A Modern Mercenary

by K. Prichard and Hesketh Vernon Hesketh Prichard

  CHAPTER XVIII.

  THE SWORD OF UNZIAR.

  The Castle of Sagan may be roughly divided into three irregular parts.The massive old keep dominates all, standing high and black against theskyline; then the varied cluster of buildings immediately around itsfoot contain the principal reception and living rooms, and lowest of allthe courtyards, kitchens, stables and offices. To the right of the keepa wing, curved like the fluke of an anchor, slopes down to a lowerlevel. This portion is fairly modern and arranged for the housing ofguests. The Countess's own apartments were situated at the junction ofthis wing with the main building, while the quarters assigned by ancientcustom to the use of the reigning Duke during his visits to Saganoccupies the whole upper floor of an old and bulky annex that juts outfrom the base of the keep.

  The passage leading to this annex branched from the head of the grandstaircase. Upon the landing rows of heavily armed men were gatheringnoiselessly.

  As Elmur and Sagan stood together waiting at the mouth of the Duke'scorridor, the Count turned to his companion.

  'Have you proposals ready to lay before his Highness?' he demanded.

  'In form,' returned Elmur, touching his pocket.

  'That is well, for you are about to present them. The Duke liespractically in my power at this moment,' Count Simon continued grimly.'Gustave is a coward. The way to his presence lies open, and I think youwill agree with me that his Highness of Maasau will consent to mostthings rather than look the fear of death in the eyes!'

  'There must be no violence,' Elmur began.

  'That shall be exactly as I choose,' Sagan swore with an oath. 'By thegood God we can't afford scruples to-night!'

  After a short interval he went on.

  'Once we have Gustave's word, we are safe. He is too proud to own thathe gave it unwillingly. Besides, so long as we win what matter the meanswe use? Is your conscience so ticklish, Baron?'

  'Politics have their exigencies and are inevitably rigorous, my lord,'answered Elmur slowly. 'To be successful means absolution. In thepolitical courts where our actions will be judged they make no provisionfor failure. Success is recognised and mercifully considered, whilefailure, my lord, not being in any sense public, falls to the level ofordinary crime, and is judged by the standard applied to ordinary crime.Thus you will see that I risk as much in my place as you risk in yours.'Perhaps this was as near an approach to a threat as had ever beenuttered in the ears of the fierce old Count. With a violent movement,he stepped forward.

  'There is no hindrance in our path that cannot be cut through with asword, and, by my soul, if we find one I will cut it!' Then, lookinground, he gave the word to advance, and entered the darkness of thecorridor.

  A turn brought them in sight of Unziar's tall figure, standing sword inhand on the lowest step of the flight that led up to the embrasurecovering the door leading to the royal apartments.

  Count Simon pushed Elmur ahead of him while he fell back to whisper afew words to the man immediately behind; then he took precedence oncemore.

  'I request an audience of His Highness, Lieutenant Unziar,' he said.

  'Certainly, my lord, if you will give me the password of the night,'replied Unziar.

  Sagan's answer was the countersign he had given to his own following inthe Castle.

  Unziar shook his head.

  'You cannot pass, my lord.'

  'What--not see my guest and cousin in my own house?'

  'His Highness gave orders that none should be allowed to enter withoutgiving the countersign chosen by himself.'

  Sagan considered a second or two.

  'True, I had forgotten. Come here, Unziar; your trooper there has longears; I must speak with you. Stand back, men!' he said roughly. 'Baronvon Elmur, pray remain, and you, Hern,' addressing the man behind.Unziar still stood upon the step.

  'Come here! I tell you, man, I must see the Duke to-night--at once,'continued Sagan approaching Unziar. 'What the devil are you afraid of?'Unziar stepped down as the Count pulled him confidentially nearer tohimself and towards the narrow entry. But while the Count whispered, ahand suddenly darted over his shoulder and seized Unziar by the throat,at the same moment when a well-directed kick from Sagan, deliveredcunningly behind the knees, brought the young man to the ground. Helunged at Sagan as he fell with his sword, then it was knocked from hishand as his assailants swarmed over him, but not before he had fired hisrevolver into Hern's body. The man fell across him, but Unziar againswinging clear rose on his elbow and sent a second shot into the facenearest him. Meantime the trooper at the door was making a gallantfight, but the odds were too great. The struggle was soon over, thetrooper's dead body flung aside, and Unziar, frantic and helpless, wastied hand and foot and left upon the bloody flooring of the outerpassage while the Count's people forced the door.

  This was a matter of some difficulty, but it was presently accomplished.The besieging party pushed through into the guard-room, which seemedbrilliantly lit in comparison with the gloom outside.

  Most of the furniture and the screen had been utilised by Rallywood tomake a barricade in front of the Duke's ante-room. A single trooper withhis musket levelled knelt behind it.

  Sagan, who held a handkerchief to his cheek, spoke loudly.

  'Do you see who I am? Clear the way!'

  At this Rallywood stepped into view from behind the screen.

  'The man acts under orders from his Highness, my lord,' he said.

  Sagan stared at Rallywood with haughty scorn.

  'It is of the utmost importance that I should see his Highness at once.Inform his Highness that I urgently beg to be granted an interview.'

  'With pleasure, my lord,' returned Rallywood formally, 'if you will begood enough to give me the password, without which it is quiteimpossible for anyone to have an audience to-night. Our orders were verydistinct on that point.'

  'His Highness could not foresee that I'--the Count dwelt upon thepronoun imperiously--'should desire one. Stand back, Captain Rallywood!I must pass and am willing to take the responsibility.'

  'It is quite impossible, my lord,' repeated Rallywood without moving.

  'You force me to extreme measures,' cried Sagan. 'Remove this man,' heordered, 'as quietly as may be. We must not alarm his Highness.'

  There was a clatter of arms as Sagan's followers advanced. The foremostof them ran in upon Rallywood, the swords met, Rallywood's sleeve wasripped from wrist to elbow, but his sword blade passed through hisopponent's shoulder. The man sank down in a sitting posture, coughingoddly; his head dropped forward.

  'Shoot them down!' shouted Sagan, but the words were still on his lipswhen the door behind John Rallywood slowly opened and a figure stoodbeside him.

  Its appearance checked the rising struggle, for the figure was thefigure of the Grand Duke of Maasau. He was wrapped in his hooded robe ofgreen velvet, and the five points of the golden star of Maasau blazedupon his breast.

  'Cousin, I would speak with you, but these fools stopped me,' exclaimedSagan.

  The Duke turned his shadowed face and spoke to Rallywood in a low voice.

  'His Highness begs you, my lord, to withdraw your men,' said Rallywoodaloud.

  Sagan, scowling, ordered his men to the further end of the long room.Meantime Rallywood, with evident unwillingness, pulled away a portion ofthe barricade. Through this the Duke advanced with a statelydeliberation, and walked slowly up to the Count.

  With a sudden hoarse shout of triumph Sagan flung his great arms aboutthe Duke's body.

  'By St. Anthony, Gustave, no one shall stop our conversation now!'

  The Duke made no attempt to release himself from the rough hug that heldhim prisoner. He merely raised his hood with one hand, so that Sagan,his coarse mouth still wide in laughter, could stare into thecountenance not four inches from his own.

  Consternation and fury swept over the Count's features. From under thehood a red challenging face, a big white moustache, and shaggy-browedhumorous eyes met his gaze. The sight held him gaping. B
ut only for asecond. Then he whipped out his pistol.

  'An English plot, by Heaven!'

  But Rallywood was quicker still. A sharp knock on the Count's wrist sentthe bullet into the ceiling.

  'Have a care, my lord,' Counsellor said authoritatively. 'You cannot doas you will even in this lonely and remote room in your lonely Castle ofSagan, since England and--' with a bow towards Elmur--'Germany arelooking on.'

  Sagan still threatened Counsellor with the revolver.

  'Can you see any reason why I should not kill you as a traitor to mycountry at this moment, Major Counsellor?' he shouted.

  'Only one, my lord. Russia also, in the person of M. Blivinski, knowswhere I am, and is awaiting my return to arrange for our journey toRevonde--which we propose to make in each other's company,' repliedCounsellor pointedly.

  Sagan burst into his habitual storm of curses.

  'Your nation have well been called perfidious, Major Counsellor. A stabin the back----'

  'Why no, my lord,' said Counsellor; 'our greatest vice is admittedlythat we are always well in front!'

  'Come, Baron, have you nothing to say to this?' Sagan asked, ready tospring at his friends in his torment of baffled rage.

  'Nothing, my lord. You will remember I am here to-night entirely at yourrequest.'

  Sagan's laugh was not altogether a pleasant one.

  'Put it how you like, Monsieur, I should not have been here either butfor you!'

  Elmur stood with folded arms. To stoop to recriminations before thecommon enemy! The cause was lost for the moment, but there was thefuture, and in that future the fool who figured as his ally shouldbecome his slave! Germany had, after all, gained something in gainingthe knowledge of British designs afoot.

  'Then his Highness refuses to see me, although he can give audienceto--you?' the Count at length broke the silence.

  'On the contrary, my lord, he looks forward to the pleasure of meetingyou to-morrow. That is the message with which I am charged. CaptainRallywood, his Highness wishes Lieutenant Unziar to attend him.'

  Count Simon made a sign to his men, and a moment later Unziar stalkedinto the room, maddened by the outrage put upon him.

  'My sword, Count Sagan,' he said huskily.

  'Your sword! Is it lost?' returned the Count with an angry sneer. 'In myday it was not the custom of the guard to lose their swords!'

  'When I saw it last it was sticking in your cheek, my lord,' said theyoung man with a studied insolence, pointing to a bleeding cut on theCount's face.

  One of the men, coming forward, laid the sword upon the top of thebarricade. Unziar grasped it and thrust it back into the scabbard.

  'It was lost by treachery!' he flung out. 'And I leave it to thesegentlemen to say where the shame lies!'

  With that he leaped the barricade and passed into the Duke's room.