CHAPTER XVI. ON THE MOUNTAIN ROAD
The low gray car which carried the Chancellor was on its way through themountains. It moved deliberately, for two reasons. First, the Chancellorwas afraid of motors. He had a horseman's hatred and fear of machines.Second, he was not of a mind to rouse King Karl from a night's sleep,even to bring the hand of the Princess Hedwig. His intention was to putup at some inn in a village not far from the lodge and to reach Karl bymessenger early in the morning, before the hunters left for the day.
Then, all being prepared duly and in order, Mettlich himself wouldarrive, and things would go forward with dignity and dispatch.
In the mean time he sat back among his furs and thought of many things.He had won a victory which was, after all, but a compromise. He hadchosen the safe way, but it led over the body of a young girl, and heloathed it. Also, he thought of Nikky, and what might be. But the carwas closed and comfortable. The motion soothed him. After a time hedropped asleep.
The valley of the Ar deepened. The cliff rose above them, a wall brokenhere and there by the offtake of narrow ravines, filled with foresttrees. There was a pause while the chains on the rear wheels weresupplemented by others in front, for there must be no danger of a skid.And another pause, where the road slanted perilously toward the brink ofthe chasm, and caution dictated that the Chancellor alight, and make ahundred feet or so of dangerous curve afoot.
It required diplomacy to get him out. But it was finally done, and hisheavy figure, draped in its military cape, went on ahead, outlinedby the lamps of the car behind him. The snow was hardly more than acoating, but wet and slippery. Mettlich stalked on, as one who woulddefy the elements, or anything else, to hinder him that night.
He was well around the curve, and the cliff was broken by a wedge oftimber, when a curiously shaped object projected itself over the edge ofthe bank, and rolling down, lay almost at his feet. The lamps brought itinto sharp relief--a man, gagged and tied, and rolled, cigar shaped, inan automobile robe.
The Chancellor turned, and called to his men. Then he bent over thebundle. The others ran up, and cut the bonds. What with cold and longinaction, and his recent drop over the bank, the man could not speak.One of the secret-service men had a flask, and held it to his lips. Anamazing situation, indeed, increased by the discovery that under therobe he wore only his undergarments, with a soldier's tunic wrappedaround his shoulders. They carried him into the car, where he lay withhead lolling back, and his swollen tongue protruding. Half dead he was,with cold and long anxiety. The brandy cleared his mind long before hecould speak, and he saw by the uniforms that he was in the hands of theenemy. He turned sulkily silent then, convinced that he had escaped onedeath but to meet another. Twenty-four hours now he had faced eternity,and he was ready.
He preferred, however, to die fully clothed, and when, in response tohis pointing up the bank and to his inarticulate mouthings, one of thesecret police examined the bit of woodland with his pocket flash, hefound a pair of trousers where Nikky had left them, neatly folded andhung over the branch of a tree. The brandy being supplemented by hotcoffee from a patent bottle, the man revived further, made an effort,and sat up. His tongue was still swollen, but they made out what hesaid. He had been there since the night before. People had passed, afew peasants, a man with a cart, but he could not cry out, and he hadhesitated to risk the plunge to the road. But at last he had made it. Hewas of Karnia, and a King's messenger.
"I was coming back from the barrier," he said thickly, "where I hadcarried dispatches to the officer in charge. On my return a man hailedme from the side of, the road, near where you found me. I thought thathe desired to be taken on, and stopped my car. But he attacked me. Hewas armed and I was not. He knocked me senseless, and when I awakenedI was above the road, among trees. I gave myself up when the snowcommenced. Few pass this way. But I heard your car coming and made adesperate effort."
"Then," asked one of the agents, "these are not your clothes?"
"They are his; sir."
The agent produced a flash-light and inspected the garments. Before theChancellor's eyes, button by button, strap on the sleeve, star on thecuff, came into view the uniform of a captain of his own regiment, theGrenadiers. Then one of his own men had done this infamous thing, one ofhis own officers, indeed.
"Go through the pockets," he continued sternly.
Came, into view under the flash a pair of gloves, a box of matches, asilk handkerchief, a card-case. The agent said nothing, but passed acard to the Chancellor, who read it without comment.
There was silence in the car.
At last the Chancellor stirred. "This man--he took your car on?"
"Yes. And he has not returned. No other machine has passed."
The secret-service men exchanged glances. There was more to this thanappeared. Somewhere ahead, then, was Nikky Larisch, with a motor thatdid got belong to him, and wearing clothing which his victim describedas a chauffeur's coat of leather, breeches and puttees, and a furgreatcoat over all.
"Had the snow commenced when this happened?"
"Not then; sir. Shortly after."
"Go out with the driver," the Chancellor ordered one of his men, "andwatch the road for the tracks of another car. Go slowly."
So it was that, after an hour or so, they picked up Nikky's trail, nowtwenty-four hours old but still clear, and followed it. The Chancellorwas awake enough by this time, and bending forward. The man they hadrescued slept heavily. As the road descended into the foothills, therewere other tracks in the thin snow, and more than once they rousedNikky's victim to pick out his own tire marks. He obeyed dully. Whenat last the trail turned from the highway toward the shooting-box atWedeling, Mettlich fell back with something between a curse and a groan.
"The fool!" he muttered. "The young fool! It was madness."
At last they drew up at an inn in the village on the royal preserve, andthe Chancellor, looking rather gray, alighted. He directed that the manthey had rescued be brought in. The Chancellor was not for losing himjust yet. He took a room for him at the inn, and rather cavalierlylocked him in it.
The dull-eyed landlord, yawning as he lighted the party upstairs withcandles, apparently neither noticed nor cared that the three of themsurrounded a fourth, and that the fourth looked both sullen and ill.
The car, with one of the secret-service men, Mettlich sent on to followNikky's trail, and to report it to him. The other man was assigned tocustody of the chauffeur. The Chancellor, more relieved than he wouldhave acknowledged, reflected before a fire and over a glass of hot milkthat he was rather unpropitiously bringing Karl a bride!
It was almost four in the morning when the police agent returned. Thetrack he had followed apparently led into the grounds of Wedeling, butwas there lost in many others. It did not, so far as he could discover,lead beyond the lodge gates.
The Chancellor sipped his hot milk and considered. Nikky Larisch aprisoner in Karl's hands caused him less anxiety than it would have amonth before. But what was behind it all?
The inn, grumbling at its broken rest, settled down to sleep again. Thetwo secret-service agents took turns on chairs outside their prisoner'sdoor, glancing in occasionally to see that he still slept in hisbuilt-in bed.
At a little before five the man outside the prisoner's door heardsomething inside the room. He glanced in. All was quiet. The prisonerslept heavily, genuine sleep. There was no mistaking it, the sleep of aman warm after long cold and exhaustion, weary after violent effort. Theagent went out again, and locked the door behind him.
And as the door closed, a trap-door from the kitchen below opened softlyunder the sleeping man's bed. With great caution came the landlord,head first, then shoulders. The space was cramped. He crawled up, like asnake out of a hole, and ducked behind the curtains of the bed. Allwas still quiet, save that the man outside struck a match and lighted apipe.
Half an hour later, the Chancellor's prisoner, still stiff and weak, wasmaking his way toward the hunting-lodge.
Kaiser saw him first, and found the story unenlightening. Nor couldKarl, roused by a terrified valet, make much more of it. When the manhad gone, Karl lay back among his pillows and eyed his agent.
"So Mettlich is here!" he said. "A hasty journey. They must be eager."
"They must be in trouble," Kaiser observed dryly. And on thatuncomplimentary comment King Karl slept, his face drawn into a wrysmile.
But he received the Chancellor of Livonia cordially the next morning,going himself to the lodge doorstep to meet his visitor, and thereshaking hands with him.
"I am greatly honored, Excellency," he said, with his twisted smile.
"And I, sire."
But the Chancellor watched him from under his shaggy brows. Themessenger had escaped. By now Karl knew the story, knew of his midnightride over the mountains; and the haste it indicated. He sheathedhimself in dignity; did the Chancellor, held his head high and movedponderously, as became one who came to talk of important matters, butnot to ask a boon.
Karl himself led the way to his study, ignoring the chamberlain, andstood aside to let Mettlich enter. Then he followed and closed the door.
"It is a long time since you have honored Karnia with a visit," Karlobserved. "Will you sit down?"
Karl himself did not sit. He stood negligently beside the mantel, an armstretched along it.
"Not since the battle of the Ar, sire," replied the Chancellor dryly. Hehad headed an army of invasion then.
Karl smiled. "I hope that now your errand is more peaceful."
For answer the Chancellor opened a portfolio he carried, and fumbledamong its papers. But, having found the right one, he held it withoutopening it. "Before we come to that, sire, you have here, I believe,detained for some strange reason, a Captain Larisch, aide-de-camp"--hepaused for effect--"to His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince of Livonia."
Karl glanced up quickly. "Perhaps, if you will describethis--gentleman--"
"Nonsense," said the Chancellor testily, "you have him. We have tracedhim here. Although by what authority you hold him I fail to understand.I am here to find out what you have done with him." The paper trembledin the old man's hand. He knew very well Karl's quick anger, and hefeared for Nikky feared horribly.
"Done with him?" echoed Karl. "If as Captain Larisch you refer to amadman who the night before last--"
"I do, sire. Madman is the word."
Of course, it is not etiquette to interrupt a king. But kings were nonovelty to the Chancellor. And quite often, for reasons of state, he hadfound interruptions necessary.
"He is a prisoner," Karl said, in a new tone, stern enough now. "Heassaulted and robbed one of my men. He stole certain documents. That hehas not suffered for it already was because--well, because I believedthat the unfortunate distrust between your country and mine, Excellency,was about to end."
A threat that, undoubtedly. Let the arrangement between Karnia andLivonia be made, with Hedwig to seal the bargain, and Nikky was safeenough. But let Livonia demand too much, or not agree at all, and Nikkywas lost. Thus did Nikky Larisch play his small part in the game ofnations.
"Suppose," said Karl unctuously, "that we discuss first another moreimportant matter. I confess to a certain impatience." He bowed slightly.
The Chancellor hesitated. Then he glanced thoughtfully at the paper inhis hand.
Through a long luncheon, the two alone and even the servants dismissed,through a longer afternoon, negotiations went on. Mettlich foughthard on some points, only to meet defeat. Karl stood firm. The greatfortresses on the border must hereafter contain only nominal garrisons.For the seaport strip he had almost doubled his price. The railroad mustbe completed within two years.
"Since I made my tentative proposal," Karl said, "certain things havecome to my ears which must be considered. A certain amount of unrest weall have. It is a part of the times we live in. But strange storieshave reached us here, that your revolutionary party is again active, andthreatening. This proposal was made to avoid wars, not to marry them.And civil war--" He shrugged his shoulders.
"You have said yourself, sire, that we all have a certain discontent."
"The Princess Hedwig," Karl said suddenly. "She has been told, ofcourse?"
"Not officially. She knows, however."
"How does she regard it?"
The Chancellor hesitated. "Like most young women, she would prefermaking her own choice. But that," he added hastily, "is but a whim. Sheis a lovable and amiable girl. When the time comes she will be willingenough."
Karl stared out through one of the heavily curtained windows. He was notso sure. And the time had gone by when he would have enjoyed the tamingof a girl. Now he wanted peace--was he not paying a price for it?--andchildren to inherit his well-managed kingdom. And perhaps--who knows?--alittle love. His passionate young days were behind him, but he cravedsomething that his unruly life had not brought him. Before him rose avision of Hedwig her frank eyes, her color that rose and fell, her soft,round body.
"You have no reason to believe that she has looked elsewhere?"
"None, sire," said the Chancellor stoutly.
By late afternoon all was arranged, papers signed and witnessed, and thetwo signatures affixed, the one small and cramped--a soldier's hand;the other bold and flowing--the scrawl of a king. And Hedwig, save forthe ceremony, was the bride of Karl of Karnia.
It was then that the Chancellor rose and stretched his legs. "And now,sire," he said, "since we are friends and no longer enemies, you will, Iknow, release that mad boy of mine."
"When do you start back?"
"Within an hour."
"Before that time," said Karl, "you shall have him, Chancellor."
And with that Mettlich was forced to be content. He trusted Karl no morenow than he ever had. But he made his adieus with no hint of trouble inhis face.
Karl waited until the machine drove away. He had gone to the doorstepwith the Chancellor, desiring to do him all possible honor. But Mettlichunaccustomed to democratic ways, disapproved of the proceeding, and wasindeed extremely uncomfortable, and drew a sigh of relief when it wasall over. He was of the old order which would keep its royalties ongilded thrones and, having isolated there in grandeur, have gone aboutthe business of the kingdom without them.
Karl stood for a moment in the open air. It was done, then, and welldone. It was hard to realize. He turned to the west, where for so longbehind the mountains had lurked an enemy. A new era was opening; peace,disarmament, a quiet and prosperous land. He had spent his years of warand women. That was over.
From far away in the forest he heard the baying of the hounds. Thecrisp air filled his lungs. And even as he watched, a young doe, withrolling eyes, leaped across the drive. Karl watched it with coollyspeculative eyes.
When he returned to the study the agent Kaiser was already there. In thedemocracy of the lodge men came and went almost at will. But Karl, bigwith plans for the future, would have been alone, and eyed the agentwith disfavor.
"Well?" he demanded.
"We have been able to search the Chancellor's rooms, sire," the agentsaid, "for the articles mentioned last night--a card-case, gloves, and asilk handkerchief, belonging to the prisoner upstairs. He is CaptainLarisch, aide-de-camp to the Crown Prince of Livonia."
He had, expected Karl to be, impressed. But Karl only looked at him. "Iknow that," he said coldly. "You are always just a little late with yourinformation, Kaiser."
Something like malice showed in the agent's face. "Then you also know,sire, that it is this Captain Larisch with whom rumor couples the nameof the Princess Hedwig." He stepped back a pace or two at sight ofKarl's face. "You requested such information, sire."
For answer, Karl pointed to the door.
For some time after he had dismissed the agent, Karl paced his libraryalone. Kaiser brought no unverified information. Therefore the thing wastrue. Therefore he had had his enemy in his hand, and now was pledgedto let him go. For a time, then, Karl paid the penalty of many misdeeds.His trium
ph was ashes in his mouth.
What if this boy, infatuated with Hedwig, had hidden somewhere on theroad Olga Loschek's letter? What, then, if he recovered it and took itto Hedwig? What if-- But at last he sent for the prisoner upstairs, andwaited for him with both jealousy and fear in his eyes.
Five minutes later Nikky Larisch was ushered into the red study, andhaving bowed, an insolent young bow at that, stood and eyed the King.
"I have sent for you to release you," said Karl. Nikky drew a longbreath. "I am grateful, sire."
"You have been interceded for by the Chancellor of Livonia, GeneralMettlich, who has just gone."
Nikky bowed.
"Naturally, since you said nothing, of your identity, we could not knowthat you belonged to His Majesty's household. Under the circumstances,it is a pleasure to give you your freedom."
Nikky, bowed again.
Karl fixed him with cold eyes. "But before you take leave of us," hesaid ironically, "I should like the true story of the night before last.Somehow, somewhere, a letter intended for me was exchanged for a blankpaper. I want that letter."
"I know no more than you, sire. It is not reasonable that I would havetaken the risk I took for an envelope containing nothing."
"For that matter," said His Majesty, "there was nothing reasonable aboutanything you did!"
And now Karl played his trump card, played it with watchful eyes onNikky's face. He would see if report spoke the truth, if this blue-eyedboy was in love with Hedwig. He was a jealous man, this Karl of the coldeyes, jealous and passionate. Not as a king, then, watching a humblesoldier of Livonia, but as man to man, he gazed at Nikky.
"For fear that loyalty keeps you silent, I may say to you that the oldtroubles between Karnia and Livonia are over."
"I do not understand, sire."
Karl hesitated. Then, with his twisted smile, he cast the rigidetiquette of such matters to the winds. "It is very simple," he said."There will be no more trouble between these two neighboring countries,because a marriage has to-day been arranged--a marriage between thePrincess Hedwig, His Majesty's granddaughter, and myself."
For a moment Nikky Larisch closed his eyes.