CHAPTER XIV
NEARING A CRISIS
A few nights after the defeat of the Appropriation Bill, PaulWoodville at a late hour strolled forth into the gardens of theVistula Palace, with no design of meeting Barbara, but drawn thitherchiefly by the extreme beauty of the moonlight.
He sat down in solitude by the margin of a tree-girt lake, watching inan abstracted manner the silvery path of light on its surface, andmusing over the strangely romantic turn his life had taken.
A sudden rustling among the foliage put an end to his reverie, and onturning he found Barbara by his side.
She was excited, if not angry. There was a defiant expression upon herface, and a lovely color burned on her cheek. She was habited as iffor a journey, for her figure was concealed by a cloak with the hooddrawn around her head. Her appearance reminded Paul of their firstmeeting in the Illyrian forest; and, as if responsive to his thoughts,Barbara's first words recalled that time.
"Paul, do you remember those happy days in Dalmatia? Come and let usrenew them."
"I am not quite sure that I understand."
"Let us leave Czernova this night--this hour--now. Take me with you."
For a moment Paul doubted whether he could have heard aright. Thenrecovering from his surprise, he asked,--
"What has happened to make you take this wild resolution?"
"There is no other course left us if we are to be united. Listen!"
She proceeded to explain the cause of her agitation.
It appeared that at a cabinet council held earlier in the eveningBarbara had announced what had for some time been suspected, namely,that the projected match between herself and the duke had beendissolved by mutual consent. Thereupon the Greek Archpastor, Mosco,whom Barbara suspected of acting as the mouthpiece of the duke, roseand boldly, yet respectfully, asked the princess to define herattitude towards her secretary, Captain Woodville; he invited her tocontradict the growing rumors as to the relationship existing betweenherself and the Englishman.
Perceiving that other members of the cabinet were in sympathy withMosco's questioning, Barbara put aside her first impulse, which washaughtily to ignore the subject, and gave answer that it was her firmresolve to make Captain Woodville the Prince-consort of Czernova.
The council were united in maintaining that this could not be.
"Zabern among the number?" asked Paul.
"Zabern spoke not a word--sure sign that he is on your side. He deemsit prudent to sacrifice his private opinion to the will of the rest;otherwise Radzivil would call upon him to resign, and Zabern believesthat he can do me more good in the cabinet than out of it. They haveinsisted upon your immediate withdrawal from Czernova. I pledged myword that you should depart this very night; but, Paul," shecontinued, with a laugh that had something of hysteria in it, "I didnot tell them that it was my intention to accompany you. I will nevergive you up, Paul, never. You are dearer to me than crown or life.Come, we will go away together, and leave Czernova to its owndevices."
Such was the invitation addressed to Paul by Barbara, whose arms wereencircling his neck as with a garland; her lovely face was close tohis; her dark eyes radiant with love were looking into his own. Now atlast she seemed to belong to him.
Paul, as previously related, had by the death of a relative become thepossessor of an ample fortune. How delightful, then, to while away thehours on the sunny shores of the Riviera with Barbara for his bride!What admiration her beauty would elicit from all who saw her! What ahalo of romance would surround her personality! The princess whoresigned a throne for love, who preferred an untitled Englishman to animperially connected archduke! He would be the most envied man inEurope. It was a splendid temptation, but he rose superior to it.
"If you have pledged your word for my withdrawal, I must go--andalone," he added.
"You shall not go to please them," she cried passionately.
"Then I will go to please myself."
"Without me? Do you mean that--that we must part forever?"
The anguish of her voice went to Paul's heart. The stately princessthat had confronted the Diet was gone, and in her place was aclinging, trembling maiden with eyes full of tears.
"Sweetest Barbara, doubt whatever else you will, but do not doubt mylove. It behoves us to part at least for a time. I go, but you mustremain. Remember, that, as a princess, you are not your own but yourpeople's. If you desert Czernova you give to the duke the crown forwhich he is basely plotting. Do not let that traitor succeed. Do nothand over your loyal Poles to the tyranny of Bora. Abdication on yourpart will mean the final triumph of Russia."
"And that triumph is not far distant," replied Barbara bitterly. "Wehave received intelligence to-day from our ambassadors at Berlin andVienna that Prussia and Austria have jointly agreed to withdraw fromthe responsibility of upholding the integrity of Czernova, leaving theonus of this political duty to Russia. We know what this means. Inplain language Kaiser and King will permit the Czar to exercise a freehand in the principality. The long-threatened annexation is at hand."
"Then it is time for me to be going."
"In my hour of peril?"
"I go to save you from this peril, to deliver you from theever-threatening shadow of the Czar. I have a scheme in mind,--ascheme so daring that it seems madness to attempt it; and yet betterto dare and fail than not to dare at all. My plan, if it succeeds,will make Czernova so strong that it will no longer fear the arms ofRussia. And then," added Paul hopefully, "and then it may be that inreturn for such service your ministry will regard me with morefavorable eyes."
Love is proverbially blind, and therefore it will not seem matter forwonder that the princess in her passionate attachment to Paul shouldplace more reliance upon his promise than upon the united wisdom ofher cabinet. But what his plan was she could not learn; to all herquestions he smiled pleasantly and mysteriously; the sooner he set offthe sooner would come its realization.
But each time he turned to depart Barbara pleaded so sweetly for delaythat he was forced to stay a few minutes longer; and they continued tosit in the moonlight, Paul radiant with the hope of coming success,Barbara puzzled, yet confident in his ability to fulfil his word. Theywere a long time in parting, and often after saying what theyintended as their final farewell they turned again to repeat it.
Paul at length tore himself away, and had not proceeded very far whenhe was met by Marshal Zabern.
"You are leaving Czernova?"
"Since the cabinet decrees it."
"But you must return."
"When?"
"On the eve of the princess's coronation."
"Why on that day?"
Zabern bent his head and whispered. The communication was such as tocause Paul's eyes to sparkle and his hand to seek the hilt of hissabre.
"Is that the plan of the duke, then?"
"Such is my belief. And you alone, Captain Woodville, can defeat it.You will be there?"
"Can you doubt it? If I be living."
"Good! You will have the laugh of these fools," returned Zabern,referring to his colleagues in the ministry. "They will not deny youthe hand of the princess then."
And Paul and Zabern parted on an understanding eminently satisfactoryto both.
On the following day the ministry learned with relief that CaptainWoodville had quitted Czernova, though none knew, not even Barbara,whither he had betaken himself.
The coronation ceremony was now but two months distant, and Zabernventured to remind the princess that some of its most importantdetails still awaited settlement.
"The great question is who shall have the high honor of crowning yourHighness?"
"Abbot Faustus, for he is a good man," replied Barbara; and, notingZabern's look of surprise, she added, "He, and none other. The cabinethave had their way in the matter of Captain Woodville; I will have myway in this. Let the council meet again to-day. When this point comesto be discussed, do you, marshal, propose Abbot Faustus for theoffice, and I will assent."
T
hough wondering much at her choice, Zabern refrained from comment.
That same evening another cabinet council was held in the VistulaPalace, Barbara again presiding.
Among the members present was the Archbishop Mosco, or, as he wasstyled in Slavowitz, the Archpastor, who, as previously stated, had aseat in the cabinet, not by the appointment of the princess, but byvirtue of his office as head of the Greek Church in Czernova.
The crowning of the sovereign had hitherto been one of the privilegesattaching to his see. Barbara's Latin faith, however, had necessarilydeprived him of his prerogative, which would thus seem to devolve bynatural right upon the highest ecclesiastic in the Catholic Church ofCzernova, or in other words, upon the Cardinal Archbishop Ravenna.
Therefore, when Zabern rose to propose that Abbot Faustus, of theConvent of the Transfiguration, should have the high honor of crowningthe princess, there were murmurs of dissent from the council, themajority not deeming the abbot of sufficient dignity for the office.
"The cardinal would regard such appointment as an affront to himself,"remarked Radzivil.
"And might seek, in his disappointment, to give us trouble," commentedDorislas. "Being the ecclesiastical superior of Faustus, he mightappear in the cathedral and interdict the abbot from crowning theprincess, which would be a pretty scandal."
"Ah, well," replied Zabern, carelessly, "we have prisons fordisorderly prelates, as well as for law-breaking dukes."
"What says her Highness in this matter?" said Radzivil turning to theprincess.
"The marshal's nomination meets with my approval," returned Barbara."My lords, I will not now enter into my reasons. Let it suffice to saythat Cardinal Ravenna has made it impossible for me to receive thecrown from his hands. Sooner would I resign than do so."
Great wonderment appeared on the faces of the ministers, yet noneventured to ask in what way the cardinal had offended. Opposition tothe abbot was immediately withdrawn, for the cabinet, gratified byBarbara's supposed dismissal of Paul, were in a complaisant mood,though they plainly saw trouble looming ahead in thus excludingRavenna from participating in the coronation.
At this point of the debate Polonaski intervened with a suggestion. Hewas the Justiciary, and by virtue of his office the highest legalauthority in Czernova.
"Since your Highness reigns over Greeks as well as Catholics, would itnot be politic to conciliate the former by permitting a Greek prelateto have some share, however small, in your coronation?"
"That is good counsel," replied Barbara. "I trust, my lord," sheadded, addressing Mosco with a gracious smile, "that you have notviewed with bitterness this setting aside of the ancient privilegeattaching to your see? But, indeed, you are welcome to take whateverpart you please in my coronation, short of the administration of theSacrament and of the imposition of the diadem."
Mosco, apparently gratified by this concession, spent a few moments instudying the coronation ritual, a copy of which had been supplied toeach member of the cabinet.
"I ask for nothing more," he finally observed, "than for leave to readthe Gospel at the beginning of the ceremony."
"It is granted," replied Barbara, wondering why the archpastor shouldselect this, a somewhat humble office, compared with others which wereopen to him.
Mosco's lips curved into a smile, which, though lasting but a moment,did not escape the quick eye of Zabern, who immediately became full ofsuspicion.
"As I live," he muttered to himself, "our archpastor is a traitor!Have I got rid of Bora only to find that he has left a successor inthe cabinet? That smile means mischief. But what mischief can comefrom the reading of the Gospel?"
An enigma which was not solved till the actual day of the coronation,and those who witnessed the solution were not likely ever to forgetit.
That picturesque personage, accustomed to figure at a coronation,namely, the champion, now became a subject of discussion, Moscohimself having introduced the question.
"It is the duty of such champion," he explained in answer to Barbara'sinterrogation, "to stand before the throne, and, casting down a glove,to defy to mortal combat any one who shall openly challenge the rightof the sovereign to rule."
"But why," said the princess, with a pitying smile, "why should weretain a feudal usage out of place in this nineteenth century?"
"It has always formed a part of the coronation ceremonial," protestedMosco. "Your late father, Prince Thaddeus, would not have it omittedwhen he was crowned."
"And what would happen," asked Radzivil, "if some one malevolentlydisposed towards the princess should step forward and pick up theglove?"
"We had better consult the Justiciary," smiled Barbara. "He is ourauthority on all matters of law."
"Your Highness," returned Polonaski, "the ancient statute touching thechampioning of the sovereign's rights has never been repealed, andtherefore still stands good in point of law. Should any one accept thechampion's challenge by taking up the gage thrown down, the combatwould have to take place."
"With what result?" queried Radzivil. "Will you say that if herchampion should fall the princess must resign the throne?"
"According to the law of Czernova," replied the Justiciary.
Zabern leaned back in his seat and caustically whispered in thepremier's ear,--
"Count, methinks you were a little premature last night in banishingan excellent swordsman from Czernova."
"I venture to differ from the Justiciary," remarked the princess. "Anearlier law is always repealed by a later. Therefore the feudalstatute which has been cited is abrogated by the recent Anti-duellingAct. We will therefore omit this pretended championing of our rightsas an obsolete, barbarous, and unmeaning ceremony."
The Justiciary did not look as if convinced by Barbara's reasoning. Herefrained from further comment, however, and the motion to omit thechampion from the ceremonial was unanimously accepted.
Various other matters relative to the solemnity were settled, afterwhich the council broke up, leaving Zabern still troubled by Mosco'ssmile. A permanent member of the cabinet, the Greek archpastor,equally with the Roman archbishop, could not be removed at will by theprincess or the premier, unless guilty of treason, and of this Zabernas yet lacked proof.
"He is playing Bora's game," muttered the marshal. "He is a party toLipski's plot. I warrant he knows all about the store of armsconcealed in that traitor's cellar. Mosco, you shall sit no more asthe betrayer of our meetings, for none shall be held. For some timeto come Czernova shall be governed by a council of three--theprincess, Radzivil, and myself."
But the evil which the Greek archpastor might do was as nothingcompared with what the Roman archbishop could effect, and in thecourse of a few days Barbara found herself facing a peril of whicheven her confidant Zabern little dreamed.
A week after Paul's departure Cardinal Ravenna returned to Slavowitz,coming from Rome in no good humor. The Sacred College, at theinvitation of the Pope, had been spending many days in the discussionof some abstruse doctrine of theology, much to the irritation ofRavenna, whose self-interest required his presence in Czernova.
In the first hour of his return he was made aware that the cabinet,ignoring his superior claims, had deputed Abbot Faustus to crown theprincess, and that all men were talking of the event; for inasmuch asit was the current belief that Ravenna was the very person who hadconverted the princess to the Catholic faith, the Czernovese werenaturally not a little mystified by this exclusion of the archbishopfrom the coronation ceremony.
Ravenna knew full well that this appointment could not have been madewithout the sanction of Barbara herself, and accordingly on thefollowing morning he repaired to the Vistula Palace, his mortificationbecoming still further enhanced by the mocking smile of his Greekrival, whom he chanced to pass on the way. Barbara received thecardinal with a chilling mien.
"Is it true, princess," he began with a grave air, "that in the matterof the coronation you have given to the Abbot Faustus, my inferior,the honor which belongs of right to the archbish
op?"
"Quite true," responded Barbara, coldly.
"Do you intend, then, with set purpose, to put an affront upon me inthe sight of all Czernova?"
"None but pure hands shall set the diadem upon my head. Shall I acceptthe Sacrament from one who has insulted me with words of unhallowedlove, repeat prayers uttered by your lips? My lord cardinal," sheadded in scorn, "have you no conscience?"
Probably not. He was indifferent to the moral precepts of religion, ifnot at heart wholly atheistic, having adopted the ecclesiastic lifemerely as a stepping-stone to power.
"Is it likewise true that Zabern purposes at no distant date tointroduce into the Diet a bill for the expulsion of Jesuits fromCzernova?"
"Your eminence has been correctly informed. We cannot tolerate in theprincipality those whose aim it is to create an _imperium in imperio_.Besides," added the princess, caustically, "a Jesuit Expulsion Billwill put my Muscovite subjects in a good humor, while not greatlyoffending the Catholics."
Though maintaining a calm exterior, the cardinal nevertheless listenedwith secret dismay, for her words were the very death-knell of hisambition. By using the princess as his instrument he had hoped to playthe _role_ of a Richelieu in Czernova, and to be the supreme directorof affairs, secular as well as ecclesiastical. By reason of hissupposed conversion of a Greek princess he had obtained a high placein the Pope's favor. He had openly boasted at the Vatican that theGreek heresy would soon vanish from Czernova. But now? The attitude ofBarbara and her cabinet showed that he had been building castles inthe air.
Was this to be the end of his life's work? Must he write "failure"across the scheme that had occupied his mind for twenty years? Itwould seem so.
"Is it to be war between us? Good! Thus, then, do I take up the gageflung down by you. On your coronation day, in the sight of allassembled in the cathedral, I shall rise to affirm, ay, and to provetoo, that you are not Natalie Lilieska. I shall denounce you as animpostor, as a knowing usurper of the rights of Bora."
"And be arrested as an accomplice of the impostor; since, if I fall,you fall with me."
"Not so, princess; for I shall previously have made my terms withBora. You may count, now, upon having the Pope as your enemy, sinceyou are bent upon persecuting the Society of Jesus. By falselyclaiming to be princess you have imposed upon the Holy Father. Youadmit a heretical prelate to participate in the ceremony of yourcoronation. You pretend to be a Catholic, yet your ministers haveplacarded Slavowitz to the effect that the princess will swear at thealtar to preserve inviolate the ancient privileges as well of theGreek as of the Latin Church. Such Laodicean policy will not suit PioNono. A word in his ear from me will bring against you a bull ofexcommunication. And, remember, that the subjects of an excommunicatedruler are absolved from their allegiance."
Barbara laughed scornfully.
"We are not living in the time of the Crusades. Excommunication is anobsolete weapon."
"Not so obsolete as you deem, princess. The Poles are loyal, or shallwe say superstitious, Catholics. Many of them will obey the Poperather than yourself. There will be a cleavage in the ranks of yourPolish adherents fatal to your interests. Barbara Lilieska, with thePope and the Catholic clergy of Czernova alienated from you; withdissension among your own adherents; with the duke and his Muscovitefaction opposed to you; with the jealous Czar, ready, nay, eager, tomarch his armies against the usurping princess who had so oftenthwarted his policy--it will pass the wit of Zabern himself to keepyou upon the throne. Dream not of your coronation. You may ride instate to the cathedral, but only to witness the crowning of Bora. Fromthat ceremony you will return not to this Vistula Palace, but to thatCitadel in which you once imprisoned the duke. He hates you bitterlysince your rejection of him for Captain Woodville. Now he will be ableto wreak his vengeance upon you. You will have to drink deep of thecup of humiliation. Are you prepared for this?"
Barbara sat, pondering over the difficulties of her position. Thenamid her troubled thoughts came the memory of Paul and of hismysterious plan, and she took courage.
The cardinal stood silently drinking in the beauty of her face andfigure, loving and hating her in the same moment, hoping against hopethat she would change her attitude towards him.
So long did Barbara remain mute that the cardinal began to think thather opposition was weakening, and under this delusion he ventured torenew his proposals of love.
"No more such language, my lord," said the princess, her eyes flashingwith indignation, "or I call the guard."
"And thereby precipitate your immediate ruin. The news of myimprisonment would cause my nephew Redwitz of Zamoska to put inevidence the three sealed letters. At present the secrets containedwithin them are unknown even to him; but in a day more all the worldwould be talking of the impostor-princess of Czernova. There are stillseven weeks left to you; why abbreviate your reign?"
Ravenna had spoken without his accustomed caution in revealing thenames Redwitz and Zamoska, which last was a small town in Russia,distant a few miles from the Czernovese border. Though trembling withanger at the cardinal's insolence, which a hard necessity compelledher to tolerate, Barbara did not let the phrase "Redwitz of Zamoska"escape her. The words seemed to afford a ray of hope. If these letterscould be seized, and the cardinal arrested on one and the same day,why--then--then--
"Barbara Tressilian," said the cardinal quietly, "your aversion toillicit love would seem to combat the theory of heredity."
At this singular utterance the princess gave a palpable start.
"The daughter is more scrupulous than the mother."
These words and the cold sneer accompanying them occasioned in Barbaraa fear far greater than that caused by the threat of deposition.
"What devil's lie are you inventing now?" she murmured.
"Your English mother, Hilda Tressilian, was content to be wooed andwon without asking the church to consecrate her love."
If it be possible for the human heart to suspend its pulsation, thenBarbara's heart did at that moment.
When at last she spoke it was in a voice breathless with indignation."Can there be a more base deed than to slander a dead mother in thepresence of her daughter?"
"No slander, but the solemn truth do I speak. Your father, PrinceThaddeus, withheld this knowledge from you, from a desire to spareyour feelings. When after the Dalmatian earthquake of two years ago,you were wavering between the crown of a princess and the veil of anun, the knowledge that you were of illegitimate birth might havedeterred you from accepting the crown; therefore Prince Thaddeus keptthat matter a secret. He invented the story that the church, the sceneof his marriage, had been burnt, and the record of the uniondestroyed; and the more effectually to deceive you he made choice inhis fiction of a certain church which had actually been consumed byfire. But the preservation of the edifice would have availed younothing, for its marriage-book contained no such names as ThaddeusLilieski and Hilda Tressilian."
"It is a question betwixt my father's word and yours. I prefer myfather's."
"Naturally, inasmuch as it suits your interests. When on yourcrowning-day, and before a vast assembly, I rise to deny that you areNatalie Lilieski, will you dare affirm it, knowing, as you do, thatyou lack a certain birth-mark of that princess? If you aver that youare in reality Barbara Lilieska, the elder daughter of Thaddeus, whatanswer will you give to those who challenge you to produce the proofsof Thaddeus's early marriage? Barbara Tressilian, you areillegitimate, and as such debarred from reigning. Your beauty has madeyou many enemies among the proud and envious ladies of Czernova. Thoseover whom you have queened it will be able to point the finger ofscorn at the discrowned princess, branded with the stain of illicitbirth."
He marked with secret pleasure the shiver of wounded pride on the partof Barbara, and clenched his remarks with the question,--
"Knowing what I can effect, do you still maintain your defiance ofme?"
"I do," responded Barbara, quietly. "Believing myself to be the lawfulprincess of Czernova
, I shall hold to my throne. Girt around withearthly perils, I tranquillize my mind by looking above, confiding inthe justice of heaven."
That any one should think of trusting to such a shadowy weapon as thejustice of heaven drew a sneer from the atheistic cardinal.
"The history of Poland should have taught you that God is always onthe side of the strong." And then, conscious of the futility offurther argument, he made a mock bow, and with the words, "Farewell,Princess Lackland," he withdrew from the saloon.
Barbara retired to her own private apartments, and was seen no morethat day, save by her personal attendants.
Her belief in her legitimacy had rested upon her father's word; buthow if he had deceived her? The thought that she might be of illicitbirth rankled in her mind, poisoning all her happiness. She clenchedher hands in agony, and unable to sit still, paced restlessly to andfro.
The spirit of justice was deep-planted within Barbara's breast; athrone unlawfully held had no attractions for her; if she could becertain that the cardinal's statement were true, then, bitter thoughthe duty might be, she must resign the crown of Czernova to her enemyBora. But she was not certain, and therein lay the torture. She wouldhave no peace of mind till the question should be settled, andunfortunately the circumstances of the case seemed to preclude thepossibility of solving the doubt.
When Zabern next day sought the presence of the princess, he wasstruck by her pallid complexion and melancholy air.
"The cabinet," he muttered to himself, mistaking the cause of hersadness, "will have to recall Woodville, or our princess's health willgive way. Your Highness," he said aloud, "Dorislas has just proposed aconundrum."
"To what effect?" asked Barbara with a smile.
"'Whether does Cardinal Ravenna live at Slavowitz or at Rome?' Iconfess I am unable to answer it. It is but forty-eight hours sincethe cardinal's return, and yet we now hear that he has set off againfor Rome, and will not come back till your coronation eve."
"When he will bring with him," observed Barbara, quietly, "a papalbull excommunicating the Princess of Czernova."
"Ha! he'll be well advised not to read it," said Zabern, touching thehilt of his sabre significantly. "I plainly foresaw that ourpreference for Faustus would make an enemy of Ravenna. And so he hathgone to Rome to solicit a bull of excommunication? And he'll obtainit. Our intended attack on the Jesuits will not please Pio Nono; oncetheir foe, he hath of late become their friend and patron.Excommunication! Thus does the Church reward us for preserving herproperty, since in fighting for our own Convent of the Transfiguration,we were fighting likewise for all the other monasteries of Czernova;for which service it now appears we are to receive papal curses.Humph! 'Catholicism without the Pope' will soon have to be our cry."
"Marshal," said Barbara, resolving to make Zabern a confidant of hersecret history, "did you not present me with a handsome bow and quiverabout six months ago?"
Zabern replied in the affirmative, wondering why the princess shouldhave introduced a matter seemingly irrelevant.
"Have you not felt hurt that I have never once made use of yourgifts?"
"The princess has been occupied with more important matters."
"Shall I give you my reason?"
"If your Highness wills."
"The reason is very simple. I have never handled bow and arrow, and itmight create suspicion if I should now begin to learn."
"Now your Highness is jesting," said Zabern, puzzled to account forthis humor on the part of the princess, because Barbara was not in thehabit of jesting; and, moreover, if her remark were intended for ajest, it was somewhat difficult to see the point. "You shoot likeDiana herself, or rather, I should say you did, for I must confessthat since your Dalmatian tour you seem to have taken a dislike toarchery."
"Marshal, I have never in my life taken aim at a target."
Zabern was completely dumfounded by the seriousness with which Barbaraspoke. On recovering from his surprise, he said, smiling the while,for he did not believe in what he was saying,--
"Then if I am to accept your Highness's statement as true, it mustfollow as a logical conclusion that the young princess who handled thebow so admirably three years ago is not the same as she who nowaddresses me."
"Now you have hit upon my secret, marshal. I am not Natalie Lilieska."
"And I am not Ladislas Zabern," laughed the other. He could not tellwhy the princess spoke thus; he certainly could not believe her.
"Now, Zabern, be serious, for I am serious. Can you not recall when Ifirst came here from Dalmatia, many supposed lapses of memory on mypart? Was it not a common saying at that time, 'The princess has grownvery forgetful?' Was I ever seen without either my father or Ravennaby my side? The truth is they were secretly instructing me as to thepersons whom I met, giving me their names, history, and the like. Andyet in spite of many blunders on my part, no one seemed to have anysuspicion as to the truth, not even the Duke of Bora. Listen,"continued Barbara to the utterly bewildered marshal, "listen while Igive you a secret chapter of my biography."
Zabern gave due heed; and though the story was one of the mostmarvellous and most romantic that had ever come under his notice,either in history or fiction, he was compelled to believe in itstruth, for what motive could the princess have in fabricating suchstory?
But when he was made aware of the sacrifice which the cardinal haddemanded of Barbara as the price of his silence, Zabern became firstcold with horror, then hot with rage. A saint as regarded his owndealings with women, he viewed with peculiar aversion a priestaddicted to illicit amours.
"By heaven, your Highness, if I had but known this three hours earlierI would have cut the villain's throat."
"And thereby, in the cardinal's words, have precipitated my immediateruin. We must act warily. Listen."
And here Barbara proceeded to enlighten the marshal as to Redwitz ofZamoska, the guardian of the three sealed letters; and how onreceiving intelligence of his uncle's imprisonment or death, thenephew was to despatch these missives,--one to the Russian ForeignMinister, a second to the Duke of Bora, and a third to the office ofthe "Kolokol" newspaper.
"A subtle knave!" smiled Zabern.
Himself born with a genius for plotting, the marshal took a keen zestin outwitting the plans of others, and in his view the cardinal'scontrivance for safeguarding himself presented some interestingfeatures.
"I fail to see why your Highness should fear the cardinal. You are solike Princess Natalie in face and figure that you can laugh at histhreat to expose you on the coronation day. We will ascribe hisstatement to the malice of a disappointed ecclesiastic."
"Not so," replied Barbara, with a shake of her graceful head. "Mysister Natalie had a mole upon her right shoulder, as the physicianswho attended her birth, and the nurses and ladies who waited upon her,can prove. I have no such mark. Now, Zabern, never lacking in subtlecounsel, you see my peril. Aid me. You defeated Lipski; now defeat thecardinal for me."
"A very easy matter. Why did not your Highness confide in me before?"
"How--easy? In what way do you propose to act?"
"In the first place, are you certain that no one knows your secretbesides ourselves, Ravenna, and Captain Woodville? This Redwitz, forexample?"
"The cardinal asserted that his nephew was ignorant of the contents ofthe three packets."
"Good! For my own part I do not think it probable that the cardinalwould share so valuable a secret with others; his own self-interestwould forbid it. Well, now," mused Zabern, "if we lay violent handsupon Ravenna the nephew over the border will send off the letters."
"That has been my fear."
"On the other hand, if I despatch an agent to the house of Redwitz toobtain possession of the letters, and it would be very easy to effectthis--"
"Then Redwitz, discovering his loss, would notify the fact to thecardinal, who would thus become apprised of our design."
"True, princess; therefore our plan is obvious. Either the seizure ofthe papers and the seizure of th
e cardinal must take placecoincidently, or--But leave it to me, your Highness," added Zabern,breaking off somewhat abruptly. "Let the cardinal enjoy his brief spanof life at Rome. As soon as he returns he shall be secretly seized inhis own palace, instantly gagged to prevent him from revealinganything even to his captors, and conveyed in a covered carriage tothe oubliettes of the Citadel. He shall never see daylight again."
Much as the cardinal might deserve such fate, Barbara neverthelesscould not repress a shudder.
"Marshal," she said, with a grave look, "it is a dangerous thing toseize, imprison, and execute a cardinal, a prince of the Church,without any pretence at a trial. The Pope--all Europe--will havesomething to say on the matter."
"Trial? We dare not try him, for then would he make known to thejudges and others the very matter we wish to keep secret. Ours is adangerous game, true; but it would be far more dangerous to let thevillain live. Still, there is no need for his arrest; there are otherand safer ways. The cardinal may disappear mysteriously, and thenMarshal Zabern, the Minister of Justice, will offer a large reward,ay, and will give it, too, to any one who can tell what has become ofthe missing archbishop. Or," added Zabern, grimly, "he may be found tohave committed suicide in his own palace."
Zabern spoke without the least scruple. He was not naturally cruel nortreacherous, but he reflected that the crown of Czernova was at stake,and with it, so he believed, the future liberation of Poland; andwhere these weighty matters were concerned, the secret removal of acardinal was but a light thing in his eyes.
But Barbara was distressed. Must she resort to crime, she who haddeclared to the cardinal that her reliance was upon heaven? For herconscience refused to palliate Zabern's intended deed; the slaying ofRavenna without trial would be murder, and murder wrought to secure atitle the validity of which she herself was beginning to question.
Zabern noted her look of pain.
"Your Highness, bestow no pity upon the cardinal; he deserves death,if ever man deserved it. Consider the case of your sister Natalie. Donot believe that she committed suicide. A maiden of seventeen, to whomlife was just unfolding fair and bright, heiress to a crown, andaffianced to a man whom she loved--heaven forgive her for herchoice!--she had every inducement to live. Doubt not that the cardinalhad a hand in her death. Give me leave to employ the rack upon him,and I'll soon extract the truth."
"You have my authority for his arrest and conveyance to the oubliettesof the Citadel. Solitary confinement and a deaf jailer, if you will;but murder--no! _Fiat voluntas mea._"
With that the interview terminated, and Zabern departed to reduce topractice the plan he had formed.
Four weeks afterwards he presented to the princess three smallpackets, each fastened with violet-colored wax, stamped with the imageof a paschal lamb, a seal that recalled vividly to her mind themysterious incidents connected with the cardinal's study at CastelNuovo.
"There are Ravenna's documentary safeguards," laughed Zabern. "Onehalf of our task is accomplished."
"How have you managed it?" asked Barbara.
"Katina's sister Juliska has been my agent. Going to Zamoska shesucceeded in making acquaintance with a maid-servant belonging to thehousehold of this Redwitz, who, it appears, is a Catholic priest. Bythe offer of a large bribe Juliska persuaded this girl to ask hermaster's leave to visit a dying brother in a distant part of Russia,the said dying brother being, of course, a mythical personage; in themeantime, the maid averred, her duties could be performed by a friendof hers then resident in Zamoska. The unsuspecting Redwitz gave hisconsent, and the pretty Juliska took up her residence under thepriest's roof in the character of temporary servant.
"Fortunately for our plan one of her duties was to attend to the studyof this Redwitz, and, making careful search in his absence, she soonlighted upon these three packets in a secret drawer of an escritoire.Having been provided beforehand with the necessary materials, namely,violet wax and the cardinal's seal, Juliska quickly made up threeblank packets outwardly similar in all respects to the originals; andthe latter being abstracted from the escritoire were replaced by thefac-similes."
Barbara, breaking the seals, proceeded to read the contents of thethree missives, which were all couched in much the same terms. Eachbegan by affirming that the then regnant Princess of Czernova was notNatalie Lilieska, and various circumstances were adduced in proof ofthis statement. The document then went on to assert, and the assertionbrought the color of shame to Barbara's cheek, that the self-styledNatalie was the illegitimate daughter of the late Prince Thaddeus, andtherefore legally debarred from reigning.
"Mother of God! can this be true?" murmured Barbara, with anguish ather heart.
The cardinal did not deny his own share in the plot by which Barbarahad been raised to the throne, but rather took credit to himself in amatter, which, as he fondly hoped, would tend to advance the interestsof the Catholic Church in Czernova. He concluded by stating that helived in some fear of the princess, who viewed him with dislike, asbeing the sole depositary of her secret; therefore if he should bearrested, or should be secretly slain, or should mysteriouslydisappear, men would know to whom the deed should be ascribed.
Barbara, having read the documents, threw them upon the fire, andwatched till they were consumed.
"Nothing now remains," remarked Zabern, "but to arrest the cardinal inthe first moment of his return."
"There is another who threatens my safety. When, marshal, do youintend to seize Lipski, and his store of arms?"
"Not till the day before the coronation, so please your Highness."
"Where is the advantage in this delay?"
"Why, thus. If we arrest Lipski now we give the enemy opportunities offorming new plans, and of collecting fresh supplies of weapons,whereas a raid on the very eve of the coronation will throw theplotters into a confusion, from which they will not have time torecover."
"But if the arms should be carried forth before the 14th ofSeptember?"
"My spies are on the watch; of course if that should occur, I shallhave to antedate my raid. Has Radzivil informed your Highness that theCzar is sending his representative to attend your coronation?"
"The same ambassador as before, the insolent-tongued Orloff, he who sostrangely presumed to doubt the existence of our Charter? Let thecourt marshal appoint him a seat near the high altar, whence he canview our document at his leisure, nay, handle it, if he will," sheadded.
"The Charter!" muttered Zabern, grimly, as he withdrew from thepresence of Barbara. "The Charter, humph; I'll not add to your presentanxieties, princess, by stating the truth. Will that devil of anOrloff suspect my manoeuvre?"
As the day assigned for the coronation drew near, the ancient andstately capital of Czernova began to assume a gala aspect. Flags wavedin every street. Bright drapery wrought with mottoes decked the walls.Venetian masts and triumphal arches arose. In a word, all thingsdeemed essential to a great state-pageant were in due course ofpreparation.
For the maintenance of order troops were drafted daily into Slavowitz,until one half at least of the Czernovese army was quartered invarious parts of the capital.
The Muscovite populace, disposed at first to be wrathful at theholding of the coronation in a Catholic edifice, moderated their iresomewhat on learning that their own Archpastor Mosco was to take partin the solemnity, while the great cardinal, the object of theirhatred, was to be entirely excluded.
Placards containing the words of the amended coronation oath wereposted up in public places, that all might see that the princess wouldpledge herself at the altar to respect the rights both of the Greekand of the Latin churches.
The disaffected, who were hoping for riots on the coronation day,seemed fated to meet with disappointment, owing to the judicious andpacificatory policy of the princess's ministry.
That ministry took courage, and anticipated, nay, were confident,that the great day would pass off without disturbance.
Then came a bolt from the blue!
Early on the mornin
g of the day prior to the coronation, Radzivil andZabern sought the presence of the princess.
"Your Highness," said the premier, "a Russian army of one hundredthousand men is assembling at Zamoska."
Zamoska, distant but six miles from the frontiers of Czernova!
"A Russian army at Zamoska?" repeated Barbara.
"And commanded by the Czar in person," added Radzivil.
"What is the Czar's object in mustering his troops so near our ownborders?"
"When the news reached us late last night," said the premier, "yourladies reported that you were in so sweet a sleep that it would bewrong to disturb you. I therefore took upon myself to send an envoy inyour name to the Czar to inquire the reason for this massing of troopsso close to our frontiers."
"You did quite right, my lord. Has the messenger returned?"
"A few minutes ago. And the explanation given is that the Russian armyis gathering at Zamoska for the autumn manoeuvres."
"You do not believe this story?" said the princess, turning to Zabern.
"Princess, no. You must nerve yourself to bear the truth. In myopinion the Czar is assembling his forces for the purpose ofpreventing your Highness's coronation."
"By what right?" exclaimed Barbara, with flashing eyes, and Zabern wasglad to see that she who had most reason for fear showed far morespirit than Radzivil; "by what right?"
"By that right ever recognized by the world--the right of thestrong," returned Zabern. "By open diplomacy and by secret intrigue,Russia has failed to sap the independence of Czernova; therefore shenow resorts to the sword."
"And the foe without will be aided by traitors within," murmured theprincess.
"If," said Zabern, with a glance of inquiry at Barbara, "if theRussians should enter our territory--?"
"We shall not cry 'quarter.' We shall meet them in arms."
"But, your Highness," remonstrated Radzivil, in a tone of dismay,"what hope have we of defeating them?"
"Very little," replied Barbara, "but what then, Count? Would you haveme be as a saint upon cathedral window with folded hands and downcasteyes? Meekly submit to see my realm filched from me? Never! So long asthere shall remain to me a man and a musket, so long will I offerresistance."
"Will not your Highness assemble the cabinet and the Diet?" asked thepremier.
"And listen to timid, divided, or traitorous counsels? No! Marshal,you are the head of the army; give immediate orders for our troops toproceed to the frontier. Take what steps you deem best for the defenceof the principality."
"Shall your Highness delay your coronation?" inquired Radzivil.
"And show Russia that we fear her? No. Let not the ceremony be delayedby so little as one hour. And when the solemnity is over then will Iproceed direct from the cathedral to the camp. To arms! To arms! Thislast fragment of Poland shall not fall without making a valiantstand."
"There spake the spirit of your ancestors, the Jagellons," saidZabern. "Princess, you should have been born a man."