A Modern Mercenary

by K. Prichard and Hesketh Vernon Hesketh Prichard

  CHAPTER XI.

  A COUNSEL OF EXPEDIENCY.

  The foundation of the family and Castle of Sagan was said to belong tothe period of the Frankish incursions. Some one had once remarked thatCount Simon himself was the most perfect relic of the barbaric period tobe found in Europe, which, coming round in due time to Count Simon, thejoker paid with his life for his poor attempt at wit.

  However true this tradition of Sagan might be, the Castle itself wasmediaeval, and, though it had been added to and restored, dark andtortuous passages still existed in the older portion of its huge bulk,and could by no means be improved away. Treacherous steps waylaid andbetrayed the unwary foot; undreamed-of doors gave upon their dimmestcorners, and not all the efforts of the nervous chatelaine everaccomplished the adequate lighting of their recesses.

  The spirit of fear seemed to be abroad in the Castle that night, and theguests moved with a causeless but irresistible hurry when coming orgoing from the upper apartments or through the winding corridors.

  Valerie was conscious of it, as, wrapped in a long cloak, she openedher door and started back on finding a tall high-shouldered figurestanding outside.

  'Take my arm, Mademoiselle, I beg of you,' von Elmur bent his head,speaking urgently: 'I am aware that his August Impertinence welldeserved your rebuke! But many heard it, and by some a sinisterconstruction has been put upon it. For your father's sake, will youcondescend to listen to me?'

  Valerie withdrew her hand from his arm with a swift movement, but hecaught and replaced it almost roughly.

  'Forgive me, Mademoiselle, you must listen to me! I am not urging mysuit upon you--I will not urge it until you consult your father; but, inthe meantime, the exigencies of the case, difficulties which have arisenas the result of your own words, make it essential for you to follow myadvice. You are aware, you must be aware, of my feelings towards you,and may I remind you that your father's wishes coincide with mine? Willyou allow me to announce our betrothal to the Count? I will neverpresume upon this favour in the future--you may rely upon me. Valerie,you see I am using no lover's persuasiveness, I do not tell you that Iadore you--though you are well aware of that! I only declare that yourfalling in with my request may mean the difference between life anddeath to some of us!'

  'Is my father in danger through my fault?'

  His hand held hers close, and she could see that he was moved out of thecommon by some emotion, the cool stillness of his manner was replaced bya passion of which she had not believed him capable. Her beauty and thethought of losing her had a good deal to do with this disturbance, butthe chief cause was the fear, that, after all, his mission might fail,and fail badly.

  'I cannot explain; but I implore you to act on my advice.'

  Valerie hesitated. Elmur was very much in earnest, yet it might be anattempt to trick her into a position from which she would find it almostimpossible to withdraw.

  'Do you wish to make this public?' she asked.

  'No, no. That--pardon me once more--would be equally fatal after theimpression you unluckily conveyed to the Duke. No; I only ask you toallow Count Sagan to believe that you have consented to become my wife.I beg you to do this--for M. Selpdorf's sake, and, indeed, Mademoiselle,for your own!'

  As they entered the circle of brilliant light falling from the greatlamp above Madame de Sagan's door Baron von Elmur resumed something ofhis usual manner.

  'Then I may conduct you no further?' he said, turning in front of her toscreen her agitated face from two persons who were coming along thegallery.

  'Thank you for your protection, Baron,' the girl replied in an audibletone, 'the Castle is haunted on nights like these, when the _tsa_ criesaround it.'

  The door swung open noiselessly beside them, and Count Sagan stood onthe threshold. By some instinct, without looking at him, she seemed tosee his angry, questioning gaze.

  'Au revoir,' she added to Elmur, with a coquettish ring in her voice.

  'Ah, Mademoiselle, I live for that only--to see you again,' began Elmur.

  Sagan cut him short.

  'Tut, tut, Baron, too many eyes are looking on to permit of suchendearments as these! Ardour in a betrothed lover is natural, yet----'

  Valerie looked up and smiled miserably.

  'Au revoir,' she repeated faintly.

  With that the door closed behind her as Sagan led her away to his wife,and Elmur, affecting not to see the two men who were passing, strolledon singing a love-song under his breath. Unziar paused, then drewRallywood with him into the centre of the wide lighted passage, wherethey could speak with more freedom. 'That settles more questions thanone!' he said mockingly. 'For example, it settles a question which mostconcerns you and me, Rallywood.'

  'Concerns me?' Rallywood flung back the words.

  'Would you deny it? You are as deep in that as I,' nodding towards thedoor behind them.

  Rallywood's answer came slowly.

  'I do not deny it. Why should I wish to? Though regard for her has ledme to attempt to hide my--folly. I see I have not been altogether assuccessful as I hoped. But, had I anything to offer her beside my sword,I'm hanged if I would let that infernal German have her!'

  'In these affairs, my friend, the ladies equally make choice,' Unziarreplied with a sneer. 'Besides, it is only a part of the--plot,' thelast word was scarcely audible.

  Rallywood turned on him a long, keen look.

  'And you think that she, Mademoiselle, is in it?' he asked at last.

  'I wish to God I could say not! But in the teeth of this conspiracy, forthe sake of Maasau, we of the Guard cannot lie to each other.'

  Rallywood, being on duty during the evening, stood, according to usage,at some little distance behind the Duke's chair. From among the comingand going, from chance words and prepared speeches he gathered a threadof suspicion which had its use in the perplexing future that was rapidlyadvancing upon them.

  Valerie, with a flush upon her face, was looking unusually brilliant asshe talked for a while with Unziar, who, judging from the sourness ofhis smile, may have been offering her his congratulations.

  Counsellor came up to Rallywood, and as they stood well away from thecrowd, spoke openly.

  'You have heard the news I see, John, and you are not nearly such a foolas you think yourself. She is a girl in ten thousand, and may, notimprobably, make the exceptional woman I once before spoke to you about.I knew this connection was under consideration by Elmur, but theengagement did not exist a few hours ago, and the present moment isprecisely the most inopportune which could be chosen for itsannouncement, hence it follows that someone has forced Elmur's hand, orthat he is forcing the hand of someone, it may be Mdlle. Selpdorf's.'

  'Will it be announced--publicly? The Duke, for example.'

  'It is known already to half-a-dozen; what can they do? I had it fromBlivinski, the little Russian _attache_, as a secret. Russia is, likenature herself, the vast reservoir of all secrets; and not one isallowed to escape, except for a purpose. Yet I wonder how it will end.Look at her! How brilliant she is. But rouge on the cheek of a woman whohabitually uses none means, in all cases--trouble,' said Counsellor, ashe moved off.