CiHM Microfiche Series (l\/lonographs) iCiVIH Collection de microfiches (monographies) Canadian Institute for Historical MIcroreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions tiistoriques Technical and Bibliographic Notes / Notes techniques et bibliographtquM The Institute has attempted to obuin the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked belcw. D D D D D D n Coloured covers/ Couvcrture de couleur Covers damaged/ Couverture f ndommagte Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restauree et/cu pelliculee Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque Coloured maps/ Cartes geographiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Enere d« couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Relie avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ D La rcliure serrec peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distorsion le long de la marge intcrieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutees lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mait. lorsque cela etait possible, ces pages n'ont pas ete f ilmees. L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a iti possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-:- ■■•'^•^ ',-y9tmf:mmim,tWm^^''tmS,'li:\:iiJS A Dash for a Throne ■ft I BY ARTHUR W. MARCHMONT AUTHOR OF '»V RIGHT OF SWORD," ETC. SECOND EDITION TORONTO WILLIAM BRIGGS 1899 I'M Entkred according to Act of the Parliament of Canada, In the year one thousand ScuUu"re" "' "'"*^-'"«' '' ^'^"^- «--■ •'^ thVL:::2ent o1 (I "To am thing woi rection." This I extraordi memorab and posit As thQ the librai deep in fate, as ] beautiful coloured soothing i I was fc infinitely resist. For five roonotono A DASH FOR A THRONE CHAPTER I. My DEATH. " To a man who has been dead nearly five years every- thing would be forgiven, probably— except his resur- rection." This half-cynical thought was suggested bj the extraordinary change which a few hours of one memorable July day had wrought in my circumstances and position. As the thought occurred to me I was standing in the library of Gramberg Castle, my hands plunged deep in my pockets, deliberately dallying with my fate, as I watched the black dress of the Prince's beautiful daughter moving slowly among the gaily coloured flower-beds in the warm sunshine, like a soothing shadow in the brilliant glare. I was face to face with a temptation which I found infinitely alluring and immeasurably difficult to resist. For five years I had been enHnrino- an ^^ict-^.*^^^ ^c monotonous emptiness that depressed me till my # i '-i. i 8 a ©asb for a trbronc. heart ached and my spirit wearied ; and now a chance sl:u^l Vr *™^' "P°" '"^>^" -S-"=t "y fh! K f 7u'^ ""y P"''^^ *^^« beating high with he bound of hope, my blood running once aifn T th he old qu,cl< tingling of excitement.lnd. through" he re-opened portals of a life akin to that from vhich I were alTLl ' t"'"' '"'^'''°"- P'^^"-- '•--d I tulied froT?h ° "r'* •^^^'"^'•■"S '"Station. J turned from the wmdow and threw myself into a deep easy-chair to think. ^ ^ a p2LTo7r''°T^' """^ """'""^ '■" ^ ■"°'"«"t f'o-" a positmi^ of Royal favour, with limitless ambition and oTaCS." '"' ^''- '-'' «- ---/'He I mysir °"' ^"^ '""°^"'""' '''" "°'^ '^^d-'y than FnllUH ""^'^ ^"^?'' ''y ^'"'^- My mother was an English woman and went to the Prussian Court in the small su . o — vf.,.. ^v..*x,.j. ^x. icw \jiiiy were aQmitteQ J Von Aug! Court ph> I grew [gleams of I grizzled fi bending ( 'interesting three day consciousn "He car turned anc I tried t move ; bu doctor can " Am I ( "Yes. ^ " I am g He turn my medicii he smooth) his lips to said, that tl I must directly aft< pened until place that y though it stretched oi like the floo I was qt doctor had i body else, a been ill, I v fKS^ H)eatb. 13 blood — -which is the sea ; dship — a I of rapid i. Why, my reek- hat had " I con- roke the ." I sat , so long well. I ly fever, ree days 1 a week ared my )ne con- Itch the id gave affairs ; T injec- i raging re soon | own all Rudloff I f a once : house imitted. IVon Augener was one, and he brought with him the Court physician. I grew worse rapidly, and only in intermittent [gleams of intelligence was I conscious of the lean grizzled face and watchful blue eyes of the doctor I bending over me, assuring me that I was a most Imterestmg case, and rapidly growing worse. For three days this continued, until in a moment of consciousness I heard him say to the nurse : "He cannot last through the night," and the woman turned and looked sympathetically toward the bed. I tried to speak, but could not. I could scarcely move ; but they noticed my restlessness, and the doctor came and bent over me. " Am I dying ? " I whispered. "Yes. You must have courage. You are dying." " I am glad. Thank you. I have no pain." He turned away, and after a moment gave me my medicine. Then with a touch soft like a woman's he smoothed the bedclothes, and bending down put his hps to my forehead, and left me glad, as I had said, that the end had come thus .almly. I must have become unconscious again almost directly after that, for I know nothing of what hap- pened until I awoke gradually and found myself in a place that was pitch dark. I was lying on the floor though it felt soft like a mattress, and when I stretched out my arm I touched a wall that was soft like the floor. I was quick in jumping to a conclusion. The doctor had fooled me, and probably had fooled every- body else, about my illness and death. If I had ever been lii, I was quite well now, and I scrambled up * , fh i i u a H)a0b for a Ubrone. and strode about the place, feeling all the walls and floor and everything within my reach. I soon knew where I was. It was the old fellow's padded room I knew, too, that I could do no good by struggling or shouting or trying to get out of it. I must wail and I sat down on the floor to think. After what seemed like many hours, an electric light was switched on, and I saw a sheet of paper pinned to the wall. It was a letter from the doctor. " I have done what your mother would have wished You have the makings of a real man in you, and you must not die. Everyone thinks you dead ; and not a soul suspects. Your funeral took place yesterday amid all the pomp of Court mourning;and all the papers to-day are full of descriptions of your career, your ill- ness, death, and funeral. But you will live to do your- self justice ; if need be, in another name. Your next career you must make, however, and not merely in- herit. But you are your mother's son, and will not flinch." • The old man had known me better than I knew myself. I had been glad to die ; but the pulse of life runs strong in the twenties ; and the shrewd old beggar was right Half-an-hour later I was glad to live; and when he came to me I was quite ready to thank him for what he had done. We had a long talk about my future, and he urged me to go to England. - "You can be an Englishman ; indeed, you are one already. Your family must have rich and powerful friends there ; and there you can make a career." But I would not give my assent. I had no plans, i " I wil the dead the living and I shi I made the train hand to i so bullet impotent only hum the sorrov I felt lik( callous sci And lik dent deter I stayed a hotel gave room at tl; care to joi burlesque be useful, '. I threw 1 and stayed guise of p master in appearance was two f practised a my own. 1 who had de changed ei carriage. 1 ities of gesl ^» ®catb» 16 ! walls and soon knew Ided room, struggling must wait, in electric t of paper ^ e doctor, ve wished, I, and you and not a j^esterday, the papers ', your ill- ) do your- ''our next I lerely in- 1 will not 1 I knewl Ise of life rewd old! 5 glad to ready to! fie urged are one powerful] ;er." to plans,] I will see, ' I answered. " I am a dead man, and the dead are more the concern of Providence than the hvmg. I will drift for a while in the backwaters " and I shrugged my shoulders. ' I made no plans. That night I left Berlin, and as the tram whirled me southward. I tried with resolute hand to make the barrier that shut out the old life so bullet proof that not even the stinging thoughts of impotent remorse and regret could wound me. I was only human, however, and barely twenty-three • and the sorrow of my loneliness was like a cankered wound I felt like a shipwrecked derelict waif on the wide callous sea of stranger humanity. And like a derelict I drifted for a while, until acci- dent determined a course for me. At Frankfort, where I stayed a considerable time, a chance meeting in a hotel gave me as a companion an actor, and in his room at the theatre one night he asked me if I would care to join his company. All life was to be but a burlesque for me, and, as it seemed the training might be useful, I consented. I threw myself into the mimic business with ardour and stayed with the company four years. Under the guise of professional enthusiasm I became a past master in the art of making-up, and altered my appearance completely. I changed my voice until it was two full tones lower than by nature, and I practised an expression and accent altogether unlike my own. Under the tuition of a clever old acrobat • who had deformed himself until he was past work I changed entirely the cliaracter of my walk and carnage. I cultivated assiduously marked peculiar- mes oi gesture and manner; and by constant massage i'. . \ I I IH! 16 B Dasb for a Xtbroitc. even the contour of my features was altered, and 'ice, he experi- I world My v,s.t was a brief one, though he pressed me earnestly to stay with him; and when I wou d „" he sa.d he wouM come to me at Frankfort, and that I must be his adopted son. But he never 7.11 i u7-Tha7aa'" ^ '-r - '- p-dTe:;:: year ater eamTthe "^ ''='"d*"«"g-and then a year later came the news to me that he was dead ?wafreft\t S''" ''' ■"'■^^' "^--^ work-aSt This again changed my life, for his fortune cave me abundant means; and as I considered my actor traming had been sufficient, I resolved to close tha chapter of my life. ^ '"*' It would have been a commonplace affair enou-h with an accompaniment of Nothing more thanT ff' Injutual personal regrets, but for L^^rciden^ ^ oZ of the actresses-a handsome, passionate woman named aara Weylin, had done me the quke un-' solicited honour to fall violently in love wUh me that "I:''/,'' ''""' °f P-f"/l could nortell t; hat we should ever meet again-for I had no the east intention or wish to do so_she was i5rst telrful hen hysterical, and at last vindictively menacing ' There s a secret about you, Fischer," she cried me, III find it out some day; and then you'll re member this, and your treatment of Clara Well n Look to yourself " »»eyiin. I tried to reason away her somewhat theatrical resentment, but she interpreted my words as an Tn dication that she had struck home ; and sLaZ tr'J'll!°- °^ ^'\^^^- -other threatandl """ '-" '^'''^'- ^■"""'' i thought no more of the UUi. ijii.i.\:i anger. s I ill i *8 ,*-"- a H)aBb for a TTbrone. , /dent thcn-though Vterwards I had occasion 2^gth tq. recall it; ^ndlvhen the evening brought ^c^a letter from hejr; coy Tied in very loving terms J >QS8ed it into the 6r6 wfth a feeh'ng akin to contempt The next morning I left the town early, and was off on a purposeless and once more planless ramble ' With the stage I dropped also my stage name • for I had no wish to be known as fin ex-play-actor' and as the old doctor's original counsel chanced to occur to me. I turned English. I now let my beard and moustaches grow; and I was satisfied that with my changed carriage and looks, not a soul in the whole fatherland would recognise in Henry Fisher a sober-looking English gentleman, travelling for pleasure and literary purposes, the once well-known and dashmg naval lieutenant and Court favourite the Count von Rudlofif. ' I moved from point to point aimlessly for some months until the vapid, vacuous monotony of the existence sickened and appalled me. Then suddenly chance or Fate opened a gate of life. „, \^ ! ffe'-T'i " had occcision ning brought ving terms, I to contempt. ', and was off ramble. ^t igc name ; x-play-actor; 1 chanced to et my beard ed that with soul in the enry Fisher, avelling for '■ well-known rt favourite, ly for some tony of the en suddenly CHAPTER II. A GATE OF LIFE. r WAS droning in the small Rhine town. Hamn. close to Kehl, and struck up a casual acqua .tanc' vnth a man of about my own age, named von I'romberg. to whom I had b^en at first attracted .omewhat by the fact that in some respects he re- sembled myself. It happened, too, that one night I was able to render him a little se vice I was walking late near the r..er when he came rushing up to me to beg me to heJ-. him against the attack of a couple of men who were running after him with some angry threats. He w. s trembling and very much excited, although there l^d not seem to me to be much cause for fear; for ^he men sheered off as soon as they saw he was no lor. ^er alone f.lf ^'''™f^"u''" "^^^ ^'^^^^y ^^^'^^^^ • however, and talked, as thought very absurdly, at out my having saved his hfe. For the next two or three days hf would scarcely leave my side ; and du ing that time he poured mto my ears much of what ;vas filling his soul. It was only a little soul, and the contents mere ags and patches of dishevelled passion and emotions ^hough to him all real and disturbing en. ugh He was a student and a dreamer, and )f course in »ove. tie nad in sr»rnp. wr^,, 4. „:_. 1 — s^.i.^ „^j- ^v-rt uuxca up in some 19 1 it ■ V 20 U S)a6b tor a tCbrone. 1 11 brawling with the men whom I had seen pursuing him and the whole trouble had set his little pulses throb- bing and palpitating with the fear of terrible but quite vague consequences. He told me also his love troubles. The crirl he wished to marry was French, and while his people hated the French, her father would only allow him to marry the daughter if he would become a Frenchman. ^ And mingled up with all this was a strange story of 1 family complications. The pith of this was that his ' uncle, the head of the family, the Prince von Gram- berg, a well enough known man, had written to urge him to go at once to the castle, declaring that his instant presence w ,s imperative. Von Fromberg was thus the preyof three sets of emotions-desire tomarry the French g,rl ; terror of the men he had in some way provoked ; and deadly fear that his uncle would prevent his turning French, and so stop his marriage, ihelast disquieted him the most. =.fl"'.^' "^''^'' '""" ""'" ^^ ^"^"^ q^ite passion- ately ; never even given a thought to me, till I suppose he thinks that as his son is now dead, I can be of some use to him. And he is such a fire-eating old devil he would think nothing of kidnapping me and shutting me up till I did what he warned, and Irlnch!'^ ""^ "'^"'^^^- "^ '°^'''^^ everything It was difficult to associate von Fromberg with any vaTuel "".""^ ""f '"" '''■"- ''"' ' sympathised vaguely, and soon found out his reasons for giving the request took a singular shape. He was to be , _..., „«, vxwoDuj^ me iromier to Charmes to make the interrupti Hamnel f It sour pointing He presse tell him p sort. He " Of coi people the mine Fishi " I shall promptly, But on th; the next n had indeec name was It was t and as I ] let him get till we shoi But I lit! I was aw the day, wa the house strange in said two ge " For me could not tl likely to co "Yes, sir Herr von F "Some n 5uing him, ses throb- but quite e p- irl he is people w him to -nchman. story of that his •n Gram- 1 to urge that his berg was to marry in some le would carriage. passion- i, till I d, I can --eating 5ing me ed, and rything ith any athised giving m, and to be mes to a Oate of Xlfe, 21 ^ make the arrangements ; and as he was very fearful of interruption and pursuit, he wished me to remain in Hamnel for a couple of days in his name. It sounded ridiculous, and of course I demurred pomtmg to a dozen difficulties that might follow' He pressed me very strongly, however, until I had to tell him pretty curtly that I would do nothing of the sort. He was silent a minute and then said : "Of course it must be as you please, but if I tell people that your name is really von Fromberg and mine Fisher, it will not hurt anyone." " I shall very speedily undeceive them," I answered promptly, and thought little more about the matter But on that day I had to change my residence, and the next morning I found to my annoyance that he had indeed told the people at both houses that my name was in reality von Fromberg and his Fisher. It was too small a matter to make a fuss about • and as I reflected that the only result would be to' let him get married with fewer fears, I kept my an^er till we should meet again. But I little foresaw the consequences. I was away for several hours in the latter part of the day, walking and sketching, and on my return to the house at night I thought there was something strange in the manner of a servant who met me and said two gentlemen were waiting for me in my room. " For me ? " I said, with some astonishment • for I could not think of any two men in the whole empire likely to come for me. Yes, sir, for you. They asked for you first as Herr von Fromberg, then as Mr. Fisher " " Some more tomfoolery," I thought.' as I went up III ! 1 li 22 a Wash for a XTbrone. the stairs, and then it flashed across me that they might be connected with the visit von Frombere had been fearing-. ^ A glance at the two men who rose at my entrance showed me they were at least gentlemen-officers I thought, in mufti. They were both dark and one-the elder-carried a beard, the other a heavy moustache only. ^ " Good-evening, gentlemen," I said quietly. " To what do I owe the favour of this visit ? " I was disposed to be on my guard for von Frombergs sake. The man with the beard an- swered. "This is the first time we have met, Herr von! Fromberg. My name is vor, Krugen, and my friend'., I was not quite sure whether to repudiate von Frombergs name at once, or to wait until I knewi more of the errand. I decided that it could do no harm to wait. " And your object in coming ? " I asked I saw a glance pass between the two. and the younger ! stepped past me casually, and took up a position' close to the door. This interested me at once Iti was quite obviously a move to prevent my run n in c^' chamcter '^^""^"^ to understand von Fromberg'sl "I think you will be able to guess," he replied,! waiting until his companion had carried out the manoeuvre. « We wish to have a little private con- versation with you, and to induce you to go with usi ■—you will know where." "And to makf CI11-0 i-Ur,4- :*. „u_ii u- • ..,,,,, ^^^^^ ,^ uiiciu uc private, i sup- I pose you I door," I s I " A me answer, j always k " And ] " True, may as i promptly. I laugh •' I shoi too much I can't foi " We C( berg, and matters o life and d( should go He spo duced an to play faf family — ai known to mistake a; done so at "You a before you of the Prin " I am £ Herr von ] since." " No. I I am Engl a 6ate ot %iU. 23 that they mberg had y' entrance -officers, I iark, and r a heav}' tly. " To. for vonl )eard an-| Herr von| y friend's I liate von I I I knew! Id do no : younger I position j )nce. It I runnin^^j Dm berg's reph'ed, out the ate con-j with us! i, I sup- I pose you got your friend to stand over there by the I door," I said, motioning toward Ijim. " A merely superfluous caution, I am sure," was the answer, given with a smile ; " but a locked door always keeps intruders out." " And prisoners in," I retorted. " True," he assented, with another smile. " So you may as well lock it, Steinitz," and this was done promptly. I laughed. I had, of course, nothing to fear. •' I shouldn't run away," I said. " You interest me too much, though what on earth you are doing here I can't for the life of me guess." " We come from your uncle, the Prince von Gram- berg, and I am specially charged to tell you that matters of the deepest moment, involving issues of life and death, make it absolutely imperative that you should go with us to the castle at once." He spoke in so earnest a tone that his words pro- duced an immediate effect upon me. I had no right to play fast and loose with the affairs of a powerful family— and the Prince's reputation was well enough known to me. Obviously I must at once explain the mistake as to my identity. I was sorry I had not done so at once. " You are speaking in error, and I must tell you before you say another word. I am not the nephew of the Prince von Gramberg." " I am aware you have denied yourself You are Herr von Fromberg ? I addressed you so a minuie since." " No. My name is not von Fromberg, but Fisher. T TT« 1 • t n ♦ am iLDgiisn, IV J \ 24 a ©asb for a TTbrone. III P^ heed to s.an prettef of thrj^ -^^L:: are no trifling concerns." ^ the /odnest to .^r ty "0^ "^^•'""■"^'' ''^' ''^ I turned to the door as I spoke hnf f h« mg there made no movement aSll^ ''' "'" ^^^"'■ Where, then, is Herr von Frombera ?" o i ^ . "^t ";out!"epi::^ r' '^'"^ ^^'"-<^ ^"-y- ^«-»u prepared to go to the casfl^ «M-fU ^ You can explain afterwards that we have tl "'' there wrongfully " he nM^A , Vu • . *^''^" y°" "Certain^ /an, not" ' ^ "■°"'^'' '°"'"''y- I spoke warmly, for his manner irritated me How?-" :hl -"„ trhS kt *° '"^-'" - von Fromberg/withThe p:4,f :;'uTr °^«-' into my room and hnM • themselves way," I'lnswLd hoiy "' " P"'""^-" '" '^ ■" ^^is ha:e''£„Sr:ed;ra:i^H'r"^r '"^^ - ^ vou have a„swered't°o"re"nr::T/™'"'^,^'^>-'' .^ ^„ ,^^^.^ ^ cannot accept yo are so an: away from since the d This wa " I shou: [assure you not the Pri "You ai I'm a goo( Ideal of his talk any m( he asked ai "Ofcour "Very w Steinitz!" ! bidding the made as if t My back iuspected tr pinioned m] man held a i " I am so said; "fori when I woul sary. But r are playing : boldly at tin castle, and r free or by d me to use for I looked < fear he would a Gate of %itc. 26 that you >t here to 1 These answered this, have in stand- sked the )ne. ut I am 2d drily, •vith us? ken you rtesy. >rm me 3f Herr e look- mswer- ) think I. is de- iselves n this as I r, and anuot accept your repudiation. I do not know why you ;are so anxious to deny your identity and to keep |away from the great position that has opened to you since the death of the Prince's son." This was thrown out to test me. "I should refuse no position offered to me, I can assure you, if .t were offered rightfully. Bu. I am not the Prince's nephew." "You are sufilciently like him to satisfy me, and i™i ^f V K r' '"!''^^^" '^ y°" ^^"^ "°t a good deal of his highness's spirit. But now it is useless to talk any more here. You will go with us, of course !" he asked abruptly. " Of course I will do nothing of the sort " c/'-^f^„T" ^^^"- ' '"PP°=« "-e must go alone wT 1 ''\""''^ sharply, jerking his head as! bidding the other to unlock the door; and he himself made as if to leave the room. My back was to the second man, and before I even Guspcted treachery, he sprang upon me from behind pinioned my arms, and bound them, while the elder man held a revolver pointed right between my eyes I am sorry you have driven me to do this " he said ; for I am perhaps making you a deadly enemy when I would rather serve you with my life if necps sary. But my master's orders are imperative. We are playing for high stakes there, and have to throw Wdly at times. Your presence is necessary at the castle, and my instructions are to take you there free or by force Will you go without compelling me to use force ? ' ^ ^ I looked calmly at his revolver tear he would fire. was jiu 26 B Basb tor a TTbrone. r3^ i"".^", f ^'""^^^ "^'^'^ *^^ ^"^P'^'e ^'" a procession ot this kind, I said, meeting his stern look with a smile and a shrug of the shoulders. | " We shall not try," he answered promptly. " We shall go as doctors-you as a mad patient, who has escaped from an asylum. I have come prepared with the necessary papers; and I need not remind you that your own actions here have helped this plan. ^ " I tell you again I am not the man you seek " I cried angrily ; for I saw the power of his threat ' I the' Prhl'ce'^^ ""^^"'^ °^ *^^^" ^''" '^" ^""P^^^*" *"l ^^ "This is monstrously ridiculous," I exclaimed hotly I There are a thousand proofs here in this room that 1 am not the man you want. Put your hand in my pocket here and you will see by my letters that I ami not. I After a moment's pause he did so; and then, tool late, I remembered von Fromberg had given me one of his uncles letters to read which I had not returned The man chanced to take it out first and held it up. "Your own proof," he said laconically, and thrust them ail back again. "You are making fools of everyone concerned" I cried, very angrily. * ''Will you give your word of honour to go with us? was his answer, stolidly spoken. "It is time to start." It was useless to fight further, so with another shrug of the shoulders I gave up. ' "I warn you the wholp fhrnn-'o « r ^._ , , ^....,^j ^ ^£j,^^^^ tnough Ij can't make must put I In anotl with his aj As he ( running up my relief it " How is mind how how. This gentlemen with them. "You sa pered the i word of hor " But thij von Fromh stricken fro The eldei " Are yoi " Certainl of appeal to look I gave "You an cried. " Deny m a forced, un( is Fisher. I " Certainb man. This' " Yes, cert laugh. " Now, wi] 'ocession c with a, ^ "We who has! prepared I remind | )ed this I seek," 1 1 It. 3iain to I d hotly. 3m that I i in my I it I ami len, too ne one I turned, held it I thrust! ned/' 1 1 3 with > time] mother I a 6ate of Xlfe, 27 can't make you believe it. I'll go with you ; but you must put up with the consequences." In another moment I was free, and he was profuse with his apologies. As he opened the door to leave, someone came running up the stairs looking hot and agitated. To my relief it was von Fromberg. " How is it you're back so soon ? " I cried. " Never mind how it is ; you come in the nick of time any- how. This is Herr von Fromberg, gentlemen. These gentlemen are from your uncle, and wish you to go with them." ^ " You said you would go freely with us, sir," whis- pered the elder man at my side. " You gave your word of honour." " But this is the man you want," I cried, pointing to- von Fromberg, who was staring like one panic- * stricken from me to the others. The elder man turned to him. " Are you the Herr von Fromberg ? " " Certainly not," he stammered, with a quick look ofappealtome. " This is-" He quailed before the look I gave him and stopped. " You are not going to deny yourself, man ? " I cried. " Deny myself, von Fromberg," he answered, with a forced, uneasy laugh. "Why should I? My name IS Fisher. Do you want me ? " he said to the two. " Certainly not. Our business is with this gentle- man. This is Herr von Fromberg, is it not ? " " Yes, certainly," was the reply, with another forced laugh. " Now, will you keep your word ? " said the man in 18 a ©asb for a Zbtone. a meaning tone to me. « Or will you compel me . . .- He did not finish the sentence. " Oh just as you like. Only I warn you it's all an mfernal blunder." and with that I went with them! At the bottom of the stairs I turned and looked up at the man for whom I was mistaken. He nodded and made sign to me as if thanking me, and urging me to keep up the deception. s S me • l"'"'' T-f """"^ "'°"' *>"' »'^"' «"■«! tlie two men m dogged s, ence. When we reached the station I flung myself mto a corner of the railway carriage my companions mounting guard over me, one at my side' the other m the opposite corner We travelled through the night, changing trains more than once-sometlmes travelling at expre" speed, sometimes crawling, and now an5 again mak mg long stops at junctions. I scarcely spoke ~ to protest that it was all a fool's journe/; and Xn the elder man attempted to talk to me, I s opped him leas wish to learn anything of the family's affairs 1 would not hear a word until we reached the castle There however, a surprise awaited me that pierced the shell of my apathy in an instant, and filfed me with a sudden longing to go on with the strange p" for which my companions had thus cast me The greatest deference was shown to me on my ^hT r J ^'^ '"'^''^'^ '"'° ^ ^"Se and lofty room while the elder man went to inform the Prince of my' arrival, the younger man remaining with me. The castle was certainly magnificent; and I could not refrain from an intense wish that I were indeed the heir to such a gbrinus Dia— —-^ — --• - race him. i watched h n| 1 me . , . it's all an them, ooked up dded and rging me H (^atc Of %itc. 29 thoughts shpped back to the old life that I had thrown kway contrastmg it with the mockery of my staTe ot ^ve for such a career as I felt I could build out )f the materials fortune had now .hovelled into my ap With this taunting munificence. ^ a young golden- Then I saw from the window two men station, I iage, my my side, g trains express Lin mak- ', except id when ped him not the airs. I j istle. pierced j led me I ge part j on my J ^ room, j of my I [ could indeed . My aired g.rl standing among the flower-beds She 'as dressed all in black, the exquisitely beautiful and egular features set and saddened with an exp e Lion ,f profound gr ef and melancholy. She was'hoTd ng lad plucked one or two others, a serving-maid u?nT 1 ri f-" '"-"^"^'"^ '° l'-. and she urned and looked toward the window at which I tood. Probably mere curiosity was the motive bu „ ■"? /T''' ^' "" '^^ '°°"^ *"« '"^tinct with inxiety, doubt, and appeal. Suddenly I saw her start and glance round ; and 1 thel T\°^ T ^"^ ^^P"'-°". ••«" d-d. for 111 the struggle that her pride made to repress the evidence of her emotion and to force up a sm le to over an aching heart. Then I saw the cause of u.c chan'^e A man came into view, and my heart gave a great r, H f J'*^" ^°' '^^ '^^'^^^' ==°""drel that ever . eated a fnend or ruined a woman. The mere stgh f h.m set me on fire. He had dealt me a foul and reacherous wrong, and when I had sought him to raL hTm!° '"°""'' '^ '''" '^'- ^"' ' -«" "- i watched him now as he spoke to the girl, and m. !\- ■• 30 H H)a0b for a ttbroiic. ■ old hate awoke till I could have found it in me t. rush out there and then to cast his fou nes" Tn W Shekel • '°'' "'^ '"" °'" °^ "■"-• And mVbroi gathered .n an angry scowl as I watched the girl? struggle between pride and loatl>ing when dj answered him and shrank back from thelensuJ brute stare of his eyes. sensual As soon as I could keep my voice steady I called my. companion to the window. ' " Who are those ? " I asked. i "The Countess Minna, the'prince's only dauffhter now his on V chiiH It ,v .i,„ u ■ / "■'"gnteri be the Queen of^'' ^" "^^"' ""^^^ ^^^^^"' ^'^f He checked himself when he caught mv look of intense surprise. ^ ^ ^^^ °'l " And the man. Who is he ? " "The Count von Nauheim, her future husband." 1 fervot " ""• "'^"' '''" '• -'"^ ■•nvoluntary] My companion started and Jooked at me. Do you know — " " ' ^"""^ nothing," I replied very cortlv " Th»c are no concerns of mine But J J„'^ r\ tr. 11. ""Mc. j5ut 1 can read a farfi"! He looked at me searchingly but I had f.t watch out and was playing'w'^th th ^J "t^J IflT ''""' " '^"' °f ^ '""S time s^nd ng for m If he keeps me much longer I shall lose my trali bacT ' ^^I^pokemdifferently.and threw mysel^in^a ctij t on,s until the cham of thought was snapped abruotiv I and I sprang to my feet as a great cry ran., throul the castle, and the sound of a woman's sobWnl ' I IT a (Bate of %itc. 31 "What's that ? " I asked of the man with me, who had changed colour and was manifestly disturbed " I don't understand it." he said, after a long pause durmg which he went and stood by the door, as if doubting whether I might try to leave. The sounds of confusion in the castle increased Servants were hurrying in all directions ; but no one came to us. Later on, the toll of a heavy bell resounded with vibratmg echoes through the hot, heavy, sleepy air A mmute after it was repeated ; and before the sound had died away the elder of the two men came back into the room. He was deadly pale and so agitated that his voice trembled. He approached me and bowed with signs of deep respect. " I bring you the worst of news. The Prince is dead ; and your highness is master in his stead." " Dead ! " I cried, in the profoundest astonishment " He was stricken this morning, and lay dyins when we entered the castle. And he was dead before your highness could be summoned." A protest leapt to my lips. But I did not give it utterance. The thought of the girl I had seen the Countess Minna, left helpless in the power of that consummate villain, von Nauheim, silenced me I would wait until at least I had had time to think' out a course of action. CHAPTER III. "AS YOUR HIGHNESS WILL." ■nto a position of power and influence. '° ''"'' had stntr the cS o°f thT ''^ r""'"' ^"■^' ' punish him ' ''^'' ' "^""'^ ^^P°=« and h^r he1a"d^flera r ^ ^^^^^^ been able to^find\r'urto":h:turo'r'" ''"' supposed death. And n^ow hl^ h^^f dXL" .^3 " as Bour t)tobtic80 Tuaiii." 33 fcnto my har. and actually in the very act of repeat kng h.s foul offence. Fate had surety brought us .ogether ,n th.s dramatic fashion. I could not di" close my ,dent,ty to him ; but I could be the Len With my pulses throbbinjT with this fir^ , likely that I could make an\s tant deci L^ ira.! cordance with the dictates of mere surface J„ ttrmTL H '^" "''' '-"' ^ls^^^:z then might have persisted in avowintr the tn.n, i* the man hi, .self came ruffling .no, he com "h " strong, dark, coarse features wore an expression ^f JbullyinfT assert veness • hfc r^^^ ^-^picbsion ot ii , r , •^'-"''^'^"t^iss , nis manner was that- of fK« fc m:^n'=tht Lr^^' ^" '•"'^^'°p-= -<» "^ i ' to me m the hectormg tone of a master toward an ■nfer,or servant. The personal contact with Wm. he sound of h,s voice, the insolent look of hi, Lv' eyes, and my old hate of him, were like so m.m knots on a whiplash goading me to fury ""'"^ I heard you had come, but I suppose yo , know your errand is a fruitless one." ^ Had I been the most contemptible licksoittV on n, meanest and greediest ^uest, hi^ ex^r s7n ^^H * fean™ ' - '"^ -"^ -° -" -11:;: Oh, that s pla,n enough." he answered, with a sneer' 'YouVe come after what you can eet Th. p probably sent you by thes'e agents':- his ^w^t:" ontemptuous sweep of the hand toward t^lm ■some wonderful account of the good thTZ tlZ for you here, and verv n^fnraMv ■-•• - - '''''/ /"" tame to gather Ir-J ft ' ■I '■^*^W^if^' Si a ©asb for a Ubtonc. out of that barrel," and he laughed very coarsel" There s nothing here for you except an empty title and a beggarly old castle mortgaged from the botton, of the old moat to the tip-top of the flagstaff. That This speech, coarse and contemptible as it was under such circumstances, was not to be compared w.th the meffable brutality of the manner whicJ marked ,ts delivery, I was astounded that any man could ^o behave; but I saw his motive instinctively. He had heard little of me except as a meek-spirited student hkely to shy at any danger, and his objec fas to frighten me away. ^ ' " And who are you, then ? " I asked. " These eentle i men have told me nothing of the position of matters "Then the sooner you know something the betterl Have the goodness to leave us. Captain von Krugen I The latter started, as I thought, angrily, at thef sharp imperious tone in which he was addressed, and glanced at me in some hesitation .fmZ7°l^J '"^=''•?■■^='^lai^led von Nauheii.,! still more sharply ; and then, getting no sign from me the two men left the room. " That fellow gets more presuming every day. The Prince made far too muck of him ; but I'll soon have a change. So you don't know the position of things here, eh, Mr. Student J iio you set much store on your life ? " And he eved me veiy sharply, expecting to see me wince of lit "T '■'■'^PPT' •"■■"• ' ''^''''^' ^""l '" a tone ot some alarm, asked : ' ^^i^'y-^"'' he bottom coarsely, Tipty title, fie bottom aff. That I you can '* Bs l^our Dtobiiess mnir 3'5 IS it wasi compared er which any man 1 cti vely, ^-spirited is objectj >e j^entle mattersi le better, ■Crugen, , at thel sed, and auheimj rom mej ts more )o much •u don't tudent? lie eyed a tone J Why? There is no danger of that sort here, is J Do you know how your late cousin, Gustav, lost " What do you mean ? " "Ah I thought the question would surprise you m not gomg to tell you everything, because tE Matters are for men of action, and not bookworms He died m a duel, forced on him for the sole reason that he was the Prince's next heir » ^ncre^ulou"! ''" ""'"' '^ '°'''^''" ' "^d- - '^ "Possible," he echoed, with a laugh. "Can you ight ? I mean do you think you can stand before the pnest swordsmen, or the picked shots in all Bavaria ?" I I don't see the necessity." " f "^A^ps not-just yet,': he returned drily. « Poor pustav d,dn't-but the time came none the less The man who puts on the mantle of the dead Prince jltnge""'' ' '° '"' ""'^ ■■" "'^ P-'^^'^ --Pt IteUm:\hS"°''°"' "^'^ ^^^^°"' '^^y^'^you "Because I dislike attending funerals," he replied Vth a grim laugh. " Besides, I am a soldier ; and S Imy business , fight. You have probably h;ard 1 ■arPrlS 'u^' ^°""' von Nauhdm, and The late Pnnce s daughter is my betrothed wife " " And you mean, I suppose, that all the Prince', wealth will pass to the daughter ? " "That is the Prince's will. And you weren't in time to get him to alter it. you see." h.LJJl uL'" tet the sneer pass for the moment ' "'""' ""' ' fl "^^^*J*^V^I>'^; 3S a 2)asb for a Ubtone. " Then you will be the head of the family in all but the wealth, and the guardian of its honour ? " so^-'GuTav";-' *'"''°"»"'' *^ '"^" -''° ^"'^d the As I asked the question I kept my eyes fixed brZuet ^? *■"^^y°" don't understand." he said expl^t^oyou ' " " '""^'' "^^^''-^oo much tol your bus,ness. and that you are the-gua^dS, of^thj ttrunu ""' ^""^ '^'^ ^°" "- «"'^ the^ulq do';; ^X'n^aS teTpl^roVf ^^- ^^1 Students." P^'''^^ ""^ swaggering I tone^^« ^^^"^ r''" ^ ""^^^^^^' '" - studiously quiet i tone. Students would sav in surh a ^oo *.u ^ ' did not fight because-you'dirfotr"' *^* ^°" i^ou speak with a strange licpn<5f» ar,^ -r I not careful you will get yfurseTL^t 01^.- ll ."g stlrr""^' '■"'■"^. *° '"^'''- -^ with a bully!' ing stare. You won't find everyone reaHv f^ i such allowances for your ^.Xvas I ^am "^' -il We the goodness to withdraw tLrsugJ:" yoiLTec htii:;:^2tri^i~- .^ -^-ow o ^^u ^^j^ ^ murderer or p'^^'ti^f*. in all but owner of! ** Bs Kour fblQbnces mill " 87 less of a illed the 'es fixed hide his he said nuch to as mur- hting is I of the lurderer s. We Jgering know rer, or ::« h^rj". ''" '--"- -•>- ^- "ave said His surprise at this unexpected tone of quiet in- el%u,K 11?'=^^ -^ '^':"" -'^' •'■•^ '>°'- "You had better take heed how you presume on y forbearance toward one in your positfon, o^even _he act hat you are nominally a member of Ihe amily will not prevent me from giving you a nUV levere lesson." ^ ^ ^ " * Pre"y "You mean I suppose, that although you dared ,ot challenge the man who killed Gustav. you th nk ou m.ght tackle me with impunity. Thlt is not a ^ery h,gh standard of courage," and I shrugged mv ■ If ir^allTh?' T"?^ '■" -"'^^P^'asTadd^d^ II that IS all the protection the Gramberg honour :an rely upon God save the family reputation " The sneer drove him mad, and thg blood rushed to I'^^Sptlr^"-"^ '' ---^-"- i'- "With the Prince lying dead in the castle this is 10 thefmefor such a matter to be settled but I n," .'f'u^r'^ '" '■"^"" ^^^" from you to pLs npun,shed. Why should you seek to force a aua^rll n me at such a time ? " quarrel "You forget, the quarrel is of your makine he,r to the throne, let in the younger branch f the family, through whom the title has descended the present King. Otto was supposed to have lied ; but he was only eccentric. He lived in secret •etirement, married, and left a son. From that son ■'ho was unquestionably the rightful heir, the late K , ^°"u;T'^f "^""^ '■" '^'■'•'==' ''^^'^'^"t- She was :he only child of the eldest line, and by right she ihould have reigned as Queen. As you know, she 'led and left the two children -Gustav, who was illed m a duel, and the daughter, who is in the castle t this moment. ;; Do you niean- ? " I began, when he paused. I mean that the Countess Minna von Gramberg ^should at this moment be the Queen of Bavaria; and that by God s help we shall all live to see her [crowned. * His dark face flushed and his eyes glowed with the enthusiasm of this speech. My own feeling was more wonderment than en- thusiasm, however. If this most hazardous and ambitious scheme were afoot, what could be the meaning of von Nauheim's share in it as the betrothed husband of a future queen ? "The Prince's first intention was of course to put his son on the throne, and matters were indeed vvell ripe for this, when unfortunately he became embroiled in a duel and was killed. That duel we believe to have been forced on him-murder in all but the actual form." 'I And the man who killed him ? " I asked. "A noted Italian swordsman. Pra^a. hired ^nd paid, M we believe, for his work." 'i I W-' ' i ,#1%' ,:!! 42 H Daab for a XTbrone. :«M ' Hired ? By whom ? " fhl ^u ""^ ^^^."^ *''° ''*"'' "«"' '■" succession to dren and the succession passes to the Ostenbum branch of the family. That was my mas£l"S hope. Our claims are stronger than theirs ; and „e had on th,s account secured the support of most o the prominent men in the country " " Well? " I asked, for he paused with a gesture of disappomtment. gesture ol ,x,I^°T ^l"''^"'^ ''^'''h threw everything back Where they had been ready to stand by a man some of them drew back, frightened, from supp^rtinga young g.rl-and, unless a bold stroke be r^de „ow everything may be lost." ^' '• What bold stroke do you mean ? " " Like that planned before. Evervthinir ,v,c - j We thought the Ostenburg agents hid ot'aTu^S the° m»t W- ^'r "'" '""'''''' *» '^^^ advan a^^e o he mad King's fancies to lure him out on one o those wild midnight drives of his. and then to eize his person and put one of ourselves into his p ace made up of course, to resemble him ; and to kt the dummy play the part of King long enough Z 1, successor, as being the rightful lineal heir We should have done the rest. It was a brave sheme^ "•Butw;::tLr^^'"^^^'"^''""-'^' -*^'- " It was side got w and the cc " Well ? " Half t come bacli and it was good work " And tl" " The Pr was not wi the help of people — en make the welcomed 1 plied with t acted— that him in man This mac man's chara " And the My comp close togeth ambiguouslj " Neither of any but n " You me£ but could no " 1 mean frankly to ] favoured the and opposes Ql">» Koo ^~ 1 vf««%^ Xiao Jivj I I*1%» essic»n to no chil- 'stenburg ir's riain ; and we most of esture of i ? back, m, some )rting' a de now, s ready, ispicion itage of one of o seize 3 place, let the enable e been was to d been :r had :av his We ime." iid I. "as l^our t>lGbnc0s mmr 43 "It was just before things were ripe that the other side got wind-through some treachery somewhere • and the count was killed in the duel " " Well ? " " Half the cowards drew away. But they will all come back the moment they see us strike a blow • and It was to have you close at hand, helping in the good work, that the Prince sent for you." " And the Count von Nauheim ? " " The Prince had supreme confidence in him He the help of a very large and influential section of the people-enough to turn the balance, indeed, and make the scheme certain of success. The Prince welcomed him heartily enough and cheerfully com- phed with the condition fixed by those for whom he acted-that the Countess Minna should be given to him in marriage." ^ This made me thoughtful, knowing as I did the man's character. " And the daughter herself? " My companion frowned, drawing his dark brows close together, and pursed up his lips, as he replied ambiguously: ^ " Neither man nor woman at such a time can think of any but reasons of State." '• You mean that she consented to give her hand but could not give her heart with it." ' "I mean more than that, sir, and I must speak rankly to you. The Countess Minna has never favoured the scheme, but has strongly opposed it-~ t.^^^J'^.^''^ ^-- have no'ambition. ^..^. »«. ..u longing lor a throne; and now that her I' i ,|? ';,-^'*i'ii^,f .,•"-';. 44 B Wash for a XTbrone. father is dead I fotr ,.,«ii t j -X do. If i'j-rut ht t -rr '^'/v*" daughter, and will r k i ' '^ ^^'^ ^^^^^r's But^n,uchw-nd:;L^p:^^^^^^^^^ ^^--^-^ --^^ ^-t- " We'afetll otT 7 ^' ? "'^^ '^-^^^t then ? - we are al] pledged too deeply to draw ha^u your highness." he answered v/r J . ., "'''''' must either succeed or firth ^^7 ^^^"^^^^y- "We and failure mean ' a pt^^o" ^ Prince's daughter nn^ . ^°"vent for the of u. A c r ' '^*''*'^ t^an ruin for the re^f oi us. As for yourself vr^n i ,. '^^^^ certain object of at ack (^r',l ^°"' *'" "^ "^'^ here. The enem^e' „7 T '.' "° ''^'"^ "^"^""^i' never rest sSri-;;^:-^^.^:: ^ ' throne remains at lart-e or u,h;i ^, "^'^^^^ ^^ the helped to put her therlte Lve td aUibl't" 'T I told you at Hamnel, we are plav.t V f ^^ ^' -;j^:tiL^l^"r:o::tt:d?rd'*^'-"'---" moment later he ooen^H .> "^^'"^f, ^'^^ ^oor, and a tes. Minna wa'/aT^rut 'oTee Z'!'' ''' "°""- to the library for that purpose ""*' '°"""S ■'tfft-tt^^,* w-hat she • father's with jt. then ? " ick now, ^. " We course ; for the the rest "ue the Jscurity ise will to the have y. As sperate litz in and a Coun- oming CHAPTER IV. "VOU ARE HEAD OF THE HOUSE NOW." JMy chief feelinrr as J m^n * Uter was a LToLzj:jrT;jt:ir: allowed myself to be hurried intn ! • • ""^ Ude it necessary for m/ to Js lead C''°^ ''''''''' her nothing but eood f ho^l u ' "'^*"' castle all afains my will ^ hld^t'" 'Tu^'" '° '*"= m order that I mi^hr L lu "^^"^ "'"^ ^""'Sefy .from danger and'lty h,f j ^ :d o^n'l "^"'"^.'^^ increase that danger in mv vfew V . °"'>'/^''^^d '° deception I was practisir/hJ . ""^ '^^'^^ "^ ">= 'me in her present ^ ^^""^""^ ^"^ embarrassed She was garbed now in the deeoe-jt Kl > pale and hollow-eyed, and tremblint under he ' ,""' of her new sudden sorrow • and sh". Z ^ ^'^'' and fragile that my hear" 'ac ed t herwh^re '"'' senses were thrilled by her exauiJTu 1 "^ strange subtle influence which h ^^"'^ ^"'^ ''>' ^ upon me. My DuTserh» r P'^'"""^ «^^^'»ed desire to help her irherheL "'"' ^ '"-""""^"^ |had woman moved mehSilr""- '"''''■ '""''"• on?h:r:'f :nXr,°d '^t^-^o-^-her hand land her large b^ ^rs^, :t^/j^° ^7"^^ "er; -ding, and appeaiine "1 1 w'^ r'.=-->-"ng, — . - — v..iiv-u ucToss tile r0 '*%♦ 46 a Dasb for a ZTbcone. room toward her. Her scrutiny appeared to give her confidence, for she withdrew her hand from her companion's arm and held it out to greet me. "I felt I must come to bid you welcome' cousin " she said, in a low. sweet voice that trembled. '• You are welcome — very welcome." I took the hand and raised it to my lips T "^7,^^^"'^ "«t have distressed yourself to come^ 1 should have understood," I answered. "I felt that I must see you," she said, very graciously ; and I, remembering what I had seen in the garden and all that von Krugen had told me knew well enough the doubts and fears, anxieties and hopes, that might lie behind the words. I racked my brain for some sentence that would convey some assurance of my wish to serve her : but I could und no words that pleased me ; and after a pause, that to me was awkward enough, she added • " You are now my only relative in the world, except my dear aunt here, the Baroness Gratz." The old lady made me a very stately and ceremonious bow. which I returned with such courtesy as I could command. "A great heritage has come to you, sir, and a trust that must test to the utmost one so youn- in years," she said. ^ ^ ;;Myone life-purpose shall be to prove worthy < It, I answered earnestly ; and I thought the girl's eyes lightened a little at the words. " We were alarmed, sir, when we heard that you were unwilling to come." said the baroness. " I am here, madam, to remove that alarm " " The future fortunes of this noble house rest largely "Be in your h You know "I knoi earnestly t "You w {)ulsivcly £ "And at t that is in n '* You wi turned, rai: time been f " I do b( again impu! the words. There is so "Minna! " I am wi it. I am SI not ? And At this O the other ui forwaru as i and after a ^ girl : " We have "The cap happens, I a ward him : '♦ ( that must die The word c and her lips 1 sentence. St her rnmT-korili-i f^'^* > give her rom her , cousin," I. ''You o come ; id, very seen in old me, ties and t would er ; but. after a I ided , except] ly and i curtesy and a I •ung in I rthy - gill's j It youj ''Bou are f3ca^ of tbc Donee ittow." 47 m your hands, as well as those of this sweet child Vou know that ? ' she asked in reply " ^ ^"°^ ^'«'^ as yet ; but in all I shall strive earnestly to win the confidence of you both " "You will have mine, cousin." said the girl, im- .' Andt tT "'T' ''^^^^^' '' '' -emed%o me. And at the earliest moment I wish to tell you all that IS m my thoughts and to ask your help." You will never ask that in vain, believe me,'' I re- turned^ raising my eyes to hers which had all the time been fixed on my face. "I do believe you-I am sure of you," she cried again impulsively ; and I could have blessed her for' the words. *. And oh I am so glad you have come There is so much to change and set right " -Minna ! '' said the aunt, in a gently warning tone. I am with friends, and I can speak freely. 1 feel It. I am sure we shall be friends, cousin. Shall we not ? And you will be on my side ? " the other ci,u of the room, took two or three steos orwaru as if to speak ; but the baroness interposed and after a warmng glance at him whispered to the ''We have not come for this now, child " " The captain will be my friend, too, whatever iTm .«'" ^'rl'^^^" ^"'' ^^^ ^'^^^ ^-^^"^ t" ra^'mttdiw"''"'^"^^^^^^^^^^^-^^ The word distressed her, and she caught her breath :™; JiV!^!L^l^?^P'^ -^ ^--^ to lean on ari?elvH her mmr^nnif^*^'^ • 48 a Dasb for a Ubvonc. "You must not distress yourself Minn:. " co-^ .u baroness gently /^urbeir, Minna, said the! house now and I t,T' n '"'^ ">" ''^«'' "^ the " UntHon W ^u°" """ "'^ "'^ authority." room hastily. I felt the^W'= f ^"^"^ "" involuntari/they closed t m e in a" Mef ^,"1 .-. orhairagitation and rea^^ 'xhi' ^^3 br:sq:e";;"'"ifhinf h' "°" "^^^^ ^■"---'^^ -«l more\eemIyifMla'hadT:r-'''l"°"''^ "^^ l-- The old lady ^rit aS "of v'''!r™'"''''' firm. ^ "' ^v^"g to appear! " Head of the house." he cried «,ff i, o are the head of the house ^'7 '"''"'• "^°"' oi tne house, and, as your affianced | " said the "l^ou are 1bcat> ot tbe Douse How." 49 ing which ng to re- J she said effort to now, but done at d of the ority." !. "You an trust e act oil ed steps j ered thcj irt, and embh'ngj thrilled he said ^e been] mts." Minna I ne half! Tie the appear j " You ianced usband, It IS for me to say what is necessary in these latters of courtesy. I have already seen Herr von romberg to welcome him, as you say. Nothing .ore was necessary. Let me give you my arm to take ou to my apartments. Come." She hesitated an instant, and seemed as if about to ^efuse; but then changed and placed the tips of her fingers on his arm, and as she did so turned and Ibowed to me with a smile on her sweet, sad. pale face. I shall see you, cousin Hans, soon, as I said just now. In the meantime, I rely upon you to order all such arrangements as you think best-as your position ihere now requires." " This gentleman need not trouble himself," said the man, frownmg heavily and angrily. « I have given all necessary instructions." hil'ente f; ""^' ^°" ""''■" ' "^'^ *° ^"' '^"'^""^ I kept out of sight my rage at his conduct until the three had left the room, and then, forgetting that I was not alone, I vented it in a heavy, bitter oath and turned to find von Krugen's keen dark eyes fixed upon me. ' } was annoyed to have thus bared my feelings to his quick gaze. I did not wish him to know that I suspected, or even disliked, the count; but he had seen it already. in th^l Tr^f. ''^ ^"^ T''"^" ^^"" '^^ P^'"^^ himself in the latter time ; and he takes interference very ill He will ride roughshod over all of us. if he can " * "Ah, you do not like him," I answered. * "But there is no room for dissensions among ourselves *-ct it go no iarther." 60 a Basb for a XTbrone. "1301 'or me, he ^ assure he ;he day of ost vigilar nd if my p me to He iddress. I started iHamnel, bu lis own narr 'Charmes. 1 Compte de ( ito narry. If'\^Z''/7r^'u°"'"'^'"^' '° S"^' y°'" highness^ autltdtr '"''"''" *° "' " ' =''°"" ^''""■^^ "-^ '■ You will not leave, Captain von Krugen," I replied rS TV ■" ";"^" '"°"'' *"^ '^ '°° -"^h need a fa.thful fnend at such a juncture." He bowed, and now, I added, "we will discuss together what hat" be done, and try to settle the arrangements." m=H Tr- °^ "'"'■'^' ™^"y arrangements to be made, and the consultation occupied a long time 1 a result I issued a number of directions Tuch aL seemed best, mcluding those for the funeral, which H. ^' ^''' ^^ fixed for three days later. P""<^ *« roo' Then I had to consider my own matters and S™' Prevente mature a plan which I had formed after my interviewil*"'' P'^''^ ^°' w,th the Countess Minna. I felt that I could notl""''^ ^^ "°' contmue the deception in regard to myself, and l"" "'" -'" resolved that I would use the intervaf bef;re th funera to try and find the real von Fromberg an bnng h,m to the castle to take his own position would come with him and, by using the ifnowledge possessed, help h,m m a task which, if he had a spark of honour ,n ms nature, he could not but undertake. The next day I took the captain so far into my confidence as to tell him there was an urgent pr^v" matter to which I was compelled to attend an'dThI I must return to Hamnel for that purpos^. I old h rn to keep the fact of my absence as secret as po . ani^thaTr'^ ""u'^ *'* ' ^^' °"' "■*"e °^ walking, and that I would return soon if tu» .._. , . he was pro apologies. He acted li silly laughter tears the next happy, until appeared to t man, he oughl clown. His one cc Angele— the i outlook at tha out of perspec It was a Ion stanr! that a m lighnessij leave the! rcise mjl I replied! 1 need off ved, and) "And! t has tol 5 to be me. As such as "l?ou arc lbea6 of tbc tionse Wow." si for me, he was in confidence to tell her the truth, and assure her that, m any event, I should be back b;fore Ihe day of the funeral. Moreover, he was to keep a ^ost vigilant watch over everything and everybody ind .f my presence was urgently needed, to telegraph .0 me^to Hamnel. But to no one was he to giv? th^at I started early, and the same evening arrived at Hamnel. but failed to find von Frombefg either fn \cLZT%l°' 1 """'l ^'"^ "'^" I ''""■-don o Charmes There I caught him at the house of the At first he was like an emotional girl. He rushed ^hichla. ,^' "■■'' ^^ "^^ f^ *" emotional girl. He rushed and terview jld notj and I) >re thei rg andj 3n. Ij -dge Ij L spark] take, to my I )rivatej d that I I toldi 3 POS- Iking,i aSKcu ^not preven ed h,m, while he loaded me v-ith thanks ^and pra-se for having helped him to get free from his uncle by not declaring myself; while, with all this |apolo7es.''' "' '"' ^"''''"^'^ ™'"'"^ ^'■«' »>'■=' He acted like an hysterical fool, bubbling over w, silly laughter one moment and shedding equally sillv ears the next. He was ridiculously light-spirited and happy, until his fantastic hilarity angered me He appeared to think that, as he had become a French! (down °"^ '° ^^^"" ^ ' '°'' °^ feather-headed His one consuming wish was that I should see Angele-the girl was the one object in his mentis , outlook at that moment, and everything elL was out of perspective. It was a lonp- Hmp h/='fr,f^ i — u _. i shanr? fi,o«. ° 'i ~ ' '"^ * ''''"''^ '"^"^^ """ under- stand that a much more serious matter than his lovre- 52 B msb for a XTbroite. " I am sorry for her, poor soul. I aw sure I wn„IHi have everyone happy at a time h'ke th.^ But I ^ pose ,t will be all settled somehow and : , dav'T s^d a the close, in a tone which made .:.. .ullj^^is that he considered it no business of his ^ ' hour 'r; a i:i^^\ t:^'°"l ^harmes in an that he would go b clJi^i^e ? W "' '° "T"" I that a fairly gLd connectln at SuLtZT} "'' reach the castle to-morrow " ^"^^=^"& and can , _ I thmk I can be of help to you." How can you help me if you are going there ?" You will wish, of course, to hasten to ThJ ., to save the honour of vour fZT V . "^'"^ cousin?" ^ "" '^""'y a"d of your "My family is here. My home is France lo no longer a German r i,» , . ^™nce. I am 5=' 1 uerman. I have made the declaraim„ t„ become naturalised. Do vou thinU r ^ . *° Ansele on th. ? ^ "^ ' »'°''W leave ■f^ngeie on the eve of my weddinf^-dav ? t morrow we shall be man and wife sLlT- . .i then, go to look after the aJs of adL M '^' who never worried himself the paring of an u"" n>e until bethought I could be of" sf to himP W^! ct^erhrf^fe:y^Si^•-"'"-"-^^^^^^^ to these people-theslGir "";■• ^° '*"y- ^"«"'' Show yolJu J^rrlT:"l~''t'' ™.y daughter, ^"""«" "^an i'icnch, and give **mn are ibca^ of tbe Ibouse lRow/» 53 [the lie to your protestations. Pretend to become a Frenchman one moment, and the i xt recognise the claim of your Fatherland and your German blood and kmship. Go, by all means, but do not I return Never set eyes on Angele again!' Eh. do you thmk I could do that?" and he threw up his I hands, shoulders, and eyebrows in a perfect ecstasy of repudiation of the mere idea. "A helpless young girl, your only kin in the world IS waiting there dependent upon your assistance.' You are now the head of that great family whose honour and future are now threatened ; and the entire fortunes of your noble house are at a crisis which make it imperative in all honour that you should assume the responsibilities of the position." "And is there not a helpless girl here who will be dependent upon me? Am I not here taking the headsliip of a noble family? With this difference- that here I was not forgotten and ignored until I became necessary as a prop for a tottering wall. Would l^onour, think you, have nothing to say against my desertion of this family in the way you suggest ? No, no, my friend ; these people have appealed to your sentimental side. My place is here, and here I stop.' From that resolve no pleas, reproaches, arguments or goads could move him. Nothing should make him budge from Angele ; and he viewed everything trom that one new standpoint. "If you are eager to free my family from the mess their affairs have got into, take my place, go back and do it. You may claim by ri^^ht all th.Ju 10 oe got ; for certainly I could not help if I would" 64 a Dasb for a Ubrone. If he who was all his life at this work could not keep h s house from falling, his son from being killed an a student '"hT ''":'''• ^'''' ^'" ' ""P' to do P a student who have hved three-quarters of my life i lu elv n'o* 'T'k' ' """'^^^ '"'■ -d know fbsl' Uitely nothmg of the mtricacies of diplomatic intrigud You say you could help me? I don't know how fs dlJ""."^""' "''^' '^ "'^ sain for me ? My unc^ei .s dead and leaves me nothing but a mess of intZ tnmaZ\nr.T'" '\^"^^^^^ ^"' '"-^ ' will marry— and what is her husband to me ? " honou"/?'^ rr -7 T '^'^'^ '° '^^ ^^-"-"ds of Honour? I cried; but against the wall of hiJ selfishness the sea wr^„u i, u , "'* vain. "^ '"■°''^" ''self in No' "r f t!ir™' T^. ''°"°"' ''>' '■"'^^''■■"e Angela? "o, no. I tell you I have ceased to be a Gern^an liklyou Go and do' t f ''"'V' "°"^ '"' ">- / u. ^o and do it. I am rendering that mVl = ^rj^ater service by sending you thafirS; It was useless to argue with him. He was hooe iessly^callous; and I sat biting my lips irLSs" do'V^^i'think^he"" -f, '"'^ '^=°"^ ^ ^-"*™-. Wilf thev w.l! ^ ^^''P' •>"'? ^t -"y hands Win mey welcome mv Frenrh ur;f« ^- family? Should I wreck mv own h^' "'' "'" them to insult me a7d all tLT ^^PP'"T '"^"^"^ Am I a fool? l':^,t do ^ fcL^^ rnJ^ thlt' coX^bf" ^'°"" "'^^'^ ^ ''°"'«' she'sha 1 h v a^ comfortable a one as my means will provide. B^ they must That is all "They ; kind on yc for him cai He win( stung to ar " You th matters th a^ain. Pre To show ) deliberaLd}/ up declarati course, befo declined ab: intention to man. I w; notary, and take it as i declaration you will. J breathe a wc me to speak. into the mes I took the " I will ta] Here, I supp I spoke cu " I do not will find me, will be Henri ceased to ex u/ae Ki/a 4-^ *.U, 44 Sou are lbca6 of tbe ibouse iRow." 55 ThTt rl"°' "''■" •"' ^= °"^ °^ thefr own kin. "They are not likely to make any claim of the kmd on you." I said. And the bitter contempt I elt for him came out in my tone He winced and flushed, and for a moment was stung to anger ; but it passed. " You think poorly of me because I have decided matters thus. As you will. We shall not meet agam^ Probably I shall never again cross the fronTer To show you my decision is no mere whim, but a untn 1^ *°'''" """'''• ""''' ^ '^^^ - duly drawn! up declaration renouncing my heirship. I drew it of course, before I knew of the Prince^ death, and I intention to change my name and become a Fren^h^ man. I was going to have this attested before a notary, and then send it to my uncle ; but you can ake It as ,t is. if you like. I will make a s„orn declara ion at any time it is desired. Do just whM you will. And this I swear to you : I Jil neve breathe a word of what has passed unless you wS, r thnts."' """ ^°" *^' '- '^-■"^ "-S'^t you I took the paper and rose to leave "I will take means to let you know what is done. Here, I suppose ? I spoke curtly, for I felt strongly wili^fi^H "°' *;''' '° ^^' ^"y-^'"S- A letter here will find me, of course, but my name for the future will be Henr Frombe-Hans von Fromberg will hav" ceased to exist, unless you are he." So Indifferent V. .w .uu cnucai seriousness of the affairs that m I i I' 56 a Bash for a TLbvom. he laughed as he said this, and added : " After all then you will not see Angele. I am grieved at that "' and he held out his hand. " I cannot take your hand, M. Frombe," I said sternly. '« I remain a German. Your desertion of your family at such a juncture of need makes any friendly feeling toward you impossible on my pari You hold that any man can lightly renounce his family and country. I do not. I take the strongest view of your conduct. France profits little by her newest citizen, and the Fatherland gains by the loss of so self-sRtisfied a renegade. I trust that we shall not meet again." He was a coward, and shrank and paled under the ash of my words ; but he made no attempt to resent them and I left him with a feeling of bitter contempt and disgust at his conduct. ^ During the whole of my long journey back to the castle I sat absorbed in close thought, mapping out my plans, recalling old memories, and rousing my wTt! and energies for the task which Fate had set me, and from which apparently I could not break away CHAPTER V. THE SCENT OF TREACHERY. I When I reached the castle, Captain von Krugen met me with several stories about steps which von Nauheim had taken to contest my authority. Orders I had given had been countermanded, and several I arrangements changed. These things were small in themselves, but as his object was evidently to fight my influence and dispute my authority, I deemed it best to put my foot 'down at once. I sent for all to whom the contradictory instruc- tions had been given, and then requested von Nauheim's presence. At first he would not come, and then I sent the captain to tell him exactly what I meant to do, and that if he did not come, every man and woman in the place would be warned to take no orders from him under pain of instant dis- missal. Von Krugen carried the message with glee, and it roused the count to such anger that he came at once in a fury. Without giving him time to speak, I said : " I sent for you, Count von Nauheim, because these good people here are in some difficulty as to where they are to look for orders. Will you explain to them that although the Prince has left his fortune to his daughter, the castle passes to me with the head- 57 i ; • IS H Dasb for a Ubroiie. sh

ea tne time absorbing all the information I cou d get and trvin^ »„ r campaign. ^ ' "-^'"^ *° '^°''™ « P"i" "f I guessed that nothing would be done by the agents of the Ostenburg family until a sufficient time had elapsed after the Prince's funeral to-mak™t pam what we intended to do; and I judged tha their next move would be determined by tur own The funeral took place, and directlv afterw;.rHc ;:Xnr-w-;rrrhaVr:^ .tp:rXlhTt'rh"'',r '^^ -"«^-- ^-rfw imperative that I should at least learn her wishes both m regard to von Nauheim and the big srheme which her marriage was a part. In the meantime -y^Tn^ittlertS"" '■" ^""'^^ '^- - Js^no chr '° '^ =°-'"-°". however, that theie z^t^:::^:^:-^ ^^ out^r.cessL';.S vhen the son, Gustav, had'been 11 I- ?' 60 a 2)a0b for a XTbrone. killed. Up to that time there had, indeed, been a pretty widespread sympathy with the movement and if a bold coup had been made, the lunatic King kidnapped, the young fellow proclaimed, and the Prince's power, shrewdness, and enormous influence thrown into the scales, it was possible that enough strength might have been paraded in the country to force the hands of the Imperial Government. But with the death of the son went half the support • and now with the death of the Prince I Judged that more than half the remainder would go. It seemed to me therefore, a sheer impossibility to carry such a scheme through successfully. The utmost I could hope to achieve would be to make such terms as should secure the safety of the Countess Minna, as well as of I those who had been concerned in the plot thus far. Obviously they were compromised up to the hilt and the manner in which Gustav's death had been compassed showed that among the Ostenburg interest there were men of great daring and recklessness ready to go to any length in defence of their own They were on the winning side now, moreover, and I deemed it certain that to whatever lengths they might go, they were pretty certain to secure the covert sanction of the authorities at Berlin. Berlin would side with the successful, I reckoned. Thus the more closely I probed the situation, the less I liked it. But in these desperate circumstances, v.-here each man who took a part was playing with his life^ what was a coward like von Nauheim doing ? Even if he was angling to get possession of the wealth which would be the portion of the countess, he was not the man to run his nack into a noose ; and whoever been a vcment; ;ic King md the ifluence enough intry to It. But rt; and It more I to me, scheme lope to should II as of far. le hilt; i been nterest issness r own. and I might covert would ; more TOe Scent or Lrcacber^, 61 married the Countess Minna would inevitably have as part of that dowry the implacable enmity of her enemies. ^ * What, then, ought I to do? M/ instincts were all in favour of striking some kind of blow, and of bdn- the attacker instead of waiting to be attacked We appeared to be in danger of being squeezed out of existence. Our supporters were falling away, our posi, on growing weaker, and our resources becoming feebler the longer we waited. If we could only effect some little thing, it .seemed that we should be in a better po.-,^-r, t,. negotiate than if we merely did nothing. B; t what ould we do ? There was a„oth. serious danger in delay, more- over, arising o. oi the consummate uncertainty of my own position. It was one thing to be mistaken or t e rightful heir to the Prince, Lt quite other to attempt to make good that claim legally; and I soon had a sharp reminder of this. The old lawyer who had acted for the Prince came TexpresS Ira""'" *'l '"""^' '"' ""''' '■"^'™^'--- thenrsaid: ' '""'' ""' "''^' ' ^^^"^^'^ -'" " There are certain of the estates which have always gone with the title, and should go now It would be possible to make a claim to them a^ains the actual provisions of the will." " He put it suggestively. '■ I shall make no claim," I answered ■' I do not for a moment intend to interfere with the Prince's disposition of matters." ' "ice s " But he would have wished you to have them I know. Indeed. I have Un^-. f-^~ u._. . .; „ ' ' — V w J ..uij, iiiiu lu tnai cilect. 62 a Dasb tor a XTbronc* "I shall not interfere with the will," I returned, rather abruptly. " They arc very rich estates." " That makes no difference to me." " The cost of maintaining the dignity of your high- ness's title and position will be very heavy, and without them, scarcely practicable." "I have my private fortune, and that will and must suffice." " Indeed," he exclaimed, in surprise. " I thought I knew to a mark the extent of your mother's small income. It is derived almost entirely from the Graffenheim property; and I understand that within the last few days you have ordered it to be sold. Do you not intend your affairs to remain in mv hands?" « ^ Here was clearly a mess I had not foreseen. The real man was getting rid of his German property when he turned Frenchman. ^ "You will certainly have my confidence, my dear sir," I said, in a carefully courteous manner. " And of course my affairs will remain in your hands. This, however, is only a very small thing, and I did not know of my uncle's death when I put it in hand." ''The Prince was always desirous of purchasing that property, because, as you know, it lies in the midst of the Gramberg estates. If you wish to sell it, I should advise the Countess Minna to purchase it." " I shall not sell it to the Countess Minna,". I said, at a loss how to parry him. " I mean that probably I shall withdraw it from sale altogether now." He looked at me in such surprise that I saw he XTbe Scent ot Crcacbere. 63 knew something which made my reply ridiculous: but bemg afraid to offend me, he said no more abou it, and answered : «"uuu " That is of course, just as you will. Then should I get on with the preparation of the papers of formal proof of your succession ? " " ' f f ^""« vvhat is wanted," said I indifferently " Mere formalities, of course ; just tracing your descent The certificates of b-th and such mitters " wiiHt 'tZ iJjr " '^ '""==^^^ ^°" -^ P-P-. fort rhrb^nesr" -"^ ^"^^ '""^ ' =''°"''' •>- " No. A day or two— not more." J^l Tl^ ""^'^ ""^ '^'* ^°"^t«™ation. 1 could not possibly make a legal claim to what did not belong to me ; and yet I must have time-weeks at east, and: probably months. I let no sign of my celmg show an my face, but sat impassively thought"^ You will have to create some delay in the matter It IS useless keeping my confidence from you. ThTs •.V.11 ot the Prince's leaves me nothing but ihe castfe and that seems to have been about^the onl^ pa^t o^ his property that he had mortgaged ; so that practl aly here ,s nothing Whether I shall accept the nhentance, therefore-and, of course, the title with t-is a question I have yet to decide; and I must ave as long a time for that decision as possible but, mark you, no one must know of this but vour. -". i nis IS my first confidential commission to you. 64 a ^asb for a Zbmxc. Certain things might determine me at once; but marriages cannot be arranged in a week. You under- stand ? And I have no fancy for the h'fe of a man weighted with a big title and no means to support it properly." He bowed as if in acquiescence, although this glaring contradiction of what I had said only a minute before obviously perplexed and disconcerted him. " And now that you have my confidence," I said, laying great stress on the word, " tell me how long can we postpone these formalities— or, in other words, how long can I have to carry out my— my plan?" And I smiled slightly as though the plan were some such matrimonial one as I had hinted at. " A month, perhaps two months, without provoking much comment— of course, provided there is no opposition," he replied cautiously. •• I will find a way to deal with any opposition" said I promptly. "And now we understand one another." With that I dismissed him. I saw the danger of this new development The least suspicion would mevitably cause inquiry ; and the most superficial inquiry would as inevitably bring the whole house of cards tumbling about my ears. But I had certainly one month, and perhaps two ; and I must put the time to the best use I could. The question of what that use should be was con- siderably influenced by von Nauheim, who returned that night, and immediately sought an interview with me. I noticed at once a marked change in his attitude. Ube Scent of XTreacberB. 66 "I want a confidential talk with you, Prince" he said ; and before we begin I wish to ,-,,, r »o.ry I njade a bear o? mysllf toVo^ .foTeTe' .udden death. It seemed to me that all our plans were go.ng to the devil, and it was impossible for a man who had had only a student's career like yours e of any use in such a case as ours. I own^a I ned to fnghten you into leaving here without SnTlinror^ '"' '''" '" ^^'^ --""a "And what has changed you since?" I ve been in Munich in conference will „r friends the^to ascertam what effect the Prince'. J^Jn "Well?" _ 'Von .Krugen tells me you know everything and the long and short of it is that if .-nu'u ' •' shall all be only too glad to hat yo r h ,0°'"!"^: scarce^, tell you that those who stand byt now" l! reap the harvest when we've succeeded. It's dLred hard on you to have the whole of the Prince's fcZ'e , V' '"? '° *^'""^- 0"<=<= 'his thing goes hroueh iry*tr:o'dr:;it-'""=^° -■''''''-'''=• ^ JhtzrknS?' "' ^°""=^ ''"' ■■' -"""-' '•o " I don't think the terms are high enough » .ifH T quietly, as if weighinir them " Th; r,' , "^^' ^'''^ ^ " It mfcrhf K« V ^ ^'•^^' '^ enormous." ' And wt / T """'' "^' '^^^^^" of success." And we certamly are not." E H ! 66 a H)asb tot a Zhvonc, The feelinjTi "Why, wh.1t can stand in the way? ...v, .v, against the King grows every day. What do you think is his last freak ? Another confounded palace, and this time underground. It will cost millions of marks— millions. Do you suppose the people are going to put up for ever with this sort of thing ? It has only just leaked out in Munich ; and I tell you man, the whole country will take fire and clamour for his deposition. Theie never was such a chance, and never will be such another." There was a ring of sincerity in this indignation quite foreign to his usual manner, and I could not understand it, " And what is your plan ?" " To strike—and strike at once," he cried loudly, dashmg his fist down on the table, "while Munich is mad with anger." It was plausible enough, but I knew the man for a scoundrel. " And my cousin— what does she say ? " I asked. "She can have no choice," he returned readily, " She must leave these things to us. She has a kind of reluctance, I know, and her heart has never been really in the work. But she is pledged to the finger tips, and can't draw back— at least without betraying the lot of us, as well as ruining herself Sometimes I wish, indeed, that she had more spirit. Had I known she felt so strongly I should never have gone in so deep myself." "Before I decide anything I must know her wishes" I said. ' " Her wish :s will be ours—if we make her under- stand that the alternative will be the ruin of all who e feeling do you i palace, IHons of 3ple are ing? It tell you, Tjour for nee, and ignation •uld not loudly, unich is an for a ttbc Scent of irreacberg. 67 upon her ? " ^ y°" " '°ree this home ;■ It must first be forced home on me » said I "You know von Krugen's views," he'u^^j He was showinEr Mn ^. u "rged. his whoie n>anne"lanuS^.:«:r;r" r' '"' What it was I could not s!cssofl"T P'"'P°^«- couid fail to read it in hisTa'ner ° "' ' '" "° °"^ acZled SfoVmv t"'"' "'^"^ '^ ""' ' -" •nyo^vn judgment" ^ " °P'"'°"= ''"'' t° act on " If you will come with mp t« M., • i , you plenty of facts to convince yo^^' "'' ' "'" ^"^' .ontracriJanTedr '"'^'7 °^ '■^'''"- '" •>- shoulders, as oTfnSetr t^ ^'"^ "^ '•''^ swerS ZZ'^r '^'■"^ ^-'° Munich," I an. ^'^ eyes ^l^e' me tuTTuTZt^f^^^'^-^^ '" Munich that Minna's brother had S '' .^^^ " the duel and killed and thV! ,. f " '"^^gled into there with some such nln' "'•^" '°'"" ^"'^ '■^°'" would leave t^e g.r absoTutef "l""^'^" ^^ '^^^th Iwrld. ^ absolutely without a friend in the H-tfnra: "'trm^ortTbr"--"^ ■•" '-^^ t^-iwouidtaketocutrhnoLtiichrhr::;:^^ " Before T frrx » - - b'^, ! J A T aaued, alter a pause that waa 68 a S)asb tor a Ubrone. ; ! scarcely perceptible for all the revelation that had come to me in it, " I will see my cousin, and hear from her lips what she wishes." " We will see her at once," he answered instantly. " With your permission, 1 will ^icc her alone." ''That is rather a strange request, Prince," he re- turned, in a tone of surprise, *' consider' jIjT she is myi promised wife. What rt: ifion have yci; for making it?" ^' "I wish her to speak freely to me, unfettered by e'ther you or von Kruger/s insistent persuasions She will speak rrvorc freeiy alone, and, as head of the| house, I choose my own steps/' "I see no reason for it," he replied sharply. "Do I you suggest I intimidate her ? " *' I suggest nothing," I returned quietly. " I get my I inibrmation in my own way, that is all. If you ob- ject to my doing that. I decline to get it in yours.] My visit to Munich can ^tand over meanwhile." "But things can't wait; this business must be dont| at once." " Then the short cut to it must be as I prefer tcl direct." The mask nearly fell from him. He bit his lips, and I saw the anger rush to his eyes and face ; but hel checked it, and though he had to fight hard to keep| from breaking out, he answered sufficiently calmly " Oh, if you set so much store by it as all that, cer-i tainly see her alone. You will find out no more than] I have said." But I had a different opinion ; and I sent up al message at once to the Countess Minna to ask for an| interview immediatelv. — ^ - Cbe Scent of ttreacbers. 69 "And when shaJ! we start for Munichy" I asked when the messenger had gone. " To-morrow ? " The sooner the bettor," he replied; and again I caught a fleetmg. stealthy gli,/of pleasure !„"hU iMi 1 I li If CHAPTER VI. MY "COUSIN." Mv short conversation with von Nauheim, the sudden change in his attitude toward me, and the slight indi- cations of his real feelings which I had observed did more than anything which had yet occurred to impress me with the deadly seriousness of the task I had un- dertaken. I was convinced that as the result of this visit to Munich, some fresh development of treachery had been planned, and that he was closely concerned as either principal or tool. Fortunately for me he was a poor diplomatist, and as my former knowledge of him gave me a sufficient clue to his real character, he could not so dissemble his manner as to mislead me. Without that clue he might have tricked me, of course, as he had tricked others. Apparently his in- terests lay entirely in carrying forward the plot to place the girl he was to marry on the throne. He would certainly secure her fo: tune, while as her con- sort, he would enjoy a position of magnificent power, infinitely alluring to a man jf his nature. Moreover, he was the chosen representative of one of the most influential sections of Bavarian society, whose power must be an enormous factor in any struggle. Then I had been a good deal impressed by his momentary flash of sincerity when he had been 70 flis "Constn." 71 soeakfng of the King's mad excesses. He was then expressing a sincere- opinion, r was sure, though whether his own or inspired by others for whom he was acting, I could not say. But the thought kept recurring to me with ever-increasing suggestiveness The key to his conduct lay, I was convinced, in Munich-and to Munich I would go at any r sk That there would be risk a child could see; and the nature of it would depend on the character of thit raan s treachery, the people with whom he was col operating, and the length they were prepared to go in silencing me. ^ I regarded it as quite possible that I should not return. If as was supposed, the death of the Count Gustav had been deliberately planned. I might take [r.",^ *^u' '''°"''* ^' P"^«d with almost equal hostihty. This I had read plainly in the man> manner and it prepared me to believe that he him- raurdeT '" '°""' "^^ ''"'" ''""""''d with Gustav's But there was another very serious considera;.>r, I was put out of the way and no one at the castle had proof of von Nauheim's treachery, what would be Minna's position ? Obviously it must at once become one of consummate peril. Ouyht I to co away, therefore, without warning her of the man's true character, and without arranging some definite plan of action ? Yet how was I to wlrn her without telling lier what I knew and how I knew it ; in .u.er words, unless I took her into my confidence as to wno I was? It will be easily understood how these thoughts .— i-..^.-.. «x. a:> 1 iiiaae my way up the broad stair- i, ! i 72 a H)asb for a ZThronc. way of the castle to the room where she was to receive me and how infinitely the embarrassment was macrnified by the unwonted emotions which her presence now, as formerly, roused in my breast. u fT^^ ""^ "" •*'' ''^""' cordiality, and the eyes = .ch ...d an mdescribable fascination for me wore now an expression of almost anxious alarm as their gaze rested on my very grave face. The Baroness Gratz was with her. a circumstance which made me unwillmg to speal^ plainly and added to my embarrass- I inquired after the health of the two, an.l uttered one or two commonplaces, when Minna, after a pause foZ^exltet '-' '"°^' — '- -^'^' -y "You have not come only to say these iMnes cousm^ Your face tells me plainly enough there ^ something urgent." ^ "That is .rue. I have much »o say that ..ncerns you very closely. She was very .jukk and understood me "You wish to peak to me alone. I am sure , a wi not object, aunt, f^ my cousin and I speal- to gether m the window there;" and she rose and walked towards a la-ge bay window at the far end of theroon^an- motio, .d to me to sit beside her „I*u ^™"^'' '°°''^'^ '"'P"^^'^ «"- a little indig- nant It« as nooccasion to stand on trifles.but I did not v,.si. to offen. her at a time when h.r help mtht te urgently needed-perhaps within a f-w hou™ 1 1 made a low deiorential bow ana said ■ "You . ! . derstand this rather unusual sten baroness, ht I tell you ,hat I h„v' 1!^^: % « «"" /»» " Cousin." 73 declined to hold 1 . interview with my cousin even .n the presence of J,e Count von Nauheim. and that my object .s merely to have direct from my cousin' hps alone her wishes and intentions as to the future '• I understand Prince," she replied, with her state y r WU?:"'V. ^°"''^ '^'"''' ''""'' symptoms of alarm. Whether this was merely awe of m! or th ' didde"" B t"tr ??■■ '"''" '"'''• ' ^-'^ "-'- t^ f „ "''°'" atmosphere of the place r^ked so foully with intrigue that I did not know whether she was true or in von Nauheim's plot As I took my seat by Minna's side she welcomed me w.th a httle smile, which, sad and wan though U was, seemed h' , a little messenger of .onfidfnce Then she put a hand on my arm and said wistfully • ' You w>ll treat me quite frankly, cousin? I have been relymg on that so strongly." "As frankly as I can, but remember I know very little yet. Moreover, it is your frankness that is to b^ tes^d. Do you think you can trust me sufficient^ to do as you said when I saw you last-tell me the whole of your wishes unreservedly ? " "Certainly 1 will," she replied instantly. -I have een waiting to do so ever since the day of my deir lath s funeral." ■^ '"y aear "I understood that I was to await some sign from you. You said as much," I reminded her. "True; bu> ^our message to n.., th - you would seek an interview as soon as practicable, has kept me waiting till no*. I have been impatient ; but it doe! not matter now," she ended, with a smile :y^"J'T ^■"" "'y •"«'a,e?" I asked. I had ^--:it -=one, ofcouise, but guessed that it /as a nise of ililV I, ; » 74 a Dasb for a XTbronc. von Nauhcim's to keep us apart rvhile he was away in Munich. "The count him.elf," answered the girl in some astonishment, and with a look of quick suspicion "Did you not send any?" "There has been some misunderstanding^," I said quietly. " But I was waiting to hear from you. and I ^' as to the full as impatient as you could have been." She cast her eyes down and frowned, and her little foot tapped quickly on the floor. " It must be as you say— he misunderstood you-- or else he was afraid of my speaking plainly to you while he was away." The first sentence was spoken with hesitation, the second quickly and with a touch of indignation, and directly afterwards her pulse quickened and she said volubly: "Cousin Hans I can tell you what I dared not tell my father. J am afraid of the count. You have asked me what 1 wish. I have two wishes— to be released from this marriage, and to stop all this hateful intrigue for the throne. I am not fit for it. I do not wish it. I am only afraid and harassed and distracted. Oh I long with a regret I cannot put in words for the days of quiet and peace when none of this was ever thought o^ Then I had not a care or grief, and now life is all fear and sorrow. I am the most miserable girl on earth." She lifted her hands and let them fall again on her lap with a gesture eloquent of despair, and now that the momentary excitement had passed her voice grew heavy with the accents of sorrow. I was silent, not quite knowing how to meet such an outburst of grief and confidence. More than that, however, I ha.I heard with a rush 0. joy wh,eh I dared not le, her see, the outcry again, the marr.at^e. At that moment the feehng seemed to me hkc a guilty one. but I vowed to myscl that ,f ,t eost me every drop of blood in my body I wou d save her from it. But I sat now grave s lent, and thoughtful, while the little pathetic glances of appeal for help which she cast at me shot right hUo my heart and thrilled „,e till I could scarcely hold myself under restraint. When [ did not reply-and I did not because I dared not trust m.vself-she sighed deeply, and said ma tone even more despairing than before I suppose your silence means that you also arp agamst me Oh, this ambition! What a curse °t h! What has jt not cost us? But for it my bro he wou d be ahve to-day. My dear father was jus as s rely another of its victims. I am forced to sac fice A T '" "V^"' ""' '° ^^'^ - "- whom fear And now you, fresh from a life of books, on whom I bu,lt so much, are caught by the same badness The ever burns m your blood, and you join this mad ke rated me for my lack of ,t; but what has it brouo-ht tousin Hans. I beseech you with all my heart J oul do not join with those against me. Tr^to see coward Lrr .""'^ " '■'"''' * '■^^'"^> helpless hone rn, T""' ^° °"- '^°" "'■^ "°w my only !'■ she snnk r T ^?" ""' ""' ^''^^ -gainsfme!" As she spoke, l-,c , hands clasped my arm ;l, if .!,•„„ '"stome lor help, and she gazed into my-face'wifh I k.i I f i f 76 a S)asb for a XCbronc, such yearning: appeal, that had I been a stone, or the stern, self-contained man I tried to appear, I must have been moved. And I was no stone where she was concerned. " God forbid that I should force you," I said my voice scarcely steady, despite my efforts to control it 'Do not doubt that I am with you in whatever you decide. -^ " Oh, thank God, thank God ! How I have hoped It ! Now, I have a friend indeed." No words of mine can describe the radiant look that came on her face as she cried this ; and the smile she gave me lives in my memory as one of the loveliest sights my eyes have ever beheld. After this outburst of emotion we sat silent some minutes, she, in all innocence, keeping my hand between her own two; and I, on my side drinking in, until I was intoxicated, the sweetness of emotions such as had never stirred my heart before. I made the first movement— a slight attempt to withdraw my hand. She let it go, and then with another smile of frank pleasure and trust, she said : " Not only my cousin, but my friend." " There is yet much to do." I said gently "But we shall do it together. I am no longer alone with all against me, even my dear father. Tell me what IS first to be done ? I know that you will be successful, for vou have given me hope. Will you tell the Count von Nauheim that the marriage pro- ject is at an end ; or shall I ? I will, if you wish though I have been afraid of him ; but no longer for you are on my side." * ^» "(Toustn/' 77 Sweet as these renewed protestations of trust were to my ears and senses, they were not without em- barrassment. "If you trust me, you will have to do so wholly" I said ; " and you must do as I wish, even if it is altogether distasteful to you." "I will do whatever you tell me," she assented readily: " Then in the first place we must act as if this con- versation had altered nothinfr." " Do you mean . . . ? " she began, with a frown of repugnance, and then stopped. "I mean that for the present your relations with the count must remain as they have been. Do not ask all my reasons. But for the present it is neces- sary that no one, you understand, no one shall have anythought that we are not going on with your father's scheme. I told her then of von Nauheim's visit to Munujh, and its result, and that before we settled anything we must know more. " I should be de- ceiving you " I added, <•' bound to be His face gre«r very dark and lowerine me back at once.^ But if my caT ' ^L '" ^^^y- =^" Your highness will not rec' *''°"g'> -" fo^s were pretty much th! ;;:|, Ik I 1 t 4, i ! J 1 ■ 84 a Dasb for a tlbrone* " But a necessary one. There is no drawing back then," he answered. " Well, I will sign what I see others sign and do what others do," I replied firmly. " But understand, I must see these things done before my eyes." I said this because of an idea that flashed into my thoughts at that moment. " You are disposed to be cautious to the verge of timidity, eh ? " he sneered. " I am resolved to satisfy myself," I returned ; and for a reason that I kept to myself I rather liked the idea of what he had said. After a pause, he continued : " Roughly, what I 'propose is this. I will take you round to introduce you to the more prominent men- in particular, to Baron Heckscher, who is really the leader of us ; and then we will have a meeting at my rooms, where everything can be explained and settled. What say you ? " " I agree ; but of course I reserve my right to take any other step I may think necessary that suggests itself to me." " Naturally, naturally," he exclaimed " Now that the Prince has gone, we are only too glad to have a cautious, calculating head to take his part." The words were as false as the man. I read it in his tone and manner ; and he was far more ready to curse me, had he dared, for my profession of caution. But I pressed it, because I knew that this exaggerated carefulness was the best evidence of my seeming sincerity. A long silence followed, during which I weighed carefully all he had said. His manner in speaking of at /Dunicb. w these details was tinged by a singular nervousness • he blurted out l,is points like a man who has l^n K.ven a task which has overweighted him. A^d has had h.s Dart drilled mto him by a subtler hand and says his osson badly. ' Presently he began again. " Of course, you'll understand we are all putting our- selves into your hand? anH ;„ i^umnguur- matter • an/th. , ^""'^ P°""='' '" this rtak;-' H. ■■' '°*'"' ^-^--y additional step we take. He was coming to another point in his lesson, I thought. "You will give me your so^mn pledge not to divulge a single name you hear or a single fact that is told to you. If you-U do that now 111 give you an outline of our plans at once." ' Please"" Tnln'" '"' t' """='' °' ^^ ""''-' =« you please. I pledge my honour to use nothing, except as the interest of my cousin may require-and that I presume, is the intention of all concerned " _^HeJ™wned and bit his lip. and' thought a ^•' Of course, that's the intention ; what else could it J.^or/^°"r"'"'^*°J°'" y°"'y°" "»>='t trust one; BuTn? "'^ '' "'" ^° '""^'^ "> Gramberg a once. But of course, my return will be the signal for thro^ng the whole thing up at once. It is fTy o/^ -m^^ ^'^" 'f y°"'" ^^ ''■*'''• after another pause Things are nearly ripe ; almost as forward as when ha hot-headed fellow, Gustav, wrecked everytS ue \l'">! ''"P" '"■' 2'«'"8 involved Tthaf Quel. We have re.solvi-H f^ *„i„ .._ ., ^\ '^^ "" '•««'= up tne rnnce's ] i 1 '• . i ! 1 1 1 86 H 'BhBb for a XTbronc. 4' ^1 scheme pretty much where it was dropper' In i fortnight, there will be an excellent chance of striking the final blow. We have friends in all the public offices; several of the Ministers themselves are ready to welcome the change ; the whole bodyguard of the King at the palace is practically composed of our men ; and everything promises success. The King will be at the palace, and we have arranged that a great fancy dress ball shall be given on a certain night. His lunatic Majesty is, as perhaps you know, rather madder on that subject than on any other; and he delights in dressing himself up in half-a-dozen different costumes in the course of a single night to perplex, as he thinks, all who are present, and get at the real sentiments of his people about him. But his attendants always arrange that his costume shall bear a certain mark by which he will be known. In this way the ass of a King is fooled to the top uf his bent, and instead of hearing genuine opiniors about him- self, hears only those which are carefully tuned for his ears. Well, our scheme is to have this royal mark worn by someone who is not the King ; to have the King himself seized and placed under restraint; tolet Minna be at hand at the ball, and as soon as it is known that the King has gone, to proclaim her there and then." " An ingenious scheme, so far as the easy part of abducting the King is concerned," I replied. " But the difficulties only begin when he is out of the way. What are you going to do with him—kill him ? " " No, there will be no bloodshed. There is no need, The whole country is ready for the abdication ; nine- tenths of the best men are on our unA f v,*» «4-v,..r tenth will c Ht /IDunfcb. S7 tenth will come in ; and to give t! -> thing plausibility Vu ^rV^ ^^""^ ^ '°''* ' • ' ^ ^t the ball, in which the king-the sha.n o of course- will anno nee his abdication and appouit his successor- Minna. That act of abdication will be written, and on examination will be found to be actually in the hand- writing of the Kin^ himself. The whole scene will be descnbed to the country as an actual occurrence ; and this will be on the authority of the foremost men in Bavaria-a sort of informal Counul of State It will be a definite and formal a) tion. That of itself will silence opposition and c , the people, who are, indeed, only too eager to nee i much argument" "And the Kmg himself?" " He will simply be put where he ought to have bc.n long enough ago— under restraint." It was a clever plot, and given the power behind those carrying it out, as likely to be successful as any that human wit could have devised. " But what of the Ostenburg interest ? " I rapped out the question sharply, with a keen, quick glance and for a moment it seemed to disconcert him' slightly. . "^^„it"°^ P"* ^^^'' P°^er very high," he said then They think our chances ended with Gustav's death, and that now the old Prince has gone, there is no one to carry the thing a step farther. But we must, of course, lose no time, and must strike before hey even think we are contemplating any action at all. We shall catch them utterly unprepared ; and in a thing of this kind, to be unprepared is to lose." ' Oo you mean you think they will surrender their a struggle ot any sort ? t> i ^is T^in MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 1.0 I.I 1.25 iii III 2.8 15.0 '""== 1^ 1^ m I 4.0 1.4 2.5 [ 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.6 ^ APPUEU IIVMGE I nc 165J East Main Street Rochester, New Ycrk i46C9 USA (716) 482 - C300 - Phone (716) 2d8- 5989 - Fox ^i-.fi-iK',-'- 88 H Dasb for a Ubrone* ^ " No ; but they can do nothing when once we are in possession." " But the Imperial authorities at Berh'n, man ? " " The one consideration there is the de facto argu- ment. Let us get possession, backed by formal ab- dication and the actual document appointing Minna to the succession, and Berlin mav do what it likes They will think twice before risking a civil war in the country to maintain the rights of a lunatic At least, so longer heads than mine hold, and I aeree with them." ^ " Well, I shall see," and I was bound to confess to myself that, if everything were genuine, the inference he drew was right. I knew enough of the sort of argument that weighs at Berlin to be sure of this. , But was it genuine ? If not, where was the flaw? And all the rest of the journey I sat pondering this part of the problem, and reviewing again and again all he had said. I was much impressed by it. Two points in particular stood out boldly in my thoughts. If this plot could be carried through, and I was half inclined to believe it possible, Minna could make far better terms if she still wished to recede when success had been attained, than she could at present If there were at the back of the scheme all this influence of which von Nauheim had spoken it would be a dangerous thing for her to throw over those who had supported her without securing at least, their safety as well as her own. That would be dishonourable and cowardly, and I knew she would not consent to such a course. If these representations were correct, therefore, I began to fear that Minn. had been at this jun terms couk But agai giving me and, even v what he ha ning glance me as if to : It was in at Munich, sumptuous c surprised m( he had had comparative! for a man of stance addec he was being The jourm he was now more at his e 'I shall he Prince, while said; "but y( your own he morrow, we c you do not a lack of interes For the re< devices, and evening, when and that he h vVitn the leadir at /»une best terms could be made. ' But against this, I knew that fi,. f "ivine me the inf^^™ »• "^ "'^" "'''o was wha't he had saV, TcauThf tie" f^^Tt' s'"f"^ °^^^ .ng glances which he diL^ev:;" lowTud^'eHt- me as ,f ,o see how far he had fooled me It was in this mood of fresh douht th=f r • , a. Munich, and drove with him to h is room ^''''i;.^' sumptuous comfort and rr.«n„ ."'=■ rooms, ihe surprised me. When I hrH l '^PT""""' °^ '^''' he had had but scanty means'andh" ^T^.'^^^"-' comparatively poor. ^t^tS r^ms'^f S St tance added to my suspicions. If he was a t,- •* he was being well paid for his treachery " "'"'°^' The journey with me in the train and the fact that ;:rat hTeai ^'^ °^" '-- — ^ - P"t E Prince whileT '° '"""" ^°" '°^ « considerable time ^^^br^o^xrcLtr^^n-rrs^''^' your own house Th.'c « • '^^"^ ^"'^ ^"'te as evening, when he told me his plans fo fit . J -d that he had arranged rof:::J:^'^^:l^: vvun tnc leading men on our .side. " ~ ^""" ' I'M ! 90 a Basb for a Ubrone. The result of them was only to increase my perplexity. Wherever I went I was welcomed cordially; my co-operation requested; my caution approved, and the most complete assurances given to me on all points. Had the success of the scheme- depended entirely upon my joinincr in it, I could not have been more warmly welcomed. I could not understand it in the least. Every question I asked was answered, as it seemed, quite fully and frankly; and every investigation I made only convinced me that the ramifications of the plot were vastly wider than I imagined, and that the prospects 'Of success were enough to force me to believe in it. And yet I could not shake off ny suspicions, I could find no ground for them other than my know- ledge of von Nauheim. There was nothing but that to warrant them. But the more closely I watched him, the more uneasy I became, and the more convinced that he at least had some double motive. I was in the position of a man who is being persuaded to a course he ^'"'^likes against every prejudice and instinct of hk cure and despite his earnest desire to trust his insti xt. I did not wisli to find the affair genuine, but I could find no flaw anywhere, probe, search, suspect, and investigate as I would. At the end of the fourth day I could not deny they had a right to ask for a definite decision for me to throw in my lot with them, and while I was dead against doing so, I could not suggest a single reason of value and force for my opinion. The meeting to receive rny decision was fixed for the sixth evening, I ''"^V»i at ^untcb. 91 and I looked forward to it with considerable appre- hension. The previous day I resolved to use for a purpose that was almost as critical as the object of the visit to Munich. It was an inquiry that I alone could make as to von Nauheim's past. I knew that in the days when he had inflicted his dastardly injury on my family he had a wife, whom ne had married secretly, living in Thuringia. I was -ilmost alone in the knowledge, which I had gained by accident, and my purpo.se now was to ascertain if she was still alive. Fortune favoured my investigation. The wife was stil! in the town, living in a humble \Aay as a shop- keeper, and still ignorant of the real position and character of her husband. I had no difficulty in finding her ; and, using part of.iy knowledge of years before, I had some conversation with her and her two children, eliciting the fact that she had not seen von Nauheim for ye-^rs, did not know whether he was alive or dead, and did not care. She was earning her own living and educating her children, and prayed only that she might be troubled by the man no more. It was not my cue to stir muddy waters. All I needed was to know where to put my hand upon her at any moment that it might be necessary to spoil the scoundrel's schemes. The villain meant to deceive Minna von Gramberg as he had deceived my sister years before, and my thoughts about him were bitter and black and wrath- ful as the train whirled me back through the summer night to Munich. But i was jubilant too; for I held h 92 a Dasb for a Ubrone. the knowledfre that must inevitably frustrate his scheme, and I resolved that I would use it at the forthcoming meeting, if no other cause suggested itself, to refuse to go forward any further. It was, of course, an ample reason for such refusal ; and as I had the proofs so fresh in my hand::, there was not a man of honour in the affair who would not say I was doing right. But events were to happen destined to change all this current of my thoughts. When I reached Munich it was late, but a mild, soft night, and I loitered through the deserted streets on my way to von Nauheim's house, enjoying the walk. I had to pass through one of the outlying parts of the city, and I was walking very slowly, thinking and smoking, when I was startled by a loud and sudden cry for help that came from some distance ahead of me. I am a swift runner, and I set off at my fastest pace, the cry, which was repeated, being my guide, I passed two or three streets, crossed a broad, dark square, and then I heard the cry for the third time, and with it the sound of men struggling and fighting, and the clash of steel. I had no weapon with me, save a stout oak stick ; but I gave no thought to my own danger as I rushed on, and sent up an answering shout to let it be known that I was at hand. As I reached the other side of the square, I came suddenly in full view of the disturbance. Four men, two armed with swords and two having knives, were attacking one man, who, with his back to the wall, was fighting for his life like a demon, parrying, lunging, and thrusting with amazing dex- terity and skill. He had been wounded, however, I -wv/uiu tcii, uiiu uiinougn ne naa wouncied more than one o of coming ] Fired by setting on ( with both hi the villains my stick dc the man ne hy his side, the stones; ; my force rii made as if who had bei sword throu turn given t ample which "You can man coolly, c or so and th Heinrich Fisi astonishment let indeed." I did not t; I to dismay tha named Guior from whom, h lessons in staj ! could not mal " How came He laughed "Guion? \ {suppose. By I of mt-«.v^ ^I at /iDunicb. 93 than one of his assailants, he was i»a very fair wav ofcoming badly out of the fight very tair way Fired by the infernal cowardice of the four men in Tu Z ""'; ' l"' ""' '" °^"'- ^"^ g'-a.^pi^ my stick w.th both hands, I clenched rny teeth, and rushed upon the v,lla.„s from behind. I brought the he. . knob of my stick down with crushing force upon the arm of he man nearest me. making the arm drop nervdess .y hts side, and sending his sword clattering dmvn on the stones; and then I turned and smashed^'t w h all :L^::-ft ;r°t.''' '"^^ "' ^ ^--^ ™- -^o mdue as It to attack mp Af fk^ u u J L ••'-^^«' ine. /it the same instant he vho had been assailed in the first instance drove his word througlj ^ third ; and seeing this unexpected turn gtven to m-atters, the fourth fan away-aTex ample which the rest followed. "You came in the nick of time, friend," said the or so and these beasts would have done- What ' Heinnch F.scher ! - he cried, in a tone of the -create t CS"' '°"*"^ °"' ''■■^ '^-^- "Thist w:n I did not think so; for it was with something akin to dismay that I recognised a French fencin<. master named Guion, with none too savoury a retuu'ion legions m stage fencing. I gave him my hand but I I could not make the clasp cordial. "How came you in this plight. M. Guion ? ■' He laughed. I "Guion? Was that my name then? French F St 1''' 'f' '''-'''' ^-•'- ' "- -^ ''lo! -' name, and countries 1 can't remember them all. II 94 H Dasb for a TTbroiie. But I only use one at a time, and ..low, my good sir I am a Corsican, and my name is Praga—Juan Pra^' at your service, and not ashamed to own that I owe you my h'fe. But what's the matter with you ? " " Praga ! " I cried. " So it's you, is it, who fought the young Count von Gramberg and killed him ? " " Ho, and what in the name of the devil's skin d. you know about that ? But it's true, and it's equally true that to-night's business is part of the result But by the blood "-and his face snarled like an anm- dog s~" I'll make them pay." ^ "I can help you to your revenge," I said im pulsively. " Let's go where we can be alone " He stared at me as if in the greatest astonishment then shrugged his shoulders, laughed, swore copiously' and then laughed again and said : " You ? Well, you've saved my life, so it's only fair you should do what you please with it Come along with me." And he led me away, vowing and protesting, by all the samts in and out of the calendar, that all he had m the world, whether purse, sword, or lifa itself, was at my absolute disposal. My though companion could I get promising i longer Hein Gramberg, liasty excla revenge had a loss to knc secret. He took quarters the; better dresse He was a d his black ey questioning ; gleaming whi "Not the fellow," he Sc looking stout man should n that, my frien so com for tab] & mmmmatimf^ CHAPTER VIII. PRAGA'S STORY. "L'anTof to I ' "'"'' "'■'" "^y "evn-may-care companion to his rooms were busy enough How could I get out of him what he knew without com" pro,n.s,ng myse^ and how explain that I wasTo Gramberg without starting his suspicions ? Mv r;et:TdT'°" ''''.' ^°"" '^'^ •"•■" *°^^ revenge had been exceedingly foolish, and I was at a^Ioss to know how far I could trust him to keep any qufrLrtLr' *° ■"'? '"'""'' ^""^ ''^y ^°"'fortable quarter., they were. I noticed, too, that he was hr better dressed than I had ever seen hi„, L Frar fott He was a dark, swarthy, lean-faced, lithe fellow nd s b ack eyes, keen and daring, noticed mv lo;k of questioning surprise, and he laughed, sho;ing hb gleaming white teeth in the lamp-light fellow >•.,*" ^f, ""^ ' °^" '"y '■■'■^ to *at little ellow, he said, laying his sword-stick, an ordinary looking stout malacca cane, on the tabi;. " A work^ th t tT "rTr' "'■"'°"' ""''' tools; remember hat, my friend. And so you are surprised to see me " -"fortably placed, eh? Well, 'a,,, a man of 95 ■ ;. Mi I 1 H f i 1 , ■■ - ; t 1 ■■ i i ■' ! r M II 1. (I 96 a Dasb tor a XTbrone. means, and live at my ease — at least I was shall I tell you?" " By all means," said I, throwing myself into a chair, anxious to get him to talk freely. " First let us drink ; and I may thank the Holy Virgin and you— but especially you, I think— that my throat is still sound enough to swallow good liquor— the one thing in life the loss of which makes one think of death regretfully." And he tossed off a glass of wine. " Are you wounded ? " I asked. " A scratch somewhere on my arm — may God blight the hand that dealt it." He changed in a moment from a light tone to one of vehement passion, and then as quickly back again to one of cheery chatter. "If He doesn't, I will; so that's settled. Let's see to the scratch, though." He took off his coat, examined the hurt, and I bathed it and bound it up carefully. " A mere nothing," he said, " for me, • that is — not for him." For a moment or two he moved about the room as if occupied, and then he turned to me, and with a light laugh, but a piercing look from his dark, glitter- ing eyes, he asked : " And now, tell me, who are you ? " " The Prince von Gramberg," I answered instantly. I was, indeed, half prepared for the question, for I had been studying him carefully. The answer pleased him. " Good. You are not afraid to tell me the truth, But I knew it. You had been pointed out to me here in Munich— pointed out, do you understand, for a purpose. And I said to myself, the Prince von ""^ I Gramberg a Grambcrg: and Ilcinrich Fischer are the same persons Why? And when I could not answer the question" 1 thought to myself I will wait. Here is a secret It may pay me to keep my tongue still. So you see I know you." " You were going to tell me about yourself. Th'it will interest me more than your speculations as to my reasons for turning actor for a year or two." I spoke with an air of indifference. "The canaille," he exclaimed angrily, with a bitter scowl. They were sick of me. I know too much I am dangerous. I will no longer do their work' and so, by the fires of hell, they think to get rid of me. Wait, wait, my masters, and you shall see what you have done." He threw his right arm up, and denched his fist with a most dramatic gesture " It was surely their evil genius sent you my way just now. Do you know how near death you are at this moment ? » he asked ; " or you would be, if I had taken up their cursed work." " I shall know a great deal better it you will speak clearly, I replied, not letting him see how his ques- tion surprised me. ^ " I will. I don't know whether you wish me to regard you as a Prince or olay-actor ; but whichever It IS, you saved my life to-, .,;ht. and if I turn against you, may I go to hell straightaway." " You can please yourself what you call me I am the Prince von Gramberg in fact, whatever I mav nave seemed formerly." ^ "And I am Juan Praga, the Corsican. Not French or Italian, or German, or any of the dozen different I damned parts I have played; but Juan Prarr. fh. I! I ) ij A 98 H Basb tor a TTbronc. Corsican. I left Frankfort before you did—about eighteen months ago— and i wandered about the country till my reputation as a fencer, and my lack of it in other things, first set me up as a master in Berlin, and then brought these devils to me. They approached me slily, stealthily, like cats, flatterin,^ my skill, and saying there was good work for my sword. And with lies they brought me here to Munich. I knew nothing except that there was money to be made, and the life of a man of pleasure to lead. 1 suspected nothing ; even when one of them came and told me my skill as a swordsman had been called in question, my honour impeached, and myself charged with being an impostor, and that if I could not clear myself, I must be off for a rogue." " I begin to see," I exclaimed, when he paused. " Yes, yes, you will guess what it meant," he replied, nodding his head vigorously. " But I could not then. And it came out gradually that the man who had dared to say this was young Count Gustav von Gram- berg. I demanded to meet him face to face and give him the lie. Reluctantly as it seemed — by the nails of the Cross it was the reluctance of infernal traitors— they agreed and promised that we should meet. Then they fired him with wine, and fed him with a lie about me ; and when we met we were like two ti ief protection ? I know all about Minna von Gra.noerg, and the plot to put her on the throne. I know this, too, that she has no more chance of sitting on that throne than I have of eating it. Body of Bacchus, man, these are foul fiends you are leagued with and want knowing." I began to see everything now, and my pulses quickened up with excitement ; and I guessed what was coming. " What is your aim in all this ? " he asked suddenly. "I have come to Munich to see exactly how matters stand." " And nicely they've fooled you, maybe—or at least they might have done so if you hadn't been lucky enough to be within sound of my shout to-night. I'll give you the key to the whole thing. There's a plot within a plot, and all the Grambergs are being fooled This type of innocence, von Nauheim, is the tool of the Ostenburg interest. The indignation against the King IS all genuine enough; the people would welcome his abdication to-morrow, and wouldn't seriously concern themselves even if the abdication came by way of a dagger thrust or a pistol bullet. But the Ostenburg faction dare not force the abdication for two reasons. Because in the first place, the people on your side are strong enough to make a fight of it ; and in the second if a fight did come, no one can say what line the people at Berlin would take. It is quite possible that they would swoop down and clear both sides out. What these precious Ostenburgs have to do, therefore is to piwiun oi ireaeiiery. ! i ;■!■ ' ■ i ir «'j ^ ■1 1» UnH| IBB' - . 104 B 2)a0b for a XTbrone. He broke off with another of his sardonic lau^rhs and took more wine. "^ ' I did not interrupt, and a moment later he con- tinued : "Then came your old Prince as a stalking-horse He wanted to make a grab for the throne, fostered the discontent and rebellion, put his son forward, and sounded the people here as to his chances. The Osten burgs knew of it directly, of course, and laid a clever devilish plot to profit by it. A large number of the wealthiest and most influential supporters appeared to favour your Gustav ; they warmed, made indirect overtures, and then went over in a body, making it a condition that the man they put forward as one of their leaders, von Nauheim, should marry your oid Prince s daughter. By the bag of Iscariot, a shrewd !u'°., i ^''"''^ '^"^ "^^^^"g^' ^"d agreed, and that s the reason of that love-match." " A damnable scheme ! " I exclaimed, between my teeth. ' " Wait wait," he said calmly, laying a hand on my arm. « Your Gustav was in the way, and it is a canon of the Ostenburg code that there shall be no Gramberg claimant to the throne alive, or, at any- rate, fit to claim it. So the quarrel and the duel were engineered, and there remained only the Countess Minna. Then they had a stroke of luck. Ihe old Prince died, and the girl alone remained, helpless and friendless, except for you. Your turn will therefore come, and then this is the plan. The plot to place the Countess Minna on the throne will go forward gaily, IS going forward now, in point of fact But- and mark this carefully-~at the critical moment your no Queen to'Lti': Sr i r wr::'" ''^ thoughts of all men will turn tn !f n ^' *^' ""^ loyal, faithful. truA ilo'e"" do n^.?'''"^''^^-*^ -and the Duke Marx, the" ' hei'^'n"^ ""''^"""^s the matter is forced uoon h m K iJ^ °"'^"'' "''^«" to mount the throne No^n^'' V ""'*'^ P°P"'^^^- him, no thought of t eacherl . ,f"'P'''°" "^^'"'^ .^e moveme^^t agairS^J'St;" 77"' 1 upholder of the riVhf Hnrf,,^ r "/'licy. A staunch hailed by all as thf o„ J^o sfb eTuc:"'" '^ "'" ^ .ho cannot be found.LTBe ,1 wT'" '° ' """^ an ugly trouble got over in ,v ! ^■'""'^ *° ««« he exclaimed, wfth a gr „ " J'^rj '"'""• ^°'^-" see much where befo^re y" coZT^'"'u'' ''" all." ^ you could see nothing at " And what of the Countess Minna?" ^rVon NauheL' wn,° elTo- ^hT^r ""'"^ = thing in reeard to him r a "'^'^^ "' ^ome- W that, married to hi J^ t "°' '^""^^ '"" ' ^o fora Quee'n, The is'^of'™; t ^Tth'^ '""'^''''^^ •there is worse behind. I believe uj ^T'' ""'^ is no stickler for ceremonies H """ ^^"''^™ ; at all ; and, ruined ^him you 'r^' "°' "^'''■^ "'^^ [chances of the throne'^jj.u^d be" ^^ ^""^ "''^* ''- inrnkel'rL'."!''M">'!-P---veness nL. and 1 ,......«., a. „e thoughts he had raised. ' ! (I S: 106 H Wash for a XTbrone. " I must see you to-morrow. Ride ten miles out on the Lmden road, and wait for me at noon. I shall go mad if I stay here longer." And with that I rushed away. 'III' The first ( rouse and t! I could no along throu house, I waj call that vi] flitted throu making him the belief th But as the their speed, i and I saw t allowed mys impulses of beside mysel curious and i but I dared i I sent a mess once to my r Then I m; felt myself in fully to see t} looked carefi make certain CHAPTER IX MY PI.AN OF CAMPAIGN. THE first effect upon me of Praga's story was to rouse and thrill every pulse of passion in my nature I could not think connectedly, and as I plunged along through the early morning to von Nauheim's 7% r"n '■"'P'""^ ^y ^" overwhelming desire to ca I that vUlam mstantly to account. Insane plans flitted through my head of dashing into his room and making h.m fight me to the death ; and I gloated in the belief that I could kill him "° ' gloated m thrir"-nlH''''"''!r'''' "'y^'''^' -ny Steps slackened their .peed, my judgment began to reassert its rule and I saw that I should make a huge mistake if I • allowed myself to be led in such a crisis by the mere .mpulses of blind rage. I had another to thlnT of bes.de myself. He was waiting up for me. no doubt unous and anxious to learn what I had b^en dZg ut I dared not trust myself to be with him then : !o sen a message that I was unwell, and I hurried at once to my rooms. frj''"" l™^'*^ *^ ^'^^ P''^'=«<^a' admission that I e myself m peril ; for I searched the rooms care W y to see that no one was concealed in them and I looked carefully to the fastenings of the Lrs to make certain that no one could let in wt'l. .°?Jf t I li ^ l i-klAbfeL wJfa I 108 B ©asb for a Ubrone. I resolved also to buy myself arms on the following day. I could not sleep, of course. I lay tossing from side to side all through the hours of the dawn, thinking, puzzling, speculating, and scheming ; striv- ing my hardest to decide what I ought to do. After what I had seen in the attack on Praga, I could not doubt that my own personal danger was great. My cousin Gustav's fate had shown that the men I had to deal with were infinitely cunning in resource and absolutely desperate in resolve. Where then might I look for any attack ? I judged that it would be most likely to come in some shape that would be difficult to trace to its authors ; and I felt that I must guard against getting embroiled in any quarrel, must go armed, and must be always most vigilant and alert when I found myself in circum- stances that would lend themselves to my being attacked with impunity. I own that I did not like the prospect. I don't think I'm a coward, and claim no greater bravery than other men ; but the thought that any moment might find me the mark for an assassin's dagger or bullet tested my courage to the utmost. My main problem, however, was of course as to what I should do in regard to the plot. There were undoubtedly a number of men pledged to support Minna's cause; loyal, true, faithful men of honour, who had risked much for her and would uphold her to the last ; but how was I to distinguish the false from the true ? If I could do that, my path would be plain enough. I could reveal the whole business to them, and we could together take means to checkmate the inner treachery. But I could not distinguish th^m i ^» IMaii Of CampaffliK nor on the other hand could Minna fn h ' ^ them. iviinna in honour desert There was the alternative of fl.Vhf ^r could return to Gramberg and ru h h. "T'" '' ^ the French frontier- but in Thh v ^''^ ^''°'' for abandoning thos; w^Vhadte tL': tl'h ''T' were other solid reason^ .„ f i ^"^ ^^'■' ^^^'^ not see that he e Z T '^' ^^'^^^- ^ ^^"^^ Minna that .^ M,Z IT.IT, T' ''' canon of the OstenhiirtT ,, t- , ^ ^' ^^ ^^^ a uic wscenburg position that there shnnlri u no GramberjT claimanf fr^ <-u .1. snould be .0 claim thf th one Ind I ^T '"'"' ^'"'^^ °' "' moment that she ^ght tin be th^K- "'/ '" " wherever she wenf Th • ^ °''-''''=' °f attack Iconclusionthatthe polictof f H. "^"" "^^ ^^^'"^^ last rpsn„r.« u , ^ ^ ^^^^^ "^"st be only the last resource when other things had failed aL r made up my mind fhaf ,T ^4. n ./^^^^<^. And I wrL rrs:i'tf''^ ? "^-^ "--• ' scheme up to the verv v!!' r ""'' ^° °" ^'''^ the Minna sh^o^ iL^:^ ^- fp^t;^ ^^Pf - Then lance should be stape m=.n, j u' ^ disappear- Ostenburg agen s^a'd a df Ku'' '"^ "°' ''>' "^« «,to enfrap thes'e men wth"*! °"^'" """'^'^ '° ked to th^e hiitrsTppr M-r "'" '"-' -'- I would not only let her reappear at ,h. [-^ment when they would be Sn.l^tT^ |-nce to push the claims of their'own^:; Z ' ) n\ f ; i 110 a H)a6b tor a TIbrone. Duke Marx ; but I would get hold of this duke him- self, and put him away in her place. We would thus hold the throne against them for long enough to make such terms of compromise as we chose to dictate. It would be a dare-devil piece of work, and call for one or two desperate men. But 1 had two already to hand — von Krugen and Praga, with Steinitz as a faithful third — and we might find one or two more among those who were faithful to Minna's in- terests. The thought of this so roused me that I could not stay in my bed, but paced up and dov/n my room in a glow of excitement, as I thought out, pondered, and planned the details move by move, to the final climax. My first step must be, of course, to mislead all those concerned in the scheme to believe that I was with them, and that I pledged Minna herself to the same course; and I went to meet von Nauheim in the morning with this idea clear in my thoughts. " You were out of town yesterday. Prince ? " he said. " Yes, I am accustomed to quietude, and can clear my thoughts best in the country. This affair worries me. " I understood you were ill when you came back?"] "Merely an excuse. I was fatigued, and in no mood for conversation. It was late." " It was — very," he replied drily. I rhade no answer, and after a moment he said : " I presume you were thinking about our matters?"! "They were not out of my thoughts aii day, anuj duke him- 'ould thus inough to chose to id call for already to initz as a two more nna's in- could not y room in iered, and the final lislead all hat I was elf to the luheim in ghts. nee ? " he can clear ir worries le back?" nd in no i said : natters ? day, aiiu ^X? plan ot Cainpaion, in have kept me a^ 'ake all night. I could wish I had never heard of them," I exclaimed sharply. "I suppose it is rather a big thing for you to decide?" he said, with a laugh; and then added quickly, "I presume you have decided, though? We shall expect to know to-night definitely." " I am disposed to advise my cousin to join you and go on ; but it may be nervousness, or that I am unused to such weighty affairs—whatever it is, I scarcely know how to answer." " Well, you have had five or six days, you know." "I've had to change all my views. I came to Munich with the conviction that such a scheme must fail, and could only end in disaster or, perhaps, worse." " And now ? " he asked, eyeing me sharply. " I see the risks are enormous ; but success seems much more probable than I thought. Indeed, if all is as it appears to be, I don't see where failure can come. I was trying to see that all day yesterday." "What do you mean 'if all is as it appears'? What else can it be ? " "In a thousand schemes every one must have a weak spot somewhere. In this I fear what Berlin may do." This answer relieved the doubt I had purposely raised, and he smiled as though my objection were ridiculous. " Discuss that with Baron Heckscher. You'll soon see there's no cause for fear in it." " If I were sure of that, my last objection would be gone." ,B "Then vou are niirs af lacf " U. I: I im MM 112 a ©aab for a Ubtone. I P^ 'ntf... ...nd I'm Wght glad of it, Prince Yon'l, n«v<.. repent throwing in your lot with ? r ' sha" r.> thi, kingdol a/surel! s Tou and / "" sitting at this table." '^ ^ " ' ^''s Gradually f allowed myself to be led on by him .„ copy m a mod.n-d decree, his tone of jub lant . M^.-as,n, until he had n longer a doubt'tha I h ^ a^r o7"thr' ^'f "^'^^ ''"" ' ^P""^ - ' ' n --^ awe of the magnificent mission and >rreat nZ tunmes which a woman of Minna "high chaT:; and a,ms would have as the future Q.een of Ba^a '! He humoured this vein in the belief that he was dr- ■nS out my earnestness and encouraging my 10^2" and, mdeed fooling me to the top of m/bTnt "^ '' He asked me how I would snpnH f^„ j' whether I wished to see any morro 'our frie^Ji; b fore the meeting, to discuss my lingerb/douh ' to mterference from Berlin ; but'i sa,' w'ould r h!: be alone, as I was accustomed to solitary mt^if , and that I was going to ride. He J hL at ^tabTe at my disposal, and suggested one or two places^f interest to which I could go. ^ °' I pretended to accept his suggestions .r,A u after me. When I turned, he waved his hand and h s face wore a smile of confident self-congratuton at Che cleverness with which he had duoed mf ? kept to the road which he had mentioned f \ distance riding at a slow pace, Tndhe„ /" "V- strck't et^H "^^ '^'f"'-''^ of the"town 'unlin' struck the l.mden road, when I put my horse to I sharp canter to keep my appointment. ^ One -not I had to consider carefully-how far to «>)? Piflit Of Caiiuwion. „3 I had .saved his 1 fe ^ "u h r ^ .^ ''"«''''"' = ''"t disposition tl,at k?;,d nf 7^'^ I''"' ''^ ''»d '" his whfch would inc. 'hrmtot,""" ,'°^«^'' '^'"■^'"^>' to me, at least until he h "d " H M " f "" '"'■'^^"■°" Assistance of .ome sort frl'^ '"' ''''" ''" '"■"^• knowledge I must have TthTT"" ''f ''"''"' enough ; a:ir| Uiere w.7' J \ ^ ""^^ desperate infi.-i.ei; .aluaWe to me rtf t"'' "r^"'^ '"= to offer, too. Kevenr,rf!; u ^'°"^ '"ducements f"r my help on Ihe^' ^■■'°^" ''"'""^'■' gratitude ward to any reasonablo ^ ^"^ "^'''■' """""'"y '- to a post of confidencl Th""' ' "'' ^^-"-'"ent would betray me o course . tut Tt %r' "^^' "^ these risks too carefully and fV '^ "°' ^^'^^ rau.st be content to take "^^ °"^ ' '"«" ' waS:?tseTwirp:;t aral,'"■■"^^"<^ -^ 1 heard him call to me froJ^t T ' ''°*'P"=^' ""^en chosen a cunninghidfn ^"pTace ffe'k '"!• u"^ "^'^ "R.-de on to L nexVturr^ngt thir side'p'""'- and turn in at the first gate " ' ""'^^^ at'theS^nl^r^K^'Htr'^^^^ ' fastened mine and then J^ine^d'ht '"" '° ^ '^^^• •C^ood; IhadtoZke h mofflh- "°' "^.^ ''"^ ■ fame is getting wa^mef ^We^^ll^nr'^ 7"^ together. What have you to slyTLT' '''' '°"^ Nauheii^r^nrrasr^ ''' P^P" >'- ™ade von i I * I lU H Basb for a XLbvonc* < h III " I will take your word of honour for its safe keep- ing," he returned, his dark face smiling. " I gnessed you would wish to see it." And he handed it to me. "You trust it to me? " I cried, in some surprise. " I am no fool, Prince," he answered. " If you keep that, it means we shall work together, and that is what I wish. If we are not to do so, you are too honourable a man not to return it. I trust either wholly, or not at all." He raised his hands, shoulders, and eyebrows in a combined gesture, as though suggesting there was no more to be said about the matter. "But yi)u, what are you going to do? You have some plan, of course ? " " Will you work with me ? " I asked " I told you last night — my purse, my svord, and my life are at your service, and if your plan helps my revenge, I will keep as staunch and true as a hound." " I am going to put my whole scheme in your possession," was my answer; and in the fewest words I told him what I had resolved, keeping back only such parts of the plan as touched the Countess Minna and myself personally. He listened with rapt attention, his swarthy face drawn into thoughtful lines, and he did not interrupt me once. When I had finished, he remained silent a long while thinking it all over carefully. " It is a shrewd scheme, Prince, very shrewd. There is only one difficulty." "Well?" " For you and me to keep alive sufficiently long to carry it tiirough. The attempt last night will not be the last, and the efforts won't be confined to me. They have not touched vou so far. nrobably because iiiil at I ^» plan of Campalfiiu 116 plot. But when thaf L^ °^T '"^^"""'^ '° ^^e will only bet the tV !nH°"'' 'Tu°'*^'"^''- y°" account with that But if ^°" ^^'^,^''" '"^ ^""^ beatingand our th Js'u .runrth:? °"^"'' comes, we shall win Rvl i *™^ °^ ■="«'= but I like the scheL" "^ '' ''"°"' "' '""^ ^^''-Sel n.; foral'adh^e't" L" ten" ^1,1/ ^""°""« 0.jnber.tocon,plete'4"Lr;en:eS" ^^*"™ *° figh^n,. And whatdoyoutLhlfod: "'°" "^ Yours will be the most dangerous »n/ • aspects I think the most diS work of aVT post of honour Vn., ,«., 4. all— the Lch the Duke mIx von 0,rr' *'''' ""^""^ ''^ our power, and ytjus St^ep^aTedr^ '"' '"'" the sp«7iirA fi,^ \ prepared to carry out ^ll__ Clone on the very day of the Court par^TtLT"'^ ^^ ""'■'"•^ '""^ ^«^'^^«d that that pthment '"""" "°"'' "°' ''^ '^'^-'^ °f -com! probabT do"Tt'all":ior" ^^'^'P '"^' '"""^'^ ' «" s^ywh4yrwthtm;i^,°"-" ""'^"^^^ '» wcaX:i^--'^--5^^^^^^^^^^ -ui at tnat moment he himself will be all anxiety I f ft 116 a 2)asb fot a XTbrone. for these matters of State, and his presence in Munich will be simply imperative for their interests." "No matter. If he was buried under a mountain and had to claw his way out with his nails and teeth, he would do it at her bidding. Have no fear." " He will not be harmed ? " " That we can settle when we get him," he answered grimly. I said no more. So long as we could make secure the person of the duke at the moment we needed him, I would see to the rest. Then I arranged how we two were to hold communication, and untethered my horse to leave. ' "You will go to that meeting to-night, Prince?" he asked. " Certainly ; it is necessary." " You will go armed, then ? " " Arms will not be of much use ; but I shall take them." " I need not warn you again. But this I would say. At the very moment when you feel safest, ex- pect their attack. And now, as a last word, let me give you a pledge that whatever happens I will not let a word between my teeth. On the honour of a Corsican." He raised his hat and stood bare-headed. He had the dramatic instinct keenly developed, and he did everything with pose and gesture that might have been taken for artificiality. But I was convinced that he was staunch enough in this affair. I rode back to Munich by a different route, and my thoughts were busy with the forthcoming meeting. I did not consider it at all likely that any sort of violence of cautic feel safe they wei Nauheira dinner, a; «•» plan of Cam»afan. 117 violence would be attempted then ; but Praga's words ofcautmn began to run in my head-" When you eel safest expect the attack." All the afternoon they were buzzmg in my thoughts, and when von Nauheim returned in time for a very hurried late dmner, and the hour of the meeting drew nigh thev were more insistent than ever. ^ ^ In the afternoon I bought myself arms-a sword- st,ck and a revolver; and while I was alone I tJok areful note of the room where the meeting was to be held ,ts entrances and exits. There was a window ZTrr:"""^ °'^""' °" '° ^ quadrangle at the back of the house, and I resolved to take my seat I had, indeed, determined upon one somewhat dar When the hour for the meeting came I took m„ seat and watched the men as they enter;d /and Ta^ steadying my nerves and planning my moves .n the game which was about to open in such deadly earnest ^ ;l CHAPTER X. A COUNCIL OF CONSPIRACY. My first thought about the meeting was that I had misjudged, in an almost ludicrous manner, what the proceedings would be. My nerves were, no doubt, a little overstrung by the events of the past day or two ; the dramatic exaggeration which had characterised almost every gesture and action of the Corsican, the actual evidence of my own eyes of the ruthless inten- sity of purpose with which these people pursued their plans, and my own exceedingly conventional concep- tions of what such a plot as this would be, had led me to anticipate some sort of more or less theatrical ex- hibition of conspiracy at the meeting. But there was nothing of the kind. The men dropped in one after another, just as they might into any small social gathering, chatted with each other, grouped themselves in twos and threes, joked and laughed, discussed the latest scandal, ex- changed notes on the newest play, and for a long time talked of nothing but the subjects on which any of them found a common surface interest. All of them made occasion to come to me and exchange a word or two : How I liked Munich, whether I had been to the opera, if I took any interest in the races, had 1 heard of the new military order from Berlin, and so tt8 on. N( that he to infer After Nauhein Hecksch and the and beg greatest regret I Gramber bore was man. " But I Our conv vinced m the king< Empire." I murr added : " There need weall with the t will. Bu rectified." "I am replied, ap " The S' he answere sertion ; sh had our da the jealousi to mark nn a ConnctI of ConspiracB. 119 on Nothing more. Yet each contrived to convey that he was ver,' glad to see me present, leaving me to infer anything more, "vi 'g me After a considerable time, the man whom von Nauhe.m had mentioned to me mo- often, Baron Heckscher, one of the wealthiest men in Munich and the strongest leader in the scheme, came ac/oss and began to talk to me. He said he took the greates mterest in me; that it was a matter of great regret I had been so long absent from Munich^nd Gramberg ; anc that the honour of the great title I bore was an enormous responsibility for so young a " But I am sure you will prove equal to it, Prince Our conversations during these last few days h;ve con-' vmced me of this. You will play a great partTn the^kmgdom, and, who shall say. pefhaps "^n the addedT™"''' '""^ conventional reply, and he ne JwelL'' T.'^r "^ '^'"'' ^^^'"'' y°"- Y°" will need wealth. The Gramberg estates should have gone rectified^- "'' "" *"' """'' °^ ^ ' -" "e "I am not very ambitious of a State career" I replied, appreciating the proffered bribe "The Statehas need ofall her strongmen Prince" ^rtioT^he ?'"'; " '"' -^'^ ^°"'^ bf jealoufrdl sertion , she cannot spare you. We old men have had our day, and it is part of our duty and. despile r/r?.."' '°"" "'"'' P^" °f o"r pleasure L, to mark- onf fho ♦.fV;^ .1 ^ ' - •' •- ^"»'fe "icii— tne men worthy to rise, i 1' k. 1 j i : ( I ' i t 120 H H)asb for a Ubrone, that is—and see that they have their opportunities. In the time that is coming, you will have a magnificent part, for the actualities of power are not on, but around the throne." In this way he led adroitly round to the subject, and I knew that all his flattery was just so much verbiage. He had had no opportunities of telling whether I was a fool or a genius. •' There is a great deal of doubt about the future" said I sententiously ; " but to have earned the good opinion of so shrewd a judge of men as yourself is much." If he could flatter, sq could I. He paused a moment, and then, in a slightly lower tone, and with a suggestion of increased importance, he said, motioning towards von Nauheim : " Our friend has told me your very shrewd doubts as to the probable action of those at Berlin. They are very natural, and you are quite right to express them; but— there is no fear on that score. The Imperial Government is as sick of the vagaries of the King as we Bavarians ourselves. He is a con- stant anxiety. You will see why. A madman on a throne is a standing menace to the principle of the Divine Right on which a monarchy must in reality- depend. They will not interfere, because openly they dare not countenance a movement to upset a throne." And he went on to give me elaborate arguments to explain away my doubts. I listened very carefully, stated my objections, and discussed them all ; and then allowed myself to appear to be won round by his persuasion to the view that when once the plot Own miff* a Council of Consptracs. 121 were carried to a successful climax, Berlin would recogn.se the new position and acquiesce in it. This 1 believed myself, moreover As I held the clue to his real motives, I was greatly mtercsted to note the subtlety with which he avoided the points that were more closely concerned with the duplicity of the inner plot, and dwelt on those where he could be sincere. " It will depend greatly on the solidarity of the movement and the loyalty to each other of all concerned in it," I said at the close. "That is the pith and marrow of it all; and of that there cannot be a doubt. There are some twenty of us here he exclaimed, with a wave of the hand round the room; "and each of us represents and can speak for at least one strong interest and section Besides, we are not groping in the dark. I myself have secured assurances from Berlin. We have not a weak link." He stopped, and looked at me with an invitation to make my declaration. I noticed too that in some way the fact had com- mumcated Itself to the rest of those present that the moment of importance had arrived. They had at first drawn a little away from the table at which we TT'a !■ ^^i"'':" many little quick glances shot m our direction during the discussion between the baron and myself; but there had been no check in the general flow of chatter. Now, however, there was a decided lull, save where one man was telling noisily an incident in which he had been the principal, and was laughing at his were lor uie most part smok- own ml- - — j„ TU^ 4. "i 122 a Basb for a XTbrone. murmurs of broken ing stolidly with only low talk. ' his^ciL^with'^ restless and fidgety, champing ms cigar with quick, nervous bites, and blowin/out the smoke rapidly in heavy puffs, and stealing furt^v glances at me. 'umve had effectually concealed the fact that I had entered the room resolved to join them, and had produced he impression that at the last moment the baron's argu ments had talked away my doubts. I kept my ffce .mpassive and set, as though weighing my words to the last moment. "We shall go on wfth you, baron." I said quietly but of course under conditions." ' " How can you make conditions, Prince ? » he our words "'''' '^^ ''^''^' '''''"' ""^^ ^^''^"^ "P°" " There must be a fresh declaration of allegiance to the Countess Minna as the future Queen " " We are already pledged, every man of us. Prince " he returned. ' ' « A ^/.rf". "^"^'^ ^"' ^''"'"^ '^^"^^^'" J answered And the declaration will be signed by all concerned' here to-night and in my presence." " That is scarcely necessary, as we have signed already. But if you make a point of it yes " " I do press it," I said firmly. I had a strong reason which they did not yet see I paused a moment before I made my next move for It was a strong one. " Again, as my uncle's death is so recent, it will not be seemly -indeed, it is impossible - for my a Council Of Conspiracy. ISS cousin's marriage witli tlie Count von Naulieim t« Uke piace until after she is on the throne-un" ss I counted much on this strol' ""j^-^' -- 'hlo these the leasrinfluentia; S IZZT:,:::!:^ while I stuck doggedly to my point ^ rescue"'' *''' ''''°" """^^^"^^ "ho came to the he"said'''v''r"^r'"'"? *° '^'^^ *^ g«"«'«l °P'-n!on," -« a^d"7 Ho . '" T'"^ ^^"PP^" '" <^^-P thought the :fndi«or"wr.^- !^..!"^-'-:<^..obiection^o r^ „xx awujc mai mis marriage, ,JI: 124 a Daeb for a Ubrone. 1 i like most Court nuptials, has been arranjred for certain definite purposes "—and he glanced round the room with an effect I did not fail to observe. "And if proper guarantees of these purposes are afforded, I do not see any objection. We are merely gaining the same end by slightly different means. As Count von Nauheim carries certain interests on his shoulders in the marriage, all we have to see is that those interests are protected." It was most adroitly wrapped up, but I knew too much to be deceived ; and as I had now gained my end— the separation of the sheep from the wolves in this assorted pack— I said no more than to aj^vee that any desired guarantees should be given. " The other condition is perhaps fanciful, as k is certainly personal," I said, " and it is somewhat con- nected with that which we have just discussed. My cousin, the Countess Minna, cannot, of course, go forward in a hazardous work of this kind, now we are agreed the marriage must be postponr^d, without a male relative to guide and counsel her. And as we Grambergs have been so unfortunate as to lose two prominent members, there is only myself remaining. One of us, my cousin Gustav, certainly lost his life in this cause, through the treachery of the Ostenburg agents, and therefore we look to you all— I look to you all, gentlemen"— and here I raised my voice slightly— « to secure me against an attack from any source that may threaten my life. I know I do not count on you in vain, because you are all loyal to the cause ; but there is an additional and very special reason for my thus calling on you. Upon my life and safety the continuance or end of this scheme "Red for d round observe. OSes are e merely ■ means. Tests on to see is '.new too ned my 'olveE in :o a^yee I a CouncU of ConapJracg. 12s I depends, so far as my cousin Minna is concerned. I You may need to redouble your vigilance against ou ■ enem,es and to strain your efforts to the utmost to I anfcipate and prevent attacks upon me; but under- I Ti 5""«/'<=«^'y that if you suffer me to be I attacked and to fall, at that moment my cousin will I ^r^^Z^.^'"'"'- -' open/abandon all I pro^lf™"^""^ '=''^=' °' ""-^ ^l'-' ^P-h was I A dead silence fell on the room for a few moments I the general consternation. It appeared to me the I strongest confirmation I could have had of the ex st! I ence of a plot against my life, and that this move of I m,ne was regarded as a checkmate. But I shut ou of my face every expression save one of a kind " friendly expectation of personal assurances of agree h" l^Y ^ ''^"'^'^ ^^°'^ '•^P'y'"g> P""<:e." said Baron Heckscher presently, "was merely ti,at while I ar^ have made such sacrifices and incurred such trT ™»dous^persona. risks, should accident inter^e'net eno"gr '"""^'° ^"■" "■'"^' ' =°"'^ =^« '^-^ easily There wa« nnk ^»,« r u ready to defend my I; ^ f 126 a Basb for a Zbvonc. cousin Gustav from a man who was no better than an assassin," I said, somewhat curtly. "And I have heard that the man is still mixing with some of you." Von Nauheim's tell-tale face paled at this thrust. "Your cousin's rashness was the cause of that quarrel, Prince," said the baron, "and it was all against our advice and our most earnest entreaty that the duel ever took place. As to Praga's connection with the matters since, you know, of course, that in affairs of this kind we must use as instruments such as we find ready to hand. But his connection with the movement is of tjie flimsiest and most superficial kind." " My cousin's death remains unavenged," I an- swered sternly. "It will not remain so," said the baron sifrnifi- cantly. ^ " No, indeed," I returned, intentionally misunder- standing him, "for I myself will call the man to account." "Not until after our plans have been carried through." "At the first moment I meet with him," said I with an air of recklessness. " This must not be ! " exclaimed the baron quickly. • Do you not see what you are doing. Prince ? You tell us that if you fall the Countess Minna will desert us and abandon the whole movement on the very eve of Its success ; and yet in the next breath you declare that you are going to court death by fighting a duel with one of the greatest masters of fence in Europe. Would you wreck the whole scheme?" a Council ot CoiwplracB. 137 sternlv"""'?! r"^' "'y =°"'''"' -«?thl" I cried fhis Jork" "' " '°'"" ="°"eh to us to take up N^'uhet.""' "''' "'■"' '"''' ''--." g^wlcd von perplexity. ' '' ""' *'"^°''' ^^l"'' ' enjoyed his "Well then, call the man out and shoot him I " r exclaimed brutally. "But in =.M t fu , ' ' the life of me under,f:.n/ • "'"*''• ^ ^*"'' '°f ' inc unaeistand, smce you are all afraid ^r his sword-pay, whv vn„ ,11 j ^ ai raid of him." ^ ^ ^"°'^^'' *^"''av to meet ■We had not then had thi= fearful evidence of h,-<= skill; and your cousin deniVd if ,„^ u V ^ "" impostor." said the Con ' ' '' '"'"'"' ""'"^ ^^ an7rsa': Ihaf fh H ""I ""''''''' -»— "y- wished of extreme cati ''^'""^ "'^ '"P'^-"" ' with recklestrin^re^s'^d^Lr^^H'^""'''^'^ believe me thoroughly in earn.t '""''' "'•"" that, if my life werVL '" ">' '°"dition go n'o farthe Ihad no "ish"; ""'" '"'""^ -^"''^ more, therefore ^ '° P'^'^ """'^^^ «ny ^aia'^rw:r4SgSa^-::^'-sytosee." will give us trouble " ^" ^"'' ^ ^''^' y°" "TrtrvS"T:e;Sur '^ t-'"^*^- ■■3utno..ifyouVleS;"iXre?o:^-^^^^ We can accept them if x.o .11 _,_ , * ^^« „,« picuge yourself 'f , ! 128 B IDasb for a Ubronc. to take no rash action in hazarding your hTe until we have succeeded. Otherwise, I, for one, shall withdraw even now." ' I could have laughed aloud at the firm, decisive tone in which he said this— for it was the proof of how I had turned the tables upon them. I hesitated before replying, as if to think " Yes, it is fair that I should give such a pledge," I said then. " I will wait. It will not be long." " In a fortnight, by the grace of God, all will be effected," cried Baron Heckscher fervently. Then rising, he said with enthusiasm : " Gentlemen, to our future Queen— Queen Minna of Bavaria. May the blessing of God light upon her, and let her bring peace to this distracted tate In the name of God I swear allegiance to the new ruler of Bavaria." He raised his right hand on high as he took this equivocal and falsely true oath, and every man present followed his example. It was an impressive scene, and I made haste to improve the occasion. " We will sign the declaration now," I said quietly. ^ The baron produced that which had been formerly signed— a short, simply-worded document pledging the signatories to allegiance; and as he appeared loath to allow the paper to pass out of his own hands, he himself copied and then burnt it. I raised no objection to this proceeding, or to the wording which was sufficiently compromising for the purpose I had in view. The other men signed it first, and I observed that the baron hung back until the last. " I am the last ♦;o join you, I will sign last," I said quietly, and I laid it before him. He wished to protest, I could see, but there was no | 1 sign, I d] it up I I carelessn "No r hurriedly from his ; it before ] tion. Th away in natural ai But I Si half-hidde was a cris "As h, relative o religious c H Council of Conspiraci\ 129 He wrote his name slowly, and I thought reluct antly; and when he had finished, he put the 1'^; across the small table, and held it firmly in one hand pomtrng w.th the other to the place where rshould :: LToTtTnd I "'^ '" °'^^" ^^^ ''^ -- - "' Z 1 f f "^P possession of a paper on which t^IrlT'l"? ^'■^"*'"^" might depend. But hn M K "'"'' P^" °^ "'y Pl«" that I myself ^towards find necessary. And I outwitted hL Not g,vmg a sign of my intention, I took the pen "e gave me and glanced at it '^ him.'^ P^" that will have a history," I said, looking at S-V?r dropped'2 ' '"""T"' '' °' P^«P"ation to itTn V K , u P^"' ^""^ ^^ ^ =t°°P<=d and picked " No matter, there is another pen there " I cried humedly. and with a sudden pull I snatched the sh^t from his grasp carried it to another table, and signed before he had recovered from his surprise andTxa w^v il m T" " ""''='''>'■ '■^'^^^ '■'. -d PuHt away n my pocket, as though this were the most natural and ordinary course h,.^ vi'*"' *^ ™'" ^°°^ f™"' °"« to the other with half-h,dden apprehension in iheir glances I knew i^ was a cnsis, and I carried it through with a dath '■ rel»tt 'rl.."'..!".^ ''I"-' -5- the only blood rel.g.ous care this declaration of your allegiance and i m NHP I n ^ 130 H H)asb for a tCbronc. fidelity, this charter of the new Bavarian freedom," I said, raising my voice and speaking with as much dignity as I could assume. " In my cousin's name I thank you for your help, and I promise you the most earnest, most cordial, and most generous recognition of your efforts. From this moment her life belongs to her country. For myself, I assure you that although I am the last to join you, no man shall be found more active, resolute, and vigilant in the cause. God bless Queen Minna of Bavaria ! " They echoed the words, but there was little hearti- ness in the tone, except from the two men who I knew to be loyal ; and I stood on my guard, half-expecting some kind of attack. But the moment passed and nothing was said or done to thwart me ; and after a few words of lying congratulations upon the evening's work from the baron, the meeting broke up. As the men left, I could tell that my acts had pro- duced a great impression on them, and that I had at least convinced them that I was not a man with whom they could safely trifle. But my task had only begun. When tJ von Nauh sultation, exultation and of the of the can I should had contri' calculated struct thei] me. What w( very careful as I knew t same momc and had tak One thini form their ; concern Ww thing turned a free agent, I renounce the I to the thron » CHAPTER XI. - •■KVKN ONE SUBJECT MAV MAKE A KmooOM." ^o:ZZ::tTlZ,^i:f- -' ^ "ad seen -Itatlon. r sat^on alone t a time tvl" '" ^'°^^ <^°"- exultation of the result of ^l , - """"^ *'"^ ^"^e and of the vastly clTjIn^-T^' ^°* '" M""'>^ of the cards had ctated '^ " ^"^'"^"^ my shuffling ^- St:dt"?u^t Xl..;-S ^^^ '^^ ^^'- ' calculated that until theThll L J ^."' "y"'! ^"^ ^ -their Plans, theyt-rnof^re:: ::s:i- ve:^Su'XtL/a!:dr^^ '-^^ --0" and had taken von NauJeim' T ''''^ ""'^^ ^ plan One thing soon made^rir ° ""P"' ''' '° '''"'• form their ne.TZlShtT: t"" ^''^'^^^ , concern Minna. She waT fh. !' " *°"''^ ^'°«^'y tog turned in the^ in"" Sot'"s T" "'''■* '^'^y » free agent, and able to do'wtt f h H '; ^'" "^= ! renounce the scheme =i„H ^ ki • ■ said— openly |to the throne-X :ouT:fL'^^''''''^ 't' ^>-' 131 '"v« uic. Jl5ut ihQ 132 a Basb tor a Ubrone. 111! 11 instant they could get her into their control, my power would be broken. I should no longer be necessary to them, but in the way. I could guess what would follow. I determined, therefore, to take the initiative and force the game with von Nauheim ; and, fortunately, he gave me an opportunity. After I had been alone about an hour he returned, and did not take any trouble to hide the fact that he was in a very bad temper. When the surface was scratched, he was too much of a cad to remember that he was my host. He swaggered into the room and poured himself out a stiff glass of brandy and drank it. Then he turned to me. "I suppose you think you've managed things devilish well to try and play the master in this way" "Well, I haven't done badly," I said, with a shrug of the shoulders. " I should like to know what you mean about your condition about my marriage — cursed interference I call it." " My meaning was plain enough to the rest ; surely I need not repeat it." " Oh, I know what you mean. But what the devil is it to you ? Is it your game to try and stop this marriage altogether ? You won't, you know, so you needn't try." "I would rather discuss family affairs with you when you're—" I was going to say sober, but checked myself and changed it to— "when you are lessi excited." "What do you mean by that?" he cried, taking | fire and speaking furiously. "Do you mean to insinuc close t Att He me ment o into a s sion of "Ipr said coc "But I'm not can tell apologis D ye hes " I ha^ you for a "Oh,v in an ev( tention I a numbei to the grc next mon the room. I judge moment t and starin at me. "You 5 apologised, i kept cc off his hanc stern a loo wavered, ar ~te^thatI..a™nkp.-a„dherosea„dca™eup ™ent of the ^^r^^!, ;--;-^s po.po„e- .nto a scuffle, in which he would try to rel „ . '' s.on of the paper I had put in my po keT" '" I prefer not to continue the conversation n. " , said coolly. ^"vcrsarion now, ' I can tell V Y^/Tus 'L^Ttht' T "'^' ' ^o,o.i.to.efor,our\-nsiiXn^^^^^^^^ yoi foXt^^g-^ifdi jsr °^ ^^°'°^"-^'"^ - . "°''> «'°"'' y°" ? We'll see about that " h„ ■ . in an even louder voice • anH n, u ^ f' "^ '=™''' tention I saw him knTcl'over a 4"aK ""''l'"" a number of bottles and glasses "t"d°" "'"^'^ to the ground with a loud clatter fn7 u ''"'^ '^=" "You shall not leav^- fi,^ apologised," he said, cS the t '■°°'" "" >'°"'^^ I kept cool enough had 1 "i^flTT '° *"■' ^'■''^• off his hand, and l!tared Wm fulf ^K '^. '" ^'""'"'"^ ^tern a look that, bui ^ a, he w "' he .^-^t 1" ^° wavered, and ch»„„„^ L . "^'"' ^^ Pinched and II i f I 134 a Basb for a tTbronc. " Are you mad, Count von Nauheim, that you would make me forget I am under your roof? " " No, I'm not mad nor drunk either ; but you shall repent this night's work. Here," he called to the men again. What he meant to do I know not, for my next action produced so wholly unexpected a result that he had no chance to do anything. I whipped out the revolver I had in my pocket and levelled it point blank in the lackies' faces, and V^de them in ringing tones to be off out of the room. They stayed for no > second bidding, but turned on their heels and scampered for their lives, leaving their master looking very much of a fool in the middle of the room. I put the revolver away again then and turned to him. " Now that we are alone again, what do you mean to do ? " But his courage had fled as fast as his servants, and with a feeble attempt at a lying laugh he mumbled out something to the effect that he had meant no more than a joke, and turned away to hide his con- fusion in another full dose of brandy. I saw my chance and took it. " I do not allow people to play jokes of that kind upon me. Count von Nauheim," I said, as sternly as I could. " I prefer to trust the evidence of my own wits and say that you were in earnest in the attempt to use some violence toward me. Under these cir- cumstances I cannot of course remain another hour in your house ; and you will understand this to mean that I cannot receive you at Gramberg. You will therefore spare me the unoleasantnps*! nf ff-llintr mv I servant to come "Do my affif "Unl than at I answe: " I SU] sneered. "You forgotter as soon i He fli part of irritated " Then yourself t " I havi stiffly. " ing matte And with I was g should be making o much freei welcome o be delight not see hir I went t< after a ver setting out two men i 'ou mean "©nc subject /cag Obake a ikimbom." m .hl"=,fr' "^""'i" '^°°''' *° "'«'y°" elsewhere frswerer"^'^' *^' '^ '^^"'^^'^ -"='' -" "''PP-." snlerer""'" ^°" """' *" ^°'"'"' ^°' ^""'^^'f." he "You have a short memory, count. You have forgotten you told me the fortune would come to me "nrfl^Ih r T'u T ^"^^^^-""""y accomphshed." He flushed, for he had evidently forgotten th^t yoiSf toTo: tChTne .^'■""^' '"' '-' ^ ^-^^ stiffly. Any communication I have to make reeard mg matters here shall be made to Baron Heckscher " And with that I left the room and the house I was glad of the quarrel for many reasons We should be „d of the man's presence at Gramberg whHe making our preparations there; and X shoufd feel much freer ,n any future visits to Munich. But mos be dX'htd " r" '"i: '''' ''"'' ' l^"- Minna would n:ttS'ag:in""' ''"'"' ''"'''' ''^' ^"^ =''-''' I went to an hotel, passed a very cpmfortable night after a very full day; and the next morning before ett.„g out for Gramberg, I paid a visit to each ofVhe two men^whom I had ascertained to be loyal to •- X ,iv.ir uaines were Kummell and Beilager ; I ! 136 H Dasb for a Ubvonc. and I urged them, for reasons which I would explain to pay a secret visit to Gramberg. Then I returned to the castle lighter in heart and even busier in thought than I had set out. Busy as I was with the details of my own schemes, however, I found more than once my thoughts running ahead of me to the castle in pleased speculation as to how Minna would meet me and what she would say to my news. When I had finished my train journey, and was drivmg to the castle, I could not help comparing my present feelings with those on my first arrival at the place. I had played the part of the Prince so com- pletely during the exciting experiences of the two weeks that had passed since my arrival : everyone had accepted my impersonation so unconditionally and I had acted and spoken so entirely as if I were mdeed the head of that great house, that I had actually begun to feel that I was in reality the Prince 1 looked upon the signs of deference, the honours the ready compliance with my wishes, the submission to my orders, as though they were my just due ; and I was conscious of a greatly increased sense of dignity which, I have no doubt, imparted itself to my mien and speech. I had now no thought of drawing back, of course, until at least I had cut the knot of Minna's difficulties ;' and I had begun to entertain some very unpleasant and disquieting doubts and anxieties as to how I could ^ake off my borrowed plumes and return to the hum- drum, meaningless, empty, incognito existence. As to that, indeed, a new set of thoughts had begun to take shape in my mind—wild and forlorn hopes, in truth, but none the less cherished. My idea was "®nc Subject rtSas /Raftc a Itjnflbom." 137 to try and sc carry through this business of the Mun,ch plot as to ingratiate myse-f sufficiently into he favour of the great ones at Lerlin, and thus win back my own position and inheritance The most spurring motive that can move a man was deve bpmg in me, and developing fast As I suppos.t.t,ous Prince von Gramberg'l las absoMely .mpossible as a suitor for Minna's hand. EvenTf I could save her from this terrible entanglement and escape any recognition. I could not marfy her. My life would then have to be lived over a mine which Zruin of"b^ h :' Z''" ?^ '''' =" '"y "--'. ° tiie rum of both her life and my own As an English adventurer and ex-play-actor mv case was just as hopeless. But as Count von Rudloff there would be no such bar of family between us my family was indeed as old as any in the kingdom :"hTc':riJ''^ '° r' -^'°-'y t°fin a rush, and she * " ^««uu„ upon question about my news, 138 a Dasb for a Ubronc. my doings in Munich, what was to happen, and a thousand other things, until I caught von Krugen's dark eyes—he had met me at the station and was standing by me now— fixed upon her in shrewd speculation. " I could not hold back my impatience a minute longer, cousin Hans," she said at length, with a smile. " Although my good aunt Gratz would have had me wait upstairs in my rooms until you would find it convenient to see me. You will forgive me for this unceremonious assault ? " I would have loved to tell her what I really thought about it ; but I put a curb on any such madness by reflecting that her anxiety had nothing in it personal to myself. "I bring great news that will take long in the telling," I answered. *' I can scarcely tell it you here." A look of regret and surprise dashed her face for the moment, and she withdrew her hands from mine and bit her lips. " I have done wrong in rushing to you thus. You will think it unseemly. Will you let me know how soon you can come to me ? Do believe, cousin, I would not wittingly do anything to displease you."' I stood silent like a dumb fool ; and then after a pause she added : '• I ought to have reflected you would have many things to do, and that I—that I should be in the way. I will go." " No, don't go," I blurted out, and then could say no more. She looked at me in justifiable astonishment, and wrinkled her brows in perplexity. en, and a Krugen's I and was n shrewd a minute h a smile. e had me Id find it e for this /■ thought dness by personal g in the ou here." r face for om mine IS. You low how :ousin, I you." n after a /e many i in the 5uld say snt, and "©ne Subject /»a? mhc a 1kt!i0&om." 139 "The Pr:nce was saying as we drove here that he must see you at once, countess," interposed von Krugen, and I could have blessed him for the words Then he went .orward and threw open the door of the rooni near, and looked round as if inviting us to enter. It was the library. I shook myself together with an effort and gathered my scattered wits. " Can you spare me an interview at once ? » I asked Minna. "Cousin!" and her astonishment deepened and found expression in her tone. "Ami not here for that very purpose-and dying to learn the news? Come ; and she went into the room and led the way the far end, as- it chanced to the very window from the embrasure of which I had first seen her. " I hooe your first news is that all this plot is at an end, and that the project of the marriage is dead with it ? " I had mastered my stupid .embarrassment by this time and had found my tongue again "You must listen carefully to all I have to tell you and then to what I propose to do," I replied, and plunged at once into as plain a recital as I could give of all that part of the proceedings which I deemed ,t necessary to tell her. I dwelt upon the reasons why in my opinion it was impo.ssible to draw back yet, and upon all I expected to gain by the counterplot I had devised. s " oy tne " I will not see the Count von Nauheim again," he sa,d and her dislike of him was the first and ^rongest feelmg she expressed. Nor did I grieve at ■ "He will not mmf h^t-<»» r ^^:j oaiu. I was going to 140 H Dasb for a Ubronc. force a quarrel on him to make that impossible, when he saved me the trouble by putting one on me I then warned him off the place." ^ "Good, very good," she cried, her eyes flashing If I were to see him again. I could not restrain my hatred. I should tell him exactly how I feel toward h.m. It IS loathsome even to be linked in name with such a man. But as that is settled, I will do what- ever you wish. I knew you would be too much for them all, cousin Hans, if they did not kill you as I sadly ieared they would. I shall never be able to repay you." she added, looking to me and smilinjj. ' If I were only a mah, I could—" "What?" I asked, when she stopped. " I could at least fight with you instead of being a clog and a drag." " You are our inspiration/' I said earnestly, and at that her cheek flushed and she cast down her eyes. "I wish all the trouble were over," she said presently. " We must not be in too great a hurry. We have done very well so far. A little pluck and dash and a slice or two of luck, and we shall get through all right. But now tell me, can you think of any place in Munich, or near there, where you can go secretly and hide when the moment comes ? " "Why must I be put out of the way in this fashion? It seems like running away at the very moment of peril, and I am not afraid. Do you think I am a coward ? " " This is no question of bravery or cowardice. It is merely a matter of tactics. The very keystone of this inner plot of theirs is that you shall be "<9nc Subject /ftag /»afte a Wiifloom." ui j a. noth.n«-the;ro:,a tl^Te S^.irr" £ or the success of my counter-scheme"^ I mustbe abl' to have you at hand just when I wan you. That s all important. You will have to go to Munich in apparent compliance with their wishes for you to be ready for the final coup, and we shall show no Ln of usp,c,on. but you will have trusty guards lo tC ca^" :f ^"^^'•. ^^ -hcL-is to , mem carry off someone n your Dl;irf* an^ r . at purpose I shall endeavour'to gefwin'd of thS plan of abduction. What I wish to do is to shut ou suspicion that we have fooled them until it is too late for them to change their plans. Is there anyone among your mai'ds whom you could trust to ™° te you, who IS sufficiently like you in height and coLr you only by description or having only seen vcu once? She would of course be drefsed fo repres^en" you, and she mu.t be suffic^ .,. devoted to you o take a risk and hold her t, rue." "Yes, my dressing-maici, Marie, miVht oa s for ,^« Thenlettl'o"^ "'■■tM the time is close at hand. wear vo r dL ^Td T^ '° '^ T' ^"^ *'" . '^ui urcb. ana wi.i oe carried off- von will ei.r. ri'lghTen h^ml '" '" "-""^ ^^^ -'voTNllt .oiToS^r; ^^'^^^^^:^ 10 tnink ol some safe place to which ^..^n . » •''"" "-"" »>■«-'■• ;<-■:) 112 a Baab for a trbronc. said """ """"^'^ ''° '"°''' 'f '' "■■" •'-'P y°< she 1 reined Z^ ^ "",'"? °' ^''^'^^^ ^^"^ '° fol'ow," 1 replied with a smile, for I was pleased by her eaee tha a'^hr ^^ "'''"" ^''^^'y "''y depend upT " I shnT ","°' *° ^ ^^'"^d ""*out a strugge- I should make a poor Queen," she answered^ You will make a beautiful one ; and if the it;r~ ''' j'' °^^°"' ''^y -" "ot -dif; Jhe Jooked at me earnestly, and, with half a sigh, "You should not pay me empty compliments . « Hans. You should not say fhLgs yo7dot: "Perhaps ft would be truer that I must not sav »li I do mean." I returned, and for the moment my eye spoke even more than my words; and I madThl' to add, >n as light a tone as I could, " YorMatt wm We at least one devoted subject, whatevl^^;; "I believe that with all my heart," she answered in ' Evin n k'" "^^ """"'' "^'y ^''ghtly, and added. Even one subject may make a kingdom • thouE* sirSm?''''^''°"''^"°'^-''-"'er'o?:::^ I longed to turn her jest to earnesf an^ oc u that if she did no, no^one else^e "should Tut [ aTt rlritL"" °" ''^ '''''' '"' —be-d a alter all, I was an impostor, though Inv»l u J "®nc Subject /Das ^aftc a •Rtna^om.*' us to follow," her eager- id upon it I struggle." vered. nd if the lot readily ^If a sigh, her. And so I made no reply, and dared not even look at her. After a pause she rose, and, with what sounded like a half-suppressed sigh, she went away. I let her go, and it was not until she had left the room that the thought struck me my silence might have sounded currish and curmudgeonly. Then I would have gone after her and told her, and ! made a step toward the door ; but the thought of what I should say and how explain my meaning, stopped me, and as I hesitated, Captain von Krugen came in to resume the conference we had commenced during the drive from the station. 3t say all ' my eyes ide haste Majesty 2ver may -<■*.«■*, ',:Jvj.i»;,*; t.-^ii \^ CHAPTER XII. MY SCHEME DEVELOPS. I TOOK von Krugen into my confidence as to my dis- coveries and plans. I showed him the document? I had brought back frpm Munich; told him of ™ T T? T^ ''■■'S''- '^^ ''"^' history of the dud wh,ch had ended young Gustav's life^nd at dose, mvited h,m to say plainly what he thought of the^counter-scheme, and of our chances of carrying!. "It is about the only chance." he said, "and once on the throne, there is no reason why tke count" should not stay there." >-ounress "On the contrary, there are two overpowering reasons-her own disinclination, and the attitude of the Imperial authorities at Berlin " "There may be a third." he growled into his beard lookmg sharply at me. euesrhf, '"' "''"" ^r""'^' "'°"S'> J ~"'d almost fdroftly "^- "' •"' '"™='' ">«= .iirted and looked at me in such surprise that I saw my blunder in a moment. "You had known him previously?" he asked slowly. "I had known of him," I answered, in a tone of indifference. ♦' It's a long story, and I may tell it you some day." "It is not for me to question your highness, of course, but I should never betray a confidence," he replied, piqued, as I thought, that I said no more ; and for the moment I was hugely tempted to tell him the whole story. It might be enormous value to have a staunch ally in my full confidence for the task I had to carry through ; but, on the other hand, I could not tell how such a man would care to take his orders from an ex- play-actor, and I decided that I dared not run a risk at such a crisis. So I held my tongue, and sat as if I! Mai* ^ ^ sit 4.1 -t-i. ')■ viivugiiis were Dusy wiui our plans. 146 a 'Basb for a tTbrone. "There is much to do, captain," I said at length " I fear so ; but there is Steinitz H^ i. known at all there ; but he hasTo tyetttu^^^^^^^^^ where you sent him." ^ returned from ; had forgotten altogether about him and Hk nu!-f V'"?"''' ^^"^ ^'^ ^^''^ s°™e days ago" I re plied slowly. "Probably he will be here foldav ™ to-morrow at latest, and that will be ," «me for ou ortr-butTr''^'^" "'"™ *° Munich !/:;:; a°r;tih'a,srreiirt;:fe:e^r'^^^^^^^ because, if my absence from herl ^eTto bT^'"'' .n advance, it would probably teMe 11^1''"°"'" attempt against the Countess Minna ••^" '" ^''"" comeXtl'vrKSJef "'^""'' '^"^ ^' ^^s tn"J^'^'^.''^"u^ "^'"'>': ''« I mean also to aoDear eaK vT '""L ^"°" "-^'^^'^her's hands wE tW ^i r'"^ . ^^'"- ^ ^''*" =^« him and tell him plans to sirikld, "' f^' *"" *'•"= '" -"^l^^ '"eir plans to strike durmg those two days. Further mv trcTarSr":;';^'" ''r'°'' °'those"twoX' uiecnaracter of the countess shall k« ^^..i_i_ , /. ^S Scbcmc Kcvelopa. 1^7 waiting-maid of hers will be dressed precisely as she herself .s dressed the whole time, and, except when anyone comes to the house who is in the plot and who knows the countess by sight, the girl will be the councess to everyone. This means that the servants we take w.th us must be strangers, with the exception 01 o . two on whom we can rely implicitly. And I deptiid on you to make the selection " "There are several here for whom I would answer as for myself; but isn't there a risk in so Zgl doubling of the parts ? " ^ " Maybe ; but we must be content to take it. My object IS so to arrange matters that we ourselves shaU virtually select the moment when they will try to get hold of my cousin. Thus I shall make it quite P in to them that during every moment of every hour she IS m Munich she will be strictly watched and guarded by us ; but I shall manage to let a weak hnk appear m the chain, and I have chosen this one During the two days I sh .! give it out thlt mv cousin IS not well, and can only receive one or two persons But there is to be a reception at the palace by the King on the afternoon of the day of the Court bali, and I shall let it appear that^our Jiance must be relaxed on the return drive from the palace to the house. It will seem an excellent opportunity for the n. But while the countess shal go herself to the reception, I shall arrange for the maid to take her place on the return drive with the Baroness Gratz, and my cousin will make a .•jufficient change of dress in the retiring rooms to enable he to leave the palace unknown." " But the Baroness Gratz ? " i \i i\ 148 a Dasb tor a XTbronc. ff "You have no doubt of her loyalty?" I asked sharply. « Speak out plainly if you have." " None in the least. I have no cause. I meant what of the danger to her ? " " There will be little or none. They may indeed be glad to let her get away, while they will do her no harm even if they keep her prisoner. But the pomt3 m favour of such a scheme outweigh all agamst it It will suit both them and us to have the abduction made as close to the time of the ball as possible. Them, because we should then have no time to make a disturbance ; us, because the shorter time we have to keep watch over von Nauheim to prevent his finding out the deception the better A few hours later we shall be absolute masters of the situation." " It's a scheme that stirs one's blood," cried von Krugen warmly. "But those few hours will be anxious ones." ^ "Meanwhile the Duke Marx will have been caught in the toils set for him, and will be in our power; the King will be taken at the ball, and thus our whole course will be clear. The mimic ceremony of abdica- tion will take place, the cry will be raised for the Queen Minna, and just when they are chuckling that she cannot be found, I shall lead her forward and put her in the place of honour, and make some sort of speech in her name-probably to the effect that she will take time to consider her course. They will be thus caught like rats in a hole they themselves have undermined ; and there will be a pretty tableau " " And then ? " " Well, our first step will be to look out for our- ^Hi ^V Scbcmc H)epelop0. 149 selves. The attack on me and you will commence at the moment they believe they have outwitted us • and the danger will spread to us all the instant they find v.e have outwitted them. But our holding of their duke as a hostage will disarm them." " I am sure of no one but you," I returned ; "and of nothing except of things as they occur from hour to hour. We can only lay our plans and do our best to carry them out ; but in si-ch a case, any instant may see the unexpected happen, and the ship- wreck of the best-laid scheme. But I like Prajs lever-a woman is a most useful mechanism when you understand how to use her ; and when I left Praga every vein of his was burning with a raging lust for revenge. And he is a Corsican. But if that part of the scheme fdis, we must patch up another way that's all. I mean to be stopped by nothing." By heaven, but you're a man I love to follow" cried my companion, his eyes kindling with en- thusiasm. Then I saw his expression change, and he peered ' curiously at me. F=<=icu "And to think you've never been anything but a s udent One might think you had lived in the atmosphere of intrigue all your life. The Prince httle knew you. He believed you were a milksop How he would have loved you for a man atehfs own heart. Someone must have been lying to ht sorely about you." / s i" mm " Dead slanders are of no import to us caotain nor living flattery either," I ..;h cK...,,. "fU^^P^^^"' ' -"^iiiv, we nave If Ir 150 ^^f' H S)a$b for a XTbrone. to plan out our respective work and to set about doing it." And with that I told him precisely that part of the plan which would fall to his share, and gave him suggestions as to the best way of carrying it out When I had fully instructed him, I sent him away* and mapped out in my thoughts the further develop' ments I had yet to plan. The absence of Steinitz gave me much uneasiness It seemed so grossly out of perspective that a hb scheme such as was on hand shouid be endangered by a trumpery little mattei- like the selling of a couple of farms. Yet that was the fear I had. If Steinitz had been able to find von Fromberg and to give him my message, he ought to have been back long since • but if he had not found the man, I could not stop the sale of the property. Yet if it went on, it was almost certain that the old lawyer would in some way get mto communication with the men who were selUna the place for von Fromberg, and my identity would at once be questioned. I would have paid the money, of course, willingly enough; but obviously I could not buy an estate from myself. Again, I could not get over the difficulty in any such way as I had employed with Praga—that It was a freak. The more considered the thing the easier it appeared to me that I might be tripped up and exposed through it ; and when the whole of that day passed without the return of Steinitz, my anxiety grew fast. He arrived on the following afternoon, but he brought no relief with him. He had not found von *8 Scbemc Dcpelopa. 181 Fromberg. He had gone to Charmes, and had ZtT: ''""■ ''^ "^'^'■■"S •''^ t^ken place, and then he had set out to follow the bride and bride- groom on their tour. He had traced them from hotel to hotel, to Nancy, Bar-le-Duc, Rheims, Am.ens aTd thence to Paris ; but in the French capit^ a , s gn of them was lost and after making many fruitle f in- qu..es there, he had deemed it best to return to me and bnng back the letter. I told him he h./r< Wght, but the incident added to myXu et It ta! .uch a contemptibly little thing, and yet, like a w^rZuT''"^^' ' '"-'-"' *° ^-^- t-^e ove?thelld°l "^ annoyance and perplexity, more- Za1\ fn y"."'""^ '° ""« ^g«'" °" the follow- ing day to tell me that further negotiations had takw place for the sale of the farms, and he pestered me lo know whether I really meant to sell them out oTthe family, and whether the Count von Nauheim, a the Countess Mmna's future husband, ought no^^ L told of the matter. His manner showed he had a susptcion that something was being kept from him and he resented it strongly. ™' It was obvious, of course, that if he went to vnn Nauheim, the latter would jump at the chance of g.v.ngn,e trouble, and that if any suspicions were even hinted to him, the results might be exceed, •«![ WtarbyS f ■^""'^ '" -•''"^^"""wtt .rntated by the lawyer's persistence, that I sent him away with a sharp reply that if he 'wished to retS my business, he had better mind his own I could see he was vastly astonished at this ..A i «'"re tna„ half repented my words, but he had gow 162 a Basb for a Zbvonc, before I had quite recovered my temper. It was unbearable, however, that just when I had all the weight of a really important crisis on my shoulders I should be worried by a trumpery thing of this so'rt 1 let him go, therefore, and tried to dismiss the matter from my thoughts, while I went on with the comple- tion of my plans. ^ Everything else went as well as we could l>,-.vc wished Mmna herself entered heart and soul into the work and in the many interviews we had durine the next few days I could not have wished for a more loyal and trustful ally. ' Our little confidential con! ferences drew us very close together, moreover, and I saw with great delight that her spirits brightened The preparations for the critical work in Munich occupied her so fully that her thoughts were taken 17 rru*",^ grief caused by the death of her father while the belief that success in our venture wou^S open up a new life for her by freeing her from the marriage with von Nauheim and from the dreaded responsibiht.es of the throne, raised hopes which brought with them happiness such as she had not known for months. "I owe it all to you, cousin," she said once, for she grew to speak with absolute candour and unrestraint to me. If only you had come to Gramberg eariier I am sure you would have persuaded my father to abandon the scheme altogether; although I think sometimes that—" " Well ? " I asked, when she paused. "That it is a good thing you did not come eariier" Her eyes were laughing, and the light in them was a pleasing thing to see. f#ii /ftp Scbcme Develops. 153 It was J all the )ulder.s, 1 this sort. i^ matter comple- « Perhaps it is. But why do you think so ? " "You have a way of making: unpleasant things pleasant; and you might have persuaded me to do what he wished." "There are not many women who would need much persuasion to be a Queen." "Without conditions, perhaps." "There is one condition I would never have advocated," said I, raising my eyes to hers. " But you will be a Queen after all, and we, your humble servants, wishful only to obey your royal commands " "I have settled one of the first uses I shall make of my power," she said, looking up and speaking as if seriously. "And that will be?" "You will be the object of it. I shall issue an order m council— Privy Council." « Privy Council ! You are getting learned in the jargon of State. I am afraid your Privy Council will be a very small one." "Yes," she cried, nodding her head and smiling. We two. And the order will be that my chief councillor shall tell me all the story of his life. If you won't tell it to your cousin, you must tell it to \'our Queen. And I know there are secrets in it. You think I don't take notice of you, I suppose; and never know when your thoughts are slipping away to the past, and never see that you fence with my questions and glide away so cleverly from the little traps I lay Vou mustn't taink becau.se you would make me a yueen that I have ceased to be a woman— and bein^ a woman, to be curious." TT^ jxovc iiu lime m mese days n u 154 a Baeb for a Ubrone. ' 'T':r^ W 1 There you go," she laughed. " I know what you'll say. You never think of the past because you are so busy thinking of all this business ; that when a man is planning: a big scheme like this, and has all the details to arrange, he has no time, etc., etc. But you have a secret, cousin Hans- a secret that is never out of your thoughts ; that has nothing to do with all this fresh trouble and intrigue ; that took you away from the castle for two days just after you arrived ; and that has written its lines on your face. That may be because you can find no one to tell it to. Of course you think of me only^s a girl^you self-contained strong men always do that^and that I shouul make no sort of a friend to be trusted with secrets. And yet-" she paused, and laying her hand gently on mine said, softly and wistfully, "you h. ve done so much for me. I should like to be a little help to you Can I, cousin ? I'm not Queen yet. you know, and cannot command. I'm only a grateful girl, and can do no more than ask." I was not a little disconcerted to find that she had been watching me so closely, and I could not remain untouched by the last little appeal. But I could not reply to it. " You are a staunch little comrade," I answered. But we must put oflf the story until the Queen commands," I answered, smiling. " That is at least an open postponement if not 8 frank refusal. But the Queen will command, cousin. I want to know why you would not come here at the first ; what made you change your mind ; how it was that all our ideas about you were wrong; why you arc so different from what we all expected ?-oh, there ^v Scbcnie Bevclopa. 1R5 arc a thousand questions that stinjr the tin nf n, tongue with the desire to ask them" ^ ""^ "Vou think a student cammf nl«rx k a ^« saying All this time she had been lookintr straight mf« my eyes, and laughing in gleeful tnumph ^ And ? found It embarrassing enough Then .h; u I suddenly, and said : ^ " she changed " Does my teasing worry you and wearv vo.i cousm ? I can school my curio.ftv ifi, T ^ ^ ' you will tell me all some day r"^ '' ^"''' ^"* " Is that schooling it ? " I ask^H or.^ u i again. "Yes I will Ml ^ ^•'''^^' ^"^ ^he laughed with her nrettv rrn«« « ^^ • ^^ Sfone on -.. Ji? hrinrSd" .:i r:;/r- Drougfht word fhaf c*. • •. , -^ servant, who Munfch. z\zj:::^-:^zi'1 ""' '° instantly. ' *''""S *« see me .ll^r "■"" " "° ''°'""« ' ■■ ««« Minna, lookin. r hs 156 H H)asb for a Ubrone. " I anticipate none ; no more, that is, than that we must break off our conference." " You have given me your promise," she said. " I ought to have made a condition— that you do not read me quite so carefully," I answered lightly as I rose. " Then I have read aright ? To me your eyes are as books." " Yet you must be careful how you read them " said I. ^ ' "Why?" " You may chance ort the chapter with your name at the head." "I wish I could," and she laughed and her eyes brightened. "I would give the world to know whether it is headed Queen of Bavaria or cousin Minna. Which is it? Tell me, at least, so much." , " It may be neither," I answered ambiguously but she seemed to understand something of my meaning and to be pleased, for her cheeks were aglow with colour as I hurried away. Steinitz was awaiting me impatiently. "There is ugly news, your highness," he said shortly. « I saw Praga early this morning, and he bade me urge you to hurry at once to Munich. He has got wind of a move on the other side, which he prefers to tell to you al^ne. He will meet you to- morrow at noon where you met before, and he declares that the strictest vigilance must be used in regard to the cuntess, especially while you are away from the castle, and that your visit to the city should ,r,»., - -y, g,v,a4,wot secrecy. /»S Scbcme H>cpclop9. 'our name 1S7 covcfe^?"'' ^°" "°'^'"S^°'^ of what he had d.s- JiUlT" "!f" ' ''^- ^"' ' ^''"'^'^d his meaning be that an attempt of some kind is imminent to Jt the countess out of our hands here ■" This was likely enough, but I did not take so seri- Ssche he '^ m'k T "'°^="'«"t= to Baron Heckscher he would be almost sure to select the moment when the thing could apparently be done w.h he least risk of discovery, and that would be at jLllfteXrLSrn. ^"""^ ^^'^"^^ ^^ '"^ At the same time I would go to Munich. I had already planned to go there on the following day In any event, and had announced my intention • bTt J r \ 'T "* °""- ' =•="' fo' von Krugen and told hjm, charging him to keep the strictesf watch over Mmna and after a very brief interview witrher ^ which she showed the liveliest concern for my safety, mmgled, as it pleased me to think, with regret Knew might be a critical expedition. ' i I 5 CHAPTER XIII A CHECK. Matters were now hurrying fast to a crisis; and I hoped the result of my journey would be to complete all my preparations, and leave me nothing to do but return to escort Minna, to Munich. So far all had gone well enough. I had no reason to think that either Heckscher or von Nauheim had the remotest idea that I knew of their treachery ; and it was, of course, of the very essence of my plan that they should remain in ignorance. On this account I was unwilling to meet Praga again personally, and I resolved therefore to send Steinitz to him as soon as we reached Munich to tell him my intentions, and to get from him in return what he believed to be the Ostenburg move. I myself went straight to Baron Heckscher. He received me with apparent cordiah'ty; but it was not difficult to see that as the day of the crisis drew near his anxiety was growing. " All is going well, I hope ? " I said, after I had greeted him. " We have all our preparations made." " All is going verv well," he replied. " But you are a day earlier in Munich than we anticipated." " I have not come to remain," I answered, " although I have some important business. My cousin is not well; and her nerves are giving way as the day U Cbecft* 109 approaches. I have difficulty in keeping her courage up. Like a woman, she has some foolish fear that at the last moment something will happen to her — some disaster to overthrow her. But I have nearly con- quered that fear, I trust." "How?" " She associates the fear with her visit here, and I have assured her that night and day, every hour and every minute, she herself will be surrounded by absolutely staunch friends who would give their lives for her. The death of her brother just at the moment when success seemed to be within grasp is frighten- ing her. Nor is that unnatural, especially when we reflect that her nerves have again been strained by her father's death." My words had the effect I desired. It did not suit his plans that Minna should be guarded in this way. "The countess is not ill, I trust," he said, after a pause. " Oh, no, not positively ill But she is very young, and so full of alarms that even I myself am inclined at times to question the wisdom of all this." Perceiv- ing the value of the line I had taken, I went on to make the most of it. " Indeed, I want some very confidential talk with you. You understand that I am resolved to go on, and I have not breathed a word to suggest to her that there is even an alternative course ; but there are two points on which I wish to consult you. In the first place, is it quite impractic- able to abandon the thing? I am convinced my cousin would only too gladly renounce all claim to thp fhrnnp." % 160 I I ^ l WmSm 1 ^ " a JPasb for a TTbronc. stettS'^' '' "^ ''"^^y -<^ -th manifest co„. Why, it would bemadnes .T "'" "°' '" «""est °f =uch a thing. Since '^r^ '"^1"«^ to think mounded men in all diction! ^Tl^''^ ^' '"'ve who is not enthusiasticlt tr ^^'^^ ' '" "°' *' and for all of this madman - ^'"'""^ "^ °"ce the'Et."^ '""''" '='" °"'^ •"''ke a wealc Queen at o/th^cSt^^oX!-^^^^^^^^ be the strength change the person ofVe ^T " "°' '° ™"* '» traditions of the ruler's power !„ "\ *° ^'''^ ""= someone whose title will rej' T' °" '''^ throne divine, but on the peoDle'lL I °" ^"^ "gl>t A woman ^,n thust fJZT '"- ""'^ '"' '=''°'^^' fop'e than a man. P Le7h '^'^^^"^-"t on the draw back." ""^^^ '"« countess cannot e' -dif; TS bratrT>'' "^ -'--d to be thought of." ^''''^^^' °^ "^ «"• It is not I sat as if thinking this owr K . ■ prompt rejection of the oronnr?!' ^"' '" '™th this what I knew he was IttZT J" ^'^ ''^ '"'""^ ""^"^ me with anger. '^ "*"^ *° ''° ''^ fo"' had filled "And what would be tht. ■ j. of a withdrawal?" i asked '"""^^'^*^ '^''"sequences ••«° you mean the per;o„al consequence to the B Cbecft. jgj countess and yourself? " he asW^H «.;fK of contempt J such a considei ' "^'""°" " I mean to all concerned " "What could but be the consequences where three four hs of a nation had been worked up to de irTt revolutmn and found themse-ves cheated at the Tast moment by the-the timorousness of those in whose name and for whn<^ o-.^^ «.u r . wnose beencarriedo,, .TK u i '"''"'^ movement has Dficn carried out ? The badge of cowardice is a harH one o bear Prince, and the anger of a disappointed peop e would not lighten the disgrace." "^^^""^^ We are no cowards, Baron Heckscher," I replied rarmly,asifstungbyhistaunt 'replied .istlke'yor ""' "°' ^° ^^' '"^^ P-P'e may ^JWe will not,- I returned, with an air of angry ^haus your second point. N^^Xo^bS "It is merely to discuss with you the last arr;,n„» ">en . Under the circumstanced you wi 1 am su '" «e the necessity for making them a siZlf aXgirs^' ">' --"'^ Uh-iir/urptm-: ^at mistake iT^u ''"^*'"^ ^'^^ "°"'<^ ^e a of this™:; week 'wdneT'"'"' ''°'" '"'■'^"■^'^' nf .„ ' '^'^onesday next, the -ountess is f curse no one but the very charming young LI ttat I am assured she is-I mean sh^ L T ■ mson. In that caoacitv .hi ",m?" f !J^^ P"^««^ ^ J. — ^ „iii attcuu cne recep- 162 H Basb for a ^brone. tfon, and in order that there may be no suspicion attachinf^ to her making a public appearance so soon after hei ather's death, it has been arranged that a special ciesire for her attendance shall be exprei^sed by the King. She will merely attend, kiss hands, and pass through the presence chamber, and Jeave the palace at one,:, should it be desired. She car return home until she goes to the ball, whe* e she should be at about ten o'clock. She must be at hand of course when the great drama is played, h\ tvhich we are to take part. When the Act of Abdication ha-^ been read, you will lead her forwurd. Ihat is all. We shall do the rest." , •' And wL." vill follow then ? " " I think she wi;: stay at the palace. It is just in the i^w houra •ii..-ceeding that scene that we shall have to be alerr. The King will be missing, and a Council of State will be called on the followine morn- ing, when she will be proclaimed to the country. After that events will settle themselves rapidly. We are prepared with a petition to the Imperial authorities, which will be signed by nearly every man of influence in the country, to recognise the succession and vali- date the abdication." " But that Act of the King will surely be found to be a forgery ? " I said. My companion smiled and shook his head. " On the contrary it will be genuine. We should not use such clumsy means as forgery. We have it already written. For once His Majesty's lunacy has done his subjects a good service," he said bitterly. " He was minded recently to play a i ^rce of abdica- tion in favour of one of his hounds, declaring his !.i?e mac he v/as dog, a c Cham be the crov alone w< —and w at the th eyes flas lighted I I joine "But presently of his sh we have dead eari is with u official in health ha; " But y " I forg curtly. •' action the *^i a CbCCft. 163 rdTfiTKlrr '".T"' '"'' "'^ ^^^•'"■'■^"» --<^ dogs, and a fit K.ng for them would be a hound. Accori- ■ngly he held what he was pleased to call a Privy Councl-consisting of himself and his do^s nZ t<«e about him knew their business Ld when he hought he had abdicated in favour of his d Jthey fo. ed him to the top of his bent, but drew the docu^ Hav vvm 1.1, ^" '"u^ "'""'^'- The addition of a ria.ev.,Il make everythmg complete ; and thus when ..e madman thought he was only insulting his people he was m fact signing away his throne. He hadThS Chamber, garbed m State robes, and crowned with t e crown of Bavaria. I tell you. Prince, that one Tc^ alone would st.r the blood of even a nation of cravens auLtrou/hT-r^'w"",'""^^'^^- Mybloodbon at the thought, he cried, clenching his fist while h;<= eyes flashed, and his face, usually fmmobile' and coU lighted up with the fires of passion ' " C^i^'?- '" ''• ''"^ °"'^'"'' ofmdignation. prJntlv "W ' " ^'^\ '"°; "'"^^ ""S^--'" he said presently. We are reso ved to act • anH fnnf f of his shall cost him dear. As to B;rHn'so 0^^: we have driven home the conviction that we are ^ dead earnest and that practically the whole count^ -s with us there will be no opposition. The uS official intimation will be publ^hed that the W, health has failed, and the rest follows naturalty.^ ^' But you are forgetting the Ostenburg interest » curtlv Tk""*"'":?' ^'Z'" ""' ^^P"^<^' »°"'«what curtly. I know the public feeling. The very in action the" ai-» oi,„„,; .-n . , °. _ "" '" -J -.-, :--.,,.•.. iiig iviii .uaKc the ijuke Marx ' 1 1 ri I. I : * 164 f^f I ! a 2)asb for a XTbrone. impossible in the eyes of the people. While the country has been writhing and suffering under the insults and iniquities of this madman, what have the Ostenburgs done ? Has one of them raised a finger to help the people or protest against this royal mum- ming? Has anyone of them said a word? And how do you suppose the nation is to interpret that silence and inaction, except as approval of what has been done ? They had the better right of succession and a strong following on their side ; they have for- feited the one by their apathy, and have lost the other as a consequence ; " and he went on to give many reasons for this conclusion. " I admit," he said at the close, " there will be some anxious hours just after the Countess Minna is pro- claimed ; but with all the will in the world, they can do nothing. I tell you there is nothing can stay our success or shake your cousin's seat on the throne when she has once taken it." I allowed myself to appear to share his convictions even while I marvelled at the depth of his duplicity' and I then told him the plan of our movements. He listened closely, and made several suggestions which I said we would adopt ; and he quite acquiesced in my view that during the time Minna was to be lu Munich she should remain in the greatest seclusioM giviNg audience only to himself and two or three others. When I left him my task in Munich was practically finished, so far as he was concerned ; but he advised me to attend a reception at the palace on the follow- ing day but one, the Friday, and I agreed. I felt sure I had left the impression I had gone to create- a CbCCft. 165 that their best time for abducting Minna would be at the moment of her return from the palace ; and I completed my arrangements on that basis Stemitz was waiting for me at the hotel with an important communication from Praga, giving me the particulars of an intended attempt to^lfry off Mini from Gramberg during the night; and though it seemed to me a mad scheme enough, and pretty cer- tarn to be abandoned after my interview with Baron Heclcscher I despatched Steinitz post haste back to the castle to put von Krugen on his guard. Whether ' "^^%«bandoned or not. the fact that we had know- ledge of ,t would render it certain to fail, and I felt no great anxiety on that score. But I soon had cause for anxiety in another direction. The two men whom I had asked to visi Gramberg had not been there, and we were, in fact perilously short-handed for all the work that had to oe done. I was the more anxious, too. to get ext a help because of a weak spot in my plans whfch I ecu d not remedy without further assistance Jj I ^"^"7"^^"^' ''^'^ *^^ P^''°" °f the King and I checkmated them at the last moment by pro ducng Minna and keeping their duke in confinement there was a chance that they might counter my stroke by bringing the mad King back on the scene and thus checkmate me in turn. The only means of ore ' venting this would be to secure that Lse who hefd he King m custody should be loyal to Minna; and U was for this part of the scheme that I had h;ped to make use of the two men. Kummell and Beilager I set out to find them, therefore. ^ I chancpH nrvkn t-u^ — *. i „j,^„ ,„^,„ luj^ciner at the house of 166 a H)a6b for a Ubrone. Kummcll, aivl it did not take me a minute to perceive that there was a decided restraint iti their manner toward me. I had meant to be perfectly frank with them, telling them, indeed, all I knew ; but their attitude madr this ir" - ind for a moment I was at a loss what '**. . ' \ While gaining time to think, I talked p.t Urge upon the importance of the affair generally, and at length asked them point blank why they had not been to Gram berg. " We have been very busy," re '' ' ' nmell, who spoke for both ; and the answer was rather curtly given. "Scarce!,' a sufficient reason, gentlemen, in an affair of th's sort," I replied, in quite as curt a tone, " nor, I presume, the only one." They hesitated, and glanced at me another. " I think you must excuse us if we do not answei the question. In point of fact, I am not yet in a position to do so." " I cannot understand you, and, under the circum- stances, I must ically press you very closely to je frank with me," I urged ; and although they still hesitated and equivocated, I was resolved no to leave without an answer, and I told them as much. " You put us in a very awkwar position, indeed, but the fact is, we ha. ntei.Jed to . lake the visit, and had fixed the day, when we were advised not to do so by Herr Bock " " And who is Herr Bock, pray ? " So utterly unsuspicious v^as I of ?.ny possible mis- chief, that I put a good deal c/" indt nation into the question. Yet it was a blunde jf e grossest ind, and the reply astounded me utterly. B Cbccft. 167 " Herr Bock is your own lawyer, who ha aeen nego- tiating the sale to me of your late mother s property." That confounded property again ! My four years' training on the stage stood me in good stead now, and I masked my surprise with a laugh, as I exclaimed : " Oh that Bock I I did not know it was you who were contemplating a purchase. But why should that keep you away from Gramberg? Were you afraid that a look at the property would put yuu out of conceit with the bargain, or that I should charge you more, thinking you were growing eager ? " But there was more in this *han a laugh could carry off. " No, but he has been in communication with your old family lav/yer, and together they say or think they are on the track of some kind of strange com- plication which I believe in some way touches your- self; how . do not know, but Bock advised me to wait." " This has a somewhat serious sound, sir," I said st'^rnly enough . cover my apprehension. '• I cannot elp t'^ You asked me, pressed me, indeed, for an answ. to your question. In times like these you will understand I feel great need to be cai'hous—o 'er-cautious perhaps you may deem it Bui still here it is." " And what is the nature of this supposed ridiculous ccnplication ? " You must excuse me if I say no more. You knew Herr Bock's address here in Munich." The scent was getting warm. ^ --Z.-.1Z vi i.- ursc see n\m, i answered reeiily. u f- A ll jM ^KT'- 168 B Waeb for a ZTbroite. "And r will find a short method of dealing with . couple of meddlesome attorneys as soon^ar th. busmess of next week is through. And what the do you propose to do ? " " I think we had better not discuss any matters except m the presence of Baron Heckscher " chick-" *° '"" ' '''" ""'' "'■"' "'y fi^»' ^"o.s " I thought I could have relied implicitly upon yo..Moyalty to the House of Gramberg/ri::: stoiidJl""' """'""fGramberg. yes," was the answer stohdiy spoken, yet with a significance I could no, I IZTJ""^^ *° '"y ''°'^' ^"^'y *"d apprehensive Lladrcitn^t 'f ' ™" ^^°"""^^'^ "-'^ f- » maladrcitness m hurrying to sell his property and then gettmg beyond my reach and keep^ngThere Moreover, I could not see what to do. These two bunghng old fools of lawyers h,. I no doubt bein r;xcruid'n-irhfhre^-- Lr,t"^ ''.'^ ''"'' "^ '^""'^ proclaim me : mpostor straightaway; and Heaven only knew what the^consequences of such a step would be at such a On the other hand, the two men I had just left were obviously suspicious of me. Knowing Lth ng of the double plot, it was a. likely as not fhat thaf iny matters a dbccFi. 160 from the mad King's party or the Ostcnbur™ • and tey would go blabbing their suspicions to eve yone plbet' '" '''"""' "'^' ^-''J' rencgad /::„ everrnolTnd'""' "''« » "g<=d ^east. searching ever) nook and cranny of my mind for some device Cd-tr Th-' °' '^7!r E-ything migt;: jeopardised^ This pa,r of blundering meddlers might even now be ,n Charmes, and face to face with fhe re 1 man ; and the truth might come flashing over the wires at any moment But all my anger brought me no nearer a solution There was just one cl^nce-that von Krombere m^'ht stay away on his honeymoon long enough o ajl Ted r' 'r' °' "'^ ""''' ^^^^1^ -^ '° 'hit ot ake Si . """ ""'*• ^""^'■"'y ^ "y^-'f must ce° inlv th. "^""''"y '" S° '° ^''^™«». and as wait, and be resolved to fight when the time cl^TJ" m' r?^ °^ excitement when a servant came and said a lady wished to see me. name ? r^I ' f'f '" «''°"'^hment. " What is her name? It must be a mistake. There can be no curr7d . ''' f°" ^'' "P-" ' "'O'^- off; ^r rt oc! with information to give or sell ; or, perhaps a mes senger from Praga. ,t would do'n'o hafm to see J^V^'^^ '" "^'y =l°sely veiled, and verv h«,.f.-. '-"y, ii very showily dressed. ' ■" 170 a Dasb for a Ubrone. "You wish to see me, madam? What is your name?" ^ She stood silent until the servant had left the room; and I looked at her with considerable curiosity. " So you are the Prince von Gramberg. I trust your highness is in excellent health." Despite the mocking accent, I could recognise the voice, though I could not recall the speaker. It was certainly no one whom I ought to have known as the Prince von Gramberg, and I accordingly made ready tor another unpleasant surprise. •" I am sorry I cannot recall your name ; I think I have heard your voice. * It is too sweet to forget " It IS never wrong to flatter a woman. My visitor stamped her foot angrily. " Yes, you know my voice, and used to like to near it. The little impatient angry gesture told me who she was-Clara Weylin, the actress, who had pestered my hfe out at Frankfort, and had vowed to be revenged on me for slighting her. ^ I wondered what particular strain of ill luck had brought her across my path at this juncture, and I wishea her and her pretty face and sweet voice at the other end of the earth. The coils were indeed drawing closer round me. . m: tyywiife- CHAPTER XIV. THE ABDUCTION. FOR another week at least I dared not make an enemy of my altogether unexpected and v"t u„ welcome v.s,tor, so I answered her with a Imile anH went to greet her with outstretched hand T^Zt glad enough to renew our old acquaintanl '" I know you now," I said cordially. " Of course : .s my old friend and comrade, Clara WeyHn S .s an unexpected pleasure." said I warmly. But she stepped back, and did not take my hand Unexpected, no doubt ; but pleasure scarcelv you were not much of an actor at any ime "S hat would not take in a fool. You are veTy much She tapped her foot again angrily. Next she r^ meTfhl^f °" ^" T''""'^' ^"'^ ^he stood staring me .n the face with a look of defiant hostility. I shrugged my shoulders, and said : Clara° buTi' *'""'^' ""T ^'"'''^"^ '" ^ P^^'io". WonV /°"^ '° ^"'^ y°" '■" °n'= now'with me Won t VOU sit Hnu7n or.^ 4.^11 .„ . „,, , "^ *"^- s all aoout yourself?" 11 I fci* 172 a ©asb for a Ttbronc. h;» , I ■•'^'^alled regretfully our last interview, and bitterly deplored my stupidity in not having a„ wered her letter. An an^ry woman, knowing^h , Scture"' ""'' '° "" "" °f ""-"ief ft th^ "The chief thing about myself, as you say" she excla,med spitefully, "is that my feelings Ld you have changed. I was your friend thin, now will be your enemy." " Then I am very sorry to hear it "-and the tone was genume enough. ■■ But, under the circumstances why take the trouble to come and tell me so ? • serve "h'n"'" "'f-^t '° '"^ y°"' ^'S^"''' • to ob- and to h^,^"^.''^''"r '^'^ y°"' ^^^^ honour, eyes— ugh ! Your highness, indeed." JJ,'T ^°u^°^- ""■ t^'tte^es' was so very bitter that I thought son^e of it at least might be assumed How do you play at that game, Clara?" I laughed While you are ' basking,' what should I do ? " "Not flatter me with lies about being glad to see me," she burst out angrily, " when you would rath have seen the devil." "I w-on't go so far as that," said I lightly, "i don t admire the devil, and I always did admire you, rather have seen you at another time" vicZrSc:.''"^°" "^ -arried," she cried, with a retuLtd "°' "' ' """'" "="" '° '^^ y°" ^->< ' da3° r'^''-rV° -^ '^^" ^y implication in the old days, .she said, showing she understood me. Ube abC)uctiom 173 "Nor you to insult me without implication" I retorted. " But I wish you would sit down It is just as easy to be an enemy sitting as standing " She sat down, and I thought her expression was a htJe less wrathful. "Now then, just tell me plainly why you think it worth while to come here, why you are such an enemy, and what particular injury you think and wish to do me?" " Much more than you seem to imagine," she ex- claimed sharply, her eyes flashing again. The answer pleased me, for it seemed to show that I was successfully concealing the alarm which her visit had caused. Certainly I must not let her have an inkhng of the fact that she could really do any harm. ^ " You are a most incomprehensible creature, my dear Clara. During the years I knew you I paid you as high a compliment as a man can pay a woman-by holding you in the highest esteem and entertaining for you the most honourable admiration And you repay it— by this." "You flouted and laughed at me and scorned me" she cried vehemently. ' "You mean I did not make love to you. Let us be frank with one another. Being what I was, I could not make love to you honourably ; and because I Held you in too high esteem to do so dishonourably will you say I scorned you ? " " Your highness kept the fact of your noble birth very secret," she snapped, with an accent on the "highness" I did not like. I began to fear how much she lew. II 174 a Basb for a XTbrone. I had the strongest reasons, but it was not done to make so clever a woman as yourself my enemy " Then you succeeded unwittingly. One of the pierogatives of your sudden and unexpected in- neritance. ' "Well, we are fighting the air -an unprofitable waste of effort. If you won't tell me, as a friend anything about yourself, then, as an enemy, tell me m what way I can oblige you by letting you injure She laughed unpleasantly. « So you are not altogether free from alarm that I can mjure you ? You are right ; I can " . "^",!^^""i^^ '' °P^" to yo"." I answered, with a show of mdifference. "Why do you want my Duke Marx lured out of the way next Wednesday ? " She dealt the thrust so sharply and watched me so keenly that I marvelled at my own self-control in nidmg all sign of my consternation. " Who is your Duke Marx, and what on earth do you mean ? I asked, my wits busy with the thou^rhts which the question started. If she was the decoy on whom Praga relied, she was m love with him, and her motive in coming to me was just sheer revenge and wo. .n's rage. She held the very kernel of my scheme in her hands, and could blight It in a moment, revealing everything to the other side. Perhaps she had done so already. What a fool Praga had been to trust such a woman! And yet how was I to gauge the power and extent of her love for him, and say to what it might not drive her ? All this rushed through m v head to th. as not done ^ enemy." One of the cpected in- mprofitable s a friend, ny, tell me you injure woman ! d extent ight not d to the ^be ab6uctlom 175 accompaniment of the soft, musical, mocking laugh with which she greeted my question said '^''"^^' ^°" ^'^ "°' ^'' ^^ implication,' she "I thought so, too," I answered, speaking at ran- dom. and waiting for a cue from her. *^ ^ **" "You are a clever man. Prince-if Prince you really are and not merely a daring adventurer-Lt you have left out of your calculations what a wo.r.n's revenge may do." "My dear Clara, we all expect the unexpected in a way, and never prepare for it." I rose from my chair as ,f to close the interview. "Whatever you wish to do, please go at once and do it " doln ""'"'" '^^ '^^^'^^' "'^"^ ^^'^ ^"^ ^°^"g t° the If she left the room the plan would be at an end I fe t that, and I would have given all I had in the world to feel able to stop her. But I dared not show a sign of weakness. I should be in her power for ever and the scheme would be wrecked that way I held the door open for her, keeping my face set and expressionless. At the door she turned and looked at me nVht mto my eyes, when our faces were within a few inches of one another. " You will be sorry for this." she cried, almost be- tween her teeth. ^ " ^ never regret my decisions, except as they in- jure others,;' I replied coldly. ^ stadt 1'^^"'^;^"'^ "^T^^^ ^"' ^°°^' ^"^ ^t'" stood ^nnghani at rne. I thought I knew the struggle tnat was shaking her. It ^v :i. ,. ai^ht wH..k.. uIz^. 176 a Dasb tor a ZCbronc. hate for me or her new love for Praga were the stronger. Her excitement and passion increased with every second that the contest endured. "I hate you," she cried vehemently. " I hate you and I can ruin you." ^ ' I made no sign of having even heard the words I thought she was going, when suddenly her love gamed a sweeping victory. With impetuous force she wrenched the door from me, and slammed it to with great violence, and seemed almost as if she would strike me in the face 'You are a coward and a bully," she exclaimed hysterically. " You only act like this because you know I dare not do what is in my power." Then she turned and rushed back to her seat where she covered her face and burst into a storm of passionate tears. I took a curious course. I left the room. I did not wish her to think I had been gloating over her defeat. I scribbled a hasty note that I had been called away and should be glad to see her another time, and left this to be given to her. This interview had the inevitable effect of increas- ing my uneasiness materially. Each day seemed now to be revealing a fresh weak spot, and the chances of failure were growing fast. Now it was not only the failure of the plot that threatened me, but the disgrace of personal exposure. \ I had had no dishonourable motives in the persona- tion of the Prince von Gramberg ; but the conse- quences threatened to be entirely embarrassing, and. had there been no one else to consider but myself, I should have thrown the thing up there and then. Ube Bbbuction. 177 But there was Minna, and her helpless and precarious position made retreat, on my part, quite impossible. It would be dishonourable to think of myself at such a time, while every chivalrous instinct in my nature made me keenly anxious to secure her safety. But I must see Praga, and hear from him precisely how matters stood in regard to Clara Weylin, and how far she was likely to betray us. With much difficulty, and in the face of considerable risk of my communications with the Corsican being discovered, I succeeded in getting the interview with him. He came to my hotel disguised and after much trouble in shaking off the spies who, he declared, were now always dogging his footsteps. Matters were as I had surmised. The actress was in love with him, and they were to be married. She had played often in Munich, and the Duke Marx von Ostenburg had become infatuated with her. He was persecuting her with proposals, and was in that calf stage in which he would do anything, and risk any- thing, at her mere bidding. There was not the least doubt in the world, declared Praga, that the woman could lure him anywhere she pleased with such a bait as she would pretend to offer. The two had, indeed, concocted apretty little scheme between them,in which] while she and the duke were to be together, Praga,' as the injured lover, was to interrupt them. Then they calculated that the duke, to save his skin— for his courage was not of very high quality— would con- sent to do anything that might be demanded. The actress had come to Munich to put the matter in course, and hearing of me only incidentally as the ■ 1 Ililli 178 •I: villi a a>a8b for a tCbroiic. in reality the Heinrich Fischer against whom she ha.l jng wth me m the street had revealed this to I told him of course, all that had passed between d.e.ussed many other points of the pL and ! an-anged that there need not be anoth "^te We: unless unforeseen mishaps arose '"terview, anfltsolt!^''';"''' '"°.'"^"'«^y ''--■tation had passed, let in ^° °"' *"'' '° "-"^t to my wits to coL B°ut Z '?"!.'' -"-quences th^t m^ the most trvintf '"' -^"^^ '" ^""'"^ "^^^ «">ong xrpe^•nToCt7^cL-=^^^^^^^ concern how worn and anxious I ToolT ' '"" very'ir " S lolt^lt ?s"=u;;''t^ ^'^ and one who has been burning fait L^miS the worst wni°bl'' '""^ ■■\''"'^ ^"^^ "°*' -"'' *- worst will be over," I replied cheerfully but T would have given the world to be abb to tel her what was my chief anxiety " Munth ^ agree with me, I think." ^' ^ ^'^ "°' She looked at me searchinslv. tTbe ab^uctiom lom she had lance nicet- led this to ed between at she was -adiness to no alterna- Then we n, and so interview, 179 "Is it that secret of yours?" she asked quietly. " When will you share it with me ? " •' Probably after Wednesday," I answered, smiling. But you Will believe me loya' to you whether you hear it or not ? " "Loyal? A quick way to make me an enemy would be for anyone to hint the contrary." " You may have your faith tested yet." "Does the secret concern me, then'?" she asked quickly, adding, with a smile, " I think I am dad if it does. I thought—" ^ And she stopped. I hoped I could guess the thought. " It touches the whole question of my loyalty to you and my presence here." "Then I do not want to hear it. I would trust you If the whole world turned against you and sought to turn me also. I do not care now what it may be " she said earnestly, so earnestly that she brought the colour in a great rush to her face, and while still flushed in this way, she asked : - You do not think anything could shake me? " "No, I do not," and my love was very near declaring itself as I spoke. On the journey to Munich her manner to me was so gentle, and tender, and confiding, that I scarcely ventured to look at her lest she should read in my eyes the later secret that I was now guarding even more jealously than the former; and in Munich I would not trust myself to be alone with her during the day and a half that preceded the ball. We stayed in the large mansion in the mfHHU .^.f tne town that now belonged to her, and hadbeeTthe I" 180 a H)a0b tor a Ubronc. residence of the late Prince ; and while there we earned out to the letter tlie plans I had arranged Uniy a few persons came to see Minna-Baron Heckscher and one or two others. Von Nauh^^im called, but she refused to see him, pleading ill. During the whole of that time we kept the strictest and closest guard over her, watching vigilantly day and night. The house might have been in a state of s.ege, indeed. But no attempt was made to approach her. and I gathered therefore that the other side had taken my baft and had chosen the moment for their attempt which I wishec^. The maid who was to personate her on the return ride from the reception was coached and drilled in every particular of her part ; and every detail even of dress was most carefully consttiered and decided I began to feel that after all my fears had been premature, for not a hint or suggestion was dropped anywhere to slow ^.hat any further discovery about myself had be . made. But none the less I ^L in a condition of much inward concern when we started for the reception at the palace. Minna, the Baroness (^ratz, and myself being in the carriage ^ Everything went without a hitch, however. I was m the presence chamber when Minna kissed hands and It was with a feeling of genuine pleasure that' I noticed almost immediately afterwards Baron Heckscher making his way to me. He came up and engaged me in conversation, and I knew that his object was to keep me occupied so that Minna would leave the palace without my escort. I raised no difficulty, and entered into a viVorn.w a..r..,«_. ...;.u O ««*>,MX gClUHg tO SCC ihC H p i :, [ 'f" 'fe-p>. m JHHB g| 1 ip|! I _. .__ .Ml MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) la 2.2 Hi 2.0 Bibu 1.8 ^ d^PUEDjVMGE 1653 East Main Street ^OfPfster, New York 14609 1IS4 (716) 482 -0300- Phor,e ^^ (716) 28a -5989 -Fax inc 182 a 2)asb for a Ubrone. girl who had been carried off in Minna's place, and so find out the trick we had played. After waiting half an hour I changed my Court dress, took my swordstick, thrust my revolver into my pocket, for I did not know what I might have to face and set out. ' CHAPTER XV. t I ( i A TREACHEROUS ATTACK. It was not until I was being driven to von Nauheim's house that I saw a blunder in my plan. I ought not to have left the palace at all, nor to have allowed von Nauheim to be for one moment out of my sight I had seen him while I was in conversation with the baron ; and he had, indeed, appeared to keep near me ostentatiously. This I attributed to his wi^^h ^ make me dissociate him from the attempt on Minna ; and I knew he was at the palace when I left. But he had now had half an hour's grace, and it was obvious that I might have trouble in finding him, and. Ajrther, that he might use the time to get t; see Minnas double, supposing she had not been carried too far away. My suspense during the short drive was very keen. While all was going so well, I my- self had endangered the whole scheme by this act of '"credible shortsightedness. But at his house I was relieved. When I inquired for him. the servant told me he was at home. ^' Has he been long back from the palace ? " I asked indinerentl*', 183 184 t( Not hour. a ©asb for a ZTbronc. very long, your highness; about half r." said the man. ' "' "^" »" " Shoiv me to him at once," I said sharply explaine°dThaT'h ""P'^ '''''" ' ^"'"^^ -'' *e man expiamed that his master was dressing -inH ^hJu would announce my visit. Suspicio s'^f rickert „' even small things, I kept the room door open estvo" Nauhe.m should attempt to slip .way wMe I ."^ shut up .nside it. But he made no attempt ofZ sort, and after keeping me waiting long enou^ i to my patience, he came in smiling^and bearing an a^ of msolent triumph. vvcarmg an air T 1^^' F"'^"^' ^^ y°"'ve come to pay me a visit ^l, , J^^'ur Tu"^^^' '"'"^ to'erer lyLt agam My man told me it was urgent business too You .ook a bit out of sorts. What^s up >" ' ' ^ I come with very serious news," I said matte?? •'■ ^°" '°°'' !'' '°°'" ^' ^'°^' '""• "What's the " That our whole scheme has fallen through Mv TuM T ^""y '^'°" '° ^^'- has be. \rried off by the Ostenburg agents ■> nons^nset tS T O^tenburgs ! Why. man, what hT, V ' T'^' "'"^ ^" ='' of incredulity. ^Half an hour ago she was kissing that lunatic^ " Nevertheless, what I say is true. When she left the throne-room she and the Baroness Gratz erne 'd the carnage to return home, and the carriat" has never reached the house. I cannot account for it "I cned. as .f amazed and baffled. <• That is the onlv B Ureacberous Httacft. )ut half an better luck .ly. id the man nd that he trickery in en lest von hile I was npt of the ugh to try ing an air visit, eh ? my doors iness, too. /hat's the ?h. My irried an, what redulity. lunatic's she left entered ige has or it," I be onlv 185 moment she has not been under the strictest guard and watch. But she has gone, and what can it mean but tiiat they have got her ? " " You mean to say you were so foolish as to let her drive through Munich alone, or, rather, with no one Dut a silly old woman with her, on a day like this and at such a crisis ? Well, you took the responsibility of guarding her, and must put up with the consequences But I can't believe it." " The thing is just as I say." I answered, watching him closely. ^^ He pretended to think, then he shook hb. head and replied : ' "You must have jumped to a wrong conclusion altogether. The thing's monstrous. I expect she's just ordered the coachman to drive about the city a Dit to show off her fine clothes, and is uack by this time. -^ " You know her too well to think anything of the sort. She has a very clear !.:nowledge of the dangers surrounding her." " Then you shouldn't have taken her out of my control. And why do you come to me ? The last tiineyuu were here you made quite a theatrical scene, after which you and I were to be strangers, I thought why, then, come to me now ? " "You have an even closer interest in this part of the plot than anyone else. She is your promised wife ; and it was my duty to acquaint you first with what had happened, and get your assistance in any search to be made." ^ " You're wonderfully mindful of your duty all of 3 suaaen,- he sneered. " Now that you've got us into M \l \ ' 186 a Ba5b for a TTbrone. this mess, you come whining to me to get you out of wa'rmly. '^""^ ""^ "^ """ '^^^'"^ ^°' ^°"'" ^ ^"'"^"''^ " YouVe come quite as willingly as I welcome you Believe that And what do you want me to do?" J You had better join with me in searching for her.' Thank you-for less than nothing. I am to be put to the trouble of trying to find her in order that you may once more have the pleasure of keeping her away from me. I think you had better go and do your own spy work." We were each deceiving the other, though I had he clue to his attitude, and we were both wasting time m quarrelling, which, had we been in earnest we should have been only too eager to spend in the search^ My motive was of course to so occupy his time that he would have no chance of going to the girl ■ and his object was to keep me as long as possible' from makmg mquiries to trace Minna. I let him ap- pear to have his way, and we spent over an hour wranglmg, disputing, and recriminating At last he exclaimed that it was no use for us to quarrel ; we had better go and tell the news to Baron together, I did not care where we went, nor whom we saw ; and after he had occupied a very long time in changing his dress again-time wasted purposely, of course— we drove to the baron's house. He was a far better actor than von Nauheim, and his consternation and anger were excellently as- sumed. ^ it It i IS ruin to evervthinc- iir^r.r ^^..i.i n a Urencbcroiis attacft. /uu aiiow 187 it, Prince ? We have placed the most precious charge m your hands have left to you what it was your ri2 as the only male relative of the countess, to clai.» the most dd.cate work of protecting the person oTour uure Queen; and now this has happened, astounded, dismayed, completely baffled I had not .he famtest dea that even a soul amon^ the whol Ostenburg c.rcle had a thought of what we we c plannmg; and now, just when everything is all but npe, th,s calamity has fallen like a thunde^rbolt ' lent"h ''^ f°"?''""^dto lament in this fashion ai great length and with most voluble energy_an exceed ingly artistic waste of much further time lat'er^on'"'" If th"' "''" "'"' ^'P"'" "''''■" ^' "'-^ later on. If these men get wind who has been in the God's rp°' "V^ *'" ""' ''"' -'•"> ™urde . For God s sake. Prince, be careful. You must be of course associate.' with the unfortunate countess as her relat-Ve and as the late Prince's successor, and I warn !;: ™ost solemnly to be on your guard, most caret) Z It was a clever stroke, and I understood it well enough. I was to be attacked, but my susnic,onr!.f ai^icity on his part were to be ^iS'^^]^ ''My life is of no account ; I will not live indeed .^through my lack of care, anything happi:;'"' my ZZ.tZ "^-^ -'>'-'-,■■ I exclaimed' And this was made the text for a further and onger discussion, until at last Baron Heckscher cried out, as if in sudden dismay : "But what are we doing? Wasting time in un- * ) 188 ^1 { a Dasb for a XTbrone. availing discussion, while that innocent -irl may be enduring, God only knows what." w^'?^ ^° ""^ ^^""^ ^''°' ^' '^ ^^"^"y distressed. We had occupied hours of valuable time wher. mmutes would have sufficed, had we really been in earnest ; and the hour when we were due at the ball was fast approaching. "But what of to-night's proceedings?" asked von Nauheim, " We must go forward as if nothing of this had happened. I, for one, am all against giving up until we are really beaten. I will cause inquiry to be made at once m a hundred different quarters by our friends and agents, and maybe we shall yet find the countess in time for to-night's work. Is not that best ? " I pretended to demur. "I fear it is useless. Cannot everything be put off until my cousin is found ? " " No, no, far safer to go on," answered the baron, a httle too eagerly. "Even if we cannot present the countess as the future Queen to the people to-n.ght we are almost sure to be able to find her before to' morrow ; and we must make the best excuse possible for her absence to-night." I raised more objections, and thus wasted more time, only giving way in the end with apparent reluctance. Nearly another hour passed in a fresh heated discussion, and when we separated, it was ten o clock. I calculated that von Nauheim might safely be left now I had kept him without food for five hours, and I knew he would barely have time to rush home, put on his fanCV drp«<; rn«fniv>.:^ o«^»_u _ i_ . ^ »"...v., OIHH.V.II a. nasty meal. a ZTreacbcroue Bttacft. 189 and get to the ball at the appointed time for the meeting of the chief actors in the night's business. I was soon to have evidence, however, that if I had been active in my preparations, my anta^^onists had also been busy, and had laid deliberate plans for my overthrow at that very moment. When I left the baron's house, I found, to my sur- prise, that my carriage had gone. " You can't even' keep in touch with your own servants, it seems, when you want them, to say nothinjr of guarding the Countess Minna," sneered von Nauheim. "Apparently not," I answered; but my momentary chagrin was merged the next instant in the thought that this was probably no accident. I remembered that von Nauheim had left the room once for a few minutes, and I read the incident as a danger signal. ** " We'd better have a cab called," he added, and he sent a servant out for one. ^^ When the man returned with one, my companion "Come along, Prince, we've no time to lose" For a moment I hung back, but reflecting that I had better not even yet show my hand, I followed nim. The man drove off slowly at first, and as the vehicle lumbered heavily along, I felt in my pocket make sure my revolver was ready for use in need. Von Nauheim was obviously nervous. At first he whistled and drummed with his fingers on the •- rr «.:? a. \jdl K window, and peered out into the streets night, and the driver had left the main road anTwa^ !« !1 190 a H)a0b tor a XTbrone. takinjT us through some narrow and ill-h'ghted streets, and was driving much more quickly. "Where's the idiot taking us?" exclaimed von iNauheim, assuming a tone of anger. "Doesn't the dolt know his way?" "He shouldn't have left the main street, should he? I asked unconcernedly. "Tell him which way to drive. I don't know it." He put his head out and called to the driver and a short heated altercation took place, which ended in von Nauheim bidding him drive as fast as he could smce we were in a furious hurry. The man now whipped up his horse, the cab travellmg at a very quick pace indeed, rattling and jolting, swaying and bumping over the rough road with great violence. I began to think there was a plan to overturn it and take the chance of dealiti- me some injury in the consequent confusion, when I might lie in the ruins of it. But there was more than that intended. I did not know the district in the least, but I knew vve had already been much longer in the vehicle than should have sufficed to carry us either to von Nauheim's house or mine, and I thought it time to put a stop to the little play. "Stop him," I said to my companion. "I am going no farther in this crazy thing. He's either a tool or drunk, or worse." "What are you afraid of?" he returned, with a laugh. '« We're going all right, I know where we are And I saw him look out anxiously into the dark. " Well, I'm going no farther." a trrcacbcrous Bttacft. 191 ^.ns carried away fro„, Munich in or ,c to p/evr: my being present at the ball. Prevent To jump out was impossible without mvm'' ''^•■"O"^- Pay And ri^* r' f ^' '"' y°" g^t "y instructions." And w,th that I clapped my heels into the ribs of my borrowed horse and galloped off through the dark laughmg to myself at the .hought *lmt von Nauhe-m himself had fallen into t... clukhJs of t^e very rascals in whose hands he had desiglj^ to W CHAPTER XVI THE BALL AT THE PALACE. The count had good ; cattle, and the horse that carried me back to Munich answered gamely to the calls I made on him. At any cost I must get back to rhi house at the earliest possible moment; and though I did not know the road, and could see scarce a dozen feet ahead of the horse's ears, I plunged along at a hand gallop, trusting to his instinct and my own luck, that had already stood me in such good stead that night. I had not much difficulty in finding the way, and I reined up twice to ask it of people whom I met; and at last I chanced on a man on horseback, who rode with me to within a few doors of my destination. I kept a wary eye about me as I rode into the courtyard of the house, and my first act was to call a groom on whose discretion I knew I could rely. " Take this horse round at once to Count von Nauheim s stables," I told the man, " and say he has requested you to bring it. Don't mention my name. I wish you to find out whether the horse is one of his, but not to say a word to show that 1 have sent you. ig6 TOe »an at tbe palace. 197 Report to me immt ;ately on your return. I must have your news before I go out to-night." The man mounted and was off instantly, and as I had expected, he brought me back word that the horse was one of the count's stud. In the meanwhile my arrival allayed the very reasonable alarm which my prolonged absence had caused. It was long past the time at which we were to have started for the ball, and all the others were dressed and waiting for me impatiently. Von Kriigen came to me with a telegram which had arrived some time before, and as I tore open the envelope with feverish haste, I told him the pith of what had happened. The message was from Praga and to my intense relief it was worded as we had agreed it should be if all went well. " Caught mail. Arrive by first delivery " TK "'?^°?"l^''^' ^"^ '^^^' ^"^ "^^^"^*"g "^"ch to me. The Duke Marx had been secured, and Praga himself was coming on to Munich at the eariiest moment I was glad enough of this. If these attacks were to continue, the stronger force we had the better '•The countess is full of anxiety to see you. Wince " said von Krugen. when I had told him the news ' " I will go to her directly, but I must dress at once bee that something for me to eat is got ready directly Is^^there any news of the Baroness Gratz or of the " None, there is not a suspicion of the trick " My spirits were rising fast, for everything was goine well. Despite all their devilment I was master of the position I held their man in my clutches ; and before the niVht - • - • uro . .,„!_ » ^-wupic ui nours older they 198 a Dasb for a Zbvonc. should see openly enough that I had outwitted them. But it was exciting work. Before hurrying to put on my fancy dress costume —I was going as a French courtier, a dress in which I could wear a sword and could conceal a revolver easily~I went to Minna's rooms to let her know I had returned. She came to me looking so radiantly lovely that I gazed at her in rapture. We had chosen her dress with a care for the part she had to play that night, ana she wore a double costume. In the first place she was to wear a plain dark domino covering her entirely from head to foot, the head, of course, to be hooded and the face entirely concealed by a large mask. But underneath this she wore a gorgeously brilliant dress as Maria Theresa; the rich magnificence of the costume being further set off by a profusion of jewels of all kinds, which sparkled and glittered with dazzling brilliance. On her head as crown she wore a splendid tiara of magnificent pearls. This was all arranged of set purpose. My object was that in the first part of the evening she should run no risk of recognition at all ; and that on the instant when I led her forward as the actual Queen, she might produce the greatest possible impression of queenly wealth, grandeur, dignity, and loveliness. If the impression on others were only half as strik- ing as it was upon me, I should be more than satisfied; and if a beautiful and queenly presence could win adherents, there was not a man in the ball-room who would not be on her side. She enjoyed the effect of her loveliness upon me, and stood smiline with brierht evp«5 a« f «a»«^ t* Vl/ Ubc JBall at tbc palace. 199 I d , cousin?" she asked, with a dash of « Shall coquetry. " The most lovely vision I have ever seen," I cried. " Not vision, cousin Hans," she said, shaking her head and shrugging her shoulders till the million facets of her jewels gleamed with irridescent lustre. " Only flesh and blood— and rather frightened flesh too. I was beginning to fear for you. What has happened ? " " All is going splendidly," I said ; but I could not keep my eyes from her. " You are a Queen indeed," I added. " If all Queens were like you, royalty would have no enemies. You will make a profound impression to-night." "I am satisfied if you are pleased," she answered. " But I am afraid of to-night's work, Hans," she added, with a slight movement of alarm, like a passing chill of fear. " I shall be glad when it is over, and we are all safe back here." " If all goes well, you will sleep in the palace to- night as Queen-elect of Bavaria— the Queen of us all." "No, no; I don't wish that. I wish to be here among my friends. I feel safe here ; I should be frightened there." " Your friends will be with you there also. You do not think we should desert you ; by to-morrow yourfrien'ds will have multiplied to half a nation." 'But my enemies— what of them? That is mv fear." ^ "I hold the hostage that will silence them, and— But trust me and all will be well, better, I hope, than » V e have played a hazardous game, i r,^« 200 a Dasb for a ttbronc. know; but I have just heard that the move which must _dec,de .t m our favour has been made success youls^eJ"" *° '""'"'" ""•"^'="^<^- "And for ^I^stopped, I was losing my head in the craze of her "You would what? "she asked, putting her hand on mme. and setting me on fire with a look which I thought and hoped I could, read. sav thT ^""'' "'" u"""'' '"^'^^^"'""g temptation to say what was m my heart and thoughts I said stolidly, dropping my eyes. She snatched her hand away, and turned from me with a toss of the head. "I wish I had never gone on with this," she exclaimed impetuously. ■■ It was not my wish I should not if you had not persuaded me- No I don't mean that at all. Forgive, cousin, I am so thourht- less, she cned, changing again quickly. " I know all F::Jrme°"%f '"'■ ^"^ ' ^^ ""' -^^'^f:" forgive me She came again and put her hands back into mme. " I am such a poor Queen even for a t„^fith.T 7? TH ''y''"^ '^^" ^f""'- «"d I had ceeS "'^''"' '" '"'"''• ^"t ^ ''"=■ "Don't speak of forgiveness ; there is nothing to forgive. What lies before us to-night is enough to make anyone anxious. I can understand you." ' ' li t*e »aH at tbc palace. 201 she drew her hand hfs^Iyavfay '"' '"°"'' "'^^" wol~ fcea^ri;'}^,rst,-^ y/r t.me I was donning my courtier>r.,!K ^ " ^" "''' fulness puazled 1. Sometoes^ T . "T "''?^'- scarce know what I wa, n^! T ■ *'°P«'i-well, 1 and at others I felred But l . '"°"^^ *° ">'"'^; than my fears on th.t 7 ^ f'^' '"^'^ -'""""^^^ use than Its promoters had projected I could not drive with her tn n,» ' i necessary that I should ar.L Jot 'a 71' h' h' "" cured an invitation for her In anoth» ""^ P™' Krugen was to be in constant .1^ "^"'"- ^°" with urgent instruc&ns neTel to l.t'?'' "P°" ''^^• sight , and Steinitz. who w" s aL" tn " °"' "' "'^ and carried a, swnrH , 7 ^ ^ "^"^ ^^ " courtier -ainin^arrdSariX-nltr^^^^^^^^^ another^donlTnVrr 'r:^;:r S "^^'^ ^"^ shape, we Epf 203 H Basb for a Zbvonc. had had a small cross of red silk sewn on each shoulder. I was very busy with my thoughts and full of anxiety as I drove away. So far as I could see now, my plans were complete I had the Duke Marx in my hands ; I had outwitted my opponents and could produce Minna at the very moment when they, reckoning on her absence, would have pledged them- selves over the hilt in her cause ; no one had breathed a hint to show that my assumption of the part of the Prince was more certainly known than a few days previously; and I had a 'fairly accurate knowledge of my opponents' tactics and aims, while they were ignorant of mine. ^ It was probable enough that my appearance at the ball safe and sound after von Nauheim's attempt on me would cause some consternation, and no doubt I must be well on my guard for the rest of the evening. I was very late in entering, but that would only give colour to the supposition that I had been trapped by von Nauheim ; and I thought I might perhans turn it to account by surprising something out of the men who did not expect me. With this object I fastened my mask very firmly— it was a large one, and hid my features successfully ; and, taking a hint from my old stage experiences, I humped up one of my shoulders, limped on one leg, and in this way hobbled, with the gait of an old man,' into the ball-room. It was a brilliant scene indeed. The magnificent suite of rooms were decorated in the most lavish manner, each in a different style and period; a garish blaze of light in places contrasted with the n on each Ubc JJall at tbe palace. 203 soft, seductive tints of others, while the artistic com- bination of decorative colouring, the changing play of the electric fairy lamps of every conceivable hue, the grouping of hundreds of palms and ferns with con- trastmg masses of gorgeously coloured flowers, a thousand guests in all the exuberant splendour of the most exquisite costumes, and the sparkling glitter of myriads of jewels, made up a scene of positively gorgeous fascination. To me it was a great stage, on which all the people present were but supers, walking, dancing, chatting, laughing, and love-making, to fill up time until the really important characters should have their en- trances crJled. ^ Near to the door, as I entered, a clown was fooling clumsily and awkwardly, and passing silly jests in a disguised voice with all who passed him. I knew him directly. It was the mad King, and on the sleeve of his clown's tunic I saw the mark that told us who he was. Round him in busy hum I heard loud whispers about the greatness and clever- ness of the King, and every now and then he would stop his silly jesting to listen to these comments. " 'Tis easy to see thou art a soldier, old hobbler," he called to me, and ran and planted himself in my path, and peered up in my face. " Why's that, clown ? » I asked, in an old man's voice. • Because thou canst not help shouldering arms," he cried, humping up his own shoulder in ridicule of mine ; and at the silly jest the crowd round bUj-st mto roars of loud Court laughter, with cries of ^' How excellent ! " " WHnf ..r-:f • " « \xtu Ti iiat Wil { vvno is mis great 204 a ©asb for a ttbrone. jester ?•• and a hundred other notes of praise of his wonderful clowning. J^r'u °"' "°' "'■P'^"'"'' '° '^*^«= been mistaken for an old man, and I made my way slowly round the grand rooms, looking for the men I had to meet and wondenng wl,y the King was still at large. l' me't h?r'"^H'\'°°' 'r'' "' '"' P'^-^-^ -here ! had met h,m and when at length I saw that he had gone I judged that this meant he had left to changf h,s' costume and that the occasion of that change lould be seized for the purposes of the plot. And just as I netted that, a voice which I recognised as the Baron Heckscher's fell on my ear. hapjened!'"^ ^''' '"' '^°"'' ^""^^'^^'"^ "^^>' ^^- "I have suspected him from the first. It spells treachery," said another. ^ It was Herr Kummell. I had reached the far end of the suite of rooms and at the back of me was ^deep alcove or small ante- room, at the mouth of which the two men were standmg, some others being farth.^r inside. I guessed they were speaking of me, and I stood concealed by one of the pillars which supported the domed roof and kept my back to them, listening with all my , "I do not wish to think that," answered the baron in a tone of assumed reluctance. « But what you Have told me is very extraordinary." " He has purposely put her out of our reach. You will never find her. I am for letting matters pass think.'^''^ ''^''^'^ ^"^^ ^^"^ '^ ^'' ^^'^ ^ha^ I 1^ Zbc Ban at tbc palace. 206 It was certainly nothing less than a disaster that the two men who. of all those in the scheme, were really loyal to Minna and should have been of the utmost value in co-operating with me, were, through the unfortunate turn of things, suspicious of me and hostile. I could, of course, do nothing now to un- deceive them; but it was an additional aggravation that Minnas supposed disappearance should have been made to appear as the result of my treachery "We cannot go back now," I heard the baron say. "Indeed the curtain has drawn up already. 1 he King has gone for his change of dress." They turned then into the alcove to join the rest and I moved away. Soon afterwards I dropped the shuffling gait of an old man and walked to the alcove with quick, firm footsteps. "Good-evening, gentlemen." I said. "I am late but that is no fault of my own." * My arrival produced an evident surprise, and even the astute Baron Heckscher showed some signs of it "You are indeed very late, Prince." he said. « We had begun to fear that you were going to fail us at the last moment." "Have you found the Countess Minna?" asked Kummell. "Or perhaps you have been detained searching for her?" His tone rang with contempt, and he made no attempt to hide his suspicions of me. "That is a question we should put to Baron Heckscher here," I answered, in a tone which made the latter start and look at me. " I mean, of course that he almost pledged his word to find her in time for to-night's work. Have you any news, baron?" Sf! M Dasb for a Ubronc. M ttavt every hope that all will yet be right," he "Those who hide can find," said Kummell. " 1 hey can, and ' wish they'd be quick about it " I amnted curtly. "But we frave no time now for dis- cussion. We have to act. And I shall be glad to be informed how matters stand. Are all the arrange- ments complete > " Kummell and his friend Beilager, the baron, and I had been standing apart from the rest, who were grouped together, engaged in a low but animated conversation, of which I ' did not doubt I was the subject. Baron Heckscher moved across to the larger group as I put the question, and I took advantage of the moment to say to Kummell ir a low, earnest tone: "You have done me the ill turn to suspect me, and before the night is out you will have cause to admit your error. I shall rely upon you implicitly to stand by your loyalty in what is to come to-night. After- wards we can have an explanation if necessary," and without giving him time to reply I went after the baron. A short and hurried statement of the present pos.'*bn of things followed, the pith of which was that all was in readiness, and we might exrrct the news at any moment that the final coup wa? . br; made. A few minutes later a messenger hurried into the alcove and spoke to the baron, who then turned to us, a '! in a low tone said : "Gent.v th rulfcr of Bavv ife' '* King is ours. God bless the new Ebe Sail at tbe Palace* .or A murmured echo of the words from all present was drowned by a loud las fare of trumpets and thumping of drums from the other end of the domed hall, and these heralded as we knev\ the coming of the King's substitute. We moved out at once to take our places for the big drama, and I looked round anxiously for the dark domino of Minna. As I cau^^ht sight of her in the distance, I found that my heart vas beating with quite unusual violence and ^>peed. X. / 4 r ^ #'^^^:r I ' CHAPTER XVII. I CHECKMATE ! The entrance of the mad Kine's under.:t„^„ i, a ^- >en a„anged with scrupulous f;e to efet ^he ostentatiousTnTll^lSetr;^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ he was wont to indulge. '^vagance in which The supposed King was made up to represent a Chinese Emperor, the full robes offering effec"ual tb Kin";"' 1 1"^ ""^""^^ ''^'»'^- thf figte o tft^ King and his substitute Vfi<. h^^A ^ l^ ^^ rZ wte S itouf '"'""^'^ ^'"'^'-J- •■ -'I i^s 20o ^ derstudy had effect. The md they were n the scale of ance in which • represent a ing effectual he figures of id was bald le long, coai- y concealed e face drawn ae ; and his embroidered ind weirdest ne by oight ''^^g a skin ire ; and as of the hall. Cbccftmate ! 209 [hey turned in all directions, and set their faces rrin \zr%r'''r' -^.^--ng withTir j^d in /^.\Pt>^"q"»n itself was decorated and be t ir K^ ^^^^'^^ ^^^''^^^^y with which ine unatic King was accustomed to squander his ()eople s money in trifles and foolin- So gorgeous and costly was every appointment of ' h M ' ^'V'"'" ^^^^ '^' ^Pectatorfmarvdled at t:;S^^^ the wastefulness thafmld" But_itwas quite impossible to mistake the whole mg^fbr aught but a royal freak ; and thc^^p^ sent did not need the private mark thlT ^ usual on the ar., to reve^, to IrtaVthe bll? ?r.nning, sumptuously-apparelled figure that s^t 3^' lin a high-p.tched voice as though indulmn„ in r^ [greetings, was their King, '"d"'g'"g "n Chinese The whole scene was too characteristic of him Behind the palanquin, grouped with clever Regard Ito colour efiects, were the members of TZ ^ suite, all attired in rirh ',.°^''^ °^ * numerous I . ■ aiurca m rich Chmese costumele of this fantastic business my ex- 1 citement had been growing fast. I knew that with comparatively few exceptions all the people present were dead against me and in favour of the Ostenburg interest. For months—for years, indeed— they had been working, striving, and plotting for the end which they now thought to be within their reach. Among them, as I had had abundant evidence, were mcnl desperate enough to stop short of no excesses to gain! that end ; and yet I was seeking to checkmate them| in the very hour of success by a single, bold stroke. All the men who had taken a leading part in thel plot had dispersed among the audience, each having a definite part assigned to him. I myself stood apartj leaning against a pillar, with Steinitz not far from me, and when the procession had just passed me, a deep| voice close to my ear said : " A striking ceremonial, Prince." I looked round, and thought I recognised the lithe, sinewy face of the Corsican Praga, whose dark, glit- tering eyes were staring at me through his mask. "Very striking. Who are you?" I asked cau- tiously. " I carry the tools of my trade," he replied, touch-, ing lightly his sword. " And I am badly in want of| work." Cbecftmatef 211 " Why are you here ? " |„;;;,. ^™ ^ ^°'-' °f Postman-I bring news of the |by ittrTenat:' ^ '"'' °' ''' --''' ^"' ><"- h™ " And what is the news ? " "Of the best, except for one thing." His tone alarmed me somewhat w^ ^ I "That Clara is a devil Prinn- an^ . lof hpr QK^ u 4. -fnnce, and we must beware K this busL'""^ ^°"' ^"' '- •'- '- ■•" t- way: hhSl'Va:::,^^"'-"' Speaicout. Where "Safe, and where no one will find him. Drunk as I.,, r t'^" '''°'"'' ''^> ^"d the wine that ;^ H from the water couldn't malce him drunrer IShe lured h>m out to Spenitz ; and, when she had t-o^' £=^fr:rttT^v-£?^-:: othe world's end in tL mfod Te 'wo'td 'Z j« I ehuckled louder every freTrntt kSL?'' "'"' ^°" '^°"'"^ ^''^ ' " ' -l^ed in I had to bram him to ^et h.m fK^.^ t._ ? . " le'safool!" ° """'"" '"^^■^*'^"s, uut 212 a H)a9b for a TTbrone* "Get on with the story, man," said I impatiently 1 want to know what you fear is wrong ? " fhl "lT"t! """^ ^'^^t ^^'"^' protesting only now and U^en that he must be back soon, and must be in Munich to-ni-ht ; but she stopped his protests with a kiss, and the fool was as happy as a drunken down We reached Friessen, and then the play begaa While they were billing and fooling in the house, I slipped a saddle on the horse's back in place of hiJ harness, went out on to the road, and, after I had given him less than half an hour with Clara, I came galloping up to the house at full stretch, for all the world as If I had followed them every yard of the way from Spenitz, and I rushed into the room with my sword drawn, spluttering out oaths, and vowing I d have his life on the spot." ' « Well ? " fJi'^uT'" ? J''°'^ assortment of cowardice in thatl ittle body of his. He has too many good things in this life to wish to leave it, I suppose, for he could scarcely make enough show of fight to make it plausible for Clara to rush in between us, throw her- self on her knees, and, with a clever bit of acting pray that there should be no bloodshed. I blustered and raged, and at length consented to spa»-e his wee chip of a life; but I forced him to swallow an opiate that made him as drunk as a fool, and will keep hiJ quiet for a dozen hours or more. Then I bound and gagged him to make doubly sure, and locked him up in an underground cellar. We can keep him there a close prisoner for a month if need be, and not a soul will be the wiser, unless — " " Unless what ? " I cried. Cbccftmatc t 213 " Unless the beloved Clara should choose to say [what she knows." ^ " Do you suspect her ? " " I don't know what she means, or what she wants, bhe IS torn between her desire to help me and to hurt you ; and which will win in the end, I can't say. She has done this for me, but having done it, she is singular enough to turn round and try to hit at you in some other direction. I can't answer for her ; and I thought It best to tell you so." "If you think she means to tell of his whereabouts, we 11 send out to-night at once and change it " "I can't think that, because it would be treachery to me. In fact, I'm sure she won't She knows me pretty well by this time, and I swore to her that if she did anythmg of the kind I'd wreak a bitter ven- geance on her and the duke. I'll do it too," he growled, with a deep guttural oath. " But what do you fear, then ? " "She is back to-night in Munich for some object- and as she is deep in with the Ostenburg lot, trusted by them, too-it is through her that most things have leaked to me-we may look for her to fend off su^- picion from herself for this decoy work by striking at you, n some other way. So you know what to expect" I iiut ,f she IS helping you, why should she turn against me ? " I said, perplexed. JJ^or the best of all reasons. Prince-she is a The fact that I could not solve the enigma did not imeT T. f"^ '' ^'^ "^"^' ^"^ ^-^ there been ^me I would have taken some measures of precaution out It was tnn laf#» «^,., 117 ^ v,v-auuuu. ' -•"- »v c iiiusc go on, whether to 2U a Baab for a Ubvonc. 1 me that .H "' '■ '"' " ^'="'^'' ^* *«= -J-'^ showed me that the moment for the Act of Abdication had arnved. and we both turned to watch the procrdin^ ' eiv? t ttr"""' "'' "'^r^y carefully planned ?„ I give It the appearance of formal reality. A loud herald stepped forward and announced that Hi maTel^ Lte "I '^' ' "^'^"^'^ communicaL" | make at once Everyone of the Privy Councillors present went forward and stood in a group about fh' throne and among them were the Bfr^n Hecks he I and five or six of the men who had been t socated as leaders -in the scheme. To them the', pseudo K,ng made many bows, and choos.ng h Baron Heckscher as his mouthpiece, delivered by W„ ' a message to the rest. Then the trumpets War d m the ordmary Court dress of the King himself, bu he remamed masked, of course. He next h^ded paper to the baron, who handed it to one of th heralds and the latter, „.ho had been prlX coached as to .ts contents, read it out in a loudS- mg voice to all the people assembled. ^ Ihis was the royal proclamation that His Maie^t, had Resolved to abdicate, and that he had nomS the countess Minna von Gramberg, the near" port heT^ArtH-"' '''''" "P°" ''' P-P'« t° -" port her. At this juncture I made my way to where Mmna was standing in her hooded domino, b/v Krugen, and took my place beside her. She wa trembhng violently, and I whispered , word or two , encouragement, Checkmate I 216 You had better get ready to unmask, and throw aside the domino," I said, and her reply was drowned in the ringing cheers of the crowd. There was no mistaking the heartiness which greeted the news of the abdication ; but the question for us was whether there would be the same cheering when It was found that Minna herself was present to accept the honour thus offered her. At first those people who were not in the secret had been altogether unable to grasp the meaning of the proceedings; but those in the plot soon led the way and as they were scattered thickly all about the room they spread the news quickly, and by assuming to take the whole thing as genuine, induced the rest to endorse an event they desired only too keenly Then followed the Act of Abdication. The crown was brought by a page to the King, and he took it and placed it on his head. This was followed by a moment of silence. The trumpets blared out again ; and the herald announced that His Majesty would lay aside the crown in accordance with the proclamation and as a sign that he renounced it for ever in favour of his successor. The action was watched in deep, dead silence ; but no sooner had it been completed than the chorusing crowd who had been carefully coached, broke out into louG and vociferous cries and shouts of "Long live Queen Minna." ^ "Now, Minna," I whispered anxiously; for she seemed too anxious to make the slightest attempt to ?.?f!!^, "^" ^"^""^^^^ "^°^^"t ^ '""St le^d you 216 ( i a 2>a0b for a Zbtonc. As the cries died away, the man on the throne now uncrowned, moved aside, and with a bow to those round h.m, walked quiclcly away out of thelln calUoTthTgref " "'"^ °^ '--Pets and afresh "Come, Minna ; you must come," I said firmly • and I myself unmasked, drawing the attention o ^l m the room upon me by this act. ^ 3ut the girl at my side made no movement She ouf h T i° *''""''"■ '^°^^^^^' ' ^ I found when sh put her hand on my arm come"ffi^jf'= ruined, Minna, if you do „o, come, 1 said, and m my excitement I touched h« dommo, as if to draw it away roucned her A low soft laugh was the answer I got. I looked up in the deepest astonishment. I be^an to fear I knew not what. A glance at th. , mark on the domino told me there wafn! .T Tu^ 1.V4.1 t t-xicre was no mistal^p it all meant. "* '^*'"^ ^ ''"««' "'hat The mask was slipped off, but instead of Minna the face of Clara Weylin met mine with a loorof exasperating mockery in the insolent, trfumptan. sen^el *' '"°""'"' ' "" "''^ " '»^» "-«« of his ie. on the throne, h a bow to those of the hall. >ets and a fresh 5aid firmly ; and intion of many ovement. She bund when she if you do not I touched her ot. lent. I began at the secret as no mistake, next me was ■ I knew what ad of Minna, ith a look of I triumphant bereft of his "Th. face of Cara Wey,|„ .. .ine with a ,00. of e.va.peratin, n.oc.er, .._p. .,, CHAPTER XVIII AFTER THE ABDUCTION. "This is my revenge, Herr Fischer." The words were spoken in an angry, taunting voice, quite loud enough for many people round us to hear and they looked at us in the broadest astonishment ihey recalled my scattered wits. "Captain von Krugen. what is the meaning of this ? I demanded, in a quick, stern tone of the man who was starin(T in abject helpless bewilderment at the woman who had thus tricked us so cleverly "You have betrayed your trust, sir, and God alone knows what the consequences will be " Meanwhile the cries for the Queen Minna were growing m volume and echoing all around us, and I saw the Baron Heckscher look ecdss at me. The men about the throne had unmasked. I thought rapidly. It was no use wasting time in reproaching or abusing the woman who had fooled us. We were in a mess which might ruin not only my scheme, but he whole of us. While the people were still shou'ting for the Queen, I hurried back to where Praga w.« 817 218 H Dasb for a XTbrone. standing, and in a few words told him what had occurred. " She is the devil. I feared something. I'll — " " Don't waste time. We have one strong card yet, and must keep possession of it. You are still true to me ? " I asked. " As true as death, I'll show — " " Then you must do this. Return at once to Friessen with all possible speed — you and Captain von Krugen. Take the duke away anywhere, and lodge him in a place of safety. If neither of you can think of a better place, carry him to Gramberg ; but one of you will probably know of some place where he can be kept as a hostage. If I cannot hold him prisoner, our last hope is gone." " She will never say — " " I trust no woman again in a thing of this sort. Put him where she cannot tell anyone where he is. You will have to ride all the way, I expect. No matter. Take the best horses in the stables here and ride them to a standstill, if necessary. You must go at a hand gallop the whole way : or, perhaps, you can get a special train to Spenitz. Anything, but for God's sake go — and at once. You can deal with the woman afterwards." I called up von Krugen, and gave him the hurried orders. " Remember at any cost to keep him a prisoner, and let me know where he is." These were my last words to the two, and spoken with almost fierce earnestness. As I turned from them I beckoned Steinitz to me, '• I am fra\np to snpak tn that vvnman in a dark after tbc abburtton. im what had m the hurried m a prisoner. an in a dark 919 domino When I leave her watch her as you would watch the devil, an.l let me know where sh/,"era„d to hom she spenks." b".c*ua I went back U Clara Weylin. "Will you sive me an interview presently?" I asked, very quietly, addin^ significantly, •' it will be " IZnl' -f7i^i.o|you," she replied scornfully. ^^ it will be safer," I repeated. " I don't wish to speak to you " "It will be safer," I said for "che third time- and b:ut t^r ''' """ ^^ ^'^^^^ ''^ -^^" ^^-te^^^^^ about the throne were waiting for me "Where is the Countess Minna?" asked Baron Heckscher; and he could not restrain the evidence of his feehng of triumph. cviuence oi unable to be present. Baron Heckscher has known ai/r', T ''^' *''^ ^™"'<^ ^'^ 'he case." ? said this loudly enough for those about u., to hear and a glance into the man's face told me that he new of my sudden disappointment, and was en oy! "ig h,s tnumph supremely. I kept out of my voice and manner all signs of alarm or anger, and added qujetly to the baron, "You had better a;nounce her ■ndisposition, and stop this clamour " On seeing me cross to the throne those who were ird^:n:sr "°' ^^ ''- -^ '- ^'"^ ^ menC hi^ald'"""^ '"' ''' ^''^^' °^ '^^ ''-PP°'nt- '• Yet you will have to," said I, with a look h. r^nM not laii to wnderstand, 220 a Baeb for a Ubtone. " I don't understand you," he returned hotly. " I will not fail to make my meaning quite plain," I retorted. " And you may not find the course so clear as you think." " What message shall I have announced ?" " That the Countess Minna von Gramberg accepts the high mission to which she is called, but that to- night she is too unwell to be present," I answered ; " and let the message be given at once." " We can't do that," he replied, seeing my object- to bind him to this public acceptance of the throne by Minna. " She must be here in person to make that possible." " If that is not don and at once," I cried, going close to him and speaking the words between my teeth, " I myself will proclaim the fact that the man who was here a minute since was not the King but your dummy, and that the whole thing is a farce got up by you and these gentlemen. You will then have to bring back the King himself, and you can judge as w ell as I how he will view the acts that have been done here to-night, and reward the actors." '• You dare not play the traitor in that way ! " " Dare not ? I dare do more than that," and 1 clipped my words short as I whispered them into his ear. " I dare stand up now and tell the whole story of your double treachery, for I know it all ; and by God, if you thwart me any further, I'll make ray words good to the last letter." I meant every .syllable of the threat, and I made this perfectly plain in my manner. Whether the man was actually afraid for himself, I know not ; but he saw clearly enough that any such sensational state- attet tbe abbuctfon. •221 result ,n the complete overthrow of the scheme for which he had worked so hard said' "W o*n1"' '° ""'^^'^'^"'^ y°"^ "leaning," he said but one way ,s as good as another to put an end to a scene that must be ended somehow." ^ Then give the instructions, and let the people see that they come from you," and I drew back ^ and SDot to h- "'" "''° "^^ '^^" ^^""S as herald, and spoke to him m an undertone ; and the latter was turning to the people when I interposed As this IS the first utterance from the Queen vou had better have the trumpeters call for silence and let the herald end the declaration with he formal prayer, God save the Queen." This was done, though the men round me frowned n angry dissent ; and as soo« as the announcement for theT ■ '"' "■^'"^' ""^ ^'^''"- '"<= ''-d struck up for the dancing to recommence, and the throne of people began to melt away from the dais on which we had all been collected So far, I felt I had don^ the best I could to repair take later with the baron and his friends of the Ostenburg interest. They had outplayed me a mv own game and had dealt me a shrewd and clever troke, which must have completely defeated m7hn. for the fact that I had kidnapp^ed th^ir mTn L ^uk ne ssitv of I '"""'T ''"'''''"^ ■""■'* V'^''' to the h aT least/r' ,"" "'^""' """ *"' '°' -™e ^ ours at least I dared not say a word to I.t n,, Know what i had done with him. 'V.tXJ ■••"'■ "WMKWB MMl 222 H H)a0b tor a Zbvonc. I calculated that von Krugen and Praga would take about five hours to get to the place where he was concealed, and they would need at least further four or five hours to get him to some other spot That at the least. I had given them a difficult piece of work, but they were both resolute and indeed desperate men, and I had ample confidence that, given sufficient time, they would overcome the diffi- culty. It was now past midnight, and I reckoned, therefore, that I must hold my tongue about the duke until the following morning. In the meantime I 'had the problem of Minna's whereabouts to solve. I must also ascertain whether the woman had told anything of the part which she and Praga had played together in getting hold of the duke. I looked round the room in search of her, and not seeing either her or Steinitz, I was moving off the dais to make a tour of the rooms to find her, when the two men, Kummell and Beilager, stopped me. "You promised an explanation of your conduct," said the former, in a curt, angry tone. " Be so crood as to give It. " You will have an ample explanation later, gentle- men. Matters of greater moment are pressing me now." " Nothing could be of greater moment than the reason for the Countess Minna's non-appearance here to-night; for that statement about her indisposition was. of course, untrue." " It was untrue, as you say. But until the whole matter can be told, it is a waste of valuable time to w*jw«a^ a jiiiati ^aii. ui it, I cHiawcFca cooiiy, aiUiougi) atter tbe BbMictfom 228 " I differ from you, and demand an explanation at once— or I shall draw my own conclusions." '• That is at your discretion. You have taken a course throughout this which makes you lareelv responsible for the result." " Do you insinuate that we are in any way respon- sible for spiriting away the countess?" he asked hotly. "I must decline to discuss this with you in your present frame of mind and temper. Your manner to me IS an msinuation and an insult." "You will have to discuss it all' the same, or I will publicly insult you here, in the presence of the whole room. ^^The hot-headed fool was likely to spoil every- "That must also be as your indiscretion prompts you, I returned sharply. '^ If you think you will serve the interests of my family by wrangling here and causing me to run you through the body after- wards, take your own course. But you will do far better to keep a sharp watch on the man who has ap- parently been duping you-I mean Baron Heckscher -and try to thwart the deep scheme he has laid " "I believe you to be a traitor; to have worked openly for the Countess Minna, and secretly to have intrigued against her ; and that you have kept her out of the way purposely in the interests of the Ostenburff family. You are a spy ; nothing better." J And you are a foolish little man, whose sight is as s..or. as your temper, and whose wits are as dull as MM ? -I y i i 224 H S)a0b tor a Ubrone. your silly suspicions are keen. You are the dupe of the Baron Heckscher." " You shall answer to me for this — or at least you should, if you were worthy of consideration." He was so angry and excited that he could scarcely keep from striking me, and this last insinuation of his had leapt out in his exasperation. I had been expecting something of the kind, and it prepared me for the line which the rest would take later ; but at that moment I caught sight of Steinitz, moving among the crowd in the distance, and I put an end to this altercation promptly. "When you know the facts, sir, you will be far more ready to apologise to me than to challenge me. But if you should then wish this matter to go forward, you will not find me in the least unwilling." I bowed ceremoniously, and, putting on my mask again, hurried away after Steinitz. It was quite clear now that these men had got hold of some tale from the two lawyers about me, and the baron was shrewd enough, in order to separate from me the only two men among the leaders who were really loyal to Minna, to turn it to good account by proclaiming me a spy in the Ostenburg interest. It was an exceedingly plausible story to account for my having kept Minna out of the way. In the meantime my anxiety on her account was growing very keen, and had I not known that happily von Nauheim was laid by the heels and, as I sincerely hoped, badly hurt, I should have been desperate enough. As it was, however, I held a hostage for her safetv. and I was eap-erlv imoatient for the re the dupe of after tbc BbMictfon. 225 Steinitz pointed out to me the actress wI,o u a thrown off her domino . i actress who had middle ofa group oTr'n .."''' '''"'^'"^ ''" "^e talking m^M^^iZl V""""^" '^"^hing and promenading tncer to a'str "T ^"°"^ *= stood forwafd that L „,LT1":!^ ""' ="^ *«" she caught sieht of m» ^ !u ^' '^^ ^°°" as defiance^■n S dtc^on anST'-^'^r °' ''"^ry commenced her gly chatter ^7^^ "' '''''■ ^^• But I was in no moo"^ o let ^7 rL >r"''''"'°"^- allow her to think she couM trla me as she^'oir^ h" ' rdT -'^ -q-ted an immedtte n e^fe^ ance. P""' """^ ^"Pe'-cil'ous nonchal- " The business that I havf> wr.'fi, I said firmly " And if , ^°" """°' "'^'V interview shall he '^n T"°' ^^^ "^ ^ P"vate no^- in p^bhV- '"P'"''' '° •^'■^™^« '■' ^-'^ and She looked at me to <;pa» ;f t ^Parently came to "^llL^ Z^T^l^ mth an angry toss of the head, she said : ' I can spare you three minutes until my next dance " ,^^ned^h. to oneof the many luxuriouLory' ct^rs |Kr;^--''''''-"--^e;oriti!:c ,_J^I warned you that you had made an enemy of "**J ^26 a H)a0b tor a XTbronc. i t": " And you have made the warning good. Have you done anything else ? You know I refer to your work to-day at Friessen." " If I can harm you I will." " And Praga ? " *' I hate you," she cried, with intense bitterness. " You have given ample proof of that. Have you betrayed him in regard to that affair of to-day ? " " I shall not tell you. Who are you that you should cross-question me in this manner ? I am no >ervant of yours." " Have you told the people for whom you have to-night tricked me, that you have decoyed the Duke Marx into the hands of those who, if need be, will take his life ? " I struck home v/ith this thrust; and she glanced about her in manifest alarm. " Don't speak like that," she cried, in a hurried whisper. " There is no fear of anything of that kind." " You mistake," I answered, shortly and sternly. "If anything happens to the girl whom you have betrayed to-night, the man whom you lured away will pay for it with his life ; and I myself will explain every detail of your share in the matter " It was a little cowardly to play on her fears in this way ; but it was not my own safety — it was Minna's — I was fighting for. The woman's agitation increased with each word. " It must not be. It shall not be. You dare not," she cried. " There is no dare not in schemes like these," I an- swered grimly* d she glanced ;e these," I an- atter tbe HbOuction. 227 •'But I was promised there should be no violence." domina" "°' '^'" ^^^^'"^ "' ^'^'" ^"^ ^°^" ^^at '; I will go at once and tell all I know." she ex- claimed excitedly. Good. She had not told. " It is too late. You were the decoy, but the duke IS now m the hands of my men. and no power on earth can save him if I but issue the order. Do you think I do my work so poorly as to leave him where you or those whom you send, could find him?" She sat, her fingers interlocked and her eves staring in a fixed, set gaze of abject fright, while her breath ca. e and went with quick catches of agitation. "You have played the subtle part of double treachery, and you will find it deadly dangerous'' I went on sternly. ** * It was necessary to frighten her thoroughly for the object I had, and I let a couple of minutes pass in silence, while this conviction of her danger feed Itself home. Then I opened the door of "It rests with you to save his life, and your own, and Praga's," I said. ^ She was too panic-stricken to act. and the hope in her face at my words made me rejoice. ^ .JtoTndter!"""'"' """''" ^^" ^^^"'^^^' ^^^P The light died out as suddenly as it had come 1 cannot. I know nothing of her whereabouts." lell me all you know about this trick by which 228 B S)a0b for a Ubtone. i M i^ I . 1 At that moment a man dressed as a Venetian gondolier approached to claim her for a dance. " I must know everything at once," I whispered hurriedly. " You must refuse him." It was a test of my power. If she went off to dance I should accept it as a sign of defeat " I must not refuse. I dare not," she said nervously. " You understand what it means," I replied in the same undertone. The man came up, and the nervous movements of my companion's fingers showed me something of her agitation. "This is our dance, I think," he murmured, bowing. "Yes, I — yes, it is," and she half rose from her seat, but then sank back again. " But I am not quite well enough to dance. I am sitting here for the cooler air. Please excuse me." " Permit me to sit it out with you then," he said, and he turned toward me as if expecting me to give way. I did not budge, of course, but stared out in front of me as if I had not seen his look. " I am sorry, but — a friend has — has brought me some important — news, and it has distressed me— and I wish to continue the conversation." It was as clumsy an excuse as any child in her teens could have mumbled out, and given in a manner altogether unlike her own. But fortunately the man took umbrage at the obvious slight, and with a stiff bow went off. after tbc abMictfon. 329 " Now you cf r. tell me all you know " She was now trembling violently, and I sat waiting unt.1 she should have recovered her com posure sufficently to tell me the news I was burning to learn. out in front CHAPTER XIX. THE maid's story. , '^ "I HAVE really very little to tell you," said the actress after a long silence, in which she had been making strenuous efforts to recover self-posses- sion. " I know very little. I have known, of course, for a long time that there was to be special interest attaching to the proceedings here to-night, and for Signor Praga's sake I had learned all that I could." " I wish to know the particular facts in connection with your taking the place of the countess, that's all," for the time was slipping by and my anxiety on Minna's account was growing to fever heat. " I was merely told that I had to play the part of another woman, and that I was to be paid for doing so. More than that, I was given to understand that in the event of the matter being carried through successfully, I should gain the favour of some of tho?e high in authority." •' Do you mean you were doing this for money only ? " " No, but because I believed there was some other ^at advantage to be gained." ^' Did you tell Praga ? " " No. Why should I tell him everything ? I did not know for certain until my return to-night what was really intended. I might have drawn back then 230 TOc fll^al^'3 Storp, 231 deilL" »;i'^ ' I"'' "°' "'"' '^"°*" "'"t I should be dealmg a blov- at you and revenging myself." How did you get possession of the countess's dom,no and when did you take her place by he side of the mar. guarding her?" i- oy tne ready for me when I arrived here to-night. Someone had described exactly the dress the Countess mZl r:2eT' "' ""^"'"^ "" '^"''y f- ■"- -hen we:e^o pZntr "" "'^'' ''' ^"""'^^ ^'•"- ^ou the7told l7h' r' '"''^^ '"" ^ ^'"'^'^ ■' «"d when they told tne that you would come up to me and lead me forward to the thrnnf I l,^„ r iiic tnrone, 1 knew of course a I that eTe^Twas 'u "V" ^" ' *"' ""'' '° '^'^o- ever I was to have kept my mask on and to have walked across the room w.th you to the dais and .hen have thrown it off, to shame and con use "u before everyone." ^ " And why didn't you ? " I Z^-fT'^,'° ^"'"y "^y '■^^enge privately. And sigMof :JlJe."^"' ^°"' '°°^ °^ '-^^"^^y - catching " And how was the change effected ? " " Smply and easily enough. Some of those in the secret began to crowd and crush round the Counted and m the moment I slipped into her place wife Tarr T^' "P '° '"""^ "■'^^ ''' ■"- with her :"n up and led her, as he said, to a place of refuge from the pressure of the crowd," ^ " Where did they take her ? " I asked anxiously. 232 a Dasb for a Xlbronc, 1.1 " I don't know. I know no more than yourself what happened afterwards. I had not been in my place more than a few minutes before you came up to me. You know the rest." " Who told you all our plans and made this thing possible ? " For it was clear that I had been betrayed by some- one in our closest confidence — someone who knew ei^en of the secret mark on Minna's domino. It was no mere case of her having been seen and recognised while at the ball ; for the dress had obviously been ready before Minna herself had arrived. '• I was not told," replied my companion. Whoever it was, the betrayal had been complete. I had been allowed to think that my ruse of sub- stituting the waiting-maid Marie for her mistress had been successful ; and just when I had thought everything safe I had had the mine sprung right under my feet. They had reckoned I should be all unconscious of such a stroke, and, unfortunately, they had reckoned correctly. But who was the traitor ? This was no plan that could be laid in an hour. It showed that from the first there had been some leakage b\ which my whole scheme was carried over to my enemies ; and it ap- peared to me that it must lie between two people— the Baroness Gratz and the waiting-maid Marie. *' Who gave you your instructions?" I asked sharply. % I will not tell you," was the equally sharp reply, and though I pressed her, she held to her refusal. "Have you seen the Count von Nauheim here to-night ? " " No : he is not here^" XTbc /IDai^'0 Ston?. 233 " How do you know ? " •'I overheard surprise expressed at his absence" Can you give me any clue as to where I shall "find the Countess Minna ? " yo'uSi»"°"' "''"'"^"- ' ^"°'' "° '»°'«= 'han you It was useless to ask her any more questions It .as clear enough that she had been used as a too or the parfcular task she had performed, and had "where f"° '"!!;"• ' ""'' '^^"^ ^^ '"'■'>-'>^°n Isewhere-fronr, either von Nauheim, if I could find im or from the Baron Heckscher; but I was "u ogether unwilling to see the latter until enough ti ■ had passed to make it certain that von Krugen and Praga had secured the person of the Duke Marx It was a sheer impossibility, however, for me to emain mact.ve until then while Minna ;as in e on Na°uhJm" k"'"' 'l' ' "'"'^^^ '° »^>' "^ '-" von Nauhe.m. From whai ,,,e actress had told me It seemed probable either that his accident in t^ carriage with me had hurt him sufficiently to p "v nt ^^ commg to the ball, or else that he had fS j mposs.ble to escape from the hands of the men whom e had meant to have charge of me. In eitherT-vent e would be unable to get to Minna, and so long L that was the case, her danger was proportionately W I li^ZZ^ '° ^'"■"'■''' ^"''' *^"'"S '"■"' t" follow me 1 threaded my way through the laughine !?oss,n,W e«,ted throng and went to the neare^st exit '^ ^' 'n the ante-room through which I passed a .rronn "'=" were standing deep in conversation, a°nd'l inf 234 a 2)a0b tor a Utrone. i I ': i recognised several of the leaders of the movement, among them being the two, Kummell and Beilager, the former of whom was gesticulating vehemently. On catching sight of me, he stepped forward to bar my way. " Here is the traitor, gentlemen," he said angrily. " We have caught him in the act of trying to sneak away. You will not be allowed to pass, my fine sir, I can tell you," he cried to me. It was the very climax of irony that the man who would have been a staunch and valuable ally, could I have persuaded him of the actual truth, was constantly crossing and thwarting me. In my anger I could have found it in me to strike him. " That has yet to be proved," I answered as quietly as my warming temper would permit. An audible sneer ran round the group. "I will prove it," answered Kummell, "for I will stop you," and he planted himself right in front of me, put his arms akimbo, and stared me insolently in the face. " Good ! " exclaimed one or two of the others. I took oflf my mask before I answered. His insult- ing, swaggering' manner was almost more than I could brook, although I knew that the other men were deliberately endeavouring to provoke a fight, and further, that it would be the height of folly for two men who, in reality, were heart and soul together in pursuit of the same object, to go out and try to kill each other. " You can scarcely be in earnest, Herr Kummell," I said after a pause. "We are within the precincts, Oi tiic paiace, anu the business of this night is one t xrbe /■^al^'9 Stor^. liglit IS uiic uii 836 which you and I are in heart agreed. There are those here whom nothing would please so well as to see us two crossmg swords. It is they who are the traitors." and I looked round at the rest, " and if anyone of them >s minded to make this quarrel his own, he will no find me backward. But with you and Herr Beilager I will not fight." " I shall not allow you to pass all the same, for all your big words," said the little hot-headed fool in the same swaggering tone. "The work I have in hand is too urgent to be de- layed. Stand aside, if you please," I answered sternly. You shall not pass here." aI'IT i?°u ',"'■• ^^^ "''^' °' y" ^'"l' drive me to do that which I may regret." I thundered the words out. and putting on as stern a look as I could, I moved on. He stood his ground a moment, but then winced, and retreated a step At this, a taunting, jeering laugh came from one of the rest wheeled round in a moment upon the group, and not knowing which of the men it was, I picked out he b,ggest of them, .nd walking up to him till my face was close to his, I stared him dead in the eyes for some seconds. ^ "^ Did you do me the honour to speak, sir ? " " No, I did not," he answered. I turned to the rest. "One of you gentlemen either spoke or sneered *c of you was it ? I am rather anxious to sh'w v^h t '■ f "°' !"°g«*her safe to play in this way them -H """"^f' ""■=" °f "'"'" '" '"'"• but none I .hI^ '.?"' ^ Z°"^\ " To-morrow, Herr Kummell," ----.., you may look for the explanation I have 286 H Basb tor a Ubronc. promised you ; and as soon as this business on which I am engaged is at an end, I shall be at your disposal for any other purpose, should you desire it." And with that I swung forward on my way out of the place, nor was there any longer the least attempt made to interfere with me. The incident ruffled my temper considerably, and I went hurriedly out into the night and set off in the direction of the Gramberg House, when Steinitz came up and whispered a word or two about the need for caution. ".Won't you drive home?" he asked. "To walk seems like inviting some kind of attack." " No, I will walk. No one will expect me to do so; but I will be on my guard." In truth I did not know now what my enemies would do. It was not improbable that since they had the knowledge which would enable them to accuse me of being an impostor, they might deem it needless to attack me at all. It was quite conceivable that they intended to deal with me in an altogether different manner ; by some kind of legal process. I did not care. I had no thought except the over- powering desire and resolve to find Minna and rescue her. That was now my sole object, and when I reached the house there was important news. The maid Marie had arrived there about half-an-hour previously, and was waiting in feverish anxiety to tell me her story. " Tell me as plainly and shortly as you can every- thing that has passed since you left the palace with the baroness until now," I said to her. " The first thing I noticed was that there was a stranger on the box as coachman, and that Karl, the XTbe asai^'s Storg. iness on which t your disposal e it." ny way out of least attempt derably, and I set off in the Steinitz came t the need for 1 "To walk t me to do so; t my enemies since they had em to accuse em it needless nceivable that an altogether al process. I ept the over- na and rescue hen I reached tie maid Marie reviously, and le her story. >u can every- e palace with 237 footman, was not with ii«: \m^ a I m,^. "ecKscher to complete certain details ' I made no resistance, because you had told me n„f7 speak a word if I cou.. avoid doing so an^th^ drove on for about half-an-hour at aVap.'d " cl ■' "" „ ^"^ y°" kno» the road ! " I asked ^ Yes. It wr ; i,e Linden road • and th^n n, a room at the far end of .i ^ "'"'= *'''^^" '"^ forafewminut rjone ilhe'sr'' '"' ''='' '""^ " • I hav<» f r. f on ^^ stranger came back. — — — •••i«c*. H 238 H Dasb for a Ubronc* *" What do you mean, sir ? ' I asked, for I could not then keep silent. " * That it is perfectly well known to me that you are not the Countess Minna von Gramberg, but merely her waiting-maid. You will therefore be good enough to attend to the baroness ; ' and with that he went out of the room." " And the baroness ? " I asked eagerly. " I was so overcome at learning that by some means our scheme bad got known to them, and that therefore the danger to my dear young mistress was as great as ever, perl)aps greater, that I did not know what to say or think or do. The baroness seemed to think I had been guilty of treachery, but, your high- ness, I would die sooner than be the means of any harm coming to my dear young mistress," cried the girl, with what appeared to me the energy of truth, and with tears starting to her eyes. "'Have you told anyone of this charge?' the baroness asked me ; and, despite my utmost protests, I could not make her believe me. I sat there utterly miserable, only thinking and fearing what might happen to my mistress. The baroness would not speak to me, and hour after hour passed in this awful suspense. They brought us sc^me food, but I could not touch it, though the baroness ate some and told me to do so. But I could not ; the dreadful thought | of my mistress's danger seemed to shut out every- thing else, even these suspicions of my treachery." "Well, how did you get away?" I asked, as shcj paused. " Stay, will you know the house again, andj could you guide me there ? " "Yes, your highness," she answered readfiy. XTbe mm's stor^. for I could not d with that he 239 .otTdAt oir^' -' '°'^ -•"' - "- a ca.Ha,e heard the sound of a hor^^ n-.ii ^ ' thought I :-o.a„war^ssr-:t^- be m-th her.- " °^ ^°"' ^"<^ y°" ""' wish to a.iXTt^?hi:str ' ' ^=.'^'^- '■" '"■='-- more shrewdly ' P'^"' * ''''"P t° do it scowled and frowned me ^dow„ anwT'i "'""'" be silent. Then he led m7 , °"^"^'^ "'^ '° Jcarriage was wdtfnVt er/atrS'rJ^r ^ y and se"rA?^;fe hifwS^The^K ttSa^S'^'-"^ "^ -- «^^'ve^a:tf itlf ^ CHAPTER XX. COVERING MY DEFEAT. As I rode through the quickly brightening dawn I endeavoured to piece together some plan of action for this visit to the house ; but it was obvious I should have to be guided largely by what might occur. It was exceedingly improbable that I should find Minna there. It seemed in the highest degree improbable that they would have let the girl Marie out in such a way if they had intended to take Minna to the same house ; for they would have known I should go there at once. Certainly they did not intend me to know Minna's whereabouts. There were other considerations, moreover Marie herself might still be playing me false, or these men might be using her as a decoy to lure me into a trap. I was inclined to the latter view. I believed the girl to be true to her mistress, and I read the detention of the Baroness Gratz, judged by what the girl had said of her manner, to indicate that the treachery was hers, and not the girl's. In any event I must be on my guard. I felt that until I could make the Baron Heckscher understand that any harm to either Minna or myself would be the signal for the death of the Duke Marx, there might be danger for us both. For Minna's sake — seeing that her helplessness 240 (Coveting ^g Defeat 241 would be vastly increased were anvthfn^ f^ u wouia use the occasion on v therefnr^ fr. ««j to ascertain where Minn^ hLu endeavour wnere Minna had been carried Aff*>r o fe>v hours, as soon, that was, as I could safelv el we^^rrti? Vh:tr TaiuTf. ^ -- ---^ ">- mischief were meant r!!' 5^''="'*t'"2 *at if any ^^an.erous as aToSn' o^/ Z^ZlZ^Zt^ to drive straight up to the f\-.r.r . a t • ^°^^""^a" and myself fhundfred t' ^TL^ ^"^^ ^^ pealed away loudly at the bell. «"ocker, and The noise awoke the echoes of the still h., morn ng air, but for a lr,n„ .• . ' "«avy, from wifhin the house ll "'"^^'^ "° ^"^""■<'" round it examlnin" th ?T ""P^"^"'' ""' ""'^ jShi'iTrj^tiS^"''-^---^ " Was your master here ? " "No, sire. He is away." " Who is your master ? " He looked astonished. " Herr Schemmell, your grace " parat,ons for the expected guests, I mein~ ' ^'^' JuStt' rgoSgtir r '°°^" ^ ""■ -^ ^ 'oo. settled on hi ^L^ wlS./^t"''"''' ^""^" rKL^;:^:f-=rhi;SeVf-' deep voice said from behind me • ' °' * e^'plymen^'" °' ' "^^^"' '^ "°' « very princely |find it difficult LTel" "' ""' '■"• °P^"- ^°" "ay 244 B Dasb tot a TTbronc. N r " That may be as it will, but I am not going until I have effected my purpose and satisfied myself that those whom I seek are not here." I spoke resolutely. " You are a trespasser, and will be good enough to leave when I tell you." "This is the house to which those whom I seek were kidnapped and brought, and I will not leave un- til I have searched it." "One of the persons kidnapped is by your side now," said he, pointing to the girl ; " bu. you will not be allowed to search the house. If you attempt it, you will be detained and given an excellent oppor- tunity of searching* one of the cellars, but no more." " You dare not interfere with me. I am no woman," said I hotly. "You will be well advised to moderate yourl language. You are one man, we are many. ^ You have forced yourself into this house, and if we deal harshly with you, you will have only yourself to blame. Personally, I have no wish to do you any hurt. You have served our turn, and can do no further harm." I bit my lip in vexation. " Is the Baroness Gratz in the house, or the| Countess Minna von Gramberg?" I asked, after pause of embarrassment. " I decline to answer your questions. And again I warn you to leave, or I will not be responsible foj the consequences." " I will search the house," I exclaimed, and, witli| out further words, I plunged along the corridc trying to open the doors of the rooms which r»a QCfr Covediifl /og ©efeat 348 They were all locked, and when I turned to the staircase .t was only to find that a couole of men armed with revolvers had been posted °hee to prevent my ascending. ^ ™ „hn h 7r , •/ "^=^««"y." commanded the man thl TK °"''' """' ""-^ ^^ took up a i^ace bv only to leave- th^'hous: " ATL^^nATrtT"' .he doors will be closed, and I sha r kej yo Trl canTroLnlr-iHil^treeS' ^ '"^ ^^ to resist us." ^^' '"*'''"^'' '° ^"empt I saw this well enough; but the thought of the gnomm.ous fa.lure to get even informatfon gal ed and maddened me. But it would have been Jfter [madness to resist. greater ^ J Will you give me a moment in private? " I asked He came aside with me readily. It J?" r" fi";^ "^ ^"y ^surance that my cousin the Countess IVIinna, is safe ? " ^ ' tioi-'whlLe" 'Tt"fZ 'l^"^ >'°" ^"y ■■"'•— IsheispSysafe." ° "' ""' °' ">' "^"-'^^ge "Where is the Count von Nauheim ? " .nd I r '° '^" y°"' ^'^•" ''^ answered curtlv »nd I could get no more from him. ^' ihus. baffled and exasperated, I left the house I had gamed little or nothing definite by r^^ven - -^.x.w v^i iiiy aiixicty in regard to 946 B Basb tor a ZTbrone. Minna's safety. Whether she was in the house or not, I could not say, and, until I had seen Baron Heckscher, I had not ventured to take any too desperate steps to ascertain ; but as I drove back to the house I determined on a much bolder measure to take presently. I stopped the carriage a little way from the house, and sent back the coachman to wait and watch if the baroness or Minna left the place, and told the man to remain until Steinitz should relieve him. I drove the carriage home, and then despatched Stein- itz with instructions to keep a strict watch on any movements from the house, and particularly to follow Minna should she leave there. As I knew that I must have a tryi g day before me, I lay down for an hour or two until the time for my visit to Baron Heckscher. I arrived at his house just as he was in the act of starting for a meeting of the Council of State which had been hurriedly summoned. " I cannot stay to speak to you now, sir. I have to go out," he said shortly. "On the contrary, you cannot go out until you have spoken to me," I replied, copying his manner. " This is no time for play-acting," he said signifi- cantly. " There are serious matters of State to be settled, caused by your trickery or treachery." " You are an authority on the latter, at anyrate But I have not come to bandy words. I wish to know where the Countess Minna von Gramberg has been carried, and to demand her instant and uncon- ditional release." Coveting ftv Defeat sir. I have to 247 -In what character do you demand that informa- tion ? he said, with a sneer. 'As her cousin, the Prince von Gramberg." ^^ The Prince. You still hold to that farce ? " ^^ Be good enough to explain what you mean." i^imply that you are no more the Prince von Gramberg than I am. but Heinrich Fischer an cx-play-actor. Do you dare to deny that ? " ' "Certainly I do.' He shrugged his shoulders. " Then who are you ? " " For the present, and for the purposes of this m ervew, I am the Prince .or, .Vamberg, and you will be good enough so to t:rirdn-" "Swashbuckh-ng talk is J „o ne to frighten me and I have no time for any : .rther antics of yo^rs' You deceived me for a time, I admit, but I know you now. and, unless you leave my house, iZ ^l^JT"""''- ""'' ^'"^ y°" ^^P-"<='.°"/,?/«''sonable, we will go back a If' r^' ' '^"^ deliberately. - What do you mean by asking me my motive?" " 'nean " P'-e^umably you have some strong motive and some object to gain. Though for thf purposes of he Pnnce von Gramberg, or anything else you like I have proofs that you are nothing of the kind Ao parently you are an adventurer. ^Certainly you htve" thatMtrn't '''"''"' ^" '"'"" ^' Fran'icLrand that withm a year or two. You were there for several years, and have been identified beyond cues no?car?''Yorh"'"^'T *'"' ' ''^^^r Zl 11 r V ^^""^ P'^y^"* ^^^ pat of the Prince ^ r.t skill, and shrewdness. But men don't do these thmgs for no object. You have run a„ hourly rfak 252 B Basb tot a XTbrone. 1 ! 1 of detection as an impostor, and have certainly ren- dered yourself liable to heavy imprisonment ; indeed, proceedings are already in course for your prosecution. Why, then, have you acted in this way ? " " Those are my private affairs," I answered, after a pause ; " and until you can disprove my assertion I remain the Prince von Gramberg, if you please." " As you will, your highness." He gave the title with excellent irony. " I may tell you that when the information reached us, it was at the request of the countess's only surviving relative that she was re- moved from your custody." "You mean the Baroness Gratz. I had already suspected her treache^ry ; but you will save much trouble by keeping to the plain truth. Your object was not to get the countess out of my custody, but into your own, so that while this plot to place her on the throne had apparently been engineered in her in- terest, it was the Ostenburg heir who should benefit. It was your work to put forward that scoundrel von Nauheim as her husband, so that when she had been ruined by him, she would be impossible as a claimant for the throne. We may as well be frank." He made a movement of anger at this, and then asked sharply : "If what you say of him be true, how did you know it?" " We may pass that by," I replied, with a wave of the hand, " sufficient that I did know him. To save her from such a fate has been my motive." " You have aimed high, young man ; but the Countess Minna von Gramberg's hand is not for an r^- fl^..^f«^&«^4* TD-;^^^ Wis r* 1 • «^* IJt\^s-^iii, i. SIIJV-w \Jki fcliii iJs^i i XJ^ «cw8 Of /Blnna. aes "stehtllf "T °^A^^"^ ''''^ "^"y significance, ihe herself quite understands that." It was my turn to start at this. toZT""""^" """ "'''^' ''°" •'^^"^ ""'■'^ •'^^ •"=«" '°W " Your tone is enough to show me my information ,s correct You will be wise to abandon that idea oace for all Neither her title nor her wealth is for a nameless adventurer." His words stung me deeply, as no doubt he in- tended they should. "If you knew-" I began. but then checked myself in the act of blurting out what I myself might after- wards repent, and said instead : "If you knew my real plans, you would see the futility of pursuing this any further." h'ui suing " That is why I asked what your plans are. What are your terms ? Most men have a price. Name yours, and I'll see whether we can pay it." He spoke with cold deliberation "Very good, then we resume matters precisely where they were when I entered this room," I replied and rose as if to leave. *cpuea, "You have been playing for a big stake, and I have shown you it is out of your reach. This girl is nothing to you-unless she has succeeded in winning your valuable heart. But you are no fool to waste your strength in chasing the unattainable. Give her -^. -,-.,.... ^...^x -^uii icrras in money and position. 254 U Daeb tor a Ubxonc. ! Enlist on my side, and whatever you ask, you shall have." ** I am not for sale," I answered indignantly. " Thr i you will be a fool, that's all. You have said enough to me here, coupled with the fact that you are what I knov; you to be, to warrant me in clapping you into a gaol straightaway, and I will do It b' ileve me, if you force me." " If you like to sign the death-warrant of th^ Duke Marx in that way, you can. I have not conte here to you without knov/ing you, and preparijvc: for eventualities. Your part in all this is known to others beside me and I leave you to judge where you, or thotje joined with you, would bvmefit if there were no Ostenbur^- heir to ta!v ; the throne. Berlin would have to bring back the nidilri,- :\, or put the Countess Minna on the throne, or sot:^ siianger; and, in either event, your power and inlJUcnce would be gone. But you know all this well enough. Clap me into gaol as you say, or have my head cut off if you like it better, but how would It help you ? No, baron, you will hai'e to try somethiiig else. The cards I hold are too strong for you." I flung the words at him with a reckless air, and he knew the truth of them. After a moment he replied : " You mean you will keep to your mad plan of marrying the Countess Minna ? " " I have said nothing of the sort. My object is merely to free her from a position of danger from those against whom alone she is powerless to fight It has been part of your infernal scheme to ruin her, to take her life, or to shut her up omewhere for the Mews of mnm. m rest of it, because she interferes in some way with your plans. ^ ^*''" ,(lt",f ^°" '''"^'^ t° P"' >'er on the throne in spite " She has no more wish to become Queen of oavana than to become one of your i