CHAPTER XXIX. OLD ADELBERT THE TRAITOR
"Thus," said the concierge, frying onions over his stove; "thus havethey always done. But you have been blind. Rather, you would not see."
Old Adelbert stirred uneasily. "So long as I accept my pension--"
"Why should you not accept your pension. A trifle in exchange for whatyou gave. For them, who now ill-use you, you have gone through life buthalf a man. Women smile behind their hands when you hobble by."
"I do not hold with women," said old Adelbert, flushing. "They take alland give nothing." The onions were done, and the concierge put them,frying-pan and all, on the table. "Come, eat while the food is hot. Andgive nothing," he repeated, returning to the attack. "You and I ridein no carriages with gilt wheels. We work, or, failing work, we starve.Their feet are on our necks. But one use they have for us, you and me,my friend--to tax us."
"The taxes are not heavy," quoth old Adelbert.
"There are some who find them so." The concierge heaped his guest'splate with onions. And old Adelbert, who detested onions, and wasbesides in no mood for food, must perforce sample them.
"I can cook," boasted his host. "The daughter of my sister cannot cook.She uses milk, always milk. Feeble dishes, I call them. Strong meat forstrong men, comrade."
Old Adelbert played with his steel fork. "I was a good patriot," heobserved nervously, "until they made me otherwise."
"I will make you a better. A patriot is one who is zealous for hiscountry and its welfare. That means much. It means that when theestablished order is bad for a country, it must be changed. Not thatyou and I may benefit. God knows, we may not live to benefit. But thatLivonia may free her neck from the foot of the oppressor, and raise herhead among nations."
From which it may be seen that old Adelbert had at last joined therevolutionary party, an uneasy and unhappy recruit, it is true, but--arecruit. "If only some half-measure would suffice," he said, giving upall pretense of eating. "This talk of rousing the mob, of rioting andviolence, I do not like them."
"Then has age turned the blood in your veins to water!" said theconcierge contemptuously. "Half-measures! Since when has a half-measurebeen useful? Did half-measures win in your boasted battles? And whathalf-measures would you propose?"
Old Adelbert sat silent. Now and then, because his mouth was dry, hetook a sip of beer from his tankard. The concierge ate, taking hugemouthfuls of onions and bread, and surveying his feeble-hearted recruitwith appraising eyes. To win him would mean honor, for old Adelbert,decorated for many braveries, was a power among the veterans. Where heled, others would follow.
"Make no mistake," said Black Humbert cunningly. "We aim at nobloodshed. A peaceful revolution, if possible. The King, being dead,will suffer not even humiliation. Let the royal family scatter where itwill. We have no designs on women. The Chancellor, however, must die."
"I make no plea for him," said old Adelbert bitterly. "I wrote to himalso, when I lost my position, and received no reply. We passed throughthe same campaigns, as I reminded him, but he did nothing."
"As for the Crown Prince," observed the concierge, eyeing the old manover the edge of his tankard, "you know our plan for him. He will becared for as my own child, until we get him beyond the boundaries. Thenhe will be safely delivered to those who know nothing of his birth. Aprivate fund of the Republic will support and educate him."
Old Adelbert's hands twitched. "He is but a child," he said, "butalready he knows his rank."
"It will be wise for him to forget it." His tone was ominous. Adelbertglanced up quickly, but the Terrorist had seen his error, and maskedit with a grin. "Children forget easily," he said, "and by this secretknowledge of yours, old comrade, all can be peacefully done. Untilyou brought it to me, we were, I confess, fearful that force would benecessary. To admit the rabble to the Palace would be dangerous. Mobsgo mad at such moments. But now it may be effected with all decency andorder."
"And the plan?"
"I may tell you this." The concierge shoved his plate away and bent overthe table. "We have set the day as that of the Carnival. On that day allthe people are on the streets. Processions are forbidden, but the usualcostuming with their corps colors as pompons is allowed. Here andthere will be one of us clad in red, a devil, wearing the colors of HisSatanic Majesty. Those will be of our forces, leaders and speech-makers.When we secure the Crown Prince, he will be put into costume until hecan be concealed. They will seek, if there be time, the Prince FerdinandWilliam Otto. Who will suspect a child, wearing some fantastic garb ofthe Carnival?"
"But the King?" inquired old Adelbert in a shaking voice. "How can youset a day, when the King may rally? I thought all hung on the King'sdeath."
The concierge bent closer over the table. "Doctor Wiederman, the King'sphysician, is one of us," he whispered. "The King lives now onlybecause of stimulants to the heart. His body is already dead. When thestimulants cease, he will die."
Old Adelbert covered his eyes. He had gone too far to retreat now.Driven by brooding and trouble, he had allied himself with the powers ofdarkness.
The stain, he felt, was already on his forehead. But before him, likea picture on a screen, came the scene by which he had lived for so manyyears, the war hospital, the King by his bed, young then and a very kingin looks, pinning on the breast of his muslin shirt the decoration forbravery.
He sat silent while the concierge cleared the table, and put the dishesin a pan for his niece to wash. And throughout the evening he saidlittle. At something before midnight he and his host were to set outon a grave matter, nothing less than to visit the Committee of Ten, andimpart the old soldier's discovery. In the interval he sat waiting, andnursing his grievances to keep them warm.
Men came and went. From beneath the floor came, at intervals, a regularthudding which he had never heard before, and which he now learned was apress.
"These are days of publicity," explained the concierge. "Men areinfluenced much by the printed word. Already our bulletins flood thecountry. On the day of the Carnival the city will flame with them,printed in red. They will appear, as if by magic power, everywhere."
"A call to arms?"
"A call to liberty," evaded the concierge.
Not in months had he taken such pleasure in a recruit. He swaggeredabout the room, recounting in boastful tones his influence with theCommittee of Ten.
"And with reason," he boasted, pausing before the old soldier. "I haveserved them well; here in this house is sufficient ammunition to fight agreat battle. You, now, you know something of ammunition. You have livedhere for a long time. Yet no portion of this house has been closed toyou. Where, at a guess, is it concealed?"
"It is in this house?"
"So I tell you. Now, where?"
"In the cellar, perhaps."
"Come, I will show you." He led old Adelbert by the elbow to a windowoverlooking the yard. Just such an enclosure as each of the neighboringhouses possessed, and surrounded by a high fence. Here was a rabbithutch, built of old boards, and familiar enough to the veteran's eyes;and a dovecote, which loomed now but a deeper shadow among shadows.
"Carrier-pigeons," explained the concierge. "You have seen them often,but you suspected nothing, eh? They are my telegraph. Now, look again,comrade. What else?"
"Barrels," said old Adelbert, squinting. "The winter's refuse from thebuilding. A--a most untidy spot."
His soldierly soul had revolted for months at the litter under hiswindow. And somewhere, in the disorder, lay his broken sword. His swordbroken, and he-- "Truly untidy," observed the concierge complacently. "Astudied untidiness, and even then better than a room I shall show youin the cellar, filled to overflowing with boxes containing the winter'sashes. Know you," he went on, dropping his voice, "that these barrelsand boxes are but--a third full of rubbish. Below that in cases is--whatwe speak of."
"But I thought--a peaceful revolution, a--"
"We prepare for contingencies. Peace if possible. If not, war. I amtelling you much because, by y
our oath, you are now one of us, and boundto secrecy. But, beside that, I trust you. You are a man of your word."
"Yes," said old Adelbert, drawing himself up. "I am a man of my word.But you cannot fight with cartridges alone."
"We have rifles, also, in other places. Even I do not know where all ofthem are concealed." The concierge chuckled in his beard. "The Committeeknows men well. It trusts none too much. There are other depotsthroughout the city, each containing supplies of one sort and another.On the day of the uprising each patriot will be told where to go forequipment. Not before."
Old Adelbert was undoubtedly impressed. He regarded the concierge withfurtive eyes. He, Adelbert, had lived in the house with this man ofparts for years, and had regarded him as but one of many.
Black Humbert, waiting for the hour to start and filling his tankardrepeatedly, grew loquacious. He hinted of past matters in which he hadproved his value to the cause. Old Adelbert gathered that, if he hadnot actually murdered the late Crown Prince and his wife, he had beenclosely concerned in it. His thin, old flesh crept with anxiety. It wasa bad business, and he could not withdraw.
"We should have had the child, too," boasted the concierge, "and savedmuch bother. But he had been, unknown to us, sent to the country. Amatter of milk, I believe."
"But you say you do not war on children!"
"Bah! A babe of a few months. Furthermore," said the concierge, "I havea nose for the police. I scent a spy, as a dog scents a bone. Who, thinkyou, discovered Haeckel?"
"Haeckel!" Old Adelbert sat upright in his chair.
"Aye, Haeckel, Haeckel the jovial, the archconspirator, who himselfassisted to erect the press you hear beneath your feet. Who but I?I suspected him. He was too fierce. He had no caution. He was what apeaceful citizen may fancy a revolutionist to be. I watched him. He wasnot brave. He was reckless because he had nothing to fear. And at last Icaught him."
Old Adelbert was sitting forward on the edge of his chair; his jawdropped. "And what then?" he gasped. "He was but a boy. Perhaps youmisjudged him. Boys are reckless."
"I caught him," said the concierge. "I have said it. He knew much. Hehad names, places, even dates. For that matter; he confessed."
"Then he is dead?" quavered old Adelbert.
The concierge shrugged his shoulders. "Of course," he said briefly. "Fora time he was kept here, in an upper room. He could have saved himself,if he would. We could have used him. But he turned sulky, refusedspeech, did not eat. When he was taken away," he added with unction,"he was so weak that he could not walk." He rose and consulted agreat silver watch. "We can go now," he said. "The Committee likespromptness."
They left together, the one striding out with long steps that weresurprisingly light for his size, the other, hanging back a trifle, asone who walks because he must. Old Adelbert, who had loved his Kingbetter than his country, was a lagging "patriot" that night. His breathcame short and labored. His throat was dry. As they passed the Opera,however, he threw his head up. The performance was over, but the greathouse was still lighted, and in the foyer, strutting about, was hissuccessor. Old Adelbert quickened his steps.
At the edge of the Place, near the statue of the Queen, they took a car,and so reached the borders of the city. After that they walked far. Thescent of the earth, fresh-turned by the plough, was in their nostrils.Cattle, turned out after the long winter, grazed or lay in the fields.Through the ooze of the road the two plodded; old Adelbert strugglingthrough with difficulty, the concierge exhorting him impatiently tohaste.
At last the leader paused, and surveyed his surroundings: "Here I mustcover your eyes, comrade," he said. "It is a formality all must complywith."
Old Adelbert drew back. "I do not like your rule. I am not as other men.I must see where I go."
"I shall lead you carefully. And, if you fear, I can carry you." Hechuckled at the thought. But old Adelbert knew well that he could do it,knew that he was as a child to those mighty arms. He submitted to thebandage, however, with an ill grace that caused the concierge to smile.
"It hurts your dignity, eh, old rooster!" he said jovially. "Others, ofgreater dignity, have felt the same. But all submit in the end."
He piloted the veteran among the graves with the ease of familiarity.Only once he spoke. "Know you where you are?"
"In a field," said Adelbert, "recently ploughed."
"Aye, in a field, right enough. But one which sows corruption, andraises nothing, until perhaps great St. Gabriel calls in his crop."
Then, realizing the meaning of the mounds over which he trod, oldAdelbert crossed himself.
"Only a handful know of this meeting-place," boasted the concierge. "I,and a few others. Only we may meet with the Committee face to face."
"You must have great influence," observed old Adelbert timidly.
"I control the guilds. He who to-day can sway labor to his will ispowerful, very powerful comrade. Labor is the great beast which tires ofcarrying burdens, and is but now learning its strength."
"Aye," said old Adelbert. "Had I been wise, I would have joined a guild.Then I might have kept my place at the Opera. As it is, I stood alone,and they put me out."
"You do not stand alone now. Stand by us, and we will support you. TheRepublic will not forget its friends."
Thus heartened, old Adelbert brightened up somewhat. Why should he,an old soldier, sweat at the thought of blood? Great changes requiredheroic measures. It was because he was old that he feared change. Hestumped through the passageway without urging, and stood erect and withshoulders squared while the bandage was removed.
He was rather longer than Olga Loschek had been in comprehending hissurroundings. His old eyes at first saw little but the table and itscandles in their gruesome holders. But when he saw the Committee hisheart failed. Here, embodied before him, was everything he had loathedduring all his upright and loyal years anarchy, murder, treason. Hisface worked. The cords in his neck stood out like strings drawn to thebreaking-point.
The concierge was speaking. For all his boasting, he was ill at ease.His voice had lost its bravado, and had taken on a fawning note.
"This is the man of whom word was sent to the Committee," he said."I ventured to ask that he be allowed to come here, because he bringsinformation of value."
"Step forward, comrade," said the leader. "What is your name andoccupation?"
"Adelbert, Excellency. As to occupation, for years I was connected withthe Opera. Twenty years, Excellency. Then I grew old, and another--"His voice broke. What with excitement and terror, he was close to tears."Now I am reduced to selling tickets for an American contrivance, afoolish thing, but I earn my bread by it."
He paused, but the silence continued unbroken. The battery of eyesbehind the masks was turned squarely on him.
Old Adelbert fidgeted. "Before that, in years gone by, I was in thearmy," he said, feeling that more was expected of him, and being at aloss. "I fought hard, and once, when I suffered the loss you perceive,the King himself came to my bed, and decorated me. Until lately, I havebeen loyal. Now, I am--here." His face worked.
"What is the information that brings you here?"
Suddenly old Adelbert wept, terrible tears that forced their way fromhis faded eyes, and ran down his cheeks. "I cannot, Excellencies!" hecried. "I find I cannot."
He collapsed into the chair, and throwing his arms across the tablebowed his head on them. His shoulders heaved under his old uniform. TheCommittee stirred, and the concierge caught him brutally by the wrist.
"Up with you!" he said, from clenched teeth. "What stupidity is this?Would you play with death?"
But old Adelbert was beyond fear. He shook his head. "I cannot," hemuttered, his face hidden.
Then the concierge stood erect and folded his arms across his chest."He is terrified, that is all," he said. "If the Committee wishes, I cantell them of this matter. Later, he can be interrogated."
The leader nodded.
"By chance," said the concierge, "this--this brave veteran"--he
glancedcontemptuously at the huddled figure in the chair, "has come across an oldpassage, the one which rumor has said lay under the city wall, and forwhich we have at different times instituted search."
He paused, to give his words weight. That they were of supreme interestcould be told by the craning forward of the Committee.
"The entrance is concealed at the base of the old Gate of the Moon. Ourfriend here followed it, and reports it in good condition. For a mile orthereabouts it follows the line of the destroyed wall. Then it turns andgoes to the Palace itself."
"Into the Palace?"
"By a flight of stairs, inside the wall, to a door in the roof. Thisdoor, which was locked, he opened, having carried keys with him. Thedoor he describes as in the tower. As it was night, he could not seeclearly, but the roof at that point is flat."
"Stand up, Adelbert," said the leader sharply. "This that our comradetells is true?"
"It is true, Excellency."
"Shown a diagram of the Palace, could you locate this door?"
Old Adelbert stared around him hopelessly. It was done now. Nothing thathe could say or refuse to say would change that. He nodded.
When, soon after, a chart of the Palace was placed on a table, heindicated the location of the door with a trembling forefinger. "It isthere," he said thickly. "And may God forgive me for the thing I havedone!"