A Dash for a Throne

  CHAPTER XI

  "EVEN ONE SUBJECT MAY MAKE A KINGDOM"

  When the last of the men had left, and I had seen von Nauheim go outwith the old baron in close consultation, I sat on alone for a timethinking with some exultation of the result of my week's work in Munich,and of the vastly changed position which my shuffling of the cards hadcreated.

  I should certainly sleep the sounder for the value I had contrived toput on my life in their eyes; for I calculated that until they had hadtime to reconstruct their plans they would not venture to attack me.

  What would they do? I pondered the question very carefully, turning itover and over in my thoughts as I knew that wily old baron was doing atthe self-same moment--unless he had already made a plan and had takenvon Nauheim out to impart it to him.

  One thing soon made itself quite clear. Whatever form their next movemight take, it would closely concern Minna. She was the pivot on whicheverything turned in their inner plot. So long as she was a free agent,and able to do what I had said--openly renounce the scheme and publiclyabandon her claim to the throne--they would not touch me. But theinstant they could get her into their control my power would be broken.I should no longer be necessary to them, but in the way. I could guesswhat would follow.

  I determined, therefore, to take the initiative and force the game withvon Nauheim; and, fortunately, he gave me an opportunity.

  After I had been alone about an hour he returned, and did not take anytrouble to hide the fact that he was in a very bad temper. When thesurface was scratched, he was too much of a cad to remember that he wasmy host. He swaggered into the room and poured himself out a stiff glassof brandy and drank it. Then he turned to me.

  "I suppose you think you've managed things devilish well to try and playthe master in this way?"

  "Well, I haven't done badly," I said, with a shrug of the shoulders.

  "I should like to know what you mean about your condition about mymarriage--cursed interference, I call it."

  "My meaning was plain enough to the rest; surely I need not repeat it."

  "Oh, I know what you mean. But what the devil is it to you? Is it yourgame to try and stop this marriage altogether? You won't, you know, soyou needn't try."

  "I would rather discuss family affairs with you when you're----" I wasgoing to say sober, but checked myself and changed it to--"when you areless excited."

  "What do you mean by that?" he cried, taking fire and speakingfuriously. "Do you mean to insinuate that I'm drunk?" and he rose andcame up close to me.

  At that I guessed his motive by a kind of intuition. He meant to put aquarrel on me over this postponement of the marriage; and probably tolet it develop into a scuffle, in which he would try to regainpossession of the paper I had put in my pocket.

  "I prefer not to continue the conversation now," I said coolly.

  "But you'll have to, whether you wish it or not. I'm not going to letyou ride roughshod over me, I can tell you. You'll just have thegoodness to apologize to me for your insinuation that I'm drunk. D'yehear?"

  "I have not the least intention of apologizing to you for anything,"said I sharply.

  "Oh, won't you? We'll see about that," he cried, in an even loudervoice; and then by deliberate intention I saw him knock over a smalltable on which a number of bottles and glasses stood. These fell to theground with a loud clatter and crash, and the next moment a couple ofservants came running into the room.

  I judged that it was a preconcerted signal, for the moment they appearedhe put his hand on my arm and, staring threateningly into my face, sworeat me.

  "You shall not leave the room till you've apologized," he said, callingthe two men to his side.

  I kept cool enough. I had no difficulty in shaking off his hand, and Istared him full in the face with so stern a look that, bully as he was,he flinched and wavered and changed color.

  "Are you mad, Count von Nauheim, that you would make me forget I amunder your roof?"

  "No, I'm not mad nor drunk either, but you shall repent this night'swork. Here," he called to the men again.

  What he meant to do I know not, for my next action produced so whollyunexpected a result that he had no chance to do anything.

  I whipped out the revolver I had in my pocket and levelled itpoint-blank in the lackeys' faces and bade them in ringing tones to beoff out of the room. They stayed for no second bidding, but turned ontheir heels and scampered for their lives, leaving their master lookingvery much of a fool in the middle of the room. I put the revolver awayagain then and turned to him.

  "Now that we are alone again, what do you mean to do?"

  But his courage had fled as fast as his servants, and with a feebleattempt at a lying laugh he mumbled out something to the effect that hehad meant no more than a joke, and turned away to hide his confusion inanother full dose of brandy.

  I saw my chance and took it.

  "I do not allow people to play jokes of that kind upon me, Count vonNauheim," I said, as sternly as I could. "I prefer to trust the evidenceof my own wits and say that you were in earnest in the attempt to usesome violence toward me. Under these circumstances I cannot, of course,remain another hour in your house; and you will understand this to meanthat I cannot receive you at Gramberg. You will therefore spare me theunpleasantness of telling my servants to refuse you admittance by notattempting to come there."

  "Do you mean that you will try to keep me from my affianced wife?"

  "Unless my cousin chooses to meet you elsewhere than at Gramberg, thatis precisely what will happen," I answered.

  "I suppose you want the fortune for yourself?" he sneered.

  "You have a short memory, count. You have forgotten you told me thefortune would come to me as soon as this matter was successfullyaccomplished."

  He flushed, for he had evidently forgotten that part of his formerinstructions, and my reminder irritated him.

  "Then maybe you want Minna, and have a fancy yourself to sit on thethrone?"

  "I have nothing further to say to you," I answered stiffly. "Anycommunication I have to make regarding matters here shall be made toBaron Heckscher." And with that I left the room and the house.

  I was glad of the quarrel for many reasons. We should be rid of theman's presence at Gramberg while making our preparations there; and Ishould feel much freer in any future visits to Munich. But most welcomeof all was the fact that I knew Minna would be delighted at my havingsecured that she should not see him again.

  I went to a hotel, passed a very comfortable night after a very fullday, and the next morning before setting out for Gramberg I paid a visitto each of the two men whom I had ascertained to be loyal to Minna.Their names were Kummell and Beilager; and I urged them, for reasonswhich I would explain, to pay a secret visit to Gramberg. Then Ireturned to the castle lighter in heart and even busier in thought thanI had set out. Busy as I was with the details of my own schemes,however, I found more than once my thoughts running ahead of me to thecastle in pleased speculation as to how Minna would meet me and what shewould say to my news.

  When I had finished my train journey, and was driving to the castle, Icould not help comparing my present feelings with those on my firstarrival at the place. I had played the part of the Prince so completelyduring the exciting experiences of the two weeks that had passed sincemy arrival, every one had accepted my impersonation so unconditionally,and I had acted and spoken so entirely as if I were indeed the head ofthat great house, that I had actually begun to feel that I was inreality the Prince. I looked upon the signs of deference, the honors,the ready compliance with my wishes, the submission to my orders, asthough they were my just due; and I was conscious of a greatly increasedsense of dignity, which, I have no doubt, imparted itself to my mien andspeech.

  I had now no thought of drawing back, of course, until at least I hadcut the knot of Minna's difficulties; and I had begun to entertain somevery unpleasant and disquieting doubts and anxieties as to how I couldshake off my borrowed plumes and return to the hum
drum, meaningless,empty, incognito existence.

  As to that, indeed, a new set of thoughts had begun to take shape in mymind--wild and forlorn hopes, in truth, but none the less cherished. Theidea was to try and so carry through this business of the Munich plot asto ingratiate myself sufficiently into the favor of the great ones atBerlin to win back my own position and inheritance.

  The most spurring motive that can move a man was developing in me, anddeveloping fast. As a supposititious Prince von Gramberg I wasabsolutely impossible as a suitor for Minna's hand. Even if I could saveher from this terrible entanglement, and escape any recognition, I couldnot marry her. My life would then have to be lived over a mine whichmight be exploded under my feet at any moment, to the ruin of both herlife and my own.

  As an English adventurer and ex-play-actor my case was just as hopeless.But as Count von Rudloff there would be no such bar of family betweenus; my family was indeed as old as any in the kingdom, and I set my witsto work zealously to find means by which I could use this plot to thatend. But the odds against me were enough to make any one despair, andthe knowledge almost appalled me.

  I was not long left in doubt as to the manner of my reception atGramberg. My cousin was waiting for me on the very threshold, and shecame to meet me, her face aglow with pleasure, and her eyes beaming withthe warmest of welcomes. She took my hand in both hers, and for themoment could do no more than murmur words of welcome and gladness at myreturn. As for me, the sweetness of her beauty, the touch of her handsin mine, and the sheer delight I felt in her presence held metongue-tied.

  Then her words burst out with a rush, and she plied me with questionupon question about my news, my doings in Munich, what was to happen,and a thousand other things, until I caught von Krugen's dark eyes--hehad met me at the station and was standing by me now--fixed upon her inshrewd speculation.

  "I could not hold back my impatience a minute longer, cousin Hans," shesaid at length, with a smile. "Although my good aunt Gratz would havehad me wait upstairs in my rooms until you would find it convenient tosee me. You will forgive me for this unceremonious assault?"

  I would have loved to tell her what I really thought about it; but I puta curb on any such madness by reflecting that her anxiety had nothing init personal to myself.

  "It would take so long in the telling," I answered. "I can scarcely tellit to you here."

  A look of regret and surprise dashed her face for the moment, and shewithdrew her hands from mine and bit her lips.

  "I have done wrong in rushing to you thus. You will think it unseemly.Will you let me know how soon you can come to me? Do believe, cousin, Iwould not wittingly do anything to displease you."

  I stood silent like a dumb fool; and then after a pause she added:

  "I ought to have reflected you would have many things to do, and thatI--that I should be in the way. I will go."

  "No, don't go," I blurted out, and then could say no more.

  She looked at me in justifiable astonishment, and wrinkled her brows inperplexity.

  "The Prince was saying as we drove here that he must see you at once,countess," interposed von Krugen, and I could have blessed him for thewords. Then he went forward and threw open the door of the room next,and looked round as if inviting us to enter. It was the library.

  I shook myself together with an effort and gathered my scattered wits.

  "Can you spare me an interview at once?" I asked Minna.

  "Cousin!" and her astonishment deepened and found expression in hertone. "Am I not here for that very purpose--and dying to learn the news?Come;" and she went into the room and led the way to the far end, as itchanced to the very window from the embrasure of which I had first seenher. "I hope your first news is that all this plot is at an end, andthat the project of the marriage is dead with it?"

  I had mastered my stupid embarrassment by this time and had found mytongue again.

  "You must listen carefully to all I have to tell you, and then to what Ipropose to do," I replied, and plunged at once into as plain a recitalas I could give of all that part of the proceedings which I deemed itnecessary to tell her. I dwelt upon the reasons why in my opinion it wasimpossible to draw back yet, and upon all I expected to gain by thecounterplot I had devised.

  "I will not see the Count von Nauheim again," she said, and her dislikeof him was the first and strongest feeling she expressed. Nor did Igrieve at this.

  "He will not come here," I said. "I was going to force a quarrel on himto make that impossible when he saved me the trouble by putting one onme. I then warned him off the place."

  "Good, very good!" she cried, her eyes flashing. "If I were to see himagain, I could not restrain my hatred. I should tell him exactly how Ifeel toward him. It is loathsome even to be linked in name with such aman. But as that is settled, I will do whatever you wish. I knew youwould be too much for them all, cousin Hans, if they did not kill you,as I sadly feared they would. I shall never be able to repay you," sheadded, looking to me and smiling. "If I were only a man, I could----"

  "What?" I asked when she stopped.

  "I could at least fight with you instead of being a clog and a drag."

  "You are our inspiration," I said earnestly, and at that her cheeksflushed and she cast down her eyes.

  "I wish all the trouble were over," she said presently.

  "We must not be in too great a hurry. We have done very well so far. Alittle pluck and dash, and slice or two of luck, and we shall getthrough all right. But now tell me, can you think of any place inMunich, or near there, where you can go secretly and hide when themoment comes?"

  "Why must I be put out of the way in this fashion? It seems like runningaway at the very moment of peril, and I am not afraid. Do you think I ama coward?"

  "This is no question of bravery or cowardice. It is merely a matter oftactics. The very keystone of this inner plot of theirs is that youshall be missing when the cry is raised for you to ascend the throne. Tosecure that these people will stick at nothing--they would even takeyour life. Now, for the success of my counter-scheme, I must be able tohave you at hand just when I want you. That is all-important. You willhave to go to Munich in apparent compliance with their wishes for you tobe ready for the final coup, and we shall show no sign of suspicion, butyou will have trusty guards to protect you against attack. My scheme isto let them carry off some one in your place, and for that purpose Ishall endeavor to get wind of their plan of abduction. What I wish to dois to shut out suspicion that we have fooled them until it is too latefor them to change their plans. Is there any one among your maids whomyou could trust to personate you, who is sufficiently like you in heightand color and so on to be mistaken for you by a stranger, knowing youonly by description or having only seen you once? She would of course bedressed to represent you, and she must be sufficiently devoted to you totake a risk and hold her tongue."

  "Yes, my dressing-maid, Marie, might pass for me under suchcircumstances, and I would answer for her stanchness."

  "Tell her nothing until the time is close at hand. Then let her knowwhat has to be done. She will wear your dress and will be carried off;you will slip away; and I shall go in a fine rage to von Nauheim tofrighten him from getting to see his captive, and thus discover thetrick. Your present task, then, will be to get ready for that part ofthe scheme, and also to think of some safe place to which you can go."

  "I will willingly do more, if it will help you," she said.

  The completeness of her trust in me was apparent in every word shespoke.

  "There will be plenty of exciting work to follow," I replied, with asmile, for I was pleased by her eagerness to help. "Your Majesty maydepend upon it that a throne is not to be gained without a struggle."

  "I should make a poor Queen," she answered.

  "You will make a beautiful one; and if the Bavarians once get sight ofyou, they will not readily let you go."

  She looked at me earnestly and, with half a sigh, said:

  "You should not pay me empty comp
liments, cousin Hans. You should notsay things you do not mean."

  "Perhaps it would be truer that I must not say all I do mean," Ireturned, and for the moment my eyes spoke even more than my words; andI made haste to add, in as light a tone as I could: "Your Majesty willhave at least one devoted subject, whatever may happen."

  "I believe that with all my heart," she answered, in a tone and with alook of confidence and trust that thrilled me. Then she smiled veryslightly, and added: "Even one subject may make a kingdom; though I'msadly afraid I should not be the ruler of even such a realm."

  I longed to turn her jest to earnest, and assure her that if she did notno one else ever should; but I pulled myself up on the verge, andremembered that, after all, I was an impostor, though loyal enough toher. And so I made no reply, and dared not even look at her.

  After a pause she rose, and, with what sounded like a half-suppressedsigh, she went away.

  I let her go, and it was not until she had left the room that thethought struck me that my silence might have seemed currish andcurmudgeonly. Then I would have gone after her and told her, and I madea step toward the door; but the thought of what I should say and how toexplain my meaning stopped me, and as I hesitated Captain von Krugencame in to resume the conference we had commenced during the drive fromthe station.