V THE COMPROMISE
The Princess' suite was across the corridor from the King's, and in amoment the Archduke was with her.
"Your Majesty!" she cried, and curtsied.
He raised her quickly. "Not yet, sweetheart," he said, "not yet--and, maybe, never."
She stepped back and regarded him in puzzled surprise.
"You are jesting, dear," she said; "surely, you are jesting!"
He shook his head and went toward her.
"But the decree--the decree!" she exclaimed, again stepping back.
"The Laws have disappeared," he said, "the box is empty and the Bookcannot be found."
In bewildered amazement she let him lead her to a chair, and listened,frowning and impatient, to his story. Only once did she interrupt--whenhe mentioned the Duke's unexpected entrance--then she struck her handsharply on the table at her side. "Lotzen! Oh, Lotzen!" she cried, andwith such threatening vehemence that Armand looked at her in suddenwonder.
At the end, she sprang up.
"Come!" she commanded. "Come; take me to the Council--I can at leastassure they won't make Lotzen king," and seizing his hand she made forthe door.
He slipped his arm around her waist and detained her.
"Are you sure, Dehra, you ought to mix in this unfortunate squabble?" heasked. "Is it----"
She turned upon him sharply. "Squabble! Do you call a contest forValeria's Throne a squabble?"--then suddenly she smiled--that sweet,adorable smile she ever had for him. "Be very careful, sir, or I shalltumble both you and Lotzen aside, and take the Throne myself.... Now,will you escort me!"
He looked at her thoughtfully, then smiled and patted her cheek.
"Come, Your Majesty," he said; "come, and claim your Crown; it's yours byright, and I shall be the first to swear allegiance."
"And the first to rebel, dear," she laughed.
They entered the council chamber through the King's cabinet, and as thePrincess halted a moment in the doorway the Ministers sprang to theirfeet and stood waiting, while Ferdinand of Lotzen advanced and bowed low;not offering, however, to take her hand, fearing it would not be given,and having no notion to risk a snub in such company.
To his astonishment, Dehra extended her hand and let him kiss it.
"You come on a sad errand, cousin," she said.... "I would you were stillin Lotzenia." The words were so innocently fitting, yet the doublemeaning was so deliberate.
The Duke slowly straightened, discomfiture and amusement struggling forcontrol, while Armand smiled openly and the Ministers looked away.
Meanwhile, the Princess passed on serenely to the table and took thechair at its head. Then, led by Count Epping, the Council came forwardand made obeisance. She received them with just that touch of dignifiedsadness which the circumstances demanded, and which, with men, a womanmust measure with the exactness of fine gold. And with it there was thelow, sweet voice, the winning graciousness, and the dazzling smile--nowsoftened just a trifle--that never yet had failed to conquer, and thathad made her the toast of the Army and the pride of the Nation. AndArmand had watched her, with glistening eyes, as one after another shesent the Ministers back to their places, bound to her chariot wheels;captive and content.
And Ferdinand of Lotzen, seeing, understood; and for the first time herealized fully what her aid meant to his rival, and how little chance hehad to win, save with the Laws. And straightway the last faint scrupleperished, and he set his cold heart against her, as well. Henceforth, forhim, there was but one object in life--the Crown of his ancestors, andfor all who interfered there would be neither consideration nor mercy.
And the Princess' eye, resting for an instant on his face, read somethingof his mind, and with a lift of the chin and a careless smile she turnedto the Council.
"My lords," she said, "His Royal Highness has acquainted me with yourdesires, and I am glad indeed if I can serve you. His Majesty, the nightbefore he died, executed the decree necessary to make the Archduke Armandhis successor."
"You saw the decree?" Count Epping asked.
"No, I did not, but what I know is this. Late that night I went into theKing's library; he was sitting at his desk, with the Book of Laws openbefore him and a pen in his hand. He was blotting a page as I entered.'You have made Armand's decree?' I cried, and went to his side to readit; but he laughed and closed the Book, saying: 'You may see itto-morrow, child, after I have told Armand.'"
"And he did not tell you the words of the decree," the Count asked, aftera pause, "neither then nor the following day?"
The Princess closed her eyes and lowered her head. "No," she said; "no--Inever saw my father again--alive."
There was a distressing silence--then Armand spoke:
"The Council will understand that His Majesty had no opportunity to tellme of the decree. I was with him yesterday only at the review; naturallyhe would not speak of it then."
"And that was, I suppose, the last time you saw the Book of Laws?" Eppingasked, addressing the Princess, who had recovered her composure.
"Yes--it was lying on the table when I left."
"May I ask Your Highness," said Steuben, "why, when you saw that HisMajesty had been writing in the Book of Laws, you assumed, instantly,that it was 'Armand's decree,' as you put it?"
"You must know, my lords," she responded, "that it is rare, indeed, thata new law is made for the Dalbergs, there have been but five in the lasthundred years, and the making is ever due to some extraordinarycircumstance, which is known, of course, to all the family. We had beenanticipating the decree, restoring Armand to his rightful place in theLine of Succession as Hugo's heir, and hence it was very natural toassume it was that which His Majesty had written." She paused, and, foran instant, her glance strayed to the Duke of Lotzen. "But it wasparticularly natural," she went on, "inasmuch as the King had mentionedthe matter to me twice within the week, the last time that very morning,and referring to it as 'Armand's decree.'"
Steuben nodded. "I am satisfied," he said--and Duval and Marquand nodded.
The Prime Minister turned to Ferdinand.
"We would be glad to hear Your Royal Highness," he said.
The Duke laughed softly in sneering amusement. He was still standingbehind his chair, and now he tilted it forward and leaned across it, hisarms folded on the rail.
"Small chance have I against such a Portia," he answered. "Yet I wouldremind the Council that, where kingdoms are concerned, a pretty woman isa dangerous advocate to follow--and thrice dangerous when against her isthe written Law and with her only--conjecture."
"Our cousin of Lotzen does not mean to question my veracity?" thePrincess asked quickly.
"Your veracity?--never, I assure you--only your inferences."
"And yet, sir, what other inferences can be drawn?"
He shrugged his shoulders and turned to the Prime Minister.
"I reiterate my claim to the Crown," he said; "and the only Law of theDalbergs that is before you confirms it. I cannot conceive that the RoyalCouncil of Valeria will arrogate to itself the right to annul a decree ofHenry the Third."
"His Highness of Lotzen misses the point," said Armand. "I do not ask theCouncil to annul that decree, but only to assume from Her Royal Highness'story that it was duly and legally annulled by Frederick the Fourth."
"Exactly, my lords, exactly," the Duke retorted; "inference againstfact--guesses against an admitted Law."
Then Armand made the play he had had in mind since it was certain thatthe Book of Laws was lost. He was standing behind the Princess'chair--now he stepped forward and addressed the Duke.
"Cousin," he said, "we are putting a grievous burden on the Ministers inobliging them to choose between us, with the proofs seemingly so strongon either side. It is not fair to them to drive them to the embarrassmentnor to the misfortune that would attend a mistake. There ought to be nodoubt in the mind of the Nation as to the title of the king; he whooccupies the Throne should have hi
s tenure unquestioned; and such cannotbe if the one of us who is to-day made king is liable to be displacedto-morrow by the other. Besides, as I understand Henry the Third'sdecree, the Council has no jurisdiction except by our agreement. Youassert the decree of eligibility was not made by Frederick. If that betrue, then, there being 'a vacancy in the royal dignity without suchdecree being made,' it is for the House of Nobles to enact my eligibilityand so give me the Crown, or to refuse and so give it to you. Therefore,I propose that for the space of a year, or pending the recovery meanwhileof the Book of Laws, we let the question of succession remain inabeyance. If, at the end of the year, the Book has not been found, thenthe House of Nobles shall choose between us. And as in the interval theremust be some one in supreme authority, let Her Royal Highness beproclaimed Regent of Valeria."
Never before had there been such instant, open and cordial unanimityamong the Ministers of the Royal Council. Here was a complete solution ofthe vexing problem, and one, moreover, that would relieve them of a mostundesirable duty. Baron Retz's smile was positively gleeful, and theothers nodded enthusiastically and turned to the Duke expectantly.
And Lotzen saw that he was losing--and with rage and hatred in his heart,but with calm face and voice softer even than usual, he made his lastplay, knowing well that though it might not win, it would at least work asweet revenge upon his rival.
"An admirable compromise for you, cousin mine," he laughed; "and clever,very clever--you and Dehra are to be married on the twenty-seventh. Whatdifference, think you, will there be between you as King and you asConsort of the Princess Regent?" Then he faced the Council and flung hislast card: "Otherwise, my lords," he said with suave frankness, "I wouldwillingly accept His Highness' proposition--or I will accept it, if it isengaged that the wedding shall abide the termination of the Regency ...how say you, cousin?"
Once again had the Duke turned the situation by his devilish cleverness,and Armand's fingers itched to take him by the throat and choke the lifeout of him; and Lotzen, reading something of this in his eyes, grinnedmalevolently.
"How say you, cousin?" he repeated, "how say you?"
The Archduke deliberately gave him his back. "My lords," he said, "itseems the Duke of Lotzen would force you to the choice."
But the old Count did not intend to forego the compromise. He wantedArmand for king because Armand was, de facto, the Head of the House,because he was convinced the decree had been executed, because it wouldmake Dehra the Queen, and because he despised Lotzen. With the Princessas Regent, there would be ample means to swing the Nobles to theArchduke, and to prepare the public for his accession. Of course, itwould also give Lotzen time to campaign, yet he who fights the governmenthas a rough road to travel, and usually falls by the way. Leastwise, theCount was very ready to adventure it. But he needed aid now; and aid thatcould come from but one quarter and which he could seek only byindirection--Dehra alone controlled the situation.
"The compromise suggested is admirable," he said, "and though there isforce in the objection made to it, yet, my lord," (addressing Lotzen)"you cannot expect the Archduke to accept your amendment. It is not forthe man to change the wedding day----"
The Princess sat up sharply. When Armand had suggested her as Regent shehad leaned forward to decline, but catching Epping's eye she had read analmost imperious order to wait; and having full faith in him, she hadobeyed. Now she saw what he wanted; and though it was against her heart'sdesire and a cheerless business, yet her own judgment told her he wasright.
"It is not for the man," the Count repeated, looking at her hard, "tochange the wedding day, and least of all----"
"Wait, monsieur," she broke in. "It seems that unwittingly I have beendrawn into the situation, and put in a position where I am obliged tospeak. Does the Royal Council approve this compromise, and desire me tobecome Regent of Valeria?"
The Count smiled in supreme satisfaction.
"I can assure Your Highness we are of one mind that, in this exigency, itis your duty to assume the office."
The Princess arose. "Then, my lords," she said gravely, "I accept, herebyengaging that my wedding shall abide the termination of the Regency."
The Archduke made a gesture of protest, but Dehra flashed him hersubduing smile and shook her head, and there was naught for him to do butto smile back--and add one more to the score that, some day, Ferdinand ofLotzen would have to settle.
The Prime Minister looked at the Duke with a bland smile of triumph, andthen at Armand.
"Is it your joint wish," he asked, "that we ratify the stipulation andproclaim the Regency?"
"It is," said the Archduke; but Lotzen only bowed.
Count Epping drew his sword.
"Valeria hails the Princess Dehra as Regent," he cried. It was theancient formula changed to fit the occasion.
And this time Armand's blade rang with the others across the table, andhis voice joined exultantly in the answer that echoed through the room.
"We hail the Princess Regent!"
As the sound died Ferdinand of Lotzen stepped forward and bent knee.
"God save Your Royal Highness!" he said, and again Dehra gave him herhand.
"And grant me strength," she answered.
"Amen," said the Count gravely. "Amen."
It was Lotzen who broke the stillness.
"With Your Highness' permission I will withdraw," he said; "there arepressing personal affairs which demand my presence elsewhere." He turnedto go.
"One moment, cousin," said she--then to the Prime Minister: "Will theCouncil need His Highness?"
There was the same gracious manner, the same soft voice, and yet, inthose few words, she warned them all that there was now a Regent inValeria--and a Dalberg regent, too.
"There is nothing now but to draw the Proclamation for your signature,"said the Count--"the other matters can abide for the time."
And Lotzen, at the Princess' nod of permission, went slowly from theroom, his surprise still stronger than his anger; though, in the end, itwas the latter that lingered and left its mark in his unforgiving soul.
While the Count was drafting the Proclamation made necessary by thechanged conditions, the Princess sat in silence, gazing in abstractedcontemplation through the window. Regent of Valeria! the second thekingdom had known; the first had been a woman, too--Eleanor, mother ofthe infant, Henry the Third of glorious memory--yet, was it wise--was itin fact her duty--her duty to her House; to her beloved? Surely it wasnot to her pleasure--she who had been happy in her nearing weddingday--her lover placed next the Throne--his bright future and her joy forit. And now--the wait--the struggle--the obligation of right, of justice;the putting off the woman, the putting on the ruler where the womaninterfered. Her father! she turned that thought aside sharply--she hadturned it aside many times since yesterday, as he had bade her todo:--"When I go, child, do not grieve." Yet, when two have been comradesfor years it is not easy.
The Count ceased his writing and, laying aside the pen, looked up.
"Will it please Your Highness to sign?" he said quickly--he had littleliking at any time for a woman's reverie, and none at all when it was ofthe sort he knew this reverie to be--and the woman had work to do.
And Dehra, preoccupied though she was, had missed nothing that was doingat the table, and she let him know she understood him, by a smile and ashake of her handsome head. It was not exactly a reproof, and yet neitherwas it an encouragement to do the like again.
"Please read it," she said.
It was very brief--reciting the death of Frederick the Fourth, thedisappearance of the Book of Laws, the stipulation of the Archduke andthe Duke relative to the Succession remaining in abeyance, the creationof a Regency during the inter-regnum and the Princess' acceptance of theoffice.
When he had done, she asked if there were any suggestions, and none beingoffered, she signed it and returned it to the Count. Immediately theCouncil arose and she and Armand retired, by the same way they hadentered.
As they passed throu
gh the library, Dehra went over to the desk.
"Here is where the King sat that last night," she said, "and here theBook of Laws lay, and here was the box. I can't imagine what he did withthe Book--nor why he removed it from the box--and the box was in itsusual place in the vault when I gave it to you to take to theCouncil----"
A door latch clicked, and Adolph, the valet, came in hurriedly.
"Well?" said the Archduke, seeing he wished to speak.
"The box, my lord," he answered; "you left it in the council-chamber--isit to remain there?"
"No," said the Princess--"bring it here at once." She went to the vaultand opened it.... "Put it on the shelf in the rear," she ordered, whenAdolph returned. He obeyed and gave her the key.
"There was no need to lock it," she remarked.
"It has a spring lock, mademoiselle," said the man. "It snapped when Iclosed the lid."
Dehra nodded indifferently. "So it has.... Shut the vault door." Thenmotioned to him in dismissal.
"It's of small consequence," she remarked to Armand, as she gave thecombination a twirl, "the box is of little use without the Book."
As she turned away, her glance fell on the big portrait of her fatherthat hung high on the opposite wall--and of a sudden the reaction came,and the tears started, and her lips twitched. She reached out her handappealingly to Armand. In silence, he put his arm around her and led herquickly from the room.