XII
LEARNING MY TRADE
The next month was the busiest of my life--not excepting those at thePoint. I was learning to be Royal, and I was starting a generation anda half behind time. My hardest task was in meeting the Nobility. Ihad been bred a soldier and had despised the politician--secretly,however, as is necessary for the Army officer in America; but no ruralcandidate at a Fall election ever worked harder to ingratiate himselfwith the people and to secure their votes, than did I to win favor withthe Lords and high officers of State. And, with it all, I could feelno assurance of success--for they were courtiers, and I had not yetlearned to read behind their masks; though, here, Bernheim wasinvaluable. Indeed, he was a wonder. I have yet to find him miss hisguess.
There were constant Cabinet meetings to attend, at which my views wereexpected; and this entailed a study of conditions and policiesabsolutely new to me. Then, I was delegated frequently by the King torepresent him on occasions of ceremony; and, for them, I needed carefulcoaching. In fact, there were a thousand matters which occupied me toexhaustion. And, through it all, I was trying to get familiar with theorganization and administration and methods of the Valerian Army, so asto be fitted to discharge the duties of my high rank. I confess thiswas my most congenial labor. If I might have been simply a soldierArchduke, I think I would have been entirely satisfied.
After a few weeks I had taken up my residence in the Epsau Palace--oneof my recent inheritances--and there maintained my own Archducal Court.It was a bit hard for me to take myself seriously and to accept calmlythe obsequious deference accorded me by everyone. I fear I smiled manytimes when I should have looked royally indifferent; and was royallyindifferent when I should have smiled. I know there were scores ofinstances when I felt like kicking some of the infernally omnipresentflunkeys down the stairs. But I did not; for I knew that the poordevils were doing only their particular duty in the manner particularlyproper.
Yet, there were compensations, so many and so satisfying, I never, fora moment, considered a return to my former estate. I was--I admitit--enamored of my rank and power; and, it may be, even of that veryobsequiousness and flattery which I thought I despised. I know therewas a supreme satisfaction when I passed through the saluting crowds inthe Alta Avenue. It became almost elation when I rode upon the paradeground to take the Review and the March By.
During this month, I had seen the Duke of Lotzen very frequently. Ihad sat beside him at the Council table; I had dined with him formallyas the new Archduke, and informally as his cousin. And, on my part, Ihad repaid his courtesies in kind. He had been thoughtful andconsiderate to me to an exceptional degree, but, at the same time,without undue effusiveness. In a word, he had treated me with everypossible attention our rank and consanguinity demanded.
Even Courtney could find nothing to criticise in Lotzen's behavior; norhad his secret agents been able to detect anything _sub rosa_.
"However, all this proves nothing one way or the other," he remarkedone day, as we sat in my inner library. "If he intend the worst sortof harm to you he would begin just as he has."
I nodded.
"I suppose His Majesty knows of Lotzen's courtesies to you?"
"And is immensely gratified. Bernheim tells me the Duke never was inhigher favor than at this moment," I answered.
"Exactly--and, therefore, the less likely a change in the Law ofSuccession. He uses you to play against you."
"And I am helpless to prevent it," said I.
"I may not refuse his civilities nor appear to question their intent."
"Heaven forfend!" Courtney exclaimed, with lifted hands. "Your counterattack is at the King, too. Keep him interested in you."
"I have, I think. I am the new Military Governor of Dornlitz."
"Wonderful, Major!--Your Royal Highness, I mean."
"Drop the R. H., please," I said; "stick to Armand or Major."
"Thank you, I shall, in private; it's handier. And when were youappointed?"
"It will be in the Gazette this evening. His Majesty offered it to methis morning."
"Does Lotzen know it?"
"I think not; it was due to a sudden shifting of Corps Commanders madeyesterday."
"I would like a view of the Duke's private countenance when he hears itfirst," Courtney laughed. "It's the most desirable post in the Army;even preferable to Chief of Staff. It makes you master in the Capitaland its Military District, a temporary Field Marshal, and answerable tonone but the King himself."
"It's just that which makes me question the expediency of my acceptingthe detail," said I. "It's a post to reward long service and soldierlymerit. I have not the former and have had no chance to prove thelatter. I fear it will be bad for discipline and worse for mypopularity."
Courtney laughed. "That might be true of the American Army--it'snonsense in a Monarchy. You forget you are of the Blood Royal--anArchduke--of mature years--with some experience in actual war--and, forall the Army and Court know, in line for the Crown. You are,therefore, born to command. There can be no jealousies against you.On the contrary, it will bring you followers. None but Lotzen and hiscircle will resent it, and they, already, are your enemies. TheGovernorship will make them no more so. Instead, it will keep themcareful; for it will give you immense power to detect and foil theirplots."
"Plots!" I exclaimed. "Do you fancy Lotzen would resort to murder?"
"Not at present--not until everything else has failed."
"You seem very sure," I remarked.
"Precisely that. You don't seem to realize that you have likely bothlost him his desired wife and jeopardized his succession to the Throne.He might submit to losing the Princess, but the Crown, never. He willeliminate you, by soft methods if he can, by violent ones, if need be.Believe me, Major, I know the ways of Courts a little better than you."
I took a turn up and down the room. "I don't know that Lotzen isn'tjustified in using every means to defeat me. I am a robber--ahighwayman, if you please. I am, this instant, holding him up andtrying to deprive him of his dearest inheritance. And I'm doing itwith calm deliberation, while, ostensibly, I'm his friend. If Iattempt to steal his watch he would be justified in shooting me on thespot--why shouldn't he do the same when I try to filch from him theValerian Crown?"
"No reason in the world, my dear Major, except that to steal a watch isa vulgar crime--but to plot for a throne is the privilege of Princes.And Princes do not shoot their rivals."
"With their own hands," I added.
Courtney bowed low. "Your Highness has it exactly," he said.
I shrugged my shoulders. "You flatter me."
"I speak only in general terms; they do not apply to you, my dearMajor. You are not plotting to dethrone a King; you are simply trying,frankly and openly, to recover what is yours by birthright. Lotzen'sreal claim to the Crown is, in justice, subordinate to yours--and heknows it--and so does the King, or he would not have put you onprobation, so to speak, with the implied promise to give you back yourown again, if you prove worthy."
"That's one way to look at it," said I, "and I reckon I shall have toaccept it. In fact, I'm remitted to it or to chucking the whole thingoverboard."
Courtney smiled approvingly. "That's the reasonable point of view.Now, stick to it, and give Lotzen no quarter--you may be sure he willgive you none."
"I shall countenance no violence," I insisted.
"One is permitted to repel force by force."
"I shall not hesitate to do that, you may be sure."
"Good!" said he. "Now we understand the situation and each other; andI can assist you more effectively."
"I shall advise you the moment anything new develops," said I.
"And remember, Major, to either you or Lotzen the Princess means theCrown. Frederick will be only too glad to pass it so to his owndescendants."
"That's the truth," said I. "But I reckon the Princess doesn't needthe Crown to get Lotzen or me."
"Do you
realize how lucky it is, under the circumstances, that you areunmarried?" Courtney inquired.
"Rather--only, if I had chanced to be married, I would still be yourMilitary Attache. Frederick would never have given me the chance to bean Archduke."
"At least, it's sure he would never have given you a chance to be aKing."
"And the American newspapers would have missed a great news item," Iadded.
"I never quite appreciated what a wonder you were until they told me,"he laughed. "You seem to possess a marvellous assortment oftalents--and, as for bravery, they have had you leading every charge inthe Spanish War."
"It's all very tiresome," I said.
"It's one of the penalties of Royalty--to be always in the limelightand never in the shadow," he returned. "How does it feel?"
"Come around to-night to the Royal Box at the Opera and get into theglare, a bit," I said. "I am to take the King's place and escort thePrincess."
"Is that a command?" he asked.
"Hang it all, Courtney----" I exclaimed.
"Because, if it isn't," he went on, "I shall have to decline. I'mdining with the Radnors and going on to the Opera with them."
I looked at him expectantly for a moment, giving him an opening tomention Lady Helen; but he only smiled and lit another cigarette. Iunderstood he declined the opening. Indeed, he had never referred toLady Helen since that first surprising time. But, if the gossip of theDiplomatic set, which, of course, reached the Court promptly, were atall reliable, another International marriage was not improbable. Iadmit I was a bit curious as to the matter--and here I saw myopportunity.
"If you will permit," said I, "I'll send an Aide to invite the Radnorsand you to the Royal Box during the last act, and then, later, to be myguests at supper on the Hanging Garden."
"You're very kind, old man," said he; "and as for old Radnor you willendanger his life--he will just about explode with importance."
"I trust not," said I; "I like Lord Radnor--and then explosions aredisconcerting at the Opera or a supper."
I had good reason, later, to remember this banter--for there was anexplosion at the supper that night that was more than disconcerting;but Lord Radnor was in no way responsible.
The Colonel of the Red Huzzars Page 12