The Colonel of the Red Huzzars

by John Reed Scott

  XVIII

  ANOTHER ACT IN THE PLAY

  I hastened to the door, saluted the King, and greeted the Princess andCourtney.

  "I am honored over much," I said--then watched their actions, as theysaw Mrs. Spencer.

  Frederick stopped short, frowned, then turned to me interrogatingly.Courtney raised his eyebrows, bowed to Mrs. Spencer, and, then, gave mea quizzical smile. Dehra flouted her enemy with one of thosedeliberately ignoring stares; then, she smiled at me, and went over andsat down at my desk.

  Meanwhile, Mrs. Spencer stood near the table; one hand resting on it,the other holding up her gown. The attitude was most becoming andeffective--and she knew it. So far as her bearing showed, thesituation was the most natural imaginable. And, chancing to catch myeye, she actually gave me her most fetching smile.

  She got a stare in answer, and I turned to the King.

  "I have told Your Majesty of a Mrs. Spencer, who claims to be my wife,"I said. "She has sought an audience with the Governor of Dornlitz, anddemanded to know why orders have been issued that she be refused exitfrom the city. I offered to explain, if she, on her part, woulddisclose her reasons for coming to Valeria. She refused, and was aboutto depart, when, seeing Your Majesty, she suddenly changed her mind andagreed to bargain. Have we your permission to proceed?"

  The King understood the situation, instantly--and I could detect a bitof a smile under his grey moustache.

  "Be seated, madame," he said. "I am interested--unless, of course, youdo not care for us to hear it."

  She dropped him a wonderful courtesy--acquired, doubtless, in herFrench Convent school.

  "Your Majesty is more than welcome to every word of my story," sheanswered, with ready frankness. "The Grand Duke Armand knows it quiteas well as I; though he affects otherwise, because it pleases him topretend that I am not his wife."

  "My dear madame," the King said, "you are not to tell me anything. Youare simply graciously permitting me to be present when you carry outthe bargain you have just made with the Governor of Dornlitz."

  She smiled very sweetly at the King; then, turned to me.

  "Will you begin, Armand," she said.

  I bowed. "After you, madame," said I. "And, perchance, when I haveheard your story, I may revoke the order."

  She smiled disdainfully--then, addressed the King:

  "I consented to this exchange only because Your Majesty would, thus,hear at least some truth as to this marriage. I confess, however, I amsurprised that Major Dalberg permits it to be disclosed."

  She turned to me with affected hesitation.

  "Are you quite sure, Armand, you really want me to tell it?" she asked.

  I laughed. "You play it very cleverly, Mrs. Spencer," I said.

  She shrugged her shoulders most expressively.

  "On your head be it, then," she answered. Then, addressing the King,she went on. "When it was determined that Major Dalberg was to be theAmerican Military Attache with the Valerian Army, he told me, for thefirst time, of his kinship to Your Majesty. On my insistent urging, hethen decided to make a bid for your favor, to the end that you mightacknowledge his birth and restore to him the lost estates and titles ofhis ancestor, Prince Hugo. Apprehending, however, that Your Majestywould look with more kindness upon him as a bachelor than as a marriedman, it was arranged that I should remain in America. Then, as soon asthe scheme had either succeeded or definitely failed, I was to be sentfor." She turned and looked at me. "It is rather needless to say--inview of Monsieur Armand's present attitude toward me--that he neversent for me. But I saw the accounts, in the daily Press, of thewonderful story of an American Army Officer, Armand Dalberg, being, intruth, a Prince of Valeria; and how he had been so accepted andproclaimed by the King. I waited two weeks and more--for word from myhusband--then I came hither--and met the kind reception he gave me inthe Hanging Garden."

  She paused an instant; then spoke to me:

  "Is there anything material that I have omitted?" she asked.

  "Naturally, I do not know, Mrs. Spencer," I answered; "but, judgingfrom your marvellous power of--invention, I should fancy not."

  She turned aside the thrust with a smile.

  "The bargain is, now, with you, monsieur," she said. "I await theexplanation of your order."

  "It is very simple, Mrs. Spencer," I said curtly; "so simple, indeed, Iam quite sure you guessed it, long ago."

  Her smile still lingered.

  "The bargain, sir, the bargain!"

  "I issued the order, madame, because you have falsely proclaimedyourself my wife, and I intend to confine your acting as such withinthe limits of this town. So long as you pose as my wife you will neverpass the gates of Dornlitz."

  "In other words, I am to be prisoner for life," she said.

  "That is for you to determine," I answered.

  She studied my face, a bit.

  "I suppose you want me to consent to a divorce," she said.

  "Divorce implies marriage," I answered.

  She shook her head and smiled tolerantly.

  "I really can't promise to die just to accommodate Your Highness," shesaid.

  I made no reply.

  "And that suggests the inquiry, Your Majesty," she said; "as the wifeof the Prince Armand am I not a Grand Duchess of Valeria and a RoyalHighness?"

  Surely, the woman's impudence was almost beyond belief!

  But the King was very courteous.

  "The Decree of Restoration applies only to the Grand Duke Armand," hesaid.

  "And I remain, simply, Mrs. Armand Dalberg?" she asked.

  Frederick smiled.

  "You remain exactly what you were before the Decree was signed," hesaid.

  She turned to me.

  "Since I am to live in Dornlitz the rest of my days, where is it yourgracious purpose that I reside--in the Epsau Palace or where?"

  "Except to assure you it will not be in the Epsau, it is no concern ofmine where you live," I answered.

  "Then, it will be the Hotel Metzen--and, of course, the bill will besent to you."

  "Oh, no, it won't," I answered.

  "Surely!" she exclaimed, "you can't intend to hold me prisoner, and,then, oblige me to provide my own subsistence."

  "Your subsistence, Mrs. Spencer, is not my affair," I said, "since thelength of your enforced detention in Dornlitz is optional withyourself."

  "You mean?"

  "I mean, that when you admit I am not and never was your husband, andthat the marriage certificate is false, that instant you are free todepart."

  She shook her head.

  "I am willing to permit you to obtain a divorce," she said, "but I maynot deny the truth of the certificate."

  "Very good," said I. "I trust you will enjoy your stay in Dornlitz."

  She swung around toward Courtney.

  "You are the American Ambassador, are you not, monsieur?" she said.

  Courtney answered by a bow.

  "Then, I ask if you will suffer an American citizen to be kept prisonerby the Valerian authorities without trial or legal judgment?"

  "Not for a moment, madame," said Courtney, instantly, and with a quicksmile at the King.

  "You would protest?"

  "Most strenuously--and so would Washington."

  She looked at me with a triumphant sneer.

  "You hear, Your Highness!" she exclaimed.

  "Yes," said I, "I hear."

  "I presume I am now at liberty to depart."

  "From the room?--undoubtedly," I answered.

  "Thank you--I mean from Dornlitz."

  "Whenever you will," said I; "on the terms I gave you."

  She turned, again, to Courtney.

  "I appeal to Your Excellency for protection."

  "Upon what basis, madame?" he asked formally.

  She looked surprised.

  "As an American subject," she said.

  "And under what name?" Courtney asked.

  "My rightful one, of course," she laug
hed: "Madeline Dalberg."

  "Wife of the Grand Duke Armand?" he went on.

  "Surely, monsieur--who else?"

  "That, madame, if you will pardon, is the material point. As wife of aValerian Prince you are a subject of His Majesty, Frederick the Third,and the American Government has no jurisdiction to interfere."

  "But, His Majesty has just said I was not comprehended in the Decreerestoring my husband," she objected.

  "Of course, I can speak only according to the doctrine of the UnitedStates," said Courtney. "It asks only if you are the wife of aforeigner. If you are, then, his citizenship determines yours."

  She gave Courtney a sarcastic smile, and addressed the King.

  "Will Your Majesty tell me wherein the Valerian doctrine differs fromthe American?" she asked.

  "It is precisely similar," said Frederick.

  She leaned forward. "Then, though not an Archduchess, I am,nevertheless, a subject of Your Majesty," she said.

  The King frowned. "My dear madame," he said, "questions of citizenshipare not presented to me, originally. They are passed upon by theproper Department of my Government and reach me, only, in case ofpeculiarly extraordinary circumstances."

  She arose, and went close over to the King.

  "Your Majesty has heard me appeal for protection to the Ambassador ofmy native land and be refused, because I was no longer an Americancitizen," she began. "And you, yourself, have practically admitted hewas correct, and that I am a Valerian subject. Therefore, I demandthat freedom of action which is granted to all your citizens, and thatthe order of the Governor of Dornlitz be revoked."

  Frederick looked at her sternly for a moment.

  "Pray be seated, madame," he said; "and permit me to observe that, ifyou are my subject, your manner of address is scarcely respectful toyour King."

  "I do not desire to be disrespectful," she replied; "but, if I am yoursubject, I have the undoubted right to the protection of your laws. Iask Your Majesty if I am receiving that protection? I ask Your Majestyif those laws permit one, unaccused of any crime or wrong-doing, to beheld prisoner within the limits of a town? I ask Your Majesty if thoselaws sanction such an order as your Governor, yonder, has maderespecting me?"

  There was just the proper touch of dignified indignation and femininepathos. Indeed, I never saw this rather remarkable woman act her partbetter than in that short speech.

  The King looked at her, for a bit, in silence--though, whether he wasadmiring her as a beautiful woman or as an artistic impersonator, Icould not make out. Doubtless, it was something of both.

  "As simple abstract propositions, my dear madame," he said, presently,"your questions, as put, are entitled to negative replies. But, whenthey are applied to the actual facts in the case, as just given by you,there is a vast difference. If you are the lawfully wedded wife of theGrand Duke Armand, there is nothing illegal in the order you complainof. In Valeria, the husband has lawful authority, upon proper cause,to restrain his wife within even smaller limits than are prescribed foryou."

  "But, where, in my case, is there any proper cause?" she demanded."Besides, he avers I am not his wife--therefore, he can have noauthority over me."

  The King smiled. "My dear madame, you forget that it is you who insistupon submitting yourself to his authority."

  "That may be, Sire; yet, I appeal to your sense of fairness. Should hebe permitted to exercise a husband's authority to imprison me, and, atthe same time, deny that he is my husband?"

  Of course, theoretically, she was in the right. My action was, in thatparticular, utterly inconsistent with my position and protestations.For a moment, I was a trifle uneasy as to the King's answer.

  But he brushed it lightly aside.

  "The circumstances of the case are so extraordinary, madame, that Ifear it cannot well be judged by the usual standard."

  She smiled very sweetly. "Which means that I am to be held to thestrict obligations of my position, but that the Grand Duke Armand canperpetrate any inconsistency he choose."

  The King smiled back at her. "I do not doubt that His Royal Highnesswill be most happy to be relieved of the necessity for beinginconsistent," he said.

  "Good!" she exclaimed. "I am ready to leave Dornlitz and Valeria thisvery day."

  The King turned to me, interrogatingly.

  "Then, you admit you are not Madeline Dalberg?" I asked.

  "On the contrary, I re-affirm it; but, I offer you a divorce."

  I shrugged my shoulders and made no reply.

  "You see, Sire," she said, "how reasonable he is. He condescends to beconsistent only if, by forcing me to perjure myself, he can furtherhis--schemes"--and she deliberately turned and looked at the Princess.

  I stepped quickly between them.

  She laughed scornfully.

  "How like you, Armand," she said. "It's only a short while since youwere just as thoughtful for me."

  I was too angry to reply, but she could read my thoughts in my eyes.And she answered them with a taunting smile and a toss of her head.

  So there was silence, for a space; then, she spoke to Courtney:

  "I understand. Your Excellency refuses me your protection because I ama Valerian subject?"

  Courtney bowed.

  "Made so by your own statements," he answered.

  "And Your Majesty refuses to interfere between the Governor of Dornlitzand me, because, as his wife, I am subject to his authority?"

  "In effect, yes," said Frederick.

  "And you, my Lord Armand, declare that I am not your wife and,therefore, that I am an American subject?"

  "I think, Mrs. Spencer, we have gone over that matter _ad nauseam_," Isaid.

  "I grant you the nauseousness," she retorted.

  "A bare-faced lie may not be over chary as to the defence it provokes,"I answered.

  She gathered up her skirts, and turned toward the door.

  "What a pretty sight you three are," she sneered. "A King, anAmbassador and a Royal Archduke playing with one poor woman like catswith a mouse. Truly, sirs, you should have lived three hundred yearsago. You would have shown rare skill in the torture chambers of theHoly Inquisition."

  "'Pon my soul, madame!" Frederick exclaimed, "I'm glad to hear a frankopinion of myself. It's a privilege that rarely comes to a King."

  "More's the pity for the King," she replied. "And more's the shame forhis selfish advisers," and she looked at Courtney, and, then, at me.

  "Have I Your Majesty's permission to depart--to my hotel?" she ended.

  The King nodded, without replying.

  She swept him another of those wonderful curtsies; then turned toMoore, who swung back the door for her.

  At the threshold she looked back and smiled at me.

  "_Au revoir_, Armand, dear, _au revoir_," she said almost caressingly;"you will come back to me soon, I know."

  Before I could frame an answer she was gone.