A Dash for a Throne

  CHAPTER XX

  COVERING MY DEFEAT

  As I rode through the quickly brightening dawn I endeavored to piecetogether some plan of action for this visit to the house; but it wasobvious I should have to be guided largely by what might occur. It wasexceedingly improbable that I should find Minna there. It seemed in thehighest degree improbable that they would have let the girl Marie out insuch a way if they had intended to take Minna to the same house; forthey would have known I should go there at once. Certainly they did notintend me to know Minna's whereabouts.

  There were other considerations, moreover. Marie herself might still beplaying me false, or these men might be using her as a decoy to lure meinto a trap. I was inclined to the latter view. I believed the girl tobe true to her mistress, and I read the detention of the Baroness Gratz,judged by what the girl had said of her manner, to indicate that thetreachery was hers, and not the girl's. In any event I must be on myguard.

  I felt that until I could make the Baron Heckscher understand that anyharm to either Minna or myself would be the signal for the death of theDuke Marx there might be danger for us both.

  For Minna's sake--seeing that her helplessness would be vastly increasedwere anything to happen to me--I must run no unnecessary personalrisks. I would use the occasion only therefore to endeavor to ascertainwhere Minna had been carried. After a few hours, as soon, that was, as Icould safely communicate with Baron Heckscher, the axis of the dangerwould be shifted.

  Presently the carriage stopped, and I was told that we were near thehouse. Calculating that if any mischief were meant a secret approachwould be as dangerous as an open one, I ordered the coachman to drivestraight up to the door, and I jumped out, and myself thundered at theheavy knocker, and pealed away loudly at the bell.

  The noise awoke the echoes of the still, heavy, morning air, but for along time received no attention from within the house. I grew impatient,and walked round it, examining the windows, which for the most part wereclosely shuttered.

  I went back to the door, and knocked and rang again; and then a windowat the top of the house was opened, and an old man put out his head andasked what was the matter.

  "Come down to the door at once," I replied peremptorily.

  "What for?"

  "Come down," I cried angrily. "At once. I order you in the name of theQueen--or I shall have the door broken in."

  The head was withdrawn and I thought I could hear the sounds of amuffled conference.

  "Who are you and what do you want?" said the old fellow, putting out hishead again.

  "I order you in the name of the Queen to do as I have said," I answered,rather liking the sound of the formula. It served my purpose, for theman drew in his head muttering he would be down in a minute.

  "Are you sure this is the house?" I asked the girl Marie.

  "Positive. I will lead you straight to the room," she returned.

  I waited impatiently until I heard some one fumbling with the fasteningsof the door, and after a minute it was opened by the old man, partiallydressed and yawning heavily.

  "I have come for the Baroness Gratz and her companion," I said sharplyas I stepped into the hall. "Let them be roused at once."

  "There's no baroness here," said the man.

  "Who is in the house, then?" I asked.

  The old fellow looked at me shrewdly.

  "There are more than enough to guard it; but there are no ladies," heanswered.

  "That I shall see for myself," said I, and I called Marie and told herto show me the way to the room where she and the baroness had been kept.

  The old man followed, protesting at every step energetically.

  "This is the room, your Highness," said the girl, laying her hand on thedoor.

  I opened it and looked in. It was empty and dark.

  "How long have you been in the house?" I asked the old man, on whom themention of the term "highness" had produced a marked effect.

  "I live here, my lord," he answered in a tone of much greater respect.

  "Were you here this afternoon and evening?" and I took out a couple ofgold pieces so that he could see them.

  "No, your Highness," he said, with a bow--the mere sight of them hadgiven me a step in the peerage in his opinion. "I was away in thecountry this morning and only returned late."

  "Were there two ladies here when you returned?"

  "Not that I know of, sire."

  "Was your master here?"

  "No, sire. He is away."

  "Who is your master?"

  He looked astonished.

  "Herr Schemmell, your Grace."

  "And were the preparations all complete at Herr Schemmell's country-seatwhen you left--the preparations for the expected guests, I mean?"

  The shot told; for he started and looked up and I thought he was goingto reply, when a stolid, sullen look settled on his face and he wassilent.

  I jingled the two gold pieces and added a third, and then on my side Iwas considerably startled, for a deep voice said from behind me:

  "The bribery of a servant is not a very princely employment."

  "Who are you, sir?" I cried, turning quickly on the newcomer.

  "Some one to whom you will be good enough to address any furtherquestions, if you please. Ludwig, go away." The old man shambled offdown the long corridor. "And now, sir, you will be well advised to leavethe house--while the way is open. You may find it difficult later."

  "That may be as it will, but I am not going until I have effected mypurpose and satisfied myself that those whom I seek are not here." Ispoke resolutely.

  "You are a trespasser, and will be good enough to leave when I tellyou."

  "This is the house to which those whom I seek were kidnapped andbrought, and I will not leave until I have searched it."

  "One of the persons kidnapped is by your side now," said he, pointing tothe girl; "but you will not be allowed to search the house. If youattempt it, you will be detained and given an excellent opportunity ofsearching one of the cellars, but no more."

  "You dare not interfere with me. I am no woman!" said I hotly.

  "You will be well advised to moderate your language. You are one man, weare many. You have forced yourself into this house, and, if we dealharshly with you, you will have only yourself to blame. Personally, Ihave no wish to do you any hurt. You have served our turn, and can do nofurther harm."

  I bit my lip in vexation.

  "Is the Baroness Gratz in the house, or the Countess Minna vonGramberg?" I asked after a pause of embarrassment.

  "I decline to answer your questions. And again I warn you to leave, or Iwill not be responsible for the consequences."

  "I will search the house!" I exclaimed, and, without further words, Iplunged along the corridor, trying to open the doors of the rooms whichI passed.

  They were all locked, and when I turned to the staircase it was only tofind that a couple of men armed with revolvers had been posted there toprevent my ascending.

  "Stand aside and let me pass!" I cried firmly.

  "You will fire, if necessary," commanded the man who had followed me,and he took up a place by them. Then to me he added: "My patience isexhausted now, and I will give you three minutes only to leave thehouse. At the end of that time the doors will be closed, and I shallkeep you here a prisoner. You are but one against a dozen, and can donothing. It will be sheer madness to attempt to resist us."

  I saw this well enough; but the thought of the ignominious failure toget even information galled and maddened me. But it would have beengreater madness to resist.

  "Will you give me a moment in private?" I asked the man.

  He came aside with me readily.

  "Can you give me any assurance that my cousin, the Countess Minna, issafe?"

  "I have no instructions to give you any information whatever, but to thebest of my knowledge she is perfectly safe."

  "Where is the Count von Nauheim?"

  "I decline to tell you, sir," he answered curtly, and I
could get nomore from him.

  Thus, baffled and exasperated, I left the house.

  I had gained little or nothing definite by my venture, and yet, despitemy disappointment, I was in a sense relieved of some of my anxiety inregard to Minna's safety. Whether she was in the house or not I couldnot say, and, until I had seen Baron Heckscher, I had not ventured totake any too desperate steps to ascertain; but as I drove back to thehouse I determined on a much bolder measure to take presently.

  I stopped the carriage a little way from the house, and sent back thecoachman to wait and watch if the baroness or Minna left the place, andtold the man to remain until Steinitz should relieve him. I drove thecarriage home, and then despatched Steinitz with instructions to keep astrict watch on any movements from the house, and particularly to followMinna should she leave the house.

  As I knew that I must have a trying day before me, I lay down for anhour or two until the time for my visit to Baron Heckscher.

  I arrived at his house just as he was in the act of starting for ameeting of the Council of State, which had been hurriedly summoned.

  "I cannot stay to speak to you now, sir. I have to go out," he saidshortly.

  "On the contrary, you cannot go out until you have spoken to me," Ireplied, copying his manner.

  "This is no time for play-acting," he said significantly. "There areserious matters of State to be settled, caused by your trickery ortreachery."

  "You are an authority on the latter, at any rate. But I have not come tobandy words. I wish to know where the Countess Minna von Gramberg hasbeen carried, and to demand her instant and unconditional release."

  "In what character do you demand that information?" he said, with asneer.

  "As her cousin, the Prince von Gramberg."

  "The Prince. You still hold to that farce?"

  "Be good enough to explain what you mean."

  "Simply that you are no more the Prince von Gramberg than I am, butHeinrich Fischer, an ex-play-actor. Do you dare to deny that?"

  "Certainly I do."

  He shrugged his shoulders.

  "Then who are you?"

  "For the present, and for the purposes of this interview, I am thePrince von Gramberg, and you will be good enough so to regard me."

  "Swashbuckling talk is of no use to frighten me, and I have no time forany further antics of yours. You deceived me for a time, I admit, but Iknow you now, and, unless you leave my house, I will call my servants,and have you expelled from it and handed over to the police for animpostor."

  "No, Baron Heckscher, you will not," I answered firmly, shaking my head."I know the whole of this inner plot of yours, and can expose it, andwill, too, as I told you last night."

  "Possibly an effective weapon in a stage-play," he sneered. "But I haveno time for folly of this sort."

  He crossed the room to the bell, and stretched out his hand as if toring it.

  "I know the scheme to marry my cousin to a man already married, and soto betray and ruin her. And, mark me, if you attempt to send me away, Iwill go straight to Berlin and denounce the whole of your foul treacheryagainst that girl."

  "You speak a fool's tale!" he cried angrily, though he withdrew his handfrom the bell.

  "Maybe, but even a fool's tale, as you call it, can be sifted. Yourscheme now seems on the point of succeeding. The gist of it is that whenmy cousin Minna is not forthcoming--through your own machinations, markyou--the cry should be raised for the Duke Marx. I have known thatthroughout, and I too have had my plans. You will find it difficult toplay your game of chess without the King."

  I enjoyed the start of surprise my words caused. It was now my turn tosmile with an air of confidence.

  "What do you mean by that?" he asked, frowning.

  "All that is in your thoughts, and more," said I significantly.

  "What do you mean?" he repeated, coming toward me and lookingsearchingly at me.

  "I mean," I began very earnestly, as if about to tell him; but changedmy tone, and asked, "Where is the Countess Minna?"

  He took his eyes off my face, and glanced quickly from side to side, assome men will in moments of swift, searching thought.

  "You have not dared----" he began, and paused.

  "You have dared to seize the Queen," said I quickly. "Why should I notdare to seize your King? This is no child's game we are playing."

  He started again, pursed his lips, and frowned. I had beaten him. I knewit.

  "It is checkmate," said I quietly. "And you may as well admit it. But mygame is a cleaner one than yours. You have thought to ruin the CountessMinna either by a bigamous marriage or by a fate so foul that none but asoulless, intriguing traitor would have conceived it. I mean your Kingno harm; but I swear by every god that man has ever set up for a fetichthat if so much as a hair of the pure girl's head is harmed I will visitit a thousandfold on my hostage. Now, will you tell me where is theCountess Minna?"

  I had him now fast in my clutches, and turn which way he would there wasno escape. To do him justice, so soon as his first dismay had passed hisface wore an impassive, expressionless look that told me little. But Icould read his other actions.

  He had been going to his colleagues to propose that the agitation tobring the Duke Marx forward should be set on foot at once; and this moveof mine had beaten him absolutely. Once or twice he let out of his eyesa glance of malice that told me what he would have done had he dared;but I had drawn his fangs, and for the time he was powerless to harm.

  While I sat thus watching him and enjoying my triumph, a knock came tothe door and a servant entered to say that a messenger had come for me,and wished to see me urgently.

  "I will return in a moment," I said as I went out.

  The man had brought me a telegram. I tore it open and found it was fromvon Krugen.

  "Safe so far."

  I dismissed the man and returned to the baron with a feeling of evengreater exultation and confidence than before. I was like a man drowningwho, at the last moment, had pulled himself into safety.

  "Well, baron?" I asked as I re-entered the room. "Have you decided toanswer my question?"

  He was writing hurriedly, and glanced up a moment without speaking, thenresumed, finished the letter, rang for a servant, and ordered it to bedelivered at once.

  "That is your answer. It is a letter to excuse my presence for half anhour. It will give time for our conference. Now, what is your motive,and what are your terms?"

  As he put the question he wheeled his chair round so that he could faceme as he waited for the answer.