CHAPTER XVII
THE PRODIGAL DAUGHTER
Mr. Blithers received a marconigram from the _Jupiter_ when the shipwas three days out from New York. It was terse but sufficient.
"Have just had a glimpse of Prince Charming. He is very good-looking.Love to mother. Maud."
He had barely settled into a state of complete satisfaction withhimself over the successful inauguration of a shrewd campaign to getthe better of the recalcitrant Maud and the incomprehensible Robin,when he was thrown into a panic by the discovery that young ChandlerScoville had sailed for Europe two days ahead of Maud and her elderlycompanion. The gratification of knowing that the two young people hadsailed away on the same vessel was not in the least minimised by Maud'sdeclaration that she intended to remain in her cabin all the way acrossin order to avoid recognition, for he knew her too well to believe itpossible that she could stay out of sight for any length of time, fairweather or foul. He even made a definite wager with his wife that thetwo would become acquainted before they were half-way across theAtlantic, and he made a bet with himself that nature would do the rest.And now here came the staggering suspicion that Scoville's hastydeparture was the result of a pre-arranged plan between him and Maud,and that, after all, the silly girl might spoil everything by marryingthe confounded rascal before he could do anything to prevent thecatastrophe.
He even tried to engineer a scheme whereby young Scoville might bearrested on landing and detained on one pretext or another until hecould reach Europe and put an end to the fellow's vain-gloriousconniving.
But after consulting with his lawyers he abandoned the plan becausethey succeeded in proving to him that Maud certainly would marry thefellow if she had the least ground for believing that he was beingoppressed on her account. The cables were kept very busy, however, forthe next twenty-four hours, and it is certain that Scoville was amarked man from the moment he landed.
Newspaper reporters camped on the trail of Mr. Blithers. He veryobligingly admitted that there was something in the report that hisdaughter was to marry the Prince of Graustark, although he couldn't sayanything definite at the time. It wouldn't be fair to the partiesconcerned, he explained. He gave away a great many boxes of cigars, andnot a few of the more sagacious reporters succeeded in getting at leastthree boxes by interviewing him on as many separate occasions withoutbeing detected in the act of repeating. Then came the disgustingdenials in Paris by his daughter and the ungrateful Prince. This wastoo much. He couldn't understand such unfilial behaviour on the part ofone, and he certainly couldn't forgive the ingratitude of the other.
Instead of waiting until Saturday to sail, he changed ships and leftNew York on Friday, thereby gaining nothing by the move except relieffrom the newspapers, for it appears that he gave up a five day boat forone that could not do it under six. Still he was in active pursuit,which was a great deal better than sitting in New York twiddling histhumbs or looking at his watch and berating the pernicious hours thatstood between him and Saturday noon.
"There will be something doing in Europe the day I land there, Lou," hesaid to his wife as they stood on deck and watched the Statue ofLiberty glide swiftly back toward Manhattan Island. "I've got all thestrings working smoothly. We've got Groostock where it can't peep anylouder than a freshly hatched chicken, and we'll soon bring Maud to hersenses. I tell you, Lou, there is nothing that makes a girl forget herlofty ideals so quickly as the chance to go shopping for princessgowns. She's seen the prince and I'll bet she won't be so stubborn asshe was before. And if he has had a good, square look at her,--if he'shad a chance to gaze into those eyes of hers,--why, I--well, I leaveit to you. He can't help getting off his high horse, can he?"
Mrs. Blithers favoured him with a smile. It was acknowledged that Maudwas the living image of what her mother had been at the age of twenty.
"I hope the child hasn't made any silly promise to Channie Scoville,"she sighed.
"I've been thinking of that, Lou," said he, wiping his brow, "and I'vecome to one conclusion: Scoville can be bought off. He's as poor as Joband half a million will look like the Bank of England to him. I'll--"
"You are not to attempt anything of the kind, Will," she criedemphatically. "He would laugh in your face, poor as he is. He comesfrom one of the best families in New York and--"
"And I don't know where the best families need money any more than theydo in New York," he interrupted irritably. "'Gad, if the worst familiesneed it as badly as they do, what must be the needs of the best? Youleave it to me. It may be possible to insult him with a half million,so if he feels that way about it I'll apologise to him again withanother half million. You'll see that he won't be capable of resentingtwo insults in succession. He'll--"
"He isn't a fool," said she significantly.
"He'd be a fool if he refused to take--"
"Are you losing your senses, Will?" she cried impatiently. "Why shouldhe accept a million to give up Maud, when he can be sure of fifty timesthat much if he marries her?"
"But I'll cut Maud off with a dollar if she marries him, so help meMoses!" exclaimed Mr. Blithers, but he went a little pale just thesame. "That will fix him!"
"You are talking nonsense," said she sharply. He put his fingers to hisears somewhat earlier than usual, and she turned away with atantalising laugh. "I'm going inside," and inside she went. When hefollowed a few minutes later he was uncommonly meek.
"At any rate," he said, seating himself on the edge of a chair in herparlour, "I guess those cablegrams this morning will make 'em thinktwice before they go on denying things in the newspapers."
"Maud will pay no attention to your cablegram, and, if I am any judgeof human nature, the Prince will laugh himself sick over the one yousent to Count Quinnox. I told you not to send them. You are not dealingwith Wall Street. You are dealing with a girl and a boy who appear tohave minds of their own."
He ventured a superior sniff. "I guess you don't know as much aboutWall Street as you think you do."
"I only know that it puts its tail between its legs and howls everytime some one points a finger at it," she observed scornfully.
"Now let's be sensible, Lou," he said, sitting back a little further inthe chair, relieved to find that she was at least willing to toleratehis presence,--a matter on which he was in some doubt when he enteredthe room. There were times when he was not quite certain whether he orshe was the brains of the family. "We'll probably have a wireless fromMaud before long. Then we'll have something tangible to discuss. By theway, did I tell you that I've ordered some Dutch architects from Berlinto go--"
"The Dutch are from Holland," she said wearily.
"--to go over to Growstock and give me a complete estimate on repairingand remodelling the royal castle? I dare say we'll have to do a gooddeal to the place. It's several hundred years old and must require alot of conveniences. Such as bath-rooms, electric lights, steam heatingappar--"
"Better make haste slowly, Will," she said, and he ought to have beenwarned by the light in her eye. "You are taking a great deal forgranted, aren't you?"
"It's got to be fixed up some time, so we might just as well do it inthe beginning," said he, failing utterly to grasp her meaning."Probably needs refurnishing from top to bottom, too, and a new roof. Inever saw a ruin yet that didn't leak. Remember those castles on theRhine? Will you ever forget how wet we got the day we went through theone at--"
"They were abandoned, tumble-down castles," she reminded him.
"There isn't a castle in Europe that's any good in a rain-storm," heproclaimed. "A mortgage can't keep out the rain and that's what everyone of 'em is covered with. Why old man Quiddox himself told me thattheir castle had been shot to pieces in one of the revolutions and--"
"It is time you informed yourself about the country you are trying toannex to the Blithers estate," she said sarcastically. "I can assistyou to some extent if you will be good enough to listen. In the firstplace, the royal castle at Edelweiss is one of the most substantial inthe world. It has not been
allowed to fall into decay. In fact, it isinhabitated from top to bottom by members of the royal household andthe court, and I fancy they are not the sort of people who take kindlyto a wetting. It is not a ruin, Will, such as you have been permittedto visit, but a magnificent building with all of the modernimprovements. The only wettings that the inmates sustain are of a dailycharacter and due entirely to voluntary association with porcelainbath-tubs and nickle-plated showers, and they never get anything wetbut their skins. As for the furnishings, I can assure you that theentire Blithers fortune could not replace them if they were to bedestroyed by fire or pillage. They are priceless and they are unique. Ihave read that the hangings in the bed-chamber of the late PrincessYetive are the most wonderful in the whole world. The throne chair inthe great audience chamber is of solid gold and weighs nearly threethousand pounds. It is studded with diamonds, rubies--"
"Great Scott, Lou, where did you learn all this?" he gasped, his eyesbulging.
"--emeralds and other precious stones. There is one huge carpet in theroyal drawing-room that the Czar of Russia is said to have offered onehundred thousand pounds for and the offer was scorned. The parksurrounding the castle is said to be beautiful beyond the power ofdescription. The--"
"I asked you where you got all this information. Can't you answer me?"
"I obtained all this and a great deal more from a lady who spent a yearor two inside the castle walls. I refer to Mrs. Truxton King, who mighthave told you as much if you had possessed the intelligence to inquire."
"Gee whiz!" exclaimed Mr. Blithers, going back to his buoyant boyhooddays for an adequate expression. "What a wonder you are, Lou. Butthat's the woman of it, always getting at the inside of a thing while aman is standing around looking at the outside. Say, but won't it make awonderful home for you and me to spend a peaceful old age in when weget ready to lay aside the--"
He stopped short, for she had arisen and was standing over him with aquivering forefinger levelled at his nose,--and not more than sixinches away from it,--her handsome eyes flashing with fury.
"You may walk in where angels fear to tread, but you will walk alone,Will Blithers. I shall not be with you, and you may as well understandit now. I've told you a hundred times that money isn't everything, andit is as cheap as dirt when you put it alongside of tradition, honour,pride and loyalty. Those Graustarkians would take you by the nape ofthe neck and march you out of their castle so quick that your headwould swim. You may be able to buy their prince for Maudie to exhibitaround the country, but you can't buy the intelligence of the people.They won't have you at any price and they won't have me, so there isthe situation in a nutshell. They will hate Maudie, of course, but theywill endure her for obvious reasons. They may even come to love andrespect her in the end, for she is worthy. But as for you and me,William,--with all our money,--we will find every hand against us--eventhe hand of our daughter, I prophesy. I am not saying that I wouldregret seeing Maud the Princess of Graustark--far from it. But I do saythat you and I will be expected to know our places. If you attempt tospend your declining years in the castle at Edelweiss you will findthem reduced to days, and short ones at that. The people of Graustarkwill see to it that you die before your time."
"Bosh!" said Mr. Blithers. "Mind if I smoke?" He took out a cigar andbegan searching for matches.
"No," she said, "I don't mind. It is a sign that you need something tosteady your nerves. I know you, Will Blithers. You don't want to smoke.You want to gain a few minutes of time, that's all."
He lit a cigar. "Right you are," was his unexpected admission. "Iwonder if you really have the right idea about this business. Whatobjection could any one have to a poor, tired old man sitting in frontof his daughter's fireside and--and playing with her kiddies? It seemsto me that--"
"You will never be a tired old man, that's the trouble," she said,instantly touched.
"Oh, yes, I will," said he slowly. "I'm rather looking forward to it,too."
"It will be much nicer to have the kiddies come to your own fireside,Will. I used to enjoy nothing better than going to spend a few dayswith my grandfather."
"But what's the use of going to all this trouble and expense if we arenot to enjoy some of the fruits?" he protested, making a determinedstand. "If these people can't be grateful to the man who helps 'em outin their time of trouble,--and who goes out of his way to present 'emwith a bright, capable posterity,--I'd like to know what in thundergratitude really means."
"Oh, there isn't such a thing as gratitude," she said. "Obligation,yes,--and ingratitude most certainly, but gratitude,--no. You are in aposition to know that gratitude doesn't exist. Are you forgetting theprivate advices we already have had from Graustark? Does it indicatethat the people are grateful? There are moments when I fear that we areactually placing Maud's life in peril, and I have had some wretcheddreams. They do not want her. They speak of exile for the Prince if hemarries her. And now I repeat what I have said before:--the people ofGraustark must have an opportunity to see and become acquainted withMaud before the marriage is definitely arranged. I will not have mydaughter cast into a den of lions. Will,--for that is what it mayamount to. The people will adore her, they will welcome her with openarms if they are given the chance. But they will have none of her ifshe is forced upon them in the way you propose."
"I'll--I'll think it over," said Mr. Blithers, and then discovered thathis cigar had gone out. "I think I'll go on deck and smoke, Lou. Makesit stuffy in here. We'll lunch in the restaurant at half-past one, eh?"
"Think hard, Will," she recommended, with a smile.
"I'll do that," he said, "but there's nothing on earth that can altermy determination to make Maud the Princess of Groostork. _That's_settled."
"Graustark, Will."
"Well, whatever it is," said he, and departed.
He did think hard, but not so much about a regal home for aged peopleas about Channie Scoville who had now become a positive menace to allof his well-ordered and costly plans. The principal subject for thoughtjust now was not Graustark but this conniving young gentleman who stoodready to make a terrible mess of posterity. Mr. Blithers wassufficiently fair-minded to concede that the fellow was good-looking,well-bred and clever, just the sort of chap that any girl might fall inlove with like a shot. As a matter of fact, he once had admiredScoville, but that was before he came to look upon him as a menace. Hewould make a capital husband for any girl in the world, except Maud. Hecould say that much for him, without reserve.
He thought hard until half-past one and then went to the wirelessoffice, where he wrote out a message in cipher and directed theoperator to waste no time in relaying it to his offices in Paris. Hiswife was right. It would be the height of folly to offer Scoville moneyand it would be even worse to inspire the temporary imprisonment of theyoung man.
But there was a splendid alternative. He could manage to have his owndaughter abducted,--chaperon included,--and held for ransom!
The more he thought of it the better it seemed to him, and so he sent acipher message that was destined to throw his Paris managers into astate of agitation that cannot possibly be measured by words. In brief,he instructed them to engage a few peaceable, trustworthy andpositively respectable gentlemen,--he was particularly exacting on thescore of gentility,--with orders to abduct the young lady and hold herin restraint until he arrived and arranged for her liberation! Theywere to do the deed without making any fuss about it, but at the sametime they were to do it effectually.
He had the foresight to suggest that the job should be undertaken bythe very detective agency he had employed to shadow young Scoville andalso to keep an eye on Maud. Naturally, she was never to know the truthabout the matter. She was to believe that her father came up with ahuge sum in the shape of ransom, no questions asked. He also rememberedin time and added the imperative command that she was to be confined inclean, comfortable quarters and given the best of nourishment. But,above all else, it was to be managed in a decidedly realistic way, forMaud was a keen-witted cr
eature who would see through the smallestcrack in the conspiracy if there was a single false movement on thepart of the plotters. It is also worthy of mention that Mrs. Blitherswas never--_decidedly never_--to know the truth about the matter.
He went in to luncheon in a very amiable, even docile frame of mind.
"I've thought the matter over, Lou," he said, "and I guess you areright, after all. We will make all the repairs necessary, but we won'tconsider living in it ourselves. We'll return good for evil and live ina hotel when we go to visit the royal family. As for--"
"I meant that you were to think hard before attempting to force Maudupon Prince Robin's subjects without preparing them for the--"
"I thought of that, too," he interrupted cheerfully. "I'm not going tocast my only child into the den of lions, so that's the end of it. Haveyou given the order, my dear?"
"No," she said; "for I knew you would change it when you came in."
Late that evening he had a reply from his Paris managers. They inquiredif he was responsible for the message they had received. It was aticklish job and they wanted to be sure that the message was genuine.He wired back that he was the sender and to go ahead. The next morningthey notified him that his instructions would be carried out asexpeditiously as possible.
He displayed such a beaming countenance all that day that his wifefinally demanded an explanation. It wasn't like him to beam when he wasworried about anything, and she wanted to know what had come over him.
"It's the sea-air, Lou," he exclaimed glibly. "It always makes me feellike a fighting-cock. I--"
"Rubbish! You detest the sea-air. It makes you feel like fighting, Igrant, but not like a fighting-cock."
"There you go, trying to tell me how I feel. I've never known any onelike you, Lou. I can't say a word that--"
"Have you had any news from Maud?" she broke in suspiciously.
"Not a word," said he.
"What have you done to Channie Scoville?" she questioned, fixing himwith an accusing eye.
"Not a thing," said he.
"Then, what is it?"
"You won't believe me if I tell you," said he warily.
"Yes, I will."
"No, you won't."
"Tell me this instant why you've been grinning like a Cheshire cat allday."
"It's the sea-air," said he, and then: "I said you wouldn't believe me,didn't I?"
"Do you think I'm a fool, Will Blithers?" she flashed, and did not waitfor an answer. He chuckled to himself as she swept imperiously out ofsight around a corner of the deck-building.
He was up bright and early the next morning, tingling withanticipation. There ought to be word from Paris before noon, and itmight come earlier. He kept pretty close to the wireless operator'soffice, and was particularly attentive to the spitting crackle of theinstrument.
About eleven o'clock an incomprehensibly long message began to rattleout of the air. He contained himself in patience for the matter of halfan hour or longer, and then, as the clatter continued withoutcessation, he got up and made his way to the door of the operator'soffice.
"What is it? The history of England?" he demanded sarcastically.
"Message for you, Mr. Blithers. It's a long one and I'm having a hardtime picking it up. Everybody seems to be talking at once. Do you wantthe baseball scores, Mr. Blithers?"
"Not unless they come in cipher," said Mr. Blithers acidly.
"Some of 'em do. Six to nothing in favor of the Giants, two tonothing--Here we are at last. I've picked up the _Mauretania_ again.She's relaying."
Mr. Blithers sat down on the steps and looked at his watch. It would befive o'clock in Paris. He wondered if they were giving Maud herafternoon tea, and then choked up with a sudden pity for the terrifiedcaptive. It was all he could do to keep from jumping up and orderingthe operator to drop everything and take a message countermanding hisinhuman instructions to those asses in Paris. Tears gushed from hiseyes. He brushed them away angrily and tried to convince himself thatit served Maud right for being so obstinate. Still the tears came. Thecorners of his mouth drooped and his chin began to quiver. It was toomuch! The poor child was--
But just then the operator sat back with a sigh of relief, mopped hisbrow, and said:
"Good thing you're a rich man, Mr. Blithers. It came collect and--"
"Never mind," blurted Mr. Blithers. "Hand it over."
There were four sheets of writing at some outlandish price per word,but what cared he? He wanted to get back to his stateroom and hiscipher code as quickly--but his eyes almost started from his head as hetook in the name at the bottom of the message. It was "Maud."
He did not require the cipher book. A fourth reader child could haveread the message without a halt. Maud had taken his request literally.He had asked her to send him a nice long message, but he did not expecther to make a four-page letter of it. She was paying him out with avengeance!
He took the precaution to read it before handing it over to his wife,to whom it was addressed in conjunction with himself:
"Dear father and mother," it began--(and he looked at the date lineagain to make sure it was from Paris)--"in reply to your esteemedfavour of the nineteenth, or possibly the twentieth, I beg to informyou that I arrived safely in Paris as per schedule. Regarding thevoyage, it was delightful. We had one or two rough days. The rest ofthe time it was perfectly heavenly. I met two or three interesting andamusing people on board and they made the time pass most agreeably. Ithink I wired you that I had a glimpse of a certain person. On myarrival in Paris I was met at the station by friends and taken at onceto the small, exclusive hotel where they are stopping for the summer.It is so small and exclusive that I'm sure you have never heard of it.I may as well tell you that I have seen Channie,--you know who Imean,--Chandler Scoville, and he has been very nice to me. Concerningyour suggestion that I reconsider the statement issued to the press, Ibeg to state that I don't see any sense in taking the world into myconfidence any farther than it has been taken already, if that isgrammatically correct. I have also sent word to a certain person thathe is not to pay any attention to the report that we are likely tochange our minds in order to help out the greedy newspapers who don'tappear to know when they have had enough. I hope that the voyage willbenefit both of you as much as it did me. If I felt any better than Ido now I'd call for the police as a precaution. Let me suggest that youtry the chicken a la Bombardier in the Ritz restaurant. I found itdelicious. I daresay they serve it as nicely on your ship as they do onthe _Jupiter_. as the management is the same. Of course one never cantell about chefs. My plans are a trifle indefinite. I may leave here atany moment. It is very hot and muggy and nearly every one is skippingoff to the mountains or seashore. If I should happen to be away fromParis when you arrive don't worry about me. I shall be all right and insafe hands. I will let you know where I am just as soon as I getsettled somewhere. I must go where it is quiet and peaceful. I am sodistressed over what has occurred that I don't feel as though I couldever be seen in public again without a thick veil and a pair ofgoggles. I have plenty of money for immediate use, but you mightdeposit something to my credit at the Credit Lyonnais as I haven't theleast idea how long I shall stay over here. Miranda is well and istaking good care of me. She seldom lets me out of her sight if that isany comfort to you. I hope you will forgive the brevity of thiscommunication and believe me when I say that it is not lack of love foryou both that curtails its length but the abominably hot weather. Withendless love from your devoted daughter--Maud."
The tears had dried in Mr. Blithers' eyes but he wiped them time andagain as he read this amazing letter,--this staggering exhibition ofprodigality. He swore a little at first, but toward the end even thatprerogative failed him. He set out in quest of his wife. Not that heexpected her to say any more than he had said, but that he wanted herto see at a glance what kind of a child she had brought into the worldand to forever hold her peace in future when he undertook to speak hismind.
He could not understand why his wife laughed
softly to herself as sheread, and he looked on in simple amazement when she deliberatelyundertook to count the words. She counted them in a whisper and hecouldn't stand it. He went down where the children were shrieking overa game of quoits and felt singularly peaceful and undisturbed.
It was nearly bed-time before word came from his managers in Paris.Bed-time had no meaning for him after he had worked out the message bythe code. It is true that he observed a life-long custom and went tobed, but he did not do it for the purpose of going to sleep.
"Your daughter has disappeared from Paris. All efforts to locate herhave failed. Friends say she left ostensibly for the Pyrenees butinquiries at stations and along line fail to reveal trace of her.Scoville still here and apparently in the dark. He is being watched.Her companion and maid left with her last night. Prince of Graustarkand party left for Edelweiss to-day."
So read the message from Paris.