The Prince of Graustark

by George Barr McCutcheon

  CHAPTER XIX

  "WHAT WILL MY PEOPLE DO!"

  The Grand Duke and his party left Interlaken by special train early inthe afternoon, and great was Robin's relief when Hobbs returned withthe word that they were safely on their way to the capital ofSwitzerland. He emerged from the seclusion of his room, where he hadbeen in hiding since noon, and set out for a walk through the town. Hishead was high and his stride jaunty, for his heart was like a cork.People stared after him with smiles of admiration, and never a_cocher'_ passed him by without a genial, inviting tilt of the eyebrowand a tentative pull at the reins, only to meet with a pleasant shakeof the head or the negative flourish of a bamboo cane.

  Night came and with it the silvery glow of moonlight across the hoaryheaded queen of the Oberland. When Robin came out from dinner he seatedhimself on the porch, expectant, eager--and vastly lonesome. Anunaccountable shyness afflicted him, rendering him quite incapable ofsending his card up to the one who could have dispelled the gatheringgloom with a single glance of the eye. Would she come stealing outostensibly to look at the night-capped peak, but with furtive glancesinto the shadows of the porch in quest of--But no! She would not dothat! She would come attended by the exasperating Mr. White and thefriendly duenna. Her starry eyes, directed elsewhere, would only serveto increase the depth of the shadows in which he lurked impatient.

  She came at last--and alone. Stopping at the rail not more than anarm's length from where he sat, she gazed pensively up at the solemnmistress of the valley, one slim hand at her bosom, the other hanginglimp at her side. He could have touched that slender hand by merelystretching forth his own. Breathless, enthralled, he sat as onedeprived of the power or even the wish to move. The spell was upon him;he was in thralldom.

  She wore a rose-coloured gown, soft, slinky, seductive. A lightEgyptian scarf lay across her bare shoulders. The slim, white neck andthe soft dark hair--but she sighed! He heard that faint, quick-drawnsigh and started to his feet.

  "Bedelia!" he whispered softly.

  She turned quickly, to find him standing beside her, his face aglowwith rapture. A quick catch of the breath, a sudden movement of thehand that lay upon her breast, and then she smiled,--a wavering,uncertain smile that went straight to his heart and shamed him forstartling her. "I beg your pardon," he began lamely. "I--I startledyou."

  She held out her hand to him, still smiling. "I fear I shall neverbecome accustomed to being pursued," she said, striving for command ofher voice.

  "It is dreadful to feel that some one is forever watching you frombehind. I am glad it is you, however. You at least are not 'the secreteye that never sleeps'!" She gently withdrew her hand from his ardentclasp. "Mrs. Gaston told me that she had seen you. I feared that youmight have gone on your way rejoicing."

  "Rejoicing?" he cried. "Why do you say that?"

  "After our experience in Paris, I should think that you had had enoughof me and my faithful watchdogs."

  "Rubbish!" he exclaimed. "I shall never have enough of you," he wenton, with sudden boldness. "As for the watch-dogs, they are not likelyto bite us, so what is there to be afraid of?"

  "Have you succeeded in evading the watchful eye of Mr. Totten'sfriend?" she enquired, sending an apprehensive glance along the porch.

  "Completely," he declared. "I am quite alone in this hotel and, Ibelieve, unsuspected. And you? Are you still being--"

  "Sh! Who knows? I think we have thrown them off the track, but onecannot be sure. I raised a dreadful rumpus about it in Paris,and--well, they said they were sorry and advised me not to be worried,for the surveillance would cease at once. Still, I am quite sure thatthey lied to me."

  "Then you _are_ being followed."

  She smiled again, and there was mischief in her eyes. "If so, I haveled them a merry chase. We have been travelling for two days andnights, Mr. Schmidt, by train and motor, getting off at stationsunexpectedly, hopping into trains going in any direction but the rightone, sleeping in strange beds and doing all manner of queer things. Andhere we are at last. I am sure you must look upon me as a very silly,flibberty-gibbet creature."

  "I see that your retinue has been substantially augmented," heremarked, a trace of jealousy in his voice. "The good-looking Mr. Whitehas not been eluded."

  "Mr. White? Oh, yes, I see. But he is to be trusted, Mr. Schmidt," shesaid mysteriously--and tantalisingly. "He will not betray me to mycruel monster of a father. I have his solemn promise not to reveal mywhereabouts to any one. My father is the last person in the world towhom he would go with reports of my misdoings."

  "I saw you this morning, riding with him," said he glumly.

  "Through the telescope?" she inquired softly, laying a hand upon thestationary instrument.

  He flushed hotly. "It was when you were starting out, Miss Guile. I amnot one of the spies, you should remember."

  "You are my partner in guilt," she said lightly. "By the way, have youforgiven me for leading you into temptation?"

  "Certainly. I am still in the Garden of Eden, you see, and as I don'ttake any stock in the book of Genesis, I hope to prove to myself atleast, that the conduct of an illustrious forebear of mine was not dueto the frailties of Eve but to his own tremendous anxiety to get out ofa place that was filled with snakes. I hope and pray that you willcontinue to put temptation in my path so that I may have the frequentpleasure of falling."

  She turned her face away and for a moment was silent. "Shall we takethose chairs over there, Mr. Schmidt? They appear to be as abandoned aswe." She indicated two chairs near the broad portals.

  He shook his head. "If we are looking for the most utterly abandoned,allow me to call your attention to the two in yonder corner."

  "It is quite dark over there," she said with a frown.

  "Quite," he agreed. "Which accounts, no doubt, for your failure to seethem."

  "Mrs. Gaston will be looking for me before--" she began hesitatingly.

  "Or Mr. White, perhaps. Let me remind you that they have exceedinglysharp eyes."

  "Mr. White is no longer here," she announced.

  His heart leaped. "Then I, at least, have nothing to fear," he saidquickly.

  She ignored the banality. "He left this afternoon. Very well, let ustake the seats over there. I rather like the--shall I say shadows?"

  "I too object to the limelight,--Bedelia," he said, offering her hisarm.

  "You are not to call me Bedelia," she said, holding back.

  "Then 'forgive us our transgressions' is to be applied in the usualorder, I presume."

  "Are you sorry you called me Bedelia?" she insisted, frowning ominously.

  "No. I'm sorry you object, that's all."

  They made their way through a maze of chairs and seated themselves inthe dim corner. Their view of the Jungfrau from this vine-screenedcorner was not as perfect as it might have been, but the Jungfrau hadno present power of allurement for them.

  "I cannot stay very long," she said as she sank back in the comfortablechair.

  He turned his back not only upon the occupants of the porch but thelustrous Jungfrau, drawing his chair up quite close to hers. As heleaned forward, with his elbows on the arms of the chair, she seemed toslink farther back in the depths of hers, as if suddenly afraid of him.

  "Now, tell me everything," he said. "From beginning to end. What becameof you after that day at St. Cloud, whither have you journeyed, andwherefore were you so bent on coming to this now blessed Interlaken?"

  "Easily answered. Nothing at all became of me. I journeyed thither, andI came because I had set my heart on seeing the Jungfrau."

  "But you had seen it many times."

  "And I hoped that I might find peace and quiet here," she added quitedistinctly.

  "You expected to find me here, didn't you?"

  "Yes, but I did not regard you as a disturber of the peace."

  "You knew I would come, but you didn't know why, did you, Bedelia?" Heleaned a little closer.

  "Yes, I knew why," she said calmly, emotionle
ssly. He drew backinstantly, chilled by her directness. "You came because there waspromise of an interesting adventure, which you now are on the point ofmaking impossible by a rather rash exhibition of haste."

  He stared at her shadowy face in utter confusion. For a moment he wasspeechless. Then a rush of protesting sincerity surged up within himand he cried out in low, intense tones: "I cannot allow you to thinkthat of me, Miss Guile. If I have done or said anything to lead you tobelieve that I am--"

  "Oh, I beg of you, Mr. Schmidt, do not enlarge upon the matter bytrying to apologise," she cried.

  "I am not trying to apologise," he protested. "I am trying to justifywhat you are pleased to call an exhibition of haste. You see, it's justthis way: I am obliged to make hay while the sun shines, for soon I maybe cast into utter darkness. My days are numbered. In a fortnight Ishall be where I cannot call my soul my own. I--"

  "You alarm me. Are you to be sent to prison?"

  "You wouldn't look upon it as a prison, but it seems like one to me. Donot laugh. I cannot explain to you now. Another day I shall tell youeverything, so pray take me for what I am to-day, and ask no questions.I have asked no more of you, so do you be equally generous with me."

  "True," she said, "you have asked no questions of me. You take me forwhat I am to-day, and yet you know nothing of my yesterdays or myto-morrows. It is only fair that I should be equally confiding. Letthere be no more questions. Are we, however, to take each otherseriously?"

  "By all means," he cried. "There will come a day when you mayappreciate the full extent of my seriousness."

  "You speak in riddles."

  "Is the time ripe for me to speak in sober earnest?" he questionedsoftly. She drew back again in swift alarm.

  "No, no! Not now--not yet. Do not say anything now, Mr. Schmidt, thatmay put an end to our--to our adventure."

  She was so serious, so plaintive, and yet so shyly prophetic of comfortyet to be attained, that his heart warmed with a mighty glow ofexaltation. A sweet feeling of tenderness swept over him.

  "If God is good, there can be but one end to our adventure," he said,and then, for some mysterious reason, silence fell between them. Longafterward--it seemed hours to him!--she spoke, and her voice was lowand troubled.

  "Can you guess why I am being watched so carefully, why I am beingfollowed so doggedly by men who serve not me but another?"

  "Yes. It is because you are the greatest jewel in the possession of agreat man, and he would preserve you against all varlets,--such as I."

  She did not reveal surprise at his shrewd conjecture. She nodded herhead and sighed.

  "You are right. I am his greatest jewel, and yet he would give me intothe keeping of an utter stranger. I am being protected against thatconscienceless varlet--Love! If love lays hands upon me--ah, my friend,you cannot possibly guess what a calamity that would be!"

  "And love _will_ lay hands upon you, Bedelia,--"

  "I am sure of that," she said, once more serene mistress of herselfafter a peculiarly dangerous lapse. "That is why I shudder. What couldbe more dreadful than to fall into the clutches of that merciless foeto peace? He rends one's heart into shreds; he stabs in the dark; hethrusts, cuts and slashes and the wounds never heal; he blinds withoutpity; he is overbearing, domineering, ruthless and his victims arepowerless to retaliate. Love is the greatest tyrant in all the world,Mr. Schmidt, and we poor wretches can never hope to conquer him. We arehis prey, and he is rapacious. Do you not shudder also?"

  "Bless you, no! I'd rather enjoy meeting him in mortal combat. Mynotion of bliss would be a fight to the death with love, for then theconflict would not be one-sided. What could be more glorious than tostand face to face with love, hand to hand, breast to breast, lip tolip until the end of time? Let him cut and slash and stab if you will,there would still be recompense for the vanquished. Even those who havesuffered most in the conflict with love must admit that they have had ashare in the spoils. One can't ignore the sweet hours when counting upthe bitter ones, after love has withdrawn from the tender encounter.The cuts and slashes are cherished and memory is a store-house for thespoils that must be shared with vanity."

  "It sounds like a book. Who is your favourite author?" she inquiredlightly.

  "Baedeker," he replied, with promptness. "Without my Baedeker, I shouldnever have chanced upon the route travelled by love, nor the hotelwhere I now lodge in close proximity to--"

  "Will you please be sensible?"

  "You invite something to the contrary, Bedelia," he ventured.

  "Haven't I requested you to--"

  "I think of you only as Bedelia," he made haste to explain. "Bedeliawill stick to you forever, you see, while Miss Guile is almostephemeral. It cannot live long, you know, with so many other nameseager to take its place. But Bedelia--ah, Bedelia is everlasting."

  She laughed joyously, naturally. "You really are quite wonderful, Mr.Schmidt. Still I must change the subject. I trust the change will notaffect your glibness, for it is quite exhilarating. How long do youpurpose remaining in Interlaken?"

  "That isn't changing the subject," said he. "I shall be here for a weekor ten days--or perhaps longer." He put it in the form of a question,after all.

  "Indeed? How I envy you. I am sorry to say I shall have to leave in aday or two."

  His face fell. "Why?" he demanded, almost indignantly.

  "Because I am enjoying myself," she replied.

  "I don't quite get your meaning."

  "I am having such a good time disobeying my father, Mr. Schmidt, andeluding pursuers. It is only a matter of a day or two before I amdiscovered here, so I mean to keep on dodging. It is splendid fun."

  "Do you think it is quite fair to me?"

  "Did I induce you to come here, good sir?"

  "You did," said he, with conviction. "Heaven is my witness. I would nothave come but for you. I am due at home by this time."

  "Are you under any obligations to remain in Interlaken for a week orten days?"

  "Not now," he replied. "Do you mind telling me where you are going to,Miss Guile?"

  "First to Vienna, then--well, you cannot guess where. I have decided togo to Edelweiss."

  "Edelweiss!" he exclaimed in astonishment. He could hardly believe hisears.

  "It is the very last place in the world that my father would think oflooking for me. Besides I am curious to see the place. I understandthat the great Mr. Blithers is to be there soon, and the stupid Princewho will not be tempted by millions, and it is even possible that theextraordinary Miss Blithers may take it into her head to look the placeover before definitely refusing to be its Princess. I may find someamusement--or entertainment as an on-looker when the riots begin."

  He was staring at her wide-eyed and incredulous. "Do you really mean tosay you are going to Graustark?"

  "I have thought of doing so. Don't you think it will be amusing to beon the scene when the grand climax occurs? Of course, the Prince willcome off his high horse, and the girl will see the folly of her ways,and old Mr. Blithers will run 'rough shod over everybody, and--but,goodness, I can't even speculate on the possibilities."

  He was silent. So this was the way the wind blew, eh? There was but oneconstruction to be put upon her decision to visit the Capital ofGraustark. She _had_ taken it into her head "to look the place overbefore definitely refusing to be its Princess!" His first thrill ofexultation gave way to a sickening sense of disappointment.

  All this time she was regarding him through amused, half-closed eyes.She had a distinct advantage over him. She knew that he was the Princeof Graustark; she had known it for many days. Perhaps if she had knownall the things that were in his cunning brain, she would not haveventured so far into the comedy she was constructing. She would havehesitated--aye, she might have changed her methods completely. But shewas in the mood to do and say daring things. She considered herposition absolutely secure, and so she could afford to enjoy herselffor the time being. There would be an hour of reckoning, no doubt, butshe was not troubled b
y its promise of castigation.

  "Poor Prince!" she sighed pityingly. He started. The remark was sounexpected that he almost betrayed himself. It seemed profoundlypersonal. "He will be in very hot water, I fear."

  He regarded her coldly. "And you want to be on hand to see him squirm,I suppose."

  She took instant alarm. Was she going too far? His query was somewhatdisconcerting.

  "To be perfectly frank with you, Mr. Schmidt, I am going to Graustarkbecause no one will ever think of looking for me in such anout-of-the-way place. I am serious now, so you must not laugh at me.Circumstances are such that I prefer to seek happiness after a fashionof my own. My parents love me, but they will not understand me. Theywish me to marry a man they have picked out for me. I intend to pickout my own man, Mr. Schmidt. You may suspect, from all that you haveseen, that I am running away from home, from those who are dearest inall the world to me. You knew that I was carefully watched in Paris.You know that my father fears that I may marry a man distasteful tohim, and I suppose to my mother, although she is not so--"

  "Are his fears well-founded?" he asked, rudely interrupting her. "Isthere a man that he has cause to fear? Are--are you in love with someone, Bedelia?"

  "Do not interrupt me. I want you to know that I am not running awayfrom home, that I shall return to it when I see fit, and that I am notin love with the man they suspect. I want you to be just with me. Youare not to blame my father for anything, no matter how absurd hisactions may appear to you in the light of the past few days. It isright that he should try to safeguard me. I am wayward but I am notfoolish. I shall commit no silly blunder, you may be sure of that. Nowdo you understand me better?"

  She was very serious, very intense. He laid his hand on hers, and shedid not withdraw it. Emboldened, his hand closed upon the daintyfingers and an instant later they were borne to his hot lips.

  "You have said that I came here in search of a light adventure," hewhispered, holding her hand close to his cheek as he bent nearer toher. "You imply that I am a trifler, a light-o'-love. I want you tounderstand me better. I came here because I--"

  "Stop!" she pleaded. "You must not say it. I am serious--yes, I knowthat you are serious too. But you must wait. If you were to say it tome now I should have to send you away and--oh, believe me, I do notwant to do that. I--I--"

  "You love no one else?" he cried, rapturously.

  She swayed slightly, as if incapable of resisting the appeal thatcalled her to his heart. Her lips were parted, her eyes glowedluminously even in the shadows, and she scarcely breathed the words:

  "I love no one else."

  A less noble nature than his would have seized upon the advantageoffered by her sudden weakness. Instead, he drew a long, deep breath,straightened his figure and as he gently released the imprisoned hand,the prince in him spoke.

  "You have asked me to wait. I am sure that you know what is in myheart. It will always be there. It will not cut and slash and stab, forit is the most tender thing that has ever come into my life--or yours.It must never be accused of giving pain to you, so I shall obeyyou--and wait. You are right to avoid the risk of entrusting a singleword of hope to me. I am a passer-by. My sincerity, my honesty ofpurpose remain to be proved. Time will serve my cause. I can only askyou to believe in me--to trust me a little more each day--and to letyour heart be my judge."

  She spoke softly. "I believe in you, I trust you even now, or I wouldnot be here. You are kind to me. Few would have been so generous. Weboth are passers-by. It is too soon for us to judge each other in thefull. I must be sure--oh, I must be sure of myself. Can you understand?I must be sure of myself, and I am not sure now. You do not know howmuch there is at stake, you can not possibly know what it would mean tome if I were to discover that our adventure had no real significance inthe end. I know it sounds strange and mysterious, or you would not lookso puzzled. But unless I can be sure of one thing--one vital thing--ouradventure has failed in every respect. Now, I must go in. No; do notask me to stay--and let me go alone. I prefer it so. Good night, mycomrade."

  He stood up and let her pass. "Good night, my princess," he said,clearly and distinctly. She shot a swift glance into his eyes, smiledfaintly, and moved away. His rapt gaze followed her. She entered thedoor without so much as a glance over her shoulder.

  "My princess," he repeated wonderingly, to himself. "Have I kissed thehand of my princess? God in heaven, is there on earth a princess moreperfect than she? Can there be in all this world another so deservingof worship as she?"

  Late at night she sat in her window looking up at the peacefulJungfrau. A dreamy, ineffably sweet smile lay in her dark eyes. Thehand he kissed had lain long against her lips. To herself she hadrepeated, over and over again, the inward whisper:

  "What will my dear, simple old dad say if I marry this man after all?"

  In a window not ten feet away, he was staring out into the night, withlowering eyes and troubled heart, and in his mind he was saying:

  "What will my people do if I marry this woman after all?"