An Imperial Marriage

  CHAPTER XVIII

  THE LUCK TURNS

  My assumption of indifference appealed to what little sense of humourthe German police routine training had allowed Dormund to retain, for heburst into a quite human laugh as he lighted a cigar. "Need we pretendany longer, Herr Bastable?" he asked.

  "Not unless you like," I replied, as grave as a judge. "But what about?"

  "The very charming young lady who has just left us."

  "Bessie? My sister, I mean," I said, as if genuinely perplexed.

  He waved his hand impatiently. "Ah, her name is von Ringheim. We knowthat."

  I clapped my hands to the arms of my chair and started forward as ifintensely surprised. "Do you mean that my sister has got marriedwithout my knowledge? For Heaven's sake, what are you saying?"

  He gave me a dry look. "You are overdoing it, Herr Bastable. I meanthat the lady who has just gone out is Fraeulein Korper, otherwise vonRingheim. Is that clear?"

  "Oh," I said with a sigh of relief. "Is that all? Then why the devildidn't you arrest her?"

  The blunt question drew another laugh out of him. "I need not tell you,for you know. So long as we are certain where to find her---- But HerrFeldermann told you. I have not come on her affairs, however; nor torefer to what happened the other day at the station."

  "I am always delighted to see you--provided of course you don't come toarrest me."

  "I trust I shall never have to do that, but you will do well to becautious in your hospitality."

  "Not with you, I hope," I laughed. "At all events unofficially."

  "I am here unofficially now, and will go so far as to warn you that anofficial visit from one of us has been very seriously considered.Berlin, and indeed the whole of Germany, is considered very unhealthyfor some foreigners at this season, you know."

  "I appreciate your friendship, Dormund; but I shan't bolt. I shall befound here whenever I'm wanted. I shall stick it out."

  "It is more serious than you think perhaps; but it is of course for youto decide. Well, now, I have come to-day to act the part of a mutualfriend, Heir Bastable; from Lieutenant von Bernhoff. He feels verydeeply the breach that has occurred."

  "I think I would rather you did not say any more about that," I brokein.

  "Bear with me a moment. He is devotedly attached to your sister and hehas a genuine regard for you yourself; he has empowered me to offer youan unqualified apology for what passed when he was last here, and toassure you that you placed quite the wrong interpretation on what hesaid. He is very unhappy."

  "Do you know what passed?"

  "It was very unfortunate," he replied with a gesture of regret. "Butremember, please, the feelings of a man who sees himself about to losewhat he prizes more than anything else on earth. A man in love, youknow!"

  "But my sister does not return his regard."

  "He wishes only to be allowed to call and make his apologies forhimself. I can assure you, of my own knowledge, that his regret isabject."

  "There is good ground for it," I said drily. "And his coming here woulddo no good. I don't believe he ever had a ghost of a chance of gettingmy sister to care for him and am dead certain that whatever chance hehad was absolutely ruined by his conduct that day."

  "Well, may he come? Let me put it as a personal favour to me?"

  I hesitated a second. "I can't refuse you; but it is for your sake notfor his that I consent; and he had better not come for a few days."

  "In the meantime you will speak to your sister and tell her of hisregrets and perhaps say a word----"

  "No, no," I interrupted, shaking my head. "In England we let our girlssettle these matters entirely for themselves. But I'll tell her whatyou have told me."

  "Well, I have not failed entirely at any rate," he said as he rose."And now will you accept a last word of caution, and get rid of yourvisitors."

  Plural number, this time. He apparently knew all about the presence ofAlthea's father. "I am going to," I answered with a smile.

  "I am unfeignedly glad. You have many friends among us, you know."

  "I am seeing Herr Borsen about it the day after to-morrow."

  "Good; but don't forget that even his hands may be forced"; and withthis parting caution he went away to leave me pondering very uneasilywhat could be behind the words.

  Was his warning genuine or was it a veiled threat? Had he come as vonBernhoff's friend to force the reconciliation with this as his weapon?The events of the last few days had so tried me, that I was suspiciousof almost every one with whom I came in contact who had any concern withthe affair. It was possible that he meant von Bernhoff could make sucha to do as to force the police to act despite Borsen's promise. Yet hehad seemed genuine enough.

  There was of course another interpretation--that some influence could bebrought to bear strong enough to force even Borsen. Whose? TheEmperor's? No. I had made that right with Chalice's letter. Could itbe the Prince von Graven in his rage at my interference? No. He mighthave the intention but he lacked the power.

  There was only one man left--von Felsen himself. He could do it throughhis father, if he could persuade him that I was blocking the scheme andnot, as Borsen believed, seeking to carry it through.

  But Dormund would know nothing about this unless--and at that moment thelight began to break in--unless certain steps had already been taken ofwhich Dormund's colleagues had spoken to him.

  If it was only that, I had little reason for fear. A word or two fromme and von Felsen would come crawling to heel at my beck. The soonerthat word was spoken the better, perhaps; and I decided to speak it atonce.

  I told Althea and Bessie the result of Dormund's visit and then wentstraight off to interview von Felsen. I did not find him, however; hewas at his father's house, the servant told me, and would not returnuntil very late.

  I was very disappointed. So much depended upon the result of theinterview, and Dormund had made me feel what danger there was in delay,that I was exceedingly anxious to bring the fellow to his knees at once.

  There was, moreover, the almost equally critical matter of the papers hewas to secure--the act which I believed would put the card I needed intomy hand--and I was at my wits' end to think of some means by which Icould discover what was being done in the matter.

  When I had reduced him to a proper condition of terror by the threat ofcharging him with the Jew's murder, I intended to force from him thenecessary information. But I could not do anything with him in thatmatter at his father's house. If he had the papers already, they wouldbe at his own house; and thus for my purposes the interview must takeplace there.

  I could not do anything more that night, however, and I turned homewardsin none too amiable a mood. The luck had appeared to go so dead againstme, and I was trying to hit on some way to change it, when I blunderedinto a man hurrying in the direction from which I had come. I looked upwith a growl on my lips at his carelessness, when I recognized the youngclerk I had seen at the wharf.

  "I am sure I beg your pardon," I said. "I was thinking. It was myfault."

  He had a very pleasant smile. "Really I'm afraid it was mine. I waslooking about for the name of the street. I don't know this part of thecity at all well. This is the Coursenstrasse, isn't it?"

  "Yes. What number do you want?"

  "268d," he replied looking at an adjoining house door.

  It was the number of von Felsen's house! What did "W. Mischen" wantwith him? I became very friendly at once. "I'll show it you"; and Iturned with him. "I have nothing to do; and it's very curious, I wantedto have a chat with you."

  I would not risk going up with him to the door, lest the servant shouldreport the fact to von Felsen; but I waited for him, standing nearenough to observe that he delivered a message and not a letter.

  What that message was I would learn before the night was out by hook orcrook; and when he rejoined me I led the way to a restaurant, andinsist
ed on his joining me at supper. I did him well; a good meal,plenty of the best wine, and a cigar such as he rarely smoked. While wewere eating I spun him a yarn about my intention to start a bigwharfinger's business, asked his advice about a heap of things,flattered his judgment, and worked him into a properly loquacious mood.

  I then sounded him as to whether he would care to enter my employ, andnamed a salary about three times as big as he had any reason to expect,with light hours and so on, and in this way worked round to anexpression of surprise that he should have to stop so late at work.

  It was very plain sailing then. He did not always work so late, hesaid; but he had been asked to stay that night until one of the heads ofhis present firm arrived from the lawyers', where he had been engaged inregard to the lease of the wharf.

  "There was really no reason why they should have kept me; but I am neverafraid of an extra hour or two, of course." This was for my benefit ashis future employer.

  "Of course they will pay you. When I detain one of my clerks I alwaysdo what is proper, especially when the business is important."

  "This wasn't. Only a trifle about the lease of the wharf. Herr vonFelsen is the owner of it, you know, and he was to have delivered itto-night; but something came in the way. All I had to do after all, wasto take a message that they would call for it to-morrow night at eighto'clock."

  "Well, I am glad they did detain you as it turns out"; and I poured himout a last glass of wine. I was indeed glad, but the reason was notquite so much on the surface as his smile showed me he thought.

  "I suppose the gentleman you have been to is a very wealthy man, then?"

  "Oh yes, they tell me he owns no end of property. What luck some peoplehave!"

  As I knew that von Felsen hadn't a single brick or plank to call hisown, I put my own construction on the story about the "lease"; and as Ihad got all I wanted from the clerk, I brought the interview to a closesoon afterwards, having taken his address and given him to understandthat he would hear more from me soon.

  The incident was a piece of such stupendous luck that I could scarcelybelieve in my good fortune. If all went well, I should be too firmlyseated in saddle within twenty-four hours for any one to be able tounhorse me. That "lease" meant the stolen papers; and with them in myhands I could laugh at every other difficulty. And that I could dragthen from von Felsen by my knowledge of his guilt I was certain.

  And the vein of good luck was not exhausted with that one preciousnugget.

  Althea came to me the first thing in the morning looking so white andtroubled that I was full of concern. "Your father is not worse?" Iasked quickly.

  "No. He is better, much better; but he will not think of leaving thecity. He will not listen to me when I urge it."

  "It does not matter so much now," I said cheerfully.

  "Ah, but it does. The trouble is greater than ever. Read this. It wasbrought to the house this morning"; and she handed me a letter.

  "Addressed to you in your own name," I exclaimed, glancing at theenvelope. Then I read the letter. It was from von Felsen. He saidthat he knew the Baron was in the house; that my arrest had been decidedupon for having sheltered him; and that her father's presence withothers at the Jew's house on the night of the murder was known. Heconcluded: "You must give me your decision to-day, and upon yourdecision every one of the steps I have mentioned will depend. If youare not my wife by to-night, the word will be spoken, and everythingwill be too late. Meanwhile Herr Bastable's house is being watchedclosely. I shall come this afternoon for your answer."

  "You see now?" cried Althea in dismay, as I stood thinking over theletter. "I shall do it, Mr. Bastable. It is the only way."

  "It depends upon when and where he means the marriage to take place," Ianswered, speaking out of my thoughts rather than in reply to her words.

  "You agree that I should do it?" she asked almost piteously.

  We were standing at the moment opposite a large mirror, and as I lookedby chance at our reflections a thought struck me. I turned to her witha smile. "I think, perhaps, you will have to agree to his terms."

  "You smile at this?" she cried, not without a touch of indignation.

  "God forbid that I should smile at anything threatening your whole lifeas this would do. I must think; but if you can bring yourself toconsent, you must make your own conditions as to the time and place ofthe marriage."

  "And this is all you have to say?"

  "No. The marriage will not take place, because he dare do nothingagainst my will. Don't lose heart for an instant."

  "Tell me. You must see what it means to me, this suspense. You are insuch danger--and Bessie."

  "We were never safer. That I assure you. But trust me and havepatience."

  "You know I trust you"; and she laid her hand on my arm.

  "Yes, I do know it. And bear this in mind. I am absolutely confidentthat we shall win. Remember that, and if you see me appear to bealarmed, and even panic-stricken, don't believe what you see."

  She let her eyes rest on mine. "I should never believe that," she said.

  At that moment Bessie said her father was calling for her, and weparted.

  I took my sister to my room and had a long talk with her, and in the endsent her out to make one or two purchases for the plan that had occurredto me, telling her to be very careful that she was not followed. Ishould have gone myself, but after von Felsen's statement that the housewas being carefully watched, she could do what had to be done betterthan I could.

  When she returned, we two were busy together for two or three hours, atthe end of which we had a little rehearsal.

  "It is positively wonderful, Paul! Wonderful!"

  "It will do in the dark, anyhow," I replied, quite satisfied with theresult. "Say nothing to Althea about it; but if you can manage it, dropher a hint that I have had very bad news. It is so essential she shouldact naturally when von Felsen comes, that I must even venture tofrighten her a little."

  I would not trust myself to see Althea herself again before von Felsen'svisit, lest I should be led to tell her everything in my desire torelieve her anxiety. So much depended upon his being entirely deceived,that I dared not take the risk of her not being able to appearcompletely sincere in what she had to promise.

  It was a hard task to mislead her even for so short a time; and twentytimes I started off to relieve the suspense I knew was torturing her.But I did not go.

  Then von Felsen arrived. He asked openly for Fraeulein von Ringheim,and by my orders Ellen showed him into my room. He was a very differentman from the shaken reed he had been when I had interviewed him at theclub on the night of the Jew's murder. He was now self-confident,resolved, and sure of himself on the strength of the cards he held.

  On the other hand I endeavoured to express alarm and genuineapprehension.

  "It is no use your denying that Fraeulein Althea is here, Herr Bastable.I know it and the police know it. I shan't go without seeing her."

  "What are you going to do?" I asked, letting my eyes fall before his.

  "That all depends on what she does. You have made a holy mess of thingsin your cleverness. Your house is watched by the police, and you can'tescape. If things go wrong, you'll have to answer for having had theBaron here. I know he's here, too."

  "You are not going to play on a woman's fears about her father, areyou?" A spice of mild indignation in this. "As for me, you can't harmme."

  "Harm you? Can't I?" he cried with a snort of anger. "Perhaps you'llchange your tone when I tell you, on my honour----"

  "Never mind your honour," I cut in with a sneer which had the intendedeffect of adding anger to his bluster.

  "When I leave this house I shall only have to hold up my finger and thelot of you will be inside the nearest gaol as quickly as you can betaken there by the police--you and Althea and her father and your sistertoo. You are all in this, you know. And if you provoke me, by HeavenI'll do it at once."

  I did not
reply but sat looking down at the table in intense dismay.

  "Now are you going to deny that she is in the house?" he criedtriumphantly after a pause.

  "No, I don't deny it." The words seemed to be wrung from me, and Icontinued my stare of dismay at the table.

  "I thought that would bring you to your senses. Where is she?"

  "I'll take you up to her;" and I rose.

  "No, thank you. I don't want you," he declared with a short laugh.

  I sat down again. "I must think all this over," I murmured with a sighof concern. "She's in the drawing-room, the room at the top of thestairs."

  "I'll find it right enough, you bet." He went to the door and thenturned for a last shot. "You understand, Bastable, if she says no,you'll all sleep in gaol to-night."

  I let my head sink on my hand, and with a last leer of satisfaction hewent out.

  My only fear was lest I had overdone it; but he was anything but a keenobserver, and was himself a man of exaggerated gesture.

  I waited a few minutes to give him time to put his cowardly propositionto Althea and then, having rumpled my hair a bit to give the appearanceof intense perturbation, I followed to add my plea to his--that Altheashould agree to marry him.

  It was, as she had said, the only way; but in furtherance of my plansinstead of his.