by Anthony Hope
XIII
A DELICATE DUTY
There was a stir in Slavna; excitement was gradually growing, notunmixed with uneasiness; gossip was busy at the Hotel de Paris and atthe Golden Lion. Men clustered in groups and talked, while their wivessaid that they would be better at home, minding their business andletting politics alone. Knowledge was far to seek; rumors wereplentiful. Dr. Natcheff might be as reassuring as he pleased--but he hadspent the night at the Palace! All was quiet in the city, but news cameof the force that was being raised in Volseni, and the size of the forcelost nothing as the report passed from mouth to mouth. Little as Slavnaloved the Prince, it was not eager to fight him. A certain reaction inhis favor set in. If they did not love him, they held him in sincererespect; if he meant to fight, then they were not sure that they did!
Baroness Dobrava's name, too, was much on men's lips; stories aboutSophy were bandied to and fro; people began to remember that they hadfrom the beginning thought her very remarkable--a force to be reckonedwith. The superstitious ideas about her made their first definiteappearance now. She had bewitched the Prince, they said, and the men ofthe hills, too; the whole mountain country would rise at her bidding andsweep down on Slavna in rude warfare and mad bravery. The Sheepskinswould come, following the Red Star!
The citizens of Slavna did not relish the prospect; at the best it wouldbe very bad for trade; at the worst it would mean blood and death letloose in the streets. A stern ruler was better than civil war. Thetroops of the garrison were no longer such favorites as they had been;even Captain Hercules subdued his demeanor (which, indeed, had neverquite recovered from the chastisement of the Prince's sword) to aself-effacing discretion. He, too, in his heart, and in his heavy,primitive brain, had an uneasy feeling about the witch with the RedStar; had she not been the beginning of trouble? But for her, Sterkoff'slong knife would have set an end to the whole chapter long ago!
The time was short and the omens doubtful. It was the moment for a boldstroke, for a forcing game. The waverers must be shown where power lay,whose was the winning side.
Captain Markart arrived at Slavna at one o'clock. Zerkovitch had usedhis start well and reached the city nearly three hours earlier. WhenMarkart told Stenovics (he reported himself at once to the General) howhe had been outwitted, Stenovics smiled, saying: "I know, and I knowwhat he has done since he got here. They stole a march on you, but noton me, Captain. And now--your story!" He listened to Markart's tale witha frowning brow, and then dismissed him, saying: "You will meet me atthe Palace. We meet the King in conference at four o'clock." But theGeneral himself went to the Palace long before four, and he and Stafnitzwere closeted with Countess Ellenburg. Lepage, returning from a walk tothe city at two o'clock, saw the General arrive on horseback.Lieutenant Rastatz saw Lepage arrive--ay, and had seen him set out, andmarked all his goings; but of this Lepage was unconscious. The littlelieutenant was not much of a soldier, but he was an excellent spy.Lepage had been with Zerkovitch.
The King was confined to his apartments, a suite of six rooms on thefirst floor, facing the river. Here he had his own sitting-room,dressing, and bedrooms. Besides these there were the little cupboardLepage slept in, and a spare room, which at present accommodated Dr.Natcheff. The sixth room was occupied by odds and ends, including thetackle, rods, and other implements of his Majesty's favorite pastime.The council was held in the sitting-room. Natcheff and Lepage were notpresent, but each was in his own room, ready for any possible call onhis services. Markart was there, first to tell his story and deliver hisletter, secondly in his capacity as secretary to General Stenovics. TheCountess and Stafnitz completed the party.
The King was anxious, worried, obviously unwell; his voice trembled ashe read aloud his son's letter. It was brief but dutiful, and evenaffectionate. After a slight reproach that he should have been kept inignorance of the apprehensions entertained about the King's health, thePrince requested an audience within the next two days; he hadconsiderations which it was his duty to lay before his Majesty, and hefirmly but respectfully claimed the right of confidential communicationwith his father; that was essential to his Majesty's obtaining a trueappreciation of his views. The hit at Stenovics was plain enough, andthe Prince did not labor it. The letter ended there, with an expressionof earnest concern for the King's health. There was no word in it aboutstarting on his journey.
Then Markart told his story--not that he had much to tell. In essence headded only that the Prince proposed to await the King's answer atPraslok. Neither to him had the Prince said a word about starting on hisjourney.
On this point Stenovics seized, pursuant, no doubt, to the plan devisedin that preliminary discussion with the other two members of the little_coterie_.
"It is remarkable, sir--even more than remarkable--that his RoyalHighness makes no reference at all to the direct command which yourMajesty was pleased to issue to him," he observed.
The King listened, puzzled and rather distressed. "Yes, it isn't proper,it isn't respectful. But now that my son knows of the state of myhealth, I think I must see him. It seems unnatural to refuse. After all,it may be the last time--since he's going on this journey."
"But is the Prince going on his journey, sir?" asked Stenovics. "Doesthe studied silence of his letter augur well for his obedience? Doesn'the seek an interview in order to persuade your Majesty against yourbetter judgment? I must be pardoned freedom of speech. Great interestsare at stake." The last words were true enough, though not in the sensein which the King was meant to understand them.
"My son knows how near this matter is to my heart. I shall be able topersuade him to do his duty," said the King.
The first round of the fight was going against the _coterie_. They didnot want the King to see his son. Danger lay there. The Prince's was thestronger character; it might well prevail; and they were no longercertain that the Prince knew or guessed nothing of their hopes andintentions; how much news had Zerkovitch carried to Praslok the nightbefore? Stenovics addressed the King again.
"Captain Markart gathered that the Prince was reluctant to interrupt themilitary training on which he is engaged at Volseni, sir."
"A very excellent thing, that; but the other matter is more urgent. Ishouldn't change my mind on account of that."
"A personal interview might be trying to your Majesty."
The King looked annoyed, possibly a little suspicious. "You've no otherobjection than that to urge, General Stenovics?"
Stenovics had none other which he could produce. "No, sir," he said.
"While I'm here I must do my duty--and I shall induce my son to do his.I'll receive the Prince of Slavna in private audience to-morrow or nextday. I'll fix the precise time later, and I'll write the letter myself."
The decision was final--and it was defeat so far. There was a moment'ssilence. Markart saw Colonel Stafnitz nod his head, almostimperceptibly, towards Countess Ellenburg. The need and the moment forreinforcements had come; the Colonel was calling them up. The order ofbattle had been well considered in Countess Ellenburg's apartments! Thesecond line came into action. The Countess began with a question, putwith a sneer:
"Did no other reason for the Prince's unwillingness to set out on hisjourney suggest itself to Captain Markart from what he saw at Praslok?"
The King turned sharply round to her, then to Markart. "Well?" he askedthe latter.
Markart was sadly embarrassed.
"Who was at Praslok?" asked the Countess.
"Madame Zerkovitch, and her husband for one night, and BaronessDobrava."
"Yes, Baroness Dobrava!"
"She's still there?" asked the King. He looked perplexed, even vexed,but again he smiled. He looked at Stenovics and Stafnitz, but this timehe found no responsive smiles. Their faces were deadly serious. "Oh,come, well--well, that's not serious. Natural, perhaps, but--the Princehas a sense of duty. He'll see that that won't do. And we'll send theBaroness a hint--we'll tell her how much we miss her at Slavna." Hetried to make them answer his smile and acce
pt his smoothing away of thedifficulty. It was all a failure.
"I'm bound to say, sir, that I consider Baroness Dobrava a seriousobstacle to his Royal Highness's obeying your wishes--a seriousobstacle," said Stenovics.
"Then we must get her away, General."
"Will he let her go?" snapped the Countess.
"I must order it, if it comes to that," said the King. "Theselittle--er--affairs--these--what?--holiday flirtations--"
The Countess lost--or appeared to lose--control of herself suddenly."Little affairs! Holiday flirtations! If it were only that, it would bebeneath your notice, sir, and beneath mine. It's more than that!"
The King started and leaned forward, looking at her. She rose to herfeet, crying: "More than that! While we sit talking here, he may bemarrying that woman!"
"Marrying her?" cried the King; his face turned red, and then, as theblood ebbed again, became very pale.
"That's what she means--yes, and what he means, too!"
The King was aghast. The second assault struck home--struck at hisdearest hopes and wounded his most intimate ambitions. But he was stillincredulous. He spread out trembling hands, turning from the vehementwoman to his two counsellors.
"Gentlemen!" he said, imploringly, with out-stretched hands.
They were silent--grave and silent.
"Captain Markart, you--you saw anything to suggest this--this terribleidea?"
The fire was hot on poor Markart again. He stammered and stuttered.
"The--the Baroness seemed to have much influence, sir; to--to hold avery high position in the Prince's regard; to--to be in hisconfidence--"
"Yes!" struck in the Countess. "She wears the uniform of his artillery!Isn't that a compliment usually reserved for ladies of royal rank? Iappeal to you, Colonel Stafnitz!"
"In most services it is so, I believe, Countess," the Colonel answeredgravely.
"But I should never allow it--and without my consent--"
"It might be invalid, sir, though there's some doubt about that. But itwould be a fatal bar to our German project. Even an influence short ofactual marriage--"
"She means marriage, I say, marriage!" The Countess was quite rudelyimpatient of her ally--which was very artistic. "An ambitious anddangerous woman! She has taken advantage of the favor the King showedher."
"And if I died?" asked the King.
Stenovics shrugged his shoulders. "Of course, there would be no controlthen," said he.
The King looked round. "We must get her away from Praslok."
"Will she come?" jeered the Countess. "Not she! Will he let her go? Nothe!"
The King passed his hand weakly across his brow. Then he rang a bell onthe table. Lepage entered, and the King bade him bring him the draughtwhich Natcheff had prescribed for his nerves. Well might the unfortunateman feel the need of it, between the Countess's open eruption and thenot less formidable calm of Stenovics and Stafnitz! And all his favoritedreams in danger!
"She won't leave him--or he'll follow her. The woman has infatuatedhim!" the Countess persisted.
"Pray, madame, let me think," said the harassed and sick King. "We mustopen communications with Baroness Dobrava."
"May I suggest that the matter might prove urgent, sir?" said Stenovics.
"Every hour is full of danger," declared the Countess.
The King held up his hand for silence. Then he took paper and pen, andwrote with his own hand some lines. He signed the document and foldedit. His face was now firm and calmer. The peril to his greatesthopes--perhaps a sense of the precarious tenure of his power--seemed toimpart to him a new promptness, a decision alien to his normalcharacter. "Colonel Stafnitz!" he said in a tone of command.
The Colonel rose to his feet and saluted. From an adviser in council hebecame in a moment a soldier on duty.
"I am about to entrust to you a duty of great delicacy. I choose youbecause, short of General Stenovics himself, there is no man in whom Ihave such confidence. To-morrow morning you will go to Praslok andinform his Royal Highness that you have a communication from me forBaroness Dobrava. If the Prince is absent, you will see the Baronessherself. If she is absent, you will follow her and find her. The matteris urgent. You will tell her that it is my request that she at onceaccompany you back here to the Palace, where I shall receive her andacquaint her with my further wishes. If she asks of these, say that youare not empowered to tell her anything; she must learn them from myself.If she makes any demur about accompanying you immediately, or if demuris made or delay suggested from any quarter, you will say that myrequest is a command. If that is not sufficient, you will produce thispaper. It is an order under my hand, addressed to you and directing youto arrest Baroness Dobrava and escort her here to my presence,notwithstanding any objection or resistance, which any person whateverwill offer at his peril. You will be back here by to-morrow evening,with the Baroness in your charge. Do it without employing the order forarrest if possible, but do it anyhow and at all costs. Do youunderstand?"
"Perfectly, sir. Am I to take an escort?"
The answer to that question was anxiously considered--and awaitedanxiously.
"Yes," said the King, "you will. The precise force I leave to yourdiscretion. It should be large enough to make you secure fromhinderance by any act short of open and armed resistance to mycommands."
Stafnitz saluted again, and at a sign from the King resumed his seat.The King's manner relaxed as he turned to Stenovics. "When we've got herhere, we'll reason with her--she'll hear reason--and persuade her thather health will benefit by a foreign trip. If necessary, I shall causeher to be deported. She must be out of Kravonia in three days unless shecan clear herself from all suspicion. I'll arrange that the Princesha'n't come for his audience until she is well out of Slavna. It is, ofcourse, absolutely essential that no word of this should pass the wallsof this room. If once a hint of it reached Praslok, the task of layingour hands on the Baroness might become infinitely more difficult."
The three were well pleased. They had come to fear Sophy, and on thatscore alone would be right glad to see the last of her. And when she hadgone, there was a fairer chance that the Prince, too, would go on histravels; whether he went after her or not they cared little, so that hewent, and the recruiting and training at Volseni were interrupted.
Again, she was to go before the audience. That was another point. Theperil of the audience remained, but they had improved their chances.Perhaps Stafnitz's brain was already busy with the possibilities of hismission and his escort. The latter was to be large enough to make himsecure from hinderance by any act short of open and armed resistance tothe King's commands. If it were impossible (as his Majesty obviouslyconsidered) to contemplate such resistance, it was evidently no lessimpossible to reckon what might happen as a consequence of it.
The King rang his bell impatiently. "I want my draught again. I'm verytired. Is there anything else which need detain us to-day?"
As he spoke, before Stenovics could answer, Lepage came in with thedraught. The valet wore an even unusually demure and uninterestedexpression.
"There is one other matter, sir," said Stenovics.
The King paused in the act of drinking and listened with his glass inhis hand, Lepage standing beside him.
"Your Majesty just now impressed on us the need of secrecy as to whatpasses between these walls. I think, sir, you would insist on the samething with all who serve you confidentially. You haven't asked, sir, howthe Prince became aware of the state of your Majesty's health."
The King started a little. "No, I forgot that. It was against my directorders. How was it?"
Stenovics kept his eyes on the King; Markart and Stafnitz allowedthemselves to study Lepage's features; he stood the scrutiny well.
"The news, sir, was betrayed by a man within these walls--a man in closetouch with your Majesty."
"Natcheff!" exclaimed the King.
"Certainly not, sir. Another. This man, of whom I had suspicions, andwhom I caused to be watched, went by night to th
e house of MonsieurZerkovitch, who is, as you are aware, a close friend and (if I may usethe word) an adherent of the Prince of Slavna. Their interview tookplace between nine and ten last night. At eleven Zerkovitch, havingborrowed a horse from the Prince's stables, set out for Praslok. He rodehard through the night and reached the Castle, as Captain Markart hastold us, in the small hours of the morning. There he had an interviewwith the Prince. He left Praslok between six and seven in the morningand arrived at his house on the south boulevard by eleven. At half-pasteleven he walked up the Street of the Fountain, crossed St. Michael'sSquare, and entered a small inn in a little alley behind the Cathedral.Here the man I speak of was waiting for him. They were together half anhour. Zerkovitch then left. The man remained till one, then came out,and returned to the Palace by a circuitous route, arriving here abouttwo o'clock. I venture to say that the meaning of all this is quiteclear. This man is in communication with Praslok, using Zerkovitch ashis intermediary. It's for your Majesty to say how far his disobediencein regard to acquainting the Prince with your condition is a seriousoffence. As to that I say nothing. But it will be obvious that this manshould know nothing of any private measures undertaken or contemplated."
The King had listened carefully. "The case seems clear," he said. "Thisfellow's a traitor. He's done harm already, and may do more. What do youask, General?"
"We might be content to let him know nothing. But who can be quitecertain of insuring that? Sir, you have just arrived at a very importantdecision--to take certain action. Absolute secrecy is essential to itssuccess. I've no wish to press hardly on this man, but I feel bound tourge that he should be put under arrest and kept in the charge of aperson who is beyond suspicion until the action to which I refer hasbeen successfully carried out."
"The precaution is an obvious one, and the punishment hardlysufficient." The King rose. "Do as you say, General. I leave you fulldiscretion. And now I'll go to my room and rest. I'm very tired. Giveme your arm, Lepage, and come and make me comfortable."
Lepage did not offer his arm. He was not looking at the King, norlistening to him; his eyes and his ears were for General Stenovics.Stenovics rose now and pointed his finger at Lepage.
"That, sir, is the man," said he.
"Lepage!" cried the King, and sank heavily into his seat with abewildered face. Lepage--his familiar--the man he trusted!
