A Modern Mercenary

by K. Prichard and Hesketh Vernon Hesketh Prichard

  CHAPTER XXIII.

  HOW RALLYWOOD HAD HIS ORDERS.

  Unziar had already departed to the Frontier on a secret errand whenRallywood started for the Chancellerie through the slush and fog. It wasyet early in the afternoon, and an hour when the Duke sometimes droveout. As Rallywood trotted along the embankment by the river, he saw theoutriders of the Duke's carriage coming towards him.

  Gustave of Maasau happened to be alone, and, to indulge the humour ofthe moment, he beckoned the young man to the side of the carriage andspoke a few words to him. He took a pleasure in the Englishman's frankreadiness.

  'I have to thank you for your energy in the matter of Colendorp,' hebegan. 'We have, however, decided to leave the whole affair in abeyancefor the present. So M. Selpdorf has sent for you. What for?' he addedwith the curiosity of an idle man.

  'I do not know, sire.'

  'Now I remember, he did mention something about--well, well, we haveworse enemies in the State than the Chancellor,' he wandered on, for hehad had an interview during the morning with Selpdorf, and was more thanhalf persuaded to place himself once more unreservedly under that abledirection. For Selpdorf had almost succeeded in lulling his suspicions,and in luring him back to the old comfortable habit of believing in afalse peace. He half regretted the doubts he had lately entertained ofhis Prime Minister, and was weakly willing to disabuse the Englishman'smind of prejudice. He did not know that Rallywood was quite unaware ofSelpdorf's connection with the Sagan plot. 'The excellent Selpdorf isunsparing of his agents,' went on the Duke in vague connection, 'but heis also unsparing of himself. Therefore see that you obey him loyally.For me, he does what he wills with me.' He laughed and raised his handby way of dismissal.

  Rallywood went on wondering what the Duke meant to convey by this praiseof his great Minister and in fact set many constructions on the emptywords.

  Selpdorf received him with an air of gravity, almost of restraint,entirely unlike the debonnair interest he had shown in him on theoccasion of their last interview.

  'I have sent for you, Captain Rallywood,' he said after a moment'sconsideration, 'to entrust to you a very delicate mission.'

  He ceased and waited for some response. He was standing opposite toRallywood on a white fur rug. The upstanding corners of his moustache,his upright carriage, and the ineffaceable mark left upon him by hisshort term of military service--for conscription obtains in Maasau--hadtheir effect upon Rallywood. He picked out the soldier from thechancellor and saluted in silence.

  Selpdorf smiled. Yet he wished the man had spoken! so much may bededuced from a tone of voice. Did he guess how much Selpdorf knew of hisrelations with Valerie? But there was nothing to be gathered from thatrigid front.

  'Before I give you any information, I must ask you first to say whetheryou will serve his Highness or not?'

  'I have taken the oath, your excellency.'

  'Yes,' the Chancellor said dubiously, 'and an oath goes a long way butsometimes not all the way. Has not some writer said that it is the manthat makes the oath believed, not the oath the man?'

  'I have taken the soldier's oath,' repeated Rallywood.

  But he had no protestation of fidelity to offer. It rested with Selpdorfto choose the right man for his mission.

  If personal inclination had had any part in the Chancellor's plan oflife, it is certain he would have liked Rallywood. As it was, intrusting he distrusted him. Rallywood could be relied on to follow astraight path, he knew, but if it swerved from honour--what then?

  'Also I must remind you that a soldier should see no farther than thepoint of his sword, and hear no more than his orders. In short, undermany circumstances he has no use for an independent judgment. He mustleave that to those whom he is pledged to obey and with whom rests theultimate responsibility. A soldier's single duty is blind obedience.'

  Rallywood bowed and continued to await his orders in silence.

  'That is well. I am about to send you to Kofn Ford, where you will meetthe midnight mail from the Frontier. At the foot of the mountainincline, about half-way between the stations, the train will be stoppedand a person placed in your custody. You will take this person back withyou to the Ford block-house and keep him there until you receive ordersto bring him into Revonde. I especially charge you that no violence isto be used, but he is not to be permitted to escape. The importance ofthe duty which is entrusted to you cannot be too highly estimated.'

  This then was what the Duke meant. Rallywood was to place himselfunreservedly at the disposal of M. Selpdorf. Yet the preamble troubledhim. It seemed to be assumed that he might be tempted to evade hisorders.

  'I am to start at once, your Excellency?'

  'In half an hour.' Selpdorf's face cleared, something of his formergeniality returned to him. 'To-night, Captain Rallywood, the Duke hasneed of a man. There are others I might have sent whose claims aregreater than yours, but you are my nominee to the ranks of the Guard,and I would justify my choice. His Highness also is inclined to favouryou.'

  Selpdorf contemplated Rallywood kindly, as if prepared to be interestedin his answer. He was trying to draw something from the man, butRallywood only stood straighter and hugged his wooden silence closer.Any reply he could make would give the advantage to Selpdorf. For thepresent he himself held it. It is often so. The man who speaks ten wordshas an advantage over the man who speaks a hundred.

  'I thank your Excellency,' he replied.

  'There is,' Selpdorf began again meditatively, as if permitting himselfthe luxury of a little frankness before a trusted adherent, 'an end toeverything and a beginning. The line drawn between the new and the oldis never defined; the two overlap. We may regret the old, but since thenew is irresistible, the wise make the best of it.' He looked up with analert interest. 'In your own case, Captain Rallywood, you were not longago at the dividing line yourself; how has the new life treated you?'

  'Well!' said Rallywood as if flinging back a challenge.

  The Chancellor's round eyes met his.

  'Ah, I thought it would be so! You were half inclined that night to letfortune go by you. You must mount her, man, not lead her by the bridle.'

  Then Rallywood broke silence.

  'I doubt, your Excellency, if she will carry me where I want to go, inspite of hard riding,' he said.

  'That will depend upon yourself, I imagine. Good-day, Captain.'