Victor Victorious

by Cecil Starr Johns

  *CHAPTER XI*

  I bathed and dressed myself, constructing in my mind the procedure ofGoltz's daring raid upon my person.

  He must have gone straight to my bedroom when he left the dining hall,and concealed himself somewhere, most probably beneath the bed. Thenhaving rendered me unconscious, let in his accomplices, and lowered mefrom the window. Once outside, I could easily have been passed off as adrunken man being taken home. He had pulled my day clothes over mypyjamas.

  It was a pity that he was such a scoundrel; for, had he been a decentmember of society, he might have risen high in the world--for he wasclever and undoubtedly brave.

  I felt no qualms at having killed him: he was a grave danger toRudarlia, and also to myself, so my action had been partly inself-defence. It would have been much more unpleasant if I had had tokill a horse or dog.

  Upon arriving at the Palace, I immediately sent for Prince Zeula andCount Belen.

  Prince Zeula was the first to enter and embraced me affectionately. Iwaited for Count Belen before saying anything, as I did not wish to haveto repeat the tale oftener than I could help.

  They were very greatly dismayed, and the Count was almost purple withindignation, especially when he heard that our forts were known. Hecalmed down a little, however, when I told him that I did not believemuch mischief had been done.

  As soon as they had been told everything, we set to work to peruse thedocumentary evidence. At first, we discovered nothing of anyimportance, for most of the papers dealt with military matters that wereknown to all people. Then we found one that caused us to squirm, as itcontained much information about our reserves of guns and ammunition.Goltz had evidently been a most successful spy, and we could only hopethat he had not sent his report to Bornia. We had nearly come to an endof the papers, when I came across a list of some twenty names of men whohad been Ivan's friends; against seven of them had been made a cross andthe word "accepted."

  "Accepted what?" I said, passing the paper to the Prince.

  The next sheet explained it, being a letter from Alexis, giving a briefoutline of a plot for my dethronement; attached was a list of the samenames with a heading in Prince Alexis's writing: "Ivan's friends, soundthem."

  The three of us looked at each other in silent dismay. That seven outof twenty should have accepted the proposals, which I may justly callinfamous, was appalling; we did not know how many had been approached.It might have been that all would have accepted, and they were men whohad been treated with absolute leniency and consideration.

  "This is in your hands, Prince; it can be nothing but imprisonment,exile would be inadvisable at the present time."

  "There is one thing preferable to imprisonment, your Majesty."

  "Perhaps; but we must remember that they may not have been told of theassassination part of the scheme. They may have thought only tooverthrow me; perhaps, too, they would not sell Rudarlia."

  "It is giving them the benefit of a big doubt."

  "I should not if there were any harm likely to come of it; but, if youwill give orders to arrest these men simultaneously, I think their teethwill be drawn, and we shall have nothing to fear. In a little time itwill not matter."

  "And the others on the list, will your Majesty place them undersurveillance?"

  "No, I think not; for, if they have been approached, they have refusedto acquiesce, if not, they will probably know nothing about it."

  For a short time, few people knew that I had been abducted, but after awhile it became almost public property. It was known, too, that I hadshot Goltz, but it was not known that we had discovered evidence of aplot; that was kept from the knowledge of all save a chosen few.

  Prince Alexis wrote to me, and ended his letter with a request for fivethousand pounds, as a salve to his feelings at the reported death of hisfriend Baron von Goltz.

  He must have had a sense of humour after all, although up to now I haddiscovered no trace of it.

  I replied to this letter, sympathising with him over the loss of hisfriend, and regretting my inability to do more than pay for his funeral.

  I was no longer anxious to fend off his attacks. He could try to do usas much harm as he liked, and, really, the sooner he showed his hand,the better I should be pleased. As far as it was possible to be seen,we were ready; so we sat quietly, and waited.

  It was about this time that Prince Zeula first broached the subject ofmy marriage.

  He had lunched or rather breakfasted with me, and we were allowingourselves an easy half-hour, to digest our food and smoke a cigar.

  I had noticed that he was slightly perturbed about something, and thathe was formulating some thought in his head. I knew he would only speakwhen he had his idea firmly fixed, so I waited patiently.

  "Victor!"

  "Yes?"

  "Are you satisfied with your country and countrymen?"

  "Intensely."

  "Do you think that you have done everything possible to prepare for alleventualities?

  "I sincerely hope so. There are many little things that I do notinterfere with, but the main preparations are completed; that is, if youare thinking of our preparations against any Bornian attack. You knowthat our aeroplanes have arrived in Soctia?"

  "I had heard of it."

  "You hear of everything. Is there anything that I could tell you thatwould really surprise you?"

  "There is one thing."

  "And that is?"

  He hesitated a moment and then said:

  "I should be very much surprised to hear that you had thought of makingyour greatest sacrifice for Rudarlia."

  Then, I knew what was in his mind, and unconsciously I tried to gaintime, so as to put off hearing what I did not wish to hear; until Irealised that this was pure cowardice on my part, and said:

  "What is that?"

  "Marriage."

  "Good Lord!"

  "Your greatest sacrifice; I call it that because a Royal marriage veryoften lacks love, and I know that to you it will be a torture, and yet,my boy, it is essential."

  "I suppose it is," I said, "but is it imperative to think of it yet?"

  "Only in order to fix the idea firmly in your head, to give you time toform your thoughts on the subject, to prepare for what must come. Yousee, Victor, with your temperament, it is difficult to think of marriedlife run on lines of convenience. You must forgo romance, and fill itsplace, as best you may, with the knowledge that you are sacrificing yourpersonal feelings for the good of the state."

  "I will think of it; I suppose it must be into some reigning family?"

  "If possible, but at least Royal."

  I walked to the window and looked out; but I don't think I saw much, mymind being occupied with the recollection of a slim girlish figure witha bandaged ankle.

  I say recollection, for, to confess the truth, I had forgotten thatcharming riverside idyll. It was strange; at the time, I could havesworn that I loved that pretty little girl; and yet it was not more thantwo years and she had gone, with the exception of a pleasant memory.

  I had excuses to offer to myself; I had been a boy when it had occurred,and since I had become a man and a King. As such I had made aconstitution, reorganised an army, and killed a traitor; all usefulthings in their way, as well as a thousand other duties which make aking's lot a heavy one.

  Ah well! and so I was to marry some one, I must marry some one, for thesake of Rudarlia. It was a case of duty, duty which prevents a kingenjoying personal liberty. Even in a matter such as marriage, he mustbow his head and do as some one else wills, as cheerfully as hischaracter will allow.

  I wonder how many of my subjects realise just what it means to be theirKing. To live in a beautiful palace, with beautiful food and clothes,horses, motor-cars, an army of servants; surrounded by Courtiers andMinisters. It is a pretty picture, an alluring prospect, to the poorman who only hears that side of it. But, if they knew the infiniteboredom to be derived from too many servants, Cour
tiers, too much foodand Palace, if they understood the wearying routine, the never-endingetiquette, the fettering of wish and will, I fancy that their opinionswould change. A king, however, should be king, and his example shouldbe that of the head of the state. It is to him that people should look,it is he who should be a light for his people to follow along the roadsof devotion, loyalty, honour, and duty.

  Yet what a position of difficulties it is, and how much depends on thechoice a king makes. I had made up my mind to regulate my life tomoderation; for that, it seems to me, is the safest course. Let a kingbe over-powerful, it is almost certain that he will injure his countryby trying to do those things which are more than any one man canattempt. Let a king be weak, he will fail through being ruled instead ofruling, so that the power which should be his gets into the hands of menwho are, perhaps, guided chiefly by self-interest, and the result willbe anarchy, chaos, and perhaps the destruction of monarchical rule.

  I must have stood by the window for a good twenty minutes, turningthings over in my mind, before I turned and looked at Zeula.

  "Well," I said, "I am ready, or shall be when the time comes; butremember that, when it does, Rudarlia may have ceased to be a kingdom,who knows?"

  "God knows, we are in His hands."

  "Amen; but He has given us brains and arms, strong men with bravehearts, and unless He fights against us we will win, I know it."

  "We will, but when that day comes, Victor, where will the King be?"

  "In his proper place, at the head of his army."

  "Is that your proper place? You have no heir."

  "Would you have me sit here while my army is in the field?"

  "It would be better, much better."

  "Then better be d--d!" said I. At which my companion smiled, for Iseldom swear. "I will fight with my men, and if I am killed it will beso much the worse for you; because Rudarlia will become a republic, andyou will be the first President."

  "We will hope for the best then. You have luck, or Goltz might still bekeeping you."

  "The luck of having a hard fist and knowing how to use it."

  "And a quick brain," he added, "don't forget that. I should never havethought of looking for you under the bed, if I had been Goltz, when Isaw the open window and the rope of sheets."

  "No, I don't think I should have myself."

  I presume that Prince Zeula thought that the seed he had let fall, inregard to my marriage, was sufficient, for he did not mention thesubject again for a considerable time. That day, however, it did itswork well and quite upset any keen desire for work which I may have had;so after a little while, I went to see my mother, a thing I generallydid when perturbed. It is wonderful to me how so many mothers have thegift of being able to understand and console, without allowing it to beseen.

  Now, for the next three months or so nothing occurred to disturb ourpeace, and Rudarlia showed signs of awakening prosperity. Nature hadbeen kind to the agriculturists for once, and money began to circulatemore freely; therefore we felt more at ease in giving time to theimprovement of existing conditions of life.

  At the end of that time I heard again from Prince Alexis. I answeredhim curtly to the effect that any further communications would bereturned unopened, and almost immediately our relations with Borniaaltered; up to now they had been those of smiling, courteous dislike.

  I hastened my plans in one thing only: the purchasing of an armouredcruiser just completed by an English firm, for one of the South AmericanRepublics, and a torpedo-boat destroyer.

  These two vessels were a gift from me to Rudarlia; and I thought PrinceKleber would burst with delight when I told him of my intentions. Hehad made the most of our naval forces, which until then had consisted ofthree coast defence vessels, an obsolete ironclad, and threetorpedo-boats. When he had these two additional ships, I believe hewould have cheerfully tried to tackle the British fleet.

  The cruiser was named the _Soctia_, much to the gratification of thatprovince.

  Personally I did not fear an attack by sea, the town of Soctia, our oneport of any importance, being too well fortified.

  About now, was finished the installation of the "Wireless" telegraphsystem, which linked up all our garrison towns.

  Then, one eventful day, came the tidings that Bornia was mobilising,ostensibly for manoeuvres. A reasonable enough thing; but there was noneed to send so many troops to our frontiers, there was no need to keepmatters so secret, and there was no need to issue ball cartridges. OurSecret Service kept us well informed on most points.

  I sent the promised word to Carruthers.

  Mr. Neville took a broken coin to Piotr.

  Quarovitch was commanded to Karena.

  Carruthers answered immediately, in a manner at once laconic and wantingin proper respect:

  "Coming, good old Splosh."

  Quarovitch was to hand.

  Piotr accompanied Mr. Neville. He had no idea that the English lord washis King.

  My old tutor told me, when he came to announce his arrival, that Piotrhad been in the middle of some farm work, but upon catching sight of thebroken coin had run to his house, seized his revolver and a fewnecessaries, and fairly tired his companion with the haste of hismovements. Mr. Neville had not explained anything, but had given himthe token, and told him that I was in need of him.

  He chuckled as he told me that Piotr was all impatience to kill some onefor my sake.

  Asking Mr. Neville to fetch him, I also sent word for Colonel vonQuarovitch to be admitted in half an hour's time. Then I slipped behinda curtain and waited.

  I saw Piotr enter the room with a puzzled expression on his face, whichgrew more intense when he discovered it to be apparently empty. Hetoyed with his revolver and the hilt of his dagger, stood first on oneleg, then on the other, and looked generally uncomfortable. So, to endit, I stepped out into view.

  "Well, Piotr, you see I have not forgotten your promise to help me outof a difficulty." I held out my hand.

  "I am grateful to your Excellency for remembering, and am truly pleasedto see you again."

  "You are astonished, perhaps, to see me here?"

  "I am, Excellency, but His Majesty was brought up in your country, theysay."

  "So you think I have been favoured on that account, perhaps."

  "Indeed, no; only it may have made His Majesty think of you."

  "I am afraid that is not the case, indeed, cannot be the case, for I ama Rudarlian as you are."

  "No!"

  "Indeed I am, Piotr, and I trust a good one."

  "God bless your Excellency, that is good news indeed."

  "Tell me, Piotr, are you glad that things have changed in Rudarlia?"

  "As is every honest man. I own my farm again now, and am not afraid ofthe days when the taxes are paid."

  "That is good, and those around you, your family, your friends, are theyas contented as yourself?"

  "Yes, Excellency."

  "And what has become of the other members of your band?"

  "They live around my neighbourhood; most of them have small farms, andthe others who have not, earn good wages now, and they will soon saveenough to buy a piece of land for themselves."

  "Splendid! I suppose you still keep the secret of your hiding-place;the other men would not have told of its position?"

  "Not a word. They took an oath never to do so, unless I gave thempermission, for the place was mine by right of discovery."

  "Supposing it was needed for the sake of Rudarlia and that His Majestysaid, 'Send for Piotr that I may ask him for permission to use hishiding-place for his country's good.'"

  This appeared to tickle him immensely and he roared with laughter.

  "If His Majesty asked for it, he should have it for his own sake,Excellency, and my life with it if he wished."

  I rang a bell.

  "Has Colonel von Quarovitch arrived yet?"

  "He awaits your Majesty."

  "Tell him I wish to see him now."

  Al
most before the door had closed, Piotr was on his knees before me.

  "Your Majesty, how could I be so blind! I did not think--and yet Ishould have known. Forgive me my want of respect. My life, everythingI have is yours."

  "Thank you, Piotr. I am your King, but I would have your devotion,nothing more."

  "Your Majesty has that, God knows, and not only mine, but that of everyman and woman that I know."

  I believe that he would have liked to spend quite a considerable timeexpatiating on my various merits, had not Quarovitch entered.

  "Ah, Colonel," I said, as he saluted, "I wish you to become acquaintedwith a man you may have heard of. You may even have sought his company.His name is Piotr, and under Ivan's beneficent rule he lived in a waythat might have incurred your displeasure. He is now, however, one ofmy friends."

  "I know him by sight, your Majesty, also by reputation. I believe weonce exchanged slight courtesies with one another."

  Here Piotr grinned.

  "I trust neither of you were hurt," I said.

  "I don't know about Piotr, your Majesty, but I had an inch of skin takenoff my arm."

  "And you, Piotr?" I asked.

  For answer he lifted the thick hair from the side of his face--part ofan ear was missing.

  "That I consider highly satisfactory, you both need bear no grudge;neither of you owes the other anything, and you must both have madeexcellent shooting."

  I laughed, and my two companions did likewise, quite heartily.

  "And now, Colonel, sit down, and you too, Piotr. I have something ofthe utmost importance to say to you, and which must be kept absolutelyto yourselves. It is this: in all probability we shall be at war withBornia before the month is out."

  A gleam lit up Quarovitch's face. Piotr sat silent.

  "You have no doubt heard," I continued, "that Bornia has mobilised formanoeuvres. I have information that they are extremely busy at theirarsenals, that ammunition is being hastened to the frontiers--and it isnot blank shell. The time has passed when due warning was given beforegoing to war. It is therefore necessary to prepare in peace time. Ofcourse the whole affair may be nothing, or it may be as we surmise: thatBornia thinks that she is strong enough to crush us, and place PrinceAlexis on the throne in my place. If that indeed be their plan, somesmall incident will serve as an excuse for an ultimatum. In any case,if it does not come now, it will in the near future. I think myself,and the Ministers think with me, that they mean war now."

  "It were better so, your Majesty, if we are ready too," said Colonel vonQuarovitch.

  "And what say you, Piotr?"

  "That we farmers do not want war, but if it comes we shall know when tofight, and how to fight, but not when to stop fighting, especially whenyou say they wish to dethrone your Majesty."

  "Piotr speaks well," said Quarovitch.

  "Good! You in the army will fight, because it is your duty; you of thefarms, in self-protection; and both for Rudarlia."

  "And the King," said Quarovitch. "Don't forget that, your Majesty;Piotr, here, would not have raised a hand if Ivan had been stillreigning; and I should have hated doing so."

  "It is lucky you are seldom at Court, Colonel, because I can see thatyou would forget your soldierly habits for those of the courtier."

  "God forbid, your Majesty!" he cried, and then we all three laughedagain.

  I took a map from my desk, spreading it out before me.

  "Come closer, and look. Here is Melanov, Piotr. I wish you to point outto the Colonel the exact spot of which we were talking."

  "It is there, your Majesty."

  "You see, Colonel, there?"

  "I see nothing except that small road which you have traced in red ink."

  "You know it?"

  "Surely, as I know every inch of the country round, with the exceptionof one place."

  "And that?"

  "Where Piotr used to hide himself, that I never could discover."

  "He will show it to you, Colonel."

  "For a purpose, your Majesty?"

  "For a purpose. I wish you to go there, without anyone knowing, and seehow best it can be adapted quickly to accommodate at least ten thousandtroops, for some days."

  "Aha!"

  "You will also determine the best way for the said troops to arrivethere, and whether it will be possible to remove the traces of theirprogress. When you have all the information required, return to mehere."

  "It shall be done, your Majesty."

  "You, Piotr, will accompany Colonel von Quarovitch. If help is neededselect from your friends the necessary number of men. They will workunder the Colonel's directions, and you will be in charge, and will paythem for their time, at twice the ordinary rates. For your own trouble,I promise that you shall be satisfied."

  "I want nothing, your Majesty, my life is yours."

  "Then return with Colonel von Quarovitch, we shall perhaps need you."