XV FOUR O'CLOCK AT THE INN
Ten miles out, on the Titian Road, is the Inn of the Twisted Pines.Something more than two centuries of storms and sunshine have left itslogs and plaster wrinkled and weather-beaten, yet the house stands asstanch and strong as the day the last pin was driven, and the paintedsign and the bunch of furze hung above the entrance.
The old soldier who built it had lived long enough to marry a young wife,and leave it to her and a sturdy boy; and, thereafter, there was always ason to take the father's place; and with the heirship seemed to go theinherited obligation to maintain the house exactly as received. Nomodernity showed itself within or without; the cooking alone varied, asit reflected the skill or whim of the particular mistress; and it chancedthat the present one was of unusual ability in that particular; and theknowledge of it coming to the Capital, had brought not a little trade ofriding parties and the officers of the garrison.
And so Captain Hertz, of the Third Lancers, had not done quite the usualgrowl, when he got the order to march at once with his troop, selectingsuch a route as would bring him to the Inn a few minutes before fouro'clock, taking care to approach it from the West; and to halt there andawait further instructions.
He had confided to his subaltern that it was a crazy sort of proceedingto be manoeuvring against old Scartman's Inn; but if it had to be done,it was at least considerate to choose as the objective point, a placewhere they could have a good meal to eat, and the keeper's prettydaughters to philander.
And between thinking of the victuals and the damsels, the Captain sohurried the march that they reached the Inn unnecessarily early; yet theyhad no reason to regret it, for the tap-room was cool and pleasant, thefood to their taste, and the girls' cheeks prettier and softer thanever--though it would seem that, lately, the last were becoming much moredifficult to taste.
"What's got into the hussies?" Hertz demanded, rubbing his face, as theLieutenant and he went out into the courtyard; "They used to be mildenough."
"You've been falling off in looks the last year, my dear fellow," Purkitzlaughed--"can't say I much blame the girl--I've no finger marks on mycheek, you see!"
"Huh!" grunted Hertz, "solid brass; wouldn't show the kick of amule.--What in Heaven's name are we sent here for any way!--'awaitfurther orders'--that may mean a week."
"And why not," the Lieutenant laughed; "the victuals are delicious, andthe girls----"
"Oh, go to the devil!"
"And even father, himself, will do for company in a pinch."
The Captain laughed, too. "Not if I can get away--did you ever see such acountenance? It positively makes me ill."
"Poor old Scartman," said Purkitz; "he's a good man, but there is nodenying that 'the Lord made him as ugly as He could and then hit him inthe face.'"
From the eastward, came the sound of a galloping horse.
"Our orders, I hope," Hertz exclaimed. He glanced at his watch. "Aquarter of four--I wonder what silly business we're to be sent on, now."
The hoof-beats drew swiftly nearer, but from where the two officers werestanding, the high wall of the courtyard obscured the road, and theysauntered slowly across toward the gateway. As they reached it, a bigblack horse swept around the corner and was upon them before the ridercould draw rein.
Hertz gave a cry of warning and sprang aside, tripped on his spur, andsprawled in the deep dust; while Purkitz's wild jump landed him with bothfeet on his superior's back, whence he slid off and brought up on Hertz'shead, thereby materially augmenting the fine flow of super-heatedlanguage that was bubbling from the Captain's dirt-filled mouth--nor didthe loud guffaw and the shrieks of feminine laughter, that came from thehouse, serve to reduce either the temperature or the volume.
Meanwhile, the cause of it all--a slender, sinuous woman, black gownedand black veiled--sat the big horse motionless and silent, waiting forthe human tangle to unloose itself.
Coated with dust--his uniform unrecognizable, his face smeared anddirty--Hertz scrambled up.
"What in hell do you----a woman!" he ended, and stood staring.
"Yes, my man, a woman," said she, "and one very sorry for your fall--youare the landlord, I presume."
Lieutenant Purkitz gave a shout, and leaned against the gate.
"Landlord!" he gasped, "landlord!--that face--oh, that face!" and wentoff into a fit of suppressed mirth.
The woman looked at him and then at Hertz, and though the thick veil hidher features completely, there was no doubt of her irritation.
The Captain bowed. "Madame will pardon the ill manners of my clownishservant," he said, indicating Purkitz; "I am Captain Hertz, of HerHighness' Third Lancers. Yonder is the landlord; permit me to call him."
She leaned down and offered him her hand.
"A thousand apologies, my dear Captain, for my reckless riding and myawkward tongue--there is small excuse for the former, I admit, but myveil may explain the latter.--You are not hurt?"
A voice so soft and sweet must have a face to match it, and Hertz went astep nearer.
"Madame can cure everything but my heart, if she but raise the veil," hesaid.
The voice laughed softly.
"Then, sir, I am afraid to raise it--your heart would not survive theshock. Good-bye, and thank you," and she spurred across to where oldScartman was standing near the stables.
"I am to meet some one here at four o'clock," she said; "has my partycome?"
Boniface's shrewd little eyes had taken her in at a single glance.
"Gentleman, I suppose?" he asked.--"None of them?" jerking his thumbtoward the two lancers.--"No? then he's not here yet."
She glided gracefully out of saddle, and hooked up her skirt.
"Put my horse in the stall nearest the door," she ordered; and herselfsaw it done. "Now, I want a room--the big one on the lower floor--for anhour or so."
The inn-keeper bowed.
"Certainly, madame--and the gentleman?"
She considered.... "He is one high in rank, very high--indeed, no one inValeria is higher--tell him I'm here; and admit him instantly; but don't,do you hear me, don't tell him I'm a woman."
Old Scartman coughed and hesitated.
"But please you, madame," he ventured, "if I'm to tell him you're here,but not to tell him you're a woman, how's he to be sure you are you?"
"True, O patron of rendezvous!" she laughed. "If he ask for proof, youmay tell him I'm the one who knows."
"Now, that's more to rule," he said, with a nod and a chuckle.
They went into the house, and he opened the door into the big room.
"This is what madame wishes?"
"Yes," said she--"and remember, no interruptions, now norlater--understand?"
He bowed with rather unusual grace, for one of his appearance andcalling.
"Perfectly, madame--does madame think I look so like a fool?"
She surveyed him an instant.
"No, my good man, I don't," and closed the door; "but I wouldn't care totell you what you do look like," she ended.
Going over to the window, she fixed the curtain so as to permit her tosee in front of the house, and then, removing her veil, she drew out atiny mirror and deftly touched to place the hair that was disarranged. Asshe finished, she heard horses approaching, and she saw, through the opengateway, a sudden commotion among the Lancers who were lounging at easeby the roadside, their mounts picketed under the trees. She knew that herman was coming.
A sergeant ran in and said a word to Hertz who, free now of his dust andanger, was sitting on the steps with Purkitz, hoping to get a glimpse ofthe face behind the veil, and staring at the windows with calmpersistency.
"My God!" she heard Hertz exclaim, as both sprang up, and, franticallybuttoning tunics and drawing on gloves, ran out into the road and swungto horse. There was a snap of commands, a stamping of hoofs, and thelances rose high above the wall in a line of fluttering pennons; theydipped, and the next moment the Archduke and the R
egent's Adjutant drewup before the gate.
The former raised his hand, and Hertz rode forward and saluted.
"How long have you been here, Captain Hertz?" he asked.
"Since a few minutes after three, sir."
"Has any one come to the Inn in that time?"
Hertz's spine went cold, and his voice trembled--she was the Archduke's,and he had dared to ogle her.
"No one, Your Highness," he answered--"no one but a woman--only a fewminutes ago--on horseback--alone."
"Did you happen to look at her, Captain? If you did, you might describeher."
"I cannot, Your Highness; her face was covered with a thick, black veil."
The Archduke smiled. "You're a good soldier, I see; a pretty face comesfirst."
"But her figure, sir--it's wonderful, black habit and black horse--andshe can ride--and her voice--"
"At least, Captain, your inability to describe her isn't due to lack ofobservation," the Archduke remarked dryly. "You have aroused mycuriosity; I must see this remarkable woman--and do you remain here. Imay have need of you presently; if you hear a whistle, come to meinstantly."
"Very clever, my lord," Hertz muttered; "but you can't cozen this bird;you're here to meet her, and we are not expected. If the Regent knewit--whew!" and dismounting, he nodded to the sergeant.
"This looks about as harmless as a game of ping-pong," said Armand, asthey went into the courtyard; then, suddenly, an amazing idea flashedupon him; and he swung around, and motioned Hertz to him.
"What color was the woman's hair?" he asked.
"Black. Your Highness, black as her gown."
He dismissed Hertz with a look.
"Moore," he said, and without moving on, "this plot is tangling fast. Canyou guess who this woman is?"
"'The one who knows,'" said the Colonel promptly.
"Yes, and more--it is Madeline Spencer."
"Impossible!"
"I hope so, God knows," the Archduke answered; "I've had enough of thatdevil--Scartman, is any one awaiting me?"
The old fellow had come up at a run.
"Your Highness' pardon," he cried, bowing almost into the dirt; "had Iknown you were coming I would have been at the gate to receive you----"
"Never mind the reception, my man, answer my question--is any oneawaiting me?"
"I think so, Your Highness--"
"Don't you know--what name did she give for me?"
"'The one who knows,' sir--but I wasn't to tell you, sir, she is awoman--she was most particular as to that."
The Archduke laughed. "Well, you didn't; I knew it--where is she?"
"I will conduct your----"
"You'll do nothing of the sort," said Armand, dismounting and flinginghis rein to his orderly; "where is the lady?"
Old Scartman knew enough to palaver no longer.
"The large room on the right, Your Highness," he answered promptly.
"Come along, Moore," said the Archduke, "let us have a look at her--andpray heaven it isn't Spencer."
But the landlord shook his head dubiously.
"It's queer doings, sure enough!" he muttered;--"leastwise, it's no lovemeeting they're up to;" and he followed them as far as the hall, to bewithin call if needed.
Shielded by the curtain, Madeline Spencer had watched the scene in thecourtyard, laughing quietly, the while, at Hertz's confusion and at whatshe knew was in his mind, as to the Archduke and herself; now she flungthe veil lightly around her head, and put her chair where the sun wouldbe behind her. Moore's presence had surprised and disappointed her; but,on the whole, she preferred him to Bernheim--and particularly if one ofthem were to be at the interview. Though she had rather counted uponArmand coming alone, if only to show his contempt for the permission tobring an escort--that he had sent the troop of Lancers she did not creditfor a moment, though it might do to twit him with it.
Cool player that she was, and skillful beyond most women, yet even herheart beat a little faster, and her hand showed the trace of a tremble,as she heard the rattle of swords and spurs in the hall-way, followed bythe sharp knock upon her door. And she let the knock come a second timebefore she answered it. She had not seen Armand since that night in herreception room in the Hotel Metzen, when the King and he had surprisedher and Lotzen together, and, after tumbling the Duke's schemes about hisears, had sent him to Lotzenia in disgrace and her across the border;and, now, the sight of him, and the sound of his voice, had stirred againthe old fondness that would not down. And though, to his face, she mightlaugh at his anger and mock at his contempt, and feel it so then, yetafterward, in the depression that in such natures always follows periodsof excitement, the recollection of it hurt her sadly, scorn it as shemight, despise it as she did--destroy him as she meant to do, and would.
"Entrez!" she called, "entrez!" and with the words, the tremble passed,and she was serene and undisturbed again.
"Your Royal Highness!" she said, very low, and swept him a quick curtsy.
Instead of offering his hand to raise her, he answered with a slight bow.
"Madame desired to see me?" he asked; and crossing over obliged her toturn so that the light from the window fell upon her sideways. And,despite the heavy veil, that gave him only a black mask of crape insteadof her face, he was satisfied he had surmised correctly.
Suddenly she caught the veil and flung it away.
"You know me, I see," she laughed, "so we will dispense with thiscovering--it is very warm."
For a little while, he looked at her in forbidding silence.
"What ill wind blew you back to Dornlitz?" he asked presently; and shealmost cried out in surprise at the deliberate menace in his voice. AndMoore marvelled and was glad--the old Henry was being aroused, at last.
"Ill wind?" she said--leaning carelessly against the window ledge wherethe sun played through her wonderful hair, and tinged the flawless facefrom dead-white to a faint, soft pink--"ill wind for whom,Armand?--surely not for you; why am I here?"
The Archduke gave a sarcastic laugh. "That is precisely what I shouldlike to know."
"You doubt the letter?"
A shrug was his answer.
She leaned a bit toward him.
"If I show you the Book of Dalberg Laws, will you believe?" she asked.
"That they are the Laws, yes."
She smiled rather sadly.
"The facts will have to prove my honest motive, I see; and I came fromParis, hoping that I could render you this service, as a small requitalfor the injury I did you a little while ago."
The Archduke laughed in her face.
"And for how much in gold coin of the realm, from some one of myenemies?" he asked.
She put the words aside with another smile.
"I've been in Dornlitz for more than two weeks," she went on; "can youguess where?--yes, I see you can; the only place I could have been, andyou not know of it."
"And you mean to say the Book is in Ferida Palace?" said Armand.
"I do."
"And you are ready to restore it to the Regent?"
"No," said she, "I'm not ready to restore it to the Regent; I'm ready togive it to you if I were able, but I'm not--it will be for you to recoverit."
"How do you know it is the Book of Laws--did the Duke tell you?"
She laughed her soft, sweet laugh. "Oh, no, he didn't tell me--he has noidea that I know he has it; I saw it by accident----"
"How could you recognize the Book?" he interrupted; "only three people inthe Kingdom have ever seen it."
"By intuition, mainly; and by the secrecy with which the Duke handlesit--let me describe it:--a very old book; leather-covered, brass-boundand brass-hinged; the pages, of parchment--those in front illumined incolors with queer letters, and, further on, more modern writing--it isthe Book, isn't it, Armand?"
"Or Lotzen has described it to you," he answered.
She made a gesture of discouragement.
"You are hard to convince," she said--"you will have to be shown--willyou tak
e the trouble?"
The Archduke smiled. "Now we come to the kernel," he remarked; "the restwas only the shell. Quite candidly, madame, I'm not inclined to play thespy in Ferida Palace; there are easier deaths to die, though doubtlessnone that would be more sure."
"You didn't used to be so timid or careful, Armand," she mocked; "thereare no dangers other than those of my boudoir--and if you fear them youmay send a substitute--even one of your friend Courtney's secretagents.--For the last few nights the Duke has been going over this Bookpage by page; his apartments are across a small court from mine, and hisprivate cabinet is directly in view from my boudoir. Send some one therethis evening at eleven, and with my field glass he can see everything theDuke does, and every article on his desk. Surely, that should be enoughto satisfy the most suspicious."
"Rather too much," said he; "it brings us back to the question ofmotive:--why should you, who have had so much of my dear cousin's money,and have enjoyed his kind and courteous hospitality for so long, suddenlyturn against him, and betray him?--for believe me, madame, I take nostock in your pretty story of requiting injury, and coming all the wayfrom Paris to help me find the Book."
"But, my dear Archduke, what matters my motive, if you recover theBook--besides, now you can send the police this instant and search thePalace and seize the Book, if it's there, and they can find it--doesn'tthat in itself attest my honesty?"
"Not in the least. You know very well that I would not venture to takesuch drastic action against the Duke unless I were sure, not only that hehad the Book, but that it would be found--hence it's safe to tell thisstory. And as your motive--it all comes back to that--can't be to assistme, it must be to assist the Duke; and so--" he shrugged his shoulders.
It had never occurred to her that he would be so difficult to convince;she had thought that her bait, and particularly the privilege to send anyone to verify it, and her description of the Book, would capture himinstantly. But she had failed to appreciate how thoroughly Armanddespised her, and how deeply he mistrusted her, and, more than all, howintensely repugnant it would be to accept a service from her, or to haveany dealings with her except a outrance.
She bent forward and looked him in the eyes.
"Why might it not be to assist myself?" she asked--"to revenge myself, ifyou please, Armand."
"Yes?" he said questioningly.
"Ferdinand of Lotzen and I have come to the parting place," she said withquick bitterness--"the brute struck me yesterday; no man ever did sotwice--and none ever once, that I didn't punish promptly. I did come fromParis thinking I might aid you, for some how I was sure he had that book;he was glad enough to have me; and then he was so kind and liberal I--youwon't believe it I know, Armand, but it's true--I couldn't bring myselfto betray him; nor should I, but for yesterday. Now I want revenge; and Ican get it quickest and best through you. There, you have my true motive;and even you should not doubt it, for, God knows, a woman hates toconfess that a man has struck her."
She turned away and looked through the window, her fingers playingnervously on the sill; while the Archduke, doubtful, yet half convinced,glanced at Moore uncertainly.
Instantly the Colonel motioned to accept, and that he would go to theFerida; and Armand smiled, and indicated that both would go--if any went;then he crossed to the great fireplace and stood before it, staringthoughtfully into the cinders. Suddenly he straightened his shoulders,and faced around--and Moore knew that the decision was made, and finally.
"Mrs. Spencer," he said, "we will lay aside the questions of motive andpersonality: You, an individual, come to me, the Governor of Dornlitz,and offer information which, if true, will lead to the recovery of anarticle of great value, that belongs to the Government and hasmysteriously disappeared. It is my duty, as Governor, to investigate thestory, and I will do it, either in person or by subordinate. If the storybe true, and the article in question be recovered by your aid, then youwill be entitled to the proper thanks of the Government and a suitablerecompense.--So much for that. But I also wish to assure you that ArmandDalberg, himself, declines your offer and your aid; and should yourinformation result to his personal profit and advancement, it will be alife-long regret."
She heard him without turning--and Moore thought he detected the faintestshiver at the end; and, in truth, the words and tone were enough to chilleven a colder heart than hers.
But when she faced him, it was with one of the soft and caressing smilesshe could use with such fatal fascination, and which made Moore catch hisbreath and stare, though it touched the Archduke not at all.
"I thank His Royal Highness, the Governor of Dornlitz," she said,dropping him another curtsy, "for his consideration and trust, and thepromised reward; the latter I decline.... As for Armand Dalberg, I canassure him he will owe me no obligation: it will give me a life-longpleasure to be the means of causing him a life-long regret."
The Archduke smiled indifferently.
"To that extent, then, I shall feel less obligated," he replied."Meanwhile, let us be seated, and receive madame's instruction forto-night. I shall want the Book seen by more than one person--how manycan you arrange to admit?"
"How many do you wish?"
"Three, possibly four."
"You may bring half a dozen if you like," she said, "though the fewer,the less chance of failure."
"Very good--how is it to be managed?"
She drew off her gauntlets, and from one of them took a sheet of notepaper--stamped with the Duke's arms--on which she had sketched roughly somuch of the Ferida and its grounds as entered into her plan. Spreading itout, she explained how they were to gain entrance to her apartments; andthat there might be no mistake, she went over it again, cautioning themthat it must be followed with the most careful precision. At the end, shegave the map to Moore.
"Of course, I shall not expect Your Highness to-night," she said; "but Ihope you will send Colonel Moore; it will be well to have some one whocan, if necessary, use both head and sword--though I don't anticipate theremotest difficulty in your----"
A volley of cheers from without drowned her voice. It could only be thesoldiers, and yet it was such an extraordinary thing, and with theField-Marshal, himself, within sound, that the two men looked at eachother in puzzled surprise; and when the noise not only continued butactually grew louder, the Archduke frowned and went to the window.
And what he saw made him frown still more, and he swore softly tohimself, as a man does, sometimes, when unpleasantly surprised andobliged to think quickly, and to act on the thinking, with a heavypenalty awaiting a mistake.
Crossing the courtyard, with Hertz and Purkitz walking on either side,were the Regent of Valeria and Mlle. d'Essolde. And even as Armand stoodthere, they were out of saddle and Dehra was running lightly up thesteps.
"Send Scartman to us in the big room, if you please, Captain," shecalled--then stopped, her eyes fixed on two horses standing a little wayoff--a Field-Marshal's insignia on the saddle cloth of one and aColonel's of her Household on the other. So! so! and they were too busywith appointments at four to ride with them. She caught Mlle. d'Essoldeby the arm.
"Look, Elise!" she said, "look at those saddle cloths yonder."
The Archduke followed her motion, and understood. It was a mostinfernally unfortunate contretemps, but it would have to be met, and atonce.
"The Regent is on the porch," he said. "I do not care for her to know ofthis meeting nor its purport, until after to-night. Madame, will youplease be good enough to conceal yourself; the door is the only exit, andit is impossible now--I will try to prevent Her Highness entering here,but I may fail; I likely shall. Come, Moore," and he hurried out.
But Madeline Spencer only laughed, and, winding the veil into place, wentand stood by the chimney--here was a very god-given opportunity, andassuredly she had no notion to let it pass unused.
And the landlord, slumbering in the hall, had been tardily aroused by thecheering, and coming forth, still half asleep, he met the Princess justat the entrance.
"Scartman," she said sharply, "where are His Highness and Colonel Moore?"
The landlord awoke with a suddenness that was painful, and which left himstaring at her in silly-eyed speechlessness.
"What ails you, man?" she demanded--"tell the Archduke I'm here--we shallbe in the large room."
This brought back a bit of his senses, and he bowed to the ground, hopingto get back more of them before he need come up.
"I will find His Royal Highness at once," he said; "I did not know he washere--I've been asleep--but if Your Majesty--Your Regency--Your Highness,I mean, will permit--the large room is occupied, I will----"
At that moment, Armand and Moore came out.
"So it would seem," the Princess remarked dryly.
"Don't blame the poor fellow, Dehra," the Archduke laughed; "he did thebest he could, doubtless, and at my order. We are here on the business Ispoke of this morning--it's finished now, and we will ride back with you,if we may."
Dehra held out her hand, and gave him the smile she knew he loved.
"Of course you may," she said, "and gladly; but first I want a cup oftea--Scartman, the kettle instantly!"--and before Armand could detainher, she was past him and into the room.
As she crossed the threshold, she caught the faint perfume that a womanalways carries, and which often-times is so individualized, as to betrayher identity instantly. It was a peculiar odor--the blended fragrance ofmany flowers--and she recognized that she had known it before;--but whatwas it doing in this room, now!--it was too fresh to be many minutes old.
"Armand," she said, "what woman has been here?" glancing laughinglyaround.--"And is here still!" and pointed with her crop to the veiledfigure in the shadow near the chimney.
The Archduke ground back an oath, and stepping forward bowed to MadelineSpencer.
"Madame," said he, "will you do the Governor of Dornlitz the favor toexcuse him, and to accept his thanks for your service? Colonel Moore,madame's horse."
"Je vous remercie, Monsieur le Prince," she murmured, taking Moore's arm,and moving with sinuous grace toward the door. But as she passed thePrincess Regent, who had stepped aside to give her way, the veil slippedfrom her face, and the two women looked into each other's eyes--the onewith a smile of mocking impertinence, the other with a calmly ignoringstare, and showing, by not so much as the quiver of a muscle, her angerand surprise.
And when they had gone, the Princess turned her gaze upon the Archduke,the blue eyes ominous in their steadiness; and as he would have spoken,she repelled him with an imperious gesture, and gave him her back.
"Come, Elise!" she said, and left the room.
In the courtyard, Colonel Moore had just swung Mrs. Spencer to saddle,and was fixing her skirt. Dehra paused in the entry until the black horsehad passed the gate; then she went leisurely down the steps, waved Mooreto Mlle. d'Essolde, and let the groom put her up.
Acknowledging Moore's farewell salute, with her crop, but no smile, andwith never a glance toward the window, behind whose curtain she must haveknown the Archduke would surely be, she rode away--the Lancers againcheering her devotedly as she passed.
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