CHAPTER IV
TRUXTON TRESPASSES
He went to bed that night, tired and happy. To his revived spirits andhis new attitude toward life in its present state, the city had suddenlyturned gay and vivacious. Twice during the evening he passed Spantz'sshop. It was dark, upstairs and down. He wondered if the unhappy Olgawas looking at him from behind the darkened shutters. But even if shewere not--la, la! He was having a good time! He was gay! He was seeingpretty women in the cafes and the gardens! Well, well, he would see herto-morrow--after that he would give proper heed to the Baron's warning!An anarchist's daughter!
He slept well, too, with never a thought of the Saturday express whichhe had lain awake on other nights to lament and anathematise. Bright andearly in the morning he was astir. Somehow he felt he had been sleepingtoo much of late.
There was a sparkle in his eyes as he struck out across town afterbreakfast. He burst in upon Mr. Hobbs at Cook's.
"Say, Hobbs, how about the Castle to-day--in an hour, say? Can you takea party of one rubbernecking this A.M.? I like you, Hobbs. You are thebest interpreter of English I've ever seen. I can't help understandingyou, no matter how hard I try not to. I want you to get me into theCastle grounds to-day and show me where the duchesses dawdle and thecountesses cavort. I'm ashamed to say it, Hobbs, but since yesterdayI've quite lost interest in the middle classes and the component partsthereof. I have suddenly acquired a thirst for champagne--in otherwords, I have a hankering for the nobility. Catch the idea? Good! Thenyou'll guide me into the land of the fairies? At ten?"
"I'll take you to the Castle grounds, Mr. King, all right enough, sir,and I'll tell you all the things of interest, but I'll be 'anged, sir,if I've got the blooming nerve to introduce you to the first ladies ofthe land. That's more than I can ever 'ope to do, sir, and--"
"Lord bless you, Hobbs, don't look so depressed. I don't ask you topresent me at court. I just want to look at the lilacs and thegargoyles. That's as far as I expect to carry my invasion of the dreamworld."
"Of course, sir, you understand there are certain parts of the Park notopen to the public. The grotto and the playgrounds and the Basin ofVenus--"
"I'll not trespass, so don't fidget, Hobbs. I'll be here for you atten."
Mr. Hobbs looked after the vigorous, happy figure as it swung down thestreet, and shook his head mournfully. Turning to the solitary clerk whodawdled behind the cashier's desk he remarked with more feeling than washis wont:
"He's just the kind of chap to get me into no end of trouble if I give'im rope enough. Take it from me, Stokes, I'll have my hands full of 'imup there this morning. He's charged like a soda bottle; and you neverknow wot's going to happen unless you handle a soda bottle verycareful-like."
Truxton hurried to the square and across it to the shop of the armourer,not forgetting, however, to look about in some anxiety for the excellentDangloss, who might, for all he knew, be snooping in the neighbourhood.Spantz was at the rear of the shop, talking to a customer. The girl wasbehind the counter, dressed for the street.
She came quickly out to him, a disturbed expression in her face. As hedoffed his hat, the smile left his lips; he saw that she had beenweeping.
"You must not come here, Mr. King," she said hurriedly, in low tones."Take your broadsword this morning and--please, for my sake, do not comeagain. I--I may not explain why I am asking you to do this, but I meanit for your good, more than for my own. My uncle will be out in amoment. He knows you are here. He is listening now to catch what I amsaying to you. Smile, please, or he will suspect--"
"See here," demanded King, smiling, but very much in earnest, "what'sup? You've been crying. What's he been doing or saying to you? I'll givehim a--"
"No, no! Be sensible! It is nothing in which you could possibly take ahand. I don't know you, Mr. King, but I am in earnest when I say that itis not safe for you to come here, ostensibly to buy. It is too easilyseen through--it is--"
"Just a minute, please," he interrupted. "I've heard your story fromBaron Dangloss. It has appealed to me. You are not happy. Are you introuble? Do you need friends, Miss Platanova?"
"It is because you would be a friend that I ask you to stay away. Youcannot be my friend. Pray do not consider me bold for assuming so much.But I know--I know _men_, Mr. King. The Baron has told you all aboutme?" She smiled sadly. "Alas, he has only told you what he knows. But itshould be sufficient. There is no place in my life for you or any oneelse. There never can be. So, you see, you may not develop your romancewith me as the foundation. Oh, I've heard of your quest of adventure. Ilike you for it. I had an imagination myself, once on a time. I lovedthe fairy books and the love tales. But not now-not now. There is noromance for me. Nothing but grave reality. Do not question me! I can sayno more. Now I must be gone. I--I have warned you. Do not come again!"
"Thanks, for the warning," he said quietly. "But I expect to come inoccasionally, just the same. You've taken the wrong tack by trying tofrighten me off. You see, Miss Platanova, I'm actually looking forsomething dangerous--if that's what you mean."
"That isn't all, believe me," she pleaded. "You can gain nothing bycoming. You know who I am. I cannot be a friend--not even anacquaintance to you, Mr. King. Good-bye! Please do not come again!"
She slipped into the street and was gone. King stood in the doorway,looking after her, a puzzled gleam in his eyes. Old Spantz was coming upfrom the rear, followed by his customer.
"Queer," thought the American. "She's changed her tactics rathersuddenly. Smiled at me in the beginning and now cries a bit because I'mtrying to return the compliment. Well, by the Lord Harry, she shan'tscare me off like--Hello, Mr. Spantz! Good morning! I'm here for thesword."
The old man glared at him in unmistakable displeasure. Truxton begancounting out his money. The customer, a swarthy fellow, passed out ofthe door, turning to glance intently at the young man. A meaning lookand a sly nod passed between him and Spantz. The man halted at thecorner below and, later on, followed King to Cook's office, afterward tothe Castle gates, outside of which he waited until his quarryreappeared. Until King went to bed late that night this swarthy fellowwas close at his heels, always keeping well out of sight himself.
"I'll come in soon to look at those rings," said King, placing the noteson the counter. Spantz merely nodded, raked in the bills withoutcounting them, and passed the sword over to the purchaser.
"Very good, sir," he growled after a moment.
"I hate to carry this awful thing through the streets," said King,looking at the huge weapon with despairing eye. Inwardly, he was cursinghimself for his extravagance and cupidity.
"It belongs to you, my friend. Take it or leave it."
"I'll take it," said Truxton, smiling indulgently. With that he pickedup the weapon and stalked away.
A few minutes later he was on his way to the Castle grounds, accompaniedby the short-legged Mr. Hobbs, who, from time to time, was forced toremove his tight-fitting cap to mop a hot, exasperated brow, so swiftwas the pace set by long-legs. The broadsword reposed calmly on a deskunder the nose of a properly impressed young person named Stokes,cashier.
Hobbs led him through the great Park gates and up to the lodge of JacobFraasch, the venerable high steward of the grounds. Here, to King's utterdisgust, he was booked as a plain Cook's tourist and mechanicallyadvised to pay strict attention to the rules which would be explained tohim by the guide.
"Cook's tourist, eh?" muttered King wrathfully as they ambled down theshady path together. He looked with disparaging eye upon the plainlittle chap beside him.
"It's no disgrace," growled Hobbs, redder than ever. "You're inside thegrounds and you've got to obey the rules, same as any tourist. Rightthis way, sir; we'll take a turn just inside the wall. Now, on yourleft, ladies and--ahem!--I should say--ahem!--sir, you may see thefirst turret ever built on the wall. It is over four hundred years old.On the right, we have--"
"See here, Hobbs," said King, stopping short, "I'm damned if I'll letyou lecture me as if I w
ere a gang of hayseeds from Oklahoma."
"Very good, sir. No offence. I quite forgot, sir."
"Just _tell_ me--don't lecture."
For three-quarters of an hour they wandered through the spaciousgrounds, never drawing closer to the Castle than permitted by therestrictions; always coming up to the broad driveway which marked theborder line, never passing it. The gorgeous beauty of this historic oldpark, so full of traditions and the lore of centuries, wrought strangefancies and bold inclinations in the head of the audacious visitor. Hefelt the bonds of restraint; he resented the irksome chains ofconvention; he murmured against the laws that said he should not stepacross the granite road into the cool forbidden world beyond--the worldof kings. Hobbs knew he was doomed to have rebellion on his hands beforelong; he could see it coming.
"When we've seen the royal stables, we'll have seen everything of anyconsequence," he hastened to say. "Then we'll leave by the upper gatesand--"
"Hobbs, this is all very beautiful and very grand and very slow," saidKing, stopping to lean against the moss-covered wall that encircled thepark within a park: the grounds adjoining the grotto. "Can't I hop overthis wall and take a peep into the grotto?"
"By no means," cried Hobbs, horrified. "That, sir, is the mostproscribed spot, next to the Castle itself. You _can't_ go in there."
King looked over the low wall. The prospect was alluring. The pool, thetrickling rivulets, the mossy banks, the dense shadows: it was maddeningto think he could not enter!
"I wouldn't be in there a minute," he argued. "And I might catch aglimpse of a dream-lady. Now, I say, Hobbs, here's a low place. I couldjump--"
"Mr. King, if you do that I am ruined forever. I am trusted by thesteward. He would cut off all my privileges--" Hobbs could go nofurther. He was prematurely aghast. Something told him that Mr. Kingwould hop over the wall.
"Just this once, Hobbs," pleaded his charge. "No one will know."
"For the love of Moses, sir, I--" Hobbs began to wail. Then he groanedin dismal horror. King had lightly vaulted the wall and was grinningback at him from the sacred precincts--from the playground ofprincesses.
"Go and report me, Hobbs, there's a good fellow. Tell the guards Iwouldn't obey. That will let you out, my boy, and I'll do the rest. ForHeaven's sake, Hobbs, don't burst! You'll explode sure if you hold inlike that much longer. I'll be back in a minute."
He strode off across the bright green turf toward the source of all thisenchantment, leaving poor Mr. Hobbs braced against the wall, weak-kneedand helpless. If he heard the frantic, though subdued, whistles and theagonized "hi!" of the man from Cook's a minute or two later, he gave noheed to the warning. A glimpse behind might have shown him the error ofhis ways, reflected in the disappearance of Hobbs's head below the topof the wall. But he was looking ahead, drinking in the forbiddenbeauties of this fascinating little nook of nature.
Never in all his wanderings had he looked upon a more inviting spot thanthis. He came to the edge of the deep blue pool, above which could beseen the entrance to the Grotto. Little rivulets danced down through thecrannies in the rocks and leaped joyously into the tree-shaded pool.Below and to the right were the famed Basins of Venus, shimmering in thesunlight, flanked by trees and banks of the softest green. On theirsurface swam the great black swans he had heard so much about. Through awide rift in the trees he could see the great, grey Castle, half a mileaway, towering against the dense greens of the nearby mountain. Thepicture took his breath away. He forgot Hobbs. He forgot that he was;trespassing. Here, at last, was the Graustark he had seen in his dreams,had come to feel in his imagination.
Regardless of surroundings or consequences, he sat down upon the neareststone bench, and removed his hat. He was hot and tired and the air wascool. He would drink it in as if it were an ambrosial nectar in--and,moreover, he would also enjoy a cigarette. Carefully he refrained fromthrowing the burnt-out match into the pool below: even such as he couldfeel that it might be desecration. As he leaned back with a sigh ofexquisite ease and a splendid exhalation of Turkish smoke, a small,imperious voice from somewhere behind broke in upon his primaryreflections.
"What are you doing in here?" demanded the voice.
Truxton, conscious of guilt, whirled with as much consternation as if hehad been accosted by a voice of thunder. He beheld a very small boystanding at the top of the knoll above him, not thirty feet away. Hisface was quite as dirty as any small boy's should be at that time ofday, and his curly brown hair looked as if it had not been combed sincethe day before. His firm little legs, in half hose and presumably whiteknickers, were spread apart and his hands were in his pockets.
King recognised him at once, and looked about uneasily for theattendants whom he knew should be near. It is safe to say that he cameto his feet and bowed deeply, even in humility.
"I am resting, your Highness," he said meekly.
"Don't you know any better than to come in here?" demanded the Prince.Truxton turned very red.
"I am sorry. I'll go at once."
"Oh, I'm not going to put you out," hastily exclaimed the Prince, comingdown the slope. "But you are old enough to know better. The guards mightshoot you if they caught you here." He came quite close to thetrespasser. King saw the scratch on his nose. "Oh, I know you now. Youare the gentleman who picked up my crop yesterday. You are an American."A friendly smile illumined his face.
"Yes, a lonely American," with an attempt at the pathetic.
"Where's your home at?"
"New York. Quite a distance from here."
"You ever been in Central Park?"
"A thousand times. It isn't as nice as this one."
"It's got amilies--no, I don't mean that," supplemented the Prince,flushing painfully. "I mean--an-i-muls," very deliberately. "Our parkhas no elephunts or taggers. When I get big I'm going to set out a fewin the park. They'll grow, all right."
"I've shot elephants and tigers in the jungle," said Truxton. "I tellyou they're no fun when they get after you, wild. If I were you I'd set'em out in cages."
"P'raps I will." The Prince seemed very thoughtful.
"Won't you sit down, your Highness?"
The youngster looked cautiously about. "Say, do you ever go fishing?" hedemanded eagerly.
"Occasionally."
"You won't give me away, will you?" with a warning frown. "Don't youtell Jacob Fraasch. He's the steward. I--I know a fine place to fish.Would you mind coming along? Look out, please! You're awful big andthey'll see you. I don't know what they'd do to us if they ketched us.It would be dreadful. Would you mind sneaking, mister? Make yourselflittle. Right up this way."
The Prince led the way up the bank, followed by the amused American, whostooped so admirably that the boy, looking back, whispered that it was"just fine." At the top of the knoll, the Prince turned into a littleshrub-lined path leading down to the banks of the pool almost directlybelow the rocky face of the grotto.
"Don't be afraid," he whispered to his new friend. "It ain't very deep,if you should slip in. But you'd scare the fish away. Gee, it's a greatplace to catch 'em. They're all red, too. D'you ever see red fish?"
Truxton started. This was no place for him! The Prince had a right topoach on his own preserves, but a grown man to be caught in the act oflanding the royal goldfish was not to be thought of. He hung back.
"I'm afraid I won't have time, your Highness. A friend is waiting for meback there. He--"
"It's right here," pleaded the Prince. "Please stop a moment. I--I don'tknow how to put the bait on the pin. I just want to catch a couple. Theywon't bite unless there's worms on the hook. I tried 'em. Look at 'em!Goodness, there's lots of 'em. Nobody can see us here. Please, mister,fix a worm for me."
The man sat down behind a bush and laughed joyously. The eager,appealing look in the lad's eyes went to his heart. What was a goldfishor two? A fish has no feeling--not even a goldfish. There was noresisting the boyish eagerness.
"Why, you're a real boy, after all. I thought being a prince might
havespoiled you," he said.
"Uncle Jack says I can always be a prince, but I'll soon get over beinga boy," said Prince Bobby sagely. "You _will_ fix it, won't you?"
King nodded, conscienceless now. The Prince scurried behind a big rockand reappeared at once with a willow branch from the end of whichdangled a piece of thread. A bent pin occupied the chief end in view. Heunceremoniously shoved the branch into the hands of his confederate, andthen produced from one of his pockets a silver cigarette box, which hegingerly opened to reveal to the gaze a conglomerate mass of angle wormsand grubs.
"A fellow gets awful dirty digging for worms, doesn't he?" hepronounced.
"I should say so," agreed the big boy. "Whose cigarette case is this?"
"Uncle Caspar's--I mean Count Halfont's. He's got another, so he won'tmiss this one. I'm going to leave some worms in it when I put it back inhis desk. He'll think the fairies did it. Do you believe in fairies?"
"Certainly, Peter," said Truxton, engaged in impaling a stubborn worm.
"My name isn't Peter," said the Prince coldly.
"I was thinking of Peter Pan. Ever hear of him?"
"No. Say, you mustn't talk or you'll scare 'em away. Is it fixed?" Hetook the branch and gingerly dropped the hook into the dancing pool. Inless time than it requires to tell it he had a nibble, a bite and acatch. There never was a boy so excited as he when the scarlet nibblerflew into the shrubbery above; he gasped with glee. Truxton recoveredthe catch from the bushes and coolly detached the truculent pin.
"I'll have 'em for dinner," announced the Prince.
"Are you going to catch a mess?" queried the man, appalled.
"Sure," said Bobby, casting again with a resolute splash.
"Are you not afraid they'll get onto you if you take them to theCastle?" asked the other diplomatically. "Goldfish are a deadgive-away."
"Nobody will scold 'cept Uncle Jack, and he won't know about it. He'sprob'ly gone away by this time." King noticed that his lip trembledsuddenly.
"Gone away?"
"Yes. He was banished this morning right after breakfast." Theannouncement began with a tremor but ended with imperial firmness.
"Great Scott!" gasped the other, genuinely shocked.
"I banished him," said the Prince ruefully. "But," with a fine smile, "Idon't think he'll go. He never does. See my sign up there?" He pointedto the rocks near the grotto. "I did it with Hugo's shoe blacking."
A placard containing the important announcement, "NO FISHING ALOUD"stared down at the poachers from a tree trunk above. There was nothingvery peremptory in its appearance, but its designer was sufficientlyimpressed by the craftiness it contained.
"I put it up so's people wouldn't think anybody--not even me--would dareto fish here. Oh, look!" The second of his ruddy mess was flopping inthe grass. Again Truxton thought of Mr. Hobbs, this time with anxiousglances in all directions.
"Where do they think you are, your Highness?"
"Out walking with my aunt. Only she met Count Vos Engo, and while theywere talking I made a sneak--I mean, I stole away."
"Then they'll be searching for you in all parts of the--" began Truxton,coming to his feet. "I really must be going. Please excuse me, your--"
"Oh, don't go! I'll not let 'em do anything to you," said the Princestaunchly. "I like Americans better than anybody else," he went on withdeft persuasiveness. "They ain't--aren't afraid of anything. They're notcowards."
Truxton sat down at once. He could not turn tail in the face of such anexalted opinion.
"I'm not supposed to ever go out alone," went on the Princeconfidentially. "You see, they're going to blow me up if they get achance."
"Blow you up?"
"Haven't you heard about it? With dynamite bums--bombs. Yes, sir! That'sthe way they do to all princes." He was quite unconcerned. Truxton'slook of horror diminished. No doubt it was a subterfuge employed tosecure princely obedience, very much as the common little boy is broughtto time by mention of the ubiquitous bogie man.
"That's too bad," commiserated Truxton, baiting the pin once more.
"It's old Count Marlanx. He's going to blow me up. He hated my motherand my father, so I guess he hates me. He's turrible, Uncle Casparsays."
King was very thoughtful for a moment. Something vivid yet fleeting hadshot through his brain--something that he tried to catch and analyse,but it was gone before he could grasp its significance. He looked withnew interest upon this serene, lovable little chap, who was growing up,like all princes, in the shadow of disaster.
Suddenly the fisherman's quick little ears caught a sound that causedhim to reveal a no-uncertain agitation. He dropped his rod incontinentlyand crawled to the opening in the shrubbery, peering with alarmed eyesdown the path along the bank.
"What is it? A dynamiter?" demanded Truxton uneasily.
"Worse'n that," whispered his royal Highness. "It's Aunt Loraine. Gee!"To King's utter dismay, the Prince scuttled for the underbrush.
"Here!" he called in consternation. The Prince stopped, shamefaced onthe instant. "I thought you were going to protect me."
"I shall," affirmed Bobby, manfully resuming his ground. "She's comingup the path. Don't run," he exclaimed scornfully, as Truxton started forthe rocks. "She can't hurt you. She's only a girl."
"All right. I won't run," said the big culprit, who wished he had thepower to fly.
"And there's Saffo and Cors over there watching us, too. We're caught.I'm sorry, mister."
On the opposite bank of the pool stood two rigid members of the RoyalGuard, intently watching the fishers. King was somewhat disturbed by thefact that their rifles were in a position to be used at an instant'snotice. He felt himself turning pale as he thought of what might havehappened if he had taken to flight.
A young lady in a rajah silk gown, a flimsy panama hat tilted well overher nose, with a red feather that stood erect as if always in a state ofsurprise, turned the bushes and came to a stop almost at King's elbow.He had time to note, in his confusion, that she was about shoulder-highalongside him, and that she was staring up into his face with amazedgrey eyes. Afterward he was to realise that she was amazingly pretty,that her teeth were very white and even, that her eyes were the mostbeautiful and expressive he had ever seen, that she was slender andimperious, and that there were dimples in her checks so fascinating thathe could not gather sufficient strength of purpose to withdraw his gazefrom them. Of course, he did not see them at the outset: she was notsmiling, so how could he?
The Prince came to the rescue. "This is my Aunt Loraine, Mr.--Mr.--" heswallowed hard and looked helpless.
"King," supplied Truxton, "Truxton King, your Highness." Then with allthe courage he could produce, he said to the beautiful lady: "I'm asguilty as he. See!" He pointed ruefully to the four goldfish, which hehad strung upon wire grass and dropped into the edge of the pool.
She did not smile. Indeed, she gave him a very severe look. "How cruel!"she murmured. "Bobby, you deserve a sound spanking. You are a verynaughty little boy." She spoke rapidly in French.
"He put the bait on," said Bobby, also in French. Here was treachery!
Truxton delivered himself of some French. "Oh, I say, your Highness, yousaid you'd pardon me if I were caught."
"I can't pardon you until you are found guilty," said the Prince inEnglish.
"Please put those poor little things back in the pool, Mr. King," saidthe lady in perfect English.
"Gladly--with the Prince's permission," said King, also in English. ThePrince looked glum, but interposed no imperial objection. Instead hesuddenly shoved the cigarette box under the nose of his dainty relative,who at that unpropitious instant stooped over to watch King's awkwardattempt to release the fishes.
"Look at the worms," said the Prince engagingly, opening the box with asnap.
"Oh!" cried the young lady, starting back. "Throw them away! the hornedthings!"
"Oh, they can't bite," scoffed the Prince. "See! I'm not afraid of 'em.Look at this one." He held up a wrig
gler and she fled to the rock. Shehappened to glance at Truxton's averted face and was conscious of abroad grin; whereupon she laughed in the quick staccato ofembarrassment.
It must be confessed that King's composure was sorely disturbed. In thefirst place, he had been caught in a most reprehensible act, and in thesecond place, he was not quite sure that the Prince could save him fromignominious expulsion under the very eyes--and perhaps direction--ofthis trim and attractive member of the royal household. He found himselfblundering foolishly with the fishes and wondering whether she was aduchess or just a plain countess. Even a regal personage might jump atthe sight of angle worms, he reflected.
He glanced up, to find her studying him, plainly perplexed.
"I just wondered in here," he began guiltily. "The Prince captured medown there by the big tree."
"Did you say your name is Truxton King?" she asked somewhat sceptically.
"Yes, your--yes, ma'am," he replied. "Of New York."
"Your father is Mr. Emerson King? Are you the brother of Adele King?"
Truxton stared. "Have you been interviewing the police?" he asked beforehe thought.
"The police? What have you been doing?" she cried, her eyes narrowing.
"Most everything. The police know all about me. I'm a spotted character.I thought perhaps they had told you about me."
"I asked if you were Adele's brother."
"I am."
"I've heard her speak of her brother Truxton. She said you were in SouthAmerica."
He stared the harder. Could he believe his ears?
She was regarding him with cool, speculative interest. "I wonder if youare he?"
"I think I am," he said, but doubtfully. "Please pardon my amazement.Perhaps I'm dreaming. At any rate, I'm dazed."
"We were in the convent together for two years. Now that I observe youclosely, you _do_ resemble her. We were very good friends, she and I."
"Then you'll intercede for me?" he urged, with a fervent glance in thedirection of the wall.
She smiled joyously. He realised then and there that he had never seensuch beautiful teeth, nor any creature so radiantly beautiful, for thatmatter.
"More than that," she said, "I shall assist you to escape. Come!"
He followed her through the shrubbery, his heart pounding violently. ThePrince, who trotted on ahead, had mentioned a Count. Was she married?Was she of the royal blood? What extraordinary fate had made her thefriend of his sister? He looked back and saw the two guardsmen crossingthe bridge below, their eyes still upon him.
"It's very good of you," he said. She glanced back at him, a quaintsmile in her eyes.
"For Adele's sake, if you please. Trespassing is a very serious offencehere. How did you get in?"
"I hopped in, over the wall."
"I'd suggest that you do not hop out again. Hopping over the walls isnot looked upon with favour by the guards."
He recalled the distressed Mr. Hobbs. "The man from Cook's tried torestrain me," he said in proper spirit. "He was very much upset."
"I dare say. You are a Cook's tourist, I see. How very interesting!Bobby, Uncle Jack is waiting to take you to see the trained dogs at theeastern gate."
The Prince gave a whoop of joy, but instantly regained his dignity.
"I can't go, auntie, until I've seen him safe outside the walls," hesaid firmly. "I said I would."
They came to the little gate and passed through, into a winding paththat soon brought them to a wide, main-travelled avenue. A light brokein upon Truxton's mind. He had it! This was the wonderful CountessMarlanx! No sooner had he come to that decision than he was forced toabandon it. The Countess's name was Ingomede and she already had beenpointed out to him.
"I suppose I shall have to recall Uncle Jack from exile," he heard thePrince saying to the beautiful lady. Truxton decided that she was notmore than twenty-two. But they married very young in these queer oldcountries--especially if they happened to be princes or princesses. Hewanted to talk, to ask questions, to proclaim his wonder, but discreetlyresolved that it was best to hold his tongue. He was by no means sure ofhimself.
Be that as it may, he was filled with a strange rejoicing. Here was awoman with whom he was as sure to fall in love as he was sure that thesun shone. He liked the thought of it. Now he appreciated thedistinction between the Olga Platanova type and that which representedthe blood of kings. There _was_ a difference! Here was the truePatrician!
The Castle suddenly loomed up before them--grey and frowning, not morethan three hundred yards away. He was possessed of a wild desire to walkstraight into the grim old place and proclaim himself the feudal owner,seizing everything as his own--particularly the young woman in the rajahsilk. People were strolling in the shady grounds. He felt the instantinfection of happy indolence, the call to luxury. Men in gay uniformsand men in cool flannels; women in the prettiest and daintiest offrocks--all basking in the playtime of life, unmindful of the toil thatfell to the Sons of Martha out in the sordid world.
"Do you think you can find your man from Cook's?" she asked.
"Unless he has gone and jumped into the river, your--madam. In anyevent, I think I may safely find my way out. I shall not trouble you togo any farther. Thank you for overlooking my indiscretion. Thank you, mydear little Prince, for the happiest experience of my life. I shallnever forget this hour." He looked boldly into her eyes, and not at thePrince. "Have you ever been in New York?" he asked abruptly.
He was not at all sure whether the look she gave him was one ofastonishment or resentment. At any rate, it was a quick glance, followedby the palpable suppression of words that first came to her lips, andthe substitution of a very polite:
"Yes, and I love it." He beamed. The smile that came into her eyesescaped him. If he could have seen it, his bewilderment; would have beensadly increased.
"Say!" whispered the Prince, dropping back as if to impart a gravesecret. "See that man over there by the fountain, Mr. King?"
"Bobby!" cried the lady sharply. "Good-bye, Mr. King. Remember me toyour sister when you write. She--"
"That's Aunt Loraine's beau," announced the Prince.
"That's Count Eric Vos Engo." Truxton's look turned to one of interestat once. The man designated was a slight, swarthy fellow in the uniformof a colonel. He did not appear to be particularly happy at the moment.
The American observed the lady's dainty ears. They had turned a delicatepink.
"May I ask who--" began Truxton timidly.
"She will know if you merely call me Loraine."
"So long," said the Prince.
They parted company at once, the Prince and the lady in the rajah silkgoing toward the Castle, King toward the gates, somewhat dazed and by nomeans sure of his senses. He came down to earth after he had marchedalong on air for some distance, so to speak, and found himself decidingthat she was a duchess here, but Loraine at school. What a wonderfulplace a girl's school must be! And his sister knew her--knew a lady ofhigh degree!
"Hobbs!" he called, catching sight of a dejected figure in front of thechief steward's door.
"Oh, it's you, is it?" said Mr. Hobbs sullenly.
"It is, Hobbs--very much me. I've been fishing with royalty and chattingwith the nobility. Where the devil have _you_ been?"
"I've been squaring it with old man Fraasch. I'm through with you, sir.No more for me, not if I know--"
"Come along, Hobbs," said the other blithely, taking Hobbs by the arm."The Prince sent his love to you."
"Did he mention Cook's?" gasped Hobbs.
"He certainly did," lied Truxton. "He spoke of you most kindly. Hewondered if you could find time to come around to-morrow."