XVIII
I SAW--I KNOW
The next day they left Paris. Almost the first person Trusia espied atthe railroad station was General Vladimar, a stately young aide, and theCasper Haupt of yesterday. Carter felt a thrill of recognition for thelatter; he was the passer-by of the night before who had receivedJosef's signal, and, yes, it was the man who had met the HereditaryServitor in the moonlit shadow of the porch.
The General bustled forward with easy appearance of boisterousfriendliness. The group split; the King was adroitly surrounded bySobieska, Muhlen-Sarkey and Carter, while Trusia and Sutphen advanced tomeet and check the too curious Russian.
He smiled blandly as he tacitly acknowledged to himself that he had beengracefully repulsed in one direction. Glancing at the baggage of theparty, he bent over Trusia's hand with almost real deference.
"So soon?" he inquired with a gesture toward the trunks. "It is almostas if I was hurrying you off," he laughed. Sutphen was reading what wasback of the man's eyes. The Russian seemed so sure of his game thatlike a cat with a mouse, he played at friendliness. "I am going again toSchallberg, soon," he continued in his same manner of large good nature,"and hope the beastly hole will furnish more excitement this time. Couldyou arrange it, eh, Colonel?" and he turned smilingly to the troubledKrovitzer.
"We'll try," replied the veteran, "forewarned is always forearmed."
Vladimar assumed a look of gravity. "Let's not speak of arms, goodfriends, for your--for all our sakes. There's my train! Adieu; _bonvoyage_." Without waiting to see the impression of his words, he leftthem. They were all conscious of an unrest caused by the Russian'sadvent. He had mentioned his return to Schallberg; could he know of whatwas going forward? Trusia summoned the Hereditary Servitor.
That those waiting in Krovitch should be informed of their coming, Josefwas directed by her to send an already prepared cipher dispatch. Thewhite-haired servitor did so with commendable alacrity. Assured that theoperator had actually transmitted it, he filled in a blank for himself,with the following simple message: "Reach Bregenz Thursday. Be on hand.Josef." Dating it, he handed it to the official. The latter carefullyread and reread it, then turned quizzically to Josef.
"A thousand pardons, m'sieu," he said, "but you have given no address."
"How stupid," laughed the old fellow. "It is for Fraulein Julia Haupt,Notions Merchant, 16 Hoffstrasse, Bregenz."
Long before their first objective was reached, the journey had provenexceedingly irksome to one member of the party; while, for the greaterpart of the time, a conscious restraint held both Trusia and Calvert ina silence broken only when the monotony grew unbearable. Stovik, lost inwonderment at his future regal state, and a trifle awed at the high-bredgirl beside him, added but little to the conversation. The CountessMuhlen-Sarkey awoke only when there was a fitful attempt to break theembarrassment which held all the others. The quondam Parisian openlywelcomed each stopping-place as an excuse to escape from suchuncongenial companionship. In the throngs on the platforms he found bothtransient excitement and opportunities of stretching his cramped andrestless limbs. Josef conscientiously attended him on these briefexcursions, never relaxing for an instant his grave watchfulness overhis royal charge.
There was a protracted stop at Bregenz. Being at the entrance of theAustrian Tyrol, there followed a rigid frontier examination of baggage.The three men excused themselves to Trusia and descended to the stationin order to expedite matters as much as possible by their promptappearance and presence. Apparently by accident, in the pushing crowd,Josef and his royal charge were separated from Carter, who wastemporarily lost to view. Having no apprehension on that score, theygave no heed to his absence, but shouldered their way to the groupsabout the piled-up trunks where they knew he would rejoin them. Afterhaving their belongings properly _vised_, the pair stood watching thepanorama of the crowd.
Carter, at last catching sight of his fellow travelers, noted with someapprehension that they were being pretty closely watched by analert-looking, middle-aged man. Receiving a covert nod from Josef, thelatter had disappeared at once into the human medley. With allexpedition, therefore, the American rejoined them. He read a question inJosef's eyes which changed into a defiance as the latter read in thenewcomer's that the incident had not escaped him.
Just then Stovik caught him by the arm. "Look, Major," he cried,indicating a vivacious Austrienne at no great distance from where theystood, "isn't that a dainty morsel?" Carter turned to see that thewoman was freely indulging in an ocular conversation with His Majesty.
"Monsieur," Carter commenced in dignified remonstrance, only to be cutshort by a peevish King.
"See here, Carter, official business does not begin until we reachSchallberg. I'll practically be a prisoner for life if all goes well. Iam not going to give up without just one more fling at the pomps andvanities of this wicked world."
To emphasize his assertion, he smiled gaily at the pretty woman, whoselips parted in audacious invitation.
"But the Duchess," Carter persisted, frowning.
"That's just it," Stovik replied unblushingly. "I am not accustomed tosuch women as Her Grace. When near her I have to keep a tight rein on mytongue for fear of being guilty of a _faux pas_. A pinch of a roundcheek, a warm kiss given and returned, an arm about a lithe waist, iswhat I like. Her Grace is an iceberg."
Carter flushed angrily at the comparison. He restrained with somedifficulty the stinging words of rebuke which sprang to his lips inTrusia's defense.
"Oh, I know what you would say," continued the royal scamp. "I admit herpatriotism, sacrifices, devotion, and all that sort of thing. Frankly,though, we are too dissimilar ever to get along together. Thedifferences are temperamental. Environment and education have made aninsuperable barrier to our mutual happiness."
A hope he could not restrain lighted Carter's face at these carelesswords. "Do you mean," he inquired gravely, simulating a solemnity hefelt but little, "do you mean that you will not marry Her Grace ofSchallberg?"
The King, coming close, looked searchingly into Carter's eyes andlaughed in faint raillery; he partially understood. His reply wasevasive. "It is not every one," he said, "who can gain a throne bymarrying a pretty girl." Shrugging his shoulders, he abruptly left hiscompanions and approached the woman, with whom he did not seem to haveany difficulty in establishing a cordial relation.
Carter reluctantly retraced his steps to the car. He was joined byJosef. The American nodded his head savagely toward where the monarchcould be seen in high glee at his conquest. Taking this, apparently, asan indication that his persuasive offices were desired in thatdirection, Josef approached his royal master with deferentialremonstrance. He touched the elbow of the oblivious King, who instantlyturned. Irritated by what he could see of the express disapproval ofhis conduct in the smug face of the servitor, he inquired harshly whatthe fellow wanted.
"Beg pardon, m'sieu," stammered the old man, "but the train startsimmediately." If Josef's poor efforts had been intended to persuade thereturn of the King they had been made with but little understanding ofthe character of the man addressed. The contrary effect was produced.
"So do I," responded His Majesty curtly, annoyed at what he consideredan impertinent surveillance. "I shall rejoin the party at Vienna. Youmay call me when we arrive. Not before." He turned his back upon thediscomfited Josef.
Carter, on reentering the car, braced himself to render an acceptableyet plausible excuse for Stovik's absence. The Countess Muhlen-Sarkeywas placidly sleeping in the corner. Trusia was sitting withpalm-propped chin, gazing straight out of the window. This kept the fullview of her face away from such of the party as might chance to enterthe car. Carter saw enough, however, to convince him that she had beenweeping. One forgotten tear hung tremulously on her lashes as though tooreluctant to part with her grief. A fierce resentment seized him. Heturned to leave the car, determined to drag back the graceless King bythe neck if necessary.
"Don't go," she pleaded as though comprehending
his intentions. Unableto refuse her request he sat down beside her.
"Duchess," he began in the alternative of explanation; "His Majesty----"
"Has chosen to ride in another car," she interrupted, loyally unwillingthat even he should criticise the King of Krovitch. "It is his right. I,a subject, would not attempt to pass in judgment upon the acts of mysovereign." There was a sad weakening of voice as she completed herdefense, which convinced Carter that she had seen the whole disgustingperformance.
"Forgive me," he said very gently.
"I saw," she admitted in distress. A woman, urged by pride, she had atfirst refused his sympathy. Finding pride insufficient for her solace,she now, womanlike, sought what she had refused. The entrance of Josef,at this juncture, however, and the resumption of the journey, deprivedCarter of what had been the most propitious moment he had yet had tobind her heart indissolubly to his own.
How much the King had disclosed, how much the woman had discovered,Carter was unable to find out, as Stovik maintained a sulky silence inthe face of all inquiries.