The Colonel of the Red Huzzars

by John Reed Scott

  XV

  HER WORD AND HER CERTIFICATE

  If any man--having lived a bachelor to early middle life, has then foundhis ideal, and has been, unexpectedly and undeservedly, favored with herlove, and then, within two hours thereafter and in her very presence, hasbeen claimed by another woman as her husband--that man will be able toappreciate something of my state of mind. No one else could, so it isnot worth while attempting to describe it.

  I admit I lay awake most of the night trying to determine how to meet theSpencer woman's attack. And I had reached no satisfactory decision whenI went down to breakfast.

  The formal ceremony of my taking over the Governorship of Dornlitz wasfixed for noon. I would be occupied the remainder of the afternoon atheadquarters; and then, in the evening, I was to give a dinner to theranking military officers in the Capital. I wanted to get some plan ofaction arranged at once and, feeling the need of clear-headed counsel, Idispatched Bernheim to the American Embassy with a request that Courtneyjoin me immediately. I had just finished my meal when he was announced,and we repaired to my private cabinet.

  The top paper on my desk was the report of the Secret Police upon "Theoccupants of the third box on the right," which I had ordered theprevious evening. I carried it to Courtney and we read it together. Itwas long and detailed and covered all the movements of the trio sincetheir entry into Dornlitz.

  In effect it was: That the elderly couple were only chance acquaintancesof the younger woman, having met her on the train en route from Paris;that they had reached the Capital the previous day and had registered atthe Hotel Metzen as "Mr. and Mrs. James Bacon, New York City," and "Mrs.Armand Dalberg and maid, Washington, D. C.;" that the Mrs. Dalberg hadremained in her apartments until evening, had then dined in the publicdining room with the Bacons, and the three had then gone to the Opera;that no callers had been received by any of them, so far as known by thehotel's officials; that, after the Opera, they had been driven directlyto the hotel and had gone into the Hanging Garden and had taken a table;that, presently, the one known as Mrs. Dalberg had intruded upon certainpersonages of high rank, who were at a near-by table; that, after arather prolonged discussion, she had been escorted back to hercompanions, the Bacons (who had, meanwhile, remained at their table) byan Aide-de-Camp of one of the high personages; that the lady in questionand the Bacons, very shortly thereafter, retired to their apartments. Atsix A. M.--when the report was dated--they were still in their respectiveapartments.

  I flung the report on the desk.

  "Damn that woman!" I exclaimed.

  Courtney sat down, and the inevitable cigarette case came out.

  "That's scarcely emphatic enough, my dear boy," he said. "Go into thenext room and cut loose a bit."

  "I've nothing else to cut loose with," I replied. "I used up everything,last night."

  "Good," said he. "If the pressure is off, you are in shape to think."

  I shook my head. "No, I'm not--that's why I sent for you--to do thethinking."

  He picked up the Police report. "I'm glad she registered as Mrs. ArmandDalberg," he said.

  "The devil you are!" I exclaimed.

  He nodded. "The first problem to solve is: What motive this woman has inproclaiming herself your wife. There are only two motives possible, Ithink, and this registry utterly eliminates one of them."

  "You mean it is not blackmail," I said.

  "Exactly."

  "And the other motive?"

  "Revenge."

  "Oh, no," I said; "that woman didn't come from America to Dornlitz simplyfor revenge."

  "Very good," said Courtney. "Then, the motive is not hers and we mustlook elsewhere for it."

  "If you mean she is only a tool," said I, "that is almost as unlikely asrevenge."

  "On the contrary, why couldn't it be both--and, also, a big pile ofmoney?" he asked.

  "Because," said I, "she would balk at the notoriety."

  Courtney laughed. "Good, yellow gold, and plenty of it, is a wonderfulpersuader."

  "Come," said I; "what's your guess in the matter?"

  He tossed aside his cigarette and leaned a bit forward in his chair.

  "The lady has been purchased by someone to come here and pose as yourwife; the moving consideration to her was enough cash to make herindependently rich and the pleasure of thus being able to square off withyou, on her own account. That's my guess--and I fancy it's yours too,"he ended.

  I laughed. "Yes," said I; "it is. I spent the night over the mix andthat's the best solution I could make."

  Courtney lit a fresh cigarette, "Of course, it's Lotzen," said he. "Anda very clever plot it is. No Princess and no Crown for you, my boy,until this Madame Armand Dalberg is eliminated--and, maybe, not eventhen."

  "Your 'then' is the only rift in the cloud," said I. "Eliminate theSpencer woman, and, I think, I can manage."

  He looked at me questioningly.

  "Her Highness was very gracious to me last night," I explained--and Ifelt my face getting red.

  Courtney got up and came over to me,

  "Is it up to a hand-shake, old man?" he asked.

  I nodded, and we gripped fingers.

  "It would have been up to the King, to-morrow, but for this miserablewife business," said I.

  "Good!" he exclaimed. "Lotzen does not hold all the cards--you've got afew trumps, too. It will be a pretty game."

  "For the spectators," I supplemented.

  "For you, too; when you get into the swing of it."

  "I wish I had your happy way of viewing things," I said.

  He laughed. "Oh, it's easy to view some other fellow's affairs happily.That is why a friend's advice is usually serviceable."

  I took a pipe and began to fill it. "It's that advice I want," I said.

  He was silent for a space. I smoked and waited.

  "I suppose you had no opportunity to talk with the Princess after thesupper, last night?" he said.

  I smiled. "I drove with her to the Palace."

  "Alone?" he exclaimed.

  "Yes--she ordered me in with her and sent the Countess with Moore."

  He sat up sharply. "Gad! Major, she's a treasure!" he exclaimed. "Thattells me what I want to know: she has measured the Spencer woman's story."

  "Both story and certificate," said I. "She says the one is a lie and theother a forgery."

  He raised his hand emphatically. "My dear fellow," he said, sternly, "ifyou didn't get down on your knees, last night, and thank the good God forthat brave girl up yonder in the Palace, you deserve to lose her--and Ishall go over to Lotzen's side, myself."

  "Well," said I, "I didn't. I was too busy thinking about and praisingher."

  "That's the same thing," he said. "I'll stay with you."

  I got up and bowed.

  "Thank you, Your Excellency," I said.

  Then we both smiled.

  "It's queer," said Courtney, "how, even in the most embarrassingdifficulties, a woman's love makes a man's heart light."

  I nodded. I was thinking of the drive to the Palace.

  Courtney's laugh aroused me. "Come out of the brougham," he called.

  "That is where I was," I admitted.

  "The next thing," said he, "is to see that marriage certificate."

  "If there be one," I questioned.

  "There is one--of that you may be sure."

  "She offered to show it to you, to-day," said I. "Call her bluff."

  "I'm going to accept her offer, when I leave here. And, what's more, Ishall see the certificate," he said. "This plot has been too well laidfor the essentials to have been overlooked. I'll bet a twenty you werein New York City on the twenty-first of last December."

  "Yes," said I, "I was. So it's up to proving the certificate a forgery."

  He shook his head. "I fear we shall find it a perfectly regularcertificate."

  "You mean," said I, "that they have bribed some official to make a falserecord?"

  "Just th
at."

  "Then, if the woman, the official and the records all convict me, how amI to prove my innocence?" I demanded.

  "By waiting for the enemy to make a blunder. They have already made onewhich results delightfully for you."

  "I reckon I'm a trifle thick-headed, Courtney," I said. "You'll have toexplain."

  "Never mind the head, old man; it will be all right to-morrow. Theirblunder is in having unwittingly sprung their trap on the very eveningthe Princess and you came to an understanding. Had they been even a fewhours earlier you would not have dared to speak of love to her--and soyou might not have had the King's daughter as a special advocate. On theother hand, had they waited a day longer, your betrothal would,doubtless, have received Frederick's approval, and have been formallyproclaimed. How embarrassing, then, to the Princess; how intenselyirritating to the King, and how particularly injurious to you in the eyesof the nation--the people would think you won her under false colors;and, though you proved your innocence a hundred times, the taint wouldalways linger."

  "You're right, Courtney," I exclaimed; "right as Gospel."

  "Now, see how lucky you are: You have the Princess--you are sure of herand no one knows it. You go to the King, to-day; tell him the wholestory of the Princess and you, and of this Spencer woman's claim andhistory. Ask him to suspend judgment until you can establish the falsityof her charge. If I know Frederick, you need have no fear of his answer."

  "It's the only course," said I; "but, first, I would like to know thefacts as to that certificate."

  Courtney arose. "You shall have a copy of it before candle-light," hesaid. "Where can I see you, if there is anything of my interview withthe lady I think you need to know?"

  "I'll be here at six o'clock," said I.

  "Very good--and, of course, not a word to-night to the King as to Lotzen.Let him guess that for himself."

  "Trust me," I answered; "I'm getting more awake."

  Then I sent for Moore. "Colonel Moore," I said (as Aide to a FieldMarshal he was entitled to a Colonelcy, and had been gazetted to it inthe orders of the previous evening), "has the scene in the Garden, lastnight, become public talk?"

  "I fear so, sir," he replied.

  "Come, no sugar--out with it."

  "Well, Your Highness, the town rings with it. It's the sensation of thehour."

  "Good," said I. "The more they talk, to-day, the less they will talk,to-morrow."

  I paused, and looked him over. He was a thorough-bred; clean-cut,handsome, manly. I never saw a finer figure than he made in his blue andwhite uniform.

  "Now, why wasn't the lady sensible, Colonel, and marry herself to youinstead of to me?" I asked.

  He fairly jumped. "God forbid," he exclaimed. Then, he laughed."Besides, I'm thinking, sir, it wasn't looks she was after."

  I laughed, too. "Go 'long with you," I said; "you deserve court-martial."

  Then I sent him to the King with the request to be received at seveno'clock. He also carried a note to the Princess, telling her I wouldcall at six thirty.

  In due time, he returned: The King would receive me at the hour named.The Princess, however, sent her reply by a footman. It was a note; and,except that I was expected for sure at _six thirty_, it is quiteunnecessary to give its contents. They were not intended for generalcirculation. I might say, however, that the note was eminentlysatisfactory to me, and that I read it more than once. And it was in theinside pocket of my coat when I rode across to Headquarters to assume mynew authority.

  The ceremony was very brief. The retiring Governor, Marshal Perdez, withan Aide, met me at the causeway and escorted me to the large audiencechamber, where His Majesty's formal order was read. Perdez thenpresented his staff, and the doors were thrown open and I received theofficers of the Army and Navy on duty at the Capital. It was all over inan hour, and I was alone in my office with Bernheim.

  I walked over to a window and stood there, in wondering reflection.

  Less than three months ago, I was simply a Major in the American Army,with small hope of ever getting beyond a Colonel's eagles. The "Star"was so utterly unlikely that I never even considered the possibility. Itwas only a rainbow or a mirage; and I was not given to chasing either.

  And, to-day, I looked down on the crowded Alta Avenue of Dornlitz--then,up at the portrait of my Sovereign--then, down at my uniform, with aMarshal's Insignia on the sleeve and the Princess Royal's note in thepocket.

  What mirage could have pictured such realities! What rainbow could haveappeared more dazzlingly evanescent!

  Then I saw a Victoria approaching. And in it was the Spencerwoman--brilliantly beautiful--haughtily indifferent. The passers-bystared at her; men stopped and gazed after; even women threw glances overtheir shoulders. And small wonder--for, the Devil knows, she was good tolook upon.

  As she came opposite me she looked up and our eyes met. I gave nogreeting, you may be sure; but she leaned forward sharply and smiled andwaved her hand. I gritted my teeth, and would have stepped back, but thecrowd, following her direction, caught sight of me and a faint cheer wentup. The men took off their hats and the women fluttered their kerchiefs.I bowed to them and saluted with my hand.

  "Damn her!" I said, not knowing I spoke audibly. Then I rememberedBernheim; he was standing at another window.

  "Colonel," said I, "did you see that woman in the Victoria?"

  His heels came together with a click. "Yes, Your Highness.

  "Have you heard of the occurrence in the Hanging Garden, last night?"

  "Yes, Your Highness."

  "Well, that's the lady," said I. "What do you think of her?"

  He hesitated.

  "Speak out," I said.

  "I think it is absolutely incomprehensible how such a woman would lendherself to Lotzen's plot," he answered, instantly.

  I looked at him in vast surprise.

  "So, you have guessed it," I said.

  "I know Lotzen, Your Highness."

  I motioned to a chair. "Sit down," I said.

  Then I told him the whole story--saving only so much as concerned thePrincess individually. He was plainly pleased at my confidence--and Ilearned many things from him, that afternoon, which opened my eyesconcerning some of the Court officials and Ministers.

  It was exactly six o'clock when Courtney was announced. Even as he cameinto the room, he drew an envelope from his pocket and handed it to me.

  "A copy of the certificate," he said.

  I read it very carefully. In effect, it certified that Patrick McGuire,an Alderman of the City of New York, had, on the twenty-first day ofDecember, 190--, in that City, in the presence of John Edwards of saidCity, united in marriage Armand Dalberg, Major, U. S. Army, and MadelineSpencer, widow, of Washington, D. C.; there appearing, after due inquirymade, to be no legal impediment thereto; and the parties thereto havingproven, on oath, their identity and their legal age.

  "Well, I'm not a lawyer," said I, in disgust; "but this thing soundspretty strong. I fancy it is about as close as I shall ever come toreading my own obituary."

  "It's more than strong," said Courtney: "it's in strict conformity withthe New York law.

  "But, the license," I objected.

  "None is required in New York."

  I threw up my hands. "You saw the original certificate?" I asked.

  "Yes. The lady, herself, had gone out, but had left it with her maid.And I have not the least doubt of its genuineness."

  "Then, we are up to Alderman Patrick McGuire," I said.

  "I cabled at noon to Washington asking the Department to obtain,immediately, full information as to his character and reputation."

  "Courtney, you're a wonder," I said.

  "I'm glad you approve," he answered. "I thought it well to move at once,so the inquiry could be in New York early this morning; and, even if ittook the whole day to investigate, the answer should be here by midnightat the latest."

  Just then, there was a knock on the door and a foo
tman entered.

  "For His Excellency, the American Ambassador," he said, and handedCourtney an envelope.

  "Here it is, now," he said. "Cosgrove has hurried it to me."

  Crossing to my desk he ran a knife under the flap and drew out acablegram, glanced at it an instant, then, gave it to me without comment.

  It was in cipher, of course; but, below it, Cosgrove had written thetranslation. It read:

  "Individual named was killed last week by car at Twenty-third Street andBroadway. Character and reputation only ordinary. Integrity verydoubtful. A professional ward politician."

  "So," said I. "Exit the Alderman. It's a crying pity that car didn'tget in its work four months ago."

  "Let us be thankful for what it did do, last week."

  "One lying mouth stopped," said I.

  He nodded. "And only an inferior reputation left to bolster up hiscertificate."

  I looked again at the copy. "I wonder if that car, by any possibility,might have hit Witness, John Edwards, too?"

  Courtney smiled. "It's dollars to nickels the same blow killed themboth."

  "Then, it's my word against hers and the certificate."

  "Not exactly. It's her word, her beauty and the certificate against yourword, its corroborating circumstances and her history."

  "That sounds logical," said I; "and yet, in fact, if there were nothingbut her word it would still win out for Lotzen. I may not marry thePrincess so long as another woman claims to be my wife."

  Courtney frowned. "But, if you prove her a liar by cold facts?"

  "It will not suffice," said I. "All doubt must be removed. She mustadmit her--error."

  He raised his eyebrows, and out came the cigarette case.

  "Then, do you appreciate that, until she does, you will have thedisagreeable duty of preventing her from departing the Capital--certainlythe Kingdom?"

  "Practically that," I admitted. "I have already directed that she be notpermitted to leave Dornlitz."

  He shook his head. "There, you send me over to the Enemy. If she appealto the Embassy I may not suffer her to be restrained. She is an Americansubject."

  "Not at all," said I. "If she be my wife, she is a subject of HisMajesty, Frederick the Third."

  "Come, Major, that's not half bad," he laughed. "And I'll stand on it,too. So long as the lady claims to be the wife of a Grand Duke ofValeria, the American Ambassador will absolutely decline to interfere inher behalf."

  "She may get powerfully tired of having me for a husband," I observed.

  He studied the smoke-rings a bit.

  "I wonder just how far it would be well for you to play the husband?" hemused.

  "What's that?" I almost shouted.

  "I mean, how far would she be willing to go in this wife business?"

  "God knows--but the whole way, I fancy."

  "Would it be worth while to bluff her by pretending to acknowledge herclaim and, then, inviting her to take her place at the head of yourestablishment?"

  "Acknowledge her! Not for the millionth of a second."

  "Oh, I mean only before witnesses who understood the scheme."

  "You don't know the lady, Courtney," I answered. "She would call thebluff instantly--and do it so well the witnesses, themselves, would bedeceived and turned against me."

  He shrugged his shoulders. "Lotzen seems to be uncommonly lucky in hisleading woman," he observed.

  "The Devil usually helps his own," said I.

  Then, I hastened to the Palace.