CHAPTER XIX
MAX GOES TO WAR
The next morning at dawn our army marched. Although Duke Charles wouldnot encumber himself with provisions for his men, he carried a vasttrain of carts filled with plate, silk tents, rich rugs, and preciousjewels; for, with all his bravery, this duke's ruling passion was thelove of display in the presence of foreigners.
I shall not give the story of this disastrous war in detail; that liesin the province of history, and my story relates only to Max andYolanda, and to the manner in which they were affected by the resultsof the war.
We marched with forty thousand men, and laid siege to the city ofGranson, in the district of Vaud. The Swiss sent ambassadors under aflag of truce, begging Charles to spare them, and saying, according tomy friend Comines, that "there were among them no good prisoners tomake, and that the spurs and horses' bits of the duke's army were worthmore money than all the people of Switzerland could pay in ransoms, evenif they were taken." Charles rejected all overtures, and on the third ofMarch the brave little Swiss army sallied against us, "heralding theiradvances by the lowings of the Bull of Uri and the Cow of Unterwalden,two enormous instruments which had been given to their ancestors byCharlemagne."
God was against Charles of Burgundy, and his army was utterly routed byone of less than a fourth its size. I was with Charles after the battle,and his humiliation was more pitiful than his bursts of ungovernablewrath were disgusting. The king of France, hoping for this disaster, wasnear by at Lyons.
A cruel man is always despicable in misfortune. Charles at once sent toKing Louis a conciliatory, fawning letter, recanting all that he hadsaid in his last missive from Peronne, and expressing the hope that HisMajesty would adhere to the treaty and would consent to the marriage ofPrincess Mary and the Dauphin at once. In this letter Yolanda had noopportunity to insert a disturbing "t." Louis answered graciously,saying that the treaty should be observed, and that the marriage shouldtake place immediately upon the duke's return to Burgundy.
"We have already forwarded instructions to Paris," wrote King Louis,"directing that preparations be made at once for the celebration of thismost desired union at the holy church of St. Denis. We wondered much atYour Grace's first missive, in which you so peremptorily desired us notto move in this matter till your return; and we wondered more at YourLordship's ungracious reply to our answer in which we consented to thedelay Your Grace had asked."
Well might King Louis wonder. Charles also wondered, and cursed thestupidity of the Bishop of Cambrai, who had so "encumbered his letterwith senseless courtesy as to distort its meaning."
Charles despatched letters to Peronne and Ghent, ordering immediatepreparations for the marriage. As usual, poor Mary was not considered ofsufficient importance to receive notice of the event that concerned herso vitally. Others would prepare her, as one might fatten a lamb forslaughter. The lamb need not be consulted or even informed; the day ofits fate would be sufficient for it. I was in despair. Max, in hisignorance, was indifferent.
After a short delay, the duke gathered his wrath and his army and laidsiege to the town of Morat, announcing his intention to give no quarter,but to kill all, old and young, men, women, and children. The Swiss wereprepared for us. "The energy of pride was going to be pitted against theenergy of patriotism." Again disaster fell upon Charles. Thousands ofhis army were slain, and thousands fled in hopeless rout. His soldiershad never wanted to fight, and one man defending his hearth is strongerthan half a score attacking it.
The loss of this battle drove Charles back to Burgundy. With a few ofhis train, including Max and myself, he retired to the Castle of LaRiviera. Here he learned that Rene, Duke of Lorraine, had mustered hisforces and had laid siege to Nancy, which city Charles had taken fromDuke Rene, some years before, and had garrisoned with Burgundians andEnglish. Upon hearing this unwelcome news, Charles began the arduoustask of collecting another army. He was compelled to leave theneighborhood of Switzerland and fly to the rescue of Nancy.
The first of January found us before Nancy, but our arrival was threedays too late. The city had capitulated to Duke Rene. On the fifth ofJanuary a battle was fought before Nancy, but Fortune had turned herback for all and all on this cruel Duke of Burgundy and Count ofCharolois. The disasters at Granson and Morat were repeated. Atnightfall Charles could not be found. I supposed that he had escaped,but the next morning his body was found by a washerwoman, frozen in theice of a pond. He had been killed through the machinations ofCampo-Basso. Duke Rene magnanimously gave Charles regal burial, anddismissed his followers without ransom. You may be sure I was eager toreturn to Peronne.
Fortune, in turning her back upon Charles, had turned her smiling facetoward Max. Her ladyship's smiles were too precious to be wasted, so wemade post-haste for Peronne, I spurred by one motive, Mary of Burgundy,Max by another--Yolanda. His heart had grieved for her in castle, incamp, and in din of battle. He had, unknown to me, formed a great andnoble resolution; and there was no horse swift enough to keep pace withhis desire when we started for Peronne.
I was the first to announce the duke's death. The dark news was given byme to the duchess and the princess in Margaret's parlor. These poorwomen tried to grieve, but they were not hypocrites, and they could notweep. Each had received at Charles's hands only ill-usage and cruelty,and in their hearts they must have felt relief at his death.
"It was sure to come," said Margaret. "The duke's bravery led him alwaysinto danger. It is God's will, and it must be right."
The princess walked to the window, and said nothing, until I was aboutto leave; then she turned to me nervously and asked:--
"Did--did Sir Max come with you?"
I looked at her in surprise, and glanced inquiringly toward the duchess.
"My mother knows all, Sir Karl," said the princess, reassuringly. "Therehave been many things which I could not have done without her help. Ihave made many rapid changes, Sir Karl, from a princess to a burghergirl, and back again, and I should have failed without my mother's help.I surely mystified you often before you knew of the stairway in thewall. Indeed, I have often hurried breathless to Uncle Castleman's houseto deceive you. Mother invented a burgher girl's costume that I used towear as an under-bodice and petticoat, so, you see, I have been visitingyou in my petticoats. I will show you some fine day--perhaps. I have butto unfasten a half-score of hooks, and off drops the princess--I amYolanda! I throw a skirt over my head, fasten the hooks of a bodice, donmy head-dress, and behold! the princess once more. Only a momentintervenes between happiness and wretchedness. But tell me, Sir Karl,have you ever told Sir Max who I am?"
"Never, Your Highness--"
"Yolanda," she interrupted, correcting me smilingly.
"Never, Yolanda," I responded. "He does not even suspect that you arethe princess. I shall be true to you. You know what you are doing."
"Indeed I do, Sir Karl," she replied. "I shall win or lose now in ashort time and in short skirts. If Max will wed me as Yolanda, I shallbe the happiest girl on earth. If not, I shall be the most wretched. Ifhe learns that I am the princess, and if I must offer him the additionalinducement of my estates and my domains to bring him to me, I shall notsee him again, Sir Karl, if I die of grief for it."
I knew well what she meant, but I did not believe that she would beable to hold to her resolution if she were put to the test. I was,however, mistaken. With all my knowledge of the girl I did not knowher strength.
We reached Peronne during the afternoon and, of course, went early thesame evening to Castleman's.
We were greeted heartily by the good burgher, his wife, and hisdaughter. Twonette courtesied to Max, but when she came to me, thisserene young goddess of pink and white offered me her cheek to kiss. I,who had passed my quasi-priestly life without once enjoying such aluxury, touched the velvet cheek with my lips and actually felt a thrillof delight. Life among the burghers really was delicious. I tell youthis as a marked illustration of the fact that a man never grows too oldto be at times a fool.
Twonette slipped from the room, and withinfifteen minutes returned. She went directly to Max and said:--
"Some one is waiting for you in the oak room above."
She pointed the way, and Max climbed the stairs two steps at a time. Ithought from his eagerness he would clear the entire flight at onebound. To his knock a soft voice bade him enter. The owner of the voicewas sitting demurely at the farthest end of the room on a cushionedbench. Her back rested against the moving panel that led to thestairway in the wall. She did not move when Max entered. She had doneall the moving she intended to do, and Max must now act for himself. Hedid. He ran down the long room to her, crying:--
"Yolanda! Yolanda!"
She rose to greet him, and he, taking her in his arms, covered her facewith kisses. The unconscious violence of his great strength bruised andhurt her, but she gloried in the pain, and was passive as a babe in hisarms. When they were seated and half calm, she clutched one of his greatfingers and said:--
"You kept your word, Little Max. You came back to me."
"Did you not know that I would come?" he asked.
"Ah, indeed, I knew--you are not one that makes a promise to break it.Sometimes it is difficult to induce such a man to give his word, and Ifound it so, but once given it is worth having--worth having,Little Max."
She smiled up into his face while she spoke, as if to say, "You gave mea deal of trouble, but at last I have captured you."
"Did you so greatly desire the promise, Yolanda?" asked Max, solely forthe pleasure of hearing her answer.
"Yes," she answered softly, hanging her head, "more than any _man_, canknow. It must be an intense longing that will drive a modest girl toboldness, such as I have shown ever since the day I first met you atdear old Basel. It almost broke my heart when father--fatherland--whenBurgundy made war on Switzerland." The word "land" was a lucky thought,and came to the girl just in the nick of time.
Max was too much interested in the girl to pay close attention to anyslips she might make about the war with Switzerland. It is true he wasnow a soldier, and war was all right in its place; but there are thingsin life compared with which the wars of nations are trivial affairs. Allsubjects save one were unwelcome to him.
"Now I am going to ask a promise from you, Fraeulein," said Max,loosening his hand from her grasp and placing his arm about her waist.She offered no objections to the new situation, but blushed and lookeddown demurely to her folded hands.
"It will, I fear, be very easy for you, Max, to induce me to promiseanything you wish. It will be all too easy, for I am not strong, as youare." She glanced into his face, but her eyes fell quickly to her hands.
"I shall soon leave you again, Fraeulein, and what I wish is of suchmoment that I--I almost fear to ask."
"Yes, Max," she murmured, gently reaching across his knee, and placingher hand in his by way of encouragement.
"It is this, Fraeulein. I am going back to Styria, and I want to carrywith me your promise to be my wife," said Max, softly.
The girl's head fell over against his shoulder, and she clasped his freehand between both of hers.
"I will ask my father's consent," said Max. "I will tell him of you andof my great love, which is so great, Fraeulein, that all the world isnothing beside it and beside you, and he will grant my request."
"But if he doesn't, Max?" asked the face hidden upon his breast.
"If he does not, Fraeulein, I will forego my country and my estates. Iwill come back to you and will work in the fields, if need be, to makeyou as happy as you will make me."
"There will be no need for that, Max," she answered, tears of happinessslowly trickling down her cheeks, "for I am rich."
"That I am sorry to hear," he responded.
"Don't you want to know who I am before you wed me?" she asked, after along pause. She had almost made up her mind to tell him.
"That you may tell me when you are my wife," said Max. "I thought youwere the Princess Mary, but I am almost glad that you are not. I soonknew that I was wrong, for I knew that you would not deceive me."
The girl winced and concluded to postpone telling her momentous secret.She was now afraid to do so. As a matter of fact, she had in her heart ahealthy little touch of womanly cowardice on small occasions. After along, delicious pause, Max said:--
"Have I your promise, Fraeulein?"
"Y-e-s," she answered hesitatingly, "I will be your wife if--if I can,and if you will take me when you learn who I am. There is no taint ofdisgrace about me, Max," she added quickly, in response to the look ofsurprise on his face. "But I am not worthy of you, and I fear that ifyour father but knew my unworthiness, he would refuse his consent to ourmarriage. You must not tell him of my boldness. I will tell you allabout myself before you leave for Styria, and then, if you do not wantme, you may leave me to--to die."
"I shall want you, Yolanda. I shall want you. Have no doubt of that," heanswered.
"With the assurance that there is no stain or taint upon me or myfamily, do you give me your word, Max, that you will want me and willtake me, whoever I am, and will not by word or gesture show me that youare angry or that you regret your promise?"
"I gladly give you that promise," answered Max.
"Did you ever tell a lie, Little Max?" she asked banteringly, "or didyou ever deliberately break a promise?"
"Did I ever steal or commit wilful murder?" asked Max, withdrawing hisarm.
"No, Max; now put it back again," she said.
After a long pause she continued:--
"I have lied."
Max laughed and drew her to him.
"Your lies will harm no one," he said joyously.
"No," she responded, "I only lie that good may come of it."
Then silence fell upon the world--their world. Was not that hour withMax worth all the pains that Yolanda had taken to deceive him?
Yolanda and Max came down to the long room, and she, too, gave me hercheek to kiss.
Twonette had prepared a great tankard of wine and honey, with pepper andallspice to suit Yolanda's taste, and we all sat before the greatblazing yule fire, as joyful and content as any six people inChristendom. Twonette and Yolanda together occupied one large chair;Twonette serenely allowing herself to be caressed by Yolanda, who was ina state of mind that compelled her to caress some one. Gentle Frau Katewas sleeping in a great easy chair near the chimney-corner. Max sat atone side of the table,--the side nearest Yolanda,--while Castleman andI sat by each other within easy reach of the wine. I knew without thetelling, all that had occurred upstairs, and the same light seemed tohave fallen upon the Castlemans. Good old George was in high spirits,and I could see in his eye that he intended to get drunk and, ifpossible, to bring me, also, to that happy condition. After many gobletsof wine, he remarked:--
"The king of France will probably be upon us within a fortnight after hehears the sad news from Nancy."
Yolanda immediately sat upright in her chair, abandoning Twonette's softhand and softer cheek.
"Why do you believe so, uncle?" she asked nervously.
"Because he has waited all his life for this untoward event to happen."
"Preparations should be made to receive him," said Yolanda.
"Ah, yes," replied Castleman, "but Burgundy's army is scattered to thefour winds. It has given its blood for causes in which its heart wasnot. We lack the strong arm of the duke, to force men to battle againsttheir will. King Louis must be fought by policy, not by armies; andHymbercourt is absent."
"Do you know aught of him, Sir Karl?" asked Yolanda.
"I do not, Fraeulein," I answered, "save that he was alive and well whenwe left Nancy."
"That, at least, is good news," she replied, "and I make sure he willsoon come to Burgundy's help."
"I am sure he is now on his way," I answered.
"What can Burgundy do?" she asked, turning to Castleman and me. "Youwill each advise--advise the princess, I hope."
"If she wishes my poor advice," I responded, "she has but to ask i
t."
"And mine," said Castleman, tipping his goblet over his nose.
"If we are to have clear heads to-morrow," I suggested, "we must drinkno more wine to-night. The counsel of wine is the advice of the devil."
"Right you are, Sir Karl. Only one more goblet. Here's to the health ofthe bride to be," said Castleman.
Yolanda leaned back in her chair beside Twonette, and her face wore acurious combination of smile and pout.
On the way to the inn, Max, who was of course very happy, told me whathad happened in the oak room and added:--
"I look to you, Karl, to help me with father."
"That I will certainly do," I answered. I could not resist saying: "Wecame to Burgundy with the hope of winning the princess. Fortune hasopened a door for you by the death of her father. Don't you wishto try?"
"No," said Max, turning on me. A moment later he added, "If Yolanda werebut the princess, as I once believed she was, what a romance ourjourney to Burgundy would make!"
My spirits were somewhat dampened by Castleman's words concerning theFrench king. Surely they were true, since King Louis was the last man inEurope to forego the opportunity presented by the death of Charles.Should the Princess Mary lose Burgundy just at the time when Max had wonher, my disappointment would indeed be great, and Max might truly needmy help with his father.
CHAPTER XX
A TREATY WITH LOUIS XI
The next day Castleman and I were called to the castle, and talked overthe situation with the duchess and the Princess Mary. In the midst ofour council, in walked Hymbercourt and Hugonet. They were devotedfriends of Mary.
Our first move was to send spies to the court of France; so two trustedmen started at once. Paris was but thirty leagues distant, and the mencould reach it in fifteen hours. Half a day there should enable them tolearn the true condition of affairs, since they carried well-filledpurses to loosen the tongues of Cardinal Balau and Oliver the Barber.The bribery plan was Mary's, and it worked admirably.
Within forty-eight hours the spies returned, and reported that KingLouis, with a small army, was within fifteen leagues of Peronne. He hadquickly assembled the three estates at Paris, all of whom promised theking their aid. In the language of the chancellor, "The commons offeredto help their king with their bodies and their wealth, the nobles withtheir advice, and the clergy with their prayers." This appalling newsset Peronne in an uproar.
Recruiting officers were sent out in all directions, the town wasgarrisoned, and fortifications were overhauled. Mary was again introuble, and the momentous affairs resting on her young shoulders seemedto have put Max out of her mind. I expected her to call him into counciland reveal herself, but she did not.
On the day after we learned of King Louis' approach, the princess calledHymbercourt, Hugonet, Castleman, and myself to her closet and graciouslyasked us to be seated about a small table.
"I have formed a plan that I wish to submit to you," she said. "I'llsend to King Louis an invitation to visit me here at Peronne, undersafeguard. When he comes, I intend to offer to restore all the citiesthat my father took from him, if he will release me from the treaty ofmarriage, and will swear upon the Cross of Victory to support me againstmy enemies, and to assist me in subduing Ghent, now in rebellion. Whatthink you of the plan?"
"Your Highness is giving King Louis nearly half your domain," suggestedHymbercourt.
"True," answered the princess, "but it is better to give half than tolose all. Where can we turn for help against this greedy king? WhenBurgundy is in better case, we'll take them all from him again."
"Your Highness is right," answered Hymbercourt. "But what assurance haveyou that King Louis will accept your terms?"
"Little, my lord, save that King Louis does not know our weakness.Oliver has by this time told him that he has news of a vast armycollecting within twenty leagues of Peronne. If Louis accepts our terms,Oliver and the cardinal are each to receive twenty thousand crowns outof our treasury at Luxembourg. My father fought King Louis with blows;I'll fight His Majesty with his own weapon, gold. That is the lesson myfather should have learned."
I rose to my feet during her recital and looked down at her in wonder.
"Yolanda"--I began, but corrected myself--"Your Highness needs nocouncillor. I, for one, deem your plan most wise, and I see in it thesalvation of Burgundy."
The other councillors agreed with me most heartily.
"I have still another plan which I hope may frighten King Louis intoaccepting our terms. During the conference which I hope to hold with HisMajesty, I shall receive a message from my mother's brother, King Edwardof England. The missive, of course, will be directed to my father, sincethe English king cannot yet know of the duke's death. The messenger willbe an English herald, and will demand immediate audience,and--and--however, I'll keep the remainder of that plan to myself."
A broad smile appeared on the faces of all present. Hugonet gazed at theprincess and laughed outright.
"Why did not your father take you into his council?" he asked.
"I should have been no help to him," she responded. "A woman's wits,dear Hugonet, must be driven by a great motive."
"But you would have had the motive," answered Hugonet.
"There is but one motive for a woman, my lord," she answered.
Hugonet unceremoniously whistled his astonishment, and Yolanda blushedas she said:--
"You shall soon know."
Mary's plan for an interview with Louis succeeded perfectly. He camepost-haste under safe conduct to Peronne.
Whatever may be said against Louis, he did not know personal fear. Hehad a wholesome dread of sacrificing the lives of his people, andpreferred to satisfy his greed by policy rather than by war. Gold,rather than blood, was the price he paid for his victories. Taken all inall, he was the greatest king that France ever had--if one may judge aking by the double standard of what he accomplishes and what it costshis people. He almost doubled the territory of France, and he lost fewermen in battle than any enterprising monarch of whom I know.
Within forty-eight hours of receiving the safe conduct, King Louis wassitting beside Mary on the dais of the ducal throne in the great hall.She was heavily veiled, being in mourning for her father. At her leftstood Hymbercourt, Hugonet, Max, and myself. At the king's right stoodCardinal Balau and Oliver the Barber, each anticipating a rich reward incase Louis should accept Mary's terms. Back of them stood a score of theking's courtiers. Many questions of state were discussed; and thenHymbercourt presented Mary's offer to King Louis. The king hesitated.After a long pause he spoke, looking straight ahead, at nothing; as washis custom.
"We will consult with our friends and make answer soon," he said,speaking to nobody.
Louis seemed to think that if he looked at no one and addressed nobody,when he spoke, he might the more easily wriggle out of hisobligations later on.
Mary had caused to be drawn up in duplicate a treaty in accordance withthe terms that she had outlined at our little council. It was handed toOliver when the king rose to retire to a private room, to discuss thecontents with his councillors.
At the moment when King Louis rose to his feet, a herald was announcedat the great hall door.
"A message from His Majesty, King Edward of England," cried theBurgundian herald. Louis resumed his seat as though his feet had slippedfrom under him.
"We are engaged," answered Mary, acting well a difficult part. "Let theherald leave his packet, or deliver it later."
A whispered conversation took place between the Burgundian herald andthe Englishman. Then spoke the Burgundian:--
"Most Gracious Princess, the English herald has no packet. He bears averbal message to your late father, and insists that he must deliver itto Your Highness at once."
"Must, indeed!" cried Mary, indignantly. Then turning to the king:"These English grow arrogant, Your Majesty. What has the herald to say?Let him come forward. We have no secrets from our most graciousgodfather, King Louis."
The English heral
d approached the ducal throne, but did not speak.
"Proceed," said Mary, irritably.
"With all deference, Most Gracious Princess," said the herald, "thesubject-matter of my message is such that it should be communicatedprivately, or at Your Highness's council-board."
"If you have a message from my good uncle, King Edward, deliver it hereand now," said the princess.
"As you will, Most Gracious Princess," said the herald. "King Edward hasamassed a mighty army, which is now awaiting orders to sail for France;and His Majesty asks permission to cross the territory of Burgundy onhis way to Paris. He will pay to Your Highness such compensation as maybe agreed upon when His Majesty meets you, which he hopes may be withina month. His Majesty begs a written reply to the message I bear."
Mary paused before she answered.
"Wait without. My answer depends upon the conclusions of His Majesty,the King of France."
The herald withdrew, but in the meantime Louis had descended to thefloor and was busily conning the treaty that Mary had caused to bewritten. He was whispering with Cardinal Balau and Oliver, and wasevidently excited by the news he had just heard from England. When heresumed his seat beside Mary, he said:--
"By this treaty, which is simple and straightforward, Your Highnesscedes to me certain cities herein named, in perpetuity; and inconsideration thereof, I am to be with you friend of friend and foe offoe. I am to aid you in subduing your rebellious subjects, and tosustain you in your choice of a husband. I am also to release you fromthe present contract of marriage with my son, the Dauphin."
"That is all, Your Majesty," said the princess. "It is short and to thepoint."
"Indeed it is, Your Highness, and if you will answer King Edward andwill deny him the privilege of crossing Burgundy, I will sign thetreaty, and will swear upon the true cross to keep it inviolate."
Mary could hardly conceal her exultation, but she answered calmly:--
"Will Your Majesty sign now?"
Louis and Mary each signed the treaty, and the piece of the true crossupon which the oath was to be made was brought before them, resting on avelvet pillow. Now there were many pieces of the true cross, of whichLouis possessed two. Upon one of these he held the oath to be bindingand inviolate; it was known as the Cross of Victory. Upon the other hisoath was less sacred, and the sin of perjury was venial.
I stood near the throne, and, suspecting Louis of fraud, made bold toinquire:--
"Most humbly I would ask Your Majesty, is this the Cross of Victory?"
The king examined the piece of wood resting on the cushion and said:--
"By Saint Andrew, My Lord Cardinal, you have committed an error. Youhave brought me the wrong piece."
The Cross of Victory was then produced, with many apologies and excusesfor the mistake, and the oath was taken while Mary's tiny hand rested onthe relic beside King Louis' browned and wrinkled talon. When theceremony was finished, the king turned to Mary and said:--
"Whom will Your Highness select for a husband?"
"My father sometime had treaty with Duke Frederick of Styria, lookingto my marriage with his son Maximilian, and I shall ratify the compact."
Max was about to speak, but I plucked him by the sleeve.
* * * * *
Now I shall hasten to the end. The king took his departure within anhour, carrying with him his copy of the treaty. The audience wasdismissed, and the princess left the great hall by the door back of thethrone, having first directed Hymbercourt, Hugonet, Max, and myself tofollow within five minutes, under conduct of a page. Castleman excusedhimself and left the hall.
The page soon came to fetch us, and we were taken to Mary's parlor,adjoining her bedroom in Darius tower. From the bedroom, as you know,the stairway in the wall descends to Castleman's house. In the parlor wefound Mary, the Duchess Margaret, and several ladies in waiting. All theladies, including Mary, were heavily veiled. When we entered, Maryaddressed Max:--
"Sir Count, you doubtless heard my announcement to the king of France.It was my father's desire at one time to unite Styria and Burgundy bymarriage. I myself sent you a letter and a ring that you doubtless stillpossess. Are you pleased with my offer?"
Max fell to his knee before the princess:--
"Your Highness's condescension is far beyond my deserts. There are fewmen who could refuse your offer, but I am pledged to another, and I begYour Highness--"
"Enough, enough," cried the princess, indignantly. "No man need explainhis reasons for refusing the hand of Mary of Burgundy."
Astonishment appeared on all faces save mine. I thought I knew thepurpose of Her Highness. Max rose to his feet, and Mary said:--
"We'll go downstairs now, and, if you wish, Sir Count, you may there sayfarewell." She whispered a word to her mother, and led the way into herbedroom. The duchess indicated that Max and I were to follow. We did so,and Margaret came after us.
"We'll go down by these steps," said the princess, leading us to theopen panel. "The way is dark, and you must use care in descending, SirCount, but this is the nearest way to the ground."
Max started down the steps and Mary followed close at his heels. Ifollowed Mary, and Duchess Margaret came after me.
When we had descended twenty steps, the upper panel was closed by someone in the bedroom, and the stairway became inky dark. Ten stepsfurther, I stumbled and almost fell over a soft obstruction on thestairs. I stooped and examined it. Fearing that the duchess might fallwhen she reached it, I took it up. It was a lady's head-dress and veil.A few steps farther I picked up a lady's bodice and then a skirt. By thetime I had made this collection, Max and Mary had reached the movingpanel at the foot of the stairs. I heard it slide back, and a flood oflight came in upon us. Yolanda, in burgher girl's costume, sprang overthe cushioned seat into Castleman's oak room. Max followed, and I, withan armful of woman's gear, helped the duchess to step to the cushion andthence to the floor. Max stood for a moment in half-vexed surprise, butYolanda, two yards off, laughed merrily:--
"You promised, Sir Max, that you would show no anger when you learnedwho I was, and you said you would neither lie, steal, norcommit murder."
The Castlemans stood near by, and the duchess and I joined them, formingan admiring group. Max did not reply. He held out his arms to the girl,and she ran to them. So closely did he hold her that she could hardlymove. She did, however, succeed in turning her face toward us, and saidpoutingly:--
"Why don't you leave the room?"
THE END
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