A Dash for a Throne

  CHAPTER XXII

  AT LANDSBERG

  Praga was in his customary devil-may-care humor, and in reply to myearnest request for information he laughed and showed his teeth, tossedhis head and shrugged his shoulders, and his first answer was a volleyof his strangely phrased oaths.

  "Safe so far, Prince, but it was a devilish tight place you put us in.That fellow of yours, von Krugen, is true grit, by the devil, a goodfellow right through."

  "What have you done with the duke? Don't waste words, man," I said, withmuch impatience.

  "Poor little beast!" exclaimed the Corsican, with an ugly laugh. "We hadto frighten him till the sweat stood thick on his forehead, his teethchattered, and his knees knocked together like loose spokes in a ricketywheel. In truth we didn't know what to do with him, and I was half forknocking him on the head to be done with it, but von Krugen wouldn't.Then it occurred to us that we could play at being about to put him todeath, and, as von Krugen was in his fancy dress, we let him play thepart of his mad Majesty's executioner. We patched up a few lies, sewedthem together with threats, and trimmed them with plenty of oaths. Toldhim the whole plot was discovered, that the madman's agents had found itall out, that my lord the duke was first on the honorable list forhaving his head chopped off, and that von Krugen had been sent out togive him the happy despatch. It was magnificent," and he laughed loudlyat the recollection.

  "Well?" I cried, the delay irritating me.

  "Your duke's a lily-livered wretch enough when it comes to facing coldsteel, and I'm bound to say von Krugen looked devilish ugly and dead setin earnest as, wearing his mask, he drew his sword and gave the littlecrank five minutes to balance up his ledgers with Heaven. He was in nomood for that sort of work, as we had guessed of course, and instead ofputting up a few concentrated prayers of the customary strength heflopped down on his knees and begged us to spare his life, and hegrovelled and squirmed and wriggled on his belly and wept till I couldhave spat on him. Faugh!" and the Corsican's face was a picture ofdisgust.

  "I begin to see," I said.

  "Not quite," said my companion, with a laugh. "For the next act was thatvon Krugen and I quarrelled, and we pretended to wrangle and jangleuntil I seemed to gain my end, and the little fool thought he owed hislife to me. He clung to me and shrank from the 'executioner,' and wasaltogether in a fit state to promise anything I told him in order tosave his skin. I told him it would cost von Krugen his life if it wereknown that he had not done the work, and that if any one had even asuspicion of who the duke was and who we were all our lives would besacrificed in a twinkling. By that time he was about wet through withfear, so we told him he must consent to be thought a mad patient of ourswhom we, as doctor and attendant, were conveying to an asylum. In thisway we took him to Gramberg--not to the castle, but to some place wherevon Krugen said he would be safe for a time. There he is awaiting yourinstructions. He's safe enough for a few days, but what after?"

  "You have done well and cleverly," I said warmly. "A little fright won'thurt him, and meanwhile matters here have taken a turn which may renderit necessary for us to set him free in a few hours," and I told Pragawhat had happened--except as to the discovery of my imposture--and thetale made a considerable impression on him.

  "When that wily old Iscariot says one thing, I always look for anothermeaning. But you had a master card to play. He must have been mad. Andwhat will you do?"

  "If I do not hear from him at once, I shall go on to Landsberg on thechance of my cousin's letter being right, and I will send a messenger tothe baron at once."

  I was in the act of ringing for a servant when one entered to tell methat Baron Heckscher was waiting to see me.

  "He had better not see me," said the Corsican.

  "There is no need. I will go to him. Meanwhile get ready to go with me,and communicate with von Krugen to keep the duke where he is until hehears from me."

  Then I hurried to the room where Baron Heckscher was waiting.

  "I deemed it best to come to you myself," he said on my entrance. "Ihave been delayed, because I wished to be able to assure you that othersare with us in what we propose. Further, there is very important news."

  "Stay, if you please," I interposed, "before you tell me any more ofyour news. Understand, I am not, and will not, be a party to any of yourschemes. I have no wish to be in any degree in your confidence."

  I guessed that the purport of his news was that some sort ofinterference from Berlin was threatened, and I had the strongest reasonsfor keeping clear of any complications whatever in that direction.

  "I don't think I quite understand you," he said sharply.

  "I mean that up to this point you have been working against the CountessMinna and myself and I against you. So far I have outwitted you, and youare taking the present step of freeing the countess because you can'thelp yourself, not in any spirit of co-operation with me, but underpressure from me, and because, if you don't do it, you know that yourwhole plan will be spoiled. We are still opponents, and I decline to beassociated with you and your colleagues, and I retain complete freedomof action and entire liberty to explain exactly the circumstances underwhich this new development has taken place."

  "You mean that you have threatened to murder the rightful heir to theBavarian throne," he said, harshly and angrily.

  "That I have taken less shameful steps in regard to one of the heirsthan you took in regard to the other. Precisely," I retorted.

  "If you will not act with us, there must be an end of things, then."

  "Yes, if you mean that I must act with you, I will have no hand in yourplot."

  "You make needless difficulties."

  "On the contrary, I make no difficulties. I refuse only to be drawn intoyour plot, or to be considered as one of you."

  "A sudden development of scruples, under the circumstances," hesneered.

  "A proper development of caution I prefer to call it, seeing that I amacting as the only real representative of the Countess Minna, and amdealing with those who have tricked her so abominably."

  I spoke with all the warmth I felt.

  "You wish to pose as my enemy?"

  "I am quite indifferent. I know already the whereabouts of the countessfrom a source independent of you, and I have taken means to insure hersafety."

  This was not strictly accurate, but it was indirectly true, for I knewthat so long as the Duke Marx remained in my hands Minna was safeenough.

  He paused to think.

  "Do you mean you wish to break away from the arrangement we made thismorning?"

  "Not so far as the renunciation of the throne is concerned; but thearrangement as to my cousin's freedom is to be considered as forced fromyou, not made in complicity with you. I do not wish you to tell meanything because you think I am acting with you. I am not."

  "So long as you do what you've agreed, I ask no more," he answered, witha shrug of the shoulders, as though he considered the matter not worthdiscussing.

  But I knew his indifference was only assumed to cover his chagrin.

  "The news is that the greatest haste is now imperative, or everythingwill be lost. The Duke Marx must be back in Munich to-night or at latestto-morrow. The whole city is in an uproar, and if the duke is not backthe ill consequences may be irretrievable. Moreover, I have news ofaction from Berlin."

  "You mean you wish to pull the wires at once for an agitation in favorof your duke, I suppose, but dare not until you know he is at libertyand able to come forward. A very pretty dilemma," and I smiled. "I am inluck, it seems. But now what of this Landsberg business? The countess isthere. What have you done?"

  "I have wired to our leader there, Major Gessler, to expect you to takeaway the countess; and I have written you an authority to him that willdo all you need. Give him that--you will know him, for you saw him lastnight when you visited the town-house of Herr Schemmell--and that verymoment the countess will be placed in your hands."

  "Good!" I cried gladly, my blood warming at the thought of Minna
beingagain in my charge. "But you know that von Nauheim has gone toLandsberg."

  A frown crossed his face, but with an impatient wave of the hand heexclaimed:

  "He can do nothing. Now as to your part. As soon as the countess is inyour care again you will hand to Gessler an authority to set the DukeMarx at liberty?"

  "Yes," I replied after a moment's consideration.

  "Then the sooner you are en route the better," he said, rising as hespoke. "I have no more to say to you. We part as----?"

  "As we met--opponents, Baron Heckscher," I answered promptly; and assoon as he had gone I hurried back to Praga to tell him what hadoccurred. Within a few minutes we were driving rapidly on our way toLandsberg.

  My heart was beating with pleased anticipation of seeing Minna, though Iwas not without some apprehension as to how she would take the news Ihad to tell of myself and of the deception I had practised. Nor was Ialtogether free from disquieting fears that in some way there wasdanger to her from the presence of von Nauheim. I had, too, many plansto make regarding our future movements, so that I was in no mood forconversation.

  Praga began to beguile the journey by attempting to tell me a number ofpiquant and characteristic anecdotes of his experiences; but he soonfound I was not listening, and he then relapsed into silence, and satsmoking furiously.

  Once when he broke a long silence his words chanced to chime with mythoughts and I answered.

  "When am I to have my revenge on that brute von Nauheim?" he asked, hisdark face lowering with anger.

  "You have had much of it already, for most of his plans havemiscarried."

  "Ay, but I want to be face to face with him, with nothing between but acouple of sharp swords," and his eyes flashed as he spoke.

  "That may come sooner than we think. I care not how soon," I said.

  "But I do. Body of Bacchus, but I long to see him squirm and shiver andshrink when I fix his eyes with mine and press his sword with the touchof death."

  "I have a score to settle with him, too, and it grows in the waiting."

  "My turn first. You can have him when I've done with him--or at leastwhat's left of him," he cried, with a callous laugh. "Not before. Andwhat are you going to do afterward?"

  "I am still undecided," I replied; and again we were both silent.

  The journey was a very tedious one, for the train was slow, and we weremuch delayed owing to a breakdown on the line, which made our trainseveral hours late. The delay fretted and galled me, for I could notmake sure that von Nauheim would not use the interval for some devilmentof his own. My impatience made the time pass with wings of lead.

  It was well toward evening when we reached our destination, and thencame another delay. There was an eight-mile drive to the house, and atfirst we couldn't get horses.

  After much difficulty we procured a couple of riding hacks of veryindifferent quality, and as soon as we were mounted we pushed forward atsuch speed as the nature of our beasts would allow. The effect of thecomparatively rapid motion through the air was exhilarating and bracedme. It was dusk, however, when we reached the village, at the far end ofwhich was the mansion.

  "At last!" I exclaimed as we turned in through a pair of massive gatesand rattled up the drive at a quick trot.

  As I glanced at the great, grim, square building, in which scarcely alight was to be seen, a thought that all was not right was put intowords by my companion, who exclaimed with an oath:

  "I don't like the look of this place, Prince. I seem to smell somethingwrong. I'm not for trusting myself inside."

  "It's all right," I answered. "It must be; there's no object now to begained by playing us false," and I jumped from the saddle and ran up thebroad flight of steps to the front door.

  "Maybe," growled Praga. "But I'd rather stay where I am. I'll turnhorse-minder. If it's a trap, it's as well for one of us to remain onthe outside of it."

  I was not sorry for him to do that, as I did not wish Minna to see himuntil she knew how he had been helping us. His name was too repugnant toher in connection with her brother's death.

  My summons was answered at once, and I asked for Major Gessler. I wasshown to a room at once, and as the door closed on me I heard a rush offootsteps, a cry or two of anger, a shout from Praga that we werebetrayed, and then the quick gallop of horses down the drive.

  Before I had recovered from my consternation the door was opened againquickly, and an officer appeared at it, accompanied by a couple of men,who covered me with their guns.

  "What is the meaning of this?" I cried angrily. "Where is Major Gessler?I am the Prince von Gramberg, and am here with an authority from BaronHeckscher to the major. You will repent this attack, sir, whoever youare."

  "If you will be good enough to hand over any weapons you may have, andto sit down quietly there"--pointing to a chair--"I shall be glad toanswer you."

  "I'll see you damned first!" I cried in a blind rage, and I whipped outmy revolver and levelled it point-blank at his face. "Stand out of myway, or I'll shoot you like a dog!"

  He was as cool as though I was merely offering him my card.

  "You will gain nothing by shooting me, except that my men will promptlyshoot you," he answered.

  "Then tell me what the devil you mean by this outrage," I said; anddespite my rage I saw readily the truth of what he said.

  "I allow no man to force me in this way," he answered calmly, looking mesteadily in the face. "Give up your revolver and no harm will be doneto you. Indeed I shall be glad to explain matters."

  I tossed the pistol on to the table, and he picked it up, handed it toone of the men, and ordered them to leave the room.

  "Remain at hand to come if I call," he told them. Then to me he said,shutting the door: "I am merely obeying orders. Major Gessler is awayfor a time, and my instructions were to detain you until he returned."

  "Why is not the major here? He was prepared for my coming by a telegramfrom Baron Heckscher."

  "You must put your questions to him. I only obey orders. But there hasbeen some ugly business here in regard to the Countess Minna vonGramberg. She left the place secretly with her aunt and the Count vonNauheim, about three hours ago, and the major is gone in pursuit ofthem."

  The news set me on fire.

  "I must go after them!" I cried. "Don't try to stop me. Where have theygone?"

  "My orders are that you remain here," he answered stolidly, "and Icannot disobey them."

  "But I have come to fetch the countess. This is the authority to MajorGessler to deliver her up to me," and, snatching the baron's letter frommy pocket, I handed it to the officer.

  He took it slowly, examined it carefully, and held it out again.

  "It is addressed to my superior officer, I cannot open it," he said,with the same deliberate coolness.

  I tore open the envelope and gave him the letter.

  He shook his head.

  "It is not for me. I cannot read my superior's letters. I could not actupon it if I did."

  "But, good God, man, these women may be in desperate peril! You mustread it!"

  He shook his head again with dogged obstinacy.

  At that I lost all control of myself, and with an oath I threw myselfupon him to drag him out of the way of my escape from the place.

  He clung to me, and wrestled furiously, and with a call brought in thetwo men, who soon overpowered and forced me back in my chair, fumingwith rage.

  "It is useless to struggle," he said in his cold, even tone. "I have myorders, and more than enough strength to see that they are obeyed."

  I recognized the force of this, and, though I cursed the blockheadstolidity of the man, I could do nothing but yield.

  I ceased to struggle, but felt like a madman in my baffled fury and fearfor Minna. Heaven alone knew what use von Nauheim might make of thisopportunity.