The Prince of Graustark

by George Barr McCutcheon

  CHAPTER XX

  LOVE IN ABEYANCE

  Two days went by. They were fraught with an ever-increasing joy for thetwo who were learning to understand each other through the mute, thoughirresistible teachings of a common tutor. Each succeeding hour had itsexquisite compensation; each presented the cup of knowledge to lipsthat were parched with the fever of impotence, and each time it wasreturned empty by the seekers after wisdom. There were days in whichLove went harvesting and prospered amazingly in the fields, for eachmoment that he stored away against the future was ripe with promise. Hewas laying by the store on which he was to subsist to the end of hisdays; he allowed no moment to go to waste, for he is a miser and fullof greed. Not one word of love passed between these two who waited forthe fruit to ripen. They were never alone together. Always they wereattended by the calm, keen-eyed Mrs. Gaston, who, though she may havebeen in sympathy with their secret enterprise, was nevertheless adependable barrier to its hasty consummation.

  She had received her instructions from the one now most likely to be inneed of a deterring influence; the girl herself. After that evening onthe porch, Bedelia had gone straight to her duenna with the truth. Thenshe made it clear to the good lady that she was not to be left alonefor an instant to confront the welcome besieger. And so it was thatwhen Robin and Bedelia walked or rode together, they were attended byprevention. In the Casino, at the gaming tables, at the concert, oreven in the street he was never free to express a thought or emotionthat, under less guarded conditions, might have exposed her to the riskshe was so carefully avoiding.

  He understood the situation perfectly and was not resentful. Heappreciated the caution with which she was carrying on her owncampaign, and he was not unmindful of the benefits that might alsoaccrue to him through this proscribed period of reflection. While hewas sure of himself by this time, and fully determined to risk even hiscrown for the girl who so calmly held him at bay, he was also sensibleof the wisdom of her course. She was not willing to subject herself orhim to the dangers of temptation. As she had said, there was a greatdeal at stake; the rest of their lives, in truth.

  There was one little excursion to Grindelwald and its glacier, andlater an ascent of the Schynige Platte. Even a desperate horror of therack and pinion railway up and down the steep mountain did not dauntthe incomparable chaperone. (True, she closed her eyes and shrank asfar away from the edge of eternity as possible, but she stuck manfullyto her post.) He dined with them on the two evenings, and with themheard the concerts.

  There were times when he was perplexed, and uncertain of her. At notime did she relax into what might have been considered a receptive oreven an encouraging mood. He watched eagerly for the love-light that hehoped to surprise in her eyes, but it never appeared. She was serene,self-contained, natural. That momentary dissolving on her part when shesat with him in the shadows was the only circumstance he had to basehis hopes upon. She had betrayed herself then by word and manner, butnow she had her emotions well in hand.

  Her lovely eyes met his frankly and without the faintest sign ofdiffidence or self-consciousness. Her soft laugh was free andunconstrained, her smile gay and remotely suggestive of mischief. Attimes he thought she was playing the game too well for one whoprofessed to be concerned about the future.

  On the third day he was convicted of duplicity. She went off for a walkalone, leaving him safely anchored in what he afterwards came to lookupon as a pre-arranged game of auction-bridge. When she came in afteran absence of at least two hours, the game was just breaking up. Henoted the questioning look that Mrs. Gaston bestowed upon her faircharge, and also remarked that it contained no sign of reproof. Thegirl went up to her room without so much as a word with him. Her facewas flushed and she carried her head disdainfully. He was greatlypuzzled.

  The puzzle was soon explained. He waited for her on the stairway as shecame down alone to dinner.

  "You told me that your friends were not in Interlaken, Mr. Schmidt,"she said coldly. "Why did you feel called upon to deceive me?"

  He bit his lip. For an instant he reflected, and then gave an evasiveanswer. "I think I told you that I was alone in this hotel. Miss Guile.My friends are at another hotel. I am not aware that--"

  "I have seen and talked with that charming old man, Mr. Totten," sheinterrupted. "He has been here for days, and Mr. Dank as well. Do youthink that you have been quite fair with me?"

  He lowered his eyes. "I think I have been most fair to both of us," hereplied. "Will you believe me when I say that in a way I personallyrequested them to leave this hotel and seek another? And will itdecrease your respect for me if I add that I wanted to have you all tomyself, so to speak, and not to feel that these good friends of minewere--"

  "Why don't you look me in the face, Mr. Schmidt?" she broke in. Helooked up at once prepared to meet a look of disdain. To his surprise,she was smiling. "I have talked it all over with Mrs. Gaston, and sheadvised me to forgive you if you were in the least penitentand--honest. Well, you have made an honest confession, I am satisfied.Now, I have a confession to make. I have suspected all along that Mr.Totten and Mr. Dank and the shadowy Mr. Gourou were in the town."

  "You suspected?" he cried in amazement and chagrin.

  "I was morally certain that they were here. Today my suspicions werejustified. I encountered Mr. Totten in the park beyond theJungfraublick. He was very much upset, I can assure you, but herecovered with amazing swiftness. We sat on one of the benches in anice little nook and had a long, long talk. He is a charming man. Ihave asked him to come to luncheon with us to-morrow, and to bring Mr.Dank."

  "Good Lord, will wonders never--"

  "But I did not include the still invisible Mr. Gourou. I was afraidthat you would be too uncomfortable under the hawk-like eye of thegentleman who so kindly warned us at the Pavilion Bleu." There wasgentle raillery in her manner. "I shall expect you to join us, Mr.Schmidt. You have no other engagement?"

  "I--I shall be delighted," he stammered.

  She laid her hand gently upon his arm and a serious sweetness came intoher eyes.

  "Come," she said; "let us go in ahead of Mrs. Gaston. Let us have justone little minute to ourselves, Mr. Schmidt."

  It was true that she came upon the Count in one of the paths of theKleine Rugen. He was walking slowly toward her, his eyes fixedthoughtfully upon the ground. When she accosted him, he was plainlyconfused, as she had said. After the first few passages in politethough stilted conversation, his keen, grey eyes resumed theirthoughtful--it was even a calculating look.

  "Will you sit here with me for a while, Miss Guile?" he asked gently."I have something of the gravest importance to say to you."

  She sat beside him on the sequestered bench, and when she arose toleave him an hour later, her cheek was warm with colour and her eyeswere filled with tenderness toward this grim, staunch old man who wasthe friend of _her_ friend. She laid her hand in his and suffered himto raise it to his lips.

  "I hope, my dear young lady," said he with simple directness, "that youwill not regard me as a stupid, interfering old meddler. God is mywitness, I have your best interests at heart. You are too good andbeautiful to--"

  "I shall always look upon you as the kindest of men!" she criedimpulsively, and left him.

  He stood watching her slender, graceful figure as she moved down thesloping path and turned into the broad avenue. A smallish man with alean face came up from the opposite direction and stopped beside him.

  "Could you resist her, Quinnox, if you were twenty-two?" asked this manin his quiet voice.

  Quinnox did not look around, but shook his head slowly. "I cannotresist her at sixty-two, my friend. She is adorable."

  "I do not blame him. It is fate. _She_ is fate. Our work is done, myfriend. We have served our country well, but fate has taken the matterout of our hands. There is nothing left for us to do but to fold ourarms and wait." Gourou revealed his inscrutable smile as he pulled athis thin, scraggly moustache. He was shaking his head, as one whoresigns himself to
the inevitable.

  After a long silence Quinnox spoke.

  "Our people will come to love their princess, Gourou."

  "Even as you and I, my friend," said the Baron.

  And then they held their heads erect and walked confidently down theroad their future sovereign had traversed before them.

  When Mrs. Gaston joined Robin and Bedelia at the table which had beenset for them in the _salle a manger_, she laid several letters beforethe girl who picked them up instantly and glanced at the superscriptionon each.

  "I think that all of them are important," said Mrs. Gastonsignificantly. The smile on the girl's face had given way to a cloudedbrow. She was visibly perturbed.

  "You will forgive me, Mr. Schmidt," she said nervously. "I must look atthem at once."

  He tried not to watch her face as she read what appeared to be a briefand yet evidently important letter, but his rapt gaze was not to be soeasily managed. An exclamation of annoyance fell from her lips.

  "This is from a friend in Paris, Mr. Schmidt," she said, hesitatingly.Then, as if coming to a quick decision: "My father has heard that I amcarrying on atrociously with a strange young man. It seems that it is a_new_ young man. He is beside himself with rage. My friends havealready come in for severe criticism. He blames them for permitting hisdaughter to run at large and to pick up with every Tom, Dick and Harry.Dear me, I shudder when I think of what he will do to you, Mrs. Gaston.He will take off your head completely. But never fear, you old dear, Iwill see that it is put on again as neatly as ever. So, you see, Mr.Schmidt, you now belong to that frightful order of nobodies, the Tomsand the Dicks and the Harrys."

  "I see that there is a newspaper clipping attached," he remarked."Perhaps your father has been saying something to the newspapers." Itwas a mean speech and he regretted it instantly.

  She was not offended, however. Indeed, she may not have heard what hesaid, for she was reading the little slip of printed matter. Suddenlyshe tore it into tiny bits and scattered them under the table. Hercheeks were red and her eyes glistened unmistakably with mortification.He was never to know what was in that newspaper cutting, but he wasconscious of a sharp sensation of anger and pity combined. Whatever itwas, it was offensive to her, and his blood boiled. He noted theexpression of alarm and apprehension deepen in Mrs. Gaston's face.

  Bedelia slashed open another envelope and glanced at its contents. Hereyes flew open with surprise. For an instant she stared, a frown ofperplexity on her brow.

  "We are discovered!" she cried a moment later, clapping her handstogether in an ecstasy of delight. "The pursuers are upon our heels.Even now they may be watching me from behind some convenient post orthrough some handy window pane. Isn't it fine? Don't look so horrified,you old dear. They can't eat us, you know, even though we are in adining-room. I love it all! Followed by man-hunters! What could be morethrilling? The chase is on again. Quick! We must prepare for flight!"

  "Flight?" gasped Robin. Her eyes were dancing. His were filled withdismay.

  "It is as I feared," she cried. "They have found me out. Hurry! Let usfinish this wretched dinner. I must leave here to-night."

  "Impossible!" cried Mrs. Gaston. "Don't be silly. To-morrow will betime enough. Calm yourself, my dear."

  "To-morrow at sunrise," cried Bedelia enthusiastically. "It is alreadyplanned, Mr. Schmidt. I have engaged an automobile in anticipation ofthis very emergency. The trains are not safe. To-morrow I fly again.This letter is from the little stenographer in Paris. I bribedher--yes, I bribed her with many francs. She is in the offices of thegreat detective agency-'the Eye that never Sleeps!' I shall give her agreat many more of those excellent francs, my friends. She is an honestgirl. She did not fail me."

  "I don't see how you can say she is honest if she accepted a bribe,"said Mrs. Gaston severely.

  "Pooh!" was Miss Guile's sufficient answer to this. "We cross theBrunig Pass by motor. That really is like flying, isn't it?"

  "To Lucerne?" demanded Robin, still hazily.

  "No, no! That would be madness. We shall avoid Lucerne. Miles and milesto the north we will find a safe retreat for a day or two. Then therewill be a journey by rail to--to your own city of Vienna, Mr. Schmidt.You--"

  "See here," said Robin flatly, "I don't understand the necessity forall this rushing about by motor and--"

  "Of course you don't," she cried. "You are not being sought by a cruel,inhuman monster of a father who would consign you to a most shudderablefate! You don't have to marry a man whose very name you have hated. Youcan pick and choose for yourself. And so shall I, for that matter.You--"

  "You _adore_ your father," cut in Mrs. Gaston sharply. "I don't thinkyou should speak of him in that--"

  "Of course I adore him! He is a dear old bear. But he is a monster, anogre, a tyrant, a--oh, well, he is everything that's dreadful! You lookdreadfully serious, Mr. Schmidt. Do you think that I should submit tomy father's demands and marry the man he has chosen for me?"

  "I do," said Robin, abruptly and so emphatically that both of hishearers jumped in their seats. He made haste to dissemble. "Of course,I'd much rather have you do that than to break your neck rolling over aprecipice or something of the sort in a crazy automobile dash."

  Miss Guile recovered her poise with admirable promptness. Her smile wasa trifle uncertain, but she had a dependable wit. "If that is all thatyou are afraid of, I'll promise to save my neck at all costs," shesaid. "I could have many husbands but only one poor little neck."

  "You can have only one husband," said he, almost savagely. "By the way,why don't you read the other letter?" He was regarding it with jealouseyes, for she had slipped it, face downward, under the edge of herplate.

  "It isn't important," she said, with a quick look into his eyes. Sheconvicted herself in that glance, and knew it on the instant.

  Angry with herself, she snatched up the letter and tore it open. Hercheeks were flushed. She read however without betraying any additionalevidence of uneasiness or embarrassment. When she had finished, shedeliberately folded the sheets and stuck them back into the envelopewithout comment. One looking over her shoulder as she read, however,might have caught snatches of sentences here and there on the heavilyscrawled page. They were such as these: "You had led me tohope," ... "for years I have been your faithful admirer," ... "Nor have Iwavered for an instant despite your whimsical attitude," ... "thereforeI felt justified in believing that you were sincere in yourdetermination to defy your father." And others of an even more causticnature: "You are going to marry this prince after all," ... "not thatyou have ever by word or deed bound yourself to me, yet I had everyreason to hope," ... "Your father will be pleased to find that you areobedient," ... "I am not mean enough to wish you anything but happiness,although I know you will never achieve it through this sickeningsurrender to vanity," ... "if I were a prince with a crown and a debtthat I couldn't pay," ... "admit that I have had no real chance to winout against such odds," etc.

  She faced Robin coolly. "It will be necessary to abandon our littleluncheon for to-morrow. I am sorry. Still Mr. Totten informs me that hewill be in Vienna shortly. The pleasure is merely postponed."

  "Are you in earnest about this trip by motor to-morrow morning?"demanded Robin darkly. "You surely cannot be--"

  "I am very much in earnest," she said decisively. He looked to Mrs.Gaston for help. That lady placidly shook her head. In fact, sheappeared to be rather in favour of the preposterous plan, if one wereto judge by the rapt expression on her countenance. "I had thesupposedly honest word of these crafty gentlemen that I was not to beinterfered with again. They gave me their promise. I shall now givethem all the trouble possible."

  "But it will be a simple matter for them to find out how and when youleft this hotel and to trace you perfectly."

  "Don't be too sure of that," she said, exultantly. "I have a trick ortwo up my sleeve that will baffle them properly, Mr. Schmidt."

  "My dear," interposed Mrs. Gaston severely, "do not forget yourself. Itisn't necessar
y to resort to slang in order--"

  "Slang is always necessary," avowed Bedelia, undisturbed. "Goodness, Iknow I shall not sleep a wink to-night."

  "Nor I," said Robin gloomily. Suddenly his face lightened. A wild,reckless gleam shot into his eyes and, to their amazement, he bangedthe table with his fist. "By Jove, I know what I shall do. I'll go withyou!"

  "No!" cried Bedelia, aghast. "I--I cannot permit it, Mr. Schmidt. Can'tyou understand? You--_you_ are the man with whom I am supposed to becarrying on atrociously. What could be more convicting than to bediscovered racing over a mountain-pass--Oh, it is not to beconsidered--not for an instant."

  "Well, I can tell you flatly just what I intend to do," said he,setting his jaws. "I shall hire another car and keep you in sight everyfoot of the way. You may be able to elude the greatest detective agencyin Europe, but you can't get away from me. I intend to keep you nowthat I've got you, Bedelia. You can't shake me off. Where you go, I go."

  "Do you mean it?" she cried, a new thrill in her voice. He looked deepinto her eyes and read there a message that invited him to perform vastthough fool-hardy deeds. Her eyes were suddenly sweet with the love shehad never expected to know; her lips trembled with the longing forkisses. "I shall travel far," she murmured. "You may find the task anarduous one--keeping up with me, I mean."

  "I am young and strong," he said, "and, if God is good to me, I shalllive for fifty years to come, or even longer. I tingle with joy,Bedelia, when I think of being near you for fifty years or more.Have--have you thought of it in that light? Have you looked ahead andsaid to yourself: fifty years have I to live and all of them with--"

  "Hush! I was speaking of a week's journey, not of a life's voyage, Mr.Schmidt," she said, her face suffused.

  "I was speaking of a honeymoon," said he, and then remembered Mrs.Gaston. She was leaning back in her chair, smiling benignly. He had anuncomfortable thought: was he walking into a trap set for him by thisclever woman? Had she an ulterior motive in advancing his cause?

  "But it would be perfectly silly of you to follow me in a car," saidBedelia, trying to regain her lost composure. "Perfectly silly,wouldn't it, Mrs. Gas-ton?"

  "Perfectly," said Mrs. Gaston.

  "I will promise to see you in Vienna--"

  "I intend to see you every day," he declared, "from now till the end oftime."

  "Really, Mr. Schmidt, you--"

  "If there is one thing I despise beyond all reason, Bedelia, it is thename of 'Schmidt'! I wish you wouldn't call me by that name."

  "I can't just call you 'Mister,'" she demurred.

  "Call me Rex for the present," said he. "I will supply you with abetter one later on."

  "May I call him Rex?" she inquired of her companion.

  "In moderation," said Mrs. Gaston.

  "Very well, then, Rex, I have changed my mind. I shall not cross theBrunig by motor since you insist upon risking your neck in pursuit ofme. I shall go by train in the morning,--calmly, complacently, stupidlyby train. Instead of a thrilling dash for liberty over rocky heightsand through perilous gorges, I shall travel like any bourgeoise in asecond--or third class carriage, and the only thrill I shall have willbe when we stop for Baker's chocolate at the top of the Pass. By thattime I expect to be sufficiently hungry to be thrilled even by thesight of a cake of chocolate. Will you travel in the carriage behindme? I fancy it will be safe and convenient and you can't possibly befar from my heels."

  "That's a sensible idea," he cried. "And we may be able to accommodateyour other pursuers on the same train. What's the sense of leaving thembehind? They'd only catch us up in the end, so we might just as welltake them along with us."

  "No. We will keep well ahead of them. I insist on that. They can't gethere before to-morrow afternoon, so we will be far in the lead. We willbe in Vienna in two days. There I shall say good-bye to you, for I amgoing on beyond. I am going to Graustark, the new Blithers estate.Surely you will not follow me there."

  "You are very much mistaken. I shall be there as soon as you and Ishall stay just as long, provided Mr. Blithers has no objections," saidRobin, with more calmness than he had hoped to display in the face ofher sudden thrust.

  "We are forgetting our dinner," said Mrs. Gaston quietly. "I think thewaiter is annoyed."