XI
THE FATALITY OF MOONLIGHT
The following morning I was formally presented to the Royal Council andtook my place at the Board, on the left of the King, the Duke of Lotzenbeing on his right. His Majesty stated briefly my descent, the law ofthe case as laid down by the Great Henry, and that I had accepted arestitution of the rights and privileges due to the eldest male heir ofHugo.
"I ask your consideration for him, my Lords, the same as though he wereour own son," he ended. "I will answer for him--he is a Dalberg."
At this there was applause and the members of the Council pressedforward and welcomed me as an Archduke of the Kingdom, taking my handand bending knee before me. It seemed a bit queer, but I got throughit satisfactorily to myself--particularly so since there was no kissingin it.
Then the Council began its business and the Prime Minister, CountEpping, read a tentative proposition of peace, which, he said, heunderstood had already been practically accepted by Titia.
It provided that Murdol should be permitted to determine for itself, bythe vote of its citizens, whether it would remain a province of Valeriaor become, once more, a part of Titia. In the latter event, Titia wasto pay Valeria the value of all the public buildings in Murdol erectedor rebuilt by Valeria, and, further, to reimburse Valeria for her warexpenses. But, if Murdol voted to remain with Valeria, then, Titia wasto pay all the cost of the war.
"I need hardly say to the Council," the Prime Minister remarked, "that,thus far, the terms are entirely satisfactory to His Majesty; but thereis another detail, suggested by our friend, the intermediary, which isnot so agreeable. It is only a suggestion, but, I fear, has much to dowith Titia's acquiescence. It is that the peace be further cemented bya marriage between the Royal Families of Valeria and Titia."
Then the Count sat down, and all faces were turned toward the King.
Frederick ran his eyes slowly around the table. I did the like. Therewere but three faces which did not show favor for the marriage--and, ofcourse, the three were the King's, Lotzen's, and mine. At least, Iassume mine evidenced my repugnance. I am quite sure I felt it.
"It is altogether useless, my Lords, for us to discuss the marriagematter," said Frederick. "I have given my word to Her Royal Highnessthat she shall not be coerced in her choice of a husband, and it shallnot be broken. So long as she weds within her circle, she may marrywhen and where and whom she will. Save for that restriction, Valeriawill make peace with Titia upon the terms specified. We refused themarriage before the war began; we refuse it now; we would refuse itwere Casimir's guns thundering without the walls."
They were good courtiers--these men of the Council--for they sprang totheir feet and cheered enthusiastically. And so the matter ended, forthe time. Altogether, I was well pleased with the doings of themorning.
And so was Courtney, when I told him of it, over a whiskey and soda inhis library, later in the day. Possibly, I violated the proprieties indisclosing the business of the Royal Council, but I knew Courtneyunderstood I was talking to my friend and not to the Ambassador.
"I wish," said I, "you would give me your opinion of Lotzen."
Courtney smiled. "He is clever--very clever," he said.
"Even I could guess that after last evening," I cut in.
"He is ambitious, rather unscrupulous, and wholly dangerous," Courtneycontinued.
"A pleasant sort of rival," I commented.
"And, finally, he is infatuated with the Princess Royal."
"That may be a fatal weakness," said I.
"Truly, you seem to have gained wisdom overnight--Your Highness," saidhe.
"And shall need many nights and much, very much, wisdom, I fear."
He nodded. "That you will--particularly, if you make a confidant ofwomen."
I frowned.
"Don't imagine Lady Helen told me," Courtney explained. "I chanced tonotice her greeting, last night, to the Colonel of the Red Huzzars."
"You are too observant," said I.
"A bit more so, at that moment, than the Princess, I think."
"I trust so," said I.
"You made some rather fast going last night, my friend," he observed."Now, it's none of my affair--only--isn't it a bit early for top speed?"
"That is exactly what the Princess suggested," said I.
He burst into an amused laugh. "Go it, my boy!" he exclaimed, "you aredoing delightfully--and so is the Princess."
"Particularly the Princess," I said.
He nodded.
"And it's more than likely I am riding for a fall."
He shrugged his shoulders. "It's a fast race over a strangecourse--and they will ride you down if they can."
"I know it," said I, "but I fancy I shall rather enjoy theexcitement--and Bernheim and Moore can be depended on, I think."
"Undoubtedly--you may be sure the King chose them advisedly. Consultthem in everything--but, on particular occasions, consult----"
"I'll come to you," I filled in.
"And you may always count on my aid--but, I was about to say, uponparticular occasions consult the Princess."
"Good," said I. "I shall riot in particular occasions."
"P. V." he amended.
"Oh! I'm her cousin," I laughed.
"And so is Lotzen."
"Damn Lotzen," said I, heartily.
"That's well enough as far as it goes, but it's the King's damn youwant."
"I fear he does not swear in English," said I.
"Then, it's up to you to teach him--and the quickest method is to winthe Princess. Marry her and you get the Crown for a bridal present."
"It may be the surest method; I doubt if it's the quickest," said I.
"Well, of course, my dear fellow," he said banteringly, "you know thelady better than I do."
"I doubt it," said I, "for I think I don't know her even a little bit."
"Good--you are gathering wisdom rapidly; indeed, you are growing almostover-wise."
"I have often wondered how you got your amazing knowledge of women," Iobserved.
He lit a cigarette and sent a cloud of smoke between us. "It was bornin me, I think. At any rate, I've proved it--by letting them alone.Yet," he went on musingly, "were I a Royal Duke and cousin to thePrincess of Valeria, I am not so sure--no, I am not so sure."
I looked at him a bit curiously. Surely, it could not be thatCourtney--the indifferent--the _blase_--envied me; that he would careto be other than he was; or that even a beautiful woman could stir hisblood. Then the cloud began to thin out, and he must have noticed mysurprise, for he laughed and waved his hand before his face.
"I'm like the fellow in the song," said he, "I've been 'seeing picturesin the smoke.'"
"And you liked the pictures?" I asked.
"Very much, my boy, very much indeed--in smoke."
"Someone else is improving, also," said I. "Time was when you couldnot have seen such pictures."
He shook his head. "It's only a sign of age. I'm becoming a dreamer;soon you will find me sitting in the sun."
"You need a wife, Courtney," I exclaimed.
He laughed. "No--I need a drink, a good stiff drink. I'm getting old,and lonely for the tried friends I've lost; you are the last deserter."
"Nonsense," I began.
"No, it's true as gospel," he went on. "Our paths separated forever atthe Palace, last night. You are a Royal Highness and the possible heirto the Throne. And I am an elderly American diplomat--here, to-day;gone to-morrow."
"You need several good stiff drinks," I interrupted.
He waved aside my banter. "I give you a toast," he went on, pouring ameasure for each of us. "The Princess Dehra--and another like her."
"And may you find that other," I cried.
Then we drained our glasses and flung them into the grate.
I was tremendously astonished at this revelation of Courtney'sfeelings--feelings which I had never even suspected. And, I fear, Ihad the bad taste to stare at him.
For he turned abruptly and walkedto the window, and stood, for a moment, with his back to me. I drew onmy gloves and hitched up my sword (I was wearing the undress of ageneral officer) and waited.
"Of course, you understood, last night, that there were no papers foryou to sign," he said, as he came slowly back to the table.
"Surely," I laughed.
"What I wanted was the opportunity to tell you that our secret servicewill be at your command, and that I have given instructions to reportto me anything that may be of use to you--particularly, touching Lotzenand his intimates."
"You are more than good, old chap," I said, and we shook handshard--for the toast was still in mind.
"Present my compliments to Her Highness," he called after me.
I went back to the doorway. "And give mine to The Other Like Her, whenshe comes," I said.
"She will never come, Armand; she will never come. I am just an oldfool." Then he laughed. "Your love-making at dinner tables didn't useto affect me."
"You never followed any of them by a moonlight ride with a prettygirl," I answered.
"At least, never with one as pretty as Lady Helen," he amended.
I was getting surprises with a vengeance.
"Is it possible you have just discovered she is pretty?" I exclaimed.
He smiled frankly. "No--but it may be I've just discovered how pretty."
"And she's more than pretty," said I, "she's thoroughbred."
He studied me for a moment. "I have often wondered--and now I wondermore than ever--why you--why you never---- You understand."
I nodded. "Yes," said I, "I understand and I rather reckon I would, ifit had not been that, a year before I ever saw the Lady Helen, I hadridden with the Princess Dehra, alone, in the Palace forest, for anhour."
At last, I saw Courtney's cold face show genuine surprise.
"And you made no effort then to prove your cousinship?" he exclaimed.
"No," said I.
"You let her go; and--and you a Dalberg and a soldier! You don'tdeserve her--she ought to go to Lotzen--to Casimir--to any one but you.Why, you drivelling idiot, do you realize that, but for the chance ofmy having lugged--yes, that's the word, lugged you here you would nowbe doing childish problems in cement and stone in some miserable littleArmy department headquarters over in America?"
It was delicious to see Courtney roused, once in his life. Chokingback my laugh, I answered:
"You have not put it half strongly enough. You may be a fool, as yousay--there's no doubt that I've been a colossal one."
"You ought to be in an asylum for weak-minded instead of in thatuniform," he ejaculated.
"But, thanks to you, I'm in the uniform and not in the asylum," Ianswered.
"Pray God you have sense enough, now, to keep in the one and out of theother," he retorted.
"Amen, Courtney, old man," said I, "Amen!"
Then I sprang away and into saddle--waving my hand to him as he camehastily to the door to stay me.
The Colonel of the Red Huzzars Page 11