CHAPTER XIV. NIKKY DOES A RECKLESS THING
Nikky Larisch had been having an exciting time. First of all, heexchanged garments with the chauffeur, and cursed his own long legs,which proved difficult to cover adequately. But the chauffeur's long furulster helped considerably. The exchange was rather a ticklish matter,and would have been more so had he not found a revolver in the fur coatpocket. It is always hard to remove a coat from a man whose arms aretied, and trousers are even more difficult. To remove trousers from arefractory prisoner offers problems. They must be dragged off, and agood thrust from a heavy boot, or two boots, has been known to changethe fate of nations.
However, Nikky's luck stood. His prisoner kicked, but owing to Nikky'swise precaution of having straddled him, nothing untoward happened.
Behold, then, Nikky of the brave heart standing over his prostrateprisoner, and rolling him, mummy fashion, in his own tunic and a rugfrom the machine.
"It is cold, my friend," he said briefly; "but I am a kindly soul, andif you have told me the truth, you will not have so much as a snuffle toremind you of this to-morrow."
"I have told the truth."
"As a soldier, of course," Nikky went on, "I think you have madea mistake. You should have chosen the precipice. But as a privategentleman, I thank you."
Having examined the knots in the rope, which were very well done,indeed, and having gagged the chauffeur securely, Nikky prepared to go.In his goggles, with the low-visored cap and fur coat, he looked notunlike his late companion. But he had a jaunty step as he walked towardthe car, a bit of swagger that covered, perhaps, just a trifle ofuneasiness.
For Nikky now knew his destination, knew that he was bound on perilouswork, and that the chances of his returning were about fifty-fifty, orrather less.
Nevertheless, he was apparently quite calm as he examined the car.He would have chosen, perhaps, a less perilous place to attempt itsmysteries, but needs must. He climbed in, and released the brakes. Then,with great caution, and considerable noise, he worked it away from thebrink of the chasm, and started off.
He did not know his way. Over the mountains it was plain enough, forthere was but one road. After he descended into the plain of Karnia,however, it became difficult. Sign-posts were few and not explicit. Butat last he found the railroad, which he knew well--that railroad withoutobjective, save as it would serve to move troops toward the border.After that Nikky found it easier.
But, with his course assured, other difficulties presented themselves.To take the letter to those who would receive it was one thing. Butto deliver it, with all that it might contain, was another. He was notbrilliant, was Nikky. Only brave and simple of heart, and unversed inthe ways of darkness.
If, now, he could open the letter and remove it, substituting--well,what could he substitute? There were cigarette papers in his pocket.Trust Nikky for that. But how to make the exchange?
Nikky pondered. To cut the side of the envelope presented itself. Butit was not good enough. The best is none too good when one's life is atstake.
The engine was boiling hard, a dull roaring under the hood thatthreatened trouble. He drew up beside the road and took off thewater-cap. Then he whistled. Why, of course! Had it not been done fromtime immemorial, this steaming of letters? He examined it. It bore noincriminating seal.
He held the envelope over the water-cap, and was boyishly pleased tofeel the flap loosen. After all, things were easy enough if one usedone's brains. He rather regretted using almost all of his cigarettepapers, of course. He had, perhaps, never heard of the drop of nicotineon the tongue of a dog.
As for the letter itself, he put it, without even glancing at it, intohis cap, under the lining. Then he sealed the envelope again and driedit against one of the lamps. It looked, he reflected, as good as new.
He was extremely pleased with himself.
Before he returned to the machine he consulted his watch. It was threeo'clock. True, the long early spring night gave him four more hours ofdarkness. But the messenger was due at three, at the hunting-lodge in,the mountains which was his destination. He would be, at the best, lateby an hour.
He pushed the car to its limit. The fine hard road, with its borderof trees, stretched ahead. Nikky surveyed it with a soldier's eye. Amilitary road, or he knew nothing--one along which motor-lorries couldmake express time. A marvelous road, in that sparsely settled place.Then he entered the forest, that kingly reserve in which Karl ran deerfor pastime.
He was nearing his destination.
On what the messenger had told him Nikky hung his hope of success. Thiswas, briefly, that he should go to the royal shooting-box at Wedeling,and should go, not to the house itself, but to the gate-keeper's lodge.Here he was to leave his machine, and tap at the door. On its beingopened, he was to say nothing, but to give the letter to him who openedthe door. After that he was to take the machine away to the capital,some sixty miles farther on.
The message, then, was to the King himself. For Nikky, as all the world,knew that Karl, with some kindred spirits, was at Wedeling, shooting.That is, if the messenger told the truth. Nikky intended to find out. Hewas nothing if not thorough.
Nikky had lost much of his jaunty air by that time. On the surfacehe was his usual debonair self; but his mouth was grim and rathercontemptuous. This was Karl's way: to propose marriage with a Princessof Livonia, and yet line the country with his spies! Let him butreturn, God willing, with his report, and after that, let them continuenegotiations with Karl if they dared.
When at last the lights of the lodge at the gate of Wedeling gleamedout through the trees, it was half-pass three, and a wet spring snow wasfalling softly. In an open place Nikky looked up. The stars were gone.
The lodge now, and the gate-keeper's house. Nikky's heart hammered as heleft the car--hammered with nervousness, not terror. But he went boldlyto the door, and knocked.
So far all was well. There were footsteps within, and a man stepped outinto the darkness, closing the door behind him. Nikky, who had come sofar to see this very agent, and to take back a description of him,felt thwarted. Things were not being done, he felt, according tospecification. And the man spoke, which was also unexpected.
"You have the letter?" he asked.
"It is here." Luckily he did not speak the patois.
"I will take it."
Nikky held it out. The man fumbled for it, took it.
"Orders have come," said the voice, "that you remain here for the night.In the morning you are to carry dispatches to the city."
Poor Nikky! With his car facing toward the lodge, and under necessity,in order to escape, to back it out into the highway! He thought quickly.There was no chance of overpowering his man quickly and silently. Andthe house was not empty. From beyond the door came the sounds of men'svoices, and the thud of drinking-mugs on a bare table.
"You will take me up to the house, and then put the car away untilmorning."
Nikky breathed again. It was going to be easy, after all. If only theroad went straight to the shooting-box itself, the rest was simple. Buthe prayed that he make no false turning, to betray his ignorance.
"Very well,"--he said.
His companion opened the door behind him. "Ready, now," he called. "Thecar is here."
Two men rose from a table where they had been sitting, and put ongreatcoats of fur. The lamplight within quivered in the wind fromthe open door. Nikky was quite calm now. His heart beat its regularseventy-two, and he even reflected, with a sort of grim humor, that theChancellor would find the recital of this escapade much to his taste. Ina modest way Nikky felt that he was making history.
The man who had received the letter got into the machine beside him. Theother two climbed into the tonneau. And, as if to make the denouementdoubly ridiculous, the road led straight. Nikky, growing extremelycheerful behind his goggles, wondered how much petrol remained in thecar.
The men behind talked in low tones. Of the shooting, mostly, and theeffect of the snow on it. They had been after ph
easants that day, itappeared.
"They are late to-night," grumbled one of them, as the house appeared,full lighted. "A tardy start to-morrow again!"
"The King must have his sleep," commented the other, rather mockingly.
With a masterly sweep, Nikky drew up his machine before the entrance.Let them once alight, let him but start his car down the road again, andall the devils of the night might follow. He feared nothing.
But here again Nikky planned too fast. The servant who came out to openthe doors of the motor had brought a message. "His Majesty desires thatthe messenger come in," was the bomb-shell which exploded in Nikky'sears.
Nikky hesitated. And then some imp of recklessness in him prompted himnot to run away, but to see the thing through. It was, after all, achance either way. These men beside the car were doubtless armed--one atleast, nearest him, was certainly one of Karl's own secret agents. And,as Nikky paused, he was not certain, but it seemed to him that the mantook, a step toward him.
"Very well," said Nikky, grumbling. "But I have had a long ride, and acold one. I need sleep."
Even then he had a faint hope that the others would precede him, andthat it would be possible to leap back to the car, and escape. But,whether by accident or design, the group closed about him. Flight wasout of the question.
A little high was Nikky's head as he went in. He had done a stupid thingnow, and he knew it. He should have taken his letter and gone back withit. But, fool or not, he was a soldier. Danger made him calm.
So he kept his eyes open. The shooting-box was a simple one, built,after the fashion of the mountains, of logs, and wood-lined. The wallsof the hall were hung with skins and the mounted heads of animals, boarand deer, and even an American mountain sheep, testifying to the rangeof its royal owner's activities as a hunter. Great pelts lay on thefloor, and the candelabra were horns cunningly arranged to hold candles.The hall extended to the roof, and a gallery half-way up showed thedoors of the sleeping-apartments.
The lodge was noisy. Loud talking, the coming and going of servants withtrays, the crackle of wood fires in which whole logs were burning, and,as Nikky and his escort entered, the roaring chorus of a hunting-songfilled the ears.
Two of the men flung off their heavy coats, and proceeded withoutceremony into the room whence the sounds issued. The third, however,still holding the letter, ushered Nikky into a small side room, asort of study, since it contained a desk. For kings must pursue theirclerical occupations even on holiday. A plain little room it was,containing an American typewriter, and beside the desk only a chair ortwo upholstered in red morocco.
Nikky had reluctantly removed his cap. His goggles, however, he venturedto retain. He was conscious that his guide was studying him intently.But not with suspicion, he thought: Rather as one who would gauge thecaliber of the man before him. He seemed satisfied, too, for his voice,which had been curt, grew more friendly.
"You had no trouble?" he asked.
"None, sir."
"Did Niburg say anything?"
Niburg, then, was the spy of the cathedral. Nikky reflected. Suddenly hesaw a way out. It was, he afterward proclaimed, not his own thought.It came to him like a message. He burned a candle to his patron saint,sometime later, for it.
"The man Niburg had had an unfortunate experience, sir. He reportedthat, during an evening stroll, before he met me, he was attacked bythree men, with the evident intention of securing the letter. He wasbadly beaten up."
His companion started. "Niburg," he said. "Then--" He glanced at theletter he held. "We must find some one else," he muttered. "I nevertrusted the fellow. A clerk, nothing else. For this work it takes wit."
Nikky, sweating with strain; felt that it did, indeed. "He was badlyused up, sir," he offered. "Could hardly walk, and was still tremblingwith excitement when I met him."
The man reflected. A serious matter, he felt. Not so serious as it mighthave been, since he held the letter. But it showed many things, andthreatened others. He touched a bell. "Tell his, Majesty," he said tothe servant who appeared, "that his messenger is here."
The servant bowed and withdrew.
Nikky found the wait that followed trying. He thought of Hedwig, and ofthe little Crown Prince. Suddenly he knew that he had had, no rightto attempt this thing. He had given his word, almost, his oath, to theKing, to protect and watch over the boy. And here he was, knowing nowthat mischief was afoot, and powerless. He cursed himself for his folly.
Then Karl came in. He came alone, closing the door behind him. Nikkyand his companion bowed, and Nikky surveyed him through his goggles. Thesame mocking face he remembered, from Karl's visit to the summer palace,the same easy, graceful carriage, the same small mustache. He was inevening dress, and the bosom of his shirt was slightly rumpled. He hadbeen drinking, but he was not intoxicated. He was slightly flushed, hiseyes were abnormally bright. He looked, for the moment; rather amiable.Nikky was to learn, later on, how easily his smile hardened to aterrifying grin. The long, rather delicate nose of his family, fine hairgrowing a trifle thin, and a thin, straight body this was Karl, King ofKarnia, and long-time enemy to Nikky's own land.
He ignored Nikky's companion. "You brought a letter?"
Nikky bowed, and the other man held it out. Karl took it.
"The trip was uneventful?"
"Yes, sire."
"A bad night for it," Karl observed, and glanced at the letter in hishand. "Was there any difficulty at the frontier?"
"None, sire."
Karl tore the end off the envelope. "You will remain here to-night," hesaid. "To-morrow morning I shall send dispatches to the city. I hope youhave petrol. These fellows here--" He did not complete the sentence.He inserted two royal fingers into the envelope and drew out--Nikky'scigarette papers!
For a moment there was complete silence in the room. Karl turned thepapers over.
It was then that his face hardened into a horrible grin. He looked up,raising his head slowly.
"What is this?" he demanded, very quietly.
"The letter, sire," said Nikky.
"The letter! Do you call these a letter?"
Nikky drew himself up. "I have brought the envelope which was given me."
Without a word Karl held out papers and envelope to the other man, whotook them. Then he turned to Nikky, and now he raised his voice. "Wheredid you get this--hoax?" he demanded.
"At the cathedral, from the man Niburg."
"You lie!" said Karl. Then, for a moment, he left Nikky and turned onhis companion in a fury. He let his royal rage beat on that unluckyindividual while the agent stood, white and still. Not until it wasover, and Karl, spent with passion, was pacing the floor, did Nikkyventure a word.
"If this is not what Your Majesty expected," he said, "there is perhapsan explanation."
Karl wheeled on him. "Explanation!"
"The man Niburg was attacked, early last evening, by three men. Theybeat him badly, and attempted to rob him. His story to me, sire. Hebelieved that they were after the letter, but that he had preservedit. It is, of course, a possibility that, while he lay stunned, theysubstituted another envelope for the one he carried."
Karl tore the envelope from the agent's hands and inspected itcarefully. Evidently, as with the agent, the story started a new trainof thought. Nikky drew a long breath. After all, there was still hopethat the early morning shooting would have another target than himself.
Karl sat down, and his face relaxed. It was stern, but no longerhorrible. "Tell me this Niburg's story," he commanded.
"He was walking through the old city," Nikky commenced, "when threemen fell on him. One, a large one, knocked him insensible and then wentthrough his pockets. The others--"
"Strange!" said Karl. "If he was insensible, how does he know all this?"
"It was his story, sire," Nikky explained. But he colored. "A companion,who was with him, ran away."
"This companion," Karl queried. "A dark, heavy fellow, was it?"
"No. Rather a pale man, b
lond. A--" Nikky checked himself.
But Karl was all suavity. "So," he said, "while Niburg was unconsciousthe large man took the letter, which was sealed, magically opened it,extracted its contents, replaced them with--this, and then sealed itagain!"
The King turned without haste to a drawer in his desk, and opened it.He was smiling. When he faced about again, Nikky saw that he held arevolver in =his hand. Save that the agent had taken a step forward,nothing in the room had changed. And yet; for Nikky everything hadchanged.
Nikky had been a reckless fool, but he was brave enough. He smiled, abetter smile than Karl's twisted one.
"I have a fancy," said King Karl, "to manage this matter for myself.Keep back, Kaiser. Now, my friend, you will give me the packet ofcigarette papers you carry."
Resistance would do no good. Nikky brought them out, and Karl's twistedsmile grew broader as he compared them with the ones the envelope hadcontained.
"You see," he said, "you show the hand of the novice. You should havethrown these away. But, of course, all your methods are wrong. Why, forinstance, have you come here at all? You have my man--but that I shalltake up later. We will first have the letter."
But here Nikky stood firm. Let them find the letter. He would nothelp them. But again he cursed himself. There had been a thousandhiding-places along the road--but he must bring the incriminating thingwith him, and thus condemn himself!
Now commenced a curious scene, curious because one of the actorswas Karl of Karnia himself. He seemed curiously loath to bring inassistance, did Karl. Or perhaps the novelty of the affair appealed tohim. And Nikky's resistance to search, with that revolver so close, wasshort-lived.
Even while he was struggling, Nikky was thinking. Let them get theletter, if they must. Things would at least be no worse than before.But he resolved that no violence would tear from him the place where themessenger was hidden. Until they had got that, he had a chance for life.
They searched his cap last. Nikky, panting after that strange struggle,saw Kaiser take it from the lining of his cap, and pass it to the King.
Karl took it. The smile was gone now, and something ugly and terriblehad taken its place. But that, too, faded as he looked at the letter.
It was a blank piece of note-paper.