CHAPTER IX
THE ROSE GARDEN
The rose garden of the summer palace of Courtland was a paradise madefor lovers' whisperings. Even now, when the chills of autumn had begunto blow through its bowers, it was over-clambered with late-bloomingflowers. Its bowers were creeper-tangled. Trees met over paths beddedwith fallen petals, making a shade in sunshine, a shelter in rain, anddelightful in both.
It was natural that so fair a Princess, taking such a sudden fancy to ayoung man, should find her way where the shade was deepest and thelabyrinth most entangled.
But this secretary Johann of ours, being creditably hard of heart, wouldfar rather have hied him straight back to old Dessauer with his news.More than anything he desired to be alone, that he might think over theevents of the morning.
But the Princess Margaret had quite other intentions.
"Do you know," she began, "that I might well have lodged you in adungeon cell for that which in another had been dire insolence?"
They were pacing a long dusky avenue of tall yew-trees. The secretaryturned towards her the blank look of one whose thoughts have been faraway. But the Princess rattled on, heedless of his mood.
"Nevertheless, I forgive you," she said; "after all, I myself asked youto teach me your foreign customs. If any one be to blame, it is I. Butone thing I would impress upon you, sir secretary: do not practisethese outland peculiarities before my brothers. Either of them mightlook with prejudice upon such customs being observed generallythroughout the city. I came back chiefly to warn you. We do not wantthat handsome head of yours (which I admit is well enough in its way,as, being a man, you are doubtless aware) to be taken off and stuck on apole over the Strasburg Gate!"
It was with an effort that the secretary detached himself sufficientlyfrom his reveries upon the interview in the summer palace to understandwhat the Princess was driving at.
"All this mighty pother, just because I kissed her on the cheek," hethought. "A Princess of Courtland is no such mighty thing--and whyshould I not?--Oh, of course, I had forgotten again. I am not now theperson I was."
But how can we tell with what infinite condescension the Princess tookthe young man's hand and read his fortune, dwelling frowningly on thelines of love and life?
"You have too pretty a hand for a man," she said; "why is it hard hereand here?"
"That is from the sword grip," said the secretary, with no small pride.
"Do you, then, fence well? I wish I could see you," she cried, clappingher hands. "How splendid it would be to see a bout between you andPrince Wasp--that is, the Prince Ivan of Muscovy, I mean. He is a greatfencer, and also desires to be a great friend of mine. He would givesomething to be sitting here teaching me how they take hands and bideach other goodbye in Bearland. They rub noses, I have heard say, acustom which, to my thinking, would be more provocative thansatisfactory. I like your Plassenburg fashion better."
Whereat, of course there was nothing for it but that the secretaryshould arouse himself out of his reverie and do his part. If thePrincess of Courtland chose to amuse herself with him, well, it washarmless on either side--even more so than she knew. Soon he would befar away. Meanwhile he must not comport himself like a puking fool.
"I think in somewise it were possible to improve upon the customs evenof Plassenburg," said the Princess Margaret, after certain experiments;"but tell me, since you say that we are to be friends, and I haveadmitted your plea, what is your fortune? Nay, do you know that I do noteven know your name--at least, not from your own lips."
For, headlong as she had proved herself in making love, yet a vein ofBaltic practicality was hidden beneath the princess's impetuosity.
"My father was the Count von Loeen, and I am his heir!" said thesecretary carefully; "but I do not usually call myself so. There arereasons why I should not."
Which there were, indeed--grave reasons, too.
"Then you are the Count von Loeen?" said the Princess. "I seem to haveheard that name somewhere before. Tell me, are you the Count von Loeen?"
"I am certainly the heir to that title," said the secretary, grillingwithin and wishing himself a thousand miles away.
"I must go directly and tell my brother. He will be back from thecathedral by this time. I am sure he did not know. And the estates--alittle involved, doubtless, like those of most well-born folk in theseill days? Are they in your sole right?"
"The estates are extensive. They are not encumbered so far as I know.They are all in my own right," explained the newly styled Count withperfect truth. But within he was saying, "God help me! I get deeper anddeeper. What a whirling chaos a single lie leads one into! Heaven giveme speedy succour out of this!" And as he thought of his troubles, thenoble count, the swordsman, the learned secretary, could scarce restraina desire to break out into hysterical sobbing.
A new thought seemed to strike the Princess as he was speaking.
"But so young, so handsome," she murmured, "so apt a pupil at love!"Then aloud she said, "You are not deceiving me? You are not alreadybetrothed?"
"Not to any woman!" said the deceitful Count, picking his words withexactness.
The gay laugh of the Princess rang out prompt as an echo.
"I did not expect you to be engaged to a man!" she cried. "But nowconduct me to the entrance of my chambers" (here she reached him herhand). "I like you," she added frankly, looking at him with unflinchingeyes. "I am of the house of Courtland, and we are accustomed to say whatwe think--the women of us especially. And sooner than carry out thiswretched contract and marry the Prince Wasp, I will do even as I said tomy brother, I will run away and wed a dog-whipper! But perhaps I may dobetter than either!" she said in her heart, nodding determinedly as shelooked at the handsome youth before her, who now stood with his eyesdowncast upon the ground.
They were almost out of the yew-tree walk, and the voice of the Princesscarried far, like that of most very impulsive persons. It reached theears of a gay young fashionable, who had just dismounted at the gatewhich led from the rose garden into the wing of the palace inhabited bythe Princess Margaret and her suite.
"Now," said the Princess, "I will show you how apt a pupil I make. Tellme whether this is according to the best traditions of Plassenburg!" Andtaking his face between her hands she kissed him rapidly upon eithercheek and then upon the lips.
"There!" she said, "I wonder what my noble brothers would say to that! Iwill show them that Margaret of Courtland can choose both whom she willkiss and whom she will marry!"
And flashing away from him like a bright-winged bird she fled upwardinto her chambers. Then, somewhat dazed by the rapid succession ofemotions, Johann the Secretary stepped out of the green gloom of theyew-tree walk into the broad glare of the September sun and foundhimself face to face with Prince Wasp.