by Anthony Hope
XX
THEY HAVE COLDS IN SLAVNA
It is permissible to turn with some relief--although of a kind morecongenial to the cynic than to an admirer of humanity--from the tragedyof love in Volseni to the comedy of politics which began to developitself in Slavna from the hour of the proclamation of young Alexis.
The first result of this auspicious event, following so closely on theissue of Captain Mistitch's expedition, was to give all the diplomatistsbad colds. Some took to their beds, others went for a change of air; butone and all had such colds as would certainly prevent them fromaccepting royal invitations or being present at State functions. YoungAlexis had a cold, too, and was consequently unable to issue royalinvitations or take his part in State functions. Countess Ellenburg waseven more affected--she had lumbago; and even General Stenovics wasadvised to keep quite quiet for a few days.
Only Colonel Stafnitz's health seemed proof against the prevailingepidemic. He was constantly to be seen about, very busy at the barracks,very busy at Suleiman's Tower, very gay and cheerful on the terrace ofthe Hotel de Paris. But then he, of course, had been in no wayresponsible for recent events. He was a soldier, and had only obeyedorders; naturally his health was less affected. He was, in fact, invery good spirits, and in very good temper except when he touched onpoor Captain Hercules's blundering, violent ways. "Not the man for adelicate mission," he said, decisively, to Captain Markart. The Captainforbore to remind him how it was that Mistitch had been sent on one. Theway in which the Colonel expressed his opinion made it clear that such areminder would not be welcome.
The coterie which had engineered the revolution was set at sixes andsevens by its success. The destruction of their common enemy was alsothe removal of their common interest. Sophy at Volseni did not seem aperil real enough or near enough to bind them together. CountessEllenburg wanted to be Regent; Stenovics was for a Council, with himselfin the chair. Stafnitz thought himself the obvious man to be Commandantof Slavna; Stenovics would have agreed--only it was necessary to keep aneye on Volseni! Now if he were to be Commandant, while the Colonel tookthe field with a small but picked force! The Colonel screwed up hismouth at that. "Make Praslok your headquarters, and you'll soon bringthe Sheepskins to their senses," Stenovics advised insidiously. Stafnitzpreferred headquarters in Suleiman's Tower! He was not sure that comingback from Praslok with a small force, however picked, would be quite aseasy as going there.
In the back of both men's minds there was a bit of news which had justcome to hand. The big guns had been delivered, and were on their way toSlavna, coming down the Krath in barges. They were consigned to theCommandant. Who was that important officer now to be?
When thieves fall out, honest men come by their own. The venerablesaying involves one postulate--that there shall be honest men to do it.In high places in Slavna this seemed to be a difficulty, and it is notso certain that Kravonia's two great neighbors, to east and west, quitefilled the gap. These Powers were exchanging views now. They weremightily shocked at the way Kravonia had been going on. Their Ministershad worse colds than any of the other Ministers, and their Press had agreat deal to say about civilization and such like topics. Kravonia wasa rich country, and its geographical position was important. The historyof the world seems to show that the standard of civilization andmorality demanded of a country depends largely on its richness and theimportance of its geographical position.
The neighbor on the west had plenty of mountains, but wanted somefertile plains. The neighbor on the east had fertile plains adjacent tothe Kravonian frontier, and would like to hold the mountain line as aprotection to them. A far-seeing statesman would have discerned howimportant correct behavior was to the interests of Kravonia! The greatneighbors began to move in the matter, but they moved slowly. They hadto see that their own keen sense of morality was not opposed to the keensense of morality of other great nations. The right to feel speciallyoutraged is a matter for diplomatic negotiations, often, no doubt, ofgreat delicacy.
So in the mean time Slavna was left to its own devices for a littlelonger--to amuse itself in its light-hearted, unremorseful, extremelyunconscientious way, and to frown and shake a distant fist at grim,gray, sad little Volseni in the hills. With the stern and faithful bandwho mourned the dead Prince neither Stenovics nor Stafnitz seemed forthe moment inclined to try conclusions, though each would have been veryglad to see the other undertake the enterprise. In a military regard,moreover, they were right. The obvious thing, if Sophy still held out,was to wait for the big guns. When once these were in position, the oldbattlements of Volseni could stand scarcely longer than the walls ofJericho. And the guns were at the head of navigation on the Krath now,waiting for an escort to convoy them to Slavna. Max von Hollbrandt--tooinsignificant a person to feel called upon to have a cold--moved aboutSlavna, much amused with the situation, and highly gratified that thefruit which the coterie had plucked looked like turning bitter in theirmouths.
Within the Palace on the river-bank young Alexis was strutting his briefhour, vastly pleased; but Countess Ellenburg was at her prayers again,praying rather indiscriminately against everybody who might bedangerous--against Sophy at Volseni; against the big neighbors, whosedesigns began to be whispered; against Stenovics, who was fighting sohard for himself that he gave little heed to her or to her dignity;against Stafnitz, who might leave her the dignity, such as it was, butcertainly, if he established his own supremacy, would not leave her ashred of power. Perhaps there were spectres also against whose accusingshades she raised her petition--the man she had deluded, the man she hadhelped to kill; but that theme seems too dark for the comedy of Slavnain these days. The most practical step she took, so far as this worldgoes, was to send a very solid sum of money to a bank in Dresden: it wasnot the first remittance she had made from Slavna.
Matters stood thus--young Alexis having been on the throne in Slavna,and Sophy in Volseni, for one week--when Lepage ventured out fromZerkovitch's sheltering roof. He had suffered from a chill by no meanspurely diplomatic; but, apart from that, he had been in no hurry to showhimself; he feared to see Rastatz's rat-face peering for him. But allwas quiet. Sterkoff and Rastatz were busy with their Colonel inSuleiman's Tower. In fact, nobody took any notice of Lepage; his secret,once so vital, was now gossip of the market-place. He was secure--but hewas also out of a situation.
He walked somewhat forlornly into St. Michael's Square, and as luckwould have it--Lepage thought it very bad luck--the first man he ranagainst was Captain Markart. Uneasy in his conscience, Lepage tried toevade the encounter, but the Captain was of another mind. His head wassound again, and, on cool reflection, he was glad to have slept throughthe events of what Stenovics's proclamation had styled "the auspiciousday." He seized little Lepage by the arm, greeted him with cordiality,and carried him off to drink at the Golden Lion. Without imputing anyserious lack of sobriety to his companion, Lepage thought that thisrefreshment was not the first of which the good-humored Captain hadpartaken that forenoon; his manner was so very cordial, his talk so veryfree.
"Well, here we are!" he said. "We did our best, you and I, Lepage; ourconsciences are clear. As loyal subjects, we have now to accept theexisting regime."
"What is it?" asked Lepage. "I've been in-doors a week."
"It's Alexis--still Alexis! Long live Alexis!" said Markart, with alaugh. "You surely don't take Baroness Dobrava into account?"
"I just wanted to know," said Lepage, drinking thoughtfully."And--er--Captain--behind Alexis? Guiding the youthful King? CountessEllenburg?"
"No doubt, no doubt. Behind him his very pious mother, Lepage."
"And behind her?" persisted Lepage.
Markart laughed, but cast a glance round and shook his head.
"Come, come, Captain, don't leave an old friend in the dark--just whereinformation would be useful!"
"An old friend! Oh, when I remember my aching head! You think me veryforgiving, Monsieur Lepage."
"If you knew the night I spent, you'd forgive me anyth
ing," said Lepage,with a shudder of reminiscence.
"Ah, well," said Markart, after another draught, "I'm a soldier--I shallobey my orders."
"Perfect, Captain! And who will give them to you, do you think?"
"That's exactly what I'm waiting to see. Oh, I've turned prudent! Nomore adventures for me!"
"I'm quite of your mind; but it's so difficult to be prudent when onedoesn't know which is the strongest side."
"You wouldn't go to Volseni?" laughed Markart.
"Perhaps not; but there are difficulties nearer home. If you went out ofthis door and turned to the left, you would come to the offices of theCouncil of Ministers. If you turned to the right, and thence to theright again, and on to the north wall, you would come, Captain, toSuleiman's Tower. Now, as I understand, Colonel Stafnitz--"
"Is at the Tower, and the General at the offices, eh?"
"Precisely. Which turn do you mean to take?"
Markart looked round again. "I shall sit here for a bit longer," hesaid. He finished his liquor, thereby, perhaps, adding just the touch ofopenness lacking to his advice, and, leaning forward, touched Lepage onthe arm.
"Do you remember the Prince's guns--the guns for which he barteredCaptain Hercules?"
"Ay, well!" said Lepage.
"They're on the river, up at Kolskoi, now. I should keep my eye on them!They're to be brought to Slavna. Who do you think'll bring them? Keepyour eye on that!"
"They're both scoundrels," said Lepage, rising to go.
Markart shrugged his shoulders. "The fruit lies on the ground for theman who can pick it up! Why not? There's nobody who's got any right toit now."
He expressed exactly the view of the two great neighbors, though by nomeans in the language which their official communications adopted.
Stenovics knew their views very well. He had also received a prettyplain intimation from Stafnitz that the Colonel considered the escortingof the guns to Slavna as a purely military task, appertaining not to theMinistry of State, but to the officer commanding the garrison in thecapital. Stafnitz was that officer, and he proposed himself to go toKolskoi. Suleiman's Tower, he added, would be left in the trustworthyhands of Captain Sterkoff. Again Stenovics fully understood; indeed, theColonel was almost brutally candid. His letter was nothing less thanplain word that power lay with the sword, and that the sword was in hisown hand. Stenovics had got rid of King Sergius only to fall under therule of Dictator Stafnitz! Was that to be the end of it?
Stenovics preferred any other issue. The ideal thing was his own rule inthe name of young Alexis, with such diplomatic honoring and humoring ofCountess Ellenburg as might prove necessary. That was plainly impossibleso long as Stafnitz was master of the army; it would become finallyhopeless if Sterkoff held Suleiman's Tower till Stafnitz brought theguns to Slavna. What, then, was Stenovics's alternative? For he was notyet brought to giving up the game as totally lost. His name stood high,though his real power tottered on a most insecure foundation. He couldget good terms for his assistance: there was time to make friends withthe mammon of unrighteousness.
Privately, as became invalids, without the knowledge of any one outsidetheir confidential _entourage_, the representatives of the two greatneighbors received General Stenovics. They are believed to haveconvinced him that, in the event of any further disorders in Kravonia,intervention could not be avoided; troops were on either frontier, readyfor such an emergency; a joint occupation would be forced on the Allies.With a great deal of sorrow, no doubt, the General felt himself drivento accept this conclusion.
He at once requested Stafnitz to fetch the guns to Slavna; he left theColonel full discretion in the matter. His only desire was to insure thetranquillity of the capital, and to show Volseni how hopeless it was tomaintain the fanciful and absurd claims of Baroness Dobrava. Therepresentatives, it must be supposed, approved this attitude, and wishedthe General all success; at a later date his efforts to secure order,and to avoid the inevitable but regrettable result of any newdisturbance, were handsomely acknowledged by both Powers. GeneralStenovics had not Stafnitz's nerve and dash, but he was a man ofconsiderable resource.
A man of good feeling, too, to judge from another step he took--whetherwith the cognizance of the representatives or entirely of his own motionhas never become known. He waited till Colonel Stafnitz, who returned acivil and almost effusive reply to his communication, had set off tofetch the guns--which, as has been seen, had been unloaded from therailway and lay at Kolskoi, three days' journey up the Krath; then heentered into communication with Volseni. He sent Volseni a private andfriendly warning. What was the use of Volseni holding out when the bigguns were coming? It could mean only hopeless resistance, more disorder,more blood-shed. Let Volseni and the lady whose claims it supportedconsider that, be warned in time, and acknowledge King Alexis!
This letter he addressed to Zerkovitch. There were insuperablediplomatic difficulties in the way of addressing it to Sophy directly."Madam I may not call you, and Mistress I am loath to call you," saidQueen Elizabeth to the Archbishop's wife: it was just a case of thatsort of difficulty. He could not call her Queen of Kravonia, and shewould be offended if he called her Baroness Dobrava. So the letter wentto Zerkovitch, and it went by the hand of one of Zerkovitch'sfriends--so anxious was the General to be as friendly and conciliatoryas circumstances permitted.
Much to his surprise, considerably to his alarm, Lepage was sent for tothe General's private residence on the evening of the day on whichColonel Stafnitz set out for Kolskoi to fetch the guns.
Stenovics greeted him cordially, smoothed away his apprehension,acquainted him with the nature of his mission and with the gist of theletter which he was to carry. Stenovics seemed more placid to-night thanfor some time back--possibly because he had got Stafnitz quietly out ofSlavna.
"Beg Monsieur Zerkovitch to give the letter to Baroness Dobrava (hecalled her that to Lepage) as soon as possible, and to urge her tolisten to it. Add that we shall be ready to treat her with everyconsideration--any title in reason, and any provision in reason, too.It's all in my letter, but repeat it on my behalf, Lepage."
"I shouldn't think she'd take either title or money, General," saidLepage, bluntly.
"You think she's disinterested? No doubt, no doubt! She'll be the moreready to see the uselessness of prolonging her present attitude." Hegrew almost vehement, as he laid his hand on a large map which wasspread out on the table in front of him. "Look here, Lepage. This isMonday. By Wednesday evening Colonel Stafnitz will be at Kolskoi--here!"He put his finger by the spot. "On Thursday morning he'll start back.The barges travel well, and--yes--I think he'll have his guns here bySunday; less than a week from now! Yes, on Thursday night he ought toreach Evena, on Friday Rapska, on Saturday the lock at Miklevni. Yes, onSaturday the lock at Miklevni! That would bring him here on Sunday. Yes,the lock at Miklevni on Saturday, I think." He looked up at Lepagealmost imploringly. "If she hesitates, show her that. They're bound tobe here in less than a week!"
Lepage cocked his head on one side and looked at the Ministerthoughtfully. It all sounded very convincing. Colonel Stafnitz would beat the lock at Miklevni on Saturday, and on Sunday with the guns atSlavna. And, of course, arduous though the transport would be, theycould be before Volseni in two or three days more. It was really no useresisting!
Stenovics passed a purse over to Lepage. "For your necessary expenses,"he said. Lepage took up the purse, which felt well filled, and pocketedit. "The Baroness mayn't fully appreciate what I've been saying," addedStenovics. "But Lukovitch knows every inch of the river--he'll make itquite plain, if she asks him about it. And present her with my sincererespects and sympathy--my sympathy with her as a private person, ofcourse. You mustn't commit me in any way, Lepage."
"I think," said Lepage, "that you're capable of looking after thatdepartment yourself, General. But aren't you making the Colonel go alittle too fast?"
"No, no; the barges will do about that."
"But he has a large force to move, I suppos
e?"
"Oh, dear, no! A large force? No, no! Only a company--just about ahundred strong, Lepage." He rose. "Just about a hundred, I think."
"Ah, then he might keep time!" Lepage agreed, still very thoughtfully.
"You'll start at once?" the General asked.
"Within an hour."
"That's right. We must run no unnecessary risks; delay might mean newtroubles."
He held out his hand and shook Lepage's warmly. "You must believe that Irespect and share your grief at the King's death."
"Which King, General?"
"Oh! oh! King Alexis, of course! We must listen to the voice of thenation. Our new King lives and reigns. The voice of the nation, Lepage!"
"Ah!" said Lepage, dryly. "I'd been suspecting some ventriloquists!"
General Stenovics honored the sally with a broad smile. He thought therepresentatives with colds would be amused if he repeated it. The pat onthe shoulder which he gave Lepage was a congratulation. "The animal isso very inarticulate of itself," he said.