CHAPTER XLII
THE COUNTESS RETURNS
Lechmere bought a paper and read the paragraph for himself. It seemedstrange that this thing should happen at a time when everybody wastalking of Asturia and its rulers. First there was the sensationalinterview in the _Mercury_ to set all tongues talking and then, almostbefore the public had grasped what had happened, the _Herald_ came outwith a flat contradiction and a dignified statement to the effect thatthe _Mercury_ had been hoaxed by an impudent practical joker.
Here was an excellent chance for the evening papers and they did theirbest to make a good thing of it. But the more things came to beinvestigated the firmer became the position of the _Herald_. Beyond alldoubt the real king had been safe at Merehaven House at the very timewhen his deputy was closeted with the editor of the _Mercury_.
And now this had come on the top of it all. There was no reason to doubtthat the veritable ruler of Asturia had met with an accident, seeingthat the _Herald_ had proclaimed the fact that he was already on his wayto his kingdom. Lechmere shook his head as he read.
"Is this foul play or another link in the amazing chain?" Jessie asked.
"I should say foul play," Lechmere replied. "We have a most dangerousfoe to contend with. And at any hazards the king must be kept fromreaching his capital just now. I should not wonder if the special trainhad been deliberately wrecked----"
"It makes one's heart bleed for the queen," Jessie murmured. "If shecomes successfully out of this."
"She won't," said Lechmere curtly. "She is only Asturian by marriage,and the people had never really cared for her, devoted as she is totheir interests. They want to get rid of the king. If he abdicates, thenRussia comes in. If he were killed at this moment, Russia would stillcome in. But given a few days longer and Prince Alix will be in Asturia.This is the man the populace want. If they can once proclaim him, Russiais checkmated. You see how things stand?"
"It would break the heart of the queen," Jessie said.
"I think not. She would worry for a time, but her position isintolerable. The present king's life hangs on a thread, the next plungeinto dissipation may kill him. And then Asturia would know the queen nolonger. She would marry Maxgregor, who worships the ground she walks on,and for the first time in her life would taste real happiness. And now Ishall leave you. It is necessary that I should see Prince Peretori atonce."
And Lechmere hastened away in pursuit of the Prince. They missed oneanother by a few minutes but they met at length. Needless to say,Peretori had heard the news.
"You can see exactly what has happened," the latter said. "CountessSaens has gone off in a great hurry to see if she could prevent the kingfrom reaching Asturia. If he reaches his capital what will happen willbe this--he will be invited at once to attend a conference and placehimself freely and unreservedly in the hands of his ministers. They willask him to proclaim his abdication in favour of Prince Alix."
"I see," Lechmere said thoughtfully. "That knocks Russia out. But if theking does not get there at all?"
Peretori chuckled as if something amused him.
"The king is going to get there," he said. "He will be rather damaged byhis accident, but he will get there all the same. I'll see to that."
"If you have some scheme in your mind, I should like to know what itis," Lechmere said.
"Not at present, my dear fellow. I did a very foolish thing last nightand I am anxious to try and wipe it out. I calculate that I can arriveon the scene of the accident by dark to-night, by using a despatch boatwhich Lord Merehaven has placed at my disposal. I am going alone and Iam going to disguise myself. I may send you a telegram this evening, ifI do, hold yourself in readiness to follow me. So far as my cousin andhis consort are concerned, Asturia is dead. But it is not going to fallinto the lap of Russia all the same."
Nothing that Lechmere could say served to break Peretori's obstinatesilence. He had a plan of his own and he was going to carry it out ifnecessary.
"Go and see the queen," he urged, "go and see Maxgregor. Unless I amgreatly mistaken in the character of the queen, she is pretty certain tofollow Erno. If she does she is equally certain to make a mess of it.She must not go, and Maxgregor must prevent it. Put Maxgregor in a cabif it is possible to move him, and see that he keeps the queen here.Tell Maxgregor that I am going to put the third scheme into operation."
"You have seen Maxgregor to-day?" Lechmere asked in some surprise.
"Yes, I saw him early to-day and talked matters over. He abused me inthe most shameful manner, but I had to put up with it. Good bye."
Peretori jumped into a passing hansom and was whirled away, leavingLechmere to his own thoughts. But Peretori's advice was singularly soundfrom that usually feather-headed individual, and Lechmere decided to goas far as Maxgregor's at once. Maxgregor was sitting up in bedimpatiently fuming over an evening paper which lay propped up beforehim.
"This is a nice mess," he exclaimed. "Of course that special train waswrecked deliberately. Not that it very much matters, seeing thatPeretori--but perhaps you have not seen him? You have? Good! Did he sendany kind of message to me?"
"Yes," Lechmere replied. "He said that he was going to put the thirdprogramme into execution."
Maxgregor chuckled and his dark angry face relaxed. He managed to crawlout of bed, but he was still very weak and staggering. He dressed withLechmere's assistance.
"Call a cab and take me as far as the queen's hotel," he said. "I mustsee her majesty alone. It is important that she keeps quiet at thisjunction. She must be persuaded to drive about and show herself just asif nothing had happened."
But there was nothing quiet about the queen as the two arrived at thehotel. She was pacing up and down the morning room, despite VeraGalloway's efforts to soothe her. The girl lay on a couch, for her anklewas still giving her a deal of pain.
"So you have managed to come to me, brave heart," the queen cried, asshe held out both hands to Maxgregor. "What should I do without yourdevoted courage? Are you well enough to accompany me across the Channel.I am going at once."
"You are going to do nothing of the kind, madame," Maxgregor saidsternly. "The thing is already in the most capable hands. May I beg afew words in private with you?"
The queen led the way into an inner room. Vera turned eagerly toLechmere. Her face was pale and her eyes were heavy with the tears thatshe was too proud to let fall.
"Is there anything fresh to tell me?" she demanded eagerly. "I did notcare to mention my private grief before the queen, who has been so goodto me. But Charles Maxwell was in that train also. If there has been abad accident, if it is to be called an accident----"
"It was no accident," Lechmere said grimly. "The thing was donedeliberately. And we dare not make too many enquiries because it mayarouse suspicion. Try and fix your mind on something else. It is just asimperative now as it was yesterday to regain possession of those papersyou risked so much to get."
"If we could only find them," Vera sighed. "If we only knew into whosehands they had fallen!"
"Well, as a matter of fact we do know that," Lechmere said coolly. "Alsowe know exactly where they are. And I am going to try and obtainpossession of them this very day. The mere fact of those papers comingback into our hands would go far to free Maxwell from suspicion. Youfollow me?"
It was quite plain that Vera followed. As much of recent events as hedared Lechmere told her. He would be back in a little time, he said, butmeanwhile he was going as far as the house of Countess Saens with theobject of having another talk with Annette.
Lechmere's mind was perfectly well occupied as he walked along. He hadnearly reached his destination when a cab pulled up before the residenceof the Countess of Saens. A tall graceful figure carefully cloaked andveiled stepped out and darted for the house without paying the cabman.Evidently the graceful figure had taken alarm at somebody in the road.
"By Jove, it's me," Lechmere muttered. "And that was the countess, for amillion. Now what brings her back in a break-neck hurry like t
his?"