CHAPTER XIV
THE ABDUCTION
For another week at least I dared not make an enemy of my altogetherunexpected and vastly unwelcome visitor, so I answered her with a smile,and went to greet her with outstretched hand, as though glad enough torenew our old acquaintance.
"I know you now," I said cordially. "Of course it is my old friend andcomrade Clara Weylin. This is an unexpected pleasure," said I warmly.
But she stepped back, and did not take my hand.
"Unexpected, no doubt; but pleasure, scarcely. You were not much of anactor at any time; but that would not take in a fool. You are very muchastonished to see me, and equally angry; so you may as well acknowledgeit."
She tapped her foot again angrily. Next she removed an outer veil, whichshe had of course put on to mystify me on her entrance; and she stoodstaring me in the face with a look of defiant hostility.
I shrugged my shoulders, and said:
"You are always more beautiful in a passion, Clara; but I'm sorry tofind you in one now with me. Won't you sit down and tell me all aboutyourself?"
And I recalled regretfully our last interview, and bitterly deplored mystupidity in not having answered her letter. An angry woman, knowingwhat she knew, could do no end of mischief at this juncture.
"The chief thing about myself, as you say," she exclaimed spitefully,"is that my feelings toward you have changed. I was your friend then,now I will be your enemy."
"Then I am very sorry to hear it"--and the tone was genuine enough."But, under the circumstances, why take the trouble to come and tell meso?"
"Because I wished to see your Highness, to observe how your Highnessbore your great honors, and to bask in the radiant light of yourHighness's eyes--ugh! Your Highness, indeed!"
I began to hope. Her bitterness was so very bitter that I thought someof it at least might be assumed.
"How do you play at that game, Clara?" I laughed. "While you are'basking,' what should I do?"
"Not flatter me with lies about being glad to see me," she burst outangrily, "when you would rather have seen the devil."
"I won't go so far as that," said I lightly. "I don't admire the devil,and I always did admire you, though, if you wish me to be candid, Iwould much rather have seen you at another time."
"Perhaps after you are married," she cried, with a vicious glance.
"I did not say I wished never to see you again," I returned.
"You used not to lie even by implication in the old days," she said,showing she understood me.
"Nor you to insult me without implication," I retorted. "But I wish youwould sit down. It is just as easy to be an enemy sitting as standing."
She sat down, and I thought her expression was a little less wrathful.
"Now, then, just tell me plainly why you think it worth while to comehere, why you are such an enemy, and what particular injury you thinkand wish to do me?"
"Much more than you seem to imagine," she exclaimed sharply, her eyesflashing again.
The answer pleased me, for it seemed to show that I was successfullyconcealing the alarm which her visit had caused. Certainly I must notlet her have an inkling of the fact that she could really do any harm.
"You are a most incomprehensible creature, my dear Clara. During theyears I knew you I paid you as high a compliment as a man can pay awoman--by holding you in the highest esteem and entertaining for you themost honorable admiration. And you repay it--by this."
"You flouted and laughed at me and scorned me," she cried vehemently.
"You mean I did not make love to you. Let us be frank with one another.Being what I was, I could not make love to you honorably; and because Iheld you in too high esteem to do so dishonorably will you say I scornedyou?"
"Your Highness kept the fact of your noble birth very secret," shesnapped, with an accent on the "highness" I did not like.
I began to fear how much she knew.
"I had the strongest reasons, but it was not done to make so clever awoman as yourself my enemy."
"Then you succeeded unwittingly. One of the prerogatives of your suddenand unexpected inheritance."
"Well, we are fighting the air--an unprofitable waste of effort. If youwon't tell me, as a friend, anything about yourself, then, as an enemy,tell me in what way I can oblige you by letting you injure me?"
She laughed unpleasantly.
"So you are not altogether free from alarm that I can injure you? Youare right; I can."
"All Munich is open to you," I answered, with a show of indifference.
"Why do you want my Duke Marx lured out of the way next Wednesday?"
She dealt the thrust so sharply and watched me so keenly that Imarvelled at my own self-control in hiding all sign of my consternation.
"Who is your Duke Marx, and what on earth do you mean?" I asked, my witsbusy with the thoughts which the question started.
If she was the decoy on whom Praga relied, she was in love with him, andher motive in coming to me was just sheer revenge and woman's rage. Sheheld the very kernel of my scheme in her hands, and could blight it in amoment, revealing everything to the other side. Perhaps she had done soalready. What a fool Praga had been to trust such a woman! And yet howwas I to gauge the power and extent of her love for him, and say to whatit might not drive her? All this rushed through my head to theaccompaniment of the soft, musical, mocking laugh with which she greetedmy question.
"I thought you did not lie by implication," she said.
"I thought so, too," I answered, speaking at random, and waiting for acue from her.
"You are a clever man, Prince--if Prince you really are, and not merelya daring adventurer--but you have left out of your calculations what awoman's revenge may do."
"My dear Clara, we all expect the unexpected in a way, and never preparefor it." I rose from my chair as if to close the interview. "Whateveryou wish to do, please go at once and do it."
"I will," she replied, rising also and going to the door.
If she left the room the plan would be at an end. I felt that, and Iwould have given all I had in the world to feel able to stop her. But Idared not show a sign of weakness. I should be in her power forever, andthe scheme would be wrecked that way.
I held the door open for her, keeping my face set and expressionless.
At the door she turned and looked at me, right into my eyes, when ourfaces were within a few inches of one another.
"You will be sorry for this!" she cried, almost between her teeth.
"I never regret my decisions, except as they injure others," I repliedcoldly.
She started, and stamped her foot, and still stood staring hard at me. Ithought I knew the struggle that was shaking her. It was a fight whetherher old hate for me or her new love for Praga was the stronger. Herexcitement and passion increased with every second that the contestendured.
"I hate you!" she cried vehemently. "I hate you, and I can ruin you!"
I made no sign of having even heard the words. I thought she was going,when suddenly her love gained a sweeping victory.
With impetuous force she wrenched the door from me, and slammed it towith great violence, and seemed almost as if she would strike me in theface.
"You are a coward and a bully!" she exclaimed hysterically. "You onlyact like this because you know I dare not do what is in my power."
Then she turned and rushed back to her seat, where she covered her faceand burst into a storm of passionate tears.
I took a curious course. I left the room. I did not wish her to think Ihad been gloating over her defeat. I scribbled a hasty note that I hadbeen called away, and should be glad to see her another time, and leftthis to be given to her.
This interview had the necessary effect of increasing my uneasinessmaterially. Each day seemed now to be revealing a fresh weak spot, andthe chances of failure were growing fast. Now it was not only thefailure of the plot that threatened us, but the disgrace of personalexposure.
I had had no dishonorable
motives in the personation of the Prince vonGramberg; but the consequences threatened to be entirely embarrassing,and, had there been no one else to consider but myself, I should havethrown the thing up there and then. But there was Minna, and herhelpless and precarious position made retreat, on my part, quiteimpossible. It would be dishonorable to think of myself at such a time,while every chivalrous instinct in my nature made me keenly anxious tosecure her safety.
But I must see Praga, and hear from him precisely how matters stood inregard to Clara Weylin, and how far she was likely to betray us. Withmuch difficulty, and in the face of considerable risk of mycommunications with the Corsican being discovered, I succeeded ingetting the interview with him. He came to my hotel disguised, and aftermuch trouble in shaking off the spies, who, he declared, were nowalways dogging his footsteps.
Matters were as I had surmised. The actress was in love with him, andthey were to be married. They had played often in Munich, and the DukeMarx von Ostenburg had become infatuated with her. He was persecutingher with proposals, and was in that calf stage in which he would doanything, and risk anything, at her mere bidding. There was not theleast doubt in the world, declared Praga, that the woman could lure himanywhere she pleased with such a bait as she would pretend to offer. Thetwo had, indeed, concocted a pretty little scheme between them, in whileshe and the duke were to be together, Praga, as the injured lover, wasto interrupt them. Then they calculated that the duke, to save hisskin--for his courage was not of very high quality--would consent to doanything that might be demanded.
The actress had come to Munich to put the matter in course, and, hearingof me only incidentally as the Prince von Gramberg, she had no suspicionthat I was in reality the Heinrich Fischer against whom she had alwaysnurtured her revenge, until a chance meeting with me in the street hadrevealed this to her.
I told him, of course, all that had passed between us, and questionedhim closely as to what she was now likely to do. He declared hisreadiness to answer for her as for himself; and I had no alternative butto be contented with that pledge. Then we discussed many other points ofthe plan, and so arranged that there need not be another interview,unless unforeseen mishaps arose.
Before he left my momentary hesitation had passed, and I resolved to goon, and to trust to my wits to get out of any awkward consequences thatmight come. But those few days in Munich were among the most trying ofany in my life. I passed them in a fever of suspense, anticipating allsorts of trouble; constantly on my guard; suspecting every one with whomI came in contact; and in such a condition of strain and tension that,when I returned to Gramberg to fetch Minna, she could not but noticewith deep concern how worn and anxious I looked.
"This is wearing you out, cousin Hans," she said very gently. "You lookmore like a student now, and one who has been burning far too muchmidnight oil."
"There are only two or three days now, and then the worst will be over,"I replied cheerfully; but I would have given the world to have been ableto tell her what was my chief anxiety. "Munich does not agree with me, Ithink."
She looked at me searchingly.
"Is it that secret of yours?" she asked quietly. "When will you share itwith me?"
"Probably after Wednesday," I answered, smiling. "But you will believeme loyal to you whether you hear it or not?"
"Loyal? A quick way to make me an enemy would be for any one to hint thecontrary."
"You may have your faith tested yet."
"Does the secret concern me, then?" she asked quickly, adding, with asmile, "I think I am glad if it does. I thought----"
And she stopped. I hoped I could guess the thought.
"It touches the whole question of my loyalty to you and my presencehere."
"Then I do not want to hear it. I would trust you if the whole worldturned against you, and sought to turn me also. I do not care now whatit may be," she said earnestly, so earnestly that she brought the colorin a great rush to my face, and while still flushed in this way sheasked: "You do not think anything could shake me?"
"No, I do not," and my love was very near declaring itself as I spoke.
On the journey to Munich her manner to me was so gentle, and tender, andconfiding that I scarcely ventured to look at her lest she should readin my eyes the later secret that I was now guarding even more jealouslythan the former; and in Munich I would not trust myself to be alone withher during the day and a half that preceded the ball.
We stayed in the large mansion in the middle of the town that nowbelonged to her and had been the residence of the late Prince; and whilethere we carried out to the letter the plans I had arranged.
Only a few persons came to see Minna--Baron Heckscher and one or twoothers. Von Nauheim called, but she refused to see him, pleadingillness.
During the whole of that time we kept the strictest and closest guardover her, watching vigilantly day and night. The house might have beenin a state of siege, indeed. But no attempt was made to approach her,and I gathered therefore that the other side had taken my bait and hadchosen the moment for their attempt which I wished.
The maid who was to personate her on the return ride from the receptionwas coached and drilled in every particular of her part; and everydetail even of dress was most carefully considered and decided.
I began to feel that after all my fears had been premature, for not ahint or suggestion was dropped anywhere to show that any furtherdiscovery about myself had been made. But none the less I was in acondition of much inward concern when we started for the reception atthe palace, Minna, the Baroness Gratz, and myself being in the carriage.
Everything went without a hitch, however. I was in the presence chamberwhen Minna kissed hands, and it was with a feeling of genuine pleasurethat I noticed almost immediately afterward Baron Heckscher making hisway to me. He came up and engaged me in conversation, and I knew thathis object was to keep me occupied so that Minna would leave the palacewithout my escort. I raised no difficulty; and entered into a vigorousargument with him on some point about which I knew little and caredless.
When he thought he had kept me long enough to serve his purpose he leftme and I strolled slowly through the magnificent rooms, taking heed ofthe many quick glances directed at me; and I walked out to the entrancehall. I wasted a little more time there before I told the servants tocall my carriage and inquire for my cousin.
More minutes passed, and presently they came and told me my carriage hadalready gone and the Countess Minna in it. I made a show of annoyance atthis; and then some one came forward with the offer of his carriage. Ideclined it, of course. Now that they believed they had Minna, I mightlook for an attack on myself at any moment.
I had told von Krugen to be ready in the lobbies to watch for Minna inher changed dress and to see that she reached home safely and secretly;for we had determined that after all it would be best for her to returnin her disguise to the Gramberg house rather than go to any other place.As I could see no trace of him anywhere, I concluded Minna had alreadygone, and I set out on foot.
I was very anxious, of course, to learn the result of the plan, and itwas with infinite satisfaction that I met von Krugen and learned fromhim that Minna was safe in the house, and that the carriage with theBaroness Gratz and the servant had not returned.
The next thing was to simulate our agitation on account of Minna'ssupposed absence; and my task was to find von Nauheim and keep him undersuch observation as would prevent his getting to see the girl who hadbeen carried off in Minna's place, and so find out the trick we hadplayed.
After waiting half an hour I changed my Court dress, took mysword-stick, thrust my revolver into my pocket, for I did not know whatI might have to face, and set out.