CHAPTER X
A COUNCIL OF CONSPIRACY
My first thought about the meeting was that I had misjudged, in analmost ludicrous manner, what the proceedings would be. My nerves were,no doubt, a little overstrung by the events of the past day or two: thedramatic exaggeration which had characterized almost every gesture andaction of the Corsican, the actual evidence of my own eyes of theruthless intensity of purpose with which these people pursued theirplans, and my own exceeding conventional conceptions of what such a plotas this would be, had led me to anticipate some sort of more or lesstheatrical exhibition of conspiracy at the meeting. But there wasnothing of the kind.
The men dropped in one after another, just as they might into any smallsocial gathering, chatted with each other, grouped themselves in twosand threes, joked and laughed, discussed the latest scandal, exchangednotes on the newest play, and for a long time talked of nothing but thesubjects on which any of them found a common surface interest. All ofthem made occasion to come to me and exchange a word or two: How I likedMunich, whether I had been to the opera, if I took any interest in theraces, had I heard of the new military order from Berlin, and so on.Nothing more. Yet each contrived to convey that he was very glad to seeme present, leaving me to infer anything more.
After a considerable time, the man whom von Nauheim had mentioned to memost often, Baron Heckscher, one of the wealthiest men in Munich, andthe strongest leader in the scheme, came across and began to talk to me.He said he took the greatest interest in me; that it was a matter ofgreat regret I had been so long absent from Munich and Gramberg; andthat the honor of the great title I bore was an enormous responsibilityfor so young a man.
"But I am sure you will prove equal to it, Prince. Our conversationsduring these last few days have convinced me of this. You will play agreat part in the kingdom and--who shall say?--perhaps in the Empire."
I murmured some conventional reply, and he added:
"There is only one thing against you. You will need wealth. The Grambergestates should have gone with the title. I cannot understand my oldfriend's will. But that can be, and, of course, will be, rectified."
"I am not very ambitious of a State career," I replied, appreciating theproffered bribe.
"The State has need of all her strong men, Prince," he answered readily,"and she would be jealous of desertion; she cannot spare you. We old menhave had our day, and it is part of our duty, and, despite thejealousies of some of us, part of our pleasure too, to mark out therising men--the men worthy to rise, that is--and see that they havetheir opportunities. In the time that is coming you will have amagnificent part, for the actualities of power are not on, but around,the throne."
In this way he led adroitly round to the subject, and I knew that allhis flattery was just so much verbiage. He had had no opportunities oftelling whether I was a fool or a genius.
"There is a great deal of doubt about the future," said I sententiously;"but to have earned the good opinion of so shrewd a judge of men asyourself is much."
If he could flatter, so could I.
He paused a moment, and then, in a slightly lower tone, and with asuggestion of increased importance, he said, motioning toward vonNauheim:
"Our friend has told me your very shrewd doubts as to the probableaction of those at Berlin. They are very natural, and you are quiteright to express them; but--there is no fear on that score. The ImperialGovernment is as sick of the vagaries of the King as we Bavariansourselves. He is a constant anxiety. You will see why. A madman on athrone is a standing menace to the principle of the Divine Right onwhich a monarchy must in reality depend. They will not interfere,because openly they dare not countenance a movement to upset a throne."
And he went on to give me elaborate arguments to explain away my doubts.I listened very carefully, stated my objections, and discussed them all;and then allowed myself to appear to be won round by his persuasion tothe view that when once the plot were carried to a successful climaxBerlin would recognize the new position and acquiesce in it. This Ibelieved myself, moreover.
As I held the clew to his real motives, I was greatly interested to notethe subtlety with which he avoided the points that were more closelyconcerned with the duplicity of the inner plot, and dwelt on those wherehe could be sincere.
"It will depend greatly on the solidarity of the movement and theloyalty to each other of all concerned in it," I said at the close.
"That is the pith and marrow of it all; and of that there cannot be adoubt. There are some twenty of us here," he exclaimed, with a wave ofthe hand round the room; "and each of us represents and can speak for atleast one strong interest and section. Besides, we are not groping inthe dark. I myself have secured assurances from Berlin. We have not aweak link."
He stopped, and looked at me with an invitation to make my declaration.
I noticed, too, that in some way the fact had communicated itself to therest of those present that the moment of importance had arrived. Theyhad at first drawn a little away from the table at which we two sat; andI had seen many little quick glances shot in our direction during thediscussion between the baron and myself; but there had been no check inthe general flow of chatter.
Now, however, there was a decided lull, save where one man was tellingnoisily an incident in which he had been the principal and was laughingat his own joke. The rest were for the most part smoking stolidly withonly low murmurs of broken talk.
Von Nauheim was restless and fidgety, champing his cigar with quick,nervous bites, and blowing out the smoke rapidly in heavy puffs, andstealing furtive glances at me.
The situation was just as I would have had it. I had effectuallyconcealed the fact that I had entered the room resolved to join them,and had produced the impression that at the last moment the baron'sarguments had talked away my doubts. I kept my face impassive and set,as though weighing my words to the last moment.
"We shall go on with you, baron," I said quietly; "but of course underconditions."
"How can you make conditions, Prince?" he asked; and now the whole roomwas waiting upon our words.
"There must be a fresh declaration of allegiance to the Countess Minnaas the future Queen."
"We are already pledged, every man of us, Prince," he returned.
"My uncle's death has altered matters," I answered. "And the declarationwill be signed by all concerned here to-night and in my presence."
"That is scarcely necessary, as we have signed already. But if you makea point of it, yes."
"I do press it," I said firmly.
I had a strong reason which they did not yet see. I paused a momentbefore I made my next move, for it was a strong one.
"Again, as my uncle's death is so recent, it will not be seemly--indeed,it is impossible--for my cousin's marriage with the Count von Nauheim totake place until after she is on the throne--unless, indeed, all mattersare postponed until a sufficient interval takes place."
I counted much on this stroke, and that it was a shrewd one wasinstantly apparent. It was, indeed, nothing less than a sharp test ofthe loyalty of every man present, and it started warm discussion amongthem all, several protests being made.
The avowed object of the marriage was to cement the co-operation of thepowerful section of which Baron Heckscher was the head, by securing halfthe royal power to their representative; but the secret motive, as Iknew, was to render Minna personally unfit to be Queen. Thus to postponethe marriage until after she was actually on the throne seemed on thesurface to destroy the very pith of the inner plot, and so to wreck theOstenburg plans altogether. Hence those who were for that interest feltbound to oppose the suggestion, while those who were genuinely for uswould admit its reasonableness. To the one side it meant failure, and tothe other, at the worst, mere postponement; and my object was thus todetach the latter and see who were really our friends. To my dismaythere were but two in the room, and these the least influential; but Imarked them closely while I stuck doggedly to my point.
It was the Baro
n Heckscher who came to the rescue.
"I have been waiting to hear the general opinion," he said--he had beensitting rapt in deep thought--"and I do not see there is any solidobjection to the condition. We are all aware that this marriage, likemost Court nuptials, has been arranged for certain definitepurposes"--and he glanced round the room with an effect I did not failto observe. "And if proper guarantees of these purposes are afforded, Ido not see any objection. We are merely gaining the same end by slightlydifferent means. As Count von Nauheim carries certain interests on hisshoulders in the marriage, all we have to see is that those interestsare protected."
It was most adroitly wrapped up, but I knew too much to be deceived; andas I had now gained my end--the separation of the sheep from the wolvesin this assorted pack--I said no more than to agree that any desiredguarantees should be given.
"The other condition is perhaps fanciful, as it is certainly personal,"I said, "and it is somewhat connected with that which we have justdiscussed. My cousin, the Countess Minna, cannot, of course, go forwardin a hazardous work of this kind, now we are agreed the marriage must bepostponed, without a male relative to guide and counsel her. And as weGrambergs have been so unfortunate as to lose two prominent members,there is only myself remaining. One of us, my cousin Gustav, certainlylost his life in this cause, through the treachery of the Ostenburgagents, and therefore we look to you all--I look to you all,gentlemen"--and here I raised my voice slightly--"to secure me againstan attack from any source that may threaten my life. I know I do notcount on you in vain, because you are all loyal to the cause; but thereis an additional and very special reason for my thus calling on you.Upon my life and safety the continuance or end of this scheme depends,so far as my cousin Minna is concerned. You may need to redouble yourvigilance against our enemies, and to strain your efforts to the utmostto anticipate and prevent attacks upon me; but understand quite clearlythat if you suffer me to be attacked and to fall, at that moment mycousin will withdraw from the scheme, and openly abandon all claim tothe throne."
The disconcerting effect of this short speech was profound.
A dead silence fell on the room for a few moments, and I am bound toconfess that I enjoyed immensely the general consternation. It appearedto me the strongest confirmation I could have had of the existence of aplot against my life, and that this move of mine was regarded as acheckmate. But I shut out of my face every expression save one of a kindof friendly expectation of personal assurances of agreement.
"Why I paused before replying, Prince," said Baron Heckscher presently,"was merely that, while I am confident there is not a man in the room,nor among all the thousands for whom we can speak, who would notcheerfully risk his life in defence of one so valuable--indeed, soessential--to the cause and the country as your own, it is a littledifficult for us to pledge ourselves to abandon a cause for which wehave made such sacrifices, and incurred such tremendous personal risks,should accident intervene to harm you."
He was talking to gain time, I could see that easily enough.
"There was no one found ready to defend my cousin Gustav from a man whowas no better than an assassin," I said, somewhat curtly. "And I haveheard that the man is still mixing with some of you."
Von Nauheim's tell-tale face paled at this thrust.
"Your cousin's rashness was the cause of that quarrel, Prince," said thebaron, "and it was all against our advice and our most earnest entreatythat the duel ever took place. As to Praga's connection with the mattersince, you know, of course, that in affairs of this kind we must use asinstruments such as we find ready to hand. But his connection with themovement is of the flimsiest and most superficial kind."
"My cousin's death remains unavenged," I answered sternly.
"It will not remain so," said the baron significantly.
"No, indeed," I returned, intentionally misunderstanding him, "for Imyself will call the man to account."
"Not until after our plans have been carried through."
"At the first moment I meet with him," said I, with an air ofrecklessness.
"This must not be!" exclaimed the baron quickly. "Do you not see whatyou are doing, Prince? You tell us that if you fall the Countess Minnawill desert us and abandon the whole movement on the very eve of itssuccess; and yet in the next breath you declare that you are going tocourt death by fighting a duel with one of the greatest masters offencing in Europe. Would you wreck the whole scheme?"
"I would avenge my cousin's death!" I cried sternly. "Unless, indeed,the Count von Nauheim, as a future member of the family, or some othergentleman here, is loyal enough to us to take up this work."
"I do not fight with hired bravos," growled von Nauheim.
"There is no man in Bavaria can stand before that Praga's sword," saidthe baron, while I enjoyed his perplexity.
"Well, then, call the man out and shoot him!" I exclaimed brutally."But, in all truth, I can't for the life of me understand, since you areall afraid of his sword-play, why you allowed Gustav to meet him."
"We had not then had this fearful evidence of his skill; and your cousindenied it, and believed him an impostor," said the baron.
"Nor do I believe in it," I answered vehemently, and I saw that I hadproduced the impression I wished of extreme caution in some things,coupled with recklessness in others, and had made them believe methoroughly in earnest in my condition that, if my life were taken, mycousin Minna would go no farther. I had no wish to press matters anymore, therefore.
"You are a true Gramberg, Prince, it is easy to see," said the baron,smiling uneasily. "And I fear you will give us trouble."
I meant to, but not of the kind as anticipated.
"That may be," I replied, ungraciously and curtly. "But now, if youplease, as to these conditions."
"We can accept them if you will pledge yourself to take no rash actionin hazarding your life until we have succeeded. Otherwise I for oneshall withdraw, even now."
I could have laughed aloud at the firm, decisive tone in which he saidthis--for it was the proof of how I had turned the tables upon them. Ihesitated before replying, as if to think.
"Yes, it is fair that I should give such a pledge," I said then. "I willwait. It will not be long."
"In a fortnight, by the grace of God, all will be effected," cried BaronHeckscher fervently. Then, rising, he said with enthusiasm: "Gentlemen,to our future Queen--Queen Minna of Bavaria. May the blessing of Godlight upon her, and let her bring peace to this distracted State. In thename of God I swear allegiance to the new ruler of Bavaria."
He raised his right hand on high as he took this equivocal and falselytrue oath, and every man present followed his example. It was animpressive scene, and I made haste to improve the occasion.
"We will sign the declaration now," I said quietly.
The baron produced that which had been formerly signed--a short, simplyworded document pledging the signatories to allegiance; and as heappeared loath to allow the paper to pass out of his own hands, hehimself copied and then burnt it. I raised no objection to thisproceeding, or to the wording, which was sufficiently compromising forthe purpose I had in view. The other men signed it first, and I observedthat the baron hung back until the last.
"I am the last to join you, I will sign last," I said quietly, and Ilaid it before him.
He wished to protest, I could see, but there was no valid reason. Forthe present at any rate I was in the position of power.
He wrote his name slowly and, I thought, reluctantly, and when he hadfinished, he put the paper across the small table, and held it firmly inone hand, pointing with the other to the place where I should write myname. I saw his object was the same as my own--to get and keeppossession of a paper on which the life of every man signing it mightdepend. But it was an essential part of my plan that I myself shouldhave possession of the paper to use as I might afterward find necessary.And I outwitted him. Not giving a sign of my intention, I took the penhe gave me and glanced at it.
"A pen that will have
a history," I said, looking at him.
Then in making a movement as of preparation to sign I dropped the pen,and as I stooped and picked it up I broke the nib designedly, exclaimingat my carelessness.
"No matter, there is another pen there," I cried hurriedly, and with asudden pull I snatched the sheet from his grasp, carried it to anothertable, and signed it before he had recovered from his surprise andvexation. Then I blotted it quickly, folded it, and put it away in mypocket, as though this were the most natural and ordinary course.
But I saw the men look from one to the other with half-hiddenapprehension in their glances. I knew it was a crisis, and I carried itthrough with a dash.
"As head of my house, and the only blood relative of our future Queen, Ishall guard with religious care this declaration of your allegiance andfidelity, this charter of the new Bavarian freedom," I said, raising myvoice and speaking with as much dignity as I could assume. "In mycousin's name I thank you for your help, and I promise you the mostearnest, most cordial, and most generous recognition of your efforts.From this moment her life belongs to her country. For myself, I assureyou that, although I am the last to join you, no man shall be found moreactive, resolute, and vigilant in the cause. God bless Queen Minna ofBavaria!"
They echoed the words, but there was little heartiness in the tone,except from the two men whom I knew to be loyal; and I stood on myguard, half expecting some kind of attack.
But the moment passed and nothing was said or done to thwart me; andafter a few words of lying congratulation upon the evening's work fromthe baron, the meeting broke up.
As the men left I could tell that my acts had produced a greatimpression on them, and that I had at least convinced them that I wasnot a man with whom they could safely trifle.
But my task had only begun.