CHAPTER XV
THE EVE OF THE CORONATION
The dusk of a lovely autumnal eve had fallen over Slavowitz. Lightswere beginning to twinkle along the boulevards.
The preparations for the coronation were complete. The clinking of thecarpenter's hammer had ceased; the last bench had been put up; thelast flag hung out. The streets had become fairy arcades festoonedwith flowers and colored lamps.
Crowds of sight-seers were abroad viewing the city decorations.
A numerous throng, composed principally of peasants from the moreremote parts of Czernova, and who had never before seen theirprincess, moved to and fro in front of the Vistula Palace, calling fora sight of their fair ruler; and Barbara, responsive to their desire,appeared at intervals on the balcony smiling her acknowledgments, andoccasionally waving a scarf--an action which drew forth rounds ofapplause.
The gayly decorated capital, brilliant with light, resonant on allsides with song and music, alive with an ever-moving, laughingpopulace, formed a picture difficult to associate with comingdisaster.
"So hath many a city looked on the eve of its fall," murmured Barbara,as she turned away from the window. "Oh, Paul, why are you not withme? If you have a plan for the salvation of Czernova, now is the timefor putting it forth."
By means of swift couriers despatched at intervals of every hour theprincess was kept informed of the movements that were taking placealong the frontier.
Early in the day the Russian army--horse, foot, and artillery--withthe Czar Nicholas at its head, had set forward from Zamoska, and wasnow encamping within a mile of the Czernovese border. East and westfor many a furlong stretched the armed line of one hundred thousandmen. The Paulovski and Semenovski Guards were there, the most splendidin the imperial service; as well as the Tartar Guards, the FinlandGuards, and other regiments drawn from the motley nationalities thatcompose the vast empire of the Czar. Picturesque Circassians, clad insilver mail, and mounted upon fiery steeds, pranced proudly along tothe camping-ground marked out for them, discharging their pistols atthe sun in the exuberance of their glee at the prospect of fightingand pillage.
Wild-looking Cossacks riding shaggy ponies were continually gallopingup to the frontier-line with defiant cries as if challenging theCzernovese sentinels to fire; after which, with a menacing flourish oftheir lances they would career back to their own camp.
Russian generals, stately and bearded, could be seen standing onvarious points of elevated ground, coolly reconnoitring throughfield-glasses, and studying the topography of Czernova, as ifpurposing to conduct a campaign in the principality.
Two envoys successively despatched by the princess to the Russian campto inquire into the meaning of these sinister doings had failed toreturn. The obvious conclusion was that they had been forciblydetained.
Barbara had resolved at all hazards to defend her throne; andaccordingly, while a body of ten thousand troops was retained atSlavowitz for the preservation of order during the coronation, asecond division of ten thousand, with Dorislas in command, had madetheir way to the frontier. Under the personal supervision of Zabern,artillery had been planted upon all the strategic points thatcommanded the road to Slavowitz.
It was a critical time. The Czernovese army lay encamped within sightof a force whose numerical superiority was as ten to one. On each sideof the frontier Polish and Russian sentinels paced not one hundredyards apart; a chance shot from either side might easily bring onhostilities.
The princess's ministry lived in hourly dread of invasion, and thoughstriving to put a bold front upon the matter, were secretly convincedthat the sands of Czernovese liberty were fast running out.
In the midst of a melancholy revery, Barbara learned that the Duke ofBora was in the palace, desirous of an interview with her. She was notunprepared for his coming, and stern was her face as she descended tothe White Saloon where the duke was in waiting.
At the foot of the staircase she was met by the captain of thepalace-guard, who requested the watchword for the night; and takingthe proffered tablet, the princess returned it inscribed with thewords, "Fatherland and Liberty."
Lifting her eyes she perceived Zabern by her side.
"The duke has come," she whispered.
"All is ready," replied the marshal.
As Barbara entered the White Saloon, the duke bowed with a scarcelydisguised smile of triumph. The recent Russian movement, as theprincess had secret reason to know, was directed in his interests;with pitying grace he came as a sort of conqueror to make his termswith her.
Great at swordsmanship, Bora was not very shrewd in other matters, andnone but a fool would have ventured to play the game that he wasplaying.
"I have come, fair cousin," he began, undeterred by her cold manner,"to remind you of your promise so frequently made--your promise tomarry me."
Barbara made no reply, but regarded him with a look of sovereigndisdain on her beautiful face.
"It is true," continued Bora, airily, "that you gave what you werepleased to call your final decision some weeks ago; still, the logicof events often compels one to revoke a decision."
"And why do you deem the present a favorable time for renewing yoursuit? What is this logic of events?"
Bora smiled mysteriously.
"I will say no more than this," he remarked, "that you will certainlylive to regret the rejection of my suit."
"You evade my question. Let me then express what is in your mind. Mylord, by favor of the Czar, you expect to reign over Czernova; youseek to usurp my throne. But knowing that so long as I live, yourthrone would always be insecure, you would make me your wife, not fromlove, not from generosity or pity, but merely to give validity to yourtitle. Have I not read your cowardly motive aright?"
She had--accurately.
Unaware how much the princess had learned of his secret dealings, thefatuous Bora had come in the full assurance that the approach of aRussian army and the consequent rumors of annexation would havedisposed her to welcome his suit as a means of retaining her throne.He now perceived his error. The princess was not so timid a person ashe had thought. Her stern manner somewhat alarmed him. He began toregret his imprudence in thus venturing into her presence.
"In short, your grace, marriage with you is the only thing that cansave me from deposition. Is not that what you would say?"
"You reject my suit? Good! Then let this interview terminate," saidBora, rising as if to depart.
The princess restrained him by a haughty gesture.
"Keep your seat, or I shall call the guard."
The duke obeyed, trembling now for his own safety. Never had he seenthe princess looking so angry.
"Why, during the past twelve months, have you insulted me with vows oflove, with offers of marriage?"
"Insulted? Why that word?" said the duke, striving to conceal hisalarm under an assumption of dignity.
"Because while simulating affection for me you were secretlyintriguing with my enemies."
"You have been listening to the aspersions of Zabern."
"I have been listening to the words of Lipski. Ah! you start, my lord,and well you may. You are not yet aware--for the affair was carriedout very quietly--that a raid was made this afternoon upon Lipski'spremises. His cellars were found to contain a vast store of arms. Inthe house, too, was a number of Russian agents, among them the spy,Ivan Russakoff. Lipski has made full confession."
"Of what?" muttered the duke, looking thunderstruck at the princess'sstatement.
"Of many things. Here is one. About a twelve-month ago there wasestablished a new journal entitled the 'Kolokol,' mainly devoted tothe libelling of myself and to the stirring-up of civil strife. Beforethe founding of that newspaper the Muscovites of Russograd were asloyal and law-abiding as the Poles themselves; under the influence ofthe 'Kolokol,' however, they have become restless, disorderly,inclined to sedition. Was that well done, John Lilieski?"
"What has this to do with me?"
"Much, for though Lipski might be edi
tor, yet he who actually ownedthe paper, financed it, and secretly controlled its policy was noneother than the Duke of Bora."
"A fable of Lipski's, invented to please the princess's ministers."
"We will see whether you adhere to that statement in the presence ofLipski, for you shall have the opportunity of facing your accuser. Helikewise avers that his measure, the Secular Appropriation Bill, wasin reality your work; he simply acted as your mouthpiece in the Diet.The money with which he corrupted the deputies was supplied by you,and came from Orloff, the governor-general of Warsaw."
"A falsehood. I affirm the story to be a falsehood."
"You devised a plot for the destruction of the Czernovese Charter. Youwrote to Orloff desiring him to obtain the Czar's sanction for thisscheme--a scheme which was, however, happily frustrated," addedBarbara, not knowing how widely she erred from the truth.
"Lipski has been terrorized into saying whatever Zabern wishes,"muttered the duke, moistening his dry lips with his tongue.
He saw that his treason had become known and proved; and for suchtreason as his there could be but one punishment--death! He glancedaround the apartment, wondering whether her guards were really withincall. In his desperation he would not have hesitated at slaying her,if by that deed he could have effected his escape.
Barbara drew forth a handkerchief marked with a dreadful dark stain.Instead of regarding it with a shudder as might have been expected,she pressed it affectionately to her lips.
"The blood of Trevisa," she said solemnly, "of Trevisa, the mostfaithful and loyal of my servants--slain at your instigation.Russakoff was paid to do the deed by Lipski, but Lipski took hisinstructions from the Duke of Bora."
"It's a lie."
"Katina Ludovska, though at the time she did not clearly see Lipski'sface, has to-day recognized him by his voice, as the man who at theinn--Sobieski's Rest--offered to Russakoff the bribe of four hundredroubles. I have had Lipski brought here purposely to meet you. He isin the palace at the present moment. Your grace, come with me," saidthe princess, rising and motioning Bora to follow her. "Let me see youmeet him with a denial. None more glad than I if you will do this.Come. Dare you?"
It seemed not. He shrank back from accompanying the princess to theadjoining ante-room, where sat both his miserable accomplice Lipskiand the equally miserable Russakoff, each under the guard of aquaternion of soldiers.
"You virtually admit your guilt in refusing to face your accuser. Themuskets found on Lipski's premises have been surreptitiously forwardedby Orloff with your knowledge and approval. To-morrow before break ofday those arms were to have been distributed to a Muscovite mobrendered valiant by copious supplies of vodka. At a certain pointalong the intended route of the coronation procession, barricades wereto be thrown up, and when firing and rioting had begun, a message wasto be despatched to the camp of the Czar, urging him to come and savethe Muscovites from massacre at the hands of the Poles. And the Czar,responsive to the appeal, would come to establish in Czernova what hewould call a stable government, its stability to consist in theacceptance of his own suzerainty and in the establishment of hiskinsman Bora upon the throne. The deposed princess might marry Bora,if she chose; if not, there is in Ladoga's gray lake an islandfortress named Schlusselburg; there let her pass the remainder of herdays. Such is the programme you would fain carry out to-morrow. Mylord of Bora, you have played a dark game; it is time you receivedyour reward."
The princess clapped her hands quickly, and at the sound every door ofthe White Saloon opened and through each there came marching a file ofsoldiers, two abreast. With quick silent footfall they advanced overthe velvet carpet, and with a thrill of awe the duke perceived thatall were carrying their arms reversed as at a funeral.
Deploying in their advance the files so moved as to form a double ringaround the princess and the duke, and there they stood, terrible intheir rigidity and silence.
The circle gave way and Zabern appeared, a chilling glare in his eye.At a sign from him one soldier with a swift motion pulled the duke'shands behind him, and in a moment more had corded his wrists, while asecond pinned upon his breast a piece of white satin in shape like aheart.
At sight of this dreadful fabric designed to direct the aim of afiring party, the duke's courage fled; his knees smote together; hegrew white to the very lips.
Only ten miles distant were one hundred thousand men ready to assisthim to a throne; for all the aid they could now give him they might aswell have been situated in the planet Mars.
"The firing-party awaits you in the quadrangle," said Zabern, as theguards closed up around the duke. "Forward!"
"Have a care what you do, Cousin Natalie," said Bora, scarcely able tospeak from fear. "You will have to answer to the Czar for this."
"You speak treason with your last breath," said Barbara. "Answer tothe Czar for executing a traitor in my own principality! Whatjurisdiction hath the Czar in Czernova?"
"Traitor!" cried Zabern, fiercely. "I would stab you with my own hand,though the Czar himself were by. To the quadrangle--forward!"
The murmur of the restless populace without penetrated to the interiorof the palace, and was heard by the wretched duke. Was he to die withthe sound of the coronation-mirth ringing in his ears?
In the ante-chamber Zabern halted his troop and returned to the sideof the princess.
"This instrument lacks your Highness's signature," he remarked,presenting her with the warrant for the duke's execution.
"On occasions such as this," murmured Barbara, taking the document,"one is tempted to say with Saint Vladimir, 'Who am I that I shouldshed blood?'"
"And yet Vladimir shed a good deal, if history speak truth," respondedZabern, "and therefore became he a saint after Russia's own heart.Your Highness, this is no time for pity. It is a question of your lifeor the duke."
The princess appended a name to the warrant.
"I fear," observed Zabern, with a grave smile, "that the captain ofthe firing-party will question the authority of that signature."
The princess looked, and to her surprise saw that she had subscribedherself not "Natalie Lilieski," but "Barbara Tressilian!" She hadunwittingly written her mother's maiden name.
She did not erase the signature, but proceeded to indite a freshwarrant. She wrote very slowly, pondering as she wrote. What would thereal Natalie have thought, said, or done, if she were living now andsaw her elder sister signing the death-warrant of her lover?
With a sigh she handed the document to the marshal, who immediatelyreturned it with a very strange look. And there, staring at her fromthe paper, were the self-same words as before--"Barbara Tressilian!"
The princess had her superstitious moments, and this was one of them.That she should unintentionally have written the same twice seemed aconfirmation of the misgiving that had troubled her for several weeks.
"This is the hand of heaven," she murmured, in a tone of awe, andlaying down the pen. "Are not the illegitimate always called aftertheir mother? I have written my true name. Marshal," she added in afearful whisper, "it is Bora who should be on the throne, and I shouldbe the prisoner of the Citadel."
"Your Highness, do not talk thus."
But Barbara paid little heed.
"I am tempted to summon the Diet, even at this late hour, and toreveal to them my secret history, the whole miserable story of mybirth."
"You will bring ruin on Czernova if you do. What guarantee have youthat the cardinal's story is true?"
"This," replied Barbara, pointing to her signature on thedeath-warrant.
The marshal shrugged his shoulders deprecatingly.
"And therefore, because you suspect yourself to be of illicit birth,you would tender your diadem to an assassin and a traitor. Then letthe Czar himself lay down his power; true, he is the son of theEmperor Paul, but was Paul really the child of Peter III.? Catherineand Soltikoff, the chamberlain, could best answer that question.Princess, you are over-scrupulous. Your title to the throne is foundedon a better rig
ht than that of the accident of birth. The sovereignrules by the will of the people, and are not the majority on yourside? If the princely office were made elective, is there anycandidate who would have the least chance of success against yourself?And, _vox populi, vox Dei_. What other sanction do you require?"
"The sanction of my own conscience. And to-morrow--to-morrow," shemurmured in a tone of distress, "after taking the Holy Sacrament Imust lay my hand upon the Charter--"
"Upon a forged document, rather," muttered Zabern, grimly to himself.
"And declare that 'I, Natalie Lilieska, do solemnly vow' to maintainits provisions, knowing that I am not Natalie Lilieska. No, Zabern, Icannot--I will not utter this falsehood."
"Then let the Pope avow himself a liar when in solemn conclave heassumes the style of Pio Nono, and ignores his true name of GiovanniMastai."
"All men know of the Pope's change of name; there is no attempt atdeception; but I claim to be other than I am. If I were certain ofillegitimacy I would resign my power this very night."
"I see quite plainly," said Zabern, speaking with more freedom than hehad hitherto employed towards the princess, "that if Czernova werehanded over to the Czar, and your faithful ministers sent to Siberia,you would be very well content."
As he spoke the marshal drew his sabre.
"Do you bid me break the sword that has been so long used in thePolish cause? Must I retire hence to aid the Hungarians, to obtainthat freedom which you would deny to us in Czernova?"
"No, marshal, no; we must not part. I will stand by those who havestood by me. Clinging to the hope that there is no dishonor on myname, I will hold to my crown."
"A wise decision, princess," replied Zabern, considerably relieved byher words. "And now as to the duke's execution."
"What, marshal? Would you have me sign his death-warrant when I amdoubtful of my right to rule?--and sign it, too, in the name of one,who, strange as it may seem to us, loved him? No, I cannot sign thisdocument with the name of Natalie."
"But your Highness cannot sign it with any other."
"Then I will not sign it at all."
"I greatly fear that your Highness will live to regret this clemency."
"Be it so."
The first glow of Barbara's anger had passed, and she listened to thevoice of prudence. Though the duke richly merited death, yet hisexecution without trial would give the Czar a very convenient pretextfor intervening in the affairs of Czernova.
"By shooting the duke I make the Czar the heir to my crown," saidBarbara. "By retaining him alive I may be able to make use of hisperson as a pawn on the political chessboard. Imprisonment will be thewiser course. Remove the duke to the Citadel."
And inasmuch as the marshal recognized Barbara as his princess, he hadof necessity to obey.
When Zabern had seen the duke securely lodged in a cell of theCitadel, he returned to the White Saloon, where Barbara stilllingered, wrapt in melancholy thought.
"Your Highness, on entering the palace this note was put into myhands."
Barbara glanced at the missive and saw that it contained the followingwords: "Marshal, will you accord the bearer of this an interview withthe princess?--PAUL WOODVILLE."
Barbara's melancholy vanished as if by enchantment. Two months had nowelapsed since Paul's departure, and during that time she had receivedno message from him. Now at last there seemed to be tidings.
"Who is the bearer, marshal?"
"One returned from the dead. A woman calling herself 'Jacintha ofCastel Nuovo.' She is in the ante-room at the present moment awaitingyour Highness's pleasure."
The mention of the name "Jacintha" almost drew a scream from theprincess. She ordered the visitor to be instantly admitted.
Barbara's character was not marked by the false pride that is toooften the accompaniment of rank and wealth. She welcomed her humblevisitor as warmly as she would have welcomed a queen or empress.Jacintha had nursed her back to life, and Barbara, mindful of thisservice, was delighted to have the opportunity of making some return.
"My lady--your Highness, I should say," began Jacintha, sinking uponher knees, "it is very untimely on my part to visit you on the eve ofyour coronation, when you are occupied--"
"My dear old nurse," said Barbara, raising Jacintha up with a winningsmile, "let me whisper a secret to you. I want to forget mycoronation, and your presence will make me forget it. Sit here besideme, and let us talk of the old days at Castel Nuovo."
Zabern would have withdrawn, but the princess bade him stay.
"I had thought," continued Barbara, "that you had perished in thatdreadful earthquake. And Lambro? Is he alive?"
"No, my la--your Highness. We were outside the castle at the time ofthe calamity, for some previous rumblings had alarmed us. When thegreat shock came Lambro slipped into a fissure that opened beneath hisfeet. He went down before my very eyes, and the earth closed over himimmediately. How I myself escaped I cannot tell, for the ground wasopening and closing all around me."
"Poor Lambro!" sighed Barbara, who had always entertained a liking forthe old Palicar, not knowing how little he deserved her friendship."And where have you been living during the two past years?"
Jacintha's story, briefly stated, was as follows. After the earthquakeshe had made her way to Trieste, and thence by steamer to England.Within a few weeks of her return she had had the good fortune tobecome housekeeper in one of the ancient halls of Kent.
"But now will you not remain with me?" smiled the princess.
"Your Highness will not wish it after you have heard the whole of mystory," replied Jacintha, and the strange look which accompanied herwords somehow caused all Barbara's gladness to die away.
A few days previously Jacintha's master had bidden her prepare for thecoming of one of his friends, Captain Woodville by name. What was heramazement to find in her visitor none other than Captain Cressingham,who on his part was equally astounded at meeting Jacintha. Paulimmediately fell to talking of the old days at Castel Nuovo, and,among other matters, he questioned Jacintha closely as to the younglady who had visited the castle under the escort of Cardinal Ravenna.Jacintha learnt from Paul that this lady was in reality thehalf-sister of Barbara, and that both held the rank of princess. Thenit was that Jacintha resolved to tell Paul the true story of Natalie'sdeath.
"Ha!" muttered Zabern, foreseeing that his dark suspicion was about tobe verified.
"And Captain Woodville has sent you here to tell it to me likewise--isit not so?" asked Barbara.
"Yes, your Highness. I wanted to put the story into writing, that youmight learn it in that way. I wanted Captain Cressingham himself totell it to you. But no; he said it was better that you should hear itfrom my lips, and he prevailed upon me to come here."
"Go on, Jacintha," said Barbara encouragingly, for Jacintha seemedvery loath to proceed.
"Your Highness, it is no wonder that the earthquake came to swallow upthe castle, for wicked doings took place there. But do not blame mefor my association with them. I loathed my position there, and wouldhave run away, but for the fear of Lambro and his mastiffs. Now thatyou are a great princess, you will perhaps punish me when you shallhave heard the truth."
"Captain Woodville would not have sent you all the way to Czernova, ifhe had thought that I should punish you. Tell me the story of mysister's death. You have my word beforehand that no hurt shall happento you."
And Jacintha with a faltering tongue began a story, the recital ofwhich caused Barbara to thrill with horror.
"O Natalie, my sister! my sister!" she murmured, when Jacintha hadfinished. "But for the cardinal, you would still be living. His guiltylove has driven one sister to suicide, and now, opposed in his wickeddesires, he seeks to destroy the other. How can heaven permit this manto live? Bora's guilt is innocence compared with the guilt ofRavenna."
Powerless to allay the princess's grief, Zabern could only watch herin sympathizing silence, and mentally renew his vows of vengeance uponthe cardinal. So full was Barbara of th
is new sorrow that she seemedto have forgotten Paul; at least she made no inquiries about him.
Zabern, however, leading Jacintha aside, quietly questioned her as tothe movements of the princess's late secretary. It appeared that Paulhad accompanied Jacintha as far as Berlin, and had there put her in atrain bound for Czernova; seized with a sudden illness on the way, shehad been removed from the carriage at the first stopping-place, andthis circumstance had delayed her arrival in Czernova by several days.Paul himself, on parting from her, was going direct to St. Petersburg,a statement which Zabern received with incredulity.
"St. Petersburg? Are you certain?"
Yes, Jacintha was quite certain.
"St. Petersburg," muttered Zabern. "Not three months ago the Russianswere demanding his extradition, and now does he venture into thecountry of his enemies? If his passport is made out in the name ofPaul Woodville, he is a doomed man; they will never let the defenderof Tajapore depart. This is something I can't understand."
Though closely interrogated by Zabern, Jacintha was unable to throwany light upon the motives that had prompted Paul to visit Russia.
The marshal paced uneasily to and fro.
"Captain Woodville," he murmured, "pledged his solemn word to be inCzernova on the coronation eve; for, forewarned by me, he had reasonto believe that the princess's crown depended upon his sword. But hehas not yet appeared. His absence has something sinister in it, for itis certain that he would be here if he could. True, his presence inone sense has now become unnecessary, inasmuch as the duke being aprisoner in the Citadel will be unable to appear in the cathedralto-morrow to challenge the princess's rights, and to defy her tomortal combat by deputy. But as Woodville can know nothing of theduke's imprisonment, why does he not hasten to the supposed aid of theprincess? I greatly fear that our champion is himself a prisoner."
At this point intimation was given by the chamberlain that one ofZabern's familiars, privileged to enter the palace at all hours, wasin the anteroom, desirous of a word with the marshal.
Zabern withdrew from the White Saloon, and returned after a minute'sabsence with the tidings for which he had been waiting all day.
"Your Highness, my spy appointed to watch the cardinal in hisjourneying to and fro from Rome reports that his Eminence has justarrived at Slavowitz, bringing with him the papal bull which deposesthe Princess of Czernova, and absolves her subjects from theirallegiance."
"Say, rather, bringing with him his own death-warrant," criedBarbara, with a blaze of wrath unusual in her.
"Your Highness gives me leave to deal with the cardinal as I please,"whispered Zabern, tapping the hilt of his sabre significantly.
Barbara made no reply.
The marshal interpreting her silence as consent, stole quietly fromthe apartment.