XV
THE DREAM KISS
The next day in solemn conclave the Counselors decided that the time hadcome to bring the King to Krovitch.
"All is ready," said the grizzled Sutphen, "to inaugurate his reign withthe fall of Schallberg."
"You must come too," said Trusia to Carter, "as a member of myhousehold." The question of expedients was debated. Suspicion might beawakened should such a large party travel together. It was decided thatCarter and Sobieska should proceed to Vienna; Muhlen-Sarkey and Trusiawith their two attendants were to cross into Germany at the nearestpoint, thence travel by rail, while Josef and the rest should embarkboldly from Schallberg.
Carrick was much depressed at learning he was to be left behind, butextracted some consolation from the fact that he was to be detailed toattend Count Zulka for whom he had always shown a preference.
"The rendezvous is Paris,--Boulevard St. Michel, second house on theleft from St. Germain. The time, two days hence, at six o'clock in theevening. That will allow the necessary time for unforeseen hitches,"said Sobieska, to which all quietly assented.
Speeded by the entire court coterie, Sobieska and Carter mounted andclattered out of the courtyard, and by ways through the forest, whichthe Minister of Private Intelligence had learned in a score of huntingtrips, the pair, evading the vigilance of Russian sentries, reached theVistula. They were ferried across by a loyal peasant and landed onAustrian soil without hostile interruption.
While the journey from Vienna to Paris was destined to be withoutparticular incident, it furnished the opportunity for a fulleracquaintance and understanding between Carter and Sobieska.
"I have wanted to have a fuller talk with you anent Josef," saidSobieska when their conversation had reached the confidential stage. "Itwas manifestly impossible at the castle. I was afraid of eavesdroppers.It may be one of those unreasonable prejudices, but, aside from thefellow's social inferiority, I cannot help feeling that his is asinister influence in Krovitch."
"I thought his allegiance held him to the side of his exiled master. Hashe been in Krovitch all his life?"
"Although familiar to the older nobles during the lifetime of King Marc,the grandfather of his present Majesty, Josef reappeared last autumnafter an absence of several years. He immediately requested the hand ofLady Trusia in marriage for His Majesty." Here Sobieska glanced covertlyat Carter to see the effect of this disclosure. The American's face,however, was as stoical as an Indian's. "He produced the historicdocuments of Stovik's right to the crown--the traditional proof ofembassy. He preached a war on Russia and the rehabilitation of Krovitch.Our people were aroused. For our country's sake, our lady yielded.Messages were sent to all parts of the world to the patriots, who, inlarge numbers, have been returning to their fatherland. Russia, asleep,or lulled into a false sense of security, has made no move to indicatethat she is aware of a plot, yet you heard rumors a year ago that atleast matters were in a ferment here. It is strange, strange," he saidmusingly.
Then, marveling at his own irrelevance, Carter told Sobieska for thefirst time of Carrick's confirmation of their suspicions that Josef wasparty to the plot of the substituted letter in the forest. "He knew thename and address of Russia's chief spy in Warsaw. How could he, aretainer--a loyal servant of an exiled monarch, know these things? Pitchdefiles."
With a laugh which dismissed the subject, Sobieska turned to Carter."It seems to me," he said, "we're allowing an absent servant tomonopolize considerable of our conversation. Let's talk of somethingelse."
"Have you any conception of His Majesty's, the King's, personality?"asked Carter.
"We were shown a photograph by Josef. Certainly a handsome fellow. Anartist." This with the faintest shade of contempt that the man of actionalways holds for the artist, the poet or the dreamer. "I may be deceivedin him, God grant I am, but the face is the face of a sensualist, not ofa leader of men. What we need now for the throne is an inveterate haterof Russia. We have good leaders, now. We don't want a king who cannotunderstand and, consequently, may spoil our best plans."
"Wouldn't he be controlled?"
"You mean by his wife, by Trusia? He may, if she takes his fancy. Ifnot, he may lose interest, and fall under other control."
"You mean Josef's?"
"Yes."
"It seems complications are likely to arise."
"It is not too late for you to draw out," replied Sobieska coldly.
"I am no quitter." Carter's jaws set grim and hard. Then catching anelusive humor in the fact that, even as one who might become unfriendlyto him, he should have to accompany this man to Paris, he smiled. So didSobieska and a cordial understanding was reestablished.
Paris was reached. Familiar as New York to Carter, he had no difficultyin guiding his companion directly to the rendezvous near the QuaiD'Orsay.
Although their friends were not yet arrived, they found a corps ofservants had already arranged the house for their reception. As Sobieskawas known to the majestic butler, the travelers had no difficulty inimmediately establishing themselves in the quarters intended for them.
As night drew on, the others came trooping in, ready to do justice toanything eatable the chef could purvey.
"We had an unexpected rencontre just as we alighted from the train,"said Trusia. She leaned forward from her place at the table to speak toCount Sobieska. In doing so, her eyes met Carter's. They were filledwith a gentle regard--a more than friendliness.
"With whom?" asked her Minister of Private Intelligence anxiously, forthis city was the centre of international intrigue and espionage.
"You remember General Vladimar, the former Russian commandant atSchallberg? It was he. He was very cordial; as cordial as a dangerousRussian always is."
Sobieska, in assenting, drew in his breath with a sibilant sound throughpursed lips.
"I have every reason to believe he has been transferred to the WhitePolice," he commented gravely, as he turned his listless glance towardthe girl. "Any one with him--did he give any inkling that he suspectedanything?"
"He must suspect something," said Trusia, "he was so very, verypleasant. It is impossible for him to know anything, though." She turnedher fine eyes again to her Minister. "There was a man with him. Hepresented him as Herr Casper Haupt, who the General said was connectedwith the Russian Consulate here. He did not say in what capacity."
Sobieska aimlessly turned and returned a fork lying before him.
"No?" he inquired listlessly; then he repeated the question moreindifferently, "No?" He permitted a distant shadow of a smile to crosshis face as he looked up. "He didn't tell you, for instance, that HerrCasper Haupt is the Chief of Imperial Secret Police for the districtembracing Poland, Krovitch, Austria and France; a very importantpersonage? What did Vladimar have to say?"
"When I told him I was on a shopping tour, he looked the usual masculinehorror and gave the usual masculine prayer for deliverance. He jokinglysuggested that I was going to purchase a trousseau." Her cheeks took afaint color from her remark. "When he saw my suite--though he didn'tthink I noticed it--his face stiffened a trifle and his tone was atrifle less cordial. He remarked dryly we must be shopping for an army.He became very anxious to learn my stopping-place that he might call, asan old neighbor. I told him that I had determined, as yet, neither whereI would stay permanently, nor how long I would be in Paris, and he hadto be content with that."
Sobieska nodded his approval and laid down his fork.
"Such neighbors become more dangerous the older they grow. We will haveto keep a lookout for General Alexis Vladimar. He suspects something."
"He made no attempt to follow us," replied Trusia. "I watched. Heappeared to have forgotten our existence."
"He is a clever man, that Vladimar," said Sobieska grudgingly. "He hasnot forgotten. Perhaps he is so sure of finding you when he wants tothat he is not giving himself any trouble. Fortunately we leaveto-morrow morning and will give him the slip, for all his cleverness."
Trusia now turned t
o Carter, and with fine free friendliness asked himof his journey and if it had seemed long.
"Yes, it did," he admitted, but he did not say it was because it tookhim from her.
"Now, isn't that odd," she laughed, "a journey home seems always thelongest to me; no train can get me there quickly enough," she added withan extra note of tender patriotism.
When dinner was spread, Trusia seemed pale and depressed as though theanticipated meeting with her unknown fiance was not fraught with joy.Rallying herself, however, she was soon as much a centre of attractionas a sparkling fountain in a park is to feathered citizens on a sultrysummer day.
The wine of Krovitch, unfamiliar to Carter, was quite heady. He felt itcoursing through his arteries while his heart beat stronger. In itsconvivial influence he turned to the jovial Muhlen-Sarkey and touchedglasses.
"A short life and a merry one," he said.
"A strong blade and a noble one," replied the elderly noble withunexpected martial ardor. The incident had not escaped the notice ofTrusia. She arose, glass held high above her head.
"Gentlemen," she cried, "the King of Krovitch!"
"The King! The King!" came the ready response. Each toaster crashed hisglass in token that no less worthy sentiments should ever be drunk fromit. When the loyal cries had faded into a ghostly silence, the tall,pale girl spoke again.
"This night, my lords and gentlemen, you go, after two centuries, tocall him back unto his own. As you kneel before him, you will hold yoursword hilts to his hand in token that at his call, alone, they'll bedrawn. Remember, this man is your king, whatever the state in which youfind him. Reverence must be shown as though upon his ancestral throne.In full regalia, then, you must present yourselves.
"He may be in rags, but purple never made a king. He may be alone, butroyal birth gave him dominion over millions. He may be poor in purse,but is rich in your--in Krovitch's devotion. You must bring him hereto-night, guarded with your naked breasts if need be. God save HisMajesty!"
When, resplendent in their uniforms, glittering with noble orders, theparty reappeared before Her Grace, her face was still pale and her eyesshone from startled depths. Each man kissed her hand and, leaving,received her whispered--"Godspeed." Carter was last.
With his hand upon the knob, he felt that the closing of that door waslike sealing the death warrant of his hopes. He was going to find ahusband among strangers for the girl he loved. Obeying an irresistibleimpulse he looked back.
Trusia was standing by the table in the middle of the room. Her lefthand leaned on its edge, supporting a weariness shown in the relaxedlines of her figure. Her lips were parted as if in pain, while her eyesseemed searching for Carter as he met her gaze. The others had alreadypassed from the hall. With a bound he was before her, kneeling, hisface, turned upward to hers, pleading the love he dared not speak.
Whether he imagined what he wished the most, or whether she, bending,actually touched her lips to his, he could not have said, but satisfiedthat she loved him, he arose and staggered blindly from the room.
Trusia: A Princess of Krovitch Page 15
