CHAPTER IV
PROTECTING THE BLOOD
"A most extraordinary person," said Count Quinnox to King, after Mr.Blithers had taken his departure, close upon the heels of the Feltonswho were being escorted home by the Prince and Dank. The venerableGraustarkian's heroic face was a study. He had just concluded aconfidential hour in a remote corner of the library with themillionaire while the younger people were engaged in a noisy thoughtemperate encounter with the roulette wheel at the opposite end of theroom. "I've never met any one like him, Mr. King." He mopped his brow,and still looked a trifle dazed.
King laughed. "There isn't any one like him, Count. He is the one andonly Blithers."
"He is very rich?"
"Millions and millions," said Mrs. King. "Didn't he tell you how many?"
"I am not quite sure. This daughter of his--is she attractive?"
"Rather. Why?"
"He informed me that her dot would be twenty millions if she marriedthe right man. Moreover, she is his only heir. 'Pon my soul, Mrs. King,he quite took my breath away when he announced that he knew all aboutour predicament in relation to the Russian loan. It really soundedquite--you might say significant. Does--does he imagine that--goodheaven, it's almost stupefying!"
King smoked in silence for many seconds. There was a pucker ofannoyance on his wife's fair brow as she stared reflectively throughthe window at the distant lights of Blitherwood, far up the mountainside.
"Sounds ominous to me," said King drily. "Is Bobby for sale?"
The Count favoured him with a look of horror. "My dear Mr. King!" Thenas comprehension came, he smiled. "I see. No, he isn't for sale. He isa Prince, not a pawn. Mr. Blithers may be willing to buy but--" heproudly shook his head.
"He was feeling you out, however," said King, ruminating. "Planting theseed, so to speak."
"There is a rumour that she is to marry Count Lannet," said his wife."A horrid creature. There was talk in the newspapers last winter of anItalian duke. Poor girl! From what I hear of her, she is rather a goodsort, sensible and more genuinely American in her tastes than might be,expected after her bringing-up. And she _is_ pretty."
"How about this young Scoville, Rainie?"
"He's a nice boy but--he'll never get her. She is marked up too highfor him. He doesn't possess so much as the title to an acre of land."
"Extraordinary, the way you Americans go after our titles," said theCount good-naturedly.
"No more extraordinary than the way you Europeans go after our money,"was her retort.
"I don't know which is the cheaper, titles or money in these days,"said King. "I understand one can get a most acceptable duke for threeor four millions, a nice marquis or count for half as much, and a Siron tick." He eyed the Count speculatively. "Of course a prince of theroyal blood comes pretty high."
"Pretty high," said the Count grimly. He seemed to be turning somethingover in his mind. "Your amazing Mr. Blithers further confided to methat he might be willing to take care of the Russian obligation for usif no one else turns up in time. As a matter of fact, without waitingfor my reply, he said that he would have his lawyers look into thematter of security at once. I was somewhat dazed, but I think he saidthat it would be no trouble at all for him to provide the money himselfand he would be glad to accommodate us if we had no other plan in mind.Amazing, amazing!"
"Of course, you told him it was not to be considered," said Kingsharply.
"I endeavoured to do so, but I fear he did not grasp what I was saying.Moreover, I tried to tell him that it was a matter I was not at libertyto discuss. He didn't hear that, either."
"He is not in the habit of hearing any one but himself, I fear," saidKing.
"I am afraid poor Robin is in jeopardy," said his wife, ruefully. "TheBogieman is after him."
"Does the incomprehensible creature imagine--" began the Count loudly,and then found it necessary to pull his collar away from his throat asif to save himself from immediate strangulation.
"Mr. Blithers is not blessed with an imagination, Count," said she. "Hedoesn't imagine anything."
"If he should presume to insult our Prince by--" grated the oldsoldier, very red in the face and erect--"if he should presume to--"Words failed him and an instant later he was laughing, but somewhatuncertainly, with his amused host and hostess.
Mr. Blithers reached home in high spirits. His wife was asleep, but heawoke her without ceremony.
"I say, Lou, wake up. Got some news for you. We'll have a prince in thefamily before you can say Jack Robinson."
She sat up in bed, blinking with dismay. "In heaven's name, Will, whathave you been doing? What--_have_ you been--"
"Cutting bait," said he jovially. "In a day or two I'll throw the hookin, and you'll see what I land. He's as good as caught right now, butwe'll let him nibble a while before we jerk. And say, he's a corker,Lou. Finest young fellow I've seen in many a day. He--"
"You don't mean to say that you--you actually said anything to himabout--about--Oh, my God, Will, don't tell me that you were crazyenough to--" cried the poor woman, almost in tears.
"Now cool down, cool down," he broke in soothingly. "I'm no fool, Lou.Trust me to do the fine work in a case like this. Sow the right kind ofseeds and you'll get results every time. I merely dropped a few hints,that's all,--and in the right direction, believe me. Count Equinox willdo the rest. I'll bet my head we'll have this prince running after Maudso--"
"What _did_ you say?" she demanded. There was a fine moisture on herupper lip. He sat down on the edge of the bed and talked for half anhour without interruption. When he came to the end of his oration, sheturned over with her face to the wall and fairly sobbed: "What will theKings think of us? What will they think?"
"Who the dickens cares what the Kings think?" he roared, perfectlyaghast at the way she took it. "Who are the Kings? Tell me that! whoare they?"
"I--I can't bear to talk about it. Go to bed."
He wiped his brow helplessly. "You beat anything I've ever seen. What'sthe matter with you? Don't you want this prince for Maud? Well, then,what the deuce are you crying about? You said you wanted him, didn'tyou? Well, I'm going to get him. If I say I'll do a thing, you can betyour last dollar I'll do it. That's the kind of a man William W.Blithers is. You leave it to me. There's only one way to land theseforeign noblemen, and I'm--"
She faced him once more, and angrily. "Listen to me," she said. "I'vehad a talk with Maud. She has gone to bed with a splitting headache andI'm not surprised. Don't you suppose the poor child has a particle ofpride? She guessed at once just what you had gone over there for andshe cried her eyes out. Now she declares she will never be able to lookthe Prince in the face, and as for the Kings--Oh, it's sickening. Whycan't you leave these things to me? You go about like a bull in a chinashop. You might at least have waited until the poor child had anopportunity to see the man before rushing in with your talk aboutmoney. She--"
"Confound it, Lou, don't blame me for everything. We all three agreedat lunch that he was a better bargain than this measly count we've beenconsidering. Maud says she won't marry the count, anyhow, and she _did_say that if this prince was all that he's cracked up to be, shewouldn't mind being the Princess of Groostock. You can't deny that,Lou. You heard her say it. You--"
"She didn't say Groostock," said his wife shortly. "And you forget thatshe said she wouldn't promise anything until she'd met him and decidedwhether she liked him."
"She'll like him all right," said he confidently.
"She will refuse to even meet him, if she hears of your silly blunderto-night."
"Refuse to meet him?" gasped Mr. Blithers.
"I may be able to reason with her, Will, but--but she's stubborn, aswell you know. I'm afraid you've spoiled everything."
His face brightened. Lowering his voice to a half-whisper, he said: "Weneedn't tell her what I said to that old chap, Lou. Just let her thinkI sat around like a gump and never said a word to anybody. We can--"
"But she'll pin you down, Wil
l, and you know you can't lie with astraight face."
"Maybe--maybe I'd better run down to New York for a few days," hemuttered unhappily. "You can square it better than I can."
"In other words, I can lie with a straight face," she said ironically.
"I never thought she'd balk like this," said he, ignoring the remark.
"I fancy you'd better go to New York," she said mercilessly.
"I've got business there anyhow," muttered he. "I--I think I'll gobefore she's up in the morning."
"You can save yourself a bad hour or two if you leave beforebreakfast," said she levelly.
"Get around her some way, Lou," he pleaded. "Tell her I'm sorry I hadto leave so early, and--and that I love her better than anything onearth, and that I'll be back the end of the week. If--if she wantsanything in New York, just have her wire me. You say she cried?"
"She did, and I don't blame her."
Mr. Blithers scowled. "Well--well, you see if you can do any betterthan I did. Arrange it somehow for them to meet. She'll--she'll likehim and then--by George, she'll thank us both for the interest we takein her future. It wouldn't surprise me if she fell in love with himright off the reel. And you may be sure he'll fall in love with her. Hecan't help it. The knowledge that she'll have fifty millions some daywon't have anything to do with his feeling for her, once he--"
"Don't mention the word millions again. Will Blithers."
"All right," said he, more humbly than he knew, "But listen to this,old girl; I'm going to get this prince for her if it's the last act ofmy life. I never failed in anything and I won't fail in this."
"Well, go to bed, dear, and don't worry. I may be able to undo themischief. It--it isn't hopeless, of course."
"I'll trust you, Lou, to do your part. Count on me to do mine when thetime comes. And I still insist that I have sowed the right sort of seedto-night. You'll see. Just wait."
Sure enough, Mr. Blithers was off for New York soon after daybreak thenext morning, and with him went a mighty determination to justifyhimself before the week was over. His wily brain was working as it hadnever worked before.
Two days later, Count Quinnox received a message from New York bearingthe distressing information that the two private banking institutionson which he had been depending for aid in the hour of trouble haddecided that it would be impossible for them to make the loan underconsideration. The financial agents who had been operating in behalf ofthe Graustark government confessed that they were unable to explain thesudden change of heart on the part of the bankers, inasmuch as thenegotiations practically had been closed with them. The decision of thedirectors was utterly incomprehensible under the circumstances.
Vastly disturbed, Count Quinnox took the first train to New York,accompanied by Truxton King, who was confident that outside influenceshad been brought to bear upon the situation, influences inimical toGraustark. Both were of the opinion that Russia had something to dowith it, although the negotiations had been conducted with all thesecrecy permissible in such cases.
"We may be able to get to the banks through Blithers," said King.
"How could he possibly be of assistance to us?" the Count inquired.
"He happens to be a director in both concerns, besides being such apower in the financial world that his word is almost law when it comesto the big deals."
All the way down to the city Count Quinnox was thoughtful, evenpre-occupied. They were nearing the Terminal when he leaned over and,laying his hand on King's knee, said, after a long interval of silencebetween them:
"I suppose you know that Graustark has not given up hope that PrinceRobin may soon espouse the daughter of our neighbour, Dawsbergen."
King gave him a queer look. "By jove, that's odd. I was thinking ofthat very thing when you spoke."
"The union would be of no profit to us in a pecuniary way, my friend,"explained the Count. "Still it is most desirable for other reasons.Dawsbergen is not a rich country, nor are its people progressive. Thereigning house, however, is an old one and rich in traditions. Money,my dear King, is not everything in this world. There are some things itcannot buy. It is singularly ineffective when opposed to an honestsentiment. Even though the young Princess were to come to Graustarkwithout a farthing, she would still be hailed with the wildest acclaim.We are a race of blood worshippers, if I may put it in that way. Sherepresents a force that has dominated our instincts for a great manycenturies, and we are bound hand and foot, heart and soul, by theso-called fetters of imperialism. We are fierce men, but we bend theknee and we wear the yoke because the sword of destiny is in the handthat drives us. To-day we are ruled by a prince whose sire was not ofthe royal blood. I do not say that we deplore this infusion, but itbehooves us to protect the original strain. We must conserve our royalblood. Our prince assumes an attitude of independence that we finddifficult to overcome. He is prepared to defy an old precedent insupport of a new one. In other words, he points out the unmistakablyhappy union of his own mother, the late Princess Yetive, and theAmerican Lorry, and it is something we cannot go behind. He declaresthat his mother set an example that he may emulate without prejudice tohis country if he is allowed a free hand in choosing his mate.
"But we people of Graustark cannot look with complaisance on thepossible result of his search for a sharer of the throne. Traditionsmust be upheld--or we die. True, the Crown Princess of Dawsbergen hasAmerican blood in her veins but her sire is a prince royal. Her mother,as you know, was an American girl. She who sits on the throne withRobin must be a princess by birth or the grip on the sword of destinyis weakened and the dynasty falters. I know what is in your mind. Youare wondering why our Prince should not wed one of your fabulously richAmerican girls--"
"My dear Count," said King warmly, "I am not thinking anything of thesort. Naturally I am opposed to your pre-arranged marriages and allthat sort of thing, but still I appreciate what it means as asafe-guard to the crown you support. I sincerely hope that Robin mayfind his love-mate in the small circle you draw for him, but I fear itisn't likely. He is young, romantic, impressionable, and he abhors thethought of marriage without love. He refuses to even consider theprincess you have picked out for him. Time may prove to him that hisideals are false and he may resign himself to the--I was about to saythe inevitable."
"Inevitable is the word, Mr. King," said Count Quinnox grimly. "'Pon myword, sir, I don't know what our princes and princesses are coming toin these days. There seems to be a perfect epidemic of independenceamong them. They marry whom they please in spite of royal command, andthe courts of Europe are being shorn of half their glory. It wouldn'tsurprise me to see an American woman on the throne of England one ofthese days. 'Gad, sir, you know what happened in Axphain two years ago.Her crown prince renounced the throne and married a French singer."
"And they say he is a very happy young beggar," said King drily.
"It is the prerogative of fools to be happy," said Count Quinnox.
"Not so with princes, eh?"
"It is a duty with princes, Mr. King."
They had not been in New York City an hour before they discovered thatWilliam W. Blithers was the man to whom they would have to appeal ifthey expected to gain a fresh hearing with the banks. The agents werein a dismal state of mind. The deal had been blocked no later than theafternoon of the day before and at a time when everything appeared tobe going along most swimmingly. Blithers was the man to see; he and healone could bring pressure to bear on the directorates that mightresult in a reconsideration of the surprising verdict. Something hadhappened during the day to alter the friendly attitude of the banks;they were now politely reluctant, as one of the agents expressed it,which really meant that opposition to the loan had appeared from someunexpected source, as a sort of eleventh hour obstacle. The heads ofthe two banks had as much as said that negotiations were at an end,that was the long and short of it; it really didn't matter what wasback of their sudden change of front, the fact still remained that thetransaction was as "dead as a door nail" unless it
could be revived bythe magnetic touch of a man like Blithers.
"What can have happened to cause them to change their minds soabruptly?" cried the perplexed Count. "Surely our prime minister andthe cabinet have left nothing undone to convince them of Graustark'sintegrity and--"
"Pardon me. Count," interrupted one of the brokers, "shall I try tomake an appointment for you with Mr. Blithers? I hear he is in town fora few days."
Count Quinnox looked to Truxton King for inspiration and that gentlemanfavoured him with a singularly dis-spiriting nod of the head. The oldGraustarkian cleared his throat and rather stiffly announced that hewould receive Mr. Blithers if he would call on him at the Ritz thatafternoon.
"What!" exclaimed both agents, half-starting from their chairs inamazement.
The Count stared hard at them. "You may say to him that I will be in atfour."
"He'll tell you to go to--ahem!" The speaker coughed just in time."Blithers isn't in the habit of going out of his way to--to obligeanybody. He wouldn't do it for the Emperor of Germany."
"But," said the Count with a frosty smile, "I am not the Emperor ofGermany."
"Better let me make an appointment for you to see him at his office.It's just around the corner." There was a pleading note in thespeaker's voice.
"You might save your face, Calvert, by saying that the Count will bepleased to have him take tea with him at the Ritz," suggested King.
"Tea!" exclaimed Calvert scornfully. "Blithers, doesn't drink thestuff."
"It's a figure of speech," said King patiently.
"All right, I'll telephone," said the other dubiously.
He came back a few minutes later with a triumphant look in his eye.
"Blithers says to tell Count Quinnox he'll see him to-morrow morning athalf-past eight at his office. Sorry he's engaged this afternoon."
"But did you say I wanted him to have tea with us!" demanded the Count,an angry flush leaping to his cheek.
"I did. I'm merely repeating what he said in reply. Half-past eight, athis office, Count. Those were his words."
"It is the most brazen exhibition of insolence I've ever--" began theCount furiously, but checked himself with an effort. "I--I hope you didnot say that I would come, sir!"
"Yes. It's the only way--"
"Well, be good enough to call him up again and say to him thatI'll--I'll see him damned before I'll come to his office to-morrow ateight-thirty or at any other hour." And with that the Count got up andstalked out of the office, putting on his hat as he did so.
"Count," said King, as they descended in the elevator, "I've got anidea in my head that Blithers will be at the Ritz at four."
"Do you imagine, sir, that I will receive him?"
"Certainly. Are you not a diplomat?"
"I am a Minister of War," said the Count, and his scowl was anindication of absolute proficiency in the science.
"And what's more," went on King, reflectively, "it wouldn't in theleast surprise me if Blithers is the man behind the directors in thissudden move of the banks."
"My dear King, he displayed the keenest interest and sympathy the othernight at your house. He--"
"Of course I may be wrong," admitted King, but his brow was clouded.
Shortly after luncheon that day, Mrs. Blithers received a telegram fromher husband. It merely stated that he was going up to have tea with theCount at four o'clock, and not to worry as "things were shapingthemselves nicely."