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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.12.12.00*END* + + + + +This etext was produced by Charles Franks and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + +THE PUPPET CROWN + +by Harold MacGrath + + + + +TO THE MEMORY OF THAT GOOD FRIEND + AND + COMRADE OF MY YOUTH + MY FATHER + + + + +CONTENTS + + I. THE SCEPTER WHICH WAS A STICK + II. THE COUP D'ETAT OF COUSIN JOSEF + III. AN EPISODE TEN YEARS AFTER + IV. AN ADVENTURE WITH ROYALTY + V. BEHIND THE PUPPET BOOTH + VI. MADEMOISELLE OF THE VEIL + VII. SOME DIALOGUE, AN SPRAINED ANKLE, AND SOME SOLDIERS + VIII. THE RED CHATEAU + IX. NOTHING MORE SERIOUS THAN A HOUSE PARTY + X. BEING OF LONG RIDES, MAIDS, KISSES AND MESSAGES + XI. THE DENOUEMENT + XII. WHOM THE GODS DESTROY AND A FEW OTHERS + XIII. BEING OF COMPLICATIONS NOT RECKONED ON + XIV. QUI M'AIME, AIME MON CHIEN + XV. IN WHICH FORTUNE BECOMES CARELESS AND PRODIGAL + XVI. WHAT HAPPENED AT THE ARCHBISHOP'S PLACE AND AFTER + XVII. SOME PASSAGES AT ARMS + XVIII. A MINOR CHORD AND A CHANGE OF MOVEMENT + XIX. A CHANCE RIDE IN THE NIGHT + XX. THE LAST STAND OF A BAD SERVANT + XXI. A COURT FETE AT THE RED CHATEAU + XXII. IN WHICH MAURICE RECURS TO OFFENBACH + XXIII. A GAME OF POKER AND THE STAKES + XXIV. THE PRISONER OF THE RED CHATEAU + XXV. THE FORTUNES OF WAR + XXVI. A PAGE FORM TASSO + XXVII. WORMWOOD AND LEES +XXVIII. INTO THE HANDS OF AUSTRIA + XXIX. INTO STILL WATERS AND SILENCE + + + + +Ah Love! Could you and I with Him conspire +To grasp this sorry Scheme of Things entire + Would not we shatter it to bits--and then +Re-mold it nearer to the Heart's desire! + + - Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE SCEPTER WHICH WAS A STICK + +The king sat in his private garden in the shade of a potted +orange tree, the leaves of which were splashed with brilliant +yellow. It was high noon of one of those last warm sighs of +passing summer which now and then lovingly steal in between the +chill breaths of September. The velvet hush of the mid-day hour +had fallen. + +There was an endless horizon of turquoise blue, a zenith +pellucid as glass. The trees stood motionless; not a shadow +stirred, save that which was cast by the tremulous wings of a +black and purple butterfly, which, near to his Majesty, fell, +rose and sank again. From a drove of wild bees, swimming hither +and thither in quest of the final sweets of the year, came a low +murmurous hum, such as a man sometimes fancies he hears while +standing alone in the vast auditorium of a cathedral. + +The king, from where he sat, could see the ivy-clad towers of +the archbishop's palace, where, in and about the narrow windows, +gray and white doves fluttered and plumed themselves. The garden +sloped gently downward till it merged into a beautiful lake +called the Werter See, which, stretching out several miles to +the west, in the heart of the thick-wooded hills, trembled like +a thin sheet of silver. + +Toward the south, far away, lay the dim, uneven blue line of the +Thalian Alps, which separated the kingdom that was from the +duchy that is, and the duke from his desires. More than once the +king leveled his gaze in that direction, as if to fathom what +lay behind those lordly rugged hills. + +There was in the air the delicate odor of the deciduous leaves +which, every little while, the king inhaled, his eyes half- +closed and his nostrils distended. Save for these brief moments, +however, there rested on his countenance an expression of +disenchantment which came of the knowledge of a part ill-played, +an expression which described a consciousness of his unfitness +and inutility, of lethargy and weariness and distaste. + +To be weary is the lot of kings, it is a part of their royal +prerogative; but it is only a great king who can be weary +gracefully. And Leopold was not a great king; indeed, he was +many inches short of the ideal; but he was philosophical, and by +the process of reason he escaped the pitfalls which lurk in the +path of peevishness. + +To know the smallness of the human atom, the limit of desire, +the existence of other lives as precious as their own, is not +the philosophy which makes great kings. Philosophy engenders +pity; and one who possesses that can not ride roughshod over men, +and that is the business of kings. + +As for Leopold, he would rather have wandered the byways of Kant +than studied royal etiquette. A crown had been thrust on his +head and a scepter into his hand, and, willy-nilly, he must wear +the one and wield the other. The confederation had determined +the matter shortly before the Franco-Prussian war. + +The kingdom that was, an admixture of old France and newer +Austria, was a gateway which opened the road to the Orient, and +a gateman must be placed there who would be obedient to the will +of the great travelers, were they minded to pass that way. That +is to say, the confederation wanted a puppet, and in Leopold +they found a dreamer, which served as well. That glittering bait, +a crown, had lured him from his peaceful Osian hills and +valleys, and now he found that his crown was of straw and his +scepter a stick. + +He longed to turn back, for his heart lay in a tomb close to his +castle keep, but the way back was closed. He had sold his +birthright. So he permitted his ministers to rule his kingdom +how they would, and gave himself up to dreams. He had been but a +cousin of the late king, whereas the duke of the duchy that is +had been a brother. But cousin Josef was possessed of red hair +and a temper which was redder still, and, moreover, a +superlative will, bending to none, and laughing at those who +tried to bend him. + +He would have been a king to the tip of his fiery hair; and it +was for this very reason that his subsequent appeals for justice +and his rights fell on unheeding ears. The confederation feared +Josef; therefore they dispossessed him. Thus Leopold sat on the +throne, while his Highness bit his nails and swore, impotent to +all appearances. + +Leopold leaned forward from his seat. In his hand he held a +riding stick with which he drew shapeless pictures in the yellow +gravel of the path. His brows were drawn over contemplative eyes, +and the hint of a sour smile lifted the corners of his lips. +Presently the brows relaxed, and his gaze traveled to the +opposite side of the path, where the British minister sat in the +full glare of the sun. + +In the middle of the path, as rigid as a block of white marble, +reposed a young bulldog, his moist black nose quivering under +the repeated attacks of a persistent insect. It occurred to the +king that there was a resemblance between the dog and his master, +the Englishman. The same heavy jaws were there, the same +fearless eyes, the same indomitable courage for the prosecution +of a purpose. + +A momentary regret passed through him that he had not been +turned from a like mold. Next his gaze shifted to the end of the +path, where a young Lieutenant stood idly kicking pebbles, his +cuirass flaming in the dazzling sunshine. Soon the drawing in +the gravel was resumed. + +The British minister made little of the three-score years which +were closing in on him, after the manner of an army besieging a +citadel. He was full of animal exuberance, and his eyes, a +trifle faded, it must be admitted, were still keenly alive and +observant. He was big of bone, florid of skin, and his hair-- +what remained of it--was wiry and bleached. His clothes, +possibly cut from an old measure, hung loosely about the girth-- +a sign that time had taken its tithe. For thirty-five years he +had served his country by cunning speeches and bursts of fine +oratory; he had wandered over the globe, lulling suspicions here +and arousing them there, a prince of the art of diplomacy. + +He had not been sent here to watch this kingdom. He was touching +a deeper undercurrent, which began at St. Petersburg and moved +toward Central Asia, Turkey and India, sullenly and irresistibly. +And now his task was done, and another was to take his place, +to be a puppet among puppets. He feared no man save his valet, +who knew his one weakness, the love of a son on whom he had shut +his door, which pride forbade him to open. This son had chosen +the army, when a fine diplomatic career had been planned--a +small thing, but it sufficed. Even now a word from an humbled +pride would have reunited father and son, but both refused to +speak this word. + +The diplomat in turn watched the king as he engaged in the +aimless drawing. His meditation grew retrospective, and his +thoughts ran back to the days when he first befriended this +lonely prince, who had come to England to learn the language and +manners of the chill islanders. He had been handsome enough in +those days, this Leopold of Osia, gay and eager, possessing an +indefinable charm which endeared him to women and made him +respected of men. To have known him then, the wildest stretch of +fancy would never have placed him on this puppet throne, +surrounded by enemies, menaced by his adopted people, rudderless +and ignorant of statecraft. + +"Fate is the cup," the diplomat mused, "and the human life the +ball, and it's toss, toss, toss, till the ball slips and falls +into eternity." Aloud he said, "Your Majesty seems to be well +occupied." + +"Yes," replied the king, smiling. "I am making crowns and +scratching them out again-- usurping the gentle pastime of their +most Christian Majesties, the confederation. A pretty bauble is +a crown, indeed--at a distance. It is a fine thing to wear one-- +in a dream. But to possess one in the real, and to wear it day +by day with the eternal fear of laying it down and forgetting +where you put it, or that others plot to steal it, or that you +wear it dishonestly--Well, well, there are worse things than a +beggar's crust." + +"No one is honest in this world, save the brute," said the +diplomat, touching the dog with his foot. "Honesty is +instinctive with him, for he knows no written laws. The gold we +use is stamped with dishonesty, notwithstanding the beautiful +mottoes; and so long as we barter and sell for it, just so long +we remain dishonest. Yes, you wear your crown dishonestly but +lawfully, which is a nice distinction. But is any crown worn +honestly? If it is not bought with gold, it is bought with lies +and blood. Sire, your great fault, if I may speak, is that you +haven't continued to be dishonest. You should have filled your +private coffers, but you have not done so, which is a strange +precedent to establish. You should have increased taxation, but +you have diminished it; you should have forced your enemy's hand +four years ago, when you ascended the throne, but you did not; +and now, for all you know, his hand may be too strong. Poor, +dishonest king! When you accepted this throne, which belongs to +another, you fell as far as possible from moral ethics. And now +you would be honest and be called dull, and dream, while your +ministers profit and smile behind your back. I beg your +Majesty's pardon, but you have always requested that I should +speak plainly." + +The king laughed; he enjoyed this frank friend. There was an +essence of truth and sincerity in all he said that encouraged +confidence. + +"Indeed, I shall be sorry to have you go tomorrow," he said, "for +I believe if you stayed here long enough you would truly make a +king of me. Be frank, my friend, be always frank; for it is only +on the base of frankness that true friendship can rear itself." + +"You are only forty-eight," said the Englishman; "you are young." + +"Ah, my friend," replied the king with a tinge of sadness, "it +is not the years that age us; it is how we live them. In the +last four years I have lived ten. To-day I feel so very old! I +am weary of being a king. I am weary of being weary, and for +such there is no remedy. Truly I was not cut from the pattern of +kings; no, no. I am handier with a book than with a scepter; I'd +liever be a man than a puppet, and a puppet I am--a figurehead +on the prow of the ship, but I do not guide it. Who care for me +save those who have their ends to gain? None, save the archbishop, +who yet dreams of making a king of me. And these are not my people +who surround me; when I die, small care. I shall have left in the +passing scarce a finger mark in the dust of time." + +"Ah, Sire, if only you would be cold, unfriendly, avaricious. Be +stone and rule with a rod of iron. Make the people fear you, +since they refuse to love you; be stone." + +"You can mold lead, but you can not sculpture it; and I am lead." + +"Yes; not only the metal, but the verb intransitive. Ah, could +the fires of ambition light your soul!" + +"My soul is a blackened grate of burnt-out fires, of which only +a coal remains." + +And the king turned in his seat and looked across the crisp +green lawns to the beds of flowers, where, followed by a maid at +a respectful distance, a slim young girl in white was cutting +the hardy geraniums, dahlias and seed poppies. + +"God knows what her legacy will be!" + +"It is for you to make it, Sire." + +Both men continued to remark the girl. At length she came toward +them, her arms laden with flowers. She was at the age of ten, +with a beautiful, serious face, which some might have called +prophetic. Her hair was dark, shining like coal and purple, and +gossamer in its fineness; her skin had the blue-whiteness of +milk; while from under long black lashes two luminous brown eyes +looked thoughtfully at the world. She smiled at the king, who +eyed her fondly, and gave her unengaged hand to the Englishman, +who kissed it. + +"And how is your Royal Highness this fine day? he asked, patting +the hand before letting it go. + +"Will you have a dahlia, Monsieur?" With a grave air she +selected a flower and slipped it through his button-hole. + +"Does your Highness know the language of the flowers?" the +Englishman asked. + +"Dahlias signify dignity and elegance; you are dignified, +Monsieur, and dignity is elegance." + +"Well!" cried the Englishman, smiling with pleasure; "that is +turned as adroitly as a woman of thirty." + +"And am I not to have one?" asked the king, his eyes full of +paternal love and pride. + +"They are for your Majesty's table," she answered. + +"Your Majesty!" cried the king in mimic despair. "Was ever a +father treated thus? Your Majesty! Do you not know, my dear, +that to me 'father' is the grandest title in the world?" + +Suddenly she crossed over and kissed the king on the cheek, and +he held her to him for a moment. + +The bulldog had risen, and was wagging his tail the best he knew +how. If there was any young woman who could claim his unreserved +admiration, it was the Princess Alexia. She never talked +nonsense to him in their rambles together, but treated him as he +should be treated, as an animal of enlightenment. + +"And here is Bull," said the princess, tickling the dog's nose +with a scarlet geranium. + +"Your Highness thinks a deal of Bull?" said the dog's master. + +"Yes, Monsieur, he doesn't bark, and he seems to understand all +I say to him." + +The dog looked up at his master as if to say: "There now, what +do you think of that?" + +"To-morrow I am going away," said the diplomat, "and as I can +not very well take Bull with me, I give him to you." + +The girl's eyes sparkled. "Thank you, Monsieur, shall I take him +now?" + +"No, but when I leave your father. You see, he was sent to me by +my son who is in India. I wish to keep him near me as long as +possible. My son, your Highness, was a bad fellow. He ran away +and joined the army against my wishes, and somehow we have never +got together again. Still, I've a sneaking regard for him, and I +believe he hasn't lost all his filial devotion. Bull is, in a +way, a connecting link." + +The king turned again to the gravel pictures. These Englishmen +were beyond him in the matter of analysis. Her Royal Highness +smiled vaguely, and wondered what this son was like. Once more +she smiled, then moved away toward the palace. The dog, seeing +that she did not beckon, lay down again. An interval of silence +followed her departure. The thought of the Englishman had +traveled to India, the thought of the king to Osia, where the +girl's mother slept. The former was first to rouse. + +"Well, Sire, let us come to the business at hand, the subject of +my last informal audience. It is true, then, that the consols +for the loan of five millions of crowns are issued to-day, or +have been, since the morning is passed?" + +"Yes, it is true. I am well pleased. Jacobi and Brother have +agreed to place them at face value. I intend to lay out a park +for the public at the foot of the lake. That will demolish two +millions and a half. The remainder is to be used in city +improvements and the reconstruction of the apartments in the +palace, which are too small. If only you knew what a pleasure +this affords me! I wish to make my good city of Bleiberg a thing +of beauty --parks, fountains, broad and well paved streets." + +"The Diet was unanimous in regard to this loan?" + +"In fact they suggested it, and I was much in favor." + +"You have many friends there, then?" + +"Friends?" The king's face grew puzzled, and its animation faded +away. "None that I know. This is positively the first time we +ever agreed about anything." + +"And did not that strike you as rather singular?" + +"Why, no." + +"Of course, the people are enthusiastic, considering the old +rate of taxation will be renewed?" The diplomat reached over and +pulled the dog's ears. + +"So far as I can see," answered the king, who could make nothing +of this interrogatory. + +"Which, if your Majesty will pardon me, is not very far beyond +your books." + +"I have ministers." + +"Who can see farther than your Majesty has any idea." + +"Come, come, my friend," cried the king good-naturedly; "but a +moment gone you were chiding me because I did nothing. I may not +fill my coffers as you suggested, but I shall please my eye, +which is something. Come; you have something to tell me." + +"Will your Majesty listen?" + +"I promise." + +"And to hear?" + +"I promise not only to listen, but to hear," laughing; "not only +to hear, but to think. Is that sufficient?" + +"For three years," began the Englishman, "I have been England's +representative here. As a representative I could not meddle with +your affairs, though it was possible to observe them. To-day I +am an unfettered agent of self, and with your permission I shall +talk to you as I have never talked before and never shall again." + +The diplomat rose from his seat and walked up and down the path, +his hands clasped behind his back, his chin in his collar. The +bulldog yawned, stretched himself, and followed his master, +soberly and thoughtfully. After a while the Englishman returned +to his chair and sat down. The dog gravely imitated him. He +understood, perhaps better than the king, his master's mood. +This pacing backward and forward was always the forerunner of +something of great importance. + +During the past year he had been the repository of many a secret. +Well, he knew how to keep one. Did not he carry a secret which +his master would have given much to know? Some one in far away +India, after putting him into the ship steward's care, had +whispered: "You tell the governor that I think just as much of +him as ever." He had made a desperate effort to tell it the +moment he was liberated from the box, but he had not yet +mastered that particular language which characterized his +master's race. + +"To begin with," said the diplomat, "what would your Majesty say +if I should ask permission to purchase the entire loan?" + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +THE COUP D'ETAT OF COUSIN JOSEF + +The king, who had been leaning forward, fell back heavily in his +seat, his eyes full wide and his mouth agape. Then, to express +his utter bewilderment, he raised his hands above his head and +limply dropped them. + +"Five millions of crowns?" he gasped. + +"Yes; what would your Majesty say to such a proposition?" +complacently. + +"I should say," answered the king, with a nervous laugh, "that +my friend had lost his senses, completely and totally." + +"The fact is," the Englishman declared, "they were never keener +nor more lucid than at this present moment." + +"But five millions!" + +"Five millions; a bagatelle," smiling. + +"Certainly you can not be serious, and if you were, it is out of +the question. Death of my life! The kingdom would be at my ears. +The people would shout that I was selling out to the English, +that I was putting them into the mill to grind for English sacks." + +"Your Majesty will recollect that the measure authorizing this +loan was rather a peculiar one. Five millions were to be +borrowed indiscriminately, of any man or body of men willing to +advance the money on the securities offered. First come, first +served, was not written, but it was implied. It was this which +roused my curiosity, or cupidity, if you will." + +"I can not recollect that the bill was as you say," said the +king, frowning. + +"I believe you. When the bill came to you, you were not expected +to recollect anything but the royal signature. Have you read +half of what you have signed and made law? No. I am serious. +What is it to you or to the people, who secures this public +mortgage, so long as the money is forthcoming? I desire to +purchase at face value the twenty certificates." + +"As a representative of England?" + +The diplomat smiled. The king's political ignorance was well +known. "As a representative of England, Sire, I could not +purchase the stubs from which these certificates are cut. And +then, as I remarked, I am an unfettered agent of self. The +interest at two per cent. will be a fine income on a lump of +stagnant money. Even in my own country, where millionaires are +so numerous as to be termed common, I am considered a rich man. +My personal property, aside from my estates, is five times the +amount of the loan. A mere bagatelle, if I may use that +pleasantry." + +"Impossible, impossible!" cried the king, starting to his feet, +while a line of worry ran across his forehead. He strode about +impatiently slapping his boots with the riding stick. "It is +impossible." + +"Why do you say impossible, Sire?" + +"I can not permit you to put in jeopardy a quarter of a million +pounds," forgetting for the moment that he was powerless. + +"Aha!" the diplomat cried briskly. "There is, then, beneath your +weariness and philosophy, a fear?" + +"A fear?" With an effort the king smoothed the line from his +forehead. "Why should there be fear?" + +"Why indeed, when our cousin Josef--" He stopped and looked +toward the mountains. + +"Well?" abruptly. + +"I was thinking what a fine coup de maitre it would be for his +Highness to gather in all these pretty slips of parchment given +under the hand of Leopold." + +"Small matter if he should. I should pay him." The king sat down. +"And it is news to me that Josef can get together five millions." + +"He has friends, rich and powerful friends." + +"No matter, I should pay him." + +"Are you quite sure?" + +"What do you mean?" + +"The face of the world changes in the course of ten years. Will +there be five millions in your treasury ten years hence?" + +"The wealth of my kingdom is not to be questioned," proudly, +"nor its resources." + +"But in ten years, with the ministers you have?" The Englishman +shrugged doubtfully. "Why have you not formed a new cabinet of +younger men? Why have you retained those of your predecessor, +who are your natural enemies? You have tried and failed." + +The expression of weariness returned to the king's face. He knew +that all this was but a preamble to something of deeper +significance. He anticipated what was forming in the other's +mind, but he wished to avoid a verbal declaration. O, he knew +that there was a net of intrigue enmeshing him, but it was so +very fine that he could not pick up the smallest thread whereby +to unravel it. Down in his soul he felt the shame of the +knowledge that he dared not. A dreamer, rushing toward the +precipice, would rather fall dreaming than waken and struggle +futilely. + +"My friend," he said, finally, sighing, "proceed. I am all +attention." + +"I never doubted your Majesty's perspicacity. You do not know, +but you suspect, what I am about to disclose to you. My hope is +that, when I am done, your Majesty will throw Kant and the rest +of your philosophers out of the window. The people are sullen at +the mention of your name, while they cheer another. There is an +astonishing looseness about your revenues. The reds and the +socialists plot for revolution and a republic, which is a thin +disguise for a certain restoration. Your cousin the duke visits +you publicly twice each year. He has been in the city a week at +a time incognito, yet your minister of police seems to know +nothing." The speaker ceased, and fondled the dahlia in his +button-hole. + +The king, noting the action, construed it as the subtle old +diplomat intended he should. "Yes, yes! I am a king only for her +sake. Go on. Tell me all." + +"The archbishop and the chancellor are the only friends you +possess. The Marshal, from personal considerations merely, +remains neutral. Your army, excepting the cuirassiers, are +traitors to your house. The wisest thing you have done was to +surround yourself with this mercenary body, whom you call the +royal cuirassiers, only, instead of three hundred, you should +have two thousand. Self-interest will make them true to you. You +might find some means to pay them, for they would be a good +buffer between you and your enemies. The president of the Diet +and the members are passing bills which will eventually +undermine you. How long it will take I can not say. But this +last folly, the loan, which you could have got on without, caps +the climax. The duke was in the city last week unknown to you. +Your minister of finance is his intimate. This loan was a +connivance of them all. Why ten years, when it could easily be +liquidated in five? I shall tell you. The duke expects to force +you into bankruptcy within that time, and when the creditor +demands and you can not pay, you will be driven from here in +disgrace. + +"And where will you go? Certainly not to Osia, since you traded +it for this throne. It was understood, when you assumed the +reign, that the finances of the kingdom would remain +unimpeachable. Bankrupt, the confederation will be forced to +disavow you. They will be compelled to restore the throne to +your enemy, who, believe me, is most anxious to become your +creditor. + +"This is an independent state,--conditionally. "The +confederation have formed themselves into a protectorate. Why? I +can only guess. One or more of them covet these beautiful lands. +What are ten years to Josef, when a crown is the goal? Your +revenues are slowly to decline, there will be internal troubles +to eat up what money you have in the treasury. O, it is a plot +so fine, so swiftly conceived, so cunningly devised that I would +I were twenty years younger, to fight it with you! But I am old. +My days for acting are past. I can only advise. He was sure of +his quarry, this Josef whose hair is of many colors. Had you +applied to the money syndicates of Europe, the banks of England, +France, Germany, or Austria, your true sponsor, the result would +always be the same: your ruin. Covertly I warned you not to sign; +you laughed and signed. A trap was there, your own hand opened +it. How they must have laughed at you! If you attempt to +repudiate your signature the Diet has power to overrule you. + +"Truly, the shade of Macchiavelli masks in the garb of your +cousin. I admire the man's genius. This is his throne by right +of inheritance. I do not blame him. Only, I wish to save you. If +you were alone, why, I do not say that I should trouble myself, +for you yourself would not be troubled. But I have grown to love +that child of yours. It is all for her. Do you now understand +why I make the request? It appears Quixotic? Not at all. Put my +money in jeopardy? Not while the kingdom exists. If you can not +pay back, your kingdom will. Perhaps you ask what is the +difference, whether I or the duke becomes your creditor? This: +in ten years I shall be happy to renew the loan. In ten years, +if I am gone, there will be my son. You wonder why I do this. I +repeat it is for your daughter. And perhaps," with a dry smile, +"it is because I have no love for Josef." + +"I will defeat him!" cried the king, a fire at last shining in +his eyes. + +"You will not." + +"I will appeal to the confederation and inform them of the plot." + +"The resource of a child! They would laugh at you for your pains. +For they are too proud of their prowess in statecraft to +tolerate a suspicion that your cousin is a cleverer man than all +of them put together. There remains only one thing for you to do." + +"And what is that?" wearily. + +"Accept my friendship at its true value." + +The king made no reply. He set his elbows on the arms of the +rustic seat, interlaced his fingers and rested his chin on them, +while his booted legs slid out before him. His meditation +lengthened into several minutes. The diplomat evinced no sign of +impatience. + +"Come with me," said the king, rising quickly. "I will no longer +dream. I will act. Come." + +The diplomat nodded approvingly; and together they marched +toward the palace. The bulldog trotted on behind, his pink +tongue lolling out of his black mouth, a white tusk or two +gleaming on each side. The Lieutenant of the cuirassiers saluted +as they passed him, and, when they had gone some distance, swung +in behind. He observed with some concern that his Majesty was +much agitated. + +The business of the kingdom, save that performed in the Diet, +was accomplished in the east wing of the palace; the king's +apartments, aside from the state rooms, occupied the west wing. +It was to the business section that the king conducted the +diplomat. In the chamber of finance its minister was found busy +at his desk. He glanced up casually, but gave an ejaculation of +surprise when he perceived who his visitors were. + +"O, your Majesty!" he cried, bobbing up and running out his +chair. "Good afternoon, your Excellency," to the Englishman, +adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses, through which his eyes shone +pale and cold. + +The diplomat bowed. The little man reminded him of M. Thiers, +that effervescence of soda tinctured with the bitterness of iron. +He understood the distrust which Count von Wallenstein +entertained for him, but he was not distrustful of the count. +Distrust implies uncertainty, and the Englishman was not the +least uncertain as to his conception of this gentleman of +finance. + +There were few men whom the count could not interpret; one stood +before him. He could not comprehend why England had sent so +astute a diplomat and politician to a third-rate kingdom. Of +that which we can not understand we are suspicious, and the +guilty are distrustful. Neither the minister of police nor his +subordinates could fathom the purpose of this calm, dignified +old man with the difficult English name. + +"Count," began the king, pleasantly, "his Excellency here has +made a peculiar request." + +"And what might that be, Sire?" + +"He offers to purchase the entire number of certificates issued +to-day for our loan." + +"Five millions of crowns?" The minister's astonishment was so +genuine that in jerking back his head his glasses slipped from +his nose and dangled on the string. + +The Englishman bowed again, the wrinkle of a smile on his face. + +"I would not believe him serious at first, count," said the king, +laughing easily, "but he assured me that he is. What can be +done about it?" + +"O, your Majesty," cried the minister, excitedly, "it would not +be politic. And then the measure--" + +"Is it possible that I have misconstrued its import?" the +diplomat interposed with a fine air of surprise. + +"You are familiar--" began the count, hesitatingly. + +"Perfectly; that is, I believe so." + +"But England--" + +"Has nothing whatever to do with the matter. Something greater, +which goes by the name of self-interest." + +"Ah," said the count, his wrinkles relaxing; "then it is on your +own responsibility?" + +"Precisely." + +"But five millions of crowns--two hundred and fifty thousand +pounds!" The minister could not compose himself. "This is a +vast sum of money. We expected not an individual, but a +syndicate, to accept our securities, to become debtors to the +various banks on the continent. But a personal affair! Five +millions of crowns! The possibilities of your wealth overwhelm +me." + +The Englishman smiled. "I dare say I have more than my share of +this world's goods. I can give you a check for the amount on the +bank of England." + +"Your Majesty's lamented predecessor--" + +"Is dead," said the king gently. He had no desire to hear the +minister recount that ruler's virtues. "Peace to his ashes." + +"Five millions of crowns!" The minister had lost his equipoise +in the face of the Englishman's great riches, of which hitherto +he had held some doubts. Suddenly a vivid thought entered his +confused brain. The paper cutter in his hand trembled. In the +breathing space allowed him he began to calculate rapidly. The +king and the diplomat had been in the garden; something had +passed between them. What? The paper cutter slowly ceased its +uneven movements. The count calmly placed it behind the inkwells. +. . . . The Englishman knew. The glitter of gold gave way to +the thought of the peril. A chasm yawned at his feet. But he was +an old soldier in the game of words and cross-purposes. + +"We should be happy to accord you the privilege of becoming the +kingdom's creditor," he said, smiling at the diplomat, whom +nothing had escaped. "I am afraid, however, that your request +has been submitted too late. At ten o'clock this morning the +transfer of the certificates would have been a simple matter. +There are twenty in all; it may not be too late to secure some +of them." He looked tranquilly from the Englishman to the king. + +The smiling mask fell from the king's face; he felt that he was +lost. He tried to catch his friend's eye, but the diplomat was +deeply interested in the console of the fireplace. + +"They seem to be at a premium," the Englishman said, "which +speaks well for the prosperity of the country. I am sorry to +have troubled you." + +"It would have been a pleasure indeed," replied the count. He +stood secure within his fortress, so secure that he would have +liked to laugh. + +"It is too bad," said the king, pulling his thoughts together. + +"Your Majesty is giving the matter too much importance," said +the diplomat. "It was merely a whim. I shall have the pleasure +and honor of presenting my successor this evening." + +The count bent low, while the king nodded absently. He was +thinking that a penful of ink, carelessly trailed over a sheet +of paper, had lost him his throne. He was about to draw the arm +of the diplomat through his own, when his step was arrested by +the entrance of a messenger who presented a letter to the +minister of finance. + +"With your Majesty's permission," he said, tearing open the +envelope. As he read the contents, his shoulders sank to their +habitual stoop and benignity once more shone in the place of +alertness. "Decidedly, fate is not with your Excellency to-day. +M. Jacobi writes me that four millions have already been +disposed of to M. Everard & Co., English bankers in the +Konigstrasse, who are representing a French firm in this +particular instance. I am very sorry." + +"It is of no moment now," replied the Englishman indifferently. + +The adverb which concluded this declaration caught the keen ear +of the minister, who grew tall again. What would he not have +given to read the subtle brain of his opponent, for opponent he +knew him to be! His intense scrutiny was blocked by a pair of +most innocent eyes. + +"Well," said the king impatiently, "let us be gone, my friend. +The talk of money always leaves a copperish taste on my tongue." + +Arm in arm they passed from the chamber. When the door closed +behind them, the minister of finance drew his handkerchief +across his brow. + +"Everard & Co.," mused the Englishman aloud. "Was it not indeed +a stroke for your cousin to select them as his agents? You will +in truth be accused of selling out to the English. But there is +a coincidence in all this." + +"I am lost!" said the king. + +"On the contrary, you are saved. Everard & Co. are my bankers +and attorneys; in fact, I own an interest in the firm." + +"What is this you tell me?" cried the king. + +"Sire, we English have a peculiar trait; it is asking for +something after we have taken it. The human countenance is a +fine picture book. I should like to read that belonging to your +cousin Josef, providing I could read unobserved." + +"My friend!" said the king. + +"Say nothing. Here is the bulldog; take him to her Royal +Highness with my compliments. There is no truer friend than an +animal of his breed. He is steadfast in his love, for he makes +but few friends; he is a good companion, for he is +undemonstrative; he can read and draw inferences, and your +enemies will be his. I shall bid you good afternoon. God be with +your Majesty." + +"Ah, to lose you now!" said, the king, a heaviness in his heart +such as presentiment brings. + +The diplomat turned and went down the grand corridor. The +bulldog tugged at his chain. Animals are gifted with prescience. +He knew that his master had passed forever out of his life. +Presently he heard the voice of the princess calling; and the +glamour of royalty encompassed him,--something a human finds +hard to resist, and he was only a dog. + +Meanwhile another messenger had entered the chamber of finance +and had gone. On the minister's desk lay a crumpled sheet of +paper on which was written: + +"Treason and treachery! It has at this moment been ascertained +that, while pretending to be our agents in securing the consols, +M. Everard & Co. now refuse to deliver them into the custody of +Baron von Rumpf, as agreed, and further, that M. Everard & Co. +are bankers and attorneys to his Excellency the British minister. +He must not leave this city with those consols." + +With his eyes riveted on these words, the minister of finance, +huddled in his chair, had fallen into a profound study. + +There were terrible times in the house of Josef that night. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +AN EPISODE TEN YEARS AFTER + +One fine September morning in a year the date of which is of no +particular importance, a man stepped out of a second-class +carriage on to the canopied platform of the railway terminus in +the ancient and picturesque city of Bleiberg. He yawned, shook +himself, and stretched his arms and legs, relieved to find that +the tedious journey from Vienna had not cramped those appendages +beyond recovery. + +He stood some inches above the average height, and was built up +in a manner that suggested the handiwork of a British drill- +master, his figure being both muscular and symmetrical. Besides, +there was on his skin that rich brown shadow which is the result +only of the forces of the sun and wind, a life in the open air. +This color gave peculiar emphasis to the yellow hair and +mustache. His face was not handsome, if one accept the Greek +profile as a model of manly beauty, but it was cleanly and +boldly cut, healthful, strong and purposeful, based on +determined jaws and a chin which would have been obstinate but +for the presence of a kindly mouth. + +A guard deposited at his feet a new hatbox, a battered traveling +bag and two gun cases which also gave evidence of rough usage. +The luggage was literally covered with mutilated square and +oblong slips of paper of many colors, on which were printed the +advertisements of far-sighted hotel keepers all the way from +Bombay to London and half-way back across the continent. + +There was nothing to be seen, however, indicative of the +traveler's name. He surveyed his surroundings with lively +interest shining in his gray eyes, one of which peered through a +monocle encircled by a thin rim of tortoise shell. He watched +the fussy customs officials, who, by some strange mischance, +overlooked his belongings. Finally he made an impatient gesture. + +"Find me a cab," he said to the attentive guard, who, with an +eye to the main chance, had waved off the approach of a station +porter. "If the inspectors are in no hurry, I am." + +"At once, my lord;" and the guard, as he stooped and lifted the +luggage, did not see the start which this appellation caused the +stranger to make, but who, after a moment, was convinced that +the guard had given him the title merely out of politeness. The +guard placed the traps inside of one of the many vehicles +stationed at the street exit of the terminus. He was an +intelligent and deductive servant. + +The traveler was some noted English lord who had come to +Bleiberg to shoot the famed golden pheasant, and had secured a +second-class compartment in order to demonstrate his incognito. +Persons who traveled second-class usually did so to save money; +yet this tall Englishman, since the train departed from Vienna, +had almost doubled in gratuities the sum paid for his ticket. +The guard stood respectfully at the door of the cab, doffed his +cap, into which a memento was dropped, and went along about his +business. + +The Englishman slammed the door, the jehu cracked his whip, and +a moment later the hoarse breathings of the motionless engines +became lost in the sharper noises of the city carts. The unknown +leaned against the faded cushions, curled his mustache, and +smiled as if well satisfied with events. It is quite certain +that his sense of ease and security would have been somewhat +disturbed had he known that another cab was close on the track +of his, and that its occupant, an officer of the city +gendarmerie, alternately smiled and frowned as one does who +floats between conviction and uncertainty. At length the two +vehicles turned into the Konigstrasse, the principal +thoroughfare of the capital, and here the Englishman's cab came +to a stand. The jehu climbed down and opened the door. + +"Did Herr say the Continental?" he asked. + +"No; the Grand." + +The driver shrugged, remounted his box, and drove on. The Grand +Hotel was clean enough and respectable, but that was all that +could be said in its favor. He wondered if the Englishman would +haggle over the fare. Englishmen generally did. He was agreeably +disappointed, however, when, on arriving at the mean hostelry, +his passenger plunged a hand into a pocket and produced three +Franz-Josef florins. + +"You may have these," he said, "for the trouble of having them +exchanged into crowns." + +As he whipped up, the philosophical cabman mused that these +tourists were beyond the pale of his understanding. With a +pocket full of money, and to put up at the Grand! Why not the +Continental, which lay close to the Werter See, the palaces, the +royal and public gardens? It was at the Continental that the +fine ladies and gentlemen from Vienna, and Innsbruck, and Munich, +and Belgrade, resided during the autumn months. But the Grand-- +ach! it was in the heart of the shops and markets, and within a +stone's throw of that gloomy pile of granite designated in the +various guide books as the University of Bleiberg. + +The Englishman had some difficulty in finding a pen that would +write, and the ink was oily, and the guest-book was not at the +proper angle. At last he managed to form the letters of his name, +which was John Hamilton. After some deliberation, he followed +this with "England." The proprietor, who acted as his own clerk, +drew the book toward him, and after some time, deciphered the +cabalistic signs. + +"Ah, Herr John Hamilton of England; is that right?" + +"Yes; I am here for a few days' shooting. Can you find me a man +to act as guide?" + +"This very morning, Herr." + +"Thanks." + +Then he proceeded up the stairs to the room assigned to him. The +smell of garlic which pervaded the air caused him to make a +grimace. Once alone in the room, he looked about. There was +neither soap nor towel, but there was a card which stated that +the same could be purchased at the office. He laughed. A pitcher +of water and a bowl stood on a small table, which, by the +presence of a mirror (that could not in truth reflect anything +but light and darkness), served as a dresser. These he used to +good advantage, drying his face and hands on the white +counterpane of the bed, and laughing quietly as he did so. Next +he lit a pipe, whose capacity for tobacco was rather less than +that of a lady's thimble, sat in a chair by the window, smoked +quietly, and gazed down on the busy street. + +It was yet early in the morning; sellers of vegetables, men and +women peasants, with bare legs and wooden shoes, driving shaggy +Servian ponies attached to low, cumbersome carts, passed and +repassed, to and from the markets. A gendarme, leaning the +weight of his shoulder on the guard of a police saber, rested +against the corner of a wine shop across the way. Students, +wearing squat caps with vizors, sauntered indolently along, +twirling canes and ogling all who wore petticoats. Occasionally +the bright uniform of a royal cuirassier flashed by; and the +Englishman would lean over the sill and gaze after him, nodding +his head in approval whenever the cuirassier sat his horse well. + +In the meantime the gendarme, who followed him from the station, +had entered the hotel, hastily glanced at the freshly written +name, and made off toward the palace. + +"Well, here we are," mused the Englishman, pressing his thumb +into the bowl of his pipe. "The affair promises some excitement. +To-morrow will be the sixth; on the twentieth it will be a +closed incident, as the diplomats would say. I don't know what +brought me here so far ahead of time. I suppose I must look out +for a crack on the head from some one I don't know, but who +knows me so deuced well that he has hunted me in India and +England, first with fine bribes, then with threats." He glanced +over his shoulder in the direction of the gun cases. "It was a +capital idea, otherwise a certain ubiquitous customs official, +who lies in wait for the unwary at the frontier, would now be an +inmate of a hospital. To have lived thirty-five years, and to +have ground out thirteen of them in her Majesty's, is to have +acquired a certain disdain for danger, even when it is masked. I +am curious to see how far these threats will go. It will take a +clever man to trap me. The incognito is a fort. By the way, I +wonder how the inspectors at the station came to overlook my +traps? Strange, considering what I have gone through." + +At this moment the knuckles of a hand beat against the door. + +"Come in!" answered the Englishman, wheeling his chair, but +making no effort to rise. "Come in!" + +The door swung in, and there entered a short, spectacled man in +dark gray clothes which fairly bristled with brass buttons. He +was the chief inspector of customs. He bowed. + +The Englishman, consternation widening his eyes, lowered his +pipe. + +"Monsieur Hamilton's pardon," the inspector began, speaking in +French, "but with your permission I shall inspect your luggage +and glance at your passports." He bowed again. + +"Now do you know, mon ami," replied the Englishman, "that +Monsieur Hamilton will not permit you to gaze even into yonder +washbowl?" He rose lazily. + +"But, Monsieur," cried the astonished official, to whom non- +complaisance in the matter of inspection was unprecedented, "you +certainly will not put any obstacle in the path of my duty!" + +"Your duty, Monsieur the Spectacles, is to inspect at the +station. There your assistants refused to award me their +attention. You are trespassing." + +"Monsieur forgets," sternly; "it is the law. Is it possible that +I shall be forced to call in the gendarmes to assist me? This is +extraordinary!" + +"I dare say it is, on your part," admitted the Englishman, +polishing the bowl of his pipe against the side of his nose. +"You had best go at once. If you do not, I shall take you by the +nape of your Bleibergian neck and kick you down the stairs. I +have every assurance of my privileges. The law here, unless it +has changed within the past hour, requires inspection at the +frontier, and at the capital; but your jurisdiction does not +extend beyond the stations. Bon jour, Monsieur the Spectacles; +bon jour!" + +"O, Monsieur!" + +"Good day!" + +"Monsieur, it is my duty; I must!" + +"Good day! How will you go, by the stairs or by the window? I-- +but wait!" an idea coming to him which caused him to reflect on +the possible outcome of violence done to a government official, +who, perhaps, was discharging his peculiar duty at the orders of +superiors. He walked swiftly to the door and slid the bolt, to +the terror of the inspector, on whose brow drops of perspiration +began to gather. "Now," opening the hat box and taking out a +silk hat, "this is a hat, purchased in Paris at Cook's. There is +nothing in the lining but felt. Look into the box; nothing. Take +out your book and follow me closely," he continued, dividing the +traveling bag into halves, and he began to enumerate the +contents. + +"But, Monsieur!" remonstrated the inspector, who did not enjoy +this infringement of his prerogatives; his was the part to +overhaul. "This is--" + +"Be still and follow me," and the Englishman went on with the +inventory. "There!" when he had done, "not a dutiable thing +except this German-Scotch whisky, and that is so bad that I give +it to you rather than pay duty. What next? My passports? Here +they are, absolutely flawless, vised by the authorities in +Vienna." + +The slips crackled in the fluttering fingers of the inspector. +"They are as you say, Monsieur," he said, returning the permits. +Then he added timidly, "And the gun cases?" + +"The gun cases!" The pipe spilled its coal to the floor. "The +gun cases!" + +"Yes, Monsieur." + +"And why do you wish to look into them?" with agitation. + +"Smugglers sometimes fill them with cigars." + +"Ah!" The Englishman selected two loaded shells, drew a gun from +the case, threw up the breech and rammed in the shells. Then he +extended the weapon to within an inch of the terrified +inspector's nose. "Now, Monsieur the Spectacles, look in there +and tell me what you see." + +The fellow sank half-fainting into a chair. "Mon Dieu, Monsieur, +would you kill me who have a family?" + +"What's a customs inspector, more or less?" asked the terrible +islander, laughing. "I advise you not to ask me to let you look +into the other gun, out of consideration for your family. It has +hair triggers, and my fingers tremble." + +"Monsieur, Monsieur, you do wrong to trifle with the law. I +shall be obliged to report you. You will be arrested." + +"Nothing of the kind," was the retort. "I have only to inform +the British minister how remiss you were in your obligations. I +should go free, whereas you would be discharged. But what I +demand to know is, what the devil is the meaning of this farce." + +"I am simply obeying orders," answered the inspector, wiping his +forehead. "It is not a farce, as Monsieur will find." Then, as +if to excuse this implied threat: "Will Monsieur please point +the gun the other way?" + +The Englishman unloaded the gun and tossed it on the bed. + +"Thanks. In coming here I simply obeyed the orders of the +minister of police." + +"And what in the world did you expect to find?" + +"We are looking--that is, they are looking--O, Monsieur, it is +impossible for me to disclose to you my government's purposes." + +"What and whom were you expecting?" demanded the Englishman. +"You shall not leave this room till you have fully explained +this remarkable intrusion." + +"We were expecting the Lord and Baronet Fitzgerald." + +"The lord!" laughing. "Does the lord visit Bleiberg often, then, +that you prepare this sort of a reception? And the Baronet +Fitzgerald?" + +"They are the same and the one person." + +"And who the deuce is he; a spy, a smuggler, a villain, or what?" + +"As to that, Monsieur," with a wonder why this man laughed, "I +know no more than you. But I do know that for the past month +every Englishman has been subjected to this surveillance, and +has submitted with more grace than you," with an oblique glance. + +"What! Examined his luggage at the hotel?" + +"Yes, Monsieur. It is the order of the minister of police. I +know not why." The natural color was returning to his cheeks. + +"This is a fine country, I must say. At least the king should +acquaint his visitors with the true cause of this treatment." In +his turn the Englishman resorted to oblique glances. + +"The king?" The inspector raised a shoulder and spread his hands. +"The king is a paralytic, Monsieur, and has little to say these days." + +"A paralytic? I thought he was called `the handsome monarch'?" + +"That was years ago, Monsieur. For three years he has been +helpless and bedridden. The archbishop is the real king nowadays. +But he meddles not with the police." + +"This is very sad. I suppose it would be impossible for +strangers to see him now." + +"An audience?" a sparkle behind the spectacles. "Is your +business with the king, Monsieur?" + +"My business is mine," shortly. "I am only a tourist, and should +have liked to see the king from mere curiosity. However, had you +explained all this to me, I should not have caused you so many +gray hairs." + +"Monsieur did not give me the chance," simply. + +"True," the Englishman replied soberly. He began to think that +he had been over hasty in asserting his privileges. "But all +this has nothing to do with me. My name is John Hamilton. See, +it is engraved on the stock of the gun," catching it up and +holding it under the spectacled eyes, which still observed it +with some trepidation. "That is the name in my passports, in the +book down stairs, in the lining of my hat. I am sorry, since you +were only obeying orders, that my rough play has caused you +alarm." He unbolted the door. "Good morning." + +The inspector left the room as swiftly as his short legs could +carry him, ignoring the ethics of common politeness. As he +stumbled down the stairs he cursed the minister of police for +requiring this spy work of him, and not informing him why it was +done. Ah, these cursed Anglais from Angleterre! They were all +alike, and this one was the worst he had ever encountered. And +those ugly black orifices in the gun! Peste! He would resign! +Yes, certainly he would resign. + +As to the Englishman, he stood in the center of the room and +scratched his head. "Hang it, I've made an ass of myself. That +blockhead will have the gendarmes about my ears. If they arrest +me there will be the devil to pay. The Lord and the Baronet +Fitzgerald!" he repeated. He sat down on the edge of the bed, +and fell to laughing again. "Confound these picture-book +kingdoms! They always take themselves so seriously. Well, if the +gendarmes call this afternoon I'll not be at home. No, thank you. +I shall be hunting pheasants." + +And thereat he set to work cleaning the gun which had all but +prostrated the inspector. Soon the room smelled of oiled rags +and tobacco. Some-times the worker whistled softly. Sometimes he +let the gun fall against his knee, and stared dreamily through +the window at the flight of the ragged clouds. Again, he would +shake his head, as if there were something which he failed to +understand. Half an hour passed, when again some one knocked on +the door. + +"Come in!" Under his breath he added: "The gendarmes, likely." + +But it was only the proprietor of the hotel. "Asking Herr's +pardon," he said, "for this intrusion, but I have secured a man +for you. I have the honor to recommend Johann Kopf as a good +guide and hunter." + +"Send him up. If he pleases me, I'll use him." + +The proprietor withdrew. + +Johann Kopf proved to be a young German with a round, ruddy face, +which was so innocent of guile as to be out of harmony with the +shrewd, piercing black eyes looking out of it. The Englishman +eyed him inquisitively, even suspiciously. + +"Are you a good hunter?" he asked. + +"There is none better hereabout," answered Johann, twirling his +cap with noticeably white fingers. It was only in after days +that the Englishman appreciated the full significance of this +answer. + +"Speak English?" + +"No. Herr's German is excellent, however." + +"Humph!" The Englishman gave a final glance into the shining +tubes of the gun, snapped the breach, and slipped it into the +case. "You'll do. Return to the office; I'll be down presently." + +"Will Herr hunt this morning?" + +"No; what I wish this morning is to see the city of Bleiberg." + +"That is simple," said Johann. The fleeting, imperceptible smile +did not convict his eyes of false keenness. + +He bowed out. When the door closed the Englishman waited until +the sound of retreating steps failed. Then he took the gun case +which he had not yet opened, and thrust it under the mattress of +the bed. + +"Johann," he said, as he put on a soft hat and drew a cane from +the straps of the traveling bag, "you will certainly precede me +in our hunting expeditions. I do not like your eyes; they are +not at home in your boyish face. Humph! what a country. Every +one speaks a different tongue." + +The city of Bleiberg lay on a hill and in the valleys which fell +away to the east and west. It was divided into two towns, the +upper and the lower. The upper town and that part which lay on +the shores of the Werter See was the modern and fashionable +district. It was here that the king and the archbishop had their +palaces and the wealthy their brick and stone. The public park +skirted the lake, and was patterned after those fine gardens +which add so much to the picturesqueness of Vienna and Berlin. +There were wide gravel paths and long avenues of lofty chestnuts +and lindens, iron benches, fountains and winding flower beds. +The park, the palaces, and the Continental Hotel enclosed a +public square, paved with asphalt, called the Hohenstaufenplatz, +in the center of which rose a large marble fountain of several +streams, guarded by huge bronze wolves. Here, too, were iron +benches which were, for the most part, the meeting-place of the +nursemaids. Carriages were allowed to make the circuit, but not +to obstruct the way. + +The Konigstrasse began at the Platz, divided the city, and wound +away southward, merging into the highway which continued to the +Thalian Alps, some thirty miles distant. The palaces were at the +southeast corner of the Platz, first the king's, then the +archbishop's. The private gardens of each ran into the lake. +Directly across from the palaces stood the cathedral, a relic of +five centuries gone. On the northwest corner stood the +Continental Hotel, with terrace and parapet at the water's edge, +and a delightful open-air cafe facing the Platz. September and +October were prosperous months in Bleiberg. Fashionable people +who desired quiet made Bleiberg an objective point. The +pheasants were plump, there were boars, gray wolves, and not +infrequently Monsieur Fourpaws of the shaggy coat wandered +across from the Carpathians. + +As to the lower town, it was given over to the shops and markets, +the barracks, the university, and the Rathhaus, which served as +the house of the Diet. It was full of narrow streets and quaint +dwellings. + +Up the Konigstrasse the guide led the Englishman, who nodded +whenever the voluble chatter of the German pleased him. When +they began the descent of the hill, the vista which opened +before them drew from the Englishman an ejaculation of delight. +There lay the lake, like a bright new coin in a green purse; the +light of the sun broke on the white buildings and flashed from +the windows; and the lawns twinkled like emeralds. + +"It makes Vienna look to her laurels, eh, Herr?" said Johann. + +"But it must have cost a pretty penny." + +"Aye, that it did; and the king is being impressed with that +fact every day. There are few such fine palaces outside of first- +class kingdoms. The cathedral there was erected at the desire of +a pope, born five hundred years ago. It is full of romance. +There is to be a grand wedding there on the twentieth of this +month. That is why there are so many fashionable people at the +hotels. The crown prince of Carnavia, which is the large kingdom +just east of us, is to wed the Princess Alexia, the daughter of +the king." + +"On the twentieth? That is strange." + +"Strange?" + +"), I meant nothing," said the Englishman, jerking back his +shoulders; "I had in mind another affair." + +There was a flash in Johann's eyes, but he subdued it before the +Englishman was aware of its presence. "However," said Johann, +"there is something strange. The prince was to have arrived a week +ago to complete the final arrangements for the wedding. His suite +has been here a week, but no sign of his Highness. He stopped +over a train at Ehrenstein to visit for a few hours a friend of +the king, his father. Since then nothing has been heard from him. +The king, it is said, fears that some accident has happened to him. +Carnavia is also disturbed over this disappearance. Some whisper +of a beautiful peasant girl. Who can say?" + +"Any political significance in this marriage?" + +"Leopold expects to strengthen his throne by the alliance. But--" +Johann's mouth closed and his tongue pushed out his cheek. +"There will be some fine doings in the good city of Bleiberg +before the month is gone. The minister from the duchy has been +given his passports. Every one concedes that trouble is likely +to ensue. Baron von Rumpf--" + +"Baron von Rumpf," repeated the Englishman thoughtfully. + +"Yes; he is not a man to submit to accusations without making a +disagreeable defense." + +"What does the duke say?" + +"The duke?" + +"Yes." + +"His Highness has been dead these four years." + +"Dead four years? So much for man and his futile dreams. Dead +four years," absently. + +"What did you say, Herr?" + +"I? Nothing. How did he die?" + +"He was thrown from his horse and killed. But the duchess lives, +and she is worthy of her sire. Eh, Herr, there is a woman for +you! She should sit on this throne; it is hers by right. These +Osians are aliens and were forced on us." + +"It seems to me, young man, that you are talking treason." + +"That is my business, Herr." Johann laughed. "I am a socialist, +and occasionally harangue for the reds. And sometimes, when I am +in need of money, I find myself in the employ of the police." + +The muscles of the Englishman's jaws hardened, then they relaxed. +The expression on the face of his guide was free from anything +but bonhomie. + +"One must live," Johann added deprecatingly. + +"Yes, one must live," replied the Englishman. + +"O! but I could sell some fine secrets to the Osians had they +money to pay. Ach! but what is the use? The king has no money; +he is on the verge of bankruptcy, and this pretty bit of scenery +is the cause of it." + +"So you are a socialist?" said the Englishman, passing over +Johann's declamatory confidences. + +"Yes, Herr. All men are brothers." + +"Go to!" laughed the Englishman, "you aren't even a second +cousin to me. But stay, what place is this we are passing?" +indicating with his cane a red-brick mansion which was fronted +by broad English lawns and protected from intrusion by a high +iron fence. + + +"That is the British legation, Herr." + +The Englishman stopped and stared, unconscious of the close +scrutiny of the guide. His eyes traveled up the wide flags +leading to the veranda, and he drew a picture of a square- +shouldered old man tramping backward and forward, the wind +tangling his thin white hair, his hands behind his back, his +chin in his collar and at his heels a white bulldog. Rapidly +another picture came. It was an English scene. And the echo of a +voice fell on his ears. "My way and the freedom of the house and +the key to the purse; your way and a closed door while I live. +You can go, but you can not come back. You have decided? Yes? +Then good morning." Thirteen years, thirteen years! He had +sacrificed the freedom of the house and the key to the purse, +the kind eyes and the warm pressure of that old hand. And for +what? Starvation in the deserts, plenty of scars and little of +thanks, ingratitude and forgetfulness. + +And now the kind eyes were closed and the warm hand cold. O, to +recall the vanished face, the silent voice, the misspent years, +the April days and their illusions! The Englishman took the +monocle from his eye and looked at it, wondering what had caused +the sudden blur. + +"There was a fine old man there in the bygone days," said Johann. + +"And who was he?" + +"Lord Fitzgerald, the British minister. He and Leopold were +close friends." Johann's investigating gaze went unrewarded. The +Englishman's face had resumed its expression of mild curiosity. + +"Ah; a compatriot of mine," he said. Inwardly he mused: "This +guide is watching me; let him catch me if he can. His duchess? I +know far too much of her!" + +"He was a millionaire, too," went on Johann. + +"Well, we can't all be rich. Come." + +They crossed the Strasse and traversed the walk at the side of +the palace enclosures. The Englishman aimlessly trailed his cane +along the green pickets of the fence till they ended in a stone +arch which rose high over the driveway. The gates were open, and +coming toward the two wanderers as they stood at the curb rolled +the royal barouche, on each side of which rode a mounted +cuirassier, sashed and helmeted. The Englishman, however, had +observed nothing; he was lost in some dream. + +"Look, Herr!" cried Johann, rousing the other by a pull at the +sleeve. "Look!" Socialist though he claimed to be, Johann +touched his cap. + +In the barouche, leaning back among the black velvet cushions, +her face mellowed by the shade of a small parasol, was a young +woman of nineteen or twenty, as beautiful as a da Vinci freshly +conceived. The Englishman saw a pair of grave dark eyes which, +in the passing, met his and held them. He caught his breath. + +"Who is that?" he asked. + +"That is her Royal Highness the Crown Princess Alexia." + +Afterward the Englishman remembered seeing a white dog lying on +the opposite seat. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +AN ADVENTURE WITH ROYALTY + +Maurice Carewe, attached to the American legation in Vienna, +leaned against the stone parapet which separated the terraced +promenade of the Continental Hotel from the Werter See, and +wondered what had induced him to come to Bleiberg. + +He had left behind him the glory of September in Vienna, a city +second only to Paris in fashion and gaiety; Vienna, with its +inimitable bands, its incomparable gardens, its military +maneuvers, its salons, its charming women; and all for a fool's +errand. His Excellency was to blame. He had casually dropped the +remark that the duchy's minister, Baron von Rumpf, had been +given his passports as a persona non grata by the chancellor of +the kingdom, and that a declaration of war was likely to follow. +Maurice's dormant love of journalistic inquiry had become +aroused, and he had asked permission to investigate the affair, +a favor readily granted to him. + +But here he was, on the scene, and nobody knew anything, and +nobody could tell anything. The duchess had remained silent. Not +unnaturally he wished himself back in Vienna. There were no +court fetes in the city of Bleiberg. The king's condition was +too grave to permit them. And, besides, there had been no real +court in Bleiberg for the space of ten years, so he was told. +Those solemn affairs of the archbishop's, given once the week +for the benefit of the corps diplomatique, were dull and +spiritless. Her Royal Highness was seldom seen, save when she +drove through the streets. Persons who remembered the reign +before told what a mad, gay court it had been. Now it was +funereal. The youth and beauty of Bleiberg held a court of its +own. Royalty was not included, nor did it ask to be. + +A strange capital, indeed, Maurice reflected, as he gazed down +into the cool, brown water. He regretted his caprice. There were +pretty women in Vienna. Some of them belonged to the American +colony. They danced well, they sang and played and rode. He had +taught some of them how to fence, and he could not remember the +times he had been "buttoned" while paying too much attention to +their lips and eyes. For Maurice loved a thing of beauty, were +it a woman, a horse or a Mediterranean sunset. What a difference +between these two years in Vienna and that year in Calcutta! He +never would forget the dingy office, with its tarnished sign, "U. +S. Consul," tacked insecurely on the door, and the utter +loneliness. + +He cast a pebble into the lake, and watched the ripples roll +away and disappear, and ruminated on a life full of color and +vicissitude. He remembered the Arizona days, the endless burning +sand, the dull routine of a cavalry trooper, the lithe brown +bodies of the Apaches, the first skirmish and the last. From a +soldier he had turned journalist, tramped the streets of +Washington in rain and shine, living as a man lived who must. + +One day his star had shot up from the nadir of obscurity, not +very far, but enough to bring his versatility under the notice +of the discerning Secretary of State, who, having been a friend +of the father, offered the son a berth in the diplomatic corps. +A consulate in a South American republic, during a revolutionary +crisis, where he had shown consummate skill in avoiding +political complications (and where, by a shrewd speculation in +gold, he had feathered his nest for his declining years), proved +that the continual incertitude of a journalistic career is a +fine basis for diplomatic work. From South America he had gone +to Calcutta, thence to Austria. + +He was only twenty-nine, which age in some is youth. He +possessed an old man's wisdom and a boy's exuberance of spirits. +He laughed whenever he could; to him life was a panorama of +vivid pictures, the world a vast theater to which somehow he had +gained admission. His beardless countenance had deceived more +than one finished diplomat, for it was difficult to believe that +behind it lay an earnest purpose and a daring courage. If he +bragged a little, quizzed graybeards, sought strange places, +sported with convention, and eluded women, it was due to his +restlessness. Yet, he had the secretiveness of sand; he absorbed, +but he revealed nothing. He knew his friends; they thought they +knew him. It was his delight to have women think him a butterfly, +men write him down a fool; it covered up his real desires and +left him free. + +What cynicism he had was mellowed by a fanciful humor. Whether +with steel or with words, he was a master of fence; and if at +times some one got under his guard, that some one knew it not. +To let your enemy see that he has hit you is to give him +confidence. He saw humor where no one else saw it, and tragedy +where it was not suspected. He was one of those rare individuals +who, when the opportunity of chance refuses to come, makes one. + +"Germany and Austria are great countries," he mused, lighting a +cigar. "Every hundredth man is a king, one in fifty is a duke, +every tenth man is a prince, and one can not take a corner +without bumping into a count or a baron. Even the hotel waiters +are disquieting; there is that embarrassing atmosphere about +them which suggests nobility in durance vile. As for me, I +prefer Kentucky, where every man is a colonel, and you never +make a mistake. And these kingdoms!" He indulged in subdued +laughter. "They are always like comic operas. I find myself +looking around every moment for the merry villagers so happy and +so gay (at fifteen dollars the week), the eternal innkeeper and +the perennial soubrette his daughter, the low comedian and the +self-conscious tenor. Heigho! and not a soul in Bleiberg knows +me, nor cares. + +"I'd rather talk five minutes to a pretty woman than eat stuffed +pheasants the year around, and the stuffed pheasant is about all +Bleiberg can boast of. Well, here goes for a voyage of discovery;" +and he passed down the stone steps to the pier, quite unconscious +of the admiring glances of the women who fluttered back and forth +on the wide balconies above. + +It was four o'clock in the afternoon; a fresh wind redolent of +pine and resin blew across the lake. Maurice climbed into a boat +and pulled away with a strong, swift stroke, enjoying the +liberation of his muscles. A quarter of a mile out he let the +oars drift and took his bearings. He saw the private gardens of +the king and the archbishop, and, convinced that a closer view +would afford him entertainment, he caught up the oars again and +moved inland. + +The royal gardens ran directly into the water, while those of +the archbishop were protected by a wall of brick five or six +feet in height, in the center of which was a gate opening on the +water. Behind the gate was a small boat dock. Maurice plied the +oars vigorously. He skirted the royal gardens, and the smell of +newly mown lawns filled the air. Soon he was gliding along the +sides of the moss-grown walls. A bird chirped in the overhanging +boughs. He was about to cast loose the oars again, when the boat +was brought to a violent stop. A few yards waterward from the +gate there lay, hidden in the shadowed water, a sunken pier. On +one of the iron piles the boat had become impaled. + +Maurice was tumbled into the bow of the boat, which began +rapidly to fill. First he swore, then he laughed, for he was +possessed of infinite good humor. The only thing left for him to +do was to swim for the gate. With a rueful glance at his thin +clothes, he dropped himself over the side of the wreck and +struck out toward the gate. The water, having its source from +the snowclad mountains, was icy. He was glad enough to grasp the +lower bars of the gate and draw himself up. He was on the point +of climbing over, when a picture presented itself to his +streaming eyes. + +Seated on a bench made of twisted vine was a young girl. She +held in her hand a book, but she was not reading it. She was +scanning the unwritten pages of some reverie; her eyes, dark, +large and wistful, were holding communion with the god of dreams. +A wisp of hair, glossy as coal, trembled against a cheek white +as the gown she wore. + +At her side, blinking in the last rays of the warm sun, sat a +bulldog, toothless and old. Now and then a sear leaf, falling in +a zig-zag course, rustled past his ears, and he would shake his +head as if he, too, were dreaming and the leaves disturbed him. +All at once he sniffed, his ears stood forward, and a low growl +broke the enchantment. The girl, on discovering Maurice, closed +the book and rose. The dog, still growling, jumped down and +trotted to the gate. Maurice thought that it was time to speak. + +"Mademoiselle," he said, "pardon this intrusion, but my boat has +met with an accident." + +The girl came to the gate. "Why, Monsieur," she exclaimed, "you +are wet!" + +"That is true," replied Maurice, his teeth beginning to knock +together. "I was forced to swim. If you will kindly open the +gate and guide me to the street, I shall be much obliged to you." + +The gate swung outward, and in a moment Maurice was on dry land, +or the next thing to it, which was the boat-dock. + +"Thank you," he said. + +"O! And you might have been drowned," compassion lighting her +beautiful eyes. "Sit down on the bench, Monsieur, for you must +be weak. And it was that sunken pier? I shall speak to +Monseigneur; he must have it removed. Bull, stop growling; you +are very impolite; the gentleman is in distress." + +Maurice sat down, not because he was weak, but because the +desire to gain the street had suddenly subsided. Who was this +girl who could say "must" to the formidable prelate? His quick +eye noticed that she showed no sign of embarrassment. Indeed, +she impressed him as one who was superior to that petty +disturbance of collected thought. Somehow it seemed to him, as +she stood there looking down at him, that he, too, should be +standing. But she put forth a hand with gentle insistence when +he made as though to rise. What an exquisite face, he thought. +Against the whiteness of her skin her lips burned like poppy +petals. Innocent, inquisitive eyes smiled gently, eyes in whose +tranquil depths lay the glory of the world, asleep. Presently a +color, faint and fugitive, dimmed the whiteness of her cheeks. +Maurice, conscious of his rudeness and of a warmth in his own +cheeks, instinctively lowered his gaze. + +"Pardon my rudeness," he said. + +"What is your name, Monsieur," she asked calmly. + +"It is Maurice Carewe. I am living in Vienna. I came to Bleiberg +for pleasure, but the first day has not been propitious," with +an apologetic glance at his dripping clothes. + +"Maurice Carewe," slowly repeating the full name as if to +imprint it on her memory. "You are English?" + +He said: "No; I am one of those dreadful Yankees you have +possibly read about." + +Her teeth gleamed. "Yes, I have heard of them. But you do not +appear so very dreadful; though at present you are truly not at +your best. What is this--this Yankeeland like?" + +"It would take me ever so long to tell you about it, it is such +a great country." + +"You are a patriot!" clapping her hands. "No other country is so +fine and large and great as your own. But tell me, is it as +large as Austria?" + +"Austria? You will not be offended if I tell you?" + +"No." + +"Well," with fun in his eyes, "it is my opinion that I could +hide Austria in my country so thoroughly that nobody would ever +be able to find it again." He wondered how she would accept this +statement. + +She lifted her chin and laughed, and the bulldog wagged his tail, +as he always did when mirth touched her. He jumped up beside +Maurice and looked into his face. Maurice patted his broad head, +and he submitted. The girl looked rather surprised. + +"Are you a magician?" she asked. + +"Why?" + +"Bull never makes friends." + +"But I do," said Maurice; "perhaps he understands that, and +comes half-way. But it is rather strange to see a bulldog in +this part of the country." + +"He was given to me, years ago, by an Englishman." + +"That accounts for it." He was experiencing a deal of cold, but +he dared not mention it. "And may I ask your name?" + +"Ah, Monsieur," shyly, "to tell you my name would be to frighten +you away." + +"I am sure nothing could do that," he declared earnestly. Had he +been thinking of aught but her eyes he might have caught the +significance of her words. But, then, the cold was numbing. + +She surveyed him with critical eyes. She saw a clean-shaven face, +brown, handsome and eager, merry blue eyes, a chin firm and +aggressive, a mischievous mouth, a forehead which showed the man +of thought, a slim athletic form which showed the man of action-- +all of which combined to produce that indescribable air which +attaches itself to the gentleman. + +"It is Alexia," she said, after some hesitation, watching him +closely to observe the effect. + +But he was as far away as ever. "Alexia what?" + +"Only Alexia," a faint coquetry stealing into her glance. + +"O, then you are probably a maid?" + +"Y--es. But you are disappointed?" + +"No, indeed. You have put me more at ease. I suppose you serve +the princess?" + +"Whenever I can," demurely. + +He could not keep his eyes from hers. "They say that she is a +very lonely princess." + +"So lonely." And the coquetry faded from her eyes as her glance +wandered waterward and became fixed on some object invisible and +far away. "Poor lonely princess!" + +Maurice was growing colder and colder, but he did not mind. He +had wished for some woman to talk to; his wish had been granted. +"I feel sorry for her, if what they say is true," having no +other words. + +"And what do they say, Monsieur?" + +"That she and her father have been socially ostracized. I should +be proud to be her friend." Once the words were gone from him, +he saw their silliness. "A presumptuous statement," he added; "I +am an obscure foreigner." + +"Friendship, Monsieur, is a thing we all should prize, all the +more so when it is disinterested." + +He said rapidly, for fear she might hear his teeth chatter: +"They say she is very beautiful. Tell me what she is like." + +"I am no judge of what men call beauty. As to her character, I +believe I may recommend that. She is good." + +He was sure that merriment twitched the corners of her lips, and +he grew thoughtful. "Alexia. Is that not her Highness's name +also?" + +"Yes, Monsieur; we have the same names." Her eyes fell, and she +began to finger the pages of the book. + +"I am rested now," he said, with a sudden distrust. "I thank you." + +"Come, then, and I will show you the way to the gate." + +"I am sorry to have troubled you," he said. + +She did not reply, and together they walked up the path. The +plants were dying, and the odor of decay hovered about them. +Splashes of rich vermilion crowned the treetops, leaves of gold, +russet and faded green rustled on the ground. The sun was gone +behind the hills, the lake was tinted with salmon and dun, and +Maurice (who honestly would have liked to run) was turning +purple, not from atmospheric effect, but from the partly +congealed state of his blood. Already he was thinking that his +adventure had turned out rather well. It was but a simple task +for a man of his imagination to construct a pretty romance, with +a kingdom for a background. A maid of honor, perhaps; no matter, +he would find means for future communication. A glamour had +fallen upon him. + +As to the girl, who had scarce spoken to a dozen young men in +her life, she was comparing four faces; one of a visionary +character of which she had dreamed for ten years, and three +which had recently entered into the small circle of her affairs. +It was little pleasure to her to talk to those bald diplomats, +who were always saying what they did not mean, and meaning what +they did not say. And the young officers in the palace never +presumed to address her unless spoken to. + +What a monotonous life it was! She was like a bird in a cage, +ever longing for freedom, not of the air, but of impulse. To be +permitted to yield to the impulses of the heart! What a +delightful thought that was! But she, she seemed apart from all +which was desirable to youth. Women courtesied to her, men +touched their hats; but homage was not what she wanted. To be +free, that was all; to come and go at will; to laugh and to sing. +But ever the specter of royal dignity walked beside her and +held her captive. + +She was to wed a man on whom she looked with indifference, but +wed him she must; it was written. A toy of ambition, she was +neither more nor less. Ah, to be as her maids, not royal, but +free. Of the three new faces one belonged to the man whom she +was to wed; another was a tall, light-haired man whom she had +seen from her carriage; the last walked by her side. And somehow, +the visionary face, the faces of the man whom she was to wed +and the light-haired man suddenly grew indistinct. She glanced +from the corner of her eyes at Maurice, but meeting his glance, +in which lay something that caused her uneasiness, her gaze +dropped to the path. + +"I shall be pleased to tell her Highness that a stranger, who +has not met her, who does not even suspect her rebel spirit, +desires to be her friend." + +"O, Mademoiselle," he cried in alarm, "that desire was expressed +in confidence." + +"I know it. It is for that very reason I wish her to know. Have +no fear, Monsieur;" and she laughed without mirth. "Her Highness +will not send you to prison" + +Close at hand Maurice discovered a cuirassier, who, on seeing +them, saluted and stood attention. Maurice was puzzled. + +"Lieutenant," said the girl, "Monsieur--Carewe?" turning to +Maurice. + +"Yes, that is the name." + +"Well, then, Monsieur Carewe has met with an accident; please +escort him to the gate. I trust you will not suffer any +inconvenience from the cold. Good evening, Monsieur Carewe." + +She retraced her steps down the path. The bulldog followed. Once +he looked back at Maurice, and stopped as if undecided, then +went on. Maurice stared at the figure of the girl unfil it +vanished behind a clump of rose bushes. + +"Well, Monsieur Carewe!" said the Lieutenant, a broad smile +under his mustache. + +"I beg your pardon, Lieutenant. May I ask you who she is?" + +"What! You do not know?" + +Maurice suddenly saw light. "Her Royal Highness?" blankly. + +"Her Royal Highness, God bless her!" cried the Lieutenant +heartily. + +"Amen to that," replied Maurice, his agitation visible even to +the officer. + +They arrived at the gate in silence. The cuirassier raised the +bar, touched his helmet, and said, with something like an amused +twinkle in his eyes: "Would Monsieur like to borrow my helmet +for a space?" + +Maurice put up a hand to his water-soaked hair, and gave an +ejaculation of dismay. He had forgotten all about his hat, which +was by now, in-all probabilities, at the bottom of the lake. + +"Curse the luck!" he said, in English. + +"Curse the want of it, I should say!" was the merry rejoinder, +also in English. + +Maurice threw back his head and laughed, and the cuirassier +caught the infection. + +"However, there is some compensation for the hat," said the +cuirassier, straightening his helmet. "You are the first +stranger who has spoken to her Highness this many a day. Did the +dog take to your calves? Well, never mind; he has no teeth. It +was only day before yesterday that the Marshal swore he'd have +the dog shot. Poor dog! He is growing blind, too, or he'd never +have risked his gums on the Marshal, who is all shins. If you +will wait I will fetch you one of the archbishop's skull caps." + +"Don't trouble yourself," laughed Maurice. "What I need is not a +hat, but a towel, and I'll get that at the hotel. George! I feel +so like an ass. What is your name, Lieutenant?" + +"Von Mitter, Carl von Mitter, at your service. And you are +Monsieur Carewe." + +"Of the American legation in Vienna. Thanks for your trouble." + +"None at all. You had better hurry along; your nails are growing +black." + +Maurice passed into the street. "Her Royal Highness!" he +muttered. "The crown princess, and I never suspected. Her name +is Alexia, and she serves the princess whenever she can! Maurice, +you are an ass!" + +Having arrived at this conclusion, and brushing the dank hair +from his eyes, he thrust his hands into his oozing pockets, and +proceeded across the square toward the Continental, wondering if +there was a rear entrance. Happily the adventure absorbed all +his thoughts. He was quite unobservant of the marked attention +bestowed on him. Carriages filled the Strasse, and many persons +moved along the walks. It was the promenade hour. The water, +which still dripped from his clothes and trickled from his shoes, +left a conspicuous trail behind; and this alone, without the +absence of a hat, would have made him the object of amused and +wondering smiles. + +A gendarme stared at him, but seeing that he walked straight, +said nothing. Maurice, however, was serenely unaware of what was +passing around him. He did not notice even the tall, broad- +shouldered man who, with a gun under his arm, brushed past him, +followed by a round-faced German over whose back was slung a +game-bag. The man with the gun was also oblivious of his +surroundings. He bumped into several persons, who scowled at him, +but offered no remonstrance after having taken his measure. The +German put his pipe into his pocket and advanced a step. + +"The other gun, Herr," he said, "would have meant the boar." + +"So it would, perhaps," was the reply. + +"We've done pretty good work these two days," went on the German; +but as the other appeared not to have heard he fell to the rear +again, a sardonic smile flitting over his oily face. + +When Maurice reached the hotel cafe he left an order for a +cognac to be sent to his room, whither he repaired at once. As +he got into dry clothes he mused. + +"I wonder what sort of a man that crown prince is? Now, if I +were he, an army could not keep me away from Bleiberg. Either he +is no judge of beauty, or the peasant girls hereabout are +something extraordinary. Pshaw! a man always makes an ass of +himself on his wedding eve; the crown prince is simply starting +in early. I believe I'll hang on here till the wedding day; a +royal marriage is one of those things which I have yet to see. I +have a fortnight or more to knock around in. I should like to +know what the duchess will eventually do." + +He sipped the last drop of the cognac and went down the stairs. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +BEHIND THE PUPPET BOOTH + +While the absent-minded hunter strode down toward the lower town, +and Maurice sipped his cognac, the king lay in his bed in the +palace and aimlessly fingered the counterpane. There was now no +beauty in his face. It was furrowed and pale, and an endless +fever burned in the sunken eyes--eyes like coals, which suddenly +flare before they turn to ash. + +The archbishop nor the chancellor could see anything in the dim +corners of the royal bed chamber, but he could. It was the +mocking finger of death, and it was leveled at him. Spring had +come, and summer and autumn and winter, and spring again, but he +had not wandered through the green fields, except in dreams, and +the byways he loved knew him no more. Ah, to sit still like a +spectator and to see the world pass by! To be a part of it, and +yet not of it! To see the glory of strength and vigor just +beyond one's grasp, the staffs to lean on crumble to the touch, +and the stars of hope fade away one by one from the firmament of +one's dreams! Here was weariness for which there was no remedy. + +Day by day time pressed him on toward the inevitable. No human +hand could stay him. He could think, but he could not act. He +could move, but he could not stand nor walk. And that philosophy +which had in other days sustained him was shattered and +threadbare. He was dead, yet he lived. Fate has so many delicate +ironies. + +He had tried to make his people love him, only to acquire their +hate. He had reduced taxation, only to be scorned. He had made +the city beautiful, only to be cursed. A paralytic, the theme of +ribald verse, the butt of wineroom wits, the object of contumely +to his people, his beneficiaries! + +The ingratitude of kings bites not half so deep as the +ingratitude of the people. Tears filled his eyes, and he fumbled +his lips. There were only two bright spots in his futile life. +The first was his daughter, who read to him, who was the first +in the morning to greet him and last at night to leave him. The +second was the evening hour when the archbishop and the +chancellor came in to discuss the affairs of state. + +"And Prince Frederick has not yet been heard from?" was his +first inquiry. + +"No, Sire," answered the chancellor. "The matter is altogether +mysterious. The police can find no trace of him. He left +Carnavia for Bleiberg; he stopped at Ehrenstein, directed his +suite to proceed; there, all ends. The ambassador from Carnavia +approached me to-day. He scouts the idea of a peasant girl, and +hinted at other things." + +"Yes," said the king, "there is something behind all this. +Frederick is not a youth of peccadilloes. Something has happened +to him. But God send him safe and sound to us, so much depends +on him. And Alexia?" + +"Says nothing," the archbishop answered, "a way with her when +troubled." + +"And my old friend, Lord Fitzgerald?" + +The prelate shook his head sadly. "We have just been made +acquainted with his death. God rest his kindly soul." + +The king sank deeper into his pillows. + +"But we shall hear from his son within a few days," continued +the prelate, taking the king's hand in his own. "My son, cease +to worry. Alexia's future is in good hands. I have confidence +that the public debt will be liquidated on the twentieth." + +"Or renewed," said the chancellor. "Your Majesty must not forget +that Prince Frederick sacrifices his own private fortune to +adjust our indebtedness. That is the wedding gift which he +offers to her Highness. One way or the other, we have nothing to +fear." + + +"O!" cried the king, "I had forgotten that magnanimity. His +disappearance is no longer a mystery. He is dead." + +His auditors could not repress the start which this declaration +caused them to make. + +"Sire," said the chancellor, quietly, "princes are not +assassinated these days. Our worry is perhaps all needless. The +prince is young, and sometimes youth flings off the bridle and +runs away. But he loves her Highness, and the Carnavians are not +fickle." + +The prelate and the statesman had different ideas in regard to +the peasant girl. To the prelate a woman was an unknown quantity, +and he frowned. The statesman, who had once been young, knew a +deal about woman, and he smiled. + +"Sometimes, my friends," said the king, "I can see beyond the +human glance. I hear the crumbling of walls. But for that lonely +child I could die in peace. The crown I wear is of lead; God +hasten the day that lifts it from my brow." When the king spoke +again, he said: "And that insolent Von Rumpf is gone at last? I +am easier. He should have been sent about his business ten years +ago. What does Madame the duchess say?" + +"So little," answered the chancellor, "that I begin to distrust +her silence. But she is a wise woman, though her years are but +five and twenty, and she will not make any foolish declaration +of war which would only redound to her chagrin." + +"What is the fascination in these crowns of straw?" said the +king to the prelate. "Ah, my father, you strive for the crown to +come; and yet your earnest but misguided efforts placed this +earthly one on my head. You were ambitious for me." + +"Nay," and the prelate bent his head. "It was self that spoke, +worldly aggrandizement. I wished --God forgive me!--to +administer not to the prince but to the king. I am punished. The +crown has broken your life. It was the passing glory of the +world; and I fell." + +"And were not my eyes as dazzled by the crown as yours were by +the robes? Why did we leave the green hills of Osia? What +destiny writes, fate must unfold. And oh, the dreams I had of +being great! I am fifty-eight and you are seventy. And look; I +am a broken twig, and you tower above me like an ancient oak, +and as strong." To the chancellor he said: "And what is the +budget?" + +"Sire, it is fairly quiet in the lower town. The native troops +have been paid, and all signs of discontent abated. The duchess +can do nothing but replace von Rumpf. The Marshal is a straw in +the wind; von Wallenstein and Mollendorf, I hold a sword above +their necks. Nearly half the Diet is with us. There has been +some strange meddling in the customs. Englishmen have brought me +complaints, through the British legation, regarding such +inspections as were never before heard of in a country at peace. +I consulted the chief inspector and he affirmed the matter. He +was under orders of the minister of police. It appears to me +that a certain Englishman is to be kept out of the country for +reasons well known to us. I have suspended police power over the +customs. Ah, Sire, if you would but agree with Monseigneur to +dismiss the cabinet." + +"It is too late," said the king. + +"There is only one flaw," continued the chancellor. "This flaw +is Colonel Beauvais, chief in command of the cuirassiers, who in +authority stands between the Marshal and General Kronau. I fear +him. Why? Instinct. He is too well informed of my projects for +one thing; he laughs when I suggest in military affairs. Who is +he? A Frenchman, if one may trust to a name; an Austrian, if one +may trust from whence he came, recommended by the premier +himself. He entered the cuirassiers as a Captain. You yourself, +Sire, made him what he is--the real military adviser of the +kingdom. But what of his past? No one knows, unless it be von +Wallenstein, his intimate. I, for one, while I may be wrong, +trust only those whose past I know, and even then only at +intervals." + +"Colonel Beauvais?" murmured the king. "I am sure that you are +unjustly suspicious. How many times have I leaned on his stout +arm! He taught Alexia a thousand tricks of horse, so that to-day +she rides as no other woman in the kingdom rides. Would that I +stood half so straight and looked at the world half so +fearlessly. He is the first soldier in the kingdom." + +"All men are honest in your Majesty's eyes," said the archbishop. + +"All save the man within me," replied the king. + +At this juncture the king's old valet came in with the evening +meal; and soon after the prelate and the chancellor withdrew +from the chamber. + +"How long will he live?" asked the latter. + +"A year; perhaps only till to-morrow. Ah, had he but listened to +me several years ago, all this would not have come to pass. He +would see nothing; he persisted in dreams. With the death of +Josef he was convinced that his enemies had ceased to be. Had he +listened, I should have dismissed the cabinet, and found enough +young blood to answer my purposes; I should have surrounded him +with a mercenary army two thousand strong; by now he should have +stood strongly entrenched. + +"They have robbed him, but you and I were permitted to do +nothing. Where is the prosperity of which we formerly boasted? I, +too, hear crumbling walls. Yet, the son of this Englishman, +whose strange freak is still unaccountable, will come at the +appointed time; I know the race. He will renew the loan for +another ten years. What a fancy! Lord Fitzgerald was an +eccentric man. Given a purpose, he pursued it to the end, +neither love nor friendship, nor fear swerved him. Do you know +that he made a vow that Duke Josef should never sit on this +throne, nor his descendants? What were five millions to him, if +in giving them he realized the end? The king would never explain +the true cause of this Englishman's folly, but I know that it +was based on revenge, the cause of which also is a mystery. If +only the prince were here!" + +"He will come; youth will be youth." + +"Perhaps." + +"You have never been young." + +"Not in that particular sense to which you refer," dryly. + +* * * * * * + +In the chamber of finance Colonel Beauvais leaned over the desk +and perused the writing on a slip of paper which the minister +had given him. Enough daylight remained to permit the letters to +stand out legibly. When he had done the Colonel tossed back the +missive, and the minister tore it into shreds and dropped them +into the waste basket. + +"So much for your pains," said Beauvais. "The spy, who has eaten +up ten thousand crowns, is not worth his salt. He has watched +this man Hamilton for two days, been his guide in the hills, and +yet learns nothing. And the rigor of the customs is a farce." + +"This day," replied the minister, "the police lost its +jurisdiction over the customs. Complaints have been entered at +the British legation, which forwarded them to the chancellor." + +"O ho!" The Colonel pulled his mustache. + +"I warned you against this. The chancellor is a man to be +respected, whatever his beliefs. I warned you and Mollendorf of +the police what the result would be. The chancellor has a hard +hand when it falls. He was always bold; now he is more so since +he practically stands alone. In games of chance one always +should play close. You are in a hurry." + +"I have waited six years." + +"And I have waited fourteen." + +"Well, then, I shall pass into the active. I shall watch this +Englishman myself. He is likely to prove the agent. Count, the +time for waiting is gone. If the debt is liquidated or renewed-- +and there is Prince Frederick to keep in mind-- we shall have +played and lost. Disgrace for you; for me--well, perhaps there +is a power behind me too strong. The chancellor? Pouf! I have no +fear of him. But you who laugh at the archbishop--" + +"He is too old." + +"So you say. But he has dreams unknown to us. He has ceased to +act; why? He is waiting for the curtain to rise. Nothing escapes +him; he is letting us go to what end we will, only, if we do not +act at once, to draw us to a sudden halt. Now to this meddling +Englishman: we have offered him a million--five millions for +four. He laughs. He is a millionaire. With characteristic +bombast he declares that money has no charms. For six months, +since his father's death, we have hounded him, in vain. It is +something I can not understand. What is Leopold to these +Englishmen that they risk a princely fortune to secure him his +throne? Friendship? Bah, there is none." + +"Not in France nor in Austria. But this man was an Englishman; +they leave legacies of friendship." + +The Colonel walked to the window and looked down into the +gardens. He remained there for a time. Von Wallenstein eyed him +curiously. Presently the soldier returned to his seat. + +"We are crossing a chasm; a man stands in our way; as we can not +go around him, we, being the stronger, push him aside. Eh?" + +"You would not kill--" began the minister. + +"Let us use the French meaning of the word `suppress.' And why +not? Ambition, wherever it goes, leaves a trail of blood. What +is a human life in this game we play? A leaf, a grain of sand." + +"But, since the prince promises to liquidate the debt, what +matters it if the Englishman comes? It is all one and the same." + +"Within twenty, nay, within fifteen days, what may not happen?" + +"You are ambitious," said von Wallenstein, slyly. + +"And who is not?" + +"Is a Marshal's baton so much, then, above your present +position? You are practically the head of the army." + +"A valiant army!" laughing; "five thousand men. Why, Madame the +duchess has six thousand and three batteries." + +"Her army of six thousand is an expedient; you can raise +volunteers to the amount of ten thousand." + +"To be sure I could; but supposing I did not want to?" + +The minister dropped his gaze and began fingering the paper +cutter. The Colonel's real purpose was still an enigma to him. +"Come, you have the confidence of the king, the friendship of +her Royal Highness. What do you gain in serving us? The baton?" + +"You embarrass me. Questions? I should not like to lie to you. +Batons were fine things when Louises and Napoleons conferred +them. I have thrown my dice into the common cup; let that be +sufficient." + +"A man who comes from a noble house such as you come from--" + +"Ah, count, that was never to be referred to. Be content with my +brain and sword. And then, there is the old saying, Give a man +an ell, and look to your rod. We are all either jackals or lions, +puppets or men behind the booth. I am a lion." He rose, drew +his saber half-way from the scabbard, and sent it slithering +back. "In a fortnight we put it to the touch to win or lose it +all, as the poet says. Every man for himself, and let the +strongest win, say I." + +"You are playing two games," coldly. + +"And you? Is it for pure love of Madame the duchess that you +risk your head? Come, as you say; admit that you wish to see my +hand without showing yours. A baton is not much for me, as you +have hinted, but it is all that was promised me. And you, if we +win, will still be minister of finances? What is that maggot I +see behind your eyes? Is it not spelled `chancellor'? But, +remember, Madame has friends to take care of in the event of our +success. We can not have all the spoils. To join the kingdom and +the duchy will create new offices, to be sure, but we can have +only part of them. As to games, I shall, out of the kindness in +my heart, tell you that I am not playing two, but three. Guess +them if you can. Next to the chancellorship is the embassy to +Vienna, and an embassy to Paris is to be created. Madame is a +superior woman. Who knows?" with a smile that caused the other +to pale. + +"You are mad to dream of that." + +"As you say, I come of a noble house," carelessly. + +"You are mad." + +"No, count," the soldier replied. "I have what Balzac calls a +thirst for a full life in a short space." + +"I would give a deal to read what is going on in that head of +yours." + +"Doubtless. But what is to become of our friends the Marshal and +Mollendorf? What will be left for them? Perhaps there will be a +chamber of war, a chamber of the navy. As a naval minister the +Marshal would be nicely placed. There would be no expense of +building ships or paying sailors, which would speak well for the +economy of the new government. The Marshal is old; we shall send +him to Servia. At least the office will pay both his vanity and +purse to an extent equal to that of his present office. By the +way, nothing has yet been heard from Prince Frederick. Ah, these +young men, these plump peasant girls!" + +Both laughed. + +"Till this evening, then;" and the Colonel went from the room. + +The minister of finance applied a match to the tapers. He held +the burning match aloft and contemplated the door through which +the soldier had gone. The sting of the incipient flame aroused +him. + +"What," he mused aloud, as he arranged the papers on his desk, +"is his third game?" + +"It appears to me," said a voice from the wall behind, "that the +same question arises in both our minds." + +The minister wheeled his chair, his mouth and brows puckered in +dismay. From a secret panel in the wall there stepped forth a +tall, thin, sour-visaged old man of military presence. He calmly +sat down in the chair which Beauvais had vacated. + +"I had forgotten all about you, Marshal!" exclaimed the count, +smiling uneasily. + +"A statement which I am most ready to believe," replied old +Marshal Kampf, with a glance which caused the minister yet more +uneasiness. "What impressed me among other things was, `But what +is to become of our friends the Marshal and Mollendorf?' I am +Marshal; I am about to risk all for nothing. Why should I not +remain Marshal for the remainder of my days? It is a pleasant +thing to go to Vienna once the year and to witness the maneuvers, +with an honorary position on the emperor's staff. To be Marshal +here is to hold a sinecure, yet it has its compensations. The +uniforms, gray and gold, are handsome; it is an ostrich plume +that I wear in my chapeau de bras; the medals are of gold. My +friend, it is the vanity of old age which forgives not." And the +Marshal, the bitterest tongue in all Bleiberg, reached over and +picked up the cigar which lay by the inkwells. He lit it at one +of the tapers, and sank again into the chair. "Count, how many +games are you playing?" + +"My dear Marshal, it was not I who spoke of games. I am playing +no game, save for the legitimate sovereign of this kingdom. I +ask for no reward." + +"Disinterested man! The inference is, however, that, since you +have not asked for anything, you have been promised something. +Confess it, and have done." + +"Marshal!" + +"Well?" + +"Is it possible that you suspect me?" The cold eyes grew colder, +and the thin lips almost disappeared. + +"When three men watch each other as do Beauvais, Mollendorf and +you, it is because each suspects the other of treachery. You +haven't watched me because I am old, but because I am old I have +been watching you. Mollendorf aspires to greatness, you have +your gaze on the chancellorship, and curse me if the Colonel +isn't looking after my old shoes! Am I to give up my uniform, my +medals and my plume--for nothing? And who the devil is this man +Beauvais, since that is not his name? Is he a fine bird whose +feathers have been plucked?" + +The minister did not respond to the question; he began instead +to fidget in his chair. + +"When I gave my word to his Highness the duke, it was without +conditions. I asked no favors; I considered it my duty. Let us +come to an understanding. Material comfort is necessary to a man +of my age. Fine phrases and a medal or two more do not count. I +am, then, to go to Servia. You were very kind to hide me in your +cabinet." + +"It was to show you that I had no secrets from you," quickly. + +"Let us pass on. Mollendorf is to go to Paris, where he will be +a nonentity, while in his present office he is a power in the +land-- Devil take me, but it seems to me that we are all a pack +of asses! Our gains will not be commensurate with our losses. +The navy? Well, we'll let that pass; the Colonel, I see, loves a +joke." + +"You forget our patriotism for the true house." + +"Why not give it its true name--self-interest?" + +"Marshal, in heaven's name, what has stirred your bile?" The +minister was losing his patience, a bad thing for him to do in +the presence of the old warrior. + +"It is something I've been swallowing this past year." The +Marshal tipped the ash of his cigar into the waste basket. + +"Marshal, will you take the word not of the minister, but of the +von Wallenstein, that whatever my reward shall be for my humble +services, yours shall not be less?" + +"Thanks, but I have asked for no reward. If I accepted gain for +what I do, I should not be too old to blush." + +"I do not understand." + +"Self-interest blinds us. I have nothing but pity for this king +whose only crime is an archbishop; and I can not accept gain at +his expense; I should blush for shame. Had I my way, he should +die in peace. He has not long to live. The archbishop--well, we +can not make kings, they are born. But there is one thing more: +Over all your schemes is the shadow of Austria." + +"Austria?" + +"Yes. The Colonel speaks of a power behind him. Bismarck looks +hungrily toward Schleswig-Holstein. Austria casts amorous eyes +at us. A protectorate? We did not need it. It was forced on us. +When Austria assumed to dictate to us as to who should be king, +she also robbed us of our true independence. Twenty years ago +there was no duchy; it was all one kingdom. Who created this +duchy when Albrecht came on the throne? Austria. Why? If we +live we shall read." He rose, shook his lean legs. "I have been +for the most part neutral. I shall remain neutral. There is an +undercurrent on which you have failed to reckon. Austria, +mistress of the confederation. There are two men whom you must +watch. One is the archbishop." + +"The archbishop?" The minister was surprised that the Marshal +should concur with the Colonel. "And the other?" + +"Your friend the Colonel," starting for the door. + +The minister smiled. "Will you not dine with me?" he asked. + +"Thanks. But I have the Servian minister on my hands to-night. A +propos, tell the Colonel that I decline Belgrade. I prefer to +die at home." And he vanished. + +Von Wallenstein reviewed the statements of both his visitors. + +"I shall watch Monseigneur the archbishop." Then he added, with +a half-smile: "God save us if the Marshal's sword were half so +sharp as his tongue! It was careless of me to forget that I had +shut him up in the cabinet." + +Meanwhile Beauvais walked slowly toward his quarters, with his +saber caught up under his arm. Once he turned and gazed at the +palace, whose windows began to flash with light. + +"Yes, they are puppets and jackals, and I am the lion. For all +there shall serve my ends. I shall win, and when I do--" He +laughed silently. "Well, I am a comely man, and Madame the +duchess shall be my wife." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +MADEMOISELLE OF THE VEIL + +The public park at night was a revelation to Maurice, who, +lonely and restless, strolled over from the hotel in quest of +innocent amusement. He was none the worse for his unintended +bath; indeed, if anything, he was much the better for it. His +imagination was excited. It was not every day that a man could, +at one and the same time, fall out of a boat and into the +presence of a princess of royal blood. + +He tried to remember all he had said to her, but only two +utterances recurred to him; yet these caused him an exhilaration +like the bouquet of old wine. He had told her that she was +beautiful, indirectly, it was true; she had accepted his +friendship, also indirectly, it was true. Now the logical +sequence of all this was--but he broke into a light laugh. What +little vanity he possessed was without conceit. Princesses of +royal blood were beyond the reach of logical sequence; and +besides, she was to be married on the twentieth of the month. + +He followed one of the paths which led to the pavilion. It was a +charming scene, radiant with gas lamps, the vivid kaleidoscope +of gowns and uniforms. Beautiful faces flashed past him. There +were in the air the vague essences of violet, rose and +heliotrope. Sometimes he caught the echo of low laughter or the +snatch of a gay song. The light of the lamps shot out on the +crinkled surface of the lake in tongues of quivering flame, +which danced a brave gavot with the phantom stars; and afar +twinkled the dipping oars. The brilliant pavilion, which rested +partly over land and partly over water, was thronged. + +The band was playing airs from the operas of the day, and +Maurice yielded to the spell of the romantic music. He leaned +over the pavilion rail, and out of the blackness below he +endeavored to conjure up the face of Nell (or was it Kate?) who +had danced with him at the embassies in Vienna, fenced and +ridden with him, till--till-- with a gesture of impatience he +flung away the end of his cigar. + +Memory was altogether too elusive. It was neither Nell nor Kate +he saw smiling up at him, nor anybody else in the world but the +Princess Alexia, whose eyes were like wine in a sunset, whose +lips were as red as the rose of Tours in France, and whose voice +was sweeter than that throbbing up from the 'cello. If he +thought much more of her, there would be a logical sequence on +his side. He laughed again--with an effort--and settled back in +his chair to renew his interest in the panorama revolving around +him. + +"They certainly know how to live in these countries," he thought, +"for all their comic operas. All I need, to have this fairy +scene made complete, is a woman to talk to. By George, what's to +hinder me from finding one?" he added, seized by the spirit of +mischief. He turned his head this way and that. "Ah! doubtless +there is the one I'm looking for." + +Seated alone at a table behind him was a woman dressed in gray. +Her back was toward him, but he lost none of the beautiful +contours of her figure. She wore a gray alpine hat, below the +rim of which rebellious little curls escaped, curls of a fine +red-brown, which, as they trailed to the nape of the firm white +neck, lightened into a ruddy gold. Her delicate head was turned +aside, and to all appearances her gaze was directed to the +entrance to the pavilion. A heavy blue veil completely obscured +her features; though Maurice could see a rose-tinted ear and the +shadow of a curving chin and throat, which promised much. To a +man there is always a mystery lurking behind a veil. So he rose, +walked past her, returned and deliberately sat down in the chair +opposite to hers. The fact that gendarmes moved among the crowd +did not disturb him. + +"Good evening, Mademoiselle," he said, politely lifting his hat. + +She straightened haughtily. "Monsieur," she said, resentment, +consternation and indignation struggling to predominate in her +tones, "I did not give you permission to sit down. You are +impertinent!" + +"O, no," Maurice declared. "I am not impertinent. I am lonesome. +In all Bleiberg I haven't a soul to talk to, excepting the hotel +waiters, and they are uninteresting. Grant me the privilege of +conversing with you for a moment. We shall never meet again; and +I should not know you if we did. Whether you are old or young, +plain or beautiful, it matters not. My only wish is to talk to a +woman, to hear a woman's voice" + +"Shall I call a gendarme, Monsieur, and have him search for your +nurse?" The attitude which accompanied these words was anything +but assuring. + +He, however, evinced no alarm. He even laughed. "That was good! +We shall get along finely, I am sure." + +"Monsieur," she said, rising, "I repeat that I do not desire +your company, nor to remain in the presence of your unspeakable +effrontery." + +"I beseech you!" implored Maurice, also rising. "I am a +foreigner, lonesome, unhappy, thousands of miles from home--" + +"You are English?" suddenly. She stood with the knuckle of her +forefinger on her lips as if meditating. She sat down. + +Maurice, greatly surprised, also sat down. + +"English?" he repeated. His thought was: "What the deuce! This +is the third time I have been asked that. Who is this gay +Lothario the women seem to be expecting?" To her he continued: +"And why do you ask me that?" + +"Perhaps it is your accent. And what do you wish to say to me, +Monsieur?" It was a voice of quality; all the anger had gone +from it. She leaned on her elbows, her chin in her palms, and +through the veil he caught the sparkle of a pair of wonderful +eyes. "Let us converse in English," she added. "It is so long +since I have had occasion to speak in that tongue." She repeated +her question. + +"O, I had no definite plan outlined," he answered; "just +generalities, with the salt of repartee to season." He pondered +over this sudden transition from wrath to mildness. An +Englishman? Very well; it might grow interesting. + +"Is it customary among the English to request to speak to +strangers without the usual formalities of an introduction?" + +"I can not say that it is," he answered truthfully enough; "but +the procedure is never without a certain charm and excitement." + +"Ah; then you were led to address me merely by the love of +adventure?" + +"That is it; the love of adventure. I should not have spoken to +you had you not worn the veil." He remarked that her English was +excellent. + +"You differ from the average Englishman, who is usually wrapt up +in himself and has no desire to talk to strangers. You have been +a soldier." + +The evolutions of his cane ceased. "How in the world did you +guess that?" surprised beyond measure. + +"Perhaps there is something suggestive in your shoulders." + +He tried to peer behind the veil, but in vain. "Am I speaking to +one I have met before?" + +"I believe not; indeed, sir, I am positive." + +"I have been a soldier, but my shoulders did not tell you that." + +"Perhaps I have the gift of clairvoyance," gazing again toward +the entrance. + +"Or perhaps you have been to Vienna." + +"Who knows? Most Englishmen are, or have been, soldiers." + +"That is true." Inwardly, "There's my friend the Englishman +again. She's guessing closer than she knows. Curious; she has +mistaken me for some one she does not know, if that is possible." +He was somewhat in a haze. "Well, you have remarkable eyes. +However, let us talk of a more interesting subject; for instance, +yourself. You, too, love adventure, that is, if I interpret the +veil rightly." + +"Yes; I like to see without being seen. But, of course, behind +this love of adventure which you possess, there is an important +mission." + +"Ah!" he thought; "you are not quite sure of me." Aloud, "Yes, I +came here to witness the comic opera." + +"The comic opera? I do not understand?" + +"I believed there was going to be trouble between the duchy and +the kingdom, but unfortunately the prima donna has refused the +part." + +"The prima donna!" in a muffled voice. "Whom do you mean?" + +"Son Altesse la Grande Duchesse! 'Voici le sabre de mon pere!'" +And he whistled a bar from Offenbach, his eyes dancing. + +"Sir!--I!--you do wrong to laugh at us!" a flash from the half- +hidden eyes. + +"Forgive me if I have offended you, but I--" + +"Ah, sir, but you who live in a powerful country think we little +folk have no hearts, that we have no wrongs to redress, no +dreams of conquest and of power. You are wrong." + +"And whose side do you defend?" + +"I am a woman," was the equivocal answer. + +"Which means that you are uncertain." + +"I have long ago made up my mind." + +"Wonderful! I always thought a woman's mind was like a time- +table, subject to change without notice. So you have made up +your mind?" + +"I was born with its purpose defined," coldly. + +"Ah, now I begin to doubt." + +"What?" with a still lower degree of warmth. + +"That you are a woman. Only goddesses do not change their minds-- +sometimes. Well, then you are on the weaker side." + +"Or the stronger, since there are two sides." + +"And the stronger?" persistently. + +"The side which is not the weaker. But the subject is what you +English call 'taboo.' It is treading on delicate ground to talk +politics in the open--especially in Bleiberg." + +"What a diplomat you would make!" he cried with enthusiasm. +Certainly this was a red-letter day in his calendar. This +adventure almost equalled the other, and, besides, in this +instance, his skin was dry; he could enjoy it more thoroughly. +Who could this unknown be? "If only you understood the mystery +with which you have enshrouded yourself!" + +"I do." She drew the veil more firmly about her chin. + +"Grant me a favor." + +"I am talking to you, sir." + +This candor did not disturb him. "The favor I ask is that you +will lift the corner of your veil; otherwise you will haunt me." + +"I am doomed to haunt you, then. If I should lift the corner of +my veil something terrible would happen." + +"What! Are you as beautiful as that?" + +There was a flash of teeth behind the veil, followed by the +ripple of soft laughter. "It is difficult to believe you to be +English. You are more like one of those absurd Americans." + +Maurice did not like the adjective. "I am one of them," +wondering what the effect of this admission would be. "I am not +English, but of the brother race. Forgive me if I have imposed +on you, but it was your fault. You said that I was English, and +I was too lonesome to enlighten you." + +"You are an American?" She began to tap her gloved fingers +against the table. + +"Yes." + +Then, to his astonishment, she gave way to laughter, honest and +hearty. "How dense of me not to have known the moment you +addressed me! Who but the American holds in scorn custom's +formalities and usages? Your grammar is good, so good that my +mistake is pardonable. The American is always like the terrible +infant; and you are a choice example." + +Maurice was not so pleased as he might have been. His ears +burned. Still, he went forward bravely. "A man never pretends to +be an Englishman without getting into trouble." + +"I did not ask to speak to you. No one ever pretends to be an +American. Why is it you are always ashamed of your country?" +with malice aforethought. + +Maurice experienced the sting of many bees. "I see that your +experience is limited to impostors. I, Mademoiselle, am proud of +my country, the great, free land which stands aside from the +turmoil and laughs at your petty squabbles, your kings, your +princes. Laugh at me; I deserve it for not minding my own +business, but do not laugh at my country." His face was flushed; +he was almost angry. It was not her words; it was the contempt +with which she had invested them. But immediately he was ashamed +of his outburst. "Ah, Mademoiselle, you have tricked me; you +have found the vulnerable part in my armor. I have spoken like a +child. Permit me to apologize for my apparent lack of breeding." +He rose, bowed, and made as though to depart. + +"Sit down, Monsieur," she said, picking up her French again. "I +forgive you. I do more; I admire. I see that your freak had +nothing behind it but mischief. No woman need fear a man who +colors when his country is made the subject of a jest." + +All his anger evaporated. This was an invitation, and he +accepted it. He resumed his seat. + +"The truth is, as I remarked, I was lonesome. I know that I have +committed a transgression, but the veil tempted me." + +"It is of no matter. A few moments, and you will be gone. I am +waiting for some one. You may talk till that person comes." Her +voice was now in its natural tone; and he was convinced that if +her face were half as sweet, she must possess rare beauty. "Hush!" +as the band began to breathe forth Chopin's polonaise. They +listened until the music ceased. + +"Ah !" said he rapturously, "the polonaise! When you hear it, +does there not recur to you some dream of bygone happy hours, +the sibilant murmur of fragrant night winds through the crisp +foliage, the faint call of Diana's horn from the woodlands, moon- +fairies dancing on the spider-webs, the glint of the dew on the +roses, the far-off music of the surges tossing impotently on the +sands, the forgetfulness of time and place and care, and not a +cloud 'twixt you and the heavens? Ah, the polonaise!" + +"Surely you must be a poet!" declared the Veil, when this +panegyric was done. + +"No," said he modestly, "I never was quite poor enough for that +exalted position." He had recovered his good humor. + +"Indeed, you begin to interest me. What is your occupation when +not in search of--comic operas?" + +"I serve Ananias." + +"Ananias?" A pause. "Ah, you are a diplomat?" + +"How clever of you to guess." + +"Yours is a careless country," observed the Veil. + +"Careless?" mystified. + +"Yes, to send forth her green and salad youth. Eh, bien! There +are hopes for you. If you live you will grow old; you will +become bald and reserved; you will not speak to strangers, to +while away an idle hour; for permit me, Monsieur, who am wise, +to tell you that it is a dangerous practice." + +"And do I look so very young?" + +"Your beard is that of a boy." + +"David slew Goliath." + +"At least you have a ready tongue," laughing. + +"And you told me that I had been a soldier." + +But to this she had nothing to say. + +"I am older than you think, Mademoiselle of the Veil. I have +been a soldier; I have seen hard service, too. Mine is no +cushion sword. Youth? 'Tis a virtue, not a crime; and, besides, +it is an excellent disguise." + +For some time she remained pensive. + +"You are thinking of something, Mademoiselle." + +"Do you like adventure?" + +"I subsist on it." + +"You have been a soldier; you are, then, familiar with the use +of arms?" + +"They tell me so," modestly. What was coming? + +"I have some influence. May I trust you?" + +"On my honor," puzzled, yet eager. + +"There may be a comic opera, as you call it. War is not so +impossible as to be laughed at. The dove may fly away and the +ravens come." + +"Who in thunder might this woman be?" he thought. + +"And," went on the Veil, "an extra saber might be used. Give me +your address, in case I should find it necessary to send for you." + +Now Maurice was a wary youth. Under ordinary circumstances he +would have given a fictitious address to this strange sybil with +the prophecy of war; for he had accosted her only in the spirit +of fun. But here was the key which he had been seeking, the key +to all that had brought him to Bleiberg. Intrigue, adventure, or +whatever it was, and to whatever end, he plunged into it. He +drew out a card case, selected a card on which he wrote "Room 12, +Continental," and passed it over the table. She read it, and +slipped it into her purse. + +Maurice thought: "Who wouldn't join the army with such +recruiting officers?" + +While the pantomime took place, a man pushed by Maurice's chair +and crossed over to the table recently occupied by him. He sat +down, lit a short pipe, rested his feet on the lowest rung of +the ladder-like railing, and contemplated the western hills, +which by now were enveloped in moon mists. Neither Maurice nor +his mysterious vis-a-vis remarked him. Indeed, his broad back +afforded but small attraction. And if he puffed his pipe +fiercely, nobody cared, since the breeze carried the smoke +waterward. + +After putting the card into her purse, Mademoiselle of the +Veil's gaze once more wandered toward the entrance, and this +time it grew fixed. Maurice naturally followed it, and he saw a +tall soldier in fatigue dress elbowing his way through the crush. +Many moved aside for him; those in uniform saluted. + +"Monsieur," came from behind the veil, "you may go now. I +dismiss you. If I have need of you I promise to send for you." + +He stood up. "I thank you for the entertainment and the promise +you extend. I shall be easily found," committing himself to +nothing. "I suppose you are a person of importance in affairs." + +"It is not unlikely. I see that you love adventure for its own +sake, for you have not asked me if it be the duchy or the +kingdom. Adieu, Monsieur," with a careless wave of the gray- +gloved hand. "Adieu!" + +He took his dismissal heroically and shot a final glance at the +approaching soldier. His brows came together. + +"Where," he murmured, "have I seen that picturesque countenance +before? Not in Europe; but where?" He caught the arm of a +passing gendarme. "Who is that gentleman in fatigue uniform, +coming this way?" + +"That, Monsieur," answered the gendarme in tones not unmixed +with awe, "is Colonel Beauvais of the royal cuirassiers." + +"Thanks. . . . Beauvais; I do not remember the name. Truly I +have had experiences to-day. And for what house is Mademoiselle +of the Veil? Ravens? War? `Voici le sabre de mon pyre!'" and +with a gay laugh he went his way. + +Meanwhile Colonel Beauvais arrived at the table, tipped his hat +to the Veil, who rose and laid a hand on his arm. He guided her +through the pressing crowds. + +"Ah, Madame," he said, "you are very brave to choose such a +rendezvous." + +"Danger is a tonic to the ill-spirited," was the reply. + +"If aught should happen to you--" + +"It was in accord with her wishes that I am here. She suffers +from impatience; and I would risk much to satisfy her whims." + +"So would I, Madame; even life." There was a tremor of passion +in his voice, but she appeared not to notice it. "Here is a nook +out of the lights; we may talk here with safety." + +"And what is the news?" she asked. + +"This: The man remains still in obscurity. But he shall be found. + Listen," and his voice fell into a whisper. + +"Austria?" Mademoiselle of the Veil pressed her hands together +in excitement. "Is it true?" + +"Did I not promise you? It is so true that the end is in sight. +Conspiracy is talked openly in the streets, in the cafes, +everywhere. The Osians will be sand in the face of a tidal wave. +A word from me, and Kronau follows it. It all would be so easy +were it not for the archbishop." + +"The archbishop?" contemptuously. + +"Ay, Madame; he is a man so deep, with a mind so abyssmal, that +I would give ten years of my life for a flash of his thoughts. +He has some project; apparently he gives his whole time to the +king. He loves this weak man Leopold; he has sacrificed the red +hat for him, for the hat would have taken him to Italy, as we +who procured it intended it should." + +"The archbishop? Trust me; one month from now he will be +recalled. That is the news I have for you." + +"You have taken a weight from my mind. What do you think in +regard to the rumor of the prince and the peasant girl?" + +"It afforded me much amusement. You are a man of fine inventions." + +"Gaze toward the upper end of the pavilion, the end which we +have just left. Yes--there. I am having the owner of those broad +shoulders watched. That gendarme leaning against the pillar +follows him wherever he goes." + +"Who is he?" + +"That I am trying to ascertain. This much-- he is an Englishman." + +Mademoiselle of the Veil laughed. "Pardon my irrelevancy, but +the remembrance of a recent adventure of mine was too strong." + + + +Maurice could not regain his interest in the scene. He strolled +in and out of the moving groups, but no bright eyes or winning +smiles allured him. Impelled by curiosity, he began to draw near +the shadowed nook. Curiosity in a journalist is innate, and time +nor change can efface it. Curiosity in those things which do not +concern us is wrong. Ethics disavows the practice, though +philosophy sustains it. Perhaps in this instance Maurice was +philosophical, not ethical. Perhaps he wanted to hear the +woman's voice again, which was excusable. Perhaps it was neither +the one nor the other, but fate, which directed his footsteps. +Certain it is that the subsequent adventures would never have +happened had he gone about his business, as he should have done. + +"Who is this who stares at us?" asked Beauvais, with a piercing +glance and a startled movement of his shoulders. + +"A disciple of Pallas and a pupil of Mars," was the answer. "I +have been recruiting, Colonel. There is sharpness sometimes in +new blades. Do not draw him with your eyes." + +The Colonel continued his scrutiny, however, and there was an +ugly droop at the corners of his mouth, though it was partly +hidden under his mustache. + +Maurice, aware that he was not wanted, passed along, having in +mind to regain his former seat by the railing. + +"Colonel," he mused, "your face grows more familiar every moment. +It was not associated with agreeable things. But, what were +they? Hang it! you shall have a place in my thoughts till I have +successfully labeled you. Humph! Some one seems to have +appropriated my seat." + +He viewed with indecision the broad back of the interloper, who +at that moment turned his head. At the sight of that bronzed +profile Maurice gave an exclamation of surprise and delight. He +stepped forward and dropped his hand on the stranger's shoulder. + +"John Fitzgerald, or henceforth garlic shall be my salad!" he +cried in loud, exultant tones. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +SOME DIALOGUE, A SPRAINED ANKLE, AND SOME SOLDIERS + +The stranger returned Maurice's salute with open-mouthed dismay; +the monocle fell from his eye, he grasped the table with one +hand and pushed back the chair with the other, while Maurice +heard the name of an exceedingly warm place. + +The gendarme, who was leaning against the pillar, straightened, +opened his jaws, snapped them, and hurried off. + +"Maurice--Maurice Carewe?" said the bewildered Englishman. + +"No one else, though I must say you do not seem very glad to see +me," Maurice answered, conscious that he was all things but +welcome. + +"Hang you, I'm not!" incogitantly. + +"Go to the devil, then!" cried Maurice, hotly. + +"Gently," said Fitzgerald, catching Maurice by the coat and +pulling him down into a chair. "Confound you, could you not have +made yourself known to me without yelling my name at the top of +your voice?" + +"Are you ashamed of it?" asked Maurice, loosing his coat from +Fitzgerald's grip. + +"I'm afraid of it," the Englishman admitted, in a lowered voice. +"And your manly, resonant tones have cast it abroad. I am here +incognito." + +"Who the deuce are you?" + +"I am Don Jahpet of Armenia; that is to say that I am a marked +man. And now, as you would inelegantly express it, you have put +a tag on me. When I left you in Vienna the other day I lied to +you. I am sorry. I should have trusted you, only I did not wish +you to risk your life. You would have insisted on coming along." + +"Risked my life?" echoed Maurice. "How many times have I not +risked it? By the way," impressed by a sudden thought, "are you +the Englishman every one seems to be expecting?" + +"Yes." Fitzgerald knocked his pipe against the railing. "I am +the man. Worse luck! Was any one near when you called me by +name?" + +"Only one of those wooden gendarmes." + +"Only one of those wooden gendarmes!" ironically. "Only one of +those dogs who have been at my heels ever since I arrived. And +he, having heard, has gone back to his master. Well, since you +have started the ball rolling, it is no more than fair that you +should see the game to its end." + +"What's it all about?" asked Maurice, his astonishment growing +and growing. + +"Where are your rooms?" + +"You have something important to tell me?" + +"Perhaps you may think so. At the Continental? Come along." + +They passed out of the pavilion, along the path to the square, +thence to the terrace of the Continental, which they mounted. +Not a word was said, but Maurice was visibly excited, and by +constant gnawing ruined his cigar. He conducted his friend to +the room on the second floor, the window of which opened on a +private balcony. Here he placed two chairs and a small table; +and with a bottle of tokayer between them they seated themselves. + +"What's it all about?" + +"O, only a crown and a few millions in money." + +"Only a crown and a few millions in money," repeated Maurice +very slowly, for his mind could scarcely accept Fitzgerald and +these two greatest treasures on earth. + +A gendarme had leisurely followed them from the park. He took +aside a porter and quietly plied him with questions. Evidently +the answers were satisfactory, for he at once departed. + +Maurice stared at the Englishman. + +"Knocks you up a bit, eh?" said Fitzgerald. "Well, I am rather +surprised myself; that is to say, I was." + +"Fire away," said Maurice. + +"To begin with, if I do not see the king to-morrow, it is not +likely that I ever shall." + +"The king?" + +"My business here is with his Majesty." + +Maurice filled the glasses and pushed one across the table. + +"Here's!" said he, and gulped. + +Fitzgerald drank slowly, however, as if arranging in his mind +the salient points in his forthcoming narrative. + +"I have never been an extraordinarily communicative man; what I +shall tell you is known only to my former Colonel and myself. At +Calcutta, where you and I first met, I was but a Lieutenant in +her Majesty's. To-day I am burdened with riches such as I know +not how to use, and possessor of a title which sounds strange in +my ears." + +The dim light from the gas-jet in the room flickered over his +face, and Maurice saw that it was slightly contorted, as if by pain. + +"My father was Lord Fitzgerald." + +"What!" cried Maurice, "the diplomat, the historian, the +millionaire?" + +"The same. Thirteen years ago we parted--a misunderstanding. I +never saw him again. Six months ago he died and left me a +fortune, a title and a strange legacy; and it is this legacy +which brings me to Bleiberg. Do you know the history of Leopold?" + +"I do. This throne belongs to the house of Auersperg, and the +Osian usurps. The fact that the minister of the duchess has been +discredited was what brought me here. Continue." + +And Fitzgerald proceeded briefly to acquaint the other with the +strange caprice of his father; how, when he left Bleiberg, he +had been waylaid and the certificates demanded; how he had +entrusted them to his valet, who had gone by another route; how +the duke had sought him in Vienna and made offers, bribes and +threats; how he had laughed at all, and sworn that Duke Josef +should never be a king. + +"My father wished to save Leopold in spite of himself; and then, +he had no love for Josef. At a dinner given at the legation, +there was among others a toast to her Majesty. The duke laughed +and tossed the wine to the floor. It lost him his crown, for my +father never forgave the insult. When the duke died, his +daughter took up the work with surprising vigor. It was all +useless; father was a rock, and would listen neither to bribes +nor threats. Now they are after me. They have hunted me in India, +London, and Vienna. I am an obscure soldier, with all my titles +and riches; they threaten me with death. But I am here, and my +father's wishes shall be carried out. That is all. I am glad +that we have come together; you have more invention than I have." + +"But why did you come yourself? You could have sent an agent. +That would have been simple." + +"An agent might be bought. It was necessary for me to come. +However, I might have waited till the twentieth. I should have +come openly and informed the British minister of my mission. As +to the pheasants, they could have waited. Perhaps my fears are +without foundation, unless you have been the unconscious cause +of my true name being known. Every one has heard the story. It +is known as 'Fitzgerald's folly,' and has gone the rounds of the +diplomatic circles for ten years. I shall ask for an audience to- +morrow morning." + +"And these certificates fall due the same day that the princess +is to be married," mused his auditor. "What a yarn for the +papers!" his love of sensation being always close to the surface. +"Your father, you say, took four million crowns; what became of +the fifth?" + +"The duke was permitted to secure that." + +"A kind of court plaster for his wounds, eh? Why don't you get +that other million and run the kingdom yourself? It's a great +opportunity." Maurice laughed. + +"Her Royal Highness must not be forgotten. My father thought +much of her." + +"But really I do not see why you are putting yourself to all +this trouble. The king will pay off the indebtedness; the +kingdom is said to be rich, or Austria wouldn't meddle with it." + +"The king, on the twentieth of this month, will be some three +millions short." + +"And since he can not pay he is bankrupt. Ah, I see the plan. +The duke knew that he wouldn't be able to pay." + +"You have hit it squarely." + +"But Austria, having placed Leopold here, is his sponsor." + +"Austria has too many debts of her own; she will have to disavow +her protege, which is a fact not unthought of by the house of +Auersperg. By constant machination and intrigue the king's +revenues have been so depleted that ordinary debts are +troublesome. The archbishop, to stave off the probable end, +brought about the alliance between the houses of Carnavia and +Osia. My business here is to arrange for a ten years' renewal of +the loan, and that is what the duchess wishes to prevent, mon +ami. What's to become of the king and his daughter if aught in +the way of mishap should befall me? I have not seen the king, +but I have seen her Royal Highness." + +"What is she like?" Maurice asked, innocently. He saw no reason +why he should confide to the Englishman his own adventure. + +"I'm not much of a judge," said Fitzgerald cautiously. "I have +lived most of my life in cantonments where women were old and +ran mostly to tongue. I should say that she is beautiful." A +short sigh followed this admission. + +"Ah!" said Maurice with a loud laugh to cover the sudden pang of +jealousy which seized him; "in gratitude for saving her father's +throne the daughter will fall in love with you. It is what the +dramatist calls logical sequence." + +"Why don't you write novels? Your imagination has no bounds." + +"Writing novels is too much like work. But I'm serious. Your +position in the world to-day is nearly equal to hers, and +certainly more secure. Ah, yes; I must not forget that prince. +He's a lucky dog--and so are you, for that matter. Millions and +titles! And I have slapped you cavalierly on the back, smoked +your cigars, drunk your whisky, and beaten you at poker!" +comically. + +"Ah, Maurice, it is neither wealth nor titles; it is freedom. I +am like a boy out of school for good and all. Women, the society +of women, who are the salt of earth; that is what I want. I have +knocked out thirteen years of my life in furnace holes, and have +not met nor spoken to a dozen young women in all that time. How +I envy you! You know every one; you have seen the world;. you +are at home in Paris, or London, or Vienna; you have enjoyed all +I wish to enjoy." + +"Why did you ever get into the army?" + +"You ought to know." + +"But it was bread and butter to me." + +"Well, I was young; I saw fame and glory. If the matter under +hand is closed to-morrow, what do you say to the Carpathians and +bears? I shall not remain here; some one will be looking for +blood. What do you say?" + +"I don't know," said Maurice, thoughtfully. He was thinking of +Mademoiselle of the Veil and her prophecy of ravens. "I don't +know that I shall be able. It is my opinion that your part in +the affair is only a curtain-raiser to graver things. Every one +of importance in town goes about with an air of expectancy. I +never saw anything like it. It is the king, the archbishop and +the chancellor against two hundred thousand. You're a soldier; +can't you smell powder?" + +"Powder! You do not believe the duchess mad enough to wage war?" + +"Trust a woman to do what no one dreams she will." + +"But Austria would be about her ears in a minute!" + +"Maybe. Have you seen this Colonel Beauvais of the royal +cuirassiers, the actual head of the army here?" + +"A fine soldier," said the Englishman, heartily. "Rides like a +centaur and wields a saber as if it were a piece of straw." + +"I can hold a pretty good blade myself; I've an idea that I can +lick him at both games." + +Fitzgerald laughed good-naturedly. "There is the one flaw in +your make-up. I admit your horsemanship; but the saber! Believe +me, it is only the constant practice and a wrist of iron which +make the saber formidable. You are more familiar with the pen; I +dare say you could best him at that." + +"What makes you think I can not lick him?" + +"Since when have the saber and the civilian been on terms? And +these continental sabers are matchless, the finest in the world. +I trust you will steer clear of the Colonel; if you have any +challenge in mind, spring it on me, and I'll let you down easy." +Then: "Why the devil do you want to lick him, anyway?" + +"I don't know," said Maurice. "I had a close range to-night, and +somehow the man went against the grain. Well, Jack, I'll stay +with you in this affair, though, as the county judge at home +would say, it's out of my circuit." + +They shook hands across the table. + +"Come," said Fitzgerald; "a toast, for I must be off." + +"What do you say to her Royal Highness?" + +"Let us make it general: to all women!" + +They set down the glasses and shook hands again. + +"It seemed good to run across you in Vienna, Maurice. You were +one of the bright spots in the old days." + +"Do you want me to walk with you to the Grand? It's a fine night," +said Maurice, waving his hand toward the moon. "By George, +what a beautiful place this end of Bleiberg is! I do not wonder +that the duchess covets it." + +"No, I'll go alone. All I have to do is to march straight up the +Strasse." + +"Well, good-night and good luck to you," said Maurice, as he led +the Englishman into the hallway. "Look me up when you have +settled the business. I say, but it gets me; it's the strangest +thing I ever heard." And he waited till the soldierly form +disappeared below the landing. + +Then he went back to his chair on the balcony to think it over. +At four o'clock that afternoon he had grumbled of dullness. He +lit a pipe, and contemplated the soft and delicate blues of +earth and heaven, the silvery flashes on the lake, and the slim +violet threads of smoke which wavered about his head. It was +late. Now and then the sound of a galloping horse was borne up +by the breeze, and presently Maurice heard the midnight bell +boom forth from the sleepy spires of the cathedral--where the +princess was to be married. + +One by one the lamps of the park went out, but the moon shone on, +lustrous and splendid. First he reviewed his odd adventure in +the archbishop's gardens. He had spoken to princesses before, +but they were women of the world, hothouse roses that bloom and +wither in a short space. The atmosphere which surrounded this +princess was idyllic, pastoral. She had seen nothing of the +world, its sports and pastimes, and the art of playing at love +was unknown to her. Again he could see her serious eyes, the +delicate chin and mouth, the oval cheeks, and the dog that +followed in her steps. Here was an indelible picture which time +could never efface. Something stirred in his heart, and he +sighed. + +And ah, the woman in the veil! Who could she be? The more he +thought of her the more convinced he was that she stood high in +the service of any one but Leopold of Osia. And Fitzgerald! That +sober old soldier concerned with crowns and millions! It was +incredible; it was almost laughable. They had met up-country in +India, and had hunted, and Maurice had saved the Englishman's +life. Occasionally they had corresponded. + +"Well, to bed," said the young diplomat. "This has been a full +day." And, like the true newspaper man he was, for all his +diplomacy, he emptied the bottle and entered the room. He was +about to disrobe, when some one rapped on the door. He opened it, +and beheld a man in the livery of the Grand Hotel. He was +breathing hard. + +"Herr Carewe?" + +"Yes. What's wanted?" + +"Herr Hamilton--" + +"Hamilton? O, yes. Go on." + +"Herr Hamilton bade me to tell your Excellency that in returning +to the hotel he sprained his ankle, and wishes to know if Herr +would not be so kind as to spend the night with him." + +"Certainly. Run down to the office, and I shall be with you +shortly." Again alone, Maurice opened his trunk. He brought +forth a pint flask of brandy, some old handkerchiefs to be used +as bandages, and a box of salve he used for bruises when on +hunting expeditions. In turning over his clothes his hand came +into contact with his old army revolver. He scratched his head. +"No, it's too much like a cannon, and there's no room for it in +my pockets." He pushed it aside, rose and slammed the lid of the +trunk. "Sprained his ankle? He wasn't gone more than an hour. +How the deuce is he to see the king to-morrow? Probably wishes +to appoint me his agent. That's it. Very well." He proceeded to +the office, where he found the messenger waiting for him. "Come +on, and put life into your steps." + +Together they traversed the moonlit thoroughfare. Few persons +were astir. Once the night patrol clattered by. They passed +through the markets, and not far ahead they could see the +university. It looked like a city prison. + +"This is the hotel, Herr," said the messenger. + +They entered. Maurice approached the proprietor, who was pale +and flurried; but as Maurice had never seen the natural repose +of his countenance, he thought nothing of it. + +"My friend, Herr Hamilton, has met with an accident. Where is +his room?" + +"Number nine; Johann will show you." He acted as if he had +something more to say, but a glance from the round-faced porter +silenced him. Maurice lost much by not seeing this glance. He +followed the messenger up the stairs. + +There were no transoms. The corridor was devoid of illumination. +The porter struck a match and held it close to the panel of a +door under which a thread of light streamed. + +"This is it, Herr," he bawled, so loudly that Maurice started. + +"There was no need of waking the dead to tell me," he growled. + +The door opened, and before Maurice could brace himself--for the +interior of the room made all plain to him--he was violently +pushed over the threshold on to his knees. He was up in an +instant. The room was filled with soldiers, foot soldiers of the +king, so it seemed. + +"What the devil is this?" he demanded, brushing his knees and +cursing himself because he had not brought his Colt when fate +had put it almost in his hand. + +"It is a banquet, young man. We were waiting for the guest of +honor." + +Maurice turned to the speaker, and saw a medium-sized man with +gray hair and a frosty stubble of a mustache. He wore no +insignia of office. Indeed, as Maurice gazed from one man to the +next he saw that there were no officers; and it came to him that +these were not soldiers of the king. He was in a trap. He +thought quickly. Fitzgerald was in trouble, perhaps on his +account. Where was he? + +"I do not see my friend who sprained his ankle," he said coolly. + +This declaration was greeted with laughter. + +"Evidently I have entered the wrong room," he continued +imperturbably. He stepped toward the door, but a burly +individual placed his back to it. + +"Am I a prisoner, or the victim of a practical joke?" + +"Either way," said the man with the frosty mustache. + +"Why?" + +"You have recently formed a dangerous acquaintance, and we +desire to aid you in breaking it." + +"Are you aware, gentlemen--no, I don't mean gentlemen--that I am +attached to the American legation in Vienna, and that my person +is inviolable?" + +Everybody laughed again--everybody but Maurice. + +"Allow me to correct you," put in the elderly man, who evidently +was the leader in the affair. "You are not attached; you are +detached. Gentlemen, permit me, M. Carewe, detache of the +American legation in Vienna, who wishes he had stayed there." + +Maurice saw a brace of revolvers on the mantel. The table stood +between. + +"Well," he said, banteringly, "bring on your banquet; the hour +is late." + +"That's the way; don't lose your temper, and no harm will come +to you." + +"What do you wish of me?" + +"Merely the pleasure of your company. Lieutenant, bring out the +treasure." + +One of the soldiers entered the next room and soon returned +pushing Fitzgerald before him. The Englishman was bound and gagged. + +"How will you have the pheasant served?" asked the leader. + +"Like a gentleman!" cried Maurice, letting out a little of his +anger. "Take out the gag; he will not cry." + +The leader nodded, and Fitzgerald's mouth was relieved. He spat +some blood on the carpet, then looked at his captors, the devil +in his eyes. + +"Proceed to kill me and have done," he said. + +"Kill you? No, no!" + +"I advise you to, for if you do not kill me, some day I shall be +free again, and then God help some of you." + +Maurice gazed at the candles on the table, and smiled. + +"I'm sorry they dragged you into it, Maurice," said Fitzgerald. + +"I'm glad they did. What you want is company." There was a +glance, swift as light. It went to the mantel, then passed to +the captive. "Well," said Maurice, "what is next on your damned +program?" + +"The other side of the frontier." + +"Maybe," said Maurice. + +With an unexpected movement he sent the table over, the lights +went out; and he had judged the distance so accurately that he +felt his hands close over the revolvers. + +"The door! the door!" a voice bawled. "Knock down any one who +attempts to pass." + +This was precisely what Maurice desired. With the soldiers +massed about the door, he would be free to liberate Fitzgerald; +which he did. He had scarcely completed the task, when a flame +spurted up. The leader fearlessly lit a candle and righted the +table. He saw both his prisoners, one of them with extended arms, +at the ends of which glistened revolver barrels. + +"The devil!" he said. + +"Maybe it is," replied Maurice. "Now, my gay banqueteers, open +the door; and the first man who makes a suspicious movement will +find that I'm a tolerable shot." + +"Seize him, your Excellency!" shouted one of the troopers. +"Those are my revolvers he has, and they are not loaded." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +THE RED CHATEAU + +Two o'clock in the morning, on the king's highway, and a small +body of horse making progress. The moon was beginning to roll +away toward the west, but the world was still frost-white, and +the broad road stretched out like a silver ribbon before the +horsemen, until it was lost in the blue mist of the forests. + +The troop consisted of ten men, two of whom rode with their +hands tied behind their backs and their feet fastened under the +bellies of the horses. The troop was not conspicuous for this +alone. Three others had their heads done up in handkerchiefs, +and a fourth carried his arm in a sling. + +Five miles to the rear lay the sleeping city of Bleiberg, twenty +miles beyond rose the formidable heights of the Thalians. At +times the horses went forward at a gallop, but more often they +walked; when they galloped the man with his arm in the sling +complained. Whenever the horses dropped into a walk, the leader +talked to one of the prisoners. + +"You fight like the very devil, my friend," he said; "but we +were too many by six. Mind, I think none the less of you for +your attempt; freedom is always worth fighting for. As I said +before, no harm is meant to you, physically; as to the moral +side, that doesn't concern me. You have disabled four of my men, +and have scarcely a dozen scratches to show for it. I wanted to +take only four men with me; I was ordered to take eight. The +hand of providence is in it." + +"You wouldn't be so polite, Colonel," spoke up the trooper whose +arm was in the sling, "if you had got this crack." + +"Baron, who told you to call me Colonel?" the leader demanded. + +"Why, we are out of the city; there's no harm now that I can see." + +"Is it possible," said Maurice ironically, "that I have had the +honor of hitting a baron on the head and breaking his arm?" + +The baron muttered a curse and fell back. + +"And you," went on Maurice, addressing the leader, "are a +Colonel?" + +"Yes." + +"For the duchess?" + +"For the duchess." + +"A black business for you, Colonel; take my word for it." + +"A black business it is; but orders are orders. Have you ever +been a soldier?" + +"I have." + +"Well, there's nothing more to be said." + +"America--" Maurice began. + +"Is several thousand miles away." + +"Not if you reckon from Vienna." + +"I'd rather not reckon, if it's all the same to you. Your friend-- +I might say, your very valuable friend--takes the matter too +much to heart." + +"He's not a talkative man." + +Fitzgerald looked straight ahead, stern and impassive. + +"But now that we are talking," said Maurice, "I should like to +know how the deuce you got hold of my name and dragged me into +this affair?" + +"Simple enough. A card of yours was given to me; on it was your +name and address. The rest was easy." + +Maurice grew limp in the saddle. + +"By George! I had forgotten! The woman is at the bottom of it." + +"Quite likely. I thought you'd come to that conclusion. +Sometimes when we play with foxes they lead us into bear traps. +Young man, witness these gray hairs; never speak to strange +women, especially when they wear veils." + +Fitzgerald was now attending the conversation. + +"And who is this woman?" asked Maurice. + +"Mademoiselle of the Veil, according to your picturesque +imagination; to me she is the intimate friend and adviser of her +Highness Stephonia." He wheeled to the troopers with a laugh: +"Hoch, you beggars, hoch!" + +Maurice indulged in some uncomplimentary remarks, among which +was: "I'm an ass!" + +"Every man improves on making that discovery; the Darwinian +theory is wrong." + +After a pause Maurice said: "How did you get on the ground so +quickly?" + +"We arrived yesterday afternoon as the escort of your charmer. A +pretty woman finds it troublesome to travel alone in these parts. +When you slapped your friend on the back and bawled out his +name--a name known from one end of the kingdom to the other--the +plan of action was immediately formed. You were necessary, for +it was taken for granted that you knew too much. You had also +promised your sword," with a chuckle. + +"I made no promise," said Maurice. "I only said that I should +easily be found when wanted." + +"Well, so you were; there's no gainsaying that." + +Maurice said some more uncomplimentary things. + +"It was neatly done, you will admit. Life is a game of cards; he +wins who plays first." + +"Or he doesn't. Colonel, a game is won only when it is played'." + +"That's true enough." + +"Kings are a tolerable bother on earth," Maurice declared, +trying to ease his wrists by holding them higher against his +back. + +"What do you know about them?" + +"When I was in the army I often fell in with three or four of a +night." + +"Eh?--kings?" + +"Yes; but usually I was up against aces or straight flushes." + +"Cards! Well, well; when you get down to the truth of the matter, +real kings differ but little from the kings in pasteboard; +right side up, or wrong side up, they serve the purpose of those +who play them. There's a poor, harmless devil back there," with +a nod toward Bleiberg. "He never injured a soul. Perhaps that's +it; had he been cruel, avaricious, sly, all of them would be +cringing at his feet. Devil take me--but I'm a soldier," he +broke off abruptly; "it's none of my business." + +"Have you any titles?" Maurice asked presently. + +"Titles?" The Colonel jerked around on his horse. "Why?" + +"O," said Maurice carelessly, "I thought it not unlikely that +you might have a few lying around loose." + +The Colonel roared. "You Americans beat the very devil with your +questions. Well, I am politely known as Count Mollendorf, if +that will gratify you." + +"What! brother of Mollendorf of the king's police?" + +"God save the mark! No; I am an honest man --some of the time." + +Maurice laughed; the old fellow was amusing, and besides, this +conversation helped to pass away the time. + +"Wake up, Jack; here's entertainment," he said. + +A scowl added itself to the stern expression on Fitzgerald's +face. + +"I trust that none of your teeth are loose," ventured the +Colonel. + +"If they are, they'll be tight enough ere many days have passed," +was the threatening reply. + +"Beware the dog!" cried the Colonel, and he resumed his place at +the head of the little troop. + +Maurice took this opportunity to bend toward Fitzgerald. "Have +you anything of importance about you?" he whispered +significantly. + +"Nothing. But God send that no chambermaid change the sheet in +my bed at the hotel." + +"Are they--" + +"Silence." Fitzgerald saw the trooper next with his hand to his ear. + +After a time the Colonel sang out: "Fifteen miles more, with +three on the other side, men; we must put more life into us. A +trot for a few miles. The quicker the ride is done, baron, the +quicker the surgeon will look to your arm." + +And silence fell upon the troop. Occasionally a stray horse in +the fields whinneyed, and was answered from the road; sometimes +the howl of a dog broke the monotony. On and on they rode; hour +and mile were left behind them. The moon fell lower and lower, +and the mountains rose higher and higher, and the wind which had +risen had a frosty sting to it. Maurice now began to show the +true state of his temper by cursing his horse whenever it rubbed +against one of its fellows. His back was lame, and there was a +dull pain in one of his shoulders. When he had made the rush for +the door, clubbing right and left with the empty revolvers, he +had finally been thrown on an overturned chair. + +"Here, hang you!" he said to the trooper who held the bridle of +his horse, "I'm cold; you might at least turn up my collar about +my throat." + +"You are welcome to my cloak," said the trooper, disengaging +that article from his shoulders. + +"Thank you," said Maurice, somewhat abashed by the respectful tone. + +The trooper offered his blanket to Fitzgerald. + +"I wish no favors," said the Englishman, thanklessly. + +The trooper shrugged, and caught up Maurice's bridle. + +At length the troop arrived at the frontier. There was no sign +of life at the barrack. They passed unchallenged. + +"What!" exclaimed Maurice, "do they sleep here at night, then? A +fine frontier barrack." He had lived in hopes of more +disturbance and a possible chance for liberty. + +"They will wake up to-day," answered the Colonel; "that is, if +the wine we gave them was not too strong. Poor devils; they must +be good and cold by this time, since we have their clothes. What +do you think of a king whose soldiers drink with any strangers +who chance along?" + +Maurice became resigned. To him the present dynasty was as +fragile as glass, and it needed but one strong blow to shatter +it into atoms. And the one hope rode at his side, sullen and +wrathful, but impotent; the one hope the king had to save his +throne. He had come to Bleiberg in search of excitement, but +this was altogether more than he had bargained for. + +The horses began to lift and were soon winding in and out of the +narrow mountain pass. The chill of the overhanging snows fell +upon them. + +"It wouldn't have hurt you to accept the blanket," said Maurice +to Fitzgerald. + +"Curse it! I want nothing but two minutes freedom. It would be +warm enough then." + +"No confidences, gentlemen," warned the Colonel; "I understand +English tolerably well." + +"Go to the devil, then, if you do!" said Fitzgerald +discourteously. + +"When the time comes," tranquilly. "Of the two I like your +friend the better. To be resigned to the inevitable is a sign of +good mental balance." + +"I am not used to words," replied the Englishman. + +"You are used to orders. I am simply obeying mine. If I took you +off your guard it was because I had to, and not because I liked +that method best. Look alive, men; it's down hill from now on." + +A quarter of an hour later the troop arrived at the duchy's +frontier post. There was no sleep here. The Colonel flung +himself from his horse and exercised his legs. + +"Sergeant," he said, "how far behind the others?" + +"They passed two hours ago, Excellency. And all is well?" +deferentially. + +"All is indeed well," with a gesture toward the prisoners. + +"I've a flask of brandy in my hip pocket," said Maurice. "Will +you help me to a nip, Colonel?" + +"Pardon me, gentlemen; I had forgotten that your hands were +still in cords. Corporal," to a trooper, "relieve their hands." + +The prisoners rubbed their wrists and hands, which were numb and +cold. Maurice produced his flask. + +"I was bringing it along for your sprained ankle," he said, as +he extended the flask to Fitzgerald, who drank a third of it. +"I'd offer you some, Colonel, only it would be like heaping +coals of fire on your head; and, besides, I want it all myself." +He returned the emptied flask to his pocket, feeling a moderate +warmth inside. + +"Drink away, my son," said the Colonel, climbing into the saddle; +"there'll be plenty for me for this night's work. Forward!" + +The troop took up the march again, through a splendid forest +kept clear of dead wood by the peasants. It abounded with game. +The shrill cry of the pheasants, the rustle of the partridges in +the underbrush, the bark of the fox, all rose to the ears of the +trespassers. The smell of warm earth permeated the air, and the +sky was merging from silver into gold. + +When Napoleon humiliated Austria for the second time, one of his +mushroom nobles, who placed too much faith in the man of destiny, +selected this wooded paradise as a residence. He built him a +fine castle of red brick, full of wide halls and drawing rooms +and chambers of state, and filled it with fabulous paintings, +Gobelin tapestries, and black walnut wainscot. He kept a small +garrison of French soldiers by converting the huge stables +partly into a barrack. One night the peasantry rose. There was a +conflict, as the walls still show; and the prince by patent fled, +no one knew where. After its baptism in blood it became known +far and wide as the Red Chateau. Whenever children were unruly, +they were made docile by threats of the dark dungeons of the Red +Chateau, or the ghosts of the French and German peasants who +died there. As it now stood, it was one of the summer residences +of her Highness. + +It was here that the long night's journey came to an end. + +"Gentlemen," said the Colonel, dismounting, "permit me, in the +name of her Highness, to offer you the hospitality of Red +Chateau. Consider; will you lighten my task by giving me your +word of honor to make no attempt to escape? Escape is possible, +but not probable. There are twenty fresh men and horses in the +stables. Come, be reasonable. It will be pleasanter on both +sides." + +"So far as I'm concerned," said Maurice, who needed liberty not +half so much as sleep, "I pass my word." + +"And you, sir?" to Fitzgerald. + +Fitzgerald gazed about him. "Very well," he said, as he saw the +futility of a struggle. + +"Your humble servant, Messieurs," touching his cap. "Take the +ropes off their ankles, men." + +When Maurice was lifted from his horse and placed on the ground, +his legs suddenly bent under him, and he went sprawling to the +grass. A trooper sprang to his assistance. + +"My legs have gone to sleep!" + +The Englishman was affected likewise, and it was some moments +before either could walk. They were conducted to a chamber high +up in the left wing, which overlooked the forest and the +mountains. It was a large airy room, but the windows were barred +and there were double locks on the doors. The Colonel followed +them into the room and pointed to the table. + +"Breakfast, Messieurs, and a good sleep for you till this noon. +As for the rest, let that take care of itself." And he left them. + +Maurice, after having tried all the bars and locks in answer to +his conscience, gave his attention to the breakfast. On lifting +the covers he found fish, eggs, toast and coffee. + +"Here's luck!" he cried. "We were expected." + +"Curse it, Maurice!" Fitzgerald began pacing the room. + +"No, no," said Maurice; "let us eat it; that's what it's here +for," and he fell to with that vigor known only to healthy blood. + +"But what's to be done?" + +"Follow Solomon's advice, and wait." + +"You're taking it cursed cool." + +"Force of habit," breaking the toast. "What's the use of wasting +powder? Because I have shown only the exterior, our friend the +Colonel has already formed an opinion of me. I am brave if need +be, but young and careless. In a day or so--for I suppose we are +not to be liberated at once--he'll forget to use proper caution +in respect to me. And then, 'who can say?' as the Portuguese +says when he hasn't anything else to say. They'll keep a strict +watch over you, my friend, because you've played the lion too +much. Just before I left the States, as you call them, a new +slang phrase was going the rounds;--'it is better to play the +fox some of the time than to roar all of the time.' Ergo, be +foxy. Take it cool. So long as you haven't got that mint packed +about your person, the game breaks even." + +"But the king!" + +"Is as secure on his throne as he ever was. If you do not +present those consols, either for renewal or collection, on the +twentieth, he loses nothing. As you said, let us hope that the +chambermaid is a shifty, careless lass, who will not touch your +room till you return." Maurice broke an egg and dropped a lump +of sugar into his cup. + +"Is this the way you fight Indians?" + +"Indians? What the deuce has fighting Indians to do with this? +As to Indians, shoot them in the back if you can. Here, +everything depends not on fighting but the right use of words. A +man may be a diplomat and not render his country any large +benefit; still, it's a fine individual training. Thrones stand +on precipices and are pushed back to safety by the trick of a +few words. Have an egg; they're fresh." + +Fitzgerald sat down and gulped his coffee. "They broke my +monocle in the struggle." + +Maurice choked in his cup. + +"I've worn it twelve years, too," went on Fitzgerald. + +"Everything is for the best," said Maurice. "You will be able to +see out of both eyes." + +"Confound you!" cried Fitzgerald, smiling in spite of himself; +"nothing will disturb you." + +"You mean, nothing shall. Now, there's the bed and there's the +lounge. Since you are the principal, that is to say, the +constituent part of this affair, and also the principal actor in +this extravaganza, suppose you take the bed and leave me the +lounge? And the deuce take the duchess, who is probably a woman +with a high forehead and a pair of narrow eyes!" He threw down +his napkin and made for the lounge, without giving any +particular attention to the smile and frown which were +struggling in the Englishman's eyes. In less than a minute +Maurice was dozing. + +Fitzgerald thought that the best thing he could do was to follow +the philosophical example of his friend. "These Americans," he +mused, as he arranged the pillow under his ear, "are `fifteen +puzzles'; you can move them, or you can't." + +As for Maurice, he was already dreaming; he was too tired to +sleep. Presently he thought he was on a horse again, and was +galloping, galloping. He was heading his old company to the very +fringe of the alkali. The Apaches had robbed the pay train and +killed six men, and the very deuce was to pay all around. . . . +Again he was swimming, and a beautiful girl reached out a hand +and saved him. Ah! how beautiful she was, how soft and rich the +deep brown of her eyes! . . . The scene shifted. The president +of the South American republic had accepted his sword (unbeknown +to the United States authorities), and he was aiding to quell +the insurrection. And just then some one whispered to him that +gold would rise fifty points. And as he put out his hands to +gather in the glittering coins which were raining down, the face +of Colonel Beauvais loomed up, scowling and furious. . . . And +yet again came the beautiful girl. He was holding her hand and +the archbishop had his spread out in benediction over their +heads. . . . A hand, which was not of dreamland, shook him by +the arm. He opened his eyes. Fitzgerald was standing over him. +The light of the sun spangled the walls opposite the windows. +The clock marked the eleventh hour of day. + +"Hang you!" he said, with blinking eyes; "why didn't you let me +be? I was just marrying the princess, and you've spoiled it all. +I--" He jumped to his feet and rubbed his eyes, and, forgetful +of all save his astonishment, pursed his lips into a low whistle. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +NOTHING MORE SERIOUS THAN A HOUSE PARTY + +Standing just within the door, smiling and rubbing the gray +bristles on his lip, was the Colonel. In the center of the room +stood a woman dressed in gray. Maurice recognized the dress; it +belonged to Mademoiselle of the Veil, who was now sans veil, +sans hat. A marvelous face was revealed to Maurice, a face of +that peculiar beauty which poets and artists are often minded to +deny, but for the love of which men die, become great or +terrible, overturn empires and change the map of the world. + +Her luxuriant hair, which lay in careless masses about the +shapely head and intelligent brow, was a mixture of red and +brown and gold, a variety which never ceases to charm; skin the +pallor of ancient marble, with the shadow of rose lying below +the eyes, the large, gray chatoyant eyes, which answered every +impulse of the brain which ruled them. The irregularity of her +features was never noticeable after a glance into those eyes. At +this moment both eyes and lips expressed a shade of amusement. + +Maurice, who was astonished never more than a minute at a time, +immediately recovered. His toilet was somewhat disarranged, and +the back of his head a crow's nest, but, nevertheless, he placed +a hand over his heart and offered a low obeisance. + +"Good morning, gentlemen," she said, in a voice which Maurice +would have known anywhere. "I hope the journey has caused you no +particular annoyance." + +"The annoyance was not so particular, Madame," said Fitzgerald +stiffly, "as it was general." + +"And four of my troopers will take oath to that!" interjected +the Colonel. + +"Will Madame permit me to ask when will the opera begin?" asked +Maurice. + +"I am glad," said she, "that you have lost none of your +freshness." + +Maurice was struck for a moment, but soon saw that the remark +was innocent of any inelegance of speech. Fitzgerald was gnawing +his mustache and looking out of the corner of his eyes--into +hers. + +"My task, I confess, is a most disagreeable one," she resumed, +lightly beating her gauntlets together; "but when one serves +high personages one is supposed not to have any sentiments." To +Fitzgerald she said: "You are the son of the late Lord +Fitzgerald." + +"For your sake, I regret to say that I am." + +"For my sake? Worry yourself none on that point. As the agent of +her Highness I am inconsiderable." + +"Madame," said Maurice, "will you do us the honor to inform us +to whom we are indebted for this partiality to our distinguished +persons?" + +"I am Sylvia Amerbach," quietly. + +"Amerbach?" said Maurice, who was familiar with the great names +of the continent. "Pardon me, but that was once a famous name in +Prussia." + +"I am distantly related to that house of princes," looking at +her gauntlets. + +"Well, Madame, since your business doubtless concerns me, pray, +begin;" and Fitzgerald leaned against the mantelpiece and +fumbled with the rim of his monocle. + +Maurice walked to one of the windows and perched himself on the +broad sill. He began to whistle softly: + +Voici le sabre de mon pere! Tu vas le mettre a ton cote. . . . + +Beyond the window, at the edge of the forest, he saw a sentinel +pacing backward and forward. Indeed, no matter which way he +looked, the autumnal scenery had this accessory. Again, he +inspected the bars. These were comparatively new. It was about +thirty feet to the court below. On the whole, the outlook was +discouraging. + +"Count," said the distant relative of the house of Amerbach, +"how shall I begin?" + +"I am not a diplomat, Madame," answered the Colonel. "If, +however, you wish the advice of a soldier, I should begin by +asking if my lord the Englishman has those consols about his +person." + +"Fie, count!" she cried, laughing; "one would say that was a +prelude to robbery." + +"So they would. As for myself, I prefer violence to words. If we +take these pretty papers by violence, we shall still have left +our friend the Englishman his self-respect. And as for words, +while my acquaintance with our friend is slight, I should say +that they would only be wasted here." + +The whistle from the window still rose and fell. + +"Monsieur, I have it in my power to make you rich." + +"I am rich," replied Fitzgerald. + +"In honors?" + +"Madame, the title I have is already a burden to me." Fitzgerald +laughed, which announced that the cause of the duchess was not +getting on very well. Once or twice he raised the tortoiseshell +rim to his eye, but dropped it; force of habit was difficult to +overcome. + +"Your father nourished a particular rancor against the late duke." + +"And justly, you will admit." + +"Her Highness has offered you five millions for slips of paper +worth no more than the ink which decorates them." + +"And I have refused. Why? Simply because the matter does not +rest with me. You have proceeded with a high hand, Madame, or +rather your duchess has. Nothing will come of it. Had there been +any possibility of my considering your proposals, this kidnaping +would have destroyed it." + +She smiled. Maurice saw the smile and stopped whistling long +enough to scratch his chin, which was somewhat in need of a +razor. He had seen many women smile that way. He had learned to +read it. It was an inarticulate "perhaps." + +"The rightful successor to the throne--" + +"Is Madame the duchess," Fitzgerald completed. "I haven't the +slightest doubt of that. One way or the other, it does not +concern me. I came here simply to fulfill the wishes of my +father; and my word, Madame, fulfill them I shall. You are +holding me a prisoner, but uselessly. On the twentieth the +certificates fall due against the government. If they are not +presented either for renewal or collection, the bankruptcy +scheme of your duchess will fall through just the same. I will +tell you the truth, Madame. My father never expected to collect +the moneys so long as Leopold sat on the throne." + +The whistle grew shrill. + +"This officer here," continued Fitzgerald, while the Colonel +made a comical grimace, "suggests violence. I shall save him the +trouble. I have seen much of the world, Madame--the hard side of +it --and, knowing it as I do, it is scarcely probable that I +should carry about my person the equivalent of four millions of +crowns." + +"Well, Madame," said the Colonel, pushing his belt closer about +his hips, as a soldier always does when he is on the point of +departure, "what he says is true, every word of it. I see +nothing more to do at present." + +Mademoiselle of the Veil was paying not so much attention to the +Colonel's words as she was to Maurice's whistle. + +"Monsieur," she said, coldly, "have you no other tune in your +repertory?" + +"Pardon me!" exclaimed Maurice. "I did not intend to annoy you." +He stepped down out of the window. + +"You do not annoy me; only the tune grows rather monotonous." + +"I will whistle anything you may suggest," he volunteered. + +She did not respond to this flippancy, though the pupils of her +gray eyes grew large with anger. She walked the length of the +room and back. + +"Count, what do you think would be most satisfactory to her +Highness, under the circumstances?" + +"I have yet to hear of her Highness' disapproval of anything you +undertake." + +"Messieurs, your parole d'honneur, and the freedom of the +chateau is yours--within the sentry lines. I wish to make your +recollections of the Red Chateau rather pleasant than otherwise. +I shall be most happy if you will honor my table with your +presence." + +The Colonel coughed, Maurice smoothed the back of his head, and +Fitzgerald caught up his monocle. + +"My word, Madame," said Maurice, "is not worth much, being that +of a diplomat, but such as it is it is yours. However, my +clothes are scarcely presentable," which was true enough. +Several buttons were missing, and the collar hung by a thread. + +"That can be easily remedied," said she. "There are several new +hussar uniforms in the armory." + +"O, Madame, and you will permit me to wear one of those gay +uniforms of light blue and silver lace?" + +The Colonel looked thoughtfully at Maurice. He was too much a +banterer himself to miss the undercurrent of raillery. He eyed +Madame discreetly; he saw that she had accepted merely the +surface tones. + +"And you will wear one, too, Jack?" said Maurice. + +"No, thank you. I pass my word, Madame; I do not like +confinement." + +"Well, then, the count will shortly return and establish you in +better quarters. Let us suppose you are my guests for a--a +fortnight. Since both of us are right, since neither your cause +nor mine is wrong, an armistice! Ah! I forgot. The east corridor +on the third floor is forbidden you. Should you mistake and go +that way, a guard will direct you properly. Messieurs, till +dinner!" and with a smile which illumined her face as a sudden +burst of sunshine flashes across a hillside, she passed out of +the room, followed by her henchman, who had not yet put aside +the thoughtful repose of his countenance. + +"A house party," said Maurice, when he could no longer hear +their footsteps. "And what the deuce have they got so valuable +in the east corridor on the third floor?" + +"It's small matter to me," said Fitzgerald tranquilly. "The main +fact is that she has given up her game." + +Said Maurice, his face expressing both pity and astonishment: +"My dear, dear John! Didn't you see that woman's eyes, her hair, +her chin, her nose?" + +"Well?" + +"True; you haven't had any experience with petticoats. This +woman will rend heaven and earth rather than relinquish her +projects, or rather those of her mistress. I should like to see +this duchess, who shows a fine discernment in the selection of +her assistants. Beware of the woman who is frankly your enemy. +If she is frank, it is because she is confident of the end; if +not, she is frank in order to disarm us of the suspicion of +cunning. I would give much to know the true meaning of this +house party." + +"Hang me if I can see what difference it makes. She can not do +anything either by frankness or by cunning." + +"She gathered us in neatly, this red-haired Amazon." + +"Red-haired!" in a kind of protest. + +"Why, yes; that's the color, isn't it?" innocently. + +"I thought it a red-brown. It's too bad that such a woman should +be mixed up in an affair like this." + +"Woman will sacrifice to ambition what she never will sacrifice +to love. Hush; I hear the Colonel returning." + +They were conducted to the opposite wing of the chateau, to a +room on the second floor. Its windows afforded an excellent view +of the land which lay south. Hills rolled away like waves of +gold, dotted here and there with vineyards. Through the avenue +of trees they could see the highway, and beyond, the river, +which had its source in the mountains ten miles eastward. + +The room itself was in red, evidently a state chamber, for it +contained two canopied beds. Several fine paintings hung from +the walls, and between the two windows rose one of those pier +glasses which owe their existence to the first empire of France. +On one of the beds Maurice saw the hussar uniform. On the +dresser were razors and mugs and a pitcher of hot water. + +"Ah," he said, with satisfaction. + +"The boots may not fit you," said the Colonel, "but if they do +not we will manage some way." + +"I shall not mind the fortnight," said Maurice. "By the way, +Colonel, I notice that French seems to prevail instead of German. +Why is that?" + +"It is the common language of politeness, and servants do not +understand it. As for myself, I naturally prefer the German +tongue; it is blunt and honest and lacks the finesse of the +French, which is full of evasive words and meanings. However, +French predominates at court. Besides, heaven help the foreigner +who tries to learn all the German tongues to be found in the +empires of the Hohenzollern and Hapsburg. Luncheon will be +served to you in the dining hall; the first door to the right at +the foot of the grand staircase. I shall send you a trooper to +act as valet." + +"Spare me, Colonel," said Maurice, who did not want any one +between him and the Englishman when they were alone. + +"I have never had a valet," said Fitzgerald; "he would embarrass me." + +"As you please," said the Colonel, a shade of disappointment in +his tones. "After all, you are soldiers, where every man is for +himself. Make yourselves at home;" and he withdrew. + +Maurice at once applied lather and razor, and put on the +handsome uniform, which fitted him snugly. The coat was tailless, +with rows of silver buttons running from collar to waist. The +breast and shoulders and sleeves were covered with silver lace, +and Maurice concluded that it must be nothing less than a +captain's uniform. The trousers were tight fitting, with broad +stripes of silver; and the half boots were of patent leather. He +walked backward and forward before the pier-glass. + +"I say, Fitz, what do you think of it?" + +"You're a handsome rascal, Maurice," answered the Englishman, +who had watched his young friend, amusement in his sober eyes. +"Happily, there are no young women present." + +"Go to! I'll lay odds that our hostess is under twenty-five." + +"I meant young women of sixteen or seventeen. Women such as +Madame have long since passed the uniform fever." + +"Not when it has lace, my friend, court lace. Well, forward to +the dining hall." + +Both were rather disappointed to find that Madame would be +absent until dinner. Fitzgerald could not tell exactly why he +was disappointed, and he was angry with himself for the vague +regret. Maurice, however, found consolation in the demure French +maid who served them. Every time he smiled she made a courtesy, +and every time she left the room Maurice nudged Fitzgerald. + +"Smile, confound you, smile!" he whispered. "There's never a +maid but has her store of gossip, and gossip is information." + +"Pshaw!" said Fitzgerald, helping himself to cold ham and +chicken. + +"Wine, Messieurs?" asked the maid. + +"Ah, then Madame offers the cellars?" said Maurice. + +"Yes, Messieurs. There is chambertin, champagne, chablis, +tokayer and sherry." + +"Bring us some chambertin, then." + +"Oui, Messieurs." + +"Hurry along, my Hebe," said Maurice. + +The maid was not on familiar terms with the classics, but she +told the butler in the pantry that the smooth-faced one made a +charming Captain. + +"Keep your eyes open," grumbled the butler; "he'll be kissing +you next." + +"He might do worse," was the retort. Even maids have their +mirrors, and hers told a pretty story. When she returned with +the wine she asked: "And shall I pour it, Messieurs?" + +"No one else shall," declared Maurice. "When is the duchess to +arrive?" + +"I do not know, Monsieur," stepping in between the chairs and +filling the glasses with the ruby liquid. + +"Who is Madame Sylvia Amerbach?" + +"Madame Sylvia Amerbach," placing the bottle on the table and +going to the sideboard. She returned with a box of "Khedives." + +Fitzgerald laughed at Maurice's disconcertion. + +"Where has Madame gone?" + +"To the summer home of Countess Herzberg, who is to return with +Madame." + +"Oho!" cried Maurice, in English. "A countess! What do you say +to that, my Englishman?" + +"She is probably old and plain. Madame desires a chaperon." + +"You forget that Madame desires nothing but those certificates. +And the chaperon does not live who could keep an eye on Madame +Sylvia Amerbach." + +The mention of the certificates brought back all the +Englishman's discomfort, and he emptied his glass of wine not as +a lover of good wine should. Soon they rose from the table. The +maid ran to the door and held it open. Fitzgerald hurried +through, but Maurice lingered a moment. He put his hand under +the porcelain chin and looked into the china-blue eyes. +Fitzgerald turned. + +"What was that noise?" he asked, as Maurice shouldered him along +the hall. + +"What noise?" + +Madame came back to the chateau at five, and dinner was +announced at eight. The Countess Herzberg was young and pretty, +the possessor of a beautiful mouth and a charming smile. The +Colonel did the honors at the table. Maurice almost fancied +himself in Vienna, the setting of the dining room was so perfect. +The entire room was paneled in walnut. On the mantel over the +great fireplace stood silver candlesticks with wax tapers. The +candlestick in the center of the table was composed of twelve +branches. The cuisine was delectable, the wines delicious. +Madame and the countess were in evening dress. The Colonel was +brimming with anecdote, the countess was witty, Madame was a +sister to Aspasia. + +Maurice, while he enjoyed this strange feast, was puzzled. It +was very irregular, and the Colonel's gray hairs did not serve +to alter this fact. What was the meaning of it? What lay +underneath? + +Sometimes he caught Fitzgerald in the act of staring at Madame +when her attention was otherwise engaged; at other times he saw +that Madame was returning this cursory investigation. There was, +however, altogether a different meaning in these surreptitious +glances. In the one there were interest, doubt, admiration; in +the other, cold calculation. At no time did the conversation +touch politics, and the crown was a thousand miles away--if +surface indications went for aught. + +Finally the Colonel rose. "A toast--to Madame the duchess, since +this is her very best wine!" + +Maurice emptied his glass fast enough; but Fitzgerald lowered +his eyes and made no movement to raise his glass. The pupils in +Madame's eyes grew small. + +"That is scarcely polite, Monsieur," she said. + +"Madame," he replied gently, "my parole did not include toasts +to her Highness. My friend loves wine for its own sake, and +seldom bothers his head about the toast as long as the wine is +good. Permit me to withdraw the duchess and substitute yourself." + +"Do so, if it will please you. In truth, it was bad taste in you, +count, to suggest it." + +"It's all the same to me;" and the Colonel refilled his glass +and nodded. + +The countess smiled behind her fan, while Maurice felt the edge +of the mild reproach which had been administered to him. + +"I plead guilty to the impeachment. It was very wrong. Far from +it that I should drink to the health of the Philistines. Madame +the countess was beating me down with her eyes, and I did not +think." + +"I was not even looking at you!" declared the countess, blushing. + +The incident was soon forgotten; and at length Madame and the +countess rose. + +Said the first: "We will leave you gentlemen to your cigars; and +when they have ceased to interest you, you will find us in the +music room." + +"And you will sing?" said Maurice to the countess. + +"If you wish." She was almost beautiful when she smiled, and she +smiled on Maurice. + +"I confess," said he, "that being a prisoner, under certain +circumstances, is a fine life." + +"What wicked eyes he has," said the countess, as she and Madame +entered the music room. + +"Do not look into them too often, my dear," was the rejoinder. +"I have asked not other sacrifice than that you should occupy +his attention and make him fall in love with you." + +"Ah, Madame, that will be easy enough. But what is to prevent me +from falling in love with him? He is very handsome." + +"You are laughing!" + +"Yes, I am laughing. It will be such an amusing adventure, a +souvenir for my old age--and may my old age forget me." + +The men lit their cigars and smoked in silence. + +"Colonel," said Maurice at last, "will you kindly tell me what +all this means?" + +"Never ask your host how old his wine is. If he is proud of it, +he will tell you." He blew the smoke under the candle shades and +watched it as it darted upward. "Don't you find it comfortable? +I should." + +"Conscience will not lie down at one's bidding." + +"I understood that you were a diplomat?" The Colonel turned to +Fitzgerald. "I hope that, when you are liberated, you will +forget the manner in which you were brought here." + +"I shall forget nothing," curtly. + +"The devil! I can not fight you; I am too old." + +Fitzgerald said nothing, and continued to play with his emptied +wine-glass. + +"The Princess Alexia," went on the Colonel, "has a bulldog. I +have always wondered till now what the nationality of the dog +was. The bulldog neither forsakes nor forgives; he is an +Englishman." + +This declaration was succeeded by another interval of silence. +The Englishman was thinking of his father; the thoughts of +Maurice were anywhere but at the chateau; the Colonel was +contemplating them both, shrewdly. + +"Well, to the ladies, gentlemen; it is half after nine." + +The countess was seated at the piano, improvising. Madame stood +before the fireplace, arranging the pieces on a chess board. In +the center of the room was a table littered with books, +magazines and illustrated weeklies. + +"Do you play chess, Monsieur?" said Madame to Fitzgerald. + +"I do not." + +"Well, Colonel, we will play a game and show him how it is done." + +Fitzgerald drew up a chair and sat down at Madame's elbow. He +followed every move she made because he had never seen till now +so round and shapely an arm, hands so small and white, tipped +with pink filbert nails. He did not learn the game so quickly as +might be. He, like Maurice, was pondering over the unusual +position in which he found himself; but analysis of any sort was +not his forte; so he soon forgot all save the delicate curve of +Madame's chin and throat, the soft ripple of her laughter, the +abysmal gray of her eyes. + +"Monsieur le Capitaine," said the countess, "what shall I sing +to you?" + +"To me?" said Maurice. "Something from Abt." + +Her fingers ran lightly over the keys, and presently her voice +rose in song, a song low, sweet, and sad. Maurice peered out of +the window into the shades of night. Visions passed and repassed +the curtain of darkness. Once or twice the countess turned her +head and looked at him. It was not only a handsome face she saw, +but one that carried the mark of refinement. . . . Maurice was +thinking of the lonely princess and her grave dark eyes. He +possessed none of that power from which princes derive benefits; +what could he do? And why should he interest himself in a woman +who, in any event, could never be anything to him, scarcely even +a friend? He smiled. + +If Fitzgerald was not adept at analysis, he was. Nothing ever +entered his mind or heart that he could not separate and define. +It was strange; it was almost laughable; to have fenced as long +and adroitly as he had fenced, and then to be disarmed by one +who did not even understand the foils! Surrender? Why not? . . . +By and by his gaze traveled to the chess players. There was +another game than chess being played there, though kings and +queens and knights and bishops were still the sum of it. + +"Are you so very far away, then?" The song had ceased; the +countess was looking at him curiously. + +"Thank you," he said; "indeed, you had taken me out of myself." + +"Do you like chestnuts?" she asked suddenly. + +"I am very fond of them." + +"Then I shall fetch some." It occurred to her that the room was +very warm; she wanted a breath of air--alone. + +"Checkmate!" cried the Colonel, joyfully. + +"Do you begin to understand?" asked Madame. + +"A little," admitted Fitzgerald, who did not wish to learn too +quickly. "I like to watch the game." + +"So do I," said Maurice, who had approached the table. "I should +like to know what the game is, too." + +Both Madame and the Colonel appeared to accept the statement and +not the innuendo. Madame placed the figures on the board. + +Maurice strolled over to the table and aimlessly glanced through +the Vienna illustrated weeklies. He saw Franz Josef in +characteristic poses, full-page engravings of the military +maneuvers and reproductions of the notable paintings. He picked +up an issue dated June. A portrait of the new Austrian +ambassador to France attracted his attention. He turned the leaf. +What he saw on the following page caused him to widen his eyes +and let slip an ejaculation loud enough to be heard by the chess +players. Madame seemed on the point of rising. Maurice did not +lower his eyes nor Madame hers. + +"Checkmate in three moves, Madame!" exclaimed the Colonel; "it +is wonderful." + +"What's the matter, Maurice?" asked Fitzgerald. + +"Jack, I am a ruined man." + +"How? What?" nearly upsetting the board. + +"I just this moment remember that I left my gas burning at the +hotel, and it is extra." + +The Colonel and Fitzgerald lay back in their chairs and roared +with laughter. + +But Madame did not even smile. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +BEING OF LONG RIDES, MAIDS, KISSES AND MESSAGES + +Fitzgerald was first into bed that night. + +"I want to finish this cigar, Jack," said Maurice, who wished to +be alone with his thoughts. He sat in the chair by the window +and lifted his feet to the sill. The night wind was warm and +odorous. He had found a clue, but through what labyrinth would +it lead him? A strange adventure, indeed; so strange that he was +of half a mind that he dreamed. Prisoners. . . . Why? And these +two women alone in this old chateau, a house party. There lay +below all this some deep design. + +Should he warn his friend? Indeed, as yet, of what had he to +warn him? To discover Madame to Fitzgerald would be to close the +entrance to this labyrinth which he desired to explore. How +would Madame act, now that she knew he possessed her secret? +Into many channels he passed, but all these were blind, and led +him to no end. Madame had a purpose; to discover what this +purpose was Fitzgerald must remain in ignorance. What a woman! +She resembled one of those fabulous creatures of medieval days. +And why was the countess on the scene, and what was her part in +this invisible game? + +He finished his cigar and lit another; but the second cigar +solved no more than the first. Mademoiselle of the Veil! He knew +now what she meant; having asked her to lift her veil, she had +said, "Something terrible would happen." At last he, too, sought +bed, but he did not sleep so soundly as did Fitzgerald. + +Ten days of this charming captivity passed; there was a thicker +carpet of leaves on the ground, and new distances began to show +mistily through the dismantling forest. But there were no +changes at the Red Chateau--no outward changes. It might, in +truth, have been a house party but for the prowling troopers and +the continual grumbling of the Englishman when alone with +Maurice. + +During the day they hunted or took long rides into the interior +of the duchy. Both women possessed a fine skill in the saddle. +In the evenings there were tourneys at chess, games and music. + +Each night Fitzgerald learned a little more about chess and a +little less about woman. The countess, airy and delicate as a +verse of Voiture's, bent all her powers (and these were not +inconsiderable) toward the subjugation of Maurice. She laughed, +she sang, she fascinated. She had the ability to amuse hour +after hour. She offered vague promises with her eyes, and +refused them with her lips. Maurice, who was never impregnable +under the fire of feminine artillery, was at times half in love +with her; but his suspicions, always near the surface, saved him. + +Sometimes he caught her hand and retained it over long; and once, +when he kissed it, there was no rebuke. Again, when she sang, +he would lean so close that she could feel his breath on her +cheek, and her fingers would stumble into discords. Often she +would suddenly rise from the piano and walk swiftly from the +room, through the halls, into the park, where, though he +followed, he never could find her. One day she and Madame +returned from a walk in the forest, the one with high color and +brilliant eyes, the other impassive as ice. Now, all these +things did not escape Maurice, but he could not piece them +together with any result. + +On the morning of the tenth day the two prisoners came down to +breakfast, wondering how much longer this house party was going +to last. + +"George! I wish I had a pipe," said Maurice. + +"So do I," Fitzgerald echoed glumly. "I am tired of cigars and +weary of those eternal cigarettes. How the deuce are we going to +get out of this?" + +"What's your hurry? We're having a good time." + +"That's the trouble. Hang the duchess!" + +"Hang her and welcome. But why do you complain to me and not to +Madame? Are you afraid of her? Does she possess, then, what is +called tamer's magnetism? O, my lion, if only you would roar a +bit more at her and less at me!" + +"I don't know what she possesses; but I do know that I'd give a +deal to be out of this." + +"Is the chambermaid idea bothering you?" + +"No, Maurice, it is not the chambermaid. I feel oppressed by +something which I can not define." + +"Maybe you are not used to tokay forty years old?" + +"Wine has nothing to do with it." + +He was so serious that Maurice dropped his jesting tone. "By the +way," he said, "do you sleep soundly?" + +"No. Every night I am awakened by the noise of a horse entering +the court-yard." + +"So am I. Moreover, Madame seems to be troubled with the same +sleeplessness. + +"Madame?" + +"Yes. She is so troubled with sleeplessness that nothing will +quiet her but the sight of the man who rides the horse: all of +which is to say that a courier arrives each night with +dispatches from Bleiberg. Now, to tell the truth, the courier +does not keep me awake half so much as the thought of who is +eating three meals a day at the end of the east corridor on the +third floor. But there are Madame and the countess; we have kept +them waiting," + +"Good morning," said Madame, smiling as they came up. "And how +have you slept?" + +"Nothing wakes me but the roll of the drum or thunder," answered +Fitzgerald diffidently. + +"I dream of horses," said Maurice carelessly. + +"Bon jour, M. le Capitaine!" cried the countess. Then she added +with a light laugh: "Come, let me try you. Portons armes! +Presentons armes! --How beautifully you do it!--Par le flanc +gauche! En avant--marche!" + +Maurice swung, clicked his heels and, with a covert glance at +Madame, led the way into the dining hall, whistling, "Behold the +saber of my father!" + +"Ah, I do not see the Colonel," said Maurice; for night and day +the old soldier had been with them. + +"He has gone to Brunnstadt," said Madame, "but will return this +evening." + +The breakfast was short and merry. Words passed across the table +that were as crisp as the toast. Maurice remarked the advent of +two liveried servants, stolid Germans by the way, who, as he +afterward found, did not understand French. + +"So the Colonel has gone to Brunnstadt?" said Maurice; which was +a long way of asking why the Colonel had gone to Brunnstadt. + +"Yes," said Madame; "he has gone to consult Madame the duchess +to see what shall be done to you, Monsieur." + +"To be done to me?" ignoring the challenge in her eyes. + +"Yes. You must not forget that you promised me your sword, and I +have taken the liberty of presenting it to her Highness." + +"I remember nothing about promising my sword," said Maurice, +gazing ceiling-ward. + +"What! There was a mental reservation?" + +"No, Madame. I remember my words only too well. I said that I +loved adventure, thoughtless youth that I was, and that I was +easy to be found. Which is all true, and part proved, since I am +here." + +"Still, the uniform fits you exceedingly well. The hussars hold +a high place at court." + +"Madame," replied he pleasantly, "I appreciate the honor, but at +present my sword and fealty are sworn to my own country. And +besides, I have no desire to take part in the petty squabble +between this country and the kingdom." + +The forecast of a storm lay in Madame's gray eyes. + +"Eh? You wish to placate me, Madame?" thought Maurice. + +"He is right, Madame," interposed the countess. "But away with +politics! It spoils all it touches." + +"And away with the duchess, too," put in Fitzgerald, reaching +for a bunch of yellow grapes. "With all due respect to your +cause and beliefs, Madame the duchess, your mistress, is a +bugbear to me. The very sound of the title arouses in my heart +all that is antagonistic." + +"You have not seen her Highness, Monsieur," said Madame, quietly. +"Perhaps she is all that is desirable. She is known to be rich, +her will is paramount to all others. When she sets her heart on +a thing she leaves no stone unturned until she procures it. And, +countess, do they not say of her that she possesses something-- +an attribute--more dangerous than beauty--fascination?" + +"Yes, Madame." + +"Madame the duchess," said Maurice dryly, "has a stanch advocate +in you, Madame." + +"It is not unnatural." + +"Be that as it may," said Fitzgerald, "she is mine enemy." + +"Love your enemies, says the Book," was the interposition of the +countess, who stole a sly glance at Maurice which he did not see. + +"That would not be difficult--in some cases," replied the +Englishman. + +"Ah, come," thought Maurice, "my friend is beginning to pick up +his lines." Aloud he said: "Madame, will you confer a favor on +me by permitting me to inform my superior in Vienna of my +whereabouts?" + +"No, Monsieur; prisoners are not allowed to communicate with the +outside world. Are you not enjoying yourself? Is not everything +being done for your material comfort? What complaint have you to +offer?" + +"A gilded cage is no less a cage." + +"It is but temporary. The duchess has commanded that you be held +until it is her pleasure to come to the chateau. O, Monsieur, +where is your gallantry? Here the countess and I have done so +much to amuse you, and you speak of a gilded cage!" + +"Pretty bird! pretty bird!" said Maurice, in a piping voice, +"will it have some caraway?" + +Madame laughed. "Well, I hear the grooms leading the horses +under the porte coch,re. Go, then, for the morning ride. I am +sorry that I can not accompany you. I have some letters to write." + +Fitzgerald curled his mustache. "I'll forswear the ride myself. +I was reading a good book last night; I'll finish it, and keep +Madame company." + +Madame trifled with the toast crumbs. Fitzgerald's profound +dissimulation caused a smile to cross Maurice's lips. + +"Come, countess," said Maurice, gaily; "we'll take the ride +together, since Madame has to write and my lord to read." + +"Five minutes until I dress," replied the countess, and she sped +away. + +"What a beautiful girl!" said Madame, fondly. "Poor dear! Her +life has not been a bed of roses." + +"No?" said Maurice, while Fitzgerald raised his eyebrows +inquiringly. + +"No. She was formerly a maid of honor to her Highness. She made +an unhappy marriage." + +"And where is the count?" asked Fitzgerald in surprise. He shot +a glance of dismay at Maurice, who, translating it, smiled. + +"He is dead." + +Fitzgerald looked relieved. + +"What a fine thing it is," said Maurice, rising, "to be a man +and wed where and how you will!" He withdrew to the main hall to +don his cap and spurs. As he stooped to strap the latter, he saw +a sheet of paper, crinkled by recent dampness, lying on the +floor. He picked it up--and read it. + + "The plan you suggest is worthy of you, Madame. The + Englishman is fair game, being a common enemy. Let + us gain our ends through the heart, since his purse + is impregnable to assaults. But the countess? Why not + the pantry maid, since the other is an American? They + lack discrimination. The king grows weaker every + day. Nothing was found in the Englishman's rooms. I + fear that the consols are in the safe at the British + legation. As usual, a courier will arrive each night. + B." + + + +"Why--not--the--pantry maid?" Maurice drawled. "That is flippant." +He read the message again. "What plan?" Suddenly he struck his +thigh. "By George, so that is it, eh, Madame? So that is why we +are so comfortably lodged here? I am in the way, and you bait +the hook with a countess! Since the purse will not lead the way, +the heart, eh? Certainly I shall tell my lord the Englishman all +about his hostess when I return from the ride. Decidedly you are +clever. O, how careless! Not even in cipher, so that he who +reads may run. And who is B.?--Beauvais! Something told me that +this man had a hand in the affair. I remember the look he gave +me. A traitor, too. + +"Hang my memory, which seems always to forget what I wish to +remember and remember what I wish to forget! Where have I met +this man Beauvais before? Ah, the countess!" He thrust the +message into his breast. "Evidently Madame thinks I am worth +consideration; uncommonly pretty bait. Shall I let the play run +on, or shall I tell her? Ah! you have two minutes to spare," he +said, as she approached. "But you do not need them," throwing a +deal of admiration into his glance. + +"It does not take me long to dress--on occasions." + +"A compliment to me?" he said. + +"If you will accept it." + +It was an exhilarating morning, full of forest perfumes. Through +the haze the mountains glittered like huge emeralds and +amethysts. + +"What a day!" said the countess, as they galloped away. + +"Aye, for plots and war and love!" + +"For plots and war?" demurely. Her cheeks were rosy and her hair +as yellow as the silk of corn. + +"Well, then, for love." He shortened his rein. "A propos, have +you ever been in love, countess?" + +"I? What a question!" + +"Have you?" + +"N--no! Let us talk of plots and war," gazing across the valley. + +"No; let us talk of love. I am in love, and one afflicted that +way wishes a confidant. I appoint you mine." + +"Some rosy-cheeked peasant girl?" laughing. + +"Perhaps. Perhaps it's only a--a pantry maid," with a sly look +from the corner of his eyes. Evidently she had not heard. She +was still laughing. "I have heard of hermits falling in love +with stars, and have laughed. Now I am in the same predicament. +I love a star--" + +"Operatic? To be sure! Mademoiselle Lenormand of the Royal +Vienna is in Bleiberg. How she keeps her age!" + +It was Maurice's turn to laugh. + +"And that is why you came to Bleiberg! Ah, these opera singers, +had I my way, they should all be aged and homely." + +"Countess, you are pulling the bit too hard," said he. "I +noticed yesterday that your horse has a very tender mouth." + +"Thank you." She slacked the rein. "He was going too close to +the ditch. You were saying--" + +"No, it was you who were saying that all actresses should be +aged and homely. But it is not Mademoiselle Lenormand, it is not +the peasant, nor the pantry maid." + +This time she looked up quickly. + +"The woman I love is too far away, so I am going to give up +thinking of her. Countess, I made a peculiar discovery this +morning." + +"A discovery, Monsieur? What is it?" + +"Do you see that fork in the road, a mile away? When we reach it +and turn I'll tell you what it is. If I told you now it might +spoil the ride. What a day, truly! How clear everything is! And +the air is like wine." He drew in deep breaths. + +"Let us hurry and reach the fork in the road; my curiosity is +stifling me." + +Maurice did not laugh as she expected he would. As she observed +the thoughtful frown between his brows, a shiver of dread ran +through her. It did not take long to cover the intervening mile. +They turned, and the horses fell into a quick step. + +"Now, Monsieur; please!" + +After all . . . But he quelled the gentle tremor in his heart. A +month ago, had he known her, he might now have told her +altogether a different story. He could see that she had not an +inkling of what was to come (for he had determined to tell her); +and he vaguely wondered if he should bring humiliation to the +dainty creature. It would be like nicking a porcelain cup. Her +brows were arched inquisitively and her lips puckered. . . .He +had had a narrow escape. + +He drew the message from his breast, leaned across and handed it +to her. + +"Why, what is this, Monsieur?" + +"Read it and see" And he busied himself with the tangled mane of +his horse. When they had ridden several yards, he heard her +voice. + +"Here, Monsieur" The hand was extended, but the face was averted. + +"Countess, you are too charming a woman to lend yourself to such +schemes." + +There was no reply. + +"Did you not volunteer to make me fall in love with you to keep +me from interfering with Madame's plans?" It was brutal, but he +was compelled to say it. + +Silence. + +"Did you not?" he persisted. "When one writes such messages as +these, one should use an intricate cipher. Had I been other than +a prisoner, what I have done would not be the act of a gentleman. +But I am a prisoner; I must defend myself. To rob a man through +his love! And such a man! He is a very infant in the hands of a +woman. He has been a soldier all his life. All women to him are +little less than angels; he knows nothing of their treachery, +their deceit, their false smiles. It will be an easy victory, or +rather it would have been, for I shall do my best to prevent it. +Madame is not unknown to me; I have been waiting to see what +meant this peculiar house party. + +"Perhaps I am now too late. Madame distrusts me. I dare say she +has her reasons. She went to you. You were to occupy me. I was +young, I liked the society of women, I was gay and careless. She +has decked me out as one would deck a monkey (and doubtless she +calls me one behind my back), and has offered me a sword to play +with. + +"In America, when a man puts a sword in his hand, it is to kill +somebody. Here--aye, all over the continent, for that matter-- +swords are baubles for young nobles, used to slash each other in +love affairs. I respect and admire you; had I not done so, I +should not have spoken. Countess, be frank with me, as frank as +I have been with you; have I not guessed rightly?" + +"Yes, Monsieur," her head bowed and her cheeks white. "Yes, yes! +it was a miserable game. But I love Madame; I would sacrifice my +pride and my heart for her, if need be." + +"I can believe that." + +"And believe me when I say that the moment I saw you, I knew +that my conduct was going to be detestable. But I had given my +promise. A woman has but little to offer to her country; I have +offered my pride, and I am a proud woman, Monsieur. I am ashamed. +I am glad that you spoke, for it was becoming unbearable to +throw myself at a man whose heart I knew intuitively to be +elsewhere." She raised her eyes, which were filled with a +strange luster. "Will you forgive me, Monsieur?" + +"With all my heart. For now I know that we shall be friends. You +will be relieved of an odious part; for you are too handsome not +to have in keeping some other heart besides your own." + +He then began gaily to describe some of his humorous adventures, +and continued in this vein till they arrived once more at the +chateau. Sometimes the countess laughed, but he could see that +her sprightliness was gone. When they came under the porte +cochere he sprang from his horse and assisted her to dismount; +and he did not relinquish her hand till he had given it a +friendly pressure. She stood motionless on the steps, centered a +look on him which he failed to interpret, then ran swiftly into +the hall, thence to her room, the door of which she bolted. + +"It would not be difficult," he mused, communing with the +thought which had come to him. "It would be something real, and +not a chimera." + +He turned over the horses to the grooms, and went in search of +Fitzgerald to inform him of his discovery; but the Englishman +was nowhere to be found. Neither was Madame. Being thirsty, he +proceeded to the dining hall. Fadette, the maid, was laying the +silver. + +"Ah, the `pantry maid,'" he thought. "Good day, Fadette." + +"Does Monsieur wish for something?" + +"A glass of water. Thanks!" + +She retreated and kept her eyes lowered. + +"Fadette, you are charming. Has any one ever told you that?" + +"O, Monsieur!" blushing. + +"Have they?" lessening the distance between them. + +"Sometimes," faintly. She could not withstand his glance, so she +retired a few more steps, only to find herself up with the wall. + +With a laugh he sprang forward and caught her face between his +hands and imprinted a kiss on her left cheek. Suddenly she +wrenched herself loose, uttered a frightened cry and fled down +the pantryway. + +"What's the matter with the girl?" he muttered aloud. "I wanted +to ask her some questions." + +"Ask them of me, Monsieur," said a voice from the doorway. + +Maurice wheeled. It was Madame, but her face expressed nothing. +He saw that he had been caught. The humor of the situation got +the better of him, and he laughed. Madame ignored this unseemly +hilarity. + +"Monsieur, is this the way you return my kindness?" + +"Permit me to apologize. As to your kindness, I have just +discovered that it is of a most dangerous quality." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean that I could not kiss Madame the countess with the same +sense of security as I could the-- pantry maid," bowing. + +Just now Madame's face expressed a good deal. "Of what are you +talking?" advancing a step. + +"I had in mind what our friend, Colonel Beauvais, remarked in +his recent dispatch: I know no discrimination. The fact is, I do. +I found the dispatch on the floor this morning. Allow me to +return it to you. I have kept silent, Madame, because I did not +know how to act." + +"You have dared--?" her lips pressed and her eyes thunderous. + +"To read it? Aye. I am a prisoner; it was in self-defense. +Madame, you do me great honor. A countess! What consideration to +the indiscriminate! Au revoir, then, till luncheon;" and he left +the room, whistling-- + +Voici le sabre de mon pere! + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +THE DENOUEMENT + +At no time during the afternoon did Maurice find the opportunity +to speak privately to Fitzgerald. Madame hovered about, chatting, +smiling and humming snatches of song. She seemed to have formed +a sudden attachment for Maurice; that is to say, she could not +bear to lose sight of him, not for the briefest moment. + +He swallowed his chagrin, for he could but confess that it was +sugar-coated. Madame had at last considered his case, and had +labeled him dangerous. Somehow a man always likes to be properly +valued. It re-establishes his good opinion of himself. + +Well, well; however affectionate Madame might be, she could +scarcely carry it beyond the threshold of his chamber, and he +was determined to retire at an early hour. But he had many +things to learn. + +Fitzgerald was abandoned to the countess, who had still much +color to regain. From time to time the Englishman looked over +his shoulder to see what was going on between Madame and his +friend, and so missed half of what the countess said. + +"Come," thought Maurice, "it is time I made a play." + +The blackberries were ripe along the stone walls which +surrounded the chateau. Maurice wandered here and there, +plucking what fruit he could find. Now and then he would offer a +branch to Madame. At length, as though by previous arrangement +with Madame, the countess led Fitzgerald around to the other +side of the chateau, so that Madame and Maurice were alone. +Immediately the smile, which had rested on her lips, vanished. +Her companion was gazing mountainward, and cogitating. How fared +those in Bleiberg? + +"What a beautiful world it is!" said a low, soft voice close to +his ear. + +Maurice resumed his berry picking. + +"What exquisite tints in the skies!" went on the voice; "what +matchless color in the forests!" + +Maurice plucked a berry, ate it, and smacked his lips. It was a +good berry. + +"But what a terrible thing it would be if one should die +suddenly, or be thrown into a windowless dungeon, shut out from +all these splendid reaches?" + +Maurice plucked another berry, but he did not eat it. +Instinctively he turned--and met a pair of eyes as hard and cold +and gray as new steel. + +"That," said he, "sounds like a threat." + +"And if it were, Monsieur, and if it were?" + +"If it were, I should say that you had discovered that I know +too much. I suspected from the first; the picture merely +confirmed my suspicions. I see now that it was thoughtless in me +not to have told my friend; but it is not too late." + +"And why, I ask, have I not suppressed you before this?" + +"Till to-day, Madame, you had not given me your particular +consideration." Then, as if the conversation was not interesting +him, he returned to the berries. "There's a fine one there. It's +a little high; but then!" He tiptoed, drew the branch from the +wall, and snatched the luscious fruit. "Ah!" + +"Monsieur, attend to me; the berries can wait." + +"Madame, the life of a good blackberry is short." + +"To begin with, you say that I did not show you consideration. +Few princes have been shown like consideration." + +"I was wrong. It is not every man that has a countess--and a +pretty one, too!--thrown at his head." + +Madame was temporarily silenced by this retort; it upset her +calculations. She scrutinized the clean, smooth face, and she +saw lines which had hitherto escaped her notice. She was at last +convinced that she had to contend with a man, a man who had +dealt with both men and women. How deep was he? Could honors, +such as she could give, and money plumb the depths? . . . He was +an American. She smiled the smile of duplicity. + +"Monsieur," she said, "do you lack wealth?" + +"Yes, I lack it; but that is not to say that I desire it." + +"Perhaps it is honors you desire?" + +"Honors? To what greater honor may I aspire than that which is +written in my passports?" + +"What is written in your passports?" + +"That I am a citizen of the United States of America. It would +not be good taste in me to accept honors save those that my +country may choose to confer." + +Again Madame found her foil turned aside. She began to lose +patience. Her boot patted the sod. "Monsieur, since the countess +is not high enough, since gold and honors have no charm, listen." + +"I am listening, Madame." + +"I permit you to witness the comic opera, but I shall allow no +prompting from outsiders." + +"Madame, do you expect me to sit calmly by and see my friend +made a fool?" He spoke warmly and his eyes remained steadfast. + +"Certainly that is what you shall do," coldly. + +"Madame, you are a beautiful woman; heaven has endowed you with +something more than beauty. Is it possible that the gods forgot +to mix conscience in the mold?" + +"Conscience? Royalty knows none." + +"Ah, Madame, wait till you are royal." + +"Take care. You have not felt my anger." + +"I would rather that than your love." + +She marveled at her patience. + +"If you have no conscience, Madame, I have. I shall warn him. +You shall not dishonor him if I can prevent it. You wish to win +his love, and you have gauged the possibilities of it so +accurately that you know you will have but to ask, be it his +honor or his life. A far finer thing it would be for you to win +your crown at the point of the sword. There would be a little +glory in it then. But even then, the world would laugh at you. +For you would be waging war against a lonely woman, a paralytic +king, a prelate who is a man of peace. What resistance could +these three offer? + +"But to gain your ends by treachery and deceit, to rob a man of +his brains and heart, laughing the while in your sleeve; to +break his life and make him curse all women, from Eve to you and +the mother who bore him! Ah, Madame, let me plead with you. Give +him his liberty. Let him go back and complete the task imposed +on him. Do not break his life, for life is more than a crown; do +not compel him to sully his honor, for honor is more than life. + +"Your cause is just, I will admit, but do not tarnish it by such +detestable means. 'Tis true that a crown to me signifies nothing, +but life and honor are common to us both. With all his strength +and courage, my friend is helpless. All his life he has been +without the society of women. If he should love you--God help +him! His love would be without calculation, without reason, +blind and furious. Madame, do not destroy him." + +Sometimes, in the passing, we are stopped by the sound of a +voice. It is not the words it utters, nor the range nor tone. It +is something indefinable, and, though we can not analyze it, we +are willing to follow wherever it leads. Such a voice Maurice +possessed, though he was totally ignorant of its power. But +Madame, as she listened, felt its magic influence, and for a +moment the spell rendered her mute. + +"Monsieur, you have missed your vocation; you plead well, indeed. +Unfortunately, I can not hear; my ears are of wax. No, no! I +have nourished these projects too long; they are a part of me. +Laughed at, you say? Have I not been laughed at from one end of +the continent to the other?" passionately. "It is my turn now, +and woe to those who have dared to laugh. I shall sweep all +obstacles away; nothing shall stop me. Mine the crown is, and +mine it shall be. I am a woman, and I wished to avoid bloodshed. +But not even that shall stay me; not even love!" Her bosom +heaved, her hands were clenched, and her gray eyes flashed like +troubled waters in the sunlight. + +"Madame, if you love him--" + +"Well?" proudly. + +"No, I am wrong. If you loved him you would prize above all else +this honor of which you intend to rob him." + +"I brought you here not to discuss whether I am right or wrong. +Look about you." + +Maurice was somewhat troubled to discover several troopers +lounging about just out of earshot. They were so arranged as to +prevent egress from the park. He looked thoughtfully at the wall. +It was eight feet in height. + +Madame saw the look, and said, "Corporal!" + +There was a noise on the other side of the wall, and presently a +head bobbed up. + +"Madame?" inquired the head. + +"Nothing. I wished to know if you were at your post." She turned +to Maurice, who was puzzled to know what all this was preamble +to. "Monsieur Carewe, I never forget details. I had an idea that +when I submitted my proposals to you, you might be tempted to +break your parole." + +Maurice gnawed his lip. "Proceed, Madame." + +"There are only two. If you do not promise here and now in no +way to interfere with my plans, these troopers will convey you +to Brunnstadt, where you will be kept in confinement until the +succession to the throne is decided one way or the other. The +other proposal is, if you promise --and I have faith in your +word--the situation will continue the same as at present. Choose, +Monsieur. Which is it to be?" + +The devil gleamed in his eyes. He remained silent. + +"Well! Well!" impatiently. + +"I accept the alternative," with bad grace. "If I made a dash--" + +"You would be shot; those were my orders." + +"And if I went to prison--" + +"You would miss what you call the comic opera, but which to me +is all there is in life. You say that I have read your friend +well. That is true. Do you think that it is easy for me to +lessen myself in my own eyes? No woman lives who is prouder than +I. Remember, you are not to hint at what I propose to do, nor +who I am. See! It is all because you read something which was +not intended for your eyes. Be my friend, or be my enemy, it is +a matter of indifference to me. You have only yourself to blame. +Had you gone about your business and not intruded where you were +not wanted, neither you nor your friend would be here. No +interference from you, Monsieur; that is the understanding." She +raised her hand and made a sign, and the troopers took +themselves off. "Now you may go--to the countess, if you wish; +though I dare say that she will not find you in the best of +tempers." + +"I dare say she won't," said Maurice. + + + +Fitzgerald sat by a window in the music room. He had resurrected +from no one knew where a clay with a broken stem. There was a +thoughtful cast to his countenance, and he puffed away, +blissfully unconscious of, or indifferent to, the close +proximity of the velvet curtains. A thrifty housewife, could she +have seen the smoke rise and curl and lose itself in the folds +above, would have experienced the ecstasy of anxiety and +perturbation. But there was no thrifty housewife at the Red +Chateau, nothing but dreams of conquest and revenge. + +Twilight was gathering about, soft-footed and shadowful. Long +reaches of violet and vermilion clouds pressed thickly on the +western line of hills. The mists began to rise, changing from +opal to sapphire. The fantastic melodies of wandering gypsy +songs went throbbing through the room; rollicking gavots, +Hungarian dances, low and slumbrous nocturnes. As the music grew +sadder and dreamier, the smoker moved uneasily. + +Somehow, it gripped his heart; and the long years of loneliness +returned and overwhelmed him. They marshaled past, thirteen in +all; and there were glimpses of deserts, snowcapped mountains, +men moving in the blur of smoke, long watches in the night. +Thirteen years in God-forsaken outposts, with never a sight of a +woman's face, the sound of her voice, the swish of her gown, nor +a touch of the spell which radiates from her presence. + +He had never made friends. Others had come up to him and passed +him, and had gone to the cities, leaving him to bear the brunt +of the cold, the heat, the watchfulness. He had made his bed; he +was too much his father's son to whine because it was hard. +Often he used to think how a few words, from a pride humbled, +would have removed the barrier. But the words never came, nor +was the pride ever humbled. + +Out of all the thirteen years he could remember only six months +of pleasure. He had been transferred temporarily to Calcutta, +where his Colonel, who had received secret information +concerning him, had treated him like a gentleman, and had +employed him as regimental interpreter, for he spoke French and +German and a smattering of Indian tongues. During his lonely +hours he had studied, for he knew that some day he would be +called upon to administer a vast fortune. . . . He laid the pipe +on the sill, rested his elbows beside it, and dropped his chin +in his hands. What a fool he had been to waste the best years of +his life! His father would have opened to him a boundless career; +he would have seen the world under the guidance of a master +hand. And here he was to-day, the possessor of millions, a +beggar in friends, no niche to fill, a wanderer from place to +place. + +The old pile in England, he never wished to see it again; the +memories which it would arouse would be too bitter. . . . The +shade of Beethoven touched him as it passed; Mozart, Mendelssohn, +Chopin. But he was thinking only of his loneliness, and the +marvelous touch of the hands which evoked the great spirits was +lost upon him. + +Maurice was seated in one of the gloomy corners. He had still +much good humor to recover. He pulled at his lips, and wondered +from time to time what was going on in Fitzgerald's head. Poor +devil! he thought; could he resist this woman whose +accomplishments were so varied that at one moment she could +overthrow a throne and at the next play Phyllis to some +strolling Corydon? Since he himself, who knew her, could +entertain for her nothing but admiration, what hope was there +for the Englishman? What a woman! She savored of three hundred +years off. To plan by herself, to arrange the minutest detail, +and above all to wait patiently! Patience has never been the +attribute of a woman of power; Madame possessed both patience +and power. + +The countess was seated in another dark corner. Suddenly she +arose and said, in a voice blended with great trouble and +impatience: "For pity's sake, Madame, cease those dirges! Play +something lively; I am sad." + +The music stopped, but presently began again. Maurice leaned +forward. Madame was playing Chopin's polonaise. He laughed +silently. He was in Madame's thoughts. It struck him, however, +that the notes had a defiant ring. + +"Lights!" called Madame, rising from the stool. + +Immediately a servant entered with candles and retired. Maurice, +when his eyes had grown accustomed to the lights, scanned the +three faces. Madame's was radiant. Fitzgerald's was a mixture--a +comical mixture--of content and enjoyment, but the countess's +was as colorless as the wax in the candlesticks. He asked +himself what other task she had to perform that she should take +so long to recover her roses. Had the knowledge of her recent +humiliation been too much for her? + +She was speaking to him. "Monsieur, will you walk with me in the +park? I am faint." + +"Are you ill, countess?" asked Madame, coming up and placing her +hand under the soft round chin of the other and striving to read +her eyes. + +"Not so ill, Madame, that a breath of fresh air will not revive +me." When they had gained the park, the countess said to Maurice: +"Monsieur, I have brought you here to tell you something. I +fear that your friend is lost, for you can do nothing." + +"Not even if I break my word?" he asked. + +"It would do no good." + +"Why?" + +"It is too late," lowly. "I have been Madame's understudy too +long not to read. Forgive me. I was to keep you apart; I have +done so. The evil can not now be repaired. Your hope is that +Madame has not fully considered his pride." + +"Has she any regard for him?" + +"Sentiment?--love?" She uttered a short, incredulous laugh. +"Madame has brain, not heart. Could a woman with a heart plan as +she plans?" + +"Well, let us not talk of plots and plans; let us talk of--" + +"Monsieur, do not be unkind. I have asked your forgiveness. Let +us not talk; let us be silent and listen to the night;" and she +leaned over the terrace balustrade. + +Maurice floated. As he leaned beside her a strand of perfumed +hair blew across his nostrils. . . . The princess was at best a +dream. It was not likely that he ever would speak to her again. +The princess was a poem, unlettered and unrhymed. But here, +close to him, was a bit of beautiful material prose. The hair +again blew out toward him and he moved his lips. She heard the +vague sound and lifted her head. + +Far away came the call of the sentry; a horse whinneyed in the +stables. There was in the air the odor of an approaching storm. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +WHOM THE GODS DESTROY AND A FEW OTHERS + +Some time passed before Fitzgerald became aware of Maurice's +departure. When he saw that he and Madame were alone, he said +nothing, but pulled all the quicker at his clay. He wondered at +the desire which suddenly manifested itself. Fly? Why should he +fly? The beat of his pulse answered him. . . . What a fine thing +it was to feel the presence of a woman--a woman like this! What +a fine thing always to experience the content derived from her +nearness! + +He looked into his heart; there was no animosity; there was +nothing at all but a sense of gratefulness. In the dreary +picture of his life there was now an illumined corner. He had +ceased to blame her; she was doing for her country what he, did +necessity so will, would do for his. And after all, he could not +war against a woman--a woman like this. His innate chivalry was +too deep-rooted. + +How soft her voice was! The color of her hair and eyes followed +him night and day. Once he had been on the verge of sounding +Maurice in regard to Madame, Maurice was so learned in +femininities; but this would have been an acknowledgment of his +ignorance, and pride closed his mouth. It was all impossible, +but then, why should he return to his loneliness without +attempting to find some one to share it with him? The king was +safe; his duty was as good as done; his conscience was at ease +in that direction. He needed not love, he thought, so much as +sympathy. . . . Sympathy. He turned over the word in his mind as +a gem merchant turns over in his hand a precious jewel. Sympathy; +it was the key to all he desired --woman's sympathy. There was +nothing but ash in the bowl of his pipe, but he continued to +puff. + +Madame was seated at the piano again, idly thrumming soft minor +chords. She was waiting for him to speak; she wanted to test his +voice, to know and measure its emotion. At times she turned her +head and shot a sly glance at him as he sat there musing. There +was a wrinkle of contempt and amusement lurking at the corners +of her eyes. Had Maurice been there he would have seen it. +Fitzgerald might have gazed into those eyes until doomsday, and +never have seen else than their gray fathoms. Minute after +minute passed, still he did not speak; and Madame was forced to +break the monotony. She was not sure that the countess could +hold Maurice very long. + +"Of what are you thinking, Monsieur?" she asked, in a soft key. + +He started, looked up and laid the pipe on the sill. "Frankly, I +was thinking that nothing can be gained by keeping us prisoners +here." He told the lie rather diffidently. + +"Not even forgiveness?" The lids of the gray eyes drooped and +the music ceased. + +"Forgiveness? O, there is nothing to forgive you; it is only +your mistress I can not forgive. On the contrary, there is much +to thank you for." + +"Still, whatever I do or have done is merely in accordance with +her Highness's wishes." + +He moved uneasily. "It is her will, not yours." + +"Yes; the heart of Madame Amerbach is supine to the brain of +Madame the duchess." She rose and moved silently to the window +and peered out. He thought her to be star-gazing; but she was not. +She was endeavoring to see where Maurice and the countess were. + +"Madame, shall I tell you a secret?" + +"A secret? Tell me," sitting in the chair next to his. + +"This has been the pleasantest week I have known in thirteen +years." + +"Then you forgive me!" Madame was not only mistress of music but +of tones. + +"Yes." + +And then, out of the fullness of his lonely heart, he told her +all about his life, its emptiness, its deserts, its longings. +Each sentence was a knife placed in her hands; and as she +contemplated his honest face which could conceal nothing, his +earnest eyes which could hide nothing, Madame was conscious of a +vague distrust of herself. If only he had offered to fight, she +thought. But he had not; instead, he was giving to her all his +weapons of defense. + +"Ah, Monsieur, you do wrong to forgive me!" impulsively. + +He smiled. + +"Why should you be friendly to me when I represent all that is +antagonistic to you?" + +"To me you represent only a beautiful woman." + +"Ah; you have been taking lessons of your friend." + +"He is a good teacher. He is one of those men whom I admire. +Women have never mastered him. He knows so much about them." + +"Yes?" a flicker in her eyes. + +"Beneath all his banter there is a brave heart. He is a rare man +who, having brain and heart to guide, follows the heart." He +picked up the pipe and began to play a tattoo on the sill. "As +for me, I know nothing of women, save what I have read in books, +and save that I have been too long without them." + +"And you have gone all these years without knowing what it is to +love?" To a man less guileless, this question would not have +been in good taste. + +Fitzgerald was silent; he dared not venture another lie. + +"What! you are silent? Is there, after all, a woman somewhere in +your life?" + +"Yes." He continued to tap the pipe. His gaze wandered to the +candles, strayed back to the window, then met hers steadfastly, +so steadfastly, that she could not resist. She was annoyed. + +"Tell me about her." + +"My vocabulary is too limited. You would laugh at me." + +"I? No; love is sacred." She had boasted to Maurice that she was +without conscience; she had only smothered it. "Come; is she +beautiful?" + +"Yes." These questions disturbed him. + +"Certainly she must be worthy or you would not love her. She is +rich?" + +"That does not matter; I am." He was wishing that Maurice would +hurry back; the desire to fly was returning. + +"And she rejected you and sent you to the army?" + +"She has not rejected me, though I dare say she would, had I the +presumption to ask her." + +"A faint heart, they say--" + +"My heart is not faint; it is my tongue." He rose and wandered +about the room. Her breath was like orris, and went to his head +like wine. + +"Monsieur," she said, "is it possible that you have succumbed to +the charms of Madame the countess?" + +He laughed. "One may admire exquisite bric-a-brac without loving +it." + +"Bric-a-brac! Poor Elsa!" and Madame laughed. "If it were the +countess I could aid you." + +"Love is not merchandise, to traffic with." + +Madame's cheeks grew warm. Sometimes the trick of fence is +beaten down by a tyro's stroke. + +"Eh, bien, since it is not the countess--" + +He came toward her so swiftly that instinctively she rose and +moved to the opposite side of her chair. Something in his face +caused her to shiver. She had no time to analyze its meaning, +but she knew that the shiver was not unmixed with fear. + +"Madame, in God's name, do not play with me!" he cried. + +"Monsieur, you forget yourself," for the moment forgetting her part. + +"Yes, there is no self in my thoughts since they are all of you! +You know that I love you. Who could resist you? Thirteen years? +They are well wasted, in the end to love a woman like you." + +Before she could withdraw her hands from the top of the chair he +had seized them. + +"Monsieur, release me." She struggled futilely. + +"I love you." He began to draw her from behind the chair. + +"Monsieur, Monsieur!" she, cried, genuinely alarmed; "do not +forget that you are a gentleman." + +"I am not a gentleman now; I am a man who loves." + +Madame was now aware that what she had aroused could not be +subdued by angry words. + +"Monsieur, you say that you love me; do not degrade me by +forcing me into your arms. I am a woman, and weak, and you are +hurting me." + +He let go her hands, and they stood there, breathing deeply and +quickly. But for her it was a respite. She had been too +precipitate. She brought together the subtle forces of her mind. +She could gain nothing by force; she must use cunning. To hold +him at arm's length, and yet to hold him, was her desire. She +had reckoned on wax; a man stood before her. All at once the +flutter of admiration stirred in her heart. She was a soldier's +daughter, the daughter of a man who loved strong men. And this +man was doubly strong because he was fearless and honest. She +read in his eyes that a moment more and he had kissed her, a +thing no man save her father had ever done. + +"O, Monsieur," she said lightly, "you soldiers are such forward +lovers! You have not even asked me if I love you." He made a +move to regain her hands. "No, no!" darting behind the chair. +"You must not take my hands; you do not realize how strong you +are. I am not sure that my heart responds to yours." + +"Tell me, what must I do?" leaning across the chair. + +"You must have patience. A woman must be wooed her own way, or +not at all. What a whirlwind you are!" + +"I would to heaven," with a gesture indicative of despair, "that +you had kept me behind bars and closed doors." He dropped his +hands from the chair and sought the window, leaning his arms +against the central frame. + +Madame had fully recovered her composure. She saw her way to the +end. + +"It is true," she said, "that I do not love you, but it is also +true that I am not indifferent to you. What proof have I that +you really love me? None, save your declaration; and that is not +sufficient for a woman such as I am. Shall I place my life in +your hands for better or for worse, simply because you say you +love me?" + +"My love does not reason, Madame." + +She passed over this stroke. "I do not know you; it is not less +than natural for me to doubt you. What proof have I that your +declaration of love is not a scheme to while away your captivity +at my expense? My heart is not one to be taken by storm. There +is only one road to my affections; it is narrow. Other men have +made love to me, but they have hesitated to enter upon this self- +same road." + +"Love that demands conditions? I have asked none." + +Madame blushed. "A man offers love; a woman confers it." + +"And what is this narrow road called which leads to your +affections? Is your heart a citadel?" + +"It is called sacrifice. Those who dwell in my heart, which you +call a citadel, enter by that road." + +"Sacrifice?" Fervor lighted his face again. "Do you wish my +fortune? It is yours. My life? It is yours. Do you wish me to +lead the army of the duchess into Bleiberg? It shall be done. +Sacrifice? I have sacrificed the best years of youth for nothing; +my life has been made up of sacrifices." + +"Monsieur, if I promised to listen to you here-after, if I +promised a heart that has never known the love of man, if I +promised lips that have never known the lips of any man save my +father--" She moved away from the chair, within an arm's length +of him. "If I promised all these without reservation, would you +aid me to give back to the duchess her own?" + +Instantly her arms were pinioned to her sides, and he had drawn +her so close that she could feel his heart beat against her own. + +"Have no fear," he said. The voice was unfamiliar to her ears. +"I shall not kiss you. Let me look into your eyes, Madame, your +eyes, and read the lie which is written there. My fortune and my +life are not enough. Keep your love, Madame; I have no wish to +purchase it. What! if I surrender my honor it is agreed that you +surrender yours? A love such as mine requires a wife. You would +have me break my word to the dead and to the living, and you +expect me to believe in your promises! Faugh!" He pushed her +from him, and resumed his stand by the window. + +The hate of a thousand ancestors surged into her heart, and she +would have liked to kill him. Mistress! He had dared. He had +dared to speak to her as no other man living or dead had dared. +And he lived. All that was tigerish in her soul rose to the +surface; only the thought of the glittering goal stayed the +outburst. She had yet one weapon. A minute went by, still +another; silence. A hand was laid tremblingly on his arm. + +"Forgive me! I was wrong. Love me, love me, if you must. Keep +your honor; love me without conditions. I--" She stumbled into +the chair, covered her eyes and fell to weeping. + +Fitzgerald, dumfounded and dismayed, looked. down at the +beautiful head. He could fight angry words, tempests of wrath-- +but tears, a woman's tears, the tears of the woman he loved! + +"Madame," he said gently, "do you love me?" + +No answer. + +"Madame, for God's sake, do not weep! Do you love me? If you +love me--if you love me--" + +She sprang to her feet. Once again she experienced that shiver; +again her conscience stirred. + +"I do not know," she said. "But this I may say: your honor, +which you hold above the price of a woman's love, will be the +cause of bloodshed. Mothers and wives and sisters will execrate +your name, brave men will be sacrificed needlessly. What are the +Osians to you? They are strangers. You will do for them, and +uselessly, what you refuse to do for the woman you profess to +love. I abhor bloodshed. Your honor is the offspring of pride +and egotism. Can you not see the inevitable? War will be +declared. You can not help Leopold; but you can save him the +degradation of being expelled from his throne by force of arms. +The army of the duchess is true to its humblest sword. Can you +say that for the army of the king? Would you witness the +devastation of a beautiful city, by flame and sword? + +"Monsieur, Austria is with us, and she will abide with us +whichever way we move. Austria, Monsieur, which is Leopold's +sponsor. And this Leopold, is he a man to sit upon a throne? Is +he a king in any sense of the word? Would a king submit to such +ignominy as he submits to without striking a blow? Would he +permit his ministers to override him? Would he permit his army +to murmur, his agents to plunder, his people to laugh at him, if +he possessed one kingly attribute? No, no! If you were king, +would you allow these things? No! You would silence all murmurs, +you would disgorge your agents, you would throttle those who +dared to laugh. + +"Put yourself in the duchess's place. All these beautiful lands +are hers by right of succession; is she wrong to desire them? +What does she wish to accomplish? She wishes to join the kingdom +and the duchy, and to make a great kingdom, as it formerly was. +Do you know why Leopold was seated upon the throne? + +"Some day the confederation will decide to divide all these +lands into tidbits, and there will be no one to oppose them. +Madame the duchess wishes to be strong enough to prevent it. And +you, Monsieur, are the grain of sand which stops all this, you +and your pride. Not even a woman's love-- There, I have said it!- +-not even a woman's love-- will move your sense of justice. Go! +leave me. Since my love is nothing, since the sacrifice I make +is useless, go; you are free!" The tears which came into her +eyes this time were genuine; tears of chagrin, vexation, and of +a third sensation which still remained a mystery to her. + +To him, as she spoke, with her wonderful eyes flashing, a rich +color suffusing her cheeks and throat and temples, the dim +candle light breaking against the ruddy hair; honor or pride, +whichever it was, was well worth the losing. He was a man; it is +only the pope who is said to be infallible. His honor could not +save the king. All she had said was true. If he held to his word +there would be war and bloodshed. + +On the other hand, if he surrendered, less harm would befall the +king, and the loss of his honor --was it honor?--would be well +recompensed for the remainder of his days by the love of this +woman. His long years of loneliness came back; he wavered. He +glanced first at her, then at the door; one represented all that +was desirable in the world, the other more loneliness, coupled +with unutterable regret. Still he wavered, and finally he fell. + +"Madame, will you be my wife?" + +"Yes." And it seemed to her that the word, came to her lips by +no volition of hers. As she had grown red but a moment gone, she +now grew correspondingly pale, and her limbs shook. She had +irrevocably committed herself. "No, no!" as she saw him start +forward with outstretched arms,. "not my lips till I am your +wife! Not my lips; only my hands!" + +He covered them with kisses. + +"Hush!" as she stepped back. + +It was time. Maurice and the countess entered the room. Maurice +glanced from Madame to Fitzgerald and back to Madame; he frowned. +The Englishman, who had never before had cause to dissemble, +caught up his pipe and fumbled it. This act merely discovered +his embarrassment to the keen eyes of his friend. He had +forgotten all about Maurice. What would he say? Maurice was +something like a conscience to him, and his heart grew troubled. + +"Madame," Maurice whispered to the countess, "I have lost all +faith in you; you have kept me too long under the stars." + +"Confidences?" said Madame, with a swift inquiring glance at the +countess. + +"O, no," said Maurice. "I simply complained that Madame the +countess had kept me too long under the stars. But here is +Colonel Mollendorf, freshly returned from Brunnstadt to inform +you that the army is fully prepared for any emergency. Is not +that true, Colonel?" as he beheld that individual standing in +the doorway. + +"Yes; but how the deuce--your pardon, ladies! --did you find +that out?" demanded the Colonel. + +"I guessed it," was the answer. "But there will be no need of an +army now. Come, John, the Colonel, who is no relative of the +king's minister of police, has not the trick of concealing his +impatience. He has something important to say to Madame, and we +are in the way. Come along, AEneas, follow your faithful Achates; +Thalia has a rehearsal." + +Fitzgerald thrust his pipe into a pocket. "Good night, Madame," +he said diffidently; "and you, countess." + +"Good night, Colonel," sang out Maurice over his shoulder, and +together the pair climbed the stairs. + +Fitzgerald was at a loss how to begin, for something told him +that Maurice would demand an explanation, though the affair was +none of his concern. He filled his pipe, fired it and tramped +about the room. Sometimes he picked up the end of a window +curtain and felt of it; sometimes he posed before one of the +landscape oils. + +"You have something on your mind," said Maurice, pulling off his +hussar jacket and kicking it across the room. + +"Madame has promised to be my wife." + +"And the conditions?" curtly. + +Fitzgerald pondered over the other's lack of surprise. "What +would you do if you loved a woman and she promised to be your +wife?" + +"I'd marry her," sitting down at the table. + +"What would you do in my place, and Madame had promised to marry +you?" puffing quickly. + +"I'd marry her," answered Maurice, banging his fist on the table, +"even if all the kings and queens of Europe rose up against me. +I would marry her, if I had to bind her hands and feet and carry +her to the altar and force the priest at the point of a pistol, +which, in all probability, is what you will have to do." + +"I love her," sullenly. + +"Do you know who she is?" + +"No." + +"Would it make any difference?" + +"No. Who is she?" + +"She is a woman without conscience; she is a woman who, to gain +her miserable ends, will stop neither at falsehood, deceit nor +bloodshed. Do you want me to tell you more? She is--" + +"Maurice, tell me nothing which will cause me to regret your +friendship. I love her; she has promised to be my wife." + +"She will ruin you." + +"She has already done that," laconically. + +"Do you mean to tell me--" + +"Yes! For the promise of her love I am dishonored. For the +privilege of kissing her lips I have sold my honor. To call her +mine, I would go through hell. God! do you know what it is to be +lonely, to starve in God-forsaken lands, to dream of women, to +long for them?" + +"And the poor paralytic king?" + +"What is he to me?" + +"And your father?" + +"What are my dead father's wishes? Maurice, I am mad!" + +"You are a very sick man," Maurice replied crossly. "What's to +become of all these vows--" + +"You are wasting your breath! Do you remember what +Rochefoucauld said of Madame de Longueville?--`To win her heart, +to delight her beautiful eyes, I have taken up arms against the +king; I would have done the same against the gods!' Is she not +worth it all?" with a gesture of his arms which sent the live +coals of his pipe comet-like across the intervening space. "Is +she not worth it all?" + +"Who?--Madame de Longueville? I thought she was dead these two +hundred years!" + +"Damn it, Maurice!" + +"I will, if you say so. The situation is equal to a good deal of +plain, honest damning." Maurice banged his fist again. "John, +sit down and listen to me. I'll not sit still and see you made a +fool. Promises? This woman will keep none. When she has wrung +you dry she will fling you aside. At this moment she is probably +laughing behind your back. You were brought here for this +purpose. Threats and bribes were without effect. Love might +accomplish what the other two had failed to do. You know little +of the ways of the world. Do you know that this house party is +scandalous, for all its innocence? Do you know that Madame's +name would be a byword were it known that we have been here more +than two weeks, alone with two women? Who but a woman that feels +herself above convention would dare offer this affront to +society? Do you know why Madame the countess came? Company for +Madame? No; she was to play make love to me to keep me out of +the way. Ass that I was, I never suspected till too late! +Madame's name is not Sylvia Amerbach; it is--" + +The door opened unceremoniously and in walked the Colonel. + +"Your voices are rather high, gentlemen," he said calmly, and +sat down in an easy chair. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +BEING OF COMPLICATIONS NOT RECKONED ON + +Maurice leaped to his feet, a menace in his eyes. The Colonel +crossed his legs, rested his hands on the hilt of his saber, and +smiled. + +"I could not resist the desire to have a friendly chat with you." + +"You have come cursed inopportune," snarled Maurice. "What do +you want?" + +"I want to give you the countersigns, so that when you start for +Bleiberg to-morrow morning you'll have no trouble." + +"Bleiberg !" exclaimed Maurice. + +"Bleiberg. Madame desires me to say to you that you are to start +for that city in the morning, to fetch those slips of parchment +which have caused us all these years of worry. Ah, my friend," +to Fitzgerald, "Madame would be cheap at twenty millions! You +sly dog! And I never suspected it." + +Fitzgerald sent him a scowl. "You are damned impertinent, sir." + +"Impertinent?" The Colonel uncrossed his legs and brought his +knees together. "Madame has been under my care since she was a +child, Monsieur; I have a fatherly interest in her. At any rate, +I am glad that the affair is at an end. It was very noble in you. +If I had had my way, though, it would have been war, pure and +simple. I left the duchess in Brunnstadt this morning; she will +be delighted to attend the wedding." + +"She will attend it," said Maurice, grimly; "but I would not lay +odds on her delight. Colonel, the devil take me if I go to +Bleiberg on any such errand." He went to the window seat. + +The Colonel rose and followed him. "Pardon me," he said to +Fitzgerald, who did not feel at all complimented by Madame's +haste; "a few words in Monsieur Carewe's ear. He will go to +Bleiberg; he will be glad to go." He bent towards Maurice. "Go +to Bleiberg, my son. A word to him about Madame, and off you go +to Brunnstadt. Will you be of any use there? I think not. The +little countess would cry out her pretty eyes if she heard that +you were languishing in the city prison at Brunnstadt, where +only the lowest criminals are confined. Submit gracefully, that +is to say, like a soldier against whom the fortunes of war have +gone. Go to Bleiberg." + +"I'll go. I give up." It was not the threat which brought him to +this decision. It was a vision of a madonna-like face. "I'll go, +John. Where are the certificates?" + +"Between the mattresses and the slats of my bed you will find a +gun in a case. The certificates are in the barrels." His +countenance did not express any particular happiness; the lines +about his mouth were sharper than usual. + +"The devil!" cried the Colonel; "if only I had known that!" He +laughed. "Well, I'll leave you. Six o'clock--what's this?" as he +stooped and picked up Maurice's cast-off hussar jacket. + +"I was about to use it as a door mat," said Maurice, who was in +a nasty humor. That Fitzgerald had surrendered did not irritate +him half so much as the thought that he was the real puppet. His +hands were tied, he could not act, and he was one that loved his +share in games. + +The Colonel reddened under his tan. "No; I'll not lose my temper, +though this is cause enough. Curse me, but you lack courtesy. +This is my uniform, and whatever it may be to you it is sacred +to me. You were not forced into it; you were not compelled to +wear it. What would you do if a man wore your uniform and flung +it around in this manner?" + +"I'd knock him down," Maurice admitted. "I apologize, Colonel; +it was not manly. But you must make allowances; my good nature +has suffered a severe strain. I'll get into my own clothes to- +morrow if you will have a servant sew on some buttons and mend +the collar. By the way, who is eating three meals a day in the +east corridor on the third floor?" + +Their glances fenced. The Colonel rubbed his mustache. + +"I like you," he said; "hang me if I don't. But as well as I +like you, I would not give a denier for your life if you were +found in that self-same corridor. The sentinel has orders to +shoot; but don't let that disturb you; you will know sooner or +later. It is better to wait than be shot. A horse will be +saddled at six. You will find it in the court. The countersigns +are Weixel and Arnoldt. Good luck to you." + +"The same to you," rejoined Maurice, "only worse." + +The Colonel's departure was followed by a period of temporary +speechlessness. Maurice smoked several "Khedives," while +Fitzgerald emptied two or three pipe-bowls. + +"You seem to be in bad odor, Maurice," the latter ventured. + +"In more ways than one. Where, in heaven's name, did you +resurrect that pipe?" + +"In the stables. It isn't the pipe, it's the tobacco. I had to +break up some cigars." + +Then came another period in the conversation. It occurred to +both that something yawned between them--a kind of abyss. Out of +this abyss one saw his guilt arise. . . . A woman stood at his +side. He had an accomplice. He had thrown the die, and he would +stand stubbornly to it. His pride built yet another wall around +him, impregnable either to protests or to sneers. He loved-- +that was recompense enough. A man will forgive himself of grave +sins when these are debtors to his love. + +As for the other, he beheld a trust betrayed, and he was +powerless to prevent it. Besides, his self-love smarted, chagrin +made eyes at him; and, more than all else, he recognized his own +share in the Englishman's fall from grace. It had been innocent +mischief on his part, true, but nevertheless he stood culpable. +He had no business to talk to a woman he did not know. The more +he studied the aspects of the situation the more whimsical it +grew. He was the prime cause of a king losing his throne, of a +man losing his honor, of a princess becoming an outcast. + +"Your bride-elect," he said, "seems somewhat over-hasty. Well, +I'm off to bed." + +"Maurice, can you blame me?" + +"No, John; whom the gods destroy they first make mad. You will +come to your senses when it is too late." + +"For God's sake, Maurice, who is she?" + +"What will you do if she breaks her promise?" adroitly evading +the question. + +"What shall I do?" He emptied the ashes from his pipe, and rose; +all that was aggressive came into his face. "I will bind her +hands and feet and carry her to the altar, and shoot the priest +that refuses to marry us. O Maurice, rest easy; no woman lives +who will make a fool of me, and laugh." + +"That's comfort;" and Maurice turned in. + +This night it was the Englishman who sat up till the morning +hours. Sylvia Amerbach. . . . A fear possessed him. If it should +be, he thought; if it should be, what then? + + + +Midnight in Madame's boudoir; no light save that which streamed +rosily from the coals in the grate. The countess sat with her +slippered feet upon the fender. She held in her hand a screen, +and if any thoughts marked her face, they remained in blurred +obscurity. + +"Heu!" said Madame from the opposite side; "it is all over. It +was detestable. I, to suffer this humiliation! Do you know what +I have done? I have promised to be his wife! His wife, I! Is it +not droll?" There was a surprising absence of mirth in the low +laugh which followed. + +"I trust Madame will find it droll." + +"And you?" + +"And I, Madame?" + +"Yes; did you not bring the clown to your feet?" + +"No, Madame." + +"How? You did not have the joy denied me --of laughing in his face?" + +"No, Madame." With each answer the voice grew lower. + +"Since when have I been Madame to you?" + +"Since to-day." + +Madame reached out a band and pressed down the screen. "Elsa, +what is it?" + +"What is what, Madame?" + +"This strange mood of yours." + +Silence. + +"You were gay enough this morning. Tell me." + +"There is nothing to tell, Madame, save that my sacrifices are +at an end. I have nothing left." + +"What! You forsake me when the end is won?" in astonishment. + +"I did not say that I should desert you; I said that I had no +more sacrifices to make." The Countess rose. "For your sake, +Madame, because you have always been kind to me, and because it +is impossible not to love you, I have degraded myself. I have +pretended to love a man who saw through the artifice and told me +so, to save me further shame. O Madame, it is all execrable! + +"And you will use this love which you have gained--this first +love of a man who has known no other and will know no other +while he lives!-- to bring about his ruin? This other, at whose +head you threw me--beware of him. He is light-hearted and gay, +perhaps. You call him a clown; he is cunning and brave; and +unless you judge him at his true value, your fabric of schemes +will fall ere it reaches its culmination. Could even you trick +him with words? No. You were compelled to use force. Is he not +handsome, Madame?" with a feverish gaiety. "Is there a gentleman +at your court who is a more perfect cavalier? Why, he blushes +like a woman! Is there in your court--" But her sentence broke, +and she could not go on. + +"Elsa, are you mad?" + +"Yes, Madame, yes; they call it a species of madness." Then, +with a sudden gust of wrath: "Why did you not leave me in peace? +You have destroyed me! O, the shame of it!" and she fled into +her own room. + +Madame sat motionless. This, among other things, she had not +reckoned on. + +Only the troopers and the servants slept in peace that night. + +Maurice was up betimes next morning. The hills and valleys lay +under a mantle of sparkling rime, and the very air, keen of edge +and whistling, glistened in the sunlight. The iron shoes of the +horses beat sharply on the stone flooring of the court yard. +Maurice examined his riding furniture; pulled at the saddle, +tugged at the rein buckles, lifted the leather flaps and tried +the stirrup straps. It was not that he doubted the ability of +the groom; it was because this particular care was second nature +to him. + +Fitzgerald watched him, and meditated. Some of his thoughts were +not pleasant. His eyes were heavy. At times he would lift his +shoulders and permit half a smile to flicker over his lips; a +certain thought caused this. The Colonel sat astride a broad- +chested cavalry horse, spotless white. He was going to accompany +Maurice to the frontier. He had imbibed the exhilarating tonic +of the morning, and his spirits ran high. At length Maurice +leaped into the saddle, caught the stirrups well, and signaled +to the Colonel that he was ready. + +"You understand, Maurice?" Fitzgerald asked. + +"Yes, John; all the world loves a lover. Besides, it is a +glorious morning for a ride. Up, portcullis, down drawbridge!" +waving his hand to the Colonel. + +And away they went through the gateway, into the frosted road. +Maurice felt the spirit of some medieval ancestor creep into his +veins and he longed for an hour of the feudal days, to rescue a +princess from some dungeon-keep and to harry an over-lord. After +all, she was a wonderful woman, and Fitzgerald was only a man. +To give up all for the love of woman is the only sacrifice a man +can make. + +"En avant!" cried the Colonel. "A fine day, a fine day for the +house of Auersperg!" + +"And a devilish bad one for the houses of Fitzgerald and Carewe. +Woman's ambition, coupled with her deceit, is the root of all +evil; money is simply an invention of man to protect himself +from her encroachments. Eve was ambitious and deceitful; all +women are her daughters. When the pages of history grow dull--" + +"Time puts a maggot in my lady's brain," supplemented the +Colonel. "It is like a row of dominoes. The power behind the +throne, the woman behind the power; an impulse moves the woman, +and lo! how they clatter down. But without woman, history would +be poor reading. The greatest battles in the world, could we but +see behind, were fought for women. Men are but footnotes, and +unfortunately history is made up of footnotes. But it is a fine +thing to be a footnote; that is my ambition. + +"Ah, if you but knew what a pleasure it is for an old man like +me to have a finger in the game time plays! To meddle with +affairs, directly or indirectly! Kingdoms are but judy shows, +kings and queens but puppets; but we who pull the strings--Ah, +that is it! To play a game of chess with crowns!" + +"There are exceptions; Madame seems to hold the strings in this +instance." + +"Madame follows my advice in all she does." + +Maurice opened his eyes at this statement. + +"Would you believe an old man like me could lay such a train? +All this was my idea. It was difficult to get Madame to agree +with my views. War? I am not afraid of it; I am suspicious of it. +One day your friend returned a personal letter of Madame's +having written across it, `I laugh at you.' It was very foolish. +No man laughs at Madame more than once. She will, one day, +return this letter to him. A crown, a fine revenge, in one fell +swoop." + +"She will ruin him utterly?" + +"Utterly." + +"Have you any idea what sort of man my friend is?" + +"He lacks the polish of a man of affairs, and he surrenders too +easily." + +"He will never surrender--Madame." + +"How?" + +"You remember his father; he will prove his father's son, every +inch of him. O, my Colonel, the curtain has only risen. One fine +morning your duchy will wake up without a duchess." + +"What do you imply--an abduction?" The Colonel laughed. + +"That is my secret." + +"And the pretty countess?" banteringly. + +"It was rather bad taste in Madame. It was putting love and +patriotism to questionable purposes. I am a gentleman." + +"It was out of consideration for you; Madame was not quite sure +about you. But you are right; all of it has rather a dark shade. +You may rob a man of his valuables and give them back; a broken +word is not to be mended. Why did you keep the hiding place so +secret? I could have got those consols, and all this would have +been avoided." + +"How should I know where they were? It was none of my affair." + +"We are trusting you; I might have gone myself. You will return +with the treasure. Why have I not asked your word? Curiosity +will bring you back; curiosity. Besides this, you have an idea +that with your presence about, a flaw in the glass may be found. +Yes, you will be back. History is to be made; when you are old +you will glance at the page and say: `Look there; rather a +pretty bit, eh? Well, I helped to make it; indeed, had it not +been for me and my curiosity it would not have been made at all.' +Above all things, do not stop to talk to veiled women." + +There was a chuckling sound. "I say, your Englishman is clever +now and then. In the gun barrels! Who would have looked for them +there? But why did he come himself? Why did he not trust to his +bankers? Why did he not turn over the affair to his +representative, the British minister? There were a hundred ways +of averting the catastrophe. Why did he not use a little fore- +thought when he knew how anxious we were for his distinguished +person?" + +"Why does the moon rise at night and the sun at dawn? I am no +Cumaean Sybil. Perhaps it is the impulse which moves the woman +behind the power behind the throne; they call it fate. Had I +been in his place I dare say I should have followed his +footsteps." + +Not long after they arrived at the frontier where they were to +separate, to meet again under conditions disagreeable to both. +The Colonel gave him additional instructions. + +"Go; return as quickly as possible." + +"Never fear; I should not like to miss the finale to this opera +bouffe." + +"Rail on, my son; call it by any name you please, only do not +interrupt the prompter;" and with this the Colonel waved him an +adieu. + +Maurice began the journey through the mountain pass, thinking +and planning and scheming. However he looked at the situation, +the end was the same: the Osians were doomed. If he himself +played false and retained the certificates until too late to be +of benefit to the duchess, war would follow; and the kingdom +would be soundly beaten. . . . Would Prince Frederick still hold +to his agreement and marry her Royal Highness, however ill the +fortunes of war fared? There was a swift current of blood to his +heart. The Voiture-verse of a countess faded away. . . . +Supposing Prince Frederick withdrew his claims? Some day her +Highness would be free; free, without title or money or shelter. +It was a wild dream. Was there not, when all was said, a faint +hope for his own affairs in the fall of Fitzgerald? + +She was lonely, friendless, personally known to few. Still, she +would be an Osian princess for all her misfortunes. But an Osian +princess was not so great that love might not possess her. +Without royalty she would be only a woman. What would Austria do; +what would Austria say? If Austria had placed Leopold on the +throne, certainly it was to shut out the house of Auersperg. + +And who was this man Beauvais, who served one house openly and +another under the rose? Where had he met him before, and why did +the thought of him cause unrest? To rescue her somehow, to win +her love, to see the glory of the world light the heavens in her +eyes! If the dream was mad, it was no less pleasant. + +He was a commoner; he had nothing in the world but his brain and +his arm. Fitzgerald, now, possessed a famous title and an +ancient name. These kings and princes hereabout could boast of +but little more than he; and there were millions to back him. He +could dream of princesses and still be sane. Maurice did not +envy the Englishman's riches, but he coveted his right of way. + +How often had he indulged in vain but pleasant dreams! Even in +the old days he was always succoring some proud beauty in +distress. Sometimes it was at sea, sometimes in railroad wrecks, +sometimes in the heart of flames; but he was ever there, like a +guardian angel. It was never the same heroine, but that did not +matter; she was always beautiful and rich, high placed and +lovable, and he never failed to brush aside all obstacles that +beset the path to the church door. He had dreamed of paladins, +and here at last was his long-sought opportunity--but he could +do nothing! He laughed. How many such romances lay beneath the +banter and jest of those bald bachelor diplomat friends of his? +Had fate reserved him for one of these? + +It was noon when he entered the city of Bleiberg. He went +directly to his hotel, where a bath and a change of clothes took +the stiffness from his limbs. He was in no great hurry to go to +the Grand Hotel; there was plenty of time. Happily there was no +mail for him; he was not needed in Vienna. + +At two o'clock he set out for the lower town. On the way he +picked up odd ends of news. The king was rapidly sinking; he had +suffered another stroke, and was now without voice. There was +unusual activity in the barracks. The students of the university +were committing mild depredations, such as building bonfires, +holding flambeau processions, and breaking windows which +contained the photographs of Prince Frederick of Carnavia, who, +strangely enough, was still wrapt in obscurity. When Maurice +entered the Grand Hotel he looked casually among the porters, +but the round-faced one was missing. He approached the desk. The +proprietor did not recognize him. + +"No, my friend," said Maurice, affably, as a visitors' book was +pushed forward, "I am not going to sign. Instead, I wish to ask +a favor. A week ago a party of the king's troopers met upstairs." + +The proprietor showed signs of returning memory, together with a +strange agitation. + +"There was a slight disturbance," went on Maurice, still using +the affable tone. "Herr--ah-- Hamilton, I believe--" + +The proprietor grew limp and yellow. "I--I do not know where he +is." + +"I do," replied Maurice. "Don't you recognize me? Have I changed +so since I came here to doctor a sprained ankle?" + +"You?--Before God, Herr, I was helpless; I had nothing to do +with it!" terrified at the peculiar smile of the victim. + +"The key to this gentleman's room," was the demand. + +"I--" + +"The key, and be quick about it." + +The key came forth. "You will say nothing, Herr; it would ruin +my business. It was a police affair." + +"Has any one been in this room since?" + +"No, Herr; the key has been in my pocket." + +"Where is the porter who brought me here?" + +"He was not a porter; he was with the police." + +Maurice passed up the stairs. He found the room in disorder, but +a disorder rather familiar to his eyes. He had been the cause of +most of it. Here was where he broke the baron's arm and thumped +three others on the head. It had been a good fight. Here was a +hole in the wall where one of the empty revolvers had gone-- +missing the Colonel's head by an inch. + +There was a smudge on the carpet made by the falling candles. He +saw Fitzgerald's pipe and picked it up. No; the chamber maid had +not yet been there. He went over to the bed, stared at it and +shrugged. He raised the mattress. There was the gun case. He +drew it forth and took out the gun, not, however, without a +twist of his nerves. + +Four millions of crowns, a woman's love, the fall of one dynasty +and the rise of another, all wadded in those innocent looking +gun barrels! He hesitated for a space, then unlocked the breech +and held the tubes toward the window. There was nothing in the +barrels, nothing but the golden sunlight, which glinted along +the polished steel. + + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +QUI M'AIME, AIME MON CHIEN + +On making this discovery Maurice was inclined to declaim in that +vigorous vocabulary which is taboo. He had been tricked. He was +no longer needed at the Red Chateau. Four millions in a gun +barrel; hoax was written all over the face of it, and yet he had +been as unsuspicious as a Highland gillie. Madame had tricked +him; the countess had tricked him, the Colonel and Fitzgerald. + +That Madame had tricked him created no surprise; what irritated +him most was the conviction that Fitzgerald was laughing in his +sleeve, and that he had misjudged the Englishman's capacity for +dissimulation. Very well. He threw the gun on the bed; he took +Fitzgerald's pipe from his pocket and cast it after the gun, and +with a gesture which placed all the contents of the room under +the ban of his anathema, he strode out into the corridor, thence +to the office. + +Here the message to Madame from Beauvais flashed back. The +Colonel of the royal cuirassiers had lied; he had found the +certificates. But still there was a cloud of mystery; to what +use could Beauvais put them? He threw the key to the landlord. + +"You lied to me when you said that no one had entered that room," +he said. + +"O, Herr, I told you that no one but the police had been in the +room since your departure. They made a search the next morning. +Herr Hamilton was suspected of being a spy of the duchy's. I +could not interfere with the police." + +Maurice saw that there was nothing to be got from the landlord, +who was as much in the dark as he. He passed into the street and +walked without any particular end in view. O, he would return to +the Red Chateau, if only to deliver himself of the picturesque +and opinionated address on Madame. Once he saw his reflection in +a window glass, and he stopped and muttered at it. + +"Eh, bien, as Madame herself says, we develop with crises, and +certainly there is one not far distant. I never could write what +I wish to say to Madame; I'll go back to-morrow morning." + +Situated between the university and the Grand Hotel on the left +hand side of the Konigstrasse, east, stood an historical relic +of the days when Austria, together with the small independent +states, strove to shake off the Napoleonic yoke. In those days +students formed secret societies; societies full of strange +ritual, which pushed devotion to fanaticism, which stopped at +nothing, not even assassination. To exterminate the French, to +regain their ancestral privileges, to rescue their country from +its prostrate humiliation, many sacrificed their lives and their +fortunes. + +Napoleon found no means of reaching these patriots, for they +could not be purchased. This convinced Napoleon of their +earnestness, for he could buy kings and princes. The students +were invisible, implacable, and many a brilliant officer of the +imperial guard disappeared, never to return. + +This historic relic of the Konigstrasse had been the +headquarters of one of the branches of these numerous societies; +and the students still held to those ancient traditions. But men +and epochs pass swiftly; only the inanimate remain. This temple +of patriotism is simply an inn to-day, owned by one Stuler, and +is designated by those who patronize it as "Old Stuler's." It is +the gathering place of the students. It consists of a hall and a +garden, the one facing the street, the other walled in at the +rear. + +The hall is made of common stone, bald and unadorned save by +four dingy windows and a tarnished sign, "Garten," which hangs +obliquely over the entrance. At the curb stands a post with +three lamps pendant; but these are never lit because Old Stuler +can keep neither wicks nor glass beyond the reach of canes. + +Old Stuler was well versed in the peculiarities of students. In +America they paint statues; in Austria they create darkness. On +warm, clear nights the students rioted in the garden; when it +rained, chairs and tables were carried into the hall, which +contained a small stage and a square gallery. Never a night +passed without its animated scene. + +Here it was that the evils of monarchical systems were discussed, +the army service, the lack of proper amusement, the +restrictions at the stage entrance to the opera; here it was +that they concocted their exploits, fought their duels, and +planned means of outwitting Old Stuler's slate. + +Stuler was a good general; he could keep the students in order, +watch his assistants draw beer, the Rhine wine, and the scum +(dregs of the cask, muddy and strong), and eye the accumulating +accounts on the slate. This slate was wiped out once the month; +that is to say, when remittances came from home. The night +following remittances was a glorious one both to Stuler and the +students. There were new scars, new subjects for debate, and +Stuler got rid of some of his prime tokayer. The politics of the +students was socialism, which is to say they were always +dissatisfied. Tourists seldom repeated their visits to Stuler's. +There was too much spilling of beer in laps, dumping of pipe ash +into uncovered steins, and knocking off of stiff hats. + +It was in front of Old Stuler's that Maurice came to a pause. He +had heard of the place and the praise of its Hofbrau and Munich +beers. He entered. He found the interior dark and gloomy, though +outside the sun shone brilliantly. He ordered a stein of Hofbrau, +and carried it into the main hall, which was just off the bar- +room. It was much lighter here, though the hall had the tawdry +appearance of a theater in the day-time; and the motes swam +thickly in the beams of sunshine which entered through the half- +closed shutters. It was only at night that Stuler's was +presentable. + +Scarcely a dozen men sat at the tables. In one corner Maurice +saw what appeared to be a man asleep on his arms, which were +extended the width of the table. It was the cosiest corner in +the hall, and Maurice decided to establish himself at the other +side of the table, despite the present incumbent. Noiselessly he +crossed the floor and sat down. The light was at his back, +leaving his face in the shadow, but shone squarely on the +sleeper's head. + +"I do not envy his headache when he wakes up," thought Maurice. +He had detected the vinous odor of the sleeper's breath. "These +headaches, while they last, are bad things. I know; I've had 'em. +I wonder," lifting the stein and draining it, "who the duffer +was who said that getting drunk was fun? His name has slipped my +memory; no matter." He set down the stein and banged the lid. + +The sleeper stirred. "Rich," he murmured; "rich, rich! I'm rich! +A hundred thousand crowns!" + +"My friend, I'm not in the position to dispute with you on that +subject," said Maurice, smiling. He rapped the stein again. + +The sleeper raised his head and stared stupidly, + +"Rich, aye, rich!" He was still in half a dream. "Rich, I say!" + +"Hang it, I'm not arguing on that," Maurice laughed. + +The other swung upright at this, his round, oily face sodden, +his black eyes blinking. He threw off the stupor when he saw +that it was a man and not the shadow of one. + +"Who the devil are you?" he asked, thickly. + +Maurice seldom forgot a face. He recognized this one. "Oho!" he +said, "so it's you, eh? I did not expect to meet you. Happily I +had you in mind. You are not employed at present as a porter at +the Grand Hotel? So it is you, my messenger!" + +"Who are you and what are you talking about? I don't know you." + +"Wait a moment and I'll refresh your memory." Maurice +theatrically thrust a cigar between his teeth and struck a match. +As the flame illumined his features the questioner started. "So +you do not recognize me, eh? You haven't the slightest +remembrance of Herr Hamilton and his sprained ankle, eh? Sit +down or I'll break your head with this stein, you police spy!" +dropping the bantering tone. + +The other sat down, but he whistled sharply; and Maurice saw the +dozen or so rise from the other tables and come hurriedly in his +direction. He pushed back his chair and rose, his teeth firmly +embedded in the cigar, and waited. + +"What's the trouble, Kopf?" demanded the newcomers. + +"This fellow accuses me of being a spy and threatens to break my +head." + +"O! break your head, is it? Let us see. Come, brothers; out with +this fellow." + +Maurice saw that they were about to charge him, and his hand +went to his hip pocket and rested on the butt of the revolver +which the Colonel had given him. "Gentlemen," he said, quietly, +"I have no discussion with you. I have a pistol in my pocket, +and I'm rather handy with it. I desire to talk to this man, and +talk to him I will. Return to your tables; the affair doesn't +concern you." + +The intended assault did not materialize. They scowled, but +retired a few paces. They saw the movement toward the hip pocket, +and they noted the foreign twist of the tongue. Moreover, they +did not like the angle of the speaker's jaws. They shuffled, +looked questioningly at one another, and, as if all of a single +mind, went slowly back to their chairs. Kopf grew pale. Indeed, +his pallor was out of all proportion with the affair, which +Maurice took to be no more than a comedy. + +"Brothers," he said, huskily, "he will not dare." + +"Don't you doubt it for a moment," interrupted Maurice, taking +out the revolver and fondling it. "Any interference will mean +one or more cases for the hospital. Come, I'm not the police," +to Kopf. "I am not going to hurt you. I wish only to ask you a +few questions, which is my right after what has passed between +us. We'll go to my hotel, where we shan't be disturbed." + +Together they left the hall. As they passed through the bar-room +Stuler looked questions, but refrained from asking them. Maurice +put away the revolver. As they went out into the street he drew +Kopf's arm within his own. + +"What do you want?" asked Johann, savagely. + +"First. What is your place in this affair?" + +"What affair?" + +"The abduction." + +"I had nothing to do with it, Herr, on my honor. I was only a +porter, and I supposed my errand was in good faith." + +"How about the gentle push you gave me when the door opened? My +friend, I'm no infant. Lies will do you no good. I know +everything, and wish only to verify. You are a police spy, in +the employ of the duchess." Maurice felt the arm draw, and bore +down on it. + +"If I was, do you suppose I'd fool my time on this side of the +Thalians?" Johann shrugged. + +"I'm not sure about that," said Maurice, puffing into Johann's +face. "When cabinet ministers play spy, small fry like you will +not cavil at the occupation. And you are not in their pay?" +Johann glared. "I want to know," Maurice went on, "what you know; +what you know of Colonel Beauvais, his plans, his messengers to +the duchy, what is taking place underneath." + +Johann's face cleared and a cunning light brightened his eyes. +"If that is all you are after, I'll tell you. I'm a spy no +longer; they have no more use for me, despite their promises. +I'll play them off for quits." + +"If that's all," repeated Maurice, "what did you think I wanted +to ask you?" + +Johann bit his lip. "I'm wanted badly by the chancellor, curse +you, if you must know. I thought he might be behind you." + +"Don't worry about that," said Maurice, to whom this declaration +seemed plausible. "We'll talk as we go along." + +And Johann loosened his tongue and poured into Maurice's ear a +tale which, being half a truth, had all the semblance of +straightforwardness. What he played for was time; to gain time +and to lull his captor's suspicions. Maurice was not familiar +with the lower town; Johann was. A few yards ahead there was an +alley he knew, and once in it he could laugh at all pursuit. It +might be added that if Maurice knew but little of the lower town, +he knew still less about Johann. + +Suddenly, in the midst of his narrative, Johann put his leg +stiffly between his enemy's and gave a mighty jerk with his arm, +with the result that Maurice, wholly unprepared, went sprawling +to the pavement. He was on his feet in an instant, but Johann +was free and flying up the alley. Maurice gave chase, but +uselessly. Johann had disappeared. The alley was a cul de sac, +but was lined with doors; and these Maurice hammered to ease his +conscience. No one answered. Deeply disgusted with his lack of +caution, Maurice regained the street, where he brushed the dust +from his knees. + +"I'll take it out of his hide the next time we meet. He wasn't +worth the trouble, anyway." + +A sybil might have whispered in his ear that a very large fish +had escaped his net, but Maurice continued, conscious of nothing +save chagrin and a bruised knee. He resumed the piecing together +of events, or rather he attempted to; very few pieces could be +brought together. If Beauvais had the certificates, what was his +object in lying to Madame? What benefit would accrue to him? +After all, it was a labyrinth of paths which always brought him +up to the beginning. He drooped his shoulders dejectedly. There +was nothing left for him to do but return to the Red Chateau and +inform them of the fruitlessness of his errand. He would start +on the morrow. Tonight he wanted once more to hear the band, to +wander about the park, to row around the rear of the +archbishop's garden. + +"A fine thing to be born in purple--sometimes," he mused. "I +never knew till now the inconveniences of the common mold." + +He tramped on, building chateaux en Espagne. That they tumbled +down did not matter; he could rebuild in the space of a second, +and each castle an improvement on its predecessor. + +His attention was suddenly drawn away from this idle but +pleasant pursuit. In a side street he saw twenty or thirty +students surging back and forth, laughing and shouting and +jostling. In the center of this swaying mass canes rose and fell. +It was a fight, and as he loved a fight, Maurice pressed his +hat firmly on his head and veered into the side street. He +looked around guiltily, and was thankful that no feminine eyes +were near to offer him their reproaches. He jostled among the +outer circle, but could see nothing. He stooped. Something white +flashed this way and that, accompanied by the sound of low +growls. A dog fight was his first impression, and he was on the +point of leaving, for, while he secretly enjoyed the sight of +two physically perfect men waging battle, he had not the heart +to see two brutes pitted against each other, goaded on by brutes +of a lower caste. But even as he turned the crowd opened and +closed, and the brief picture was enough for him. + +Her dog! And the students were beating it because they knew it +to be defenseless. Her dog! toothless and old, who could not +hold when his jaws closed on an arm or leg, but who, with that +indomitable courage of his race, fought on and on, hopelessly +and stubbornly. + +He was covered with blood, one of his legs was hurt, but still +the spirit burned. It was cowardly. Maurice's jaws assumed a +particularly ferocious angle. Her dog! Rage choked him. With an +oath he flung this student aside and that, fought his way to the +center. A burly student, armed with a stout cane, was the +principal aggressor. + +Maurice doubled his fist and swung a blow which had one hundred +and sixty pounds behind it, and it landed squarely on the cheek +of the student, who dropped face downward and lay still. This +onslaught was so sudden and unexpected that the students were +confounded. But Maurice, whose plans crystallized in moments +like these, picked up the cane and laid it about him. + +The students swore and yelled and stumbled over one another in +their wild efforts to dodge the vindictive cane. Maurice cleared +a wide circle. The dog, half blinded by his blood and not fully +comprehending this new phase in the tide of events, lunged at +Maurice, who nimbly eluded him. Finally the opportunity came. He +flung the cane into the yelling pack, with his left arm caught +the dog about the middle, and leaped back into the nearest +doorway. The muscles of his left arm were sorely tried; the dog +considered his part in the fray by no means ended, and he tugged +and yelped huskily. With his right hand Maurice sought his +revolver, cocked and leveled it. There came a respite. The +students had not fully recovered from their surprise, and the +yells sank into murmurs. + +"You curs!" said Maurice, panting. "Shame on you! and an old dog +that can't defend himself! You knew he had no teeth." + +"God save your Excellency!" laughed a student in the rear, who +had not tasted the cane; "you may be sure we knew he had no +teeth or we wouldn't have risked our precious calves. Don't let +him scare you with the popgun, comrades. At him, my brave ones; +he will be more sport than the dog! Down with the Osians, dogs, +followers and all!" + +"Come on, then," said Maurice, whose fighting blood was at heat. +"Come on, if you think it isn't over. There are six bullets in +this popgun, and I don't give a particular damn where they go. +Come on!" + +Whether or not this challenge would have been accepted remains +unwritten. There now came on the air the welcome sound of +galloping hoofs, and presently two cuirassiers wheeled into the +street. What Maurice had left undone with the cane the +cuirassiers completed with the flat of their sabers. They had +had a brush with the students the night before, and they went at +them as if determined to take both interest and principal. The +students dispersed like leaves in the wind--all save one. He +rose to his feet, his hands covering his jaw and a dazed +expression in his eyes. He saw Maurice with the revolver, the +cuirassiers with their sabers, and the remnant of his army +flying to cover, and he decided to follow their example. The +scene had changed somewhat since he last saw it. He slunk off at +a zigzag trot. + +One of the cuirassiers dismounted, his face red from his +exertions. + +"Eh?" closely scanning Maurice's white face. "Well, well! is it +you, Monsieur Carewe?" + +"Lieutenant von Mitter?" cried Maurice, dropping the dog, who by +now had grasped the meaning of it all. "You came just in time!" + +They shook hands. + +"I'll lay odds that you put up a good fight," the Lieutenant +said, pleasantly. "Curse these students! If I had my way I'd +coop them all up in their pest-hole of a university and blow +them into eternity." + +"And how did the dog come in this part of the town?" asked +Maurice, picking up his hat. + +"He was with her Royal Highness. This is charity afternoon. She +drives about giving alms to the poor, and when she enters a +house the dog stands at the entrance to await her return. She +came out of another door and forgot the dog. Max there +remembered him only when we were several blocks away. A dozen or +so of those rascally students stood opposite us when we stopped +here. It flashed on me in a minute why the dog did not follow us. +And we came back at a cut, leaving her Highness with no one but +the groom. Max, take the dog to her Highness, and tell her that +it is Monsieur Carewe who is to be thanked." + +Maurice blushed. "Say nothing of my part in the fracas. It was +nothing at all." + +"Don't be modest, my friend," said the cuirassier, laughing, +while his comrade dismounted, took the dog under his arm, and +made off. "This is one chance in a lifetime. Her Royal Highness +will insist on thanking you personally. O, I know Mademoiselle's +caprices. And there's your hat, crushed all out of shape. Truly, +you are unfortunate with your headgear." + +"It's felt," said Maurice, slapping it against his leg. "No harm +done to the hat. Well, good day to you, Lieutenant, and thanks. +I must be off." + +"Nay, nay!" cried the Lieutenant. "Wait a moment. `There is a +tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood --' How +does that line go? I was educated in England and speak English +as I do my mother tongue--" + +"Won't you let me go?" asked Maurice. "Look at my clothes." + +"You ought to be thankful that they are dry this time. Come; +you'll have a good story to carry back to Vienna. Princesses do +not eat people." + +"No," said Maurice. + +"Ye gods, listen to that! One would think by the tone of your +voice that you wished they did!" + +There was no resisting this good humor; and Maurice wanted only +an excuse to wait. He sat down on the steps, sucked the knuckles +of his hand, and contemplated the grin on the cuirassier's face. + +"I like you," said the Lieutenant; "I like your sangfroid. The +palace is a devil of a dull place, and a new face is a positive +relief. I suppose you know that affairs here are bad; no honesty +anywhere. Everybody has his hands tied. The students know this, +and do as they please. Think of two hundred gendarmes in the +city, and an affair like this takes place without one of them +turning up! + +"I tell you frankly that it is all I can do to withhold the edge +of my saber when I meet those students. Last night they held a +noisy flambeau procession around the Hohenstaufenplatz, knowing +full well that the king had had another stroke and quiet was +necessary. They would have waked the dead. I have an idea that I +forgot to use the flat of my sword; at least, the hospital +report confirms my suspicions. Ah, here comes Max." + +"Her Royal Highness desires to thank Monsieur Carewe, and +commands that he be brought to her carriage." + +Lieutenant von Mitter smiled, and Maurice stood up and brushed +himself. The troopers sprang into the saddle and started on a +walk, with Maurice bringing up behind on foot. The thought of +meeting the princess, together with his recent exertions, +created havoc with his nerves. When he arrived at the royal +carriage, his usual coolness forsook him. He fumbled with his +hat, tongue-tied. He stood in the Presence. + +"Monsieur," said the Voice, "I thank you with all my heart for +your gallant service. Poor, poor dog!" + +"It was nothing, your Highness; any man would have done the same +thing." The red in the wheel-spokes bothered his eyes. + +"No, no! you must not belittle it." + +"If it had not been for Lieutenant von Mitter--" + +"Whither were you going, Monsieur?" interrupted the Voice. + +"Nowhere; that is, I was going toward my hotel." + +"The Continental?" + +"Yes, your Highness." + +"Step into the carriage, Monsieur;" the Voice had the ring of +command. "I will put you down there. It is the least that I can +do to show my gratitude." + +"I--I to ride with your Highness?" he stammered. "O, no! I--that +is--it would scarcely be--" + +"You are not afraid of me, Monsieur?" with a smile which, though +it had a bit of the rogue in it, was rather sad. She moved to +the other side of the seat and put the dog on the rug at her +feet. "Perhaps you are proud? Well, Monsieur, I too am proud; so +proud that I promise never to forgive you if you refuse to +gratify my wish." + +"I was not thinking of myself, your Highness, or rather I was. I +am not presentable. Look at me; my hat is out of shape, my +clothes dusty, and I dare say that my face needs washing." + +The Presence replied to this remarkable defense with laughter, +laughter in which Maurice detected an undercurrent of +bitterness. + +"Monsieur Carewe, you are not acquainted with affairs in +Bleiberg, or you would know that I am a nobody. When I pass +through the streets I attract little attention, I receive no +homage. Enter: I command it." + +"If your Highness commands--" + +"I do command it," imperiously. "And you would have pleased me +more fully if you had accepted the invitation and not obeyed the +command." + +"I withdraw all objections," he said hastily, "and accept the +invitation." + +"That is better," the Voice said. + +Maurice, still uncovered, sat down on the front seat. + +"Not there, Monsieur; beside me. Etiquette does not permit you +to ride in front of me." + +As he took the vacant place beside her he felt a fire in his +cheeks. The Voice and Presence were disquieting. As the groom +touched the horses, Maurice was sensible of her sleeve against +his, and he drew away. The Presence appeared unmindful. + +"And you recognize me?" she asked. + +"Yes, your Highness." He tried to remember what he had said to +her that day in the archbishop's garden. Two or three things +came back and the color remounted his cheeks. + +"Have you forgotten what you said to me?" + +"I dare say I was impertinent," vaguely. + +"Ah, you have forgotten, then!" + +In all his life he never felt so ill at ease. To what did she +refer? That he would be proud to be her friend? That if the +princess was as beautiful as the maid he could pass judgment? + +"Yes, you have forgotten. Do you not remember that you offered +to be my friend?" She read him through and through, his +embarrassment, the tell-tale color in his cheeks. She laughed, +and there was nothing but youth in the laughter. "Certainly you +are afraid of me." + +"I confess I am," he said. "I can not remember all I said to you." + +Suddenly she, too, remembered something, and it caused the red +of the rose to ripple from her throat to her eyes. "Poor dog! +Not that they hated him, but because I love him!" Tears started +to her eyes. "See, Monsieur Carewe; princesses are human, they +weep and they love. Poor dog! My playmate and my friend. But for +you they might have killed him. Tell me how it happened." She +knew, but she wanted to hear the story from his own lips. + +His narrative was rather disjointed, and he slipped in von +Mitter as many times as possible, thinking to do that individual +a good turn. Perhaps she noticed it, for at intervals she smiled. +During the telling he took out his handkerchief, wiped the +dog's head with it, and wound it tightly about the injured leg. +The dog knew; he wagged his tail. + +How handsome and brave, she thought, as she observed the face in +profile. Not a day had passed during the fortnight gone that she +had not conjured up some feature of that intelligent countenance; +sometimes it had been the eyes, sometimes the chin and mouth, +sometimes the shapely head. It was wrong; but this little sin +was so sweet. She had never expected to see him again. He had +come and gone, and she had thought that the beginning and the +end. Ah, if only she were not a princess! If only some hand +would sweep aside those insurmountable barriers called birth and +policy! To be free, to be the mistress of one's heart, one's +dreams, one's desires! + +"And you did it all alone," she said, softly; "all alone." + +"O, I had the advantage; I was not expected. It was all over +before they knew what had happened." + +"And you had the courage to take a poor dog's part? Did you know +whose dog it was?" + +"Yes, your Highness, I recognized him." + +A secret gladness stole into her heart, and to cover the flame +which again rose to her cheeks, she bent and smoothed the dog's +head. This gave Maurice an opportunity to look at her. What a +beautiful being she was! He was actually sitting beside her, +breathing the same air, listening to her voice. She exhaled a +delicate perfume such as incorporates itself in persons of high +degree and becomes a natural emanation, an incense vague and +indescribable. He felt that he was gazing on the culmination of +youth, beauty, and elegance. . . Yes, Fitzgerald was right. To +beggar one's self for love; honor and life, and all to the winds +if only love remained. + +Presently she straightened, and he centered his gaze on the back +of the groom. + +"Monsieur, place your hat upon your head," smiling. "We have +entered the Strasse, and I should not like to embarrass you with +the attention of the citizens." + +He put on his hat. The impulse came to tell her all that he knew +in regard to the kingdom's affairs; but his voice refused its +offices. Besides, it was too late; the carriage was rolling into +the Platz, and in a moment more it drew up before the terrace of +the Continental Hotel. Maurice stepped out and bared his head. + +"This evening, Monsieur, at nine, I shall expect to see you at +the archbishop's reception to the corps diplomatique." A hand +was extended toward him. He did not know what to do about it. "I +am offering you my hand to kiss, Monsieur Carewe; it is a +privilege which I do not extend to all." + +As he touched it to his lips, he was sure that a thousand pairs +of eyes were centered on him. The truth is, there were less than +one hundred. It was the first time in many months that the Crown +Princess had stopped before the Continental Hotel. To the guests +it was an event; and some even went as far as to whisper that +the handsome young man was Prince Frederick, incognito. + +"God save your Royal Highness," said Maurice, at loss for other +words. He released her hand and stepped back. + +"Until this evening, then, Monsieur;" and the royal barouche +rolled away. + +"Who loves me, loves my dog," said Maurice, as he sped to his +room. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +IN WHICH FORTUNE BECOMES CARELESS AND PRODIGAL + +On the night prior to the arrival of Maurice in Bleiberg, there +happened various things of moment. + +At midnight the chancellor left the palace, after having +witnessed from a window the meeting of the cuirassiers and the +students, and sought his bed; but his sleep was burdened with +troubled dreams. The clouds, lowering over his administration, +thickened and darkened. How many times had he contemplated +resigning his office, only to put aside the thought and toil on? + +Defeat in the end was to be expected, but still there was ever +that star of hope, a possible turn in affairs which would carry +him on to victory. Victory is all the sweeter when it seems +impossible. Prince Frederick had disappeared, no one knew where, +the peasant girl theory could no longer be harbored, and the +wedding was but three days hence. The Englishman had not stepped +above the horizon, and the telegrams to the four ends of the +world returned unanswered. Thus, the chancellor stood alone; the +two main props were gone from under. As he tossed on his pillows +he pondered over the apparent reticence and indifference of the +archbishop. + +All was still in the vicinity of the palaces. Sentinels paced +noiselessly within the enclosures. In the royal bedchamber the +king was resting quietly, and near by, on a lounge, the state +physician dozed. The Captain of the household troop of +cuirassiers nodded in the ante-room. + +Only the archbishop remained awake. He sat in his chamber and +wrote. Now and then he would moisten his lips with watered wine. +Sometimes he held the pen in midair, and peered into the +shapeless shadows cast by the tapers, his broad forehead shining +and deep furrows between his eyes. On, on he wrote. Perhaps the +archbishop was composing additional pages to his memoirs, for +occasionally his thin lips relaxed into an impenetrable smile. + +There was little quiet in the lower town, especially in the +locality of the university. Old Stuler's was filled with smoke, +students and tumult. Ill feeling ran high. There were many +damaged heads, for the cuirassiers had not been niggard with +their sabers. + +A student walked backward and forward on the stage, waving +wildly with his hands to command attention. It was some time +before he succeeded. + +"Fellow-students, brothers of freedom and comrades," he began. +"All this must come to an end, and that at once. Our personal +liberty is endangered. Our rights are being trodden under foot. +Our ancient privileges are being laughed at. It must end." This +declaration was greeted by shouts, sundry clattering of pewter +lids and noisy rappings of earthenware on the tables. "Have we +no rights as students? Must we give way to a handful of beggarly +mercenaries? Must we submit to the outlawing of our customs and +observances? What! We must not parade because the king does not +like to be disturbed? And who are the cuirassiers?" Nobody +answered. Nobody was expected to answer. "They are Frenchmen of +hated memory--Swiss, Prussians, with Austrian officers. Are we +or are we not an independent state? If independent, shall we +stand by and see our personal liberties restricted? No! I say no! + +"Let us petition to oust these vampires, who not only rob us of +our innocent amusements, but who are fed by our taxes. What +right had Austria to dictate our politics? What right had she to +disavow the blood and give us these Osians? O, my brothers, +where are the days of Albrecht III of glorious memory? He +acknowledged our rights. He was our lawful sovereign. He +understood and loved us." This burst of sentiment was slightly +exaggerative, if the history of that monarch is to be relied on; +but the audience was mightily pleased with this recollection. It +served to add to their distemper and wrath against the Osian +puppet. "And where are our own soldiers, the soldiers of the +kingdom? Moldering away in the barracks, unnoticed and forgotten. +For the first time in the history of the country foreigners +patrol the palaces. Our soldiers are nobodies. They hold no +office at court save that of Marshal, and his voice is naught. +Yet the brunt of the soldier's life falls on them. They watch at +the frontiers, tireless and vigilant, while the mercenaries riot +and play. Brothers, the time has come for us to act. The army is +with us, and so are the citizens. Let ours be the glory of +touching the match. We are brave and competent. We are drilled. +We lack not courage. Let us secretly arm and watch for the +opportunity to strike a blow for our rights. Confusion to the +Osians, and may the duchess soon come into her own!" + +He jumped from the stage, and another took his place; the +haranguing went on. The orators were serious and earnest; they +believed themselves to be patriots, pure and simple, when in +truth they were experiencing the same spirit of revolt as the +boy whose mother had whipped him for making an unnecessary noise, +or stealing into the buttery. + +While the excitement was at its height, a man, somewhat older +than the majority of the students, entered the bar-room from the +street, and lounged heavily against the railing. His clothes +were soiled and wrinkled, blue circles shadowed his eyes, which +were of dull jet, the corners of his mouth drooped dejectedly, +and his oily face, covered with red stubble, gave evidences of a +prolonged debauch. + +"Wine, Stuler, wine!" he called, laying down a coin, which +gleamed dimly yellow in the opalescent light. "And none of your +devilish vinegars and scums." + +Stuler pounced on the coin and rubbed it between his palms. +"Gold, Johann, gold?" + +"Aye, gold; and the last of a pocketful, curse it! What's this +noise about?" with a gesture, toward the hall. + +"The boys were in the Platz and had a brush with those damned +cuirassiers. They'll play a harder game yet." Stuler always took +sides with the students, on business principles; they +constituted his purse. "Tokayer?" + +"No; champagne. Aye, these damned cuirassiers shall play a hard +game ere the week is done, or my name is not Johann Kopf. They +kicked me out of the palace grounds yesterday; me, me, me!" +hammering the oak with his fist. + +"Who?" + +"Von Mitter, the English-bred dog! I'll kill him one of these +days. Is it play to-night, or are they serious?" nodding again +toward the hall. + +"Go in," said Stuler, "and look at some of those heads; a look +will answer the purpose." + +Johann followed this advice. The picture he saw was one which +agreed with the idea that had come into his mind. He returned to +the bar-room. and drank his wine thirstily, refilled the glass +and emptied it. Stuler shook his head. Johann was in a bad way +when he gulped wine instead of sipping it. Yet it was always so +after a carouse. + +"Where have you been keeping yourself the past week?" he asked. +If the students were his purse, Johann was his budget of news. + +"You ask that?" surlily. "You knew I had money; you knew that I +was off somewhere spending it--God knows where, I don't. Another +bottle of wine. There's enough left from the gold to pay for it." + +Stuler complied. Johann's thirst seemed in no way assuaged; but +soon the sullen expression, the aftermath of his spree, was +replaced by one of reckless jollity. His eyes began to sparkle. + +"A great game, Stuler; they're playing a great game, and you and +I will be in at the reaping. The town is quiet, you say? The +troops have ceased murmuring, eh? A lull that comes before the +storm. And when it breaks--and break it will!--gay times for you +and me. There will be sacking. I have the list of those who lean +toward the Osians. There will be loot, old war dog!" + +Stuler smiled indulgently; Johann was beginning to feel the wine. +Perhaps he was to learn something. "Yes, 'twill be a glorious +day." + +"A week hence, and the king goes forth a bankrupt." + +"If he lives," judiciously. + +"Dead or alive, it matters not which; he goes." + +"And the wedding? What is it I hear about Prince Frederick and +the peasant girl?" + +Johann laughed. "There will be no wedding." + +"And the princess?" + +"A pretty morsel, a tidbit for the king that is to be." + +"The king that--eh, Johann, are you getting drunk so soon?" +Stuler exclaimed. "I know of no king--" + +Johann reached over and caught the innkeeper's wrist. The grasp +was no gentle one. "Listen, that was a slip of the tongue. +Repeat it, and that for your life! Do you understand, my friend?" + +"Gott in--" + +"Do you understand?" fiercely. + +"Yes, yes!" Stuler wiped his face with his apron. + +"Good, if you understand. It was naught but a slip of the tongue," +nonchalantly. "In a little week, my friend, your till will +have no vulgar silver in it; gold, yellow gold." + +"And the duchess?" with hesitance. The budget of news to-night +was not of the usual kind. + +Johann did not answer, save by a shrug. + +The perturbation of the old man was so manifestly beyond control +that he could not trust his legs. He dropped on the stool, +giving his grizzled head a negative shake. "I would that you had +made no slip of the tongue, Johann," he murmured. "Gott, what is +going on? The princess was not to wed, to be sure, but the +duchess passed --a king besides--" + +"Silence!" enjoined Johann. "Stuler, I am about to venture on a +daring enterprise, which, if successful, will mean plenty of +gold. Come with me into your private office, where we shall not +be interrupted nor overheard." He vaulted the bar. Stuler looked +undecided. "Come!" commanded Johann. With another shake of his +head Stuler took down the tallow dip, unlocked the door, and +bade Johann pass in. He caught up another bottle and glass and +followed. Without a word he filled the glass and set it down +before Johann, who raised it and drank, his beady eyes flashing +over the rim of the glass and compelling the innkeeper to +withdraw his gaze. + +"Well?" said Stuler, uneasily. + +"I need you." Johann finished his glass with moderate slowness. +"Your storehouse on the lake is empty?" + +"Yes, but--" + +"I shall want it, two nights from this, in case Madame the +duchess does not conquer the Englishman. I shall want two +fellows who will ask no questions, but who will follow my +instructions to the letter. It is an abduction." + +"A nasty business," was Stuler's comment. "You have women to +thank for your present occupation, Johann." + +"Stuler, you are a fool. It is not a woman; it is a crown." + +"Eh?" Stuler's eyes bulged. + +"A crown. The duchess may remain a duchess. Who is master in +Bleiberg to-day? At whose word the army moves or stands? At +whose word the Osians fall or reign? On whom does the duchess +rely? Who is king in deed, if not in fact? Who will find means +to liquidate the kingdom's indebtedness, whoever may be the +creditor? Pah! the princess may marry, but the groom will not be +Prince Frederick. The man she will marry will be the husband of +a queen, and he will be a king behind a woman's skirts. It is +what the French call a coup d'etat. She will be glad to marry; +there is no alternative. She will submit, if only that her +father may die in peace." + +"And this king?" in a whisper. + +"You are old, Stuler; you remember many things of the past. Do +you recollect a prince of a noble Austrian house by the name of +Walmoden, once an aide to the emperor, who was cashiered from +the army and exiled for corresponding with France?" + +Stuler's hand shook as he brushed his forehead. "Yes, I +recollect. He fought against the Prussians in the Franco- +Prussian war, then disappeared, to be heard of again as living +in a South American republic. But what has he to do with all +this? Ah, Johann, this is deep water." + +"For those who have not learned to swim. You will aid me? A +thousand crowns--two hundred pieces of gold like that which has +just passed from my pocket into yours. It is politics." + +"But the sacking of the town?" + +"A jest. If Madame the duchess conquers the Englishman, the king +that is to be will pay her. Then, if she wages war Austria can +say nothing for defending ourselves." + +"And Walmoden?" Stuler struck his forehead with his fist as if +to pound it into a state of lucidity. "Where is he? It is a +stone wall; I can see nothing." + +"Beauvais." + +"Beauvais!" Stuler half rose from his chair, but sank again. + +"Exactly. This play, for some reason unexplained, is the price +of his reestablishment into the graces of the noble Hapsburgs. +Between us, I think the prince is playing a game for himself. +But who shall blame him?" + +"The devil! I thought Austria was very favorable to the Osian +house." + +"Favorable or not, it is nothing to us." + +"Well, well, it's a thousand crowns," philosophically. + +"That's the sentiment," laughed Johann. "It is not high treason, +it is not lese majeste; it is not a crime; it is a thousand +crowns. Votre sante, as the damned French say!" swallowing what +was left of the wine. "And then, it is purely patriotic in us," +with a deceitful smile. + +"The storehouse is yours, and the men. Now tell me how 'tis to +be played." + +"Where does her Royal Highness go each Thursday evening, +accompanied by her eternal cuirassiers, von Mitter and +Scharfenstein?" + +"Where but to see her old nurse Elizabeth? But two men will not +be enough. Von Mitter and Scharfenstein--" + +"Will as usual remain at the carriage. But what's to prevent the +men from gaining entrance by the rear?--carrying off her +Highness that way, passing through the alley and making off, to +be a mile away before the cuirassiers even dream of the attempt?" + +"After all, I'd rather the duchess." + +"We can not all be kings and queens." Johann got up and slapped +Stuler familiarly on the shoulder. "Forget not the gold, the +yellow gold; little heaps of it to finger, to count, and to +spend." + +Stuler's eyes gleamed phosphorescently. There was the strain of +the ancient marauder in his veins; gold easily gotten. He opened +the door, and Johann passed out, swaying. The wine was taking +hold of him. He turned into the hall, while Stuler busied +himself with the spigots. Some one discovered the spy, and +called him by name; it was caught up by others, and there were +numerous calls for a speech. + +As a socialist Johann was well known about the lower town. +Besides, five years gone, he himself had been a student and a +brother of freedom. He had fought a dozen successful duels, and +finally had been expelled from the university for beating a +professor who had objected to his conduct in the presence of +ladies. Other ill reports added to his popularity. To be popular +in this whimsical world of ours, one has either to be very good +or very bad. Johann was not unwilling to speak. Stuler had given +him the cue; the cuirassiers. His advice was secretly to arm and +hold in readiness. As this was the substance of the other +speeches, Johann received his meed of applause. + +"And let us not forget the bulldog; let us kill him, too," cried +one of the auditors; "the prodigal bulldog, who has lived on our +fatted calves." + +This was unanimously adopted. The bulldog was not understood; +and he smacked of the English. Then, too, the bulldog roamed too +freely in the royal enclosures; and, until late years, +trespassers fared badly. The students considered that their +privileges extended everywhere; the dog, not being conversant +with these privileges, took that side which in law is called the +benefit of a doubt. + +After his speech Johann retired to the bar-room. What he desired +most of all was a replenished purse. Popular he was; but the +students knew his failings, among which stood prominently that +of a forgetful borrower. They would buy him drinks, clothes and +food, if need be, but they would not lend him a stiver. And he +could not borrow from Stuler, whose law was only to trust. +Johann gambled, and wine always brought back the mad fever for +play. The night before he had lost rather heavily, and he wanted +to recover his losses. Rouge-et-noir had pinched him; he would +be revenged on the roulette. All day long combinations and +numbers danced before his eyes. He had devised several plans by +which to raise money, but these had fallen through. Suddenly he +smiled, and beckoned to Stuler. + +"Stuler, how much will you advance me," he asked, "on a shotgun +worth one hundred crowns?" + +"A shotgun worth one hundred crowns? Ten." + +Johann made a negative gesture. "Fifty or none. You can sell it +for seventy-five in the morning. So could I, only I want the +money to-night." + +"If you want wine--" began Stuler. + +"I want money." + +Stuler scratched his nose. "Bring the gun to me. If it is worth +what you say, I'll see what I can do." + +"In an hour;" and Johann went out. A cold thin rain was falling, +and a dash of it in the face had a cooling effect. Somehow, the +exhilaration of the wine was gone, and his mood took a sullen +turn. Money! he was ever in need of money. He cursed his ill +luck. He cursed the cause of it--drink. But for drink he would +not have been plain Johann Kopf, brawler, outcast, spy, disowned +by his family and all save those who could use him. He remained +standing in the doorway, brooding. + +At last he drew his collar about his throat and struck off, a +black shadow in a bank of gray. When he reached that part of the +street opposite the Grand Hotel, he stopped and sought shelter +under an awning. The night patrol came clattering down the +street. It passed quickly, and soon all was still again. Johann +stepped out and peered up and down. The street was deserted. All +the hotel windows were in gloom, save a feeble light which +beamed from the office windows. + +Would it be robbery? He had not yet stooped to that. But he +could hear the ivory ball clatter as it fell into the lucky +numbers. He had a premonition that he would win if he stuck to a +single combination. He would redeem the gun, replace it, and no +one would be any the wiser. If his numbers failed him. . . . . +No matter. He determined to cross the Rubicon. He traversed the +street and disappeared into the cavernous alley, shortly to loom +up in the deserted courtyard of the hotel. He counted the +windows on the first floor and stopped at the fourth. That was +the window he must enter. Noiselessly he crept along the walls, +stopping now and then to listen. There was no sound except the +monotonous dripping of the rain, which was growing thinner and +colder. + +Presently he came across the ladder he was seeking. He raised it +to the required height, and once more placed his hand to his ear. +Silence. He mounted the rounds to the window, which he found +unfastened. In another moment he was in the room. Not an object +could he see, so deep was the darkness. If he moved without +light he was likely to stumble, and heydey to his fifty crowns, +not to say his liberty for many days to come. He carefully drew +the blinds and struck a match. The first object which met his +gaze was a fallen candle. This he lit and when the glare of the +flame softened, all the corners of the room stood out. Nowhere +was there any sign of a gun. He gave vent to a half-muttered +curse. Some one had pilfered the gun, or the proprietor was +keeping it until the Englishman returned from the duchy. But he +remembered that there were two guns, one of which the Englishman +did not use in the hunting expeditions. + +So he began a thorough search. It meant fifty crowns, green +baize and the whims of fortune. Cautiously he moved between the +fallen chairs. He looked behind the bed, under the dresser, but +without success. His hand closed savagely around the candle, and +he swore inaudibly. He threw back the bed coverings, not that he +expected to find anything, but because he could vent his rage on +these silent, noiseless things. When he lifted the mattress it +was then he took a deep breath and smiled. What he saw was a gun +case. He drew it from under. It was heavy; his fifty crowns were +inside. Next he picked up a candlestick and stuffed the candle +into it, and laid a quilt against the threshold of the door so +that no light would pierce the corridor. + +"This is the gun the Englishman did not use in the hunting +expeditions," he thought. "If it is out of repair, as he said it +was, my fifty crowns are not so many pfennige. The devil! it +must be a valuable piece of gunsmithing, to hide it under the +bedclothes. Let me see if my crowns are for the picking." + +He investigated forthwith. The hammers and the triggers worked +smoothly. He unlocked the breech and held the nozzles toward the +candle light --and again cursed. The barrels were clogged up. +Notwithstanding, he plucked forth the cleaning-rod and forced it +into one of the tubes. There was a slight resistance, and +something fluttered to the floor and rolled about. The second +tube was treated likewise, with the same result. Johann laughed +silently. The fifty crowns were tangible; he could hear them +jingling in his pocket, and a pretty music they made. He +returned the leather case to its original place and devoted his +attention to the cylinder-shaped papers on the floor. + +For a quarter of an hour Johann remained seated on the floor, in +the wavering candle light, forgetful of all save the delicate +tracings of steel engraving, the red and green inks, the great +golden seal, the signatures, the immensity of the ciphers which +trailed halfway across each crackling parchment. He counted +sixteen of them in all. Four millions of crowns. . . . He was +rich, rich beyond all his wildest dreams. + +He rose, and restored the gun to its case. Fifty crowns? No, no! +A hundred thousand, not a crown less; a hundred thousand! all +thoughts of the green baize and the rattle of the roulette ball +passed away. There was no need to seek fortune; she had come to +him of her own free will. Wine, Gertrude of the opera, Paris and +a life of ease; all these were his. A hundred thousand crowns, a +hundred thousand florins, two hundred thousand francs, two +hundred thousand marks! He computed in all monetary +denominations; in all countries it was wealth. + +Something rose and swelled in his throat, and he choked +hysterically. A voice whispered "No, not a hundred thousand; +four millions!" But reason, though it tottered, regained its +balance, and he saw the utter futility of attempting to dispose +of the orders on the government independently. His hands +trembled; he could scarcely hold this vast treasure. Twice, in +his haste to pocket the certificates, they slipped from his +grasp and scattered. How those six syllables frolicked in his +mind! A hundred thousand crowns! + +He extinguished the candle and laid it on the floor, put the +quilt on the bed, then climbed through the window, which he +closed without mishap. He descended the ladder. As he reached +the bottom round his heart gave a great leap. From the alley +came the sound of approaching steps. Nearer and nearer they came; +a shadow entered the courtyard and made straight for the door, +which was but a few feet from the reclining ladder. The kitchen +door opened and the burst of light revealed a belated serving +maid. A moment passed, and all became dark again. But Johann +felt a strange weakness in his knees, and a peculiar thrill at +the roots of his hair. He dared not move for three or four +minutes. But he waited in vain for other steps. He cursed the +serving maid for the fright, disposed of the ladder, and sought +the street. He directed his steps toward Stuler's. + +"The pig of an Englishman was deeper than I thought. In the gun +barrels, the gun barrels! If I had not wanted to play they would +have been there yet! A hundred thousand crowns!" + +It had ceased to rain, and a frost was congealing the moisture +under foot. On the way back to Stuler's Johann slipped and fell +several times; but he was impervious to pain, bruises were +nothing. He was rich! He laughed; and from time to time thrust +his hand into his vest to convince himself that he was not +dreaming. To whom should he sell? To the Osians? To the duchess? +To the king that was to be? Who would pay quickest the hundred +thousand crowns? He knew. Aye, two hundred thousand would not be +too much. The Englishman would send for the certificates, but +his agent would not find them. The abduction? He would carry it +through as he had promised. It was five thousand crowns in +addition to his hundred thousand. He was rich! He shook his hand +toward the inky sky, toward the palace, toward all that +signified the past . . . . . A hundred thousand crowns! + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +WHAT HAPPENED AT THE ARCHBISHOP'S PALACE AND AFTER + +Maurice, as he labored before his mirror, wondered why in the +world it took him so long to dress. An hour had passed since he +began his evening toilet; yet here he was, still tinkering, so +to speak, over the last of a dozen cravats. The eleven others +lay strewn about, hopelessly crumpled; mute witnesses of angry +fingers and impassioned mutterings. Usually he could slip into +his evening clothes in less than thirty minutes. Something was +wrong. But perhaps this occasion was not usual. + +First, the hems of his trousers were insurgent; they persisted +in hitching on the tops of his button shoes. Laces were +substituted. Then came a desultory period, during which gold +buttons were exchanged for pearl and pearl for gold, and two- +button shirts for three-button. For Maurice was something of a +dandy. He could not imagine what was the matter with his neck, +all the collars seemed so small. For once his mishaps did not +appeal to his humor. The ascent from his shoes to his collar was +as tortuous as that of the alpine Jungfrau. + +Ah, Madam, you may smile as much as you please, but it is a +terrible thing for a man to dress and at the same time think +kindly of his fellow-beings. You set aside three hours for your +toilet, and devote two hours to the little curl which droops +over the tip of your dainty ear; but with a man who has no curl, +who knows nothing of the practice of smiles and side glances, +the studied carelessness of a pose, it is a dismal, serious +business up to the last moment. + +With a final glance into the mirror, and convinced that if he +touched himself it would be only to disarrange the perfection +which he had striven so hard to attain, Maurice went down stairs. +He had still an hour to while away before presenting himself at +the archbishop's palace. So he roamed about the verandas, +twirled his cane, and smoked like a captain who expects to see +his men in active engagement the very next moment. This, +together with the bad hour in his room, was an indication that +his nerves were finely strung. + +He was nervous, not because he was to see strange faces, not +because his interest in the kingdom's affairs was both comic and +tragic, nor because he was to present himself at the +archbishop's in a peculiar capacity, that of a prisoner on +parole. No, it was due to none of these. His pulse did not stir +at the prospect of meeting the true king. Diplomatic functions +were every-day events with him. He had passed several years of +his life in the vicinity of emperors, kings, viceroys, and +presidents, and their greatness had long ago ceased to interest +or even to amuse him. He was conscious only of an agitation +which had already passed through the process of analysis. He +loved, he loved the impossible and the unattainable, and it was +the exhilaration of this thought that agitated him. He never +would be the same again-- he would be better. Neither did he +regret this love. + +Even now he could see himself back in his rooms in Vienna, +smoking before the fire, and building castles that tumbled down. +It was worth while, if only to have something to dream about. He +did not regret the love, he regretted its futility. How could he +serve her? What could he do against all these unseen forces +which were crumbling her father's throne? So she remembered what +he had said to her in the archbishop's garden? He looked at his +watch. It was nine. + +"Let us be off," he said. He started for the Platz. "How +uncertain life is. It seems that I did not come to Bleiberg +carelessly in the way of amusement, but to work out a part of my +destiny." He arrested his steps at the fountain and listened to +the low, musical plash of the water, each drop of which fell +with the light of a dazzling jewel. The cold stars shone from +above. They were not farther away than she. A princess, a lonely +and forlorn princess, hemmed in by the fabric of royal laws; a +princess yet possessing less liberty than the meanest of her +peasants. Nothing belonged to her, not even her heart, which was +merchandise, a commodity of exchange, turned over to the highest +bidder. "Royalty," he mused, "is a political slave-dealer; the +slaves are those who wear the crowns." + +Once inside the palace, he became a man of the world, polished, +nonchalant, handsome, and mildly curious. Immediately after the +usher announced his name, he crossed the chamber and presented +his respects to the prelate, who, he reasoned not unwisely, +expected him. The friendly greeting of the archbishop confirmed +this reasoning. + +"I am delighted to see you, Monsieur," he said, showing his +remarkably well preserved teeth in the smile that followed his +words. "A service to her Royal Highness is a service to me. +Amuse yourself; you will find some fine paintings in the west +gallery." + +"I trust her Royal Highness is none the worse for the fright," +Maurice replied. He also remarked (mentally) that he did not see +her Highness anywhere. Several introductions followed, and he +found himself chatting with the British minister. + +"Carewe?" the Englishman repeated thoughtfully. "Are you not +Maurice Carewe, of the American Legation in Vienna?" + +"Yes." + +"May I ask you a few questions?" + +"A thousand." + +"A fellow-countryman of mine has mysteriously disappeared. He +left Vienna for Bleiberg, saying that if nothing was heard of +him within a week's time, to make inquiries about him. This +request was left with the British ambassador, who has just +written me, adding that a personal friend of the gentleman in +question was in Bleiberg, and that this friend was Maurice +Carewe, attache to the American Legation. Are you acquainted +with Lord Fitzgerald, son of my late predecessor?" + +"I am indeed. I saw him in Vienna," said Maurice; "but he said +nothing to me about coming here," which was true enough. "Is +there any cause for apprehension?" + +"Only his request to be looked up within a certain time. The +truth is, he was to have come here on a peculiar errand," with +lowered voice. "Did you ever hear of what is called +'Fitzgerald's folly?'" + +"Yes; few haven't heard of it." Maurice could never understand +why he resisted the impulse to tell the whole affair. A dozen +words to the man at his side, and the catastrophes, even +embryonic, would be averted. "You must tell me who most of these +people are," he said, in order to get around a disagreeable +subject. "I am a total stranger." + +"With pleasure. That tall, angular old man, in the long, gray +frock, with decorations, is Marshal Kampf. You must meet him; he +is the wittiest man in Bleiberg. The gentleman with the red +beard is Mollendorf of the police. And beside him--yes, the +little man with glasses and a loose cravat--is Count von +Wallenstein, the minister of finance. That is the chancellor +talking to the archbishop. Ah, Mr. Carewe, these receptions are +fine comedies. The Marshal, the count and Mollendorf represent +what is called the Auersperg faction under the rose. It is a +continual battle of eyes and tongues. One smiles at his enemy, +knows him to be an enemy, yet dares not touch him. + +"Confidentially, this play has never had the like. To convict +his enemies of treason has been for ten years the labor of the +chancellor; yet, though he knows them to be in correspondence +with the duchess, he can find nothing on the strength of which +to accuse openly. It is a conspiracy which has no papers. One +can not take out a man's brains and say, `Here is proof!' They +talk, they walk on thin ice; but so fine is their craft that no +incautious word ever falls, nor does any one go through the ice. + +"I have watched the play for ten years. I should not speak to +you about it, only it is one of those things known to all here. +Those gentlemen talking to the chancellor's wife are the +ministers from Austria, Prussia, France, and Servia. You will +not find it as lively here as it is in Vienna. We meet merely to +watch each other," with a short laugh. "Good. The Marshal is +approaching." + +They waited. + +"Marshal," said the minister, "this is Monsieur Carewe, who +rescued her Highness's dog from the students." + +"Ah !" replied the Marshal, grimly. "Do not expect me to thank +you, Monsieur; only day before yesterday the dog snapped at my +legs. I am living out of pure spite, to see that dog die before +I do. Peace to his ashes--the sooner the better." + +The minister turned to Maurice and laughed. + +"Eh!" said the Marshal. + +"I prophesied that you would speak disparagingly of the dog." + +"What a reputation!" cried the old soldier. "I dare say that you +have been telling Monsieur Carewe that I am a wit. Monsieur, +never attempt to be witty; they will put you down for a wit, and +laugh at anything you say, even when you put yourself out to +speak the truth. If I possess any wit it is like young grapes-- +sour. You are connected in Vienna?" + +"With the American Legation." + +"Happy is the country," said the Marshal, "which is so far away +that Europe can find no excuse to meddle with it." + +"And even then Europe would not dare," Maurice replied, with +impertinence aforethought. + +"That is not a diplomatic speech." + +"It is true." + +"I like your frankness." + +"Let that go toward making amends for saving the dog." + +"Are all American diplomats so frank?" inquired the Marshal, +with an air of feigned wonder. + +"Indeed, no," answered Maurice. "Just at present I am not in a +diplomatic capacity; I need not look askance at truth. And there +is no reason why we should not always be truthful." + +"You are wrong. It's truth's infrequency which makes her so +charming and refreshing. However, I thank you for your services +to her Highness; your services to her dog I shall try to forget." +And with this the Marshal moved away, shaking his head as if +he had inadvertently stumbled on an intricate problem. + +Not long after, Maurice was left to his own devices. He viewed +the scene, silent and curious. Conversation was carried on in +low tones, and laughter was infrequent and subdued. The women +dressed without ostentation. There were no fair arms and necks. +Indeed, these belong wholly to youth, and youth was not a factor +at the archbishop's receptions. Most of the men were old and +bald, and only the wives of the French and British ministers +were pretty or young. How different from Vienna, where youth and +beauty abound! There were no music, no long tables of +refreshments, no sparkling wines, no smoking-room, good stories +and better fellowship. There was an absence of the flash of +jewels and color which make court life attractive. + +There seemed to be hanging in the air some invisible power, the +forecast of a tragedy, the beginning of an unknown end. And yet +the prelate smiled on enemies and friends alike. As Maurice +observed that smile he grew perplexed. It was a smile such as he +had seen on the faces of men who, about to die, felt the grim +satisfaction of having an enemy for company. The king lay on his +death bed, in all probabilities the throne tottered; yet the +archbishop smiled. + +The princess did not know that her father was dying; this was a +secret which had not yet been divulged to her. And this was the +only society she knew. Small wonder that she was sad and lonely. +To be young, and to find one's self surrounded by the relics of +youth; what an existence! She had never known the beauty of a +glittering ballroom, felt the music of a waltz mingle with the +quick throbs of the heart, the pleasure of bestowing pleasure. +She had never read the mute yet intelligent admiration in a +young man's eyes. And what young woman does not yearn for the +honest adoration of an honest man? Poor, lonely princess indeed. +For, loving the world as he himself did, Maurice understood what +was slipping past her. Every moment the roots of love were +sinking deeper into his heart and twining firmly about, as a +vine to a trellis. + +Is there a mental telegraphy, an indefinable substance which is +affected by the close proximity of a presence, which, while we +do not see, we feel? Perhaps; at any rate, Maurice suddenly +became aware of that peculiar yet now familiar agitation of his +nerves. Instinctively he turned his head. In the doorway which +separated the chamber from the conservatory stood her Royal +Highness. She was dressed entirely in black, which accentuated +the whiteness--the Carrara marble whiteness--of her exquisite +skin. In the dark, shining coils swept back from her brow lay +the subtle snare of a red rose. There was no other color except +on the full lips. She saw Maurice, but she was so far away that +the faint reflection of the rose on her cheeks was gone before +he reached her side. + +"I was afraid," she said, lowering her eyes as she uttered the +fib, "that you would not come after all." + +"It would have been impossible for me to stay away," he replied, +his eyes ardent. The princess looked away. "And may I ask after +the health of the dog?" + +"Thanks to you, Monsieur; he is getting along finely. Poor dog; +he will always limp. What is it that makes men inflict injuries +on dumb creatures?" + +"It is the beast that is envious of the brute." + +"And your hand?" with a glance sympathetic and inquiring. + +"My hand?" + +"Yes; did you not injure it?" + +"O!" He laughed and held out two gloved hands for her inspection. +"That was only a scratch. In fact, I do not remember which hand +it was." + +"You are very modest. I should have made much of it." + +He could not translate this; so he said: "There was nothing +injured but my hat. I seem unfortunate in that direction." + +She smiled, recalling the incident in the archbishop's garden. + +"I shall keep the hat, however," he said, "as a souvenir." + +"Souvenirs, Monsieur," she replied carelessly, "and old age are +synonymous. You and I ought not to have any souvenirs. Have you +seen the picture gallery? No? Then I shall have the pleasure of +showing it to you. Monseigneur is very proud of his gallery. He +has a Leonardo, a Botticelli, a Murillo, and a Rembrandt. And +they really show better in artificial light, which softens the +effect of time." + +Half an hour was passed in the gallery. It was very pleasant to +listen to her voice as she described this and that painting, and +the archbishop's adventures in securing them. It did not seem +possible to him that she was a princess, perhaps destined to +become a queen, so free was she from the attributes of royalty, +so natural and ingenuous. He caught each movement of her +delicate head, each gesture of her hand, the countless +inflections of her voice, the lights which burned or died away +in the dark wine of her eyes. + +Poor devil! he mused, himself in mind; poor fool! He forgot the +world, he forgot that he was a prisoner on parole, he forgot the +strife between the kingdom and the duchy, he forgot everything +but the wild impossible love which filled his senses. He forgot +even Prince Frederick of Carnavia. + +In truth, the world was "a sorry scheme of things." It was +grotesque with inequalities. He had no right to love her; it was +wrong to give in to the impulses of the heart, the natural, +human impulses. A man can beat down the stone walls of a fort, +scale the impregnable heights of a citadel, master the earth and +the seas, but he can not surmount the invisible barriers which +he himself erected in the past ages--the quality of birth. Ah! +if only she had been a peasant, unlettered and unknown, and free +to be won! The tasks of Hercules were then but play to him! + +Next she led him through the aisles of potted plants in the +conservatory. She was very learned. She explained the origin of +each flower, its native soil, the time and manner of its +transportation. Perhaps she was surprised at his lack of +botanical knowledge, he asked so many questions. But it was not +the flowers, it was her voice, which urged him to these +interrogations. + +They were on the point of re-entering the reception chamber, +when the jingle of a spur on the mosaic floor caused them to +turn. Maurice could not control the start; he had forgotten all +about Beauvais. The soldier wore the regulation full dress of +the cuirassiers, white trousers, tucked into patent leather half- +boots, a gray jacket with gold lace and decorations, red saber +straps and a gray pelisse hanging from the left shoulder. A +splendid soldier, Maurice grudgingly admitted. What would the +Colonel say? The situation was humorous rather than otherwise, +and Maurice smiled. + +"I was looking for your Highness," said Beauvais, as he came up, +"to pay my respects. I am leaving." His glance at Maurice was +one of polite curiosity. + +"Colonel Beauvais," said the princess, coldly, "Monsieur Carewe, +of the American Legation in Vienna." + +She was not looking at the Colonel, but Maurice was, and the +Colonel's total lack of surprise astonished him. The gaze of the +two men plunged into each other's eyes like flashes of lightning, +but that was all. + +"I am charmed," said the Colonel, a half-ironical smile under +his mustache. "Your name is not unfamiliar to me." + +"No?" said Maurice, with studied politeness. + +"No. It is connected with an exploit. Was it not you who faced +the students this afternoon and rescued her Highness's dog?" + +"Ah!" said Maurice, in a tone which implied that exploits were +every day events with him; "it was but a simple thing to do. The +students were like so many sheep." + +The princess elevated her brows; she felt an undercurrent of +something which she did not understand. Indeed, she did not like +the manner in which the two men eyed each other. Her glance +passed from the stalwart soldier to the slim, athletic form of +the civilian. + +Conversation drifted aimlessly. Maurice had the malice to cast +the brunt of it on the Colonel's shoulders. The princess, like a +rose coming in contact with a chill air, drew within herself. +She was cold, brief, and serenely indifferent. It was evident to +Maurice that she had resumed her royal mantle, and that she had +shown him unusual consideration. + +Presently she raised her hand to her head, as sometimes one will +do unconsciously, and the rose slipped from her hair and dropped +to the floor. Both men stooped. Maurice was quickest. With a bow +he offered to return it. + +"You may keep it, Monsieur;" and she laughed. + +They joined her. Maurice knew why the Colonel laughed, and the +Colonel knew why Maurice laughed; but neither could account for +the laughter of the princess. That was her secret. + +All things come to an end, even diplomatic receptions. Soon the +guests began to leave. + +Said the princess to Maurice: "Your invitation is a standing one, +Monsieur. To our friends there are no formalities. Good night; +ah, yes, the English fashion," extending her hand, which Maurice +barely touched. "Good night, Monsieur," to Beauvais, with one of +those nods which wither as effectually as frost. + +The Colonel bent gracefully. + +"Decidedly the Colonel is not in high favor tonight," thought +Maurice; "a fact which is eminently satisfactory to me. Ah; he +looks as if he had something to say to me. Let us wait." + +"Monsieur, have you any other engagement this evening?" asked +Beauvais, swinging his pelisse over both shoulders. "If not, my +rooms are quite handy. I have capital cigars and cognacs. Will +you do me the honor? I should like to have you regale me with +some Vienna gossip; it is so long since I was there." + +"Thanks," said Maurice. "I shall be happy to smoke your cigars +and drink your cognacs." He was in the mood for any adventure, +comic or serious. He had an idea what the Colonel wanted to say +to him, and he was not unwilling to listen. Besides, he had no +fear; he now wore an amulet close to his heart. + +"Come, then," said Beauvais, gaily; and the two made off. "It is +a wonderful game of chess, this world of ours." + +"Yes," said Maurice, "we do keep moving." + +"And every now and then one or the other of us steps out into +the dark." + +"So we do." Maurice glanced from the corner of his eye and +calculated his chances in a physical contest with the Colonel. +The soldier was taller and broader, but it was possible for him +to make good this deficiency with quickness. But, above all, +where and under what circumstances had he met this man before? + +"Here we are!" cried the Colonel, presently. + +He led Maurice into one of the handsome dwellings which faced +the palace confines from the east. They passed up the stairs +into a large room, Oriental in its appointments, and evidently +the living room. The walls were hung with the paraphernalia of a +soldier, together with portraits of opera singers, horses and +celebrities of all classes. On the mantel Maurice saw, among +other things, the glint of a revolver barrel. He thought nothing +of it then. It occurred to him as singular, however, that the +room was free from central obstruction. Had the Colonel expected +to meet him at the archbishop's and anticipated his acceptance +of a possible invitation? + +Two chairs stood on either side of the grate. Between them was +an octagon on which were cigars, glasses and two cognac bottles. +The Colonel's valet came in and lit the tapers in the chandelier +and woke up the fire. . . . Maurice was convinced that the +Colonel had arranged the room thus for his especial benefit, and +he regretted his eagerness for adventure. + +"Francois," said Beauvais, throwing his shako and pelisse on the +lounge and motioning to Maurice to do likewise, "let no one +disturb us." + +The valet bowed and noiselessly retired. The two men sat down +without speaking. Beauvais passed the cigars. Maurice selected +one, lit it, and blew rings at the Chinese mandarin which leered +down at him from the mantel. + +Several minutes marched into the past. + +"Maurice Carewe," said the Colonel, as one who mused. + +"It is very droll," said Maurice. + +"I can not say that it strikes me as droll, though I am not +deficient in the sense of humor." + +"'Twould be a pity if you were; you would miss so much. Through +humor philosophy reaches its culmination; humor is the +foundation upon which the palace of reason erects itself. The +two are inseparable." + +"How came you to be mixed up in this affair, which is no concern +of yours?" + +"That question is respectfully referred to Madame the duchess. I +was thrown into it, head foremost, bound hand and foot. It was a +clever stroke, though eventually it will embarrass her." + +"You may give me the certificates," said Beauvais. + +Maurice contemplated him serenely. "Impossible," with a fillip +at the end of his cigar. + +"You refuse?" coldly. + +"I do not refuse. Simply, I haven't got them." + +"What!" The Colonel half sprang from his chair. + +His astonishment was genuine; Maurice saw that it was, and he +reflected. Madame nor Fitzgerald had been dishonest with him. + +"No. Some one has forestalled me." + +"Are you lying to me?" menacingly. + +"And if I were?" coolly. + +Beauvais measured his antagonist, his eyes hard and contemptuous. + +"I repeat," said Maurice, "the situation is exceedingly droll. I +am not afraid of you, not a bit. I am not a man to be +intimidated. You might have inferred as much by my willingness +to accompany you here. I am alone with you." + +"It is true that you are alone with me," in a voice, which, +though it did not alarm Maurice, caused him to rest less +comfortably in his chair. "In the first place, you know too much." + +"The knowledge was not of my own seeking. You will agree with me +in that." He took a swallow of the cognac. "However, since I am +in the affair--" + +"Well?" + +"I'll see it to its end." + +"Perhaps. We shall not cross purposes. When men plot as I do, +they stop at nothing, not even at that infinitesimal minutiae +called the spark of life. It becomes a matter of self- +preservation. I am in too deep water; I must keep on. I can not +now turn back; the first shore is too far away." + +"Even villainy has its inconveniences," Maurice observed. + +"What do you call villainy?" + +"An act in which a man accepts pay from one to ruin him for +another. That is villainy, without a single saving grace, for +you are a native neither of the kingdom nor the duchy." + +"That is plain language. You do not take into consideration the +villain's motives. There may be certain ends necessary as his +life's blood, which may be gained only by villainy, which, after +all, is a hard name for political conspiracy." + +"Oh, I do not suppose you are worse than the majority. But it +appeals to me as rather a small, unmanly game when your victims +are a man who is dying and a girl who knows nothing of the world +nor its treachery." + +An almost imperceptible smile passed over Beauvais's countenance. +"So her Highness has captured your sympathies?" with a shade of +banter. + +"I admit that; she would capture the sympathies of any man who +has a good pair of eyes in his head. But you do not seem to be +in favor just at present," banter for banter. + +The Colonel studied the end of his cigar. "What is to be your +stand in this affair?" + +"Neutral as possible, for the simple reason that I have passed +my word to Madame; compulsorily, it is true; I shall abide by it. +That is not to say that my sympathies are not wholly with the +Osians. Madame is a brilliant woman, resourceful, initiative; +she has as many sides as a cut diamond; moreover, her cause is +just. But I do not like the way she has gone about the recovery +of her throne. She has broken, or will break, a fine honest +heart; she tried to break another, but, not being above the +pantry maid, the subject of her attention failed to appreciate +the consideration." + +Beauvais laughed at this. "You are very good company. Let me +advise you to remain neutral. I wish you no harm. But if you +change your mind and stand in my path--" + +"Well, and if I stood in your path?" + +"Pouf! you would vanish. O, I should not stoop to murder; that +is a vulgar word and practice. I should place a sword in your +hand and give you the preference of a gentleman's death. I see +nothing to prevent me from carrying out that this very night," +with a nod toward the rapiers which hung from the opposite wall. + +"You might be surprised at the result," said Maurice, stretching +his legs. "But at present I have no desire to quarrel with you, +or to put your skill to a test. Once Madame gives me back my +word, why, I do not say." He dipped his hand toward the ash-pan. +"Human nature is full of freaks. A man will commit all sorts of +crimes, yet stand by his word. Not that I have committed any +crimes against the ten commandments." + +And so they fenced. + +"You picked up a rose to-night," said the Colonel. + +"So I did." Maurice blew a puff of smoke into the chimneyplace +and watched it sail upward and vanish. "Moreover, I propose to +keep it. Have you any objections?" + +"Only this: her Highness intended the rose for me." + +"No, no, my friend," easily. "She would not have laughed had you +picked it up." + +"That is to say I lie?" + +"It is," laconically. + +There was no eluding a statement so bald as this. Beauvais sat +upright. "To call me a liar is a privilege which I extend to no +man." + +"I did not call you a liar," undisturbed. "You wrote it down +yourself, and I simply agreed to it. A duel? Well, I shall not +fight you. Dueling is obsolete, and it never demonstrated the +right or wrong of a cause. Since my part in this affair is one of +neutrality, and since to gain that knowledge was the object of +your invitation, I will take my leave of you." + +He rose and looked at the porcelain clock. As he did so his gaze +rested on a small photograph standing at the side of it. He +scanned it eagerly. It was a face of dark Castilian beauty. He +turned and looked at Beauvais long and earnestly. There was an +answering gaze, an immobility of countenance. Maurice experienced +a slight shock. The haze over his memory was dispersed. The whole +scene, in which this man loomed in the foreground, came back +vividly. + +"Your stare, Monsieur, is annoying." + +"I shouldn't wonder," replied Maurice, leaning against the +mantel. + +"Do me the honor to explain it." + +Maurice, never dreaming of the trap, fell head foremost into it. +"I have traveled a good deal," he began. "I have been--even to +South America." + +"Ah!" This ejaculation expressed nothing. In fact, Beavais was +smiling. There was a sinister something behind that smile, but +Maurice was unobservant. + +He went on. "Yes, to South America. I was there in a diplomatic +capacity, during one of the many revolutions. This country was +the paradise of adventurers, the riff-raff of continental social +outcasts. I distinctly remember the leader of this revolution. Up +to the very last day, Captain Urquijo was the confidential friend +of the president whom he was about to ruin. Through the +president's beautiful daughter Urquijo picked up his threads and +laid his powder train. The woman loved him as women sometimes +love rascals. The president was to be assassinated and his rival +installed. Captain Urquijo was to be made General of the armies. + +"One fine day the troops lined both sides of the plaza, the +square also about which lay the government buildings. It was the +event of some celebration; I believe the throwning off of the +yoke of Spain. The city flocked into the plaza. Strangely enough, +those who were disaffected--the soldiers under Urquijo--faced the +loyal troops. By a preconceived plan, the artillery was under the +command of Urquijo. Suddenly this Captain's murderous and +traitorous guns swept the plaza, mangling women and children. +There was a flaw, however, in the stroke. Urquijo fled, a reward +posted for his head--mind you, his head; they did not want him +alive. + +"The daughter expiates her foolish love in a convent. Her +disgraces proved too much for her father, who blew out his +brains. The successor secured extradition papers in all the +leading capitals of the world. The story was the sensation of the +day; the newspapers made much of it. All governments offered to +assist the republic in hounding down this rascal. To whatever +country he belonged, that country promised to disown him." _ . + +Maurice took the photograph. and cast it into Beauvais's lap. "Do +you recognize that face? Is it not a mute accusation to your +warped conscience?" The voice, changing from the monotone of +narrative, grew strong and contemptuous. "I know you. I +recognizcd you the moment I laid eyes on you, only I could not +place you. Perhaps it was because it did not seem possible that +you would dare show your face to civilized people. That +photograph has done its work. By the Lord, but you're a fine +rascal! Not a bit changed. Have you forgotten your Spanish? As +God hears me, I shall hold you up." + +"You are a very young man," said Beauvais, rising. He was still +smiling. "Do you know why I asked you here? For this very reason. +Madame divined you well. She said that you had a dash of what +romanticists call valor, but that you never saw an inch before +your nose. I knew that you would be at the archbishop's; I knew +that you would follow me to this room. Indeed, you might have +suspected as much by the unusual arrangement of the fixtures of +the room. I placed that photograph there, trusting to your rather +acute eyesight. + +"My memory seems to be better than yours. I knew you the first +time I saw you in Bleiborg. I was waiting only to see how much +you had remembered. I am not Colonel Beauvais; I am not +Urquijo; I am the last of a noble Austrian house, in exile, but +on the eve of recall. Your knowledge would, of course, be +disastrous to my ambitions. That is why I wanted to find out how +much you know. You know too much, too much by half; and since you +have walked into the lion's den, you shall never leave it alive." +With this he sprang to the wall and tore down the rapiers, one of +which he flung at Maurice's feet. + +Maurice felt the hand of paralysis on his nerves. He looked at +the rapier, then at Beauvais, dazed and incapable of movement. +It had been so sudden. + +"And when they find you in some alley in the lower town they will +put it down to thieves. You are young and thoughtless," Beauvais +went on banteringly. "A little discretion and you might have gone +with a whole skin. We never forget a woman's face, and I knew +that you would not forget hers. Don't trouble yourself about +leaping through the windows; the fall will kill you less +effectually than I shall." + +Maurice pulled himself together. The prospect of death brought +back lucidity of mind. He at once saw the hopelessness of his +position. He cursed his lack of forethought. He became pale and +furious, but his head cleared. His life hung in the balance. He +now translated Beauvais's smile. + +"So you wish to add another to the list?" he said. + +"To shield one crime, a man must commit many others. O, this will +not be murder. It will be a duel, in which you will have no +chance. Pick up the sword, if only for form's sake." Beauvais +caught the wrist thong of the rapier between his teeth and +rapidly divested himself of his jacket and saber straps. With his +back toward the door, he rolled up his sleeve and discovered a +formidable forearm. He tried the blade and thrust several times +into the air. + +"What promise have I," said Maurice, "that you will not run me +through when I stoop for the sword?" This question did not serve. + +Beauvais laughed. "I never get angry in moments like these. I am +giving you a sword to ease my conscience. I do not assassinate +boys." + +"But supposing I should kill you by chance?" + +Beauvais laughed again. "That is not possible." + +Maurice had faced death before, but with more confidence. The +thought that he had poked his head into a trap stirred him +disagreeably. He saw that Beauvais possessed a superabundance of +confidence, and confidence is half of any battle. He picked up +the sword and held it between his knees, while he threw off his +coat and vest, and unbuttoned his collar and cuffs. What he had +to sell would be sold as dearly as possible. He tested the blade, +took in a deep breath, fell easily into position--and waited. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +SOME PASSAGES AT ARMS + +There comes a moment to every man, who faces an imminent danger, +when the mental vision expands and he sees beyond. By this +transient gift of prescience he knows what the end will be, +whether he is to live or die. As Maurice looked into the +merciless eyes of his enemy, a dim knowledge came to him that +this was to be an event and not a catastrophe, a fragment of a +picture yet to be fully drawn. His confidence and courage +returned. He thanked God, however, that the light above equalized +their positions, and that the shadows were behind them. + +The swords came together with a click light but ominous. +Immediately Beauvais stepped back, suddenly threw forward his +body, and delivered three rapid thrusts. Maurice met them firmly, +giving none. + +"Ah!" cried Beauvais; "that is good. You know a little. There +will be sport, besides." + +Maurice shut his lips the tighter, and worked purely on the +defensive. His fencing master had taught him two things, silence +and watchfulness. While Beauvais made use of his forearm, Maurice +as yet depended solely on his wrist. Once they came together, +guard to guard, neither daring to break away until by mutual +agreement, spoken only by the eyes, both leaped backward out of +reach. There was no sound save the quick light stamp of feet and +the angry murmur of steel scraping against steel. Sometimes they +moved circlewise, with free blades, waiting and watching. Up +to now Beauvais's play had been by the book, so to speak, and +he began to see that his opponent was well read. + +"Which side is the pretty rose?" seeking to distract Maurice. +"Tell me, and I will pin it to you." + +Not a muscle moved in Maurice's face. + +"It is too, bad," went on Beauvais, "that her Highness finds a +lover only to lose him. You fool! I read your eyes when you +picked up that rose. Princesses are not for such as you. I will +find her a lover, it will be neither you nor Prince +Frederick--ah! you caught that nicely. But you depend too much on +the wrist. Presently it will tire; and then--pouf!" + +Now and then a a flame, darting from the grate, sparkled on the +polished steel, and from the steel it shot into the watchful +eyes. A quarter of an hour passed; still Maurice remained on the +defensive. At first Beauvais misunderstood the reason, and +thought Maurice did not dare run the risk of passing from +defensive to offensive. But by and by the froth of impatience +crept into his veins. He could not penetrate above or below that +defense. The man before him was of marble, with a wrist of iron; +he neither smiled nor spoke, there was no sign of life at all, +except in the agile legs, the wrist, and eyes. The Colonel +decided to change his tactics. + +"When I have killed you," he said, "I shall search your pockets, +for I know that you lie when you say that you have not those +certificates. Madame was a fool to send you. No man lives who may +be trusted. And what is your game? Save the Osians? Small good it +will do you. Her Highness will wed Prince Frederick--mayhap--and +all you will get is cold thanks. And in such an event, have you +reckoned on Madame the duchess? War! And who will win? Madame; +for she has not only her own army, but mine. Come, come! Speak, +for when you leave this room your voice will be silent. Make use +of the gift, since it is about to leave you." + +The reply was a sudden straightening of the arm. The blade +slipped in between the Colonel's forearm and body, and was out +again before the soldier fully comprehended what had happened. +Maurice permitted a cold smile to soften the rigidity of his +face. Beauvais saw the smile, and read it. The thrust had been +rendered harmless intentionally. An inch nearer, and he had been +a dead man. To accomplish such a delicate piece of sword play +required nothing short of mastery. Beauvais experienced a +disagreeable chill, which was not unmixed with chagrin. The boy +had held his life in his hand, and had spared it. He set his +teeth, and let loose with a fury before which nothing could +stand; and Maurice was forced back step by step until he was +almost up with the wall. + +"You damned fool!" the Colonel snarled, "you'll never get that +chance again." + +For the next few minutes it took all the splendid defense Maurice +possessed to keep the spark in his body. The Colonel's sword was +no longer a sword, it was a flame; which circled, darted, hissed +and writhed. Twice Maurice felt the bite of it, once in the arm +and again in the thigh. These were not deep, but they told him +that the end was but a short way off. He had no match for this +brilliant assault. Something must be done, and that at once. He +did not desire the Colonel's death, and the possibility of +accomplishing this was now extremely doubtful. But he wanted to +live. Life was just beginning--the rough road had been left +behind. He was choosing between his life and the Colonel's. +Beauvais, after the fashion of the old masters, was playing for +the throat. This upward thrusting, when continuous, is difficult +to meet, and Maurice saw that sooner or later the blade would +reach home. If not sudden death, it meant speechlessness, and +death as a finality. Then the voice of his guardian angel spoke. + +"I do not wish your life," he said, breaking the silence, "but at +the same time I wish to live--ah!" Maurice leaped back just in +time. As it was, the point of his enemy's blade scratched his +chin. + +They broke and circled. The Colonel feinted. Maurice, with his +elbow against his side and his forearm extended, waited. Again +the Colonel lunged for the throat. This time, instead of meeting +it in tierce, Maurice threw his whole force forward in such a +manner as to bring the steel guard of his rapier full on the +Colonel's point. There was a ringing sound of snapping steel, and +the Colonel stood with nothing but a stump in his grasp. + +"There you are," said Maurice, a heat-flash passing over him. Had +he swerved a hair's breadth from the line, time would have tacked +finis to the tale. "Now, I am perfectly willing to talk," putting +his point to the Colonel's breast. "It would inconvenience me to +kill you, but do not count too much on that." + +"Damn you!" cried the Colonel, giving way, his face yellow with +rage, chagrin and fear. "Kill me, for I swear to God that one or +the other of us must die! Damn you and your meddling nose!" + +"Damn away, chevalier d'industrie; damn away. But live, live, +live! That will be the keenest punishment. Live! O, my brave +killer of boys, you thought to play with me as a cat with a +mouse, eh? Eh, Captain Urquijo-Beauvais-and-What-is-your-name?" +He pressed the point here, there, everywhere. "You were too +confident. Pardon me if I appear to brag, but I have taken +lessons of the best fencing masters in Europe, and three times, +while you devoted your talents to monologues, I could have pinned +you like one of those butterflies on the wall there. Have you +ever heard of the sword of Damocles? Well, well; it hangs over +many a head to-day. I will be yours. I give you forty-eight hours +to arrange your personal affairs. If after that time you are +still in this part of the country, I shall inform the proper +authorities in Vienna. The republic has representation there. Of +a noble Austrian house, on the eve of recall? I think not." + +Beauvais made a desperate attempt to clutch the blade in his +hands. + +"No, no!" laughed Maurice, making rapid prods which caused +Beauvais to wince. "Now, back; farther, farther. I do not like +the idea of having my back to the door." + +Beauvais suddenly wheeled and dashed for the mantel. But as he +endeavored to lay hand on the revolver Maurice brought down +the blade on the Colonel's knuckles, leaving a livid welt. +Maurice took possession of the weapon, while a grimace of +agony shot over the Colonel's face. Seeing that the chambers +were loaded, Maurice threw down the sword. + +"Well, well!" he said, cocking the weapon. "And I saw it when I +entered the room. It would have saved a good deal of trouble." +Beauvais grew white. "O," Maurice continued, "I am not going to +shoot you. I wish merely to call your valet." He aimed at the +grate and pressed the trigger, and the report, vibrating within +the four walls, was deafening. + +A moment passed, and the valet, with bulging eyes and +blanched face, peered in. Seeing how matters stood, he made as +though to retreat. + +Maurice leveled the smoking revolver. "Come in, Francois; your +master will have need of you." + +Francois complied, vertigo in his limbs. "My God!" he cried, +wringing his hands. + +"Your master tried to murder me," said Maurice. Francois had +heard voices like this before, and it conveyed to him that a fine +quality of anger lay close to the surface. "Take down yonder +window curtain cord." Francois did so. "Now bind your master's +hands with it." + +"Francois," cried the Colonel, "if you so much as lay a finger on +me, I'll kill you." + +"Francois, I will kill you if you don't," said Maurice. + +"My God!" wailed the valet at loss which to obey when to obey +either meant death. His teeth chattered. + +"You may have all the time you want, Francois, to wring your +hands when I am gone. Come; to work. Colonel, submit. I'm in a +hurry and have no time to spare. While I do not desire to kill +you, self-preservation will force me to put a bullet into your +hide, which will make you an inmate of the city hospital. Bind +his hands behind his back, and no more nonsense." + +"Monsieur," appealingly to Beauvais, "my God, I am forced. He +will kill me!" + +"So will I," grimly; "by God, I will!" Beauvais had a plan. If he +could keep Maurice long enough, help might arrive. And he had an +excellent story to tell. Still Francois doddered. With his eye on +the Colonel and the revolver sighted, Maurice picked up the +sword. He gave Francois a vigorous prod. Francois needed no +further inducement. He started forward with alacrity. In the wink +of an eye he threw the cord around Beauvais's arms and pinned +them to his sides. Beauvais swore, but the valet was strong in +his fright. He struggled and wound and knotted and tied, +murmuring his pitiful "Mon Dieu!" the while, till the Colonel was +the central figure of a Gordian knot. + +"That will do," said Maurice. "Now, Francois, good and faithful +servant, take your master over to the lounge, and sit down beside +him until I get into my clothes. Yes; that's it." He shoved his +collar and tie into a pocket, slipped on his vest and coat, put +on his hat and slung his topcoat over his arm. During these +maneuvers the revolver remained conspicuously in sight. "Now, +Francois, lead the way to the street door. By the time you return +to your illustrious master, who is the prince or duke of +something or other, pursuit will be out of the question. Now, as +for you," turning to Beauvais, "the forty-eight hours hold good. +During that time I shall go armed. Forty-eight hours from now I +shall inform the authorities at the nearest consulate. If they +catch you, that's your affair. Off we go, Francois." + +"By God!--" began Beauvais, struggling to his feet. + +"Come so far as this door," warned Maurice, "and, bound or not, +I'll knock you down. Hang you! Do you think my temper will +improve in your immediate vicinity? Do you think for a moment +that I do not lust for your blood as heartily as you lust for +mine? Go to the devil your own way; you'll go fast enough!" He +caught Francois by the shoulders and pushed him into the hall, +followed, and closed the door. Francois had been graduated from +the stables, therefore his courage never rose to sublime heights. +All the way down the stairs he lamented; and each time he turned +his head and saw the glitter of the revolver barrel he choked +with terror. + +"If you do not kill me, Monsieur, he will; he will, I know he +will! My God, how did it happen? He will kill me!" and the voice +sank into a muffled sob. + +Despite the gravity of the situation, Maurice could not repress +his laughter. "He will not harm you; he threatened you merely to +delay me. Open the door." He stepped out into the refreshing air. +"By the way, tell your master not to go to the trouble of having +me arrested, for the first thing in the morning I shall place a +sealed packet in the hands of the British minister, to be opened +if I do not call for it within twenty-four hours. And say to your +master that I shall keep the rose." + +"Mon Dieu! A woman! I might have known!" ejaculated Francois, as +the door banged in his face. + +Maurice, on reaching the pavement, took to his legs, for he saw +three men rapidly approaching. Perhaps they had heard the pistol +shot. He concluded not to wait to learn. He continued his rush +till he gained his room. It was two o'clock. He had been in the +Colonel's room nearly three hours. It seemed only so many +minutes. He hunted for his brandy, found it and swallowed several +mouthfuls. Then he dropped into a chair from sheer exhaustion. +Reaction laid hold of him. His hands shook, his legs trembled, +and perspiration rolled down his cheek. + +"By George!" This exclamation stood alone, but it was an +Odyssey. He remained stupefied, staring at his shoes, over +which his stockings had fallen. His shirt buttons were gone, and +the bosom was guiltless of its former immaculateness. After a +time he became conscious of a burning pain in the elbow of his +right arm. He glanced down at his hand, to find it covered with +drying blood. He jumped up and cast about his clothes. One leg +of his trousers was soaked, and the dull ache in his thigh told +the cause. He salved the wounds and bound them in strips of +handkerchiefs, which he held in place by using some of the +cast-off cravats. + +"That was about as close to death as a man can get and pull out. +I feel as if I had swallowed that cursed blade of his. I am an +ass, sure enough. I've always a bad cold when there's a rat +about; can't smell him. And the rascal remembered me! Will he +stay in spite of my threat? I'll hang on here till to-morrow. If +he stays--I won't. He has the devil's own of a sword. Hang it, my +nerves are all gone to smash." + +Soon some gentler thought took hold, and he smiled tenderly. He +brought forth the rose, turned it this way and that, studied it, +stroked it, held it to his lips as a lover holds the hand of the +woman he loves. Her rose; somehow his heart told him that she had +laughed because Beauvais had stooped in vain. + +"Ah, Maurice," he said, "you are growing over fond. But why not? +Who will know? To have loved is something." + +He crept into bed; but sleep refused him its offices, and he +tossed about in troubled dreams. He fought all kinds of duels +with all sorts of weapons. He was killed a half dozen times, but +the archbishop always gave him something which rekindled the +vital spark. A thousand Beauvaises raged at him. A thousand +princesses were ever in the background, waiting to be saved. He +swore to kill these Beauvaises, and after many fruitless +endeavors, he succeeded in smothering them in their gray +pelisses. Then he woke, as dreamers always wake when they pass +some great dream-crisis, and found himself in a deadly struggle +with a pillow and a bed-post. He laughed and sprang out of bed. + +"It's no use, I can't sleep. I am an old woman." + +So he lit his pipe and sat dreaming with his eyes open, smoking +and smoking, until the sickly pallor of dawn appeared in the sky, +and he knew that day had come. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +A MINOR CHORD AND A CHANGE OF MOVEMENT + +Marshal Kampf, wrapt in his military cloak, with the peak of his +cap drawn over his eyes, sat on one of the rustic benches in the +archbishop's gardens and reflected. The archbishop had announced +an informal levee, the first since the king's illness. He had +impressed the Marshal with the fact that his presence was both +urgent and necessary. Disturbed as he was by the unusual command, +the Marshal had arrived an hour too early. Since the prelate +would not rise until nine, the Marshal told the valet that he +would wait in the gardens. + +An informal levee, he mused. What was the meaning of it? Had +that master of craft and silence found a breach in the enemy's +fortifications? He rubbed the chill from his nose, crossed and +re-crossed his legs and teetered till the spurs on his boots set +up a tuneful jingle. + +So far as he himself was concerned, he was not worried. The +prelate knew his views and knew that he would stand or fall with +them. He had never looked for benefits, as did those around him. +He had offered what he had without hope of reward, because he +had considered it his duty. And, after all, what had the Osian +done that he should be driven to this ignominious end? His +motives never could be questioned; each act had been in some way +for the country's good. Every king is a usurper to those who +oppose him. + +Would the kingdom be bettered in having a queen against whom the +confederation itself was opposed? Would it not be adding a +twofold burden to the one? The kingdom was at peace with those +countries from which it had most to fear. Was it wise to +antagonize them? Small independent states were independent only +by courtesy. Again, why had Austria contrived to place an alien +on the throne, in face of popular sentiment? Would Austria's +interests have been less safe in the advent of rightful +succession? Up to now, what had Austria gained by ignoring the +true house? Outwardly nothing, but below the surface? Who could +answer? + +For eleven years he had tried to discover the secret purpose of +Austria, but, like others, he had failed; and the Austrian +minister was less decipherable than the "Chinese puzzle." He was +positive that none of the arch-conspirators knew; they were +blinded by self-interest. And the archbishop? The Marshal rubbed +his nose again, not, however, because it was cold. Did any one +know what was going on behind the smiling mask which the +reticent prelate showed to the world? The Marshal poked his chin +above his collar, and the wrinkles fell away from his gray eyes. + +The sky was clear and brilliant, and a tonic from the forests +sweetened the rushing air. The lake was ruffled out of its usual +calm, and rolled and galloped along the distant shores and +flashed on the golden sands. Above the patches of red and brown +and yellow the hills and mountains stood out in bold, decided +lines. + +Water fowl swept along the marshes. The doves in twos and threes +fluttered down to the path, strutted about in their peculiarly +awkward fashion, and doubtfully eyed the silent gray figure on +the bench, as if to question his right to be there this time of +the morning, their trysting hour. Presently the whole flock came +down, and began cooing and waltzing at the Marshal's feet. He +soon discovered the cause. + +Her Royal Highness was coming through the opening in the +hedgerow which separated the two confines. She carried a basket +on her arm, and the bulldog followed at her heels, holding his +injured leg in the air, and limping on the remaining three. At +the sight of her the doves rose and circled above her head. She +smiled and threw into the air handful after handful of cake and +bread crumbs. In their eagerness the doves alighted on her +shoulders, on the rim of the basket, and even on the broad back +of the dog, who was too sober to give attention to this seeming +indignity. He kept his eye on his mistress's skirts, moved when +she moved, and stopped when she stopped. A gray-white cloud +enveloped them. + +The Marshal, with a curious sensation in his heart, observed +this exquisite, living picture. He was childless; and though he +was by nature undemonstrative, he was very fond of this youth. +Her cheeks were scarlet, her rosy lips were parted in excitement, +and her eyes glistened with pleasure. With all her twenty years, +she was but ten in fancy; a woman, yet a child, unlettered in +worldly wit, wise in her love of nature. Not until she had +thrown away the last of the crumbs did she notice the Marshal. +He rose and bowed. + +"Good morning, your Highness. I am very much interested in your +court. And do you hold it every morning?" + +"Even when it rains," she said, smiling. "I am so glad to see +you; I wanted to talk to you last night, but I could not find +the opportunity. Let me share the bench with you." + +And youth and age sat down together. The bulldog planted himself +in the middle of the path and blinked at his sworn enemy. The +Marshal had no love for him, and he was well aware of it; at +present, an armistice. + +The princess gazed at the rollicking waters, at her doves, +thence into the inquiring gray eyes of the old soldier. + +"Do you remember," she said, "how I used to climb on your knees, +ever so long ago, and listen to your fairy stories?" + +"Eh! And is it possible that your Highness remembers?" wrinkles +of delight gathering in his cheeks. "But why `ever so long ago'? +It was but yesterday. And your Highness remembers!" + +"I am like my father; I never forget!" She looked toward the +waters again. "I can recall only one story. It was about a +princess who lost all her friends through the offices of a +wicked fairy. I remember it because it was the only story you +told me that had a sad ending. It was one of Andersen's. Her +father and mother died, and the moment she was left alone her +enemies set to work and toppled over her throne. She was cast +out into the world, having no friend but a dog; but the dog +always found something to eat, and protected her from giants and +robbers and wolves. + +"Many a time I thought of her, and cried because she was so +unhappy. Well, she traveled from place to place, footsore and +weary, but in her own country no one dared aid her, for fear of +displeasing the wicked fairy, who at this time was all powerful. +So she entered a strange land, where some peasants took her in, +clothed and fed her, and gave her a staff and a flock of geese +to tend. And day after day she guarded the flock, telling her +sorrows to the dog, how she missed the dear ones and the home of +her childhood. + +"One day the reigning prince of this strange land passed by +while hunting, and he saw the princess tending her geese. He +made inquiries, and when he found that the beautiful goose-girl +was a princess, he offered to marry her. She consented to become +his wife, because she was too delicate to drudge. So she and her +dog went to live at the palace. Once she was married the dog +behaved strangely, whining softly, and refusing to be consoled. +The prince was very kind to them both. + +"Alas! It seems that when she left her own country the good +fairy had lost all track of her, to find her when it was too +late. The dog was a prince under a wicked spell, and when the +spell fell away the princess knew that she loved him, and not +her husband. She pined away and died. How many times I have +thought of her, poor, lonely, fairy-tale princess!" + +The old soldier blinked at the doves, and there was a furrow +between his eyes. Yes; how well he remembered telling her that +story. But, as she repeated it, it was clothed with a strange +significance. Somehow, he found himself voiceless; he knew not +how to reply. + +"Monsieur," she said suddenly, "tell me, what has my poor father +done that these people should hate him and desire his ruin?" + +"He has been kind to them, my child," his gaze still riveted on +the doves; "that is all. He has given them beautiful parks, he +has made them a beautiful city. A king who thinks of his +people's welfare is never understood. And ignorant and +ungrateful people always hate those to whom they are under +obligations. It is the way of the world." + +"And--and you, Marshal?" timidly. + +"And I?" + +"Yes. They whisper that--that--O, Marshal, is it you who will +forsake us in our need? I have heard many things of late which +were not intended for my ears. My father and I, we are so alone. +I have never known the comradeship of young people; I have never +had that which youth longs for--a confidant of my own age. The +young people I know serve me simply for their own ends, and not +because they love me. + +"I have never spoken thus before to-day, save to this dog. He +has been my confidant; but he can not speak except with his kind +old eyes, and he can not understand as I would have him. And +they hate even him because they know that I love him. Poor dog! + +"What my father has done has always been wrong in his own eyes, +but he sinned for my sake, and God will forgive him. He gave up +the home he loved for my sake. O, that I had known and +understood! I was only six. We are so alone; we have no place to +go, no friends save two, and they are helpless. And now I am to +make a sacrifice for him to repay him for all he has done for me. +I have promised my hand to one I do not love; even he forsakes +me. But love is not the portion of princesses. Love to them is a +fairy story. To secure my father's throne I have sacrificed my +girlhood dreams. Ah! and they were so sweet and dear." + +She put a hand to her throat as if something had tightened there. +"Marshal, I beg of you to tell me the truth, the truth! Is my +father dying? Is he? He--they will not tell me the truth. And I . +. . never to hear his voice again! The truth, for pity's sake!" +She caught at his hands and strove to read his eyes. "For pity's +sake!" + +He drew his breath deeply. He dared not look into her eyes for +fear she might see the tears in his; so he bent hastily and +pressed her hands to his lips. But in his heart he knew that his +promise to the dead was gone with the winds, and that he would +shed the last drop of blood in his withered veins for the sake +of this sad, lonely child. + +"Your father, my child, will never stand up straight again," he +said. "As for the rest, that is in the hands of God. But I swear +to you that this dried-up old heart beats only for you. I will +stand or fall with you, in good times or bad." And he rubbed his +nose more fiercely than ever. "Had I a daughter-- But there! I +have none." + +"My heart is breaking," she said, with a little sob. She sank +back, her head drooped to the arm of the bench, and she made no +effort to stem the flood of tears. "I have no mother, and now my +father is to leave me. And I love him so, I love him so! He has +sacrificed all his happiness to secure mine--in vain. I laugh +and smile because he asks me to, and all the while my heart is +breaking, breaking." + +At this juncture the doves rose hurriedly. The Marshal +discovered the archbishop's valet making toward him. + +"Monsieur the Marshal, Monseigneur breakfasts and requests you +to join him." + +"Immediately;" and the Marshal rose. He placed his hand on the +dark head. "Keep up your heart, my child," he said, "and we +shall see if I have grown too old for service." He squared his +shoulders and followed the valet, who viewed the scene with a +valet's usual nonchalance. When the Marshal reached the steps to +the side entrance, he looked back. The dog had taken his place, +and the girl had buried her face in his neck. A moment later the +old soldier was ushered into the archbishop's presence, but +neither with fear nor uneasiness in his heart. + +"Ah ! Good morning, Marshal," said the prelate. "Be seated. Did +you not find it chilly in the gardens?" + +"Not the least. It is a fine day. I have just left her Royal +Highness." + +The prelate arched his eyebrows, and an interrogation shot out +from under them. + +"Yes," answered the observant soldier. "My heart has ever been +hers; this time it is my hand and brain." + +The prelate's egg spoon remained poised in mid-air; then it +dropped with a clatter into the cup! But a moment gone he had +held a sword in his hand; he was disarmed. + +"I have promised to stand and fall with her." + +"Stand and fall? Why not 'or'?" with a long, steadfast gaze. + +"Did I say 'and'? Well, then," stolidly, "perhaps that is the +word I meant to use. If I do the one I shall certainly do the +other." + +The archbishop absently stirred his eggs. + +"God is witness," said the Marshal, "I have always been honest." + +"Yes." + +"And neutral." + +"Yes; honest and neutral." + +"But a man, a lonely man like myself, can not always master the +impulses of the heart; and I have surrendered to mine." + +The listener turned to some documents which lay beside the cup, +and idly fingered them. "I am glad; I am very glad. I have +always secretly admired you; and to tell the truth, I have +feared you most of all--because you are honest." + +The Marshal shifted his saber around and drew his knees together. +"I return the compliment," frankly. "I have never feared you; I +have distrusted you." + +"And why distrusted?" + +"Because Leopold of Osia would never have forsaken his +birthright, nor looked toward a throne, had you not pointed the +way and coveted the archbishopric." + +"I wished only to make him great;" but the prelate lowered his eyes. + +"And share his greatness," was the shrewd rejoinder. "I am an +old man, and frankness in old age is pardonable. There are +numbers of disinterested men in the world, but unfortunately +they happen to be dead. O, I do not blame you; there is human +nature in most of us. But the days of Richelieus and Mazarins +are past. The Church is simply the church, and is no longer the +power behind the throne. I have served the house of Auersperg +for fifty years, that is to say, since I was sixteen; I had +hoped to die in the service. Perhaps my own reason for +distrusting you has not been disinterested." + +"Perhaps not." + +"And as I now stand I shall die neither in the service of the +house of Auersperg nor of Osia. It is not the princess; it is +the lonely girl." + +"I need not tell you," said the prelate quietly, "that I am in +Bleiberg only for that purpose. And since we are together, I +will tell you this: Madame the duchess will never sit upon this +throne. To-day I am practically regent, with full powers from +his Majesty. I have summoned von Wallenstein and Mollendorf for +a purpose which I shall make known to you." He held up two +documents, and gently waving them: "These contain the dismissal +of both gentlemen, together with my reasons. There were three; +one I shall now destroy because it has suddenly become void." He +tore it up, turned, and flung the pieces into the grate. + +The Marshal glanced instinctively at his shoulder straps, and +saw that they had come very near to oblivion. + +"There is nothing more, Marshal," went on the prelate. "What I +had to say to you has slipped my mind. Under the change of +circumstances, it might embarrass you to meet von Wallenstein +and Mollendorf. You have spoken frankly, and in justice to you I +will return in kind. Yes, in the old days I was ambitious; but +God has punished me through those I love. I shall leave to you +the selection of a new Colonel of the cuirassiers." + +"What! and Beauvais, too?" exclaimed the Marshal. + +"Yes. My plans require it. I have formed a new cabinet, which +will meet to-night at eight. I shall expect you to be present." + +The two old men rose. Suddenly, a kindly smile broke through the +austereness of the prelate's countenance, and he thrust out his +hand; the old soldier met it. + +"Providence always watches over the innocent," said the prelate, +"else we would have been still at war. Good morning." + +The Marshal returned home, thoughtful and taciturn. What would +be the end? + +Ten minutes after the Marshal's departure, von Wallenstein and +Mollendorf entered the prelate's breakfast room. + +"Good morning, Messieurs," said the churchman, the expression on +his face losing its softness, and the glint of triumph stealing +into his keen eyes. "I am acting on behalf of his Majesty this +morning," presenting a document to each. "Observe them carefully." +He turned and left the room. The archbishop had not only eaten +a breakfast, he had devoured a cabinet. + +Count von Wallenstein watched the retreating figure of the +prelate till the door closed behind it; then he smiled at +Mollendorf, who had not the courage to return it, and who stared +at the parchment in his hand as if it were possessed of basilisk +eyes. + +"Monseigneur," said the count, as he glanced through the +contents of the document, "has forestalled me. Well, well; I do +not begrudge him his last card. He has played it; let us go." + +"Perhaps," faltered Mollendorf, "he has played his first card. +What are you going to do?" + +"Remain at home and wait. And I shall not have long to wait. The +end is near." + +"Count, I tell you that the archbishop is not a man to play thus +unless something strong were behind him. You do wrong not to +fear him." + +Von Wallenstein recalled the warning of the Colonel of the +cuirassiers. "Nevertheless, we are too strong to fear him." + +"Monseigneur is in correspondence with Austria," said the +minister of police, quietly. + +"You said nothing of this before," was the surprised reply. + +"It was only this morning that I learned it." + +The count's gaze roamed about the room, and finally rested on +the charred slips of paper in the grate. He shrugged. + +"If he corresponds with Austria it is too late," he said. "Come, +let us go." He snapped his fingers in the air, and Mollendorf +followed him from the room. + + +* * * * * * + + +The princess still remained on the rustic bench; her head was +bowed, but her tears were dried. + +"O, Bull," she whispered, "and you and I shall soon be all alone!" + +A few doves fluttered about her; the hills flamed beneath the +chill September sky, the waters sang and laughed, but she saw +not nor heard. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +A CHANCE RIDE IN THE NIGHT + +Maurice, who had wisely slept the larger part of the day, and +amused himself at solitary billiards until dinner, came out on +the terrace to smoke his after-dinner cigar. He watched the sun +as, like a ball of rusted brass, it slid down behind the hills, +leaving the glowing embers of a smoldering day on the hilltops. +The vermilion deepened into charred umber, and soon the west was +a blackened grate; another day vanished in ashes. The filmy +golden pallor of twilight now blurred the landscape; the wind +increased with a gayer, madder, keener touch; the lake went +billowing in shadows of gray and black, and one by one the lamps +of the city sprang up, vivid as sparks from an anvil. Now and +again the thin, clear music of the band drifted across from the +park. The fountain glimmered in the Platz, the cafes began to +glitter, carriages rolled hither and thither. The city had taken +on its colorful night. + +"Well, here's another day gone," he mused, rubbing his elbow, +which was yet stiff. "I am anxious to know what that sinner is +doing. Has he pulled up stakes or has he stayed to get a whack +at me? I hope he's gone; he's a bad Indian, and if anything, +he'll want my scalp in his belt before he goes. Hang it! It +seems that I have poked my head into every bear trap in the +kingdom. I may not get out of the next one. How clever I was, to +be sure! It all comes from loving the dramatic. I am a diplomat, +but nobody would guess it at first sight. To talk to a man as I +talked to him, and to threaten! He said I was young; I was, but +I grow older every day. And the wise word now is, don't imitate +the bull of the trestle," as he recalled an American cartoon +which at that day was having vogue in the American colony in +Vienna. + +"I like adventure, I know, but I'm going to give the Colonel a +wide berth. If he sees me first, off the board I go. Where will +he go--to the duchy? I trust not; we both can not settle in that +territory; it's too small. And yet I am bound to go back; it is +not my promise so much as it is my cursed curiosity. By George!" +rubbing his elbow gently. "And to think, Maurice, that you might +not have witnessed this sunset but for a bit of fencing trickery. +What a turn that picture of Inez gave me! I knew him in a +second--and like the ass I was, I told him so. And to meet him +here, almost a left-handed king; no wonder I did not recognize +him. + +"I should like to come in on Fitzgerald to-night. His father +must have had a crazy streak in him somewhere. Four millions to +throw away; humph! And who the deuce has those certificates?" He +lolled against the parapet. "If I had four millions, and if +Prince Frederick had disappeared for good. . . . Why are things +so jumbled up, at sixes and sevens? We are all human beings; why +should some be placed higher than others? A prince is no better +than I am, and may be not half so good. + +"Sometimes I like to get up high somewhere and look down on +every one else; every one else looks so small that it's +comforting. The true philosopher has no desire; he sits down and +views the world as if he were not a part of it. Perhaps it is +best so. Yes, I would like four millions and a principality. . . . +Heigho! how bracing the air is, and what a night for a ride! +I've a mind to exercise Madame's horse. A long lone ride on the +opposite side of the lake, on the road to Italy; come, let's try +it. Better that than mope." + +He mounted to the veranda, and for the first time he noticed the +suppressed excitement which lit the faces of those around him. +Groups were gathered here and there, talking, gesticulating, and +flourishing the evening papers. He moved toward the nearest +group. + +"The archbishop has dismissed the cabinet . . . crisis imminent." + +"The Austrian minister has recalled his invitations to the +embassy ball." + +"The archbishop will not be able to form another cabinet." + +"Count von Wallenstein . . . " + +"Mollendorf and Beauvais, too--" + +"The king is dying . . . The archbishop has been given full +powers." + +"The army will revolt unless Beauvais is recalled." + +"And the Marshal says here . . ." + +Maurice waited to hear no more, but climbed through the window +into the office. + +"By George, something has happened since last night. I must have +an evening paper." He found one, and read an elaborate account +of what had taken place during the day. Von Wallenstein had been +relieved of the finance. Mollendorf of the police, Erzberg of +foreign affairs, and Beauvais of his epaulettes. There remained +only the archbishop, the chancellor and the Marshal. The +editorial was virulent in its attack on the archbishop, +blustered and threatened, and predicted that the fall of the +dynasty was but a matter of a few hours. For it asserted that +the prelate could not form another cabinet, and without a +cabinet there could be no government. It was not possible for +the archbishop to shoulder the burden alone; he must reinstate +the ministry or fall. + +"And this is the beginning of the end," said Maurice, throwing +aside the paper. "What will happen next? The old prelate is not +a man to play to the gallery. Has he found out the double +dealing of Beauvais? That takes a burden off my shoulders-- +unless he goes at once to the duchy. But why wasn't the cabinet +dismissed ages ago? It is now too late. And where is Prince +Frederick to the rescue? There is something going on, and what +it is only the archbishop knows. + +That smile of his! How will it end? I'd like to see von Mitter, +who seems to be a good gossip. And that poor, friendless, +paralytic king! I say, but it makes the blood grow warm." + +He left the chair and paced the office confines. Only one thing +went echoing through his brain, and that was he could do nothing. +The sooner he settled down in the attitude of a spectator the +better for him. Besides, he was an official in the employ of a +foreign country, and it would be the height of indiscretion to +meddle, even in a private capacity. It would be to jeopardize +his diplomatic career, and that would be ridiculous. + +A porter touched him on the shoulder. + +"A letter for your Excellency." + +It was from the American minister in Vienna. + +"My dear Carewe: I have a service to ask of you. The British +minister is worried over the disappearance of a fellow- +countryman, Lord Fitzgerald. He set out for Bleiberg, leaving +instructions to look him up if nothing was heard of him within a +week. Two weeks have gone. Knowing you to be in Bleiberg, I +believed you might take the trouble to look into the affair. The +British ambassador hints at strange things, as if he feared foul +play. I shall have urgent need of you by the first of October; +our charge d'affaires is to return home on account of ill-health, +and your appointment to that office is a matter of a few days." + +Maurice whistled. "That is good news; not Haine's illness, but +that I have an excuse to meddle here. I'll telegraph at once. +And I'll take the ride besides." He went to his room and buckled +on his spurs, and thoughtfully slipped his revolver into a +pocket. "I am not going to take any chances, even in the dark." +Once again in the office, he stepped up to the desk and ordered +his horse to be brought around to the cafe entrance. + +"Certainly," said the clerk. Then in low tones "There has been a +curious exchange in saddles, Monsieur." + +"Saddles?" + +"Yes. The saddle in your stall is, curiously enough, stamped +with the arms of the house of Auersperg. How that military +saddle came into the stables is more than the grooms can solve." + +"O," said Maurice, with an assumption of carelessness; "that is +all right. It's the saddle I arrived on. The horse and saddle +belong to Madame the duchess. I have been visiting at the Red +Chateau. I shall return in the morning." + +"Ah," said the clerk, with a furtive smile which Maurice lost; +"that accounts for the mystery." + +"Here are two letters that must get in to-night's mails," +Maurice said; "and also this telegram should be sent at once." + +"As Monsieur desires. Ah, I came near forgetting. There is a +note for Monsieur, which came this afternoon while Monsieur was +asleep." + +The envelope was unstamped, and the scrawl was unfamiliar to +Maurice. On opening it he was surprised to find a hurriedly +written note from Fitzgerald. In all probability it had been +brought by the midnight courier on his return from the duchy. + + "In God's name, Maurice, why do you linger? + To-morrow morning those consols must be here + or they will be useless. Hasten; you know what + it means to me. + Fitzgerald." + +Maurice perused it twice, and pulled at his lips. "Madame +becomes impatient. Poor devil. Somebody is likely to become +suddenly rich and somebody correspondingly poor. What will they +say when I return empty-handed? Like as not Madame will accuse +me--and Fitzgerald will believe her! . . . The archbishop! That +accounts for this bold move. And how the deuce did he get hold +of them? I give up." And his shoulders settled in resignation. + +He passed down into the cafe, from there to his horse, which a +groom was holding at the curb. He swung into the saddle and +tossed a coin to the man, who touched his cap. + +The early moon lifted its silvery bulk above the ragged east, +and the patches of clouds which swarmed over the face of that +white world of silence resembled so many rooks. Far away, at the +farthermost shore of the lake, whenever the moon went free from +the clouds, Maurice could see the slim gray line of the road +which stretched toward Italy. + +"It's a fine night," he mused, glancing heavenward. The horse +answered the touch of the spurs, and cantered away, glad enough +to exchange the close air of the stables for this fresh gift of +the night. Maurice guided him around the palaces into the avenue, +which derived its name from the founder of the opera, in which +most of the diplomatic families lived. Past the residence of +Beauvais he went, and, gazing up at the lightless windows, a +cold of short duration seized his spine. It bad been a hair's +breadth betwixt him and death. "Your room, Colonel, is better +than you company; and hereafter I shall endeavor to avoid both. +I shall feel that cursed blade of yours for weeks to come." + +Carriages rolled past him. A gay throng in evening dress was +crowding into the opera. The huge placard announced, "Norma-- +Mlle. Lenormand--Royal Opera Troupe." How he would have liked to +hear it, with Lenormand in the title role. He laughed as he +recalled the episodes in Vienna which were associated with this +queen of song. He waved his hand as the opera house sank in the +distance. "Au revoir, Celeste, ma charmante; adieu." By and by +he reached the deserted part of the city, and in less than a +quarter of an hour branched off into the broad road bordering +the lake. The horse quickened his gait as he felt the stone of +the streets no longer beneath his feet, which now fell with +muffled rhythm on the sound earth. Maurice shared with him the +delight of the open country, and began to talk to the animal. + +"A fine night, eh, old boy? I've ridden many backs, but none +easier than yours. This air is what gives the blood its color. +Too bad; you ought not to belong to Madame. She will never think +as much of you as I should." + +The city was falling away behind, and a yellow vapor rose over +it. The lake tumbled in moonshine. Maurice took to dreaming +again--hope and a thousand stars, love and a thousand dreams. + +"God knows I love her; but what's the use? We can not all have +what we want; let us make the best of what we have. Philosophy +is a comfort only to old age. Why should youth bother to reason +why? And I--I have not yet outgrown youth. I believed I had, but +I have not. I did not dream she existed, and now she is more to +me than anything else in the world. Why; I wonder why? I look +into a pair of brown eyes, and am seized with madness. I hope. +For what? O, Bucephalus! let us try to wake and leave the dream +behind. The gratitude of a princess and a dog . . . and for this +a rose. Well, it will prove the substance of many a pipe, many a +kindly pipe. You miss a good deal, Bucephalus; smoking is an +evil habit only to those who have not learned to smoke." + +The animal replied with a low whinney, and Maurice, believing +that the horse had given an ear to his monologue, laughed. But +he flattered himself. The horse whinneyed because he inhaled the +faint odor of his kind. He drew down on the rein and settled +into a swinging trot, which to Maurice's surprise was faster and +easier than the canter. They covered a mile this way, when +Maurice's roving eye discovered moving shadows, perhaps half a +mile in advance. + +"Hello! we're not the only ones jogging along. Eh, what's that?" +Something flashed brightly, like silver reflecting moonlight; +then came a spark of flame, which died immediately, and later +Maurice caught an echo which resembled the bursting of a leaf +against the lips. "Come; that looks like a pistol shot." + +Again the flash of silver, broader and clearer this time; and +Maurice could now separate the shadow-shapes. A carriage of some +sort rolled from side to side, and two smaller shadows followed +its wild flight. One--two--three times Maurice saw the sparks and +heard the faint reports. He became excited. Something +extraordinary was taking place on the lonely road. Suddenly the +top of the carriage replied with spiteful flashes of red. Then +the moon came out from behind the clouds, and the picture was +vividly outlined. Two continuous flashes of silver. . . . +Cuirassiers! Maurice loosened the rein, and the horse went +forward as smoothly as a sail. The distance grew visibly less. +The carriage opened fire again, and Maurice heard the sinister +m-m-m of a bullet winging past him. + +"The wrong man may get hit, Bucephalus," he said, bending to the +neck of the horse; "which is not unusual. You're pulling them +down, old boy; keep it up. There's trouble ahead, and since the +cuirassiers are for the king, we'll stand by the cuirassiers." + +On they flew, nearer and nearer, until the pistol shots were no +longer echoes. Two other horsemen came into view, in advance of +the carriage. Five minutes more of this exciting chase, and the +faces took on lines and grew into features. Up, up crept the +gallant little horse, his hoofs rattling against the road like +snares on a drum. When within a dozen rods, Maurice saw one of +the cuirassiers turn and level a revolver at him. Fortunately +the horse swerved, and the ball went wide. + +"Don't shoot!" Maurice yelled; "don't shoot!" + +The face he saw was von Mitter's. His heart clogged in his +throat, not at the danger which threatened him, but at the +thought of what that carriage might contain. + +A short time passed, during which nothing was heard but the +striking of galloping hoofs and the rumble of the carriage. +Maurice soon drew abreast of von Mitter. There was a gash on the +latter's cheek, and the blood from it dripped on his cuirass. + +"Close for you, my friend," he gasped; when he recognized the +new arrival. "Have you--God! my leg that time," with a groan. + +For the fire of the carriage had spoken again, and true. + +Maurice shut his teeth, drew his revolver, cocked it and applied +the spurs. With a bound he shot past von Mitter, who was cursing +deeply and trying to reload. Maurice did not propose to waste +powder on the driver, but was determined to bring down one of +the carriage horses, which were marvelous brutes for speed. +Scharfenstein kept popping away at the driver, but without +apparent result. Finally Maurice secured the desired range. He +raised the revolver, rested the barrel between the left thumb +and forefinger and pressed the trigger. The nearest carriage +horse lurched to his knees, a bullet in his brain, dragging his +mate with him. The race had come to an end. + +At once the two horsemen in front separated; one continued +toward the great forest, while the other took to the hills. +Scharfenstein started in pursuit of the latter. As for the +carriage, it came to an abrupt stand. The driver made a flying +leap toward the lake, but stumbled and fell, and before he could +regain his feet Maurice was off his horse and on his quarry. He +caught the fellow by the throat and pressed him to the earth, +kneeling on his chest. + +"Hold him!" cried von Mitter, coming up with a limp, "hold him +till I knock in his head, damn him!" + +"No, no!" said Maurice, "you can't get information out of a dead +man." + +"It's all up with me," groaned the Lieutenant. "I'll ask for my +discharge. I could hit nothing, my hand trembled. I was afraid +of shooting into the carriage." + +Maurice turned his attention to the man beneath him. "Now, you +devil," he cried, "a clean breast of it, or off the board you go. + O!" suddenly peering down. "By the Lord, so it is you--you--you!" +savagely bumping the fellow's head against the earth. "Spy!" + +"You are killing me!" + +"Small matter. Who is this fellow?" asked Maurice. + +"Johann Kopf, a spy, a police rat, and God knows what else," +answered von Mitter, limping toward the carriage. "Curse the leg!" +He forced the door and peered inside. "Fainted! I thought as +much." He lifted the inanimate bundle which lay huddled in +between the seats and carried it to the side of the road, where +he tenderly laid it. He rubbed the girl's wrists, unmindful of +the blood which fell from his face and left dark stains on her +dress. "Thank God," heartily, "that her Royal Highness was +suffering from a headache. She would have died from fright." + +Maurice felt the straining cords in the prisoner's neck grow +limp. The rascal had fainted. + +"Not her Highness?" Maurice asked, the weight of dread lifting +from his heart. + +"No. Her Royal Highness sent Camille, her maid of honor, veiled +and dressed like herself, to play an innocent jest on her old +nurse. Some one shall account for this; for they mistook Camille +for her Highness. I'm going to wade out into the water," von +Mitter added, staggering to his feet. + +"You'll never get off your boot," said Maurice. + +"I'll cut it off," was the reply, "I shall faint if I do not +cool off the leg. The ball is somewhere in the calf." And he +waded out into the water until it reached above his knees. Thus +he stood for a moment, then returned to the maid, who, on +opening her eyes, screamed. "It is all over, Camille," said the +Lieutenant, throwing an arm about her. + +"Your face is bleeding!" she cried, and sank back with her head +against his broad breast. + +As Maurice gazed at the pair he sighed. There were no obstacles +here. + +Soon Scharfenstein came loping down the hill alone. + +"I killed his horse," he said, in response to queries, "but he +fled into the woods where I could not follow. A bad night for us, +Carl, a bad night," swinging off his horse. "A boy would have +done better work. Whom have we here?" + +"Kopf," said Maurice, "and he has a ball somewhere inside," +holding up a bloody hand. + +"Kopf?" Scharfenstein cocked his revolver. + +The maid of honor placed her hands over her ears and screamed +again. Max gazed at her, and, with a short, Homeric laugh, +lowered the revolver. + +"Any time will do," he said. "Ah, he opens his eyes." + +The prisoner's eyes rolled wildly about. That frowning face +above him . . . was it a vision? Who was it? What was he doing +here? + +"Who put you up to this?" demanded Maurice. + +"You are choking me!" + +"Who, I say?" + +"Beauvais." + +Scharfenstein and von Mitter looked at each other +comprehensively. + +"Who is this Beauvais? Speak!" + +"I am dying, Herr . . . Your knees--" + +Maurice withdrew his knees. "Beauvais; who is he?" + +"Prince . . . Walmoden, formerly of the emperor's staff." + +Johann's eyes closed again, and his head fell to one side. + +"He looks as if he were done for," said Maurice, standing up. +"Let us clear up the rubbish and hitch a horse to the carriage. +The mate's all right." + +Von Mitter assisted the maid into the carriage and seated her. + +"Go and stay with her," said Maurice, brusquely; "you're half +fainting." + +"You are very handy, Carewe," said von Mitter gratefully, and he +climbed in beside the maid, who, her fright gone, gave way to +womanly instincts. She took her kerchief and wiped the +Lieutenant's cheek, pressing his hand in hers the while. + +Maurice and Scharfenstein worked away at the traces, and dragged +the dead horse to the side of the road. Scharfenstein brought +around von Mitter's horse, took oft the furnishings, and backed +him into the pole. + +Meanwhile the man lying by the water's edge showed signs of +returning life. He turned his head cautiously. His enemies were +a dozen yards away from him. Slowly he rolled over on his +stomach, thence to his knees. They were paying no attention to +him. . . . + +"Ho, there! the prisoner!" cried von Mitter, tumbling out of the +carriage. He tried to stand up, but a numbness seized his legs, +and he sank to a sitting posture. + +Maurice and Scharfenstein turned too late. Johann had mounted on +Scharfenstein's horse, and was flying away down the road. +Maurice coolly leveled his revolver and sent two bullets after +him. The second one caused Johann to straighten stiffly, then to +sink; but he hung on to the horse. + +"Hurry!" cried Maurice; "I've hit him and we'll find him along +the road somewhere." + +They lifted von Mitter into the carriage, wheeled it about, and +Scharfenstein mounted the box. Maurice sprang into his saddle, +and they clattered off toward the city. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + + +THE LAST STAND OF A BAD SERVANT + +The cuirassiers stationed in the guardroom of the royal palace +walked gently on the tiling, when occasion required them to walk, +and when they entered or left the room, they were particularly +careful to avoid the chink of the spur or the clank of the saber. +Although the royal bedchamber was many doors removed, the +Captain had issued a warning against any unnecessary noise. A +loud laugh, or the falling of a saber carelessly rested, drew +upon the unlucky offender the scowling eyes of the commander, +who reclined in front of the medieval fireplace, in which a +solitary log burned, and brooded over past and present. The high +revels in the guardroom were no more, the cuirassiers were no +longer made up of the young nobles of the kingdom; they were now +merely watch dogs. + +Twenty years ago the commander had come from Dresden as an +instructor in arms, and after the first year had watched over +the royal household, in the service of the late king and the +king who lay dying. He had come of good family, but others had +come oof better, and had carried of court honors, though his +post in early days had been envied by many. He was above all +else a soldier, the embodiment of patience and integrity, and he +scorned to murmur because fortune had passed over his head. As +he sucked at his pipe, he recalled the days of Albrecht and his +opera singers, the court scandals, and his own constant +employment as messenger in the king's love intrigues. + +Albrecht had died a widower and childless, and with him had died +the flower of court life. The courtiers and sycophants had +flocked to the standard of the duke, and had remained there, +primarily because Leopold of Osia promised a sedate and +exemplary life. Sometimes the Captain shook his head, as if +communing with some unpleasant thought. On each side of him sat +a soldier, also smoking and ruminating. + +At the mess table a dozen or so whiled away the time at cards. +The wavering lights of the candle and hearth cast warring +shadows on the wall and floor, and the gun and saber racks +twinkled. If the players spoke, it was in tones inaudible to the +Captain's ears. + +"Our bread and butter," said the Captain softly, "are likely to +take unto themselves the proverbial wings and fly away." + +No one replied. The Captain was a man who frequently spoke his +thoughts aloud, and required no one to reply to his disjointed +utterances. + +"A soldier of fortune," he went on, "pins his faith and zeal to +standards which to-day rise and to-morrow fall. Unfortunately, +he takes it at flood tide, which immediately begins to ebb." + +The men on either side of him nodded wisely. + +"The king can no longer speak. That is why the archbishop has +dismissed the cabinet. While he could speak, his Majesty refused +to listen to the downfall of his enemies. Why? Look to heaven; +heaven only can answer. How many men of the native troops are +quartered in these buildings? Not one--which is bad. Formerly +they were in the majority. Extraordinary. His Majesty would have +made friends with them, but the archbishop, an estimable man in +his robes, practically ostracized them. Bad, very bad. Had we +been comrades, there might be a different end. + +"Faugh! if one of us sticks his head into the city barracks a +breath of ice is our reward. Kronau never attends the receptions. +A little flattery, which costs nothing, and they would have +been willing to die for his Majesty. Now--" He knocked his pipe +on the firedog. "Now, they would not lift a finger. A soldier +will forgive all things but premeditated neglect. + +"As for me, when the time comes I shall return to Dresden and +die of old age. Maybe, though, I shan't. When his Majesty dies +there is like to be a clash. The duchess is a clever woman, but +she would make a balky wife; a capillary affection which runs in +the family. Red hair in a man is useful; in a woman it is +unmanageable." He refilled his pipe and motioned toward the +tongs. The soldier nearest caught up a brand and held it out. +The Captain laid his pipe against it and drew. "It's a dreary +watch I have from ten till daylight, in his Majesty's +antechamber, but he will trust no other man at that post." And +with this he fell into silence. + +Some time passed. Twice the Captain pulled out his watch and +looked at it. Shortly after nine o'clock the beat of hoofs came +up the driveway, and the Captain turned his head toward the +entrance and waited. A moment later the door opened and three +men stood framed in the doorway. Two of them--one in civilian +dress--were endeavoring to hold up a third between them. The +central figure presented an alarming picture. His cuirass and +white trousers were splashed with blood, and his head rolled +from side to side, almost insensibly. + +"A thousand devils!" exclaimed the Captain at the sight of this +unexpected tableau. He sprang up, toppling over his chair. +"What's this? Von Mitter? Blood? Have those damned students--" + +"A brush on the lake road," interrupted Sharfenstein, +breathlessly. "Help him over to a chair, Monsieur Carewe. That's +it." + +"Have you a knife, Captain?" asked Maurice. + +The Captain whipped out his knife, locked it, and gave it to +Maurice. "Riemer," he called to one of the cuirassiers, who were +rising from the mess table, "bring out your box of instruments; +and you, Scharfenstein, a basin of cold water. Quick!" + +Maurice knelt and deftly cut away the Lieutenant's boot. A pool +of blood collected on the floor. + +"God save us!" cried the Captain, "his boot is full of blood." +He turned to Scharfenstein, who was approaching with the basin. +"What has happened, Max?" + +Scharfenstein briefly explained. + +"And Kopf?" + +"Got away, curse him!" + +"And the others?" with a lowering brow. + +"They all got away," adding an oath under his breath. Max set +the basin on the floor. + +"Bad, very bad. Why didn't you shoot?" + +"He was afraid of hitting Mademoiselle Bachelier," Maurice +interposed. + +Max threw him a grateful look. + +"Humph!" The Captain called his men around him. "Two of you--. +But wait. Who's back of Kopf?" + +"Our distinguished Colonel," snapped Max, "who was this day +relieved of his straps. A case of revenge, probably." + +"Beauvais! Ah, ah!" The Captain smiled grimly. He had always +hated Beauvais, who had, for no obvious reason, passed him and +grasped the coveted colonelcy, and because, curiously enough, +the native troops had made an idol of him. "Beauvais? I am not +surprised. An adventurer, with neither kith nor country." + +"He is Prince Walmoden," said Maurice, "and for some reason not +known, the emperor has promised to recall him." + +This information caused the Captain to step back, and he +muttered the name several times. "Austria. . . ." A gloom +settled on his face. "No matter. Prince or no prince, or had he +one thousand emperors behind him, no matter. Four of you seek +him and arrest him. If he offers resistance, knock him on the +head, but arrest him. A traitor is without name, country or +respect. His purpose . . . Never mind. + +"Four of you seek for Kopf. Look into Stuler's, in at the opera, +and follow Kopf's woman home. I'll take it upon myself to +telegraph the frontier to allow no one to cross on the pain of +being shot. Pass the word to the officers in the stables. Hurry +away before the archbishop hears of the matter. Away with you, +and quietly. And one of you seek that blockhead of a coachman, +who did not know enough to come back here and inform us. +Beauvais, make him a prisoner, you are not to know why. As for +Kopf, dead or alive--alive will be less convenient for all +concerned. Off with you!" + +The guardroom was at once emptied, and the cuirassiers turned +off toward the stables, where the main body of the troops was +stationed. + +Riemer, who was both surgeon and soldier, probed the wound in +von Miner's leg and extracted the bullet, which had lodged in +the fleshy part of the calf. He applied cold water, lints and +bandages. All the while von Mitter sat in the chair, his eyes +shut and his lips closed tightly. + +"There!" said the surgeon, standing up, "that's better. The loss +of blood is the worst part of it." Next he took a few stitches +in the cut on the cheek and threw his cloak over the wounded +man's knee. "He'll be all right in a day or so, though he'll +limp. Carl?" + +"O, I'm sound enough," answered von Mitter, opening his eyes. "A +little weak in the knees, that's all. I shouldn't have given in, +only Kopf got away when we had him fair and fast. We found his +horse wandering about the Frohngarten, but no sign of Johann. +He's got it, though, square in the back." + +"I'm sure of it," said Maurice, who leaned over the back of the +speaker's chair. + +The Captain eyed him inquiringly. + +"Pardon me," said Scharfenstein. "Captain, Monsieur Carewe, an +American tourist, formerly of the United States cavalry. And a +pretty shot, too, by the book! It would have gone badly with us +but for him." + +"My thanks," said the Captain, with a jerky nod. "Max, come, +give me the whole story." + +And Scharfenstein dropped into a chair and recounted in +picturesque diction the adventure; how they had remained by the +royal carriage till the nurse, recovering from her faint, had +rushed out and told them of the abduction; and the long race on +the south shore. While he listened the Captain smoked +thoughtfully; and when the story was done, he rose and wagged +his head. + +"Call it revenge," he said, "if it strikes you in that light. +Monsieur Carewe, what is your opinion?" + +"It occurs to me," answered Maurice, rubbing the scratch the +late Colonel's sword had left on his chin, "it occurs to me that +the man played his hand a few days too late." + +"Which is to say?" + +"Well, I do not call it revenge," Maurice admitted, unwilling to +venture any theory. + +"No more do I;" and the Captain began drumming on the mantel. +"What say, Max; how would the illustrious Colonel look with the +shadow of a crown on his head? He comes from Austria, who, to my +thinking, is cognizant of all he does and has done." + +The answer was not spoken. The door, leading to the main palace +through the kitchens, opened, and the Marshal, the princess, and +the maid of honor came down the steps. The Captain, Max and the +surgeon stood at salute. Maurice, however, drew back into the +shadows at the side of the grate. The old soldier gazed down at +the pale face of the young Lieutenant, and smiled kindly. + +"Even the best of soldiers make mistakes," he said; "even the +best. No," as von Mitter made an attempt to speak. "I've heard +all about it, and from a most reliable source," nodding toward +the anxious maid of honor. "Colonel," he addressed the Captain, +whose eyes started at this appellation, "Colonel, you will +report to me in the morning to assume your new duties. You have +been a faithful Captain and a good soldier. I know your value, +your name and your antecedents, which till now was more than I +knew of your late predecessor. Von Mitter will take upon himself +your duties as Captain of the household troop; and you, +Scharfenstein, will hereafter take charge of her Royal +Highness's carriage, and you may choose whom you will as your +comrade." + +"I have always tried to do my duty," said von Mitter. He felt a +small hand secretly press his. + +"And you have always succeeded, Captain," said a voice which +made Maurice's foolish heart leap. "See, I am the first to give +you your new rank. How you must suffer!" + +"God bless your Royal Highness!" murmured the fellow, at once +racked with pain and happiness. "But I am not the one you must +thank for this night's work." + +The Marshal peered at the silent figure beyond the fireplace. +Maurice was compelled to stand forth. "Ah!" said the Marshal. + +"Yes," went on von Mitter, "but for him no one knows what the +end might have been. And I, thinking him one of the abducting +party coming up from the rear, shot at him." + +The princess took a step forward, anxiety widening her dark eyes; +and the swift glance added to the fever in the recipient's +veins. . . . How beautiful she was, and how far away! He laid +his hand on the top of von Mitter's chair. + +"Monsieur Carewe," said the Marshal, "seems to have plenty of +leisure time on his hands--fortunately for us. You were not hit?" + +"O, no," said Maurice, blushing. He had discerned an +undercurrent of raillery in the Marshal's tones. "The ball came +close to my ear, that was all. It is strange how that fellow got +away. I am positive that I hit him." + +"We shall find him," said the Marshal, with a look at the newly- +appointed Colonel which said: "Your straps hang in the balance." +He rubbed his nose. "Well, is your Royal Highness satisfied that +there is no danger?" + +"Yes, Marshal; but think, if he should have been killed! Ah, +what does it all mean? What had this man against me, who have +always been kind to him?" + +"We shall, with your Highness's permission," said the Marshal, +"leave all questions to the future. Let us return to the +archbishop, who is doubtless awaiting the news. Take good care +of yourself, Captain. To-morrow, Colonel; good evening to you, +Monsieur Carewe;" and the terse old soldier proceeded to the +door and held it open for the women. + +"Good night, Messieurs," said her Highness. "I shall not forget. +Thanks to you, Captain." One more glance, and she was gone. But +this glance blossomed in one heart into a flower of hope. + +The Marshal, having closed the door behind the women, returned +to the group before the fireplace. They watched him interestedly. + +"Colonel," he said, "make no effort to seek Beauvais. As for +Kopf, that is different. But Beauvais--" + +"To let him go?" exclaimed the Colonel in dismay. + +"Aye, to let him go. We do not seek bears with birdshot, and +that is all we have. He will leave the country." + +"And go to the duchy!" + +"So much the better; when the time comes, our case against him +will be so much the stronger. Mind you, this is not from +sentiment. I have none," glaring around to see if any dared +refute this assertion. "It is policy, and Monseigneur concurs +with me." + +"But I have sent men after him!" cried the Colonel, in keen +disappointment. + +"Send men after them to rescind the order." + +"And if they should catch him?" + +"Let him go; that is my order. The servant will be sufficient +for our needs. Monsieur Carewe, I rely on your discretion;" and +the Marshal passed into the kitchens. + +The men looked at each other in silence. A moment later the +Colonel dashed from the room, off to the stables. + +"Well, I'm off," said Maurice. The desire to tell what he knew +was beginning to master him. It was too late now, he saw that. +Besides, they might take it into their heads to detain him. He +put on his hat. "Good night; and good luck to your leg, Captain." + +"Till to-morrow," said von Mitter, who had taken a fancy to the +smooth-faced young American, who seemed at home in all places. + +"I am going away to-morrow," said Maurice, pressing the +Lieutenant's hand. "I shall return in a day or so." + +He led his horse to the hotel stables, lit a fresh cigar and +promenaded the terrace. "Some day," he mused, "perhaps I'll be +able to do something for myself. To-morrow we'll take a look at +Fitzgerald's affairs, like the good fairy we are. If the Colonel +is there, so much the worse for one or the other of us." He +laughed contentedly. "Beauvais took my warning and lit out, or +his henchman would never have made a botch of the abduction. It +is my opinion that Madame wanted a hostage, for it is impossible +to conceive that the man made the attempt on his own +responsibility. I shall return to the duchy in a semi-official +character as an envoy extraordinary to look into the whereabouts +of one Lord Fitzgerald. Devil take me, but I did make a mess of +it when I slapped him on the shoulder that night." The princess +had not addressed a word to him. Why? + +When the princess and her maid of honor had passed through the +kitchens into the princess's boudoir, the maid suddenly caught +her mistress's hand and imprinted a hasty kiss on it, to the +latter's surprise and agitation. There was something in that +kiss which came nearer to sincere affection than Mademoiselle +Bachelier had ever shown before. + +"Camille?" + +"God bless your Highness!" whispered the girl, again pressing +the cold hand to her lips. What had given rise to this new-born +affection she herself could not say, but a sudden wave of pity +rushed into her heart. Perhaps it was because she loved and was +loved that caused this expansion of heart toward her mistress, +who was likely never to love or beget love, who stood so lonely. +Tears came into her eyes. + +"You are hysterical!" said the princess. + +"No; it is because--because--" She stopped and a blush suffused +her face and temples. + +The princess took the face between her hands and gazed long and +earnestly into it. "Have you discovered a belated pity in your +heart for me? Or is it because you thought him wounded unto +death, and he was not?" + +"It is both!" weeping. + +The princess put her arms around the maid. "And you weep for +happiness? Let us weep together, then; only--I can not weep for +happiness." + +To return to the flight of Kopf. As he dashed down the road he +heard two reports. At the second he experienced a terrible +burning blow under the right shoulder-blade, and immediately his +arm became paralyzed. He coughed. With a supreme effort he +managed to recover his balance. Already his collar-bone had been +cracked by a bullet either from von Mitter or from Scharfenstein. + +"God's curse on them all!" he sobbed, pushing his knees into his +horse; "God's curse!" He bit his lips; and when he drew his +breath the pain which followed almost robbed him of his senses. +Behind him the sound of hoofs came no nearer; he had a chance. +He could not look back to see if he gained, however, as his neck +was stiffening. + +"Curse him and his damned gold! He never warned me as he said he +would." On he rode. The moon became obscured, and when it +flashed again he could see it but indistinctly. . . . To reach +the city, to reach Gertrude's, to give the horse a cut and send +him adrift, this was his endeavor. But would he reach the city-- +alive? Was he dying? He could not see . . . Yet again he shut +his jaws and drew on his entire strength. He was keeping in the +saddle by will power alone. If the horse faltered he was lost. +To Gertrude; she could use them. And after all he loved her. If +he died she would be provided for. + +The first of the city lamps. He sobbed. Into this street he +turned, into that, expecting each moment to be challenged, for +the white saddle blanket of the cuirassiers stood out +conspicuously. At last he had but a corner to turn. He stopped, +slid from the saddle and gave the animal a cut across the face. +The horse reared, then plunged forward at a wild gallop. Johann +staggered along the street, fumbling in his pockets for his keys. + +Gertrude of the opera company was usually in the ballet. To- +night she had left the stage after the first dance. She had +complained of a severe headache, and as the manager knew her +worth he had permitted her withdrawal from the corps. She lived +off the Frohngarten, in an apartment on the second floor, over a +cheap restaurant. She was bathing her temples in perfumed +ammonia water, when she heard footsteps in the corridor, and +later the rasp of a key in the lock. As the door opened she +beheld a spectacle which caused her to scream. + +"Hush! Gertrude, I am dying. . . . Brandy! I must talk to you! +Silence!" Johann tottered to a lounge and dropped on his side. + +The woman, still trembling with fright and terror, poured into +her palm some of the pungent liquid with which she had been +bathing her temples, and held it under his nose. It revived him. +And in a few broken sentences he made known to her what had +happened. + +"Gertrude, I am lost!" He breathed with difficulty. "I have +lived like a rascal, and I die like one. But I have always loved +you; I have always been true to you; I have never beaten nor +robbed you." His eyes closed. + +"O God," she cried, "what shall I do? Johann, you must not die! +We will leave the country together. Johann, you do not speak! +Johann!" She kissed him, pressed him in her arms, regardless of +the stains which these frantic fondlings gathered from his +breast. "Johann!" + +"Rich," he said dreamily; "rich . . . and to die like a dog!" + +She left him and rushed to the sideboard, poured out a tumbler +of brandy, and returned to his side. She raised his head, but he +swallowed with effort. + +"In the lungs," he said. "God! how it burns! Rich; we are rich, +Gertrude; a hundred thousand crowns. . . . And I am dying! . . . +What a failure! Curse them all; they never offered to lend a +hand unless it led toward hell! Gertrude . . . I must tell you. +Here; here, put your hand in this pocket; yes. Draw them out. . . +A hundred thousand crowns!" + +The woman shuddered. Her hand and what it held were wet with +blood. + +"Hide them!" And Johann fainted away for the second time. When +he came to his senses, several minutes had passed. Quickly, with +what remaining strength he had, he unfolded his plan. + +And her one idea was to save him. She drenched her handkerchief +with the ammonia, and bade him hold it to his nose, while she +fetched a basin of water and a sponge. Tenderly she drew back +his coat and washed the blood from his throat and lips, and +moistened his hair. + +"Listen!" he cried suddenly, rising on his elbow. "It is they! +They have found me! Quick! to the roof!" He struggled to his +feet, with that strength which imparts itself to dying men, +super-human while it lasts. He threw one arm around her neck. +"Help me!" + +And thus they gained the hall, mounted the flight to the roof, +he groaning and urging, she sobbing, hysterical, and frenzied. +She climbed the ladder with him, threw back the trap, and helped +him on the roof. + +"Now leave me!" he said, kissing her hand. + +She gave him her lips, and went down to her rooms, and waited +and waited. This agony of suspense lasted a quarter of an hour, +when again came the clatter of hoofs. Would this, too, prove a +false alarm? She held her hand to her ear. If he were dying. . . +They had stopped; they were mounting the stairs; O God, they +were beating on the door! + +"Open!" cried a voice without; "open in the king's name!" + +She gasped, but words would not come. She clenched her hands +until the nails sank into the flesh. + +"Open, Madame, or down comes the door." + +The actress in her came to the rescue. The calm of despair took +possession of her. + +"In a moment, Messieurs," she said. Her voice was without +agitation. She opened the door and the cuirassiers pushed past +her. "In heaven's name, Messieurs, what does this mean?" + +"We want Johann Kopf," was the answer, "and we have it from good +authority that he is here. Do not interfere with us; you are in +no wise connected with the affair." + +"He is not here," she replied. She wondered at herself, her +tones were so even, her mind was so clear. + +One of the cuirassiers caught up her gown. "What's this, +Madame?" he demanded, pointing to the dark wet stains; "and +this?" to her hands, "and this?" to the spots on the carpet, the +basin and the sponge. "To the roof, men; he has gone by the roof! +Up with you!" + +The ballet dancer held forth her hands in supplication; life +forsook her limbs; she sank. + +The cuirassiers rushed to the roof. . . . When they came down it +was slowly and carefully. What they had found on the roof was of +no use to them. They laid the inanimate thing on the lounge, and +frowned. One of the cuirassiers lifted the ballet dancer and +carried her into her bed-room, and laid her on the bed. He had +not the heart to revive her. Death softens all angers; even an +enemy is no longer such when dead. And Johann Kopf was dead. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + +A COURT FETE AT THE RED CHATEAU + +At eight o'clock of the following evening, that is to say, the +nineteenth of September, Maurice mounted the Thalian pass and +left the kingdom in the valley behind him. He was weary, dusty, +lame and out of humor; besides, he had a new weight on his +conscience. The night before he had taken the life of a man. +True, this had happened before, but always in warfare. He had +killed in a moment of rage and chagrin a poor devil who was at +most only a puppet. There was small credit in the performance. +However, the rascal would have suffered death in any event, his +act being one of high treason. + +In the long ride he had made up his mind to lock away forever +the silly dream, the tender, futile, silly dream. All men die +with secrets locked in their hearts; thus he, too, would die. +His fancy leaped across the chasm of intervening years to the +day of his death, and the thought was a happy one! He smiled +sadly, as young men smile when they pity themselves. He knew +that he would never get over it--in a day. But to-morrow, or to- +morrow's to-morrow . . + +He took the pass's decline; the duchy spread away toward the +south. A quarter of a mile below him he saw the barrack and the +customs office which belonged to Madame the duchess. The +corporal inspected him and his papers, spoke lowly to the +customs inspector, who returned to his office. + +"It is all right, Monsieur Carewe," said the corporal; "I ought +to recognize the horse a mile away. You will arrive just in time." + +"Just in time for what?" + +"Ah, true. Her Highness gives a grand ball at the chateau to- +night. The court has arrived from Brunnstadt. Some will reside +at the chateau, some at General Duckwitz's, others at the +Countess Herzberg's." + +"Has the duchess arrived at last, then?" was the cynical inquiry. + +"She will arrive this evening," answered the corporal, grinning. +"A pleasant journey to you." + +Maurice proceeded. "And that blockhead of an Englishman has not +tumbled yet! The court here? A grand ball? What else can it mean +but that Madame is celebrating a victory to come? If the +archbishop has those consols, she will wage war; and this is the +prelude." He jogged along. He had accomplished a third of the +remaining distance, when he was challenged. The sentry came +forward and scrutinized the rider. + +"O, it is Monsieur Carewe !" he cried in delighted tones. He +touched his cap and fell back into the shadows. + +A mile farther, and the great chateau, scintillating with lights, +loomed up against the yellow sky. He felt a thrill of excitement. +Doubtless there would be some bright passages before the night +drew to a close. He would make furious love to the pretty +countess; it would be something in the way of relaxation. How +would they greet him? What would be Madame's future plans in +regard to Fitzgerald? How would she get him out of the way, now +that he had served her purpose? He laughed. + +"The future promises much," he said, half aloud. "I am really +glad that I came back." + +"Halt!" + +Maurice drew up. A sentry stepped out into the road. + +"O, it is Monsieur Carewe!" he cried. With a short laugh he +disappeared. + +"Hang me," grumbled Maurice as he went on, "these fellows have +remarkable memories. I can't recollect any of them." He was +mystified. + +Shortly he came upon the patrol. The leader ordered him to +dismount, an order be obeyed willingly, for he was longing to +stand again. He shook his legs, while the leader struck a match. + +"Why, it is Monsieur Carewe!" he cried. "Good! We are coming out +to meet you. This is a pleasure indeed." + +Maurice gazed keenly into the speaker's face, and to his +surprise beheld the baron whose arm he had broken a fortnight +since. He climbed on his horse again. + +"I am glad you deem it a pleasure, baron," he said dryly. "From +what you imply, I should judge that you were expecting me." + +"Nothing less! Your departure from Bleiberg was known to us as +early as two o'clock this after-noon," answered the baron. +"Permit us to escort you to the chateau before the ladies see +you. 'Tis a gala night; we are all in our best bib and tucker, +as the English say. We believed at one time that you were not +going to honor us with a second visit. Now to dress, both of us; +at ten Madame the duchess arrives with General Duckwitz and +Colonel Mollendorf, who is no relation to the late minister of +police in Bleiberg." + +Underneath all this Maurice discerned a shade of mockery, and it +disturbed him. + +"First, I should like to know--" he began. + +"Later, later!" cried the baron. "The gates are but a dozen rods +away. To your room first; the rest will follow." + +"The only clothes I have with me are on my back," said Maurice. + +"We shall arrange that. Your guard-hussar uniform has been +reserved for you, at the suggestion of the Colonel." + +And Maurice grew more and more disturbed. + +"Were they courteous to you on the road?" + +"Yes. But--" + +"Patience! Here we are at the rear gates." + +Maurice found it impossible to draw back; three troopers blocked +the rear, the baron and another rode at his sides, and four more +were in advance. The rear gates swung open, and the little troop +passed into the chateau confines. Maurice snatched a glimpse of +the front lawns and terraces. The trees and walls were hung with +Chinese lanterns; gay uniforms and shimmering gowns flitted +across his vision. Somewhere within the chateau an orchestra was +playing the overture from "Linda di Chamounix." Indeed, with all +these brave officers, old men in black bedecked with ribbons, +handsome women in a brilliant sparkle of jewels, it had the +semblance of a gay court. It was altogether a different scene +from that which was called the court of Bleiberg. There was no +restraint here; all was laughter, music, dancing, and wines. The +women were young, the men were young; old age stood at one side +and looked on. And the charming Voiture-verse of a countess, +Maurice was determined to seek her first of all. He vaguely +wondered how Fitzgerald would carry himself throughout the ordeal. + +The troopers dismounted in the courtyard. + +"I'm a trifle too stiff to dance," Maurice innocently +acknowledged. + +The baron laughed. "You will have to take luck with me in the +stable-barrack; the chateau is filled. The armory has been +turned into a ballroom, and the guard out of it." + +"Lead on!" said Maurice. + +At the entrance to the guardroom, which occupied the left wing +of the stables, stood a Lieutenant of the hussars. + +"This is Monsieur Carewe," said the baron, "who will occupy a +corner in the guardroom." + +"Ah! Monsieur Carewe," waving his hand cavalierly; "happy to see +you again." + +Maurice was growing weary of his name. + +"Enter," said the baron, opening the door. + +Maurice entered, but not without suspicion. However, he was in a +hurry to mingle with the gay assembly in the chateau. But that +body was doomed to proceed without the honor or the knowledge of +his distinguished presence. Several troopers were lounging about. +At the sight of the baron they rose. + +"Messieurs," he said, "this is Monsieur Carewe, who was expected." + +"Glad to see you!" they sang out in chorus. They bowed +ironically. + +Maurice gazed toward the door. As he did so four pairs of arms +enveloped him, and before he could offer the slightest +resistance, he was bound hand and foot, a scarf was tied over +his mouth, and he was pushed most disrespectfully into a chair. +The baron's mouth was twisted out of shape, and the troopers +were smiling. + +"My faith! but this is the drollest affair I ever was in;" and +the baron sat on the edge of the table and held his sides. +"Monsieur Carewe! Ha! ha! You are a little too stiff to dance, +eh? Shall I tender your excuses to the ladies? Ass! did you +dream for a moment that such canaille as you, might show your +countenance to any save the scullery maids? Too stiff to dance! +Ye gods, but that was rich! And you had the audacity to return +here! I must go; the thing is killing me." He slipped off the +table, red in the face and choking. "The telegraph has its uses; +it came ahead of you. We trembled for fear you would not come! +Men, guard him as your lives, while I report to Madame, I dare +say she will make it droller in the telling." + +He stepped to the door, turned, looking into the prisoner's +glaring eyes; he doubled up again. "We are quits; I forgive you +the broken arm; this laugh will repay me. How Madame the +countess will laugh! And Duckwitz--the General will die of +apoplexy! O, but you are a sorry ass; and how neatly we have +clipped your ears!" And into the corridor he went, still +laughing, heartily and joyously, as if what had taken place was +one of the finest jests in the world. + +Maurice, white and furious, was positive that he never would +laugh again. And the most painful thought was that his honesty +had brought him to this pass--or, was it his curiosity? + +* * * * * + +Fitzgerald stood alone in the library. The music of a Strauss +waltz came indistinctly to him. He was troubled, and the speech +of it lay in his eyes. From time to time he drummed on the +window sill, and followed with his gaze the shadowy forms on the +lawns. He was not a part of this fairy scene. He was out of +place. So many young and beautiful women eyeing him curiously +confused him. In every glance he innocently read his disgrace. + +At Madame's request he had dressed himself in the uniform of a +Lieutenant-Colonel, which showed how deeply he was in the toils. +Though it emphasized the elegant proportions of his figure, it +sat uncomfortably upon him. His vanity was not equal to his +sense of guilt. The uniform was a livery of dishonor. He could +not distort it into a virtue, try as he would. He lacked that +cunning artifice which a man of the world possesses, that of +winning over to the right a misdeed. + +And Carewe, on whose honesty he would have staked his life, +Carewe had betrayed him. Why, he could not conceive. He saw how +frail his house of love was. A breath and it was gone. What he +had until to-day deemed special favors were favors common to all +these military dandies. They, too, could kiss Madame's hand, and +he could do no more. And yet she held him. Did she love him? He +could not tell. All he knew was that it was impossible not to +love her. And to-night he witnessed the culmination of the woman +beautiful, and it dazzled him, filled him with fears and +oppressions. . . . To bind her hand and foot, to carry her by +force to the altar, if need; to call her his in spite of all. + +If she were playing with him, making a ball of his heart and her +fancy a cup, she knew not of the slumbering lion within. He +himself was but dimly conscious of it. Princess? That did not +matter. Since that morning the veil had fallen from his eyes, +but he had said nothing; he was waiting for her to speak. Would +she laugh at him? No, no! The knowledge that had come to him had +transformed wax into iron. Princess? She was the woman who had +promised to be his wife. + +Only two candles burned on the mantel-piece. The library was a +room apart from the festivities. A soft, rose-colored darkness +pervaded the room. Presently a darker shadow tiptoed over the +threshold. He turned, and the shadow approached. Madame's gray +eyes, full of lambent fires, looked into his own. + +"I was seeking you," she said. The jewels in her hair threw a +kind of halo above her head. + +"Have I the happiness to be necessary to you?" he asked. + +"You have not been enjoying yourself." + +"No, Madame; my conscience is, unhappily, too green." He turned +to the window again for fear he would lose control of himself. + +"I have a confession to make to you," she said humbly. How broad +his shoulders were, was her thought. + +"It can not concern me," he replied. + +"How?" + +"There is only one confession which I care to hear. You made it +once, though you are not willing to repeat it. But I have your +word, Sylvia; I am content. Not all the world could make me +believe that you would willingly retract that word." + +Her name, for the first time coming from his lips, caused her to +start. She sent him a penetrating glance, but it broke on a face +immobile as marble. + +"I do not recollect granting you permission to use my given name," +she said. + +"O, that was before the world. But alone, alone as we are, you +and I, it is different." The smile which accompanied these words +was frankness itself, but it did not deceive Madame, who read +his eyes too well. "Ali, but the crumbs you give this love of +mine are so few!" "You are the only man in the world permitted +to avow love to me. You have kissed my hand." + +"A privilege which seems extended to all." + +Madame colored, but there was not light enough for him to +perceive it. + +"The , hand you kissed is the hand of the woman; others kiss it +to pay homage. Monsieur, 'forgive me for having deceived you, +you were so easy to deceive." His eyes met hers steadily. + +"I am not Madame simply. I am Stephonia Sylvia Auersperg; the name +I assumed was my mother's." His lack of surprise alarmed her. + +"I am well aware of that," he said. "You are the duchess." + +Something in his tone warned her of a crisis, and she put forth +her cunning to avert it. "And. you-you will not love me less?" +her voice vibrant as the string of a viol. "I am a princess, but +yet a woman. In me there are two, the woman and the princess. +The princess is proud and ambitious; to gain her ends she stops +at nothing. As a princess she may stoop to trickery and deceit, +and step back untouched. But the woman-ah, well; for this +fortnight I have been most of all the woman." + +"And all this to me-is a preamble to my dismissal, since my +promise remains unfulfilled? Madame, do not think that because +fate has willed that my promise should become void, that my +conscience acquits me of dishonor. For love of you I have thrown +honor to the winds. But do I regret it? No. For I am mad, and +being mad, I am not capable of reason. I have broken all those +ties which bind a man's respect to himself. I have burned all +bridges, but I laugh at that. It is only with the knowledge that +your love is mine that I can hold high my head. + +"As the princess in you is proud, so is the man in me. A +princess? That is nothing; I love you. Were you the empress of +all the Russias, the most unapproachable woman in the world, I +should not hesitate to profess my love, to find some means of +declaring it to you. I love you. To what further depths can I +fall to prove it?" Again he sought the window, and leaned +heavily on the sill. He waited, as a man waits for an expected +blow. + +As she listened a delicious sensation swept through her heart, a +sensation elusive and intangible. She surrendered without +question. At this moment the Eve in her evaded all questions. +Here was a man. The mood which seized her was as novel as this +love which asked nothing but love, and the willingness to pay +any price; and the desire to test both mood and love to their +full strength was irresistible. She was loved for herself alone; +hitherto men had loved the woman less and the princess more. To +surrender to both mood and love, if only for an hour or a day, +to see to what length this man would go at a sign from her. + +He was almost her equal in birth; his house was nearly if not +quite as old and honored as her own; in his world he stood as +high as she stood in hers. She had never committed an +indiscretion; passion had never swayed her; until now she had +lived by calculation. As she looked at him, she knew that in all +her wide demesne no soldier could stand before him and look +straight into his eyes. So deep and honest a book it was, so +easily readable, that she must turn to its final pages. Love +him? No. Be his wife? No. She recognized that it was the feline +instinct to play which dominated her. Consequences? Therein lay +the charm of it. + +"Patience, Monsieur," she said. "Did I promise to be your wife? +Did I say that I loved you? ~Eh, bien~, the woman, not the +princess, made those vows. I am mistress not only of my duchy, +but of my heart." She ceased and regarded him with watchful eves. +He did not turn. "Look at me, John!" The voice was of such +winning sweetness that St. Anthony himself, had he heard it, +must have turned. "Look at me and see if I am more a princess +than a woman." + +He wheeled swiftly. She was leaning toward him, her face was +upturned. No jewel in her hair was half so lustrous as her eyes. +From the threaded ruddy ore of her hair rose a perfume like the +fabulous myrrhs of Olympus. Her lips were a cup of wine, and her +eyes bade him drink, and the taste of that wine haunted him as +long as he lived. He made as though to drain the cup, but Madame +pushed down his arms, uttered a low, puzzled laugh, and vanished +from the room. He was lost! He knew it; yet he did not care. He +threw out his arms, dropped them, and settled his shoulders. A +smile, a warm, contented smile, came into his face and dwelt +there. For another such kiss he would have bartered eternity. + +And Madame? Who can say? + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + + +IN WHICH MAURICE RECURS TO OFFENBACH + +Midnight; the music had ceased, and the yellow and scarlet +lanterns had been plucked from the autumnal hangings. The +laughing, smiling, dancing women, like so many Cinderellas, had +disappeared, and with them the sparkle of jewels; and the +gallant officers had ridden away to the jingle of bit and spur. +Throughout the courtly revel all faces had revealed, besides the +happiness and lightness of spirit, a suppressed eagerness for +something yet to come, an event surpassing any they had yet +known. + +Promptly at midnight Madame herself had dropped the curtains on +the gay scene because she had urgent need of all her military +household at dawn, when a picture, far different from that which +had just been painted, was to be limned on the broad canvas of +her dreams. Darkness and quiet had fallen on the castle, and the +gray moon film lay on terrace and turret and tile. + +In the guardroom, Maurice, his hands and feet still in pressing +cords, dozed in his chair. He had ceased to combat drowsiness. +He was worn out with his long ride, together with the chase of +the night before; and since a trooper had relieved his mouth of +the scarf so that he could breathe, he cared not what the future +held, if only he might sleep. It took him a long time to arrive +at the angle of comfort; this accomplished, he drifted into +smooth waters. The troopers who constituted his guard played +cards at a long table, in the center of which were stuck half a +dozen bayonets, which served as candlesticks. They laughed +loudly, thumped the board, and sometimes sang. No one bothered +himself about the prisoner, who might have slept till the crack +of doom, as far as they were concerned. + +Shortly before the new hour struck, the door opened and shut. A +trooper shook the sleeper by the sleeve. Maurice awoke with a +start and gazed about, blinking his eyes. Before him he +discovered Madame the duchess, Fitzgerald and Mollendorf, behind +whom stood the Voiture-verse of a countess. The languor forsook +him and he pulled himself together and sat as upright as his +bonds would permit him. Something interesting was about to take +place. + +Madame made a gesture which the troopers comprehended, and they +departed. Fitzgerald, with gloomy eyes, folded his arms across +his breast, and with one hand curled and uncurled the drooping +ends of his mustache; the Colonel frowned and rubbed the gray +bristles on his upper lip; the countess twisted and untwisted +her handkerchief; Madame alone evinced no agitation, unless the +perpendicular line above her nose could have been a sign of such. +This lengthened and deepened as her glance met the prisoner's. + +He eyed them all with an indifference which was tinctured with +contempt and amusement. + +"Well, Monsieur Carewe," said Madame, coldly, "what have you to +say?" + +"A number of things, Madame," he answered, in a tone which +bordered the insolent; "only they would not be quite proper for +you to hear." + +The Colonel's hand slid from his lip over his mouth; he shuffled +his feet and stared at the bayonets and the grease spots on the +table. + +"Carewe," said Fitzgerald, endeavoring to speak calmly, "you +have broken your word to me as a gentleman and you have lied to me." + +The reply was an expressive monosyllable, "O!" + +"Do you deny it?" demanded the Englishman. + +"Deny what?" asked Maurice. + +"The archbishop," said Madame, "assumed the aggressive last +night. To be aggressive one must possess strength. Monsieur, how +much did he pay for those consols? Come, tell me; was he +liberal? It is evident that you are not a man of business. I +should have been willing to pay as much as a hundred thousand +crowns. Come; acknowledge that you have made a bad stroke." She +bent her head to one side, and a derisive smile lifted the +corners of her lips. + +A dull red flooded the prisoner's cheeks. "I do not understand you." + +"You lie!" Fitzgerald stepped closer and his hands closed +menacingly. + +"Thank you," said Maurice, "thank you. But why not complete the +melodrama by striking, since you have doubled your fists?" + +Fitzgerald glared at him. + +"Monsieur," interposed the countess, "do not forget that you are +a gentleman; Monsieur Carewe's hands are tied." + +"Unfortunately," observed Maurice. + +Madame looked curiously at the countess, while Fitzgerald drew +back to the table and rested on it. + +"I can not comprehend how you dared return," Madame resumed. +"One who watches over my affairs has informed me of your +dishonorable act." + +"What do you call a dishonorable act?" Maurice inquired quietly. + +"One who breaks his sacred promise!" quickly. + +The prisoner laughed maliciously. Madame had answered the +question as he hoped she would. "Chickens come home to roost. +What do you say to that, my lord?" to the Englishman. + +This time it was not the prisoner's cheeks which reddened. Even +Madame was forced to look away, for if this reply touched the +Englishman it certainly touched her as deeply. Incidentally, she +was asking herself why she had permitted the Englishman to +possess her lips, hers, which no man save her father had ever +possessed before. A kiss, that was all it had been, yet the +memory of it was persistent, annoying, embarrassing. In the +spirit of play--a spirit whose origin mystified her--she had +given the man something which she never could regain, a particle +of her pride. + +Besides, this was not all; she had in that moment given up her +right to laugh at him when the time came; now she would not be +able to laugh. She regretted the folly, and bit her lip at the +thought of it. Consequences she had laughed at; now their +possibilities disturbed her. She had been guilty of an +indiscretion. The fact that the Englishman had ruined himself at +her beck did not enter her mind. The hour for that had not yet +arrived. + +Seeing that his neat barb had left them all without answer, +Maurice said: "Doubtless the informant who watches over your +interests and various other interests of which you have no +inkling, was the late Colonel Beauvais? For my part, I wish it +was the late Beauvais in the sense in which we refer to the +departed ones. But let us give him his true name--Prince Konrad, +the last of the Walmodens, a cashiered gamester." + +Only Fitzgerald showed any surprise. Maurice once saw that the +others were in the secret. They knew the Colonel. Did they know +why he was in Bleiberg? Let them find it out for themselves. He +would not lift a finger to aid them. He leaned back and yawned. + +"Pardon me," he said, with mock politeness, "but my hands are +tied, and the truth is, I am sleepy." + +"Count," said Madame, "release him. He will be too well guarded +to fear his escaping." + +The Colonel performed this service with alacrity. He honestly +admired the young fellow who so seldom lost his temper. Besides, +he had a sneaking idea that the lad was being unjustly accused. + +Maurice got up and stretched himself. He rubbed his wrists, then +sat down and waited for the comedy to proceed. + +"So you confess," said Madame, "that you sold the consols to the +archbishop?" + +"I, confess?" Maurice screwed up his lips and began to whistle +softly: + +"Voici le sabre de mon Pere." + +"You deny, then?" Madame was fast losing patience, a grave +mistake when one is dealing with a banterer. + +Maurice changed the tune: + +"J'aime les militaires, Leur uniforme coquet, Leur moustache et +leur plumet--" + +"Answer!" with a stamp of the foot. + +"Je sais ce que je voudrais, Je voudrais etre cantiniere!" . . . + +"Monsieur," said the pretty countess, after a furtive glance at +Madame's stormy eyes, "do you deny?" + +The whistle ceased. "Madame, to you I shall say that I neither +deny nor affirm. The affair is altogether too ridiculous to +treat seriously. I have nothing to say." The whistle picked up +the thread again. + +Doubt began to stir in the eyes of the Englishman. He looked at +Madame with a kind of indecision, to find that she was glancing +covertly at him. His gaze finally rested on Maurice, who had +crossed his legs and was keeping time to the music with his foot. +Indeed, these were not the violent protestations of innocence +he had looked for. This demeanor was not at all in accord with +his expectations. Now that he had possessed Madame's lips +(though she might never possess the consols), Maurice did not +appear so guilty. + +"Carewe," he said, "you have deceived me from the start." + +"Ah! c'est un fameux regiment, Le regiment de la Grande Duchesse!" + +"You knew that Madame was her Highness," went on the Englishman, +"and yet you kept that a secret from me. Can you blame me if I +doubt you in other respects?" + +"Sonnez donc la trompette, Et battez les tambours!" + +And the warbler nodded significantly at Madame, whose frown grew +still darker. + +"Eh! Monsieur," cried the Colonel, with a protesting hand, "you +are out of tune!" + +"I should like to know why you returned here," said Madame. +"Either you have some plan, or your audacity has no bounds." + +The whistle stopped again. "Madame, for once we agree. I, too, +should like to know why I returned here." + +"Carewe," said Fitzgerald, "if you will give me your word--" + +"Do not waste your breath, Monsieur," interrupted Madame. + +"Will you give me your word?" persisted Fitzgerald, refusing to +see the warning in Madame's eyes. + +"I will give you nothing, my lord; nothing. I have said that I +will answer neither one way nor the other. The accusation is too +absurd. Now, Madame, what is your pleasure in regard to my +disposition?" + +"You are to be locked up, Monsieur," tartly. "You are too +inquisitive to remain at large." + +"My confinement will be of short duration," confidently. + +"It rests with my pleasure alone." + +"Pardon me if I contradict your Highness. I returned here +incidentally as a representative of the British ambassador in +Vienna; I volunteered this office at the request of my own +minister." + +A shade of consternation came into the faces of his audience. + +"If nothing is heard of me within two days, an investigation +will ensue. It is very droll, but I am here to inquire into the +whereabouts of one Lord Fitzgerald, who has disappeared. +Telegrams to the four ends of the world have brought no news of +his present residence. The archbishop instituted the latter +inquiries, because it was urgent and necessary he should know." + +Fitzgerald became enveloped in gloom. + +"And your credentials, Monsieur?" said the duchess. "You have +them, I presume?" + +"I came as a private gentleman; a telegram to my minister in +Vienna will bring indorsement." + +"Ah! Then you shall be locked up. I can not accord you +recognition; without the essential representations, I see +nothing in you but an impertinent meddler. To-morrow evening you +shall be conveyed to Brunnstadt, where you will reside for some +time, I can assure you. Perhaps on your head will rest the blood +of many gallant gentlemen; for within another twenty-four hours +I shall declare war against Leopold. This will be the +consequence of your disloyalty to your word." And she moved +toward the door, the others imitating her. Fitzgerald, more than +any one else, desired to get away. + +And one by one they vanished. Once the countess turned and threw +Maurice a glance which mystifled him; it was half curtained with +tears. Presently he was alone. His eye grasped every object. +There was not a weapon in sight; only the bayonets on the table, +and he could scarcely hope to escape by use of one of these. A +carafe of water stood on the table. He went to it and half +emptied it. His back was toward the door. Suddenly it opened. He +wheeled, expecting to see the troopers. His surprise was great. +Beauvais was leaning against the door, a half humorous smile on +his lips. The tableau lasted several minutes. + +"Well," said Beauvais, "you do not seem very glad to see me." + +Maurice remained silent, and continued to gaze at his enemy over +the tops of the upturned bayonets. + +"You are, as I said before, a very young man." + +"I killed a puppet of yours last night," replied Maurice, with a +peculiar grimness. + +"Eh? So it was you? However, Kopf knew too much; he is dead, +thanks to your service. After all, it was a stroke of war; the +princess, whose little rose you have, was to have been a hostage." + +"If she had refused to be a wife," Maurice replied. + +Beauvais curled his mustache. + +"I know a good deal more than Kopf." + +"You do, certainly; but you are at a convenient nearness. What +you know will be of no use to you. Let us sit down." + +"I prefer to stand. The honor you do me is too delicate." + +"O, you may have no fear." + +"I have none--so long as my back isn't turned toward you." + +Beauvais passed over this. "You are a very good blade; you +handle a sword well. That is a compliment, considering that I am +held as the first blade in the kingdom. It was only to-day I +learned that formerly you had been a cavalryman in America. You +have the making of a soldier." + +Maurice bowed, his hand resting near one of the bayonets. + +"You are also a soldier of fortune-like myself. You made a good +stroke with the archbishop. You hoodwinked us all." + +Maurice did not reply. + +"Very well; we shall not dwell on it. You are discreet." + +Maurice saw that Beauvais was speaking in good faith. + +"You have something to say; come to it at once, for it is trying +to watch you so closely." + +I will give you--" He hesitated and scratched his chin. "I will +give you ten thousand crowns as the price of your silence in +regard to the South American affair." + +A sardonic laugh greeted this proposal. "I did not know that you +were so cheap. But it is too late." + +"Too late?" + +"Doubtless, since by this time the authorities are in possession +of the interesting facts." + +"I beg to differ from you." + +"Do as you please," said Maurice, triumphantly. "I sent an +account of your former exploits both to my own government and to +the one which you so treacherously betrayed. One or the other +will not fail to reach." + +"I am perfectly well aware of that," Beauvais smiled. He reached +into a pocket, and for a moment Maurice expected to see a pistol +come forth. But he was needlessly alarmed. Beauvais extracted +two envelopes from the pocket and sailed them through the +intervening space. They fell on the table. "Put not your trust +in hotel clerks," was the sententious observation. "At least, +till you have discovered that no one else employs them. I am +well served. The clerk was told to intercept your outgoing post; +and there is the evidence. Ten thousand crowns and a safe +conduct." + +Maurice picked up the letters mechanically. They were his; the +stamps were not canceled, but the flaps were slit. He turned +them this way and that, bewildered. He was convinced that he +could in no way cope with this man of curious industries, this +man who seemed to have a key for every lock, and whom nothing +escaped. And the wise old Marshal had permitted him to leave the +kingdom without let or hindrance. Perhaps the Marshal understood +that Beauvais was a sort of powder train, and that the farther +he was away from the mine the better for all concerned. + +"You are a great rascal," Maurice said finally. + +"We will waive that point. The matter at present is, how much +will it take to buy your silence for the future?" + +"And I am sorry I did not kill you when I had the chance," +continued Maurice, as if following a train of thought. + +"We never realize how great the opportunity is till it has +passed beyond our reach. Well, how much?" + +"I am not in need of money." + +"To be sure; I forgot. But the archbishop could not have given +you a competence for life." + +"I choked a few facts out of Kopf," said Maurice. "You will wear +no crown--that is, earthly." + +"And your heavenly one is near at hand," rejoined Beauvais. + +Maurice absently fingered a bayonet. + +"You refuse this conciliation on my part?" asked Beauvais. + +"Positively." + +"Well, then, if anything happens to you, you will have only +yourself to blame. I will leave you to digest that suggestion. +Your life hangs in the balance. I will give you till to-morrow +morning to make up your mind." + +"Go to the devil!" + +"In that, I shall offer you the precedence." And Beauvais backed +out; backed out because Maurice had wrenched loose one of the +bayonets. + +Maurice flung the bayonet across the room, went back to his +chair, and tore his ill-fated letters into ribbons. When this +was done he stared moodily at the impromptu candlesticks, and +tried to conceive the manner in which Beauvais's threat would +materialize. + +When the troops returned to their watch, they found the prisoner +in a recumbent position, staring at the cracks in the floor, +oblivious to all else save his thoughts, which were by no means +charitable or humane. They resumed their game of cards. At +length Maurice fell into a light slumber. The next time he +opened his eyes it was because of a peculiar jar, which +continued; a familiar, monotonous jar, such as the tread of feet +on the earth creates. Tramp, tramp, tramp; it was a large body +of men on the march. Soon this was followed by a lighter and +noisier sound --cavalry. Finally, there came the rumbling of +heavy metal--artillery. More than an hour passed before these +varying sounds grew indistinct. + +Maurice was now fully awake. An army had passed the Red Chateau. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + + +A GAME OF POKER AND THE STAKES + +The next morning Beauvais came for his answer. It was not the +answer he had expected. + +"So be it," he replied. "Your government had better appoint your +successor at once. Good morning." + +"You will die suddenly some day," said Maurice. + +Beauvais shrugged, and departed. + +It was a dreary long day for the prisoner, who saw no one but +his jailers. He wondered what time they would start for +Brunnstadt. He had never seen Brunnstadt. He hoped the city +would interest him. Was he to be disposed of on the road? No, +that would scarcely be; there were too many witnesses. In the +city prison, then; that was possible. The outlook was not rose- +colored. He set to work to challenge each of his jailers, but +this did not serve. At five o'clock the bluff old Colonel +Mollendorf came in. He dismissed the troopers, who were glad +enough to be relieved. + +"I'll be responsible for the prisoner from now on," he said. As +soon as he and Maurice were alone he propped his chin and +contemplated the sullen face of the prisoner. "Well, my son, I +am positive that you have been accused somewhat hastily, but +that's the way women have, jumping at conclusions before they +read the preface. But you must give Madame credit for being +honest in the matter, as well as the others. Beauvais is +positive that the move of the archbishop is due to your selling +out to him. Come, tell me the story. If you wish, I'll promise +not to repeat it. Madame is determined to lock you up in any +event." + +There was something so likable about the old warrior that +Maurice relented. + +"There was nothing in the gun-barrels," he said. "Some one had +entered that room before me. I thought at first that Beauvais +had them; but he is the last man in the world to dispose of them +to the prelate. But has the archbishop got them? I wish I knew. +That's all there is to the story." + +"And her Royal Highness's dog?" slyly. + +"What! Did you hear about that?" Maurice flushed. + +"There is little going on in Bleiberg that we don't hear about. +The princess is charming. Poor girl!" + +"Madame's victory will have a strange odor. Can she not let the +king die in peace?" + +"My son, she dares not. If that throne were vacant of a king-- +Let us not talk politics." + +"Madame has no love for me," said Maurice. + +"Madame has no love for any one, if that will give you any +satisfaction." + +"It does. My lord the Englishman came near striking me last night." + +"I would not lay that up against him. Madame was the power +behind the throne." + +"And the impulse behind Madame?" smiling. + +"You are the only man who has ever crossed Madame's path; she +can not forget it." + +"And she has put me in a bad light, as far as Fitzgerald is +concerned. A man will believe anything a woman says to him, if +he loves her." + +"Let us avoid dissertations." + +"What do you want to talk about?" + +"Yourself; you are interesting, entertaining, and instructive," +the Colonel answered, laughing. "I never ran across an American +who wasn't, and I have met a number. What have you done to +Beauvais?" + +"It is not exactly what I've done; it is what I know." + +"What do you know?" + +Maurice repeated the story. + +"And you bested him at the rapiers?" in astonishment. + +"Is there anything startling about it?" asked Maurice. + +"He has no match hereabout." The Colonel looked across the table +at the smooth-faced boy-- he was scarcely else--and reflected. +"Why did you give up the army?" + +"The army in America doesn't run to good clothes; the officers +have to work harder than the privates, and, save in Washington, +their social status is nil. Besides, there is too much fighting +going on all the time. Here, an officer is always on dress parade." + +"Still, we are always ready. In the past we show up pretty well +in history. But to return to Beauvais, it is very embarrassing, very." + +"It will be for him, if I live long enough." + +"Eh?" + +"Beauvais has promised to push me off the board, to use his own +words. I am wondering how he will do it." + +"Don't let that disturb you; he will do nothing--now. Well, well; +it is all a sorry game; and I find that making history has its +disadvantages. But I have dandled Madame as a child on my knee, +and her wish is law; wherever her fortunes lead, I must follow. +She will win; she can not help winning. But I pity that poor +devil of a king, who, they say, is now bereft of speech. Ah, had +he been a man, I could have gone into this heart and soul." + +"He is on his deathbed. And his daughter, God knows what is in +store for her. Prince Frederick is dallying with his peasant +girl. The day for the wedding has come and gone, unless he +turned up to-day, which is not likely." + +"Which is not likely indeed," repeated the Colonel sadly. He +pulled out his pipe, and smoked for a time. "But let us not +judge harshly, says the Book. There may be circumstances over +which Prince Frederick has no control. I suppose your sympathies +are on the other side of the path. Youth is always quick and +generous; it never stops to weigh causes or to reason why. And +strange, its judgment is almost always unerring. I am going to +share my dinner with you to-night. I'll try to brighten you up a +bit." + +"Thanks." + +"Then after dinner we'll play poker until they come to take you +to Brunnstadt." + +"What sort of a city is it?" + +"You will not see much of it; so I will not take the trouble to +tell you that it is slightly inferior to Bleiberg." + +Sure enough, when the dark of evening fell, two servants entered +with trays and baskets, and proceeded to lay the table. They put +new candles in the bayonets. + +"Ha!" said the Colonel; "you have forgotten the wine, rascals!" + +"Bring a dozen bottles," Maurice suggested, having an idea in +mind. + +"Eh?" + +"Remember, Colonel, I've been a soldier and a journalist in a +country where they only wash with water. In the summer we have +whisky iced, in the winter we have it hot; an antidote for both +heat and cold. Ah, Colonel, if you only might sniff a mint julep!" + +"A dozen bottles, then," said the Colonel to the servants, who +retired to execute the order. + +"How old will it be?" asked Maurice. + +"Twice your age, my son. But do not make any miscalculation +about my capacity for tokayer." + +"Any miscalculation?" Maurice echoed. + +"Yes; if you plan to get me drunk. There are no troopers about, +and it would be easy enough for you to slip out if I should lose +my head." + +Maurice's laugh had a false ring to it. The Colonel had made a +very shrewd guess. + +"Well!" said the Colonel, with a gesture toward the table. + +They sat down, and both made an excellent dinner. Maurice +demolished a roasted pheasant, stuffed with chestnuts, while the +Colonel disintegrated a duck. The wine came, and the servants +ranged six bottles on the side of each plate. It was done so +gravely that Maurice laughed heartily. The wine was the oldest +in Madame's cellar, and Maurice wondered at the Colonel's +temerity in selecting it. The bottles were of thick glass, fat- +bottomed, and ungainly, and Maurice figured that there was more +than a pint in each. It possessed a delicious bouquet. The +Colonel emptied three bottles, with no more effect than if the +wine had been water. Maurice did not appreciate this feat until +he had himself emptied a bottle. It was then he saw that the +boot was likely to be on the other foot. + +He looked at the Colonel enviously; the old soldier was a gulf. +He had miscalculated, indeed. But he was fertile in plans, and a +more reasonable one occurred to him. He drank another bottle and +began to talk verbosely. Later he grew confidential. He told the +Colonel a great many things which-- had never happened, things +impossible and improbable. The Colonel listened soberly, and +nodded now and again. Dinner past, they pushed the remains aside +and began to play poker, a game at which the Colonel proved to +be no novice, much to Maurice's wonder. + +"Why, you know the game as thoroughly as an Arizona corporal." + +"I generally spend a month of the winter in Vienna. One of your +compatriots taught me the interesting game." The Colonel +shuffled the cards. "It is the great American game, so I am told." + +"O, they play checkers in the New England states," said Maurice, +hiccoughing slightly. "But out west and in all the great cities +poker has the way." + +"What have you got?" asked the Colonel, answering a call. + +"Jacks full." + +"Takes the pot;" and this Americanism came so naturally that +Maurice roared. + +"Poker is a great preliminary study to diplomacy," said the +Colonel, as he scrutinized his hand. "You raise it?" + +"Yes. One card. Diplomacy? So it is. I played a game with the +Chinese ambassador in Washington one night. I was teaching him +how to play. I lost all the ready money I had with me. Next day +I found out that he was the shrewdest player in the diplomatic +circles. Let's make it a jackpot." + +"All the same to me." + +And the game went on. Presently Maurice threw aside his coat. He +was feeling the warmth of the wine, but he opened another bottle. + +"Is there any truth," said the Colonel, "about your shooting a +man who is found cheating in your country?" + +"There is, if you can draw quicker than he." Maurice glanced at +his hand and threw it down. + +"What did you have?" + +"Nothing. I was trying to fill a straight." + +"So was I," said the Colonel, sweeping the board. "It's your +deal." He unbottoned his coat. + +Maurice felt a shiver of delight. Sticking out of the Colonel's +belt was the ebony handle of a cavalry revolver, and he made up +his mind to get it. There were no troopers around--the Colonel +had admitted as much. He began talking rapidly, sometimes +incoherently. In a corner of the room he saw the cords which had +been around his wrists and ankles the night before. + +"Poker," said the Colonel, "depends mostly on what you Americans +call bluff. A bluff, as I understand it, is making the others +think you have them when you haven't, or you haven't got them +when you have. In one case you scare them, in the other you fish. +You're getting flushed, my son; you'll have a headache to-night; +and in an hour you start." + +An hour! There was fever in Maurice's veins, but it was not +caused wholly by the heat of the wine. How should he manage it? +He must have that revolver. + +"Call? What have you got?" asked the Colonel. + +"Three kings--no, by George! only a pair. I thought a queen was +a king. My head's beginning to get shaky. Colonel, I believe I +am getting drunk." + +"I am sure of it." + +Maurice got up and rolled in an extraordinary fashion, but he +was careful not to overdo it. He began to sing. The Colonel got +up, too, and he was laughing. Maurice accidentally knocked over +some empty bottles; he kicked them about. + +"Sh!" cried the Colonel, coming around the table; "you'll +stampede the horses." + +Maurice staggered toward him, and the Colonel caught him in his +arms. Maurice suddenly drew back, and the Colonel found himself +looking into the cavernous tube of his own revolver. Not a +muscle in his face moved. + +"Take off your coat," said Maurice, quietly. + +The Colonel complied. "You are not so very drunk just now." + +"No. It was one of those bluffs when you make them think you +haven't them when you have." + +"What next?" asked the Colonel. + +"Those cords in the corner." + +The Colonel picked them up, sat down and gravely tied one around +his ankles. Maurice watched him curiously. The old fellow was +rather agreeable, he thought. + +"Now," the Colonel inquired calmly, "how are you going to tie my +hands? Can you hold the revolver in one hand and tie with the +other?" + +"Hang me!" exclaimed Maurice, finding himself brought to a halt. + +"My son," said the Colonel, "you are clever. In fact, you are +one of those fellows who grow to be great. You never miss an +opportunity, and more often than not you invent opportunities, +which is better still. The truth is, you have proceeded exactly +on the lines I thought you would; and thereby you have saved me +the trouble of lying or having it out with Madame. I am a victim, +not an accomplice; I was forced at the point of a revolver; I +had nothing to say. If I had really been careless you would have +accomplished the feat just the same. For it was easily +accomplished you will admit. 'Tis true I knew you were acting +because I expected you to act. All this preamble puzzles you." + +Certainly Maurice's countenance expressed nothing less than +perplexity. He stepped back a few paces. + +"You have," continued the Colonel, "perhaps three-quarters of an +hour. You will be able to get out of here. You will have to +depend on your resources to cross the frontier." + +"Would you just as soon explain to me--" + +"It means that a certain young lady, like myself, believes in +your innocence." + +"The countess?" Maurice cried eagerly, remembering the look of +the night before and the tears which were in it. + +"I will not mention any names. Suffice it to say that it was due +to her pleading that I consented to play poker--and to let you +fall into my arms. Come, to work," holding out his hands. + +First Maurice clasped the hand and wrung it. "Colonel, I do not +want you to get into trouble on my account--" + +"Go along with you! If you were really important," in half a +banter, "it would be altogether a different matter. As it is, +you are more in the way than anything else, only Madame does not +see it in that light. Come, at my wrists, and take your +handkerchief and tie it over my mouth; make a complete job of it +while you're at it." + +"But they'll wonder how I tied you--" + +"By the book, the boy is quite willing to sit down and play +poker with me till the escort comes! Don't trouble yourself +about me; Madame has too much need of me to give me more than a +slight rating. Hurry and be off, and remember that Beauvais has +promised to push you off the board. Take the near path for the +woods and strike northeast. If you run into any sentries it will +be your own fault." + +"And the army?" + +"The army? Who the devil has said anything about the army?" + +"I heard it go past last night." + +"Humph! Keep to the right of the pass. Now, quick, before my +conscience speaks above a whisper." + +"I should like to see the countess." + +"You will--if you reach Bleiberg by to-morrow night." + +Maurice needed no further urging, and soon he had the Colonel +securely bound and silenced. Next he put on the Colonel's hat +and coat, and examined the revolver. + +"It was very kind of you to load it, Colonel." + +The Colonel blinked his eyes. + +"Au revoir!" said Maurice, as he made for the door. "Vergis mein +nicht!" and he was gone. + +He crept down the stairs, cautiously entered the court, it was +deserted. The moon was up and shining. The gate was locked, but +he climbed it without mishap. Not a sentry was in sight. He +followed the path, and swung off into the forest. He was free. +Here he took a breathing spell. When he started onward he held +the revolver ready. Woe to the sentry who blundered on him! For +he was determined to cross the frontier if there was a breath of +life in him. Moreover, he must be in Bleiberg within twenty +hours. + +He was positive that Madame the duchess intended to steal a +march, to declare war only when she was within gunshot of +Bleiberg. It lay with him to provent this move. His cup of wrath +was full. From now on he was resolved to wage war against Madame +on his own account. She had laughed in his face. He pushed on, +examining trees, hollows and ditches. Sometimes he put his hand +to his ear and listened. There was no sound in the great lonely +forest, save for the low murmur of the wind through the +sprawling boughs. Shadows danced on the forest floor. Once he +turned and shook his clenched fist toward the spot which marked +the location of the Red Chateau. He thanked Providence that he +was never to see it again. What an adventure to tell at the +clubs when he once more regained his Vienna! Would he regain it? + +Why did Madame keep Fitzgerald to her strings? He concluded not +to bother himself with problems abstract; the main object was to +cross the Thalians by a path of his own choosing. When he had +covered what he thought to be a quarter of a mile, he mounted a +lookout. The highway was about three hundred yards to the left. +That was where it should be. He saw no sentries, so he slid down +from the tree and resumed his journey. The chestnuts, oaks, and +firs were growing thicker and denser. A dead branch cracked with +a loud report beneath his feet. With his heart almost in his +throat, he lay down and listened. A minute passed; he listened +in vain for an answering noise. He got up and went on. + +Presently he came upon a cluster of trees which was capable of +affording a hiding place for three or four men. He stood still +and surveyed it. The moon cast moving shadows on either side of +it, but these had no human shape. He laughed silently at his +fear, and as he was about to pass the cluster a man stepped out +from behind it, his eyes gleaming and his hand extended. He was +rather a handsome fellow, but pale and emaciated. He wore a +trooper's uniform, and Maurice, swearing softly, concluded that +his dash for liberty had come to naught. He, too, held a +revolver in his hand, but he dared not raise it. There was a +certain expression on the trooper's face which precluded any +arguing. + +"If you move," the trooper said, in a mild voice; "if you utter +a sound, I'll blow off the top of your cursed head!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + + +THE PRISONER OF THE RED CHATEAU + +There the two stood, mottled in the moonshine and shadow, with +wild eyes and nostrils distended, the one triumphant, the other +raging and impotent. Maurice was growing weary of fortune's +discourtesies. He gazed alternately from his own revolver, lying +at his feet, to the one in the hand of this unexpected visitant. +Only two miles between him and freedom, yet he must turn back. +The Colonel had reckoned without Madame, and therefore without +reason. This man had probably got around in front of him when he +climbed the tree. He turned sullenly and started to walk away, +expecting to be followed. + +"Halt! Where the devil are you going?" + +"Why, back to your cursed chateau!" Maurice answered surlily. + +The strange trooper laughed discordantly. "Back to the chateau? +I think not. Now, then, right about face--march! Aye, toward the +frontier; and if I have to go on alone, so much the worse for +you. I've knocked in one man's head; if necessary, I'll blow off +the top of yours. You know the way back to Bleiberg, I don't; +that is why I want your company. Now march." + +But Maurice did not march; he was filled with curiosity. "Are +you a trooper in Madame the duchess's household?" he asked. + +"No, curse you!" + +"Who are you, then?" + +"Come, come; this will not pass. No tricks; you have been +following me these twenty minutes." + +"The deuce I have!" exclaimed Maurice, bewildered. "To Bleiberg, +is it?" + +"And without loss of time. When we cross the Thalians I shall be +perfectly willing to parley with you." + +"To Bleiberg, then," said Maurice. "Since that is my destination, +the devil I care how I get there." + +"Do you mean to tell me that you are going to Bleiberg?" +surprise mingling with his impatience. + +"No place else." + +"Are you a spy?" menacingly. + +"No more than you." + +"But that uniform!" + +"I fancy yours looks a good deal like it," Maurice replied +testily. + +"I confess I never saw you before, and your tongue has a foreign +twist," with growing doubt. + +"I am sure I never saw you before, nor want to see you again." + +"What are you doing in that uniform?" + +"You have the advantage of me; suppose you begin the +introduction?" + +"Indeed I have the advantage of you, and propose to maintain it. +Who are you and what are you doing here? Answer!" + +There was something in the young man's aspect which convinced +Maurice that it would be folly to trifle. Besides, he gave to +his words an air which distinguishes the man who commands from +the man who serves. Maurice briefly acquainted the young man +with his name and position. + +"And you?" he asked. + +"I?" The young man laughed again. It was an unpleasant laugh. +"Never mind who I am. Let us go, we are losing time. What is the +date?" suddenly. + +"The twentieth of September," answered Maurice. + +"My God, a day too late!" The young man had an attack of vertigo, +and was obliged to lean against a tree for support. "Are you +telling me the truth about yourself?" + +"I am. I myself was attempting to dispense with the questionable +hospitality of the Red Chateau--good Lord!" striking his +forehead. + +"What's the matter?" + +"Are you the mysterious prisoner of the chateau, the man they +have been keeping at the end of the east corridor on the third +floor?" + +"Yes. And woe to the woman who kept me there! How came you +there?" + +Maurice, confident that something extraordinary was taking place, +related in synopsis his adventures. + +"And this cursed Englishman?" + +"Will drain a bitter cup. Madame is playing with him." + +"And the king; is he dead?" + +"He is dying." Maurice's wonder grew. What part had this strange +young man in this comedy, which was rapidly developing into a +tragedy? + +"And her Highness--her Royal Highness?" eagerly clutching +Maurice by the arm; "and she?" + +"She does not murmur, though both her pride and her heart are +sore. She has scarcely a dozen friends. Her paralytic father is +the theme of ribald jest; and now they laugh at her because the +one man who perhaps could have saved the throne has deserted her +like a coward. Hang him, I say!" + +"What do they say?" The tones were hollow. + +"They say he is enamoured of a peasant girl, and dallies with +her, forgetting his sacred vows, his promised aid, and perhaps +even this, his wedding day." + +"God help him!" was the startling and despairing cry. . . . He +was again seized with the vertigo, and swayed against the tree. +For a moment he forgot Maurice, covered his face with his +unengaged hand, and sobbed. + +Maurice was helpless; he could offer no consolation. This grief +he could not understand. He stooped and picked up his revolver +and waited. + +"I am weak," said the other man, dashing his hand from his eyes; +"I am weak and half starved. It would be better for all +concerned if I blew out my brains. The twentieth, the twentieth!" +he repeated, dully. "Curse her!" he burst forth; "as there's a +God above us, I'll have revenge. Aye, I'll return to the chateau, +Madame, that I will, but at the head of ten thousand men! . . . +The twentieth! She will never forgive me; she will think I, too, +deserted her!" He broke down again. + +"An army!" cried Maurice. + +"Aye, and ten thousand men! Come," taking Maurice by the arm; +"come, they may be seeking us. To the frontier. Every hour is +precious. To a telegraph office! We shall see if I dally with +peasant girls, if I forsake the woman I love!" + +"You?" Maurice retreated a step. The silver moonshine became +tinged with red. + +"I am Prince Frederick, and I love her Highness. I would +sacrifice a thousand kingdoms to spare her a moment's sorrow. I +have always loved her." + +"What a woman!" Maurice murmured, as the scheme of Madame's +flashed through his mind. "What a woman! And she had the +audacity to kidnap you, too!" + +"And by the most dishonorable device. I and my suite of +gentlemen were coming to Bleiberg to make the final arrangements. +At Ehrenstein I received a telegram which requested me to visit +till the following train a baron who was formerly a comrade of +my father. The telegram advised me of his sudden illness, and +that he had something important to disclose to me. I bade my +gentlemen, save one, proceed to Bleiberg. My aide and I entered +the carriage which was to convey us to the castle. We never +reached it. On the road we fell into an ambush, a contrivance of +Madame's. I was brought to the chateau. Whatever happened to +Hofer, my aide, I do not know. Doubtless he is dead. But Madame +shall pay, both in pride and wealth. I will lay waste this duchy +of hers, though in the end the emperor crush me. Let us be off." + +They stumbled on through the forest. So confused was Maurice +that he forgot his usual caution. The supreme confidence of this +woman and the flawlessness of her schemes dazed him. So far she +had stopped at nothing; where would she end? A Napoleon in +petticoats, she was about to appall the confederation. She had +suppressed a prince who was heir to a kingdom triple in power +and size to the kingdom which she coveted. Madame the duchess +was relying on some greater power, else her plans were madness. + +As for the prince, he had but one thought: to reach Bleiberg. +The confinement, together with mental suffering, anxiety and +forced inaction, began to tell on him. Twice he tripped and fell, +and Maurice had to return to assist him to his feet. However +could they cross the mountains, a feat which needed both courage +and extreme physical endurance? + +"I am so weak," said the prince, "so pitiably weak! I thought to +frighten the woman by starving myself, poor fool that I was!" + +And they went on again. Maurice was beginning to feel the effect +of his wine-bibbing; he had a splitting headache. + +"Silence!" he suddenly whispered, sinking and dragging the +prince with him. + +A hundred yards in advance of them stood a sentinel, his body +bent forward and a hand to his ear. Presently he, too, lay down. +Five minutes passed. The sentinel rose, and convinced that his +ears had tricked him, resumed his lonely patrol. He disappeared +toward the west, while the fugitives made off in an easterly +direction. Maurice was a soldier again. Every two or three +hundred yards he knelt and pressed his ear to the cold, damp +earth and waited for a familiar jar. The prince watched these +movements with interest. + +"You have been a soldier?" he asked. + +"Yes. Perhaps we had better strike out for the mountains. The +sentry line can not extend as far as this." + +But now they could see the drab peaks of the mountains which +loomed between the partly dismantled trees. Beyond lay the +kingdom. Would they ever reach it? There was only one pass; this +they dared not make. Yet if they attempted to cross the +mountains in a deserted place, they might very easily get lost; +for in some locations it was fully six miles across the range, +and this, with the ups and downs and windings in and out, might +lengthen into twenty miles. They struck out toward the mountains, +and after half an hour they came upon an unforeseen obstacle. +They sat down in despair. This obstacle was the river, not very, +wide, but deep, turbulent and impassable. + +"We shall have to risk the pass," said Maurice, gloomily; +"though heaven knows how we are to get through it. We have ten +shots between us." + +They followed the river. The roar of it deadened all other +sounds. For a mile they plodded on, silent, watchful and +meditative. The prince thought of his love; Maurice tried to +forget his. For him the romance had come to an end, its logical +end; and it was now only a question of getting back to the world +to which he belonged and remaining there. He recalled a line he +had read somewhere: a deep love, gashes into the soul as a scar +is hewn upon the body and remains there during the whole life. . . + +"Look!" cried the prince. He pointed toward the west. + +Maurice came out of his dream and looked. Some distance west of +the pass, perhaps half a mile from where they stood, Maurice saw +the twinkle of a hundred campfires. It was Madame's army in +bivouac. + +"What does this mean?" asked the prince. + +"It means that the duchess is on the eve of striking a blow for +her crown," answered Maurice. "And how are we to make the pass, +which is probably filled with soldiers? If only we could find a +boat! Ah! what would your Highness call this?" He pointed to a +thread-like line of bare earth which wended riverward. + +"A sheep or cattle path," said the prince, after a close +inspection. + +"Then the river is perhaps fordable here!" exclaimed Maurice +jubilantly. "At any rate, we'll try it; if it gets too deep, +we'll come back." + +He walked to the water's edge, studied the black whirling mass, +shrugged and stepped in. The prince came after him, +unhesitatingly. Both shivered. The water was intensely cold. But +the bed was shallow, and the river never mounted above the waist. +However, in midstream it rushed strongly and wildly along, and +all but carried them off their feet. They arrived in safety at +the opposite shore, weak and cold in body, but warm in spirit. +They lay on the grass for several moments, breathing heavily. +They might now gain the pass by clambering up the mountain and +picking their way down from the other side. It was not possible +that Madame's troopers had entered into the kingdom. + +"I am giving out," the prince confessed reluctantly. "Let us +make as much headway as we can while I last." + +They stood up. Now the moon fell upon them both; and they viewed +each other with no little curiosity. What the prince saw pleased +him, for he possessed a good eye. What Maurice saw was a frank, +manly countenance, youthful, almost boyish. The prince did not +look to be more than three and twenty, if that; but there was a +man's determination in his jaw. This jaw pleased Maurice, for it +confided to him that Madame had now something that would cause +her worry. + +"I put myself in your care," said the prince, offering his hand. +"I am not equal to much. A man can not see his wedding day come +and go without him, helpless to prevent it, and not have the +desire to sit down and weep and curse. You will see nothing but +the unfavorable side of me for the next dozen hours." + +"I'm not altogether amiable myself," replied Maurice with a +short laugh. "Let us get out of the moonlight," he added; "we +are somewhat conspicuous, and besides, we should keep moving; +this cold is paralyzing. Is your Highness equal to the climbing?" + +"Equal or not, lead the way. If I fall I'll call you." + +And the weary march began again; over boulders, through tangles +of tough shrubbery, up steep inclines, around precipices, +sometimes enveloped in mists, yet still they kept on. Often the +prince fell over ragged stones, but he picked himself up without +assistance; though he swore some, Maurice thought none the less +of him for that bit of human weakness. The cold was numbing, and +neither felt the cuts and bruises. + +After two hours of this fatiguing labor they arrived upon a +small plateau, about two thousand feet above the valley. The +scene was solemn and imposing. The world seemed lying at their +feet. The chateau, half hidden in the mist, sparkled like an +opal. Maurice scowled at it. To the prince the vision was as +reviving as a glass of wine. He threatened it with his fist, and +plunged on with renewed vigor. There are few sensations so +stimulating as the thought of a complete revenge. The angle of +vision presently changed, and the historic pile vanished. +Maurice never saw the Red Chateau again. + +Little more in the way of mishap befell them; and when the moon +had wheeled half way down from the zenith, the kingdom lay below +them. A descent of an hour's duration brought them into the pass. +Maurice calculated that nearly five hours had passed since he +left the chateau; for the blue was fading in the east. The +phantom vitality of the prince now forsook him; his legs refused +their offices, and he sank upon a boulder, his head in his hands. +Maurice was not much better; but the prince had given him the +burden of responsibility, and he was determined to hold up under +it. + +"If your Highness will remain here," he said, "I will fetch +assistance, for the barrack can not be far off." + +The prince nodded and Maurice tramped away. But the miniature +barrack and the quaint stone customs house both were wrapt in +gloom and darkness. Maurice investigated. Both buildings were +deserted; there was no sign of life about. He broke a window, +and entered the customs office. Remembering that Colonel +Mollendorf smoked, he searched the inner pocket of his coat. He +drew forth a box of wax matches, struck one and looked about. A +struggle had taken place. Evidences were strewn on the floor. +The telegraph operator's table had been smashed into bits, the +instrument twisted out of shape, the jars broken and the wires +cut. Like indications of a disturbance were also found in the +barrack. + +Maurice began to comprehend. Madame's troopers had crossed the +frontier, but they had returned again, taking with them the +handful of troopers belonging to the king. It was plain that the +object of this skirmish had been to destroy communications +between Bleiberg and the frontier. Madame desired to effect a +complete surprise, to swoop down on the capital before it could +bring a large force into the field. + +There is an unwritten law that when one country intends to wage +war against its neighbor a formal declaration shall be made. But +again Madame had forsaken the beaten paths. More than three +weeks had passed since the duchy's representative in Bleiberg +had been discredited and given his passports. At once the +duchess had retaliated by discrediting the king's representative +in Brunnstadt. Ordinarily this would have been understood as a +mutual declaration of war. Instead, both governments ignored +each other, one suspiciously, the other intentionally. All of +which is to say, the gage of war had been flung, but neither had +stooped to pick it up. + +Perhaps Madame expected by this sudden aggressiveness to win her +fight with as little loss of blood as possible, which in justice +to her was to her credit. Again, a declaration of war openly +made might have moved the confederation to veto it by coercion. +To win without loss of life would leave the confederation +powerless to act. Therefore it will be seen that Madame was not +only a daring woman, but a general of no mean ability. + +This post was an isolated one; between it and Bleiberg there was +not even a village. The main pass from the kingdom into the +duchy was about thirty miles east. Here was a small but lively +city named Coberg, a railway center, garrisoned by one thousand +troops. At this pass Madame's contemplated stroke of war would +have been impossible. The railway ran directly from Coberg to +Brunnstadt, fifty miles south of the frontier. A branch of the +railway ran from Brunnstadt to a small town seven miles south of +the Red Chateau, which accounts for the ease with which Madame's +troops had reached the isolated pass. It was now likely that +Madame would arrive before Bleiberg ere her enemies dreamed of +the stroke. Maurice could see how well the traitorous +administration had played into Madame's hands. Here was the one +weak spot, and they had allowed it to remain thus weak. + +"The kingdom is lost," thought Maurice. "His Highness and I may +as well return to the chateau, for all the good our escape will +do us. Hang them all!" + +He began to forage, and discovered a bottle full of peach brandy. +He drank half the contents, reserving the remainder for the +prince. As he lowered the bottle there came a sound which caused +him almost to lose hold of the vigorous tonic. The sound he +heard was the shrill whinney of a horse. He pocketed the bottle +and dashed out to the stables. To his joy several horses stamped +restlessly in the stalls. The attacking party had without doubt +come on foot. He led out two, saddled and bridled them and +returned to the prince, who had fallen asleep. Maurice roused +him. + +"To Bleiberg, your Highness," he cried, at the same time +offering the bottle, which the prince did not hesitate to empty. + +"Ha !" staggering to his feet. "Where are the men?" + +Maurice explained the cause of their absence. The prince swore, +and climbed with difficulty into the saddle. + +"Thank God," he said, as they galloped away, "we shall be there +first." + +"Adieu, Madame!" Maurice cried, airily. He was free. + +"To our next meeting, duchess!" The prince, too, was free, but +he thirsted for a full revenge. + +They had been on the way but a short time when Maurice lifted +his arm. + +"Look!" + +The prince raised his head. It was dawn, yellow and cold and +pure. + +They fell into silence; sometimes Maurice caught himself +counting the beat of the hoofs and the variation of sounds, as +when they struck sand or slate, or crossed small wooden bridges. +Here and there he saw peasants going into the fields to begin +the long, long day of toil. The saddle on which he sat had been +the property of a short man, for the stirrups were too high, and +the prince's were too low. But neither desired to waste time to +adjust them. And so they rode with dangling legs and bodies +sunken in the saddles; mute, as if by agreement. + +They had gone perhaps ten miles when they perceived a horse +flying toward them, half a mile away. The rider was not yet +visible. They felt no alarm, but instinctively they drew +together. Nearer and nearer came the lonely horseman, and as the +distance lessened into some hundred yards they discerned the +flutter of a gown. + +"A woman!" exclaimed Maurice. "And alone this time of morning!" + +"Eh?" cried the prince; "and heading for the duchy? Let us wait." + +They drew up to the side of the highway. The woman came +fearlessly on, her animal's head down and his tail flaring out +behind. On, on; abreast of them; as she flew past there was a +vision of a pale, determined face, a blond head bared to the +chill wind. She heeded not their challenge; it was a question +whether or not she heard it. They stood watching her until she +and her horse dwindled into a mere moving speck, finally to +become lost altogether in a crook of the road. + +"I should like to know what that means," said Maurice. + +"It is very strange," the prince said, musingly. "I have seen +that woman before. She is one of the dancers at the opera." + +"Mayhap she has a lover on the other side." + +"Mayhap. Let us be on. There's the sun, and we are a good +thirteen miles away!" and the prince slapped the neck of his +horse, which bounded forward. + +This tiring pace they maintained until they mounted the hill +from which they could see the glittering spires of the city, and +the Werter See as it flashed back the sunlight. + +"Bleiberg!" Maurice waved his hand. + +"Thanks to you, that I look on it." + +It was ten o'clock when they passed under the city gates. + +"Monsieur, will you go with me to the palace?" asked the prince. + +"If your Highness will excuse me," said Maurice; "no, I should +be in the way; and besides I am dead for want of sleep." + +"I shall never sleep," grumbled the prince, "till I have humbled +that woman. And you? Have you no rankle in your heart? Have you +no desire to witness that woman's humiliation?" + +"Your Highness, I belong to a foreign country." + +"No matter; be my aide. Come; I offer you a complete revenge for +the treatment you have received at Madame's hands. Your +government shall never know." + +Maurice studied the mane of his horse. Suddenly he made a +gesture. This gesture consigned to the four winds his diplomatic +career. "I accept," he said. "You will find me at the +Continental. I confess that I have no love for this woman. She +has robbed me of no little conceit." + +"To the palace, then; to the palace! And this hour to-morrow we, +you and I, will drink to her Royal Highness at the Red Chateau. +To the palace!" + +Up the Strasse they raced, through the lower town to the upper, +and down the broad asphalt to the palace gates. The prince +rushed his horse to the very bars and shook them in his wild +impatience. + +"Ho! open, open!" he called. + +Several cuirassiers lounged about. At the sight of these two +hatless, bedraggled men storming the gates, they ran forward +with drawn swords and angry cries. Lieutenant Scharfenstein was +among them. At second glance he recognized Maurice, who hailed +him. + +"Open, Lieutenant," he cried; "it is his Highness, Prince +Frederick!" + +The bars came down, the gates swung in. + +"Go and sleep," said the prince to Maurice; "I will send an +orderly for you when the time comes." And with this he dashed up +the driveway to the main entrance of the palace, leaped from his +horse and disappeared. + +Maurice wheeled and drove leisurely to the Continental, leaving +the amazed cuirassiers gaping after him. He experienced that +exuberance of spirits which always comes with a delightful day +dream. He forgot his weariness, his bruises. To mingle directly +in the affairs of kings and princes, to be a factor among +factors who surround and uphold thrones, seemed so at variance +with his republican learning that he was not sure that all this +was not one long dream--Fitzgerald and his consols, the meeting +with the princess, the adventures at Madame's chateau, the duel +with Beauvais, the last night's flight with the prince across +the mountains! Yes; he had fallen asleep somewhere and had been +whisked away into a kind of fairyland. Every one was in trouble +just now, as they always are in certain chapters of fairy tales, +but all would end happily, and then--he would wake. + +Meanwhile the prince entered the palace and was proceeding up +the grand corridor, when a bared sword stayed his progress. + +"Monsieur," said von Mitter, "you have lost your way. You can +not enter here." + +"I?" a haughty, threatening expression on his pale face. "Are +you sure?" + +Von Mitter fell back against the wall and all but lost hold of +his saber. "Your Highness?" he gasped, overcome. + +"Even so!" said the prince. "The archbishop! the Marshal! Lead +me to them at once!" + +Von Mitter was too much the soldier not to master his surprise +at once. He saluted, clicked his heels and limped toward the +throne room. He stopped at the threshold, saluted again, and, in +a voice full of quavers, announced: + +"His Highness Prince Frederick of Carnavia." + +He stepped aside, and the prince pushed past him into the throne +room. At this dramatic entrance there rose from the archbishop, +the Marshal, the princess, the Carnavian ambassador, from all +the court dignitaries, a cry of wonder and astonishment. + +"His Highness!" + +"Aye!" cried the prince, brokenly, for his joy at seeing the +princess nigh overcame him. "I have been a prisoner of Madame's, +who at this moment is marching on Bleiberg with an army four +thousand strong!" And stumblingly he related his misadventures. + +The Marshal did not wait until he had done, nor did the new +Colonel of the cuirassiers; both rushed from the room. The +archbishop frowned; while the princess and the court stared at +the prince with varying emotions. Before the final word had +passed his lips, he approached her Highness, fell on his knee +and raised her hand to his lips. He noticed not how cold it was. + +"Thank God, Mademoiselle," he said, "that once more I look into +your eyes. And if one wedding day is gone--well, there is yet +time for another!" He, rose, and proudly before them all he drew +her toward him and kissed her cheek. It was his right; she was, +the light of all his dreams, at once his bride-to-be and lady- +love. But in his joy and eagerness he did not see how pale she +grew at the touch of his lips, nor how the lids of her eyes +trembled and fell. + +Next the prince recounted Maurice's adventures, how he became +connected with those at the chateau, even Fitzgerald's fall from +grace. The indignation and surprise which was accorded this +recital was unbounded. + +The brown eyes of the princess filled. In a moment she had +traversed the space of ten years to a rare September noon, when +a gray-haired old man had kissed her hand and praised her speech. +A young dog stood beside her, ready for a romp in the park. +Across the path sat her father, who was smiling, and who would +never smile again. How many times had her girlish fancy pictured +the son of that old man! How many times had she dreamed of him-- +aye, prayed for him! The room grew dark, and she pressed her +hand over her heart. To her the future was empty indeed. There +was nothing left but the vague perfume of the past, the faint +incense of futile, childish dreams. To stand on the very +threshold of life, and yet to see no joy beyond! She struggled +against the sob which rose, and conquered it. + +"To arms, Messieurs, to arms!" cried the prince, feverishly. "To +arms!" + +The archbishop stepped forward and took the prince's hand in his +own. + +"God wills all things," he said, sadly, "and perhaps he has +willed that your Highness should come too late!" And that +strange, habitual smile was gone--forever. No one could fathom +the true significance of this peculiar speech. + +"But "aux armes" was taken up, and spread throughout the city. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + + +THE FORTUNES OF WAR + +War! The whole city was in tumult. The guests were leaving the +hotels, the timid were preparing to fly, and shopkeepers were +putting up their blinds and hiding their valuables; the parks +and cafes were deserted. The railway booking office was crowded, +and a babel of tongues quarreled for precedence. The siege of +Paris was but yesterday's news, and tourists did not propose to +be walled in from the outer world. Some looked upon the scene as +a comic opera; others saw the tragedy of men snarling at one +another's throats. + +Two hundred gendarmes patrolled the streets; for in war time the +dregs of a city float to the surface. Above the foreign +legations flags rose, offering protection to all those who +possessed the right to claim it. Less than four thousand troops +had marched from the city that day, but these were the flower of +the army, consisting of two thousand foot, six cannon and twelve +hundred horse. Europe has always depended largely on the cavalry, +which in the past has been a most formidable engine in warfare. + +With gay plumes and banners, glittering helmets and flashing +cuirasses, they had gone forth to meet Madame and drive her back +across the range. They had made a brave picture, especially the +royal cuirassiers, who numbered three hundred strong, and who +were to fight not only for glory, but for bread. Fifty of them +had been left behind to guard the palaces. + +In the royal bedchamber the king lay, all unconscious of the +fate impending. The brain had ceased to live; only a feeble +pulse stirred irregularly. The state physician shook his head, +and, from time to time, laid his fingers on the unfeeling wrist. +To him it was a matter of a few hours. + +But to the girl, whose face lay hidden in the counterpane, close +to one of those senseless hands, to her it was a matter of a +breaking heart, of eyes which could be no longer urged to tears, +the wells having dried up. Dear God, she thought, how cruel it +was! Her tried and trusted friend, the one playmate of her +childhood, was silently slipping out of her life forever. Ah, +what to her were crowns and kingdoms, aye, and even war? Her +father dead, what mattered it who reigned? How she prayed that +he might live! They would go away together, and live in peace +and quiet, undisturbed by the storms of intrigue. . . . It was +not to be; he was dying. She would be the wife of no man; her +father, hovering in spirit above her, would read her heart and +understand. Dead, he would ask no sacrifice of her. Henceforth +only God would be her king, and she would worship him in some +sacred convent. + +The old valet, who had served his master from boyhood, stood in +the anteroom and fumbled his lips, his faded eyes red with +weeping. He was losing the only friend he had. Elsewhere the +servants wandered about restlessly, waiting for news from the +front, to learn if they, too, were to join in the mad flight +from the city. Few servants love masters in adversity. Self- +interest is the keynote to their existences. + +In the east wing three men were holding a whispered consultation. +The faces of two were pale and deep-lined; the face of the +third expressed a mixture of condolence and triumph. These three +gentlemen were the archbishop, the chancellor and the Austrian +ambassador. History has not taken into account what passed +between these three men, but subsequent events proved that it +signified disaster to one who dreamed of conquest and of power. + +Said the ambassador, rising: "After what has been said, his +Imperial Majesty will, I can speak authoritatively, further +discredit Walmoden; for I have this day received information +from a reliable source which precludes any rehabilitation of +that prince. My deepest sympathies are with her Highness; his +Majesty highly honored her unfortunate father. Permit me to bid +you good day, for you know that the matter under my hand needs +my immediate attention." + +When he had gone the prelate said: "My friend, our services to +the kingdom are nearly over." + +"We are lost!" replied the chancellor. "The king is happy, +indeed." + +"I find," said the prelate, "that we have been lost for ten +years. Had this Englishman proved true, it would not have +mattered; had Prince Frederick arrived in time, still it would +not have mattered. But above all, I was determined that Madame +the duchess should not triumph. The end was written ten years +ago. How invincible is fate! How incontestible its decrees!" + +In the lower town the students were preparing a riot, which was +to take place that night. Old Stuler's was thronged. Stuler +himself looked on indifferently, even listlessly. He had heard +of Kopf's death. + +It was half after five of the afternoon. Six miles beyond the +Althofen bridge, in all thirteen miles from Bleiberg, a long, +low cloud of dust hung over the king's highway. This cloud of +dust was caused by the hurried, rhythmic pad-pad of human feet, +the striking of hoofs and the wheels of cannon. It marked the +progress of an army. To the great surprise of the Marshal, the +prince and the staff, they had pushed thus far during the +afternoon without seeing a sign of the enemy. Was Madame asleep? +Was she so confident her projects were unknown that she had +chosen night as the time of her attack? Night, indeed, when the +strength of her forces would be a matter of conjecture to the +assaulted, who at the suddenness of her approach would succumb +to panic! The prince was jubilant and hopeful. He had no doubt +that they would arrive at the pass just as Madame was issuing +forth. This meant an easy victory, for once the guns covered the +narrow pass, though Madame's army were ten times as strong, its +defeat was certain. A small force might hold it in check for +hours. + +A squadron of cuirassiers had been sent forward to reconnoiter, +and as yet none had returned with alarms. The road had many +windings, and was billowed frequently with hills, and ran +through small forests. Only the vast blue bulk of the mountains +remained ever in view. + +"We shall drink at the Red Chateau to-night," said the prince, +gaily, to Maurice. + +"That we shall," replied Maurice; "and the best in the cellars." + +Only the Marshal said nothing; he knew what war was. In his +youth he had served in Transylvania, and he was not minded to +laugh and jest. Then, too, there was injustice on both sides. +Poor devil! as his thoughts recurred to the king. Touched for +the moment by the wings of ambition, which is at best a white +vulture, he had usurped another's throne, and to this end! But +he was less answerable than the archbishop, who had urged him. + +Occasionally he glanced back at the native troops, the foot, the +horse, the artillery, and scowled. From these his glance +wandered to the cold, impassive face of General Kronau, who rode +at his side, and he rubbed his nose. Kronau had been a favorite +of Albrecht's . . . How would he act? In truth, the Marshal's +thoughts were not altogether pleasant. Some of these men +surrounding him, exchanging persiflage, might never witness +another sunset. For, while the world would look upon this +encounter as one looks upon a comedy, for some it would serve as +tragedy. Often he lent his ear to the gay banter of the young +American, and watched the careless smile on his face. What was +he doing here? Why was he risking his life for no cause whatever, +an alien, in natural sympathy neither with the kingdom nor with +the duchy? A sad, grim smile parted his lips. + +"O, the urbanity of the young and the brave!" he murmured. + +Maurice felt the old familiar exhilaration--the soldier's +exhilaration--quicken the beat of his pulse. He did not ask +himself why he was here; he knew why. A delightful flower had +sprung up in his heart, and fate had nipped it. Whither this new +adventure would lead him he cared not. From now on life for him +must be renewed by continual change and excitement. Since no one +depended on him, his life was his to dispose of as he willed. +Friends? He laughed. He knew the world too well. He himself was +his best friend, for he had always been true to himself. + +He might be shot, but he had faced that possibility before. +Besides, to-day's experience would be new to him. He had never +witnessed a battle in the open, man to man, in bright, +resplendent uniforms. A ragged, dusty troop of brown-skinned men +in faded blue, with free and easy hats, irregular of formation, +no glory, no brilliancy, skirmishing with outlawed white men and +cunning Indians, that was the extent of his knowledge by +experience. True, these self-same men in dingy blue fought with +a daring such as few soldiers living possessed; but they lacked +the ideal picturesqueness which made this army so attractive. + +The sharp edges of his recent fatigue were not yet dulled, but +his cuirass sat lightly upon him, the sound of the dangling +saber at his side smote pleasantly his ear, and the black +Mecklenberg under him was strong and active. To return to +Madame's chateau in the guise of a conqueror was a most engaging +thought. She had humbled his self-love, now to humble hers! He +no longer bothered himself about Beauvais, whose case he had +placed in the hands of the Austrian ambassador. + +Gay and debonair he rode that late September afternoon. No man +around him had so clear an eye nor so constant a vivacity. Since +he had nothing but his life to lose, he had no fear. Let the +theater be full of light while the play lasted, and let the +curtain fall to a round of huzzas! For a few short hours ago he +had kissed a woman's hand and had looked into her sad brown eyes. +"Why you do this I do not know, nor shall I ask. Monsieur, my +prayers go with you." Was not that an amulet? His diplomatic +career! He fell to whistling. + +"Ah! que j'aime les militaires!" + +More than once the prince felt the sting of envy in his heart at +the sight of this embodiment of supreme nonchalance. It spoke of +a healthy salt in the veins, a salt such as kings themselves can +not always boast of. A foreigner, a republican? No matter; a +gallant man. + +"Monsieur," he said impulsively, "you shall always possess my +friendship, once we are well out of this." + +"Thanks, your Highness," replied Maurice, and laughing; "the +after-thought is timely!" + +The sun lay close to the western rim of hills; an opal sky +encompassed the earth; the air was balmy. + +"The French call this St. Martin's summer," said Maurice. "In my +country we call it Indian summer--ah!" lifting in his stirrups. + +The army was approaching a hill, when suddenly a whirlwind of +dust rolled over the summit, and immediately a reconnoitering +patrol came dashing into view, waving their sabers aloft. . . . +The enemy was less than a mile away, and advancing rapidly. + +To anticipate. Madame the duchess had indeed contemplated +striking the blow at night. That morning, like the brave Amazon +she was, she had pitched her tent in the midst of her army, to +marshal and direct its forces. It was her intention to be among +the first to enter Bleiberg; for she was a soldier's daughter, +and could master the inherent fears of her sex. + +That same morning a woman entered the lines and demanded an +audience. What passed between her and Madame the duchess others +never knew. She had also been apprised of the prisoners' escape, +but, confident that they would not be able to make a crossing, +she disdained pursuit. The prince had missed his wedding day; he +was no longer of use to her. As to the American, he would become +lost, and that would be the end of him. + +But the Englishman. . . . He was conscience eternally barking at +her heels. The memory of that kiss still rankled in her mind, +and not an hour went by in which she did not chide herself for +the folly. How to get rid of him perplexed her. Here he was, in +the uniform of a Lieutenant-Colonel, ready to go to any lengths +at a sign from her. There was something in her heart which she +had not yet analyzed. First of all, her crown; as to her heart, +there was plenty of time in which to study that peculiar and +unstable organ. The possibility of the prince's arriving in +Bleiberg before her in no way disturbed her. Whenever her attack +was made, failure would not attend it. She broke camp at two +o'clock and took the road leisurely toward Bleiberg. + +Thus, the two armies faced each other comparatively in the open. +A battle hung in the air. + +The king's forces came to an abrupt halt. Orderlies dashed to +and fro. The artillery came rumbling and creaking to the front, +wheeled, the guns unlimbered and ranged so as to enfilade the +road. The infantry deployed to right and left while the cavalry +swung into position on the flanks. All this was accomplished +with the equanimity of dress parade. Maurice could not control +his admiration. Madame, he thought, might win her crown, but at +a pretty cost. + +The Marshal and the staff posted themselves on the right breast +of the hill, from whence, by the aid of binoculars, they could +see the enemy. From time to time General Kronau nervously +smoothed his beard, formed his lips into words, but did not +utter them, and glanced slyly from the corner of his eye at the +Marshal, who was intent on the enemy's approach. Maurice was +trying with naked eye to pierce the forest and the rolling +ground beyond, and waiting for the roar of the guns. + +Orders had been issued for the gunners to get the range and +commence firing; but as the gunners seemed over long in getting +down to work, Maurice gazed around impatiently. The blood rushed +into his heart. For this is what he saw: the infantry leaning +indolently on their guns, their officers snipping the grasses +with their swords; the cuirassiers hidden in the bulk of the +native cavalry; artillerymen seated carelessly on the caissons, +and the gunners smoking and leaning against the guns. All action +was gone, as if by magic; nothing but a strange tableau remained! +Moreover, a troop of native cavalry, which, for no apparent +reason, had not joined the main body, had closed in on the +general staff. Appalled by a sudden thought, Maurice touched the +prince, who lowered his glasses and turned his head. +Bewilderment widened his eyes, and the flush on his cheeks died +away. He, too, saw. + +"Devil's name!" the Marshal burst forth, "why don't the +blockheads shoot? The enemy--" He stopped, his chin fell, for, +as he turned, a single glance explained all to him. The red on +his face changed into a sickly purple, and the glasses slipped +from his hands and broke into pieces on the stony ground. + +"Marshal," began General Kronau, "I respect your age and valiant +services. That is why we have come thirteen miles. You may keep +your sword, and also Monsieur the prince. For the present you +are prisoners." + +For a moment the Marshal was stupefied. His secret fears had +been realized. Suddenly a hoarse oath issued from his lips, he +dragged his saber from the scabbard, raised it and made a +terrible sweep at the General. But the stroke fell on a dozen +intervening blades, and the Marshal's arms were held and forced +to his sides. + +"Kronau . . . you?" he roared. "Betrayed! You despicable coward +and traitor! You--" But speech forsook him, and he would have +fallen from the horse but for those who held his arms. + +"Traitor?" echoed Kronau, coolly. "To what and to whom? I am +serving my true and legitimate sovereign. I am also serving +humanity, since this battle is to be bloodless. It is you who +are the traitor. You swore allegiance to the duke, and that +allegiance is the inheritance of the daughter. How have you kept +your oath?" + +But the Marshal was incapable of answer. One looking at him +would have said that he was suffering from a stroke of apoplexy. + +"I admit," went on the General, not wholly unembarrassed, "that +the part I play is not an agreeable one to me, but it is +preferable to the needless loss of human life. The duchess was +to have entered Bleiberg at night, to save us this present +dishonor, if you persist in calling it such. But his Highness, +who is young, and Monseigneur the archbishop, who dreams of +Richelieu, made it impossible. No harm is intended to any one." + +The prince, white and shivering as if with ague, broke his sword +on the pommel of the saddle and hurled the pieces at Kronau, who +permitted them to strike him. + +"God's witness," the prince cried furiously, "but your victory +shall be short-lived. I have an army, trusty to the last sword, +and you shall feel the length of its arm within forty-eight +hours." + +"Perhaps," said Kronau, shrugging. + +"It is already on the way." + +"Your Highness forgets that Carnavia belongs to the +confederation, and that the king, your father, dare not send you +troops without the consent of the emperor, which, believe me, +will never be given;" and he urged his horse down the slope. + +The army of the duchess had now gained the open. The advance was +composed of cavalry, which came along the road with wings on +either side, and with great dash and splendor. + +A noisy cheer arose, to be faintly echoed by the oncoming +avalanche of white horses and dazzling blue uniforms. + +This was the incident upon which Madame the duchess relied. + +With rage and chagrin in his heart, Maurice viewed the scene. +The knell of the Osians had been struck. He gazed forlornly at +the cuirassiers; they at least had come to sell their lives +honestly for their bread. Presently the two armies came together; +all was confusion and cheers. Kronau approached the leader of +the cavalry. . . . Maurice was greatly disturbed. He leaned +toward the prince. + +"Your Highness," he whispered, "I am going to make a dash for +the road." + +"Yes, yes!" replied the prince, intuitively. "My God, yes! Warn +her to fly, so that she will not be compelled to witness this +cursed woman's triumph. Save her that humiliation. Go, and God +be with you, my friend! We are all dishonored. The Marshal looks +as if he were dying." + +The native troopers, in their eagerness to witness the meeting +between Kronau and the former Colonel of the cuirassiers, had +pushed forward. A dozen, however, had hemmed in the Marshal, the +prince and Maurice. But these were standing in their stirrups. +Maurice gradually brought his horse about so that presently he +was facing north. Directly in front of him was an opening. He +grasped his saber firmly and pressed the spurs. Quick as he was, +two sabers barred his way, but he beat them aside, went +diagonally down the hill, over the stone wall and into the road. + +While he was maneuvering for this dash, one man had been eying +him with satisfaction. As the black horse suddenly sank from +view behind the hill, Beauvais, to the astonishment of Kronau, +drew his revolver. + +"There goes a man," he cried, "who must not escape. He is so +valuable that I shall permit no one but myself to bring him back!" +And the splendid white animal under him bounded up the hill +and down the other side. + +Beauvais had a well-defined purpose in following alone. He was +determined that one Maurice Carewe should not bother anyone +hereafter; he knew too much. + +The white horse and the black faded away in the blur of rising +dust. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + + +A PAGE FROM TASSO + +For a long time Maurice rode with his head almost touching the +coal black mane of his gallant Mecklenberg. Twice he glanced +back to see who followed, but the volume of dust which rolled +after him obscured all behind. He could hear the far-off hammer +of hoofs, but this, mingling with the noise of his own horse, +confused him as to the number of pursuers. He reasoned that he +was well out of range, for there came no report of firearms. The +road presently described a semi-circle, passing through a meager +orchard. Once beyond this he turned again in the saddle. + +"Only one; that is not so bad as it might be. It is one to one." +But a second glance told him who this solitary pursuer was. "The +devil!" he laughed--as one of Tasso's heroes might have laughed!- +-"The devil! how that man loves me!" He was confident that the +white horse would never overtake the black. + +On they flew, pursued and pursuer. At length Maurice bit his lip +and frowned. The white horse was growing larger; the distance +between was lessening, slowly but certainly. + +"Good boy!" he said encouragingly to the Mecklenberg. "Good boy!" + +Deserted farm houses swept past; hills rose and vanished, but +still the white horse crept up, up, up. The distance ere another +half mile had gone had diminished to four hundred yards; from +four hundred it fell to three hundred, from three hundred to two +hundred. The Mecklenburg was doing glorious work, but the +marvelous stride of the animal in the rear was matchless. +Suddenly Maurice saw a tuft of the red plume on his helmet +spring out ahead of him and sail away, and a second later came +the report. One, he counted; four more were to follow. Next a +stream of fire gassed along his cheek, and something warm +trickled down the side of his neck. Two, he counted, his face +now pale and set. The third knocked his scabbard into the air. + +Quickly he shifted his saber to the left, dropped the reins and +drew his own revolver. He understood. He was not to be taken +prisoner. Beauvais intended to kill him offhand. Only the dead +keep secrets. Maurice flung about and fired three consecutive +times. The white horse reared, and the shako of his master fell +into the dust, but there was no other result. As Maurice pressed +the trigger for the fourth time the revolver was violently +wrenched from his hand, and a thousand needles seemed to be +quivering in the flesh of his arm and hand. + +"My God, what a shot!" he murmured. "I am lost!" + +Simultaneous with the fifth and last shot came sensation +somewhat like that caused by a sound blow in the middle of the +back. Strange, but he felt no pain, neither was there an +accompanying numbness. Then he remembered his cuirass, which was +of steel an eighth of an inch thick. It had saved his life. The +needles began to leave his right hand and arm, and he knew that +he had received no injury other than a shock. He passed the +saber back to his right hand. He had no difficulty in holding it. +Gradually his grip grew strong and steady. + +Beauvais was now within twenty yards of Maurice. Had he been +less eager and held his fire up to this point, Maurice had been +a dead man. The white horse gained every moment. A dull fury +grew into life in Maurice's heart. Instead of continuing the +race, he brought the Mecklenberg to his haunches and wheeled. He +made straight for Beauvais, who was surprised at this change of +tactics. In the rush they passed each other and the steel hummed +spitefully through space. Both wheeled again. + +"Your life or mine!" snarled Maurice. His coolness, however, was +proportionate to his rage. For the first time in his life the +lust to kill seized him. + +"It shall be yours, damn you!" replied Beauvais. + +"The Austrian ambassador has your history; kill me or not, you +are lost." Maurice made a sweep at his enemy's head and missed. + +Beauvais replied in kind, and it flashed viciously off the point +of Maurice's saber. He had only his life to lose, but it had +suddenly become precious to him; Beauvais had not only his life, +but all that made life worth living. His onslaught was terrible. +Besides, he was fighting against odds; he wore no steel +protector. Maurice wore his only a moment longer. A cut in the +side severed the lacings, and the sagging of the cuirass greatly +handicapped him. He pressed the spurs and dashed away, while +Beauvais cursed him for a cowardly cur. Maurice, by this +maneuver, gained sufficient time to rid himself of the +cumbersome steel. What he lost in protection, he gained in +lightness and freedom. Shortly Beauvais was at him again. The +time for banter had passed; they fought grimly and silently. The +end for one was death. Beauvais knew that if his antagonist +escaped this time the life he longed for, the power and honor it +promised, would never be his. On his side, Maurice was equally +determined to live. + +The horses plunged and snorted, reared and swayed and bit. +Sometimes they carried their masters several yards apart, only +to come smashing together again. + +The sun was going down, and a clear, white light prevailed. Afar +in the field a herd was grazing, but no one would call them to +the sheds. Master and mistress had long since taken flight. + +The duel went on. Maurice was growing tired. By and by he began +to rely solely on the defense. When they were close, Beauvais +played for the point; the moment the space widened he took to +the edge. He saw what Maurice felt--the weakening, and he +indulged in a cruel smile. They came close; he made as though to +give the point. Maurice, thinking to anticipate, reached. Quick +as light Beauvais raised his blade and brought it down with +crushing force, standing the while in the stirrups. The blow +missed Maurice's head by an inch, but it sank so deeply in his +left shoulder that it splintered the collar bone and stopped +within a hair of the great artery that runs underneath. + +The world turned red, then black. When it grew light again +Maurice beheld the dripping blade swinging aloft again. Suddenly +the black horse snapped at the white, which veered. The stroke +which would have split Maurice's skull in twain, fell on the +rear of the saddle, and the blade was so firmly imbedded in the +wooden molding that Beauvais could not withdraw it at once. +Blinded by pain as he was, and fainting, yet Maurice saw his +chance. He thrust with all his remaining strength at the brown +throat so near him. And the blade went true. The other's body +stiffened, his head flew back, his eyes started; he clutched +wildly at the steel, but his hands had not the power to reach it. +A bloody foam gushed between his lips; his mouth opened; he +swayed, and finally tumbled into the road--dead. + +As Maurice gazed down at him, between the dead eyes and his own +there passed a vision of a dark-skinned girl, who, if still +living, dwelt in a lonely convent, thousands of miles away. + +Maurice was sensible of but little pain; a pleasant numbness +began to steal over him. His sleeve was soaked, his left hand +was red, and the blood dripped from his fingers and made round +black spots in the dust of the road. A circle of this blackness +was widening about the head of the fallen man. Maurice watched +it, fascinated. . . He was dead, and the fact that he was a +prince did not matter. + +It seemed to Maurice that his own body was transforming into +lead, and he vaguely wondered how the horse could bear up such a +weight. He was sleepy, too. Dimly it came to him that he also +must be dying. . . . No; he would not die there, beside this man. +He still gripped his saber. Indeed, his hand was as if soldered +to the wire and leather windings on the hilt. Mollendorf had +said that Beauvais was invincible. . . . Beauvais was dead. Was +he, too, dying? . . . No; he would not die there. The +Mecklenberg started forward at a walk; a spur had touched him. + +"No!" Maurice cried, throwing off the drowsiness. "My God, I +will not die here! . . . Go, boy!" The Mecklenberg set off, +loping easily. + +His recent enemy, the great white horse, stood motionless in the +center of the road, and followed him with large, inquiring eyes. +He turned and looked at the silent huddled mass in the dust at +his feet, and whinneyed. But he did not move; a foot still +remained in the stirrup. + +Soon Maurice remembered an episode of his school days, when, in +the spirit of precocious research, he had applied carbolic acid +to his arm. It occurred to him that he was now being bathed in +that burning fluid. He was recovering from the shock. With +returning sense came the increase of pain, pain so tormenting +and exquisite that sobs rose in his throat and choked him. +Perspiration matted his hair; every breath he took was a knife +thrust, and the rise and fall of the horse, gentle as it was, +caused the earth to reel and careen heavenward. + +Bleiberg; he was to reach Bleiberg. He repeated this thought +over and over. Bleiberg, to warn her. Why should he go to +Bleiberg to warn her? What was he doing here, he who loved life +so well? What had led him into this? . . . There had been a +battle, but neither army had been cognizant of it. He endeavored +to move his injured arm, and found it bereft of locomotion. The +tendons had been cut. And he could not loosen his grip on the +saber which he held in his right hand. The bridle rein swung +from side to side. + +Rivulets of fire began to run up and down his side; the cords in +his neck were stiffening. Still the blood went drip, drip, drip, +into the dust. Would he reach Bleiberg, or would he die on the +way? God! for a drink of water, cold water. He set his teeth in +his lips to neutralize the pain in his arm and shoulder. His +lips were numb, and the pressure of his teeth was as nothing. +From one moment to the next he expected to drop from the saddle, +but somehow he hung on; the spark of life was tenacious. The +saber dangled on one side, the scabbard on the other. The blood, +drying in places, drew the skin as tight as a drumhead. + +On, on, on; up long inclines, down the steeps; he lost all track +of time, and the darkness thickened and the stars stood out more +clearly. . . . He could look back on a clean life; true, there +were some small stains, but these were human. Strange fancies +jostled one another; faces long forgot reappeared; scenes from +boyhood rose before him. Home! He had none, save that which was +the length and breadth of his native land. On, on, on; the low +snuffle of the horse sometimes aroused him from the stupor. + +"Why you do this I do not know, nor shall I ask. Monsieur, my +prayers go with you!" . . . She had said that to him, and had +given him her hand to kiss; a princess, one of the chosen and +the few. To live long enough to see her again; a final service-- +and adieu! . . . Ah, but it had been a good fight, a good fight. +No fine phrases; nothing but the lust for blood; a life for a +life; a game in which the winner was also like to lose. A gray +patch in the white of the road attracted his attention--a bridge. + +"Water!" he murmured. + +Mottled with the silver of the stars, it ran along through the +fields; a brook, shallow and narrow, but water. The perfume of +the grasses was sweet; the horse sniffed joyously. He stopped of +his own accord. Maurice had strength enough to dismount. The +saber slid from his grasp. He staggered down to the water. In +kneeling a faintness passed over him; he rolled into the brook +and lay there until the water, almost clogging his throat and +nostrils, revived him. He crawled to his knees, coughing and +choking. The contact of the cold with the burning wound caused a +delightful sensation. + +"Water!" he said, and splashed it in his face. + +The horse had come down from the road. He had not waited for an +invitation. He drank thirstily at the side of his master. The +water gurgled in his long, black throat. + +"Good boy!" Maurice called, and dashed water against his +shoulder. "Good boy!" he remembered that the horse in biting the +white one had saved his life. + +Each handful of the cold liquid caused him to gasp; but soon the +fever and fire died out, leaving only the duller pain. When he +rose from his knees, however, he found that the world had not +yet ceased its wild reeling. He stooped to regain his saber, and +fell into the dust; though to him it was not he who fell, but +the earth which rose. He struggled to his feet, leaned panting +on his saber, and tried to steady himself. He laughed +hysterically. He had dismounted, but he knew that he could never +climb to the back of the horse; and Bleiberg might yet be miles +away. To walk the distance; was it possible? To reach Bleiberg +before Madame. . . . Madame the duchess and her army! He laughed +again, but there was a wild strain in his laughter. Ah, God! +what a farce it was! One man dead and another dying; the +beginning and the end of the war. The comic opera! La Grande +Duchesse! And the fool of an Englishman was playing Fritz! He +started down the road, his body slouched forward, the saber +trailing in the dust. . . . + +"Voici le sabre de mon pere!" + +The hand of madness had touched him. The Mecklenberg followed at +his heels as a dog would have followed his master. + +Less than a mile away a yellow haze wavered in the sky. It was +the reflection of the city lights. + +Maurice passed under the town gates, the wild song on his lips, +his eyes bloodshot, his hair dank about his brow, conscious of +nothing but the mad, rollicking rhythm. Nobody molested him; +those he met gave him the full width of the road. A strange +picture they presented, the man and the troop horse. Some one +recognized the trappings of the horse; half an hour later it was +known throughout the city that the king's army had been defeated +and that Madame was approaching. Students began their +depredations. They built bonfires. They raided the office of the +official paper, and destroyed the presses and type. Later they +marched around the Hohenstaufenplatz, yelling and singing. + +Once a gendarme tried to stop Maurice and inquire into his +business. The inquisition was abruptly ended by a cut from the +madman's sword. The gendarme took to his legs. Maurice continued, +and the Mecklenberg tramped on after him. Into the Konigstrasse +they turned. At this time, before the news was known, the street +was deserted. Up the center of it the man went, his saber +scraping along the asphalt, the horse always following. + + + +Voici le sabre de mon pere! Tu vas le mettre a ton cote! Apres +la victoire, j'espere Te revoir en bonne sante. . . . . + +The street lamps swayed; sometimes a dozen revolved on one post, +and Maurice would stop long enough to laugh. How easy it was to +walk! All he had to do was to lift a foot, and the pavement +would rise to meet it. The moon, standing high behind him, cast +a long, weird shadow, and he staggered after it and cut at it +with the saber. It was only when he saw the lights of the royal +palace and the great globes on the gate posts that sanity +returned. This sanity was of short duration. + +"To the palace!" he cried; "to the palace! To warn her!" And he +stumbled against the gates, still calling, "To the palace! To +the palace!" + +The cuirassiers who had been left behind to protect the inmates +of the palace, were first aroused by the yelling and singing of +the students. They rushed out of the guard room and came running +to the gates, which they opened. The body of a man rolled inside. +They stopped and examined him; the uniform was theirs. The face +they looked into was that of the handsome young foreigner who, +that day, had gone forth from the city, a gay and gallant figure, +who sat his horse so well that he earned their admiration. What +could this mean? And where were the others? Had there been a +desperate battle? + +"Run back to the guard room, one of you, and fetch some brandy. +He lives." And Lieutenant Scharfenstein took his hand from the +insensible man's heart. Pulsation was there, but weak and +intermittent. "Sergeant, take ten men and clear the square. If +they refuse to leave, kill! Madame is not yet queen by any means." + +The men scattered. One soon returned with the brandy. +Scharfenstein moistened the wounded man's lips and placed his +palm under the nose. Shortly Maurice opened his eyes, his half- +delirious eyes. + +"To the palace!" he said, "to the palace--Ah!" He saw the faces +staring down at him. He struggled. Instinctively they all stood +back. What seemed incredible to them, he got to his knees, from +his knees to his feet, and propped himself against a gate post. +"Your life or mine!" he cried. "Come on; a man can die but once!" +He lunged, and again they retreated. He laughed. "It was a +good fight!" He reeled off toward the palace steps. They did not +hinder him, but they followed, expecting each moment to see him +fall. But, he fell not. One by one he mounted the steps, +steadying himself with the saber. He gained the landing, once +more steadied himself, and vanished into the palace. + +"He is out of his head!" cried Scharfenstein, rushing up the +steps. "God knows what has happened!" + +He was in time to see Maurice lurch into the arms of Captain von +Mitter, who had barred the way to the private apartments. + +"Carewe! . . . What has happened? God's name, you are soaked in +blood!" Von Mitter held Maurice at arm's length. "A battle?" + +"Aye, a battle; one man is dead and another soon will be!" A +transient lucidity beamed in Maurice's eyes. "We were betrayed +by the native troops; they ran to meet Madame. . . . Marshal +Kampf, Prince Frederick, and the cuirassiers are prisoners. . . . +I escaped. Beauvais, gave chase. . . . Wanted to kill me. . . . +He gave me this. I ran him through the throat. . . . Knew him +in South America. . . . He's dead! Inform the archbishop and her +Highness that Madame is nearing the city. The king--" + +"Hush!" said von Mitter, with a finger on his lip; "hush! The +king died at six o'clock. God rest his soul!" He crossed himself. +"A disgraceful day! Curse the scheming woman, could she not let +us bury him in peace? Prince Frederick's father refused to send +us aid." + +"I am dying," said Maurice with a sob. "Let me lie down +somewhere; if I fall I am a dead man." After a pause: "Take me +into the throne room. I shall last till Madame comes. Let her +find me there. . . . The brandy!" + +Scharfenstein held the flask to the sufferer's lips. + +"The throne room?" repeated von Mitter, surprised at this +strange request. "Well, why not? For what is a throne when there +is no king to sit on it? You will not die, my friend, though the +cut is a nasty one. What is an arm? Life is worth a thousand of +them! Quick! help me with him, Max!" for Maurice was reaching +blindly toward him. + +The three troopers who had followed Scharfenstein came up, and +the five of them managed to carry Maurice into the throne room, +and deposit him on the cushions at the foot of the dais. There +they left him. + +"Bad!" said von Mitter, as he came limping out into the corridor. +"And he made such a brave show when he left here this afternoon. +I have grown to love the fellow. A gallant man. I knew that the +native troops were up to something. So did the Colonel. Ach! I +would give a year of my life to have seen him and Beauvais. To +kill Beauvais, the best saber in the kingdom--it must have been +a fight worthy of the legends. A bad day! They will laugh at us. +But, patience, the archbishop has something to say before the +curtain falls. Poor young man! He will lose his arm, if not his +life." + +"But how comes he into all this?" asked Scharfenstein, +perplexedly. + +"It is not for me or you to question, Max," said von Mitter, +looking down. He had his own opinion, but he was not minded to +disclose it. + +"What are you going to do?" + +"Perform my duty until the end," sourly. "Go you and help +against the students, who have not manliness enough even to +respect the dead. The cowardly servants are all gone; save the +king's valet. There are only seven of us in all. I will seek the +king's physician; the dead are dead, so let us concern ourselves +with the living;" and he limped off toward the private +apartments. + +Scharfenstein hurried away to the square. + +In the royal bedchamber a girl murmured over a cold hand. "God +pity me; I am all, all alone!" + +The archbishop was kneeling at the foot of the bed. In his heart +was the bitterness of loss and defeat. His dreams of greatness +for this clay! The worldly pomp which was to have attended it! +Life was but a warm breath on the mirror of eternity; for one +the mirror was clear again. + +The square soon grew quiet; the students and the cuirassiers had +met for the last time. In the throne room shadows and silence +prevailed. Maurice lay upon the cushions, the hilt of the saber +still in his hand. Consciousness had returned, a clear, +penetrating consciousness. At the foot of the throne, he thought, +and, mayhap, close to one not visible to the human eye! What a +checkerboard he had moved upon, and now the checkmate! So long +as the pain did not diminish, he was content; a sudden ease was +what he dreaded. Life was struggling to retain its hold. He did +not wish to die; he was young; there were long years to come; +the world was beautiful, and to love was the glory over it all. +He wondered if Beauvais still lay in the road where he had left +him. Again he could see that red saber swinging high; and he +shivered. + +Half an hour passed, then came the distant murmur of voices, +which expanded into tumult. The victorious army, the brave and +gallant army, had entered the city, and was streaming toward the +palaces. Huzzas rose amid the blaring of bugles. The timorous +came forth and added to the noise. The conquerors trooped into +the palace, and Madame the duchess looked with shining eyes at +the throne of her forefathers. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + + +WORMWOOD AND LEES + +Madame, like a statue of expectancy, riveted her gaze on the +throne. Hers at last! Her dreams were realized. She was no +longer a duchess by patent; she was a queen by right of +inheritance; she was now to be a power among the great. The +kingdom of her forefathers was hers. She had reached the goal +without bloodshed; she had been patient, and this was her reward. +The blaze of her ambition dimmed all other stars. Her bosom +heaved, triumph flashed in her beautiful eyes, and a smile +parted her lips. Her first thought had been to establish +headquarters in the parlors of the Continental Hotel, and from +there to summon the archbishop, as a conqueror summons the chief +of the vanquished. But no; she could not wait; above all things +she desired the satisfaction of the eye. The throne of her +forefathers! + +"Mine!" she murmured. + +Over her shoulders peered eager faces, in which greed and +pleasure and impassibility were written. One face, however, had +on it the dull red of shame. Not until now did the full force of +his intended dishonesty come home to the Englishman; not until +now did he realize the complete degradation to which his uniform +had lowered him. His had been the hand to stay this misfortune, +and he had not lifted it. This king had been his father's friend; +and he had taken up arms against him. O, he had begun life +badly; he was making the end still more dismal. Would this woman +ever be his? Her promises were not worth the air that had +carried them to his ear. He, the consort of a queen? A cold +sweat dampened his forehead. How he loved her! And that kiss. . . . +Queen or not, he would not be her dupe, his would not be a +tame surrender. + +From the Platz and the Park, where the two armies had bivouacked, +came an intermittent cheering. The flames of bonfires were +reflected on the windows, throwing out in dull, yellow relief +the faces of Madame and her staff. + +Between the private apartments of the king and the throne room +was a wide sliding door. Suddenly this opened and closed. With +his back against it, a pistol in one hand and a saber in the +other, stood Captain von Mitter, his face cold and resolute. All +eyes were instantly directed toward him. + +"Captain," said Madame, imperiously, "summon to me Monseigneur +the archbishop!" + +Her command fell on ears of stone. Von Mitter made no sign that +he heard her. + +"Take care, Monsieur," she warned; "I am mistress here. If you +will not obey me, my officers will." + +"Madame, I acknowledge no mistress save the daughter of the king. +No one shall pass this door to announce your presence to +Monseigneur." + +This reply was greeted with sundry noises, such as sabers coming +from scabbards, clicking of pistol locks, and the moving of feet. +Madame put out her hand suggestively, and the noise ceased. Von +Mitter smiled disdainfully, but did not stir. + +"I warn you, Madame," he said, "that this is war. I accept all +the responsibilities of my position. I know nothing of any +surrender or victory. To me you are simply an enemy. I will kill +any one who attempts to pass. I should be pleased if General +Kronau would make the first step to question my sincerity." + +Kronau's fingers twitched around his revolver, but Madame +touched his arm. She could read faces. The young Captain was in +earnest. She would temporize. + +"Captain, all here are prisoners of war," she said. "Do not +forget that soon there will be benefits for those who serve me." + +He laughed rudely. "I ask no benefits from your hands, Madame. I +would rather stand on the corner and beg." He sent an insolent, +contemptuous glance at Kronau, who could not support it. "And +now that you have gratified your curiosity, I beg you to +withdraw to the street. To-night this palace is a tomb, and woe +to those who commit sacrilege." + +"The king?" she said, struck by a thought which caused a red +spot to appear on each cheek. + +"Is dead. Go and leave us in peace." + +The wine which had tasted so sweet was full of lees, and the cup +wormwood. Madame looked down, while her officers moved uneasily +and glanced over their shoulders. Kronau brushed his forehead, +to find it wet. Madame regretted the surrendering to the impulse. +Her haste to triumph was lacking both in dignity and judgment. +She had given the king so little place in her thoughts that the +shock of his death confused her. And there was something in the +calm, fearless contempt of the young soldier which embarrassed her. + +"In that case, Captain," she said, her voice uncertain and +constrained, "bid Monseigneur to wait on me at the Continental." + +"Whenever that becomes convenient, Madame, Monseigneur will +certainly confer with you and your rascally pack of officers." +He longed for some one to spring at him; he longed to strike a +blow in earnest. + +As he leaned against the door he felt it move. He stepped aside. +The door rolled back, and her Royal Highness, the archbishop and +the chancellor passed in. The princess's eyes were like dim +stars, but her fine nostrils palpitated, and her mouth was rigid +in disdain. The chancellor looked haggard and dispirited, and he +eyed all with the listlessness of a man who has given up hope. +The prelate's face was as finely drawn as an ancient cameo, and +as immobile. He gazed at Madame with one of those looks which +penetrate like acid; and, brave as she was, she found it +insupportable. There was a tableau of short duration. + +"Madame," said her Royal Highness, with a noble scorn, "what +would you say if one desecrated your father's tomb while you +were kneeling beside it? What would you say? In yonder room my +father lies dead, and your presence here, in whatever role, is +an insult. Are you, indeed, a woman? Have you no respect for +death and sorrow? Was the bauble so precious to your sight that +you could not wait till the last rites were paid to the dead? Is +your heart of stone, your mind devoid of pity and of conscience? +Are you lacking in magnanimity, which is the disposition of +great souls? Ah, Madame, you will never be great, for you have +stooped to treachery and deceit. You, a princess! You have +purchased with glittering promises that which in time would have +been given to you. And you will not fulfill these promises, for +honesty has no part in your affair. Shame on you, Madame. By +dishonorable means you have gained this room. By dishonorable +means you destroyed all those props on which my father leaned. +You knew that he had not long to live. Had you come to me as a +woman; had you opened your heart to me and confided your desires-- +Ah, Madame, how gladly would I have listened. Whatever it +signifies to you, this throne is nothing to me. Had you come +then--but, no! you must come to demand your rights when I am +defenseless. You must come with a sword when there is none to +defend. Is it possible that in our veins there runs a kindred +blood? And yet, Madame, I forgive you. Rule here, if you will; +but remember, between you and your crown there will always be +the shadow of disgrace. Monsieur," turning toward Fitzgerald, +whose shame was so great that it engulfed him, "your father and +mine were friends--I forgive you. Now, Madame, I pray you, go, +and leave me with my dead." + +The girlhood of Princess Alexia was gone forever. + +To Madame this rebuke was like hot iron on the flesh. It left +her without answer. Her proud spirit writhed. Before those +innocent eyes her soul lay bare, offering to the gaze an +ineffaceable scar. For the first time she saw her schemes in +their true light. Had any served her unselfishly? Aye, there was +one. And strangely enough, the first thought which formed in her +mind when chaos was passed, was of him. + +How would this rebuke affect her in his eyes? What was he to her +that she cared for his respect, his opinion, good or bad? What +was the meaning of the secret dread? How she hated him for his +honesty to her; for now perforce she must look up to him. She +had stepped down from the pinnacle of her pride to which she +might never again ascend. He had kissed her. How she hated him! +And yet . . . Ah, the wine was flat, tinctured with the +bitterness of gall, and her own greed had forced the cup to her +lips. She could not remain silent before this girl; she must +reply; her shame was too deep to resolve itself into silence. + +"Mademoiselle," she said, "I beg of you to accept my sympathies; +but the fortunes of war--" + +"Ah, Madame," interrupted the prelate, lifting his white, +attenuated hand, "we will discuss the fortunes of war--later." + +Madame choked back the sudden gust of rage. She glanced covertly +at the Englishman. But he, with wide-astonished eyes, was +staring at the foot of the throne, from which gradually rose a +terrible figure, covered with blood and caked with drying clay. +The figure leaned heavily on the hilt of a saber, and swayed +unsteadily. He drew all eyes. + +"Ha!" he said, with a prolonged, sardonic intonation, "is that +you, Madame the duchess? You are talking of war? What! and you, +my lord the Englishman? Ha! and war? Look at me, Madame; I have +been in a battle, the only one fought to-day. Look at me! Here +is the mark of that friend who watched over your interests. But +where is he? Eh? Where? Did you pick him up on the way? . . . . +He is dead. For all that he was a rascal, he died like a man. . . + . . as presently I shall die! Princes and kings and thrones; +the one die and the other crumble, but truth lives on. And you, +Madame, have learned the truth. Shame on your mean and little +souls! There was only one honest man among you, and you +dishonored him. The Marshal . . . I do not see him. An honest +man dies but once, but a traitor dies a thousand deaths. Kronau . + . . . is that your name? It was an honest one once. And the +paltry ends you gain! . . . . The grand duchess of Gerolstein ! . + . . . What a comic opera! Not even music to go by! Eh, you,-- +you Englishman, has Madame made you a Lieutenant?--a Captain?--a +General? What a farce! Nobles, you? I laugh at you all for a +pack of thieves, who are not content with the purse, but must +add honor to the bag. A man is what he makes himself. Medals and +clothes, medals and clothes; that is the sum of your nobility!" +He laughed, but the laughter choked in his throat, and he +staggered a few paces away from the throne. + +"Seize him!" cried Madame. + +When the men sprang forward to execute this command, Fitzgerald +barred the way. + +"No," he said doggedly; "you shall not touch him." + +"Stand aside, Monsieur," said Madame, determined to vent her +rage on some one. + +"Madame," said von Mitter, "I will shoot down the first man who +lays a hand on Monsieur Carewe." + +The princess, her heart beating wildly at the sudden knowledge +that lay written on the inner vision, a faintness stealing away +her sight, leaned back against the prelate. + +"He is dying," she whispered; "he is dying for me!" + +Maurice was now in the grasp of the final delirium. "Come on!" +he cried; "come on! I will show you how a brave man can die. +Come on, Messieurs Medals and Clothes! Aye, who will go out with +me?" He raised the saber, and it caught the flickering light as +it trailed a circle above his head. He stumbled toward them, +sweeping the air with the blade. Suddenly there came a change. +He stopped. The wild expression faded from his face; a surprised +look came instead. The saber slipped from his fingers and +clanged on the floor. He turned and looked at the princess, and +that glance conveyed to her the burden of his love. +"Mademoiselle . . . . " His knees doubled, he sank, rolled face +downward, and a dark stain appeared and widened on the marble +floor. + +"Go, Madame," said the prelate. "This palace is indeed a tomb." +He felt the princess grow limp on his arm. "Go." + +"Maurice!" cried Fitzgerald, springing to the side of the fallen +man. "My God! Maurice!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + + +INTO THE HANDS OF AUSTRIA + +Madame, surrounded by her staff and courtiers, sat in the main +salon of the Continental Hotel, waiting for the archbishop. The +false, self-seeking ministers of Leopold's reign crowded around +her to pay their respects, to compliment and to flatter her. +Already they saw a brilliant court; already they were +speculating on their appointments. Offices were plenty; new +embassies were to be created, old embassies to be filled anew. + +Madame listened to all coldly. There was a canker in her heart, +and no one who saw that calm, beautiful face of hers dreamed how +deeply the canker was eating. There were two men who held aloof +from compliments and flattery. On the face of one rested a moody +scowl; on the other, agony and remorse. These two men were +Colonel Mollendorf and Lord Fitzgerald. The same thought +occupied each mind; the scene in the throne room. + +Presently an orderly announced: "Monseigneur the archbishop." + +Madame arose, and all looked expectantly, toward the door. + +The old prelate entered, his head high and his step firm. He +appeared to see no one but Madame. But this time she met his +glance without a tremor. + +"Monseigneur," she began, "I have come into my own at last. But +for you and your ambitious schemes, all this would not have come +to pass. You robbed my father of his throne and set your puppet +there instead. By trickery my father was robbed of his lawful +inheritance. By trickery I was compelled to regain it. However, +I do not wish to make an enemy of you, Monseigneur. I have here +two letters. They come from Rome. In one is your recall, in the +other a cardinal's hat. Which do you prefer?" + +"Surely not the cardinal's hat," said the prelate. "Listen to me, +Madame, for I have something to say to you which will cause you +some reflection. If I had any ambitions, they are gone; if I had +any dreams, they have vanished. Madame, some twenty years ago +your duchy was created. It was not done to please Albrecht's +younger brother, the duke, your father. Albrecht was childless. +When your father was given the duchy it was done to exclude +forever the house of Auersperg from reigning on this throne. You +say that you were tricked; well, and so was I. Unhappily I +touched the deeper current too late. + +"This poor king, who lies silent in the palace, was not my +puppet. I wished to make him great, and bask in his greatness. +But in that I failed; because Leopold was a poet and a +philosopher, and the greatness of earthly things did not concern +him. Leopold and I were dupes of Austria, as you are at this +moment, Madame. So long as Leopold reigned peacefully he was not +to be disturbed. Had you shown patience and resignation, +doubtless to-day you would be a queen. You will never be more +than a duchess. + +"Madame, you have done exactly as Austria intended you should. +There is no longer any kingdom." There was a subdued triumph in +his eyes. "To you," with a gesture toward the courtiers and +office-seekers, "to you I shall say, your own blind self- +interest has destroyed you. Madame, you are bearing arms not +against this kingdom, but against Austria, since from to-day +this land becomes the property of the imperial crown. If you +struggle, it will be futilely. For, by this move of yours, +Austria will declare that this kingdom is a menace to the +tranquility of the confederation. Madame, there is no corner- +stone to your edifice. This is what I wished to say to you. I +have done. Permit me to withdraw." + +For a moment his auditors were spellbound; then all the emotions +of the mind and heart portrayed themselves on the circle of +faces. Madame's face alone was inscrutable. + +"His Excellency, the Austrian ambassador!" announced the orderly. + +The archbishop bowed and left the apartment. + +"Your Highness," began the Austrian, "his Imperial Majesty +commands your immediate evacuation of Bleiberg, and that you +delay not your departure to the frontier. This kingdom is a +crown land. It shall remain so by the consent of the +confederation. If you refuse to obey this injunction, an army +will enforce the order. Believe me, Madame, this office is +distasteful to me, but it was not avoidable. What disposition am +I to submit to his Majesty?" + +"Monsieur," she said, "I am without choice in the matter. To pit +my forces against the emperor's would be neither politic nor +sensible. I submit." There was not a sign of any emotion, no +hint of the terrible wrath which lay below the surface of those +politely modulated tones. But it seemed to her as she stood +there, the object of all eyes, that some part of her soul had +died. Her pride surmounted the humiliation, the pride of a woman +and a princess. She would show no weakness to the world. + +"Then, Madame," said the ambassador, suppressing the admiration +in his eyes at this evidence of royal nonchalance, "I shall +inform his Majesty at once." + +When he had gone, Madame turned coldly to her stricken followers. +"Messieurs, the fortunes of war are not on our side. I thank +you for your services. Now leave me; I wish to be alone." + +One by one they filed out into the corridors. The orderly was +the last to leave, and he closed the door behind him. Madame +surveyed the room. All the curtains were drawn. She was alone. +She stood idly fingering the papers which lay scattered on the +table. Suddenly she lifted her hands above her head and clenched +them in a burst of silent rage. A dupe! doubly a dupe! To-morrow +the whole world would laugh at her, and she was without means of +wreaking vengeance. Presently the woman rose above the princess. +She sat down, laid her face on her arms and wept. + +Fitzgerald stepped from behind one of the curtains. He had taken +refuge there during the archbishop's speech. He had not the +strength to witness the final humiliation of the woman he loved. +He was gazing out of the window at the troops in the Platz when +the door closed. + +Madame heard the rustle of the curtain and looked up. She sprang +to her feet, her eyes blazing. + +"You?" she cried. "You? You have dared to hide that you might +witness my weakness and my tears? You. . . ." + +"Madame!" + +"Go! I hate you!" + +"Ah, Madame, we always hate those whom we have wronged. Do not +forget that I love you, with a love that passes convention." + +"Monsieur, I am yet a princess. Did you not hear me bid you go?" + +"Why?" in a voice singularly free from agitation. "Because I am +the only man who has served you unselfishly? Is that the reason, +Madame? You have laughed at me. I love you. You have broken me. +I love you. I can never look an honest man in the face again. I +love you. Though the shade of my father should rise to accuse me, +still would I say that I love you. Madame, will you find +another love like mine, the first love of a man who will know no +second? Forgive me if I rejoice in your despair, for your +despair is my hope. As a queen you would be too far away; but in +your misfortune you come so near! Madame, I shall follow you +wherever you go to tell you that I love you. You will never be +able to shut your ears to my voice; far or near, you will always +hear me saying that I love you. Ambition soars but a little way; +love has no fetters. Madame, your lips were given to me. Can you +forget that?" + +"Monsieur, what do you wish?" subdued by the fervor of his tones. + +"You! nothing in the world but you." + +"Princesses such as I am do not wed for love. What! you take +advantage of my misfortune, the shattering of my dreams, to +force your love upon me?" + +"Madame," the pride of his race lighting his eyes, "confess to +me that you did not win my love to play with it. If my heart was +necessary to your happiness, which lay in these shattered dreams, +tell me, and I will go. My love is so great that it does not +lack generosity." + +For reply she sorted the papers and extended a blood-stained +packet toward him. "Here, Monsieur, are your consols." But the +moment his hand touched them, she made as though to take them +back. On the top of the packet was the letter she had written to +him, and on which he had written his scornful reply to her. She +paled as she saw him unfold it. + +"So, Madame, my love was a pastime?" He came close to her, and +his look was like an invisible hand bearing down on her. "Madame, +I will go." + +"No, no!" she cried, yielding to the impulse which suddenly laid +hold of her. "Not you! You shall not misjudge me. No, not you! +Those consols were given to me by the woman of your guide, Kopf, +who found them no one knows how. They were given to me this +morning. That letter. . . . . I did not intend that you should +see it. No, Monsieur; you shall not misjudge the woman, however +you judge the princess. Forgive me, it was not the woman who +sought your love; it was the princess who had need of it. + +"I thought it would be but a passing fancy. I did not dream of +this end. To-morrow I shall be laughed at, and I cannot defend +myself as a man can. I must submit; I must smile and cover my +chagrin. O, Monsieur, do not speak to me of love; there is +nothing in my heart but rage and bitterness. To stoop as I have +stooped, and in vain! I am defeated; I must remain passive; like +a whipped child I am driven away. Talk not of love to me. I am +without illusion." She fell to weeping, and to him she was +lovelier in her tears than ever in her smiles. For would she +have shown this weakness to any but himself, and was it not a +sign that he was not wholly indifferent to her? + +"Madame, what is it?" he cried, on his knees before her. "What +is it? Do you wish a crown? Find me a kingdom, and I will buy it +for you. Be mine, and woe to those who dare to laugh! Ah, could +I but convince you that love is above crowns and kingdoms, the +only glimpse we have on earth of Paradise. There is no boundary +to the dreams; no horizons; a vast, beautiful wilderness, and +you and I together. There are no storms, no clouds. Ambition, +the god of schemes, finds no entrance. Ah, how I love you! Your +face is ever before me, waking or sleeping. All thoughts are +merged into one, and that is of you. Self has dropped out of my +existence. Forget that you are a princess; remember only that +you are a woman, and that I love you." + +Love has the key to eloquence. Madame forgot her vanished dreams; +the bitterness in her heart subsided. That mysterious, +indefinable thrill, which every woman experiences when a +boundless love is laid at her feet, passed through her, leaving +her sensible to a delicious languor. This man was strong in +himself, yet weak before her, and from his weakness she gained a +visible strength. Convention was nothing to him; that she was of +royal blood was still less. What other man would have dared her +wrath as he had done? + +Nobility, she thought, was based on the observance of certain +laws. Around the central star were lesser stars, from which the +central star drew its radiance. Whenever one of these stars +deviates from its orbit, the glory of the central star is +diminished. To accept the love of the Englishman would be a blow +to the pride of Austria. She smiled. + +"Monsieur," she said, in a hesitating voice, "Monsieur, I am +indeed a woman. You ask me if I can forget that I offered you my +lips? No. Nor do I wish to. Why did I permit you to kiss me? I +do not know. I could not analyze the impulse if I tried. +Monsieur, I am a woman who demands much from those who serve her. +I am capricious; my moods vary; I am unfamiliar with sentiment; +I hate oftener than I love. Listen. There is a canker in my +heart, made there by vanity. When it heals--well--mayhap you +will find the woman you desire. Mind you, I make no promises. +Follow me, if you will, but have patience; love me if you must, +but in silence;" and with a gesture which was not without a +certain fondness, she laid her hand upon his head. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + + +INTO STILL WATERS AND SILENCE + +Into the princess's own chamber they carried Maurice, and laid +him on the white bed. Thus would she have it. No young man had +ever before entered that sacred chapel of her maiden dreams. +Beside the bed was a small prie-dieu; and she knelt upon the +cushion and rested her brow against the crucifix. The archbishop +covered his eyes, and the state physician bent his head. +Chastity and innocence at the feet of God; yet, not even these +can hold back the fleeting breath of life. She asked God to +forgive her the bitterness in her heart; she prayed for strength +to repel the weakness in her limbs. Presently she rose, an +angelic sweetness on her face. She looked down at Maurice; there +was no sign of life, save in the fitful drawing in of the nether +lip. She dampened a cloth and wiped the sweat of agony from the +marble brow. + +"O, if only he might live!" she cried. "And he will not?" + +"No, your Highness," said the physician. "He has perhaps an hour. +Extraordinary vitality alone is the cause of his living so long. +He has lost nearly all the blood in his body. It was a +frightful wound. He is dying, but he may return to consciousness +before the end. + +The archbishop, with somber eyes, contemplated the pale, +handsome face, which lay motionless against the pillow. His +thoughts flew back to his own youth, to the long years which had +filled the gap between. Friends had come and gone, loved ones +vanished; and still he stood, like an oak in the heart of a +devastated forest, alone. Why had he been spared, and to what +end? Ah, how old he was, how very old! To live beyond the +allotted time, was not that a punishment for some transgression? +His eyes shone through a mist of tears. + +The princess, too, contemplated the face of the dying man. How +many times had that face accompanied her in her dreams! How +familiar she was with every line of it, the lips, that turned +inward when they smiled; the certain lock of hair that fell upon +the forehead! And yet, she had seen the face in reality less +than half a dozen times. Why had it entered so persistently into +her dreams? Why had the flush risen to her cheeks at the +thought? At another time she would have refused to listen to the +voice which answered; but now, as the object of her thoughts lay +dying on her pillow, her mind would not play truant to her heart. +Sometimes the approach of love is so imperceptible that it does +not provoke analysis. We wake suddenly to find it in our hearts, +so strong and splendid that we submit without question. . . . +All, all her dreams had vanished, the latest and the fairest. +Across the azure of her youth had come and gone a vague, +beautiful flash of love. The door of earthly paradise had opened +and closed. That delicate string which vibrates with the joy of +living seemed parted; her heart was broken, and her young breast +a tomb. With straining eyes she continued to gaze. The invisible +arms of her love clasped Maurice to her heart and held him there. +Only that day he had stood before her, a delight to the eye; +and she had given him her hand to kiss. How bravely he had gone +forth from the city! She had followed him with her ardent gaze +until he was no longer to be seen. And now he lay dying. . . . +for her. + +"Monsieur," she said, turning to the physician, "I have +something to say to Monseigneur." + +The physician bowed and passed into the boudoir, the door of +which he closed. + +"Father," she said to the prelate, "I have no secrets from you." +She pointed to Maurice. "I love him. I know not why. He comes +from a foreign land; his language nor his people are mine, and +yet the thought of him has filled my soul. I have talked to him +but four different times; and yet I love him. Why? I can not +tell. The mind has no power to rule the impulse of love. Were he +to live, perhaps my love would be a sin. Is it not strange, +father, that I love him? I have lost parental love; I am losing +a love a woman holds priceless above all others. He is dying +because of me. He loves me. I read it in his eyes just before he +fell. Perhaps it is better for him and for me that he should die, +for if he lived I could not live without him. Father, do I sin?" + +"No, my child," and the prelate closed his eyes. + +"I have been so lonely," she said, "so alone. I craved the love +of the young. He was so different from any man I had met before. +His bright, handsome face seemed constantly with me." + +At this moment Maurice's breast rose and fell in a long sigh. +Presently the lids of his eyes rolled upward. Consciousness had +returned. His wandering gaze first encountered the sad, austere +visage of the prelate. + +"Monseigneur?" he said, faintly. + +"Do you wish absolution, my son?" + +"I am dying. . . . ?" + +"Yes." + +"I am dying. . . . God has my account and he will judge it. I am +not a Catholic, Monseigneur." He turned his head. "Your +Highness?" He roved about the room with his eyes and discerned +the feminine touch in all the appointments. + +"Where am I?" + +"You are in my room, Monsieur," she said. Her voice broke, but +she met his eyes with a brave smile. "Is there anything we can +do for you?" + +"Nothing. I am alone. To die. . . . Well, one time or another. +And yet, it is a beautiful world, when we but learn it, full of +color and life and love. I am young; I do not wish to die. And +now . . . even in the midst . . . to go . . . where? Monseigneur, +I am dying; to me princes and kings signify nothing. That is +not to say that they ever did. In the presence of death we are +all equal. Living, I might not speak; dying . . . since I have +but a little while to stay . . . I may speak?" + +"Yes, my son, speak. Her Highness will listen." + +"It is to her Highness that I wish to speak." + +Her lips quivered and she made no secret of her tears. "What is +it you wish to say to me, Monsieur Carewe?" She smoothed his +forehead, and the touch of her hand made him forget his pain. + +"Ah, I know not how to begin," he said. "Forgive me if I offend +your ears. . . . I have been foolish even to dream of it, but I +could not help it. . . . When first I saw you in the garden . . +the old dog was beside you. . . . Even then it came to me that +my future was linked to the thought of you. I did not know you +were so far beyond. . . . I was very cold, but I dared not let +you know it, for fear you would lead me at once to the gate. +That night wherever I looked I saw you. I strove to think of +some way to serve you, but I could not. I was so obscure. I +never thought that you would remember me again; but you did. . . +That afternoon in the carriage . . . I wanted to tell you then. +That rose you dropped . . . it is still on my heart. I loved +you, and to this end. And I am glad to die, for in this short +fortnight I have lived. . . . My mother used to call me Maurice +. . . to hear a woman repeat it again before I go." + +"Maurice." She took his hand timidly in hers, and looked at the +archbishop. + +"Speak to him from your heart, my child," said the prelate. "It +will comfort you both." + +Suddenly she drooped and the tears fell upon the hand in hers. +"Maurice," she whispered, "you have not loved in vain." She +could utter no more; but she raised her head and looked into his +eyes, and he saw the glory of the world in hers. + +"Into still waters and silence," he said softly. "No more pain, +nor joy, nor love; silence. . . . You love me! . . . Alexia; how +often have I repeated that name to myself. . . . I have not +strength to lift your hand to my lips." + +She kissed him on the lips. She felt as if she, too, were dying. + +"God guard your Highness," he said. "It is dark. . . . I do not +see you. . . . " + +He tried to raise himself, but he could not. He sank back, +settled deeply into the pillow, and smiled. After that he lay +very still. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Etext The Puppet Crown, by Harold MacGrath + diff --git a/old/ppptc10.zip b/old/ppptc10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3bb377a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/ppptc10.zip diff --git a/old/prhgn10.txt b/old/prhgn10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..aadb254 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/prhgn10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3582 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Prince Hagen, by Upton Sinclair +#7 in our series by Upton Sinclair + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.12.12.00*END* + + + + + +This etext was produced by Charles Franks and the Online Distributed +Proofreading team. + + + + + +PRINCE HAGEN + +UPTON SINCLAIR + + + + +CHARACTERS (In order of appearance) +Gerald Isman : a poet. +Mimi: a Nibelung. +Alberich: King of the Nibelungs. +Prince Hagen: his grandson. +Mrs. Isman. +Hicks: a butler. +Mrs. Bagley-Willis: mistress of Society. +John Isman: a railroad magnate. +Estelle Isman : his daughter. +Plimpton: the coal baron. +Rutherford: lord of steel. +De Wiggleston Riggs: cotillon leader. +Lord Alderdyce: seeing America. +Calkins: Prince Hagen's secretary. +Nibelungs; members of Society. + + + + + ACT I +SCENE I. Gerald Isman's tent in Quebec. + +SCENE 2. The Hall of State in Nibelheim. + + + ACT II +Library in the Isman home on Fifth Avenue: two years later. + + + ACT III +Conservatory of Prince Hagen's palace on Fifth Avenue. The wind-up +of the opening ball: four months later. + + + ACT IV +Living room in the Isman camp in Quebec: three months later. + + + + +ACT I + + +SCENE I + + +[Shows a primeval forest, with great trees, thickets in background, +and moss and ferns underfoot. A set in the foreground. To the left is +a tent, about ten feet square, with a fly. The front and sides are +rolled up, showing a rubber blanket spread, with bedding upon it; a +rough stand, with books and some canned goods, a rifle, a fishing-rod, +etc. Toward centre is a trench with the remains of a fire smoldering +in it, and a frying pan and some soiled dishes beside it. There is a +log, used as a seat, and near it are several books, a bound volume of +music lying open, and a violin case with violin. To the right is a +rocky wall, with a cleft suggesting a grotto.] + +[At rise: GERALD pottering about his fire, which is burning badly, +mainly because he is giving most of his attention to a bound volume of +music which he has open. He is a young man of twenty-two, with wavy +auburn hair; wears old corduroy trousers and a grey flannel shirt, +open at the throat. He stirs the fire, then takes violin and plays the +Nibelung theme with gusto.] + +GERALD. A plague on that fire! I think I'll make my supper on prunes +and crackers to-night! + +[Plays again.] + +MIMI. [Enters left, disguised as a pack-peddler; a little wizened up +man, with long, unkempt grey hair and beard, and a heavy bundle on his +back.] Good evening, sir! + +GERALD. [Starts.] Hello! + +MIMI. Good evening! + +GERALD. Why . . . who are you? + +MIMI. Can you tell me how I find the road, sir? + +GERALD. Where do you want to go? + +MIMI. To the railroad. + +GERALD. Oh, I see! You got lost? + +MIMI. Yes, sir. + +GERALD. [Points.] You should have turned to the right down where the +roads cross. + +MIMI. Oh. That's it! + +[Puts down burden and sighs.] + +GERALD. Are you expecting to get to the railroad to-night? + +MIMI. Yes, sir. + +GERALD. Humph! You'll find it hard going. Better rest. [Looks him +over, curiously.] What are you--a peddler? + +MIMI. I sell things. Nice things, sir. You buy? + +[Starts to open pack.] + +GERALD. No. I don't want anything. + +MIMI. [Gazing about.] You live here all alone? + +GERALD. Yes . . . all alone. + +MIMI. [Looking of left.] Who lives in the big house? + +GERALD. That's my father's camp. + +MIMI. Humph! Nobody in there? + +GERALD. The family hasn't come up yet. + +MIMI. Why don't you live there? + +GERALD. I'm camping out--I prefer the tent. + +MIMI. Humph! Who's your father? + +GERALD. John Isman's his name. + +MIMI. Rich man, hey? + +GERALD. Why . . . yes. Fairly so. + +MIMI. I see people here last year. + +GERALD. Oh! You've been here before? + +MIMI. Yes. I been here. I see young lady. Very beautiful! + +GERALD. That's my sister, I guess. + +MIMI. Your sister. What you call her? + +GERALD. Her name's Estelle. + +MIMI. Estelle! And what's your name? + +GERALD. I'm Gerald Isman. + +MIMI. Humph! [Looking about, sees violin.] You play music, hey? + +GERALD. Yes. + +MIMI. You play so very bad? + +GERALD. [Laughs.] Why . . . what makes you think that? + +MIMI. You come 'way off by yourself! + +GERALD. Oh! I see! No . . . I like to be alone. + +MIMI. I hear you playing . . . nice tune. + +GERALD. Yes. You like music? + +MIMI. Sometimes. You play little quick tune . . . so? + +[Hums.] + +GERALD. [Plays Nibelung theme.] This? + +MIMI. [Eagerly.] Yes. Where you learn that? + +GERALD. That's the Nibelung music. + +MIMI. Nibelung music! Where you hear it? + +GERALD. Why . . . it's in an opera. + +MIMI. An opera? + +GERALD. It's by a composer named Wagner. + +MIMI. Where he hear it? + +GERALD. [Laughs.] Why . . . I guess he made it up. + +MIMI. What's it about? Hey? + +GERALD. It's about the Nibelungs. + +MIMI. Nibelungs? + +GERALD. Queer little people who live down inside the earth, and spend +all their time digging for gold. + +MIMI. Ha! You believe in such people? + +GERALD. [Amused.] Why . . . I don't know . . . + +MIMI. You ever see them? + +GERALD. No . . . but the poets tell us they exist. + +MIMI. The poets, hey? What they tell you about them? + +GERALD. Well, they have great rocky caverns, down in the depths of the +earth. And they have treasures of gold . . . whole caves of it. And +they're very cunning smiths . . . they make all sorts of beautiful +golden vessels and trinkets. + +MIMI. Trinkets, hey! [Reaches into bundle.] Like this, hey? + +[Holds up a gold cup.] + +GERALD. [Surprised.] Oh! + +MIMI. Or this, hey? + +GERALD. Why . . . where did you get such things? + +MIMI. Ha, ha! You don't know what I got! + +GERALD. Let me see them. + +MIMI. You think the Nibelungs can beat that, hey? [Reaches into bag.] +Maybe I sell you this cap! [Takes out a little cap of woven gold +chains.] A magic cap, hey? + +GERALD. [Astounded.] Why . . . what is it? + +MIMI. [Puts it on his head.] You wear it . . . so. And you play +Nibelung music, and you vanish from sight . . . nobody finds you. Or I +sell you the magic ring . . . you wear that . . . [Hands it to +GERALD.] Put it on your finger . . . so. Now you play, and the +Nibelungs come . . . they dance about in the woods . . . they bring +you gold treasures . . . ha, ha, ha! [Amused at GERALD's perplexity.] +What you think they look like, hey? . . . those Nibelungs! + +GERALD. Why . . . I don't know . . . + +MIMI. What do your poets tell you? ha? + +GERALD. Why . . . they're little men . . . with long hair and funny +clothes . . . and humpbacked. + +MIMI. Look like me, hey? + +GERALD. [Embarrassed.] Why . . . yes . . . in a way. + +MIMI. What are their names? + +GERALD. Their names? + +MIMI. Yes . . . what ones do you know about? + +GERALD. Well, there was Alberich, the king. + +MIMI. Alberich! + +GERALD. He was the one who found the Rheingold. And then there was +Hagen, his son. + +MIMI. Hagen! + +GERALD. He killed the hero, Siegfried. + +MIMI. Yes, yes! + +GERALD. And then there was Mimi. + +MIMI. Ah! Mimi! + +GERALD. He was a very famous smith. + +MIMI. [Eagerly.] You know all about them! Somebody has been there! + +GERALD. What do you mean? + +MIMI. Would you like to see those Nibelungs? + +GERALD. [Laughing.] Why . . . I wouldn't mind. + +MIMI. You would like to see them dancing in the moonlight, and hear +the clatter of their trinkets and shields? You would like to meet old +King Alberich, and Mimi the smith? You would like to see that cavern +yawn open . . . [points to right] and fire and steam break forth, and +all the Nibelungs come running out? Would you like that? ha? + +GERALD. Indeed I would! + +MIMI. You wouldn't be afraid? + +GERALD. No, I don't think so. + +MIMI. But are you sure? + +GERALD. Yes . . . sure! + +MIMI. All right! You wear my magic ring! You wait till night comes! +Then you play! [Puts away trinkets.] I must go now. + +GERALD. [Perplexed.] What do you want for your ring? + +MIMI. It is not for sale. I give it. + +GERALD. What! + +MIMI. Money could not buy it. [Takes up pack.] I came to you because +you play that music. + +GERALD. But I can't . . . it . . . + +MIMI. It is yours . . . you are a poet! [Starts left.] Is this the +way? + +GERALD. Yes. But I don't like to . . . + +MIMI. Keep it! You will see! Good-bye! + +GERALD. But wait! + +MIMI. It is late. I must go. Good-night. + +[Exit left.] + +GERALD. Good-night. [Stands staring.] Well, I'll be switched! If that +wasn't a queer old customer! [Looks at ring.] It feels like real gold! +[Peers after MIMI.] What in the world did he mean, anyhow? The magic +ring! I hope he doesn't get lost in those woods to-night. [Turns to +fire.] Confound that fire! It's out for good now! Let it go. [Sits, +and takes music score.] Nibelungs! They are realer than anybody +guesses. People who spend their lives in digging for gold, and know +and care about nothing else. How many of them I've met at mother's +dinner parties! Well, I must get to my work now. [Makes a few notes; +then looks up and stretches.] Ah, me! I don't know what makes me so +lazy this evening. This strange heaviness! There seems to be a spell +on me. [Gazes about.] How beautiful these woods are at sunset! If I +were a Nibelung, I'd come here for certain! [Settles himself, +reclining; shadows begin to fall; music from orchestra.] I'm good for +nothing but dreaming . . . I wish Estelle were here to sing to me! How +magical the twilight is! Estelle! Estelle! + +[He lies motionless; music dies away, and there is a long silence. The +forest is dark, with gleams of moonlight. Suddenly there is a faint +note of music . . . the Nibelung theme. After a silence it is +repeated; then again. Several instruments take it up. It swells +louder. Vague forms are seen flitting here and there. Shadows move.] + +GERALD. [Starting up suddenly.] What's that? [Silence; then the note +is heard again, very faint. He starts. It is heard again, and he +springs to his feet.] What's that? [Again and again. He runs to his +violin, picks it up, and stares at it. Still the notes are heard, and +he puts down the violin, and runs down stage, listening.] Why, what +can it mean? [As the music grows louder his perplexity and alarm +increase. Suddenly he sees a figure stealing through the shadows, and +he springs back, aghast.] Why, it's a Nibelung! [Another figure +passes.] Oh! I must be dreaming! [Several more appear.] Nibelungs! +Why, it's absurd! Wake up, man! You're going crazy! [Music swells +louder; figures appear, carrying gold shields, chains, etc., with +clatter.] My God! + +[He stands with hands clasped to his forehead, while the uproar swells +louder and louder, and the forms become more numerous. He rushes down +stage, and the Nibelungs surround him, dancing about him in wild +career, laughing, screaming, jeering. They begin to pinch his legs +behind his back, and he leaps here and there, crying out. Gradually +they drive him toward the grotto, which opens before them, revealing a +black chasm, emitting clouds of steam. They rush in and are enveloped +in the mist. Sounds of falling and crashing are heard. The steam +spreads, gradually veiling the front of the stage.] + +[Nets rise with the steam, giving the effect of a descent. During this +change the orchestra plays the music between Scenes II and III in Das +Rheingold.] + + + + +SCENE II + + +[Nibelheim: a vast rocky cavern. Right centre is a large gold throne, +and to the right of that an entrance through a great tunnel. Entrances +from the sides also. At the left is a large golden vase upon a stand, +and near it lie piles of golden utensils, shields, etc. Left centre is +a heavy iron door, opening into a vault. Throughout this scene there +is a suggestion of music, rising into full orchestra at significant +moments. The voices of the Nibelungs are accompanied by stopped +trumpets and other weird sounds.] + +[At rise: The stage is dark. A faint light spreads. A company of +Nibelungs crosses from right to left, carrying trinkets and treasures. +Clatter of shields, crack of whips, music, etc. Another company of +Nibelungs runs in left.] + +FIRST NIB. [Entering.] The earth-man has come! + +SECOND NIB. Where is he? + +FIRST NIB. He is with Mimi! + +SECOND NIB. What is he like? + +FIRST NIB. He is big! [With a gesture of fright.] Terrible! + +THIRD NIB. Ah! + +SECOND NIB. And the king? Does he know? + +FIRST NIB. He has been told. + +THIRD NIB. Where is the king? + +FIRST NIB. He comes! He comes! + +[The orchestra plays the Fasolt and Fafnir music, Rheingold, Scene II. +[Enter a company of Nibelungs, armed with whips, and marching with a +stately tread. They post themselves about the apartment. Enter another +company supporting KING ALBERICH. He is grey-haired and very feeble, +but ferocious-looking, and somewhat taller than the others. His robe +is lined with ermine, and he carries a gold Nibelung whip--a short +handle of gold, with leather thongs. He seats himself upon the throne, +and all make obeisance. A solemn pause.] + +ALBERICH. The earth-man has come? + +FIRST NIB. Yes, your majesty! + +ALB. Where is Mimi? + +ALL. Mimi! Mimi! + +[The call is repeated off.] + +MIMI. [Enters left.] Your majesty. + +ALB. Where is the earth-man? + +MIMI. He is safe, your majesty. + +ALB. Did he resist? + +MIMI. I have brought him, your majesty. + +ALB. And Prince Hagen? Has he come? + +MIMI. He is without, your majesty. + +ALB. Let him be brought in. + +[All cry out in terror.] + +MIMI. Your majesty. He is wild! He fights with everyone! He . . . + +ALB. Let him be brought in. + +ALL. Prince Hagen! Prince Hagen! + +MIMI. [Calling.] Prince Hagen ! + +[Some run out. The call is heard off All stand waiting in tense +expectation. The music plays the Hagen motives, with suggestions of +the Siegfried funeral march. Voices are heard in the distance, and at +the climax of the music PRINCE HAGEN and his keepers enter. He is +small for a man, but larger than any of the Nibelungs; a grim, +sinister figure, with black hair, and a glowering look. His hands are +chained in front of him, and eight Nibelungs march as a guard. He has +bare arms and limbs, and a rough black bearskin flung over his +shoulders. He enters right, and stands glaring from one to another.] + +ALB. Good evening, Hagen. + +HAGEN. [After a pause.] Well? + +ALB. [Hesitating.] Hagen, you are still angry and rebellious? + +HAGEN. I am! + +ALB. [Pleading.] Hagen, you are my grandson. You are my sole heir . . +. the only representative of my line. You are all that I have in the +world! + +HAGEN. Well? + +ALB. You place me in such a trying position! Have you no shame . . . +no conscience? Why, some day you will be king . . . and one cannot +keep a king in chains! + +HAGEN. I do not want to be in chains! + +ALB. But, Hagen, your conduct is such . . . what can I do? You have +robbed . . . you have threatened murder! And you . . . my grandson and +my heir . . . + +HAGEN. Have you sent for me to preach at me again? + +ALB. Hagen, this stranger . . . he has come to visit us from the world +above. These earth-men know more than we . . . they have greater +powers . . . + +[He hesitates.] + +HAGEN. What is all that to me? + +ALB. You know that you yourself are three-quarters an earth-man . . . + +HAGEN. I know it. [With a passionate gesture.] But I am in chains! + +ALB. There may be a way of your having another chance. Perhaps this +stranger will teach you. If you will promise to obey him, he will stay +with you . . . he will be your tutor, and show you the ways of the +earth- men. + +HAGEN. No! + +ALB. What? + +HAGEN. I will not have it! + +ALB. Hagen! + +HAGEN. I will not have it, I say! Why did you not consult me? + +ALB. But what is your objection . . . + +HAGEN. I will not obey an earth-man! I will not obey anyone! + +ALB. But he will teach you . . . + +HAGEN. I do not want to be taught. I want to be let alone! Take off +these chains! + +ALB. [Half rising.] Hagen! I insist . . . + +HAGEN. Take them off, I say! You cannot conquer me . . . you cannot +trick me! + +ALB. [Angrily.] Take him away! + +[The Nibelungs seize hold of him to hustle him off.] + +HAGEN. I will not obey him! Mark what I say . . . I will kill him. +Yes! I will kill him! + +[He is dragged off protesting.] + +ALB. [Sits, his head bowed with grief, until the uproar dies away; +then, looking up.] Mimi! + +MIMI. Yes, your majesty. + +ALB. Let the earth-man be brought. + +MIMI. Yes, your majesty! + +ALL. The earth-man! The earth-man! + +[The call is heard as before. GERALD is brought on; the orchestra +plays a beautiful melody, violins and horns. MIMI moves left to meet +him.] + +GERALD. [Enters left with attendants; hesitating, gazing about in +wonder. He sees MIMI, and stops; a pause.] The pack peddler! + +MIMI. The pack peddler! + +GER. And these are Nibelungs? + +MIMI. You call us that. + +GER. [Laughing nervously.] You . . . er . . . it's a little +disconcerting, you know. I had no idea you existed. May I ask your +name? + +MIMI. I am Mimi. + +GER. Mimi! Mimi, the smith? And may I ask . . . are you real, or is +this a dream? + +MIMI. Is not life a dream? + +GER. Yes . . . but . . . + +MIMI. It is a story. You have to pretend that it is true. + +GER. I see! + +MIMI. You pretend that it is true . . . and then you see what happens! +It is very interesting! + +GER. Yes . . . I have no doubt. [Peers at him.] And just to help me +straighten things out . . . would you mind telling me . . . are you +old or young? + +MIMI. I am young. + +GER. How young? + +MIMI. Nine hundred years young. + +GER. Oh! And why did you come for me? + +MIMI. The king commanded it. + +GER. The king? And who may this king be? + +MIMI. King Alberich. + +GER. Alberich. [Stares at the king.] And is this he? + +MIMI. It is he. + +GER. And may I speak to him? + +MIMI. You may. + +ALB. Let the earth-man advance. Hail! + +GER. Good evening, Alberich. + +MIMI. [At his elbow.] Your majesty! + +GER. Good evening, your majesty. + +ALB. [After along gaze.] You play our music. Where did you learn it? + +GER. Why . . . it's in Wagner's operas. He composed it. + +ALB. Humph . . . composed it! + +GER. [Aghast.] You mean he came and copied it! + +ALB. Of course! + +GER. Why . . . why . . . we all thought it was original! + +ALB. Original! It is indeed wonderful originality! To listen in the +Rhine-depths to the song of the maidens, to dwell in the forest and +steal its murmurs, to catch the crackling of the fire and the flowing +of the water, the galloping of the wind and the death march of the +thunder . . . and then write it all down for your own! To take our +story and tell it just as it happened . . . to take the very words +from our lips, and sign your name to them! Originality! + +GER. But, your majesty, one thing at least. Even his enemies granted +him that! He invented the invisible orchestra! + +ALB. [Laughing.] Have you seen any orchestra here? + +[Siegfried motive sounds.] + +GER. I hadn't realized it! Do you mean that everything here happens to +music? + +ALB. If you only had the ears to hear, you would know that the whole +world happens to music. + +GER. [Stands entranced.] Listen! Listen! + +ALB. It is very monotonous, when one is digging out the gold. It keeps +up such a wheezing, and pounding. + +[Stopped trumpets from orchestra.] + +GER. Ah, don't speak of such things! [Gazes about; sees cup.] What is +this? + +ALB. That is the coronation cup. + +GER. The coronation cup? + +ALB. One of the greatest of our treasures. It is worth over four +hundred thousand dollars. It is the work of the elder Mimi, a most +wonderful smith. + +GER. [Advancing.] May I look at it? + +ALB. You will observe the design of the Rhine maidens. + +GER. I can't see it here. It's too dark. Let me have a candle. + +MIMI. A candle? + +ALL. A candle! + +ALB. My dear sir! Candles are so expensive! And why do you want to see +it? We never look at our art treasures. + +GER. Never look at them! + +ALB. No. We know what they are worth, and everyone else knows; and +what difference does it make how they look? + +GER. Oh, I see! + +ALB. Perhaps you would like to see our vaults of gold? [Great +excitement among the Nibelungs. The music makes a furious uproar. +ALBERICH gives a great key to MIMI, who opens the iron doors.] +Approach, sir. + +MIMI. Hear the echoes. [Shouts.] + +GER. It must be a vast place! + +ALB. This particular cavern runs for seventeen miles under the earth. + +GER. What! And you mean it is all full of gold? + +ALB. From floor to roof with solid masses of it. + +GER. Incredible! Is it all of the Nibelung treasure? + +ALB. All? Mercy, no! This is simply my own, and I am by no means a +rich man. The extent of some of our modern fortunes would simply +exceed your belief. We live in an age of enormous productivity. [After +a pause.] Will you see more of the vault? + +GER. No, I thank you. [They close it.] It must be getting late; and, +by the way, your majesty, you know that no one has told me yet why you +had me brought here. + +ALB. Ah, yes, sure enough. We have business to talk about. Let us get +to it! [To MIMI.] Let the hall be cleared. [MIMI drives out the +Nibelungs and retires.] Sit on this rock here beside me. +[Confidentially.] Now we can talk things over. I trust you are willing +to listen to me. + +GER. Most certainly. I am very much interested. + +ALB. Thank you. You know, my dear sir, that I had a son, Hagen, who +was the slayer of the great hero, Siegfried? + +GER. Yes, your majesty. + +ALB. A most lamentable affair. You did not know, I presume, that +Hagen, too, had a son, by one of the daughters of earth? + +GER. No. He is not mentioned in history. + +ALB. That son, Prince Hagen, is now living; and, in the course of +events, he will fall heir to the throne I occupy. + +GER. I see. + +ALB. The boy is seven or eight hundred years old, which, in your +measure, would make him about eighteen. Now, I speak frankly. The boy +is wild and unruly. He needs guidance and occupation. And I have sent +for you because I understand that you earth-people think more and see +farther than we do. + +GER. Yes? + +ALB. I wish to ask you to help me . . . to use your strength of mind +and body to direct this boy. + +GER. But what can I do? + +ALB. I wish you to stay here and be Prince Hagen's tutor. + +GER. What? + +ALB. [Anxiously.] If you will do it, sir, you will carry hence a +treasure such as the world has never seen before. And it is a noble +work . . . a great work, sir. He is the grandson of a king! Tell me . +. . will you help me? + +[Gazes imploringly.] + +GER. Let me think. [A pause.] Your majesty, I have things of +importance to do, and I have no time to stay here . . . + +ALB. But think of the treasures! + +GER. My father is a rich man, and I have no need of treasures. And +besides, I am a poet. I have work of my own... + +ALB. Oh! don't refuse me, sir! + +GER. Listen! There is, perhaps, something else we can do. How would it +do to take Prince Hagen up to the world? + +ALB. [Starting.] Oh! + +GER. This world is a small one. There he might have a wide field for +his energies. He might be sent to a good school, and taught the ideals +of our Christian civilization. + +ALB. [Pondering anxiously.] You mean that you yourself would see to it +that proper care was given to him? + +GER. If I took him with me it would mean that I was interested in his +future. + +ALB. It is a startling proposition. What opportunity can you offer +him? + +GER. I am only a student myself. But my father is a man of importance +in the world. + +ALB. What does he do? + +GER. He is John Isman. They call him the railroad king. + +ALB. You have kings in your world, also! + +GER. [Smiling.] After a fashion . . . yes. + +ALB. I had not thought of this. I hardly know what to reply. [He +starts.] What is that? + +[An uproar is heard of left. Shouts and cries; music rises to +deafening climax. Nibelungs flee on in terror.] + +HAGEN. [Rushes on, struggling wildly, and dragging several Nibelungs.] +Let me go, I say! Take off these chains! + +ALB. [Rising in seat.] Hagen! + +HAGEN. I will not stand it, I tell you! + +ALB. Hagen! Listen to me! + +HAGEN. No! + +ALB. I have something new to tell you. The earth-man has suggested +taking you up with him to the world. + +HAGEN. [A sudden wild expression flashes across his features.] No! [He +gazes from one to the other, half beside himself.] You can't mean it! + +ALB. It is true, Hagen. + +HAGEN. What . . . why . . . + +ALB. You would be sent to school and taught the ways of the earth-men. +Do you think that you would like to go? + +HAGEN. [Wildly.] By the gods! I would! + +ALB. [Nervously.] You will promise to obey . . . + +HAGEN. I'll promise anything! I'll do anything! + +ALB. Hagen, this is a very grave decision for me. It is such an +unusual step! You would have to submit yourself to this gentleman, who +is kind enough to take charge of you . . . + +HAGEN. I Will! I will! Quick! [Holding out his chains.] Take them off! + +ALB. [Doubtfully.] We can trust you? + +HAGEN. You can trust me! You'll have no trouble. Take them off! + +ALB. Off with them! + +MIMI. [Advances and proceeds to work at chains with a file.] Yes, your +majesty. + +HAGEN. [TO GERALD.] Tell me! What am I to do? + +GER. You are to have an education . . . + +HAGEN. Yes? What's it like? Tell me more about the earth-people. + +GER. It's too much to try to tell. You will be there soon. + +HAGEN. Ah! Be quick there! [Tears one hand free and waves it.] By the +gods! + +ALB. [To GERALD.] You had best spend the night with us and consult +with me . . . + +HAGEN. No, no! No delay! What's there to consult about? + +ALB. We have so much to settle . . . your clothes . . . your money . . . + +HAGEN. Give me some gold . . . that will be all. Let us be off! + +GER. I will attend to everything. There is no need of delay. + +HAGEN. Come on! [Tears other hand free.] Aha! [Roams about the stage, +clenching his hands and gesticulating, while the music rises to a +tremendous climax.] Free! Free forever! Aha ! Aha ! [Turning to +GERALD.] Let us be off. + +GER. All right. [To ALBERICH.] Good-bye, your majesty. + +ALB. [Anxiously.] Good-bye. + +HAGEN. Come on! + +ALB. [As Nibelungs gather about, waving farewell.] Take care of +yourself! Come back to me! + +HAGEN. Free! Free! Ha, ha, ha! + +MIMI. [With Nibelungs.] Good-bye! + +ALB. Good-bye! + +GER. Good-bye! + +HAGEN. Free! + +[Exit, with GERALD, amid chorus of farewells, and wild uproar of +music.] + +[CURTAIN] + + + + +ACT II + + +[Scene shows the library in a Fifth Avenue mansion; spacious and +magnificent. There are folding doors right centre. There is a centre +table with a reading lamp and books, and soft leather chairs. The +walls are covered with bookcases. An entrance right to drawing-room. +Also an entrance left.] + +[At rise: GERALD, in evening clothes, reading in front of fire.] + +GER. [Stretching, and sighing.] Ah, me! I wish I'd stayed at the club. +Bother their dinner parties! + +MRS. IS. [Enters right, a nervous, fussy little woman, in evening +costume.] Well, Gerald . . . + +GER. Yes, mother? + +MRS. IS. You're not coming to dinner? + +GER. You don't need me, mother. You've men enough, you said. + +MRS. IS. I like to see something of my son now and then. + +GER. I had my lunch very late, and I'm honestly not hungry. I'd rather +sit and read. + +MRS. IS. I declare, Gerald, you run this reading business into the +ground. You cut yourself off from everyone. + +GER. They don't miss me, mother. + +MRS. IS. To-night Renaud is going to give us some crabflake a la +Dewey! I told Mrs. Bagley-Willis I'd show her what crabflake could be. +She is simply green with envy of our chef. + +GER. I fancy that's the reason you invite her, isn't it? + +MRS. IS. [Laughs.] Perhaps. + +[Exit right. He settles himself to read.] + +HICKS. [Enters centre.] Mr. Gerald. + +GER. Well? + +HICKS. There was a man here to see you some time ago, Sir. + +GER. A man to see me? Why didn't you let me know? + +HICKS. I started to, Sir. But he disappeared, and I can't find him, +Sir. + +GER. Disappeared? What do you mean? + +HICKS. He came to the side entrance, Sir; and one of the maids +answered the bell. He was such a queer-looking chap that she was +frightened, and called me. And then I went to ask if you were in, and +he disappeared. I wasn't sure if he went out, Sir, or if he was still +in the house. + +GER. What did he look like? + +HICKS. He was a little chap . . . so high . . . with a long beard and +a humped back . . . + +GER. [Startled.] Mimi! + +HICKS. He said you knew him, sir. + +GER. Yes! I would have seen him. + +HICKS. I didn't know, sir . . . + +GER. Watch out for him. He'll surely come back. + +HICKS. Yes, Sir. I'm very sorry, sir. + +[Exit centre.] + +GER. [To himself.] Mimi! What can that mean? + +Mimi. [Opens door, left, and peeps in.] Ha! + +GER. [Starts.] Mimi! + +MIMI. Ssh! + +GER. What is it? + +MIMI. Where is Prince Hagen? + +GER. I don't know. + +MIMI. You don't know? + +GER. No. + +MIMI. But I must see him! + +GER. I've no idea where he is. + +MIMI. But . . . you promised to take care of him! + +GER. Yes . . . and I tried to. But he ran away . . . + +MIMI. What? + +GER. I've not heard of him for two years now. + +MIMI. [Coming closer.] Tell me about it. + +GER. I took him to a boarding school . . . a place where he'd be taken +care of and taught. And he rebelled . . . he would not obey anyone . . +. [Takes some faded telegrams from pocket book.] See! This is what I +got. + +MIMI. What are they? + +GER. Telegrams they sent me. [Reads.] Hagen under physical restraint. +Whole school disorganized. Come immediately and take him away. + +MIMI. Ha! + +GER. That's one. And here's the other: Hagen has escaped, threatening +teachers with revolver. Took train for New York. What shall we do? +[Puts away papers.] And that's all. + +MIMI. All? + +GER. That was over two years ago. And I've not heard of him since. + +MIMI. But he must be found! + +GER. I have tried. I can't. + +MIMI. [Vehemently.] But we cannot do without him! + +GER. What's the matter? + +MIMI. I cannot tell you. But we must have him! The people need him! + +GER. He has lost himself in this great city. What can I do? + +MIMI. He must be found. [Voices heard centre.] What is that? + +GER. It is some company. + +MIMI. [Darts left.] We must find Prince Hagen! He must come back to +Nibelheim! + +[Exit left.] + +MRS. BAGLEY-WILLIS. [Off centre.] It was crabflake a la Dewey she +promised me! + +[Enters with ISMAN.] + +GER. How do you do, Mrs. Bagley-Willis? + +MRS. B.-W. How do you do, Gerald? + +GER. Hello, father! + +ISMAN. Hello, Gerald! + +MRS. B.-W. Am I the first to arrive? + +GER. I think so. + +MRS. B.-W. And how is Estelle after her slumming adventure? + +GER. She's all right. + +ISMAN. That was a fine place for you to take my daughter! + +MRS. B.-W. It wasn't my fault. She would go. And her mother consented. + +GER. I wish I'd been there with you. + +MRS. B.-W. Indeed, I wished for someone. I was never more frightened +in my life. + +ISMAN. Did you see this morning's Record? + +MRS. B.-W. No. What? + +ISMAN. About that fellow, Steve O'Hagen? + +MRS. B.-W. Good heavens! + +GER. Nothing about Estelle, I hope! + +ISMAN. No . . . apparently nobody noticed that incident. But about his +political speech, and the uproar he's making on the Bowery. They say +the streets were blocked for an hour . . . the police couldn't clear +them. + +GER. He must be an extraordinary talker. + +MRS. B.-W. You can't imagine it. The man is a perfect demon! + +GER. Where does he come from? + +ISMAN. Apparently nobody knows. The papers say he turned up a couple +of years ago . . . he won't talk about his past. He joined Tammany +Hall, and he's sweeping everything before him. + +GER. What do you suppose will come of it? + +ISMAN. Oh, he'll get elected . . . what is it he's to be . . . an +alderman? . . . and then he'll sell out, like all the rest. I was +talking about it this afternoon, with Plimpton and Rutherford. + +MRS. B.-W. They're to be here to-night, I understand. + +ISMAN. Yes. . . so they mentioned. Ah! Here's Estelle! + +ESTELLE. [Enters, centre, with an armful of roses.] Ah! Mrs. Bagley- +Willis! Good evening! + +MRS. B.-W. Good evening, Estelle. + +EST. Good evening, father. Hello, Gerald. + +GER. My, aren't we gorgeous to-night! + +EST. Just aren't we! + +MRS. B.-W. The adventure doesn't seem to have hurt you. Where is your +mother? + +GER. She went into the drawing-room. [MRS. B.-W. and ISMAN go off, +right; ESTELLE is about to follow.] Estelle! + +EST. What is it? + +GER. What's this I hear about your adventure last night? + +EST. [With sudden seriousness.] Oh, Gerald! [Comes closer.] It was a +frightful thing! I've hardly dared to think about it! + +GER. Tell me. + +EST. Gerald, that man was talking straight at me . . . he meant every +bit of it for me! + +GER. Tell me the story. + +EST. Why, you know, Lord Alderdyce had heard about this wild fellow, +Steve O'Hagen, who's made such a sensation this campaign. And he's +interested in our election and wanted to hear O'Hagen speak. He said +he had a friend who'd arrange for us to be introduced to him; and so +we went down there. And there was a most frightful crowd . . . it was +an outdoor meeting, you know. We pushed our way into a saloon, where +the mob was shouting around this O'Hagen. And then he caught sight of +us . . . and Gerald, from the moment he saw me he never took his eyes +off me! Never once! + +GER. [Smiling.] Well, Estelle . . . you've been looked at before. + +EST. Ah, but never like that! + +GER. What sort of a man is he? + +EST. He's small and dark and ugly . . . he wore a rough reefer and cap +. . . but Gerald, he's no common man! There's something strange and +terrible about him . . . there's a fire blazing in him. The detective +who was with us introduced us to him . . . and he stood there and +stared at me! I tried to say something or other . . . "I've been so +interested in your speech, Mr. O'Hagen." And he laughed at me . . . +"Yes, I've no doubt." And then suddenly . . . it was as if he leaped +at me! He pointed his finger straight into my face, and his eyes +fairly shone. "Wait for me! I'll be with you! I'm coming to the top!" + +GER. Good God! + +EST. Imagine it! I was simply paralyzed! "Mark what I tell you," he +went on . . . "it'll be of interest to you some day to remember it. +You may wait for me! I'm coming! You will not escape me!" + +GER. Why . . . he's mad! + +EST. He was like a wild beast. Everybody in the place was staring at +us as he rushed on. "You have joy and power and freedom . . . all the +privileges of life . . . all things that are excellent and beautiful. +You are born to them . . . you claim them! And you come down here to +stare at us as you might at some strange animals in a cage. You +chatter and laugh and go your way . . . but remember what I told you . +. . I shall be with you! You cannot keep ME down! I shall be master of +you all!" + +GER. Incredible! + +EST. And then in a moment it was all over. He made a mocking bow to +the party . . . "It has given me the greatest pleasure in the world to +meet you!" And with a wild laugh he went out of the door . . . and the +crowd in the street burst into a roar that was like a clap of thunder. +[A pause.] Gerald, what do you think he meant? + +GER. My dear, you've been up against the class-war. It's rather the +fashion now, you know. + +EST. Oh, but it was horrible! I can't get it out of my mind. We heard +some of his speech afterwards . . . and it seemed as if every word of +it was meant for me! He lashed the crowd to a perfect fury . . . I +think they'd have set fire to the city if he'd told them to. What do +you suppose he expects to do? + +GER. I can't imagine, I'm sure. + +EST. I should like to know more about him. He was never raised in the +slums, I feel certain. + +GER. Steve O'Hagen. The name sounds Irish. + +EST. I don't think he's Irish. He's dark and strange- looking . . . +almost uncanny. + +GER. I shall go down there and hear him the first chance I get. And +now, I guess I'd best get out, if I want to dodge old Plimpton. + +EST. Yes . . . and Rutherford, too. Isn't it a bore! I think they are +perfectly odious people. + +GER. Why do you suppose mother invited them? + +EST. Oh, it's a business affair . . . they have forced their way into +some deal of father's, and so we have to cultivate them. + +GER. Plimpton, the coal baron! And Rutherford, the steel king! I +wonder how many hundred millions of dollars we shall have to have +before we can choose our guests for something more interesting than +their Wall Street connections! + +EST. I think I hear them. [Listens.] Yes . . . the voice. [Mocking +PLIMPTON'S manner and tone.] Good evening, Miss Isman. I guess I'll +skip it! + +[Exit right.] + +GER. And I, too! + +[Exit left.] + +RUTHERFORD. [A stout and rather coarse-looking man, enters, right, +with PLIMPTON.] It's certainly an outrageous state of affairs, +Plimpton! + +PLIMPTON. [A thin, clerical-looking person, with square-cut beard.] +Disgraceful! Disgraceful! + +RUTH. The public seems to be quite hysterical! + +PLIMP. We have got to a state where simply to be entrusted with great +financial responsibility is enough to constitute a man a criminal; to +warrant a newspaper in prying into the intimate details of his life, +and in presenting him in hideous caricatures. + +RUTH. I can sympathize with you, Plimpton . . . these government +investigations are certainly a trial. [Laughing.] I've had my turn at +them . . . I used to lie awake nights trying to remember what my +lawyers had told me to forget! + +PLIMP. Ahem! Ahem! Yes . . . a rather cynical jest! I can't say +exactly . . . + +MRS. IS. [In doorway, right.] Ah, Mr. Plimpton! How do you do? And Mr. +Rutherford? + +PLIMP. Good evening, Mrs. Isman. + +RUTH. Good evening, Mrs. Isman. + +MRS. IS. You managed to tear yourself away from business cares, after +all! + +PLIMP. It was not easy, I assure you. + +MRS. IS. Won't you come in? + +RUTH. With pleasure. + +[Exit, right, with MRS. ISMAN, followed by PLIMPTON.] + +GER. [Enters, left.] That pious old fraud! [Sits in chair.] Well, I'm +safe for a while! + +[Sprawls at ease and reads.] + +HICKS. [Enters, centre.] A gentleman to see you, Mr. Gerald. + +GER. Hey? [Takes card, looks, then gives violent start.] Prince Hagen! +[Stands aghast, staring; whispers, half dazed.] Prince Hagen! + +HICKS. [After waiting.] What shall I tell him, sir? + +GER. What . . . what does he look like? + +HICKS. Why . . . he seems to be a gentleman, sir. + +GER. How is he dressed? + +HICKS. For dinner, sir. + +GER. [Hesitates, gazes about nervously.] Bring him here . . . quickly! + +HICKS. Yes, sir. + +GER. And shut the door afterwards. + +HICKS. Yes, sir. + +[Exit.] + +GER. [Stands staring.] Prince Hagen! He's come at last! + +[Takes the faded telegrams from his pocket; looks at them; then goes +to door, right, and closes it.] + +HICKS. [Enters, centre.] Prince Hagen. + +HAGEN. [Enters; serene and smiling, immaculately clad.] Ah, Gerald! + +GER. [Gazing.] Prince Hagen! + +HAGEN. You are surprised to see me! + +GER. I confess that I am. + +HAGEN. Did you think I was never coming back? + +GER. I had given you up. + +HAGEN. Well, here I am . . . to report progress. + +GER. [After a pause.] Where have you been these two years? + +HAGEN. Oh, I've been seeing life . . . + +GER. You didn't like the boarding school? + +HAGEN. [With sudden vehemence.] Did you think I would like it? Did you +think I'd come to this world to have my head stuffed with Latin +conjugations and sawdust? + +GER. I had hoped that in a good Christian home . . . + +HAGEN. [Laughing.] No, no, Gerald! I let you talk that sort of thing +to me in the beginning. It sounded fishy even then, but I didn't say +anything . . . I wanted to get my bearings. But I hadn't been twenty- +four hours in that good Christian home before I found out what a +kettleful of jealousies and hatreds it was. The head master was an old +sap-head; and the boys! . . . I was strange and ugly, and they thought +they could torment and bully me; but I fought 'em . . . by the Lord, I +fought 'em day and night, I fought 'em all around the place! And when +I'd mastered 'em, you should have seen how they cringed and toadied! +They hated the slavery they lived under, but not one of them dared +raise his hand against it. + +GER. Well, you've seen the world in your own way. Now are you ready to +go back to Nibelheim? + +HAGEN. Good God, no! + +GER. You know it's my duty to send you back. + +HAGEN. Oh, say! My dear fellow! + +GER. You know the solemn promise I made to King Alberich. + +HAGEN. Yes . . . but you can't carry it out. + +GER. But I can! + +HAGEN. How? + +GER. I could invoke the law, if need be. You know you are a minor . . . + +HAGEN. My dear boy, I'm over seven hundred years old! + +GER. Ah, but that is a quibble. You know that in our world that is +only equal to about eighteen . . . + +HAGEN. I have read up the law, but I haven't found any provision for +reducing Nibelung ages to your scale. + +GER. But you can't deny . . . + +HAGEN. I wouldn't need to deny. The story's absurd on the face of it. +You know perfectly well that there are no such things as Nibelungs! +[GERALD gasps.] And besides, you're a poet, and everybody knows you're +crazy. Fancy what the newspaper reporters would do with such a yarn! +[Cheerfully.] Come, old man, forget about it, and let's be friends. +You'll have a lot more fun watching my career. And besides, what do +you want? I've come back, and I'm ready to follow your advice. + +GER. How do you mean? + +HAGEN. You told me to stay in school until I'd got my bearings in the +world. And then I was to have a career. Well, I've got my education +for myself . . . and now I'm ready for the career. [After a pause.] +Listen, Gerald. I said I'd be a self-made man. I said I'd conquer the +world for myself. But of late I've come to realize how far it is to +the top, and I can't spare the time. + +GER. I see. + +HAGEN. And then . . . besides that . . . I've met a woman. + +GER. [Startled.] Good heavens! + +HAGEN. Yes. I'm in love. + +GER. But surely . . . you don't expect to marry! + +HAGEN. Why not? My mother was an earth-woman, and her mother, also. + +GER. To be sure. I'd not realized it. [A pause.] Who is the woman? + +HAGEN. I don't know. I only know she belongs in this world of yours. +And I've come to seek her out. I shall get her, never fear! + +GER. What are your plans? + +HAGEN. I've looked this Christian civilization of yours over . . . and +I'm prepared to play the game. You can take me up and put me into +Society . . . as you offered to do before. You'll find that I'll do +you credit. + +GER. But such a career requires money. + +HAGEN. Of course. Alberich will furnish it, if you tell him it's +needed. You must call Mimi. + +GER. Mimi is here now. + +HAGEN. [Starting.] What! + +GER. He is in the house. + +HAGEN. For what? + +GER. He came to look for you. + +HAGEN. What is the matter? + +GER. I don't know. He wants you to return to Nibelheim. + +HAGEN. Find him. Let me see him! + +GER. All right. Wait here. + +[Exit left.] + +HAGEN. What can that mean? + +EST. [Enters, right, sees PRINCE HAGEN, starts wildly and screams.] +Ah! [She stands transfixed; a long pause.] Steve O'Hagen! [A pause.] +Steve O'Hagen! What does it mean? + +HAGEN. Who are you? + +EST. I live here. + +HAGEN. Your name? + +EST. Estelle Isman. + +HAGEN. [In a transport of amazement.] Estelle Isman! You are Gerald's +sister! + +EST. Yes. + +HAGEN. By the gods! + +EST. [Terrified.] You know my brother! + +HAGEN. Yes. + +EST. You . . . Steve O'Hagen! + +HAGEN. [Gravely.] I am Prince Hagen + +EST. Prince Hagen! + +HAGEN. A foreign nobleman. + +EST. What . . . what do you mean? You were on the Bowery! + +HAGEN. I came to this country to study its institutions. I wished to +know them for myself . . . therefore I went into politics. Don't you +see? + +EST! [Dazed.] I see! + +HAGEN. Now I am on the point of giving up the game and telling the +story of my experiences. + +EST. What are you doing here . . . in this house? + +HAGEN. I came for you. + +EST. [Stares at him.] How dare you? + +HAGEN. I would dare anything for you! [They gaze at each other.] Don't +you understand? + +EST. [Vehemently.] No! No! I am afraid of you! You have no business to +be here! + +HAGEN. [Taking a step towards her.] Listen . . . + +EST. No! I will not hear you! You cannot come here! + +[Stares at him, then abruptly exit, centre.] + +HAGEN. [Laughs.] Humph! [Hearing voices.] Who is this? + +RUTH. [Off right.] I don't agree with you. + +IS. Nor I, either, Plimpton. [Enters with PLIMPTON and RUTHERFORD; +sees HAGEN.] Oh . . . I beg your pardon. + +HAGEN. I am waiting for your son, Sir. + +IS. I see. Won't you be seated? + +HAGEN. I thank you. [Sits at ease in chair.] + +PLIM. My point is, it's as Lord Alderdyce says . . . we have no +hereditary aristocracy in this country, no traditions of authority . . +. nothing to hold the mob in check. + +IS. There is the constitution. + +PLIM. They may over-ride it. + +IS. There are the courts. + +PLIM. They may defy the courts. + +RUTH. Oh, Plimpton, that's absurd! + +PLIM. Nothing of the kind, Rutherford! Suppose they were to elect to +office some wild and reckless demagog . . . take, for instance, that +ruffian you were telling us about . . . down there on the Bowery . . . +[HAGEN starts, and listens] and he were to defy the law and the +courts? He is preaching just that to the mob . . . striving to rouse +the elemental wild beast in them! And some day they will pour out into +this avenue . . . + +RUTH. [Vehemently.] Very well, Plimpton! Let them come! Have we not +the militia and the regulars? We could sweep the avenue with one +machine gun . . . + +PLIM. But suppose the troops would not fire? + +RUTH. But that is impossible! + +PLIM. Nothing of the kind, Rutherford! No, no . . . we must go back of +all that! It is in the hearts of the people that we must erect our +defenses. It is the spirit of this godless and skeptical age that is +undermining order. We must teach the people the truths of religion. We +must inculcate lessons of sobriety and thrift, of reverence for +constituted authority. We must set our faces against these new +preachers of license and infidelity . . . we must go back to the old- +time faith . . . to love, and charity, and self-sacrifice . . . + +HAGEN. [Interrupting.] That's it! You've got it there! + +IS. [Amazed.] Why . . . + +PLIM. Sir? + +HAGEN. You've said it! Set the parsons after them! Teach them heaven! +Set them to singing about harps and golden crowns, and milk and honey +flowing! Then you can shut them up in slums and starve them, and they +won't know the difference. Teach them non-resistance and self- +renunciation! You've got the phrases all pat . . . handed out from +heaven direct! Take no thought saying what ye shall eat! Lay not up +for yourselves treasures on earth! Render unto Caesar the things that +are Caesar's! + +IS. Why . . . this is preposterous! + +PLIM. This is blasphemy! + +HAGEN. You're Plimpton . . . Plimpton, the coal baron, I take it. I +know you by your pictures. You shut up little children by tens of +thousands to toil for you in the bowels of the earth. You crush your +rivals, and form a trust, and screw up prices to freeze the poor in +winter! And you . . . [to RUTHERFORD] you're Rutherford, the steel +king, I take it. You have slaves working twelve hours a day and seven +days a week in your mills. And you mangle them in hideous accidents, +and then cheat their widows of their rights . . . and then you build +churches, and set your parsons to preach to them about love and self- +sacrifice! To teach them charity, while you crucify justice! To trick +them with visions of an imaginary paradise, while you pick their +pockets upon earth! To put arms in their hands, and send them to shoot +their brothers, in the name of the Prince of Peace! + +RUTH. This is outrageous! + +PLIM. [Clenching his fists.] Infamous scoundrel! + +RUTH. [Advancing Upon HAGEN.] How dare you! + +HAGEN. It stings, does it? Ha! Ha! + +PLIM. [Sputtering.] You wretch! + +IS. This has gone too far. Stop, Rutherford! Calm yourself, Plimpton. +Let us not forget ourselves! [To PRINCE HAGEN, haughtily.] I do not +know who you are, sir, or by what right you are in my house. You say +that you are a friend of my son's . . . + +HAGEN. I claim that honor, sir. + +IS. The fact that you claim it prevents my ordering you into the +street. But I will see my son, sir, and find out by what right you are +here to insult my guests. [Turning.] Come, Plimpton. Come, Rutherford +. . . we will bandy no words with him! + +[They go off, centre.] + +HAGEN. [Alone.] By God! I touched them! Ha, ha, ha! [Grimly.] He will +order me into the street! [With concentrated fury.] That is it! They +shut you out! They build a wall about themselves! Aristocracy! +[Clenching his fast.] Very well! So be it! You sit within your +fortress of privilege! You are haughty and contemptuous, flaunting +your power! But I'll breach your battlements, I'll lay them in the +dust! I'll bring you to your knees before me! + +[A silence. Suddenly there is heard, very faintly, the Nibelung theme. +It is repeated; HAGEN starts.] + +MIMI. [Enters, left.] Prince Hagen! + +HAGEN. Mimi! + +MIMI. At last! + +HAGEN. [Approaching.] What is it? + +MIMI. [Beckons.] Come here. + +HAGEN. [In excitement.] What do you want? + +MIMI. You must come back! + +HAGEN. What do you mean? + +MIMI. The people want you. + +HAGEN. What for? + +MIMI. They need you. You must be king. + +HAGEN. [Wildly.] Ha? + +MIMI. Alberich . . . + +HAGEN. Alberich? + +MIMI. He is dead! + +HAGEN. [With wild start.] Dead! + +MIMI. Yes . . . he died last night! + +HAGEN. [Turns pale and staggers; then leaps at Mimi, clutching him by +the arm.] No! NO! + +MIMI. It is true. + +HAGEN. My God! [A look of wild, drunken rapture crosses his face; he +clenches his hands and raises his arms.] Ha, ha, ha! + +MIMI. [Shrinks in horror.] Prince Hagen! + +HAGEN. He is dead! He is dead! [Leaps at mimi.] The gold? + +MIMI. The gold is yours. + +HAGEN. Ha, ha, ha! It is mine! It is mine! [Begins pacing the floor +wildly.] Victory! Victory! VICTORY! Ha, ha, ha! Ha, ha, ha! [Spreads +out his arms, with a triumphant shout.] I have them! By God! Isman! +Plimpton and Rutherford! Estelle! I have them all! It is triumph! It +is glory! It is the world! I am King! I am King! King! KING! [Seizes +MIMI and starts centre; the music rises to climax.] To Nibelheim! To +Nibelheim! [Stands stretching out his arms in exultation; a wild burst +of music.] Make way for Hagen! Make way for Hagen! + +[CURTAIN] + + + + +ACT III + + +[The conservatory is a study in green and gold, with strange tropical +plants having golden flowers. There are entrances right and left. In +the centre, up-stage, is a niche with a gold table and a couple of +gold chairs, and behind these a stand with the "coronation cup"; to +the right the golden throne from Nibelheim, and to the left a gold +fountain splashing gently.] [At rise: The stage is empty. The strains +of an orchestra heard from ball-room, left.] + +MRS. BAGLEY-WILLIS. [Enters, right, with DE WIGGLESTON RIGGS; she +wears a very low-cut gown, a stomacher and tiara of diamonds, and +numerous ropes of pearls.] Well, Wiggie, he has made a success of it! + +DE WIGGLESTON RIGGS. [Petit and exquisite.] He was certain to make a +success when Mrs. Bagley-Willis took him up! + +MRS. B.-W. But he wouldn't do a single thing I told him. I never had +such a protege in my life! + +DE W. R. Extraordinary! + +MRS. B.-W. I told him it would be frightfully crude, and it is. And +yet, Wiggie, it's impressive, in its way . . . nobody can miss the +feeling. Such barbaric splendor! + +DE W. R. The very words! Barbaric splendor! + +MRS. B.-W. I never heard of anything like it . . . the man simply +poured out money. It's quite in a different class from other affairs. + +DE W. R. [Holding up his hands.] Stupefying! + +MRS. B.-W. And did you ever know the public to take such interest in a +social event? People haven't even stopped to think about the panic in +Wall Street. + +DE W. R. I assure you, Mrs. Bagley-Willis, it begins a new epoch in +our social history. [To LORD ALDERDYCE, who enters, left, with +GERALD.] How do you do, Lord Alderdyce? + +MRS. B.-W. Good evening, Lord Alderdyce. Good evening, Gerald. + +LORD A. Good evening, Mrs. Bagley-Willis. Good evening, Mr. Riggs. + +GERALD. Good evening, Wiggie! [DE W. R. and MRS. B.-W. move toward +left.] I suppose that old lady's taken to herself all the credit for +this evening's success! + +LORD A. Well, really, you know, wasn't it . . . ah . . . quite a feat +to make society swallow this adventurer? + +GERALD. How can anybody stay away? When a man spends several millions +on a single entertainment people have to come out of pure curiosity. + +LORD A. To be sure! I did, anyway! + +GER. [Gazing about.] Think of buying all the old Vandergrift palaces +at one swoop! + +LORD A. Oh, really! + +GER. This palace was one of the landmarks of the city; all its +decorations had been taken from old palaces in Italy. And he tore +everything off and gave it away to a museum, and he made it over in +three months! + +LORD A. Amazing. [Music and applause heard left.] + +MRS. B.-W. Mazzanini must be going to sing again. + +DE W. R. Let us go! + +MRS. B.-W. Fancy opera stars to dance to! A waltz song at a thousand +dollars a minute! + +DE W. R. Ah, but SUCH a song! + +[They go off, left; half a dozen guests enter, right, and cross in +groups.] + +RUTH. [Enters, right, with PLIMPTON; looking about.] An extraordinary +get-up! + +PLIMP. Appalling extravagance, Rutherford! Appalling! + +RUTH. Practically everybody's here. + +PLIMP. Everybody I ever heard of. + +RUTH. One doesn't meet you at balls very often, Plimpton. + +PLIM. No. To tell the truth, I came from motives of prudence. + +RUTH. Humph! To tell the truth, so did I ! + +PLIM. The man is mad, you know . . . and one can't tell what might +offend him! + +RUTH. And with the market in such a state! + +PLIM. It's terrible ! Terrible! . . . ah, Lord Alderdyce! + +LORD A. Good evening, Mr. Plimpton. How d'ye do, Mr. Rutherford? + +RUTH. As well as could be expected, Lord Alderdyce. It's a trying time +for men of affairs. [They pass on, and go of, left.] + +GER. They must be under quite a strain just now. + +LORD A. Don't mention it. Don't mention it! I've invested all my funds +in this country, and I tremble to pick up the last edition of the +paper! + +MRS. IS. [Enters, right, costumed en grande dame, much excited.] Oh, +Gerald, Lord Alderdyce, what do you think I've just heard? + +LORD A. What? + +MRS. IS. About Prince Hagen and Mrs. Bagley-Willis . . . how she came +to take him up! Percy Pennington told me about it . . . he's her own +first cousin, you know, Lord Alderdyce . . . and he vows he saw the +letter in her desk! + +LORD A. Oh, tell us! + +MRS. IS. Well, it was just after Prince Hagen made his appearance, +when the papers were printing pages about him. And the news came that +he'd bought these palaces; and the next day Mrs. Bagley-Willis got a +letter marked personal. Percy quoted the words . . . Dear Madam: I +wish to enter Society. I have no time to go through with the usual +formalities. I am a nobleman, with an extraordinary mind and unlimited +money. I intend to entertain New York Society as it has never dreamed +of being entertained before. I should be very pleased if you would co- +operate with me in making my opening ball a success. If you are +prepared to do this, I am prepared to pay you the sum of one million +dollars cash as soon as I receive your acceptance. Needless to say, of +course, this proposition is entirely confidential! + +LORD. A. By jove! + +MRS. IS. Think of it! + +GER. But can it be true? + +MRS. IS. What is more likely, my dear? You know that Mrs. Bagley- +Willis has been spending millions every season to entertain at +Newport; and their fortune will never stand that! Oh, I must give it +to Van Tribber . . . he'll see that the papers have it! + +LORD A. But hadn't you better make sure that it's really . . . + +MRS. IS. It doesn't make the slightest difference! Everybody will know +that it's true! + +GER. They are ready to believe anything about Prince Hagen. + +MRS. IS. Certainly, after a glimpse of this palace. Did you ever see +such frantic money-spending in your life? + +LORD A. Never! + +MRS. IS. Gold! Gold! I am positively blinded with the sight of gold. +I'd seen every kind of decoration and furniture, I thought . . . but +solid gold is new to me! + +LORD A. Just look at this cup, for instance! [Points to coronation +cup.] And those fountains . . . I believe that even the basins are of +gold. + +MRS. IS. Perhaps we could stop the water and see. + +LORD A. I must go . . . I have a dance. I am sorry not to see your +daughter. + +MRS. IS. Yes . . . it was too bad she couldn't come. Good-bye. [LORD +ALDERDYCE exit.] + +MRS. IS. [Pointing to throne.] Look at that thing, Gerald! + +GER. Yes . . . no wonder the crowd came! + +MRS. IS. I imagine a good many came because they didn't dare stay +away. They certainly can't be enjoying themselves after such a day +down town. + +GER. It was too bad the panic should come just on the eve of the ball. + +MRS. IS. My dear Gerald! That's his sense of humor! He wanted to bring +them here and set them to dancing and grinning, while in their hearts +they are frightened to death. + +GER. How did he do it, anyway? + +MRS. IS. Why, he seems to have money without limit . . . and he's been +buying and buying . . . everything in sight! You know how prices have +been soaring the past two months. And of course the public went wild, +and took to speculating. Then Prince Hagen sold; and the bottom has +simply dropped out of everything. + +GER. I see. And do you suppose the slump has hit father ? + +MRS. IS. I don't know. He won't talk to me about it. But it's easy to +see how distressed he is. And then, to cap the climax, Estelle refuses +to come here! Prince Hagen is certain to be furious. + +GER. For my part, I admire her courage. + +MRS. IS. But, Gerald . . . we can't afford to defy this man. + +GER. Estelle can afford it, I hope. + +MRS. IS. Here comes your father now. Look at him! Gerald, won't you +go, please . . . I want to have a talk with him. + +GER. All right. [Exit, right.] + +MRS. IS. John! + +ISMAN. [Enters, left, pale and depressed.] What is it? + +MRS. IS. You look so haggard and worried! + +IS. I AM worried! + +MRS. IS. You ought to be home in bed. + +IS. I couldn't sleep. What good would it do? + +MRS. IS. Aren't you going to get any rest at all? + +IS. It's time for reports from the London markets pretty soon. They +open at five o'clock, by our time. And I'm hoping there may be some +support for Intercontinental . . . it's my last hope + +MRS. IS. Oh, dear me! Dear me! + +IS. If that fails, there is nothing left for us. We are ruined! +Utterly ruined! + +MRS. IS. John! + +IS. We shall be paupers! + +MRS. IS. John Isman, that's absurd! A man who's worth a hundred +million dollars, like you . . . + +IS. It'll be gone . . . all of it! + +MRS. IS. Gone? + +Is. Do you realize that to-day I had to sell every dollar of my +Transatlantic stock? + +MRS. IS. [Horrified.] Good God! + +IS. There has never been a day like it in all history ! There are no +words to tell about it! + +MRS. IS. Oh, that monster! + +IS. And the worst of it is, the man seems to be after me particularly! +Everything I rely upon seems to collapse . . . everywhere I turn I +find that I'm blocked. + +MRS. IS. Oh, it must have been because of that affair in our house . . +. and in the saloon that dreadful night. We ought never to have gone +to that place! I knew as soon as I laid eyes on the man that he'd do +us harm. + +IS. We must keep out of his power. We must save what we can from the +wreck and learn to do with it. You'll have to give up your Newport +plans this year. + +MRS. IS. [Aghast.] What! + +IS. We won't be able to open the house. + +MRS. IS. You're mad! + +IS. My dear . . . + +MRS. IS. Now, John Isman, you listen to me! I was quite sure you had +some such idea in your mind! And I tell you right now, I simply will +not hear of it! I . . . + +IS. But what can we do, my dear? + +MRS. IS. I don't know what we can do! But you'll have to raise money +somehow. I will not surrender my social position to Mrs. Bagley-Willis +. . . not for all the Wall Street panics in the world. Oh, that man is +a fiend! I tell you, John Isman . . . + +IS. Control yourself! + +HAGEN. [Off right.] Very well! I shall be charmed, I'm sure. [Enters.] +Oh! How do you do, Mrs. Isman? + +MRS. IS. Oh, Prince Hagen, a most beautiful evening you've given us. + +HAGEN. Ah ! I'm glad if you've enjoyed it. + +MRS. IS. Yes, indeed . . . + +IS. Prince Hagen, may I have a few words with you? + +HAGEN. Why, surely . . . if you wish . . . + +IS. I do. + +MRS. IS. Prince Hagen will excuse me. [Exit, left.] + +HAGEN. [Goes to table, centre, and sits opposite ISMAN.] Well? + +IS. Prince Hagen, what do you want with me? + +HAGEN. [Surprised.] Why . . . the pleasure of your company. + +IS. I mean in the Street. + +HAGEN. Oh! Have you been hit? + +IS. Don't mock me. You have used your resources deliberately to ruin +me. You have followed me . . . you have taken every railroad in which +I am interested, and driven it to the wall. And I ask you, man to man, +what do you want? + +HAGEN. [After some thought.] Isman, listen to me. You remember four +months ago I offered you a business alliance ? + +IS. I had no idea of your resources then. Had I known, I should not +have rejected your offer. Am I being punished for that? + +HAGEN. No, Isman . . . it isn't punishment. Had you gone into the +alliance with me it would have been just the same. It was my purpose +to get you into my power. + +IS. Oh! + +HAGEN. To bring you here . . . to make you sit down before me, and +ask, What do you want? . . . And so I will tell you what I want, man +to man! [A pause.] I want your daughter. + +IS. [Starts.] What! + +HAGEN. I want your daughter. + +IS. Good God! + +HAGEN. Do you understand now? + +IS. [Whispering.] I understand! + +HAGEN. Isman, you are a man of the world, and we can talk together. I +love your daughter, and I wish to make her my wife. + +IS. And so you ruined me! + +HAGEN. Four months ago I was an interloper and an adventurer. In a +month or two I shall be the master of your financial and political +world. Then I had nothing to offer your daughter. Now I can make her +the first lady of the land. + +IS. But, man, we don't sell our children . . . not in America. + +HAGEN. Don't talk to me like a fool, Isman. I never have anything to +do with your shams. + +IS. But the girl! She must consent! + +HAGEN. I'll attend to that. Meantime, I want you to know what I mean. +On the day that your daughter marries me I will put you at the head of +my interests, and make you the second richest man in America. You +understand? + +IS. [Weakly.] I understand. + +HAGEN. Very well. And don't forget to tell your wife about it. [He +rises.] + +IS. Is that all? + +HAGEN. No; one thing more. Your daughter is not here to-night. + +IS. No. + +HAGEN. I wish her to come. + +IS. But . . . she is indisposed! + +HAGEN. That is a pretext. She did not want to come. + +IS. Possibly . . . + +HAGEN. Tell her to come. + +IS. [Startled.] What? Now? It is too late! + +HAGEN. Nonsense. Your home is only a block away. Telephone to her. + +IS. [Dismayed.] But . . . she will not be ready. + +HAGEN. Tell her to come! Whatever she is wearing, she will outshine +them all. [ISMAN hesitates a moment, as if to speak, then goes off, +right, half dazed; the other watches him, laughing silently to +himself.] That's all right! [Sees Calkins.] Ah, Calkins! + +CALKINS. [Enters with an armful of papers.] Here are the morning +papers, Prince. + +HAGEN. Ah! [Takes them.] Still moist! Did you think I wanted them that +badly? + +CAL. Promptness never harms. + +HAGEN. [Opening papers.] That's true. Ah, they hardly knew which was +more important . . . the ball or the panic! We filled them up pretty +full. Did you see if they followed the proofs? + +CAL. There are no material changes. + +HAGEN. Ha! Ha! Cartoons! Prince Hagen invites the Four Hundred with +one hand and knocks them down with the other! Pretty good! Pretty +good! What's this? Three millions to decorate his palaces . . . half a +million for a single ball? + +CAL. I suppose they couldn't credit the figures. + +HAGEN. Humph! We'll educate them! [Sweeps papers out of the way.] So +much for that! Were all the orders for the London opening gone over? + +CAL. All correct, Prince. + +HAGEN. Very good! That's all. [CAL. exit.] They're all anxious about +London . . . I can see it! Ah, Gerald! + +GER. [Enters, right.] Hello! + +HAGEN. [Smiling.] You see, they came to my party! + +GER. Yes. + +HAGEN. They smile and chatter . . . they bow and cringe to me . . . +and I have not preached any of your Christian virtues, either! + +GER. No. I grant it. It's a very painful sight. [After a pause.] That +was a pleasant fancy . . . to have a panic on the eve of your ball! + +HAGEN. It wasn't nearly as bad as I meant it to be. Wait and see +today's! + +GER. What's the end of it all? + +HAGEN. The end? Why have an end? I didn't make this game . . . I play +it according to other men's rules. I buy and sell stocks, and make +what money I can. The end may take care of itself. + +GER. It's rather hard on the helpless people, isn't it? + +HAGEN. Humph ! The people! [After a pause.] Gerald, this world of +yours has always seemed to me like a barrel full of rats. There's only +room for a certain number on top, and the rest must sweat for it till +they die. + +GER. It's not a very pleasant image to think of. + +HAGEN. I don't think of it. I simply happen to find myself on top, and +I stay there and enjoy the view. [Seats himself at table.] As a matter +of fact, Gerald, one of the things I intend to do with this world is +to clean it up. Don't imagine that I will tolerate such stupid waste +as we have at present . . . everybody trying to cheat everybody else, +and nobody to keep the streets clean. It's as if a dozen mere should +go out into a field to catch a horse, and spend all their time in +trying to keep each other from catching it. When I take charge they'll +catch the horse. + +GER. [Drily.] And you'll ride him. + +HAGEN. And I'll ride him. [Laughs.] + +GER. [After a pause.] At first I couldn't make out why you bothered +with this Society game. Now I begin to understand. You wanted to see +them! + +HAGEN. I wanted to watch them wriggle! I wanted to take them, one by +one, and strip off their shams! Take that fellow Rutherford, the steel +man! Or Plimpton, the coal baron, casting his eyes up to heaven, and +singing psalms through his nose! The instant I laid eyes on that +whining old hypocrite, I hated him; and I vowed I'd never rest again +till I'd shown him as he is . . . a coward and a knave! And I tell +you, Gerald, before I get through with him . . . Ah, there he is! + +PLIM. [Off.] Hello, Isman! + +HAGEN. Come. [Draws back with GERALD.] + +IS. [Entering, right, with PLIMPTON and RUTHERFORD.] Any word yet? + +PLIM. Nothing yet! + +RUTH. Such a night as this has been! + +IS. If the thing keeps up today the Exchange will have to close . . . +there will be no help for it. + +PLIM. We are in the hands of a madman! + +RUTH. We must have a conference with him . . . we must find out what +he wants. + +IS. Did you speak to him, Plimpton? + +PLIM. I tried to. I might as well have butted my head against a stone +wall. "I have money," he said, "and I wish to buy and sell stocks. +Isn't that my right?" + +RUTH. He's a fiend! A fiend! + +PLIM. He smiled as he shook my hand . . . and he knows that if coal +stocks go down another ten points I'll be utterly ruined! + +IS. Terrible! Terrible! + +PLIM. [To RUTHERFORD.] Rutherford, have you learned any more about +where his money comes from? + +RUTH. I meant to tell you . . . I've had another report. The mystery +deepens every hour. It's always the same thing . . . the man takes a +train and goes out into the country; he gathers all the wagons for +miles around, and goes to some place in the woods . . . and there is a +pile of gold, fifty tons of it, maybe, covered over with brush. Nobody +knows how it got there, nobody has time to ask. He loads it into the +wagons, takes it aboard the train, and brings it to the Sub-treasury. + +IS. The man's an alchemist! He's been manufacturing it and getting +ready. + +RUTH. Perhaps. Who can tell? All I know is the Sub-treasury has bought +over two billion dollars' worth of gold bullion in the last four +months . . . and what can we do in the face of that? + +PLIM. No wonder that prices went up to the skies! + +RUTH. I had the White House on the 'phone this afternoon. We can +demonetize gold . . . the government can refuse to buy any more. + +IS. But then what would become of credit? + +PLIM. [Vehemently.] No, no . . . that will not help! [Gazes about +nervously.] There's only one thing. [Whispers.] That man must be +killed! + +RUTH. [Horrified.] Ah! + +IS. No. + +PLIM. Just that! Nothing else will help! And instantly . . . or it +will be too late. + +IS. Plimpton! + +PLIM. He must not be alive when the Exchange opens this morning! + +RUTH. But how? + +PLIM. I don't know . . . but we must find a way! We owe it as a public +duty . . . the man is a menace to society. Rutherford, you are with me? + +RUTH. By God! I am! + +IS. You're mad! + +PLIM. You don't agree with me? + +IS. It's not to be thought of! You're forgetting yourself, Plimpton . +. . , + +PLIM. [Gazing about.] This is no place to discuss it. But I tell you +that if there is no support from London . . . + +RUTH. [Starting.] Come . . . perhaps there may be word! [They start +left.] We may beat them yet . . . who can tell? + +[PLIMPTON, RUTHERFORD and ISMAN go off.] + +HAGEN. [Emerges with GERALD from shadows, shaking with laughter.] Hat +ha! ha! Love and self-sacrifice! You see, Gerald! + +GER. Yes . . . I see! [Looks right . . . then starts violently.] My +sister! + +HAGEN. Ah ! + +GER. What does this mean? + +HAGEN. [To ESTELLE, who enters, right, evidently agitated.] Miss Isman! + +EST. My father said . . . + +HAGEN. Yes. Won't you sit down? + +EST. [Hesitatingly.] Why . . . I suppose so . . . + +HAGEN. [To GERALD.] Will you excuse us, please, Gerald? + +GER. [Amazed.] Why, yes . . . but Estelle . . . + +EST. [In a faint voice.] Please go, Gerald. + +GER. Oh! very well. [Exit, left.] + +EST. You wished to see me. + +HAGEN. Yes. [Sitting opposite.] How do you like it all? + +EST. It is very beautiful. + +HAGEN. Do you really think so? + +EST. [Wondering.] Don't you? + +HAGEN. No. + +EST. Truly ? + +HAGEN. No. + +EST. Then why did you do it? + +HAGEN. To please you. + +EST. [Shrinks.] Oh! + +HAGEN. [Fixes his gaze on her, and slowly leans across table; with +intensity.] Haven't you discovered yet that you are mine? + +EST. [Half rising.] Prince Hagen! + +HAGEN. How long will it be before you know it? + +EST. How dare you? + +HAGEN. Listen. I am a man accustomed to command. I have no time to +play with conventions . . . I cannot dally and plead. But I love you. +I cannot live without you! And I will shake the foundations of the +world to get you! + +EST. [Staring, fascinated; whispers.] Prince Hagen! + +HAGEN. All this . . . [waving his hand] I did in the hope that it +would bring you here . . . so that I might have a chance to tell you. +Simply for that one purpose. I have broken the business world to my +will . . . that also was to make you mine! + +EST. [Wildly.] You have ruined my father! + +HAGEN. Your father has played this game, and his path is strewn with +the rivals he has ruined. He knows that, and you know it. Now I have +played the game; and I have beaten him. It took me one day to bring +him down . . . [Laughs.] It will take me less time to put him back +again. + +EST. But why, why? + +HAGEN. Listen, Estelle. I came to this civilization of yours, and +looked at it. It seemed to me that it was built upon knavery and fraud +. . . that it was altogether a vile thing . . . rotten to the core of +it! And I said I would smash it, as a child smashes a toy; I would +toss it about . . . as your brother the poet tosses his metaphors. But +then I saw you, and in a flash all that was changed. You were +beautiful . . . you were interesting. You were something in the world +worth winning . . . something I had not known about before. But you +stood upon the pinnacle of Privilege . . . you gathered the clouds +about your head. How should I climb to you? + +EST. [Frightened.] I see! + +HAGEN. I came to your home . . . I was turned from the door. So I set +to work to break my way to you. + +EST. I see! + +HAGEN. And that is how I love you. You are all there is in the game to +me. I bring the world and lay it at your feet. It is all yours. You do +not like what I do with it, perhaps. Very well . . . take it and do +better. The power is yours for the asking! Power without end! [He +reaches out his arms to her; a pause.] You do not like my way of love- +making, perhaps. You find me harsh and rude. But I love you. And +where, among the men that you know, will you find one who can feel for +you what I feel . . . who would dare for you what I have dared? [Gazes +at her with intensity.] Take your time. I have no wish to hurry you. +But you must know that, wherever you go, my hand is upon you. All that +I do, I do for the love of you. + +EST. [Weakly.] I . . . you frighten me! + +HAGEN. All the world I lay at your feet! You shall see. + +PLIM. [Off left.] Prince Hagen! + +HAGEN. [Starting.] Ah! + +PLIM. [Enters, running, in great agitation, with a telegram.] Prince +Hagen! + +HAGEN. Well? + +PLIM. I have a report from London. The market has gone all to pieces! + +HAGEN. Ah! + +PLIM. Pennsylvania coal is down twenty-five points in the first half +hour. I'm lost . . . everything is lost! + +RUTH. [Running on.] Prince Hagen! Steel is down to four! And the Bank +of England suspends payments! What... + +PLIM. What do you want with us? What are you trying to do? + +RUTH. [Wildly.] You've crushed us! We're helpless, utterly helpless ! + +PLIM. Have you no mercy? Aren't you satisfied when you've got us down? + +RUTH. Are you going to ruin everybody? Are you a madman? + +PLIM. What are you trying to do? What do you want? + +HAGEN. [Has been listening in silence. Suddenly he leaps into action, +an expression of furious rage coming upon his face. His eyes gleam, +and he raises his hand as if to strike the two.] Get down on your +knees! + +PLIM. Ha! + +RUTH. What? + +HAGEN. [Louder.] Get down on your knees! [PLIMPTON sinks in horror. +PRINCE HAGEN turns Upon RUTHERFORD.] Down! + +RUTH. [Sinking.] Mercy! + +HAGEN. [As they kneel before him, his anger vanishes; he steps back.] +There! [Waving his hand.] You asked me what I wanted? I wanted this . +. . to see you there . . . upon your knees! [To spectators, who appear +right and left.] Behold! + +RUTH. Oh! [Starts to rise.] + +HAGEN. [Savagely.] Stay where you are! . . . To see you on your knees! +To hear you crying for mercy, which you will not get! You pious +plunderers! Devourers of the people! Assassins of women and helpless +children! Who made the rules of this game . . . you or I? Who cast the +halo of righteousness about it . . . who sanctified it by the laws of +God and man? Property! Property was holy! Property must rule! You +carved it into your constitutions . . . you taught it in your +newspapers, you preached it from your pulpits! You screwed down wages, +you screwed up prices . . . it must be right, because it paid! Money +was the test . . . money was the end! You were business men! Practical +men! Don't you know the phrases? Money talks! Business is business! +The gold standard . . . ha, ha, ha! The gold standard! Now someone has +come who has more gold than you. You were masters . . . now I am the +master! And what you have done to the people I will do to you! You +shall drink the cup that you have poured out for them . . . you shall +drink it to the dregs! + +PLIM. [Starting to rise.] Monster! + +HAGEN. Stay where you are! Cringe and grovel and whine! [Draws a +Nibelung whip from under his coat.] I will put the lash upon your +backs! I will strip your shams from you . . . I will see you as you +are! I will take away your wealth, that you have wrung from others! +Before I get through with you you shall sweat with the toilers in the +trenches! For I am the master now! I have the gold! I own the +property! The world is mine! You were lords and barons . . . you ruled +in your little principalities! But I shall rule everywhere . . . +every- thing . . . all civilization! I shall be king! King! [With +exultant gesture.] Make way for the king! Make way for the king! + +CURTAIN + + + + +ACT IV + + +[The scene shows a spacious room, fitted with luxurious rusticity. To +the right of centre are a couple of broad windows, leading to a +veranda. In the corner, right is a table, with a telephone. In the +centre of the room is a large table, with a lamp and books, and a +leather arm-chair at each side. To the left of centre is a spacious +stone fireplace, having within it a trap door opening downward. At the +left a piano with a violin upon it. There are exposed oak beams; +antlers, rifles, snowshoes, etc., upon the walls. Entrances right and +left.] + +[At rise: CALKINS, standing by the desk, arranging some papers.] + +CALKINS. [As 'phone rings.] Hello! Yes, this is the Isman camp. Prince +Hagen is staying here. This is his secretary speaking. No, Prince +Hagen does not receive telephone calls. No, not under any +circumstances whatever. It doesn't make any difference. If the +President of the United States has anything to say to Prince Hagen, +let him communicate with Mr. Isman at his New York office, and the +message will reach him. I am sorry . . . those are my instructions. +Good-bye. [To HICKS, who enters with telegram.] Hicks, for the future, +Prince Hagen wishes all messages for him to be taken to my office. +That applies to letters, telegrams . . . everything. + +HICKS. Very good, sir. [Exit.] + +CAL. [Opening a telegram.] More appeals for mercy. + +HAGEN. [Enters from veranda, wearing white flannels, cool and alert.] +Well, Calkins? + +CAL. Nothing important, sir. + +HAGEN. The market continues to fall? + +CAL. Copper is off five points, sir. + +HAGEN. Ah ! + +CAL. The President of the United States tried to get you on the 'phone +just now. + +HAGEN. Humph! Anything else? + +CAL. There has been another mob on Fifth Avenue this morning. They +seem to be threatening your palace. + +HAGEN. I see. You wrote to the mayor, as I told you? + +CAL. Yes, sir. + +HAGEN. Well, you'd best put in another hundred guards. And they're to +be instructed to shoot. + +CAL. Yes, sir. + +HAGEN. Let them be men we can depend on . . . I don't want any mistake +about it. I don't care about the building, but I mean to make a test +of it. + +CAL. I'll see to it, sir. + +HAGEN. Anything else? + +CAL. A message from a delegation from the National Unemployment +Conference. They are to call tomorrow morning. + +HAGEN. Ah, yes. Make a note, please . . . I sympathize with their +purpose, and contribute half a million. [To GERALD, who enters, left.] +Hello, Gerald . . . how are you? Make yourself at home. [To CALKINS.] +I attribute the present desperate situation to the anarchical +struggles of rival financial interests. I am assuming control, and +straightening out the tangle as rapidly as I can. The worst of the +crisis is over . . . the opposition is capitulating, and I expect soon +to order a general resumption of industry. Prepare me an address of +five hundred words . . . sharp and snappy. Then see the head of the +delegation, and have it understood that the affair is not to occupy +more than fifteen minutes. + +CAL. Very good, sir. + +HAGEN. And stir up our Press Bureau. We must have strong, conservative +editorials this week . . . It's the crucial period. Our institutions +are at stake . . . the national honor is imperilled . . . order must +be preserved at any hazard . . . all that sort of thing. + +CAL. Yes, sir . . . I understand. + +HAGEN. Very good. That will be all. + +CAL. Yes, sir. + +[Exit, right.] + +GER. You're putting the screws on, are you? + +HAGEN. Humph! Yes. It's funny to hear these financial men . . . their +one idea in life has been to dominate . . . and now they cry out +against tyranny! + +GER. I can imagine it. + +HAGEN. Here's Plimpton, making speeches about American democracy! +These fellows have got so used to making pretenses that they actually +deceive themselves. + +GER. I've noticed that you make a few yourself now. + +HAGEN. Yes . . . don't I do it well? [Thoughtfully.] You know, Gerald, +pretenses are the greatest device that your civilization had to teach +me. + +GER. Indeed? + +HAGEN. We never made any pretenses in Nibelheim; and when I first met +you, your talk about virtue and morality and self-sacrifice was simply +incomprehensible to me. It seemed something quite apart from life. But +now I've come to perceive that this is what makes possible the system +under which you live. + +GER. Explain yourself. + +HAGEN. Here is this civilization . . . simply appalling in its +vastness. The countless millions of your people, the wealth you have +piled up . . . it seems like a huge bubble that may burst any minute. +And the one device by which it is all kept together . . . is pretense! + +GER. Why do you think that? + +HAGEN. Life, Gerald, is the survival of the strong. I care not if it +be in a jungle or in a city, it is the warfare of each against all. +But in the former case it's brute force, and in the latter it's power +of mind. And don't you see that the ingenious device which makes the +animal of the slums the docile slave of the man who can outwit him . . +. is this Morality . . . this absolutely sublimest invention, this +most daring conception that ever flashed across the mind of man? + +GER. Oh, I see. + +HAGEN. I used to wonder at it down there on the Bowery. The poor are a +thousand to your one, and the best that is might be theirs, if they +chose to take it; but there is Morality! They call it their virtue. +And so the rich man may have his vices in peace. By heaven, if that is +not a wondrous achievement, I have not seen one! + +GER. You believe this morality was invented by the rich. + +HAGEN. I don't know. It seems to be a congenital disease. + +GER. Some people believe it was implanted in man by God. + +HAGEN. [Shrugging his shoulders.] Perhaps. Or by a devil. Men might +have lived in holes, like woodchucks, and been fat and happy; but now +they have Morality, and toil and die for some other man's delight. + +CAL. [Enters, right.] Are you at leisure, sir? + +HAGEN. Why? + +CAL. Mr. Isman wants you on the 'phone. + +HAGEN. Oh! All right . . . [Goes to 'phone.] + +GER. [Rises.] Perhaps I . . , + +HAGEN. No, that's all right. [Sits at 'phone.] Hello! Is that Isman? +How are you? [To CALKINS.] Calkins! + +CAL. Yes, sir. + +[Sits and takes notes.] + +HAGEN. How about Intercontinental? [Imperiously.] But I can! I said +the stock was to go to sixty-four, and I want it to go. I don't care +what it costs, Isman . . . let it go in the morning . . . and don't +ever let this happen again. I have sent word you are to have another +hundred million by nine-thirty. Will that do? Don't take chances. Oh, +Rutherford! Tell Rutherford my terms are that the directors of the +Fidelity Life Insurance Company are to resign, and he is to go to +China for six months. Yes. I mean that literally . . . Plimpton? What +do I want with his banks . . . I've got my own money . . . And, oh, by +the way, Isman . . . call up the White House again, and tell the +President that the regulars will be needed in New York . . . . No, I +understand you . . . I think I've fixed matters up at this end. I've +got two hundred guards up here, and they're picked men . . . they'll +shoot if there's need. I'm not talking about it, naturally . . . but +I'm taking care of myself. You keep your nerve, Isman. It'll all be +over in a month or two more . . . these fellows are used to having +their own way, and they make a fuss. And, by the way, as to the +newspapers . . . we'll turn out that paper trust crowd, and stop +selling paper to the ones that are making trouble. That'll put an end +to it, I fancy. You had best get after it yourself, and have it +attended to promptly. You might think of little things like that +yourself, Isman . . . no, you're all right; only you haven't got +enough imagination. But just get onto this job, and let me hear that +it's done before morn- ing. Good-bye. [Hangs up receiver.] Humph! [To +GERALD.] They've about got your father's nerve. + +GER. I can't say that I blame him very much. [In somber thought.] +Really, you know, Prince Hagen, this can't go on. What's to be the end +of it? + +HAGEN. [Laughing.] Oh, come, come, Gerald . . . don't bother your head +with things like that! You're a poet . . . you must keep your +imagination free from such dismal matters . . . . See, I've got a job +for you. [Pointing to books on table.] Do you notice the titles? + +GER. [Has been handling the books absent-mindedly; now looks at +titles.] The Saints' Everlasting Rest. Pilgrim's Progress. The Life of +St. Ignatius. . . . What does that mean? + +HAGEN. I'm studying up on religion. I want to know the language. + +GER. I See! + +HAGEN. But I don't seem to get hold of it very well. I think it's the +job for you. + +GER. How do you mean? + +HAGEN. I'm getting ready to introduce Morality into Nibelheim. + +GER. What? + +HAGEN. [Playfully.] You remember you talked to me about it a long time +ago. And now I've come to your way of thinking. Suppose I gave you a +chance to civilize the place, to teach those wretched creatures to +love beauty and virtue? + +GER. It would depend upon what your motive was in inviting me. + +HAGEN. My Motive? What has that to do with it? Virtue is virtue, is it +not? . . . No matter what I think about it? + +GER. Yes. + +HAGEN. And virtue is its own reward? + +GER. Perhaps so. + +HAGEN. Let us grant that the consequences of educating and elevating +the Nibelungs . . . of teaching them to love righteousness . . . would +be that they were deprived of all their gold, and forced to labor at +getting more for a wicked capitalist like me. Would it not still be +right to teach them? + +GER. It might, perhaps. + +HAGEN. Then you will try it? + +GER. No . . . I'm afraid not. + +HAGEN. Why not? + +GER. [Gravely.] Well . . . for one thing . . . I have weighty reasons +for doubting the perfectibility of the Nibelungs. + +HAGEN. [Gazes at him; then shakes with laughter.] Really, Gerald, that +is the one clever thing I've heard you say ! + +GER. [Laughing.] Thank you! + +HAGEN. [Rises and looks at watch.] Your mother was coming down. Ah ! +Mrs. Isman ! + +MRS. IS. [Enters, left.] Good afternoon, Prince Hagen. + +HAGEN. And how go things? + +MRS. IS. I've just had a telegram from my brother. He says that the +Archbishop of Canterbury never goes abroad, and was shocked at the +suggestion; but he thinks two million might fetch him. + +HAGEN. Very well . . . offer it. + +MRS. IS. Do you really think it's worth that? + +HAGEN. My dear lady, it is worth anything if it will make you happy +and add to the eclat of the wedding. There's nothing too good for +Estelle. + +MRS. IS. Ah, what a wonderful man you are. [Eyeing him.] I was +wondering how rose pink would go with your complexion. + +HAGEN. Dear me! Am I to wear rose pink? + +MRS. IS. No, but I'm planning the decoration for the wedding breakfast +. . . . And I'm puzzled about the flowers. I'm weary of orchids and la +France roses . . . Mrs. Bagley-Willis had her ball room swamped with +them last week. + +HAGEN. We must certainly not imitate Mrs. Bagley-Willis. + +MRS. IS. [Complacently.] I fancy she's pretty nearly at the end of her +rope. My maid tells me she couldn't pay her grocer's bill till she got +that million from you! + +HAGEN. Ha, ha, ha! + +MRS. IS. I wish you'd come with me for a moment . . . I have some +designs for the breakfast menu . . . + +HAGEN. Delighted, I'm sure. [They go off, left.] + +GER. Oh, my God! + +EST. [Enters in a beautiful afternoon gown, and carrying an armful of +roses; she is nervous and preoccupied.] Ah! Gerald! + +GER. Estelle. [He watches her in silence; she arranges flowers.] + +EST. How goes the poem, Gerald? + +GER. The poem! Who could think of a poem at a time like this? +[Advancing toward her.] Estelle! I can bear it no longer! + +EST. What? + +GER. This crime! I tell you it's a crime you're committing! + +EST. Oh, Gerald! Don't begin that again. You know it's too late. And +it tears me to pieces! + +GER. I can't help it. I must say it! + +EST. [Hurrying toward him.] Brother ! You must not say another word to +me! I tell you you must not . . . I can't bear it! + +GER. Estelle . . . + +EST. No, I say . . . no! I've given my word! My honor is pledged, and +it's too late to turn back. I have permitted father to incur +obligations before all the world + +GER. But, Estelle, you don't know. If you understood all ...all... + +EST. [With sudden intensity.] Gerald! I know what you mean! I have +felt it! You know more about Prince Hagen than you have told me. There +is some secret- something strange. [She stares at him wildly.] I don't +want to know it! Gerald . . . don't you understand? We are in that +man's hands! We are at his mercy! Don't you know that he would never +give me up? He would follow me to the end of the earth! He would wreck +the whole world to get me! I am in a cage with a wild beast! + +[They stare at each other.] + +GER. [In sudden excitement.] Estelle! + +EST. What? + +GER. Can it be that you love this man? + +EST. [Startled.] I don't know! How can I tell? He terrifies me. He +fascinates me. I don't know what to make of him. And I don't dare to +think. [Wildly.] And what difference does it make? I have promised to +marry him! + +[MRS. ISMAN enters, left, and listens.] + +EST. And I must keep my word! You must not try to dissuade me . . . + +MRS. IS. Estelle! + +EST. Mother! + +MRS. IS. Has Gerald been tormenting you again? My child, my child . . +. I implore you, don't let that madness take hold of you! Think of our +position. [Attempts to embrace her.] I know how it is . . . I went +through with it myself. We women all have to go through with it. I did +not care for your father . . . it nearly broke my heart. I was madly +in love at the time . . . truly I was! But think what will become of +us . . . + +EST. [Vehemently, pushing her away.] Mother! I forbid you to speak +another word to me! I will not bear it! I will keep my bargain. I will +do what I have said I will do. But I will not have you talk to me +about it . . . Do you understand me? + +MRS. IS. My dear! + +EST. Please go! Both of you! I wish to be alone! + +MRS. IS. [In great agitation.] Oh, dear me! dear me! + +[Exit, left.] + +GER. Good-bye! + +[Exit, right; ESTELLE recovers herself by an effort; stands by table +in thought. Twilight has begun to gather.] + +HAGEN. [Enters by veranda.] Ah ! Estelle! [Comes toward her.] My +beautiful! [Makes to embrace her.] Not yet? + +EST. [Faintly.] Prince Hagen, I told you . . . + +HAGEN. I know, I know! But how much longer? I love you! The sight of +you is fire in my veins. Have I not been patient? The time is very +short . . . when will you let me . . . + +[Advances.] + +EST. [Gasping.] Give me . . . give me till tomorrow! + +HAGEN. [Gripping his hands.] To-morrow! Very well! [Turns to table.] +Ah, flowers! Do you like the new poppies? + +EST. They are exquisite! + +HAGEN. [Sits in chair.] Well, we've had a busy day today. + +EST. Yes. You must be tired. + +HAGEN. In your house? No! + +EST. Rest, even so. [Goes to piano.] I will play for you. [Sits, and +takes Rheingold score.] One of Gerald's scores. + +[Plays a little, then sounds the Nibelung theme. PRINCE HAGEN starts. +She repeats it.] + +HAGEN. No . . . no! + +EST. Why-what's the matter? + +HAGEN. That music! What is it? + +EST. It's some of the Nibelung music. Gerald had it here. + +HAGEN. Don't play it! [Hesitating.] Music jars on me now . . . I've +too much on my mind. + +EST. [Rising.] Oh . . . very well. It is time for tea, anyway. Have +you talked with father today? + +HAGEN. Three times. He is in the thick of the fight. He plays the game +well. + +EST. He has played it a long time. + +HAGEN. Yes. ['Phone rings.] Ah! What is that? [Takes receiver.] Hello! +Yes . . . oh, Isman ! I see' More trouble in Fifth Avenue, hey? Well, +are the regulars there? Why don't they fire? Women and children in +front! Do they expect to accomplish anything by that? No, don't call +me up about matters like that, Isman. The orders have been given. No . +. . not an inch! Let the orders be carried out. That is all. Good-bye. +Hangs up receiver. + +EST. [Has been listening in terror.] Prince Hagen! + +HAGEN. Well? + +EST. What does that mean? + +HAGEN. It means that the slums are pouring into Fifth Avenue. + +EST. [A pause.] What do they want? + +HAGEN. Apparently they want to burn my palace. + +EST. And the orders . . . what are the orders? + +HAGEN. The orders are to shoot, and to shoot straight. + +EST. Is it for me that you are doing this? + +HAGEN. How do you mean? + +EST. You told me you brought all the world and laid it at my feet. Is +this part of the process? + +HAGEN. Yes, this is part. + +EST. [Stares at him intently; whispers.] How do you do it? + +HAGEN. What? + +EST. What is the secret of your power? They are millions, and you are +only one . . . yet you have them bound! Is it some spell that you have +woven? [A pause; HAGEN stares at her. She goes on, with growing +intensity and excitement.] They are afraid of your gold! Afraid of +your gold! All the world is afraid of it! It is nothing -it is a dream +. . . it is a nightmare! If they would defy you . . . if they would +open their eyes . . . it would go as all nightmares go! But you have +made them believe in it! They cower and cringe before it! They toil +and slave for it! They take up arms and murder their brothers for it ! +They sell their minds and their souls for it! And all because no one +dares to defy you! No one! No one! [In a sudden transport of passion.] +I defy you! [PRINCE HAGEN starts; she gazes at him wildly.] I will not +marry you! I will not sell myself to you! Not for any price that you +can offer . . . not for any threat that you can make! Not in order +that my mother may plan wedding breakfasts and triumph over Mrs. +Bagley-Willis! Not in order that my father may rule in Wall Street and +command the slaughter of women and children! Nor yet for the fear of +anything that you can do! + +HAGEN. [In a low voice.] Have you any idea what I will do? + +EST. [Desperately.] I know what you mean . . . you have me at your +mercy! You have your guards - I am in a trap! And you mean force . . . +I have felt it in all your actions . . . behind all your words. Very +well! There is a way of escape, even from that; and I will take it! +You can compel me to kill myself; but you can never compel me to marry +you! Not with all the power you can summon . . . not with all the +wealth of the world! Do you understand me? [They stare at each other.] +I have heard you talk with my brother, and I know what are your ideas. +You came to our civilization, and tried it, and found it a lie. Virtue +and honor . . . justice and mercy . . . all these things were +pretenses . . . snares for the unwary. There was no one you could not +frighten with your gold! That is your creed, and so far it has served +you . . . but no farther! There is one thing in the world you cannot +get . . . one thing that is beyond the reach of all your cunning! And +that is a woman's soul. [With a gesture of exultant triumph.] You +cannot buy me! + +HAGEN. Estelle! + +EST. Go! + +HAGEN. [Stretching out his arms to her.] I love you! + +EST. You love me! The slave driver . . . with his golden whip! + +HAGEN. Even so . . . I love you. + +EST. What do you know of love? What does the word mean to you? Before +love must come justice and honor, with it come mercy and self- +sacrifice . . . all things that you deride and trample on. What have +you to do with love? + +HAGEN. [With intensity.] I love you! More than anything else in all +the world . . . I love you ! + +EST. [Stares at him.] More than your power? + +HAGEN. Estelle! Listen to me! You do not know what my life has been! +But I can say this for myself . . . I have sought the best that I +know. I have sought Reality. [A pause.] I seek your love! I seek those +things which you have, and which I have not. [Fiercely.] Do you think +that I have not felt the difference? + +EST. [In a startled whisper.] No! + +HAGEN. That which you have, and which I have not, has become all the +world to me! I love you . . . I cannot live without you. I will follow +you wherever you command. Only teach me how to win your love. + +EST. I cannot make terms with you. I will not hear of love from you +while you have force in your hands. + +HAGEN. I will leave your home. I will set you free. I will humble +myself before you. What else can I do? + +EST. You can lay down your power. + +HAGEN. Estelle! Those are mere words. + +EST. No! + +HAGEN. Who is to take up the power? Shall I hand it back to those who +had it before? Are Plimpton and Rutherford better fitted to wield it +than I? + +EST. [Vehemently.] Give it to the people! + +HAGEN. The people! Do you believe that in that mass of ignorance and +corruption which you call the people there is the power to rule the +world? + +EST. What is it that has made the people corrupt? What is it that has +kept them in ignorance? What is it but your gold? It lies upon them +like a mountain's weight! It crushes every aspiration for freedom... +every effort after light! Teach them... help them... then see if they +cannot govern themselves! + +HAGEN. I meant to do it... + +EST. Yes... so does every rich man! When only he has the time to think +of it! When only his power is secure! I have heard my father say it... +a score of times. But there are always new rivals to trample... new +foes to fight... new wrongs and horrors to be perpetrated! The time to +do it is now... NOW! + +HAGEN. Estelle... + +CAL. [Enters hurriedly.] Prince Hagen! + +HAGEN. What is it? + +CAL. A message from Isman. There is bad news from Washington. + +HAGEN. Well? + +CAL. A. bill has been introduced in Congress... it is expected to pass +both houses to-night... your property is to be confiscated! + +HAGEN. What! + +CAL. The sources of natural wealth... the land and the mines and the +railroads... all are to become public property. It is to take effect +at once! + +EST. [Pointing at him in exultation.] Aha! It has come! + +[They stare at each other.] + +CAL. I tried to get more information... but I was cut off... + +HAGEN. Cut off! + +CAL. I think the wires are down... I can't get any response. + +HAGEN. I see! [Stands in deep thought; laughs.] Well... [To ESTELLE.] +At least Plimpton and Rutherford are buried with me! [To CALKINS.] +Send to town at once and have the wires seen to. And try to learn what +you can. + +CAL. Yes, sir... at once! [Exit.] + +EST. They have done it themselves, you see! + +HAGEN. Yes... I see. + +GER. [Enters, centre; stands looking from one to the other.] Well, +Prince Hagen... it looks as if the game was up. + +HAGEN. You've heard the news? + +GER. From Washington? Yes. And more than that. Your guards have +revolted. + +HAGEN. What! Here? + +GER. Yes. We're prisoners of war, it seems. + +EST. Gerald! + +HAGEN. How do you know? + +GER. They've sent a delegation to tell us. They've cut the telephone +wires, blocked the roads, and shut us in. + +HAGEN. What do they want? + +GER. They don't condescend to tell us that. They simply inform us that +the woods are guarded, and that anyone who tries to leave the camp +will be shot. + +EST. [In fright.] Prince Hagen! + +[HAGEN stands motionless.] + +GER. [Solemnly.] Hagen, the game is up! + +HAGEN. [In deep thought.] Yes. The game is up. [A pause.] Gerald! + +GER. Well? + +HAGEN. [Points to violin.] Play! + +GER. [Startled.] No! + +HAGEN. Play! + +GER. You will go? + +HAGEN. Yes. I will go. But I will come back! Play! [GERALD takes the +violin and plays the Nibelung theme.] Louder! + +GERALD plays the Nibelung music, which is taken up by the orchestra +and mounts to a climax, in the midst of which HAGEN pronounces a sort +of incantation. + +Mimi! Mimi! Open the gates of wonderland! Bring back the mood of +phantasy, and wake us from our evil dream! + +Silence. Then answering echoes of the music are heard, faintly, from +the fireplace. There are rappings and murmurings underground, rumbling +and patter of feet, and all the sounds of Nibelheim. As the music +swells louder, the trap doors slide open, and MIMI appears, amid steam +and glare of light. ESTELLE sees him, and recoils in terror. A company +of Nibelungs emerge one by one. They peer about timidly, recognize +HAGEN, and with much trepidation approach him. MIMI clasps his hand, +and they surround him with joyful cries. He moves toward the +fireplace, and the steam envelops him. + +EST. [Starts toward him, stretching out her arms to him.] Prince +Hagen! + +HAGEN. Farewell! + +He gradually retires, and disappears with the Nibelungs. The orchestra +sounds the motive of Siegfried Triumphant. + +CURTAIN + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Prince Hagen, by Upton Sinclair + diff --git a/old/prhgn10.zip b/old/prhgn10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d75c952 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/prhgn10.zip |