portion of the royal household. It was not +difficult to recognise the little Prince. He was standing +beside John Tullis; and it is not with a desire to speak ill +of his valour that we add: he was clutching the slackest +part of that gentleman's riding breeks with an earnestness +that betrayed extreme trepidation. Facing them, +on the stone door-step, was the Witch herself, a figure +to try the courage of a time-tried hero, let alone the +susceptibilities of a small boy in knickers. Behind +Tullis and the Prince were several ladies and gentlemen, +all in riding garments and all more or less ill at ease.</p> + +<p>Truxton King's heart swelled suddenly; all the world +grew bright again for him. Next to the tall figure of +Colonel Quinnox, of the Royal Guard, was the slim, +entrancing lady of his most recent dreams—the Prince's +aunt! The lady of the grotto! The lady of the goldfish +conspiracy!</p> + +<p>The Countess Marlanx, tall and exquisite, was a little +apart from the others, with Baron Dangloss and young +Count Vos Engo—whom Truxton was ready to hate because +he was a recognised suitor for the hand of the slim, +young person in grey. He thought he had liked her +beyond increase in the rajah silk, but now he confessed +to himself that he was mistaken. He liked her better in +a grey riding habit. It struck him sharply, as he sat +there in the saddle, that she would be absolutely and +adorably faultless in point lace or calico, in silk or +gingham, low-neck or high. He was for riding boldly +up to this little group, but a very objectionable lieutenant +barred the way, supported in no small measure +by the defection of Mr. Hobbs, who announced in a +hoarse, agitated whisper that he's "be 'anged if he'd let +any man make a fool of him twice over."</p> + +<p>The way was made easy by the intervention of the +alert young woman in grey. She caught sight of the +restricted adventurers—or one of them, to be quite accurate—and, +after speeding a swift smile of astonishment, +turned quickly to Prince Bobby.</p> + +<p>A moment later, the tall stranger with the sun-browned +face was the centre of interest to the small +group at the door. He bowed amiably to the smiling +young person in grey and received a quick nod in response. +As he was adventuring what he considered to +be a proper salute for the Prince, he observed that a few +words passed between the lad's aunt and John Tullis, +who was now surveying him with some interest.</p> + +<p>The Prince broke the ice.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" he cried shrilly, his little face aglow.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" responded the gentleman, readily.</p> + +<p>John Tullis found himself being dragged away from +the Witch's door toward the newcomer at the bottom of +the glen. Mr. Hobbs listened with deepening awe to the +friendly conversation which resulted in Truxton King +going forward to join the party in front of the hut. +He came along in the rear, after having tethered the +tired horses, not quite sure that he was awake. The +Prince had called him Mr. Cook, had asked him how his +Sons were, all of which was highly gratifying when one +pauses to consider that he had got his cap band on +upside down in his excitement. He always was to wonder +how the little monarch succeeded in reading the title +without standing on his head to do so.</p> + +<p>Truxton was duly presented to the ladies and gentlemen +of the party by John Tullis, who gracefully announced +that he knew King's parents in New York. +Baron Dangloss was quite an old friend, if one were to +judge by the manner in which he greeted the young +man. The lady in grey smiled so sweetly and nodded +so blithely, that Tullis, instead of presenting King to +her as he had done to the Countess Marlanx and others, +merely said:</p> + +<p>"And you know one another, of course." Whereupon +she flushed very prettily and felt constrained to avoid +Truxton's look of inquiry. He did not lose his wits, +but vowed acquiescence and assumed that he knew.</p> + +<p>As a result of the combined supplications of the entire +party, the old woman grudgingly consented to take +them into her hovel, where, in exchange for small pieces +of silver, she would undertake certain manifestations in +necromancy.</p> + +<p>Truxton King, scarcely able to believe his good fortune, +crowded into the loathsome, squalid room with his +aristocratic companions, managing, with considerable +skill, to keep close beside his charming friend. They +stood back while the others crowded up to the table +where the hag occupied herself with the crystal ball.</p> + +<p>Never had Truxton looked upon a creature who so +thoroughly vindicated the life-long reliance he had put +in the description of witches given by the fairy-tale +tellers of his earliest youth. She had the traditional +hook-nose and peaked chin, the glittering eyes, the thousand +wrinkles and the toothless gums. He looked about +for the raven and the cat, but if she had them, they +were not in evidence. At a rough guess, he calculated +her age at one hundred years. A youth of extreme +laziness, who Baron Dangloss said was the old woman's +grandson, appeared to be her man-of-all-work. He +fetched the old woman's crystal, placed stools for the +visitors, lighted the candles on the table, occupying no +less than a quarter of an hour in performing these +simple acts, so awkward that at least two of his observers +giggled openly and whispered their opinions.</p> + +<p>"Gruesome lady, isn't she?" whispered King.</p> + +<p>"I shall dream of her for months," whispered the lady +in grey, shuddering.</p> + +<p>"Are you willing to have her read your future in that +ball?"</p> + +<p>"Do you really think she can tell?"</p> + +<p>"I once had a fortune-teller say that I would be married +before I was twenty-three," he informed her. She appeared +interested.</p> + +<p>"And were you?"</p> + +<p>"No. But she did her part, you know—the fortune-teller, +I mean."</p> + +<p>"She warned you. I see. So it really wasn't her +fault." She was watching the preparations at the table +with eager eyes, her lips parted and her breath coming +quick through excitement.</p> + +<p>"Would you mind telling me how I am to address you?" +whispered King. They were leaning against the mud-plastered +wall near the little window, side by side. The +whimsical smile that every one loved to see was on his +lips, in his eyes. "You see, I'm a stranger in a strange +land. That accounts for my ignorance."</p> + +<p>"You must not speak while she is gazing into the +crystal," she warned, after a quick, searching glance at +his face. He could have sworn that he saw a gleam of +concern in her eyes, followed instantly by a twinkle that +meant mischief.</p> + +<p>"Please consider my plight," he implored. "I can't call +you Aunt Loraine, you know."</p> + +<p>She laughed silently and turned her head to devote her +entire attention to the scene at the table. Truxton King +was in a sudden state of trepidation. Had he offended +her? There was a hot rush of blood to his ears. He +missed the sly, wondering glance that she gave him out +of the corner of her eye a moment later.</p> + +<p>Although it was broad daylight, the low, stuffy room +would have been pitch dark had it not been for the +flickering candles on the table beside the bent, grey head +of the mumbling fortune-teller, whose bony fingers +twitched over and about the crystal globe like wiggling +serpents' tails. The window gave little or no light and +the door was closed, the grinning grandson leaning +against it limply. The picture was a weird, uncanny +one, despite the gay, lightsome appearance of the visitors. +The old woman, in high, shrill tones, had commanded +silence. The men obeyed with a grim scepticism, +while the women seemed really awed by their +surroundings.</p> + +<p>The Witch began by reading the fortune of John +Tullis, who had been pushed forward by the wide-eyed +Prince. In a cackling monotone she rambled through a +supposititious history of his past, for the chief part so +unintelligible that even he could not gainsay the statements. +Later, she bent her piercing eyes upon the +Prince and refused to read his future, shrilly asserting +that she had not the courage to tell what might befall +the little ruler, all the while muttering something about +the two little princes who had died in a tower ages and +ages ago. Seeing that the boy was frightened, Tullis +withdrew him to the background. The Countess Marlanx, +who had returned that morning to Edelweiss as +mysteriously as she had left, came next. She was +smiling derisively.</p> + +<p>"You have just returned from a visit to some one whom +you hate," began the Witch. "He is your husband. You +will marry again. There is a fair-haired man in love +with you. You are in love with him. I can see +trouble—"</p> + +<p>But the Countess deliberately turned away from the +table, her cheeks flaming with the consciousness that a +smile had swept the circle behind her graceful back.</p> + +<p>"Ridiculous," she said, and avoided John Tullis's gaze. +"I don't care to hear any more. Come, Baron You +are next."</p> + +<p>Truxton King, subdued and troubled in his mind, +found himself studying his surroundings and the people +who went so far to make them interesting. He glanced +from time to time at the delicate, eager profile of the +girl beside him; at the soft, warm cheek and the caressing +brown hair; at the little ear and the white slim neck +of her—and realised just what had happened to him. +He had fallen in love; that was the plain upshot of it. +It had come to pass, just as he had hoped it would in +his dearest dreams. He was face to face with the girl +of royal blood that the story books had created for him +long, long ago, and he was doing just what he had +always intended to do: falling heels over head and hopelessly +in love with her. Never had he seen hair grow +so exquisitely about the temples and neck as this one's +hair—but, just to confound his budding singleness of +interest, his gaze at that instant wandered off and fell +upon something that caused him to stare hard at a +certain spot far removed from the coiffure of a fair and +dainty lady.</p> + +<p>His eye had fallen upon a crack in the door that led +to the kitchen, although he had no means of knowing +that it was a kitchen. To his amazement, a gleaming +eye was looking out upon the room from beyond this +narrow crack. He looked long and found that he was +not mistaken. There was an eye, glued close to the +opposite side of the rickety door, and its gaze was +directed to the Countess Marlanx.</p> + +<p>The spirit of adventure, recklessness, bravado—whatever +you may choose to call it—flared high in the soul +of this self-despised outsider. He could feel a strange +thrill of exaltation shooting through his veins; he knew +as well as he knew anything that he was destined to +create commotion in that stately crowd, even against +his better judgment. The desire to spring forward and +throw open the door, thus exposing a probable con- +federate, was stronger than he had the power to resist. +Even as he sought vainly to hold himself in check, he +became conscious that the staring eye was meeting his +own in a glare of realisation.</p> + +<p>Without pausing to consider the result of his action, +he sprang across the room, shouting as he did so that +there was a man behind the door. Grasping the latch, +he threw the door wide open, the others in the room +looking at him as if he were suddenly crazed.</p> + +<p>He had expected to confront the owner of that basilisk +eye. There was not a sign of a human being in sight. +Beyond was a black little room, at the back of which +stood an old cooking stove with a fire going and a +kettle singing. He leaped through, prepared to grasp +the mysterious watcher, but, to his utter amazement, the +kitchen was absolutely empty, save for inanimate things. +His surprise was so genuine that it was not to be mistaken +by the men who leaped to his side. He had time +to note that two of them carried pistols in their hands, +and that Tullis and Quinnox had placed themselves between +the Prince and possible danger.</p> + +<p>There was instant commotion, with cries and exclamations +from all. Quick as the others were, the old woman +was at his side before them, snarling with rage. Her +talon-like fingers sunk into his arm, and her gaze went +darting about the room in a most convincing way. Some +minutes passed before the old woman could be quieted. +Then King explained his action. He swore solemnly, +if sheepishly, that he could not have been mistaken, +and yet the owner of that eye had vanished as if swallowed +up by the mountain.</p> + +<p>Baron Dangloss was convinced that the young man had +seen the eye. Without compunction he began a search +of the room, the old woman looking on with a grin of +glee.</p> + +<p>"Search! Search!" she croaked. "It was the Spirit +Eye! It is looking at you now, my fine baron! It finds +you, yet cannot be found. No, no! Oh, you fools! +Get out! Get out! All of you! Prince or no Prince, +I fear you not, nor all your armies. This is my home! +My castle! Go! Go!"</p> + +<p>"There was a man here, old woman," said the Baron +coolly. "Where is he? What is your game? I am +not to be fooled by these damnable tricks of yours. +Where is the man?"</p> + +<p>She laughed aloud, a horrid sound. The Prince +clutched Tullis by the leg in terror.</p> + +<p>"Brace up, Bobby," whispered his big friend, leaning +down to comfort him. "Be a man!"</p> + +<p>"It—it's mighty hard," chattered Bobby, but he +squared his little shoulders.</p> + +<p>The ladies of the party had edged forward, peering +into the kitchen, alarm having passed, although the exclamation +"boo!" would have played havoc with their +courage.</p> + +<p>"I swear there was some one looking through that +crack," protested King, wiping his brow in confusion. +"Miss—er—I should say—<i>you</i> could have seen it from +where you stood," he pleaded, turning to the lady in +grey.</p> + +<p>"Dear me, I wish I had," she cried. "I've always wanted +to see some one snooping."</p> + +<p>"There is no window, no trap door, no skylight," remarked +the Baron, puzzled. "Nothing but the stovepipe, +six inches in diameter. A man couldn't crawl out +through that, I'm sure. Mr. King, we've come upon a +real mystery. The eye without a visible body."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I saw it," reiterated Truxton. The Prince's +aunt was actually laughing at him. But so was the +Witch, for that matter. He didn't mind the Witch.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the old woman stepped into the middle of the +room and began to wave her hands in a mysterious +manner over an empty pot that stood on the floor in +front of the stove. The others drew back, watching +her with the greatest curiosity.</p> + +<p>A droning song oozed from the thin lips; the gesticulations +grew in weirdness and fervor. Then, before their +startled eyes, a thin film of smoke began to rise from the +empty pot. It grew in volume until the room was quite +dense with it. Even more quickly than it began, it disappeared, +drawn apparently by some supernatural agency +into the draft of the stove and out through the rickety +chimney pipe. Even Dangloss blinked his eyes, and not +because they were filled with smoke.</p> + +<p>A deafening crash, as of many guns, came to their +ears from the outside. With one accord the entire party +rushed to the outer door, a wild laugh from the hag +pursuing them.</p> + +<p>"There!" she screamed. "There goes all there was of +him! And so shall we all go some day. Fire and +smoke!"</p> + +<p>Not one there but thought on the instant of the Arabian +nights and the genii who went up in smoke—those +never-to-be-forgotten tales of wonder.</p> + +<p>Just outside the door stood Lieutenant Saffo of the +guard, his hand to his cap. He was scarcely distinguishable, +so dark had the day become.</p> + +<p>"Good Lord!" shouted Tullis. "What's the matter? +What has happened?"</p> + +<p>"The storm, sir," said Saffo. "It is coming down the +valley like the wind." A great crash of thunder burst +overhead and lightning darted through the black, swirling +skies.</p> + +<p>"Very sudden, sir," added Mr. Hobbs from behind. +"Like a puff of wind, sir."</p> + +<p>The Witch stood in the door behind them, smiling as +amiably as it was possible for her to smile.</p> + +<p>"Come in," she said. "There's room for all of you. +The spirits have gone. Ha, ha! My merry man! Even +the eye is gone. Come in, your Highness. Accept the +best I can offer—shelter from the hurricane. I've seen +many, but this looks to be the worst. So it came sudden, +eh? Ha, ha!"</p> + +<p>The roar of wind and rain in the trees above seemed +like a howl of confirmation. Into the hovel crowded the +dismayed pleasure-seekers, followed by the soldiers, who +had made the horses fast at the first sign of the storm.</p> + +<p>Down came the rain in torrents, whisked and driven, +whirled and shot by the howling winds, split by the +lightning and urged to greater glee by the deafening +applause of the thunder. Apple carts in the skies!</p> + +<p>Out in the dooryard the merry grandson of the Witch +was dancing as if possessed by revelling devils.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII" />CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>LOOKING FOR AN EYE</h3> + + +<p>"Washing the dead men's bones," was the remark King +made a few minutes later. The storm was at its height; +the sheets of rain that swept down the pebbly glen +elicited the gruesome sentence. He stood directly behind +the quaking Loraine, quite close to the open door; +there is no doubt that the observation was intended for +her ears, maliciously or otherwise.</p> + +<p>She gave him an awed glance, but no verbal response. +It was readily to be seen that she was terrified by the +violence of the mountain tornado. As if to shame him +for the frivolous remark, she suddenly changed her position, +putting herself behind him.</p> + +<p>"I like that," he remonstrated, emboldened by the elements. +"You leave me in front to be struck by the first +bolt of lightning that comes along. And I a stranger, +too."</p> + +<p>"Isn't it awful?" she murmured, her fingers in her ears, +her eyes tightly closed. "Do you think we'll be struck?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not," he assured her. "This is a charmed +spot. It's a frolic of her particular devils. She waves +her hand: all the goblins and thunder-workers in this +neck of the woods hustle up to see what's the matter. +Then there's an awful rumpus. In a minute or two +she'll wave her hand and—presto! It will stop raining. +But," with a distressed look out into the thick of it, "it +would be a beastly joke if lightning should happen to +strike that nag of mine. I'd not only have to walk to +town, but I'd have to pay three prices for the brute."</p> + +<p>"I think she's perfectly—ooh!—perfectly wonderful. +Goodness, that was a crash! Where do you think it +struck?"</p> + +<p>"If you'll stand over here a little closer I'll point out +the tree. See? Right down the ravine there? See the +big limb swaying? That's the place. The old lady is +carrying her joke too far. That's pretty close home. +Stand right there, please. I won't let it rain in on you."</p> + +<p>"You are very good, Mr. King. I—I've always +thought I loved a storm. Ooh! But this is too terrible! +Aren't you really afraid you'll be struck? Thanks, ever +so much." He had squared himself between her and the +door, turning his back upon the storm: but not through +cowardice, as one might suppose.</p> + +<p>"Don't mention it. I won't mind it so much, don't +you know, if I get struck in the back. How long ago +did you say it was that you went to school with my +sister?"</p> + +<p>All this time the Witch was haranguing her huddled +audience, cursing the soldiers, laughing gleefully in the +faces of her stately, scornful guests, greatly to the +irritation of Baron Dangloss, toward whom she showed +an especial attention.</p> + +<p>Tullis was holding the Prince in his arms. Colonel +Quinnox stood before them, keeping the babbling, leering +beldame from thrusting her face close to that of the +terrified boy. Young Vos Engo glowered at Truxton +King from the opposite side of the room. Mr. Hobbs +had safely ensconced himself in the rear of the six +guardsmen, who stood near the door, ready to dash forth +if by any chance the terrified horses should succeed in +breaking away.</p> + +<p>The Countess Marlanx, pale and rigid, her wondrous +eyes glowing with excitement, stood behind John Tullis, +straight and strong, like a storm spirit glorying in the +havoc that raged about her. Time and again she leaned +forward to utter words of encouragement in the ear of +the little Prince, never without receiving a look of gratitude +and surprise from his tall protector.</p> + +<p>And all this time the goose-herd grandson of the Witch +was dancing his wild, uncanny solo in the thick of the +brew, an exalted grin on his face, strange cries of delight +breaking from his lips: a horrid spectacle that fascinated +the observers.</p> + +<p>With incredible swiftness the storm passed. Almost +at its height, there came a cessation of the roaring +tempest; the downpour was checked, the thunder died +away and the lightning trickled off into faint flashes. +The sky cleared as if by magic. The exhibition, if you +please, was over!</p> + +<p>Even the most stoical, unimpressionable men in the +party looked at each other in bewilderment and—awe, +there was no doubt of it. The glare that Dangloss bent +upon the hag proved that he had been rudely shaken +from his habitual complacency.</p> + +<p>"It is the most amazing thing I've ever seen," he said, +over and over again.</p> + +<p>The Countess Marlanx was trembling violently. Tullis, +observing this, tried to laugh away her nervousness.</p> + +<p>"Mere coincidence, that's all," he said. "Surely you +are not superstitious. You can't believe she brought +about this storm?"</p> + +<p>"It isn't that," she said in a low voice. "I feel as if +a grave personal danger had just passed me by. Not +danger for the rest of you, but for me alone. That is +the sensation I have: the feeling of one who has stepped +back from the brink of an abyss just in time to avoid +being pushed over. I can't make you understand. See! +I am trembling. I have seen no more than the rest of +you, yet am more terrified, more upset than Robin, poor +child. Perhaps I am foolish. I <i>know</i> that something +dreadful has—I might say, touched me. Something that +no one else could have seen or felt."</p> + +<p>"Nerves, my dear Countess. Shadows! I used to see +them and feel them when I was a lad no bigger than +Bobby if left alone in the dark. It is a grown-up fear +of goblins. You'll be over it as soon as we are outside."</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later the cavalcade started down the rain-swept +road toward the city, dry blankets having been +placed across the saddles occupied by the ladies and the +Prince. The Witch stood in her doorway, laughing +gleefully, inviting them to come often.</p> + +<p>"Come again, your Highness," she croaked sarcastically.</p> + +<p>"The next time I come, it will be with a torch to burn +you alive!" shouted back Dangloss. To Tullis he added: +"'Gad, sir, they did well to burn witches in your town +of Salem. You cleared the country of them, the pests."</p> + +<p>Darkness was approaching fast among the sombre +hills; the great pass was enveloped in the mists and the +gloaming of early night. In a compact body the +guardsmen rode close about Prince Robin and his friend. +Ingomede had urged this upon Tullis, still oppressed by +the feeling of disaster that had come over her in the +hovel.</p> + +<p>"It means something, my friend, it means something," +she insisted. "I feel it—I am sure of it." Riding quite +close beside him, she added in lower tones: "I was with +my husband no longer ago than yesterday. Do you +know that I believe it is Count Marlanx that I feel +everywhere about me now? <i>He</i>—his presence—is in the +air! Oh, I wish I could make you feel as I do."</p> + +<p>"You haven't told me why you ran away on Sunday," +he said, abruptly, dismissing her argument with small +ceremony.</p> + +<p>"He sent for me. I—I had to go." There was a new, +strange expression in her eyes that puzzled him for a +long time. Suddenly the solution came: she was completely +captive to the will of this hated husband. The +realisation brought a distinct, sickening shock with it.</p> + +<p>Down through the lowering shades rode the Prince's +party, swiftly, even gaily by virtue of relaxation from +the strain of a weird half hour. No one revealed the +slightest sign of apprehension arising from the mysterious +demonstration in which nature had taken a hand.</p> + +<p>Truxton King was holding forth, with cynical good +humour, for the benefit, if not the edification of Baron +Dangloss, with whom he rode—Mr. Hobbs galloping behind +not unlike the faithful Sancho of another Quixote's +day.</p> + +<p>"It's all tommy-rot, Baron," said Truxton. "We've +got a dozen stage wizards in New York who can do all +she did and then some. That smoke from the kettle is +a corking good trick—but that's all it is, take my word +for it. The storm? Why, you know as well as I do, +Baron, that she can't bring rain like that. If she could, +they'd have her over in the United States right now, +saving the crops, with or without water. That was +chance. Hobbs told me this morning it looked like rain. +By the way, I must apologise to him. I said he was +a crazy kill-joy. The thing that puzzles me is what +became of the owner of that eye. I'll stake my life on +it, I saw an eye. 'Gad, it looked right into mine. +Queerest feeling it gave me."</p> + +<p>"Ah, that's it, my young friend. What became of the +eye? Poof! And it is gone. We searched immediately. +No sign. It is most extraordinary."</p> + +<p>"I'll admit it's rather gruesome, but—I say, do you +know I've a mind to look into that matter if you don't +object, Baron. It's a game of some sort. She's a +wily old dame, but I think if we go about it right we +can catch her napping and expose the whole game. I'm +going back there in a day or two and try to get at the +bottom of it. That confounded eye worries me. She's +laughing up her sleeve at us, too, you know."</p> + +<p>"I should advise you to keep away from her, my friend. +Granted she has tricked us: why not? It is her trade. +She does no harm—except that she's most offensively +impudent. And I rather imagine she'll resent your +investigation, if you attempt it. I can't say that I'd +blame her." The Baron laughed.</p> + +<p>"Baron, it struck me a bit shivery at the time, but I +want to say to you now that the eye that I saw at the +crack was not that of an idle peeper, nor was it a mere +fakir's substitute. It was as malevolent as the devil and +it glared—do you understand? Glared! It didn't +<i>peep!</i>"</p> + +<p>Truxton King, for reasons best known to himself, soon +relapsed into a thoughtful, contemplative silence. Between +us, he was sorely vexed and disappointed. When +the gallant start was made from the glen of "dead +men's bones," he found that he was to be cast utterly +aside, quite completely ignored by the fair Loraine. She +rode off with young Count Vos Engo without so much +as a friendly wave of the hand to him. He said it over +to himself several times: "not even a friendly wave of +her hand." It was as if she had forgotten his existence, +or—merciful Powers! What was worse—as if she took +this way of showing him his place. Of course, that being +her attitude, he glumly found his place—which +turned out rather ironically to be under the eye of a +police officer—and made up his mind that he would stay +there.</p> + +<p>Vos Engo, being an officer in the Royal Guard, rode +ahead by order of Colonel Quinnox. Truxton, therefore, +had her back in view—at rather a vexing distance, too—for +mile after mile of the ride to the city. Not so far +ahead, however, that he could not observe every movement +of her light, graceful figure as she swept down the King's +Highway. She was a perfect horsewoman, firm, jaunty, +free. Somehow he knew, without seeing, that a stray +brown wisp of hair caressed her face with insistent +adoration: he could see her hand go up from time to +time to brush it back—just as if it were not a happy +place for a wisp of hair. Perhaps—he shivered with +the thought of it—perhaps it even caressed her lips. +Ah, who would not be a wisp of brown hair!</p> + +<p>He galloped along beside the Baron, a prey to gloomy +considerations. What was the use? He had no chance +to win her. That was for story-books and plays. She +belonged to another world—far above his. And even +beyond that, she was not likely to be attracted by such +a rude, ungainly, sunburned lout as he, with such chaps +about as Vos Engo, or that what's-his-name fellow, or +a dozen others whom he had seen. Confound it all, she +was meant for a prince, or an archduke. What chance +had he?</p> + +<p>But she was the loveliest creature he had ever seen. +Yes; she was the golden girl of his dreams. Within +his grasp, so to speak, and yet he could not hope to seize +her, after all. Was she meant for that popinjay youth +with the petulant eye and the sullen jaw? Was he to +be the lucky man, this Vos Engo?</p> + +<p>The Baron's dry, insinuating voice broke in upon the +young man's thoughts. "I think it's pretty well understood +that she's going to marry him." The little old +minister had been reading King's thoughts; he had the +satisfaction of seeing his victim start guiltily. It was +on the tip of Truxton's tongue to blurt out: "How the +devil did you know what I was thinking about?" But +he managed to control himself, asking instead, with +bland interest:</p> + +<p>"Indeed? Is it a good match, Baron?"</p> + +<p>The Baron smiled. "I think so. He has been a trifle +wild, but I believe he has settled down. Splendid family. +He is desperately in love, as you may have noted."</p> + +<p>"I hadn't thought much about it. Is she in love with +him?"</p> + +<p>"She sees a great deal of him," was the diplomatic +answer.</p> + +<p>Truxton considered well for a minute or two, and then +bluntly asked:</p> + +<p>"Would you mind telling me just who she is, Baron? +What is her name?"</p> + +<p>Dangloss was truly startled. He gave the young man +a quick, penetrating glance; then a set, hard expression +came into his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean, sir, that you don't know her?" he asked, +almost harshly.</p> + +<p>"I don't know her name."</p> + +<p>"And you had the effrontery to—My excellent friend, +you amaze me. I can't believe it of you. Why, sir, +how dare you say this to me? I know that Americans +are bold, but, by gad, sir, I've always looked upon them +as gentlemen. You—"</p> + +<p>"Hold on, Baron Dangloss," interrupted Truxton, very +red in the face. "Don't say it, please. You'd better +hear my side of the story first. She went to school with +my sister. She knows me, but, confound it, sir, she refuses +to tell me who she is. Do you think that is fair? +Now, I'll tell you how it came about." He related the +story of the goldfish and the pinhook. The Baron +smiled comfortably to himself, a sphinx-like expression +coming into his beady eyes as he stared steadily on +ahead; her trim grey back seemed to encourage his admiring +smile.</p> + +<p>"Well, my boy, if she elects to keep you in the dark +concerning her name, it is not for me to betray her," +he said at the end of the recital. "Ladies in her position, +I dare say, enjoy these little mysteries. If she +wants you to know, she'll tell you. Perhaps it would be +well for you to be properly, officially presented to her +hi—to the young lady. Your countryman, Mr. Tullis, +will be glad to do so, I fancy. But let me suggest: +don't permit your ingenuousness to get the better of +you again. She's having sport with you on account +of it. We all know her propensities."</p> + +<p>It was dusk when they entered the northern gates. +Above the Castle, King said good-bye to Tullis and the +Countess, gravely saluted the sleepy Prince, and followed +Mr. Hobbs off to the heart of the city. He was hot +with resentment. Either she had forgotten to say good-bye +to him or had wilfully decided to ignore him altogether; +at any rate, she entered the gates to the Castle +grounds without so much as an indifferent glance in his +direction.</p> + +<p>Truxton knew in advance that he was to have a sleepless, +unhappy night.</p> + +<p>In his room at the hotel he found the second anonymous +letter, unquestionably from the same source, but this +time printed in crude, stilted letters. It had been stuck +under the door, together with some letters that had been +forwarded from Teheran.</p> + +<p>"<i>Leave the city at once. You are in great danger. +Save yourself</i>!"</p> + +<p>This time he did not laugh. That it was from Olga +Platanova he made no doubt. But why she should +interest herself so persistently in his welfare was quite +beyond him, knowing as he did that in no sense had he +appealed to her susceptibility. And what, after all, +could she mean by "great danger"? "Save yourself!" +He sat for a long time considering the situation. At +last he struck the window sill a resounding thwack with +his fist and announced his decision to the silent, disinterested +wall opposite.</p> + +<p>"I'll take her advice. I'll get out. Not because I'm +afraid to stay, but because there's no use. She's got +no eyes for me. I'm a plain impossibility so far as she's +concerned. It's Vos Engo—damn little rat! Old +Dangloss came within an ace of speaking of her as 'her +Highness.' That's enough for me. That means she's +a princess. It's all very nice in novels, but in real life +men don't go about picking up any princess they happen +to like. No, sir! I might just as well get out while I +can. She treated me as if I were a yellow dog to-day—after +I'd been damned agreeable to her, too, standing +between her and the lightning. I might have been +struck. I wonder if she would have been grateful. No; +she wouldn't. She'd have smiled her sweetest, and said: +"wasn't it lucky?"</p> + +<p>He picked up the note once more. "If I were a storybook +hero, I'd stick this thing in my pocket and set out +by myself to unravel the mystery behind it. But I've +chucked the hero job for good and all. I'm going to +hand this over to Dangloss. It's the sensible thing to +do, even if it isn't what a would-be hero in search of a +princess aught to do. What's more, I'll hunt the Baron +up this very hour. Hope it doesn't get Olga into +trouble."</p> + +<p>He indulged in another long spell of thoughtfulness. +"No, by George, I'll not turn tail at the first sign of +danger. I'll stay here and assist Dangloss in unravelling +this matter. And I'll go up to that Witch's +hole before I'm a day older to have it out with her. I'll +find out where the smoke came from and I'll know where +that eye went to." He sighed without knowing it. "By +Jove, I'd like to do something to show her I'm not the +blooming duffer she thinks I am."</p> + +<p>He could not find Baron Dangloss that night, nor early +the next day. Hobbs, after being stigmatised as the +only British coward in the world, changed his mind and +made ready to accompany King to the hovel in Ganlook +Gap.</p> + +<p>By noon the streets in the vicinity of the Plaza were +filled with strange, rough-looking men, undeniably +labourers.</p> + +<p>"Who are they?" demanded King, as they rode past a +particularly sullen, forbidding crowd at the corner below +the city hail.</p> + +<p>"There's a strike on among the men who are building +the railroad," said Hobbs. "Ugly looking crowd, eh?"</p> + +<p>"A strike? 'Gad, it's positively homelike."</p> + +<p>"I heard a bit ago that the matter has been adjusted. +They go back to work to-morrow, slight increase in +pay and a big decrease in work. They were to have +had their answer to-day. Mr. Tullis, I hear, was instrumental +in having the business settled without a row."</p> + +<p>"They'd better look out for these fellows," said King, +very soberly. "I don't like the appearance of 'em. They +look like cut-throats."</p> + +<p>"Take my word for it, sir, they are. They're the riff-raff +of all Europe. You should have seen them of a +Sunday, sir, before the order went out closing the +drinking places on that day. My word, they took the +town. There was no living here for the decent people. +Women couldn't go out of their houses."</p> + +<p>"I hope Baron Dangloss knows how to handle them?" +in some anxiety. "By the way, remind me to look up +the Baron just as soon as we get back to town this +evening."</p> + +<p>"If we ever get back!" muttered the unhappy Mr. +Hobbs. Prophetic lamentation!</p> + +<p>In due time they rode into the sombre solitudes of +Ganlook Gap and up to the Witch's glen. Here Mr. +Hobbs balked. He refused to adventure farther than +the mouth of the stony ravine. Truxton approached +the hovel alone, without the slightest trepidation. The +goose-herd grandson was driving a flock of geese across +the green bowl below the cabin. The American called +out to him and a moment later the youth, considerably +excited, drove his geese up to the door. He could understand +no English, nor could Truxton make out what he +was saying in the native tongue. While they were +vainly haranguing each other the old woman appeared +at the edge of the thicket above the hut. Uttering +shrill exclamations, she hurried down to confront King +with blazing eyes. He fell back, momentarily dismayed. +Her horrid grin of derision brought a flush to his cheek; +he faced her quite coolly.</p> + +<p>"I'll lay you a hundred gavvos that the kettle and +smoke experiment is a fake of the worst sort," he announced, +after a somewhat lengthy appeal to be allowed +to enter the hut as a simple seeker after knowledge.</p> + +<p>"Have it your own way! Have it your own way!" she +cackled.</p> + +<p>"Tell you what I'll do; if I can't expose that trick in +ten minutes, I'll make you a present of a hundred gavvos."</p> + +<p>She took him up like a flash, a fact which startled and +disconcerted him not a little. Her very eagerness +augured ill for his proposition. Still, he was in for it; +he was determined to get inside the hut and solve the +mystery, if it were possible. Exposure of the Witch +would at least attract the interest if not the approval +of a certain young lady in purple and fine linen. That +was surely worth while.</p> + +<p>With a low, mocking bow, the shrivelled hag stood aside +and motioned for him to precede her into the hovel. He +looked back at Mr. Hobbs. That gentleman's eyes +seemed to be starting from his head.</p> + +<p>"A hundred gavvos is a fortune not easily to be won," +said the old dame. "How can I be sure that you will +pay me if you lose?"</p> + +<p>"It is in my pocket, madam. If I don't pay, you may +instruct your excellent grandson to crack me over the +head. He looks as though he'd do it for a good deal +less money, I'll say that for him."</p> + +<p>"He is honest—as honest as his grandmother," cried the +old woman. She bestowed a toothless grin upon him. +"Now what is it you want to do?"</p> + +<p>They were standing in the centre of the wretched +living-room. The goose-boy was in the door, looking +on with strangely alert, questioning eyes, ever and anon +peering over his shoulder toward the spot where Hobbs +stood with the horses. He seldom took his gaze from the +face of the old woman, a rat-like smile touching the +corners of his fuzz-lined lips.</p> + +<p>"I want to go through that kitchen, just to satisfy +myself of one or two things." King was looking hard +at the crack in the kitchen door. Suddenly he started +as if shot.</p> + +<p>The staring, burning eye was again looking straight +at him from the jagged crack in the door!</p> + +<p>"I'll get you this time," he shouted, crossing the room +in two eager leaps. The door responded instantly to +his violent clutch, swung open with a bang, and disclosed +the interior of the queer little kitchen.</p> + +<p>The owner of that mocking, phantom eye was gone!</p> + +<p>Like a frantic dog, Truxton dashed about the little +kitchen, looking in every corner, every crack for signs +of the thing he chased. At last he paused, baffled, +mystified. The old woman was standing in the middle +of the outer room, grinning at him with what was +meant for complacency, but which struck him at once as +genuine malevolence.</p> + +<p>"Ha, ha!" she croaked. "You fool! You fool! +Search! Smell him out! All the good it will do you! +Ha, ha!"</p> + +<p>"By gad, I <i>will</i> get at the bottom of this!" shouted +Truxton, stubborn rage possessing him. "There's some +one here, and I know it. I'm not such a fool as to believe—Say! +What's that? The ceiling! By the eternal, +that scraping noise explains it! There's where the +secret trap-door is—in the ceiling! Within arm's +reach, at that! Watch me, old woman! I'll have your +spry friend out of his nest in the shake of a lamb's tail."</p> + +<p>The hag was standing in the kitchen door now, still +grinning evilly. She watched the eager young man +pound upon the low ceiling with a three-legged stool +that he had seized from the floor.</p> + +<p>"I don't see how he got up there so quickly, though. +He must be like greased lightning."</p> + +<p>He was pounding vigorously on the roughly boarded +ceiling when the sharp voice of the old woman, raised in +command, caused him to lower the stool and turn upon +her with gleaming, triumphant eyes. The look he saw +in her face was sufficient to check his enterprise for the +moment. He dropped the stool and started toward her, +his arms extended to catch her swaying form. The +look of the dying was in her eyes; she seemed to be +crumpling before him.</p> + +<p>He reached her in time, his strong arms grasping the +frail, bent figure as it sank to the floor. As he lifted +her bodily from her feet, intent upon carrying her to +the open air, her bony fingers sank into his arm with +the grip of death, and—could he believe his ears!—a +low, mocking laugh came from her lips.</p> + +<p>Down where the pebbly house-yard merged into the +mossy banks, Mr. Hobbs sat tight, still staring with +gloomy eyes at the dark little hut up the glen. His +sturdy knees were pressing the skirts of the saddle +with a firmness that left no room for doubt as to the +tension his nerves were under. Now and then he murmured +"My word!" but in what connection it is doubtful +if even he could tell. A quarter of an hour had passed +since King disappeared through the doorway: Mr. +Hobbs was getting nervous.</p> + +<p>The shiftless, lanky goose-herd came forth in time, and +lazily drove his scattered flock off into the lower glen.</p> + +<p>The horses were becoming impatient. To his extreme +discomfort, not to say apprehension, they were constantly +pricking their ears forward and snorting in the +direction of the hovel; a very puzzling circumstance, +thought Mr. Hobbs. At this point he began to say +"dammit," and with some sense of appreciation, too.</p> + +<p>Presently his eye caught sight of a thin stream of +smoke, rather black than blue, arising from the little +chimney at the rear of the cabin. His eyes flew very +wide open; his heart experienced a sudden throbless +moment; his mind leaped backward to the unexplained +smoke mystery of the day before. It was on the end +of his tongue to cry out to his unseen patron, to urge +him to leave the Witch to her deviltry and come along +home, when the old woman herself appeared in the doorway—alone.</p> + +<p>She sat down upon the doorstep, pulling away at a long +pipe, her hooded face almost invisible from the distance +which he resolutely held. He felt that she was eyeing +him with grim interest. For a few minutes he waited, +a sickening doubt growing up in his soul. A single +glance showed him that the chimney was no longer emitting +smoke. It seemed to him that the old woman was +losing all semblance of life. She was no more than a +black, inanimate heap of rags piled against the door-jamb.</p> + +<p>Hobbs let out a shout. The horses plunged viciously. +Slowly the bundle of rags took shape. The old woman +arose and hobbled toward him, leaning upon a great +cane.</p> + +<p>"Whe—where's Mr. King?" called out Hobbs.</p> + +<p>She stopped above him and he could see her face. Mr. +Hobbs was chilled to the bone. Her arm was raised, a +bony finger pointing to the treetops above her hovel.</p> + +<p>"He's gone. Didn't you see him? He went off among +the treetops. You won't see him again." She waited a +moment, and then went on, in most ingratiating tones: +"Would you care to come into my house? I can show +you the road he took. You—"</p> + +<p>But Mr. Hobbs, his hair on end, had dropped the +rein of King's horse and was putting boot to his own +beast, whirling frantically into the path that led away +from the hated, damned spot! Down the road he +crashed, pursued by witches whose persistence put to +shame the efforts of those famed ladies of Tam +O'Shanter in the long ago; if he had looked over his +shoulder, he might have discovered that he was followed +by a riderless horse, nothing more.</p> + +<p>But a riderless horse is a gruesome thing—sometimes.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX" />CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>STRANGE DISAPPEARANCES</h3> + + +<p>The further adventures of Mr. Hobbs on this memorable +afternoon are quickly chronicled, notwithstanding +the fact that he lived an age while they were transpiring, +and experienced sensations that would still be fresh in +his memory if he lived to be a hundred.</p> + +<p>He was scarcely well out of sight of the cabin when his +conscience began to smite him: after all, his patron +might be in dire need of his services, and here he was, +fleeing from an old woman and a whiff of smoke! Hobbs +was not a physical coward, but it took more than a mile +of hard-ridden conscience to bring his horse to a standstill. +Then, with his heart in his mouth, he slowly began +to retrace his steps, walking where he had galloped a +moment before. A turn in the road brought him in +view of something that caused him to draw rein sharply. +A hundred yards ahead, five or six men were struggling +with a riderless bay horse.</p> + +<p>"My Gawd!" ejaculated Hobbs. "It's <i>his</i> horse! I +might have known!"</p> + +<p>He looked eagerly for his patron. There was no sign +of him, so Hobbs rode slowly forward, intent upon asking +the woodmen—for such they appeared to be—to +accompany him to the glen, now but a short distance +ahead.</p> + +<p>As he drew nearer, it struck him forcibly that the men +were not what he had thought them to be. They were +an evil-looking lot, more like the strikers he had seen in +the town earlier in the day. Even as he was turning +the new thought over in his mind, one of them stepped +out of the little knot, and, without a word of warning, +lifted his arm and fired point blank at the little Englishman. +A pistol ball whizzed close by his head. His +horse leaped to the side of the road in terror, almost unseating +him.</p> + +<p>But Hobbs had fighting blood in his veins. What is +more to the point, he had a Mauser revolver in his +pocket. He jerked it out, and, despite a second shot +from the picket, prepared to ride down upon the party. +An instant later half a dozen revolvers were blazing +away at him. Hobbs turned at once and rode in the +opposite direction, whirling to fire twice at the unfriendly +group. Soon he was out of range and at +leisure. He saw the futility of any attempt to pass +them. The only thing left for him to do was to ride +as quickly as possible to the city and give the alarm: at +the same time, to acquaint the police with the deliberate +assault of the desperadoes.</p> + +<p>His mind was so full of the disaster to Truxton King—he +did not doubt for an instant that he had been +destroyed by the sorceress—that he gave little thought +to his own encounter with the rascals in the roadway. +He had come to like the impetuous young man with the +open purse and the open heart. Despite his waywardness +in matters conventional to the last degree he could +not but admire him for the smile he had and the courage +that never failed him, even when the smile met the frown +of rebuke.</p> + +<p>Riding swiftly through the narrow, sunless defile he +was nearing the point where the road connected with +the open Highway; from there on the way was easy and +devoid of peril. Suddenly his horse swerved and leaped +furiously out of stride, stumbling, but recovering himself +almost instantaneously. In the same second he heard +the sharp crack of a firearm, far down the unbroken +ravine to his left. A second shot came, this time from +the right and quite close at hand. His horse was staggering, +swaying—then down he crashed, Hobbs swinging +clear barely in time to escape being pinioned to the +ground. A stream of blood was pouring from the side +of the poor beast. Aghast at this unheard of wantonness, +the little interpreter knew not which way to turn, +but stood there dazed until a third shot brought him to +his senses. The bullet kicked up the dust near his feet. +He scrambled for the heavy underbrush at the roadside +and darted off into the forest, his revolver in his hand, +his heart palpitating like mad. Time and again as he +fled through the dark thickets, he heard the hoarse +shouts of men in the distance. It dawned upon him at +last that there had been an uprising of some kind in the +city—that there was rioting and murder going on—that +these men were not ordinary bandits, but desperate +strikers in quest of satisfaction for grievances ignored.</p> + +<p>Night came and he dropped to the soft, dank earth, +utterly exhausted and absolutely lost for the time being +in the pathless hills.</p> + +<p>At ten o'clock the next morning Colonel Quinnox and +a company of soldiers, riding from the city gates toward +the north in response to a call for help from honest +herders who reported attacks and robberies of an alarming +nature, came upon the stiff, foot-sore, thorn-scratched +Mr. Hobbs, not far from the walls of the +town. The Colonel was not long in grasping the substance +of Hobbs's revelations. He rode off at once for +the Witch's hovel, sending Hobbs with a small, instructed +escort to the Castle, where Baron Dangloss was +in consultation with Mr. Tullis and certain ministers.</p> + +<p>The city was peaceful enough, much to the surprise of +Hobbs. No disturbance had been reported, said the +guardsmen who rode beside him. Up in the hills there +had been some depredations, but that was all.</p> + +<p>"All?" groaned Mr. Hobbs. "All? Hang it all, man, +wot do you call all? You haven't heard 'alf all of it +yet. I tell you, there's been the devil to pay. Wait till +the Colonel comes back from Ganlook Gap. He'll have +news for you; take it from me, he will. That poor chap +'as gone up in smoke, as sure as my name's Hobbs."</p> + +<p>They met Baron Dangloss near the barracks, across the +park from the Castle. He was in close, earnest conversation +with John Tullis and Count Halfont, both of whom +seemed to be labouring under intense excitement. Over +by the arsenal the little Prince, attended by his Aunt +Loraine and Count Vos Engo—with two mechanical +guardsmen in the background—was deep in conversation +with Julius Spantz, the master-of-arms. If he had +been near enough to hear, he might have learned that +Prince Robin's air-gun was very much out of order and +needed attention at once.</p> + +<p>The arrival of Hobbs, a pitiful but heroic object, at +once arrested the attention of every one. His story was +heard by a most distinguished audience; in fact, Hobbs +was near to exploding with his own suddenly acquired importance. +Not only were there dark, serious looks from +the men in the party, and distressed exclamations from +the most beautiful young lady in the world (he had +always said that of her), but he had the extreme unction +of bringing tears to the eyes of a prince, and of +hearing manfully suppressed sobs from the throat of the +same august personage.</p> + +<p>The looks that went round at the conclusion of his +disjointed and oft-interrupted story, expressed something +more than consternation.</p> + +<p>"There is nothing supernatural about King's disappearance," +said Tullis sharply. "That's all nonsense. +He had money about him and it perhaps turns out that +there really was a man at the crack in the door—a +clever brigand who to-day has got the better of our +vain-glorious friend. The shooting in the hills is more +disturbing than this, to my mind. Gentlemen, you +shouldn't lose any time in running these fellows down. +It will mean trouble if it gets under way. They're an +ugly lot."</p> + +<p>"This mystery coming on top of the other is all the +more difficult to understand. I mean the disappearance +of the Countess Marlanx," said Baron Dangloss, pulling +at his imperial in plain perplexity. "But we must not +stop here talking. Will you come with me, Mr. Tullis, +to the Tower? I shall send out my best man to work on +the case of the lady. It is a most amazing thing. I +still have hope that she will appear in person to explain +the affair."</p> + +<p>"I think not," said Tullis gloomily. "This looks like +abduction-foul play, or whatever you choose to call it. +She has never left her father's house in just this manner +before. I believe, Baron, that Marlanx has taken her +away by force. She told me yesterday that she would +never go back to him if she could help it. I have already +given you my suspicions regarding his designs +upon the—ahem!" Catching the eager gaze of the +Prince, he changed the word "throne" to "treasury." +The Baron nodded thoughtfully. "The Countess attended +the fête at Baron Pultz's last night, leaving at +twelve o'clock. I said good-night to her at the fountain +and watched her until she passed through the gate +between the Baron's grounds and those of her father adjoining. +She would not permit me to accompany her +to the doors. Her maid had preceded her and was waiting +just beyond the gate—at least, so she says to-day. +It is less than two hundred feet from the gate to Perse's +doorsteps. Well, she never crossed that space. Her +maid waited for an hour near the fernery and then came +to the Baron's. The Countess has not been seen since +she passed through the gate in the wall. I say that she +has been carried away."</p> + +<p>"The maid will be at my office at eleven with the Duke +of Perse and the house servants. I have detailed a man +to look up this fellow Brutus you speak of, and to ascertain +his whereabouts last night. Come, we will go +to the Tower. The Duke is greatly distressed. He +suspects foul play, I am confident, but he will not admit +that Marlanx is responsible."</p> + +<p>"But what about Mr. King?" piped up a small voice.</p> + +<p>"Colonel Quinnox has gone to look for him, Bobby," +began Tullis, frowning slightly. He was interested in +but one human being at that moment.</p> + +<p>"I want the old Witch beheaded," said the Prince. +"Why don't you go, Uncle Jack? He's an American. +He'd help you, I bet, if you were in danger."</p> + +<p>Tullis flushed. Then he patted Prince Robin's shoulder +and said, with no little emotion in his voice:</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I deserve the rebuke, Bobby, but you must +not forget that there is a lady in distress. Which would +you have me do—desert the lady whom we all love or +the man whom we scarcely know?"</p> + +<p>"The lady," said Bobby promptly. "Hasn't she got a +husband to look after her? Mr. King has no friends, +no relations, nothing. Aunt Loraine likes him and so +do I."</p> + +<p>"He's a fine chap," asserted Hobbs, and afterward +marvelled at his own temerity.</p> + +<p>Loraine, her merry eyes now dark with anxiety, her +cheeks white with resolution, turned upon John Tullis. +"You might leave the rescue of the Countess to the +proper authorities—the police," she said calmly. "I +think it is your duty as an American to head the search +for Mr. King. If Count Marlanx has spirited his wife +away, pray, who has a better right?"</p> + +<p>"But we are not sure that he—"</p> + +<p>"We are sure that Mr. King is either dead or in dire +need of help," she interrupted hotly. He looked at her +in surprise, swayed by two impulses.</p> + +<p>"Colonel Quinnox is quite competent to conduct the +search," he said shortly.</p> + +<p>"But Colonel Quinnox has gone forth on another mission. +He may be unable to give any of his time to the +search for Mr. King. It is outrageous, John Tullis, to +refuse help—"</p> + +<p>"I don't refuse help," he exclaimed. "They may take +the whole army out to look for him, so far as I am concerned. +But, I'll tell you this—I consider it my duty +as a man to devote what strength I have to the service of +a <i>woman</i> in trouble. That ends it! Come, Baron; we +will go to the Tower."</p> + +<p>The amazed young woman looked at him with wide, +comprehending eyes. Her lip trembled under the rebuke. +Count Halfont intervened, hastily proposing that a +second party be sent out at once with instructions to +raze the Witch's hut if necessary.</p> + +<p>"I shall be happy to lead the expedition," said young +Count Vos Engo, bowing deeply to the young lady herself.</p> + +<p>"You shall, Vos Engo," said Halfont. "Prepare at +once. Take ten men. I shall report to General Braze +for you."</p> + +<p>Tullis turned suddenly to the resentful girl. "Loraine," +he said gently, as the others drew away, "don't be hard +with me. You don't understand."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do," she said stubbornly. "You are in love +with her."</p> + +<p>"Yes; that's quite true."</p> + +<p>"A married woman!"</p> + +<p>"I can't help it. I must do all I can for her."</p> + +<p>She looked into his honest eyes for a moment.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me," she murmured, hanging her head. +"What is Mr. King to us, after all?"</p> + +<p>"He is simply paying for his foolhardiness. Americans +do that the world over."</p> + +<p>"Be careful that you do not pay for something worse +than foolhardiness."</p> + +<p>"I think you may trust me."</p> + +<p>She smiled brightly up into his face. "Have your +way, then. Remember that I am her friend, too." Then +she hurried off after the Prince and Vos Engo, who was +already giving instructions to an attentive orderly.</p> + +<p>"Poor Mr. King!" she said to the Prince, as they stood +by watching the preparations. "I am afraid, Bobby, +he can't come to your circus this week. I sent the invitation +this morning, early. He may never receive it. +Isn't it dreadful, Count Vos Engo?"</p> + +<p>Count Vos Engo was politely concerned, but it should +not be expected that, in his present state of mind regarding +her, he could be seriously grieved by anything +that might have happened to the rash American.</p> + +<p>The guard about the Prince was doubled: orders requiring +the strictest care of his person were issued by +Count Halfont. By this time, it may be suspected, the +suspicions of John Tullis had been communicated to men +high in the government; no small amount of credence +was attached to them. Baron Dangloss began to see +things in a different light; things that had puzzled him +before now seemed clear. His office was the busiest place +in Edelweiss.</p> + +<p>"It is not unreasonable to suspect that Marlanx, or +some of his agents, having concluded that the Countess +knew too much of their operations, and might not be a +safe repository, decided to remove her before it was too +late. Understand, gentlemen, I don't believe the Countess +is in sympathy with her husband's schemes—"</p> + +<p>The Duke of Perse interrupted the doughty baron. +"You assume a great deal, Baron, in saying that he has +schemes inimical to the best interests of this country."</p> + +<p>"I fancy that your Grace will admit that your venerable +son-in-law—who, if I mistake not, is some ten years +your senior—has no great love for the reigning power +in Graustark. We will pass that, however," said the +Baron, pointedly. "We should be wise enough to guard +against any move he may make; it is imperative that we +should not be caught napping."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe he has taken my daughter away by +force. Why should he do so? She goes to him voluntarily +at the end of each visit. There is no coercion." +He met John Tullis's stony gaze without flinching. "I +insist that she has been stolen by these brigands in the +hills, to be held for ransom."</p> + +<p>The stories of the maid, the footmen, the groundmen +were all to the effect that the Countess had not returned +to her father's home after leaving the fête next door. +There were no signs of a struggle in the garden, nor +had there been the slightest noise to attract the attention +of the waiting maid. It was not impossible, after all, +that she had slipped away of her own accord, possessed +of a sudden whim or impulse.</p> + +<p>The new man-servant, suspected by the Countess herself, +passed through the examination creditably. Tullis, +of course, had not yet told Dangloss of the Countess's +own suspicions concerning this man. They were a part of +their joint secret. The American felt sure, however, +that this man knew more of the night's work than he +had told. He conveyed this belief to Dangloss, and a +close watch was set upon the fellow. More than once +during the long afternoon John Tullis found himself +wishing that he had that dare-devil, thoroughbred young +countryman of his, Truxton King, beside him; something +told him that the young man would prove a +treasure in resourcefulness and activity.</p> + +<p>Late in the afternoon, a telegram was brought to Tullis +which upset all of their calculations and caused the +minister of police to swear softly in pure disgust. It +was from the Countess Marlanx herself, sent from +Porvrak, a station far down the railway, in the direction +of Vienna. It was self-explanatory: "I am going to +Schloss Marlanx, there to end my days. There is no +hope for me. I go voluntarily. Will you not understand +why I am leaving Edelweiss? You must know." It was +signed "Ingomede."</p> + +<p>Tullis was dumbfounded. He caught the penetrating +glance of Dangloss and flushed under the sudden knowledge +that this shrewd old man also understood why she +was leaving Edelweiss. Because of <i>him!</i> Because she +loved him and would not be near him. His heart swelled +exultantly in the next moment; a brave resolve was born +within him.</p> + +<p>"We don't need a key to that, my boy," said the Baron +indulgently. "But I will say that she has damned little +consideration for you when she steals away in the dead +of night, without a word. In a ball dress, too. Unfeeling, +I'd say. Well, we can devote our attention to +Mr. King, who <i>is</i> lost."</p> + +<p>"See here, Baron," said Tullis after a moment, "I want +you to give me a couple of good men for a few days. +I'm going to Schloss Marlanx. I'll get her away from +that place if I have to kill Marlanx and swing for it."</p> + +<p>At seven o'clock that night, accompanied by two clever +secret service men, Tullis boarded the train for the +West. A man who stood in the tobacconist's shop on +the station platform smiled quietly to himself as the +train pulled out. Then he walked briskly away. It was +Peter Brutus, the lawyer.</p> + +<p>A most alluring trap had been set for John Tullis!</p> + +<p>The party that had gone to Ganlook Gap in charge of +Count Vos Engo returned at nightfall, no wiser than +when it left the barracks at noon. Riding bravely, but +somewhat dejectedly beside the handsome young officer +in command was a girl in grey. It was her presence with +the troop that had created comment at the gates earlier +in the day. No one could understand why she was riding +forth upon what looked to be a dangerous mission. Least +of all, Count Vos Engo, who had striven vainly to dissuade +her from the purpose to accompany the soldiers.</p> + +<p>Now she was coming home with them, silent, subdued, +dispirited—even more so than she allowed the Count to +see.</p> + +<p>"I was hateful to him yesterday," she said penitently, +as they rode into the city. Vos Engo had been thinking +of something else: the remark disturbed him.</p> + +<p>"He was very presumptuous-yesterday," he said +crossly.</p> + +<p>She transfixed him with a look meant to be reproachful.</p> + +<p>"That's why I managed the ticket for Bobby's circus," +she said, looking ahead with a genuinely mournful droop +of her lip. "I was sorry for him. Oh, dear, oh, dear +What will his poor mother say—and his sister?"</p> + +<p>"We've done all we can, Loraine. Except to cable," +he added sourly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I suppose so. Poor fellow!"</p> + +<p>Colonel Quinnox and his men had been scouring the +hills for bandits. They arrived at the Witch's cabin a +few minutes after Vos Engo and his company. Disregarding +the curses of the old woman, a thorough +search of the place was made. The forest, the ravine, +the mountainside for a mile or more in all directions were +gone over by the searchers. There was absolutely no +sign of the missing man, nor was there the least indication +that there had been foul play.</p> + +<p>The old woman's story, reflected by the grandson, was +convincing so far as it went. She said that the young +man remained behind in the kitchen to puzzle himself +over the smoke mystery, while she went out to her doorstep. +The man with the horses became frightened when +she went down to explain the situation to him. He fled. +A few minutes later the gentleman emerged, to find his +horse gone, himself deserted. Cursing, he struck off +down the glen in pursuit of his friend, and that was the +last she saw of him. Not long afterward she heard shooting +in the Gap and sent her grandson to see if anything +could have happened to her late visitor, who, it seems, +owed her one hundred gavvos as a forfeit of some sort.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<br /> +<a name="p158.jpg"></a> +<a href="images/p158.jpg"> +<img src="images/p158.jpg" width="45%" alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>"Bobby! Don't be foolish. How could I be in love +with <i>him</i>?"</b><br /> +<br /> +</div> + +<p>The further prosecution of the search was left to +Colonel Quinnox and his men. Loraine, shuddering, but +resolute, had witnessed the ransacking of the hut, had +urged the arrest of the hag, and had come away disheartened +but satisfied that the woman had told them +the truth. Quinnox's theory was accepted by all. He +believed that King had fallen into the hands of brigands +and that a heavy ransom would be demanded for his +release.</p> + +<p>In a warm-tinted room at the Castle, later on in the +evening, the Prince, in pajamas, was discoursing +bravely on the idiosyncrasies of Fate. His only auditor +was the mournful Loraine, who sat beside the royal +bed in which he wriggled vaguely. The attendants were +far down the room.</p> + +<p>"Never mind, Aunt Loraine, you can't help it. I'm +just as sorry as you are. Say, are you in love with +him?"</p> + +<p>"In love with whom?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. King."</p> + +<p>"Of course not, silly. What an absurd question. I do +not know him at all."</p> + +<p>"That's all right, Aunt Loraine. I believe in love at +first sight. He is a—"</p> + +<p>"Bobby! Don't be foolish. How could I be in love +with <i>him</i>?"</p> + +<p>"Well, you can't help it sometimes. Even princes fall +in love without knowing it."</p> + +<p>"I suppose so," dreamily.</p> + +<p>"It's mighty hard to make up your mind which one +you love best, though. Dr. Barrett's daughter in New +York is awful nice, but I think she's—"</p> + +<p>"She is twenty years older than you, Bobby, if you +mean to say you are in love with her."</p> + +<p>"Well, but I'll grow up, auntie. Anyhow, Paula +Vedrowski is not so old as I. She is—"</p> + +<p>"For heaven's sake, Bobby, do go to sleep!"</p> + +<p>"Don't you care to hear about <i>my</i> love affairs?"</p> + +<p>"You are perfectly ridiculous!"</p> + +<p>"All right for you, auntie. I shan't listen when you +want to tell me about yours. Gee, Uncle Jack listens, +you bet. I wish he was here this minute. Say, is he +ever going to get married?" There was no answer. +He peered over the top of the pillow. There were tears +in his Aunt Loraine's eyes. "Oh, say, auntie, darling, +don't cry! I'll—I'll go to sleep, honest!"</p> + +<p>She was not in love with Truxton King, but she was +a fine, tender-hearted girl, who suffered because of the +thing that had happened to him and because she loved +his sister.</p> + +<p>Over in the Hotel Regengetz, on a little table in the +centre of the room, lay a thick envelope with the royal +arms emblazoned in the upper corner. It contained an +invitation to the private circus that had been arranged +for the little Prince, and it bore the name of Truxton +King.</p> + +<p>Across the foot of the bed hung his evening clothes, +laid out by a faithful and well-tipped house valet, snug +and ready for instant use.</p> + +<p>But where was Truxton King?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X" />CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>THE IRON COUNT</h3> + + +<p>When King, in the kindness of his heart, grasped the +old woman to keep her from falling to the floor, he +played directly into the hands of very material agencies +under her control. There was nothing ghostly or even +spiritual in the incidents that followed close upon the +simulated fainting spell of the fortune-teller. It has been +said before that her bony fingers closed upon his arms in +a far from feeble manner. He had no time for surprise +at this sudden recovery; there was only time to see a +fiendish grin flash into her face. The next instant something +struck him in the face; then with a fierce jerk this +same object tightened about his neck. His attempt to +yell out was checked before a sound could issue from his +lips.</p> + +<p>It all came to him in a flash. A noose had been dropped +over his head; as he was pulled backward, his startled, +bulging eyes swept the ceiling. The mystery was explained, +but in a manner that left him small room for +satisfaction. Above him a square opening had appeared +in the ceiling; two ugly, bearded faces were leaning over +the edge and strong hands were grasping a thick rope. +In a frenzy of fear and desperation he cast the old +woman from him and tore violently at the rope.</p> + +<p>They were drawing hard from above; his toes were +barely touching the floor; he was strangling. Frantically +he grasped the rope, lifting himself from the +floor in the effort to loosen the noose with his free hand. +A hoarse laugh broke upon his dinning ears, the leering +faces drew nearer; and then, as everything went black, +a heavy, yet merciful blow fell upon his head. As consciousness +left him, he felt himself rushing dizzily upward, +grasped by powerful hands and whisked through +the opening into air so hot and stiffling that his last +thought was of the fires of Hell.</p> + +<p>Not many minutes passed before consciousness, which +had been but partially lost, returned to him. The ringing +sensation remained in his head, but he was no longer +choking. The noose had been removed from his neck; +the rope itself was now serving as a bond for his hands +and feet, a fact that impressed itself upon him when he +tried to rise. For some time he lay perfectly still, +urging his senses into play: wondering where he was and +what had happened to him.</p> + +<p>It was pitch dark and the air was hot and close. Not +a sound came to his throbbing cars. With characteristic +irrepressibility he began to swear softly, but articulately. +Proof that his profanity was mild—one might +say genteel—came in an instant. A gruff voice, startlingly +near at hand, interrupted him.</p> + +<p>"Spit it out, young feller! Swear like a man, not like +a damn canary bird."</p> + +<p>Truxton tried hard to pierce the darkness, a strange +thrill passing through his veins. The hidden speaker +was unquestionably an American.</p> + +<p>"What the devil does all this mean?" demanded the +captive. "Where am I?"</p> + +<p>"It means business, and you're here, that's where you +are," was the sarcastic answer.</p> + +<p>"Are you an American?"</p> + +<p>"No. I'm a Chinaman."</p> + +<p>"Oh, come off! Answer square."</p> + +<p>"Well, I was born in Newport." As an afterthought: +"Kentucky."</p> + +<p>"You're in a damned nice business, I'll say that for +you," growled Truxton. "Who is responsible for this +outrage?"</p> + +<p>He heard the man yawn prodigiously. "Depends on +what you call an outrage."</p> + +<p>"This is the damnedest high-handed outrage I've +ever—"</p> + +<p>"Better save your breath, young feller. You won't +have it very long, so save what you can of it."</p> + +<p>Truxton was silent for a moment, analysing this unique +remark. "You mean I am to stop breathing altogether?"</p> + +<p>"Something like that."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know."</p> + +<p>"You don't know? Well, who does?"</p> + +<p>"You'll find out when the boss gets good and ready."</p> + +<p>"You are a fine American!"</p> + +<p>"Look here, young feller, I've been polite to you, so +don't get gay. I'll come over there and kick your jaw +in."</p> + +<p>"Come ahead. Anything to break the monotony."</p> + +<p>"Didn't you get enough of the hangman's knot and +the sandbag? Want more, eh? Well, if I wasn't so +darned comfortable I'd come over there and give it to +you. Now don't rile me!"</p> + +<p>"I deserve to be kicked for being such a blithering fool +as to get into this mess. Come on and kick me."</p> + +<p>"You wanted to get a poke at the old man's eye, did +ye? By thunder, that's like an American. Never satisfied +to let things alone. See what it got you into?"</p> + +<p>"The old man's eye? What old man?"</p> + +<p>"That's for you to find out, if you can. You've made +a hell of a poor start at it."</p> + +<p>"You're a good-natured scoundrel"</p> + +<p>"Thanks for them kind words."</p> + +<p>"Well, what are you going to do with me? I don't +like the air in here. It's awful. How long do I stay +here?"</p> + +<p>"Say, you're a gritty little man. I like your nerve. +Too bad we ain't on the same side. I'll tell you this: +you won't be here long. How would the old girl down +there put it? You're going on a long voyage. That's +it. But first we'll get out of this rat hole, just as soon +as them other guys come back from the cave. You'll +get fresh air purty soon. Now, don't talk any more. +I'm through gossipin'!"</p> + +<p>"How do you, an American, happen to be mixed up in +a deal like this?"</p> + +<p>"It's healthier work than makin' barrels at—I was goin' +to say Sing Sing, but I hear they've changed the name. +I prefer outdoor work."</p> + +<p>"Fugitive, eh?"</p> + +<p>"You might call it that. I'm wanted in seven States. +The demand for me is great."</p> + +<p>Truxton saw that he could get nothing out of the +satirical rascal, so fell to speculating for himself. That +he was still in the loft above the hovel was more or less +clear to him. His mind, now active, ran back to the +final scene in the kitchen. The trap-door in the ceiling, +evidently a sliding arrangement, explained the mysterious +disappearance of the owner of the eye; he had been +whisked up through the aperture by confederates and +the trap-door closed before it could be discovered. The +smoking kettle no longer puzzled him, now that he +knew of the secret room above the kitchen; a skilfully +concealed blow-pipe could have produced the phenomenon. +The space in which he was now lying, half suffocated, +was doubtless a part of the cleverly designed +excavation at the back of the hovel, the lower half being +the kitchen, the upper an actual gateway to the open +air somewhere in the mountainside.</p> + +<p>That he had fallen into the hands of a band of conspirators +was also quite clear to him. Whether they +were brigands or more important operators against the +Crown, he was, of course, in no position to decide. Time +would tell.</p> + +<p>It was enough that they expected to kill him, sooner +or later. This, in itself, was sufficient to convince him +that he was not to be held for ransom, but to be disposed +of for reasons best known to his captors.</p> + +<p>Like a shot the warning of Olga Platanova flashed into +his brain. Here, then, was the proof that she actually +knew of the peril he was in. But why should he be an +object of concern to these men, whoever they were? His +guard had mentioned "the old man." Good heavens, +could he mean Spantz? The cold perspiration was +standing on King's brow. Spantz! He recalled the +wickedness in the armourer's face. But why should +Spantz wish him evil? Again intuition, encouraged by +memory, supplied him with a possible, even plausible explanation.</p> + +<p>The Anarchists! The Reds! Olga was an avowed +Anarchist; she was almost a prisoner in the house of her +uncle. Truxton's guard sat up suddenly and felt for +his weapon when the captive let out a bitter oath of +understanding and rage.</p> + +<p>"By gad, they think I am a detective!" he added, light +coming to him with a rush.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" snapped the other. Truxton could +almost feel the other's body grow tense despite the space +between them. "Are you a detective? Are you? By +God, if you are, I'll finish you up right here. +You—"</p> + +<p>"No! They're on the wrong scent. By Jove, the +laugh's on old man Spantz."</p> + +<p>"Oho! So you <i>do</i> know what's up, then? Spantz, eh? +Well, what you've guessed at or found out won't make +much difference, my fine young fellow. They've got +you, and you'll be worse off than Danny Deever in the +mornin'! Hello! Here they come. Now we'll get out +of this infernal bake-oven. Say, do you know, you've +been cuddlin' up against a j'int of warm stove pipe for +nearly an hour? Sh!"</p> + +<p>The glimmer of a light came bobbing up from somewhere +behind Truxton; he could see the flickering +shadows on the wall. Two men crept into the room a +moment later. One of them carried a lantern; the other +turned King's body over with his foot.</p> + +<p>"You damned brute," grated the captive.</p> + +<p>"Call him what you like, young feller," said his first +acquaintance. "He can't understand a word you say. +Well, do we pull out?" This to the man with the lantern.</p> + +<p>The roof was so low that they were compelled to stoop +in moving about. Truxton saw that the three ruffians +were great, brutal-faced fellows, with bared arms that +denoted toil as well as spoils.</p> + +<p>"Immediate!" said the lantern bearer. "Come; we drag +him to the cave."</p> + +<p>"Drag? Nix; we c'n carry him, pard. I'm not for +draggin' him down that passage. Grab hold there,—you! +Hey, get his feet, damn you!" The third man +was reluctant to understand, but at last grasped the +prisoner by the feet, swearing in a language of his own. +The Yankee desperado took his shoulders, and together, +with earnest grunts, they followed the man with the +lantern, Truxton knew not whither except that it was +away from the wretched sweat-hole.</p> + +<p>He could see that they were crowding through a low, +narrow passage, the earthen sides of which reeked with +moisture. Twice they paused to rest, resuming the +journey after a season of cursing, finally depositing +him with scant courtesy upon the rocky floor of what +proved to be a rather commodious cave. The breath was +almost jarred from his body. He had the satisfaction +of driving his two heels viciously against the person of +the man who had held them the last ten minutes, receiving +a savage kick in return.</p> + +<p>Daylight streamed into this convenient "hole in the +wall;" lying upon his side, Truxton faced the opening +that looked out upon the world. He saw nothing but +blue sky. Near the opening, looking down as if into +the valley below, stood the tall, gaunt figure of a man, +thin-shouldered and stooped. His back was to the captive, +but King observed that the three men, with two +companions, who sat at the back of the cave, never removed +their gaze from the striking figure outlined +against the sky.</p> + +<p>Many minutes passed before the watcher turned +slowly to take in the altered conditions behind him. +King saw that he was old; grey-haired and cadaverous, +with sharp, hawk-like features. This, then, was the "old +man," and he was not William Spantz. Unlike Spantz +in every particular was this man who eyed him so darkly, +so coldly. Here was a highborn man, a man whose very +manners bespoke for him years at court, a life spent in +the upper world, not among the common people. Truxton +found himself returning the stare with an interest +that brought results.</p> + +<p>"Your name is King, I believe," came from the thin +lips of the old man. The tones were as metallic as the +click of steel.</p> + +<p>"Yes. May I inquire—"</p> + +<p>"No, you may not inquire. Put a gag in his mouth. +I don't care to hear anything from him. Gag him and +cut the rope from his feet. He may walk from now on."</p> + +<p>Three men sprang to do his bidding.</p> + +<p>King felt in that instant that he was looking for the +first time upon the features of the Iron Count, Marlanx +the dishonoured. He lay there helpless, speechless for +many minutes, glancing at this cruel tyrant. Into his +soul sank the conviction that no mercy would come from +this man, this hater of all men; justice would play no +part in the final, sickening tragedy. It was enough that +Marlanx suspected him of being in the way; to be suspected +was to be condemned. The whole, hellish conspiracy +flashed through his brain. He closed his eyes +with the horror of it all.</p> + +<p>Here was Marlanx on Graustark soil, conniving with +cutthroats, commanding them without opposition. What +could it mean except a swift-growing menace to the +Crown—to the little Prince.</p> + +<p>Marlanx was speaking. Truxton looked up, as at an +executioner. The lean, cruel face of that beautiful girl's +husband was not far from his own; the fiery eyes were +burning into his. The Iron Count sat upon a boulder +near his feet.</p> + +<p>"So you are the Quixote who would tilt at invisible +windmills, eh? I remember you quite well. We have +met before. Perhaps you remember meeting my eye in +Dame Babba's cabin—twice, I think. You remember, +I see. Ha, ha! You were very slow not to have caught +such an old man. You were near to it the first time, +but—you missed it, eh? I thought you might have seen +my heels as I disappeared. I dare say you are wondering +what I intend to do with you, now that I have you. +Well, I am not the man to mince words. Mr. King, you +are quite young, but the good die young. I am very old, +you observe. I will not say that you are to die to-night +or to-morrow or any day, for I do not know. I am going +to send you to a court. Not an ordinary court, Mr. +King, but one of extreme perspicacity. I fancy you will +die before long. We can spare you. I do not approve +of meddlers. It seems to be quite settled that you are a +police agent. Be that as it may, I imagine our little +court of last resort will take no chances, one way or the +other. A man or two, more or less, will not be counted +a year from now."</p> + +<p>The steady, cruel eyes fascinated King. He knew that +he was in desperate straits, that he had one chance in a +million to escape, and yet he found himself held by the +spell of those eyes, drinking in certain metallic monotones +as if hypnotised.</p> + +<p>"I am glad you called again at my temporary abode, +Mr. King. Americans are always welcome: the sooner +they come, the sooner it's over. It may interest you to +know that I am very partial to Americans. Were I a +cannibal, I could eat them with relish. If I had my way, +all Americans should be in heaven. The earth surely is +not good enough nor big enough for them, and hell is +already overcrowded. Yes," reflectively pressing his +nose with a bony forefinger, "I love the Americans dearly. +I should enjoy a similar visit from Mr. John Tullis. Although, +I may say, he seems to be choosing another way +of testing my hospitality. I expect him to visit me in +my humble castle before many days. I should like to +have him remain there until his dying day." There was +a deep significance in his smile. King shuddered. His +gaze followed the gaunt, spidery old man as he returned +to the opening for another long survey of the valley +below. Night was falling; the sky was growing darker, +and the wind was rising. Marlanx's sharp features were +not so distinguishable when he returned to the boulder. +The men in the cave had not spoken except in whispers. +They appeared to be living in abject fear of this grim +old nobleman.</p> + +<p>"Night is coming. I must say farewell, my bold young +friend. My way lies to the north. This is merely a land +of promise to me. You go southward, to the city of +Edelweiss. But not through the gates; oh, no! There +are other ways, as you will find. If you should, by any +chance, escape the jurisdiction of the court I am sending +you to, I sincerely trust you may honour me with another +visit here. I come often to the hovel in the glen. +It is the only friendly house I know of in all Graustark. +Some day I may be able to recompense its beauteous +mistress. My good friends, Dangloss, and Halfont, and +Braze—and Tullis, whom I know only by reputation—are, +as yet, unaware of my glorious return to Graustark, +else they would honour me with their distinguished presence. +Some day I may invite them to dine with me. I +shall enjoy seeing them eat of the humble pie I can put +before them. Good-bye, my brave Sir Galahad; I may +never see you again."</p> + +<p>With a courtly bow he turned from the tense-muscled +captive and directed his final instructions to the men. +"Take him at once to the city, but be on your guard. A +single false move now means utter ruin for all of us. Our +affairs go so well at present that we cannot afford to +offend Dame Fortune. She smiles on us, my men. Take +this fool to the house on the Monastery road. There you +will turn him over to the others. It is for them to drag +the truth from his lips. I'd suggest, dear Mr. King, +that you tell them all you know before they begin the +dragging process. It is a very unpleasant way they +have." With a curt nod to the men, he strode out +through the mouth of the cave and was gone. Dusk had +settled down upon mountain and valley; a thin fog swam +high in the air above. One of the men cut the rope that +bound Truxton's feet.</p> + +<p>"Get up," said the Newport man. "We've got to be +movin'. How'd you like the old man? Smart bug, +ain't he? Say, he'll throw the hooks into them guys +down in Edelweiss so hard one of these days that they +won't come out till they rot out."</p> + +<p>Still gagged and somewhat dizzy, King was hurried off +into the narrow mountain path, closely surrounded by +the five men.</p> + +<p>"They tell me your friend, the Cook guy, got plugged +down in the Gap when he tried to duck this afternoon," +volunteered the Yankee unconcernedly.</p> + +<p>Hobbs shot? King's eyes suddenly filled with tears, a +great wave of pity and shame rushing to his heart. +Poor Hobbs! He had led him into this; to gratify a vain-glorious +whim, he had done the little Englishman to death.</p> + +<p>The silent, cautious march down the valley, through the +Gap and along the ridge carried them far into the night. +King knew that they were skirting the main roads, +keeping to the almost hidden trails of the mountaineers. +They carried no light, nor did they speak to each other, +except in hoarse whispers. In single file they made their +way, the prisoner between them, weary, footsore and +now desperate in the full realisation of his position. +Being gagged, he could make no appeal to the one man +who might befriend him—his villainous countryman. It +occurred to him—grim thought—that the astute +Marlanx had considered that very probability, and had +made it impossible for him to resort to the cupidity of +the hireling.</p> + +<p>At last, when he could scarcely drag his feet after him, +they came to a halt. A consultation followed, but he +could not understand a word. This much he knew: they +were in the hills directly above the northern gates. Two +of the men went forward, moving with extreme caution. +In half an hour they returned and the march was resumed.</p> + +<p>Their next halt came sooner than he expected. The +vague, black shadow of a lightless house loomed up before +them. In a twinkling he was hustled across the +road and into a door. Then down a flight of stairs, +through pitchy darkness, guided by two of the men, a +whispered word of advice now and then from the Yankee +saving him from perilous stumbles. He was jerked up +sharply with a command to stand still. A light flashed +suddenly in his face, blinding him for the moment. +Voices in eager, quick conversation came to his ears long +before his eyes could take in the situation.</p> + +<p>Soon he saw that they were in a broad, bare cellar; +three men in heavy black beards were in earnest conversation +with several of his captors; all were gesticulating +fiercely.</p> + +<p>His Newport companion enlightened him, between puffs +of the pipe he was struggling with. "Here's where we +say good-bye, young fellow. We turn you over to these +gents, whoever they are. I'm sort of out of it when +they get to jabberin' among themselves. I can understand +'em when they talk slow, but, say, did you ever +hear a flock of Union Square sparrows chirp faster than +them fellers is talkin' now? Nix. You go into the +village gay with these Schwabs by the sewer line, I +guess." Truxton pricked up his ears. "The old man +has had a hole chopped in the sewer here, they tell me, +and it's a snap to get into the city. Not very clean or +neat, but it gets you there. Well, so long! They're +ready, I see. They don't monkey long when they've got +a thing to do. I'd advise you not to be too stubborn +when they get you to headquarters; it may go easier with +you. I'm not so damned bad, young feller. It's just +the business I'm in—and the company."</p> + +<p>King felt a thrill of real regard for the rascal. He +nodded his thanks and tried to smile. The fellow +grinned and slapped him on the shoulder, unobserved by +the others. In another moment his guardianship was +transferred; he was being hurried across the cellar +toward an open doorway. Down a few stone steps he +was led by the bearded crew, and then pushed through +a hole in what appeared to be a heavy brick wall. He +realised at once where he was. The gurgle of running +water, the odor of foul airs came up to him. It was the +great sewer that ran from the hills through the heart +of the city, flushed continuously by a diverted mountain +stream that swept down from above.</p> + +<p>He was wading in cold water over a slippery bottom, +tightly held by two men, the third going ahead with the +lantern. Always ahead loomed the black, opaque circle +which never came nearer, never grew smaller. It was the +ever receding wall of darkness.</p> + +<p>He did not know how long they traversed the chill +sewer in this fashion. In time, however, the water got +deeper; rats began to scurry along the sides of the +circle or to swim frantically on in front of the disturbers. +The smells were sickening, overpowering. Only excitement, +curiosity, youth—whatever you may care to +term it-kept him up and going. The everlasting glory +of youth never ends until old age has provided the surfeit +of knowledge; the strife to see ahead, to find out what is +to be, to know,—that is youth. Youth dies when curiosity +ends. The emotion is even stronger than the dread +of what may lie beyond in the pallid sea of uncertainty.</p> + +<p>His bones were chilled and creaking with fatigue. He +was remorselessly hungry. There was water, but he +could not drink it.</p> + +<p>At last the strange journey ended. They came to a +niche in the slimy wall. Up into this the men climbed, +dragging him after them. The man above was cautiously +tapping on what appeared to be solid masonry. +To King's surprise a section of the wall suddenly +opened before them. He was seized from above by +strong hands and literally jerked through the hole, his +companions following. Up narrow steps, through a +sour-smelling passage and—then, into a long, dimly +lighted room, in the centre of which stood a long table.</p> + +<p>He was not permitted to linger here for long, but +passed on into a small room adjoining. Some one, +speaking in English, told him to sit down. The gag was +removed from his stiff, inflamed mouth.</p> + +<p>"Fetch him some water," said a voice that he was sure +he recognised—a high, querulous voice.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Spantz," articulated Truxton, turning to the +black-bearded, bent figure.</p> + +<p>There was an instance of silence. Then Spantz spoke, +with a soft laugh: "You will not know so much to-morrow, +Herr King. Give him the water, man. He +has much to say to us, and he cannot talk with a dry +throat."</p> + +<p>"Nor an empty stomach," added King. He drank long +of the pitcher that was held to his lips.</p> + +<p>"This is not the Regengetz," growled a surly voice.</p> + +<p>"You mean, I don't eat?"</p> + +<p>"Not at midnight, my friend."</p> + +<p>"It seems to be an all-night joint."</p> + +<p>"Enough," cried Spantz. "Bring him out here. The +others have come."</p> + +<p>King was pushed out into the larger room, where he +was confronted by a crowd of bewhiskered men and +snaky-eyed women with most intellectual nose-glasses. +It required but a glance to convince him that the +whiskers were false.</p> + +<p>For nearly an hour he was probed with questions concerning +his business in Edelweiss. Threats followed +close upon his unsatisfactory answers, though they were +absolutely truthful. There was no attempt made to disguise +the fact that they were conspiring against the +government; in fact, they were rather more open than +secretive. When he thought of it afterward, a chill +crept over him. They would not have spoken so openly +before him if they entertained the slightest fear that he +would ever be in a position to expose them.</p> + +<p>"We'll find a way to make you talk to-morrow, my +friend. Starving is not pleasant."</p> + +<p>"You would not starve me!" he cried.</p> + +<p>"No. You will have the pleasure of starving yourself," +said a thin-eyed fellow whom he afterward knew as Peter +Brutus.</p> + +<p>He was thrown back into the little room. To his surprise +and gratification, the bonds on his wrists were removed. +Afterward he was to know that there was +method in this action of his gaolers: his own utter impotency +was to be made more galling to him by the maddening +knowledge that he possessed hands and feet and +lungs—and could not use them!</p> + +<p>He found a match in his box and struck it. There was +no article of furniture. The floor was bare, the walls +green with age. He had a feeling that there would be +rats; perhaps lizards. A search revealed the fact that +his purse, his watch and his pocket-knife were missing. +Another precious match showed him that there were no +windows. A chimney hole in the ceiling was, perhaps, +the only means by which fresh air could reach this dreary +place.</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess I'm here to stay," he said to himself. +He sat down with his back to the wall, despair in his +soul. A pitiful, weak smile came to him in the darkness, +as he thought of the result of his endeavour to "show +off" for the benefit of the heartless girl in rajah silk. +"What an ass I am," he groaned. "Now she will never +know."</p> + +<p>Sleep was claiming his senses. He made a pillow of his +coat, commended himself to the charity of rats and +other horrors, and stretched his weary bones upon the +relentless floor.</p> + +<p>"No one will ever know," he murmured, his last waking +thought being of a dear one at home.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI" />CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>UNDER THE GROUND</h3> + + +<p>Day and night were the same to the occupant of the +little room. They passed with equal slowness and impartial +darkness. Five days that he could account for +crawled by before anything unusual happened to break +the strain of his solitary, inexplicable confinement. He +could tell when it was morning by the visit of a bewhiskered +chambermaid with a deep bass voice, who carried +a lighted candle and kicked him into wakefulness. +The second day after his incarceration began, he was +given food and drink. It was high time, for he was +almost famished. Thereafter, twice a day, he was led +into the larger room and given a surprisingly hearty +meal. Moreover, he was allowed to bathe his face and +hands and indulge in half an hour's futile stretching +of limbs. After the second day few questions were +asked by the men who had originally set themselves up +as inquisitors. At first they had treated him with a +harshness that promised something worse, but an incident +occurred on the evening of the second day that +changed the whole course of their intentions.</p> + +<p>Peter Brutus had just voiced the pleasure of the +majority by urging the necessity for physical torture to +wring the government's secrets from the prisoner. King, +half famished, half crazed by thirst, had been listening +to the fierce argument through the thin door that separated +the rooms. He heard the sudden, eager movement +toward the door of his cell, and squared himself against +the opposite wall, ready to fight to the death. Then +there came a voice that he recognised.</p> + +<p>A woman was addressing the rabid conspirators in tones +of deadly earnestness. His heart gave a bound. It was +the first time since his incarceration that he had heard +the voice of Olga Platanova, she who had warned him, +she who still must be his friend. Once more he threw +himself to the floor and glued his ear to the crack; her +voice had not the strident qualities of the other women +in this lovely company.</p> + +<p>"You are not to do this thing," she was saying. King +knew that she stood between her companions and the +door. "You are not to touch him! Do you hear me, +Peter Brutus? All of you?"</p> + +<p>There followed the silence of stupefaction, broken at +last by a voice which he recognised as that of old man +Spantz.</p> + +<p>"Olga! Stand aside!"</p> + +<p>"No! You shall not torture him. I have said he is no +spy. I still say it. He knows nothing of the police and +their plans. He has not been spying upon us. I am +sure of it."</p> + +<p>"How can you be sure of it?" cried a woman's voice, +harsh and strident.</p> + +<p>"He has played with you," sneered another.</p> + +<p>"I will not discuss the point. I know he is not what +you say he is. You have no right to torture him. You +have no right to hold him prisoner."</p> + +<p>"God, girl, we cannot turn him loose now. He must +never go free again. He must die." This was from +Spantz.</p> + +<p>"We cannot release him, I grant you," she said, and +Truxton's heart sank. "Not now, but afterward, yes. +When it is all over he can do no harm. But, hear me +now, all of you. If he is harmed in any way, if he is +maltreated, or if you pursue this design to starve him, +I shall not perform my part of the work on the 26th. +This is final."</p> + +<p>For a full minute, it seemed to King, no one spoke.</p> + +<p>"You cannot withdraw," exclaimed Peter Brutus. "You +are pledged. You are sworn. It is ordained."</p> + +<p>"Try me, and see if I will not do as I say. He is to +be treated kindly so long as we hold him here and he is +to be released when the committee is in power. Then +he may tell all that he knows, for it will be of no avail. +He cannot escape, that you know. If he were a spy I +would offer no objection to your methods. He is an +American gentleman, a traveller. I, Olga Platanova, +say this to you. It is not a plea, not a petition; it is +an ultimatum. Spare him, or the glorious cause must +suffer by my defection."</p> + +<p>"Sh! Not so loud, girl! He can hear every word you +say!"</p> + +<p>"Why should it matter, madam? He is where he can +do no harm to our cause. Let him hear. Let him understand +what it is that we are doing. Are we ashamed of +our duty to the world? If so, then we are criminals, not +deliverers. I am not ashamed of what God wills me to +do. It is horrible, but it is the edict of God. I will +obey. But God does not command us to torture an innocent +man who happens to fall into our hands. No! +Let him hear. Let him know that I, Olga Platanova, +am to hurl the thing that is to destroy the life of Prince +Robin. I am not afraid to have him know to-day what +the world will know next week. Let him hear and revile +me now, as the world will do after it is over and I am +gone. The glory will be mine when all the people of this +great globe are joined to our glorious realm. Then the +world will say that Olga Platanova was not a beast, but +a deliverer, a creator! Let him hear!"</p> + +<p>The listener's blood was running cold. The life of +Prince Robin! An assassination! "The thing that will +destroy!" A bomb! God!</p> + +<p>For half an hour they argued with her, seeking to turn +her from the stand she had taken; protesting to the last +stage, cursing her for a sentimental fool. Then they +came to terms with her. Truxton King owed his life to +this strange girl who knew him not at all, but who believed +in him. He suffered intensely in the discovery +that she was, in the end, to lend herself to the commission +of the most heartless and diabolical of crimes—the +destruction of that innocent, well-worshipped boy of +Graustark.</p> + +<p>"You must be in love with this simple-minded American, +who comes—" Peter Brutus started to say at one +stage of the discussion, when the frail girl was battling +almost physically with her tormentors.</p> + +<p>"Stop! Peter Brutus, you shall not say that! You +know where my love lies! Don't say that to me again, +you beast!" she had cried, and Brutus was silenced.</p> + +<p>Truxton was brought into the room a few minutes later. +He was white with emotion as he faced the Committee of +Ten. Before a word could be addressed to him he +blurted out:</p> + +<p>"You damned cowards! Weak as I am, I would have +fought for you, Miss Platanova, if I could have got +through that door. Thank you for what you have done +to convince these dogs! I would to God I could save +you from this thing you are pledged to do. It is frightful! +I cannot think it of you! Give it up! All of +you, give this thing up! I will promise secrecy—I will +never betray what I have heard. Only don't do this awful +thing! Think of that dear little boy—"</p> + +<p>Olga Platanova cried out and covered her eyes with +her hands, murmuring the words "dear little boy" over +and over again. She was led from the room by William +Spantz. Peter Brutus stood over King, whose arms +were held by two stalwart men.</p> + +<p>"Enough!" he commanded. "We spare you, not for +her sake, but for the sake of the cause we serve. Hear +me: you are to be held here a prisoner until our plans are +consummated. You will be properly fed and cared for. +You have heard Miss Platanova say that she will cook +the food for you herself, but you are not to see her. Do +not seek to turn her from her purpose. That you cannot +do. She is pledged to it; it is irrevocable. We have +perhaps made a mistake in bringing you here: it would +have been far wiser to kill you in the beginning, +but—"</p> + +<p>King interrupted him. "I haven't the least doubt that +you will kill me in the end. She may not be here to +protect me after—after the assassination."</p> + +<p>"She is prepared to die by the same bomb that slays +the Prince," was all that Brutus would say in response +to this, but King observed the sly look that went round +amongst them. He knew then that they meant to kill +him in the end.</p> + +<p>Afterward, in his little room, he writhed in the agony +of helplessness. The Prince, his court, the government—all +were to be blasted to satisfy the end of this sickening +conspiracy. Loraine! She, too, was doomed! He +groaned aloud in his misery and awe.</p> + +<p>Food and water came after that, but he ate and drank +little, so depressed had he become. He sought for every +means of escape that suggested itself to him. The walls, +the floors, the doors, the stairway to the armourer's +shop—all were impassable, so carefully was he guarded. +From time to time he heard inklings of the plot which +was to culminate on the fatal 26th; he did not get the +details in particular, but he knew that the bomb was to +be hurled at the Prince near the entrance to the plaza +and that Marlanx's men were to sweep over the stricken +city almost before the echo died away.</p> + +<p>There was a telegraph instrument in the outer room. +He could hear it ticking off its messages day and night, +and could hear the discussion of reports as they came +in or went out. It soon became clear to him that the +wire connected the room with Marlanx's headquarters +near Balak in Axphain, a branch instrument being stationed +in the cave above the Witch's hut. He marvelled +at the completeness of the great conspiracy; and +marvelled more because it seemed to be absolutely unknown +to the omnipresent Dangloss.</p> + +<p>On his third night he heard the Committee discussing +the failure of one of Marlanx's most cunning schemes. +The news had come in over the wire and it created no +small amount of chagrin among the Red conspirators. +That one detail in their mighty plot should go contrary +to expectations seemed to disturb them immeasurably. +King was just beginning to realise the stupendous possibilities +of the plot; he listened for every detail with a +mind so fascinated by horror that it seemed hardly able +to grasp the seriousness of his own position.</p> + +<p>It seemed that Marlanx deemed it necessary—even imperative—to +the welfare of the movement, that John +Tullis should be disposed of summarily before the crucial +chapter in their operations. Truxton heard the +Committee discussing the fiasco that attended his first attempt +to draw the brainy, influential American out of +the arena. It was clear that Marlanx suspected Tullis +of a deep admiration for his wife, the Countess Ingomede; +he was prepared to play upon that admiration +for the success of his efforts. The Countess disappeared +on a recent night, leaving the court in extreme doubt as +to her fate. Later a decoy telegram was sent by a +Marlanx agent, informing Tullis that she had gone to +Schloss Marlanx, never to return, but so shrewdly +worded that he would believe that it had been sent by +coercion, and that she was actually a prisoner in the +hands of her own husband. Tullis was expected to follow +her to the Castle, bent on rescue. As a matter of +fact, the Countess was a prisoner in the hills near Balak, +spirited away from her own garden by audacious agents +of the Iron Count. Tullis was swift to fall into the +trap, but, to the confusion of the arch-plotter, he was +just as swift to avoid the consequences.</p> + +<p>He left Edelweiss with two secret service men, bound +for Schloss Marlanx. All unknown to him, a selected +company of cutthroats were in waiting for him on the +hills near the castle. To the amazement of the conspirators, +he suddenly retraced his tracks and came back to +Edelweiss inside of twenty-four hours, a telegram stopping +him at Gushna, a hundred miles down the line. The +message was from Dangloss and it was in cipher. A +trainman in the service of Marlanx could only say, in +explanation, that the American had smiled as he deciphered +the dispatch and at once left the carriage with +his men to await the up-train at six o'clock.</p> + +<p>Peter Brutus repeated a message he had just received +from Marlanx at Balak. It was to the effect that he had +reason to believe that his wife had managed, through +an unknown traitor, to send word to the Tower that she +was not at Schloss Marlanx, nor in any immediate +danger. He felt himself supported in this belief by the +obvious fact that no further efforts had been made by +Tullis or the police since that day. The authorities apparently +were inactive and Tullis was serenely secure +at the Royal Castle. The guard about the Prince, however, +had been largely increased.</p> + +<p>Tullis was known to be re-organising the Royal Guard, +supported by the ministry to a man, it was said; not +even the Duke of Perse opposed him.</p> + +<p>"The Count is more afraid of this man Tullis than of +all the rest," averred Peter Brutus. "He has reasons +to hate and fear the Americans. That is why he desires +the death of our prisoner. He has said, time and again, +over the wire that King will in some way escape and play +the deuce with our plans. It does not seem possible, +however. We have him absolutely secure, and Olga—well, +you know how she feels about it."</p> + +<p>"I don't see why he should be so disturbed by Tullis," +growled one of the men. "He has no real authority at +court and he is but one man against an unseen army that +will not strike until everything is ready. There can be +no—"</p> + +<p>"That is what I have said to my master, Julius, but +he will not be convinced. He says that he has had experience +with one American, Lorry, and he knows the +breed. Tullis has more power at court than the people +think. He is shrewd and strong and not to be caught +napping. As a matter of fact, the Count says, Tullis +has already scented danger in the air and has induced +the ministry to prepare for an uprising. Of course, he +cannot know of the dynamiting that is to open the way +to success, but it is true that if anybody can upset our +plans, it is this meddling American. He is a self-appointed +guardian of the Prince and he is not to be +sneered at. The regents are puppets, nothing more."</p> + +<p>Julius Spantz agreed with Brutus. "I know that the +guard is being strengthened and that certain precautions +are being taken to prevent the abduction of the +Prince. It is common rumour among the soldiers that +Count Marlanx will some day seek to overthrow the +government and take the throne. The air is full of +talk concerning this far-distant possibility. Thank God, +it is to be sooner than they think. If Tullis and General +Braze were given a month or two longer, I doubt if we +could succeed. The blow must catch them unprepared."</p> + +<p>"This is the 22d, Saturday is the 26th. They can +do nothing in four days," said one of the women.</p> + +<p>"Count Marlanx will be ready on the 26th. He has +said so. A new strike will be declared on the railroad +on the 25th and the strikers will be in the city with their +grievances. Saturday's celebration will bring men from +the mountains and the mines to town. A single blow, +and we have won." So spoke Brutus.</p> + +<p>"Then why all this fear of Tullis?" demanded Anna +Cromer.</p> + +<p>"It is not like the Iron Count," added Madame Drovnask +with a sneer.</p> + +<p>Olga Platanova had not spoken. She was not there to +talk. She was only to act on the 26th of July. She +was the means to an end.</p> + +<p>"Well, fear or no fear, the Count lies awake trying +to think of a way to entice him from the city before the +26th. It may be silly, madam, but Count Marlanx is +a wiser man than any of us here. He is not afraid of +Dangloss or Braze or Quinnox, but he is afraid of what +he calls 'American luck!' He is even superstitious +about it."</p> + +<p>"We must not—we cannot fail," grated William +Spantz, and the cry was reiterated by half a dozen +voices.</p> + +<p>"The world demands success of us!" cried Anna +Cromer. "We die for success, we die for failure! It is +all one!"</p> + +<p>The next morning, after a sleepless night, Truxton +King made his first determined attempt to escape. All +night long he had lain there thinking of the horrid +thing that was to happen on the black 26th. He counted +the days, the hours, the minutes. Morning brought the +23d. Only three days more! Oh, if he could but get +one word to John Tullis, the man Marlanx feared; if +he could only break away from these fiends long enough +to utter one cry of warning to the world, even with his +dying gasp!</p> + +<p>Marlanx feared the Americans! He even feared him, +a helpless captive! The thrill of exultation that ran +through his veins was but the genesis of an impulse that +mastered him later on.</p> + +<p>He knew that two armed men stood guard in the outer +room day and night. The door to the stairway leading +into the armourer's shop was of iron and heavily barred; +the door opening into the sewer was even more securely +bolted; besides, there was a great stone door at the foot +of the passage. The keys to these two doors were never +out of the possession of William Spantz; one of his +guards held the key to the stairway door. His only +chance lay in his ability to suddenly overpower two men +and make off by way of the armourer's shop.</p> + +<p>When his little door was opened on the morning of the +23d, Truxton King's long, powerful figure shot +through as if sped by a catapult. The man with the +candle and the knife went down like a beef, floored by a +blow on the jaw.</p> + +<p>The American, his eyes blazing with hope and +desperation, kept onward—to find himself face to face +with Olga Platanova!</p> + +<p>She was staring at him with frightened eyes, her lips +apart, her hands to her breast. The tableau was brief. +He could not strike her down. With a curse he was +turning to the man on the floor, eager to snatch the +keys from his belt. A scream from her drawn lips held +him; he whirled and looked into the now haggard face +of the girl he had considered beautiful. The penalty +for her crime was already written there. She was to die +in three days!</p> + +<p>"He has not the key!" she cried. "Nor have I. You +have no chance to escape. Go back! Go back! They +are coming!"</p> + +<p>A key rattled in the door. When it swung open, two +men stood in the aperture, both with drawn pistols. The +girl leaped between them and the helpless, defeated +American.</p> + +<p>"Remember!" she cried. "You are not to kill him!"</p> + +<p>Peter Brutus had risen from the floor, half dazed but +furious. He made a vicious leap at King, his knife ready +for the lunge.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad it's you," roared King, leaping aside. His +fist shot out and again Brutus went down. The men in +the doorway actually laughed.</p> + +<p>"A good blow, even if it avails you nothing," said one +of them drily. "He is not an especial favorite with us. +Return to your room at once. Miss Platanova, call your +uncle. It is now necessary to bind the fellow's hands. +They are too dangerous to be allowed to roam at large +in this fashion."</p> + +<p>All day long Truxton paced his little prison, bitterly +lamenting his ill-timed effort. Now he would be even +more carefully guarded. His hands were bound behind +his back; he was powerless. If he had only waited! +Luck had been against him. How was he to know that +the guard with the keys had gone upstairs when Olga +brought his breakfast down? It was fate.</p> + +<p>The 23d dragged itself into the past and the 24th +was following in the gloomy wake of its predecessors. +Two days more! He began to feel the approach of +madness! His own death was not far away. It would +follow that of the Prince and of Olga Platanova, his +friend. But he was not thinking of his own death; he +was thinking of the Prince's life!</p> + +<p>The atmosphere of suppressed excitement that characterised +the hushed gatherings in the outer room did not +fail to leave its impression upon him; he knew there was +murder in the hearts of these fanatics; he could feel the +strain that held their hitherto vehement lips to tense +whisperings and mutterings. He could distinguish the +difference between the footsteps of to-day and those of +yesterday; the tread was growing lighter, unconsciously +more stealthy with each passing hour.</p> + +<p>Forty-eight hours! That was all!</p> + +<p>Truxton found himself crying bitterly from time to +time; not because he was in terror but because he knew +of the thing that hourly drew nearer despite the fact +that he knew!</p> + +<p>Olga Platanova's voice was heard no more before the +Committee of Ten. Something told him that she was +being groomed and primed in an upstairs room! Primed +like a gun of war! He wondered if she could be praying +for courage to do the thing that had been set down for +her to do. Food now came irregularly to him. She was +no longer preparing it.</p> + +<p>She was making herself ready!</p> + +<p>Early that night, as he lay with his ear to the crack of +the door, he heard them discussing his own death. It +was to come as soon as Olga had gone to her reward! +She was not there to defend him. Spantz had said that +she was praying in her room, committing her soul to +God! Truxton King suddenly pricked up his ears, attracted +by a sentence that fell from the lips of one of the +men.</p> + +<p>"Tullis is on his way to the hills of Dawsbergen by +this time. He will be out of the way on the 26th safe +enough."</p> + +<p>"Count Marlanx was not to be satisfied until he had +found the means to draw him away from Edelweiss," +said another. "This time it will work like a charm. Late +this afternoon Tullis was making ready to lead a troop +of cavalry into the hills to effect a rescue. Sancta +Maria! That was a clever stroke! Not only does he +go himself, but with him goes a captain with one hundred +soldiers from the fort. Ha, ha! Marlanx is a +fox! A very exceptional fox!"</p> + +<p>Tullis off to the hills? With soldiers, to effect a +rescue! Truxton sat up, his brain whirling.</p> + +<p>"A wise fox!" agreed Peter Brutus, thickly. His lips +were terribly swollen from King's final blow. "Tullis +goes off chasing a jack-o'-lantern in the hills; Marlanx +sits by and laughs at the joke he's played. It is good! +Almost too good to be true. I wonder what our fine +prisoner will say to it when the new prisoner comes to +keep him company over the 26th."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII" />CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>A NEW PRISONER ARRIVES</h3> + + +<p>It was far past midnight when King was roused from +the doze into which he had fallen, exhausted and disconsolate, +an hour earlier. Sounds of unusual commotion +reached him from the outer room. Instantly he was +wide awake, breathing heavily in the sudden overpowering +fear that he had slept for many hours and that the +time had come for the conspirators to go forth. Was +it the 26th?</p> + +<p>Loud, quick commands came to his ears; the moving +of eager footsteps; the drawing of bolts.</p> + +<p>"They are here at last," he heard some one say. "God, +this suspense has been horrible. But they are here."</p> + +<p>"Stand ready, then, with the guns!" cried Peter +Brutus. "It may be a trick, after all. Don't open that +door down there, Spantz, until you know who is on the +outside."</p> + +<p>Then followed a long interval of dead silence.</p> + +<p>"It's all right," came at last in the relieved, eager +voice of Peter Brutus. "Clear the way, comrades. Give +them room! By our Holy Father, this is a brave triumph. +Ah!"</p> + +<p>Heavy footsteps clogged into the room, accompanied +by stertorous breathing and no small amount of grunting +from masculine throats. Doors were closed, bolts +shot, and then many voices let loose their flow of eager +exclamations. Not one, but three or four languages +were spoken by the excited, intense occupants of the +outer room; King could, make nothing of what they +said. Finally the sharp, incisive voice of William +Spantz broke through the babble, commanding silence.</p> + +<p>"Still unconscious," he said, when some measure of +order was secured.</p> + +<p>"Yes," grunted one of the men, evidently a newcomer. +"Since we left the house above the ramparts. No need +for gags or bonds, but we used them, just the same. +Now that we are here, what is to be done?"</p> + +<p>"We will have our instructions to-morrow. The Count +is to inform us before nightfall where she is to be removed +to. Next week she is to go to Schloss Marlanx." +Brutus inserted a cruel, heartless laugh, and then added: +"There she is to remain until he is quite ready to take her +to new apartments—in town. Trust the master to dispose +of her properly. He knows how to handle women +by this time."</p> + +<p>A woman, thought Truxton. The Countess! They +had brought her here from Balak, after all. What a +remorseless brute Marlanx must be to maltreat his beautiful +wife as—Truxton did not complete the angry reflection. +Words from the other side of the door checked +the train of thought.</p> + +<p>"To my mind, she is more beautiful than his own wife," +observed Anna Cromer. "She will be a fine morsel for +the Count, who has even cast longing eyes on so homely +a mortal as I."</p> + +<p>"All women are alike to him," said Spantz sententiously. +"I hope she is not to be left here for long. I +don't like women about at a time like this. No offence, +Madame Drovnask."</p> + +<p>"She'll go to-morrow night, I'm sure," said Peter. "I +told the Count we could not keep her here over the—over +the 26th. You see, there is a bare possibility that +none of us may ever come back after the bomb is hurled. +See? We don't want a woman to die of starvation down +here, in that event. I don't care what happens to the +man in there. But the Count does not want this one to +starve. Oh, no; not he."</p> + +<p>"We must put her in the room with the American for +the present. You are sure he will take her away before +Saturday? A woman's cries are most distressing." It +was Spantz who spoke.</p> + +<p>"I'll stop her crying," volunteered Anna Cromer +harshly.</p> + +<p>"I fancy you could, my dear," agreed Spantz. They +all laughed.</p> + +<p>"She's regaining her senses," exclaimed one of the +men. "Stand back, every one. Give her air."</p> + +<p>"Air?" cried Anna Cromer. "It's at a premium down +here, Raoul."</p> + +<p>Presently the door to King's room was thrown open. +He had got to his feet and was standing in the centre of +the room, his eyes blinking in the glare of light.</p> + +<p>"Holloh!" cried Peter Brutus, "you up, eh? We've +got a fair lady for you, my friend. Get back there, +you dog! Keep in your corner."</p> + +<p>Truxton faced the ugly crowd beyond the door for a +moment and then fell back to the corner to watch the +proceedings with wondering, pitying eyes.</p> + +<p>"You are a fine bunch of human beings," he blurted +out, savage with despair and rage. No one gave heed +to the compliment.</p> + +<p>A man with a lighted candle entered first, holding the +light above his head. He was followed by two others, +who supported the drooping, tottering figure of a +woman.</p> + +<p>"Let her sit there against the wall, Drago. Julius, +fetch in more candles. She must not be left in the dark. +<i>He</i> says she is not to be frightened to death. Women +are afraid of the dark—and strange dogs. Let there +be light," scoffed Peter Brutus, spitting toward King.</p> + +<p>"I'll get you for that some day," grated the American, +white with anger. Peter hesitated, then spat again and +laughed loudly.</p> + +<p>"Enough!" commanded William Spantz. "We are +not children." Turning to King he went on, a touch of +kindness in his voice: "Cheer her if you can. She is +one of your class. Do not let the lights go out."</p> + +<p>Raising his hands, he fairly drove the others from the +doorway. An instant later, King and his miserable, +half-conscious companion were alone, locked in together, +the fitful light from the candle on the floor playing hide +and seek in shadows he had not seen before during his +age of imprisonment.</p> + +<p>For a long time he stood in his corner, watching the +figure huddled against the opposite wall. Her face was +not plainly visible, her head having dropped forward +until the chin nestled in the lace jabot at her throat. A +mass of tangled hair fell across her eyes; her arms hung +limply at her sides; small, modish riding hoots showed +beneath the hem of her skin, forlorn in their irresoluteness. +Her garments were sadly bedraggled; a pathetic +breast rose and fell in choking sobs and gasps.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he started forward, his eyes wide and staring. +He had seen that grey riding habit before! He had seen +the hair!</p> + +<p>Two eager steps he took and then halted, half way. She +had heard him and was raising her eyes, bewildered and +wavering between dreamland and reality.</p> + +<p>"Great Jehovah!" he gasped, unbelieving. "You? My +God, is it you?"</p> + +<p>He dropped to his knees before her, peering into her +startled eyes. A look of abject terror crossed the tired, +tear-stained face. She shrank away from him, shivering, +whimpering like a cowed child.</p> + +<p>"What is it? Where am I?" she moaned. "Oh, let me +go! What have I done, that you should bring me here? +Let me go, Mr. King! You are not so wicked as—"</p> + +<p>"I? I bring you here?" he interrupted, aghast. Then +he understood. Utter dismay filled his eyes. "You +think that I have done this thing to you? God above +us! Look! I, too, am a prisoner here. I've been here +for days, weeks, years. They are going to kill me after +to-morrow. And you think that I have done this to +you!"</p> + +<p>"I don't know what—Oh, Mr. King, what does it all +mean? Forgive me! I see now. You are bound—you +are suffering—you are years older. I see now. But +why is it? What have you done? What have I done?"</p> + +<p>She was growing hysterical with terror.</p> + +<p>"Don't shrink from me," he urged. "Try to calm yourself. +Try to look upon me as a friend—as a possible +saviour. Lie quiet, do, for a little while. Think it all +out for yourself."</p> + +<p>He knelt there before her while she sobbed out the last +agony of alarm. There were no tears in her eyes; racking +sobs shook her slender body; every nerve was aquiver, +he could see. Patiently he waited, never taking his firm, +encouraging gaze from her face. She grew calmer, +more rational. Then, with the utmost gentleness, he +persuaded her to rise and walk about the little room with +him.</p> + +<p>"It will give you strength and courage," he urged. +"Poor little girl! Poor little girl!"</p> + +<p>She looked up into his face, a new light coming into +her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Don't talk now," he said softly. "Take your time. +Hold to my arm, please. There! In a little while you'll +be able to tell me all about it—and then we'll set about +to find a way to escape these devils. We'll laugh at +'em, after all."</p> + +<p>For five or ten minutes he led her back and forth across +the room, very tenderly. At first she was faint and uncertain; +then, as her strength and wits came back to her, +courage took the place of despair. She smiled wanly and +asked him to sit down with her.</p> + +<p>"A way to escape, you said," she murmured, as he +dropped to her side. "Where are we? What is it all +about?"</p> + +<p>"Not so loud," he cautioned. "I'll be perfectly candid +with you. You'll have to be very, very brave. But wait. +Perhaps it will be easier for you to tell me what has +happened to you, so far as you know. I can throw light +on the whole situation, I think. Tell me, please, in your +own way and time. We're in a sorry mess, and it looks +black, but, this much I can tell you: you are to be set +free in a few days, unharmed. You may rest easy. +That much is assured."</p> + +<p>"And you?" she whispered, clutching his arm tightly, +the swift thrill of relief dying almost as it was born. +"What of you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'll get out all right," he affirmed with a confidence +he did not feel. "I'm going to get you out of +this or die in the attempt. Sh! Don't oppose me," he +went on whimsically. "I've always wanted to be a hero, +and here's my chance. Now tell me what happened to +you."</p> + +<p>Her piquant, ever-sprightly face had lost the arrogance +that had troubled all his dreams of conquest. She +was pale and shivering and so sorely distressed that he +had it in his heart to clasp her in his arms as one might +do in trying to soothe a frightened child. Her face +grew cloudy with the effort to concentrate her thoughts; +a piteous frown settled upon her brow.</p> + +<p>"I'm not sure that I can recall everything. It is all +so terrible—so unaccountable. It's like a dream that +you try to remember and cannot. Finding you here +in this place is really the strangest part of it. I cannot +believe that I am awake."</p> + +<p>She looked long and anxiously into his face, her eyebrows +drawn together in an earnest squint of uncertainty. +"Oh, Mr. King, I have had such a dreadful—dreadful +time. Am I awake?"</p> + +<p>"That's what I've been asking of myself," he murmured. +"I guess we're both awake all right. Nightmares +don't last forever."</p> + +<p>Her story came haltingly; he was obliged to supply +many of the details by conjecture, she was so hazy and +vague in her memory.</p> + +<p>At the beginning of the narrative, however, Truxton +was raised to unusual heights; he felt such a thrill of +exaltation that for the moment he forgot his and her +immediate peril. In a perfectly matter-of-fact manner +she was informing him that her search for him had not +been abandoned until Baron Dangloss received a telegram +from Paris, stating that King was in a hospital +there, recovering from a wound in the head.</p> + +<p>"You can imagine what I thought when I saw you here +a little while, ago," she said, again looking hard at his +face as if to make sure. "We had looked everywhere +for you. You see, I was ashamed. That man from +Cook's told us that you were hurt by—by the way I +treated you the day before you disappeared, and—well, +he said you talked very foolishly about it."</p> + +<p>He drew a long breath. Somehow he was happier than +he had been before. "Hobbs is a dreadful ass," he +managed to say.</p> + +<p>It seems that the ministry was curiously disturbed by +the events attending the disappearance of the Countess +Ingomede. The deception practised upon John Tullis, +frustrated only by the receipt of a genuine message +from the Countess, was enough to convince the authorities +that something serious was afoot. It may have +meant no more than the assassination of Tullis at the +hands of a jealous husband; or it may have been a part +of the vast conspiracy which Dangloss now believed +to be in progress of development.</p> + +<p>"Development!" Truxton King had exclaimed at this +point in her narrative. "Good God, if Dangloss only +knew what I know!"</p> + +<p>There had been a second brief message from the Countess. +She admitted that she was with her husband at +the Axphain capital. This message came to Tullis and +was to the effect that she and the Count were leaving +almost immediately for a stay at Biarritz in France. +"Mr. King," said the narrator, "the Countess lied. They +did not go to Biarritz. I am convinced now that she is +in the plot with that vile old man. She may even expect +to reign in Graustark some day if his plans are carried +out. I saw Count Marlanx yesterday. He was in Graustark. +I knew him by the portrait that hangs in the +Duke of Perse's house—the portrait that Ingomede always +frowns at when I mention it to her. So, they did +not go to France."</p> + +<p>She was becoming excited. Her eyes flashed; she spoke +rapidly. On the morning of the 23d she had gone for +her gallop in the famous Ganlook road, attended by two +faithful grooms from the Royal stables.</p> + +<p>"I was in for a longer ride than usual," she said, with +sudden constraint. She looked away from her eager +listener. "I was nervous and had not slept the night +before. A girl never does, I suppose."</p> + +<p>He looked askance. "Yes?" he queried.</p> + +<p>She was blushing, he was sure of it. "I mean a girl is +always nervous and distrait after—after she has promised, +don't you see."</p> + +<p>"No, I don't see."</p> + +<p>"I had promised Count Vos Engo the night before that +I—Oh, but it really has nothing to do with the story. +I—"</p> + +<p>Truxton was actually glaring at her. "You mean that +you had promised to marry Count Vos Engo!" he stammered.</p> + +<p>"We will not discuss—"</p> + +<p>"But did you promise to be his wife? Is he the man +you love?" he insisted. She stared at him in surprise +and no little resentment.</p> + +<p>"I beg of you, Mr. King—" she began, but he interrupted +her.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me. I'm a fool. Don't mind me." He sank +back against the wall, the picture of dejection. "It +doesn't matter, anyway. I've got to die in a day or +two, so what's the odds?"</p> + +<p>"How very strangely you talk. Are you sure—I mean, +do you think it is fever? One suffers so—"</p> + +<p>He sighed deeply. "Well, that's over! Whew! It +was a dream, by Jove!"</p> + +<p>"I don't understand."</p> + +<p>"Please go on."</p> + +<p>She waited a moment and then, looking down, said +very gently: "I'm so sorry for you." He laughed, for +he thought she pitied him because he had awakened from +the dream.</p> + +<p>Then she resumed her story, not to be interrupted +again. He seemed to have lost all interest.</p> + +<p>She had gone six or eight miles down the Ganlook +road when she came up with five troopers of the Royal +Guard. It was a lonely spot at the junction of the King's +Highway and the road to the mines. One of the troopers +came forward and respectfully requested her to turn +off into the mine road until a detachment passed, in +charge of a gang of desperadoes taken at the Inn of +the Hawk and Raven the night before. Unsuspecting, +she rode off into the forest lane for several hundred +yards.</p> + +<p>It was a trap. The men were not troopers, but brigands +gotten up in the uniform of the guard. Once +away from the main highway, they made prisoners of +her and the two grooms. Then followed a long ride +through roads new to her. At noon they came to a halt +while the rascals changed their clothing, appearing in +their true garb, that of the mountaineer. Half dead +with dread, she heard them discussing their plans; they +spoke quite freely in the presence of the well-beaten +grooms, who were led to expect death before many +hours. It was the design of the bandits to make their +way to the almost impregnable fastnesses in the hills of +Dawsbergen, the wild principality to the south. There +they could hold her against all hope of rescue, until an +immense sum of money was paid over in ransom by her +dispairing friends.</p> + +<p>When night came they were high in the mountains +back of the Monastery, many hours ahead of any pursuit. +They became stupidly careless, and the two grooms +made a dash for freedom. One of them was killed, but +the other escaped. She was afterward to recall that no +effort was made to recapture him; they deliberately allowed +him to escape, their cunning purpose becoming +only too apparent later on.</p> + +<p>Instead of hurrying on to Dawsbergen, they dropped +swiftly down into the valley above the city. No secret +was made of the ruse they had employed to mislead the +prospective pursuers. The rescue party, they swore +joyously, would naturally be led by John Tullis; he +would go with all haste to the Dawsbergen hills. +The word of the trusty groom would be taken as +positive proof that the captive was in that country. +She shuddered as she listened to their exultant chuckles. +It had been a most cunningly conceived plan +and it promised to result profitably for them in the +end.</p> + +<p>Some time during the slow, torturing ride through the +forest she swooned. When she came to her senses she +was in a dimly lighted room, surrounded by men. The +gag had been removed from her mouth. She would +have shrieked out in her terror, had not her gaze rested +upon the figure of a man who sat opposite, his elbows on +the back of the chair which he straddled, his chin on his +arms. He was staring at her steadily, his black eyes +catching her gaze and holding it as a snake holds the +bird it has charmed.</p> + +<p>She recognised the hard, hawk-like face. There could +be no mistake. She was looking into the face that made +the portrait of the Iron Count so abhorrent to her: the +leathery head of a cadaver with eyes that lived. A portrait +of Voltaire, the likeness of a satyr, a suggestion of +Satan—all rushed up from memory's storehouse to hold +her attention rapt in contemplation of this sinister +figure.</p> + +<p>He smiled. It was like the crumpling of soft leather. +Then, with a word to one of the men, he abruptly left +the room. After that she broke down and cried herself +into the sleep of exhaustion.</p> + +<p>All the next day she sat limp and helpless in the chair +they had brought to her. She could neither eat nor drink. +Late in the afternoon Marlanx came again. She knew +not from whence he came: he stood before her suddenly, +as if produced by the magic of some fabled genie, smiling +blandly, his hands clasped behind his back, his attitude +one of lecherous calculation.</p> + +<p>Truxton King ground his teeth with rage and despair +while she was breathlessly repeating the suave compliments +that oozed from the lips of the tormentor.</p> + +<p>"He laughed when I demanded that he should restore +me to my friends. He chided me when I pleaded and +begged for mercy. My questions were never answered. +He only said that no harm was to come to me; I was +merely touching purgatory that I might better appreciate +paradise when I came to it. Oh, it was horrible! +I thought I would go mad. Finally I called him a beast; +I don't know what else I said. He merely smiled. Presently +he called one of the men into the room. He said +something about a sewer and a hole in the ground. Then +the man went out and I heard the clicking of a telegraph +instrument. I heard certain instructions. I was to be +taken to a certain place in the city at nightfall and kept +there until to-morrow night, when I am again to be removed +by way of the river. That is all I know. Where +am I, Mr. King? Oh, this dreadful place! Why are +we here—you and I?"</p> + +<p>King's heart throbbed fiercely one more. He was looking +straight into the piteous, wondering eyes; his gaze +fell to the parted, tremulous lips. A vast hunger possessed +his soul. In that moment he could have laid down +his life for her, with a smile of rejoicing.</p> + +<p>Then he told her why she was there, why he was there—and +of the 26th. The dreadful 26th!</p> + +<p>Her eyes grew wide with horror and understanding; +her bosom rose and fell rapidly with the sobs of suppressed +terror. At last he had finished his stupefying +tale; they sat side by side staring into each other's eyes, +helpless, stricken.</p> + +<p>"God in heaven!" she repeated over and over again, in +a piteous whisper.</p> + +<p>The candle flickered with feeble interest in the shadows +that began to grow in the farthest corner. The +girl drew closer to the side of the strong yet powerless +man. Their gaze went to the sputtering candle. It was +going out and they would be in utter darkness. And yet +neither thought of the supply of fresh candles in the +corner.</p> + +<p>King brought himself out of the strange lethargy with +a jerk. It was high time, for the light was going.</p> + +<p>"Quick!" he cried. "The candle! Light a fresh one. +My hands are bound."</p> + +<p>She crept to the candles and joined the wicks. A new +light grew as the old one died. Then she stood erect, +looking down upon him.</p> + +<p>"You are bound. I forgot."</p> + +<p>She started forward, dropping to her knees beside +him, an eager gleam in her eyes. "If I can untie the +rope—will that help? Can you do anything? You are +strong. There must be a way. There must be one little +chance for you—for us. Let me try."</p> + +<p>"By Jove," he whispered admiringly, his spirits leaping +to meet hers. "You've got pluck. You put new life in +me. I—I was almost a—a quitter."</p> + +<p>"You have been here so long," she explained quickly. +"And tied all these days." She was tugging at the knot.</p> + +<p>"Only since I gave that pleasant punch to Peter +Brutus."</p> + +<p>"That shows what you can do," she whispered warmly. +"Oh, I wonder! I wonder if we have a chance! Anyway, +your arms will be free. I shall feel safer if your +arms are free."</p> + +<p>He sat with his back to her while she struggled with +the stubborn knots. A delicious thrill of pleasure swept +over him. She had said she would feel safer if his arms +were free! She was struggling, with many a tense +straining of delicate fingers, to undo the bonds which +held him helpless. The touch of her eager fingers, the +closeness of her body, the warmth of her breathing—he +was beginning to hope that the effort might be prolonged +interminably.</p> + +<p>At last, after many despairing tugs, the knot relaxed. +"There!" she cried, sinking back exhausted. "Oh, how +it must have hurt you! Your wrists are raw!"</p> + +<p>He suppressed the tactless impulse to say that he preferred +a rope on the wrists to one about his neck, +realising that the jest could only shock and not amuse +her under the present conditions.</p> + +<p>His arms were stiff and sore and hung like lead at his +sides. She watched him, with narrowed eyes, while he +stood off and tried to work blood and strength back into +his muscles.</p> + +<p>"Do you think you can—can do anything now, Mr. +King?" she asked, after a long interval.</p> + +<p>He would not tell her how helpless he was, even with +his hands free. So he smiled bravely and sought to reassure +her with the most imposing boasts he could utter. +She began to breathe easier; the light in her eyes grew +brighter, more hopeful.</p> + +<p>"We must escape," she said, as if it were all settled.</p> + +<p>"It cannot be to-night," he gently informed her, a +sickness attacking her heart. "Don't you think you'd +better try to get some sleep?"</p> + +<p>He prevailed upon her to lie down, with his coat for a +pillow. In two minutes she was asleep.</p> + +<p>For an hour or more he sat there, looking sorrowfully +at the tired, sweet face, the utmost despair in his soul. +At last he stretched himself out on the floor, near the +door, and as he went to sleep he prayed that Providence +might open a way for him to prove that she was not +depending on him in vain.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII" />CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>A DIVINITY SHAPES</h3> + + +<p>It was pitch dark when he awoke.</p> + +<p>"By heaven, it was a dream, after all," he murmured. +"Well, thank God for that. She isn't in this damnable +hole. And," with a quickening of the blood, "she hasn't +said she was going to marry Vos Engo."</p> + +<p>The sound of light breathing came to his ears. He sat +up. His hands were free. It had not been a dream. She +<i>was</i> lying over there asleep. The candle had burnt itself +out, that was all. He crept softly across the floor; in +the darkness he found her, and touched the garments +she wore—and drew back enthralled. A strange joy +filled him; she was his for the time being. They were +equals in this direful, unlovely place; royal prejudice +stood for nothing here. The mad desire to pick her up +in his arms and hold her close came over him—only to +perish as quickly as it flamed. What was he thinking +of?</p> + +<p>She stirred restlessly as he crept back to the door. The +sharp, quick intake of her breath told him that she was +awake. He stopped and utter silence fell upon the room.</p> + +<p>A little moan escaped her lips: "Who is it? Why is +it so dark? What—"</p> + +<p>"It is I," he whispered eagerly. "King. Don't be +afraid. The candle burnt out while we were asleep. I +did not intend to sleep. I'm sorry. We can't have a +light now until some one comes in the morning. Don't +be afraid."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid. Where are you?"</p> + +<p>"Here!" He hastened to her side. As he came up she +touched his face with her hand timorously. He caught +the wayward fingers in his own and held them, drawing +quite close to her. "It's all right," he said.</p> + +<p>"Will they come soon?"</p> + +<p>"I hope not—I mean, yes; it must be morning."</p> + +<p>"I loathe the dark," she sighed. Presently her head +dropped over against his shoulder and she was asleep +again.</p> + +<p>"I don't give a damn if they never come," thought +Truxton King, intoxicated with bliss.</p> + +<p>Afraid to move for fear of disturbing her, he sat there +for an hour or more his back twisted and uncomfortable, +but never so resolute. He would not have moved +for all the world.</p> + +<p>All this time his brain was working like mad in the +new-found desire to perform miracles for the sake of +this lovely, unattainable creature. Was there no way +to foil these triumphant conspirators? He was forgetting +the Prince, the horrors of the 26th; he was thinking +only of saving this girl from the fate that Marlanx +had in store for her. Vos Engo may have had the +promise, but what could it profit him if Marlanx had the +girl?</p> + +<p>"I've got about as much chance as a snowball," he reflected, +courage and decision growing stronger each moment. +"I might just as well die one way as another. If +I could only catch 'em napping for a minute, I might +turn the trick. God, that would be—" he was lost in +ecstatic contemplation of the glory that such an event +would bring.</p> + +<p>Footsteps in the outer room recalled him to the bitter +reality of their position. He awoke her and whispered +words of encouragement into her bewildered ears. Then +he put on his coat and threw himself on the floor, first +wrapping the rope about his wrists to deceive the +guard.</p> + +<p>A key turned in the padlock and the bolt was raised. +Old man Spantz stood in the doorway, peering in at +them. In surly tones Truxton replied to his sharp +query, saying that the candle had gone out while he +slept.</p> + +<p>"It is noon," said the old man irascibly. Then he came +in and lighted a candle.</p> + +<p>"Noon of the 25th," said Truxton bitterly. "In +twenty-four hours it will be all over, eh, Spantz?"</p> + +<p>"At noon to-morrow," said Spantz grimly.</p> + +<p>There were half a dozen men in the outer room, conversing +in low, excited tones; the fervent gesticulations +which usually marked their discussions were missing, +proving the constraint that had descended upon them. +One of them—it was Julius Spantz—brought in the +food for the prisoners, setting it on the floor between +them.</p> + +<p>"It is usually the duty of our friend Julius to feed +me," observed Truxton to his fellow-prisoner. "I dare +say he won't mind if you relieve him of the task."</p> + +<p>"She can feed you if she likes," growled Julius.</p> + +<p>"Julius?" queried the girl from the Castle, peering at +the man. "Not Julius Spantz, of the armoury?"</p> + +<p>"The same," said Truxton. Julius laughed awkwardly +and withdrew. "Son of our distinguished host here. +Permit me to present Herr William—"</p> + +<p>"Enough," snarled William Spantz, with a threatening +movement toward King. His manner changed completely, +however, when he turned to address the young +lady. "I beg to inform you, madam, that your stay in +this unwholesome place is to be brief. Pray endure it +for the remainder of this day. To-night you will be +removed to more pleasant quarters, that a friend has +prepared for you. I may say to you, however, that it +will he necessary to place a gag in your mouth before +you depart. This is to be a critical night in our affairs." +He lifted an inspired gaze heavenward. "Let me assure +you, madam, that the two gentlemen who are to conduct +you to the Count's—to your new quarters, are considerate, +kindly men; you need feel no further alarm. I am +requested to tell you this, so that you may rest easy for +the balance of the day. As for you, my friend," turning +to Truxton and smiling ironically, "I deeply deplore +the fact that you are to remain. You may be lonesome in +the dead hours, for, as you may imagine, we, your dearest +friends, will be off about a certain business that is known +to you, if I mistake not in believing that you have +listened at the door these many nights. When we next +gather in the room beyond, a new dispensation will have +begun. You may be interested then to hear what we +have to say—out there."</p> + +<p>Truxton was silent for a moment, a sudden, swift +thought flooding his brain. Controlling the quiver of +anticipation in his voice, he took occasion to say:</p> + +<p>"I only hope you'll not forget to come back. I should +be lonesome, Spantz."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we'll not forget you."</p> + +<p>"I suppose not. By the way, would you mind telling +me what has become of your niece?"</p> + +<p>Spantz glared at him. "She does not meet with us +now. My niece is consecrating her every thought to +the task that lies before her. You will not see her again."</p> + +<p>"It's an infernal shame, that's what it is," exclaimed +King, "to put it all upon that poor girl! God, I'd give +ten years of my life to lead her out of this devil's mess. +She's too good for—for that. It's—"</p> + +<p>"She will be out of it, as you say, to-morrow, my +excellent Samaritan. She knows." There could be no +mistake as to the meaning of the prophetic words.</p> + +<p>With a profound bow to the lady and a leer for King, +he departed, bolting the door behind him. Instantly +King was at her side.</p> + +<p>"An idea has come to me," he whispered eagerly. "I +think I see a way. By George, if it should only happen +as I hope it may!"</p> + +<p>"Tell me!" she insisted.</p> + +<p>"Not now. I must think it all out carefully. It won't +do to get your hopes up and then fail."</p> + +<p>Whatever the thought was that had come to him, it +certainly had put new life and hope into him. She nibbled +at the unwholesome food, never removing her eyes +from his tall, restless figure as he paced the floor, his +brows knit in thought. Finally he sat down beside her, +calmly helping himself to a huge slice of bread and a +boiled carrot.</p> + +<p>"I've never liked carrots before. I love 'em now. I'm +taking them for my complexion."</p> + +<p>"Don't jest, Mr. King. What is it you intend to do? +Please tell me. I must know. You heard what he said +about taking me to the Count's. He meant Marlanx. +I will die first."</p> + +<p>"No. I will die first. By the way, I may as well tell +you that I wasn't thinking altogether of how we are to +escape. There was something else on my mind." He +stopped and looked at her puzzled face. "Why should +I save you from Marlanx just to have you hurry off +and get married to Vos Engo? It's a mean thought, I +know," hastily, "and unworthy of a typical hero, but, +just the same, I hate to think of you marrying some +one—else."</p> + +<p>"Some one else?" she questioned, a pucker on her forehead.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know I wouldn't have a ghost of a chance, even +if there wasn't a Vos Engo. It isn't that," he explained. +"I recognise the—er—difference in our stations +and—"</p> + +<p>"Are you crazy, Mr. King?"</p> + +<p>"Not now. I was a bit touched, I think, but I'm over +it now. I dare say it was caused by excessive reading +of improbable romances. Life rather takes it out of a +fellow, don't you know. It's all simple enough in books, +but in—"</p> + +<p>"What has all this got to do with your plan to escape?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing at all. It merely has to do with my ambition +to become a true hero. You see, I'm an amateur hero. +Of course, this is good practice for me; in time, I may +become an expert and have no difficulty in winning a +duchess or even a princess. Don't misunderstand me. +I intend to do all I can toward rescuing you to-night. +The point I'm trying to get at is this: don't you think +it's pretty rough on a hero to save the girl for some +other fellow to snap up and marry?"</p> + +<p>"I think I begin to see," she said, a touch of pink +coming into her cheeks.</p> + +<p>"That's encouraging," he said, staring gloomily at the +food he had put aside. "You are quite sure you +promised Vos Engo that you'd marry him?"</p> + +<p>"No. I did not promise him that I'd marry him," she +said, leaning back and surveying him between narrowed +lids.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon. You said you had promised—"</p> + +<p>"You did not allow me time to finish. I meant to say +that I had promised to let him know in a day or two. +That is all, Mr. King." There was a suspicious tremor +in her voice and her gaze wavered beneath his unbelieving +stare.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" he demanded. "You—you don't mean +to say that—Oh, Lord! I wonder! I wonder if I have +a chance—just a ghost of a chance?" He leaned very +close, incredulous, fascinated. "What is it that you +are going to let him know? Yes or no?"</p> + +<p>"That was the question I was considering when the +brigands caught me," she answered, meeting his gaze +fairly. "I haven't thought of it since."</p> + +<p>"Of course, he is in your own class," said Truxton +glumly.</p> + +<p>She hesitated an instant, her face growing very serious. +"Mr. King, has no one told you my name—who I am?" +she asked.</p> + +<p>"You are the Prince's aunt, that's all I know."</p> + +<p>"No more his aunt in reality than Jack Tullis is his +uncle. I thought you understood."</p> + +<p>"Who are you, then?"</p> + +<p>"I am Jack Tullis's sister, a New Yorker bred and +born, and I live not more than two blocks from +your—"</p> + +<p>"For the love of—" he began blankly; then words +failed him, which was just as well. He gulped twice, +joy or unbelief choking him. The smile that crept into +her face dazzled him; he stared at her in speechless +amazement. "Then—then, you are not a duchess or +a—" he began again.</p> + +<p>"Not at all. A very plain New Yorker," she said, +laughing aloud in sudden hysteria. For some reason she +drew quickly away from him. "You are not disappointed, +are you? Does it spoil your romance to—"</p> + +<p>"Spoil it? Disappointed? No! By George, I—I +can't believe that any such luck—no, no, I don't mean it +just that way! Let me think it out. Let me get it +through my head." He leaned back against the wall +and devoured her with eager, disturbing eyes. "You are +Tullis's sister? You live near—Oh, I say, this is glorious!" +He arose and took a turn about the room. In +some nervousness and uncertainty she also came to her +feet, watching him wonderingly. He hurried back to +her, a new light in his eyes. She was very desirable, +this slender, uncertain person in the crumpled grey.</p> + +<p>"Miss Tullis," he said, a thrill in his voice, "you are +a princess, just the same. I never was so happy in my +life as I am this minute. It isn't so black as it was. I +thought I couldn't win you because you—"</p> + +<p>"Win me?" she gasped, her lips parted in wonder.</p> + +<p>"Precisely. Now I'm looking at it differently. I +don't mind telling you that I'm in love with you—desperately +in love. It's been so with me ever since that +day in the Park. I loved you as a duchess or a princess, +and without hope. Now, I—I—well, I'm going to +hope. Perhaps Vos Engo has the better of me just now, +but I'm in the lists with him—with all of them. If I +get you out of this place—and myself as well—I want +you to understand that from this very minute I am +trying to win you if it lies in the power of any American +to win a girl who has suitors among the nobility. Will—will +you give me a chance—just a ghost of a chance? +I'll try to do the rest."</p> + +<p>"Are—are you really in earnest?" she murmured, composure +flying to the winds.</p> + +<p>"Yes; terribly so," he said gently. "I mean every word +of it. I do love you."</p> + +<p>"I—I cannot talk about it now, Mr. King," she fluttered, +moving away from him in a sudden panic. Presently +he went over to her. She was standing near the +candle, staring down at the flame with a strangely preoccupied +expression in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me," he said. "I was hasty, inconsiderate. I—"</p> + +<p>"You quite took my breath away," she panted, looking +up at him with a queer little smile.</p> + +<p>"I know," he murmured.</p> + +<p>Her troubled gaze resumed its sober contemplation of +the flame.</p> + +<p>"How was I to tell—" she began, but checked herself. +"Please, Mr. King, you won't say anything more to me +about—about it,—just now, will you? Shall we talk +of our plans for to-night? Tell me about them."</p> + +<p>He lowered his eyes, suddenly disheartened. "I only +ask you to believe that I am desperately in earnest."</p> + +<p>"I cannot comprehend how—I mean, it is so very wonderful. +You don't think me unappreciative, or mean, +do you?"</p> + +<p>"Of course not. You are startled, that's all. I'm a +blundering fool. Still, you must agree that I was +frightfully bowled over when I found that you were not +what I thought. I couldn't hold back, that's all. By +Jove, isn't it wonderful? Here I've been looking all +over the world for you, only to find that you've been +living around the corner from me all these years! It's +positively staggering! Why," with a sudden burst of +his unquenchable buoyancy, "we might have been married +two years ago and saved all this trouble. Just think +of it!"</p> + +<p>She smiled. "I do like you," she said warmly, giving +him her hand. He kissed it gallantly and stepped back—resolutely.</p> + +<p>"That's something," he said with his humblest, most +conquering smile.</p> + +<p>"You won't leave me to my fate because you think I'm +going to marry—some one else?"</p> + +<p>He grew very sober. "Miss Tullis, you and I have one +chance in a thousand. You may as well know the truth."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I can't bear the thought of that dreadful old +man," she cried, abject distress in her eyes.</p> + +<p>He gritted his teeth and turned away. She went back +to the corner, dully rearranging the coat he had given +her for comfort. She handled it with a tenderness that +would have astonished the garment had it been capable +of understanding. For a long time she watched him in +silence as he paced to and fro like a caged lion. Twice +she heard him mutter: "An American girl—good +Lord," and she found herself smiling to herself—the +strange, vagrant smile that comes of wonder and self-gratification.</p> + +<p>Late in the afternoon—long hours in which they had +spoken to each other with curious infrequency, each +a prey to sombre thoughts—their door was unlocked +and Anna Cromer appeared before them, accompanied +by two of the men. Crisply she commanded the girl to +come forth; she wanted to talk with her.</p> + +<p>She was in the outer room for the better part of an +hour, listening to Anna Cromer and Madame Drovnask, +who dinned the praises of the great Count Marlanx into +her ears until she was ready to scream. They bathed +the girl's face and brushed her hair and freshened her +garments. It occurred to her that she was being prepared +for a visit of the redoubtable Marlanx himself, +and put the question plainly.</p> + +<p>"No," said Anna Cromer. "He's not coming here. +You are going to him. He will not be Count Marlanx +after to-morrow, but Citizen Marlanx—one of the +people, one of us. Ah, he is a big man to do this."</p> + +<p>Little did they know Marlanx!</p> + +<p>"Julius and Peter will come for you to-night," said +Madame Drovnask, with an evil, suggestive smile. "We +will not be here to say farewell, but, my dear, you will +be one of us before—well, before many days have +passed."</p> + +<p>Truxton was beginning to tremble with the fear that +she would not be returned to their room, when the door +was opened and she came in—most gladly, he could see. +The two women bade him a cool, unmistakable <i>Good-bye</i>, +and left him in charge of the men who had just come +down from the shop above.</p> + +<p>For half an hour Peter Brutus taunted him. It was +all he could do to keep his hands wrapped in the rope +behind his back; he was thankful when they returned +him to his cell. The time was not ripe for the dash he +was now determined to make.</p> + +<p>"Get a little nap, if you can," he said to Loraine, when +the door was locked behind him. "It won't be long before +something happens. I've got a plan. You'll have +your part to play. God grant that it may work out +well for us. You—you might pray if—if—"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I <i>can</i> pray," she said simply. "I'll do my part, +Mr. King."</p> + +<p>He waited a moment. "We've been neighbours in New +York for years," he said. "Would you mind calling me +Truxton,—and for Adele's sake, too?"</p> + +<p>"It isn't hard to do, Truxton."</p> + +<p>"Good!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>She rebelled at the mere thought of sleep, but, unfastening +her collar and removing the jabot, she made +herself a comfortable cushion of his coat and sat back +in her corner, strangely confident that this strong, eager +American would deliver her from the Philistines—this +fighting American with the ten days' growth of beard +on his erstwhile merry face.</p> + +<p>Sometime in the tense, suffocating hours of the night +they heard the sounds of many footsteps shuffling about +the outer room; there were hoarse, guttural, subdued +good-byes and well-wishes, the creaking of heavy doors +and the dropping of bolts. Eventually King, who had +been listening alertly, realised that but two of the men +remained in the room—Peter Brutus and Julius Spantz.</p> + +<p>An hour crept by, and another, seemingly interminable +King was fairly groaning under the suspense. The +time was slowly, too slowly approaching when he was +to attempt the most desperate act in all this sanguinary +tragedy—the last act for him, no doubt, but the one +in which he was to see himself glorified.</p> + +<p>There remained the chance—the slim chance that only +Providence considers. He had prayed for strength and +cunning; she had prayed for divine intervention. But, +after all, Luck was to be the referee.</p> + +<p>He had told her of his plan; she knew the part she was +to play. And if all went well—ah, then! He took a +strange lesson in the language of Graustark: one sentence, +that was all. She had whispered the translation +to him and he had grimly repeated it, over and over +again. "She has fainted, damn her!" It was to be their +"Open Sesame"—if all went well!</p> + +<p>Suddenly he started to his feet, his jaws set, his eyes +gleaming. The telegraph instrument was clicking in +the outer room!</p> + +<p>He had wrapped his handkerchief about his big right +hand, producing a sort of cushion to deaden the sound +of a blow with the fist and to protect his knuckles; for +all his strength was to go into that one mighty blow. If +both men came into the room, his chance was smaller; +but, in either event, the first blow was to be a mighty +one.</p> + +<p>Taking his position near the girl, who was crouching +in real dismay, he leaned against the wall, his hands behind +him, every muscle strained and taut.</p> + +<p>The door opened and Julius Spantz, bewhiskered and +awkward, entered. He wore a raincoat and storm hat, +and carried a rope in one of his hands. He stopped just +inside the door to survey the picture.</p> + +<p>"Time you were asleep," he said stupidly, addressing +King.</p> + +<p>"I'd put you to sleep, Julius, if Miss Tullis could have +managed to untie these infernal bonds," said Truxton, +with pleasant daring.</p> + +<p>"I don't tie lovers' knots," grinned Julius, pleased with +his own wit. "Come, madam, I must ask you to stand +up. Will you put your own handkerchief in your mouth, +or must I use force—ah, that's good! I'm sorry, but +I must wrap this cloth about—"</p> + +<p>He did not complete the sentence, for he had come +within range. The whole weight of Truxton King's +body was behind the terrific blow that landed on the +man's jaw. Loraine suppressed the scream that rose to +her white lips. Julius Spantz's knees crumpled; he +lunged against the wall and was sliding down when King +caught him in his arms. The man was stunned beyond +all power of immediate action. It was the work of an +instant to snatch the revolver from his coat pocket.</p> + +<p>"Guard the door!" whispered King to the girl, pressing +the revolver into her hand. "And shoot if you have +to!"</p> + +<p>A handkerchief was stuffed into the unconscious man's +mouth; the long coat and boots were jerked from his +limp body before his hands and feet were bound with the +rope he carried; the bushy whiskers and wig were removed +from his head and transferred in a flash to that +of the American. Then the boots, coat and hat found +a new wearer.</p> + +<p>Peter Brutus was standing in the stairway, leading to +the sewer, listening eagerly for sounds from either side.</p> + +<p>"Hurry up, Julius," he called imperatively. "They +are below with the boat. They have given the signal."</p> + +<p>The new Julius uttered a single sentence; that was all. +If Peter heard the noise attending the disposal of his +comrade, he was justified in believing that the girl had +offered some resistance. When a tall, grunting man +emerged from the inner room, bearing the limp figure +of a girl in a frayed raincoat, he did not wait to ask +questions, but rushed over and locked the cell-door. Then +he led the way down the narrow stairway, lighting the +passage with a candle. His only reply to King's guttural +remark in the Graustark language was:</p> + +<p>"Don't speak, you fool! Not a word until we reach +the river."</p> + +<p>Down the steps they went to the opening in the wall of +the sewer. There, before the bolts were drawn by Brutus, +a series of raps were exchanged by men outside and +the one who held the keys within.</p> + +<p>A moment later, the girl was being lowered through the +hole into rough, eager arms. Brutus and his companion +dropped through, the secret block of masonry +was closed, and off through the shallow waters of the +sewer glided the party riverward in the noiseless boat +that had come up to ferry them.</p> + +<p>There were three men in the boat, not counting Truxton +King.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV" />CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>ON THE RIVER</h3> + + +<p>No word was spoken during this cautious, extraordinary +voyage underground. The boat drifted slowly through +the narrow channel, unlighted and practically unguided. +Two of the men sat at the rowlocks, but the oars rested +idly in the boat. With their hands they kept the craft +from scraping against the walls.</p> + +<p>The pseudo-Julius supported his charge in the stern +of the boat; Peter Brutus sat in the bow, a revolver in +his hand, his gaze bent upon the opaqueness ahead. A +whispered word of encouragement now and then passed +from the lips of the hopeful American into the ear of the +almost pulseless girl, who lay up against his knee.</p> + +<p>"We'll do it—sure!" he whispered once, ever so softly.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she scarcely, breathed, but he heard and was +thrilled. The rope had dropped from her arms; she +had taken the handkerchief from her mouth at his whispered +command.</p> + +<p>At last the boat crept out into the rainy, starless night. +He drew the skirts of his own mackintosh over her +shoulders and head. A subdued command came from the +man in the bow; the oars slipped into the deep, black +waters of the river; without a splash or a perceptible +sound the little craft scudded toward midstream. The +night was so inky black that one could not see his hand +before his face.</p> + +<p>At least two of the occupants opened up their throats +and lungs and gulped in the wet, fresh air. Never had +anything been so glorious to Truxton King as these first +tremendous inhalations of pure, free air. She felt his +muscles expand; his whole body grew stronger and more +vital. Her heart was pounding violently against his +leg; he could feel its throbs, he could hear the quick, +eager panting of her breath.</p> + +<p>It was now that he began to wonder, to calculate +against the plans of their silent escort. Whither were +they bound? When would his chance come to strike +the final, surprising blow? Only the greatest effort at +self-control kept him from ruining everything by premature +action; his exultation was getting the better of +him. Coolness and patience were greater assets now +than strength and daring.</p> + +<p>The boat turned in mid-stream and shot swiftly up the +river, past the black fortress with its scattered sentry +lights, where slept a garrison in sweet ignorance of the +tragedy that was to come upon them when the sun was +high. The lights of the city itself soon peeped down +into the rain-swept waters; music from the distant cafés +came faintly to the ears of the midnight voyagers. A +safe haven at their very elbows, and yet unattainable.</p> + +<p>The occasional creak of an oar, a whispered oath of +dismay, the heavy breathing of toilers, the soft blowing +of the mist-that was all; no other sound on the broad, +still river. It was, indeed, a night fit for the undertaking +at hand.</p> + +<p>Truxton began to chafe under the strain. His uneasiness +was increased by the certain conviction that before +long they would be beyond the city, the walls of +which were gradually slipping past He could not even +so much as guess at their destination. There was also +the likelihood of encountering reinforcements, sent out +to meet the boatmen, or for protection at the time of +landing. A hundred doubts and misgivings assailed +him. To suddenly open fire on the rascals went against +the grain. A dashing, running fight on shore was more +to his liking. An ill-timed move would foil them even as +success was in their grasp.</p> + +<p>He considered their chances if he were to overturn the +frail boat and strike out for shore in the darkness. This +project he gave up at once: he did not know the waters +nor the banks between which they glided. They were +past the walls now and rowing less stealthily. Before +long they would be in a position to speak aloud; it +would be awkward for him. The situation was rapidly +growing more and more desperate; the time was near at +hand when the final effort would have to be exerted. He +slipped the revolver from his pocket; somehow he was +unable to keep his teeth from chattering; but it was +through excitement, not fear.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the boat turned to the right and shot toward +the unseen bank. They were perhaps half a mile above +the city wall. Truxton's mind was working like a trip-hammer. +He was recalling a certain nomad settlement +north of the city, the quarters of fishermen, poachers and +horse-traders: a squalid, unclean community that lay +under the walls between the northern gates and the +river. These people, he was not slow to surmise, were +undoubtedly hand in glove with Marlanx, if not so +surely connected with the misguided Committee of Ten. +This being the eve of the great uprising, it was not +unlikely that a secret host lay here awake and ready for +the foul observance of the coming holiday; here, at +least, chafed an eager, vicious, law-hating community +of mendicants and outcasts.</p> + +<p>He had little time to speculate on the attitude of the +denizens of this unwholesome place. The prow of the +boat grated on the pebbly bank, and Peter Brutus +leaped over the edge into the shallow water.</p> + +<p>"Come on, Julius—hand her over to me!" he cried, +making his way to the stern.</p> + +<p>As he leaned over the side to seize the girl in his arms, +Truxton King brought the butt of the heavy revolver +down upon his skull. Brutus dropped across the gunwale +with a groan, dead to all that was to happen in the +next half hour or more.</p> + +<p>King was anxious to avoid the hullaballoo that shooting +was sure to create on shore. Action had been forced +upon him rather precipitously, but he was ready. Leaning +forward, he had the two amazed oarsmen covered +with the weapon.</p> + +<p>"Hands up! Quick!" he cried. Two pairs of hands +went up, together with strange oaths. Truxton's eyes +had grown used to the darkness; he could see the men +quite plainly. "What are you doing?" he demanded of +Loraine, who, behind him, was fumbling in the garments +of the unconscious Brutus.</p> + +<p>"Getting his revolver," she replied, with a quaver in +her voice.</p> + +<p>"Good!" he said exultantly. "Let's think a minute," +he went on. "We don't dare turn these fellows loose, +even if we disarm them. They'll have a crowd after us +in two minutes." Still, keeping the men covered, he +cudgelled his brain for the means of disposing of them. +"I have it. We must disarm them, tie them up and set +'em adrift. Do you mind getting out into the water? +It's ankle deep, that's all. I'll keep them covered while +you take their guns."</p> + +<p>"Nice way to treat a friend," growled one of the men.</p> + +<p>"A friend? By George, it's my Newport acquaintance. +Well, this is a pleasure! I suppose you know that I'll +shoot if you resist. Better take it quietly."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you'll shoot, all right," said the other. "I told +them damn fools that a Yankee'd get the better of 'em, +even if they ran a steam roller over him two or three +times. Say, you're a pippin! I'd like to take off my +hat to you."</p> + +<p>"Don't bother. I acknowledge the tribute."</p> + +<p>Loraine Tullis was in the water by this time. With +nervous haste she obeyed King's instructions; the big +revolvers were passed back to him.</p> + +<p>"I've changed my mind," said Truxton' suddenly. +"We'll keep the boat. Get in, Miss Tullis. There! +Now, push off, Newport."</p> + +<p>"What the devil—" began Newport, but King silenced +him. The boat slowly drifted out into the current.</p> + +<p>"Now, row!" he commanded. With his free hand he +reached back and dragged the limp Brutus into the +boat. "'Gad, I believe he's dead," he muttered.</p> + +<p>For five minutes the surly oarsmen pulled away, headed +in the direction from which they came.</p> + +<p>"Can you swim?" demanded King.</p> + +<p>"Not a stroke," gasped Newport. "Good Lord, pal, +you're not going to dump us overboard. It's ten feet +deep along here."</p> + +<p>"Pull on your left, hard. That's right. I'm going +to land you on the opposite shore-and then bid you a +cheerful good-night."</p> + +<p>Two minutes later they ran up under the western bank +of the stream, which at this point was fully three hundred +yards wide. The nearest bridge was a mile and a +half away and habitations were scarce, as he well knew. +Under cover of the deadly revolver, the two men dropped +into the water, which was above their waists; the limp +form of Peter Brutus was pulled out and transferred to +the shoulders of his companions.</p> + +<p>"Good-night," called out Truxton King cheerily. He +had grasped the oars; the little boat leaped off into the +night, leaving the cursing desperadoes waist-deep in the +chilly waters.</p> + +<p>"See you later," sang out Newport, with sudden +humour.</p> + +<p>"We'll go south," said Truxton King to the girl who +sat in the stern, clutching the sides of the boat with +tense fingers. "I don't know just where we'll land, but +it won't be up in Devil's Patch, you may rest assured of +that. Pardon me if I do not indulge in small talk and +bonmots; I'm going to be otherwise employed for some +time, Miss Tullis. Do you know the river very well?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all," she replied. "I only know that the barge +docks are below here somewhere. I'm sure we can get +into the city if we can find the docks. Let me take the +oars, too, Mr. King. I can row."</p> + +<p>"No. Please sit where you are and keep your eyes +ahead. Can you see where we're going?"</p> + +<p>"I can see the lights. We're in mid-stream, I think. +It's so very dark and the wind is coming up in a gale. +It's—it's going to storm. Don't you think we'd better +try for a landing along the walls? They say the river is +very treacherous." She was trembling like a leaf.</p> + +<p>"I'll row over to the east side, but I don't like to get +too close to the walls. Some one may have heard the +shouts of our friends back there."</p> + +<p>Not another word passed between them for ten or +twelve minutes. She peered anxiously ahead, looking for +signs of the barge dock, which lay somewhere along this +section of the city wall. In time, of course, the marooned +desperadoes might be expected to find a way to +pursue them, or, at least, to alarm watchful confederates +on the city side of the river. It was a tense, anxious +quarter of an hour for the liberated pair. So near to +absolute safety, and yet so utterly in the dark as to +what the next moment, might develop—weal or woe.</p> + +<p>At least the sound of rapidly working rowlocks came +to the girl's ears. They were slipping along in the dense +blackness beneath the walls, making as little noise as +possible and constantly on the lookout for the long, +low dock.</p> + +<p>"They're after us," grated Truxton, in desperation. +"They've got word to friends one way or another. By +Jove! I'm nearly fagged, too. I can't pull much farther. +Hello! What's this?"</p> + +<p>The side of the boat caromed off' a solid object in the +water, almost spilling them into the wind-blown river.</p> + +<p>"The docks!" she whispered. "We struck a small +scow, I think. Can you find your way in among the +coal barges?"</p> + +<p>He paddled along slowly, feeling his way, scraping +alongside the big barges which delivered coal from the +distant mines to the docks along the river front. At +last he found an opening and pushed through. A moment +later they were riding under the stern of a broad, +cargoless barge, plumb up against the water-lapped +piles of the dock.</p> + +<p>Standing in the bow of the boat he managed to pull +himself up over the slippery edge. It was the work of a +second to draw her up after him. With an oar which +he had thought to remove beforehand, he gave the boat +a mighty shove, sending it out into the stream once +more.</p> + +<p>Then, hand in hand, they edged slowly, carefully along +the gravel-strewn dock, between vast piles of lumber and +steep walls of coal. It was only necessary to find the +railway company's runways leading into the yards +above; in time of peace there was little likelihood that +the entrances to the dock would be closed, even at night.</p> + +<p>Loud curses came up from the river, proclaiming the +fact that the pursuers had found the empty boat. Afterwards +they were to learn that "Newport's" shouts had +brought a boatload of men from the opposite bank, +headed by the innkeeper, in whose place Loraine was to +have encountered Marlanx later on, if plans had not miscarried. +She was to have remained in this outside inn +until after the sacking of the city on the following day. +The girl translated one remark that came up to them +from the boatload of pursuers:</p> + +<p>"The old man is waiting back there. He'll kill the lot +of us if we don't bring the girl."</p> + +<p>By this time King had located the open space which +undoubtedly afforded room for the transfer of cargoes +from the dock to the company's yards inside the walls. +Without hesitation he drew her after him up this wide, +sinister roadway. They stumbled on over the rails of the +"dummy track," collided with collier trucks, slipped on +the soggy chutes, but all the while forged ahead toward +the gates that so surely lay above them.</p> + +<p>The pursuers were trying for a landing, noisily, even +boisterously. It struck Truxton as queer that these +men were not afraid of alarming the watchmen on the +docks or the man at the gate above. Suddenly it came +to him that there would be no one there to oppose the +landing of the miscreants. No doubt hundreds of men +already had stolen through these gates during the night, +secreting themselves in the fastnesses of the city, ready +for the morrow's fray. It is no small wonder that he +shuddered at the thought of it.</p> + +<p>There was no one on the wharf—at least, no one in +sight. They rushed up the narrow railway chutes and +through one of the numerous gateways that opened out +upon the barge docks. No one opposed them; no one +was standing guard. From behind came the sound of +rushing footsteps. Lightning flashed in the sky and +the rumble of thunder broke over the desolate night.</p> + +<p>"They'll see us by the lightning," gasped Truxton, +almost ready to drop from faintness and exhaustion. +He was astounded, even alarmed, to find that his strength +had been so gravely depleted by confinement and lack +of nourishment.</p> + +<p>They were inside the city walls. Ahead of them, in +that labyrinth of filthy streets lay the way to the distant +square. His arm was now about her waist, for she +was half-fainting; he could hear her gasping and moaning +softly, inarticulate cries of despair. Switch-lights +blinked in the distance. Off to the right of them windows +showed lights; the clang of a locomotive bell came +to them as from a great distance.</p> + +<p>Their progress was abruptly halted by the appearance +of a man ahead, standing like a statue in the middle of +the network of tracks. They stumbled toward him, not +knowing whether he was friend or foe. One look into +their faces, aided by the flare of a yardman's lantern, +and the fellow turned tail and fled, shouting as he did +so.</p> + +<p>Following a vivid flash of lightning, two shots were +fired by the men who were now plunging up through the +gates, a hundred yards or more away. The same flash +of lightning showed to King the narrow, muddy street +that stretched ahead of them, lined with low, ugly houses +of a nondescript character. Instead of doing the obvious +thing, he turned sharply to the left, between the +lines of freight cars. Their progress was slow; both +were ready to drop; the way was dark and unknown to +them.</p> + +<p>At last they came to the end of their rope: they were +literally up against the great city wall! They had +reached the limits of the railway yards and were blocked +on all sides by they knew not how many rows of cars. +Somewhere off to the right there were streets and houses +and people, but they did not have the strength to try to +reach them.</p> + +<p>A car door stood open in front of them. He waited +for a second flash of lightning to reveal to him the nature +of its interior. It was quite empty. Without +hesitation he clambered in and pulled her up after him. +They fell over, completely fagged.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later the storm broke. He managed to +close the door against the driving torrents.</p> + +<p>She was sobbing plaintively, poor, wet, bedraggled +sweetheart—he called her that, although she did not hear +him.</p> + +<p>"We've fooled them," he managed to whisper, close to +her ear. "They won't look here. You're safe, Loraine. +'Gad, I'd like to see any one get you away from me +now."</p> + +<p>She pressed his arm, that was all. He found himself +wondering what answer she would give to Vos Engo +when he took her to him to-morrow. To-morrow! This +was the 26th! Would there be a to-morrow for any of +them—for Vos Engo, for Tullis, for the Prince? For +<i>her</i>?</p> + +<p>"There will be time to warn them in the morning," he +thought, dulled by fatigue. "We can't go on now."</p> + +<p>"Truxton," he heard her saying, tremulously, "do you +think we can do anything for them—the Prince and +those who are with him? How can we lie here when +there is so much to be done?"</p> + +<p>"When the storm abates—when we are rested—we +will try to get away from here. Those devils know that +I will give the alarm. They will have hundreds of men +watching to head us off. It means everything to them. +You see, I know their plans. But, Loraine, dear little +girl, brave as you are and willing as I am, we can't go +on until we've pulled ourselves together. We're safe +here for awhile. Later on, we'll try to steal up to the +city. They will be watching every approach to the +Castle and to the Tower, hoping to stop me in time. +We must out-fox them again. It will be harder, too, +little girl. But, if I don't do any more, I pledge you +that I'll save you from Marlanx."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know you will. You must, Truxton."</p> + +<p>"I'd—I'd like to be sure that I am also saving you +from Vos Engo. I hate to think of you throwing yourself +away on one of these blithering, fortune-hunting +noblemen." She pressed his arm again. "By Jove, it's +great fun being a hero, after all—and it isn't so difficult, +if the girl helps you as you helped me. It's too +bad I couldn't do it all by myself. I have always counted +on rescuing you from an Ogre's castle or something of +that sort. It's rather commonplace as it is, don't you +think?"</p> + +<p>"I don't—know what—you're talking about," she +murmured. Then she was fast asleep.</p> + +<p>The storm raged; savage bursts of wind rocked the +little freight car; the rain hissed viciously against their +frail hotel; thunder roared and lightning rent sky and +earth. The weary night-farers slept with pandemonium +dinning in their ears.</p> + +<p>He sat with his back against the side of the car, a, +pistol in one hand, the other lying tenderly upon the +drenched hair of the girl whose head rested upon his +leg. She had slipped down from his shoulder; he did +not have the desire or the energy to prevent it. At his +side lay the discarded whiskers. Manfully as he had +fought against the impelling desire to sleep, he could not +beat it off. His last waking thought was of the effort +he must make to reach Dangloss with the warning.</p> + +<p>Then the storm abated; the soft drip of rain from the +eaves of the car beat a monotonous tattoo in the pools +below; the raw winds from the mountains blew stealthily +in the wake of the tornado, picking up the waste that +had been left behind only to cast it aside with a moan +of derision.</p> + +<p>Something stirred in the far end of the car. A still, +small noise as of something alive that moved with the +utmost wariness. A heavy, breathing body crept +stealthily across the intervening space; so quietly that +a mouse could have made but little less noise.</p> + +<p>Then it stopped; there was not a sound inside the car +except the deep, regular breathing of Truxton King. +The girl's respiration was so faint that one might have +thought she did not breathe at all. Again the sly, cautious +movement of a heavy body; the creaking of a joint +or two, the sound of a creature rising from a crouching +position to the upright; then the gentle rubbing of +cloth, the fumbling of fingers in a stubborn pocket.</p> + +<p>An instant later the bluish flame of a sulphur match +struggled for life, growing stronger and brighter in the +hand of a man who stood above the sleepers.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV" />CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>THE GIRL IN THE RED CLOAK</h3> + + +<p>Inside of an hour after the return of the frightened, +quivering groom who had escaped from the brigands in +the hills, Jack Tullis was granted permission by the war +department to take a hundred picked men with him in the +effort to overtake and capture the abductors of his sister. +The dazed groom's story hardly had been told to the +horrified brother before he was engaged in telephoning +to General Braze and Baron Dangloss. A hurried consultation +followed. Other affairs that had been troubling +the authorities for days were forgotten in the face +of this distressing catastrophe; there was no time to be +lost if the desperadoes were to be headed before they succeeded +in reaching the Dawsbergen passes with their +lovely captive. Once there, it would be like hunting a +needle in a haystack; they could elude pursuit for days +among the wild crags of upper Dawsbergen, where none +but outlaws lived, and fierce beasts thrived.</p> + +<p>Unluckily for the dearest hopes of the rescuing party, +the miserable groom did not reach the city until almost +noon of the day following the abduction. He had lost +his way and had wandered all night in the forests. When +Miss Tullis failed to return at nightfall, her brother, +having in mind the mysterious disappearance of Truxton +King and the flight of Countess Ingomede, was preparing +to set forth in search of her. A telephone message +from Ganlook, fifteen miles north of the city, came +at seven o'clock, just as he was leaving the Castle. The +speaker purported to be the Countess Prandeville, a very +estimable chatelaine who ruled socially over the grim old +village of Ganlook. She informed Tullis that his sister +was with her for the night, having arrived in the afternoon +with a "frightful headache." She would look after +the dear child, of whom she was very fond, and would +send her down in the morning, when she would surely be +herself again. Greatly relieved, Tullis gave up his plan +to ride off in quest of her; he knew the amiable Countess, +and felt that his sister was in good hands.</p> + +<p>It was not until the return of the groom that he recalled +the fact that the voice on the telephone was not +quite like that of the Countess. He had been cleverly +hoodwinked. Baron Dangloss, obtaining connection +with the Prandeville household in Ganlook, at once discovered +that Loraine had not been in the chateau in +many days.</p> + +<p>The fierce, cock-robin baron was sadly upset. Three +prominent persons had been stolen from beneath his nose, +so to speak. He was beside himself with rage and dismay. +This last outrage was the climax. The old man +adored the sister of Jack Tullis; he was heartbroken and +crushed by the news of the catastrophe. For a while he +worked as if in a daze; only the fierce spurring of Jack +Tullis and Vos Engo, who believed himself to be an accepted +suitor, awoke him from an unusual state of +lethargy. It is even said that the baron shed tears without +blowing his nose to discredit the emotion.</p> + +<p>The city was soon to know of the fresh outrage at the +hands of the bandits in the hills. Great excitement prevailed; +there were many sincere lamentations, for the +beautiful American girl was a great favourite—especially +with those excellent persons who conducted bazaars in +the main avenues. Loraine, being an American, did not +hesitate to visit the shops in person: something that the +native ladies never thought of doing. Hundreds of +honest citizens volunteered to join in a search of the +hills, but the distinction was denied them.</p> + +<p>The war department issued official notice to all merchants +that their places of business must be decorated +properly against the holiday that would occur on the +morrow. Shops were to be closed for two hours at midday, +during the ceremonies attending the unveiling of +the Yetive monument in the Plaza. The merchants +might well give their time to decorating their shops; +the soldiers could do all the searching and all the fighting +that was necessary. Strict orders, backed by +method, were issued to the effect that no one was to pass +through the gates during the day, except by special +permission from General Braze.</p> + +<p>Count Vos Engo was eager to accompany the expedition +to Dawsbergen in search of his wayward lady-love. +Tullis, who liked the gay young nobleman despite the +reputation he had managed to live down, was willing that +he should be the one to lead the troops, but Colonel +Quinnox flatly refused to consider it.</p> + +<p>"To-morrow's celebration in the city will demand the +attendance of every noble officer in the guard," he said. +"I cannot allow you to go, Count Vos Engo. Your +place is here, beside the Prince. Line officers may take +charge of this expedition to the hills; they will be amply +able to manage the chase. I am sorry that it happens +so. The Royal Guard, to a man, must ride with the +Prince to-morrow."</p> + +<p>Captain Haas, of the dragoons, was put in charge of +the relief party, much to the disgust of Vos Engo; +and at two o'clock in the afternoon they were ready to +ride away. The party was armed and equipped for a +bitter chase. Word had been sent to Serros, the capital +of Dawsbergen, asking the assistance of Prince Dantan +in the effort to overtake the abductors. A detachment, +it was announced in reply, was to start from Serros during +the afternoon, bound for the eastern passes.</p> + +<p>Baron Dangloss rode to the southern gate with the +white-faced, suffering Tullis. "We will undoubtedly receive +a communication from the rascals this afternoon +or to-morrow," he said gloomily. "They will not be +slow to make a formal demand for ransom, knowing that +you and your sister are possessed of unlimited wealth. +When this communication arrives it may give us a clue +to their whereabouts; certainly as to their methods. If +it should be necessary, Tullis, to apprise you of the +nature of this demand, I, myself, will ride post haste +to St. Michael's Pass, which you are bound to reach to-morrow +after your circuit of the upper gaps. It is +possible, you see, that an open attack on these fellows +may result in her—er—well, to be frank—her murder. +Damn them, they'd do it, you know. My place to-morrow +is here in the city. There may be disturbances. +Nothing serious, of course, but I am uneasy. There are +many strangers in the city and more are coming for the +holiday. The presence of the Prince at the unveiling of +the statue of his mother—God bless her soul!—is a +tremendous magnet. I would that you could be here +to-morrow, John Tullis; at Prince Robin's side, so to +speak."</p> + +<p>"Poor little chap! He was terribly cut up when I told +him I was going. He wanted to come. Had his little +sword out, and all that. Said the celebration could be +postponed or go hang, either one. Look after him +closely to-morrow, Dangloss. I'd shoot myself if anything +were to happen to him. Marlanx is in the air; I +feel him, I give you my word, I do! I've been depressed +for days. As sure as there's a sun up yonder, that old +scoundrel is planning something desperate. Don't forget +that we've already learned a few things regarding +his designs." He waited a moment before uttering his +gravest fear. "Don't give him a chance to strike at +the Prince."</p> + +<p>"He wouldn't dare to do that!"</p> + +<p>"He'd dare anything, from what I've heard of him."</p> + +<p>"You hate him because—"</p> + +<p>"Go on! Yes, I hate him because he has made <i>her</i> +unhappy. Hello, who's this?"</p> + +<p>A man who had ridden up to the gates, his horse covered +with foam, was demanding admission. The +warders halted him unceremoniously as Dangloss rode +forward. They found that he was one of the foremen +in the employ of the railway construction company. He +brought the disquieting news that another strike had +been declared, that the men were ugly and determined to +tear up the track already laid unless their demands were +considered, and, furthermore, that there had been severe +fighting between the two factions engaged on the work. +He urgently implored Dangloss to send troops out to +hold the rioters in check. Many of the men were demanding +their pay so that they might give up their +jobs and return to their own lands.</p> + +<p>"What is your name?" demanded the harassed minister +of police.</p> + +<p>"Polson," replied the foreman. He lied, for he was +no other than John Cromer, the unsavoury husband of +Anna Cromer, of the Committee of Ten.</p> + +<p>"Come with me," said Dangloss. "We will go to +General Braze. Good-bye and good luck, Tullis."</p> + +<p>The little baron rode back into the city, accompanied +by the shifty-eyed Cromer, while John Tullis sped off +to the south, riding swiftly by the side of the stern-faced +Captain Haas, an eager company of dragoons behind, +a mountain guide in front.</p> + +<p>At that very moment, Loraine Tullis was comparing +notes with Truxton King in the room beneath the +armourer's shop; Count Marlanx was hiding in the +trader's inn outside the northern gates; the abductors +themselves were scattered about the city, laughing triumphantly +over the success of the ruse that had drawn +the well-feared American away on a wild-goose chase +to the distant passes of Dawsbergen. More than that: +at five o'clock in the afternoon a second detachment of +soldiers left the city for the scene of the riots in the +construction camps, twenty miles away.</p> + +<p>Surely the well-laid plans of the Iron Count were being +skilfully carried out!</p> + +<p>All afternoon and evening men straggled in from the +hills and surrounding country, apparently loth to miss +the early excitement attending the ceremonies on the +following day. Sullen strikers from the camps came +down, cursing the company but drinking noisy toasts +to the railroad and its future. The city by night +swarmed with revelling thousands; the bands were playing, +the crowds were singing, and mobs were drinking +and carousing in the lower end. The cold, drizzling rain +that began to blow across the city at ten o'clock did +little toward checking the hilarity of the revellers. +Honest citizens went to bed early, leaving the streets to +the strangers from the hills and the river-lands. Not +one dreamed of the ugly tragedy that was drawing to +a climax as he slept the sleep of the just, the secure, the +conscience-free.</p> + +<p>At three o'clock in the morning word flew from brothel +to brothel, from lodging house to lodging house, in all +parts of the slumbering city; a thousand men crept out +into the streets after the storm, all animated by one impulse, +all obeying a single fierce injunction.</p> + +<p>They were to find and kill a tall American! They +were to keep him or his companion from getting in +touch with the police authorities, or with the Royal +Castle, no matter what the cost!</p> + +<p>The streets were soon alive with these alert, skulking +minions. Every approach to the points of danger was +guarded by desperate, heavily armed scoundrels who +would not have hesitated an instant if it came to their +hands to kill Truxton King, the man with all their +dearest secrets in his grasp. In dark doorways lounged +these apparently couchless strangers; in areaways and +alleys, on doorsteps they found shelter; in the main +streets and the side streets they roamed. All the time +they had an eager, evil eye out for a tall American and +a slender girl!</p> + +<p>Dangloss's lynx-eyed constabulary kept close watch +over these restless, homeless strangers, constantly ordering +them to disperse, or to "move on," or to "find a bed, +not a doorstep." The commands were always obeyed; +churlishly, perhaps, in many instances, but never with +physical resistance.</p> + +<p>At five o'clock, a stealthy whisper went the rounds, +reaching the ear of every vagabond and cutthroat engaged +in the untiring vigil. Like smoke they faded +away. The silent watch was over.</p> + +<p>The word had sped to every corner of the town that +it was no longer necessary to maintain the watch for +Truxton King. He was no longer in a position to give +them trouble or uneasiness!</p> + +<p>The twenty-sixth dawned bright and cool after the +savage storm from the north. Brisk breezes floated +down from the mountain peaks; an unreluctant sun +smiled his cheeriest from his seat behind the hills, warmly +awaiting the hour when he could peep above them for +a look into the gala nest of humanity on the western +slope. Everywhere there was activity, life, gladness +and good humour.</p> + +<p>Gaudy decorations which had been torn away by the +storm were cheerfully replaced; workmen refurbished +the public stands and the Royal box in the Plaza; bands +paraded the avenues or gave concerts in Regengetz +Circus; troops of mounted soldiers and constabulary +patroled the streets. There was nothing to indicate to +the municipality that the vilest conspiracy of the age—of +any age—was gripping its tentacles about the city of +Edelweiss, the smiling, happy city of mountain and +valley. No one could have suspected guile in the laughter +and badinage that masked the manner of the men +who were there to spread disaster in the bunting-clad +thoroughfares.</p> + +<p>"I don't like the looks of things," said Baron Dangloss, +time and again. His men were never so alert as +to-day and never so deceived.</p> + +<p>"There can't be trouble of any sort," mused Colonel +Quinnox. "These fellows are ugly, 'tis true, but they +are not prepared for a demonstration. They are unarmed. +What could they do against the troops, even +though they are considerably depleted?"</p> + +<p>"Colonel, we'll yet see the day when Graustark regrets +the economy that has cut our little army to almost +nothing. What have we now, all told? Three hundred +men in the Royal Guard. Less than six hundred in the +fortress. I have a hundred policemen. There you are. +To-day there are nearly two hundred soldiers off in the +mountains on nasty business of one sort or another. +'Gad, if these ruffians from the railroad possessed no +more than pistols they could give us a merry fight. +There must be a thousand of them. I don't like it. +We'll have trouble before the day's over."</p> + +<p>"General Braze says his regulars can put down any +sort of an uprising in the city," protested Quinnox. +"In case of war, you know we have the twenty thousand +reserves, half of whom were regulars until two years +ago."</p> + +<p>"Perfectly true. Quinnox, it's your duty to take care +of the Prince. You've done so in your family for fifteen +generations. See to it that Prince Robin is well looked +after to-day, that's all."</p> + +<p>"Trust me for that, Baron," said Quinnox with his +truest smile. Even Marlanx knew that he would have +to kill a Quinnox before a Graustark ruler could be +reached.</p> + +<p>By eleven o'clock the streets in the neighbourhood of +the Plaza were packed with people. All along Castle +Avenue, up which the Prince was to drive in the coach +of State, hung the proud, adoring burghers and their +families: like geese to flock, like sheep to scatter. At +twelve the Castle gates were to be thrown open for the +brilliant cavalcade that was to pass between these cheering +rows of people. In less than a quarter of an hour +afterward, the Prince and his court, the noble ladies +and gentlemen of Graustark, with the distinguished +visitors from other lands, would pass into the great +square through Regengetz Circus.</p> + +<p>At the corner below the crowded Castle Café, in the +north side of the square, which was now patroled by +brilliant dragoons, two men met and exchanged the +compliments of the day. One of them had just come +up on horseback. He dismounted, leaving the animal in +charge of an urchin who saw a gavvo in sight. This +man was young and rather dashing in appearance. The +other was older and plainly a citizen of some consequence.</p> + +<p>"Well?" said the latter impatiently, after they had +passed the time of day for the benefit of the nearest on-lookers. +The younger man, slapping his riding boot +with his crop, led the way to the steps of a house across +the sidewalk. Both had shot a swift, wary glance at +one of the upper windows.</p> + +<p>"Everything is ready. There will be no hitch," said +the horseman in low tones.</p> + +<p>"You have seen Spantz?"</p> + +<p>"Sh! No names. Yes. The girl is ready."</p> + +<p>"And the fortress?"</p> + +<p>"Fifty men are in the houses opposite and others will +go there—later on."</p> + +<p>"We must keep the reserves out of the fortress. It +would mean destruction if they got to the gun-rooms and +the ammunition houses."</p> + +<p>"Is he here?" with a motion toward the upper window.</p> + +<p>"Yes. He came disguised as an old market woman, +just after daybreak."</p> + +<p>"Well, here's his horse," said the other, "but he'll have +to change his dress. It isn't a side saddle." The young +villain laughed silently.</p> + +<p>"Go up now to the square, Peter. Your place is +there."</p> + +<p>If one had taken the time to observe, he might have +seen that the young man wore his hat well forward, and +that his face was unnaturally white. We, who suspect +him of being Peter Brutus, have reason to believe that +there was an ugly cut on the top of his head and that +it gave him exceeding pain.</p> + +<p>Shortly after half past eleven o'clock certain groups +of men usurped the positions in front of certain buildings +on the south side of the square. A score here, a +half score there, others below them. They favoured the +shops operated by the friends of the Committee of +Ten; they were the men who were to take possession of +the rifles that lay hidden behind counters and walls. +Here, there, everywhere, all about the city, other instructed +men were waiting for the signal that was to +tell them to hustle deadly firearms from the beds of +green-laden market wagons. It was all arranged with +deadly precision. There could be no blunder. The +Iron Count and his deputies had seen to that.</p> + +<p>Men were stationed in the proper places to cut all telephone +and telegraph wires leading out of the city. +Others were designated to hold the gates against fugitives +who might seek to reach the troops in the hills.</p> + +<p>Marlanx's instructions were plain, unmistakable. Only +soldiers and policemen were to be shot; members of the +royal household were already doomed, including the +ministry and the nobles who rode with the royal carriage.</p> + +<p>The Committee of Ten had said that there would not +be another ministry, never another Graustark nobility; +only the Party of Equals. The Iron Count had smiled +to himself and let them believe all that they preached +in secret conclave. But he knew that there would be +another ministry, a new nobility and a new ruler, and +that there would be <i>no Committee of Ten!</i></p> + +<p>Two thousand crafty mercenaries, skilled rioters and +fighters from all parts of the world stood ready in the +glad streets of Edelweiss to leap as one man to the +standard of the Iron Count the instant he appeared in +the square after the throwing of the bomb. A well-organised, +carefully instructed army of no mean dimensions, +in the uniform of the lout and vagabond, would +rise like a flash of light before the dazzled, panic-stricken +populace, and Marlanx would be master. Without +the call of drum or bugle his sinister soldiers of +fortune would leap into positions assigned them; in orderly, +determined company front, led by chosen officers, +they would sweep the square, the Circus and the avenues, +up-town to the Castle, down-town to the fortress and +the railway station, everywhere establishing the pennant +of the man who had been banished.</p> + +<p>The present dynasty was to end at one o'clock! So +said Marlanx! How could Dangloss or Braze or Quinnox +say him nay? They would be dead or in irons +before the first shock of disaster had ceased to thrill. +The others? Pah! They were as chaff to the Iron +Count.</p> + +<p>The calm that precedes the storm fell upon the waiting +throng; an ominous silence spread from one end of the +avenue to the other. For a second only it lasted. The +hush of death could not have been quieter nor more +impressive. Even as people looked at each other in +wonder, the tumult came to its own again. Afterward +a whole populace was to recall this strange, depressing +second of utter stillness; to the end of time that sudden +pall was spoken of with bated breath and in awe.</p> + +<p>Then, from the distant Castle came the sound of +shouts, crawling up the long line of spectators for the +full length of the avenue to the eager throng in Regengetz +Circus, swelling and growing louder as the news +came that the Prince had ridden forth from the gates. +Necks were craned, rapt eyes peered down the tree-topped +boulevard, glad voices cried out tidings to those +in the background. The Prince was coming!</p> + +<p>Bonny, adorable Prince Robin!</p> + +<p>Down the broad avenue came the Royal Military Band, +heading the brilliant procession. Banners were flying; +gold and silver standards gleamed in the van of the +noble cavalcade; brilliantly uniformed cuirassiers and +dragoons on gaily caparisoned horses formed a gilded +phalanx that filled the distant end of the street, slowly +creeping down upon the waiting thousands, drawing +nearer and nearer to the spot of doom.</p> + +<p>A stately, noble, inspiring procession it was that swept +toward the Plaza. The love of the people for their +little Prince welled up and overflowed in great waves of +acclamation. Pomp and display, gold and fine raiment +were but the creation of man; Prince Robin was, to them, +the choicest creation of God. He was their Prince!</p> + +<p>On came the splendid phalanx of guardsmen, followed +by rigid infantrymen in measured tread; the clattering +of horses' hoofs, the beat of drums, the clanking of +scabbards and the jangling of royal banners, rising +even above the hum of eager voices. The great coach +of gold, with its half score of horses, rolled sombrely beneath +nature's canopy of green, surrounded on all sides +by proud members of the Royal Guard. Word came +down the line that the Prince sat alone in the rear seat of +the great coach, facing the Prime Minister and Countess +Halfont. Two carriages from the royal stables preceded +the Prince's coach. In the first was the Duke of +Perse and three fellow-members of the Cabinet; the +second contained Baron Dangloss and General Braze. +After the Prince came a score or more of rich equipages +filled with the beauty, the nobility, the splendour of this +rich little court.</p> + +<p>The curtains in a house at the corner of the square +parted gently. A hawk-faced old man peered out upon +the joyous crowd. His black eyes swept the scene. A +grim smile crept into his face. He dropped the curtains +and walked away from the window, tossing a +cigarette into a grate on the opposite side of the room. +Then he looked at his watch.</p> + +<p>All of the bands in the square had ceased playing when +the Castle gates were opened for the royal procession: +only the distant, rythmic beat of a lively march came up +from the avenue to the ears of this baleful old man in +the second-story front room of the home of apothecary +Boltz.</p> + +<p>At the extreme outer side of Regengetz Circus a small +group of men and women stood, white-faced and immovable, +steadfastly holding a position in the front +rank of spectators. Shrinking back among this determined +coterie was the slender, shuddering figure of +Olga Platanova, haggard-faced, but with the light of +desperation in her eyes.</p> + +<p>As the procession drew nearer, the companions of this +wretched girl slunk away from her side, losing themselves +in the crowd, leaving her to do her work while they +sought distant spots of safety. Olga Platanova, her +arms folded beneath the long red cloak she wore, remained +where they had placed her and—waited!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI" />CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>THE MERRY VAGABOND</h3> + + +<p>The man who stood in the middle of the freight-car, +looking down in wonder at the fugitives, was a tall +vagabond of the most picturesque type. No ragamuffin +was ever so tattered and torn as this rakish individual. +His clothes barely hung together on his lank frame; he +was barefoot and hatless; a great mop of black hair +topped his shrewd, rugged face; coal-black eyes snapped +and twinkled beneath shaggy brows and a delighted, +knowing grin spread slowly over his rather boyish countenance. +He was not a creature to strike terror to the +heart of any one; on the contrary, his mischievous, +sprightly face produced an impression of genuine good +humour and absolute indifference to the harsh things +of life.</p> + +<p>Long, thin lips curled into a smile of delicious regard; +his sides shook with the quiet chuckle of understanding. +He did not lose his smile, even when the match burned +his finger tips and fell to the floor of the car. Instead, +the grin was broader when he struck the second match +and resumed his amused scrutiny of his fellow-lodgers. +This time he practised thrift: he lighted a cigarette +with the match before tossing it aside. Then he softly +slid the car door back in its groove and looked out into +the moist, impenetrable night. A deep sigh left his +smiling lips; a retrospective langour took possession +of his long frame; he sighed again, and still he smiled.</p> + +<p>Leaning against the side of the door this genial gypsy +smoked in blissful silence until the stub grew so short +that it burned his already singed fingers. He was thinking +of other days and nights, and of many maids in far-off +lands, and of countless journeys in which he, too, +had had fair and gentle company—short journeys, yes, +but not to be forgotten. Ah, to be knight of the road +and everlasting squire to the Goddess of Love! He +always had been that—ever since he could remember; +he had loved a hundred briefly; none over long. It was +the only way.</p> + +<p>Once more he turned to look upon the sleeping pair. +This time he lighted the stub of a tallow candle. The +tender, winning smile in his dark eyes grew to positive +radiance. Ah, how he envied this great, sleeping wayfarer! +How beautiful his mistress! How fortunate the +lover! And how they slept—how tired they were! +Whence had they come? From what distant land had +they travelled together to reach this holiday-garnished +city in the hills? Vagabonds, tramps! They were of +his world, a part of his family; he knew and had loved +a hundred of her sisters, he was one of a hundred-thousand +brothers to this man.</p> + +<p>Why should he stay here to spoil their waking hour? +The thought came to him suddenly. No; he would +surrender his apartment to them. He was free and +foot-loose; he could go elsewhere. He <i>would</i> go elsewhere.</p> + +<p>Softly he tip-toed to his own corner of the car, looking +over his shoulder with anxious eyes to see that his movements +did not disturb them. He gathered up his belongings: +an ancient violin case, a stout walking stick, +a goodly sized pack done up in gaudy cloth, a well-worn +pair of sandals with long, frayed lacings. As +gently he stole back to the door. Here he sat down, +with his feet hanging outside the car. Then, with many +a sly, wary glance at his good comrades, he put on his +sandals and laced them up the leg. He tossed a kiss to +the sleeping girl, his dark gypsy face aglow with admiration +and mischief, and was about to blow out the +light of his candle. Then he changed his mind. He +arose and stood over them again, looking long and +solemnly at the face of the sleeping girl. Ah, yes, she +was the most beautiful he had ever seen—the very +fairest. He had known her sisters, but-no, they were +not like this one. With a sly grimace of envy he shook +his fist at the tall man whose leg served as a pillow for +the tired head.</p> + +<p>The girl looked wan and tired—and hungry. Poor +thing! Never had he seen one so sweet and lovely as +she; never had he seen such a shockingly muddy mackintosh, +however, as the one she wore, never were hands so +dirty as the slender ones which lay limp before her. +With a determined shake of his head and a new flash of +the eye he calmly seated himself and began to open his +ragged pack. Once he paused, a startled look in his +face. He caught sight of the revolver at Truxton's side +for the first time. The instant of alarm passed and a +braver smile than ever came. Ah, here was a knight +who would fight for his lady love! Good fellow! Bravo!</p> + +<p>At last his small store of food lay exposed. Without +hesitation he divided the pieces of smoked venison, giving +one part to himself, two to the sleepers; then the +miller's bread and the cheese, and the bag of dates he +had bought the day before. He tied up his own slender +portion and would have whistled for the joy of it all +had he not bethought himself in time.</p> + +<p>From one of his pockets he drew out tobacco and +cigarette papers. With his back planted up against +the wall of the car, his legs crossed and his feet wiggling +time to the inward tune he sang, he calmly rolled half +a dozen cigarettes and placed them, one by one, beside +the feast. One match from his thin supply he placed +alongside the cigarettes. Then he looked very doubtful. +No; one might blow out. He must not be niggardly. +So he kept two for himself and gave three to +the guest at his banquet.</p> + +<p>Again he blew a kiss to the prettiest girl he had ever +seen. Snuffing his candle, he dropped to the ground and +closed the door against all spying, uncivil eyes.</p> + +<p>The first grey of dawn was growing in the sombre east. +He looked out over the tops of cars and sniffed the air. +The rain was over. He knew. A tinge of red that none +but the gypsy could have distinguished betrayed the approach +of a sunny day. Jauntily he swung off down +the path between the lines of cars, his fickle mind wavering +between the joys of the coming day and the memory +of the loveliest Romany he had ever encountered.</p> + +<p>Daybreak found him at the wharf gates. It was +gloomy here and silent; the city above looked asleep and +unfruitful. His heart was gay; he longed for company. +Whimsical, careless hearted, he always obeyed the impulse +that struck him first. As he stood there, surveying +the wet, deserted wharf, it came to him suddenly that +if he went back and played one soft love-song before the +door of the car, they might invite him to join them in +the breakfast that the genie had brought.</p> + +<p>His long legs were swift. In five minutes he was half +way down the line of cars, at the extreme end of which +stood the happy lodging place of his heart's desire. +Then he paused, a dubious frown between his eyes. No! +he said, slapping his own cheek soundly; it would not +be fair! He would not disturb them, not he! How +could he have thought of such a thing. <i>Le bon Dieu!</i> +Never! He would breakfast alone!</p> + +<p>Coming to an empty flat car, direct from the quarries, +he resolutely seated himself upon its edge, and, with +amiable resignation, set about devouring his early meal, +all the while casting longing, almost appealing glances +toward the next car but one. Busy little switch engines +began chugging about the yards; the railroad, at least, +was exhibiting some signs of life. Here and there the +crews were "snaking" out sections and bumping them +off to other parts of the gridiron; a car here, a car there—all +aflounder, but quite simple to this merry wanderer. +He knew all about switching, he did. It did not +cause him the least uneasiness when a sudden jar told +him that an engine had been attached to the distant end +of the string in which he breakfasted. Nor was he +disturbed when the cars began to move. What cared he? +He would ride in his dining-car to the objective switch, +wherever that was, and no doubt would find himself +nearer the main freight depot, with little or no walking +to do on his journey to the square.</p> + +<p>But the "string" was not bound for another track in +the yards; it was on its way to the main line, thence off +through the winding valley into strange and distant +lands.</p> + +<p>Sir Vagabond, blissfully swinging his heels and munching +his venison, smiled amiably upon the yard men as he +passed them by. So genial was the smile, so frank the +salutation, that not one scowled back at him or hurled +the chunk of coal that bespeaks a surly temper. Down +through the maze of sidetracks whisked the little train, +out upon the main line with a thin shriek of greeting, +past the freight houses—it was then that Sir Vagabond +sat up very straight, a look of mild interest in his +eyes. Interest gave way to perplexity, perplexity to +concern. What's this? Leaving the city? He wasted +no time. This would never do! Clutching his belongings +to his side, he vaulted from one hand, nimbly and +with the gracefulness of wide experience, landing safely +on his feet at the roadside.</p> + +<p>There he stood with the wry, dazed look of a man who +suddenly finds himself guilty of arrant stupidity, watching +the cars whiz past on their way to the open country. +Just ahead was the breach in the wall through which all +trains entered or left the city. Into that breach shot +the train, going faster and faster as it saw the straight, +clear track beyond. He waited until the tail end +whisked itself out of sight in the cut below the city walls, +and then trudged slowly, dejectedly in the opposite direction, +his heart in his boots. He was thinking of the +luckless pair in the empty "box."</p> + +<p>Suddenly he stopped, his chin up, his hands to his +sides. A hearty peal of laughter soared from his lips. +He was regarding the funny side of the situation. The +joke was on them! It was rich! The more he thought +of their astonishment on awaking, the more he laughed. +He leaned against a car.</p> + +<p>His immense levity attracted attention. Four or five +men approached him from the shadows of the freight +houses, ugly, unsmiling fellows. They demanded of him +the cause of his unseemly mirth. With tears in his +merry black eyes he related the plight of the pretty +slumberers, dwelling more or less sentimentally on the +tender beauty of the maiden fair. They plied him with +questions. He described the couple—even glowingly. +Then the sinister fellows smiled; more than that, they +clapped each other on the back and swore splendidly. +He was amazed and his own good humour gave way to +fierce resentment. What right had these ruffians to +laugh at the misfortunes of that unhappy maid?</p> + +<p>A switchman came up, and one of the men, a lank +American whom we should recognise by the sound of +his voice (having heard it before), asked whither the +train was bound and when it would first stop in its +flight.</p> + +<p>"At the Poo quarries, seventeen kilometers down the +line. They cut out a few empties there. She goes on +to the division point after that."</p> + +<p>"Any trains up from that direction this morning?" +demanded "Newport."</p> + +<p>"Not till this afternoon. Most of the crews are in the +city for the—" But the switchman had no listeners +beyond that statement.</p> + +<p>And so it was that the news spread over town at five +o'clock that Truxton King was where he could do no +harm. It was well known that the train would make +forty miles an hour down the steep grade into the lower +valley.</p> + +<p>Up into the city strolled Sir Vagabond, his fiddle in +his hand, his heart again as light as a feather. Some +day—ah, some day! he would see her again on the road. +It was always the way. Then he would tell her how +unhappy he had been—for a minute. She was so pretty, +so very pretty! He sighed profoundly. We see no +more of him.</p> + +<p>When Truxton King first awoke to the fact that they +were no longer lying motionless in the dreary yards, +he leaped to his feet with a startled shout of alarm. +Loraine sat up, blinking her eyes in half-conscious wonder. +It was broad daylight, of course; the train was +rattling through the long cut just below the city walls. +With frantic energy he pulled open the door. For a +minute he stared at the scudding walls of stone so close +at hand, uncomprehendingly. Then the truth burst +upon him with the force of a mighty blow. He staggered +back, his jaw dropping, his eyes glaring.</p> + +<p>"What the dev—Great God, Loraine! We're going! +We're moving!" he cried hoarsely.</p> + +<p>"I know it," she gasped, her body rocking violently +with the swaying of the wild, top-heavy little car.</p> + +<p>"Great Scott! How we're pounding it! Fifty miles +an hour. Where are we?" he cried, aghast. He could +scarcely keep his feet, so terrific was the speed and so +sickening the motion.</p> + +<p>She got to her feet and lurched to his side. "Don't fall +out!" she almost shrieked. He drew back with her. Together +they swayed like reeds in a windstorm, staring +dizzily at the wall before them.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the train shot out into the open, farm-spattered valley. +Truxton fell back dumbfounded.</p> + +<p>"The country!" he exclaimed. "We've been carried +away. I—I can't believe my senses. Could we have +slept—what a fool, what an idiot! God in heaven! The +Prince! He is lost!" He was beside himself with +anguish and despair, raging like a madman, cursing +himself for a fool, a dog, a murderer!</p> + +<p>Little less distressed than her companion, Loraine Tullis +still had the good sense to keep him from leaping from +the car. He had shouted to her that he must get back to +the city; she could go on to the next town and find a +hiding place. He would come to her as soon as he had +given the alarm.</p> + +<p>"You would be killed," she cried, clutching his arm +fiercely. "You never can jump, Truxton. See how we +are running. If you jump, I shall follow. I won't go +on alone. I am as much to blame as you."</p> + +<p>The big, strong fellow broke down and cried, utterly +disheartened.</p> + +<p>"Don't cry, Truxton, please don't cry!" she pleaded. +"Something will happen. We must stop sometime. +Then we can get another train back, or telegraph, or +hire a wagon. It must be very early. The sun is +scarcely up. Do be brave! Don't give up!"</p> + +<p>He squared his shoulders. "You put me to shame!" he +cried abjectly. "I'm—I'm unnerved, that's all. It was +too much of a blow. After we'd got away from those +scoundrels so neatly, too. Oh, it's maddening! I'll be +all right in a minute. You plucky, plucky darling!"</p> + +<p>The train whirled through a small hamlet without even +slackening its speed. Truxton endeavoured to shout a +warning to two men who stood by the gates; but they +merely laughed, not comprehending. Then he undertook +to arrest the attention of the engineer. He leaned +from the door and shouted. The effort was futile, almost +disastrous. A lurch came near to hurling him to +the rocky road bed. Now and then they passed farmers +on the high road far above, bound for the city. They +called out to them, but the cries were in vain. With every +minute they were running farther and farther away +from the city of Edelweiss; every mile was adding to the +certainty of the doom which hung over the little Prince +and his people.</p> + +<p>A second small station flew by. "Ronn: seven kilometers +to Edelweiss." He looked at her in despair.</p> + +<p>"We're going faster and faster," he grated. "This is +the fastest train in the world, Loraine, bar none."</p> + +<p>Just then his gaze alighted on the pathetic breakfast +and the wandering cigarettes. He stared as if hypnotised. +Was he going mad? An instant later he was on +his hands and knees, examining the mysterious feast. +She joined him at once; no two faces ever before were +so puzzled and perplexed.</p> + +<p>"By heaven!" he exclaimed, drawing her away from +the spot in quick alarm, comprehension flooding his +brain. "I see it all! We've been deliberately shanghaied! +We've been bottled up here, drugged, perhaps, +and shipped out of town by fast freight—no destination. +Don't touch that stuff! It's probably full of poison. +Great Scott! What a clever gang they are! And what +a blithering idiot they have in me to deal with. Oh, +how easy!"</p> + +<p>Whereupon he proceeded to kick the unoffending +breakfast, cigarettes and all, out of the car door. To +their dying day they were to believe that the food had +been put there by agents of the great conspirator. It +readily may be surmised that neither of them was given +to sensible deductions during their astounding flight. +If they had thought twice, they might have seen the +folly of their quick conclusions. Marlanx's men would +not have sent Loraine off in a manner like this. But the +distracted pair were not in an analytical frame of mind +just then; that is why the gentle munificence of Sir +Vagabond came to a barren waste.</p> + +<p>Mile after mile flew by. The unwilling travellers, depressed +beyond description, had given up all hope of +leaving the car until it reached the point intended by +the wily plotters. To their amazement, however, the +speed began to slacken perceptibly after they had left +the city ten or twelve miles behind. Truxton was leaning +against the side of the door, gloomily surveying the +bright, green landscape. For some time Loraine had +been steadying herself by clinging to his arm. They had +cast off the unsightly rain coats and other clumsy articles. +Once, through sheer inability to control his impulses, +he had placed his arm about her slim waist, but +she had gently freed herself. Her look of reproach +was sufficient to check all future impulses of a like +nature.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" said he, coming out of his bitter dream.</p> + +<p>"We're slowing up." He looked out and ahead. "No +station is in sight. There's a bridge down the road a +bit—yes, there's our same old river. By George!" His +face was a study.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" she cried, struck by his sudden energy +of speech.</p> + +<p>"They're running slow for the bridge. Afraid of the +floods. D'ye see? If they creep up to it as they do +in the United States when they're cautious, we'll politely +drop off and—'Pon my soul, she's coming down to a +snail's pace. We can swing off, Loraine. Now's our +chance!"</p> + +<p>The train was barely creeping up to the bridge. He +clasped her in the strong crook of his left arm, slid +down to a sitting position, and boldly pushed himself +clear of the car, landing on his feet. Staggering forward +with the impetus he had received, he would have +fallen except for a mighty effort. A sharp groan +escaped his lips as he lowered her to the ground. She +looked anxiously into his face and saw nothing there +but relief.</p> + +<p>The cars rumbled across the bridge, picked up speed +beyond, and thundered off in the distance with never so +much as a thought of the two who stood beside the +track and laughed hysterically.</p> + +<p>"Come along," said the man briefly. "We must try +to reach that station back there. There I can telegraph +in. Oh!" His first attempt to walk brought out a +groan of pain.</p> + +<p>He had turned his ankle in the leap to the ground. She +was deeply concerned, but he sought to laugh it off. +Gritting his teeth determinedly, he led the way back +along the track.</p> + +<p>"Lean on me," she cried despairingly.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense," he said with grim stubbornness. "I don't +mind the pain. We can't stop for a sprained ankle. +It's an old one I got playing football. We may have to +go a little slow, but we'll not stop, my dear—not till +we get word to Dangloss!"</p> + +<p>She found a long, heavy stick for him; thereafter he +hobbled with greater speed and less pain. At a wagon-road +crossing they paused to rest, having covered two +miles. The strain was telling on him; perspiration stood +out in great drops upon his brow; he was beginning to +despair. Her little cry of joy caused him to look up +from the swollen ankle which he was regarding with +dubious concern. An oxcart was approaching from the +west.</p> + +<p>"A ride!" she cried joyously. She had been ready to +drop with fatigue; her knees were shaking. His first +exclamation of joy died away in a groan of dismay. He +laughed bitterly.</p> + +<p>"That thing couldn't get us anywhere in a week," he +said.</p> + +<p>"But it will help," she cried brightly, an optimist by +force of necessity.</p> + +<p>They stopped the cart and bargained for a ride to +Ronn. The man was a farmer, slow and suspicious. +He haggled.</p> + +<p>"The country's full of evil men and women these days," +he demurred. "Besides I have a heavy enough load as +it is for my poor beasts."</p> + +<p>Miss Tullis conducted the negotiations, making the +best of her year's acquaintance with the language of the +country.</p> + +<p>"Don't tell him why we are in such a hurry," cautioned +King. "He may be a Marlanx sympathiser."</p> + +<p>"You have nothing in your cart but melons," she said +to the farmer, peeping under the corner of the canvas +covering.</p> + +<p>"I am not going through Ronn, but by the high road +to Edelweiss," he protested. "A good ten kilometers."</p> + +<p>"But carry us until we come up with some one who can +give us horses."</p> + +<p>"Horses!" he croaked. "Every horse in the valley is +in Edelweiss by this time. This is the great day there. +The statue of—"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, I know. We are bound for Edelweiss. Can +you get us there in two hours?"</p> + +<p>"With these beasts, poor things? Never!"</p> + +<p>"It will be worth your while. A hundred gavvos if +you carry us to a place where we can secure quicker +transportation."</p> + +<p>In time she won him over. He agreed to carry them +along the way, at his best speed, until they came up with +better beasts or reached the city gates. It was the best +he could do. The country was practically deserted on +this day. At best there were but few horses in the +valley; mostly oxen. They climbed up to the seat and +the tortuous journey began. The farmer trotted beside +the wheel nearly all of the way, descanting warmly +in painful English on the present condition of things in +the hills.</p> + +<p>"The rascals have made way with the beautiful Miss +Tullis. She is the American lady stopping at the +Castle. You should see her, sir. Excepting our dear +Princess Yetive—God rest her soul—she is the most +beautiful creature Graustark has ever seen. I have seen +her often. Not quite so grand as the Countess Ingomede, +but fairer, believe me. She is beloved by everyone. +Many a kind and generous word has she spoken to me. +My onion beds are well known to her. She has come to +my farm time and again, sir, with the noble personages, +while riding, and she has in secret bought my little slips +of onions. She has said to me that she adores them, +but that she can only eat them in secret. Ah, sir, it +is a sad day for Graustark that evil has happened to her. +Her brother, they say, is off in the Dawsbergen hills +searching for her. He is a grand man."</p> + +<p>His passengers were duly interested. She nudged the +lugubrious Truxton when the man spoke of the onions. +"What a fibber! I hate onions."</p> + +<p>"She is to be married to the Count Vos Engo; a fine +lad, sir. Now she is gone, I don't know what he will +do. Suicide, mayhap. Many is the time I have cautioned +her not to ride in the hills without a strong +guard. These bandits are getting very bold."</p> + +<p>"Do you know the great Count Marlanx?" demanded +King, possessed of a sudden thought. The man faced +him at the mention of the name, a suspicious gleam in +his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Count Marlanx!" he snorted. Without another word, +he drew the beasts to a standstill. There was no mistaking +the angry scowl. "Are you friends of that +snake? If you are, get out of my cart."</p> + +<p>"He's all right," cried Truxton. "Tell him who we +are, Loraine, and why we <i>must</i> get to the city."</p> + +<p>Five minutes later, the farmer, overcome by the stupendous +news, was lashing his oxen with might and main; +the astonished beasts tore down the road to Ronn so +bravely that there seemed some prospect of getting a +telegram through in time. All the way the excited +countryman groaned and swore and sputtered his prayers. +At Ronn they learned that the operator had been +unable to call Edelweiss since seven o'clock. The wires +were down or had been cut. Truxton left a message +to be sent to Dangloss in case he could get the wire, and +off they started again for the city gates, having lost +considerable time by the diverted mile or two.</p> + +<p>Not man, woman or child did they encounter as the +miles crept by. The country was barren of humanity. +Ahead of them was the ascent to be conquered by oxen +so old and feeble that the prospect was more than +dubious.</p> + +<p>"If it should be that my team gives out, I will run on +myself to give the alarm," cried the worthy, perspiring +charioteer. "It shall not be! God preserve us!"</p> + +<p>Three times the oxen broke down, panting and stubborn; +as many times he thwacked them and kicked them +and cursed them into action again. They stumbled +pitifully, but they <i>did</i> manage to go forward.</p> + +<p>In time the city gates came in sight—far up the +straight, narrow road. "Pray God we may not be too +late," groaned the farmer. "Damn the swine who took +their horses to town before the sun was up. Curse +them for fools and imbeciles. Fools never get into +heaven. Thank the good Lord for that."</p> + +<p>It seemed to the quivering Americans that the gates +were mocking them by drawing farther away instead of +coming nearer.</p> + +<p>"Are we going backward?" groaned Truxton, his +hands gripping the side of the bounding seat.</p> + +<p>Near the gates, which were still open, it occurred to +him in a single flash of dismay that he and Loraine +would be recognised and intercepted by Marlanx watchers. +Between the fierce jolts of the great cart he +managed to convey his fears to her.</p> + +<p>It was she who had the solution. They might succeed +in passing the gates if they hid themselves in the bed of +the cart, underneath the thick canvas covering. The +farmer lifted the cloth and they crawled down among +the melons. In this fashion they not only covered the +remainder of the distance, half stifled by the heat and +half murdered by the uncomfortable position, but passed +through the gates and were taken clattering down the +streets toward the centre of town.</p> + +<p>"To the Tower!" cried the anxious Truxton.</p> + +<p>"Impossible!" shouted the farmer. "The streets are +roped off and the crowds are too great."</p> + +<p>"Then let us out as near to the Tower as possible, +cried the other.</p> + +<p>"Here we are," cried the driver, a few minutes later, +pulling up his half dead oxen and leaping to the ground. +He threw off the covering and they lost no time in tumbling +from their bed of melons to the cobble-stone pavement +of a narrow alley into which he had turned for +safety. "Through this passage!" he gasped, hoarse +with excitement. "The Tower is below. Follow me! +My oxen will stand. I am going with you!" His +rugged face was aglow.</p> + +<p>Off through the alley they hurried, King disdaining +the pain his ankle was giving him. They came to the +crowded square a few minutes later. The clock in the +Cathedral pointed to twelve o'clock and after! The +catastrophe had not yet taken place; the people were +laughing and singing and shouting. They were in time. +Everywhere they heard glad voices crying out that the +Prince was coming! It was the Royal band that they +heard through dinning ears!</p> + +<p>"Great God!" cried Truxton, stopping suddenly and +pointing with trembling hand to a spot across the street +and a little below where they had pushed through the +resentful, staring throng on the sidewalk. "There she +is! At the corner! Stop her!"</p> + +<p>He had caught sight of Olga Platanova.</p> + +<p>The first row of dragoons was already passing in front +of her. Less than two hundred feet away rolled the +royal coach of gold! All this flashed before the eyes of +the distracted pair, who were now dashing frantically +into the open street, disregarding the shouts of the +police and the howls of the crowd.</p> + +<p>"An anarchist!" shouted King hoarsely. He looked +like one himself. "The bomb! The bomb! Stop the +Prince!"</p> + +<p>Colonel Quinnox recognised this bearded, uncouth +figure, and the flying, terrified girl at his heels. King +was dragging her along by the hand. There was an +instant of confusion on the part of the vanguard, a +drawing of sabres, a movement toward the coach in +which the Prince rode.</p> + +<p>Quinnox alone prevented the dragoons from cutting +down the pallid madman who stumbled blindly toward +the coaches beyond. He whirled his steed after an +astonished glance in all directions, shouting eager commands +all the while. When he reached the side of the +gasping American, that person had stopped and was +pointing toward the trembling Olga, who had seen and +recognised him.</p> + +<p>"Stop the coach!" cried King. Loraine was running +frantically through the ranks of horsemen, screaming +her words of alarm.</p> + +<p>The Duke of Perse leaped from his carriage and ran +forward, shouting to the soldiers to seize the disturbers. +Panic seized the crowd. There was a mad rush for the +corner above. Olga Platanova stood alone, her eyes +wide and glassy, staring as if petrified at the face of +Truxton King.</p> + +<p>He saw the object in her wavering hand. With a +yell he dashed for safety down the seething avenue. The +Duke of Perse struck at him as he passed, ignoring the +frantic cry of warning that he uttered. A plain, white-faced +farmer in a smock of blue was crossing the street +with mighty bounds, his eyes glued upon the arm of the +frail, terrified anarchist. If he could only arrest that +palsied, uncertain arm!</p> + +<p>But she hurled the bomb, her hands going to her eyes +as she fell upon her knees.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII" />CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3>THE THROWING OF THE BOMB</h3> + + +<p>The scene that followed beggars all powers of description.</p> + +<p>A score of men and horses lay writhing in the street; +others crept away screaming with pain; human flesh and +that of animals lay in the path of the frenzied, panic-stricken +holiday crowd; blood mingled with the soft mud +of Regengetz Circus, slimy, slippery, ugly!</p> + +<p>Rent bodies of men in once gaudy uniforms, now +flattened and bruised in warm, oozy death, were piled in +a mass where but a moment before the wondering vanguard +of troopers had clustered. For many rods in all +directions stunned creatures were struggling to their +feet after the stupendous shock that had felled them. +The clattering of frightened horses, the shouts and +screams of men and women, the gruesome rush of ten +thousand people in stampede—all in twenty seconds after +the engine of death left the hand of Olga Platanova.</p> + +<p>Olga Platanova! There was nothing left of her! She +had failed to do the deed expected of her, but she would +not hear the execrations of those who had depended upon +her to kill the Prince. We draw a veil across the picture +of Olga Platanova after the bomb left her hand; +no one may look upon the quivering, shattered thing +that once was a living, beautiful woman. The glimpse +she had of Truxton King's haggard face unnerved her. +She faltered, her strength of will collapsed; she hurled +the bomb in a panic of indecision. Massacre but not +conquest!</p> + +<p>Down in an alley below the Tower, a trembling, worn +team of oxen stood for a day and night, awaiting the +return of a master who was never to come back to them. +God rest his simple soul!</p> + +<p>Truxton King picked himself up from the street, +dazed, bewildered but unhurt. Everywhere about him +mad people were rushing and screeching. Scarcely +knowing what he did, he fled with the crowd. From behind +him came the banging of guns, followed by new +shouts of terror. He knew what it meant! The revolutionists +had begun the assault on the paralysed +minions of the government.</p> + +<p>Scores of Royal Guardsmen swept past him, rushing +to the support of the coach of gold. The sharp, shrill +scream of a single name rose above the tumult. Some +one had seen the Iron Count!</p> + +<p>"Marlanx!"</p> + +<p>He looked back toward the gory entrance to the Circus. +There was Marlanx, mounted and swinging a sabre on +high. Ahead was the mass of carriages, filled with the +white-faced, palsied prey from the Court of Graustark. +Somewhere in that huddled, glittering crowd were two +beings he willingly would give his own life to save.</p> + +<p>Foot soldiers, policemen and mounted guardsmen began +firing into the crowd at the square, without sense or +discretion, falling back, nevertheless, before the well-timed, +deliberate advance of the mercenaries. From +somewhere near the spot where Olga Platanova fell came +a harsh, penetrating command:</p> + +<p>"Cut them off! Cut them off from the Castle!"</p> + +<p>It was his cue. He dashed into the street and ran toward +the carriages, shouting with all his strength:</p> + +<p>"Turn back! It is Marlanx! To the Castle!"</p> + +<p>Then it was that he saw the Prince. The boy was +standing on a seat on the royal coach of state, holding +out his eager little hands to some one in the thick of the +crowd that surged about him. He was calling some +one's name, but no one could have heard him.</p> + +<p>Truxton's straining eyes caught sight of the figure in +grey that struggled forward in response to the cries +and the extended hands. He pushed his way savagely +through the crowd; he came up with her as she reached +the side of the coach, and with a shout of encouragement +grasped her in his arms.</p> + +<p>"Aunt Loraine! Aunt Loraine!" He now heard the +name the boy cried with all his little heart.</p> + +<p>Two officers struck at the uncouth, desperate American +as he lifted the girl from the ground and deliberately +tossed her into the coach.</p> + +<p>"Turn back!" he shouted. A horseman rode him down. +He looked up as the plunging animal's hoofs clattered +about his head. Vos Engo, with drawn sword, was +crowding up to the carriage door, shouting words of +rejoicing at sight of the girl he loved.</p> + +<p>Somehow he managed to crawl from under the hoofs +and wheels, not without thumps and bruises, and made +his way to the sidewalk. The coach had swung around +and the horses were being lashed into a gallop for the +Castle gates.</p> + +<p>He caught a glimpse of her, holding the Prince in her +arms, her white, agonised face turned toward the mob. +Distinctly he heard her cry:</p> + +<p>"Save him! Save Truxton King!"</p> + +<p>From the sidewalks swarmed well-armed hordes of +desperadoes, firing wildly into the ranks of devoted +guardsmen grouped in the avenue to cover the flight of +their royal charge. Truxton fled from the danger zone +as fast as his legs would carry him. Bullets were striking +all about him. Later on he was to remember his +swollen, bitterly painful ankle; but there was no thought +of it now. He had played football with this same ankle +in worse condition than it was now—and he had played +for the fun of it, too.</p> + +<p>He realised that his life was worth absolutely nothing +if he fell into the hands of the enemy. His only chance +lay in falling in with some sane, loyal citizen who could +be prevailed upon to hide him until the worst was over. +There seemed no possibility of getting inside the Castle +grounds. He had done his duty and—he laughed +bitterly as he thought of it—he had been ridden down +by the men he came to save.</p> + +<p>Some one was shouting his name behind in the scurrying +crowd. He turned for a single glance backward. +Little Mr. Hobbs, pale as a ghost, his cap gone, his +clothing torn, was panting at his elbow.</p> + +<p>"God save us!" gasped Hobbs. "Are you alive or am +I seeing all the bloody ghosts in the world?"</p> + +<p>"I'm alive all right," cried King. "Where can we go? +Be quick, Hobbs! Think! Don't sputter like that. I +want to be personally conducted, and damned quick at +that."</p> + +<p>"Before God, sir, I 'aven't the idea where to go," +groaned Hobbs. "It's dreadful! Did you see what the +woman did back there—"</p> + +<p>"Don't stop to tell me about it, Hobbs. Keep on running. +Go ahead of me. I'm used to following the man +from Cook's."</p> + +<p>"Right you are, sir. I say, by Jove, I'm glad to see +you—I am. You came right up out of the ground as +if—"</p> + +<p>"Is there no way to get off this beastly avenue?" +panted King. "They're shooting back there like a pack +of wild men. I hate to think of what's going on."</p> + +<p>"Dangloss will 'ave them all in the jug inside of ten +minutes, take my word—"</p> + +<p>"They'll have Dangloss hanging from a telephone; +pole, Hobbs! Don't talk! Run!"</p> + +<p>Soldiers came riding up from behind, turning to fire +from their saddles into the throng of cutthroats, led +by the grim old man with the bloody sabre. In the +centre of the troop there was a flying carriage. The +Duke of Perse was lying back in the seat, his face like +that of a dead man. Far ahead rattled the royal coach +and the wildly flying carriages of state.</p> + +<p>"The Prince is safe!" shouted King joyously. "They'll +make it! Thank God!"</p> + +<p>Colonel Quinnox turned in his saddle and searched out +the owner of that stirring voice.</p> + +<p>"Come!" he called, drawing rein as soon as he caught +sight of him.</p> + +<p>Even as King rushed out into the roadway a horseman +galloped up from the direction of the Castle. He pulled +his horse to his haunches almost as he was riding over the +dodging American.</p> + +<p>"Here!" shouted the newcomer, scowling down upon +the young man. "Swing up here! Quick, you fool!"</p> + +<p>It was Vos Engo, his face black with fury. Quinnox +had seized the hand of Mr. Hobbs on seeing help for +King and was pulling him up before him. There was +nothing for Truxton to do but to accept the timely +help of his rival. An instant later he was up behind him +and they were off after the last of the dragoons.</p> + +<p>"If you don't mind, Count, I'll try my luck," grated +the American. Holding on with one arm, he turned and +fired repeatedly in the direction of the howling crowd +of rascals.</p> + +<p>"Ride to the barracks gates, Vos Engo!" commanded +Colonel Quinnox. "Be prepared to admit none but the +Royal Reserves, who are under standing orders to report +there in time of need."</p> + +<p>"God grant that they may be able to come," responded +the Count. Over his shoulder he hissed to his companion. +"It was not idle heroics, my friend, nor philanthropy +on my part. I was commanded to come and fetch +you. She would never have spoken to me again if I had +refused."</p> + +<p>"She? Ah, yes; I see. Good! She did not forget +me!" cried Truxton, his heart bounding.</p> + +<p>"My own happiness depends on my luck in getting you +to safety," rasped the Count. "My life's happiness. +Understand, damn you, it is not for you that I risk my +life."</p> + +<p>"I understand," murmured Truxton, a wry smile on +his pale lips. "You mean, she is going to pay you in +some way for picking me up, eh? Well, I'll put an +end to that. I'll drop off again. Then you can ride on +and tell her—I wouldn't be a party to the game. Do you +catch my meaning?"</p> + +<p>"You would, eh?" said the Count angrily. "I'd like +to see you drop off while we're going at this—"</p> + +<p>"I've got my pistol in the middle of your back," grated +Truxton. "Slow up a bit or I'll scatter your vertebræ +all over your system. Pull up!"</p> + +<p>"As you like," cried Vos Engo. "I've done my part. +Colonel Quinnox will bear witness." He began pulling +his horse down. "Now, you are quite free to drop off."</p> + +<p>Without a word the American swung his leg over and +slid to the ground. "Thanks for the lift you've given +me," he called up to the astonished officer.</p> + +<p>"Don't thank me," sang out his would-be saviour as +he put spur to his horse.</p> + +<p>It is a lamentable thing to say, but Truxton King's +extraordinary sacrifice was not altogether the outgrowth +of heroism. We have not been called upon at +any time to question his courage; we have, on the other +hand, seen times when he displayed the most arrant foolhardiness. +I defy any one to prove, however, that he +ever neglected an opportunity to better himself by +strategy at the expense of fortitude. Therefore, it is +not surprising that even at such a time as this we may +be called upon to record an example of his spectacular +cunning.</p> + +<p>Be sure of it, he did not decide to slide from Vos Engo's +horse until he saw a way clear to better his position, +and at the same time to lessen the glory of his unpleasant +rescuer.</p> + +<p>Less than a hundred yards behind loped a riderless +horse; the dragoon who had sat the saddle was lying +far back in the avenue, a bullet in his head. Hobbling +to the middle of the road, the American threw up his +hands and shouted briskly to the bewildered animal. +Throwing his ears forward in considerable doubt, the +horse came to a standstill close at hand. Five seconds +later King was in the saddle and tearing along in the +wake of the retreating guard, his hair blowing from +his forehead, his blood leaping with the joy of achievement.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hobbs afterward informed him that Count Vos +Engo's oaths were worth going miles to avoid.</p> + +<p>"We need such men as King!" cried Colonel Quinnox +as he waited inside the gates for the wild rider. A moment +later King dashed through and the massive bolts +were shot.</p> + +<p>As he pulled up in front of the steward's lodge to +await the orders of the Colonel, the exultant American +completed the soliloquy that began with the mad impulse +to ride into port under his own sails.</p> + +<p>"I'll have to tell her that he did a fine thing in coming +back for me, much as he hated to do it. What's more, +I shan't say a word about his beastly temper. We'll let +it pass. He deserves a whole lot for the part he played. +I'll not forget it. Too bad he had to spoil it all by talking +as he did. But, hang me, if he shall exact anything +from her because he did a thing he didn't want to do. +I took a darned sight bigger chance than he did, after +all. Good Lord, what a mess I would have been in if +the nag hadn't stopped! Whew! Well, old boy, you +did stop, God bless you. Colonel," he spoke, as Quinnox +came up, "do you think I can buy this horse? He's +got more sense than I have."</p> + +<p>Small bodies of foot soldiers and policemen fighting +valiantly against great odds were admitted to the +grounds during the next half hour. Scores had been +killed by the fierce, irregular attack of the revolutionists; +others had become separated from their comrades +and were even now being hunted down and destroyed +by the infuriated followers of Marlanx. A hundred +or more of the reserves reached the upper gates +before it occurred to the enemy to blockade the streets +in that neighbourhood. General Braze, with a few of his +men, bloody and heartsick, was the last of the little +army to reach safety in the Castle grounds, coming up +by way of the lower gates from the fortress, which they +had tried to reach after the first outbreak, but had found +themselves forestalled.</p> + +<p>The fortress, with all guns, stores and ammunition, was +in the hands of the Iron Count and his cohorts.</p> + +<p>Baron Dangloss had been taken prisoner with a whole +platoon of fighting constables. This was the last appalling +bit of news to reach the horrified, disorganised +forces in the Castle grounds.</p> + +<p>Citizens had fled to their homes, unmolested. The +streets were empty, save for the armed minions of the +Iron Count. They rushed hither and thither in violent +detachments, seeking out the men in uniform, yelling +and shooting like unmanageable savages.</p> + +<p>Before two o'clock the city itself was in the hands of +the hated enemy of the Crown. He and his aliens, malefactors +and all, were in complete control of the fortress, +the gates and approaches, the Tower and the bloody +streets. A thousand of them,—eager, yelling ruffians,—marched +to within firing distance of the Castle walls and +held every approach against reinforcements. Except +for the failure to destroy the Prince and his counsellors, +the daring, unspeakable plans of Count Marlanx had +been attended by the most horrifying results. He was +master. There was no question as to that. The few +hundred souls in the Castle grounds were like rats in a +trap.</p> + +<p>A wise as well as a cruel man was Marlanx. He lost +no time in issuing a manifesto to the stunned, demoralised +citizens of Edelweiss. Scores of criers went +through the streets during the long, wretched afternoon, +announcing to the populace that Count Marlanx had +established himself as dictator and military governor of +the principality—pending the abdication of the Prince +and the beginning of a new and substantial regime. All +citizens were commanded to recognise the authority of +the dictator; none except those who disobeyed or resented +this authority would be molested. Traffic would +be resumed on the following Monday. Tradespeople +and artisans were commanded to resume their occupations +under penalty of extreme punishment in case of +refusal. These and many other edicts were issued from +Marlanx's temporary headquarters in the Plaza—almost +at the foot of the still veiled monument of the beloved +Princess Yetive.</p> + +<p>Toward evening, after many consultations and countless +reports, Marlanx removed his headquarters to the +Tower. He had fondly hoped to be in the Castle long +before this. His rage and disappointment over the +stupid miscarriage of plans left no room for conjecture +as to the actual state of his feelings. For hours he had +raved like a madman. Every soldier who fell into his +hands was shot down like a dog.</p> + +<p>The cells and dungeons in the great old tower were +now occupied by bruised, defeated officers of the law. +Baron Jasto Dangloss, crushed in spirit and broken of +body, paced the blackest and narrowest cell of them all. +The gall and wormwood that filled his soul was not to +be measured by words. He blamed himself for the catastrophe; +it was he who had permitted this appalling +thing to grow and burst with such sickening results. In +his mind there was no doubt that Marlanx had completely +overthrown the dynasty and was in full possession +of the government. He did not know that the +Prince and his court had succeeded in reaching the +Castle, whose walls and gates were well-nigh impregnable +to assault, even by a great army. If he had +known this he might have rejoiced!</p> + +<p>Late in the evening he received a visit from Marlanx, +the new master.</p> + +<p>The Iron Count, lighted by a ghostly lantern in the +hands of a man who, ten hours before, had been a +prisoner within these very walls, came up to the narrow +grating that served as a door and gazed complacently +upon the once great minister of police.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Dangloss, his eyes snapping, "what is it, +damn you?"</p> + +<p>Marlanx stroked his chin and smiled. "I believe this +is my old confrère, Baron Dangloss," he remarked. +"Dear me, I took you, sir, to be quite impeccable. Here +you are, behind the bars. Will wonders never cease?"</p> + +<p>Dangloss merely glared at him.</p> + +<p>The Iron Count went on suavely: "You heard me, +Baron. Still, I do not require an answer. How do you +like your new quarters? It may please you to know that +I am occupying your office, and also that noble suite +overlooking the Plaza. I find myself most agreeably +situated. By the way, Baron, I seem to recall something +to mind as I look at you. You were the kindly +disposed gentleman who escorted me to the city gates a +few years ago and there turned me over to a detachment +of soldiers, who, in turn, conveyed me to the border. If +I recall the occasion rightly, you virtually kicked me +out of the city. Am I right?"</p> + +<p>"You are!" was all that the bitter Dangloss said, without +taking his fierce gaze from the sallow face beyond +the bars.</p> + +<p>"I am happy to find that my memory is so good," said +Marlanx.</p> + +<p>"I expect to be able to repeat the operation," said +Dangloss.</p> + +<p>"How interesting! You forget that history never repeats +itself."</p> + +<p>"See here, Marlanx, what is your game? Speak up; +I'm not afraid of you. Do you intend to take me out +and shoot me at sunrise?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear me, no! That would be a silly proceeding. +You own vast estates in Graustark, if I mistake not, just +as I did eight or nine years ago. Well, I have come +into my own again. The Crown relieved me of my +estates, my citizenship, my honour. I have waited long +to regain them. Understand me, Dangloss; I am in +control now; my word is law. I do not intend to kill +you. It is my intention to escort you to the border and +kick you out of Graustark. See for yourself how it +feels. Everything you possess is to be taken away from +you. You will be a wanderer on the face of the earth—a +pauper. All you have is here. Therein lies the +distinction: I had large possessions in other lands. I +had friends and a following, as you see. You will have +none of these, Baron."</p> + +<p>"A splendid triumph, you beast!"</p> + +<p>"Of course, you'd much prefer being shot."</p> + +<p>"Not at all. Banish me, if you please; strip me of all +I possess. But I'll come back another day, Count +Marlanx."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes; that reminds me. I had quite forgotten to +say that the first ten years of your exile are to be spent +in the dungeons at Schloss Marlanx. How careless of +me to have neglected to state that in the beginning. In +ten years you will be seventy-five, Baron. An excellent +time of life for one to begin his wanderings over the +world which will not care to remember him."</p> + +<p>"Do you expect me to get down on my knees and plead +for mercy, you scoundrel?"</p> + +<p>"I know you too well for that, my dear Baron."</p> + +<p>"Get out of my sight!"</p> + +<p>"Pray do not forget that I am governor of the Tower +at present. I go and come as I choose."</p> + +<p>"God will punish you for what you have done. There's +solace in that."</p> + +<p>"As you like, Baron. If it makes it easier for you to +feel that God will take a hand in my humble affairs, all +well and good. I grant you that delectable privilege."</p> + +<p>Baron Dangloss turned his back upon his smiling +enemy, his body quivering with passion.</p> + +<p>"By the way, Baron, would you care to hear all the +latest news from the seat of war? It may interest you +to know that the Castle is besieged in most proper +fashion. No one—"</p> + +<p>"The Castle besieged? Then, by the Eternal, you did +not take the Prince!"</p> + +<p>"Not at all! He is in the Castle for a few hours of +imaginary safety. To-night my men will be admitted +to the grounds by friends who have served two masters +for a twelve-month or longer."</p> + +<p>"Traitors in the Castle?" cried Dangloss in horror. +He was now facing the Count.</p> + +<p>"Hardly that, my dear sir. Agents, I should call them. +Isn't it splendid?"</p> + +<p>"You are a—"</p> + +<p>"Don't say it, Baron. Save your breath. I know what +you would call me, and can save you the trouble of +shouting it, as you seem inclined to do."</p> + +<p>"Thank God, your assassins not only failed to +dynamite the boy, but your dogs failed to capture him. +By heaven, God <i>is</i> with Prince Robin, after all!"</p> + +<p>"How exalted you seem, Baron! It is a treat to look +at you. Oh, another thing: the Platanova girl was not +<i>my</i> assassin."</p> + +<p>"That's a lie!"</p> + +<p>"You shall not chide me in that fashion, Baron. You +are very rude. No; the girl was operating for what I +have since discovered to be the Committee of Ten, leading +the Party of Equals in Graustark. To-morrow +morning I shall have the Committee of Ten seized and +shot in the public square. We cannot harbour dynamiters +and assassins of that type. There are two-score +or more of anarchist sympathisers here. We will cheerfully +shoot all of them—an act that you should have +performed many days ago, my astute friend. It might +have saved trouble. They are a dangerous element in +any town. Those whom I do not kill I shall transport +to the United States in exchange for the Americans who +have managed to lose themselves over here. A fair exchange, +you see. Moreover, I hear that the United +States Government welcomes the Reds if they are white +instead of yellow. Clever, but involved, eh? Well, +good night, Baron. Sleep well. I expect to see you +again after the rush of business attending the adjustment +of my own particular affairs. In a day or two I +shall move into the Castle. You may be relieved to +know that I do not expect to find the time to kick you +out of Graustark under a week or ten days."</p> + +<p>"My men: what of them? The brave fellows who were +taken with me? You will not deprive—"</p> + +<p>"In time they will be given the choice of serving me as +policemen or serving the world as examples of folly. +Rest easy concerning them. Ah, yes, again I have +stupidly forgotten something. Your excellent friend, +Tullis, will not re-enter Edelweiss alive. That is quite +assured, sir. So you see, he will, after all, be better off +than you. I don't blame him for loving my wife. It +was my desire to amicably trade my wife off to him for +his charming sister, but the deal hangs fire. What a +scowl! I dare say you contemplate saying something +bitter, so I'll retire. A little later on I shall be +chatting with the Prince at the Castle. I'll give him +your gentlest felicitations."</p> + +<p>But Marlanx was doomed to another disappointment +before the night was over. The Castle gates were not +opened to his forces. Colonel Quinnox apprehended the +traitors in time to prevent the calamity. Ten hostlers +in the Royal stables were taken redhanded in the attempt +to overpower the small guard at the western gates. +Their object was made plain by the subsequent futile +movement of a large force of men at that particular +point.</p> + +<p>Prince Robin was safe for the night.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII" />CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>TRUXTON ON PARADE</h3> + + +<p>Count Marlanx was a soldier. He knew how to take +defeat and to bide his time; he knew how to behave in +the hour of victory and in the moment of rout. The +miscarriage of a detail here and there in this vast, comprehensive +plan of action did not in the least sense +discourage him. It was no light blow to his calculations, +of course, when the designs of an organisation +separate and distinct from his own failed in their purpose. +It was part of his plan to hold the misguided +Reds responsible for the lamentable death of Prince +Robin. The people were to be given swift, uncontrovertible +proof that he had no hand in the unforeseen transactions +of the anarchists, who, he would make it appear, +had by curious coincidence elected to kill the Prince +almost at the very hour when he planned to seize the +city as a conqueror.</p> + +<p>His own connection with the operations of the mysterious +Committee of Ten was never to be known to the +world. He would see to that.</p> + +<p>At nine o'clock on Sunday morning a small group of +people gathered in the square: a meeting was soon in +progress. A goods-box stood over against the very +spot on which Olga Platanova died. An old man began +haranguing the constantly growing crowd, made up +largely of those whose curiosity surpassed discreetness. +In the group might have been seen every member of the +Committee of Ten, besides a full representation of those +who up to now had secretly affiliated with the Party of +Equals. A red flag waved above the little, excited group +of fanatics, close to the goods-box rostrum. One member +of the Committee was absent from this, their first +public espousal of the cause. Later on we are to discover +who this man was. Two women in bright red waists +were crying encouragement to the old man on the box, +whose opening sentences were no less than an unchanted +requiem for the dead martyr, Olga Platanova.</p> + +<p>In the midst of his harangue, the hand of William +Spantz was arrested in one of its most emphatic gestures. +A look of wonder and uncertainty came into his face as +he gazed, transfixed, over the heads of his hearers in the +direction of the Tower.</p> + +<p>Peter Brutus was approaching, at the head of a group +of aliens, all armed and marching in ominously good +order. Something in the face of Peter Brutus sent a +chill of apprehension into the very soul of the old +armourer.</p> + +<p>And well it may have done so.</p> + +<p>"One moment!" called out Peter Brutus, lifting his +hand imperatively. The speaker ceased his mouthings. +"Count Marlanx desires the immediate presence of the +following citizens at his office in the Tower. I shall call +off the names." He began with William Spantz. The +name of each of his associates in the Committee of Ten +followed. After them came a score of names, all of them +known to be supporters of the anarchist cause.</p> + +<p>"What is the business, Peter?" demanded William +Spantz.</p> + +<p>"Does it mean we are to begin so soon the establishing +of the new order—" began Anna Cromer, her face +aglow. Peter smiled wanly.</p> + +<p>"Do not ask me," he said, emphasising the pronoun. +"I am only commanded to bring the faithful few before +him."</p> + +<p>"But why the armed escort?" growled Julius Spantz, +who had spent an unhappy twenty-four hours in bondage.</p> + +<p>"To separate the wheat from the chaff," said Peter. +"Move on, good people, all you whose names were not +called." The order was to the few timid strangers who +were there because they had nowhere else to go. They +scattered like chaff.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later every member of the Committee of +Ten, except Peter Brutus, was behind lock and bar, together +with their shivering associates, all of them +dumbly muttering to themselves the awful sentence that +Marlanx had passed upon them.</p> + +<p>"You are to die at sunset. Graustark still knows how +to punish assassins. She will make an example of you +to-day that all creatures of your kind, the world over, +will not be likely to forget in a century to come. There +is no room in Graustark for anarchy. I shall wipe it +out to-day."</p> + +<p>"Sir, your promise!" gasped William Spantz. "We +are your friends—the true Party of—"</p> + +<p>"Enough! Do not speak again! Captain Brutus, you +will send criers abroad to notify the citizens that I, +Count Marlanx, have ordered the execution of the ringleaders +in the plot to dynamite the Prince. At sunset, +in the square. Away with the carrion!"</p> + +<p>Then it was, and not till then, that the Committee of +Ten found him out! Then it was that they came to +know Peter Brutus! What were their thoughts, we +dare not tell: their shrieks and curses were spent against +inpenetrable floors and walls. Baron Dangloss heard, +and, in time, understood. Even he shrank back and +shuddered.</p> + +<p>It has been said that Marlanx was a soldier. There is +one duty that the soldier in command never neglects: +the duty to those who fell while fighting bravely for or +against him. Sunday afternoon a force of men was set +to work burying the dead and clearing the pavements. +Those of his own nondescript army who gave up their +lives on the 26th were buried in the public cemeteries. +The soldiers of the Crown, as well as the military police, +were laid to rest in the national cemetery, with honours +befitting their rank. Each grave was carefully marked +and a record preserved. In this way Marlanx hoped +to obtain his first footing in the confidence and esteem +of the citizens. The unrecognisable corpse of Olga +Platanova was buried in quicklime outside the city walls. +There was something distinctly gruesome in the fact +that half a dozen deep graves were dug alongside hers, +hours before death came to the wretches who were to +occupy them.</p> + +<p>At three o'clock the Iron Count coolly sent messengers +to the homes of the leading merchants and bankers of +the city. They, with the priests, the doctors, the municipal +officers and the manufacturers were commanded to +appear before him at five o'clock for the purpose of +discussing the welfare of the city and its people. Hating, +yet fearing him, they came; not one but felt in his heart +that the old man was undisputed ruler of their destinies. +Hours of horror and despair, a night and a day of +bitter reflection, had brought the trembling populace to +the point of seeing clearly the whole miserable situation. +The reserves were powerless; the Royal Guard was besieged +and greatly outnumbered; the fortress was lost. +There was nothing for them to do but temporise. Time +alone could open the way to salvation.</p> + +<p>Marlanx stated his position clearly. He left no room +for doubt in their minds. The strings were in his hands: +he had but to pull them. The desire of his life was about +to be attained. Without hesitation he informed the +leading men of the city that he was to be the Prince of +Graustark.</p> + +<p>"I have the city," he said calmly. "The farms and +villages will fall in line. I do not worry over them. +In a very short time I shall have the Castle. The question +for you to decide for yourselves is this: will you be +content to remain here as thrifty, peaceable citizens, +protecting your fortunes and being protected by a man +and not by a child. If not, please say so. The alternative +is in the hands of the Crown. I am the Crown. The +Crown may at any time confiscate property and banish +malcontents and disturbers. A word to the wise, gentlemen. +Inside of a week we will have a new government. +You will not suffer under its administration. I should +be indeed a fool to destroy the credit or injure the integrity +of my own dominion. But, let me say this, +gentlemen," he went on after a pause, in which his +suavity gave way to harshness; "you may as well understand +at the outset that I expect to rule here. I will +rule Graustark or destroy her."</p> + +<p>The more courageous in his audience began to protest +against the high-handed manner in which he proposed +to treat them. Not a few declared that they would +never recognise him as a prince of the realm. He waited, +as a spider waits, until he thought they had gone far +enough. Then he held up his hand and commanded +silence.</p> + +<p>"Those of you who do not expect or desire to live +under my rule—which, I promise you, shall be a wise +one,—may leave the city for other lands just as soon +as my deputies have completed the formal transfer of +all your belongings to the Crown treasury—all, I say, +even to the minutest trifle. Permit me to add, in that +connection, gentlemen: the transfer will not be a prolonged +affair."</p> + +<p>They glared back at him and subsided into bitter +silence.</p> + +<p>"I am well aware that you love little Prince Robin. Ha! +You may not cheer here, gentlemen, under penalty of my +displeasure. It is quite right that you should, as loyal +subjects, love your Prince, whoever he may be. I shall +certainly expect it. Now, respecting young master +Robin: I have no great desire to kill him."</p> + +<p>He waited to see the effect of this brutal announcement. +His hearers stiffened and—yes, they held their breath.</p> + +<p>"He has one alternative—he and his lords. I trust +that you, as sensible gentlemen, will find the means to +convey to him your advice that he seize the opportunity +I shall offer him to escape with his life. No one really +wants to see the little chap die. Let me interrupt myself +to call to your attention the fact that I am punishing +the anarchists at sunset. This to convince you that +assassination will not be tolerated in Graustark. To +resume: the boy may return to America, where he belongs. +He is more of an American than one of us. I +will give him free and safe escort to the United States. +Certain of his friends may accompany him; others +whom I shall designate will be required to remain here +until I have disposed of their cases as I see fit. These +conditions I shall set forth in my manifesto to the +present occupant of the Castle. If he chooses to accept +my kindly terms, all well and good. If not, gentlemen, +I shall starve him out or blow the Castle down about +his smart little ears. You shudder! Well, I can't blame +you. I shudder myself sometimes when I think of it. +There will be a great deal of royal blood, you know. Ah, +that reminds me: It may interest you to hear that I +expect to establish a new nobility in Graustark. The +present house of lords is objectionable to me. I trust +I may now be addressing at least a few of the future +noble lords of Graustark. Good day, gentlemen. That +is all for the present. Kindly inform me if any of my +soldiers or followers overstep the bounds of prudence. +Rapine and ribaldry will not be tolerated."</p> + +<p>The dignitaries and great men of the city went away, +dazed and depressed, looking at each other from bloodshot +eyes. Not one friend had Marlanx in that group, +and he knew it well. He did not expect them to submit +at once or even remotely. They might have smiled, +whereas they frowned, if they could have seen him +pacing the floor of his office, the moment the doors closed +behind their backs, clenching his hands and cursing +furiously.</p> + +<p>At the Castle the deepest gloom prevailed. It was like +a nightmare to the beleaguered household, a dream from +which there seemed to be no awakening. Colonel Quinnox's +first act after posting his forces in position to +repel attacks from the now well-recognised enemy, was +to make sure of the safety of his royal master. Inside +the walls of the Castle grounds he, as commander of the +Royal Guard, ruled supreme. General Braze tore off +his own epaulets and presented himself to Quinnox as a +soldier of the file; lords and dukes, pages and ministers, +followed the example of the head of the War Department. +No one stood on the dignity of his position; no +one does, as a rule, with the executioner staring him in the +face. Every man took up arms for the defence of the +Castle, its Prince and its lovely women.</p> + +<p>Prince Robin, quite recovered from his fright, donned +the uniform of a Colonel of the Royal Dragoons, buckled +on his jewelled sword, and, with boyish zeal, demanded +Colonel Quinnox's reasons for not going forth to slay the +rioters.</p> + +<p>"What is the army for, Colonel Quinnox?" he asked +with impatient wonder.</p> + +<p>It was late in the afternoon and the Prince was seated +in the chair of state, presiding over the hurriedly called +Council meeting. Notably absent were Baron Dangloss +and the Duke of Perse. Chief officers of the Guard and +the commissioned men of the army were present—that +is, all of them who had not gone down under the treacherous fire.</p> + +<p>"Your Highness," said the Colonel bitterly, "the real +army is outside the walls, not inside. We are a pitiful +handful-less than three hundred men, all told, counting +the wounded. Count Marlanx heads an army of +several thousand. He—"</p> + +<p>"He wants to get in here so's he can kill me? Is that +so, Colonel Quinnox?" The Prince was very pale, but +quite calm.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I wouldn't put it just that way, your—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know. You can't fool me. I've always known +that he wants to kill me. But how can he? That's the +question; how can he when I've got the Royal Guard to +keep him from doing it? He can't whip the Royal +Guard. Nobody can. He ought to know that. He +must be awful stupid."</p> + +<p>His perfect, unwavering faith in the Guard was the +same that had grown up with every prince of Graustark +and would not be gainsaid. A score of hearts swelled +with righteous pride and as many scabbards rattled as +heels clicked and hands went up in salute.</p> + +<p>"Your Highness," said Quinnox, with a glance at his +fellow-officers, "you may rely upon it, Count Marlanx +will never reach you until he has slain every man in the +Royal Guard."</p> + +<p>"And in the army—our poor little army," added General +Braze.</p> + +<p>"Thank you," said the Prince. "You needn't have +told me. I knew it." He leaned back in the big chair, +almost slipping from the record books on which he sat, +a brave scowl on his face. "Gee, I wish he'd attack us +right now," he said, with ingenuous bravado.</p> + +<p>The council of war was not a lengthy one. The storm +that had arisen out of a perfectly clear sky was briefly +discussed in all its phases. No man there but realised the +seriousness of the situation. Count Halfont, who +seemed ten years older than when we last saw him, addressed +the Cabinet.</p> + +<p>"John Tullis is still outside the city walls. If he does +not fall into a trap through ignorance of the city's +plight, I firmly believe he will be able to organise an +army of relief among the peasants and villagers. They +are loyal. The mountaineers and shepherds, wild fellows +all, and the ones who have fallen into the spider's net. +Count Marlanx has an army of aliens; they are not even +revolutionists. John Tullis, if given the opportunity, +can sweep the city clear of them. My only fear is that +he may be tricked into ambush before we can reach him. +No doubt Marlanx, in devising a way to get him out of +the city, also thought of the means to keep him out."</p> + +<p>"We must get word to Tullis," cried several in a breath. +A dozen men volunteered to risk their lives in the attempt +to find the American in the hills. Two men were chosen—by +lot. They were to venture forth that very night.</p> + +<p>"My lords," said the Prince, as the Council was on the +point of dissolving, "is it all right for me to ask a question +now?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, Robin," said the Prime Minister.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'd like to know where Mr. King is."</p> + +<p>"He's safe, your Highness," said Quinnox.</p> + +<p>"Aunt Loraine is worried, that's all. She's sick, you +see—awful sick. Do you think Mr. King would be +good enough to walk by her window, so's she can see for +herself? She's in the royal bedchamber."</p> + +<p>"The royal bedchamber?" gasped the high chamberlain.</p> + +<p>"I gave up my bed right off, but she won't stay in it. +She sits in the window most of the time. It's all right +about the bed. I spoke to nurse about it. Besides, I +don't want to go to bed while there's any fighting going +on. So, you see, it's all right. Say, Uncle Caspar, may +I take a crack at old Marlanx with my new rifle if I +get a chance? I've been practising on the target range, +and Uncle Jack says I'm a reg'lar Buffalo Bill."</p> + +<p>Count Halfont unceremoniously hugged his wriggling +grand-nephew. A cheer went up from the others.</p> + +<p>"Long live Prince Robin!" shouted Count Vos Engo.</p> + +<p>Prince Robin looked abashed. "I don't think I could +hit him," he said with becoming modesty. They laughed +aloud. "But, say, don't forget about Mr. King. Tell +him I want him to parade most of the time in front of +my windows."</p> + +<p>"He has a weak ankle," began Colonel Quinnox lamely.</p> + +<p>"Very difficult for him to walk," said Vos Engo, biting +his lips.</p> + +<p>The Prince looked from face to face, suspicion in his +eyes. It dawned on him that they were evading the +point. A stubborn line appeared between his brows.</p> + +<p>"Then I command you, Colonel Quinnox, to give him +the best horse in the stables. I want him to ride."</p> + +<p>"It shall be as you command, your Highness."</p> + +<p>A few minutes later, his grand-uncle, the Prime +Minister, was carrying him down the corridor; Prince +Robin was perched upon the old man's shoulder, and was +a thoughtful mood.</p> + +<p>"Say, Uncle Caspar, Mr. King's all right, isn't he?"</p> + +<p>"He is a very brave and noble gentleman, Bobby. We +owe to his valour the life of the best boy in all the +world."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and Aunt Loraine owes him a lot, too. She says +so. She's been crying, Uncle Caspar. Say, has she +just got to marry Count Vos Engo?"</p> + +<p>"My boy, what put that question into your mind?"</p> + +<p>"She says she has to. I thought only princes and +princesses had to marry people they don't want to."</p> + +<p>"You should not believe all that you hear."</p> + +<p>Bobby was silent for twenty steps. Then he said: +"Well, I think she'll make an awful mistake if she lets +Mr. King get away."</p> + +<p>"My boy, we have other affairs to trouble us at present +without taking up the affairs of Miss Tullis."</p> + +<p>"Well, he saved her life, just like they do in story +books," protested the Prince.</p> + +<p>"Well, you run in and tell her this minute that Mr. +King sends his love to her and begs her to rest easy. +See if it doesn't cheer her up a bit."</p> + +<p>"Maybe she's worried about Uncle Jack. I never +thought about that," he faltered.</p> + +<p>"Uncle Jack will come out on top, never fear," cried +the old man.</p> + +<p>Half an hour later, Truxton King, shaven and shorn, +outfitted and polished, received orders to ride for twenty +minutes back and forth across the Plaza. He came +down from Colonel Quinnox's rooms in the officer's row, +considerably mystified, and mounted the handsome bay +that he had brought through the gates. Haddan, of +the Guard, rode with him to the Plaza, but could offer +no explanation for the curious command.</p> + +<p>Five times the now resentful American walked his horse +across the Plaza, directly in front of the terrace and the +great balconies. About him paced guardsmen, armed +and alert; on the outer edge of the parade ground a +company of soldiers were hurrying through the act of +changing the Guard; in the lower balcony excited men +and women were walking back and forth, paying not the +least attention to him. Above him frowned the grey, +lofty walls of the Castle. No one was in view on the +upper balcony, beyond which he had no doubt lay the +royal chambers. He had the mean, uncomfortable feeling +that people were peering at him from remote windows.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a small figure in bright red and gold and +waving a tiny sword appeared at the rail of the broad +upper gallery. Truxton blinked his eyes once or, twice +and then doffed his hat. The Prince was smiling eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" he called. Truxton drew rein directly below +him.</p> + +<p>"I trust your Highness has recovered from the shock +of to-day," he responded. "I have been terribly anxious. +Are you quite well?"</p> + +<p>"Quite well, thank you." He hesitated for a moment, +as if in doubt. Then: "Say, Mr. King, how's your +leg?"</p> + +<p>Truxton looked around in sudden embarrassment. A +number of distressed, white-faced ladies had paused in +the lower gallery and were staring at him in mingled +curiosity and alarm. He instantly wondered if Colonel +Quinnox's riding clothes were as good a fit as he had +been led to believe through Hobbs and others.</p> + +<p>"It's—it's fine, thank you," he called up, trying to +subdue his voice as much as possible.</p> + +<p>Bobby looked a trifle uncertain. His glance wavered +and a queer little wrinkle appeared between his eyes. +He lowered his voice when he next spoke.</p> + +<p>"Say, would you mind shouting that a little louder," +he called down, leaning well over the rail.</p> + +<p>Truxton flushed. He was pretty sure that the Prince +was not deaf. There was no way out of it, however, so +he repeated his communication.</p> + +<p>"It's all right, your Highness."</p> + +<p>Bobby gave a quick glance over his shoulder at one +of the broad windows. Truxton distinctly saw the blinds +close with a convulsive jerk.</p> + +<p>"Thanks! Much obliged! Good-bye!" sang out the +Prince, gleefully. He waved his hand and then hopped +off the chair on which he was standing. Truxton heard +his little heels clatter across the stone balcony. For a +moment he was nonplused.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm—By Jove! I understand!" He rode off +toward the barracks, his head swimming with joy, his +heart jumping like mad. At the edge of the parade +ground he turned in his saddle and audaciously lifted +his hat to the girl who, to his certain knowledge, was +standing behind the tell-tale blind.</p> + +<p>"Cheer up, Hobbs!" he sang out in his new-found +exuberance as he rode up to the dismal Englishman, +who moped in the shade of the stable walls. "Don't be +down-hearted. Look at me! Never say die, that's my +motto."</p> + +<p>"That's all very well, sir," said Hobbs, removing the +unlighted pipe from his lips, "but you 'aven't got a dog +and a parrot locked up in your rooms with no one to +feed them. It makes me sick, 'pon my soul, sir, to +think of them dying of thirst and all that, and me here +safe and sound, so to speak."</p> + +<p>That night Haddan and a fellow-subaltern attempted +to leave the Castle grounds by way of the private gate +in the western wall, only to be driven back by careful +watchers on the outside. A second attempt was made +at two o'clock. This time they went through the crypt +into the secret underground passage. As they crawled +forth into the blackest of nights, clear of the walls, +they were met by a perfect fusillade of rifle shots. Haddan's +companion was shot through the leg and arm and +it was with extreme difficulty that the pair succeeded in +regaining the passage and closing the door. No other +attempt was made that night. Sunday night a quick +sortie was made, it being the hope of the besieged that +two selected men might elude Marlanx's watch-dogs +during the melee that followed. Curiously enough, the +only men killed were the two who had been chosen to run +the gauntlet in the gallant, but ill-timed attempt to +reach John Tullis.</p> + +<p>On Monday morning the first direct word from Count +Marlanx came to the Castle. Under a flag of truce, two +of his men were admitted to the grounds. They presented +the infamous ultimatum of the Iron Count. In brief, it +announced the establishment of a dictatorship pending +the formal assumption of the crown by the conqueror. +With scant courtesy the Iron Count begged to inform +Prince Robin that his rule was at an end. Surrender +would result in his safe conduct to America, the home of +his father; defiance would just so surely end in death +for him and all of his friends. The Prince was given +twenty-four hours in which to surrender his person to +the new governor of the city. With the expiration of +the time limit mentioned, the Castle would be shelled from +the fortress, greatly as the dictator might regret the +destruction of the historic and well-beloved structure. +No one would be spared if it became necessary to bombard; +the rejection of his offer of mercy would be taken +as a sign that the defenders were ready to die for a lost +cause. He would cheerfully see to it that they died as +quickly as possible, in order that the course of government +might not be obstructed any longer than necessary.</p> + +<p>The defenders of the Castle tore his message in two and +sent it back to him without disfiguring it by a single +word in reply. The scornful laughter which greeted +the reading of the document by Count Halfont did not +lose any of its force in the report that the truce-bearers +carried, with considerable uneasiness, to the Iron +Count later on.</p> + +<p>No one in the Castle was deceived by Marlanx's promise +to provide safe conduct for the Prince. They knew +that the boy was doomed if he fell into the hands of this +iniquitous old schemer. More than that, there was not +a heart among them so faint that it was not confident +of eventual victory over the usurper. They could hold +out for weeks against starvation. Hope is an able provider.</p> + +<p>A single, distant volley at sunset had puzzled the men +on guard at the Castle. They had no means of knowing +that the Committee of Ten and its wretched friends +had been shot down like dogs in the Public Square. +Peter Brutus was in charge of the squad of executioners.</p> + +<p>Soon after the return of Marlanx's messengers to the +Tower, a number of carriages were observed approaching +in Castle Avenue. They were halted a couple of +hundred yards from the gates and once more a flag of +truce was presented. There was a single line from +Marlanx:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"I am sending indisputable witnesses to bear testimony +to the thoroughness of my conquest.</p> +<br /> +"MARLANX."<br /> +<br /> +</div> + +<p>Investigation convinced the captain of the Guard that +the motley caravan in the avenue was made up of loyal, +representative citizens from the important villages of +the realm. They were admitted to the grounds without +question.</p> + +<p>The Countess Prandeville of Ganlook, terribly agitated, +was one of the first to enter the haven of safety, +such as it was. After her came the mayors and the +magistrates of a dozen villages. Count Marlanx's reason +for delivering these people over to their friends in +the Castle was at once manifest.</p> + +<p>By the words of their mouths his almost complete +mastery of the situation was conveyed to the Prince's +defenders. In every instance the representative from +a village sorrowfully admitted that Marlanx's men were +in control. Ganlook, an ancient stronghold, had been +taken without a struggle by a handful of men. The +Countess's husband was even now confined in his own +castle under guard.</p> + +<p>The news was staggering. Count Halfont had based +his strongest hopes on the assistance that would naturally +come from the villages. Moreover, the strangely +commissioned emissaries cast additional gloom over the +situation by the report that mountaineers, herdsmen and +woodchoppers in the north were flocking to the assistance +of the Iron Count, followed by hordes of outlaws +from the Axphain hills. They were swarming into the +city. These men had always been thorns in the sides of +the Crown's peace-makers.</p> + +<p>"It is worse than I thought," said Count Halfont, after +listening to the words of the excited magistrates. "Are +there no loyal men outside these walls?"</p> + +<p>"Thousands, sir, but they are not organised. They +have no leader, and but little with which to fight against +such a force."</p> + +<p>"It is hard to realise that a force of three or four thousand +desperadoes has the power to defy an entire kingdom. +A city of 75,000 people in the hands of hirelings! +The shame of it!"</p> + +<p>Truxton King was leaning against a column not far +from the little group, nervously pulling away at the +pipe Quinnox had given him. As if impelled by a common +thought, a half dozen pairs of eyes were turned in +his direction. Their owners looked as quickly away, +again moved by a common thought.</p> + +<p>The Minister of Mines gave utterance to a single sentence +that might well have been called the epitome of +that shrewd, concentrated thought:</p> + +<p>"There must be some one who can get to John Tullis +before it is too late."</p> + +<p>They looked at one another and then once more at the +American who had come among them, avowedly in quest +of adventure.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX" />CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>TRUXTON EXACTS A PROMISE</h3> + + +<p>Truxton King had been in a resentful frame of mind +for nearly forty-eight hours. In the first place, he had +not had so much as a single glimpse of the girl he now +worshipped with all his heart. In the second place, he +had learned, with unpleasant promptness, that Count +Vos Engo was the officer in command of the House +Guard, a position as gravely responsible as it was honourable. +The cordon about the Castle was so tightly drawn +in these perilous hours that even members of the household +were subjected to examination on leaving or entering.</p> + +<p>Truxton naturally did not expect to invade the Castle +in search of the crumb of comfort he so ardently desired; +he did not, however, dream that Vos Engo would deny +him the privilege of staring at a certain window from a +rather prim retreat in a far corner of the Plaza.</p> + +<p>He had, of course, proffered his services to Colonel +Quinnox. The Colonel, who admired the Americans, +gravely informed him that there was no regular duty +to which he could be assigned, but that he would expect +him to hold himself ready for any emergency. In case +of an assault, he was to report to Count Vos Engo.</p> + +<p>"We will need our bravest men at the Castle," he had +said. Truxton glowed under the compliment. "In the +meantime, Mr. King, regain your strength in the park. +You show the effect of imprisonment. Your adventures +have been most interesting, but I fancy they invite rest +for the present."</p> + +<p>It was natural that this new American should become +an object of tremendous interest to every one in and +about the Castle. The story of his mishaps and his +prowess was on every lip; his timely appearance in +Regengetz Circus was regarded in the light of divine +intervention, although no one questioned the perfectly +human pluck that brought it about. Noble ladies smiled +upon him in the park, to which they now repaired with +timorous hearts; counts and barons slapped him on the +back and doughty guardsmen actually saluted him with +admiration in their eyes.</p> + +<p>But he was not satisfied. Loraine had not come forward +with a word of greeting or relief; in fact, she had +not appeared outside the Castle doors. Strangely +enough, with the entire park at his disposal, he chose to +frequent those avenues nearest the great balconies. +More than once he visited the grotto where he had first +seen her; but it was not the same. The occasional crack +of a rifle on the walls no longer fired him with the +interest he had felt in the beginning. Forty-eight +hours had passed and she still held aloof. What could +it mean? Was she ill? Had she collapsed after the +frightful strain?</p> + +<p>Worse than anything else: was she devoting all of her +time to Count Vos Engo?</p> + +<p>Toward dusk on Monday, long after the arrival of the +refugees, he sat in gloomy contemplation of his own +unhappiness, darkly glowering upon the unfriendly +portals from a distant stone bench.</p> + +<p>A brisk guardsman separated himself from the knot +of men at the Castle doors and crossed the Plaza toward +him.</p> + +<p>"Aha," thought Truxton warmly, "at last she is sending +a message to me. Perhaps she's—no, she couldn't +be sending for me to come to her."</p> + +<p>Judge his dismay and anger when the soldier, a bit +shamefaced himself, briefly announced that Count Vos +Engo had issued an order against loitering in close +proximity to the Castle. Mr. King was inside the limit +described in the order. Would he kindly retire to a +more distant spot, etc.</p> + +<p>Truxton's cheek burned. He saw in an instant that +the order was meant for him and for no one else—he +being the only outsider likely to come under the head +of "loiterer." A sharp glance revealed the fact that +not only were the officers watching the little scene, but +others in the balcony were looking on.</p> + +<p>Resisting the impulse to argue the point, he hastily +lifted his hat to the spectators and turned into the +avenue without a word.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry, sir," mentioned the guardsman earnestly.</p> + +<p>Truxton turned to him with a frank smile, meant for +the group at the steps. "Please tell Count Vos Engo +that I am the last person in the world to disregard +discipline at a time like this."</p> + +<p>His glance again swept the balcony, suddenly becoming +fixed on a couple near the third column. Count Vos +Engo and Loraine Tullis were standing there together, +unmistakably watching his humiliating departure. To +say that Truxton swore softly as he hurried off through +the trees would be unnecessarily charitable.</p> + +<p>The next morning he encountered Vos Engo near the +grotto. Two unsuccessful attempts to leave the Castle +grounds had been made during the night. Truxton had +aired his opinion to Mr. Hobbs after breakfast.</p> + +<p>"I'll bet my head I could get away with it," he had +said, doubly scornful because of a sleepless night. "They +go about it like a lot of chumps. No wonder they are +chased back."</p> + +<p>Catching sight of Vos Engo, he hastened across the +avenue and caught up to him. The Count was apparently +deep in thought.</p> + +<p>"Good morning," said Truxton from behind. The +other whirled quickly. He did not smile as he eyed the +tall American. "I haven't had a chance to thank you +for coming back for me last Saturday. Allow me to +say that it was a very brave thing to do. If I appeared +ungrateful at the time, I'm sure you understood my +motives."</p> + +<p>"The whole matter is of no consequence, Mr. King," +said the other quietly.</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless, I consider it my duty to thank you. I +want to get it out of my system. Having purged myself +of all that, I now want to tell you of a discovery that +I made last evening."</p> + +<p>"I am not at all interested."</p> + +<p>"You will be when I have told you, however, because +it concerns you."</p> + +<p>"I do not like your words, Mr. King, nor the way in +which you glare at me."</p> + +<p>"I'm making it easier to tell you the agreeable news, +Count Vos Engo; that's all. You'll be delighted to +hear that I thought of you nearly all night and still +feel that I have not been able to do you full justice."</p> + +<p>"Indeed?" with a distinct uplifting of the eyebrows.</p> + +<p>"Take your hand off your sword, please. Some other +time, perhaps, but not in these days when we need men, +not cripples. I'll tell you what I have discovered and +then we'll drop the matter until some other time. We +can afford a physical delay, but it would be heartless to +keep you in mental suspense. Frankly, Count, I have +made the gratifying discovery that you are a damned +cur."</p> + +<p>Count Vos Engo went very white. He drew his dapper +figure up to its full height, swelled his Robin Redbreast +coat to the bursting point, and allowed his right hand +to fly to his sword. Then, as suddenly, he folded his +arms and glared at Truxton.</p> + +<p>"As you say, there is another and a better time. We +need dogs as well as men in these days."</p> + +<p>"I hope you won't forget that I thanked you for coming +back last Saturday."</p> + +<p>The Count turned and walked rapidly away.</p> + +<p>Truxton leaned against the low wall alongside the +Allée. "I don't know that I've helped matters any," he +said to himself ruefully. "He'll not let me get within +half a mile of the Castle after this. If she doesn't come +out for a stroll in the park, I fancy I'll never see her—Heigho! +I wish something would happen! Why +doesn't Marlanx begin bombarding? It's getting +devilish monotonous here."</p> + +<p>He strolled off to the stables, picking up Mr. Hobbs +on the way.</p> + +<p>"Hobbs," he said, "we've got to find John Tullis, +that's all there is to it." He was scowling fiercely at +a most inoffensive lawn-mower in the grass at the left.</p> + +<p>"I daresay, sir," said Mr. Hobbs with sprightly decisiveness. +"He's very much needed."</p> + +<p>"I'm going to need him before long as my second."</p> + +<p>"Your second, sir? Are you going to fight a duel?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose so," lugubriously. "It's too much to expect +him to meet me with bare fists. Oh, Hobbs, I wish we +could arrange it for bare knucks!" He delivered a +mighty swing at an invisible adversary. Hobbs's hat +fell off with the backward jerk of surprise.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my word!" he exclaimed admiringly, "wot a +punch you've got!"</p> + +<p>Later on, much of his good humour was restored and +his vanity pleased by a polite request from Count +Halfont to attend an important council in the "Room +of Wrangles" that evening at nine.</p> + +<p>Very boldly he advanced upon the Castle a few +minutes before the appointed hour. He went alone, that +he might show a certain contempt for Count Vos Engo. +Notwithstanding the fact that he started early enough +for the Chamber, he was distressingly late for the +meeting.</p> + +<p>He came upon Loraine Tullis at the edge of the +Terrace. She was walking slowly in the soft shadows +beyond the row of lights on the lower gallery. King +would have passed her without recognition, so dim was +the light in this enchanted spot, had not his ear caught +the sound of a whispered exclamation. At the same +time the girl stopped abruptly in the darkest shadow. +He knew her at a glance, this slim girl in spotless white.</p> + +<p>"Loraine!" he whispered, reaching her side in two +bounds. She put out her hands and he clasped them. +A quick, hysterical little laugh came from her lips. +Plainly, she was confused. "I've been dying for a +glimpse of you. Do you think you've treated me—"</p> + +<p>"Don't, Truxton," she pleaded, suddenly serious. She +sent a swift glance toward the balconies. "You must +not come here. I saw—well, you know. I was so +ashamed. I was so sorry."</p> + +<p>He still held her hands. His heart was throbbing +furiously.</p> + +<p>"Yes, they ordered me to move on, as if I were a common +loafer," he said, with a soft chuckle. "I'm used +to it, however. They ran me out of Meshed for taking +snapshots; they banished me from Damascus, and they +all but kicked me out of Jerusalem—I won't say why. +But where have you kept yourself? Why have you +avoided me? After getting the Prince to parade me +in front of your windows, too. It's dirt mean, Loraine."</p> + +<p>"I have been ill, Truxton—truly, I have," she said +quickly, uneasily.</p> + +<p>"See here, what's wrong? You are in trouble. I can +tell by your manner. Tell me—trust me."</p> + +<p>"I am worried so dreadfully about John," she faltered.</p> + +<p>"That isn't all," he declared. "There's something +else. What promise did you make to Vos Engo last +Saturday after—well, if you choose to recall it—after +I brought you back to him—what did you promise +him?"</p> + +<p>"Don't be cruel, Truxton," she pleaded. "I cannot +forget all you have done for me."</p> + +<p>"You told Vos Engo to ride back and pick me up," +he persisted. "He told me in so many words. Now, I +want a plain answer, Loraine. Did you promise to +reward him if he—well, if he saved me from the mob?"</p> + +<p>She was breathlessly silent for a moment. "No," she +said, in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"What was it, then? I must know, Loraine." He was +bending over her, imperiously.</p> + +<p>"I am very—oh, so very unhappy, Truxton," she +murmured. He was on the point of clasping her in his +arms and kissing her. But he thought better of it.</p> + +<p>"I came near spoiling everything just now," he +whispered hoarsely.</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"I almost kissed you, Loraine,—I swear it was hard +to keep from it. That would have spoiled everything."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it would," she agreed quickly.</p> + +<p>"I'm not going to kiss you until you have told me you +love Vos Engo."</p> + +<p>"I—I don't understand," she cried, drawing back and +looking up into his face with bewildered eyes.</p> + +<p>"Because then I'll be sure that you love me."</p> + +<p>"Be sensible, Truxton."</p> + +<p>"I'll know that you promised to love him if he'd save +me. It's as clear as day to me. You <i>did</i> tell him you'd +marry him if he got me to a place of safety."</p> + +<p>"No. I <i>refused</i> to marry him if he did not save you. +Oh, Truxton, I am so miserable. What is to become of +all of us? What is to become of John, and Bobby—and +you?"</p> + +<p>"I—I think I'll kiss you now, Loraine," he whispered +almost tremulously. "God, how I love you, little +darling!"</p> + +<p>"Don't!" she whispered, resolutely pushing him away +after a sweet second of indecision. "I cannot—I cannot, +Truxton dear. Don't ask me to—to do that. Not +now, please—not now!"</p> + +<p>He stiffened; his hands dropped to his sides, but there +was joy in his voice.</p> + +<p>"I can wait," he said gently. "It's only a matter of +a few days; and I—I won't make it any harder for you +just now. I think I understand. You've—you've sort +of pledged yourself to that—to him, and you don't +think it fair to—well, to any of us. I'm including you, +you see. I know you don't love him, and I know that +you're going to love me, even if you don't at this very +instant. I'm not a very stupid person, after all. I can +see through things. I saw through it all when he came +back for me. That's why I jumped from his horse and +took my chances elsewhere. He did a plucky thing, +Loraine, but I—I couldn't let it go as he intended it to +be. Confound him, I would have died a thousand times +over rather than have you sacrifice yourself in that way. +It was splendid of you, darling, but—but very foolish. +You've got yourself into a dreadful mess over it. I've +got to rescue you all over again. This time, thank the +Lord, from a Castle."</p> + +<p>She could not help smiling. His joyousness would not +be denied.</p> + +<p>"How splendid you are!" she said, her voice thrilling +with a tone that could not be mistaken.</p> + +<p>He put his hands upon her shoulders and looked down +into the beautiful, upturned face, a genuinely serious +note creeping into his voice when he spoke again.</p> + +<p>"Don't misconstrue my light-heartedness, dearest. It's +a habit with me, not a fault. I see the serious side to +your affair—as you view it. You have promised to +marry Vos Engo. You'll have to break that promise. +He didn't save me. Colonel Quinnox would have accomplished +it, in any event. He can't hold you to such +a silly pledge. You—you haven't by any chance told +him that you love him?" He asked this in sudden +anxiety.</p> + +<p>"Really, Truxton, I cannot discuss—"</p> + +<p>"No, I'm quite sure you haven't," he announced contentedly. +"You couldn't have done that, I know. Now, +I want you to make me a promise that you'll keep."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Truxton—don't ask me to say that I'll be your—" +She stopped, painfully embarrassed.</p> + +<p>"That will come later," he said consolingly. "I want +you to promise, on your sacred word of honour, that +you'll kiss no man until you've kissed me."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" she murmured, utterly speechless.</p> + +<p>"Promise!"</p> + +<p>"I—I cannot promise that," she said in tones almost +inaudible. "I am not sure that I'll ever—ever kiss anybody. +How silly you are!"</p> + +<p>"I'll make exception in the case of your brother—and, +yes, the Prince."</p> + +<p>"I'll not make such a promise," she cried.</p> + +<p>"Then, I'll be hanged if I'll save you from the ridiculous +mess you've gotten yourself into," he announced +with finality. "Moreover, you're not yet safe from old +Marlanx. Think it over, my—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, he cannot seize the Castle—it is impossible!" she +cried in sudden terror.</p> + +<p>"I'm not so sure about that," he said laconically.</p> + +<p>"What is it you really want me to say?" she asked, +looking up with sudden shyness in her starry eyes.</p> + +<p>"That you love me—and me only, Loraine," he +whispered.</p> + +<p>"I will not say it," she cried, breaking away from +him. "But," as she ran to the steps, a delicious tremor +in her voice—"I <i>will</i> consider the other thing you ask."</p> + +<p>"Darling—don't go," he cried, in eager, subdued +tones, but she already was half way across the balcony. +In a moment she was gone. "Poor, harassed little +sweetheart!" he murmured, with infinite tenderness. For +a long time he stood there, looking at the window +through which she had disappeared, his heart full of +song.</p> + +<p>Then, all at once, he remembered the meeting. "Great +Scott!" in dismay. "I'm late for the pow-wow." A +twisted smile stole over his face. "I wonder how they've +managed to get along without me." Then he presented +himself, somewhat out of breath, to the attendants at +the south doors, where he had been directed to report. A +moment later he was in the Castle of Graustark, following +a stiff-backed soldier through mediæval halls of +marble, past the historic staircase, down to the door of +the council chamber. He was filled with the most delicious +sensation of awe and reverence. Only in his +dearest dreams had he fancied himself in these cherished +halls. And now he was there—actually treading the +same mosaic floors that had known the footsteps of +countless princes and princesses, his nostrils tingling +with the rare incense of five centuries, his blood leaping +to the call of a thousand romances. The all but mythical +halls of Graustark—the sombre, vaulted, time-defying +corridors of his fancy. Somewhere in this vast pile of +stone was the girl he loved. Each shadowy nook, each +velvety recess, seemed to glow with the wizardry of love-lamps +that had been lighted with the building of the +Castle. How many hearts had learned the wistful lesson +in these aged halls? How many loves had been +sheltered here?</p> + +<p>He walked on air. He pinched himself—and even +then was not certain that he was awake. It was too +good to be true.</p> + +<p>He was ushered into a large, sedately furnished room. +A score of men were there before him—sitting or standing +in attitudes of attention, listening to the words of +General Braze. King's entrance was the signal for an +immediate transfer of interest. The General bowed +most politely and at once turned to Count Halfont with +the remark that he had quite finished his suggestions. +The Prime Minister came forward to greet the momentarily +shy American. King had time to note that the +only man who denied him a smile of welcome was Count +Vos Engo. He promptly included his rival in his own +sweeping, self-conscious smile.</p> + +<p>"The Council has been extolling you, Mr. King," said +the Prime Minister, leading him to a seat near his own. +Truxton sat down, bewildered. "We may some day +grow large enough to adequately appreciate the invaluable, +service you have performed in behalf of Graustark."</p> + +<p>Truxton blushed. He could think of nothing to say, +except: "I'm sorry to have been so late. I was detained."</p> + +<p>Involuntarily he glanced at Vos Engo. That gentleman +started, a curious light leaping into his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Mr. King, we have asked you here for the purpose of +hearing the full story of your experiences during the +past two weeks, if you will be so good as to relate them. +We have had them piecemeal. I need not tell you that +Graustark is in the deepest peril. If there is a single +suggestion that you can make that will help her to-night, +I assure you that it will be given the most grateful +consideration. Graustark has come to know and +respect the resourcefulness and courage of the American +gentleman. We have seen him at his best."</p> + +<p>"I have really done no more than to—er—save my +own neck," said Truxton simply. "Any one might be +excused for doing the same. Graustark owes a great +deal more to Miss Tullis than it does to me, believe me, +my lords. She had the courage, I the strength."</p> + +<p>"Be assured of our attitude toward Miss Tullis," said +Halfont in reply. "Graustark loves her. It can do no +more than that. It is from Miss Tullis that we have +learned the extent of your valorous achievements. Ah, +my dear young friend, she has given you a fair name. +She tells us of a miracle and we are convinced."</p> + +<p>Truxton stammered his remonstrances, but glowed with +joy and pride.</p> + +<p>"Here is the situation in a nutshell," went on the Prime +Minister. "We are doomed unless succor reaches us +from the outside. We have discussed a hundred projects. +While we are inactive, Count Marlanx is gaining +more power and a greater hold over the people of the +city. We have no means of communication with Prince +Dantan of Dawsbergen, who is our friend. We seem +unable to get warning to John Tullis, who, if given +time, might succeed in collecting a sufficient force of +loyal countrymen to harass and eventually overthrow +the Dictator. Unless he is reached before long, John +Tullis and his combined force of soldiers will be ambushed +and destroyed. I am loth to speak of another +alternative that has been discussed at length by the +ministers and their friends. The Duke of Perse, from +a bed of pain and anguish, has counselled us to take +steps in the direction I am about to speak of. You see, +we are taking you into our confidence, Mr. King.</p> + +<p>"We can appeal to Russia in this hour of stress. +Moreover, we may expect that help will be forthcoming. +But we will have to make an unpleasant sacrifice. Russia +is eager to take over our new issue of railway bonds. +Hitherto, we have voted against disposing of the bonds +in that country, the reason being obvious. St. Petersburg +wants a new connecting line with her possessions +in Afghanistan. Our line will provide a most direct +route—a cut-off, I believe they call it. Last year the +Grand Duke Paulus volunteered to provide the money +for the construction of the line from Edelweiss north +to Balak on condition that Russia be given the right to +use the line in connection with her own roads to the +Orient. You may see the advantage in this to Russia. +Mr. King, if I send word to the Grand Duke Paulus, +agreeing to his terms, which still remain open to us, +signing away a most valuable right in what we had +hoped would be our own individual property, we have +every reason to believe that he will send armed forces +to our relief, on the pretext that Russia is defending +properties of her own. That is one way in which we +may oust Count Marlanx. The other lies in the ability +of John Tullis to give battle to him with our own people +carrying the guns. I am confident that Count Marlanx +will not bombard the Castle except as a last resort. He +will attempt to starve us into submission first; but he +will not destroy property if he can help it. I have been +as brief as possible. Lieutenant Haddan has told us +quite lately of a remark you made which he happened to +overhear. If I quote him correctly, you said to the +Englishman Hobbs that you could get away with it, +meaning, as I take it, that you could succeed in reaching +John Tullis. The remark interested me, coming as it +did from one so resourceful. May I not implore you to +tell us how you would go about it?"</p> + +<p>Truxton had turned a brick red. Shame and mortification +surged within him. He was cruelly conscious of an +undercurrent of irony in the Premier's courteous request. +For an instant he was sorely crushed. A low +laugh from the opposite side of the room sent a shaft +to his soul. He looked up. Vos Engo was still smiling. +In an instant the American's blood boiled; his manner +changed like a flash; blind, unreasoning bravado succeeded +embarrassment.</p> + +<p>He faced Count Halfont coolly, almost impudently.</p> + +<p>"I think I was unfortunate enough to add that your +men were going about it—well, like amateurs," he said, +with a frank smile. "I meant no offense." Then he +arose suddenly, adjusted his necktie with the utmost +<i>sang froid</i>, and announced:</p> + +<p>"I did say I could get to John Tullis. If you like, +I'll start to-night."</p> + +<p>His words created a profound impression, they came +so abruptly. The men stared at him, then at each +other. It was as if he had read their thoughts and had +jumped at once to the conclusion that they were baiting +him. Every one began talking at once. Soon some +one began to shake his hand. Then there were cheers +and a dozen handshakings. Truxton grimly realised +that he had done just what they had expected him to do. +He tried to look unconcerned.</p> + +<p>"You will require a guide," said Colonel Quinnox, who +had been studying the <i>degage</i> American in the most +earnest manner.</p> + +<p>"Send for Mr. Hobbs, please," said Truxton.</p> + +<p>A messenger was sent post haste to the barracks. The +news already was spreading throughout the Castle. The +chamber door was wide open and men were coming and +going. Eager women were peering through the doorway +for a glimpse of the American.</p> + +<p>"There should be three of us," said King, addressing +the men about him. "One of us is sure to get away."</p> + +<p>"There is not a man here—or in the service—who will +not gladly accompany you, Mr. King," cried General +Braze quickly.</p> + +<p>"Count Vos Engo is the man I would choose, if I may +be permitted the honour of naming my companion," +said Truxton, grinning inwardly with a malicious joy.</p> + +<p>Vos Engo turned a yellowish green. His eyes bulged.</p> + +<p>"I—I am in command of the person of his Royal +Highness," he stammered, suddenly going very red.</p> + +<p>"I had forgotten your present occupation," said Truxton +quietly. "Pray pardon the embarrassment I may +have caused you. After all, I think Hobbs will do. +He knows the country like a book. Besides, his business +in the city must be very dull just now. He'll be +glad to have the chance to personally conduct me for a +few days. As an American tourist, I must insist, gentlemen, +on being personally conducted by a man from +Cook's."</p> + +<p>They did not know whether to laugh or to treat it as +a serious announcement.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hobbs came. That is to say, he was produced. +It is doubtful if Mr. Hobbs ever fully recovered from +the malady commonly known as stage fright. He had +never been called Mr. Hobbs by a Prime Minister before, +nor had he ever been asked in person by a Minister +of War if he had a family at home. Moreover, no assemblage +of noblemen had ever condescended to unite in +three cheers for him. Afterward Truxton King was +obliged to tell him that he had unwaveringly volunteered +to accompany him on the perilous trip to the hills. Be +sure of it, Mr. Hobbs was not in a mental condition +for many hours to even remotely comprehend what had +taken place. He only knew that he had been invited, +as an English <i>gentleman</i>, to participate in a council of +war.</p> + +<p>But Mr. Hobbs was not the kind to falter, once he had +given his word; however hazy he may have been at the +moment, he knew that he had volunteered to do something. +Nor did it seem to surprise him when he finally +found out what it was.</p> + +<p>"We'll be off at midnight, Hobbs," said Truxton, feeling +in his pocket for the missing watch.</p> + +<p>"As you say, Mr. King, just as you say," said Hobbs +with fine indifference.</p> + +<p>As Truxton was leaving the Castle ten minutes later, +Hobbs having gone before to see to the packing of +food-bags and the filling of flasks, a brisk, eager-faced +young attendant hurried up to him.</p> + +<p>"I bear a message from his Royal Highness," said the +attendant, detaining him.</p> + +<p>"He should be sound asleep at this time," said Truxton, +surprised.</p> + +<p>"His Royal Highness insists on staying awake as long +as possible, sir. It is far past his bedtime, but these +are troublesome times, he says. Every man should do +his part. Prince Robin has asked for you, sir."</p> + +<p>"How's that?"</p> + +<p>"He desires you to appear before him at once, sir."</p> + +<p>"In—in the audience chamber?"</p> + +<p>"In his bedchamber, sir. He is very sleepy, but says +that you are to come to him before starting away on +your mission of danger."</p> + +<p>"Plucky little beggar!" cried Truxton, his heart swelling +with love for the royal youngster.</p> + +<p>"Sir!" exclaimed the attendant, his eyes wide with +amazement and reproof.</p> + +<p>"I'll see him," said the other promptly, as if he were +granting the audience.</p> + +<p>He followed the perplexed attendant up the grand +staircase, across thickly carpeted halls in which posed +statuesque soldiers of the Royal Guard, to the door of +the Prince's bedchamber. Here he was confronted by +Count Vos Engo.</p> + +<p>"Enter," said Vos Engo, with very poor grace, standing +aside. The sentinels grounded their arms and Truxton +King passed into the royal chamber, alone.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX" />CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>BY THE WATER-GATE</h3> + + +<p>It was a vast, lofty apartment, regal in its subdued +lights. An enormous, golden bed with gorgeous hangings +stood far down the room. So huge was this royal +couch that Truxton at first overlooked the figure sitting +bolt upright in the middle of it. The tiny occupant +called out in a very sleepy voice:</p> + +<p>"Here I am, Mr. King. Gee, I hate a bed as big as +this. They just make me sleep in it."</p> + +<p>An old woman advanced from the head of the couch +and motioned Truxton to approach.</p> + +<p>"I am deeply honoured, your Highness," said the +visitor, bowing very low. Through the windows he +could see motionless soldiers standing guard in the +balcony.</p> + +<p>"Come over here, Mr. King. Nurse won't let me get +up. Excuse my nighty, will you, please? I'm to have +pajamas next winter."</p> + +<p>Truxton advanced to the side of the bed. His eyes +had swept the room in search of the one person he +wanted most to see of all in the world. An old male +servitor was drawing the curtains at the lower end of +the room. There was no one else there, except the +nurse. They seemed as much a part of the furnishings +of this room as if they had been fixtures from the +beginning.</p> + +<p>"I am sure you will like them," said Truxton, wondering +whether she were divinely secreted in one of the +great, heavily draped window recesses. She had been +in this room but recently. A subtle, delicate, enchanting +perfume that he had noticed earlier in the evening—ah, +he would never forget it.</p> + +<p>The Prince's legs were now hanging over the edge of +the bed. His eyes were dancing with excitement; sleep +was momentarily routed.</p> + +<p>"Say, Mr. King, I wish I was going with you to find +Uncle Jack. You will find him, won't you? I'm going +to say it in my prayers to-night and every night. They +won't hardly let me leave this room. It's rotten luck. +I want to fight, too."</p> + +<p>"We are all fighting for you, Prince Robin."</p> + +<p>"I want you to find Uncle Jack, Mr. King," went on +Bobby eagerly. "And tell him I didn't mean it when +I banished him the other day. I really and truly didn't." +He was having difficulty in keeping back the tears.</p> + +<p>"I shall deliver the message, your Highness," said +Truxton, his heart going out to the unhappy youngster. +"Rest assured of that, please. Go to sleep and dream +that I have found him and am bringing him back to +you. The dream will come true."</p> + +<p>"Are you sure?" brightening perceptibly.</p> + +<p>"Positively."</p> + +<p>"Americans always do what they say they will," said +the boy, his eyes snapping. "Here's something for you +to take with you, Mr. King. It's my lucky stone. It +always gives good luck. Of course, you must promise +to bring it back to me. It's an omen."</p> + +<p>He unclasped his small fingers; in the damp palm lay +one of those peculiarly milky, half-transparent pebbles, +common the world over and of value only to small, +impressionable boys. Truxton accepted it with profound +gravity.</p> + +<p>"I found it last 4th of July, when we were celebrating +out there in the park. I'm always going to have a 4th +of July here. Don't you lose it, Mr. King, and you'll +have good luck. Baron Dangloss says it's the luckiest +kind of a stone. And when you come back, Mr. King, +I'm going to knight you. I'd do it now, only Aunt +Loraine says you'd be worrying about your title all the +time and might be 'stracted from your mission. I'm +going to make a baron of you. That's higher than a +count in Graustark. Vos Engo is only a count."</p> + +<p>Truxton started. He looked narrowly into the frank, +engaging eyes of the boy in the nighty.</p> + +<p>"I shall be overwhelmed," he said. Then his hand went +to his mouth in the vain effort to cover the smile that +played there.</p> + +<p>"My mother used to say that American girls liked +titles," said the Prince with ingenuous candor.</p> + +<p>"Yes?" He hoped that she was eavesdropping.</p> + +<p>"Nurse said that I was not to keep you long, Mr. +King," said the Prince ruefully. "I suppose you are +very busy getting ready. I just wanted to give you my +lucky stone and tell you about being a baron. I won't +have any luck till you come back. Tell Mr. Hobbs I'm +thinking of making him a count. You're awful brave, +Mr. King."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Prince Robin. May I—" he glanced uneasily +at the distant nurse—"may I ask how your +Aunt Loraine is feeling?"</p> + +<p>"She acted very funny when I sent for you. I'm worried +about her."</p> + +<p>"What did she do, your Highness?"</p> + +<p>"She rushed off to her room. I think, Mr. King, she +was getting ready to cry or something. You see, she's +in trouble."</p> + +<p>"In trouble?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I can't tell you about it."</p> + +<p>"She's worried about her brother, of course—and +you."</p> + +<p>"I just wish I could tell you—no, I won't. It wouldn't +be fair," Bobby said, checking himself resolutely. "She's +awful proud of you. I'm sure she likes you, Mr. King."</p> + +<p>"I'm very, very glad to hear that."</p> + +<p>Bobby had great difficulty in keeping his most secret +impressions to himself. In fact, he floundered painfully +in an attack on diplomacy.</p> + +<p>"You should have seen her when Uncle Caspar came +in to say you were going off to find her brother. She +cried. Yes, sir, she did. She kissed me and—but you +don't like to hear silly things about girls, do you? Great +big men never do."</p> + +<p>"I've heard enough to make me want to do something +very silly myself," said Truxton, radiant. "I—I don't +suppose I could—er—see your Aunt Loraine for a +few minutes?"</p> + +<p>"I think not. She said she just—now, you mustn't +mind her, Mr. King—she just couldn't bear it, that's +all. She told me to say she'd pray for you and—Oh, +Mr. King, I do hope she won't marry that other man!"</p> + +<p>Truxton bent his knee. "Your Highness, as it seems +I am not to see her, and as you seem to be the very best +friend I have, I should very much like to ask a great +favour of you. Will you take this old ring of mine +and wish it on her finger just as soon as I have left +your presence?"</p> + +<p>"How did you know she was coming in again?" in +wide-eyed wonder. "Excuse me. I shouldn't ask questions. +What shall I wish?" It was the old ring that +had come from Spantz's shop. The Prince promptly hid +it beneath the pillow.</p> + +<p>"I'll leave that to you, my best of friends."</p> + +<p>"I bet it'll be a good wish, all right. I know what to +wish."</p> + +<p>"I believe you do. Would you mind giving her something +else from me?" He hesitated before venturing the +second request. Then, overswept by a warm, sweet impulse, +he stepped forward, took the boy's face between +his eager hands, and pressed a kiss upon his forehead. +"Give her that for me, will you, Prince Robin Goodfellow."</p> + +<p>Bobby beamed. "But I never kiss her <i>there!</i>"</p> + +<p>"I shall be ten thousand times obliged, your Highness, +if you will deliver it in the usual place."</p> + +<p>"I'll do it!" almost shouted the Prince. Then he +clapped his hand over his mouth and looked, pop-eyed +with apprehension, toward the nurse.</p> + +<p>"Then, good-bye and God bless you," said Truxton. +"I must be off. Your Uncle Jack is waiting for me, up +there in the hills."</p> + +<p>Bobby's eyes filled with tears. "Oh, Mr. King, please +give him my love and make him hurry back. I—I need +him awful!"</p> + +<p>Truxton found Mr. Hobbs in a state bordering on +collapse.</p> + +<p>"I say, Mr. King, it's all right to say we'll go, but +how the deuce are we to do it? My word, there's no more +chance of getting out of the—"</p> + +<p>"Listen, Hobbs: we're going to swim out," said Truxton. +He was engaged in stuffing food into a knapsack. +Colonel Quinnox and Haddan had been listening to +Hobbs's lamentations for half an hour, in King's room.</p> + +<p>"Swim? Oh, I say! By hokey, he's gone clean daffy!" +Hobbs was eyeing him with alarm. The others looked +hard at the speaker, scenting a joke.</p> + +<p>"Not yet, Hobbs. Later on, perhaps. I had occasion +to make a short tour of investigation this afternoon. +Doubtless, gentlemen, you know where the water-gate +is, back of the Castle. Well, I've looked it over—and +under, I might say. Hobbs, you and I will sneak under +those slippery old gates like a couple of eels. I forgot +to ask if you can swim."</p> + +<p>"To be sure I can. <i>Under</i> the gates? My word!"</p> + +<p>"Simple as rolling off a log," said Truxton carelessly. +"The Cascades and Basin of Venus run out through the +gate. There is a space of at least a foot below the +bottom of the gate, which hasn't been opened in fifty +years, I'm told. A good swimmer can wriggle through, +d'ye see? That lets him out into the little canal that +connects with the river. Then—"</p> + +<p>"I see!" cried Quinnox. "It can be done! No one will +be watching at that point."</p> + +<p>The sky was overcast, the night as black as ebony. +The four men left the officers' quarters at one o'clock, +making their way to the historic old gate in the glen +below the Castle. Arriving at the wall, Truxton briefly +whispered his plans.</p> + +<p>"You remember, Colonel Quinnox, that the stream is +four or five feet deep here at the gate. The current +has washed a deeper channel under the iron-bound +timbers. The gates are perhaps two feet thick. For +something like seven or eight feet from the bottom they +are so constructed that the water runs through an open +network of great iron bars. Now, Hobbs and I will go +under the gates in the old-clothes you have given us. +When we are on the opposite side we'll stick close by the +gate, and you may pass our dry clothes out between the +bars above the surface of the water. Our guns, the +map and the food, as well. It's very simple. Then we'll +drop down the canal a short distance and change our +clothes in the underbrush. Hobbs knows where we can +procure horses and he knows a trusty guide on the other +side of the city. So long, Colonel. I'll see you later."</p> + +<p>"God be with you," said Quinnox fervently. The four +men shook hands and King slipped into the water without +a moment's hesitation.</p> + +<p>"Right after me, Hobbs," he said, and then his head +went under.</p> + +<p>A minute later he and Hobbs were on the outside of the +gate, gasping for breath. Standing in water to their +necks, Quinnox and Haddan passed the equipment +through the barred openings. There were whispered +good-byes and then two invisible heads bobbed off in the +night, wading in the swift-flowing canal, up to their +chins. Swimming would have been dangerous, on +account of the noise.</p> + +<p>Holding their belongings high above their heads, with +their hearts in their mouths, King and the Englishman +felt their way carefully along the bed of the stream. +Not a sound was to be heard, except the barking of dogs +in the distance. The stillness of death hung over the +land. So still, that the almost imperceptible sounds they +made in breathing and moving seemed like great volumes +of noise in their tense ears.</p> + +<p>A hundred yards from the gate they crawled ashore +and made their way up over the steep bank into the +thick, wild underbrush. Not a word had been spoken +up to this time.</p> + +<p>"Quietly now, Hobbs. Let us get out of these duds. +'Gad, they're like ice. From now on, Hobbs, you lead +the way. I'll do my customary act of following."</p> + +<p>Hobbs was shivering from the cold. "I say, Mr. King, +you're a wonder, that's wot you are. Think of going +under those bally gates!"</p> + +<p>"That's right, Hobbs, think of it, but don't talk."</p> + +<p>They stealthily stripped themselves of the wet garments, +and, after no end of trouble, succeeded in getting +into the dry substitutes. Then they lowered the wet +bundles into the water and quietly stole off through the +brush, Hobbs in the lead, intent upon striking the King's +Highway, a mile or two above town. It was slow, arduous +going, because of the extreme caution required. A +wide detour was made by the canny Hobbs—wider, in +fact, than the impatient American thought wholly necessary. +In time, however, they came to the Highway.</p> + +<p>"Well, we've got a start, Hobbs. We'll win out, just +as I said we would. Easy as falling off a log."</p> + +<p>"I'm not so blooming sure of that," said Hobbs. He +was recalling a recent flight along this very road. +"We're a long way from being out of the woods."</p> + +<p>"Don't be a kill-joy, Hobbs. Look at the bright side +of things."</p> + +<p>"I'll do that in the morning, when the sun's up," said +Hobbs, with a sigh. "Come along, sir. We take this +path here for the upper road. It's a good two hours' +walk up the mountain to Rabot's, where we get the +horses."</p> + +<p>All the way up the black, narrow mountain path +Hobbs kept the lead. King followed, his thoughts divided +between the blackness ahead and the single, steady +light in a certain window now far behind. He had seen +the lighted window in the upper balcony as he passed the +Castle on the way to the gate. Somehow he knew she +was there saying good-bye and Godspeed to him.</p> + +<p>At four o'clock, as the sun reached up with his long, +red fingers from behind the Monastery mountain, Truxton +King and Hobbs rode away from Rabot's cottage +high in the hills, refreshed and sound of heart. Rabot's +son rode with them, a sturdy, loyal lad, who had leaped +joyously at the chance to serve his Prince. Undisturbed, +they rode straight for the passes below St. Valentine's. +Behind and below them lay the sleeping, restless, unhappy +city of Edelweiss, with closed gates and unfriendly, +sullen walls. There reigned the darkest fiend +that Graustark, in all her history, had ever come to +know.</p> + +<p>Truxton King had slipped through his fingers with +almost ridiculous ease. So simple had it been, that the +two messengers, gloating in the prospect ahead, now +spoke of the experience as if it were the most trivial +thing in their lives. They mentioned it casually; that +was all.</p> + +<p>Now, let us turn to John Tullis and his quest in the +hills. It goes without saying that he found no trace of +his sister or her abductors. For five days he scoured the +lonely, mysterious mountains, dragging the tired but +loyal hundred about at his heels, distracted by fear and +anguish over the possible fate of the adored one. On +the fifth day, a large force of Dawsbergen soldiers, led +by Prince Dantan himself, found the fagged, disspirited +American and his half-starved men encamped in a rocky +defile in the heart of the wilderness.</p> + +<p>That same night a Graustark mountaineer passed the +sentinels and brought news of the disturbance in Edelweiss. +He could give no details. He only knew that +there had been serious rioting in the streets and that +the gates were closed against all comers. He could not +tell whether the rioters—most of whom he took to be +strikers, had been subdued or whether mob-law prevailed. +He had been asked to cast his lot with the strikers, but +had refused. For this he was driven away from his home, +which was burned. His wife and child were now at the +Monastery, where many persons had taken refuge.</p> + +<p>In a flash it occurred to John Tullis that Marlanx was +at the bottom of this deviltry. The abduction of +Loraine was a part of his plan! Prince Dantan advised +a speedy return to the city. His men were at the +command of the American. Moreover, the Prince himself +decided to accompany the troops.</p> + +<p>Before sunrise, the command, now five or six hundred +strong, was picking its way down the dangerous mountain +roads toward the main highway. Fifteen miles below +Edelweiss they came upon the company of soldiers +sent out to preserve order in the railroad camps.</p> + +<p>The officer in charge exhibited a document, given under +the hand and seal of Baron Dangloss, directing him to +remain in command of the camps until the strikers, who +were unruly, could be induced to resume work once more. +This order, of course, was a forgery, designed to mislead +the little force until Marlanx saw fit to expose his +hand to the world. It had come by messenger on the +very day of the rioting. The messenger brought the +casual word that the government was arresting and +punishing the lawless, and that complete order would +hardly be established for several days at the outside. +He went so far as to admit that an attempt on the life +of the Prince had failed. Other reports had come to +the camps, and all had been to the effect that the rioting +was over. The strikers, it seemed, were coming to terms +with their employers and would soon take up the work of +construction once more. All this sufficed to keep the +real situation from reaching the notice of the young +captain; he was obeying orders and awaiting the return +of the workmen.</p> + +<p>The relief that swept into the souls of the newly arrived +company was short-lived. They had gone into +camp, tired, sore and hungry, and were preparing to +take a long needed rest before taking up the last stage +of their march toward the city. John Tullis was now in +feverish haste to reach the city, where at least he might +find a communication from the miscreants, demanding +ransom. He had made up his mind to pay whatever +they asked. Down in his heart, however, there was a +restless fear that she had not fallen into the hands of +ordinary bandits. He could not banish the sickening +dread that she was in the power of Marlanx, to whom +she alone could pay the ransom exacted.</p> + +<p>Hardly had the men thrown themselves from their +horses when the sound of shooting in the distance struck +their ears. Instantly the entire force was alert. A dozen +shots were fired in rapid succession; then single reports +far apart. The steady beat of horses' feet was now +plain to the attentive company. There was a quick, +incisive call to arms; a squad stood ready for action. +The clatter of hoofs drew nearer; a small group of +horsemen came thundering down the defile. Three +minutes after the firing was first heard, sentries threw +their rifles to their shoulders and blocked the approach +of the riders.</p> + +<p>A wild, glad shout went up from the foremost horseman. +He had pulled his beast to its haunches almost +at the muzzles of the guns.</p> + +<p>"Tullis!" he shouted, waving his hat.</p> + +<p>John Tullis ran toward the excited group in the road. +He saw three men, one of whom was shouting his name +with all the power in his lungs.</p> + +<p>"Thank God, we've found you!" cried the horseman, +swinging to the ground despite the proximity of strange +rifles. "Put up your guns! We're friends!"</p> + +<p>"King!" exclaimed Tullis, suddenly recognising him. +A moment later they were clasping hands.</p> + +<p>"This is luck! We find you almost as soon as we set +out to do so. Glory be! You've got a fair-sized army, +too. We'll need 'em—and more."</p> + +<p>"What has happened, King? Where have you been? +We looked for you after your disap—"</p> + +<p>"That's ancient history," interrupted the other. "How +soon can you get these troops on the march? There's +not a moment to be lost."</p> + +<p>"Good God, man, tell me what it is—what has happened? +The Prince? What of him?" cried Tullis, +grasping King's arm in the clutch of a vise.</p> + +<p>"He sends his love and rescinds the order of exile," +said King, smiling. Then seriously: "Marlanx has +taken the city. It was all a game, this getting rid of +you. He's superstitious about Americans. There was +bomb-throwing in the square and a massacre afterward. +The Prince and all the others are besieged in the Castle. +I'll tell you all about it. Hobbs and I are the only men +who have got away from the Castle alive. We left +last night. Our object was to warn you in time to prevent +an ambush. You've got to save the throne for +Prince Robin. I'll explain as we go along. I may as +well inform you right now that there's a big force of +men waiting for you in the ravine this side of the +Monastery. We saw them. Thank God, we got to you +in time. You can now take 'em by surprise and—whiff! +They'll run like dogs. Back here a couple of miles +we came upon a small gang of real robbers. We had a +bit of shooting and—I regret to say—no one was +bagged. I'd advise you to have this force pushed along +as rapidly as possible. I have a message from your +sister, sir."</p> + +<p>"Loraine? Where is she, King?"</p> + +<p>"Don't tremble like that, old man. She's safe enough—in +the Castle. Oh, it was a fine game Marlanx had +in his mind."</p> + +<p>While the troopers were making ready for the march, +Truxton King and Hobbs related their story to eager, +horrified groups of officers. It may be well to say that +neither said more of his own exploits than was absolutely +necessary to connect the series of incidents. Prince +Dantan marvelled anew at this fresh demonstration of +Yankee courage and ingenuity. King graphically narrated +the tale from beginning to end. The full force +of the amazing tragedy was brought home to the pale, +half-dazed listeners. There were groans and curses and +bitter cries of vengeance. John Tullis was crushed; +despair was written in his face, anguish in his eyes.</p> + +<p>What was to become of the Prince?</p> + +<p>"First of all, Tullis, we must destroy these scoundrels +who are lying in wait for you in the ravine," said Prince +Dantan. "After that you can be in a position to breathe +easily while collecting the army of fighters that Mr. +King suggests. Surely, you will be able to raise a large +and determined force. My men are at Prince Robin's +disposal. Captain Haas may command them as his +own. I deplore the fact that I may not call upon the +entire Dawsbergen army. Marlanx evidently knows our +laws. Our army cannot go to the aid of a neighbor. +We have done so twice in half a century and our people +have been obliged to pay enormous indemnity. But +there are men here. I am here. We will not turn back, +Mr. Tullis. My people will not hold me at fault for +taking a hand in this. I shall send messengers to the +Princess; she, of course, must know."</p> + +<p>The battalion, augmented by the misguided company +from the deserted railroad camps, moved swiftly into the +defile, led by young Rabot. Truxton King rode beside +the brother of the girl he loved, uttering words of cheer +and encouragement.</p> + +<p>"King, you <i>do</i> put new courage into me. You are +surcharged with hope and confidence. By heaven, I believe +we can drive out that damned beast and his dogs. +We <i>will</i> do it!"</p> + +<p>"There's a chap named Brutus. I ask special permission +to kill him. That's the only request I have to +make."</p> + +<p>"I very strongly oppose the appeal to Grand Duke +Paulus. We must act decisively before that alternative +is forced upon the unhappy Halfont. It was Perse's +scheme, months ago. Perse! Confound him, I believe +he has worked all along to aid—"</p> + +<p>"Hold on, Tullis," interrupted King soberly. "I +wouldn't say that if I were you. The Duke was wounded +by the dynamiters and I understand he lies on his bed +and curses Marlanx from morning till night. He prays +constantly that his daughter may be freed from the old +scoundrel."</p> + +<p>"The Countess Ingomede—has anything been heard +from her?" asked Tullis. He had been thinking of her +for days—and nights.</p> + +<p>"Well, nothing definite," said King evasively. He was +reminded at this moment of his own love affair. Seized +by the boldest impulse that had ever come to him, he +suddenly blurted out: "Tullis, I love your sister. I +have loved her from the beginning. All that has happened +in the last week has strengthened my adoration. +I think she cares for me, but,—but—"</p> + +<p>"My dear Mr. King, I'm sorry—" began Tullis, +genuinely surprised.</p> + +<p>"But it seems that she's promised to marry Vos Engo. +I'll tell you how it happened." Then he related the +episode of the rout in Castle Avenue. "It's all wrong +for her to marry that chap. If she hasn't been bullied +into it before we get back to her, I'd like to know if +you won't put a stop to his damned impudence. What +right has such a fellow as Vos Engo to a good American +girl like Loraine? None whatever. Besides, I'm going +to fight him when we're through fighting Marlanx. I +want you as my second. Can't say whether it will be +swords, pistols or knuckles. I hope you'll oblige me. +As a matter of fact, I had two primary objects in looking +you up out here in the hills. First, to ask you for +Loraine; second, to engage you as my second."</p> + +<p>Tullis was silent for a while. Then he said, quite +seriously: "King, I have looked with some favour upon +Vos Engo. I thought she liked him. He isn't a bad +fellow, believe me. I want Loraine to be happy. As +for this promise to him, I'll talk that over with her—if +God permits me to see her again I shall allow her +to choose, King. You or Vos Engo—the one she loves, +that's all. As for seconding you, I am at your service."</p> + +<p>King beamed. "That means, I take it, that you want +me to win at least one of the contests. Well," with his +whimsical, irresistible smile, "it won't be necessary to +try for the other if Vos Engo shoots me in this one."</p> + +<p>"You will never know the extent of my gratitude, +King. You have saved her from a hellish fate. I shall +be disappointed in her if she does not choose you. I +owe you a debt of gratitude almost as great for saving +that dear little boy of—ours. I shall not forget what +you have done—never!"</p> + +<p>Early in the afternoon the force under Captain Haas +was divided into three companies, for strategic purposes. +The plan to surprise and defeat the skulkers in the ravine +had been carefully thought out. Two strong companies +struck off into the hills; the third and weakest of +the trio kept the road, apparently marching straight +into the trap. Signals had been arranged. At a given +sign the three parties were to swoop down upon the +position held by the enemy.</p> + +<p>Several hours passed. The troop in the highroad prepared +to camp just below the treacherous pass in which +the ambush was known to be laid. Scouts had located +the confident rascals in the ravines above the highway. +With the news that their prey was approaching, they +were being rapidly rushed into position at the head of +the pass.</p> + +<p>Shortly before sunset the troop in the road began to +advance, riding resolutely into the ravine. Even as +the gloating, excited desperadoes prepared to open fire +from their hidden position at the head of the pass, their +pickets came running in with the word that two large +forces were drawing in on them from the north and +east.</p> + +<p>The trappers were trapped. They realised that they +had been out-generalled, and they understood their deficiencies. +Not a man among them knew the finer points +of warfare. They were thugs and roustabouts and ill-omened +fellows who could stab in the back; they were +craven in the face of an open peril.</p> + +<p>There were few shots fired. The men in ambuscade +tried to escape to the fastnesses of the hills. Some of +them stood ground and fought, only to be mown down +by the enemy; others were surrounded and made captive; +but few actually succeeded in evading the troopers. All +were ready to sue for mercy and to proclaim their +willingness to divert allegiance from dictator to Crown. +Herded like so many cattle, guarded like wolves, they +were driven city-ward, few if any of them exhibiting the +slightest symptom of regret or discomfiture. In fact, +they seemed more than philosophic: they were most +jovial. These were soldiers of fortune, in the plainest +sense. It mattered little with whom they were allied or +against whom they fought, so long as the pay was +adequate and prompt.</p> + +<p>Indeed, the leaders of the party—officers by grace of +lucky tosses—benignly proffered the services of themselves +and men in the movement to displace Count +Marlanx!</p> + +<p>"He cannot hold out," said the evil-faced captain in +cool derision. "He cannot keep his promises to us. So +why should we cut our own throats? All we ask is transportation +to Austria after the job's over. That's where +most of us came from, your Excellencies. Count on us, +if you need us. Down with Marlanx!"</p> + +<p>"Long live Prince—" Three-fourths of them stopped +there because they did not even know the name of the +little ruler.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI" />CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>THE RETURN</h3> + + +<p>From the highlands below the Monastery, Captain Haas +and his men were able to study the situation in the city. +The impracticability of an assault on any one of the +stubborn, well-guarded gates was at once recognised. A +force of seven hundred men, no matter how well trained +or determined, could not be expected to surmount walls +that had often withstood the attack of as many thousands. +The wisdom of delaying until a few thousand +loyal, though poorly armed countrymen could be +brought into play against the city appealed at once to +Prince Dantan and John Tullis.</p> + +<p>Withdrawing to an unexposed cut in the hills, safe +from the shells that might be thrown up from the +fortress, they established their camps, strongly entrenched +and practically invulnerable against any attack +from below. Squads of men were sent without delay +into the hills and valleys to call the panic-stricken, +wavering farmers into the fold. John Tullis headed the +company that struck off into the well-populated Ganlook +district.</p> + +<p>Marlanx, as if realising the nature of the movement in +the hills, began a furious assault on the gates leading to +the Castle. The watchers in the hills could see as well +as hear the conflict that raged almost at their feet, so +to speak. They cheered like mad when the motley army +of the usurper was frustrated in the attempt to take the +main gates. From the walls about the park, Quinnox's +men, few as they were, sent such deadly volleys into the +streets below that the hordes fell back and found shelter +behind the homes of the rich. With half an eye, one +could see that the rascals were looting the palaces, secure +from any opposition on the part of the government +forces; through the glasses, scattered crowds of men +could be seen carrying articles from the houses; more +than one of the mansions went up in flames as the day +grew old and the lust of the pillagers increased.</p> + +<p>The next morning, Captain Haas announced to his +followers that Marlanx had begun to shell the Castle. +Big guns in the fortress were hurling great shells over +the city, dropping them in the park. On the other hand, +Colonel Quinnox during the night had swung three +Gatling guns to the top of the wall; they were stationed +at intervals along the wall, commanding every point +from which an assault might be expected. It was a +well-known fact that there was no heavy ordnance at +the Castle. All day long, Marlanx's men, stationed in +the upper stories of houses close to the walls, kept up a +constant rifle fire, their bullets being directed against the +distant windows of the Castle. That this desultory +fusillade met with scant response at the hands of Quinnox, +was quite apparent to the uneasy, champing +watchers near the Monastery.</p> + +<p>"Marlanx will not begin the actual bombardment until +he knows that Tullis is drawing together a formidable +force," prophesied Prince Dantan.</p> + +<p>"But when he does begin the real shelling," mourned +Truxton King, chafing like a lion under the deadly inaction. +"I can't bear the thought of what it means to +those inside the Castle. He can blow it to pieces over +their heads. Then, from the house tops, he can pick +them off like blackbirds. It's awful! Is there nothing +that we can do, Prince? Damn it all, I know we can +force a gate. And if we once get in where those +cowardly dogs are lording it, you'll see 'em take the walls +like steeple-chasers."</p> + +<p>"My dear Mr. King," said Prince Dantan calmly, +"you don't know Colonel Quinnox and the House Guard. +The Quinnoxs have guarded Graustark's rulers for I +don't know how many generations. History does not +go back so far, I fear. You may depend on it, there +will be no living guardsmen inside those walls when +Marlanx lays his hands on the Prince."</p> + +<p>That night recruits from the farms and villages began +to straggle into the camp. They were armed with +rifles, ordinary shotguns and antique "blunderbusses;" +swords, staves and aged lances. All were willing to die +in the service of the little Prince; all they needed was a +determined, capable leader to rally them from the state +of utter panic. They reported that the Crown foragers +might expect cheerful and plenteous tribute from +the farmers and stock growers. Only the mountaineers +were hostile.</p> + +<p>The army now grew with astonishing rapidity. The +recruits were not fighting men in a military sense, but +their hearts were true and they hungered for the chance +to stamp out the evil that lay at their feet. By the +close of the second day nearly three thousand men were +encamped above the city. Late that night John Tullis +rode into camp at the head of a great company from +the Ganlook province. He had retaken the town of +Ganlook, seized the fortress, and recruited the entire +fighting strength of the neighbourhood. More than +that, he had unlimbered and conveyed to the provisional +camp two of the big guns that stood above the gates at +the fortress. There had been a dozen skirmishes between +the regulars and roving bands of desperadoes. +A savage fight took place at Ganlook and another in the +gap below the witch's hut. In both of these sanguinary +affrays the government forces had come off victorious, +splendid omens that did not fail to put confidence into +the hearts of the men.</p> + +<p>Marlanx trained two of his big guns on the camp in +the hills. From the fortress he threw many futile shells +toward their place of shelter. They did no damage; +instead of death, they brought only laughter to the +scornful camp. Under cover of night, the two Ganlook +cannons were planted in a position commanding the +southeastern city gate. It was the plan of the new besiegers +to bombard this gate, tearing it to pieces with +shot. When their force was strong enough offensively, +an assault would be flung against this opening. Drill +and discipline were necessary, however, before the attempt +could be made. In the present chaotic, untrained +condition of their forces, an assault would prove not +only ineffectual, but disastrous. Day after day the +recruits were put through hard drill under the direction +of the regular officers. Every day saw the force increased. +This made hard work for the drill-masters. +The willingness of the recruits, however, lessened the +task considerably.</p> + +<p>The knowledge that Marlanx had no big guns except +those stationed in the fortress was most consoling to +Tullis and his friends. He could not destroy the Castle +gates with shells, except by purest chance. He could +drop shells into the Castle, but to hit a gate twenty feet +wide? Never! Field ordnance was unknown to this +country of mountains.</p> + +<p>The Iron Count's inability to destroy the Castle gates +made it feasible for the men in the hills to devote +considerable more time to drill and preparation than they +might have sacrificed if the conditions were the reverse. +They were confident that Quinnox could hold the Castle +for many days. With all this in mind, Captain Haas +and Prince Dantan beat down the objections of the impatient +Americans; the work of preparation against +ignominous failure went on as rapidly as possible. Haas +would not attack until he was ready, or it became absolutely +certain that the men at the Castle were in dire +need.</p> + +<p>Signalling between the Castle and the hills had been +going on for days. The absence of the "wigwag" system +made it impossible to convey intelligible messages.</p> + +<p>Truxton King was growing haggard from worry and +loss of sleep. He could not understand the abominable, +criminal procrastination. He was of a race that did +things with a dash and on the spur of the moment. His +soul sickened day by day. John Tullis, equally unhappy, +but more philosophical, often found him seated upon a +rock at the top of the ravine, an unlighted pipe in his +fingers, his eyes intent upon the hazy Castle.</p> + +<p>"Cheer up, King. Our time will come," he was wont +to say.</p> + +<p>"I've just got to do something, Tullis. This standing +around is killing me." Again he would respond: "Don't +forget that I love some one down there, old man. Maybe +she's worrying about me, as well as about you." Once +he gave poor Mr. Hobbs a frightful tongue-lashing and +was afterward most contrite and apologetic. Poor +Hobbs had been guilty of asking if he had a headache.</p> + +<p>Truxton was assigned to several scouting expeditions, +simply to provide him with action and diverting excitement. +One of these expeditions determined the impossibility +of entering the city through the railroad yards +because of the trestle-work and the barricade of freight +cars at the gap in the wall.</p> + +<p>They had been in camp for a week. The stategists had +practically decided that the assault could be made within +a day or two. All was in readiness—or as near as it +could be—and all was enthusiasm and excitement.</p> + +<p>"If Haas puts it off another day I'm going to start a +round robin, whatever that is," said Truxton. As he +said it to a Dawsbergen officer who could not understand +English, it is doubtful if that gentleman's polite nod of +acquiescence meant unqualified approval of the project.</p> + +<p>At first they had built no fires at night. Now the force +was so formidable that this precaution was unnecessary. +The air was chill and there were tents for but a few of +the troopers. The fires in the ravine always were surrounded +by great circles of men, eagerly discussing the +coming battle. At the upper end of the ravine were the +tents of the officers, Prince Dantan and John Tullis. +The latter shared his with King and Mr. Hobbs. Up +here, the circle about the kindly pile of burning logs +was small, select and less demonstrative. Here they +smoked in silence most of the time, each man's thoughts +delivered to himself.</p> + +<p>Above, on the jutting rock, sat the disconsolate, lovesick +Truxton. It was the night before the proposed +assault on the gates. The guns were in position and the +cannonading was to begin at daybreak. He was full +of the bitterness of doubt and misgiving. Was she in +love with Vos Engo? Was the Count's suit progressing +favourably under the fire of the enemy? Was his undoubted +bravery having its effect upon the wavering +susceptibilities of the distressed Loraine?</p> + +<p>Here was he, Truxton King, idle and useless for more +than a week, beyond range of the guns of the foe, while +down there was Vos Engo in the thick of it, at the side +of the girl he loved in those long hours of peril, able +to comfort her, to cheer her, to fight for her. It was +maddening. He was sick with uncertainty, consumed by +jealousy. His pipe was not out now: he was smoking +furiously.</p> + +<p>The sound of a voice in sharp command attracted his +attention. One of the sentries in the road below the +elbow of the ridge had stopped some one who was approaching +the camp. There was a bright moon, and +Truxton could see other pickets hurrying to join the +first. A few moments later the trespassers were escorted +through the lines and taken directly to headquarters. A +man and two women, King observed. Somewhat interested, +he sauntered down from his lonely boulder and +joined the group of officers.</p> + +<p>John Tullis was staring hard at the group approaching +from the roadway. They were still outside the circle of +light, but it was plain to all that the newcomers were +peasants. The women wore the short red skirts and the +pointed bonnets of the lower classes. Gaudy shawls +covered their shoulders. One was tall and slender, with +a bearing that was not peasant-like. It was she who +held Tullis's intense, unbelieving gaze until they were +well inside the fire-light. She walked ahead of her +companions. Suddenly he sprang forward with a cry of +amazement.</p> + +<p>It was the Countess Ingomede.</p> + +<p>Her arrival created a sensation. In a moment she was +in the centre of an amazed circle of men. Tullis, after +his first low, eager greeting at the edge of the fire +circle, drew her near to the warmth-giving flames. Prince +Dantan and Captain Haas threw rugs and blankets in a +great heap for her to sit upon. Every one was talking +at once. The Countess was smiling through her tears.</p> + +<p>"Make room for my maid and her father. They are +colder and more fatigued than I," she said, lifting her +tired, glorious eyes to John Tullis, who stood beside her. +"We have come from Balak. They suffered much, that +I might enjoy the slender comforts I was so ready to +share with them."</p> + +<p>"Thank God, you are here," he said in low, intense +tones. She could not mistake the fervour in his voice +nor the glow in his eyes. Her wondrous, yellowish orbs +looked steadily into his, and he was satisfied. They paid +tribute to the emotion that moved him to the depths of +his being. Love leaped up to him from those sweet, +tired eyes; leaped with the unerring force of an electric +current that finds its lodestone in spite of mortal will.</p> + +<p>"I knew you were here, John. I am not going back +to Count Marlanx. It is ended."</p> + +<p>"I knew it would come, Ingomede. You will let me +tell you how glad I am—some day?"</p> + +<p>"Some day, when I am truly, wholly free from him, +John. I know what you will say, and I think you know +what I shall say in reply." Both understood and were +exalted. No other word passed between them touching +upon the thing that was uppermost in their minds.</p> + +<p>Food was provided for the wayfarers, and Tullis's tent +was made ready for the Countess and her maid.</p> + +<p>"Truxton," said he, "we will have to find other quarters +for the night. I've let my apartment—furnished."</p> + +<p>"She's gloriously beautiful, John," was all that Truxton +said, puffing moodily at his pipe. He was thinking +of one more beautiful, however. "I suppose you'd think +it a favour if I'd pot Marlanx for you to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"It doesn't matter whether he's potted or not, my friend. +She will not go back to him. He will have to find another +prisoner for his household."</p> + +<p>Truxton's thoughts went with a shudder to the underground +room and the fair prisoner who had shared it +with him. The dread of what might have been the +fate of Loraine Tullis—or what might still be in store +for her—brought cold chills over him. He abruptly +turned away and sat down at the outer edge of the +group.</p> + +<p>The Countess's story was soon told. Sitting before the +great fire, surrounded by eager listeners, she related her +experiences. Prince Dantan was her most attentive +listener.</p> + +<p>She had been seized on the night of the ball as she +started across her father's garden. Before sunrise she +was well on her way to Balak, in charge of three of the +Count's most faithful henchmen. As for the messages +that were sent to Edelweiss, she knew nothing of them, +except the last, which she had managed to get through +with the assistance of Josepha's father. She was kept +a close prisoner in a house just outside of Balak, and +came to learn all of the infamous projects of her +husband. At the end of ten days her maid was sent to +her from Edelweiss. She brought the news of the +calamity that had befallen the city. It was then that +she determined to break away from her captors and try +to reach the Monastery of St. Valentine, where protection +would be afforded her for the time being. After +several days of ardent persuasion, she and Josepha prevailed +upon the latter's father to assist them in their +flight. Not only was he persuaded, but in the end he +journeyed with them through the wildest country north +of Ganlook. They were four days in covering the +distance, partly on foot, partly by horse. Near the +city they heard of the presence of troops near the +Monastery. Farmers' wives told them of the newly +formed army and of its leaders. She determined to make +her way to the camp of those who would destroy her +husband, eager to give them any assistance that her own +knowledge of Marlanx's plans might provide.</p> + +<p>Many details are omitted in this brief recital of her +story. Perhaps it is well to leave something to the +imagination.</p> + +<p>One bit of information she gave created no end of +consternation among the would-be deliverers of the city. +It had the effect of making them all the more resolute; +the absolute necessity for immediately regaining control +in the city was forced upon them. She told them that +Count Marlanx had lately received word that the Grand +Duke Paulus was likely to intervene before many days, +acting on his own initiative, in the belief that he could +force the government of Graustark to grant the railway +privileges so much desired by his country. Marlanx +realised that he would have to forestall the wily Grand +Duke. If he were in absolute control of the Graustark +government when the Russian appeared, he and he alone +would be in a position to deal with the situation. Unless +the Castle fell into his hands beforehand, insuring the +fall of the royal house and the ministry, the Grand +Duke's natural inclination would be to first befriend the +hapless Prince and then to demand recompense in whatsoever +form he saw fit.</p> + +<p>"The Grand Duke may send a large force of men across +the border at any time," said the Countess in conclusion. +"Count Marlanx is sure to make a decisive assault +as soon as he hears that the movement has begun. He +had hopes of starving them out, thus saving the Castle +from destruction, but as that seems unlikely, his shells +will soon begin to rain in earnest upon the dear old pile."</p> + +<p>Truxton King was listening with wide open ears. As +she finished this dreary prediction he silently arose to +his feet and, without a word to any one, stalked off in +the darkness. Tullis looked after him and shook his +head sadly.</p> + +<p>"I'll be happy on that fellow's account when daybreak +comes and we are really at it," he said to Prince Dantan, +who knew something of King's affliction.</p> + +<p>But Truxton King was not there at daybreak. When +he strode out of the camp that night, he left it behind +forever.</p> + +<p>The unfortunate lack of means to communicate with the +occupants of the Castle had been the source of great +distress to Captain Haas. If the defenders could be informed +as to the exact hour of the assault from the outside, +they could do much toward its speedy success by +making a fierce sortie from behind their own walls. A +quick dash from the Castle grounds would serve to draw +Marlanx's attention in that direction, diminishing the +force that he would send to check the onslaught at the +gates. But there was no means of getting word to +Colonel Quinnox. His two or three hundred men would +be practically useless at the most critical period of the +demonstration.</p> + +<p>Truxton King had all this in mind as he swung off +down the mountain road, having stolen past the sentries +with comparative ease. He was smiling to himself. If +all went well with him, Colonel Quinnox would be able +to rise to the occasion. If he failed in the daring mission +he had elected to perform, the only resulting harm would +be to himself; the plans of the besiegers would not suffer.</p> + +<p>He knew his ground well by this time. He had studied +it thoroughly from the forlorn boulder at the top of the +ravine. By skirting the upper walls, on the mountain +side, he might, in a reasonably short space of time, reach +the low woodlands north of the Castle walls. The danger +from Marlanx's scouts outside the city was not great; +they had been scattered and beaten by Haas's recruiting +parties. He stood in more danger from the men he would +help, they who were the watchful defenders of the Castle.</p> + +<p>It must have been two o'clock when he crossed the +King's Highway, a mile or more above the northern +gates, and struck down into the same thick undergrowth +that had protected him and Hobbs on a memorable +night not long before.</p> + +<p>At three o'clock, a dripping figure threw up his hands +obligingly and laughed with exultation when confronted +by a startled guardsman <i>inside</i> the Castle walls and not +more than fifty yards from the water gates!</p> + +<p>He had timed his entrance by the sound of the guardsman's +footstep on the stone protecting wall that lined +the little stream. When he came to the surface inside +the water gate, the sentry was at the extreme end of his +beat. He shouted a friendly cry as he advanced toward +the man, calling out his own name.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later he was standing in the presence of +the haggard, nerve-racked Quinnox, pouring into his +astonished ears the news of the coming attack. While +he was discarding his wet clothing for others, preparations +for the sortie were getting under way. The Colonel +lost no time in routing out the sleeping guardsmen and +reserves, and in sending commands to those already on +duty at the gates. The quick rattle of arms, the rush +of feet, the low cries of relief, the rousing of horses, +soon usurped the place of dreary, deadly calm.</p> + +<p>When the sun peeped over the lofty hills, he saw inside +the gates a restless, waiting company of dragoons, +ready for the command to ride forth. Worn, haggard +fellows, who had slept but little and who had eaten +scarcely anything for three days; men who would have +starved to death. Now they were forgetting their +hunger and fatigue in the wild, exultant joy of the +prospect ahead.</p> + +<p>Meantime, King had crossed the grounds with +Colonel Quinnox, on the way to the Castle. He was +amazed, almost stupefied by the devastation that already +had been wrought. Trees were down; great, gaping +holes in the ground marked the spots where shells had +fallen; the plaza was an almost impassable heap of +masonry and soil, torn and rent by huge projectiles. +But it was his first clear view of the Castle itself that +appalled the American.</p> + +<p>A dozen or more balls had crashed into the façade. +Yawning fissures, gigantic holes, marked the path of the +ugly messengers from Marlanx. Nearly all of the windows +had been wrecked by riflemen who shot from the +roofs of palaces in and about the avenue. Two of the +smaller minarets were in ruins; a huge pillar in the +lower balcony was gone; the terrace had been ploughed +up by a single ricochetting shell.</p> + +<p>"Great God!" gasped King. "It is frightful!"</p> + +<p>"They began bombarding yesterday afternoon. We +were asked to surrender at three o'clock. Our reply +brought the shells, Mr. King. It was terrible."</p> + +<p>"And the loss of life, Colonel?" demanded the other +breathlessly.</p> + +<p>"After the first two or three shells we found places of +shelter for the Prince and his friends. They are in the +stone tower beyond the Castle, overlooking what still +remains of the ancient moat. Ah, there are no faltering +hearts here, Mr. King. The most glorious courage instead. +Count Vos Engo guards the Prince and the +ladies of the household. Alas! it was hunger that we +feared the most. To-day we should have resorted to +horse's flesh. There was no other way. We knew that relief +would come some day. John Tullis was there. We +had faith in him and in you. And now it is to-day! This +shall be our day, thank God! Nothing can stand before +us!"</p> + +<p>"Tullis is very anxious about his sister," ventured +Truxton. Quinnox looked straight ahead, but smiled.</p> + +<p>"She is the pluckiest of them all."</p> + +<p>"Is she well?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps a trifle thin, sir, that is all. I dare say that +is due to scarcity of nourishment, although the Prince +and his closest associates were the last to feel deprivation."</p> + +<p>"How does the Prince take all this, Colonel?"</p> + +<p>"As any Prince of Graustark would, sir. There is no +other way. It is in the blood."</p> + +<p>"Poor little chap!"</p> + +<p>"He will rejoice to know that you have found his lucky +stone so effective. The Prince has never wavered in his +loyalty to that pebble, sir."</p> + +<p>Together they entered the Castle. Inside there were +horrid signs of destruction, particularly off the balconies.</p> + +<p>"No one occupies the upper part of the Castle now, +sir."</p> + +<p>Attendants sped to the tower, shouting the battle tidings. +No compunction was felt in arousing the sleeping +household. As a matter of fact, there was no protest +from the eager ladies and gentlemen who hurried forth +to hear the news.</p> + +<p>The Prince came tumbling down the narrow iron stairs +from his room above, shouting joyously to Truxton +King. No man was ever so welcome. He was besieged +with questions, handshakings and praises. Even the +Duke of Perse, hobbling on crutches, had a kindly greeting +for him. Tears streamed down the old man's cheeks +when King told him of his daughter's safe arrival in +the friendly camp.</p> + +<p>Truxton picked the Prince up in his arms and held him +close to his breast, patting his back all the while, his +heart so full that he could not speak.</p> + +<p>"I knowed you'd come back," Bobby kept crying in +his ear. "Aunt Loraine said you wouldn't, but I said +you would. I knowed it—I knowed it! And now you're +going to be a baron, sure enough. Isn't he, Uncle +Caspar?"</p> + +<p>But Truxton was not listening to the eager prattle. +He remembered afterward that Bobby's hands and face +were hot with fever. Just now he was staring at the +narrow staircase. Vos Engo and Loraine were descending +slowly. The former was white and evidently very +weak. He leaned on the girl for support.</p> + +<p>Count Halfont offered the explanation. "Vos Engo +was shot last week, through the shoulder. He is too +brave to give up, as you may see. It happened on the +terrace. There was an unexpected fusilade from the +housetops. Eric placed himself between the marksmen +and Miss Tullis. A bullet that might have killed her +instantly, struck him in the shoulder. They were fleeing +to the balcony. He fell and she dragged him to a place +of safety. The wound is not so serious as it might have +been, but he should be in bed. He, like most of us, has +not removed his clothing in five days and nights."</p> + +<p>King never forgot the look in Loraine's eyes as she came +down the steps. Joy and anguish seemed to combine +themselves in that long, intense look. He saw her hand +go to her heart. Her lips were parted. He knew she +was breathing quickly, tremulously.</p> + +<p>The Prince was whispering in his ear: "Keep the lucky +stone, Mr. King. Please keep it. It will surely help +you. I gave her your kiss. She was happy—awful +happy for awhile. 'Nen the Count he saved her from +the bullet. But you just keep the lucky stone." King +put him down and walked directly across to meet her +at the foot of the steps.</p> + +<p>She gave him her hands. The look in her tired eyes +went straight to his heart. Vos Engo drew back, his +face set in a frown of displeasure.</p> + +<p>"My brother?" she asked, without taking her gaze +from his eyes.</p> + +<p>"He is well. He will see you to-day."</p> + +<p>"And you, Truxton?" was her next question, low and +quavering.</p> + +<p>"Unharmed and unchanged, Loraine," he said softly. +"Tell me, did Vos Engo stand between you and the fire +from the—"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Truxton," she said, dropping her eyes as if in +deep pain.</p> + +<p>"And you have not—broken your promise to him?"</p> + +<p>"No. Nor have I broken my promise to you."</p> + +<p>"He is a brave man. I can't help saying it," said the +American, deep lines suddenly appearing in his face. +Swiftly he turned to Vos Engo, extending his hand. +"My hand, sir, to a brave man!"</p> + +<p>Vos Engo stared at him for a moment and then turned +away, ignoring the friendly hand. A hot flush mounted +to Loraine's brow.</p> + +<p>"This is a brave man, too, Eric," she said very quietly.</p> + +<p>Vos Engo's response was a short, bitter laugh.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII" />CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>THE LAST STAND</h3> + + +<p>Soon after five o'clock, a man in the topmost window of +the tower called down that the forces in the hills were +moving in a compact body toward the ridges below the +southern gates.</p> + +<p>"Give them half an hour to locate themselves," advised +Truxton King. "They will move rapidly and strike as +soon as the shells have levelled the gates. The proper +time for your sortie, Colonel, would be some time in +advance of their final movement. You will in that way +draw at least a portion of Marlanx's men away from the +heart of the city. They will come to the assistance of +the gang bivouacked beyond the Duke of Perse's +palace."</p> + +<p>One hundred picked men were to be left inside the +Castle gates with Vos Engo, prepared to meet any +flank movement that might be attempted. Three hundred +mounted men were selected to make the dash down +Castle Avenue, straight into the camp of the sharpshooters. +It was the purpose of the house guard to +wage a fierce and noisy conflict off the Avenue and then +retire to the Castle as abruptly as they left it, to be +ready for Marlanx, should he decide to make a final +desperate effort to seize their stronghold.</p> + +<p>King, fired by a rebellious zeal, elected to ride with the +attacking party. His heart was cold with the fear that +he was to lose Loraine, after all. The fairy princess +of his dreams seemed farther away from him than ever. +"I'll do what I can for the Prince," he said to himself. +"He's a perfect little brick. Damn Vos Engo! I'll +make him repent that insult. Every one noticed it, +too. She tried to smooth it over, but—oh, well, what's +the use!"</p> + +<p>The dash of the three hundred through the gates and +down the avenue was the most spectacular experience in +Truxton's life. He was up with Quinnox and General +Braze, galloping well in front of the yelling troop. +These mounted carbineers, riding as Bedouins, swept +like thunder down the street, whirled into the broad, +open arena beyond the Duke's palace, and were upon +the surprised ruffians before they were fully awake to +the situation.</p> + +<p>They came tumbling out of barns and sheds, clutching +their rifles in nerveless hands, aghast in the face of +absolute destruction. It was all over with the first dash +of the dragoons. The enemy, craven at the outset, +threw down their guns and tried to escape through the +alleys and side streets at the end of the common. Firing +all the time, the attacking force rode them down as if +they were so many dogs. The few who stood their +ground and fought valiantly were overpowered and +made captive by Quinnox. Less than a hundred men +were found in the camp. Instead of retreating immediately +to the Castle, Quinnox, acting on the suggestion +of the exhilarated King, kept up a fierce, deceptive +fire for the benefit of the distant Marlanx.</p> + +<p>After ten or fifteen minutes of this desultory carnage, +it was reported that a large force of men were entering +the avenue from Regengetz Circus. Quinnox sent his +chargers toward this great horde of foot-soldiers, but +they did not falter as he had expected. On they swept, +two or three thousand of them. At their head rode +five or six officers. The foremost was Count Marlanx.</p> + +<p>The cannons were booming now in the foothills. +Marlanx, if he heard them and realised what the bombardment +meant, did not swerve from the purpose at +present in his mind.</p> + +<p>Quinnox saw now that the Iron Count was determined +to storm the gates, and gave the command to retreat. +Waving their rifles and shouting defiance over their +shoulders, the dragoons drew up, wheeled and galloped +toward the gates.</p> + +<p>Truxton King afterward recalled to mind certain huge +piles of fresh earth in a corner of the common. He did +not know what they meant at the time of observation, +but he was wiser inside of three minutes after the whirlwind +brigade dashed through the gates.</p> + +<p>Scarcely were the massive portals closed and the great +steel bars dropped into place by the men who attended +them, when a low, dull explosion shook the earth as if +by volcanic force. Then came the crashing of timbers, +the cracking of masonry, the whirring of a thousand +missiles through the air. Before the very eyes of the +stunned, bewildered defenders, dismounting near the +parade ground, the huge gates and pillars fell to the +ground.</p> + +<p>The gates have been dynamited!</p> + +<p>Then it was that Truxton King remembered. Marlanx's +sappers had been quietly at work for days, drilling +from the common to the gates. It was a strange +coincidence that Marlanx should have chosen this day +for his culminating assault on the Castle. The skirmish +at daybreak had hurried his arrangements, no doubt, +but none the less were his plans complete. The explosives +had been laid during the night; the fuses +reached to the mouth of the tunnel, across the common. +As he swept up the avenue at the head of his command, +hawk-faced and with glittering eyes, he snarled the +command that put fire to the fuses. He was still a +quarter of a mile away when the gates crumbled. With +short, shrill cries, scarcely human in their viciousness, +he urged his men forward. He and Brutus were the +first to ride up to the great hole that yawned where the +gates had stood. Beyond they could see the distracted +soldiers of the Prince forming in line to resist attack.</p> + +<p>A moment later his vanguard streamed through the +aperture and faced the deadly fire from the driveway.</p> + +<p>Like a stone wall the men under Quinnox stood their +ground; a solid, defiant line that fired with telling accuracy +into the struggling horde. On the walls two +Gatling guns began to cackle their laugh of death. +And still the mercenaries poured through the gap, forming +in haphazard lines under the direction of the maddened +Iron Count.</p> + +<p>At last they began to advance across the grassy +meadow. When one man fell under the fire of the +Guardsmen, another rushed into his place. Three +times the indomitable Graustarkians drove them back, +and as often did Marlanx drag them up again, exalted +by the example he set.</p> + +<p>"'Gad, he <i>is</i> a soldier," cried Truxton, who had wasted +a half dozen shots in the effort to bring him down. +"Hello! There's my friend Brutus. He's no coward, +either. Here's a try for you, Brutus."</p> + +<p>He dropped to his knee and took deliberate aim at the +frenzied henchman. The discovery that there were three +bullets in Brutus's breast when he was picked up long +afterward did not affect the young man's contention +that his was the one that had found the heart.</p> + +<p>The fall of Brutus urged the Iron Count to greater +fury. His horse had been shot from under him. He +was on his feet, a gaunt demon, his back to the enemy, +calling to his men to follow him as he moved toward +the stubborn row of green and red. Bullets hissed about +his ears, but he gave no heed to them. More than one +man in the opposing force watched him as if fascinated. +He seemed to be absolutely bullet-proof. There were +times when he stumbled and almost fell over the bodies +of his own men lying in the path.</p> + +<p>By this time his entire force was inside the grounds. +Colonel Quinnox was quick to see the spreading movement +on the extreme right and left. Marlanx's captains +were trained warriors. They were bent on flanking +the enemy. The commander of the Guard gave the +command to fall back slowly toward the Castle.</p> + +<p>Firing at every step, they crossed the parade ground +and then made a quick dash for the shelter of the long +balconies. They held this position for nearly an hour, +resisting each succeeding charge of the now devilish +foe. Time and again the foremost of the attacking +party reached the terrace, only to wither under the +deadly fire from behind the balustrades. Marlanx, +down in the parade ground, was fairly pushing his men +into the jaws of death. There was no question as to the +courage of the men he commanded. These were not the +ruffians from all over the world. They were the reckless, +devil-may-care mountaineers and robbers from the +hills of Graustark itself.</p> + +<p>Truxton King's chance to pay his debt to Vos Engo +came after one of the fiercest, most determined charges. +The young Count, who had transferred his charges +from the old tower to the strong north wing of the +Castle, had been fighting desperately in the front rank +for some time. His weakness seemed to have disappeared +entirely. As the foe fell back in the face of +the desperate resistance, Vos Engo sprang down the +steps and rushed after them, calling others to join him +in the attempt to complete the rout. Near the edge of +the terrace he stopped. His leg gave way under him +and he fell to the ground. Truxton saw him fall.</p> + +<p>He leaped over the low balustrade, dropping his hot +rifle, and dashed across the terrace to his rival's +assistance. A hundred men shot at him. Vos Engo was +trying to get to his feet, his hand upon his thigh; he +was groaning with pain.</p> + +<p>"It's my turn," shouted the American. "I'll square +it up if I can. Then we're even!"</p> + +<p>He seized the wounded man in his strong arms, threw +him over his shoulder and staggered toward the steps.</p> + +<p>"Release me, damn you!" shrieked Vos Engo, striking +his rescuer in the face with his fist.</p> + +<p>"I'm saving you for another day," said King as he +dropped behind the balustrade, with his burden safe. +A wild cheer went up from the lips of the defenders, +scornful howls from the enemy.</p> + +<p>"I pray God it may be deferred until I am capable of +defending myself," groaned Vos Engo, glaring at the +other with implacable hatred in his eyes.</p> + +<p>"You might pray for my preservation, too, while +you're at it," said Truxton, as he crept away to regain +his rifle.</p> + +<p>There were other witnesses to Truxton's rash act. In +a lofty window of the north wing crouched a white- +faced girl and a grim old man. The latter held a rifle +in his tense though feeble hands. They had been there +for ten minutes or longer, watching the battle from +their eerie place of security. Now and then the old +man would sight his rifle and fire. A groan of anger +and dismay escaped his lips after each attempt to send +his bullet to the spot intended. The girl who crouched +beside him was there to designate a certain figure in the +ever-changing mass of humanity on the bloody parade +ground. Her clear eyes sought for and found Marlanx; +her unwavering finger pointed him out to the old marksman.</p> + +<p>She saw Vos Engo fall. Then a tall, well-known figure +sprang into view, dashing toward her wounded lover. +Her heart stopped beating. The blood rushed to her +eyes. Everything before her turned red—a horrid, +blurring red. With her hands to her temples, she leaned +far over the window ledge and screamed—screamed +words that would have filled Truxton King with an endless +joy could he have heard them above the rattle of +the rifles.</p> + +<p>"A brave act!" exclaimed the old man at her side. +"Who is he?"</p> + +<p>But she did not hear him. She had fallen back and was +gasping supplication, her eyes set upon the old man's +face with a stare that meant nothing.</p> + +<p>The corner of the building had shut out the picture; +it was impossible for her to know that the man and his +burden had reached the balcony in safety. Even now, +they might be lying on the terrace, riddled by bullets. +The concentrated aim of the enemy had not escaped +her horrified gaze. The cheering did not reach her ears.</p> + +<p>The old man roused her from the stupor of dread. He +called her name several times in high, strident tones. +Dully she responded. Standing bolt upright in the +window she sought out the figure of Marlanx, and +pointed rigidly.</p> + +<p>"Ah," groaned the old man, "they will not be driven +back this time! They will not be denied. It is the last +charge! God, how they come! Our men will be annihilated +in—Where is he? Now! Ah, I see! Yes, +that is he! He is near enough now. I cannot miss +him!"</p> + +<p>Marlanx was leading his men up to the terrace. A +howling avalanche of humanity, half obscured by +smoke, streamed up the slope.</p> + +<p>At the top of the terrace, the Iron Count suddenly +stopped. His long body stiffened and then crumpled +like a reed. A score of heavy feet trampled on the +fallen leader, but he did not feel the impact.</p> + +<p>A bullet from the north wing had crashed into his +brain.</p> + +<p>"At last!" shrieked the old man at the window. "Come, +Miss Tullis; my work is done."</p> + +<p>"He is dead, your Grace?" in low, awed tones.</p> + +<p>"Yes, my dear," said the Duke of Perse, a smile of +relief on his face. "Come, let me escort you to the +Prince. You have been most courageous. Graustark +shall not forget it. Nor shall I ever cease thanking +you for the service you have rendered to me. I have +succeeded in freeing my unhappy daughter from the +vile beast to whom I sold her youth and beauty and +purity. Come! You must not look upon that carnage!"</p> + +<p>Together they left the little room. As they stepped +into the narrow hall beyond they realised that the defenders +had been driven inside the walls of the Castle. +The crash of firearms filled the halls far below; a +deafening, steady roar came up to them.</p> + +<p>"It is all over," said the Duke of Perse, hobbling across +the hall and throwing open the door to a room opposite.</p> + +<p>A group of terrified women were huddled in the far +corner of the spacious room. In front of them was the +little Prince, a look of terror in his eyes, but with the +tiny sword clutched in his hand—a pathetic figure of +courage and dread combined. The Duke of Perse held +open the door for Loraine Tullis, but she did not enter. +When he turned to call, she was half way down the top +flight of stairs, racing through the powder smoke toward +the landing below.</p> + +<p>At every step she was screaming in the very agony of +gladness:</p> + +<p>"Stand firm! Hold them! Help is coming! Help +is coming!"</p> + +<p>A last look through the window at the end of the hail +had revealed to her the most glorious of visions.</p> + +<p>Red and green troops were pouring through the dismantled +gateway, their horses surging over the ugly +ground-rifts and debris as if possessed of the fabled +wings.</p> + +<p>She had seen the rear line in the storming forces +hesitate and then turn to meet the whirlwind charge +of the cavalrymen. Her brother was out there and all +was well. She was crying the joyous news from the +head of the grand stairway when Truxton King caught +sight of her.</p> + +<p>Smoke writhed about her slim, inspiriting figure. Her +face shone through the drab fog like an undimmed star +of purest light. He bounded up the steps toward her, +drawn as by magnet against which there was no such +thing as resistance.</p> + +<p>He was powder-stained and grimy; there was blood +on his face and shirt front.</p> + +<p>"You are shot," she cried, clutching the post at the +bend in the stairs. "Truxton! Truxton!"</p> + +<p>"Not even scratched," he shouted, as he reached her +side. "It's not my—" He stopped short, even as he +held out his arms to clasp her to his breast. "It's some +one else's blood," he finished resolutely. She swayed +toward him and he caught her in his arms.</p> + +<p>"I love you—oh, I love you, Truxton!" she cried over +and over again. He was faint with joy. His kisses +spoke the adoration he would have cried out to her if +emotion had not clogged his throat.</p> + +<p>"Eric?" she whispered at last, drawing back in his +arms and looking up into his eyes with a great pity in +her own. "Is he—is he dead, Truxton?"</p> + +<p>"No," he said gently. "Badly hurt, but—"</p> + +<p>"He will not die? Thank God, Truxton. He is a +brave—oh, a very brave man." Then she remembered +her mission into this whirlpool of danger. "Go! Don't +lose a moment, darling! Tell Colonel Quinnox that +Jack has come! The dragoons are—"</p> + +<p>He did not hear the end of her cry. A quick, fierce +kiss and he was gone, bounding down the stairs with +great shouts of encouragement.</p> + +<p>Leaderless, between the deadly fires, the mercenaries +gave up the fight after a brief stand at the terrace. +Six hundred horsemen ploughed through them, driving +them to the very walls of the Castle. Here they broke +and scattered, throwing down their arms and shouting +for mercy. It was all over inside of twenty minutes.</p> + +<p>The Prince reigned again.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>Nightfall brought complete restoration of order, +peace and security in the city of Edelweiss. Hundreds +of lives had been lost in the terrific conflict of the early +morning hours; hundreds of men lay on beds of suffering, +crushed and bleeding from the wounds they had +courted and received.</p> + +<p>"I knowed we'd whip them," shouted the Prince, wriggling +gleefully in John Tullis's straining embrace half +an hour after the latter had ridden through the gate. +Tears streamed down the big man's face. One arm +held the boy, the other encircled the sister he had all +but lost. In the Monastery of St. Valentine there was +another woman, waiting for him to come to her with +the news of a glorious victory. Perhaps she was hoping +and praying for the other news that he would bring her, +who knows? If he came to her with kisses, she would +know without being told in so many words.</p> + +<p>Truxton did not again see Loraine until late in the +afternoon. He had offered his services to Colonel +Quinnox and had worked manfully in the effort to +provide comfort for the wounded of both sides. General +Braze was at work with his men in the open city, clearing +away the ugly signs of battle. The fortress and +Tower were full of the prisoners of war. Baron +Dangloss, pale, emaciated, sick but resolute, was free +once more and, with indomitable zeal, had thrown himself +and his liberated men at once into the work of rehabilitation.</p> + +<p>It was on the occasion of the Baron's first visit to the +Prince, late in the day, that Truxton saw the girl he +worshipped.</p> + +<p>Prince Robin had sent for him to appear in the devastated +state chamber. Publicly, in the presence of +the Court and Ministry, the little ruler proclaimed him +a baron and presented to him a great seal ring from +among the ancient crown jewels.</p> + +<p>"Say, Mr. King," said Bobby, after he had called the +American quite close to him by means of a stealthy +crooking of his finger, "would you mind giving me my +lucky stone? I don't think you'll need it any longer. +I will, I'm sure. You see a prince has such a lot of +things to trouble him. Wars and murders and everything."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, Prince Robin," said King, placing the +stone in the little hand. "I couldn't have got on without +it. May it always serve you as well."</p> + +<p>"Noblesse oblige, Baron," said Prince Robin gravely.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" in an excited whisper. "Here's Baron +Dangloss. He's been in his own gaol!"</p> + +<p>Truxton withdrew. Near the door he met Loraine. +She had just entered the room. There was a bright +look of relief in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Count Vos Engo has asked for you, Truxton," she +said in a low voice. A delicate flush crept into her +cheeks; a sudden shyness leaped into her eyes, and she +looked away.</p> + +<p>"Loraine, have you told him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I am so sorry for him. He is one of the +bravest men I have ever known, Truxton dear. And, +as it is with all men of his race, love knew no reason, +no compromise. But I have made him see that I—that I +cannot be his wife. He knows that I love you."</p> + +<p>"Somehow, darling, I'm sorry for him."</p> + +<p>"He will not pretend friendship for you, dear," she +went on painfully. "He only wants to thank you and +to apologise, as you did, not so long ago. And he +wants to ask you to release him from a certain obligation."</p> + +<p>"You mean our—our fight?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. He is to lose his right arm, Truxton. You +understand how it is with him now."</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII" />CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3>"YOU WILL BE MRS. KING"</h3> + + +<p>Late that night it was reported at the Castle that a +large force of men were encamped on the opposite side +of the river. A hundred camp-fires were gleaming +against the distant uplands.</p> + +<p>"The Grand Duke Paulus!" exclaimed Count Halfont. +"Thank God, he did not come a day earlier. We owe +him nothing to-day—but yesterday! Ah, he could have +demanded much of us. Send his messengers to me, +Colonel Quinnox, as soon as they arrive in the morning. +I will arise early. There is much to do in Graustark. +Let there be no sluggards."</p> + +<p>A mellow, smiling moon crept up over the hills, flooding +the laud with a serene radiance. Once more the +windows in the Castle gleamed brightly; low-voiced +people strolled through the shattered balconies; others +wandered about the vast halls, possessed by uncertain +emotions, torn by the conflicting hands of joy and +gloom. In a score of rooms wounded men were lying; in +others there were dead heroes. At the barracks, standing +dully against the distant shadows, there were many +cots of suffering. And yet there was rejoicing, even +among those who writhed in pain or bowed their heads +in grief. Victory's wings were fanning the gloom away; +conquest was painting an ever-widening streak of +brightness across the dark, drear canvas of despair.</p> + +<p>In one of the wrecked approaches to the terrace, +surrounded by fragments of stone and confronted by +ugly destruction, sat a young man and a slender girl. +There were no lights near them; the shadows were black +and forbidding. This particular end of the terrace +had suffered most in the fierce rain of cannon-balls. +So great was the devastation here that one attained the +position held by the couple only by means of no little +daring and at the risk of unkind falls. From where +they sat they could see the long vista of lighted windows +and yet could not themselves be seen.</p> + +<p>His arm was about her; her head nestled securely +against his shoulder and her slim hands were willing +prisoners in one of his.</p> + +<p>She was saying "Truxton, dear, I did <i>not</i> love Eric +Vos Engo. I just thought it was love. I never really +knew what love is until you came into my life. Then I +knew the difference. That's what made it so hard. I +had let him believe that I might care for him some day. +And I <i>did</i> like him. So I—"</p> + +<p>"You are sure—terribly sure—that I am the only man +you ever really loved?" he interrupted.</p> + +<p>She snuggled closer. "Haven't I just told you that I +didn't know what it was until—well, until now?"</p> + +<p>"You will never, never know how happy I am, +Loraine!" he breathed into her ear.</p> + +<p>"I hope I shall always bring happiness to you, Truxton," +she murmured, faint with the joy of loving.</p> + +<p>"You will make me very unhappy if you don't marry +me to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"I couldn't think of it!"</p> + +<p>"I don't ask you to think. If you do, you may +change your mind completely. Just marry me without +thinking, dearest."</p> + +<p>"I will marry you, Truxton, when we get to New +York," she said, but not very firmly. He saw his advantage.</p> + +<p>"But, my dear, I'm tired of travelling."</p> + +<p>It was rather enigmatic. "What has that to do with +it?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Well, it's this way: if we get married in New York +we'll have to consider an extended and wholly obligatory +wedding journey. If we get married here, we can save +all that bother by bridal-tripping to New York, instead +of away from it. And, what's more, we'll escape the +rice-throwing and the old shoes and the hand-painted +trunk labels. Greater still: we will avoid a long and +lonely trip across the ocean on separate steamers. That's +something, you know."</p> + +<p>"We <i>could</i> go on the same steamer."</p> + +<p>"Quite so, my dear. But don't you think it would be +nicer if we went as one instead of two?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose it would be cheaper."</p> + +<p>"They say a fellow saves money by getting married."</p> + +<p>"I hate a man who is always trying to save money."</p> + +<p>"Well, if you put it that way, I'll promise never to +save a cent. I'm a horrible spendthrift."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you'll have to save, Truxton!"</p> + +<p>"How silly we are!" he cried in utter joyousness. He +held her close for a long time, his face buried in her +hair. "Listen, darling: won't you say you'll be my +wife before I leave Graustark? I want you so much. +I can't go away without you."</p> + +<p>She hesitated. "When are you going, Truxton? You—you +haven't told me."</p> + +<p>It was what he wanted. "I am going next Monday," +he said promptly. As a matter of fact, he had forgotten +the day of the week they were now living in.</p> + +<p>"Monday? Oh, dear!"</p> + +<p>"Will you?"</p> + +<p>"I—I must cable home first," she faltered.</p> + +<p>"That's a mere detail, darling. Cable afterward. It +will beat us home by three weeks. They'll know we're +coming."</p> + +<p>"I must ask John, really I must, Truxton," she protested +faintly.</p> + +<p>"Hurray!" he shouted—in a whisper. "He is so +desperately in love, he won't think of refusing anything +we ask. Shall we set it for Saturday?"</p> + +<p>They set it for Saturday without consulting John +Tullis, and then fell to discussing him. "He is very +much in love with her," she said wistfully.</p> + +<p>"And she loves him, Loraine. They will be very happy. +She's wonderful."</p> + +<p>"Well, so is John. He's the most wonderful man in +all this world."</p> + +<p>"I am sure of it," he agreed magnanimously. "I saw +him talking with her and the Duke of Perse as I came +out awhile ago. They were going to the Duke's rooms +up there. The Duke will offer no objections. I think +he'll permit his daughter to select his next son-in-law."</p> + +<p>"How could he have given her to that terrible, terrible +old man?" she cried, with a shudder.</p> + +<p>"She won't be in mourning for him long, I fancy. +Nobody will talk of appearances, either. She could +marry Jack to-morrow and no one would criticise her."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that would be disgusting, Truxton!"</p> + +<p>"But, my dear, he isn't to have a funeral, so why not? +They buried his body in quicklime this afternoon. No +mourners, no friends, no tears! Hang it all, she's +foolish if she puts on anything but red."</p> + +<p>"They can't be married for—oh, ever so long," she +said very primly.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," he said with alacrity. But he did not +believe what he said. If he knew anything about John +Tullis, it would not be "ever so long" before Prince +Robin's friend turned Benedict and husband to the most +noted beauty in all Graustark.</p> + +<p>"I shall be sorry to leave Graustark," she said dreamily, +after a long period of silent retrospection. "I've +had the happiest year of my life here."</p> + +<p>"I've had the busiest month of my life here. I'll never +again say that the world is a dull place. And I'll +never advise any man to go out of his own home city +in search of the most adorable woman in the world. She's +always there, bless her heart, if he'll only look around +a bit for her."</p> + +<p>"But you wouldn't have found me if you hadn't come +to Graustark."</p> + +<p>"I shudder when I think of what might have happened +to you, my Princess Sweetheart, if I hadn't come to +Edelweiss. No; I would not have found you." Feeling +her tremble in his arms, he went on with whimsical good +humour: "You would have been eaten up by the ogre +long before this. Or, perhaps, you would have succeeded +in becoming a countess."</p> + +<p>"As it is, I shall be a baroness."</p> + +<p>"In Graustark, but not in New York. That reminds +me. You'll be more than a baroness—more than a +princess. You will be a queen. Don't you catch the +point? You will be Mrs. King."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The Grand Duke Paulus was distinctly annoyed. He +had travelled many miles, endured quite a number of +hardships, and all to no purpose. When dawn came, +his emissaries returned from the city with the lamentable +information that the government had righted itself, +that Marlanx's sensational revolution was at an +end, and that the regents would be highly honoured if +his Excellency could overlook the distressingly chaotic +conditions at court and condescend to pay the Castle a +visit. The regents, the Prince and the citizens of Graustark +desired the opportunity to express their gratitude +for the manner in which he had voluntarily (and unexpectedly) +come to their assistance in time of trouble. +The fact that he had come too late to render the invaluable +aid he so nobly intended did not in the least +minimise the volume of gratefulness they felt.</p> + +<p>The Grand Duke admitted that he was at sea, diplomatically. +He was a fifth wheel, so to speak, now that +the revolution was over. Not so much as the tip of +his finger had he been able to get into the coveted pie. +There was nothing for him to do but to turn round with +his five thousand Cossacks and march disconsolately +across the steppes to an Imperial railroad, where he +could embark for home. However, he would visit the +Castle in a very informal way, extend his congratulations, +offer his services—which he knew would be declined +with thanks—and profess his unbounded joy in +the discovery that Graustark happily was so able to +take care of herself. Incidentally, he would mention +the bond issue; also, he would find the opportunity to +suggest to the ministry that his government still was +willing to make large grants and stupendous promises +if any sort of an arrangement could be made by which +the system might be operated in conjunction with +branch lines of the Imperial roads.</p> + +<p>And so it was that at noon he rode in pomp and +splendour through the city gates, attended by his staff +and a rather overpowering body-guard. His excuse +for the early call was delicately worded. He said in +his reply to the message from the Count that it would +give him great pleasure to remain for some time at the +Castle, were it not for the fact that he had left his own +province in a serious state of unrest; it was imperative +that he should return in advance of the ever-possible +and always popular uprising. Therefore he would pay +his respects to his serene Highness, renew his protestations +of friendship, extend his felicitations, and beg +leave to depart for his own land without delay.</p> + +<p>As he rode from Regengetz Circus into Castle Avenue, +a small knot of American tourists crowded to the curb +and bent eager, attentive ears to the words of a stubby +little person whom we should recognise by his accent; +but, for fear that there may be some who have forgotten +him in the rush of events, we will point to his +cap and read aloud: "Cook's Interpreter."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hobbs was saying: "The gentleman on the gray +horse, ladies and gentlemen, is his <i>Highness</i>, the Grand +Duke Paulus. He has come to pay his respects to his +Serene Highness. Now, if you will kindly step this +way, I will show you the spot where the bomb was +thrown. 'Aving been an eye-witness to the shocking +occurrence, I respectfully submit that I," etc. With +a pride and dignity that surpassed all moderate sense +of appreciation, he delivered newly made history unto +his charges, modestly winding up his discourse with the +casual remark that the Prince had but recently appointed +him twelfth assistant steward at the Castle, +and that he expected to assume the duties of this +honorary position just as soon as Cook & Sons could +find a capable man to send up in his place.</p> + +<p>The American tourists, it may be well to observe, arrived +by the first train that entered the city from the +outside world.</p> + +<p>The audience was at two o'clock. Prince Robin was +in a state of tremendous excitement. Never before had +he been called upon to receive a grand duke. He quite +forgot yesterday's battle in the face of this most imposing +calamity. More than that, he was in no frame +of mind to enjoy the excitement attending the rehabilitation +of the Castle; oppressed by the approaching +shadow of the great man, he lost all interest in what was +going on in the Castle, about the grounds and among +his courtiers.</p> + +<p>"What'll I do, Uncle Jack, if he asks any questions?" +he mourned. They were dressing him in the robes of +state.</p> + +<p>"Answer 'em," said his best friend.</p> + +<p>"But supposin' I can't? Then what?"</p> + +<p>"He won't ask questions, Bobby. People never +do when a potentate is on his throne. It's shockingly +bad form."</p> + +<p>"I hope he won't stay long," prayed Bobby, a grave +pucker between his brows. He was a very tired little +boy. His eyes were heavy with sleep and his lips were +not very firm.</p> + +<p>"Count Halfont will look after him, Bobby; so don't +worry. Just sit up there on the throne and look wise. +The regents will do the rest. Watch your Uncle Caspar. +When he gives the signal, you arise. That ends the +audience. You walk out—"</p> + +<p>"I know all about that, Uncle Jack. But I bet I do +something wrong. This thing of receiving grand +dukes is no joke. 'Specially when we're so terribly upset. +Really, I ought to be looking after the men who +are wounded, attending to the funerals of—"</p> + +<p>"Now, Bobby, don't flunk like that! Be a man!"</p> + +<p>Bobby promptly squared his little shoulders and set +his jaw. "Oh, I'm not scared!" He was thoughtful +for a moment. "But, I'll tell you, it's awful lonesome +up in that big chair, so far away from all your friends. +I wish Uncle Caspar would let me sit down with the +crowd."</p> + +<p>The Grand Duke, with all the arrogance of a real +personage, was late. It was not for him to consider the +conditions that distressed the Court of Graustark. Not +at all. He was a grand duke and he would take his +own time in paying his respects. What cared he that +every one in the Castle was tired and unstrung and sad +and—sleepy? Any one but a grand duke would have +waited a day or two before requiring a royal audience. +When he finally presented himself at the Castle doors, +a sleepy group of attendants actually yawned in his +presence.</p> + +<p>A somnolent atmosphere, still touched by the smell of +gunpowder, greeted him as he strode majestically down +the halls. Somehow each person who bowed to him +seemed to do it with the melancholy precision of one +who has been up for six nights in succession and doesn't +care who knows it.</p> + +<p>No one had slept during the night just passed. Excitement +and the suffering of others had denied slumber +to one and all—even to those who had not slept for +many days and nights. Now the reaction was upon +them. Relaxation had succeeded tenseness.</p> + +<p>When the Grand Duke entered the great, sombre +throne room, he was confronted by a punctiliously +polite assemblage, but every eyelid was as heavy as lead +and as prone to sink.</p> + +<p>The Prince sat far back in the great chair of his +ancestors, his sturdy legs sticking straight out in front +of him, utterly lost in the depths of gold and royal +velvet. Two-score or more of his courtiers and as +many noble ladies of the realm stood soberly in the +places assigned them by the laws of precedence. The +Grand Duke advanced between the respectful lines and +knelt at the foot of the throne.</p> + +<p>"Arise, your Highness," piped Bobby, with a quick +glance at Count Halfont. It was a very faint, faraway +voice that uttered the gracious command. "Graustark +welcomes the Grand Duke Paulus. It is my pleasure to—to—to—" +a helpless look came into his eyes. He +looked everywhere for support. The Grand Duke saw +that he had forgotten the rehearsed speech, and smiled +benignly as he stepped forward and kissed the hand that +had been extended somewhat uncertainly.</p> + +<p>"My most respectful homage to your Majesty. The +felicitations of my emperor and the warmest protestations +of friendship from his people."</p> + +<p>With this as a prologue, he engaged himself in the +ever-pleasurable task of delivering a long, congratulatory +address. If there was one thing above another that +the Grand Duke enjoyed, it was the making of a speech. +He prided himself on his prowess as an orator and as an +after-dinner speaker; but, more than either of these, +he gloried in his ability to soar extemporaneously.</p> + +<p>For ten minutes he addressed himself to the throne, +benignly, comfortably. Then he condescended to devote +a share of his precious store to the courtiers behind +him. If he caught more than one of them yawning +when he turned in their direction, he did not permit +it to disturb him in the least. His eyes may have narrowed +a bit, but that was all.</p> + +<p>After five minutes of high-sounding platitudes, he +again turned to the Prince. It was then that he received +his first shock.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<br /> +<a name="p366.jpg"></a> +<a href="images/p366.jpg"> +<img src="images/p366.jpg" width="45%" alt="" title="" /></a><br /> +<b>"His Majesty appears to have—ahem—gone to sleep," +remarked the Grand Duke tartly"</b><br /> +<br /> +</div> + +<p>Prince Robin was sound asleep. His head was slipping +side-wise along the satiny back of the big chair, and +his chin was very low in the laces at his neck. The +Grand Duke coughed emphatically, cleared his throat, +and grew very red in the face.</p> + +<p>The Court of Graustark was distinctly dismayed. +Here was shocking state of affairs. The prince +going to sleep while a grand duke talked!</p> + +<p>"His Majesty appears to have—ahem—gone to sleep," +remarked the Grand Duke tartly, interrupting himself +to address the Prime Minister.</p> + +<p>"He is very tired, your Excellency," said Count +Halfont, very much distressed. "Pray consider what +he has been through during the—"</p> + +<p>"Ah, my dear Count, do not apologise for him. I +quite understand. Ahem! Ahem!" Still he was very +red in the face. Some one had laughed softly behind +his back.</p> + +<p>"I will awaken him, your Excellency," said the Prime +Minister, edging toward the throne.</p> + +<p>"Not at all, sir!" protested the visitor. "Permit him +to have his sleep out, sir. I will not have him disturbed. +Who am I that I should defeat the claims of nature? It +is my pleasure to wait until his Majesty's nap is over. +Then he may dismiss us, but not until we have cried: +'Long live the Prince!'"</p> + +<p>For awhile they stood in awkward silence, this notable +gathering of men and women. Then the Prime Minister, +in hushed tones, suggested that it would be eminently +proper, under the circumstances, for all present to be +seated. He was under the impression that His Serene +Highness would sleep long and soundly.</p> + +<p>Stiff-backed and uncomfortable, the Court sat and +waited. No one pretended to conceal the blissful yawns +that would not be denied. A drowsy, ineffably languid +feeling took possession of the entire assemblage. Here +and there a noble head nodded slightly; eyelids fell in +the silent war against the god of slumber, only to +revive again with painful energy and ever-weakening +courage.</p> + +<p>The Prime Minister sat at the foot of the throne and +nodded in spite of himself. The Minister of the +Treasury was breathing so heavily that his neighbor +nudged him just in time to prevent something even more +humiliating. John Tullis, far back near the wall, had +his head on his hand, bravely fighting off the persistent +demon. Prince Dantan of Dawsbergen was sound +asleep.</p> + +<p>The Grand Duke was wide awake. He saw it all and +was equal to the occasion. After all, he was a kindly +old gentleman, and, once his moment of mortification +was over, he was not above charity.</p> + +<p>Bobby's poor little head had slipped over to a most +uncomfortable position against the arm of the chair. +Putting his finger to his lips, the Grand Duke tip-toed +carefully up to the throne. With very gentle hands he +lifted Bobby's head, and, infinitely tender, stuffed a +throne cushion behind the curly head. Still with his +finger to his lips, a splendid smile in his eyes, he tip-toed +back to his chair.</p> + +<p>As he passed Count Halfont, who had risen, he +whispered:</p> + +<p>"Dear little man! I do not forget, my lord, that I +was once a boy. God bless him!"</p> + +<p>Then he sat down, conscious of a fine feeling of goodness, +folded his arms across his expansive chest, and +allowed his beaming eyes to rest upon the sleeping boy +far back in the chair of state. Incidentally, he decided +to delay a few days before taking up the bond question +with the ministry. The Grand Duke was not an ordinary +diplomat.</p> + +<p>In one of the curtained windows, far removed from the +throne, sat Truxton King and Loraine Tullis.</p> + +<p>All about them people were watching the delicate little +scene, smiling drowsily at the Grand Duke's tender +comedy. No one was looking at the two in the curtained +recess. Her hand was in his, her head sank slowly +toward his inviting shoulder; her heavy lids drooped +lower and lower, refusing to obey the slender will that +argued against complete surrender. At last her soft, +regular breathing told him that she was asleep. Awaiting +his opportunity, he tenderly kissed the soft, brown +hair, murmured a gentle word of love, and settled his +own head against the thick cushions.</p> + +<p>Everywhere they dozed and nodded. The Grand Duke +smiled and blinked his little eyes. He was very wide +awake.</p> + +<p>That is how he happened to see the Prince move restlessly +and half open his sleep-bound eyes. The Grand +Duke leaned forward with his hand to his ear, and +listened. He had seen the boy's lips move. From +dreamland came Bobby's belated:</p> + +<p>"Good-ni—ight."</p> + + +<h3>THE END</h3> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Truxton King, by George Barr McCutcheon + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRUXTON KING *** + +***** This file should be named 14284-h.htm or 14284-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/2/8/14284/ + +Produced by Rick Niles, Charlie Kirschner and the PG Online +Distributed Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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