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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Trusia, by Davis Brinton
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Trusia
+       A Princess of Krovitch
+
+Author: Davis Brinton
+
+Release Date: March 6, 2010 [EBook #31518]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TRUSIA ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: CARRICK WAS FAR BEHIND]
+
+
+
+
+TRUSIA
+
+A PRINCESS OF KROVITCH
+
+By
+
+DAVIS BRINTON
+
+With Illustrations by WALTER H. EVERETT
+
+PHILADELPHIA AND LONDON GEORGE W. JACOBS AND COMPANY
+
+COPYRIGHT, 1906, BY GEORGE W. JACOBS & COMPANY
+
+_Published, September, 1906_
+
+_Reprinted, October_, 1906
+
+_All rights reserved_
+
+Printed in U. S. A.
+
+
+
+
+_To A. M. P. this volume is gratefully inscribed_
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+  I. A WAGER IS MADE                                                   9
+
+  II. "STRANGE COUNTRIES FOR TO SEE"                                  18
+
+  III. A DUEL--OF WITS                                                24
+
+  IV. THE GRAY MAN                                                    34
+
+  V. I AM THE LADY TRUSIA                                             46
+
+  VI. THE GRAY MAN AGAIN                                              53
+
+  VII. A COOL RECEPTION                                               61
+
+  VIII. THE SPECTRE OF THE STAR                                       72
+
+  IX. IF ZULKA WERE HERE                                              80
+
+  X. THE GLIMMER OF SUSPICION                                         98
+
+  XI. YOU LOVE TRUSIA                                                101
+
+  XII. CARTER FINDS AN ALLY                                          115
+
+  XIII. A NEW MAJOR OF HUSSARS                                       121
+
+  XIV. FOUND IN THE COURTYARD OF THE INN                             134
+
+  XV. THE DREAM KISS                                                 149
+
+  XVI. YOU ARE THE KING OF KROVITCH                                  159
+
+  XVII. AT THE HOTEL DES S. CROIX                                    172
+
+  XVIII. I SAW--I KNOW                                               194
+
+  XIX. IT WAS JUDSON'S FAULT                                         202
+
+  XX. A SOUND AT MIDNIGHT                                            214
+
+  XXI. CARRICK WAS FAR BEHIND                                        228
+
+  XXII. CARRICK IS KING                                              240
+
+  XXIII. NOBLESSE OBLIGE                                             257
+
+  XXIV. STOLEN SLEEP                                                 263
+
+  XXV. THEY MEET JOSEF                                               271
+
+  XXVI. THE VISTULA!                                                 277
+
+  XXVII. YOU ARE STILL MY KING                                       284
+
+  XXVIII. A RE-UNION                                                 294
+
+
+
+
+ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+  Carrick was far behind                                   _Frontispiece_
+
+  Mounted the steps and seated herself
+  on the throne                                                       82
+
+  "Don't let 'im carry your sweet face
+  to the grave with 'im unless your
+  love goes with it"                                                 242
+
+  "For Trusia!" they shouted, and
+  then, "For Krovitch!"                                              260
+
+
+
+
+TRUSIA
+
+
+
+
+I
+
+A WAGER IS MADE
+
+
+After the termination of a three months' struggle on the floor of
+'Change, resulting in the rout of his adversaries, who had counted on an
+easy acquisition of his heritage in the P. & S. system, Calvert Carter
+was grateful for that particular armchair in the reading-room of the
+Racquet Club.
+
+"Those gentlemen, in banking on my inexperience in manipulations," he
+chuckled audibly, "evidently forgot that I had been a campaigner in
+Cuba. Even though I didn't learn much there about Wall Street or
+tickers, I did gather some very valuable knowledge of human nature. I
+guess that counts a little in deals, after all." His thoughts, released
+from the pressure of financial altercations, were a trifle tumultuous
+and wandering. They went bounding back now, at the mere mental
+suggestion of Cuba, to that tropic island, the scene of his stirring
+military experiences.
+
+Event followed event on the lightened screen of reminiscence. He
+recalled with a quick surge of pulse the fervor of El Caney and the tide
+that swept San Juan Hill by the chivalry of American manhood. There,
+too, was Santiago where his mastery of men had resulted in his being
+appointed Provost Marshal of the conquered Spanish citadel. Then his
+mind inconsequently turned to the man who had passed through so many
+crises with him.
+
+"Carrick came through it all, too," he mused. "The veteran is now the
+valet. Poor chap, his life has been a strange one." He recalled the
+story the fellow had told of his past--a tale which had won for him the
+friendship and aid of the man who had been his captain and was now his
+employer.
+
+It had occurred in the white stuccoed house on the Plaza which had been
+his official quarters as Provost.
+
+The picture of it, with its stately old-world balconies where violet
+shadows nested lovingly, arose before his memory's eyes with a strange
+yearning. The recollection of those striped awnings in the white light
+of mid-day had potency to cool, even now, the fever of his thoughts. The
+barren dignity of Carrick's story had contrasted vividly with the
+tropical colorings in which its recital had been inspired.
+
+Prompted by a kindly interest in his orderly's career and ambitions, he
+had asked the man as to his past in general and his future in
+particular. He was totally unprepared for the undammed flood of
+confidence which had burst from the lips of the habitually taciturn
+Carrick. The tattered rags of the fellow's humble past were spread
+before him in all their pathetic squalor. He saw, as though a living
+thing, the barren, inarticulate childhood. He heard, under compulsion,
+the tale of youth's indefinable longings, with the meagre story of a
+love which lacked not its own shabby tragedy. The delicacy of a
+gentleman, who had intruded where he had no right, had caused him to
+draw back with an apology; but the orderly had insisted on telling him.
+He could almost see the raw, quivering heart in Carrick's breast.
+
+"I wonder," he pondered, "what that medal was he wore under his shirt?
+He said it was an heirloom. It looked devilishly like an order of
+nobility." He referred to an incident in the man's narrative, when the
+latter had drawn from beneath the blue army blouse what had at first
+appeared to be a Star of the Bath. It had been solemnly handed to him
+for inspection, with the information that the trooper's father had also
+worn it.
+
+It was old. The circular scroll, which at one time had doubtless borne
+an inscription, was smooth save for a few dimples which indicated
+faintly where words had been. The centre was a slightly raised disc
+about an inch and a quarter in diameter. Upon this, of blue enamel,
+cracked and chipped with age and usage, was the figure of a lion
+rampant, a royal crown upon its head. From the central disc, intersected
+by the scroll, radiated points of equal length, making a star of the
+whole. Something also had been said about papers. Supposing that Carrick
+had meant insurance policies, he had paid but passing heed to the
+allusion.
+
+Carter's ideas were growing patchwork, he confessed. He felt he was
+unable, in his weariness, to sustain much connected thought. The mental
+trend was all one way, however,--pointing to a desire to escape the
+enforced ennui, which was sure to be consequent upon his recent
+exhausting contest. Nor was he particularly anxious to meet any one
+until he had eased up the terrific pace which his nerves had set him.
+
+Hearing a couple of his friends enter, he determined to wait until they
+should discover him before he would make his presence known. Aware that
+no one would choose that room for confidential chats, he had no fear of
+eavesdropping. As he was yielding to drowsiness the words of one of the
+men back of him caused him to sit up alertly. It was Billy Saunderson,
+one of the pair who had just entered, who was speaking.
+
+"I tell you, Lang," Saunderson was saying to Langdon of the Diplomatic
+Corps,--"I tell you that there'll be war. It isn't going to be any
+police-clubbed riot this time. It'll be the real thing." Carter felt a
+personal affront in Langdon's sceptical laugh at this assertion.
+
+"How do you figure that, Saunderson?" the government man queried.
+
+"Immigration statistics of the last ten years prove to any sane man that
+the natives are returning to their fatherland in unprecedented numbers.
+Read for yourself." The pause that followed, broken only by the rustling
+of papers, was evidently devoted to a perusal of documents. Then
+Langdon's voice again took up the theme.
+
+"All right, Billy, but what do you expect to prove by the fact that
+eighty thousand men came here from Krovitch in the last ten years and
+sixty thousand return this year?"
+
+"By the fact that it is _men_ that are going back--not women or
+children; that Krovitzers don't love Russia well enough to return as
+volunteers against Japan; by the fact that ten thousand are trained
+soldiers."
+
+"How do you know the last?"
+
+"Private information." Billy's tone was significant. "War Department;
+don't repeat. Their enlistment up with Uncle Sam, these men have asked
+for their discharges. All first-class soldiers and non coms."
+
+"Hm," Langdon commented, partially convinced; then, as a new objection
+struck him, his tone was once more argumentative. "They can't fight
+without a backer," he continued. "Banking houses to-day control peace
+and war as immutably as Christianity should. I don't believe that any
+one would back them."
+
+"Here comes Jackson, he'll know," Saunderson said as the door opened to
+admit another man who instantly joined them.
+
+"What's that you are leaving up to me, Billy? Do I hold the stakes?"
+Carter recognized the voice as that of one of his bitterest opponents in
+the stock battle.
+
+"Saunderson says that there will be real fighting in Krovitch," said
+Langdon. "What does the money mart say?" Appealed to unexpectedly on
+this topic, Jackson laughed a trifle consciously.
+
+"Well, in strict confidence," he replied, "I'll tell you that I am in a
+pool to finance things over there. That coup of Carter's pretty nearly
+dumped me on it, too."
+
+Not desiring to become the butt of overheard personalities, Carter arose
+at this juncture, and, bowing to the trio, left the room. After his
+departure, the eyes of the first comers turned to Jackson, as one who
+had just felt the mettle of Carter's steel. The half smile which had
+been on Carter's face Jackson was perfectly willing to misinterpret.
+
+"Gloating over our downfall," he remarked with reference to the day's
+happenings on the Street.
+
+"Not that kind of fellow," replied Saunderson, coming to the defense of
+the absent. "You were caught dancing; he simply made you pay the piper."
+
+"He's hard as nails," retorted Jackson, gloomily; "not a particle of
+sentiment in him."
+
+"Look here, Jackson," said Langdon at this juncture, "you are dead wrong
+there. Carter's record is different. He went out to Cuba for what we
+discount nowadays--patriotism. While there he picked up a poor devil of
+a Cockney and made more of a man of him than the fellow had ever dreamed
+of becoming. Literally picked him out of the gutter--drunk. That man of
+his,--Carrick,--I think that's his name."
+
+"Right," assented Saunderson. "Then look what he did for Marian Griggs
+when Jack's western bubble burst carrying her fortune with it. Jack
+blew his brains out, leaving her and the kids sky high. Though they had
+absolutely no claim on him other than disinterested friendship, Cal, in
+the most delicate manner in the world, fixed things so that they should
+never want. The girl told me herself. Sentiment? Why, man, he's chock
+full of it. He's the sort that, when he hears of this coming scrap in
+Krovitch, will throw himself body and soul into it, as his forbears have
+done from Marston Moor to date, just because it's likely to be a lost
+cause. He's always for the under dog--and I honor him for it. I'm
+willing to bet he'll go to Krovitch when he hears."
+
+"A thousand?" inquired Jackson with speculative ardor. Saunderson
+narrowed his eyes, as he looked judiciously at the broker. He flicked
+the ash from his cigarette before replying.
+
+"Too much. What's the use?" he said. "Make it even money at a hundred
+and I'll go you. On any other man I'd ask odds. With Carter, though,
+when it comes to war, to women, or to any one needing help, he's right
+there with the goods. He's in a class by himself. Do you take the bet?"
+
+"Certainly," answered Jackson as he handed the money over to Langdon as
+stakeholder. "Word of honor, Billy, that you will not urge him on?"
+
+"Word of honor, Jackson. Keep your hands off, too." The two shook hands
+gravely, while Langdon made a memorandum of the wager.
+
+Before he had reached the corner, the subject of this speculation had
+forgotten, for the nonce, all about Krovitch and her troubles. His
+wearied mind--like a recalcitrant hunter at a stiffish fence--had thrown
+off the idea as too much weight to carry. A week later he was to be
+reminded of the episode at the club. Its effects led him far afield into
+a tale of romance, intrigue, war and women. Intrigue, war and women are
+inseparable.
+
+
+
+
+II
+
+"STRANGE COUNTREES FOR TO SEE"
+
+
+In the soul of Calvert Carter arose a vague unrest. A voiceless summons
+bade him, with every April stir of wind, to shake off the tale of common
+things and match his manhood and keen intelligence in Nature's conflict,
+the battle of the male. Six years past had found him in Cuba. In that
+brief campaign against Spain, his entire military career, each day so
+crowded with anticipation or actual battle, had been laid the foundation
+for this _wanderlieb_; this growing appetite for excitement and hazard.
+Occasional trips to Europe and even forays after big game had failed to
+satisfy him. Without realizing it, his was the aboriginal's longing for
+war,--primitive savage against primitive savage, and--his life lacked a
+woman.
+
+He paced about his library as in a cage.
+
+He strove desperately to understand the elusive impulse which urged him
+to go forth running, head up, pulses flaming; on, on, out of the reeking
+city to the cool, clean woods; on, on, to the heart of the world where
+all brutes and mankind strove in one titanic fight for supremacy.
+Conventions held him fast. He must go somewhere, however. Where? Was
+there in Old or New World an unbeaten track his feet had not trodden, a
+chance for adventure--man-strife? Manchuria! It would not do. His was
+not the mood for the porcelain, perfect politeness of Nippon. He was no
+beast to revel in the stupid orgies of the Slav!
+
+The door opened and Carrick entered. It was not the Carrick of
+yesterday, but one who, though unable to eradicate all the traces of his
+earlier environments, had nevertheless succeeded in achieving externally
+and mentally a much higher plane than that on which Carter first found
+him. When he spoke, seeing his master was in some perplexity, there
+still lingered in his accent the unmistakable evidence of his
+Whitechapel origin.
+
+"What is it, sir?"
+
+Carter turned to him with a troubled countenance.
+
+"Carrick," he said, "do you ever feel as if you wanted to be back on the
+fighting line?"
+
+The fellow smiled guiltily.
+
+"Yes, Mr. Carter, when I 'ave the go-fever as I call it! Then you see,"
+he explained apologetically, "I was allus a sort of a tramp before you
+took 'old of me, sir. Don't think it's because the plyce don't suit--no
+man ever 'ad a better, thanks to you. Sometimes I think, though, as 'ow
+all men get the feelin' in spells. Do you ever feel that wye?"
+
+"I'm chock full of it now, Carrick. I must get away from the manacles of
+cities. Hand me that atlas--I'll study the map of Europe again. Thanks.
+This is about the tenth time." Carter bent over the plotted page
+anxiously while his man stood at his elbow.
+
+"Germany won't do," said Calvert. "I hate the very sight of a
+wasp-waisted, self-sufficient Prussian subaltern. They're everywhere.
+Imperial arrogance seems to pervade even their beer gardens." His voice
+trailed off into silence again, as in a preoccupied manner his finger
+wandered over the map. It stopped suddenly as he leaned closer to study
+the pink plot on which it rested. "Krovitch; Krovitch!" he muttered,
+"now where the devil have I heard of Krovitch? Russian province it seems
+but that doesn't give me any clue. I'm stuck, Carrick," he said with a
+frank laugh as he looked up to meet the man's responsive smile.
+
+"Can I 'elp you, sir?" He leaned over Carter's shoulder.
+
+"What is there about that little spot to set me guessing?" His finger
+kept tapping the indicated locality perplexedly.
+
+His man studied a moment as if some old memory were awakened. "Can't
+sye, sir; but wasn't Count Zulka, of the Racquet Club, from there, sir?"
+he hesitatingly suggested. "Seems as if I remember 'is man saying as
+much."
+
+"Now we are getting at it, Carrick. Certainly. Zulka is a Krovitzer. Has
+a mediaeval castle at Schallberg. Capital, I think it is. Saunderson the
+newspaper fellow let fall a hint that there was going to be a big fight
+over there. That was after Zulka went abroad so suddenly. They're going
+to try and restore the ancient monarchy or something. Hand me that
+volume of the Encyclopedia--'H-o-r' to 'L-i-b' I think will cover it.
+I'll look up Krovitch. Thanks," and he was soon deeply engrossed in the
+desired information.
+
+A copy of the Almanac de Gotha lay at his hand. Having avidly absorbed
+the meagre narration of the country's history from the pages of the
+encyclopedia, his inquiring mind sought enlightenment as to the present
+personnel of the house who had ruled the ancient race.
+
+The almanac disclosed no descendant of Stovik. Apparently the dynasty of
+which he was the head had ceased with his deposition. "Humph," he
+ejaculated, "here is something interesting. 'Sole descendant of
+Augustus. Girl, twenty-two, name--Trusia.' Pretty, poetical--Trusia! I
+like it. Seems to me I'll be repeating that name a good deal. I wonder
+what she's like."
+
+He looked up again, his face glowing with enthusiasm. "Carrick," he said
+indignantly, "that country ought to be free. Russia stole it by a shabby
+trick. Two hundred years ago the reigning king of Krovitch was a chap
+called Stovik. The head of another royal family there named Augustus was
+his rival for the crown. Not being able to arouse much of a following
+among a loyal people, Augustus sought aid of his namesake, the Czar of
+Russia, to help in his contest. Knowing that Augustus would be easily
+disposed of once they got a foothold in Krovitch, the Russ, who had only
+been waiting for some such pretext, gladly espoused his cause and threw
+an army of veterans across the length and breadth of the devoted land.
+Stovik was deposed and Russia put her dupe upon the throne. Europe stood
+by and let that nation, which, single handed, had time and again saved
+them from Moslem invasions, be annexed by the government at Moscow. I'm
+going there. I'll look up Zulka and get him to have me counted in if
+there's any fight going to occur."
+
+"And me too, sir," answered Carrick, standing like a stag who from a
+peak challenges his kind.
+
+Carter looked at the man with evident appreciation and a pleased smile
+animated his face.
+
+"It will be the old days over again. I warn you, Carrick, you'll have to
+hustle to beat me up another hill."
+
+The Cockney laughed in the free masonry of their mutual reminiscences.
+"All right, sir, forewarned is forearmed. How soon do we start?"
+
+"Just as soon as you can get our camp kits ready. We'll board the next
+steamer for Danzig. I think I'll take the big auto along, too. It may
+come in handy."
+
+
+
+
+III
+
+A DUEL--OF WITS
+
+
+Russian affairs had reached the climax anticipated by the world as the
+result of her persistent encroachments in the Orient.
+
+Precipitated by a fiery aggression from Nippon the gasping Slav had been
+pushed back across the Yalu. His ships around Port Arthur had been
+crippled and destroyed. The astonished nations, Russia included, awoke
+to a grim realization of war.
+
+Not only the home staying Japanese, but millions of Russian subjects
+joined in the universal acclaim that hailed these first victories of the
+war, presaging that the Banners of the Rising Sun were well able to cope
+with the armed hordes which held Manchuria in the name of the Great
+White Czar.
+
+First grumbling murmurs, next spasmodic disturbances defying police
+discipline, afterward outbreaks of thousands of workmen even in the
+larger cities, followed by armed and desperate uprisings in different
+provinces, demonstrated with seismic violence that an appreciable
+portion of domestic sympathy was with the enemies of the Empire.
+
+The autocracy had been feared only while it had been able to assert
+universal invincibility.
+
+Plots and counterplots added to the general uneasiness; failing to
+soothe them, more than one minister had been dismissed in disgrace.
+
+In the Imperial Palace a war conference had been called with reference
+to a new and startling development. A map lay spread upon the table. A
+white-haired grand duke arose and placed a finger on the spot indicating
+the Russian capital.
+
+"Here is St. Petersburg," he said dogmatically, "while away off here is
+Krovitch just across a little river from Germany and Austria. While
+those greedy neighbors may be held back now, you could not restrain them
+a moment after revolt broke out in that border province. For two
+centuries those Krovitzers have been a defiant and stiff-necked race in
+spite of every corrective measure adopted to suppress them. Unless
+immediate action is taken to anticipate and abort any movement of
+theirs, it may mean the utter destruction of your present southern
+frontiers. I am convinced that they will take advantage of the present
+disturbances to attempt their independence."
+
+A wan and tolerant smile on the imperial countenance apprised him his
+appeal had been in vain. A suppressed buzz of incredulity brought a
+flush of resentment to his cheek.
+
+"We are not ungrateful for your loyal advice, Your Grace, and will give
+it our future consideration." This imperial acknowledgment dismissed a
+matter which apparently was promptly forgotten in the discussion of
+events in Manchuria. But the apparition of Krovitch, in arms, would not
+so easily down in the minds of the thoughtful present, even though an
+autocrat had dismissed the notion as frivolous.
+
+Never having been kind, now was the moment when the least sign of
+relaxation would be interpreted by the watchful millions as an evidence
+of weakness. Therefore the blows of the knout should be redoubled and
+prisons be enlarged the better to maintain hierarchical supremacy.
+
+Provinces, conquered and made subject by the ancient strength of Russian
+arms, were becoming restless. Whispers of what a year earlier would have
+been avoided by the many in terror were now changed into shouts of
+defiance and publicly bruited in the daily papers. On all sides an
+oppressed country crouched tiger-like, ready for revolt should the whip
+be laid aside for even an instant.
+
+Krovitch once having had a king, a _patrie_ of her own, stubbornly and
+persistently kept alive her national feeling, language, and traditions
+in spite of imperial _ukase_. Naturally she caused considerable
+uneasiness among those who were the real rulers of Russia.
+
+Persistent reports from their apprehensive agents alarmed those who,
+standing in the shadows of a toppling throne, feared an outbreak of the
+Krovitzers more than they despised the ultimate valor of the Japanese.
+
+An ambitious minister, listening attentively to the warning against
+Krovitch, determined to put a quietus on that province, which once and
+for all time would blight her hopes of independence. He wired many
+questions and voluminous suggestions to his agent in Paris, Casper
+Haupt, who was a sub-chief of the White Police. This ardent subject of
+Nicholas II had cabled back immediately:
+
+"Have here only one man who can. Must have free foot."
+
+A reference to a portfolio biography disclosed the operator's name to be
+Josef Kolinsky.
+
+The conversation resulting in this cabled information to the minister
+had taken place in a private room of the Russian consulate in the French
+capital between the sub-chief and Kolinsky.
+
+One plan after another had been suggested by the superior only to be
+torn into threads by the operator. Finally in desperation the sub-chief
+had demanded that Kolinsky furnish a more practical scheme.
+
+A pause followed, in which, with elbows on the table, and flushed,
+indignant visage, the Russian leaned forward waiting for the compliance
+of his subordinate. Kolinsky, with a sphynx-like face, sat gazing
+steadily at a point on the floor slightly beyond his extended feet. His
+principal sought in vain to penetrate the pale, smiling mask which he
+was beginning to acknowledge held a more subtle mind than his own. He
+would have given much to have seen the galloping, tumultuous thoughts,
+which, chaotic at first, became as orderly as heaven at their master's
+wish.
+
+Impatient at a silence promising to be interminable the Russian agent
+coughed suggestively.
+
+Kolinsky, with leisurely indulgence, looked up while the sneering smile
+deepened the lines about his mouth.
+
+The face of his _vis-a-vis_ brightened.
+
+"Well," the chief asked breathlessly.
+
+"First, monsieur, if my plan is adopted, do I, alone, unaided, have free
+foot to work it out? Otherwise I'll not tell you a word of it."
+
+Indignant for a moment that an underling should impose conditions, the
+Russian determined to resort to censure, but when he looked into the
+culprit's eyes he was puzzled at his own acquiescence.
+
+"You may have a free foot," he said, "now your plan."
+
+Kolinsky shifted his chair close to that of the other man to whisper
+long and earnestly in his ear. His auditor evidently endorsed his
+suggestion, judging by his grunts of applause and the grinning display
+of teeth.
+
+"It is good, fine, superb," he said as Kolinsky concluded and leaned
+back comfortably in his chair the better to appreciate the approval
+displayed in his chief's countenance. He was not to view these
+flattering symptoms for long, however. His superior as though
+discovering a fatal weakness in the completed structure, said in renewed
+despair: "while you have the right man, it won't do."
+
+"Why, Excellency," asked Josef with no diminution of that glacial smile.
+It was as though he held his superior in hardly concealed contempt.
+
+"The papers," said Haupt. "They can't be forged. We have no precedents
+to follow. Those chaps over there will know the thing by rote and
+probably would recognize the signatures more quickly than their own."
+
+"Why not use the originals?"
+
+"Where are they? We have so much time to find them." The sarcasm was
+crushing. "They probably were lost or destroyed years ago." He concluded
+temporizingly, under the compelling eyes gazing coldly at him.
+
+"Documents of that kind are never lost or destroyed," Josef announced
+dogmatically.
+
+"Where are they then? In Krovitch?" The sub-chief sneered.
+
+"No." The reply was so positive that the Russian agent leaned forward
+intently. He was growing suspicious, therefore becoming cautious.
+
+"You have seen them, I suppose." This was thrown off casually.
+
+"Oh, certainly. That's what suggested the plan." Josef smiled like a cat
+who has enclosed a cup of cream.
+
+"Then you have seen them recently." He only half waited for the
+assenting nod as he queried, "They are in Paris?"
+
+"Yes." Kolinsky smiled at the other's undisguised astonishment that he
+would admit so much.
+
+The sub-chief drew himself together, then turned sternly to his
+subordinate.
+
+"See here, Kolinsky, that's impossible. I've been head of this bureau
+for ten years, and if documents of such importance had come into the
+possession of the French or any other government, I would have known
+about it. If they had been turned into this office I would have
+remembered."
+
+"Nevertheless, Excellency, they are in Paris."
+
+There was another long pause. The Russian lighted a cigarette, while he
+sought in silent meditation to unravel the mystery which seemed not only
+a challenge to his acuteness, but also an impeachment of his regime.
+With a casual movement that he hoped was unnoticed, he drew back into a
+shadow where he could note Kolinsky's face while his own avoided
+scrutiny.
+
+"Kolinsky, how long have you been a member of the White Police?"
+
+"Twelve years, Excellency."
+
+"Two years before I came here, eh?" In a flash he had solved the enigma.
+"It is as I imagined. Have you the papers with you?"
+
+"Yes, Excellency."
+
+"May I see them?"
+
+"They are my personal property, remember."
+
+"How long ago did you get them?"
+
+"Fifteen years ago the eighth of August. That was before I joined the
+secret police. The owner had died and it took some clever work to gain
+possession of them."
+
+"How did you know of their existence?"
+
+"It was an accident." Kolinsky answered haltingly.
+
+"And your candidate for the crown?" asked the Russian in a slight tone
+of derision.
+
+"Is a Parisian artist. A good-natured fool." Kolinsky's tone of voice
+echoed the other's, whose hand was held out hesitatingly across the
+table for the papers. Deliberately Josef drew a bundle from his inside
+pocket and opened it before his chief.
+
+The parchments were old and the Latin was in an ancient cramped hand
+while the impression of the seal was well-nigh obliterated. When
+sufficient time had elapsed for the Russian to make a complete mental
+note of their appearance, Josef drew the papers away from him, refolded
+them carefully and replaced them in his pocket.
+
+"Kolinsky, you know what will happen should you desert us when once in
+Krovitch?"
+
+Josef was standing near the door. He smiled with supreme indifference.
+
+"Do I get the mission, Excellency?" was the only reply he vouchsafed.
+
+"Y-e-s." The superior's single acquiescence was prolonged into three
+syllables, urged by the acknowledged supreme ability of Kolinsky and
+restrained by a fear of apprehended duplicity.
+
+Aware of this struggle the clever fellow turned back in the doorway to
+laugh at the other's perplexity.
+
+"Really, Excellency, you have only one thing to fear." His chief started
+up suspiciously.
+
+"What is that?" he asked tersely.
+
+"That I may decide to claim the throne of Krovitch myself," Josef
+replied, as with his habitual smile he softly closed the door and
+hurried from the house.
+
+
+
+
+IV
+
+THE GRAY MAN
+
+
+"Do you realize, Carrick, that three weeks have passed since I proposed
+this trip to Krovitch?" They were whirling along a badly kept road in
+that province of Russia as Calvert Carter made the above remark which
+was also an interrogation. The place of their debarkation had been an
+unusual one--Danzig--chosen because it had been the more accessible to
+the Russian frontier. Slowing down the automobile for obvious reasons,
+Carrick turned a ruminating expression in the direction of his master.
+
+"Seems yesterday, sir."
+
+"How's the go-fever? Still working?"
+
+Carrick laughed. "Overtime, sir. Hundred miles an hour till we get there
+wouldn't be too fast for me." He turned his attention again to the
+machine and the rutty way before him.
+
+The other drew out a road map which he consulted with trained eyes that
+correctly approximated both locality and distances. Slowly refolding it
+he replaced it in an inner pocket. Being in a mood that anticipated
+much at the end of the journey, he was not loath to break into his
+chauffeur's taciturnity.
+
+"Well, cheer up. Even at this rate we ought to make Schallberg by
+sunset. It's eight o'clock now."
+
+"Seems more than an hour since I 'ad my breakfast."
+
+"I know, but no man's stomach is a safe timepiece, Carrick. On the road
+I could name at least six meal times by that organ of mine."
+
+For a few miles the jolting of the machine over rough places punctuated
+their progress with a conversational hiatus.
+
+The rarely occasional peasants working in the fields or plodding along
+the way, paused in their occupations to regard the novel vehicle with
+stolid wonderment.
+
+"Seems odd, sir," hazarded Carrick when a comparatively smooth piece of
+road permitted more than monosyllabic profanity, "seems odd that we've
+seen ten women to one man so far. These are all 'has beens.' No young
+chaps workin' in the fields. What do you make of it, sir?"
+
+"The ones not already drafted for Manchuria are dodging Russian
+conscription most likely."
+
+"Think so, sir?" Carrick's tone raised a question.
+
+"Why? Don't you?"
+
+"Oh, I don't know, sir. They've all taken it on the run for some reason
+or other. Maybe the Krovitch army is already mobilized."
+
+"Egad, Carrick, that _is_ a possibility. I never thought of that.
+Suppose I expected them to wait for us. We don't want to miss the
+opening gun. Hump her up for all she's worth. Full speed and never mind
+the jolts."
+
+The chauffeur bent readily to the task and their further advance into
+the country of their hopes was such that boded ill to any bewildered
+fowl that might recklessly seek to cross in front of them. The dial
+indicated seventy miles an hour.
+
+"Suppose this were Fifth Avenue." Carter bent over to assure himself of
+the speed as he spoke.
+
+"Umph. We won't go into that, sir. Too 'arrowing to think of. You'd have
+to mortgage everything to pye the fines. Any'ow you'd go into bankruptcy
+after you'd bailed me out." Carrick paused to view the route before
+them. "That's a pretty steep 'ill a'ead, sir. Mybe we'd better stop at
+the top and reconnoitre a bit. We ought to get a good view from there.
+It looks too bloomin' rocky for this rate any'ow."
+
+"Where are the glasses?" inquired his companion with unconcealed
+eagerness, fumbling about in the locker beneath the seat. "Never mind, I
+have them," he said, producing the binoculars.
+
+At the crest of the Here they stopped to view the panorama of the
+Beyond.
+
+From the height on which they halted, they looked out upon a wilderness
+of which they had no previous conception, for the hill they had just
+ascended had masked it from view.
+
+Below them, at a distance of about two miles, as far as the eye could
+see from left to right stretched a black and dense forest of unknown
+antiquity. Behind and beyond it at increasing distances peak upon lofty
+peak, mountain after mountain, like Babel, reached upward for the sky.
+Of these the one nearest and directly in front of the knights errant
+claimed attention.
+
+"Looks like a giant coal scuttle, sir," said Carrick the trite. The
+description was apt, for the freak of nature which confronted them.
+Towering high above its neighbors this mountain was unusual. Some
+outraged Titan in his ire had, in some long-forgotten aeon, apparently
+seized and turned upon its head the top-heavy crest, whose form roughly
+speaking was of a reversed truncated cone. Upon the wide plateau at the
+top, with battlemented walls and towers outlined against a turquoise
+sky, stood a high pitched castle whose topmost turrets seemed suspended
+from the heavens above them.
+
+"Can you myke out the flag, sir?" Carrick asked anxiously, seeing that
+his master was viewing the donjon critically through the glasses.
+
+Much depended on the nationality of the standard, which, hardly visible
+at that distance, was only discernible as a blur upon the blue of the
+otherwise immaculate sky. The castle undoubtedly commanded that highway
+on the far side of the wood along which they must pass. Carter had
+descended into the road and was eagerly adjusting the focus for a better
+view.
+
+"Can't make it out exactly. It's not Russian for one thing. Field's red.
+Device is blue. Dragon or something. Have to take a chance till we get a
+nearer look."
+
+Carrick, meanwhile, was peering intently down the road ahead of him
+where it disappeared into the midnight gloom of the forest. His alert
+eyes had noted two or three objects emerge from among the trees and
+stop.
+
+"Look there, sir," and his outstretched arm indicated the direction
+while Carter swung his glasses around to the place.
+
+"Videttes," he exclaimed without looking up. "Sizing us up through
+glasses, eh?"
+
+"Russians?" The chauffeur's excitement was manifest, for he was frowning
+in a vain endeavor to discern the distant specks.
+
+"I don't know. We're in sort of a fix," was the answer as Carter looked
+up at Carrick with a frank laugh. The dilemma was not causing him much
+alarm. "If they are," he continued, "we're dished unless we can get by
+them. I'll take a chance anyhow. We won't stop to investigate. Right
+through the woods as if the devil was after us," with which instructions
+he leaped into the machine.
+
+Carrick grinned. Such orders were just to his taste. A touch on the
+lever and the automobile shot down the hillside at a speed more rapid
+than Terror's own. Nearing the scattered outposts, whose frightened
+horses flattened themselves against adjacent fences, the occupants of
+the touring car were greeted by a shower of bullets, all of which went
+wide owing to the disconcerted aim of the sentries, who seemed to fly by
+the autoists in phantom shapes as the wood was safely gained. Once in
+its tree-protected road they never relaxed speed until five miles had
+been placed between them and possible pursuit.
+
+"That's done with, anyway," remarked Carter jubilantly. He turned and
+faced his comrade whom the hum of bullets had exhilarated.
+
+"Were they Russians? Did you notice anything?"
+
+Carrick laughed outright. Peal followed peal before he could control
+himself. "I just saw one 'oss, sir. 'E was bally well scared. I'll never
+forget 'is look,--eyes bulging and mouth open as if 'e was going to
+swallow a whole hyrick. After spying 'im I couldn't 'ave looked at 'is
+rider if I 'ad tried."
+
+"Well, they'll have trouble overtaking us anyhow if they were children
+of the Czar. Look, Carrick," he continued, indicating the wider and more
+frequent patches of sunlight flecking the road, "it's lighting up. We'll
+soon be out of the woods."
+
+"Better not halloa till we are, Mr. Carter."
+
+"Gad, that's a prophecy all right. Our way is blocked." The machine came
+to an abrupt halt.
+
+Not far distant the exit from the forest disclosed to plain view an
+extensive segment of open country to the southward.
+
+"Not less than a thousand in that bunch," commented Carrick with gloomy
+reference to a dense throng of men along the road outside the forest.
+"Mixed troops. 'Ow many more there are we can't see for these bloomin'
+trees."
+
+"Certainly are cavalry and infantry. But they don't appear to be paying
+much attention to this end of the road. They're all looking the other
+way. That black and gold hussar uniform beats the gray and silver of the
+foot. I don't believe they're Russians," Carter concluded with a joyful
+start. "Those uniforms! Since we can't go back, we'd better go ahead."
+
+With apparent unconcern they boldly emerged from the woodland.
+
+To their left, about fifty yards back from the highway, stood a quaint
+old inn built against a sheer cliff face which in the air seemed to bend
+over the puny habitation. To the right stretched fields under
+cultivation, but beaten hard under the feet of ten thousand men in the
+uniform already noticed.
+
+A little group of officers, well mounted, stood together in the commons
+before the hostelry. They caught but the momentary attention of the
+interlopers, which, as by some hypnotic influence, was drawn to one of
+three men quietly conversing on the stone porch of the inn.
+
+He was short and spare of figure, lean and colorless of face, while
+about him hung an atmosphere of grayness.
+
+As the puffing automobile drew up to the steps he turned quietly to
+survey its occupants, vividly contrasting the surprise displayed by his
+two companions. One of these was evidently the innkeeper from the
+professional air of deference which tempered even his amazement, while
+the other, square of jowl and deep of eye, was a peasant.
+
+These latter could divert attention for but the moment from the gray
+man, their companion, whose face seemed set in a habitual, cynical
+smile, the intent of which was inscrutable. The deep creases running
+from the corners of the mouth to the narrow nostrils showed the
+expression was habitual and without the saving grace of mirthfulness.
+Without a doubt he was of those who gain the dislike of the class from
+which they are derived and usually not more than the tolerance of those
+with whom they are thrown in daily contact. Carter admitted after a
+critical survey that the Gray Man, as he mentally dubbed him, was an
+exception to this rule. Though he bore every external evidence of being
+of the upper servant class, there were power and masterly cunning
+disclosed in every line of the set face. He was of those who, in times
+of great crises, if they do not attain to power always pass through
+dangers which engulf nobler men, to emerge with profit if not with honor
+from even a nation's downfall. That behind the grinning mask lay a wide
+knowledge of the working of the human mind, Carter saw, as the Gray
+Man's crafty eyes weighed the repugnance he knew he had inspired. As
+their glances met, uncontrollably, a challenge gleamed in that of the
+autoist which was answered by a cold defiance on the part of the elder
+man.
+
+Meanwhile the boniface, who had achieved a partial composure, hurried
+forward to greet the travelers.
+
+"I am sorry, messieurs," he said in excellent French, "that every bed,
+every table, in my inn is engaged. I am overwhelmed. The 'Lion'
+doubtless loses noble guests," and he fetched a fat sigh as his keen
+little eyes apprised the worldly stations of the two strangers.
+Evidently revolving some question in his mind he hit upon, to him, a
+happy solution to it.
+
+"The castle," he said, with a significant wink accompanied by an upward
+jerk of a pudgy thumb, "the castle, messieurs, is but two miles further
+along this road. Perhaps, if milords have friends there, they can find
+accommodations."
+
+"While I admit, Monsieur of the Lion," said Carter, "that I would like
+few things better than a good square meal just now, I would forego that
+gratification for information regarding the whereabouts of a gentleman
+of these parts."
+
+The Gray Man drew nearer as this was said. A subtle change flickered
+across the wide expanse of the innkeeper's face, while a tinge of
+suspicion added a chill to his immediate inquiry.
+
+"Monsieur would pay well doubtless?" He eyed the tourist narrowly. "Who
+is it, monsieur?"
+
+"I'd give ten golden florins to know where to find Count Paul Zulka. Do
+you know him?"
+
+The boniface gasped and grew apoplectic. "I never heard of him," he
+said, which, in the face of his perturbation, was manifestly a lie.
+
+The Gray Man stepped to the fore at this juncture.
+
+"In the public squares of Schallberg, monsieur will doubtless gather
+much information," he said ironically and with a covert meaning at that
+moment not appreciated by Carter. "Monsieur must travel that way. He
+should not turn back," and with a nod of his head he indicated a troop
+of cavalry guarding the way along which the travelers had approached.
+
+The significance of this was not lost on Carter who was now convinced
+that this was an army of Krovitzers and that his innocent inquiry had
+brought him under some sort of suspicion. Though he was burning up with
+curiosity to learn if it was the patriotic army, he wisely refrained
+from asking. With a short laugh he turned back to the Gray Man.
+
+"I never turn back," he said. "The road toward Schallberg is better, I
+hope?"
+
+"It is easier traveling, monsieur," the fellow replied insolently with
+an unchanging smile.
+
+Carter was satisfied from this that if he used discretion he would be
+permitted to reach Schallberg or the army probably investing it. He
+gave the necessary orders to Carrick and without undue haste while in
+the vicinity of the inn the automobile proceeded on its quest.
+
+When out of earshot of the hostelry, the Cockney, who had been a silent
+observer of the controversy, gave a prodigious sigh of relief.
+
+"I wouldn't trust that grinning ape with a dead pup. 'E's a sly one.
+'Opes we don't run into 'im again."
+
+"I don't like him, either. I have a feeling, though, that we'll meet him
+again soon and like him less."
+
+
+
+
+V
+
+I AM THE LADY TRUSIA
+
+
+"I hope she's not dead," Carter said fervently as he bent over the
+unconscious girl. He beckoned to his chauffeur. "You can't catch her
+horse, Carrick. No use trying. Just hand me my flask."
+
+As he forced the brandy through the pale lips he inwardly cursed his own
+lust for speed which had been the cause of the possibly fatal
+catastrophe.
+
+Tempted by a bit of road, straight and smooth, full power had been put
+on in a feverish desire to interpose as much space as possible between
+the automobile and the Gray Man at the inn, repugnance for whom seethed
+in Carter's soul. As the touring car had neared a turn in the way, its
+two occupants had been horrified to see a spirited black horse, ridden
+by a beautiful girl, swing at a sharp gallop directly in their path. A
+rare presence of mind on Carrick's part had prompted an instant
+application of the brakes which had undoubtedly prevented a collision
+although it had very nearly hurled him and his companion from their
+seats. The steed for a fraction of a second had been petrified with
+fear. Then it had reared violently, thrown its rider, and
+panic-stricken, had turned and fled in the direction of its coming.
+
+Carter, kneeling, gently placed the girl's head against his shoulder,
+while he passed an arm around her the better to support the relaxed
+body. He looked helplessly at the Cockney.
+
+"Wasn't there some one with her?" he inquired, with the memory of a
+meteoric vision of another rider fleeing back along the road on a
+plunging, squealing steed.
+
+"Yes, Mr. Carter, a young chap in uniform. 'Is 'oss bolted too, sir. 'E
+stuck on all right though. We've certainly 'ad a bad day for a start,
+don't you think, sir?"
+
+Calvert did not answer; he was bending anxiously over the still face,
+praying for a sign of life. He was appalled by the girl's beauty and a
+twofold fear possessed him. He feared she was dead. Scarcely less than
+this, if fortunately she was alive, he dreaded the necessity that would
+require his laying desecrating masculine hands upon her for her better
+resuscitation.
+
+"Is she dead, sir?" asked Carrick, bending above them as he noted Carter
+groping blindly for her pulse. "She looks like a queen," he added in a
+voice husky with the awe inspired by the marble stillness of her face.
+
+Hesitatingly Carter's finger rested on her wrist. A lump leaped to his
+throat, he could have shouted with joy as he found that the pulse still
+stirred.
+
+"She is not dead," he said in a voice vibrant with thanksgiving. His
+eyes sought the Cockney's for a responsive gleam of gratitude.
+
+His trembling fingers awkwardly loosened the habit about the round white
+throat. The unavoidable contact with the satiny skin caused his head to
+whirl and his face to crimson. Finally controlling himself he began to
+watch patiently for the sign of returning consciousness. During the ages
+it appeared to take, he inventoried the beauty of the face, the perfect
+ensemble of which had impressed him as she rode into view.
+
+A shapely little head of wavy black hair lay in the crook of his elbow.
+The loosened strands breeze-blown against his cheek seemed light as the
+sheen of a spider's craft. These waved to the rhythm of beauty above a
+low white forehead veined in an indefinite tint of blue. The eyebrows
+were fine and daintily arched. Black lashes long and up-curling swept
+the unexplainable curve of her cheek, at the present time apparently
+masking eyes too rare for the vision of man. The nose, thin and ever so
+slightly bridged, was an epitome of aristocracy.
+
+The mouth, just beginning to quiver with reanimation, was curved in the
+curl of flowers in bud, and sweet and kind as the animate soul of a
+rose. A womanly chin turned, none could say where, into the matchless
+sweep and curve of the throat and breast, a glimpse of which he had had
+vouchsafed in such a breathless vision.
+
+"Where's her hat, Carrick?" Carter asked, not because there was any
+immediate use for that article of apparel, but with the instinct of an
+orderly man to keep all things together. After a considerable search the
+chauffeur picked up something from the gutter by the side of the road
+and handed it to his master.
+
+"This must be it, sir," he commented. It was a broad felt hat with one
+side of the brim looped up with a jewel _a la cavalier_ while a fine
+black plume curled about it. For the first time, attracted doubtless by
+the head covering, Calvert noticed that the girl's was not the
+conventional costume one sees on equestriennes either in the Park or
+along the Row. Nevertheless the habit itself was elegantly plain.
+
+Across from the right shoulder passing to the waist at the left was
+stretched a broad ribbon as red as war. A great jeweled star moved
+sluggishly upon it above her faintly struggling breast. The centre of
+the medal bore a lion rampant in blue enamel. On the beast's head was a
+royal crown. There was something suggestive about it which awakened his
+mind to grope tentacle-like for that of which it was reminiscent.
+
+A startled exclamation from Carrick caused him to look up quickly.
+Fumbling nervously at his shirt with one hand, with the other the
+wide-eyed Cockney was pointing at the star.
+
+"The guvnor's shiner," he exclaimed excitedly as he drew forth from the
+folds of his blouse a battered duplicate of the medal she wore.
+
+Barring its condition attributable to time and rough usage it was
+similar in every respect.
+
+Growing surmise as to its origin and Carrick's connection thereto were
+interrupted by a tearful incoherence on the part of the reviving girl.
+Her bosom heaved convulsively, her eyes opened wide and startled into
+life. She arose to a sitting posture glancing around as a child might
+who has been suddenly awakened from slumber. Carter still knelt at her
+side with ready arm for her support should weakness overtake her.
+
+Like the sweep of rose light across a sunset land, the blush of
+recollection passed over her face, as the full details of the
+catastrophe came back to her and she recalled that, inevitably, this
+stranger had held her in his arms while he had performed services
+strictly feminine. Her eyes retreated behind the satin sheen of their
+lids. She struggled to her feet.
+
+"Pardon, monsieur," she addressed him in the French of St. Germain.
+"Where is my gentleman? And my horses, where are they? Horses,
+hereabouts, are strangers to the automobile."
+
+"Both have bolted, mademoiselle, doubtless for that very reason. I feel
+very guilty, I assure you. I hope and pray that you are not seriously
+hurt. I assure you that I would have given anything to have spared you
+that fall. Can you ever forgive me? Will you let me make amends?"
+
+As one born of high places, she raised her eyes straight and frankly to
+his. Reading sincere regret and pain in the face of this handsome
+stranger, she smiled as she generously held out her hand.
+
+"You are forgiven," she said graciously. "I am only a trifle shaken.
+Will you kindly take me to my castle in your car, as I do not wish my
+people to worry?"
+
+Nothing could have more tactfully displaced Carter's self-censure than
+this expressed wish of hers. Seeing that she was still weak he gravely
+offered his arm for her support.
+
+Lightly she placed her gauntleted hand upon his elbow, but soft as that
+touch was, no other woman had so thrilled him.
+
+"To whom am I indebted, monsieur?" she asked with native curiosity.
+
+"Calvert Carter, of New York, mademoiselle, is indebted to you for
+overlooking the accident he has caused."
+
+"Mr. Carter," she added in delicious English, "the Duchess of Schallberg
+is grateful for your kindness. The question of indebtedness we will not
+pursue. It is not a good basis of friendship."
+
+This was the Duchess of Schallberg; the possible aspirant to its throne?
+
+"You--you are Trusia?" he stammered.
+
+"I am the Lady Trusia," she corrected gently.
+
+
+
+
+VI
+
+THE GRAY MAN AGAIN
+
+
+"Which wye?" asked Carrick who, having started the auto, kept his eyes
+steadily on the road in front of him and shot the question over his
+shoulder.
+
+"Straight ahead. The lady is unconscious again."
+
+This was true, for as they entered the car Carter had been just in time
+to catch the Lady Trusia in his arms as she toppled forward in a sudden
+return of the fainting spell.
+
+"Why not back to the inn, sir?"
+
+Carrick's suggestion betrayed that he shared his companion's concern for
+Her Grace of Schallberg.
+
+"I'd rather not. We are not popular there and I feel present conditions
+would hardly increase their friendship. We'll try the castle. I fancy
+that's her home, anyhow."
+
+He glanced up to where, distinctly outlined, its towers in the clouds,
+they beheld the grim structure, recognizable from its significant
+location as the one they had espied from the thither side of the forest.
+
+"Where's the wye to it?" The chauffeur was puzzled, for straight before
+them the cliff ran perpendicular to the side of the road, without an
+apparent break. "Must be on the other side, sir, for blyme it's not on
+this."
+
+"More speed then, Carrick. This faint promises to last awhile."
+
+Carter bent over the unconscious Trusia, and, as he noted the powerful
+effort of her strong soul to beat off the paralysis of the senses, a
+thrill of tenderness shot through him.
+
+For a man with Calvert Carter's strength of character to hold a
+beautiful girl in his arms it would be inevitable that a certain sense
+of ownership should subconsciously mingle with his thoughts of her. The
+germ of love may be discovered in propinquity.
+
+Be that as it may, as the lax slender form in his arms set his heart
+beating wildly, he was tempted to crush her to his breast and to press
+his lips savagely, yearningly, upon her tender mouth. Then, in reaction,
+her helplessness appealed to him and aroused all the chivalry of his
+nature. For less than the space of a sigh the primitive savage within
+him had struggled with the gentleman,--and the gentleman had won. This
+very conflict with himself, however, had increased though it had
+chastened his desire. The more personal concern he now felt for her
+recovery was but another expression of the primal instinct dignified by
+discipline.
+
+Meanwhile the touring car had been lurching forward with increasing
+acceleration for more than a quarter of a mile, when, surprising them
+agreeably, the cliff apparently opened, showing a narrow way cut through
+its face, leading directly up to the castle. Before the distant portal a
+group of horsemen could be seen making preparations for departure.
+
+"Evidently a relief party. That riderless horse of hers must have
+returned and started an alarm."
+
+"They see us, sir," said Carrick, who had brought the machine to a stop.
+"They're pulling up. It's a good thing, as there's barely room for me to
+run the car up, without their crowding the road."
+
+So saying he carefully swung into the narrow way and soon accomplished
+the ascent. Passing under a portcullis as mediaeval as that of any
+Rhenish castle, they stopped in an ancient, stone-flagged courtyard. On
+every side, thronging about them, they met the vengeful, scowling eyes
+of men in a frenzy of fear and hate, while a growling murmur of
+resentment greeted their ears as the mob recognized their liege lady
+apparently dead in the arms of a stranger. To their discipline as
+soldiers, for these men wore uniforms similar to those seen already at
+the inn, the two adventurers probably owed salvation from instant
+dismemberment. In their faces Calvert Carter read the unreasoning fury
+of their souls, experiencing his nearest approach to fear, yet he met
+them eye for eye.
+
+Standing apart, his handsome boyish head hung in shame, as if ostracized
+for incompetency, stood a young fellow whom Carter recognized as the
+escort of the Lady Trusia. His face was pale and dejected. Apparently
+unaware of the presence of the strangers, he was fingering his revolver
+holster.
+
+The heavy gate closed behind them with an ominous clang. A chill ran
+down Carter's spine. If bad came to worst he resolved to sell his life
+dearly, for murder electrified the air and was closing in around them
+from every side.
+
+A wicket suddenly opened in the studded door of the castle before them.
+Two men stepped through it upon the broad flat stone of its only step.
+
+Both were past middle age but vigorous looking. The first standing in
+front of and obscuring his companion was evidently a personage of
+exalted rank. His hair and long mustachios were silvery white, and the
+glance he shot from under his heavy brows was keen and comprehensive. He
+seemed a man accustomed to both camp and court. One glance at his
+carriage would have shown to the merest tyro that he was a soldier even
+had he not worn a black hussar uniform. He looked coldly around upon the
+impassioned throng which was quieted by the steely glitter in his
+disdainful eyes, and then, turning, said something to the abashed
+equerry. Without remonstrance, the young fellow drew out his revolver
+and handed it to a sergeant who immediately pocketed it.
+
+Having quieted the disturbance, he for the first time became aware of
+its cause. A cry of mingled grief and rage burst from his lips. He
+started impulsively forward, fumbling at his sword hilt, but his
+companion laid a restraining hand upon his arm, coming into full view
+for the first time.
+
+It was no other than the Gray Man of the inn, who now, with bent head
+and most deferential manner, addressed a few whispered words to the
+elderly noble. After a brief, inaudible conference the two descended
+from the step to advance through the menacing throng toward the
+automobile.
+
+Mechanically, Carter, reaching back his free hand, opened the door at
+the back of the car. The veteran stopped within touching distance, not
+deigning to notice the action of invitation, and held out imperative
+arms for the young Duchess.
+
+His voice rasped harshly on the hot courage of the American. "Canaille,"
+he blurted apoplectically, "how dared you run down Her Grace with your
+cursed car? Your touch profanes her person. Surrender her instantly."
+
+It was a blow in the face to Carter.
+
+Though his blood was boiling, respect for the age of the man who
+addressed him restrained Calvert from voicing the hot retort which
+sprang to his lips or striking his adversary to the ground. His hands
+opened and closed tensely as he kept himself in check. Disregarding the
+curt command, Carter, still holding Trusia in his arms, leaped lightly
+from the car and would have carried her into the castle had not the
+elderly soldier barred his way. With face crimson every glistening hair
+seemed to flash the lightning of his unspeakable rage at such
+presumption.
+
+"Monsieur," said Carter with level eyes, "let me pass. The lady is too
+ill for us to be bandying words. You are too old and too well supported
+for me to hope to obtain adequate satisfaction for your insult."
+
+The other did not budge from the path, but reached out a peremptory hand
+which he laid on Trusia's shoulder.
+
+"Give her to me, sir," he insisted, ignoring Carter's remarks entirely.
+
+The Gray Man rubbed his hands together in open delight at the disfavor
+the two strangers were incurring and his cynical smile grew more evident
+every moment.
+
+While an eye might wink the primitive man awoke in Calvert. He was
+prompted to fight for the woman he held as he stood measuring glances
+with his peremptory adversary. Then the folly of such resistance came to
+his mind, so with a sigh and a frown he permitted the other to take her
+from his arms. As he did so he felt not only that something intangible,
+delectable had been loosened from his clasp, but that its relinquishment
+had caused the life blood to move more sluggishly in his breast.
+
+"We're up against it," whispered Carrick, who descending from the car
+had placed himself at his master's elbow for such eventualities as might
+arise.
+
+Seemingly fearful of a conference between the two, the Gray Man gave a
+sudden order. Six men leaped from the hostile circle, and before there
+was an opportunity for resistance, Carter and Carrick were thrown to the
+ground and their arms were tightly bound to their sides.
+
+The mocking face of the Gray Man regarded them as he bent over Carter's
+prostrate form.
+
+"Get up," he said, touching the American ever so slightly with his toe.
+
+"You shall pay for this," said the outraged Carter as he struggled to
+his feet.
+
+"I am not indebted to you," was the sneering rejoinder, as, with the
+slightest of gestures, he intimated that the prisoners were to be
+conducted into the castle, through whose portal Her Grace of Schallberg
+was already being carried by the plethoric nobleman.
+
+
+
+
+VII
+
+A COOL RECEPTION
+
+
+Before their eyes, accustomed to the brightness of early afternoon, in
+which all things were actively visible, could sufficiently adjust
+themselves to distinguish objects in the shadowy gloom, they were thrust
+into a room, the door of which was bolted after them, and they were left
+in utter darkness.
+
+"You there, Carrick?" whispered Carter.
+
+"'Ere, sir," came the reply from an invisible neighborhood. "I'm trussed
+up like a duck. These bloomin' cords are cuttin' my wrists. It seems to
+me, sir," he continued ruefully, "that if we 'ad wanted to be jugged, we
+could 'ave gotten the job done easier by styin' in New York. 'Don't like
+a man,--to jail with 'im,' seems to be these chaps' motto."
+
+"We're evidently in the bad books of the Gray Man, at any rate,
+Carrick."
+
+"I'm onto his gyme, sure's my name's Tod."
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"'E thinks we're spies."
+
+Carter laughed incredulously. "He has put us in a good place, then.
+Can't gather much information in this tomb, that is certain. We're
+getting into their revolution by the back door, it seems."
+
+"Talkin' about doors," Carrick's whisper radiated with excitement, "I'd
+take my oath that I saw one as we came in. It's in the wall to the left
+of the entrance and is slightly ajar."
+
+"How close are you to me now?" The Cockney's shoulder touched his by way
+of reply. "It is this wall we are leaning against, then?"
+
+"The syme, sir. If you move along to your right about six feet, you'll
+be right in front of it."
+
+"We'll try our luck, anyhow," said Carter. "Next-door may not be so much
+infested with the darkness of the pit." Carefully groping in the
+indicated direction, they found the portal as Carrick had described it.
+Their hands being tightly tied, they had to shove it open with their
+shoulders. To their anxious ears it seemed impossible that the noise of
+its rusty hinges could not be heard on the topmost battlement. The room
+which they now entered was lighted by a single casement, high above
+their heads. Diagonally opposite, in the wall parallel to the one by
+which they stood, was another door, also open.
+
+"Cinch," said Carrick, with a hopeful nod toward the possible avenue of
+escape.
+
+"I don't know that," replied the other reflectively. "Suppose we do find
+our way out, how could we pass the sentries, videttes, and scouts who
+are scouring the country--or should be? We'd have to hide without the
+hope of assistance from strangers. What could we do with our hands tied?
+Mind you, I'm not discouraging escape if we can--I'm simply groping for
+a plan. Let's explore our quarters. It may help to know the lay of the
+place."
+
+"Wyte a bit, sir," said Carrick, moving behind his master. "My teeth are
+strong. Mybe I can get your 'ands loose." Kneeling on the stone floor he
+applied himself vigorously to the task.
+
+"Our friends," commented Carter, "evidently foresaw such an attempt and
+provided against it by shutting us up in the dark. How are you getting
+on?" He could feel the strenuous efforts of his chauffeur as the latter
+gnawed at the knot.
+
+"Not at all, Mr. Carter. It's rawhide. The saliver from my mouth only
+mykes it swell. Of course that tightens the knot. It mykes it slimy,
+too, so's I carn't keep 'old of it." He scrambled to his feet with a
+hasty apology for his failure.
+
+"Fortunately our feet are not hobbled and we're not blindfolded. Come
+on, we'll see what's beyond that door, my man," and Calvert proceeded
+cautiously toward the open entrance. With ears strained to bursting,
+they listened by it a breathless moment. No sound, no breath, no
+intuition of human proximity warned them that further progress was
+dangerous, so they passed the threshold into the third room. A sigh of
+relief came from Carter's lips as he noted that it, too, was vacant. The
+door to the cell beyond was likewise open. They advanced, therefore,
+through that and several successive cells, until they were confronted by
+a narrow, dark passageway, whose objective could not be discerned from
+where they stood.
+
+Not knowing where the gloom would betray their feet, they stepped very
+cautiously as they explored the darkness before them. The better to
+guide himself, Carter kept his shoulder to the wall. He had not
+proceeded very far when his own weight, pushing against the masonry,
+swung him off into a narrow entrance at right angles to the main
+passage.
+
+He drew back with a gasp. He found himself on the very brink of an
+uncurbed well. Gradually recovering himself from the involuntary start
+which had kept him from falling head-foremost into the opening, he
+leaned forward to investigate.
+
+Far below he could see daylight, a patch of grass-grown earth, and the
+edge of a stable,--for a horse's head was thrust through an aperture.
+He turned to his companion.
+
+"Careful, Carrick. I pretty nearly stepped into kingdom come. I think
+that door was purposely left open that we might commit involuntary
+suicide. There's a well here without a bottom. Goes down through the
+cliff to what is apparently the yard of the inn. It's like a shaft to
+the mines at home. Wonder what's it for?"
+
+"Secret passage, sir; see that basket and rope," and Carrick indicated a
+huge car swinging in the gloom above their heads.
+
+"That's how the Gray Man beat us to the castle without passing us on the
+road."
+
+"Right," agreed Carrick.
+
+"We can't profit by it now, worse luck, but it may come in useful in a
+pinch. Who knows? If we only had free use of our hands, now. Eh,
+Carrick?"
+
+"Right," reiterated his fellow captive.
+
+"Well," said Carter, arising from his knees, "suppose we investigate the
+rest of the main passage."
+
+They turned again into the dark entry to be brought up this time by a
+door which they would have also attempted to force had not the sound of
+voices from the other side of the stout panels paralyzed their
+intention and filled them with apprehension.
+
+It was clearly a position where eavesdropping was not dishonorable. They
+were prisoners, innocent of any moral offense, cast into jail without
+being apprised of the nature of the charges against them. Here might be
+an opportunity of gaining, at least, an insight into the character of
+some of those hostile to them. A knowledge of the traits of one's judge
+or jury is a material assistance to a sufficient defense, which no one
+should neglect where an opportunity for the acquisition of such
+information is honorably presented.
+
+There were evidently two people in conversation in the region behind the
+locked door. The voices were those of women. One, crisp and girlish, was
+new to Carter. The other's made his heart bound hopefully. It was
+Trusia's.
+
+"Let us speak in French, Natalie," she was saying to her companion in
+that language. "My maid need not understand all we talk about." Then she
+continued in evident answer to some previous question, "His name is
+Calvert Carter." There followed a delightful hesitancy, which sent a
+thrill through the invisible auditor, while in a tone intended to be
+judicious, Trusia completed her reply: "Yes, I think you would call him
+handsome. Anyway, he's a gentleman. Any person could see that."
+
+"But what has become of him?" inquired her companion. "I have asked my
+father, and Tru, what sort of reply do you think he made? Mean thing."
+
+"I don't know, dear. Probably teased."
+
+"Exactly. He always does, no matter how serious the question may be. He
+laughed and pinched my cheek, and had the audacity to ask if I wanted to
+add the stranger to my list of victims. Then I asked the Chancellor. You
+know he doesn't like girls. He puffed out his cheeks--so, drew down his
+brows--like this, and glared. 'Umph, umph,' he blustered and stalked
+away. Josef was the only one who would tell anything."
+
+"Well, he could tell you only, as he did me, that they had resumed their
+journey."
+
+"O-o-oh," the exclamation was long drawn, indicating that some one had
+fibbed. "He told me that the strangers were dangerous. Russian spies, he
+said. Do you think they are, Tru? It's perfectly thrilling. And to
+think, one actually held you in his arms! Who knows----" she began
+mischievously. There was a gurgling sputter of sounds, as if a hand had
+been placed over the teasing mouth. Then it was withdrawn and the
+offender was permitted to prattle on.
+
+"If they weren't spies, Tru, why should they be put in one of the old
+cells?"
+
+"What makes you say that, Natalie? Josef certainly told me they had gone
+on with their journey."
+
+"He told me that they were locked up. I saw the auto not five minutes
+before coming here. It's under sentry in the courtyard."
+
+"Surely, Natalie, you are mistaken, dear? Josef would not tell me a
+deliberate untruth." Carter felt a strong desire to see and expose this
+Josef who held such an exalted place in the confidence of Her Grace of
+Schallberg. Symptoms threatening a tiff were evident in the Lady
+Natalie's voice.
+
+"Really, Your Grace," she said with dignity, "am I to understand that
+you'd take his word before mine?"
+
+"Your Grace?--what nonsense! Between you and me! Don't pout, dear. Just
+think what chance Krovitch would have for a man to rule her people, and
+lead them in their battles if it wasn't for this same loyal,
+disinterested Josef? Do you wonder I hold him in such high esteem?"
+There was a gentle reproof in the Duchess's tones.
+
+"But why," persisted the somewhat mollified Natalie, "did your paragon
+fib so to me?"
+
+"We'll go and see now, dear. Marie has finished my hair."
+
+The listener, assured that they would get a fair trial, arose and, with
+Carrick following, made his way back in the direction from which they
+had adventured.
+
+There is always a difference, telepathic it may be, in a room which,
+then empty, has been entered and vacated by some living thing. Carter
+appreciated this as soon as he set his foot in the first cell on their
+return journey. Some one had been there since he and Carrick had come
+through. He glanced at the Cockney to see if he, too, had the same
+impression. The fellow's head was craned forward, as one who strives to
+catch an elusive sound.
+
+"I was sure I 'eard something in there, Mr. Carter," he whispered,
+responding to the visual question, as he nodded his head toward the
+doorway beyond them. Carter listened intently. It might have been an
+atom broken from silence; he was not positive that he had really heard
+anything, but he was convinced that the silence had not been unbroken.
+They moved cautiously to the door and peered guardedly around its frame.
+
+There is also an actual physical--or, if you choose, psychical
+connection between what is seen, what has just missed being seen by an
+infinite fraction of time, and what one has imagined one has just seen,
+and between these all the scientists of all the ages have not been able
+to formulate a real distinction. One's senses, after all, remain the
+best guides.
+
+"I just missed seeing something going through that door," whispered
+Carrick. It is noticeable, too, that he had said "something" and not
+"some one." The gloomy cells, centuries old, the damp memories of the
+dungeons still clinging to the walls, together with this weird presence
+which eluded their eyes before they could behold it, might well arouse
+the superstitions of firmer minds than the Cockney's.
+
+They were approaching the cell in which they had been placed. At last
+there was a perfectly appreciable sound. It was a fumbling, as of some
+one in the darkness, making hasty efforts to get a key in a lock.
+Carter, now bent on discovery, made a rush into the abysmal darkness. He
+could see--nothing!
+
+Still he felt that he and Carrick, who had joined him, were not the only
+occupants of the room.
+
+Along the hall could be heard the unmistakable sound of approaching
+steps.
+
+"Quite a select party, sir," remarked Carrick in comment, while Carter
+still tried to pierce the gloom to establish the identity of the
+invisible visitant.
+
+"About three," replied Carter.
+
+The sounds stopped directly opposite their door. There was a grating of
+a key against the lock and the door swung open.
+
+
+
+
+VIII
+
+THE SPECTRE OF THE STAR
+
+
+The Gray Man stood in front of the narrow entrance. The sinister smile
+which flickered across his face was made diabolic by the cross rays from
+the lanterns carried by two peasant soldiers. As if his attendance was
+an enforced and unwelcome one, the equerry of Lady Trusia, who had
+followed in the wake of the others, advanced no further into the room,
+but stood with his back against the closed door.
+
+One furtive glance cast in the direction of the cell from which Carter
+and Carrick had just returned convinced the former that the old fellow
+was at least aware of their explorations.
+
+When the two privates had deposited their lanterns upon a table which
+seemed to emerge from the gloom under the partial illumination, Carter
+surveyed his prison with a curiosity previously denied him. One glance
+was sufficient. The Gray Man had come to conduct an inquisition. What
+more fitting place, therefore, could be found to strike terror to the
+hearts of the guilty or weakling than the torture chamber of the
+castle?
+
+A man of keen perceptive nature is apprised of secret as well as
+professed antagonisms, through a primitive discrimination, unaided by
+either word or deed, of the one holding him in enmity. Carter felt sure
+that with the possible exception of the equerry this visit to the cell
+was not prompted by a friendly motive. They had, evidently, been
+imprisoned in darkness that a sudden revelation of the devilish
+machinery about them might shake their courage.
+
+Carter's lip curled disdainfully at such cheap theatrical efforts. He
+turned to the smirking face before him, which from behind the table was
+watching for the signs of trepidation he had hoped to surprise. By an
+answering smile as mocking as his own, he was satisfied that his ruse
+had failed. He shrugged his thin shoulders.
+
+Purringly in an incomprehensible jargon, he addressed Carter to receive
+no other response than a blank and puzzled stare.
+
+He essayed French.
+
+"So, Monsieur of the White Police prefers the more polite language of
+France? Well, so be it."
+
+At the mention of that secret, ubiquitous organization of Russian
+espionage, Carter realized that Carrick's prognostications had been
+correct. The cool insinuation made his blood boil. His answer came with
+the force of a blow. "What do you mean?" he thundered.
+
+Staggered for an instant, the Gray Man's equanimity was shaken, then,
+turning to speak to the two peasants, he waited until they had placed
+themselves at the sides of the enraged American. Assured that he had
+forestalled any possible violence to himself, he regarded the prisoners
+sneeringly.
+
+"That you are Russian spies."
+
+"We are Americans. I will prove it, too, as soon as I am out of this
+place; and that in a manner which will not be pleasant to those
+concerned in this outrage."
+
+"Provided you get a chance. Spies are not given much shrift hereabouts."
+This was said with deliberate malevolence.
+
+"Would you dare?" challenged Carter who realized to the full what the
+menace implied.
+
+"It would be but an incident, monsieur," replied his jailer in a casual
+manner. "You would be numbered among the missing in the big events of
+to-morrow. Enough time has been wasted on you, Monsieur of the White
+Police," he said, as if dismissing discussion. "We must to business."
+
+At a nod from him, the two peasant soldiers threw themselves upon the
+helpless prisoners, and ruthlessly rifled their persons of all
+belongings, which were placed upon the table before the Gray Man.
+Straining till the big veins in their arms stood out in ridges and the
+sweat poured from their brows, the captives were helpless against the
+indignities put upon them.
+
+Carrick's shirt was torn open. The Krovitzer soldiers stood dumbfounded
+at the sight of the star which hung upon the Cockney's breast. As though
+its appearance had countermanded all previous orders, they turned
+puzzled faces to their superior, who also saw the emblem.
+
+Into those sneering eyes crept a pallid fear, while his face grew ashen.
+Approaching the Cockney he laid a trembling finger on the star.
+
+"Your name?" he asked hoarsely.
+
+"Tod Carrick," was the sullen reply.
+
+A slight start followed this, as though the answer had matched his
+anticipations.
+
+Instantly, the training and duplicity of years reasserted themselves.
+The habitual mask once more settled upon his inscrutable countenance. He
+turned to Carter who had been an attentive though puzzled observer of
+this by-play.
+
+"I was surprised," he explained, "but only for an instant, to see your
+companion wearing the badge of our most noble order. I should not have
+been as there is no moral distinction between a thief and a spy."
+Encouraged by his own words, he tore the medal from its resting place,
+while Carrick groaned impotently.
+
+"I'll make you sweat for this," growled the Cockney.
+
+"What authority have you for this?" asked Carter with forced calmness as
+the Gray Man commenced a leisurely perusal of his private papers.
+Without deigning a reply, their self-constituted judge completed his
+task; carefully folding the various documents he had been reading, he
+looked up complacently.
+
+"Authority," he replied with a rising inflection, as though the idea
+were a new one. "Oh, I think I am justified in assuming it."
+
+Carter breathed a prayer of silent thanksgiving that the Lady Trusia had
+been no party to the indignity.
+
+As though in response to the thought, the Lady Trusia herself walked
+indignantly into the room. Going straight to the table she confronted
+the Gray Man with flashing eyes.
+
+"Josef," she addressed him with stamping foot, "what does this mean? Who
+gave you permission to treat this gentleman so harshly? I am still
+mistress here."
+
+"They are Russian spies, Highness."
+
+"Fiddlesticks," she replied with the feminine faith in the man who had
+given her such tender care. "Anyhow," she temporized, "our Privy
+Council, not you, shall be their judges." With charming hesitation, she
+turned to make a suitable apology to Carter, when, as her eyes fell
+before his ardent gaze, they rested upon Carrick's heirloom lying on the
+table.
+
+"Can it be?" she questioned as one in a dream. "Is it yours?" she asked
+breathlessly, her whole soul in her eyes and parted lips, as she turned
+to Carter.
+
+"No, Your Grace," he answered, "it is my chauffeur's."
+
+"Yours?" she skeptically inquired of Carrick. "Where did you get it?"
+
+"He probably stole it. He had it hidden under his shirt," suggested
+Josef.
+
+Her fine brows drew together in annoyance as she turned to look steadily
+into the crafty eyes of him she called Josef.
+
+"You forget your place, sir. I gave you no leave to speak. Have you
+forgotten that I am the Duchess of Schallberg? Be silent until you are
+spoken to."
+
+Josef shrugged his shoulders after he had bowed apologetically, for he
+saw that the lady was no longer looking in his direction. Minutely,
+closely, she was studying the face of the Cockney; first red, then pale,
+her own countenance betrayed some inward apprehension.
+
+"It cannot be," she said huskily as if striving to dispel some doubt
+that would arise, "and yet there is no other jewel unlocated. Please
+tell me how you got this," she supplicated helplessly.
+
+"Honestly, mem," was all the satisfaction she could elicit, for Carrick
+made no distinctions between her and the servant whom he thought was her
+agent.
+
+"I've no doubt of that," she answered soothingly. "Will you tell me your
+name?" Her eager, expectant face held an expression of one who half
+fears the reply.
+
+"Carrick," he answered with the monotony of iteration.
+
+"Thank you," she said in relief. "Oh," she cried as she espied their
+bonds for the first time, "your hands are tied. This is intolerable.
+Casimir," she commanded the equerry, who had been keeping as much out of
+sight as possible, "undo those cords. They are cutting into the flesh.
+Messieurs, pardon my overzealous servants. Indeed, we have much to fear
+from strangers. Though you may mean no wrong to us, yet formality
+requires that you satisfy our Privy Council of your honesty in coming to
+our remote country at this particular time. Let us go at once, that you
+may the speedier be relieved of surveillance.
+
+"Josef," she said, turning to the Gray Man, "if you so desire you may
+present your foolish charges there."
+
+She lifted her glance graciously to Carter.
+
+"I have no fear for you, monsieur. You have the marks of an honorable
+gentleman."
+
+
+
+
+IX
+
+IF ZULKA WERE HERE
+
+
+"I've 'arf a notion to knock your block for a bloomin' sneak." Carrick
+halted suddenly in the doorway of the cell to face Josef. The Cockney's
+fists were clenched in a manner which promised that action would
+immediately follow declaration. Carter intervened peremptorily while
+Josef discreetly withdrew out of reach of the tough, bunched knuckles.
+
+Led by the Duchess of Schallberg, they traversed a stone-flagged, arched
+passageway, which brought them to the main hall of the castle. A modern
+dwelling of average size could have been erected there without entirely
+exhausting the spaciousness of the hall.
+
+Tattered banners, gray with antiquity, hung like memories on the walls.
+Below these, crumbling with age, were the antlers of ancestral deer,
+while arms and armor of heroic mold glimmered from the shadowy niches
+filled by them for generations.
+
+Crossing the hall, the party led by Trusia approached a tapestried-hung
+archway, whose single sentry raised the heavy folds to admit her to
+whatever lay beyond.
+
+Preceded by Her Grace, and followed closely by Josef, Carter and Carrick
+entered the Council Chamber of Schallberg.
+
+At one end of its many-pillared room, a dais held a double throne, whose
+high, broad back was carved with many heraldic devices of past
+intelligence. Its intricate traceries were capped by a lion rampant,
+which had pawed the air for generations.
+
+Directly from the steps of the throne ran a heavy table at which were
+seated three Privy Counselors. A fourth seat was vacant. For Her Grace
+of Schallberg? Evidently not, for she mounted the two broad steps and
+seated herself on the throne, bowing graciously to the trio of ministers
+who had risen at her entrance. With a gesture that indicated that Carter
+and Carrick should stand facing these, their judges, she settled herself
+back in the high chair, while the accused found themselves with their
+backs to the door. Josef, with mocking deference, placed himself at the
+end of the table as the prosecutor. He unburdened himself of the
+purloined articles which he now placed before him in a little pile.
+
+Admitting the seriousness of the situation so far as himself and his man
+were concerned, Carter could not but confess that the scene was a
+picturesque one, and that the very element of danger gave it a touch of
+piquancy. Here were himself and Carrick, fresh from the greatest shrine
+of modernity, after having been cast into a mediaeval dungeon, now being
+hauled before a trinity of gold-laced judges on a charge of being spies.
+
+He glanced admiringly toward Her Grace, whose tempting chin was cupped
+in her pink palm, while the deep lace of her half sleeve fell back from
+the round elbow propped by the broad arm of the throne. Her eyes dreamed
+of far-away things, until, telepathically, she became aware of Carter's
+ardent gaze.
+
+Recalled to the duty before her, she blushed guiltily at her
+abstraction.
+
+"Josef says these strangers are spies. You must judge," she said
+trenchantly to her Counselors.
+
+Carter could have knelt before her as she spoke, for her voice
+proclaimed her disbelief.
+
+"This," she said turning to Calvert as she indicated the stern-faced
+veteran nearest the throne, "this is Colonel Sutphen, the Hereditary
+Chancellor of Krovitch and member of our Privy Council."
+
+[Illustration: MOUNTED THE STEPS AND SEATED HERSELF ON THE THRONE]
+
+Carter bowed gravely, but received no other acknowledgment than a frigid
+glare from the veteran. Josef had undoubtedly prejudiced Sutphen
+against the accused. This was more plausible than to suppose that the
+Colonel had become rancorous merely because the unconscious Trusia had
+not been more promptly surrendered to him, for it was he who had
+received her from the automobile. Proudly meeting the glaring eyes of
+Sutphen, Carter turned with relief to Her Grace of Schallberg. He caught
+the faint smile of amused comprehension which hovered about her lips;
+she had seen and enjoyed that duel of glances, as an ancient suzeraine
+might have delighted in a tourney in her honor. As her eyes met those of
+the American, he smiled.
+
+"Seated beside Colonel Sutphen is Count Muhlen-Sarkey, the Holder of the
+Purse."
+
+This Privy Counselor was a moon-faced and rotund individual, who, in his
+efforts to preserve a fitting severity of expression in keeping with the
+duty before him, had succeeded only in appearing monstrously depressed.
+He smiled eagerly, responsively, to Carter's bow, bobbing his head like
+a gleeful sparrow. As a matter of fact, the proceedings were to him a
+joke--something to relieve the monotony of his existence. Yet this
+modern Falstaff, as Carter afterward learned, was among the bravest of
+the brave, meeting death with this same cheery smile, and following the
+grim monarch with a jest.
+
+The only remaining member of the Council present was Count Sobieska,
+Minister of Private Intelligence, who, from under half closed Oriental
+eyes, acknowledged the presentation with a dignified, but non-committal,
+inclination of the head. He seemed preoccupied in his own passivity, and
+was a man in the fullest triumph of life,--the years that enrich at
+forty. Lithe-looking as a panther--a somnolent animal now to all
+appearances--an occasional gleam of the half masked eyes suggested that
+this show of indifference concealed a mind of no inferior order. His
+nose was thin and arched like an Arab sheik's, and the close black hair
+was chafed from his temples in a seeming baldness. The iron firmness of
+his square jaw was not effaced beneath his well-trimmed beard. His
+hands, lightly folded over the hilt of a sword held between his knees,
+were long, slim, and muscular. Evidently a tireless friend or an
+implacable enemy, his was the strongest personality of the three
+Counselors present, despite his seeming air of ennui.
+
+Bowing to Carter, he had turned an indifferent scrutiny upon Josef, who,
+though smiling, would have apparently foregone the inspection. All eyes
+were upon the accuser, however. Trusia's voice broke the silence as she
+addressed him.
+
+"You may speak, Josef." There was a trace of regret in her voice. "I
+fear you have been over-zealous."
+
+"Listen, Highness," he said. He was anxious to convince; over-anxious,
+it seemed. "These men, in their accursed machine, flew past the sentries
+at the frontier, disregarding all commands to halt, even the shots
+fired."
+
+"That is true," replied Carter. "We could take no chances. We had no
+desire to meet Russians just then."
+
+An inquiry half parted Trusia's lips as she turned to hear Carter's
+confirmation, but checking her curiosity, she signed for Josef to
+proceed.
+
+"Then they came to Posner's Inn. You know, Highness, what preparations
+were going forward there. These the spies noted. They even tried to
+bribe Posner into telling where Count Zulka could be found. They knew
+there was a heavy price upon his head. The cursed Russians." Carter
+started in surprise at this information regarding his friend. Josef
+pointed a triumphant finger at him. "See," he said, "it is true as I
+have said." Turning to Her Grace he continued, "If you attribute your
+fall from your horse to an accident, there are others who do not. It was
+part of their plan. Had not the highways been so well guarded they would
+have carried you to the Russian salt mines, a prisoner." Josef's
+vehemence had cost him his breath. He paused to regain it.
+
+To all appearances the Minister of Private Intelligence had been the
+least interested of the auditors. He now spoke quietly with reference to
+the belongings lying upon the table. Doubtless his keen eyes had already
+inventoried them.
+
+"Have you found any proofs?" he asked, with a wave of his hand toward
+the group of miscellany.
+
+At this question, Josef faced about with a conciliatory smile.
+
+"No more than was to be expected, Excellency, upon the person of a spy
+of the undoubtedly superior intelligence that Russia would send on a
+mission to Krovitch just now. A fortune in bills--presumably for bribes,
+a road map of our country, and the name of 'Zulka' written across the
+capital, Schallberg."
+
+At the reference to Zulka's name used in connection with the alleged
+plot, Trusia gave a slight start and a reproachful look clouded her
+eyes.
+
+Frankly, fearlessly, he met her glance as well as the steel-like glint
+from Sobieska.
+
+"He was my friend," the American said, as though no further explanation
+could be demanded.
+
+"He was their quarry," retorted Josef vehemently. "Else why the
+questions to Posner and attempts to bribe, the fortune in bills, the
+name written significantly across the capital's, the city where to
+friends and foes he was best known. Had his friend been as careful,"
+continued Josef, who already tasted triumph and liked the flavor, "we
+would have no more clues. His passion for acquisition, however, has
+given us additional material." He held up the star with evident dramatic
+intent.
+
+As Sutphen and Muhlen-Sarkey recognized it they started in genuine
+surprise.
+
+"King Stovik's star," cried Sutphen.
+
+Sobieska held out an indolent hand into which the eager Josef dropped it
+for examination. First the obverse, then the reverse were inspected with
+apparently slight interest. To Carter's appreciation of character,
+however, it was evident that not the slightest scratch on its surface
+had escaped those drooping eyes, as it was passed on to the gaping
+Holder of the Purse, whose chubby hands received it as though it were
+the relic of a saint. The jovial face was for the first time honestly
+grave. Reverently he transferred it to the Hereditary Chancellor. It lay
+before that bristling veteran who turned a questioning glance to Her
+Grace of Schallberg.
+
+"I have seen it," she said.
+
+"Is it--is it the missing star?" he asked in a hesitating manner, as
+though an affirmative answer was more than he could hope for.
+
+"It is," she replied with slightly inclining head.
+
+"Then who is he?" asked the bewildered Sutphen, rising from his seat and
+pointing impulsively at Carrick.
+
+"Only an English peasant, Excellency, who has stolen the missing star,"
+Josef insinuated.
+
+"Are you sure? Are you sure?" persisted the Colonel, who was struggling
+with a grave doubt, which was now inclining his judgment in favor of the
+captives.
+
+Josef, comprehending the nature of the perplexity and fearing he might
+lose a partisan, advanced an argument whose significance did not then
+appeal to Carter.
+
+"A medal, Excellency, even that medal may pass easily from one person to
+another without ownership having any special value. Papers, valuable
+papers, would be guarded faithfully from father to son because they
+alone would be incontestable proof. We know what we have already found.
+Look at this uncouth fellow," said Josef, indicating Carrick with a
+sneer. "Remember, he is a servant, and judge if there be any chance that
+his possession of the star should cause you any doubts? Was it with such
+as he the Line was maintained?"
+
+That he had stilled any uneasiness in the minds of the Counselors caused
+by the display of the medal, Josef was now satisfied. He paused for a
+final effort.
+
+Sobieska spoke quickly to Carrick in an unintelligible language to be
+met with a look of honest mystification.
+
+Josef smiled ironically.
+
+"Your Lordship surely did not expect to catch such clever rogues by so
+innocent a ruse? They hardly would confess to a familiarity with
+Russian. Such an admission would convict them. Indulge them in French.
+One of the pair has that much linguistic ability. Besides, we have so
+far conducted our investigations in that diplomatic language."
+
+"You are presumptuous, sir," said Trusia sharply. "_You_ have no part in
+the conduct of this matter. You are simply a witness." Josef bowed low
+in meekness.
+
+Without deigning a reply to the old fellow, Sobieska spoke next in
+fairly good English to the Cockney.
+
+"What is your nation--birthplace?"
+
+"England; Whitechapel, London," replied Carrick with natural
+taciturnity.
+
+"Where did you get that?" continued the Minister, pointing to the
+medal.
+
+"My guv'nor left it to me when he croaked."
+
+His questioner's eyelids were raised the merest shade in
+non-comprehension of the vernacular.
+
+"Your governor," he said slowly as if seeking a key to relationship.
+Josef smiled. The latter's exultation was that of one enjoying a
+possible misconstruction which might attend a literal interpretation of
+what he knew was idiomatic.
+
+"Guvnor is the Whitechapel slang for father. My man many years ago told
+me he had received it in that way--the death of his parent," explained
+Carter coming to the rescue.
+
+The stately Krovitzer bowed in acknowledgment of the explanation then
+continued his questioning.
+
+"Where did he get it?" His sleepy eyes were probing deep.
+
+"How the hell should I know," replied the irritated Cockney, who swiftly
+resented this prying into his affairs. Remembering himself instantly, he
+turned with a fine red in his face to the girl on the dais. "I beg your
+pardon, Your Grace, for forgetting myself. It was none of 'is business,"
+he said, defending his lapse.
+
+"Was he English, also?" pursued Sobieska relentlessly.
+
+"Sure."
+
+"His name?"
+
+"Mark Carrick," was the almost surly answer.
+
+"His business?"
+
+"Scrivener."
+
+"Why did you come to Krovitch?" The question was advanced suddenly,
+unexpectedly, as if to catch the chauffeur off his guard.
+
+"I'm Captain Carter's man; you'd better arsk him." Carrick was
+displaying renewed signs of impatience.
+
+Sobieska paused. He gravely turned to his associates, and, for their
+information, translated fairly and without comment what the chauffeur
+had said into French, with which language Sutphen and Muhlen-Sarkey
+seemed conversant.
+
+"That you might correct any misstatements," he explained calmly to
+Carter.
+
+"There was no need," replied the American. "You have been most
+impartial."
+
+Evidently not yet satisfied with the results obtained from his
+preliminary investigations, he turned again to the Englishman, who
+seemed not a little mystified to find his domestic history so
+interesting to these lordly foreigners.
+
+"Where is your father buried?" inquired Sobieska courteously.
+
+"Dunno, sir. I was awye when 'e died. Landlidey said as 'ow a strange
+gent came, buried 'im an' took 'is hinsurance pipers awye with 'im. Sed
+'e was the guvnor's brother."
+
+"Did you ever see this uncle?" he asked suavely.
+
+"No, sir. Never knew I 'ad one. Guvnor sed 'e was the only child."
+
+"Did you claim the insurance?"
+
+Carrick paused long before replying. When he spoke again his tone was
+decidedly hostile.
+
+"What's all this got to do with my bein' a spy? These things about my
+guvnor an' me are personal matters. I don't see as 'ow I'm bound to
+answer such questions." His face reddened slowly and then he added
+impressively, "This much I'll admit to my own discredit, though."
+
+Sobieska bent forward even more closely in anticipation.
+
+"The guvnor an' me," continued Carrick, "didn't allus 'it hit off
+together, so you see I didn't know much about 'is affairs. I said
+hinsurance pipers, because they looked like 'em to me. They might not
+'ave been, but the guvnor set a great store by 'em. Captain Carter can
+tell as 'ow I told 'im all this at Santiago." He turned to his master
+for confirmation.
+
+"It is true," said the latter.
+
+Still the Minister was not satisfied to relax his intimate
+investigations. Her Grace of Schallberg appeared an interested listener
+and had lost not a syllable of what had been said. The remaining
+Counselors were patiently expectant of translation as English was a
+closed door to them. Josef on the other hand would have gladly welcomed
+a divertisement though clearly afraid to inaugurate one. For some subtle
+reason he was very uneasy. Since Carrick's assertion that a stranger had
+purloined valuable papers from his father, the Gray Man had seemed to
+fear an unexpected revelation of some sort. Sobieska seemed to scent
+this secret fear and was willing to play with Josef's susceptibility.
+
+"When did your father die?" asked the Count after a pause which had
+threatened to become intense, during which Josef had shifted uneasily.
+
+"Fifteen years ago come the seventh of August."
+
+"Where?"
+
+"Twelve Tottinam Plyce, Whitechapel."
+
+"Is the landlady living?"
+
+"Now 'ow the devil should I know? I beg your pardon, again, Your Grace,
+but this man is badgerin' me orful." Her smile asked him to be patient
+so he turned to his inquisitor patiently.
+
+"I 'aven't seen 'er since," he replied.
+
+Josef felt this line of investigation had gone far enough and determined
+to stop it at all hazards. He coughed. Sobieska turned to him
+inquiringly, an amused smile in his eyes.
+
+"Is all this important, Excellency?" the Gray Man asked deprecatingly,
+intimating that the issue had been forgotten. With a quiet drawl,
+containing both a reproof and a demurrer, Sobieska corrected him.
+
+"Interesting," he said as he shot a covert glance at Josef which also
+held a challenge. Then as though in tacit compliance with the suggestion
+he turned not discourteously to Carter.
+
+"Where did you get the title of Captain your man gave you a while ago?"
+
+"I have no real right to it, never claim it," replied the American,
+"though at one time I bore it as of right in the Spanish-American war.
+It is the American habit never to let a man forget a title he has once
+won through merit."
+
+Sobieska bowed.
+
+"What brought you to Krovitch? It is outside the usual route of
+tourists."
+
+For the fraction of a second the men gazed steadily at each
+other--possible antagonists appraising the other's chances. The question
+had been as hitherto in French for the benefit of the other auditors.
+
+Careful to keep any appearance of apology from what he might say, yet
+scorning any other medium than the truth, Carter explained the motive
+for his coming to Krovitch. "An American's love of adventure--a wish to
+join your insurrection."
+
+Even his inquisitor was startled by the boldness of the reply. The
+Counselors leaped to their feet and laid suggestive hands upon their
+swords. Trusia's face went white, while her hand clutched in terror at
+her throat. Then, seeing that Carter was in danger, with an effort she
+quickly recovered herself.
+
+"Put up your swords, my lords," she commanded in distress. "Let him
+explain."
+
+"What insurrection?" thundered a bristling Sutphen, seating himself
+stiffly erect, on the edge of his chair.
+
+"I told you they were spies," Josef almost shouted in gratification.
+"Why else would they say such a thing except as a play for your
+confidence. Where would they learn our secret?"
+
+Carter turned to Trusia.
+
+"Pardon me, Your Grace, for my inept choice of words. I meant
+restoration, not insurrection." He bowed low as to the sovereign of
+Krovitch as he supposed her to be. Then raising his head he continued,
+"As for your secret, the world has already heard the rumors of the
+approaching war."
+
+Then with effective repression he added, "My country's wars have always
+been for Freedom and Righteousness, never for aggrandizement. A
+nation's sentiments will animate her citizens. I heard rumors of a
+sister country in distress and longed to help her. I heard rumors. I
+find them confirmed. I am no spy. I am Adventure's cadet."
+
+"How then did he hear or know of Count Zulka?" sneeringly suggested
+Josef. Carter noticed that again the momentarily favorable impression
+had been destroyed. Josef for some strange reason was aggressively
+opposed to a vindication of the two strangers in Krovitch.
+
+"Your Grace, there was a club in New York City," Carter explained to
+Trusia, "of which Paul Zulka and myself were members. We were good
+friends. One year ago he left hurriedly. Knowing from his ardently
+expressed love for his birthplace and his outspoken hate for Russia that
+he would be in the front rank of any fight of Krovitch's, I naturally
+sought him for my voucher."
+
+The chubby Purse Holder was anxious to question the accused. "What is
+the name of this club?" he asked.
+
+"It is the Racquet Club."
+
+The Holder of the Purse leaned back. With a satisfied air, Sutphen
+turned to him.
+
+"That the club to which your nephew, Count Paul, belonged?" he asked.
+
+"Yes," he said genially. "I am Paul Zulka's uncle," he explained to
+Carter.
+
+"Did he ever mention a Calvert Carter as among his associates there?"
+queried a lenient Trusia.
+
+The Holder of the Purse spread out two fat palms deprecatingly.
+
+"How should I remember?" he said helplessly. "These English names are
+hard to bear in mind. Such things, ach! as I have had to remember in the
+last year." The burden was evidently appalling. "Yet," he added kindly,
+that he might do no injustice, "it might be so that he did."
+
+"If Count Zulka were here"--began Carter confidently. He was interrupted
+by Her Grace of Schallberg who raised her hand for silence.
+
+
+
+
+X
+
+THE GLIMMER OF SUSPICION
+
+
+It was Paul Zulka who bowed low over the Duchess's hand. He was totally
+oblivious to all other claims upon his attention for the nonce.
+
+"Do you know that gentleman, Paul?"
+
+As Trusia questioned him, he turned about in mystification. Not
+expecting to see Carter there or anywhere, it required time for his
+mental processes to adjust themselves to the detached conditions,
+unfavorable to a recognition.
+
+That the Krovitzer had not instantly identified his former clubmate was
+causing the latter some uneasiness. He knew it would be impossible for
+Zulka to have forgotten his existence completely after two years of
+almost daily social intercourse. A greater fear followed on the heels of
+this first misgiving. Carter's mouth set firm and hard as he considered
+the possibility of an intentional snub. If such were the case his fate
+was undoubtedly sealed, for he had invoked this very test--this meeting
+was to vouch for his sincerity. His mind went rapidly back over the
+whole period of his acquaintance with the Krovitch nobleman, to recall
+if there had been any indication of such a poltroon trait in Paul
+Zulka's character. He was, in justice, forced to deny the existence of
+any such.
+
+In the flash of an eye it had all happened. Forgetting court etiquette
+in his rush, Zulka grasped his friend's hand and shook it vigorously.
+
+"You," he said half doubting his own senses. "Here? Will wonders never
+cease? Carrick, too," and a friendly nod greeted the grinning and
+relieved Cockney. The recognition was complete.
+
+"Mea Culpa!" said Zulka, suddenly remembering his grievous breach of
+decorum, turning now to bow deeply with a humility which seemed but half
+sincere. Of course Trusia forgave him for she seemed vastly pleased with
+the favorable outcome of the meeting.
+
+"Carter a spy!" Paul exploded, when the status of affairs was duly
+explained to him. "I would as soon suspect our loyal old Josef there."
+
+The face of the latter, since Zulka's advent, had been a study, though
+this allusion to him had been received with his accustomed smirk.
+
+Sobieska, for the time being no further interested in the proceedings,
+was openly watching the mask-like face. It was as though a suspicious
+mind, aroused by the vigorous and unsustained charges, had, as a
+reflex, determined to probe the motives to their devious sources. Too
+subtle to display the uneasiness he felt at this surveillance, Josef
+appeared the personification of innocence and candor.
+
+Colonel Sutphen, willing to make amends, and aware that Carter and
+Carrick had not yet been formally acquitted, arose and addressed Her
+Grace.
+
+"I think we may take it, Highness, that this gentleman and his--his
+servant are vindicated." The word servant caused him some difficulty as
+he was not prepared to relegate Carrick to such servile rank. It might
+be of some significance to note that both Josef and Sobieska displayed a
+covert interest in this hesitation in the usually downright Chancellor.
+
+
+
+
+XI
+
+YOU LOVE TRUSIA
+
+
+"I am so glad," she said as she stepped from the dais to greet him.
+
+There was a generous simplicity of movement somewhat at variance with
+the haughty poise of her head. That Trusia, Duchess of Schallberg, was a
+very lovely young woman Carter found himself mentally confessing with no
+small degree of enthusiasm, while his heart warmed at her sweet
+effusiveness.
+
+"Do you really and truly mean it?" she continued as she placed a small,
+firm palm in his, man-wise. "You have come all the way from that
+wonderful country of yours to join us?"
+
+She clasped her hands at her neck in a sweet girlish gesture as he
+silently bowed his assent. He felt dazzled. Though accustomed to the
+society of high-bred women, he was at a loss for the first time in his
+experience; was unable to frame a simple affirmative. If, he thought,
+she would only turn away those wonderful eyes of hers for an instant, he
+felt confident of accomplishing a conversational commonplace at least.
+
+The members of the Privy Council, following her lead, came forward to
+greet him. Carter devoutly prayed that this diversion might loosen his
+unruly member.
+
+That no remark might escape his vigilant ears, Josef edged cautiously to
+the outskirts of the group now gathered around the Americans. Trusia
+espied him, and much against his desire haled him to the fore.
+
+"You must make amends, sir," she prompted, though not unkindly, "for the
+annoyance you have caused Captain Carter."
+
+"Your Highness," he said with a deferential bow, but unbending mind,
+"must accept my zeal in the cause as my justification." Trusia was much
+hurt at this intentional and undisguised evasion of her behest, as much
+on the strangers' as on her own account, so hastened to supplement such
+an ambiguous apology.
+
+"Josef is indulged by us," she began deprecatingly, "because to his
+fidelity, loyalty and zeal, we are indebted for a royal leader for
+Krovitch, a man descended from our one-time kings of the day when
+Krovitch was great."
+
+"But I thought," said the puzzled Carter, "that you were the only
+descendant of Augustus."
+
+"I am." The little head was raised in imperial pride. "But King Stovik,
+though deposed, was the rightful sovereign, not my ancestor. The
+fugitive monarch left a scion whom Josef as a faithful servitor has
+attended from his infancy. Finding in recent events that the time was
+ripe for his crownless prince, he came to tell us that we had a king, if
+we dared to strike for him. He showed us proofs. We already had
+organization, men and money, but we sadly lacked a man for the struggle.
+My valorous people would have fought for me, poor as were my claims to
+the crown, founded on the wrong done another. Imagine how high their
+enthusiasm became on hearing that not only one of King Stovik's
+glorified stock, but a man--a young king--was to lead the ancient flag
+to victory. Russia, already dazed, can do nothing against the flame of
+my people's ardor."
+
+"But the Almanac de Gotha," insisted Carter to whom the reference to the
+invisible king was a puzzling one.
+
+"Knew nothing about King Stovik after his deposition and flight," she
+interrupted with a charming smile.
+
+"Tell me the story, Your Grace," he pleaded, for he could feel
+instinctively that there was a story, an old world romance hidden here.
+
+She held up a warning finger. "Be warned in time," she said, "it is a
+vulnerable point with me, one on which I am likely to be extremely
+prolix."
+
+"You can but enhance the value of the legend," he replied with a bow. "I
+promise, Highness," he laughed, once more at his ease, "not to take the
+teeniest of naps."
+
+Already deep in her recollections of her country's tribulations, her
+responsive smile was of one who dreamed. Inspiring scenes of tragic
+grandeur, the pageant of a nation's history wiped out in the groans of
+conquest, lit the beauty of her eyes. So must the Maid of Orleans have
+appeared to those who in awe listened to her. Softened by her
+translation into the world of inspiration, she turned to him.
+
+"How I envy those who can wield the pen," she sighed. "I wish I could
+chronicle the story of the kings who have been safely hidden for
+generations. Patiently, devotedly, for two centuries have they waited
+for this day to dawn, the first opportunity that Krovitch has had to
+take back her own from the despoiler of Europe. The narrative from where
+general information ends," she continued, "briefly is as follows: King
+Stovik with his queen and infant son escaped by the connivance of a
+loyal nobleman on the midnight of the intended assassination of the
+overthrown dynasty. With two servants, husband and wife, who insisted on
+sharing the exile, he left Krovitch to find an asylum in a strange
+country, where caution led him to change his name. Certain it is that
+his subjects never learned the place of his retreat though they were
+well assured that his line was maintained in exile. After some years of
+silence, during which the heir apparent had reached a marriageable age,
+King Stovik sent again to his native land, to that nobleman in fact who
+had aided his escape, beseeching that from the maidens of noble birth a
+bride should be selected and sent back under the care of the messenger,
+who was none other than the faithful servant who had shared all the
+tribulations of the royal family. Bribes, threats, and coaxing of still
+loyal Krovitzers could not induce the faithful fellow to betray his
+master's hiding place. In fact on that, as on all similar embassies, in
+the generations that followed, her family bade farewell to their
+daughter, knowing not the place of her future home, nor her name,
+nothing but that she was to be the consort of their rightful king. So
+careful was Stovik in his banishment, that it became a hereditary rule
+not to permit the young bride to communicate with her family. Thus only
+could the never-dying hatred of Russia be avoided.
+
+"Until my father's time this system has been maintained, always through
+the agency of the descendants of that pair of original servants, of whom
+Josef is the last. As a little child, I remember him first, when he
+came and claimed the hand of one of our most beautiful girls to share
+his master's banishment. Then, until recently, we had supposed the Line
+had become extinct, for no further missions came. Then he returned and
+offered to put a king at the head of our national movement. Nothing
+could have been a greater boon. Those who, for years, at all corners of
+the earth, had been striving for Krovitch, came flocking to her
+standards. Our joy was complete. Do you wonder, Captain Carter," she
+said gently, "that we are very lenient to Josef?"
+
+Appreciating the girl's nobility, Carter strove to do justice to the
+Gray Man, but as he glanced into the mask-like face a greater repugnance
+than aforetimes overcame all generous impulses. He strove to put down
+the distrust that he was certain no one present shared with him, for on
+every countenance, save that of Sobieska who was gazing idly out of a
+window, he read a story of affection for the man who had done this thing
+for Krovitch.
+
+"And the new king," he questioned lightly, avoiding the issue raised,
+"has he, too, married a maid of Krovitch?"
+
+She crimsoned in manifest confusion. Averting her head for an instant,
+she bravely met his glance.
+
+"Not yet," she replied. The signals of her embarrassment told him on
+whom the choice had nevertheless fallen.
+
+She hurried on that this stranger might not the longer probe her
+sentiments with his compelling eyes. "In a few days we go to bring him
+who knows not he is king, and at the head of a valorous people seat him
+on his throne. Now are the days when only a man must lead. My ancestors
+threw this land into Russia's clutches, their descendant must return it
+to Krovitch's rightful king. This is about all, Captain Carter, except
+that when King Stovik fled he was supposed to have worn the medal found
+on your chauffeur. Doubtless at some time a member of Carrick's family
+received it as a mark of royal gratitude."
+
+"I thank you for the story," said Carter. "Now that my identity is
+established, may I ask for a place in your army? The cause of your
+country shall be my own."
+
+She smiled indulgently. "Perhaps," she said, "when you have fully
+mastered our language, we might make you a lance corporal. You see we
+have only one Field Marshal, Colonel Sutphen, although fully a score of
+applicants for that rank."
+
+"Don't tease, Tru," said Zulka with the intimacy of a lifelong
+friendship, "I am a colonel. Cal Carter, here, is a better soldier. We
+fought together at Santiago, so I should know."
+
+"We'll see," was all she would reply, as she turned to go. Then
+hesitatingly she held out her hand to Carter, who bent above it with
+inspired gallantry and touched his lips to her fingers.
+
+"Au revoir, Lady Paramount," he said.
+
+"Au revoir, Sir Knight of the Auto-car," she replied; adding; "be sure
+to come to the levee to-night. Already the maidens of Krovitch have
+heard of you, sir. One at least, desires to make your acquaintance."
+
+"We are going to the inn," Zulka announced as he took Carter by the arm,
+so the latter made his adieux to the gentlemen of the Privy Council and
+turned prepared to follow him.
+
+"Castle's full," Paul explained to relieve the mystification apparent on
+his friend's countenance. "Privy Counselors with their families and
+households, Army Staff, Duchess's Attendants and Aides-de-Camp, and so
+forth."
+
+"But the inn's full, too, Paul. The landlord----"
+
+"Thought you were a spy. That's why Josef recommended Schallberg.
+Thought you would probably tumble to the fact that he was wise, as we
+say in New York; to the fact that more than a hundred notices were
+posted there offering a reward for the apprehension of humble me, whom
+they flatteringly described. You see," he explained, "shortly after my
+return last year, I hurt Russia's feelings. Made what they very
+truthfully called a revolutionary address. I've been dodging Siberia
+ever since. Get your medal, Carrick, and come along," he called over his
+shoulder to the Cockney, who was reluctant to leave without his precious
+heirloom.
+
+Carter's second appearance in the courtyard was more gratifying than his
+first, and he had no difficulty in procuring his touring car from the
+sentry, who already seemed to have been apprised of the stalwart
+stranger's status.
+
+Whirled along in the auto, the inn was soon reached, where, arm in arm
+with Count Zulka, Carter entered, much to the unenlightened bewilderment
+of the landlord, who, nevertheless, at the Krovitzer's request, had no
+difficulty in finding them a private room for their dinner.
+
+After having enjoyed to the full the appetizing meal which had been set
+before them, the two friends at first indulged themselves with
+intermittent cigarettes and the thimblefuls of local liquor attendant at
+their elbows. Digestion, for a while, stood in the way of discourse,
+and the tally was naturally indolent, somnolent.
+
+Presently, after having sufficiently watched the rings of smoke flatten
+themselves against a black, studded rafter, Carter gave a slight rein to
+his speculations.
+
+"Why," he said, holding up his cigarette to gaze squintingly at the
+ember at its head, "why is the Count Sobieska antagonistic to Josef?"
+
+Zulka stretched himself further back in his heavy chair. Very much at
+his ease, he could have dispensed with questions just then.
+
+"Professional jealousy, I suppose," he replied. "When it comes to
+knowledge of Russian movements," he went on to explain, "that's
+Sobieska's department, mind you, but somehow Josef is always hours ahead
+of him through some source of his own. Naturally Sobieska takes the
+chance to rub a miscue in on the old chap."
+
+"Why should he be interested in Carrick's antecedents, Paul?"
+
+"Cal, you are like the youngster, who after exhausting all other
+questions, asked his dazed parent, 'Father, why is why?' Tell me all
+that happened," he said, seeing the slightly nettled expression on his
+friend's face. "You see the circus was all over before I arrived."
+
+Carter related the affair from the time of their first meeting with
+Josef, at that very inn, to the time when Zulka's timely appearance put
+an end to their trial. "The rest you know," he concluded.
+
+Zulka opened his cigarette case, selected one and after knocking the end
+of it two or three times against the metal lid without putting it in his
+mouth, looked up at his friend. "Cal, I'm afraid I've given you the idea
+that Sobieska is incompetent. That is not so. The fact is, he is
+devilish deep and clever. He never lets up once he has struck a trail.
+He's probably hit on something now that he thinks should be
+investigated. By the way, how's Saunderson of the Racquet?" So the
+conversation drifted.
+
+Their mutual friends in New York had included many women of gentle birth
+with whom Paul Zulka had always been more or less of a favorite.
+Concerning these, individually and collectively, Carter's replies to his
+friend's inquiries had been equally frank and responsive.
+
+"So you left no sweetheart behind, Cal?"
+
+"No, Paul. I'd not leave a sweetheart. I'd make her my wife."
+
+"In the face of a conge?"
+
+"You ought to know me better. I never take 'no' for an answer." Carter's
+pride glowed in his face as he made this reply.
+
+"The Duchess of Schallberg," announced Zulka, "will marry the King of
+Krovitch to unite the two houses. She has pledged herself." This
+seemingly irrelevant announcement was made through a swirling cloud of
+smoke.
+
+"So?" Carter strove to make his reply partake of easy nonchalance, but
+his throat tightened so that he could feel his face go red and hot. It
+was as if Paul had intimated that he, Calvert Carter, would seek and be
+refused by the Duchess of Schallberg. He was thankful the Krovitzer was
+not looking just then.
+
+Had he been wise, Carter would have said no more. But failing to
+emphasize his disinterestedness, he added to his monosyllabic
+exclamation a query in a studied tone of unconcern.
+
+"What's that got to do with us, old chap?"
+
+Zulka leaned forward confidentially as he laid a friendly hand upon the
+other's knee.
+
+"She's for neither you nor me, Cal," he said regretfully. "She must
+marry a man she has never seen for the sake of a country that she
+adores. Without this submission on her part we could count on no united
+Krovitch. Our country worships her and will follow no king who will not
+seat her upon his throne. Get that angel face out of your heart. Deafen
+your ears to her voice before, like me, you try too late. Oh, I know, I
+saw," he hastened on as Carter would have stopped him, "love makes all
+eyes keen. You love Trusia."
+
+As the significance of the last remark went home, Carter sat as one
+stunned. The perspiration gathered slowly in great beads on his
+forehead. He hung his head gloomily; his face went pale. It seemed,
+suddenly, that life, ever a pleasant vista to him, had built a wall
+before his eyes, unscalable, opaque.
+
+Then he understood. A pain gripped his heart as the great truth came
+home to him.
+
+"I do," he answered jerkily, for he was striving to keep a strong man's
+grip on his soul. Slowly, however, the agony, defying him, triumphed.
+"My God," he wailed in surrender, "it is true though I never realized it
+till now." That was all he said, but with blind hands he groped for
+fellowship and welcomed Zulka's responsive grip of steel.
+
+Relaxing his handclasp, he arose and walked to the window, to gaze out
+upon darkness until his own night passed from him sufficiently to enable
+him to seize upon his soul in the elusive shadows and hold it firmly.
+From where he stood, after an interval of pregnant silence, he turned a
+high-held, stern, white face upon Zulka.
+
+"Paul," he said quietly, "we'll have to stand by her now to the end. If
+Krovitch wins and I'm alive, I'll go back to New York. If she loses,
+our lives must purchase her safety, should that be the price. It will be
+Trusia first, then."
+
+"It will always be Trusia," said Zulka.
+
+Carter nodded his understanding.
+
+"Come, Carter!" Zulka said almost brusquely, "enough of sentiment. We
+must dress for the levee. I can fit you out in clothes."
+
+
+
+
+XII
+
+CARTER FINDS AN ALLY
+
+
+The haut nobility of Krovitch were present at the Ducal reception that
+night. Glittering uniforms, with a plentiful supply of feminine silks
+and sparkling jewels, made even the gray old halls of the castle take on
+a warmer, gladder note. But to Carter, with an aching heart hidden
+behind a smiling countenance, the gaiety seemed forced, the colors
+glaring; while to his questing eyes all faces appeared blank surfaces,
+save one.
+
+She was talking to a wisp of a golden-haired girl, whom he afterward
+learned was Zulka's cousin, the daughter of the plump Holder of the
+Purse. Apparently Trusia had not yet noticed his entrance, but why
+should she?
+
+Had he been gifted with omnipresence, however, he would have heard her
+say to her companion, "That is he. The one in dress suit. No, stupid,
+not the short man in black and gold, but the strapping big fellow who
+holds his head like some ancient paladin."
+
+"Oh," her companion had answered impulsively, as she finally singled
+Carter out from the throng about the entrance, "he is fine, Highness.
+I'm going to fall in love with him. I'm sure I am. Do you mind, Tru?"
+she teased, with the intuitive sex-given perception that her royal chum
+felt at least a passing interest in the handsome stranger. The Duchess
+made no immediate reply to her friend, but gazed resolutely in a
+direction opposite to the one from which she knew Carter was
+approaching. Even predestined queens are not averse to stately coquetry.
+
+"No, Natalie," she finally condescended to reply, "why should I, dear?"
+She smiled affectionately down on the sweet face before her. "I envy
+you, child, that you may love where you please," she added gently.
+
+"Oh," said Natalie. The little maid of honor changed front with ready
+sympathy. "I might have known you could not faint in his arms, be
+brought home by him, rescue him from jail, without feeling some interest
+in him. He's coming this way, Highness," she added in a confidential
+undertone as if Trusia had not already divined the fact through the back
+of her regal little head. Nevertheless, the Duchess achieved a very
+natural surprise as Calvert Carter presented himself before her.
+
+He was duly presented to the golden-haired girl and apprised of her
+kinship to his friend Paul, who had already entered into conversation
+with Her Grace of Schallberg. Carter found a temporary distraction from
+his unearned wounds in listening to her cheery prattle and answering her
+light queries about the wilderness she imagined his country to be, just
+beyond the environs of the municipalities. Their group was constantly
+augmented by fresh arrivals, so the conversation grew general, and
+Carter had no opportunity except for a chance word now and then with the
+woman to whom he had silently yielded his heart. Enthusiastic young
+officers, cadets of ancient lineage, boasted hopefully of the efforts
+which they would make to restore the fatherland to its place among the
+great nations of the world. Even Natalie was soon claimed by an admiring
+young hussar glittering in black and gold, and Carter found himself
+alone for the nonce. He suddenly remembered a forgotten duty, and the
+possibility of its performance was now causing him some perplexity.
+
+"You look troubled, Captain Carter," said Trusia, at his elbow. "Is
+there anything we can do?"
+
+He smiled gratefully. "Yes, Highness," he responded eagerly. "I was just
+cudgeling my brains for a suitable form in which to present my
+request."
+
+"It is----"
+
+"Permission to cable my address in the morning to my New York agent."
+
+"It is granted," she said. "A messenger will leave at seven to-morrow
+morning for Vienna. I will have Josef call with him in the morning. I
+need scarcely caution you not to refer to the state of affairs here."
+
+"You have my word, Highness," he answered.
+
+"I could ask for no better guaranty," she commented sweetly.
+
+If Carter was distrustful of the emissary she had chosen, he was well
+aware that his vague misgivings would find no other reception than
+coldness did he even dare to hint at them. He turned to find Sobieska's
+look of pseudo-indolence upon him.
+
+"Have I your permission, Highness, to make Captain Carter acquainted
+with some of his brother officers?" queried the Minister of Private
+Intelligence. She nodded her consent and Carter was led away, but not to
+meet any military men. Having found a place sufficiently out of earshot
+of the others, the Count motioned the American into a seat, placing
+himself opposite him.
+
+"There is nothing like a common object of suspicion, Captain Carter, to
+make men friends," he began guardedly. Then probably recognizing that
+the man to whom he was speaking would hold his disclosures sacred, he
+threw away his diplomatic subterfuges and came frankly to the point.
+
+"I wanted to tell you," he said gravely, "that I have already cabled my
+agents in London and Paris to investigate the history of your man
+Carrick." The American turned to regard him with a slight frown. Had the
+fellow brought him here to tell him they had not been believed at the
+afternoon's trial? Sobieska, understanding what was passing in the
+other's mind, smiled indulgently.
+
+"Oh, I believed your story, don't fear," he said; "but, in the face of
+all things, I have always doubted the sincerity of Josef. I cannot
+convince myself that his motives are entirely as disinterested as he has
+convinced Her Grace they are. There was something, too, about Carrick's
+story of his father's death that awakened my suspicions. That medal for
+instance."
+
+"You surely cannot mean----" began Carter, fairly rising from his seat
+in his wild surmise.
+
+"Quietly, quietly," cautioned Sobieska, glancing warily back toward the
+throng of guests to assure himself that the American's perturbation had
+passed unnoted. Having satisfied himself that it had attracted no
+attention, he took up the thread where it had been dropped by him.
+
+"I meant nothing more at present than that I want to know everything my
+agents can learn. Meanwhile not a word to any one, especially Josef.
+Don't trust him in any way, though."
+
+With such an opportunity, Carter naturally told him about his dilemma
+concerning the despatches.
+
+"Oh, if they refer to business, I suppose you may let him have them," he
+was assured. "He would hardly tamper with private papers. They will be
+perfectly safe, especially as he will know that you have already spoken
+to Her Grace concerning them. I may be doing him an injustice," he
+continued cogitatingly, "but I somehow feel that he is playing a deeper
+game in Krovitch than you or I have any idea of at present. Every one
+here from Her Highness down almost worships him. Can I count on your
+aid?"
+
+"Certainly," replied Carter as they both arose. "I don't like the fellow
+either." They sauntered nonchalantly back to the others, baffling
+Josef's inquiring eyes.
+
+
+
+
+XIII
+
+A NEW MAJOR OF HUSSARS
+
+
+Carter admitted that in his present state of mind dawn was no more to be
+welcomed than darkness. For hours on end now, he had been fighting
+grimly and silently to the end that he might cast out of his heart, for
+all time, the love for a woman which had crept in. Sleep had dared not
+come within range of that titanic struggle. Worn with the battle which
+had witnessed his defeat, he had just completed his cipher message,
+when, following a modest knock at the door, Josef entered complacently
+with the pent-browed peasant at his heels.
+
+"If monsieur desires to send despatches," said the Hereditary Servitor,
+"he can make his arrangements with Johann here. Johann goes at once to
+Vienna, via Schallberg. He is trustworthy and discreet. Can I be of
+further service to monsieur? No? Then I shall go." Without waiting for
+any reply, he closed the door behind him as though upon a nervous
+patient.
+
+After giving the messenger minute instructions and a liberal gratuity,
+Carter dismissed him and the despatches from his thoughts. Later in the
+day he was to be reminded not only of them but of the evil leer
+bestowed by Johann at the munificent tip dropped into his horny palm.
+
+From the window of his room Carter watched the stir in the camp. In
+response to the first call from the bugles, the men were already
+bestirring themselves along the tent-marked company streets; some
+industriously polishing belt plates and buttons; some tightening the
+laces of their leggings, while still others, ruddy of visage, were
+plunging close-cropped heads into buckets of splashing cold water. At
+the far end of the street, opposite his window, the over prompt were
+already falling in. The sergeants picturesquely marked the points of
+rest. The first sergeant was glancing over the bundle of orders he had
+drawn from his belt, preparatory to roll call and the routine of the
+day.
+
+The world beyond, the world of fields and woods and flowers, looked
+fair; the sun had not yet dried the dew, and jaded as he was, Carter
+thanked God for all things sweet and pure. Something choked in his
+throat. He welcomed the galloping approach of Zulka, who, shortly, drew
+up beneath his window. In a flash, the Count read the trouble in the New
+Yorker's face, but pretending not to, he touched his hat brim in precise
+military salute.
+
+"I've rare tidings for thee, my lord," and he vigorously waved an
+oblong paper in a melodramatic manner. "Given under hand and seal, as
+your lawyer chaps would say."
+
+"Just as soon as I can get this boot on," answered Carter in a tone he
+strove desperately to keep cheerful. Having accomplished his task
+without unreasonable delay, he picked up a hat and crop and descended to
+the courtyard of the inn where the other was impatiently waiting with
+some good tidings he found hard to contain.
+
+"Read that, Cal," he said, as he thrust the papers into his friend's
+hands. Carter opened the document to be confronted with an
+incomprehensible jumble of letters in Latin,--a language he had promptly
+forgotten the day of his graduation,--a lordly seal and, dearest of all,
+in an angular feminine hand, in subscription:
+
+  "_Trusia, Dei Gratia, Vice Regina._"
+
+He feasted his eyes on the one word that for him blurred all the rest,
+"Trusia."
+
+"Trusia" of the marvelous eyes. "Trusia" of the ensnaring hair. "Trusia"
+the beloved, the desirable.
+
+"So you haven't forgotten your Latin, after all," Zulka was saying,
+leisurely dismounting from his horse.
+
+"But I have," answered Carter. "What does it all mean?"
+
+"Your commission, man. Major of the Royal Hussars. For the present
+attached to Her Grace, as Aide. I congratulate you."
+
+"Don't, Paul; not yet. It is going to be all the harder for me."
+
+Zulka nodded his head gravely. "You'd better fight at close range. It is
+harder, but quicker."
+
+He noted Calvert's riding costume at a glance and made a sudden resolve.
+
+"Better take a ride, old chap. Get yourself in condition. I'm busy
+to-day. Borrow Casimir's horse--he's off for the morning. I think
+Natalie will be out on the road this way. She'd appreciate your escort,
+I'll wager. We creep a step nearer the city this morning, and as
+Division Adjutant I'll have my hands full.
+
+"Here, Casimir," he called to the equerry who was lazily swinging his
+feet over the edge of the porch on which he had seated himself, "lend
+Major Carter your mount for this morning, can't you?"
+
+"Gladly. Saral is the right sort and I guess bears him no ill will for
+yesterday's stampede."
+
+Carter was about to mount when Carrick put in a solemn appearance from
+the stables.
+
+"Some one has tackled the automobile with an axe, sir," he announced
+ruefully. "The wheels are left, and that's about all of the 'go' part."
+Carter turned wrathfully from the horse to follow Carrick back to the
+shed where the big car had been housed. With ready sympathy the two
+young Krovitzers followed.
+
+"It is dastardly," Paul remarked as he bent over and discovered that not
+a particle of the motive mechanism had been left intact.
+
+"Count on me, sir," Casimir volunteered, "to help you ferret out the
+rascals. Have you any idea who could have played such a shabby trick?"
+
+While Carter had pretty definite suspicions he was not prepared just
+then to announce them.
+
+"The car is done for, certainly," he said gloomily. "No," he said as he
+turned indifferently away, "I don't know who did it, and thank you,
+Casimir, I don't care to. I don't think I would be justified in killing
+a man for breaking up even six thousand dollars' worth of property, but
+if I was certain just now who did it I feel I would be strongly tempted
+to wring his neck. Au revoir, gentlemen, I am not going to permit this
+to spoil my ride." With this and a nod, he returned and, mounting the
+horse, cantered out of view along the road to the castle.
+
+The handsome bay pounded steadily ahead. The air was soothing soft with
+a thousand scents of forest and hill, of field and farm; kind zephyrs
+of morning touched his brow and eased his sorrows, while the sun, from a
+bed of pearl-pink clouds, rose slowly before his eyes. Beyond and
+alongside of the already striking camp, on the right of the road, the
+woods began again, leaving the open fields like an alternate square on
+some mammoth checker board. More than one soldier gazed admiringly at
+his strong figure as he cantered past, while the sentries, doubtless
+under instructions, permitted him to pass unchallenged through the
+lines.
+
+When he reached the spot where he had first seen Trusia--the place of
+the accident, he checked his horse to indulge in the sensations the
+scene awakened. He beheld again the marble beauty of the face; he felt
+the wondrous softness of the skin, and once more his heart was entangled
+in the meshes of the fragrant hair as the loosened strands blew against
+his hot cheek.
+
+Round the bend in the road, as then, he heard approaching hoof beats. He
+marveled that his heart should beat so high merely for the advent of
+Lady Natalie. In the indulgence of his dream, the suggested thuds
+presaged the coming of Trusia. He sat immovably upon his horse in
+mid-road, waiting. Every sense was aquiver, every nerve on edge.
+
+A black horse swept into view as it first had in his fancy. It was
+ridden by Trusia. Saladin had not forgotten. As his mistress reined him
+in, his wide eyes shifted about distrustfully. A quiver ran beneath the
+satiny flanks while his slender legs trembled. Carter made no effort to
+conceal his surprise, as he lifted his hat in salutation.
+
+"Your Highness," he ejaculated.
+
+"Yes," she laughed. "Why, aren't you disappointed? Lady Natalie is. Her
+mother found some unwelcome duty shirked which she insisted should be
+properly discharged. I am her apologetic substitute. Besides I wished to
+discipline Saladin to this place before he should acquire the habit of
+shying at it. There, Beauty," she said patting his arching neck as he
+snorted in pure ecstasy of terrified recollections. Calmed by her
+caressing voice and the touch of her hand he stretched forth his head to
+nozzle the other horse in neighborly fashion.
+
+"Natalie is a sweet girl, Major Carter," she said tentatively, giving
+him his full title. "Am I forgiven for coming--in her stead?"
+
+"On condition that Your Highness will do me the honor of riding with
+me--in her stead." He smiled his usual frank smile. "Besides," he
+pleaded, "it will take me some time to thank you for your kindness in
+giving me my brevet. I know it is an honor which many a man of Krovitch
+would die to win."
+
+She flushed as she answered him. "It was but a small return for what you
+have suffered."
+
+In silent assent to his invitation, she pointed her crop to a path among
+the trees, which might easily have escaped the observation of those not
+familiar with its existence.
+
+"Right beyond the turn in the road is a bypath. Let us take that. It
+goes down into the heart of the wood, to the ancestor of forests. The
+trees stand there as if brooding over the lost centuries of their youth.
+The moss is as gray as Time himself. The only sounds, save the soughing
+sighs of the giant branches, are the chime of the waterfall and the
+chirping of birds. I love it," she said with sparkling eyes, "because
+those trees seem typical of the undying faith of the land, which for two
+centuries has never lost hope and has never ceased working for the day
+which will soon crown our efforts. See," she pointed down the aisle of
+overhanging branches they were entering, "is it not magnificent?"
+
+Side by side, comrades under the spell of the woodlands, rode Trusia and
+Carter, inhaling the fresh morning sifted through the leaves. A vista of
+trees arose on either hand, each one seemingly more massive, more aged
+than its fellow; some bowed in retrospection, some erect with hope and
+looking skyward for the new star in their country's firmament.
+
+A peace begotten of serenity settled on Carter's soul. He turned to look
+at the girl beside him. The magic of the place had brought a refreshing
+expression of content into her face. He noted the soft turn of her
+cheek, the inviting round chin and the steady splendor of the eyes. The
+spell of silence was broken then. The wood sprites were routed by a
+modern girl. Feeling his eyes upon her, she turned to him, her lips half
+parted in a smile.
+
+"Is it not wonderful, all of this?" she said, caressing the leafy
+monarchs with a wide-spread gesture. "Do you have such forests in
+America, such trees? Oh, I have heard of your California forests, where
+roads are cut through the trunk of a single giant without destroying its
+life. But it is the spirit of the woodlands, I mean. Do they breathe
+traditions?"
+
+"Not to us, Highness. We are not their children. Perhaps the Indian when
+he bade them farewell could understand their counsels."
+
+"You were a soldier," she said, as a suggested possibility caught her,
+"did you ever fight Indians?" Her eager face was almost as a child's who
+begs a story.
+
+"Sorry I can't oblige you," he laughed indulgently. "I engaged only the
+prosaic European from Spain."
+
+"You fought in Cuba? Tell me about it."
+
+So much as he modestly might tell, he related to her as they rode on.
+They were young, time was cheap and the tale was not uninteresting.
+
+The labored heaving of the horses' shoulders brought them back to their
+surroundings. They were leaving the forest to mount a little hill upon
+whose side a small hovel stood, which Carter some time in his need was
+to bless.
+
+"It's Hans's, the charcoal-burner's," Trusia said with surprise; "we've
+ridden ten miles, Major Carter, and scarcely faster than a walk. We must
+turn back at once; my household will be filled with alarm. Please come,"
+she said earnestly.
+
+Together they turned their horses about, and started the return journey
+at a good ground-eating gallop. Mile after mile they canceled, occupied
+in the thoughts the ride had awakened. She was silent, in the spell of a
+new obsession wrought by this man with his honest voice and stories of
+the new, strange land, from which he came. Carter, distressed that
+possibly he had caused trouble by his senseless prattle, was dutifully
+bent on getting her back to the castle with the least possible delay.
+Mentally he was attempting to frame a suitable and fitting apology to
+offer her. Several times he cleared his throat, but she seemed so
+preoccupied that he maintained silence.
+
+Finally he achieved an explanation.
+
+"I have been trying, Highness, to apologize, but really I can't. You
+understand, don't you? I would be a hypocrite to say that I am sorry. I
+am not. It must have been the magic of the place to which a year is as a
+second quickly passed, so old is the forest."
+
+"Have you been worrying about that all this time, my friend?" she said
+with a quick laugh, awakening from her revery. "You remind me of my
+duty," she added gently. "I was wool-gathering." She turned to discover
+if he had in any measure divined her thoughts. Satisfied that he had
+not, she was content to talk of many things which would claim her time.
+Their conversation became gradually impersonal and general.
+
+Once he had asked her why she had been so relieved at the answers
+concerning the medal the Cockney wore. She hung her head for a moment
+answering almost in a whisper, "It was Stovik's medal. I feared Carrick
+was the king to whom I am to be married." Carter pursued the matter no
+further. To his regret he saw that they were fast approaching the
+entrance to the wood.
+
+Bending forward suddenly she looked athwart his horse into the shadows
+of bough and bush.
+
+"Did you see him?" she inquired breathlessly.
+
+"Whom? Where?" He pivoted about stupidly.
+
+"Johann, the messenger," she answered, "who should have been in
+Schallberg two hours ago. There, he's skulking behind that white oak.
+Johann!" she commanded imperiously. Seeing that concealment was no
+longer practicable, the fellow sulkily came from his hiding-place and
+stood, with sullen countenance, in the path beside them. "Find out what
+he is doing here, Major Carter."
+
+The messenger maintained a dogged silence to Carter's inquiries. Fearing
+that some treachery was at the root of the matter, the American finally
+asked whether the fellow had the despatches given him that morning. With
+an evil leer Johann looked up at this, breaking his silence.
+
+"Ja, Herr Major," he replied, "I have them all right, and your hush
+money, too." He jingled the coins in his pocket with insolent
+significance.
+
+"He's surely drunk, but what does he mean, Major?" asked Trusia in
+bewilderment.
+
+"I do not know, Highness," he replied tensely, "but if, as I suspect,
+some treason's afoot, I would suggest he be at once taken to the castle
+for a formal investigation."
+
+The man guffawed impudently. "You wouldn't dare," he said meaningly to
+Carter, "you wouldn't dare let Count Sobieska or Her Grace know what is
+in that letter."
+
+Indignant at the suggestion that his message had been read Carter
+retorted: "We shall see, my man, for to Count Sobieska you go at once."
+
+"All right," the peasant answered jauntily, with a satisfaction Carter
+thought was assumed, "if you are willing, I am. Come along," and with a
+leering wink he initiated the return castleward.
+
+
+
+
+XIV
+
+FOUND IN THE COURTYARD OF THE INN
+
+
+Through the thronged courtyard Johann was led directly to the office of
+the Minister of Private Intelligence. Not, however, before Josef had
+attempted to communicate with him. This privilege Carter denied.
+Nevertheless he was unable to prevent a covert exchange of triumphant
+glances between the Hereditary Servitor and the closely watched
+messenger. This argued that the two were in league. Josef followed,
+unbidden.
+
+As they entered his official sanctum, Sobieska looked up, and, as he
+arose, a genuine surprise passed, cloudlike, across his face. He
+appreciated at a glance that something unusual had occurred. He bowed
+Trusia to a seat, directing a well-defined look of inquiry toward
+Carter. The latter merely shrugged his shoulders, implying that it was
+not his affair.
+
+Sobieska consulted his watch, which lay on the table beside him, while
+he turned sternly to Johann. "Why aren't you in Schallberg?" he
+demanded; "you had despatches, as well as a cable to send for Major
+Carter."
+
+"I have that cable still, Excellency," he grunted.
+
+"What, you didn't transmit it?"
+
+"No," the man answered boldly. Seeing the volcanic wrath awakening
+behind the Minister's sleepy eyes, he hastened to explain.
+
+"I went to his room," he said, pointing fiercely at Carter, "he gave me
+a sealed envelope. After I had taken it he handed me a large sum of
+money--a fortune to a peasant. He told me to let no one see it but the
+telegraph operator at Schallberg."
+
+"That is true," said Carter. "It was a business transaction, a
+communication relating to my personal affairs."
+
+"I am an ignorant man," whimpered the messenger, stimulated by a mental
+contemplation of his supposed injuries, "but I was made the tool of that
+traitor--that spy." His eyes, red from excessive potations, glared with
+hatred as he pointed to Carter.
+
+"Be careful, sir," broke in indignant Trusia, "remember the gentleman is
+one of our Aides and bears a commission in the royal army. Would you
+taste the whip?"
+
+"Better that than the noose he planned for me," sulkily retorted the
+peasant.
+
+"You had better be precise," said Sobieska.
+
+"Well, if you will have it, I'll tell you," the man answered.
+Emboldened by an encouraging murmur from Josef he continued.
+
+Carter held up his hand. "Wait a moment," he exclaimed as he turned
+appealingly to Trusia. "Highness, this may be of greatest interest to
+some one not present when Johann, the messenger, was apprehended. It may
+also be of secret importance to Krovitch, to Your Highness. Is Josef
+necessary here? Surely he can offer neither testimony nor
+enlightenment."
+
+Though cautioned to stay within call, Josef was dismissed to his
+unrevealed disappointment.
+
+"Now, go ahead, Johann," commanded the Privy Counselor, when the sound
+of receding footsteps assured him that Josef was no longer in earshot.
+
+"I never had so much money at one time," continued the messenger,
+manifestly ill at ease since the departure of Josef. "I began to wonder
+why the stranger had given it to me for so simple a service. When the
+dumb man ponders overlong he seeks counsel. That was my case. My friend
+and I sat and talked of it and as we talked we drank.
+
+"My friend said that the reason for keeping it secret was the person to
+whom it was written. At first I laughed at him. It could mean nothing.
+He pushed the brandy toward me and laughed too. I supposed he thought
+the same. Then I began to turn it over in my head, and as it seemed
+possible it might mean something, I besought him how such a thing could
+be. He replied by asking to whom the letter was addressed. I said in a
+foreign language,--English I do not understand. He pondered and said it
+might be sent by a spy to the Russian police. He added that it might
+mean hanging for me; I was afraid it was so, then in my fright I drank
+more brandy. My head reeled, but I was less afraid. I laughed once more.
+I asked him what he would do. He requested to see the letter. I was
+angry. 'Fool,' he said, 'not to open it; just to see the address. That
+will tell. No one will know.' I gave it to him. He pushed the brandy to
+me as he puzzled over the odd letters. When I looked up from the bottle,
+he was staring at me, his eyes big and scared. 'It is as I thought,' he
+said, in a whisper one uses near the graveyard at night. I hardly knew
+what to do, Excellency, so I wandered in the forest. I fear I was drunk
+from the brandy. The rest Her Highness can tell you," and the man wiped
+the perspiration from his brow.
+
+"We found him skulking in the forest; not twenty minutes ago,"
+supplemented Trusia. "His actions were so mysterious and his speech so
+reprehensible that we brought him here."
+
+Carter, regarding the whole affair as a delusion--a bubble soon broken,
+brought the matter to an issue.
+
+"Don't you think," he suggested confidently, "that Johann should produce
+the incriminating document. I think it will turn out to be a certain
+message to one Henry Jarvis, Broker, William Street, New York." He came
+forward to stand beside Sobieska at the table, as Johann took out a
+bulky envelope from a dispatch box and placed it before the Minister.
+Trusia, too, had drawn near. The trio started involuntarily as they read
+the address of Russia's sub-minister of Secret Police in Warsaw staring
+them in the face. Trusia gasped and turned white. Sobieska walked to the
+door, closed it gently and returned to the table.
+
+"Who was your friendly counselor?" he demanded of Johann.
+
+"I dare not tell you," the fellow replied doggedly.
+
+"If I have to ask Posner at the inn, it will go hard with you, Johann."
+
+"He does not know; we did not drink at Posner's."
+
+"That is certainly a clever imitation of my writing," said Carter, who
+had been carefully studying the characters on the envelope. Sobieska
+looked up. "You do not believe me capable of communicating with your
+enemies!" He appealed to the girl, whose white face was staring at the
+oblong packet lying on the table.
+
+"I do not know what to believe," she said as she struggled to keep back
+the tears. "Open it, Sobieska." The latter complied and scanned the
+communication.
+
+"This," he said, looking up gravely, "purports to be a preliminary
+report of Calvert Carter and Todcaster Carrick to their immediate
+superior in the Imperial Secret Police at Warsaw. It contains a further
+promise of early developments and the coming of a King to Krovitch. It
+is signed 'Calvert Carter.'"
+
+Sobieska reached so suddenly forward to touch a call bell that Johann
+jumped. A gray-haired sergeant entered.
+
+"A corporal and file," was Sobieska's command. Carter straightened
+himself haughtily. Were they going to arrest him for this forgery?
+
+"Count Sobieska," he began indignantly, while Johann's dull eyes
+brightened.
+
+"Wait, please," was the Minister's only comment.
+
+Carter turned to Her Grace to remonstrate against such an indignity, but
+her head was turned from him. There were footsteps, rhythmic, orderly,
+at the door. It opened to admit the corporal and his men. Vividly it
+recalled to Carter another such scene when he was a judge and----
+
+"Put Johann under arrest," came the curt interruption to his thoughts
+from the lips of Sobieska. "If you permit any one to communicate with
+him, it will mean a court martial for all of you," said the Minister.
+
+The sudden and unexpected reversal of the preconceived program was too
+much for the messenger, as, cursing and struggling, he was hustled
+toward the door. As the heavy oak panel swung to upon the prisoner, he
+muttered something which caught the waiting ear of Sobieska, who glanced
+toward his princess to see if she had heard. Satisfied that she had not,
+he swept a triumphant look at Carter, who was dumbfounded at the turn
+affairs had taken. The American stretched out his hand to the Krovitzer.
+
+"Paul Zulka's friends are to be trusted," said Sobieska. "You have
+already made a personally vindictive enemy," he continued; "have you any
+idea who it is?" The indolent wink accompanying the inquiry cautioned
+Carter not to name any one if he had.
+
+"I have," replied Calvert, who had understood the signal.
+
+"Don't name him then, at present," requested the Minister.
+
+"Why not?" queried an indignant Trusia, "as Major Carter is innocent,
+this wretch must be punished at once."
+
+"Your Highness," respectfully counseled the Privy Counselor, "Major
+Carter has been in our country too short a time even to be sure of his
+friends, much less of his enemies. His surmises, therefore, might be
+unwarranted, and might put a perfectly innocent person under suspicion.
+Be assured," he asserted vehemently, "I will thoroughly sift out this
+matter in my official capacity. Whether it confirms his premonitions or
+not, you will learn in due time. I am inclined to believe that Johann
+was intended to fall into your hands, but with a different intent.
+Either that or the message was meant for Russia, the risk to be
+shouldered upon Carter. May I employ Josef," he requested blandly, "as a
+messenger to Colonel Sutphen?"
+
+"Certainly," she replied, and the old fellow was sent for.
+
+There was neither tremor nor twitch on his impassive countenance as he
+responded to the summons, although he must have missed Johann and knew
+not what had transpired.
+
+"You are to take this note to Colonel Sutphen at once," said Sobieska
+curtly. "At once," he reiterated with emphasis, "don't even wait for a
+hat. Your trip and return will be timed," he was fairly warned. "It is
+of the utmost importance," the Minister remarked impressively as he
+handed the retainer a hastily scrawled but securely sealed note. Josef
+might have been carrying the order for his own execution, for all he
+knew, but he did not permit any outward sign of trepidation to show in
+his face. With commendable alacrity he left the room on his mission,
+watched by Sobieska in the doorway. Returning, with hardly concealed
+impatience, the Minister begged of Her Grace to be excused for the time
+being and requested the assistance of Carter.
+
+"Yes, Sobieska, go," she said. "I am as anxious as you can be to reach
+the bottom of this mystery. Somehow, I cannot help feeling that there is
+something inimical to my country in it all."
+
+"Pray God that it is not so," said the Minister as he bowed her from the
+office. No sooner was she gone than the two men faced each other, the
+same thought in their minds, the same name on their lips.
+
+"Josef," they said in the same breath.
+
+"There's not a minute to lose," continued the Minister. "That is why I
+trumped up that message to get him out of the way. We must search his
+room immediately, before he has a chance to forestall us. Come," he
+said, grasping Carter's arm.
+
+Together they mounted stairways, plunged down passages, grim and shadow
+infested, until the Servitor's room was reached. The barrenness of the
+place seemed to be sufficient guarantee for the honesty of its usual
+occupant. A table without a drawer, no closet and some burned-out logs
+in the large fireplace afforded but scant hiding places. Sobieska
+carefully tapped each board separately to ascertain if a secret
+receptacle had been formed in such a fashion, but the floor was
+perfectly solid. He tried the flagging of the hearth as well as the
+brick arch of the fireplace with no more success. He was about to
+acknowledge failure when Carter accidentally turned over one of the
+charred logs lying at his feet. An exclamation burst from the Minister's
+lips.
+
+Minute and scattered fragments of paper, saved from the blaze by the
+bulk of the log above them, lay scattered on the hearth. These Sobieska
+pounced upon eagerly.
+
+Further search bore no fuller fruit, so with their meagre harvest the
+pair descended to the office again. Here the Krovitzer, piecing the
+fragments together, and pasting them on a sheet of paper, laid them
+before Carter.
+
+"There," said the Minister, "are the experiments in your handwriting.
+Now wait until he comes back."
+
+"But how did he get a copy?" queried the puzzled American.
+
+"Easy enough," replied Sobieska. "He kept those papers he took from you
+in the cell yesterday. Your passport furnished your signature. He's a
+clever rascal. Substituted the forgery for the other letter, while
+Johann drank. Either that or they're in league together, which I am not
+prepared to believe, yet. In any event we must get a new messenger."
+
+"Tell me," said the curious Carter, "how came you to suspect Josef, as
+you read the letter Johann had with him?"
+
+Sobieska smiled indulgently. "A man of your varied metropolitan
+experience would scarcely write a letter as he would a thesis for a
+University degree. Whoever wrote that epistle had doubtless a work of
+rhetoric at his elbow, fearful of mistakes. Look at it yourself," and he
+pushed the paper over to Carter. It was, indeed, a studied composition
+of good proportions and well rounded sentences.
+
+"I have heard you talk," continued his instructor, "and I felt satisfied
+that Major Carter, if a spy, would hardly have wasted his efforts in
+such a prim presentation of his facts." He glanced at his watch. "He
+would have doubtless used cipher. Josef is due in just one minute now.
+There he comes," he said, as there was a low rap at the door. "Come in."
+
+Punctuality outdone, Josef entered and handed Sobieska a note. Without
+even glancing at it, the latter tossed it on the table. Picking up the
+sheet on which were the pasted fragments, he handed it to the Servitor,
+watching him closely with narrowing eyes. Without a tremor the paper was
+received, examined, read, and handed back to Sobieska with a smile.
+
+"Well, Excellency?"
+
+"Ever see that before, Josef?"
+
+"I think so, Excellency. Did you find them in my room?" he inquired with
+quiet effrontery.
+
+"They were found there. I found them," replied Sobieska coolly, not yet
+despairing of breaking down the impassive wall with which Josef had
+surrounded his thoughts.
+
+"Then I have seen them before," the Servitor answered as though
+courteously acknowledging an irrefutable logic. "I took them there to
+interpret them," he said as if willing to make an explanation though not
+admitting any necessity. "I found them beneath a certain window last
+night--in the courtyard of the inn," he concluded with a significant
+glance at Carter. Then boldly his eyes challenged both men.
+
+"It's a lie," said Carter contemptuously. Josef smiled.
+
+"Your word--the word of a stranger--against mine," he sneered. "Shall I
+appeal to Her Highness?"
+
+"Her Highness knows everything," hazarded Sobieska. "From Johann," he
+added deliberately.
+
+There was a start, if you call the slightest flicker of the eyelids
+such--to show that the shot had told; then Josef, calm as before,
+inquired,
+
+"Then of what interest can these scraps of paper be?"
+
+"Be careful, Josef," interrupted Carter, whose anger had not yet been
+appeased, "that you do not pick up something deadly--in the courtyard of
+the inn, something like a revolver bullet."
+
+The fellow bowed mockingly to the last speaker, then turning to Sobieska
+said, "May I go, Excellency?" Sobieska nodded assent.
+
+"Wait," said Carter, and Josef paused.
+
+"You say you found these papers--in the courtyard of the inn," said
+Carter endeavoring to connect the man with the mishap to the auto, "any
+place near the carriage shed?"
+
+The Servitor smiled and assumed a non-committal aloofness.
+
+"Why," he asked as, turning, he left the room.
+
+Following a short talk with the Minister of Private Intelligence, Carter
+took his departure, and, as he rode thoughtfully back to the inn, he was
+startled to see a distraught Carrick arise from a stone by the highway.
+
+"Why, Carrick," he cried with a premonitive feeling of some new evil,
+"what brings you here?"
+
+"Been huntin' for you for nearly three hours, sir. I could not bide
+there, sir, till I 'ad seen you."
+
+Carter, dismounting, took the bridle rein over his arm and walked
+alongside the Cockney, who in detail recited the story of a meeting of
+Josef and Johann in the wood, which, unseen by them, he had watched, and
+which in every detail corroborated the recital of Johann and the
+surmises of Sobieska.
+
+"What do you think of it, sir?" he concluded.
+
+Carter shook his head gravely.
+
+"I can't say, Carrick. Keep your eyes and ears open, but do not say a
+word to any one but me of this or anything else you happen to notice
+about Josef. There's some game going on that I have not fathomed yet.
+
+"Tod Carrick," he continued in a burst of affectionate consideration,
+"you're a good faithful soul. Here's my hand. I do not believe you have
+had a mouthful to eat to-day. Now, have you?"
+
+The Cockney smiled.
+
+"I forgot, sir," he answered almost shyly, elated with the words of
+approval he had won.
+
+
+
+
+XV
+
+THE DREAM KISS
+
+
+The next day in solemn conclave the Counselors decided that the time had
+come to bring the King to Krovitch.
+
+"All is ready," said the grizzled Sutphen, "to inaugurate his reign with
+the fall of Schallberg."
+
+"You must come too," said Trusia to Carter, "as a member of my
+household." The question of expedients was debated. Suspicion might be
+awakened should such a large party travel together. It was decided that
+Carter and Sobieska should proceed to Vienna; Muhlen-Sarkey and Trusia
+with their two attendants were to cross into Germany at the nearest
+point, thence travel by rail, while Josef and the rest should embark
+boldly from Schallberg.
+
+Carrick was much depressed at learning he was to be left behind, but
+extracted some consolation from the fact that he was to be detailed to
+attend Count Zulka for whom he had always shown a preference.
+
+"The rendezvous is Paris,--Boulevard St. Michel, second house on the
+left from St. Germain. The time, two days hence, at six o'clock in the
+evening. That will allow the necessary time for unforeseen hitches,"
+said Sobieska, to which all quietly assented.
+
+Speeded by the entire court coterie, Sobieska and Carter mounted and
+clattered out of the courtyard, and by ways through the forest, which
+the Minister of Private Intelligence had learned in a score of hunting
+trips, the pair, evading the vigilance of Russian sentries, reached the
+Vistula. They were ferried across by a loyal peasant and landed on
+Austrian soil without hostile interruption.
+
+While the journey from Vienna to Paris was destined to be without
+particular incident, it furnished the opportunity for a fuller
+acquaintance and understanding between Carter and Sobieska.
+
+"I have wanted to have a fuller talk with you anent Josef," said
+Sobieska when their conversation had reached the confidential stage. "It
+was manifestly impossible at the castle. I was afraid of eavesdroppers.
+It may be one of those unreasonable prejudices, but, aside from the
+fellow's social inferiority, I cannot help feeling that his is a
+sinister influence in Krovitch."
+
+"I thought his allegiance held him to the side of his exiled master. Has
+he been in Krovitch all his life?"
+
+"Although familiar to the older nobles during the lifetime of King Marc,
+the grandfather of his present Majesty, Josef reappeared last autumn
+after an absence of several years. He immediately requested the hand of
+Lady Trusia in marriage for His Majesty." Here Sobieska glanced covertly
+at Carter to see the effect of this disclosure. The American's face,
+however, was as stoical as an Indian's. "He produced the historic
+documents of Stovik's right to the crown--the traditional proof of
+embassy. He preached a war on Russia and the rehabilitation of Krovitch.
+Our people were aroused. For our country's sake, our lady yielded.
+Messages were sent to all parts of the world to the patriots, who, in
+large numbers, have been returning to their fatherland. Russia, asleep,
+or lulled into a false sense of security, has made no move to indicate
+that she is aware of a plot, yet you heard rumors a year ago that at
+least matters were in a ferment here. It is strange, strange," he said
+musingly.
+
+Then, marveling at his own irrelevance, Carter told Sobieska for the
+first time of Carrick's confirmation of their suspicions that Josef was
+party to the plot of the substituted letter in the forest. "He knew the
+name and address of Russia's chief spy in Warsaw. How could he, a
+retainer--a loyal servant of an exiled monarch, know these things? Pitch
+defiles."
+
+With a laugh which dismissed the subject, Sobieska turned to Carter.
+"It seems to me," he said, "we're allowing an absent servant to
+monopolize considerable of our conversation. Let's talk of something
+else."
+
+"Have you any conception of His Majesty's, the King's, personality?"
+asked Carter.
+
+"We were shown a photograph by Josef. Certainly a handsome fellow. An
+artist." This with the faintest shade of contempt that the man of action
+always holds for the artist, the poet or the dreamer. "I may be deceived
+in him, God grant I am, but the face is the face of a sensualist, not of
+a leader of men. What we need now for the throne is an inveterate hater
+of Russia. We have good leaders, now. We don't want a king who cannot
+understand and, consequently, may spoil our best plans."
+
+"Wouldn't he be controlled?"
+
+"You mean by his wife, by Trusia? He may, if she takes his fancy. If
+not, he may lose interest, and fall under other control."
+
+"You mean Josef's?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"It seems complications are likely to arise."
+
+"It is not too late for you to draw out," replied Sobieska coldly.
+
+"I am no quitter." Carter's jaws set grim and hard. Then catching an
+elusive humor in the fact that, even as one who might become unfriendly
+to him, he should have to accompany this man to Paris, he smiled. So did
+Sobieska and a cordial understanding was reestablished.
+
+Paris was reached. Familiar as New York to Carter, he had no difficulty
+in guiding his companion directly to the rendezvous near the Quai
+D'Orsay.
+
+Although their friends were not yet arrived, they found a corps of
+servants had already arranged the house for their reception. As Sobieska
+was known to the majestic butler, the travelers had no difficulty in
+immediately establishing themselves in the quarters intended for them.
+
+As night drew on, the others came trooping in, ready to do justice to
+anything eatable the chef could purvey.
+
+"We had an unexpected rencontre just as we alighted from the train,"
+said Trusia. She leaned forward from her place at the table to speak to
+Count Sobieska. In doing so, her eyes met Carter's. They were filled
+with a gentle regard--a more than friendliness.
+
+"With whom?" asked her Minister of Private Intelligence anxiously, for
+this city was the centre of international intrigue and espionage.
+
+"You remember General Vladimar, the former Russian commandant at
+Schallberg? It was he. He was very cordial; as cordial as a dangerous
+Russian always is."
+
+Sobieska, in assenting, drew in his breath with a sibilant sound through
+pursed lips.
+
+"I have every reason to believe he has been transferred to the White
+Police," he commented gravely, as he turned his listless glance toward
+the girl. "Any one with him--did he give any inkling that he suspected
+anything?"
+
+"He must suspect something," said Trusia, "he was so very, very
+pleasant. It is impossible for him to know anything, though." She turned
+her fine eyes again to her Minister. "There was a man with him. He
+presented him as Herr Casper Haupt, who the General said was connected
+with the Russian Consulate here. He did not say in what capacity."
+
+Sobieska aimlessly turned and returned a fork lying before him.
+
+"No?" he inquired listlessly; then he repeated the question more
+indifferently, "No?" He permitted a distant shadow of a smile to cross
+his face as he looked up. "He didn't tell you, for instance, that Herr
+Casper Haupt is the Chief of Imperial Secret Police for the district
+embracing Poland, Krovitch, Austria and France; a very important
+personage? What did Vladimar have to say?"
+
+"When I told him I was on a shopping tour, he looked the usual masculine
+horror and gave the usual masculine prayer for deliverance. He jokingly
+suggested that I was going to purchase a trousseau." Her cheeks took a
+faint color from her remark. "When he saw my suite--though he didn't
+think I noticed it--his face stiffened a trifle and his tone was a
+trifle less cordial. He remarked dryly we must be shopping for an army.
+He became very anxious to learn my stopping-place that he might call, as
+an old neighbor. I told him that I had determined, as yet, neither where
+I would stay permanently, nor how long I would be in Paris, and he had
+to be content with that."
+
+Sobieska nodded his approval and laid down his fork.
+
+"Such neighbors become more dangerous the older they grow. We will have
+to keep a lookout for General Alexis Vladimar. He suspects something."
+
+"He made no attempt to follow us," replied Trusia. "I watched. He
+appeared to have forgotten our existence."
+
+"He is a clever man, that Vladimar," said Sobieska grudgingly. "He has
+not forgotten. Perhaps he is so sure of finding you when he wants to
+that he is not giving himself any trouble. Fortunately we leave
+to-morrow morning and will give him the slip, for all his cleverness."
+
+Trusia now turned to Carter, and with fine free friendliness asked him
+of his journey and if it had seemed long.
+
+"Yes, it did," he admitted, but he did not say it was because it took
+him from her.
+
+"Now, isn't that odd," she laughed, "a journey home seems always the
+longest to me; no train can get me there quickly enough," she added with
+an extra note of tender patriotism.
+
+When dinner was spread, Trusia seemed pale and depressed as though the
+anticipated meeting with her unknown fiance was not fraught with joy.
+Rallying herself, however, she was soon as much a centre of attraction
+as a sparkling fountain in a park is to feathered citizens on a sultry
+summer day.
+
+The wine of Krovitch, unfamiliar to Carter, was quite heady. He felt it
+coursing through his arteries while his heart beat stronger. In its
+convivial influence he turned to the jovial Muhlen-Sarkey and touched
+glasses.
+
+"A short life and a merry one," he said.
+
+"A strong blade and a noble one," replied the elderly noble with
+unexpected martial ardor. The incident had not escaped the notice of
+Trusia. She arose, glass held high above her head.
+
+"Gentlemen," she cried, "the King of Krovitch!"
+
+"The King! The King!" came the ready response. Each toaster crashed his
+glass in token that no less worthy sentiments should ever be drunk from
+it. When the loyal cries had faded into a ghostly silence, the tall,
+pale girl spoke again.
+
+"This night, my lords and gentlemen, you go, after two centuries, to
+call him back unto his own. As you kneel before him, you will hold your
+sword hilts to his hand in token that at his call, alone, they'll be
+drawn. Remember, this man is your king, whatever the state in which you
+find him. Reverence must be shown as though upon his ancestral throne.
+In full regalia, then, you must present yourselves.
+
+"He may be in rags, but purple never made a king. He may be alone, but
+royal birth gave him dominion over millions. He may be poor in purse,
+but is rich in your--in Krovitch's devotion. You must bring him here
+to-night, guarded with your naked breasts if need be. God save His
+Majesty!"
+
+When, resplendent in their uniforms, glittering with noble orders, the
+party reappeared before Her Grace, her face was still pale and her eyes
+shone from startled depths. Each man kissed her hand and, leaving,
+received her whispered--"Godspeed." Carter was last.
+
+With his hand upon the knob, he felt that the closing of that door was
+like sealing the death warrant of his hopes. He was going to find a
+husband among strangers for the girl he loved. Obeying an irresistible
+impulse he looked back.
+
+Trusia was standing by the table in the middle of the room. Her left
+hand leaned on its edge, supporting a weariness shown in the relaxed
+lines of her figure. Her lips were parted as if in pain, while her eyes
+seemed searching for Carter as he met her gaze. The others had already
+passed from the hall. With a bound he was before her, kneeling, his
+face, turned upward to hers, pleading the love he dared not speak.
+
+Whether he imagined what he wished the most, or whether she, bending,
+actually touched her lips to his, he could not have said, but satisfied
+that she loved him, he arose and staggered blindly from the room.
+
+
+
+
+XVI
+
+YOU ARE THE KING OF KROVITCH
+
+
+At about the same time the Krovitzers were leaving the house on the
+Boulevard S. Michel, one of those little comedies from real life was
+being enacted in the attic studio of Eugene Delmotte. Its finale was to
+be influenced considerably by their actions. The artist was to be
+transported by them from Hadean depths of despair to Olympian heights of
+rejoicing.
+
+His disordered locks, beret upon the floor, red tie askew, if not his
+tragic, rolling eyes and clenched fists, would have apprised Mlle. Marie
+that all was not as it should be with M. Delmotte. With full
+appreciation of the effectiveness of the gesture, the artist threw
+himself into a large chair before an unfinished canvas of heroic
+dimensions. He buried his face in his hands. He groaned. This was too
+much for Marie. She approached. Laying a hesitating hand upon his
+shoulder, she looked down with real concern at the bowed, curly head.
+
+"And Pere Caros will not wait for the rent?" she queried.
+
+"No, curse him," came from between the locked fingers.
+
+"But 'Gene," persisted the girl as though puzzled, "I thought that
+Harjes, the banker, always paid you an income."
+
+"So he did until to-day. I went there, to be told that, to their regret,
+my unknown benefactor had not sent them the usual monthly remittance.
+They regretted also that their foolish rules prevented them advancing me
+as much as a sou. No reasons given, no names disclosed. I haven't a
+centime. Not a canvas can I sell. I've fasted since yesterday morning."
+
+"Why, 'Gene?" she inquired innocently. Her mind was occupied with the
+puzzle of the income which, womanlike, engrossed her entire curiosity.
+
+"Huh," he sniffed bitterly, "because I had to. I haven't even paints
+with which to complete my masterpiece."
+
+He turned, the personification of despair, to regard the painting
+against the wall.
+
+"Have you no clues as to the source of the income?" she asked, her mind
+clinging tenaciously to that unsettled question. "Have you no relatives?
+No one you could ask to assist you?"
+
+"Only slight memories dating back to early childhood--the remembrance of
+a servant's face. Here is the tale, Marie. A thousand times I have gone
+over it to myself, only to be disappointed at its meagreness. My parents
+must have died when I was too young to have remembered them, judging
+from what this attendant seems to have told me. I have that impression
+resisting all arguments. My recollections all centre about a gray-haired
+man of the confidential-servant class. He was my companion and humored
+my every whim. By and by, though, he left me. I was taken charge of by a
+charwoman, and only once visited by my infancy's mentor. My new guardian
+was authority for the statement that, though not appearing wealthy, this
+M. Petros, as she called him, was always able to obtain money as needed
+from M. Harjes. There is nothing more to add."
+
+"Clearly, M. Petros then knew something about the source of your
+income," said Marie.
+
+"Agreed, sweet creature, but since I do not have the slightest idea
+where he is, I can't see how that will help me. I don't even know his
+full name."
+
+"Cheer up, 'Gene, you will yet see that picture hang."
+
+"More likely to hang myself," he said with a return of awful gloom.
+
+"But the great M. Lourney praised the conception, the breadth, of this,
+your last picture," the girl said, as her hand pushed lightly through
+the shock of curls on the man's head.
+
+"Yes, it is good," he said responsively, both to the hope she inspired
+and the caress she bestowed. That girl understood men. "Krovitch the
+Bulwark," he continued. "They were a great people, Marie. Their history,
+unfamiliar to most, has always interested me strangely." His eyes were
+illumined with enthusiasm as he raised an index arm toward the canvas.
+"See those vigorous fellows, each a hero. A single nation flinging back
+from Europe the invasion of the infidel. A heroic subject for a
+painting, eh, girlie?" He smiled up in her face, his troubles for the
+nonce forgotten. Get a man talking about his abilities to achieve and
+you can dispel the darkest gloom from his brow. It was high time to
+bring him back to earth again, but she knew how. He had had just
+sufficient gratulation to take the edge off pretended or real misery.
+
+"It is, 'Gene, but it will not pay the rent. Listen." The timid flush
+mounted to her cheek as she made the suggestion, "Go to the
+pawnbroker's. Take these trinkets of mine. Beg him to loan you
+sufficient for your rent. Now, don't refuse. You may redeem them when
+you can. Besides, you gave them to me." She looked down with
+affectionate regret at the bracelets, the bangles, the rings, which use
+and the donor had made dear to her.
+
+Being weak, he hesitated. His need was great. Then kissing the girl
+lightly, he took them and strode from the room.
+
+"Come right back, 'Gene," she called, happy as only a woman can be in a
+sacrifice.
+
+During his absence, from her own scanty store of edibles across the
+hall, she prepared a meal for him. Absorbed in this occupation she gave
+little heed to the steady tramp of feet ascending the staircase. A
+peremptory knock recalled her from her world of happy thoughts.
+
+"_Entrez_," she added, thinking it was one of 'Gene's jokes.
+
+The door opened. Into the room trooped a throng of men, resplendent in
+black and gold, silver and gray. Her eyes opened in astonishment; so did
+theirs. Her lips, parted to speak, could only gasp; so could theirs. The
+surprise was apparently mutual. With true Parisian humor she laughed
+heartily at the paralysis, and speech was thawed. Colonel Sutphen stood
+forward and bowed courteously.
+
+"Your pardon, mademoiselle. We were informed that a young man, Eugene
+Delmotte, resided here. Pardon our mistake, accept our most humble
+apology and permit us to depart." He moved toward the door as a signal
+for a general exodus.
+
+"But 'Gene--but M. Delmotte does live here," she cried, in apprehension
+of the departure of these lordly and apparently affluent strangers who
+might aid poor 'Gene. The elderly gentleman stopped on hearing this. He
+regarded her with more chilling politeness.
+
+"And you," he asked, "are Mme. Delmotte?"
+
+"Oh, no, monsieur," she replied simply.
+
+"His--his companion?" The Colonel flushed at his own audacity. The girl
+smiled forgivingly, though a little wanly.
+
+"Oh, no, monsieur. I am only his friend and occasional model. He is in
+trouble, messieurs. I came to cheer him up. I live across the hall."
+
+Colonel Sutphen, scanning the far end of the room, failed to find the
+object of his inquiry. The girl came forward with an explanation as the
+elderly noble turned a questioning face toward hers.
+
+"He has gone out, monsieur," she said. "He will soon return. He is in
+debt." She hung her head in distress. Colonel Sutphen turned to Josef in
+surprise. The latter whispered something in his ear, which apparently
+satisfied him. The girl closely watched this little by-play.
+
+"Oh, then you know about him, messieurs?" she said. "You will help him?
+You are his friends?" She was happy for her neighbor.
+
+"Only a few of a great many thousands," replied Sutphen ponderously.
+"Tell me, mademoiselle, have you any--er--er claims upon M. Delmotte?
+Are you betrothed? Any claims of er--er sentiment?"
+
+The girl's eyelids dropped as she answered,
+
+"Not that he is aware of, monsieur." Then her eyes blazed at the sudden
+realization of the indignity put upon her. "Who are you, though, and by
+what right do you question me? He is an artist and I--I am a friend.
+That is all, monsieur."
+
+She had little spirit, after all, for a contest; but a door in her heart
+had been opened, a door that a girl generally keeps closed to mankind,
+and she naturally resented the intrusion. Look, too, where she would she
+could not escape the eyes of encircling masculinity.
+
+Carter, appreciating her embarrassment and feeling an American
+gentleman's compassion for her predicament, undertook a divertisement.
+
+"Fine picture, that," he said, loud enough to be heard by the others.
+"Those chaps are wearing the Krovitch Lion, too. Coincidence, isn't it?"
+Involuntary curiosity called all eyes toward the painting. The effect
+was magical. Astonishment showed in every Krovitch face. They, one and
+all, uncovered their heads as they recognized in the subject the
+unconscious expression of their sovereign's patriotism.
+
+"Is that the work of M. Delmotte?" inquired the Colonel with voice
+softened by what he had just seen.
+
+The girl nodded; she was proud of her friend's ability to move these
+strangers to reverence.
+
+"Gentlemen--an omen," said the grizzled veteran, pointing to the
+picture. "History repeats itself."
+
+"Mademoiselle," Carter said gently under cover of the general buzz of
+excited comment aroused by the picture, "mademoiselle, M. Delmotte is
+destined to a high place among the great men of the world. While to some
+is given the power to portray famous events, to a very few indeed it is
+given to create such epochs. Such men are necessarily set apart from
+their fellows. Despite the promptings of their hearts, they must forego
+many friendships which would otherwise be dear to them. M. Delmotte is
+both fortunate and unfortunate in this." As with careful solicitude for
+her feelings he strove to prepare her for the separation from the
+artist, the girl's color came and went fitfully as gradually the truth
+began to dawn upon her.
+
+"I think I understand, monsieur," she said, grateful for his
+consideration. Then she continued slowly, deliberately, letting the acid
+truth of each word eat out the joy in her heart, "You mean that M.
+Delmotte must no longer know Marie, the model."
+
+The Colonel, who had approached, had overheard this last thing spoken.
+
+"It is possible," the latter hinted, "that he might desire to spare you
+the pain of leave taking, as he goes with us from Paris--from your
+world."
+
+"Oh, monsieur," she turned appealingly to Carter, her eyes wide in their
+efforts to restrain their tears, "is this true?"
+
+Carter nodded his head gravely. Sutphen pressed a fat, black wallet upon
+her, which she declined gently.
+
+"As a gift," he insisted.
+
+"Oh, monsieur," she cried reproachfully, and with averted face fled from
+the room.
+
+Sheepishly guilty in feeling as only men can be, the party in the studio
+awaited expected developments. In a few minutes they heard the approach
+of a man's footsteps upon the stairs. All eyes turned curiously toward
+the doorway. Nearer came the sounds, nearer, while with increasing
+volume their hearts beat responsively. The steps stopped. The waiting
+hearts seemed to stand still in sympathy. Then the door opened.
+
+"It is he," whispered Josef. All heads uncovered and each man bowed low.
+Delmotte stood petrified with astonishment.
+
+"Messieurs," he said at last, recovering his speech, "messieurs, I am
+honored." Then as his eyes lighted on Josef, they sparkled with
+unexpected recognition. "You are Petros," he said, puzzled by the
+brilliant throng surrounding him.
+
+"Josef Petros Zolsky, Your Majesty. I am your childhood's retainer and
+hereditary servitor. Yes, I am he you call Petros," and the white head
+bowed low as a gratified light kindled in the crafty eyes.
+
+"Majesty! What the devil--am I crazy? I am not drunk," he added
+regretfully.
+
+"Sire," stammered Colonel Sutphen, "sire, you are the King of Krovitch."
+
+"The devil I am," came the prompt response. Nevertheless the artist
+threw an affectionate glance at the painting as one might in saying,
+"You were my people." The piquancy of the situation caused him to smile.
+"Gentlemen," he said, "if this is some hoax, believe me it is in very
+poor taste. Taste? Yes, for I haven't eaten in two days. What's your
+game? I've just come from a pawnbroker's, where I had gone with the
+paltry jewels of a model, to try and secure enough to pay my rent. You
+offer me a crown. Corduroys and blouse," he pointed to his garb, "you
+tempt me with visions of ermine. A throne to replace my stool, and pages
+of history are given for my future canvases. I am starving, gentlemen,"
+he said half turning away suffused in his own self-pity, "do not trifle
+with me." He appealed to Josef. "Is this true--what they say,
+Josef-Petros, or whatever your name is?"
+
+"It is true, Your Majesty."
+
+"A King! A King!" exclaimed the astonished artist. "But still a King
+without a kingdom--a table without meat. A mockery of greatness after
+all. Why do you come to tell me this?" he cried turning fiercely on
+them. "Was I too contented as I was? It is not good to taunt a hungry
+man. To tell me that I am a crownless King without six feet of land to
+call my realm, is but to mock me."
+
+"The remedy is at hand, Your Majesty," Sutphen asserted confidently.
+"Eighty thousand men await your coming, all trained soldiers. We will
+raise the battle cry of Krovitch and at Schallberg crown you and your
+Queen."
+
+"My Queen," almost shouted the astonished Delmotte, "have I a Queen,
+too? Are you all crazy, or am I? Pray heaven the Queen is none other
+than Marie, else I'll have no supper to-night. Who is my queen?" He
+asked as he saw the expression of disapproval which appeared on more
+than one face present.
+
+"The noblest woman under heaven, sire," said Sutphen reverently. "One
+who well could have claimed the crown herself. She wished a man to lead
+her people in the bitter strife and waived her claims for you. It is
+therefore but meet that she who has wrought all this for you should
+share your throne."
+
+"Why was I chosen?"
+
+"You are descended from Stovik--she from Augustus, the last King of
+Krovitch, Stovik's rival." So step by step they disclosed their plans,
+their hopes and ambitions to the dazzled Parisian. Finally, his mind was
+surfeited with the tale of this country which was claiming him; he
+turned and, with sweeping gesture, indicated those present.
+
+"And you?" he asked. "And these? I know your rightful name as little as
+I am sure of my own."
+
+"Your Majesty's rightful name is Stovik Fourth." Then Sutphen presented
+each in turn. Carter came last. The eyes of these two, so near an age,
+instinctively sought out the other and recognized him as a possible
+rival. Probably the first there to do so, Carter admitted that this
+so-called heir to a throne was nothing but an ordinary habitue of cafe
+and boulevard; a jest-loving animal, with possibly talents, but no great
+genius.
+
+The artist, with an assertion of his novel dominance, arose. "I am
+ready, gentlemen," he said. "My baggage is on my back. I understand that
+the rendezvous is on the Boulevard S. Michel. Proceed."
+
+Without one backward glance or thought he passed from the attic home,
+his foot in fancy already mounting his throne. Marie was forgotten in
+the dream of a royal crown and visions of a distant kingdom.
+
+
+
+
+XVII
+
+AT THE HOTEL DES S. CROIX
+
+
+Some distance back from its fellows on the Boulevard S. Michel, not far
+from its intersection with S. Germain, stands the one-time palace of the
+Ducs des S. Croix.
+
+Time, the leveler, seemed to have no more effect upon the princely pile
+than to increase its hauteur with each passing year. Its every stone
+breathed the dominant spirit of its founders, until at last it stood for
+all that was patrician, exclusive and unapproachable.
+
+Its eight-foot iron fence, wrought in many an intricate design, formed a
+corroding barrier to the over-curious, while its spiked top challenged
+the foolish scaler. A clanging gate opened rebelliously to the paved way
+which led unto the wide balustraded steps. The windows, each with its
+projecting balcony, seemed thrusting back all cordial advances. Along
+that side toward the Quai D'Orsay, a cloistered porch joined the terrace
+from the steps to rear its carven roof beneath the windows of the upper
+floors. Each rigid pillar was lifted like a lance of prohibition. The
+walls of either neighbor, unbroken, windowless and blank, were flanking
+ramparts of its secrecy.
+
+The casual pedestrian, after dusk, was tempted to tiptoe lightly across
+the palace front, so pervasive was its air of mystery. No more fitting
+place could be found for plots of deposed monarchies and uncrowned
+kings. The last S. Croix, impoverished in the mutations of generations,
+reluctantly, half savagely, had swallowed his pride a few years
+previously and had consented to rent his ancestral halls. The ideal
+locality and its immunity from the over-curious had appealed to one who,
+gladly paying the first price asked, had held the place against the day
+of need. The lease was in the name of Josef Zorsky, none other than the
+Hereditary Servitor.
+
+Behind the mask of night, the new-found king, with his gentlemen, was
+driven to the Hotel des S. Croix, where three ordinary Parisian
+_fiacres_ discharged the royal party who had come directly from the
+attic studio. His Majesty was the last to alight. Taking Colonel
+Sutphen's proffered arm, he proceeded toward the entrance, followed by
+his suite. The place was dark and grim, no light came through the
+heavily curtained windows and only by a gleam through the transom above
+the door could the closest observer have discovered that it was
+inhabited.
+
+A single wayfarer--the neighborhood boasted but few pedestrians after
+dark--was approaching. As he drew nearer the group about the King he
+slackened his pace. Probably actuated by some slight natural curiosity
+aroused by the unaccustomed sight of many men alighting from cabs before
+a mansion traditionally, and apparently, empty, he could be excused for
+gazing inquiringly at each of the party in turn. Accident may have made
+Josef the last to be noticed, but to Carter's watchful eyes it seemed
+that some lightning recognition passed between the two. Certainly he saw
+Josef extend two fingers and as rapidly withdraw them. The passer-by
+acknowledged the signal, if such it was, by the slightest of smiles and
+passed on toward the Quai D'Orsay. Carter mentally determined to speak
+to Sobieska at the first opportunity and regretted that his duties to
+His Majesty for the present prohibited the consultation.
+
+A species of stage-fright, seizing upon the King, sent a quiver through
+his limbs, causing his knees to quake, his hands to tremble.
+
+"Who will be here?" he asked in a tone he strove desperately to hold
+natural and easy. He had already received this information, but speech
+seemed a refuge from his trepidation. If Sutphen had noticed how his
+king's voice quavered he was too loyal a subject to comment. With the
+patience of iteration he answered his sovereign.
+
+"The Duchess of Schallberg, the Countess Muhlen-Sarkey, together with
+the remaining gentlemen of the household, are all anxiously waiting to
+welcome Your Majesty."
+
+In response to a signal from Sutphen, the doors were flung wide to admit
+His Majesty, Stovik Fourth, King of Krovitch. An hundred electric
+lights, doubled and trebled a score of times by pendant crystals and
+glistening sconces, greeted the eyes of the man who a few short hours
+before had been a struggling artist.
+
+Half blinded by the brilliance, he hesitated, his foot already upon a
+way strange to him. He realized numbly how symbolic of his future that
+present moment might be. New conditions arose suddenly to confront him,
+only to find him halting, incompetent. He took a step forward. In his
+embarrassment his foot caught beneath a rug's edge. Calvert Carter's
+hand, alone, kept the king from sprawling frog-wise on the polished
+floor. A sudden pallor at the untimely accident came to the face of
+Sutphen.
+
+"What is it?" Carter whisperingly inquired of the veteran.
+
+"A bad omen, coming as it does as he enters the house," replied the
+soldier in the same low tone, tinged with the superstition of his race.
+"I pray God," he continued, "that he turn out no weak-kneed stumbler."
+
+The incident naturally enough had not served to increase the King's
+self-confidence. After a glance into the impassive faces of the waiting
+servants, he gathered sufficient grace to proceed and look about him,
+with eyes more accustomed to the light. With an assumption of ease
+foreign to his turbulent heart, he took his way along the splendid hall.
+He was soon lost in a professional appreciation of the evidence of royal
+circumstance, the glories the succeeding years had generously spared,
+and which now were enriched and ripened by Times' deft touch.
+
+From their coigns the priceless portraits of the S. Croix gazed
+complacently down upon him. Royalty had aforetimes been of daily habit
+to them. Their scornful brows with sombre eyes, their thin curling lips,
+appeared to be of some alien race. They seemed to hold themselves aloof
+as though he was a child of their one-time serfs, having no claim upon
+their bond of caste. Even to himself he felt an impostor, a peasant in a
+royal mask. That he was really a king had not yet come home to him. He
+felt no embryo greatness struggling to possess him. Upon his face abode
+the look of one who dreams of pleasant, impossible things. Half smiling,
+he was yet reluctant of the awakening he was sure would come and scatter
+forever the wondrous glories of his slumbers. Unwilling that these
+creations of pigment, brush and canvas should, by exposing him,
+dissipate his fancies, he dropped his gaze to find himself approaching
+the entrance of a brilliantly lighted salon.
+
+What lay beyond?
+
+A new world, a new life, an existence such as he had never dreamed of
+might be waiting on the thither side. He paused again involuntarily.
+Beside the richer scene, with all its priceless relics of another age,
+its warmth, its lights, its rows of bowing flunkeys and his new-found
+friends, its dream of a crown and distant throne, arose a passing vision
+of a life he had laid aside. There the plenty of yesterday melted in the
+paucity of to-day. There cringing cold had crept forlornly in and hunger
+had been no unexpected guest. There hope and ambition on their brows had
+ever borne the bruising thorns of defeat and failure. There wealth was a
+surprising stranger and poverty a daily friend. Friends! Friends! Yes,
+friends leal and true, a crust for one had meant a meal for all. Such
+had been real friends. Their jests had banished every aching care and
+solaced each careless curse of fate. Would this new life give as much?
+Could the new life give him more? Would even the "glory that was Greece
+and the splendor that was Rome" repay him for the sleepless nights, the
+watchful anxious days of him who fought, who ruled, who trembled upon an
+uncertain throne?
+
+Having chosen he feared to turn back, lest men should call him a craven
+and coward. Sensual visions of a greater luxury than this around him
+came to console him as the picture of the attic life slipped from him.
+
+He stepped beyond the boundaries of regret into the radiant portals of
+the salon.
+
+A woman stood before him.
+
+Unconsciously his fingers itched for the abandoned brush while his thumb
+crooked longingly for the discarded palette. Here was a subject fit for
+his Muse, a Jeanne d'Arc whose soul was beaming from her luminous eyes.
+Not that maid of visions and fought fields, but as she hung
+flame-tortured in the open square of Rouen. No peasant soul this, rather
+a royal maiden burning on the altars of her country. Awkward and
+speechless he stood before her. Instinct apprised him that this was no
+other than Trusia, waiting to receive her King.
+
+Her head was held high in regal pride, but her eyes were the wide dark
+eyes of a fawn, fear-haunted, at the gaze. Her throat and shoulders
+gleamed white as starlight while her tapering arms would have urged an
+envious sigh from a Phidias or a David. Her gown of silk was snow white;
+the light clung to its watered woof waving and trembling in its folds as
+though upon a frosted glass. Diagonally from right to left across her
+breast descended a great red ribbon upon whose way the jeweled Lion of
+Krovitch rose and fell above her throbbing heart. This with her diamond
+coronet were her only jewels. The high spirited, whole-souled girl was
+face to face at last with the man she had vowed to marry to give her
+land a king.
+
+Unswervingly her fearless eyes probed to the soul of Stovik and dragged
+it forth to weigh it in the balance with her own. Fate had denied her
+heart the right of choosing, so she had prayed that at least her King
+should be great and strong of soul. Fate in mockery had placed before
+her an ordinary man to rule her people and her future life.
+
+As though to gain courage from the contact, her hand sought and rested
+upon the jeweled Lion of her race. Slowly she forced her lips into a
+little smile, which one observer knew was sadder than tears.
+
+Carter, standing behind the King, was madly tempted to dash aside the
+royal lout to take her in his arms where she might find the longed-for
+solace of her pent-up tears.
+
+Colonel Sutphen with a courtly bow took her hand and turned to the
+monarch.
+
+"Your Majesty," he said gravely, "this is Trusia, Duchess of Schallberg,
+than whom the earth holds no sweeter, nobler woman. To God and Trusia
+you will owe your throne. She has urged us, cheered us, led us, till
+this day has grown out of our wordy plans. See that she has her full
+measure of reward from you. Though our swords be for your service, our
+hearts we hold for her in any hour of her need."
+
+Sutphen's keen eyes had never left the sovereign's face while speaking.
+If the words were blunt his manner had been courtly and deferential.
+With a courtesy which was superbly free from her inmost trepidation,
+Trusia swept up the King's reluctant hand, pressing it to lips as chill
+as winter's bane.
+
+"Sire," she said in a voice scarcely audible, "sire, I did no more than
+many a loyal son of Krovitch. I--we all--will give our lives for our
+country and her rightful king."
+
+"Duchess! Lady Trusia," stammered the flushing, self-conscious king
+embarrassed by the kiss upon his hand, "I fear I am unworthy of such
+devotion. Unused to courtly custom I feel that I should rather render
+homage unto you. They tell me, these friends who say that they are my
+subjects, that I am your debtor. My obligations may already be beyond
+discharge. Add no more by obeisance." The poorly turned speech awoke a
+slight defiance in Trusia's heart. It was oversoon, she thought, for her
+King to patronize her.
+
+"Your Majesty mistakes," was the quick retort, "my homage is to
+Krovitch. We are equals--you and I."
+
+"I could ask no greater distinction than equality with you." Stovik's
+answer was a pattern of humility, which Trusia in her loyalty was quick
+to see. Her face softened.
+
+"If Your Majesty will deign to come, I have something over there I think
+will interest you," and she indicated the far end of the room where
+stood a velvet draped table guarded by two gentlemen in hussar uniform.
+With her hand upon his arm Stovik sedately approached the place. Here he
+saw nothing but the bulk of objects covered by a silken cloth. This
+Trusia removed.
+
+The act disclosed a crown, a sceptre and a jeweled sword. Before them on
+the cushion also lay the grand badge of the Order of the Lion with a
+fine chain of gold.
+
+"As the hereditary head of the Order, sire," Trusia remarked as she
+raised the glittering insignia, "you are entitled to assume the mark at
+once." Without further words she drew the chain over his head letting
+the Lion depend upon the breast of his artist's blouse.
+
+Lifting up the crown he turned to her mischievously. "Why not this?" He
+made a gesture to put it on his head.
+
+"It will be a burden, sire. That's why they are all made so pleasing to
+look upon; gemmed and jeweled, just as sugar coats a bitter pill. A
+crown means weariness and strife. Are you so anxious to take up its
+cares? They will come soon enough." She spoke in a sweetly serious voice
+that was not without its effect upon him. "Besides," she said, "the
+Bishop of Schallberg has waited many years to perform that office. Would
+you rob him of it?"
+
+Although Stovik replaced the glittering loop upon the velvet pall, he
+smiled to think how little the Church had entered into his former scheme
+of life. Trusia seemed to divine his thoughts, for, as his ascending
+eyes met hers, she continued speaking of the aged prelate.
+
+"He is a dear old man, sire, kindly and gentle. The beggars and little
+children call him their patron saint. Well past the allotted span of
+years, he has prayed to be spared until the day when he can anoint the
+head of the King of Krovitch. Then, he says, he will die joyously."
+
+The King murmured his hopes for a longer life for the Bishop, and Trusia
+turned to present her chaperon, the Countess Muhlen-Sarkey, with the
+remaining gentlemen of the Court.
+
+After the formalities had been attended to, and he had received the
+sincere good wishes of his nobles, the King turned to the beautiful girl
+at his side.
+
+"Do you leave with us to-morrow?" he asked. "Of our future plans I have
+had necessarily only a sketch. So little time has elapsed since Colonel
+Sutphen visited Eugene Delmotte that King Stovik can readily be forgiven
+for some slight ignorance."
+
+"If it meets with Your Majesty's approval, we will start to-morrow for
+Vienna," Trusia said. "There we will await Colonel Sutphen's summons
+from your capital, Schallberg. Major Carter, Josef, myself and the
+Countess Muhlen-Sarkey will accompany Your Majesty. The other gentlemen
+will attend the Colonel. They precede us to ascertain if all is in
+readiness."
+
+"Will the gentlemen travel in uniform?" The King's glance about the room
+had not been free from an apprehension that such a course might awaken
+inquisitive questions from officials.
+
+"Oh, certainly not, Your Majesty," the girl reassured him. "Your Majesty
+will procure a passport made out to Eugene Delmotte, artist. You will be
+traveling to Krovitch for studies for the painting I hear you are
+making. The uniforms will be a part of your paraphernalia."
+
+"Will there be no risk?"
+
+"Is Your Majesty unwilling to take the least? Your subjects must indeed
+seem reckless to you." Trusia's tone indicated the depth of her reproof.
+
+"I suppose that did sound rather selfish," he hastened to confess, "but
+the truth is that I do not yet realize that I am actually a king. That
+I, a few hours ago a penniless artist, should be plunging into a
+national movement as its leader, its king, seems nothing short of a
+dream. But tell me, Duchess, from whom we should fear detection?"
+
+"This is a national movement of ours, sire. Some chance may have aroused
+Russian suspicion, but believe me, I'd stake my life on your people's
+loyalty. St. Petersburg may be apprehensive, but they know nothing of
+the real truth nor the imminence of our uprising. Here is Colonel
+Sutphen, doubtless wishing to talk more fully of our plans to you," she
+concluded as the grizzled veteran stood courteously awaiting their
+leisure to speak with the King.
+
+Feeling free to do so now, she turned to her American aide. "Major
+Carter," she said, "I think His Majesty can spare me now. Won't you tell
+me of your adventures to-night?" Taking the arm he offered they strolled
+together into the hall. Being there out of the royal presence they were
+at liberty to seat themselves. An alcove held a tempting divan. Here
+they found a place.
+
+"Your Grace," he said in a tone he strove valiantly to hold within the
+pitch of social usage, "let me rather tell you how beautiful I fancied
+you to-night."
+
+As the handsome fellow bent his head toward her, she was possessed of a
+strange yearning. The plans, the plots, the wearying details of years
+had almost deprived her of the solace of sex; in the role of patriot she
+had well-nigh forgotten that she was a woman. A hunger for her due, so
+long deferred, spoke in her voice.
+
+"Yes," she said honestly, "please do. Anything to make me forget for the
+few minutes I can call my own. Tell me a fairy-story," she commanded
+with almost childish eagerness. "Or have you Americans foresworn fairies
+for Edisons?"
+
+"I know one who has not," he answered, falling soothingly into her mood.
+"He has seen the Queen, Titania."
+
+"Well, tell me about her. Oh, I do hope that she was beautiful," and she
+dimpled bewitchingly.
+
+"She was--fairy queens are always beautiful, and sometimes kind. Once
+upon a time--all fairy-stories have happened once upon a time--there was
+a man."
+
+"Yes," she interrupted, bending expectantly toward him.
+
+"He was poor," he continued quietly.
+
+"Oh," she exclaimed in disappointment.
+
+Carter shook his head understandingly. "He was an artist. He hoped one
+day to be called a genius. The fairy queen knew this was not to be so
+she made him a king and gave him--part of her kingdom." He paused to
+find her looking down, a shade of sadness on her face. Noticing his
+pause she looked up.
+
+"Well?" she asked.
+
+"There was another man," he continued. "This other man was not poor. He
+was not an artist, but to-night he saw the fairy queen in all her regal
+splendor. It made him think that all the flowers in all the worlds
+condensed into one small but perfect bloom were not so sweet as she. So
+the other man more than ever wished to rule in her fairyland--with her."
+
+"No, no," she cried, detecting the prohibited note, "you must not speak
+so." Her hands crumpled the morsel of cobweb and lace she had for
+handkerchief. Carried away with her proximity, however, he would not now
+be denied.
+
+"This is but a fairy-story, Duchess. Oh, Fairy Queen, could you not find
+a kingdom for the other man in fairyland--a kingdom with you as Queen?"
+
+His naked soul was laying pleading hands upon her quivering heart. She
+turned away, unable to withstand the suppliance of his eyes.
+
+"You do not know what you ask," she whispered hoarsely. Then vehemently
+spurring her resolve into a gallop, she added, "When the King is crowned
+in Schallberg, I become his wife."
+
+"Suppose he isn't," he urged doggedly.
+
+"Oh, no," she cried brokenly, "don't make me a traitor to my country's
+hopes. Don't make me wish for failure."
+
+Unwittingly her words confessed her love for Carter. Grimly forcing her
+weakness back into her secret heart, she turned a calm front to him once
+again.
+
+"Enough of fairy-stories, Major Carter," she said. "We live in a
+workaday world where the 'little people' have no place. All of us have
+our duties to perform. If some be less pleasant than others it is no
+excuse for not fulfilling them to the uttermost. We have a hard day
+before us. With His Majesty's permission, therefore, I will retire for
+the night." She arose as she said this, so Carter had no other
+alternative than to follow her into the royal presence.
+
+From a balcony at the far end of the room, crept a faint note of music.
+The players were carefully concealed behind banked palms and gigantic
+ferns. To the surprised ears of those unaware of their presence it came
+first as a single note, then a chord, a stave, a vibrant meaning. It was
+like a distant bugle call across a midnight plain. It swelled into a
+challenge.
+
+Then, echoing the hoof beats of horses, it swept into a glorious charge.
+All the invisible instruments crashed valorously into their fullest
+sounds. The arteries of the listeners throbbed a response to its
+inspiration. Trusia, her eyes gleaming like twin stars, laid her hand
+softly on the royal arm.
+
+"Oh, sire," she cried, "it is our nation's battle song."
+
+Carter sighed. He saw that her loyalty would hold her to an alliance
+against her heart.
+
+Possessed by the ardor of the song, the nobles, drawing their swords,
+cried in ecstatic chorus, "For Krovitch! For Krovitch!" In their
+pandemonium of joy, Carter's distress was unnoted.
+
+He could not longer endure the sight of the prophetic association; it
+seemed as if they were receiving nuptial felicitations as they stood
+there side by side, so with a heavy heart he crept up to his own
+apartment, where, at least, without stint, he could indulge his
+thoughts. After the brilliance of the salon, the single light in his
+room seemed puling and weak, so he crossed over and extinguished it. In
+doing so, he found himself near the window, which, opening to the floor,
+door wise, looked along the roof of the stone porch. A cooling sweep of
+moonlight fell on Carter's face and urged him to peace of soul. He never
+noticed the soft indulgence of Diana, for, as he glanced streetward, he
+recalled the incident of Josef and the stranger. Drawing an easy-chair
+into the zone of moonlight he lit a cigar and strove desperately to find
+a clue.
+
+"Two fingers--that means two something, at first glance. Has it any
+further significance?" he pondered. "Of course it was prearranged, when
+and how--and does Sobieska know? If he doesn't, Josef has correspondents
+unknown to Krovitch--that alone looks dangerous. I'll look up Sobieska.
+It's now twenty minutes of two," he said as he consulted his watch. A
+swift inspiration caused him suddenly to raise his head. "I've got it.
+The house is all still now. Two--two--two o'clock, that's the solution.
+They're to meet at two o'clock. Where? I can't wait for Sobieska,
+there's no time."
+
+He bent over and slipped off his military boots and put on a pair of
+moccasins he always wore about his room. Cautiously he opened the long
+window and stepped gingerly upon the roof. "Josef won't dare go out the
+front way; so to leave the grounds he'll have to pass beneath me, and I
+can follow if he does." Placing one hand on the bow window beside him,
+he leaned over to peer into the moonlit yard beneath.
+
+After he had waited what seemed a double eternity he was rewarded by
+seeing a shape disengage itself from the shadows about the servant's
+quarters in the rear, and come and stand directly beneath his place of
+observation. Somewhere a clock struck two. There was a grating sound as
+of the moving of rusty hinges from the direction of the front of the
+house, and the first comer had a companion with whom he instantly began
+a whispered conversation, of which, strain his ears as he might, Carter
+could catch only four words,--"Your report--and lists." The man whom he
+supposed to be Josef drew a bulky sheaf of papers from his breast pocket
+and passed them to the mysterious stranger. It was time to interfere,
+Carter thought. Swinging by his arms until his legs encircled the stone
+pillar he slid to the porch and, leaping to the ground, confronted the
+conspirators. Instinctively his first act was to clutch the papers, and
+as he did so he was struck from behind and fell unconscious to the
+ground. As his senses passed from him, he was dimly conscious of a
+surprise that neither man was Josef. A sleepy determination possessed
+him to hold grimly to the papers. Then all was blank.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+He wished they wouldn't annoy him, he remonstrated drowsily. When he was
+asleep he didn't have that awful pain in his head. As he opened his eyes
+he smiled vacuously into Trusia's face. That brought him to his senses
+with a jerk. A candle sputtered fitfully in a gilt stand beside him on
+the ground. Trusia's arm was about his shoulder. The King and, yes,
+Sobieska were there. And that other figure, that was Josef. He glanced
+at his own right hand. It was still tightly clenched, but held no
+papers.
+
+"How did you know I was here?" he inquired, his voice a trifle husky and
+weak. He looked at the girl against whose breast he leaned; her reply
+alone could satisfy him.
+
+"Josef, in going around to see if all things were locked tight, heard
+you groaning, and, not knowing who it was, gave the alarm."
+
+Carter struggled to his feet and, though a trifle dizzy yet from the
+blow of his unseen foe, was able to stagger into the house. There
+Trusia, with a woman's tender solicitude for those for whom she cares,
+without the intervention of servants poured from a near-by decanter, and
+forced Carter to drain, a goblet of wine. Under the stimulant his
+strength returned.
+
+"If Count Sobieska will lend me his arm I think I can retire now. How I
+came in the yard--I see you are all curious though too polite to
+inquire--I'll tell you in the morning when I feel more fit. At present I
+have either a strange head or a beehive on my shoulders, I don't know
+which."
+
+When he reached his room and the Count entering also had closed the
+door, Carter threw off much of the assumed languor, and told the
+Counselor the whole of the tale. The Krovitzer shook his head dubiously.
+"Josef found you at quarter past three this morning--yet you say Josef
+was not one of the two men. Did you see the faces of both?"
+
+"Only a glance. Both were bearded. The one who came from the back part
+of the house was dark, black eyebrows, heavy black beard, pallid face,
+or so it looked in the moonlight. The visitor was undoubtedly Russian."
+
+"It may have been soot," said Sobieska musingly. "I remember now that,
+while the rest of his face looked remarkably like a freshly scrubbed
+one, there was a long dark smear along one of Josef's eyebrows as we
+brought you into the house; but that is not enough to convict him of the
+treason, however strong a suspicion it arouses. Well, things are looking
+a trifle as if Vladimar not only knows where we are, but why we are
+here. We'll have to strike quickly--as soon, in fact, as we set foot in
+Krovitch again."
+
+
+
+
+XVIII
+
+I SAW--I KNOW
+
+
+The next day they left Paris. Almost the first person Trusia espied at
+the railroad station was General Vladimar, a stately young aide, and the
+Casper Haupt of yesterday. Carter felt a thrill of recognition for the
+latter; he was the passer-by of the night before who had received
+Josef's signal, and, yes, it was the man who had met the Hereditary
+Servitor in the moonlit shadow of the porch.
+
+The General bustled forward with easy appearance of boisterous
+friendliness. The group split; the King was adroitly surrounded by
+Sobieska, Muhlen-Sarkey and Carter, while Trusia and Sutphen advanced to
+meet and check the too curious Russian.
+
+He smiled blandly as he tacitly acknowledged to himself that he had been
+gracefully repulsed in one direction. Glancing at the baggage of the
+party, he bent over Trusia's hand with almost real deference.
+
+"So soon?" he inquired with a gesture toward the trunks. "It is almost
+as if I was hurrying you off," he laughed. Sutphen was reading what was
+back of the man's eyes. The Russian seemed so sure of his game that
+like a cat with a mouse, he played at friendliness. "I am going again to
+Schallberg, soon," he continued in his same manner of large good nature,
+"and hope the beastly hole will furnish more excitement this time. Could
+you arrange it, eh, Colonel?" and he turned smilingly to the troubled
+Krovitzer.
+
+"We'll try," replied the veteran, "forewarned is always forearmed."
+
+Vladimar assumed a look of gravity. "Let's not speak of arms, good
+friends, for your--for all our sakes. There's my train! Adieu; _bon
+voyage_." Without waiting to see the impression of his words, he left
+them. They were all conscious of an unrest caused by the Russian's
+advent. He had mentioned his return to Schallberg; could he know of what
+was going forward? Trusia summoned the Hereditary Servitor.
+
+That those waiting in Krovitch should be informed of their coming, Josef
+was directed by her to send an already prepared cipher dispatch. The
+white-haired servitor did so with commendable alacrity. Assured that the
+operator 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 carefully
+read 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 proven
+exceedingly irksome to one member of the party; while, for the greater
+part of the time, a conscious restraint held both Trusia and Calvert in
+a silence broken only when the monotony grew unbearable. Stovik, lost in
+wonderment at his future regal state, and a trifle awed at the high-bred
+girl beside him, added but little to the conversation. The Countess
+Muhlen-Sarkey awoke only when there was a fitful attempt to break the
+embarrassment which held all the others. The quondam Parisian openly
+welcomed each stopping-place as an excuse to escape from such
+uncongenial companionship. In the throngs on the platforms he found both
+transient excitement and opportunities of stretching his cramped and
+restless limbs. Josef conscientiously attended him on these brief
+excursions, never relaxing for an instant his grave watchfulness over
+his royal charge.
+
+There was a protracted stop at Bregenz. Being at the entrance of the
+Austrian Tyrol, there followed a rigid frontier examination of baggage.
+The three men excused themselves to Trusia and descended to the station
+in order to expedite matters as much as possible by their prompt
+appearance and presence. Apparently by accident, in the pushing crowd,
+Josef and his royal charge were separated from Carter, who was
+temporarily lost to view. Having no apprehension on that score, they
+gave no heed to his absence, but shouldered their way to the groups
+about the piled-up trunks where they knew he would rejoin them. After
+having their belongings properly _vised_, the pair stood watching the
+panorama of the crowd.
+
+Carter, at last catching sight of his fellow travelers, noted with some
+apprehension that they were being pretty closely watched by an
+alert-looking, middle-aged man. Receiving a covert nod from Josef, the
+latter had disappeared at once into the human medley. With all
+expedition, therefore, the American rejoined them. He read a question in
+Josef's eyes which changed into a defiance as the latter read in the
+newcomer'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 they
+stood, "isn't that a dainty morsel?" Carter turned to see that the
+woman was freely indulging in an ocular conversation with His Majesty.
+
+"Monsieur," Carter commenced in dignified remonstrance, only to be cut
+short by a peevish King.
+
+"See here, Carter, official business does not begin until we reach
+Schallberg. I'll practically be a prisoner for life if all goes well. I
+am not going to give up without just one more fling at the pomps and
+vanities of this wicked world."
+
+To emphasize his assertion, he smiled gaily at the pretty woman, whose
+lips parted in audacious invitation.
+
+"But the Duchess," Carter persisted, frowning.
+
+"That's just it," Stovik replied unblushingly. "I am not accustomed to
+such women as Her Grace. When near her I have to keep a tight rein on my
+tongue for fear of being guilty of a _faux pas_. A pinch of a round
+cheek, a warm kiss given and returned, an arm about a lithe waist, is
+what I like. Her Grace is an iceberg."
+
+Carter flushed angrily at the comparison. He restrained with some
+difficulty the stinging words of rebuke which sprang to his lips in
+Trusia's defense.
+
+"Oh, I know what you would say," continued the royal scamp. "I admit her
+patriotism, sacrifices, devotion, and all that sort of thing. Frankly,
+though, we are too dissimilar ever to get along together. The
+differences are temperamental. Environment and education have made an
+insuperable barrier to our mutual happiness."
+
+A hope he could not restrain lighted Carter's face at these careless
+words. "Do you mean," he inquired gravely, simulating a solemnity he
+felt but little, "do you mean that you will not marry Her Grace of
+Schallberg?"
+
+The King, coming close, looked searchingly into Carter's eyes and
+laughed in faint raillery; he partially understood. His reply was
+evasive. "It is not every one," he said, "who can gain a throne by
+marrying a pretty girl." Shrugging his shoulders, he abruptly left his
+companions and approached the woman, with whom he did not seem to have
+any difficulty in establishing a cordial relation.
+
+Carter reluctantly retraced his steps to the car. He was joined by
+Josef. The American nodded his head savagely toward where the monarch
+could be seen in high glee at his conquest. Taking this, apparently, as
+an indication that his persuasive offices were desired in that
+direction, Josef approached his royal master with deferential
+remonstrance. He touched the elbow of the oblivious King, who instantly
+turned. Irritated by what he could see of the express disapproval of
+his conduct in the smug face of the servitor, he inquired harshly what
+the fellow wanted.
+
+"Beg pardon, m'sieu," stammered the old man, "but the train starts
+immediately." If Josef's poor efforts had been intended to persuade the
+return of the King they had been made with but little understanding of
+the character of the man addressed. The contrary effect was produced.
+
+"So do I," responded His Majesty curtly, annoyed at what he considered
+an impertinent surveillance. "I shall rejoin the party at Vienna. You
+may call me when we arrive. Not before." He turned his back upon the
+discomfited Josef.
+
+Carter, on reentering the car, braced himself to render an acceptable
+yet plausible excuse for Stovik's absence. The Countess Muhlen-Sarkey
+was placidly sleeping in the corner. Trusia was sitting with
+palm-propped chin, gazing straight out of the window. This kept the full
+view of her face away from such of the party as might chance to enter
+the car. Carter saw enough, however, to convince him that she had been
+weeping. One forgotten tear hung tremulously on her lashes as though too
+reluctant to part with her grief. A fierce resentment seized him. He
+turned to leave the car, determined to drag back the graceless King by
+the neck if necessary.
+
+"Don't go," she pleaded as though comprehending his intentions. Unable
+to 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 unwilling
+that 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 my
+sovereign." There was a sad weakening of voice as she completed her
+defense, which convinced Carter that she had seen the whole disgusting
+performance.
+
+"Forgive me," he said very gently.
+
+"I saw," she admitted in distress. A woman, urged by pride, she had at
+first 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, deprived
+Carter of what had been the most propitious moment he had yet had to
+bind 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 in
+the face of all inquiries.
+
+
+
+
+XIX
+
+IT WAS JUDSON'S FAULT
+
+
+Calvert Carter had a very democratic conversation with His Majesty of
+Krovitch. They were standing on the platform of the station at Vienna
+waiting with ill-concealed impatience for the train which was to carry
+them into Krovitch. Needless to say, their talk turned upon the King's
+recent misbehavior. It contained a sketchy outline of what the American
+considered would happen did the monarch again put such an affront upon
+Her Grace.
+
+"You threaten, Major Carter?" asked Stovik with the insolence
+inseparable from a recent exaltation from humble life.
+
+"No, Your Majesty," replied Carter, no whit annoyed by the other's
+ill-temper; "I never threaten. I promise." That was all that was said.
+Neither Eugene Delmotte in his proper person nor the future ruler of
+Krovitch was able, however, to withstand the cool, hard glitter in the
+American's eyes.
+
+They boarded the waiting train as they came to this understanding. King
+Stovik's conduct for this new journey was exemplary. Nor were there
+other pretty coquettes available. He even exerted himself sufficiently
+to take an interest in the general conversation, at which Trusia's face
+brightened with appreciation.
+
+Houses, fields, woods, mountains and sky fled by as the train sped on.
+At last the Vistula was crossed. Trusia's face grew radiant as the
+landmarks of her country began to appear on every hand. With grumbling
+wheels the cars drew nearer Schallberg.
+
+"See, away off there to the northeast. There, that tiny speck against
+the sky," she cried rapturously as one returning home from a long
+sojourn abroad. "That is my castle. Do you see it, Your Majesty?" she
+asked, as she turned appealingly to him. "Schallberg, your capital, lies
+this side of it. The city is in a valley on the far side of this
+mountain we are now climbing." The whole party were peering out of the
+windows on the rapidly changing landscape, eagerly awaiting the first
+view of the place of their hopes.
+
+The train, sobbing out its protests against the steep ascent, soon
+brought them into a region of puzzling circumstances. Flashing past
+rural crossroads, they could see large groups of excited peasants
+talking, gesticulating and laughing, as they one and all were pointing
+in the direction of the capital. To their greater bewilderment, videttes
+in jaunty black and gold could be seen, as if courting publicity,
+patroling the public highways.
+
+"What can it mean?" asked Trusia, whose heart beat wildly with a surmise
+she dare not voice.
+
+The crest of the mountain was reached. The city lay spread before them.
+Over the Government buildings floated the Lion of Krovitch. The
+standard, waving gently in the breeze, seemed beckoning them to
+approach.
+
+"The city is ours," burst simultaneously from their lips. The train in
+one headlong descent drew up at the station at Schallberg.
+
+Looking out they could see a multitude of eager, expectant faces turned
+trainward. All Schallberg and most of the surrounding country had
+congregated to welcome their sovereign.
+
+In the front rank Carter espied his former friends, while last but not
+least a jubilant Carrick awaited his alighting. A guard was drawn up
+about the platform on which stood the little group of officers.
+
+Urged to the front, King Stovik was the first to step into view of the
+throng. Recognizing him, the officers drew their swords and raised them
+high above their heads.
+
+"Long live King Stovik!" they cried.
+
+For the life of a sigh there was a silence while the multitude realized
+that this man was their King. Then a pandemonium of cheers shattered
+the air. A roar of two centuries of repressed loyalty greeted him. He
+would indeed have been of meagre soul not to have been touched by such
+devotion. Handkerchiefs, hats, and flags were waved by his people--his
+people--at sight of him. What could be the limited fame of an artist
+compared to the devotion of an entire people for their sovereign? He
+stood erect, proudly lifting his hat to the full height of his arm in
+dignified response. There came a mightier cheer.
+
+"Long live Stovik Fourth!"
+
+"God save the King of Krovitch!"
+
+"A Lion for the Bear!"
+
+Filled with the moment's majesty, Stovik stepped down to greet his
+officers.
+
+Next came Trusia. The crowd caught sight of her happy, inspired face.
+She was recognized by all; they knew and worshiped her. A wilder cry, a
+mightier joy, made up of mingled cheers and tears, went up at sight of
+her. Her bosom heaved, her lips trembled. At the thought of her
+country's salvation her glorious eyes grew soft and moist. Lovingly,
+almost maternally, she held out her arms to her beloved countrymen.
+
+Somewhere in the crowd a woman's voice was heard to cry: "Saint Trusia;
+angel!" Ten thousand voices took up the acclaim. She shook her head
+reprovingly as she, too, joined the group about His Majesty. After
+Carter and the others stepped upon the platform, the former looked about
+him for his whilom chauffeur. Carrick, with some difficulty, pushed his
+way through the crowd and was soon at his master's side.
+
+"'Ave a pleasant trip, sir?" he asked, his mobile countenance abeam with
+joy at the meeting. The aide cast a significant glance at the crowd,
+then at the Krovitch standard, before replying.
+
+"Fairly, Carrick," he said. "I notice that you and our friends have been
+busy hereabouts in our absence," he added, hinting at an enlightenment.
+
+The Cockney's face grew red with embarrassment as he answered lightly,
+"Yes, we 'ave sort of kept our hands in, sir. It's a long story," he
+appended, appreciating that his master must have some natural curiosity
+regarding the premature change in plans which had resulted in the
+capture of the city before the coming of the King. The American smiled,
+he felt sure that the fellow had had a greater part in the proceedings
+than he would like to confess in public. Something on Carrick's sleeves
+seemed to confirm this supposition.
+
+"All right," he answered, "I guess it will keep until we have reached
+our quarters. By the way how did you get the chevrons of a
+sergeant-major? That's the highest rank a non com. can aspire to."
+
+Carrick grinned. "That's part of the story, sir," he retorted.
+
+Zulka, having made his devoirs to the sovereign, now approached his
+friend.
+
+"Surprised, Cal?" he queried.
+
+"I surely am, Zulka. How----" Carter began when he was interrupted by
+the Count who laid a friendly hand upon his shoulder.
+
+"Things are moving," said the Krovitzer with a twinkle in his eye. "I'm
+busy, ask Carrick." He chuckled as if it were a huge joke.
+
+"I feel as if I had missed something big," the American replied with the
+generous regret of one who would have thoroughly enjoyed his own share
+of the labor.
+
+"Thank Carrick for that. Here comes Sutphen. He'll be Marshal for this,"
+he said as the grizzled commanding officer approached. All three
+saluted.
+
+"Congratulations, Colonel," said Carter as the elder man acknowledged
+their formal courtesies.
+
+"Sorry I can't congratulate you, Major," the veteran replied with a dry
+chuckle; "the truth is that you have lost a valuable asset by the
+victory." Calvert was properly mystified.
+
+"So?" he questioned; "I haven't missed anything yet."
+
+"A good attendant," the other explained, pointing to the Cockney. "Our
+army will never let him go, now. They'd sooner give him my place.
+Nothing but continued obstinacy on his part hinders him from wearing
+shoulder straps."
+
+"Carrick seems in high favor about here," Carter remarked as a more
+pronounced hint for enlightenment. Sutphen grunted.
+
+"Let him tell you, then," he said. "Excuse me. Her Grace is looking this
+way." He straightway departed to escape explanations and Zulka followed
+him.
+
+While these greetings were being exchanged, the populace were not idle.
+With enthusiastic vigor they had removed the horses from the equipages
+meant for the royal party, and now, through a spokesman, begged
+permission to draw the carriages themselves as a token of their devoted
+allegiance. Stovik gaily agreed when their request was explained to him.
+
+"Come with me, Sergeant," Calvert requested. Elated at the opportunity,
+the Cockney leaped into the landau beside him. Pulled, pushed and
+surrounded by a cheering, happy pack, the entire suite was whirled along
+toward Trusia's castle. When well under way, the New Yorker turned to
+the man beside him. He seemed to beg Carrick for an explanation of the
+day's mystery.
+
+"Well," he ejaculated, in the assurance that the Cockney always
+comprehended his monosyllabic meanings. Carrick reddened sheepishly
+under the other's gaze.
+
+"You remember Judson? Sergeant Judson, of old E Troop?" he inquired, not
+knowing how to commence his narrative.
+
+"Yes," Carter replied, "what of him?"
+
+"It's his fault," Carrick answered, pointing at the densely packed mass
+of Krovitzers about them.
+
+"What are you driving at?"
+
+"It's this wye, sir," said his whilom chauffeur, taking grace of words.
+"You know we struck this plyce yesterday. Feelin' out o' plyce among
+them furrin-speakin' Krovitzers I hiked down to the Russian guard
+mount."
+
+"You mean that you understood Russian better than the native language?"
+
+"Not that, sir, but I knew I would feel more at 'ome there than I would
+with the big bugs. When I got there the band was a plyin' over at the
+side o' the square, the flags was aflyin', and blyme me if something
+didn't stick in my throat, thinkin' of old times, sir." His eyes grew
+soft at the recollections evoked. "When it came time for 'Sergeants
+front and centre' I got to thinkin' how old Sarge Judson used to stalk
+up as proud as Colonel Wood himself. I 'ad to rub my bloomin' eyes, for
+large as life, there was Doc Judson with all them whiskered chaps."
+
+"Surely, Carrick," interrupted the astonished Carter, "you must be
+mistaken. You don't mean Sergeant Judson of the First Volunteer
+Cavalry?"
+
+"The syme, sir. When they countermarched back to barracks I saw 'im
+again. That was fine, sir," said the fellow enthusiastically. "Quite
+like old times, sir. Right 'and grippin' the piece; left 'and swingin'
+free. Swingin' along, swingin', swingin', swingin' to the music o' the
+band. When a fellow who is out of it has been in the service, 'e feels
+bloomin' soft when 'e sees the fours sweep by 'im. I wanted to cheer and
+swing me bloomin' cap just to keep from blubberin'. Then, right guide of
+his four, come Judson. Six paces awye he saw me. He turned white, then
+red, but like the good soldier 'e was, 'e never let it spoil 'is
+cadence. 'E tipped me the wink and passed by. I waited. Presently 'e
+came back. 'Are you with the gang at the castle?' 'e arsked. I said I
+was. 'Cut it, Bull, and run,' 'e said. They used to call me John Bull,
+you know. Then 'e added slow as if 'e was not sure 'e 'ad the right to
+tell--'I'm on to their game. To-morrow mornin' I'm goin' to squeal on
+'em to the commandant. That'll give you plenty o' time for you to get
+awye. For old times' syke, Bull,' 'e said as 'e gripped my 'and."
+
+Then Carrick went on to narrate how Judson had told him that a fellow
+named Johann, who had broken jail, had just that morning drifted into
+the guardhouse where the sergeant had the relief. He had promised Judson
+if given twenty-four hours' start he would disclose a big game of
+treason. Judson promised, and the fellow,--none other than the
+pent-browed peasant,--had related all he knew of the Krovitzers' plans.
+Carrick confessed to some trepidation when he had heard that so much was
+known outside their own party. But he had stood his guns manfully and
+refused to fly. He gave as his reason his loyalty to Calvert Carter.
+When Judson learned that his old captain was walking straight into the
+impending peril he was greatly surprised, but promised to take care of
+him or forfeit his life. Carrick by way of reply had innocently inquired
+who was sergeant of relief that night.
+
+"'E was wise, though," said Carrick with a laugh. "'E looked at me
+suspiciously. 'I am,' 'e said with a jerk; 'why?'
+
+"'Better 'ave ball cartridges,' I says, 'I'm goin' to give you a
+surprise. That's a fair warnin' for a fair warnin', Doc,' I said. 'E
+showed 'e was worried. 'E begged me not to do it, sayin' that they'd
+'ave ball cartridges an' reinforcements a-plenty to-morrow, which is
+to-day, sir. I knew by that that they were shy at that time, sir. I
+found out that their strength was only 'arf a battalion. We sprung our
+surprise last night, sir, overpowered the sentries and took the bloomin'
+town."
+
+"It will surely be traced to Judson, Carrick. You know what that means
+for him. I hope the poor fellow made his escape before they had the
+chance of standing him up against the wall. Did you see him again?"
+Carrick's mobile face took on an unaccustomed gravity.
+
+"Once," he answered with some effort. "Don't worry, sir, the Russians
+won't bother _him_. You see," he hurried on with obvious haste, "we
+sneaked on each sentry until we came to Number One Post. It was near the
+gates--connected by phone and electric light wires with the barracks."
+
+"How did you manage?"
+
+"Cut the bloomin' wires."
+
+"Didn't the guard rush out?"
+
+"They did, sir. Couldn't find their pieces in the dark. They rushed
+right into the arms of the two companies Colonel Sutphen had there
+waiting for them. Only one, a sergeant, 'ad grit enough to fight. 'E
+picked me out, sir. Rushed me with 'is sword and gave me all I could
+do," said Carrick giving gallant tribute to a valiant foe. The Cockney
+became silent.
+
+"Well?" inquired Carter after a prolonged season of expectancy.
+
+"The old trick you taught me in E Troop did for 'im, sir. As 'e fell, 'e
+said, 'Bull, you are a damned rascal,' and laughed as if the joke was on
+'im. 'I'm done for, Bull,' 'e went on, 'but I'd rather die this wye in a
+fair fight with a friend, than blindfold against the wall for a traitor.
+Take care o' Cap Carter, 'e said. Then 'e croaked."
+
+"Judson," cried Carter regretfully at the death of a brave man.
+
+"Judson, of old E Troop," replied Carrick solemnly. "We sounded taps
+over 'im this mornin', sir."
+
+
+
+
+XX
+
+A SOUND AT MIDNIGHT
+
+
+Two days later a royal banquet followed by a cotillion celebrated the
+coming of the King. The monarch was in the white uniform of a Field
+Marshal, above which his handsome face rose in striking contrast. His
+collar, heavy with gold embroidery, seemed held in place by the Star of
+the Lion. At his right hand sat Trusia, resplendent and warmly human,
+while flanking him on the left was the grizzled Sutphen. Carter's place
+as an aide was far down the side of the table. Only by leaning forward,
+and glancing past those intervening, could he get a glimpse of the
+marvelous woman, who, young as she was, had made this event a
+possibility.
+
+Sallies, laughter, repartee came floating down to him. A momentary pang
+of envy shot through him that the royal party, which to him meant
+Trusia, should be in such high feather. Owing to his remoteness it was
+impossible for him to participate in their mirth, so he resigned himself
+to the duty of entertaining the daughter of an elderly nobleman who was
+under his escort.
+
+"And you," he said, "you, too, are delighted with the dashing King.
+Confess."
+
+"I am afraid," she laughed back, "that all girls, even in America, dream
+what their ideal king should be."
+
+"Your sex's ideal man?" he inquired quizzically.
+
+"Oh, no, monsieur," she replied with grave, wide eyes. "Our ideal man is
+only a prince."
+
+"Then your ideal king must be something more than a man," he said in
+soberer mood as she unfolded to him the working of a maiden mind, which
+is always awe-inspiring.
+
+"Yes," she responded, "something less than a god."
+
+"And the maidens of Krovitch, what have they dreamed?"
+
+She glanced up to see if his expression matched the apparent gravity of
+his words. Reassured by the entire absence of banter in his face, she
+answered him sincerely. She was too guileless to analyze his possible
+mental attitude save by these superficial indications. "A demigod like
+our ancient sovereign, Stovik First," she responded reverently.
+
+"So you have deified His Majesty already?"
+
+"God save His Majesty from ill," she answered, "but I think he is very
+human--and handsome." She blushed uneasily. A merry peal of laughter
+from the group about the King drew their attention. Leaning her elbow on
+the cloth, the girl turned her head to learn the cause of the hilarity.
+Carter, thankful for the opportunity, employed the pause in studying
+Trusia. The Duchess's eyes were sparkling like some lustrous jet. The
+deep flush of the jacqueminot burned in her cheeks as she smilingly
+regarded Natalie, the heroine of the jest. Was all this scintillation a
+mask, he wondered, or had the coming of the King--the remembrance of her
+vow--driven the recollection of that momentary surrender in Paris from
+her heart? He sighed. The girl next him turned in apology.
+
+"Forgive me, monsieur, for forgetting you. But Her Grace--is she not
+beautiful? When she makes us girls forget, is it any wonder the youths
+of Krovitch are oblivious of our poor existence?"
+
+"She has had many suitors, then?" Carter to save him could not refrain
+from the question.
+
+"A legion," she answered; "but all have withdrawn nobly in favor of the
+King. Even Paul Zulka and Major Sobieska. They are transferring to him
+their lives and their swords to please her."
+
+A slight commotion at the head of the table again caused them to turn
+their heads in that direction. The King was rising.
+
+"He is going to announce his betrothal," suggested the girl at Carter's
+side. Carter's face grew grim and white. But such was not the royal
+intent. Being assured that all present understood French, King Stovik in
+a short speech thanked the people of Krovitch for their devotion to his
+House. He promised that, if destiny placed him on their throne, he would
+treat his power as a trust for them.
+
+"For this day at least we give ourselves over to the joy of meeting you.
+To-morrow comes the fearful care of kings. You have labored faithfully,
+to-night be merry," he said in conclusion. He lifted a bubbling glass
+from the table. "Our battle cry, my lords, is 'God and Krovitch.'"
+
+There was an hysteric outburst. Men and women leaped to their feet to
+drain the toast. When the King regained his seat the cheers subsided.
+Slowly, impressively Trusia arose at his side, the light of inspiration
+radiating from her glorious self like the warm light that comes from the
+sun.
+
+"There can be only one other toast after that, my people," she said.
+"God save the King." Like a real prayer, solemn and soul-felt, arose a
+responsive, "God save the King." Then deliberately, that the glasses
+might never be profaned with a less loyal toast, the guests snapped the
+fragile stems between their fingers and cast the dainty bowls to the
+floor in tinkling fragments.
+
+At a signal from Stovik the banquet was over. He arose, and, taking
+Trusia by the hand, escorted her to the great hall to lead the cotillion
+with him. The royal pair having departed, the guests arose and, in the
+order of their precedence, filed into the ballroom in the train of their
+King.
+
+The first figure, patriotically named the "Flag of Krovitch," was danced
+by Stovik, Trusia and seven other couples all nearly related to royalty,
+each person waving a small silken flag bearing the Lion of their race.
+
+Carter, from the throng, with hungry eyes saw but one wondrous form,
+supported on the arm of royalty, glide through the graceful maze. A lull
+came in the music and Stovik, bowing the Duchess to her seat, turned
+with evident relish to a coquettish brunette who had assured him that
+they were first cousins.
+
+Having fulfilled the demands of Court etiquette in yielding first place
+to her sovereign, Trusia was now free to indulge any other preference
+for partners for the ensuing figures. The American glanced covetously
+toward the place where Sobieska and Zulka stood, expectantly awaiting
+her invitation. With a mild negation of her head she passed them, moving
+to where Carter was engaged talking to the Countess Muhlen-Sarkey.
+Seeing her approach, his heart beat with a foolish hope and his remarks
+to his matronly auditor, took on a perplexing shade of incoherence.
+Evidently Trusia shyly expected him to accept the courtesy; as through a
+myriad phantoms, where only she was real, he threaded his way to her
+side.
+
+"You are the stranger within our gates," she explained as in rhythmic
+unison they drifted into the cadence of the waltz.
+
+"Have I awakened," he inquired, "or is this part of the dream I had in
+the Boulevard S. Michel?"
+
+"It must have been a dream, monsieur," she said with sad finality. "It
+is folly to encumber one's life with useless dreams."
+
+"Your Grace wishes it?" he asked in halting syllables wrenched from a
+heavy heart.
+
+"For your own happiness, now," she answered with a meaning nod toward
+the King.
+
+"But," he pleaded, "it was such a beautiful dream."
+
+"Dreams are--sometimes. Then we awake." He felt the slight tremor
+against his arm as she spoke.
+
+"I wish," he sighed impotently, "that you were an American girl."
+
+She smiled mechanically to hide the sadness welling in her breast.
+"Wishes," she murmured resignedly, "are too near akin to dreams for me
+to indulge them. Besides I have a country to hope for. Why should I join
+you in such a wish?"
+
+"Have you, then, realized your wishes in His Majesty?" It was a brutal
+thing to say; he saw it when too late to recall the words which had
+passed his lips.
+
+She shrank as if struck. Her eyes spoke the volumes of her appeal. They
+read in his a hopeless prayer for forgiveness, and graciously, gently,
+she pressed his arm under her hand as a sweet upward glance assured him
+of absolution. Like the sigh in his own soul, sweet and low, the music
+died out. The figure was finished.
+
+Pleading fatigue, Carter sought the quarters assigned him in the castle.
+His senses were awhirl, his spirits high in the chimera that Trusia
+cared for him. Had he been compelled to remain in attendance he felt
+certain that he would have bruited his glad tidings abroad. Between the
+throbs of hope, however, with growing insistence threaded the stinging
+pulses of despair and pity; despair that destiny would never give her to
+him as wife, pity that she should sacrifice her own sweet self to a man
+who had no real affection for her. Hers was a nature, he well knew,
+requiring the full measure of tenderness to bloom in its fullest beauty.
+Believing her beyond his reach he felt a sudden overpowering sense of
+utter loneliness. Fully clad as he was, he flung himself upon his bed,
+but his arm, his breast, still tingled with the contact from the dance.
+Sleep held aloof from him. Darkness was no refuge from her tempting
+face, for, visible to his soul, it stood between him and the gloom.
+
+From the distant hall, augmenting his restlessness, came occasional
+snatches of music mingled with the hum of voices. The hours passed on
+while he tossed nervously on his bed. Then the music stopped. Laughter
+and farewells floated up to him. In a few minutes all was silence save
+for the footfalls of the sentries on their posts.
+
+Somewhere in its boat of song, the nightingale was floating on the sea
+of darkness. Drawn aimlessly by the pathos of the songster's lay, Carter
+wandered to the window to gaze out into the moonless midnight. Racking
+his quivering heart, his imagination dwelt on a pictured life with
+Trusia, emphasizing the sweet moments of her complete surrender.
+
+Time lost all measure in his rhapsody. He might have stood leaning over
+the sill a day or a second, when a sound, persistent and murmuring,
+haled him back to mundane things. Intermittently, but with growing
+volume, from somewhere beyond the wall of black, came the echoes of an
+army in passage. He could separate the different noises. That, he
+recognized by its deep grumbling noise, was cannon; the rattling sound,
+like an empty hay wagon, was caissons, while the muffled, thudding echo
+was cavalry at the trot. The force, apparently a heavy one, did not seem
+to be coming from Schallberg. He leaned far out of the window
+challenging the darkness with his peering eyes. Dimly he could descry
+the plateau about the castle with its low bastions at the cliff's edge.
+Indefinite shapes pacing along the wall he knew to be Krovitzer
+sentries. He fancied he heard a challenge on the distant road, a halt,
+then the invisible army took up its march again.
+
+Straining every sense, he concluded that the force was moving from, and
+not toward, the frontier. Sutphen, then, for some unknown reason, must
+have consented to withdraw part of his none too strong army from points
+which Carter believed to be greatly in need of reinforcement. He debated
+with himself, therefore, the military necessity of confirming these
+impressions. Knowing, however, how prone to offense the plethoric
+Colonel could be, and reassured by the fancied challenges, he
+relinquished the idea. Growing drowsy with the extra mental exertion, he
+divested himself of his clothing and was soon in bed and asleep.
+
+During his slumber another detachment passed, then another, while just
+before dawn a heavy force of infantry at double time went down the road.
+
+Carter arose late the next morning. After a hasty breakfast, too early,
+however, for the other participants in the evening's festivities, he
+buckled on his sabre and, taking his fatigue cap, strolled out upon the
+terrace. He found the Minister of Private Intelligence pacing moodily
+back and forth on the stone flags. Acknowledging his salute, Carter
+stopped and spoke.
+
+"Anything doing?" he inquired with a cheerful air.
+
+Sobieska nodded. "Zulka's in command of Schallberg. Sutphen with a small
+force occupies Markos due east of the capital. Lesky's Rifles have
+seized Bagos on a line with both at the western frontier. This completes
+our alignment on the south. Wings have been thrown out from both Markos
+and Bagos to the extreme north, making a monster 'E' of which we are the
+middle arm."
+
+Carter betrayed surprise. "Well, what force was that which passed during
+the night?" he asked. "I thought you said Sutphen had only a small
+command on the frontier, yet there were two or three parks of heavy
+artillery went by."
+
+"I didn't hear them," responded Sobieska, "but Josef reported them as
+reinforcements from the Rifles for the frontier. There may have been
+some cannon, but not as many as you think. He dare not weaken his
+strength that way."
+
+"It seemed to me," said Carter dubiously, "that they marched from the
+frontier, not toward it. But how did Josef come to report it? Where was
+the officer of the guard?"
+
+Sobieska turned an indulgently commiserating smile on Carter.
+
+"Haven't you heard?" he asked as he lightly flicked the ash from his
+morning cigar. Carter pleaded ignorance.
+
+The Privy Counselor drew close to his shoulder and spoke in a
+confidential tone. "Josef has made himself indispensable to His Majesty.
+He begged for, and yesterday received, a commission as Colonel of
+Hussars as a return for services in restoring the King to his own.
+Whether or not at his own request, he was yesterday appointed Officer of
+the Guard. It was in the line of his duty that he reported." He next
+spoke as to one in whom he could safely confide. "I don't like the look
+of things there," he said, pointing toward the frontier. "There weren't
+too many men, in my opinion, to hold it as it was. Now they have
+withdrawn part of that force. Unless they can mobilize quickly on this
+road we are holding wide open arms for Russia's forces. However," he
+said hopefully, "last night's movement may have been to cure the evil."
+
+Setting them down to the vagaries of darkness, Carter dismissed his
+surmises of the night before as untenable in the face of this
+explanation. His companion continued his promenade nervously along the
+front of the castle. Carter joined him.
+
+"There is another matter," said the Krovitzer with a slight contraction
+of his brows, "that is causing me some little annoyance. I am very
+punctilious about some things and exact promptitude as the greatest
+qualification in my subordinates. I should have had dispatches from
+London and Paris two days ago. I am out here now waiting for Max to
+arrive with them. It's a minor matter, but it has made me uneasy."
+
+"Information concerning Carrick?" Carter queried.
+
+"Yes," Sobieska replied. "What is that?" he asked with more than usual
+animation as the dull sound of distant booming interrupted them.
+
+"Krupp guns," Carter answered, as much in surprise as for the
+information of the other. "Russia must have awakened at last. Sounds
+like a general engagement," he said as the volume of the distant sounds
+increased.
+
+"We'll have to inform His Majesty. Hope he is awake." Sobieska started
+for the door. Carter lingered, for just then Trusia appeared in the
+entrance.
+
+She seemed a part of the sweet, pure morning. Clad in an informal riding
+habit, such as he had frequently met in early rides in Central Park, in
+her starched waist, khaki skirt and broad-brimmed felt, she made a
+charming picture against the grim doorway.
+
+"Plotting?" she asked with a gay little smile, shaking her bamboo crop
+at them. "You look like surprised conspirators. Major Carter, I'll have
+to claim your escort this morning. Casimir is still asleep. I'm afraid
+Lady Natalie danced him to death last night, the will-o'-the-wisp. His
+Majesty has his duties for some hours to come, as I can tell by that
+portentous frown on Sobieska's face. I, alone, once so busy, now find
+time hanging heavy on my hands. Can you come?"
+
+"My only duty, Highness, is to serve you. That makes any duty a
+pleasure."
+
+"Rather well done," she said with head on one side critically, "just a
+trifle stiff. I saw Carrick at the stable and anticipated your
+acquiescence. He is saddling a mount for you. Here he comes now," she
+added, as the clatter of hoofs on the flags approached from the
+direction of the stables.
+
+The Cockney approached leading two horses. He held Trusia's foot as she
+leaped lightly into the saddle. After he was satisfied that she was
+properly mounted he came to the off side of Carter's horse. There was a
+request written in every line of the earnest face.
+
+"Well?" asked Carter bending down from his saddle.
+
+"May I go too, sir? Just as groom, sir. Please, sir?" he added, seeing a
+shade of dissent upon his master's face. "The truth is, sir, I 'ad a bad
+dream last night. Don't laugh," he pleaded as the corners of Carter's
+mouth twitched suggestively, "don't laugh. It was too real, too
+'orrible. I thought an army rode over you and 'Er Grace and tramped you
+down. You called out to me to 'elp. I could 'ave saved you, but was too
+far away. Let me go, sir; just as groom. I'll keep far be'ind." The
+fellow was honestly distressed, so Carter sent him to Trusia, who gave
+him the desired permission. Then for the first time the Major noted that
+Carrick wore his sabre. The holster by his saddle held a revolver.
+
+
+
+
+XXI
+
+CARRICK WAS FAR BEHIND
+
+
+Carrick was far behind. Overhead the tattered roof of leaves made a
+lacework of the sun. Birds were singing; their bright eyes turned
+curiously on the young couple passing beneath their verdant bowers. Tiny
+feathered brides nodded dainty heads, urging the great, stupid, human
+fellow to sing the love song in his heart to the girl by his side. "Mate
+now," they chirped, "in leaf time, in flower time, while fields are warm
+and nature yielding. The great mother, herself, commands it."
+
+The impulses of nature were astir in the breasts of both Trusia and
+Carter, awakening in each a silent rebellion against a destiny which was
+forcing them to talk of trivial nothings which add naught to the greater
+issues of life. So far they had bowed to the dictates of destiny, but
+were growing more and more restive under the self-imposed restraint.
+
+The horses stopped to drink from a stream which crossed their path.
+Carter, glancing in the direction of its source, saw that a heavy limb
+had fallen from a dead tree, blocking the passage of what had otherwise
+been but a wavering string of water. Restrained, however, it had
+mounted higher and higher, until at last, broadened, strengthened, and
+deepened, it had swept triumphantly over the dam and kept on its way. He
+felt that he was undergoing the same process in restraining the natural
+expression of his love for Trusia. Unconscious of his comprehension,
+she, too, had grasped the lesson of the stream. Their satiny nozzles
+dripping sparkling drops of water, the horses resumed their progress
+beneath the forest colonnade.
+
+Trusia turned to him. Her resolution had been difficult to reach.
+
+"When Krovitch is free," she said, "you must still remain with our
+army." She observed him covertly as she awaited his reply. The
+hopefulness, which at first drew him erect, gradually disappeared,
+leaving in its wake the bending lines of despair. There was a drawn look
+in his face as he turned to answer.
+
+"No," he said, and moodily turned his eyes away again.
+
+"That means you will return to America." A subtle sensitiveness could
+have construed this to embrace a query, a request and a regret. The
+slightest quiver inflected her voice as she had spoken, but she bravely
+finished without a break. Poor girl, she, too, was suffering. She was
+sending away her ideal lover with only a meagre taste of maiden romance
+to make life all the more sorrowful for the having. All this he felt. As
+he recognized what it must mean to her--to any woman--deprived of man's
+right of initiative in declaration, he was tempted to gather her roughly
+in his arms and carry her away from duties, friends, country even, to
+fulfil her own happiness, which was his. The maxillary muscles ached
+with the strain his restraint put upon them.
+
+"I must go. I must," he replied. "Pride, honor, sanity demand it."
+
+"It is better so," she said softly as she bent her head. She, a Jeanne
+D'Arc to her people, was inured to sacrifice. Above all, sweet and
+clean, she saw Duty shine through Love as the sun shone through the
+leaves above her head. So was the royal duchess fortified for her
+future. Then Trusia, beautiful and desirable, Trusia, the woman,
+rebelled that destiny should have ignored her in the plans for Trusia
+the princess.
+
+"I will never see you again--as a dear friend--after you have gone. But
+I--but Krovitch will never forget you." Then in her royal pride that
+felt no noble confession could shame her womanhood, she turned almost
+fiercely upon him.
+
+"Oh, why was I chosen for the sacrifice? Why couldn't I be as other
+women? Natalie need not drive her friends away. Alone; I stand alone."
+Her breath came in short, sobbing gasps which she fought courageously to
+silence.
+
+Carrick was far behind. Forgetting everything except the quivering heart
+of the girl beside him, Carter leaned over and drawing her gently toward
+him, patted the convulsive shoulders with awkward masculine solace. Like
+a child in the shelter of maternal arms, the glossy head, forgetful for
+the instant, nestled against his shoulder, soothed and at peace. While
+Duty had manacled the queen, the woman had been justified. Then she
+sighed. With a weary gesture of renunciation she sat upright in her
+saddle, looking directly to the front. A single tear hung quivering on
+her lashes.
+
+"Another dream for the Queen to sigh over," she commented with a quick
+laugh, flavored of wormwood.
+
+"Why must it be?" he queried. "You do not love the King." Then all the
+tide of courage flooding past his lips, he asserted against all
+denial,--"You love me."
+
+The regal head drooped as she turned from him.
+
+  "'I would not love you, dear, so much,
+  Loved I not honor more,'"
+
+she quoted sadly.
+
+"But it is not honor; it is sacrifice," he argued.
+
+"What duty is not?" she questioned sadly.
+
+"It is madness," he fumed impotently.
+
+"Think of my people." She shook her head in magnificent self-abnegation,
+putting aside the tenderer visions which were thronging her heart,
+picturing her life with the man at her side. "Their welfare demands it."
+
+He leaned across to plead with her. The loose flying tresses of her hair
+touched his cheeks in elusive salute. They beckoned him closer and ever
+closer. His heart could be heard, he feared, so loudly did it beat. He
+could feel the great red surges being pumped through arteries, too small
+for their impulsive torrents. They choked him.
+
+"Trusia," he cried hoarsely, for the first time using her Christian
+name. The entire soul of the man, every particle of his entity, had
+entered into the saying of that name.
+
+Startled, she turned to learn the reason for his vehemence; that voice
+had spoken so compellingly to her eyes, ears, heart and body, and had
+sought out every resistance and overcome it. Her eyes, held captive to
+his gaze, were wide with question.
+
+"I love you," he continued with quiet masterfulness, as one who, staking
+all on one throw of the dice, dispenses with pretense and braggadocio
+in the face of despair. "Listen to me. I would make you happy. I'd be
+your devoted slave, till white-haired, aged and blissful, life should
+pass from us gently as the echoes of a happy song of spring."
+
+"You make it so hard for me," she said pleadingly.
+
+"Forgive me, sweetheart, but love will not be denied," he answered. "Let
+the King have Krovitch, and you come with me." His face was close to
+hers, his heart was slowly, strongly closing on her own fluttering
+heart.
+
+She felt that, unless she could at once throw off the spell, in another
+minute she would be limply lying in his arms in complete surrender to
+his plea. For a long eternity it seemed that, strive as she would, she
+could not conquer herself. Then she sat erect; the victory was won.
+
+"I cannot; I cannot," she replied tensely, the last modicum of will
+summoned to resist what he sought and she desired. "The King"--she
+began, bethinking her of her reason; "you know that he is not always
+prudent. Mine is a hot-headed though loyal people. I must be by to guide
+him--for Krovitch. But, ah, 'twill be with a heavy heart!"
+
+He leaned across from his saddle. "I care not for Krovitch so much as
+you do. Tell me that you love me."
+
+She turned away her face that the eye of the man might not see and be
+blinded by the white light of the woman's love which shone in her own
+countenance.
+
+"Say it, Trusia," he urged; "say it for my soul's peace."
+
+With a royal pride in the confession, she turned her head, meeting his
+regard with level eyes.
+
+"I love you, Calvert," she responded simply.
+
+Carrick was far behind. Though she struggled faintly, he drew her to
+him. Her face was turned up to his. Her eyes shone misty, dark and
+wonderful, like the reflection of stars on the shimmering waters of a
+lake. They illumined his soul. Her lips for the first time received a
+kiss from any lover. Then cheek to burning cheek, they passed the crest
+of a little hill and rode slowly down its thither side.
+
+Like an accusation, from some place behind them, rang out the
+unmistakable clang of sword on sword. They reined in their horses to
+listen.
+
+"Carrick," hazarded Trusia, voicing the premonition paralyzing both.
+Then, forgetful of self, in the chivalrous creed of her race, she
+pointed back in the direction of the noise. "Go," she commanded, "he
+needs you."
+
+"But you?" he demurred, his first thought, lover-like, being for her
+safety. His eyes fell approvingly upon the thick covert by the roadside.
+He nodded suggestively toward it.
+
+"Yes, I'll be safe--I'll hide," she promised eagerly; "now go." He
+fairly lifted his horse from its feet as he swung it around. In mighty
+bounds it carried him over the crest of the hill.
+
+Two hundred yards away, Carrick could be seen defending himself gamely
+against the combined attack of three mounted men. Something, even at
+that distance, about their uncouth horses and absurdly high saddles,
+sent a shiver of recognition through Carter. He had seen thousands of
+their ilk along the Neva. The trio of strangers were Russian Cossacks.
+How had they passed the Krovitch outposts some miles back? The boldness
+of their onslaught argued the presence of reinforcements in the
+neighborhood. Could it be part of a reconnoissance in force? The sudden
+memory of the passing of the invisible army in the darkness came back to
+Carter with sinister meaning. He realized that it had been an invasion
+by a Russian army. Krovitch had been betrayed--by Josef. Carrick was in
+danger.
+
+He roweled the horse's side. The animal, smarting under the punishment,
+plunged forward like some mad thing. Settling firmly back in his saddle
+for the crash to come, Carter drew his sabre with the yell that had
+swept the Americans up San Juan Hill and the Spaniards out of Cuba.
+
+One Cossack, startled at the unexpected shout, turned his head for an
+instant in the direction of the approaching succor. It served for
+Carrick. Like a tongue of lightning his nimble sword entered the tough
+brown throat. Even from that distance the American could distinguish the
+"Ht" of the brute as he fell, lifeless, in the road. In order to make
+short work of the agile swordsman, the other two closed grimly in. The
+Cockney had had some difficulty in disengaging his blade from the
+falling man, permitting his adversaries to push their ponies so close to
+his sides that he could work only with a shortened blade. Appreciating
+what terrific additional handicap this would be to Carrick, Carter was
+yet scarcely prepared for the immediate tragedy that followed. Like the
+phantasmagoria of dreams, he saw the Cockney, cut, slashed, and pierced,
+fall heavily from his horse.
+
+Just a second too late, he burst upon them. With the yell of a baffled
+animal Carter hurled himself upon the nearest Cossack. His fury was
+volcanic. Terrified by such titanic rage the pair gave way as to
+something superhuman, wielding an irresistible sword. Blood-lust made
+him see everything through a mist, red and stinging. He was a Cave Man.
+His opponents were pigmies who shrank back, appalled, by his murderous
+might. One Slav saw death beckon him, so fell, wild-eyed, to the ground,
+his neck spurting a fountain of blood. The other, too paralyzed with
+terror to fight or flee, stood irresolutely in the mid-road, his ugly
+face twitching with an idiotic grin. Carter, hell in his heart, rode
+fiercely against his horse. The Cossack raised a futile blade. Carter
+battered it down with vengeful satisfaction, driving its point through
+the fellow's heart.
+
+The last of the Russian trio lay dead upon the ground, but Carter, in
+short nervous excursions, rode back and forth as he searched for new
+prey. The mood for killing--and killing--was upon him. He was a
+primitive savage.
+
+His horse shied violently and stood still. Blinded with rage, the rider
+would have wreaked his unreasoning hatred on the animal who, even for a
+second, had stopped the ceaseless, prowling movements inseparable from
+the man's strange jungle mood. With a curse he drove his spurs deep. The
+poor brute quivered, but would not budge. Carter looked ahead of him to
+ascertain the cause, determined if it was a living obstacle, to batter,
+slash, and cut it into nothingness.
+
+He met the white, smiling face of Carrick, who, dying, was striving to
+regain his feet. The red mist of carnage passed from Carter's eyes and
+sanity came back to him. Dismounting, he bent over the stricken Cockney.
+
+"I was insane, Carrick, old chap," he said brokenly, as he drew his hand
+heavily across his aching brow. "I thought they had done for you." A sob
+choked him, caused by the recollection of the dream the fellow had urged
+as a reason for accompanying his master. The tables had turned bitterly
+against him.
+
+Looking with that affection in his eyes that sometimes does exist
+between men, Carrick saw the thought with the weird prescience of the
+dying. "Dreams go by contraries, sir," he said and attempted a laugh.
+
+"But it might have been Her Grace, Carrick, old man. You have saved her
+life." He grasped the fast chilling hand and wrung it fervently.
+
+"Her Grace is safe, then?"
+
+Carter striving busily to stanch half a score of wounds, nodded
+affirmatively.
+
+"It's my last scrap, sir," the Cockney said simply.
+
+"Nonsense. We'll pull you through." Carter lied manfully, but the other
+shook his head in resignation to the inevitable.
+
+"She's a lydey--you understand--but would it be too great a shock--to
+'er--for me to speak to 'er--before--before--I croak?" he stammered
+wistfully.
+
+"I'll get her, old man." Gently he lifted the wounded Carrick, carried
+him to where, aside from the road, a bed of moss made a more comfortable
+pillow for the stricken red head, then, with a sigh, he set out to bring
+Trusia. Roweling deep, he raced with Death to bring a woman's solace to
+a dying man.
+
+
+
+
+XXII
+
+CARRICK IS KING
+
+
+"Where is Carrick?" Her question came from the thick copse in which she
+was concealed. "You have had news, I know," she said, stepping into view
+and glancing searchingly into his troubled countenance. "Is he wounded?"
+He could have gathered her into his arms and kissed her as she stood
+before him, but that the very air seemed charged with impending
+disaster. As gently as brevity would permit, he told her of Carrick's
+fate. Together they rode swiftly back to where Carrick lay, fighting his
+last triumphant adversary, Death himself.
+
+"No Lunnon sights to see," he muttered in his delirium; "no concert
+songs to'ear.... Ah, Meg, you was cruel 'ard on poor Tod, but damn you,
+I loves you still."
+
+"A woman betrayed him," she said. Carter nodded a grim assent. Her lips
+quivered. Her eyes brimmed to the brink with priceless womanly sympathy.
+"Perhaps," she said rising and turning away, "perhaps he wouldn't care
+for us to know."
+
+Carter drew her back gently. "I don't think he would mind--if you knew.
+Poor chap, his has certainly been a hard fate."
+
+Responding to the appeal in their hearts, which penetrated the numbing
+faculties, Carrick, in one final effort, threw off the shackles of Death
+and stood free for a season. His eyes opened at first without
+recognition for the pair bending over him. Then a gradual joy warmed the
+cooling embers of his life.
+
+"'Ighness," he cried; the neighborhood of Death stripped his speech to
+its native crudeness. "'Ighness, a man carries to 'is grave the face of
+one woman in 'is 'eart. Hi knows that much to me sorrow. Captain, 'ere,
+beggin' your pardon, loves you, but daren't sye so for fear of 'Is
+Majesty. You don't love the King, you love Captain Carter. God bless
+'im, 'e's the best man ever breathed. For Gawd's sake, 'Ighness, don't
+let 'im carry your sweet face to the grave with 'im unless your love
+goes with hit. You two was made for each other."
+
+As a blade loses its sharpness from continuous wear, so dulled the eyes
+of Carrick in his combat with Death. In the bitterness of his strife he
+struggled to his elbow. Who can tell of the range of one's soul or the
+might thereof? On the brink of Eternity, Life wrestled with Death. The
+body was to be bared of the soul. Was the soul to be stripped of the
+associations it had formed in this existence? Might it not also strive
+for a continuance of its entity even as the man struggled for further
+living? Does the soul return to a nebulous state without further
+initiate perceptions after a life--a span--of activity? Was it merely
+recollections, or did his desperate spirit revisit the route of its life
+in a fruitless flight from Death? His voice came from far away, and what
+he said showed that he was at least living over the older days.
+
+"Yes, Meg, Hi loves you. There hisn't a king, girl, has Hi would change
+plyces with for you.... Posies for yer winder. Let 'em grow, till we've
+other posies in our 'ome. Yer blushin', Meg. Ha! Ha!... Oh, Gawd, me
+'eart's broke.... Forget?... Hit's you, Doc Judson, as will look arter
+Captain Carter now. Good-bye, Doc.... Why, there's 'er face again. Damn
+you, Meg. Hi hates you, but Hi loves you.... Captain Carter.... Ah-h-h."
+
+His struggle with Love, with Life, and with Death was over. With a
+long-drawn sigh of relief his spirit had passed. His head was turned to
+the man who had befriended him.
+
+Hand in hand, Trusia and Carter arose and stood over the pulseless form.
+Trusia was the first to speak.
+
+[Illustration: "DON'T LET 'IM CARRY YOUR SWEET FACE TO THE GRAVE WITH
+'IM UNLESS YOUR LOVE GOES WITH IT"]
+
+"We cannot leave him here, dear. Poor, poor Carrick," and she threatened
+to sob. Carter slipped his arm about her comfortingly. As though
+returning, birdlike, to its nest, her head cradled itself against his
+shoulder, her arm timidly sought his neck and for one brief second she
+was content.
+
+"Come," he said almost brutally to dissipate the apathy which death had
+thrown upon them both. "I'll carry him." He assisted her to mount, then,
+Carrick in his arms, he scrambled into the saddle. As they swung at a
+gallop out of the woods, a shot whistled past his head.
+
+"Are you hurt, dear?" she cried.
+
+"No; these woods seem Russianized, though. Pray heaven the road is not,"
+and with strained eyes to the front, with word and spur, they raced for
+the lane to the castle.
+
+"Something is amiss, dear; I know; I feel it. Still no matter what it
+is," she said, turning and laying her hand with a trustful little
+movement upon his arm, "I have your love, my King." With one foot on the
+flat step of the castle entrance, as she said this Trusia turned to
+Carter, a world of capitulated love in her eyes. The wicket opened with
+a more ominous creak than was its wont, it seemed. The Sergeant thrust
+his shaggy pate through the narrow opening in answer to their knock. On
+seeing who it was he stepped out to where he would have ample space for
+the full salute he always gave Her Grace. Some perplexity on the simple
+face aroused her forebodings anew.
+
+"What is it, Sergeant?" she inquired anxiously. "Who is here?"
+
+"Can't make heads or tails of it, Your Grace; not that I have any right
+to, but one gets figuring on what is going on around him when he is
+idle. It must be very important, since Colonel Sutphen has been summoned
+from the frontier. Count Zulka has not arrived yet, but a courier was
+sent for him, too. His Majesty is also here, but it seems that Count
+Sobieska sent out all the orders. The courier from Paris arrived about
+an hour before the Privy Council was summoned. Then Josef was sent for.
+Then, though kept in the office, he was put under arrest. Search has
+been made everywhere for Your Grace. My commands were to invite you to
+enter as soon as you could be found. I will announce you."
+
+"You must come, also," the girl insisted, turning to Carter.
+
+"But Carrick?" he objected, as he looked down at the lifeless figure in
+his arms.
+
+"Bring him in," she replied. "Though too late to do him further
+service, Krovitch shall not forget his devotion and his sacrifice."
+
+They opened and entered the door of Sobieska's office. A faint commotion
+heralded the sight of Carrick which Carter attributed to natural
+surprise; he had no idea that it held a deeper significance. He placed
+the blood-stained form upon a leather lounge, folding the hands across
+the breast. The pallid features seemed to have taken on a strange
+nobility in death.
+
+It needed but a scant glance to prove that something was wrong, an odd
+repression filled the air with a myriad silent surmises. Trusia's eyes
+were blazing. Then Carter, following their direction, noted that the
+Minister of Private Intelligence, against all etiquette, was seated
+calmly at his desk, while His Majesty was standing. Josef, at one corner
+of the room, was guarded by the pair of soldiers who had been placed to
+watch Carter and Carrick the day of their arrival. A strapping young
+fellow, pale and mud-splashed, a bandage about his head, his left arm in
+a sling, leaned heavily against the wainscoting.
+
+As Trusia courtesied low to Stovik, Sobieska arose, a slight frown
+marking a thin line between his brows, to bow sadly in the direction of
+the body on the lounge. His back was deliberately turned upon the
+Parisian with such studied insolence of action that the Duchess could
+not permit it to pass unrebuked.
+
+"The King!" she said.
+
+There followed--silence. Stovik and the courier dropped to their knees
+with bowed heads. Sobieska, gloom encircled, stood with bent head and
+quivering lips. His sombre eyes were fixed upon the inanimate Cockney as
+though to this modern he would recall the miracle of Lazarus. Then out
+of the well of his woe, came his voice, deep, and grief-laden. In the
+simplicity of life's greatest emotion, he pointed toward the couch.
+
+"The King?" he questioned, looking straight into Trusia's eyes now. "The
+King? Does not your blood--your common heritage--tell you that the King
+is dead? God rest His Majesty."
+
+She turned from one to the other in total bewilderment; finally, as
+though trusting none other, she came to Carter for enlightenment. He had
+comprehended in a glance.
+
+"What do they mean?" she begged plaintively. "My poor head is awhirl in
+all this gloom."
+
+"Carrick is King," he answered. A single tear, a perfect pearl of pity,
+hung abashed upon her cheek.
+
+"It is so," assented the Minister, as she awaited his confirmation.
+Gradually her grief dried in the realization of the awful deception
+which had been practiced by some one on her country. The flame of her
+burning rage shot suddenly into sight.
+
+"What treason brought him here, then?" she asked haughtily, pointing
+indignantly at Stovik.
+
+The latter smiled deprecatingly, as Sobieska answered, "Part of a
+Russian plot, Highness, of which, so far as we can ascertain, this
+gentleman has been the innocent victim. It was by such a plan they
+sought to lure all the patriots within the boundaries of our land, then
+to draw their net about us. I pray God that we still have time."
+
+"Who was it?" she inquired with lips white and drawn, and brow
+contracted.
+
+"Josef."
+
+All eyes were turned upon the accused, whose inscrutable countenance
+underwent no shadow of a change, no fear of death was there, no regret
+for infamy. If the expression had altered at all, it was to display a
+shade more of triumphant insolence. The Duchess turned sternly to him.
+
+"Is this true?" she asked, loathing the necessity of speaking to him.
+Yet there was no passion in her voice; the situation was too grave for
+that.
+
+He smiled his hateful, unchanging smile, as he bowed a taunting assent.
+
+"You shall die," she said, in the same level tones. She was not cruel,
+had not lost an iota of her womanliness. The crushing magnitude of his
+falsity to her country made her forget that she was aught else than the
+regent for these people and that here was a matter of primitive,
+vindictive justice which must be settled by her hand.
+
+"When?" Josef's tone ridiculed the sentence imposed.
+
+"At dawn," she answered, her scornful glance sweeping his colorless
+face.
+
+For the first time, his aspect was nearly that of a man. He held his
+head erect, the cringe disappeared from his back, the obsequiousness
+from his manner. Then while an eye might wink, he took on the appearance
+of a snake with high-held head--about to strike.
+
+"In about one hour," he boldly asserted, "the troops of His Imperial
+Majesty will have surrounded, yes, and entered this place. If harm comes
+to me, you all shall swing. Schallberg, Lore, Bagos are already ours.
+What," he continued with a comprehensive sneer, including all present,
+"did you think that you had conquered the Bear so handily?"
+
+They felt it was the unwelcome truth he was speaking. All day the
+distant booming of guns had sounded in their ears as the "death bells"
+ring for the superstitious gude-wife.
+
+"All last night as you laughed and danced," Josef continued, "a Russian
+army, unchallenged, passed your gates, and could have taken you all.
+Knowing that it had you safe when needed, it pushed on to the bigger
+game, the capture of your capital. At daybreak it began battering down
+those walls you thought you held so firmly."
+
+The wrath, gathering in a purple cloud on Sutphen's brow, now broke into
+a storm. "He must have known," he said pointing at the pseudo-king. "He
+appointed you officer of the day," and the outraged Colonel wheeled
+about on Josef, who scarcely deigned a smile of commiseration for such
+ignorance.
+
+"He knew nothing," he finally volunteered. "I brought him here so that
+if Russia won, I could save my dupe. If Krovitch won, a true revelation
+of his real status would make him my debtor for life."
+
+"Why?" Sobieska asked amid a stillness freighted with the prophecy of a
+startling revelation. All held their breath as Josef, turning slowly
+from countenance to countenance, read the disdain which he inspired.
+
+"He has kissed you," he said pointing a bony finger at Trusia, "and
+would have married you." Her face crimsoned at the memory of that
+betrothal salute, formal and public as it had been. Waiting until the
+scene had time to rise before her eyes, he continued that by no chance
+should the import of his words be missed, "He is my son." The pride of
+the parent snake was in the eyes that he turned upon the Parisian, who
+turned his head away, ashamed of such regard.
+
+"May God forgive us both," he whispered, "but I disown you."
+
+For the first time a hint of color appeared in the parchment hue of
+Josef's cheek and for the first time a human note sounded in his voice.
+"My son," he began with a slight outstretching of his hands, "my son, I
+wanted you to be wealthy, great, not the spawn of a hereditary servitor,
+not a struggling artist." Slowly, as he realized that the artist would
+have none of him, the wonted bitter look crept back into his face,
+leaving it wan as ever, while additional defiance increased the grim
+lines about his mouth.
+
+There followed a breathless silence. Somewhere, to the actual pain of
+all but one present, a bird was singing in the outside world. The sound
+came faintly to their ears as from another existence--the shadow sound
+of dreams. In the room itself reigned the cold stillness of death. Then
+gradually a sigh of sounds crept in. Increasing in volume, it shaped
+itself into an approaching medley of shouts, hoof-beats, scattering
+rifle shots, a fierce sentry challenge, a reply,--then a steed halted on
+the stone flags of the courtyard. They waited breathlessly for the added
+disaster all felt was coming. Their senses, cloyed by grief, knew that
+whatever it was of ill-omen, it could not touch them now. Still they
+listened. The wicket in the entrance door was heard to open. An
+irregular, halting, desperate step came up the hall.
+
+With a lunge, the door flung open. Zulka, bleeding, grimy, and gasping,
+tottered into the room.
+
+"Schallberg! Schallberg!" he whispered faintly, "Lore! Bagos! all are
+taken!" And he fell heavily to the floor.
+
+They pressed forward, excepting Josef, who, in the prevailing excitement
+slipped from the room. His escape was unnoticed for the time being, as
+Zulka, struggling to his feet, told them the story of the attack upon
+the capital and the death blow to their hopes.
+
+"You left your post alive, Paul," said Her Highness reproachfully.
+
+"Don't say that," he begged, raising his hopeless face to read her
+condemnation. "With the five survivors of the last assault, I escaped,
+Highness, to bring the news, so that you might be saved. My companions
+mark the road to Schallberg. The enemy followed me to your very gates. I
+wish," he said, with a gulping sob, "that I, too, lay dead with those
+brave fellows in the ruins of our ancient capital." He raised his face,
+all powder-stained, as he searched the room with eyes that glowed with a
+desire for righteous vengeance. No countenance present wore the insignia
+of guilt. "Where is the traitor?" he asked. For the first time Josef's
+absence was noted.
+
+Sobieska ran to the door. "Stop Josef before he gets to the road," he
+cried to the sergeant, who seemed utterly amazed at such a command.
+
+"Excellency," he replied, "Josef never passed me through this door."
+Trusia approached the excited Minister.
+
+"It is no use to attempt to stop him," she said with a shake of the
+head. "He knows of the secret passage to the inn. Doubtless he has
+already joined his comrades."
+
+Sobieska groaned. "He'll give the alarm. We will be cut off."
+
+"If we want to save Her Grace," said Carter, "we will have no time to
+lose. We do not wish to be mewed up here. We'd better make a dash for
+the forest and trust to God to reach the frontier. Take this, Paul," he
+said, thrusting a flask into the hands of the nobleman, who was swaying
+upon uncertain legs. "Brace up." He caught his friend as the latter was
+about to topple over.
+
+"It must be Trusia first," said the Krovitzer, grasping the American's
+hand with a pressure which was fervently returned.
+
+"It will always be Trusia," he replied firmly.
+
+Not yet enlightened, Zulka now approached Delmotte, before whom he
+knelt. "Your Majesty absolves me for leaving my post?" he besought.
+
+"I am not your king, Count," said the Parisian, honestly chagrined at
+his false position. "He lies dead over there," and he indicated the
+temporary bier. "I have unhappily been the victim of an imposture." Then
+hurriedly Sobieska recited to Zulka the outline of the conspiracy and
+Delmotte's connection with it.
+
+"If you will let me help," said the artist appealing to them all, "I'll
+show you that though a bourgeois Frenchman, I know how to die."
+
+Trusia held out her hand impulsively. "I thank you, monsieur," she said
+simply. "Forgive me if I have been late in discovering that you are a
+brave man."
+
+Divested of his fancied power, Delmotte was again the amiable
+boulevardier, as could be seen by the manner in which he received the
+plaudits of the men, with whom he now was rated as a comrade-in-arms.
+
+Zulka, meanwhile, having learned how Sobieska had unearthed Carrick's
+claims to the crown, had approached and lifted the lifeless hand to his
+lips.
+
+"May God rest Your Majesty," he murmured reverently. He arose and spoke
+quietly to his companions. "He must be interred before we leave. In a
+few days, no doubt, the castle will be razed to the ground. It is not
+fitting that a King of Krovitch should be the feast of wolves and
+ravens."
+
+So Carrick, with a scanty following, was carried to the little chapel,
+behind the throne-room, where the sarcophagi of the ancient kings could
+be seen lining the walls.
+
+Upon his head they placed the crown. His hands were crossed upon the
+sceptre he had never dreamed of wielding, while, dearer than all to him
+in life, upon his breast they placed the heirloom he had prized,--the
+grand medal of the Lion.
+
+His body was placed in the mausoleum of the first Stovik, his ancestor.
+No royal name was cut, but the place of his burial was deeply graved in
+the hearts of all present. Had he lived he had been a farcical king,
+but dead he was as imposing as the grandest monarch of them all.
+
+Sorrowfully they turned and left the mortuary. Returning to Sobieska's
+office, impelled by the necessities of the moment, they plunged into the
+plans for an immediate flight from the castle.
+
+"The highways are already swarming with Cossacks," said Zulka. "Once
+gain the shelter of the woods, however, and we can hide by day and
+travel at night until we reach the frontier."
+
+"How many have we in the garrison?" inquired Trusia, who had
+instinctively placed herself at Carter's side.
+
+"Half a platoon of cavalry," replied Sobieska gravely, thinking of the
+meagreness of their force for the occasion.
+
+"One more," said Muhlen-Sarkey entering the room. He bent above Trusia's
+extended hand as serenely as though they were both figuring in a court
+function and not a congress of death.
+
+"Living nearer Schallberg," he explained, "I saw how matters stood, and
+immediately packed off the women folk to the boundaries. I then came
+here to offer my services, my sword, if necessary."
+
+"Courageous heart," applauded Trusia, touched by the old fellow's
+loyalty. At her commendation his face, as round as a schoolboy's,
+lighted up with happiness.
+
+"The roads?" Carter questioned eagerly.
+
+The old nobleman shook his head, regretting that he could furnish no
+information concerning their state. "I do not know. Anticipating that
+they would be crowded, though," he coughed suggestively, and his eyes
+twinkled, "I came through the woods. Met one inquisitive young Russian.
+Convinced him it would be impossible for him to tell all he knew." The
+Treasurer touched his sword with a gesture which the men understood. "He
+contracted an impediment to his speech."
+
+While the horses were being hastily saddled, Trusia had the garrison
+assembled in the courtyard and explained to the heart-broken soldiers
+that Krovitch's dream of independence was over, giving them free
+permission to leave their colors at once if any so desired. When she
+called for volunteers to aid in her escape every man sprang forward,
+loudly cheering Trusia, then Krovitch.
+
+
+
+
+XXIII
+
+NOBLESSE OBLIGE
+
+
+"Marie, you are to go with the first detachment. You, Therese, with the
+second. Your mistress will ride with the gentlemen of her household."
+
+Clad in the Duchess's clothes, as they had volunteered devotedly, the
+better to throw off pursuit from Her Grace, the maids with many tearful
+protestations of undying loyalty took their allotted places in the
+cavalcade which was forming in the courtyard of the castle.
+
+"First section," rang out the preliminary command, "draw sabres. By
+fours, left. March. Trot," and the first of the forlorn hope was
+started. The troops swung by the little group which held Trusia in its
+centre. As the head of the scanty column came abreast of where she sat
+in her saddle, the lieutenant, Casimir, turned on his horse, his voice
+husky with emotion, to give a command. "Present sabres," he cried, and a
+score of blades were pointed heavenward, perhaps for the last time for
+the royal house of Schallberg. Something caught in Trusia's throat as
+the gallant band swept by to challenge Death that _she_ might live.
+
+After these had turned into the narrow incline, Marie in their midst,
+the second detachment followed, gravely saluting their loved liege lady.
+
+Swords in hand, then, came the grave-faced men who had borne her hopes
+for Krovitch in their hearts. Courageous as any knights of old, their
+faces betrayed what an awful price they considered this flight to be.
+Alone, they would have preferred to have fought it out to the last drop
+of blood in their veins, but had yielded to the expedient because the
+girl's safety was dearer to them than their most cherished wish. At the
+foot of the declivity, the entire force reunited before finally
+debouching into the road.
+
+"Should our party be attacked," suggested Sobieska, "it is imperative
+that Her Grace should be hurried right on to the frontier without
+awaiting the issue of the combat. Some one must accompany her. Will Your
+Highness choose?" he turned to her with a deep bow, a wistful light
+glowing in his cynical eyes.
+
+"If Major Carter will accompany me," she said almost timidly, "I will
+select him." The others pressed forward to wring his hand in silence.
+
+"We are ready, Lieutenant Casimir, advance your men," cried Sutphen.
+
+"Columns of eights. First section to the right, second section to the
+left. March. Trot. Gallop," rang out the commands, as, with their last
+cheer for Krovitch, the troopers dashed into the highway to clear the
+space for Trusia. A wild confusion of sounds apprised those waiting that
+at least one party had engaged adversaries.
+
+"Now," shouted Carter rising in his stirrups. With an involuntary cheer,
+they bolted for the cover of the woods across the road. They beheld
+Casimir's little band hotly engaged with an entire troop of cavalry, but
+it was stubbornly, unyieldingly, holding the Cossacks back. On the left
+the remaining squad merely awaited the passing of the Duchess to go to
+their comrades' assistance.
+
+With such speed as the underbrush and rough ground would permit, the
+court party, headed by the white-haired Sutphen, plunged onward to the
+lane which led to the charcoal burner's hut. They were soon beyond even
+the sounds of the conflict. Carter, riding at Trusia's right, saw the
+tears gathering for the devoted heroes they had deserted of such cruel
+necessity.
+
+They swept into the narrow lane and reached the crest of that little
+hill where sudden sorrow had made mock of sudden joy. Coming toward
+them, as if apprised of their neighborhood, they saw a squadron of
+Russian cavalry numerically overwhelming. Both parties stopped for the
+breathing space preliminary to the death grip.
+
+"We cannot turn back. We'll have to fight, gentlemen," said the fleshy
+Treasurer. "Who knows," he said with a quaint smile, "it may reduce my
+flesh." He turned back his sleeve very deliberately and carefully until
+his arm was bare to the elbow. Drawing his sword, he securely fastened
+the thong on the hilt about his wrist that no matter how fierce the
+_melee_, he would not be disarmed. Delmotte imitated his example. Giving
+the blade a preparatory swing, the doughty Treasurer settled back in his
+saddle with a sigh of anticipation.
+
+Zulka and Sobieska rode back to Trusia.
+
+"Just for 'Auf wiedersehn,'" they said smilingly. Trusia held out her
+hands to them with sweet impulsiveness. In turn they took them and
+carried them to their lips. Sobieska turned to Carter for a parting
+word. "The charcoal burner is loyal. He can hide you by day and guide
+you by night. None knows better all the byways and secret paths in the
+forests. By to-morrow evening you should be safe in Austria. Good-bye,
+Highness," he said, turning to Her Grace. "God bring you safe through."
+His voice was hoarse with repression.
+
+"Good luck, Carter," said Zulka, and turned away as he spoke.
+
+[Illustration: "FOR TRUSIA!" THEY SHOUTED, AND THEN, "FOR KROVITCH!"]
+
+Bustling good-naturedly in the very jaws of danger, Muhlen-Sarkey made
+his adieux with no ruffle disturbing his customary urbanity. "Sorry we
+can't have your help," he remarked to Carter; "you have the place of
+honor, though. No need to caution you. Go now. Go quickly."
+
+"Wait," said Trusia, holding up a denying hand. "See, they are sending
+out a single rider around our flank." A courier detaching himself from
+the main body of their foes could be seen making his way past their line
+through the wilderness.
+
+"To report that the quarry has been run to earth." Carter gathered up
+his reins grimly as he spoke. "Come, Highness," he said to the girl who
+was lost in some sad dream.
+
+"I do not wish to leave them. It seems so heartless," she burst forth.
+Then she turned to him appealingly as to that one who must henceforth
+order all things for her guidance. "Let me stay," she begged, "I can die
+like a Krovitzer."
+
+"For you to fall into their hands, sweetheart," he whispered, "might
+mean worse than death. Would you leave such a reproach to haunt the
+survivors? The enemy is already approaching; come." His insistent hand
+was at her bridle and compelled her compliance.
+
+The Krovitzers, with high-bred courage, spurred forward to meet their
+opponents, scorning to await the attack of even such superior numbers.
+
+"For Trusia!" they shouted, and then, "For Krovitch!" as they engaged
+with a crash which halted the fugitives by its vehemence.
+
+"A short life and a merry one, a stout blade and a noble one," they
+heard Muhlen-Sarkey shout as he lunged forward with a laugh into the
+thickest of the fray. At the first onslaught they saw Delmotte fall
+apparently dead. Carter drew the girl away from the sight of further
+carnage.
+
+"He has proven himself a gallant gentleman," said Carter for her
+comfort, as once more they entered the protection of the patriarchal
+trees.
+
+
+
+
+XXIV
+
+STOLEN SLEEP
+
+
+Caution is slow-footed. It was already night when they drew in sight of
+the little blur of lamp-light in the charcoal burner's window. The girl
+at Carter's side straightened herself briskly in her saddle and gave an
+involuntary sigh of relief.
+
+They had neither time to hail him nor a chance to dismount, before the
+bearded face of the occupant appeared in the doorway, which he
+cautiously closed behind him. He held up a warning finger. Approaching
+Trusia's side, he uncovered his head and humbly lifting her skirt's edge
+kissed its hem. He spoke in a tone too low for Carter's ear, but Trusia,
+turning, conveyed to her escort the substance of his remarks.
+
+"He says that he already has guests--uninvited ones--in his home. A
+Cossack picket has been quartered upon him. At present they are asleep.
+He learned of our possible fate from them, and waited at the window,
+watching for such chance stragglers as might escape. He offers to guide
+us to a cave, which Krovitzers deserting from the Russian army have
+been accustomed to make their refuge against pursuit. We can lie safely
+hid there to-night and to-morrow he will guide us to the Vistula. Or, if
+we would rather, he will immediately lead us to a path which if we
+follow should bring us to the riverside by dawn. Which shall it be,
+Calvert?" He was stirred to the depths of his nature by her unreserved
+trust in him.
+
+"Can you stand the longer journey?" he asked anxiously.
+
+"Yes, with you," she replied gently.
+
+"Let us push on, then," he suggested. "We cannot put too many miles
+between us and pursuit. Tell him, though, to bring some food and at
+least one blanket for you."
+
+Upon learning her decision the faithful fellow disappeared into the
+cabin, from which he presently emerged carrying two parcels which he
+handed to Carter. Cautioning them to follow as silently as might be, he
+plunged without further comment into the darkest shadows about them,
+which, upon their nearer approach, disclosed a tiny footpath in which
+they found it impossible for them to ride abreast. The peasant, with the
+lantern which he had lit when well out of sight of the hut, was plodding
+silently ahead, so Carter dropped back, keeping both eyes and ears open
+for any sight or sounds that might warn him of the neighborhood of
+strangers. The path grew each moment wilder and more impassable for
+equestrians. The low branches of the trees more than once whipped their
+faces. Three times did Trusia's horse stumble over some projecting root
+directly in their route. After the eternity it takes to cover five miles
+on an unknown road in chaotic darkness, the charcoal burner turned to
+his princess.
+
+"From now on, Highness," he said with an apologetic gesture, "the road
+is too narrow for horses."
+
+She turned to Carter, awaiting his decision. It was an odd picture they
+made. He could not but note it. The peasant held his lantern on a level
+with his shaggy head which alternated in deep shadows and high lights.
+About them, within the zone of its rays, the huge trunks of trees stood
+out on every side, their tops lost in the surrounding darkness. Before
+him, but partially revealed by the illumination, sat the girl upon her
+horse, her head turned to him with an expression emphasized by the
+encircling gloom.
+
+"Well?" she asked, recalling him from his observations.
+
+"We'll have to abandon them," he answered, dismounting and reluctantly
+helping her to the ground. When Trusia offered the horses to Hans, he
+refused, saying that their possession might lead to the pursuit of the
+fugitives.
+
+Trusia fondly drew the satiny muzzle of her own steed down to her cheek.
+
+"I hate to do it, Saladin," she murmured chokingly, "but I have to; you
+understand, dear horse." She kissed the soft nose that was resting
+affectionately on her shoulder. "You will have to drive him away,
+Calvert," she said turning to the man at her side, "I cannot." The steed
+seemed to comprehend, for with a whinny that was almost a sigh, he
+coaxingly nozzled her hand and rubbed his shapely head against her arm.
+
+"Good-bye, Saladin," she cried wistfully, as in obedience to a sharp
+smack on their flanks, the horses trotted off into the thicket and were
+swallowed up in the gloom.
+
+Hour after hour Carter and Trusia, led by Hans, trudged ahead, silently
+advancing upon the wall of darkness ever facing them. Their reflections
+were absorbing them and each respected the sanctity of the other's
+thoughts. After the second five miles had been accomplished, they
+suddenly came upon a clear space under the unveiled splendor of the
+stars. At their feet, reflecting the glory of the heavens, bubbled a
+forest spring. Hans dropped at Trusia's feet, and catching her hand,
+mumbled some grief-hampered words.
+
+"He must go back now," she explained to Carter. "He says our way is
+plain from here on. We are to follow this path until daylight. By then
+we should reach a similar clearing, where his brother, Carl, has his
+ovens. There we can get shelter. When we have had sufficient rest, Carl
+will guide us to the frontier. That last part of the road Hans does not
+know. Once at the river, he says, there is a ferry, used by peasants,
+which will take us across to Austria."
+
+"Why must he go?" Carter inquired, his every suspicion aroused for the
+woman he loved.
+
+"Should he be missing in the morning from his hut, the soldiers would
+guess the reason for his absence. His wife and infant would probably pay
+for his loyalty with their lives."
+
+"And this Carl, how can he vouch for his loyalty?" Carter persisted.
+
+"I know Carl," said the girl sweetly. That was enough.
+
+The peasant stood to one side as the pair passed him. One glance into
+the honest eyes was sufficient to convince Carter that the man had
+spoken the truth.
+
+Soon nothing could be seen of the shadowy figure on the forest edge
+which stood watching until darkness swallowed the form of his beloved
+suzerain. Side by side again, the two persisted along the starlit way of
+their hopes, until they, too, entered another forest beyond. Here,
+though aided by the lantern Hans had left with them, they lost the
+narrow lane a score of times; disuse had made it almost invisible.
+
+At last, gray with mourning, the tardy day awoke. With heavy limbs and
+straining eyes, they stumbled at last into view of the promised haven of
+thatch.
+
+A premonition of something amiss caused Carter to pause as they hastened
+toward it. The door, unlatched, swung open desolately upon creaking
+hinges. No smoke beckoned from its chimneys, no sign of personality bade
+them draw near. Trusia choked back the sob as she clung heavily to
+Carter's arm.
+
+"It is empty," she prophesied.
+
+"The fellow is about some place, doubtless," Carter answered cheerfully,
+that she might not be panic-stricken by his acquiescence. "You stay
+here. I'll scout about a bit,--and find him," he added as an
+afterthought. Leaving both his pack and revolver with her, he approached
+the house with the same caution he would have displayed in routing out a
+grizzly bear.
+
+In the tiny enclosure in front of the cabin, he found the disturbing
+evidence of the visitation of a number of horses in the marred and
+furrowed soil of the garden, torn by a score of hoofs. Cossacks had been
+here. He paused, with straining ears, by the door, listening for some
+portent from within. No sound gave him a clue as to the situation inside
+the single room which made up the peasant home. He entered boldly.
+
+Trusia's heart pounded in lonely centuries, it seemed, as she prayed
+fervently for his reappearance. Presently, staggering beneath a burden
+of suggestive shape, Carter came out and took his way to the dense
+underbrush behind the cabin. He returned to the hut for a spade and pick
+and went back to the underbrush. His absence seemed interminable. Then,
+with blistered hands, he stepped out of the thicket at her side.
+
+"What was it? What kept you so long?" she asked, startled by his sudden
+appearance and petulant with exhaustion.
+
+"Don't ask me, sweet," he begged, "but come and rest for an hour or so.
+I'll be the sentry at your gate."
+
+"But the Cossacks may come," she hesitated.
+
+"Lightning never strikes twice in the same place," he assured with a
+grim meaning for himself in the words. "Come, the coast is clear."
+
+"But that you carried," she held back as the doubt arose, for she had
+seen.
+
+"Without benefit of clergy, poor fellow," he replied seeing that it was
+too late to deceive her. "I hoped you wouldn't notice."
+
+Gently he urged her to the hut. Freshening the pallet with twigs and
+leaves, he spread the double blanket they had brought upon the bed and
+then withdrew to mount guard while she might snatch some rest.
+
+With his back against the wall, seated on a rude bench outside the
+cabin, he watched the heavy-eyed sun arise and yawn. Once from the cabin
+a sigh floated.
+
+"Rest well, sweetheart," he called. "Our flight has just commenced."
+
+
+
+
+XXV
+
+THEY MEET JOSEF
+
+
+He dared not sleep. Thousands of aching demons in his weary limbs
+promised him surcease if he would. Every stir in nature, each drowsy
+twitter of the birds, coaxed him to relax his watchfulness, but he
+resisted. Time seemed a paralytic as Carter waited the passing of the
+day. A score of times his head bent forward in weariness. He could feel
+pain pass from him like a sigh, only to be called back as in reaction he
+would jerk his head up to wakefulness.
+
+Slumber reigned indoors. As the hours dragged on, it seemed to the
+watchful lover that something was surely wrong. He had heard no sound,
+no stir, no sigh, for an age of patience. Half ashamed of his own
+boldness, he tiptoed in to where she lay. Her face was pale with
+languor; no breath appeared to stir her breast. With a great leap his
+mind went back, fearing, to that scene by the roadside as she lay
+fainting in his arms. He reached out and touched her wrist. Again he
+gave thanks that, beneath his finger, life flowed serenely in its
+course.
+
+He turned and went back to his seat on the bench. He counted time now
+by the throbbing of his nerves. The sun passed its zenith, began to
+droop; still Trusia slept and Carter kept a sleepless vigil. Great and
+red, in the west, the sun was setting as the girl came out and laid a
+soft, comforting hand upon his shoulder.
+
+"I have been selfish, Calvert," she said in self-accusation. "I should
+have let you rest first. You have had the greater labor and worriment.
+We will eat something now, then I shall watch while you sleep."
+
+"I am not tired," he protested, yawning as he spoke. "Even though I have
+not slept I have dreamed--of you." He marveled at the mystery which bade
+a rose pink creep into a girl's cheek and pass and come again.
+
+The simple food provided by Hans was a delectable feast to the wayworn
+pair, who appreciated it down to the last allotted crumb.
+
+After the final morsel had disappeared, they quietly conversed, but
+while they talked, Carter's head lurched forward and he was asleep.
+Sweetly, with the maternal impulse found even in maidens, she drew the
+heavy head to her and smiled happily at its weight upon her breast. She
+bent forward to listen, for sweetened in the dream he held, she heard
+her name whispered in adoration.
+
+The shadows were creeping upon them. Evening had drawn the curtain
+across reluctant day. In the dusk, sinister figures appeared to crouch
+and creep by every bush and tree. Inevitable as darkness it seemed, they
+gathered from every side. Her fright numbered them as a myriad. They
+were three. Unwilling in her solicitude to disturb her sleeping lover
+until the last moment, she drew her revolver. Then with chilling
+misgivings she realized that these men had followed the path used by
+herself and Carter.
+
+Some acute sympathy--maybe his dreams, maybe a prescience which never
+slumbers--awoke Carter with a full realization of the imminent danger
+which threatened.
+
+"Come," he said, arising to his full height, "you must go in." He pushed
+her through the door and stood in the narrow entrance, awaiting the
+onslaught. "They outnumber me," he laughed, "but it is a dark night.
+That reduces the odds. You see, sweetheart, that while in the gloom they
+may hit friends, yet if it comes to sword play I can't possibly hit any
+one else but them." He actually chuckled as he rolled back the sleeve on
+his right arm. "They won't use pistols unless I do, for they don't know
+how near we are to reinforcements. Neither do we for that matter," and
+he smiled again. "Have you that revolver?" he inquired, quite serious
+this time. "No, I don't want it," he said as she held it out to him.
+"You know what to do with it if the time comes."
+
+They had not long to wait. Their opponents, confident of success, came
+rapidly forward. One figure was familiar even in the gloom. It was
+Josef. With a leap the trio were upon Carter. He felt the impact of
+their blades like pulse beats in the darkness as they met his own steel.
+As weapon met weapon in clanging song his spirits arose. He wanted to
+chant to the dainty, cruel rhythm of the tempered strokes. He knew on
+the instant that he should vanquish these foes. Muscle after muscle,
+sinew after sinew, thickened and grew lean alternately as thrust
+followed guard. His body, moving with his arm, seemed following some
+primitive dance--the orgy of the Sword, the prince of battle weapons.
+
+He heard a smothered gasp in the darkness, succeeded by a curse in a
+familiar voice.
+
+"You, Josef?" he queried with a satisfied laugh.
+
+"Not yet, m'sieu the American," came back the sneering answer. "You
+first," it taunted, just beyond Carter's reach in the gloom. The remark
+was followed by a slight touch in the shoulder from which the warm
+blood spouted as the keen point was withdrawn.
+
+"Not quite low enough for me, Josef," answered Carter. "That was only a
+scratch. Try a ripost. I don't intend to wound _you_. I am going to kill
+you."
+
+"You'll have no chance. We are three and we will carry off the Lady
+Trusia. She'll be a dainty bit for our feasting." A sob behind him
+apprised him that she had heard.
+
+"Cur," Carter cried, and drove straight for the neck he knew held a
+smirking face. With the slipping of Carter's foot, Josef escaped death
+at the price of a companion's life, behind whom Josef had escaped
+Carter's vengeance. The American, hearing the suggestive thud in the
+darkness, pushed his advantage, with the result that soon an angry snarl
+told him that the second Russian was wounded. The fellow dropped his
+sword to clasp his right wrist, then fled, closely followed by the
+discreet servitor. When Calvert had recovered his balance, the Gray Man
+had disappeared.
+
+"There is no time to lose," he called to Trusia, "we must start at once
+before that old rascal brings reinforcements." Though he jestingly
+belittled its importance, she insisted upon bandaging the wound in his
+shoulder and made much of him, womanlike.
+
+"I do not care if they should send a dozen men," she said, dazzling the
+gloom with her eyes; "my king, my lover, could defeat them all!" He
+dared not kiss her, then, as they both would have wished. Her isolation
+made her holy.
+
+"That," he said, pointing southwardly, "is our general direction. Fate
+must guide our steps."
+
+
+
+
+XXVI
+
+THE VISTULA!
+
+
+It was a weary journey. Confused, discouraged, losing their paths a
+score of times each hour, they lurched forward through the gloom of
+night and the unfeeling dawn of the next day. They prayed a ceaseless
+prayer for succor and--the Vistula. They were hungry, for the last crumb
+of food had been lost in fording a boisterous stream in their road, and
+in the darkness they had been unable to recover it. Rough stones cut
+Trusia's feet, but she uttered no complaint. The brambles tore her
+clothes, and scarred her hands, while more than one low-hanging limb
+clutched at her hair. Nor did Carter fare any better.
+
+The second morning found them helplessly lost in the forest. By sheer
+strength he broke down saplings and built a wigwam in which Trusia could
+rest. He caught a rabbit, off which they fared for one meal and still
+frugally saved a portion for the necessities of mid-day. When that time
+came around, the girl generously insisted that he should take it all,
+there not being enough for both, and he having been unable to snare any
+other unwary woodland denizen. Of course he refused. She looked at him,
+grief-stricken and imploring. Still he would not yield. Then came their
+nearest approach to a quarrel. Fatigued, depressed, bewildered, it is no
+wonder that the strained nerves gave way.
+
+"See, Calvert," she said at last, looking at him through tear-dimmed
+eyes, "I give in. I'll feel like a cannibal, though; I know I
+shall--eating your strength." Unable to refrain under the yielding
+influences, he bent toward her for a kiss of reconciliation, but she
+gently held him off.
+
+"Not yet," she said gravely, "not yet."
+
+With mid-afternoon they resumed their weary advance and maintained their
+plodding way through the night. Along toward dawn of this, the third,
+day of their flight, a suggestive, recurrent, monotonous sigh in the air
+told their hopeful ears that they were drawing near a large body of
+water.
+
+"Do you hear it, Calvert?" she asked ecstatically, a convulsive hand
+upon his elbow.
+
+"Yes," he answered in a voice husky with thanksgiving, "it is right over
+the breast of that bank of firs. Oh, little girl," he said bending the
+depths of his eyes into her soul, "I am glad for you. You are safe."
+
+"I have been safe all along with you, Calvert," she smiled up into his
+face.
+
+He half turned away his head, her smile was as intoxicating as strong
+wine. "Don't say that," he said guiltily. "I am but a man and more than
+once--in the solitude--I was tempted."
+
+She smiled an Eve-taught reproof. "Yet you did not yield, my lover.
+Come, let us race the last few steps for the first view of the river."
+
+Their clothes in flags, disheveled, bruised, unkempt, like wild things
+of the woods, they rushed from the forest to the edge of the river. The
+Vistula!
+
+"There lies Austria," he cried exultantly, pointing to the other shore.
+
+"And here--and here," she cried with a little sob halting her
+words,--"and here lies--here lies poor, poor Krovitch." Tears came and
+saved her reason, for under the heavy strain her senses reeled. Then
+both together they searched for the ferry; but doubtless miles away from
+the end of the tiny path, it was a hopeless task to search further. As
+despondently they gave up the quest, Carter turned a grove-covered bend
+in the river.
+
+"Look, Trusia," he called back to her; "a yacht--an American yacht!
+See," he cried in a frenzy of delight, "there is the flag. The flag--the
+stars and stripes! Oh, fate is kind." He seized the girl and whirled
+her around in a dervish dance of joy, hallooing at the top of his voice.
+
+There came an answer presently to his cheers. "They have heard us,
+doubtless," he said, peering shipward. Then his eyes lit with a new
+discovery. "That's the New York Yacht Club pennant. Owner's aboard and
+I'm darned--I beg pardon--if it isn't Billy Saunderson's signal at the
+peak. Funny that they answered our hail when no one seems on deck."
+
+"Hark, Calvert, what is that?" asked Trusia apprehensively. He bent his
+head fearfully toward the forest. Shouts, the crackling of fallen twigs,
+cheers and commands in Russian, greeted their ears.
+
+"And we thought it was some one on the boat," was his only comment. "You
+are too late, Mr. Tsar," he called back as he waved his hand as if in
+farewell. "My countryman is a friend of mine," he said in explanation to
+the trembling girl. "He will give us a berth, never fear. We will have
+to swim for it, though."
+
+"But I can't swim a stroke, Calvert. I will only hamper you. You save
+yourself, sweetheart. They will never take me. I promise you. Do go,
+dear."
+
+"Nonsense. Will you trust yourself with me? I can handle two like you."
+
+She looked at him with that look that a man need see but once in a
+woman's eyes and hold life cheap for its purchase.
+
+"Calvert, I would trust you any place after this journey."
+
+In the unlit gray of dawn, the waters were dark and chill. Carter was
+numbed; he realized for the first time how mercilessly their cruel
+journey had drawn on his strength. His stroke seemed laborious from the
+very start, and his clothes hampered him. The girl obediently clung to
+his shoulders.
+
+About a quarter of the distance to the island in midstream was
+accomplished. That diminutive patch of soil was a mutually acknowledged
+boundary between Russia and Austria. A fierce yell of triumph caused the
+swimmer to pause in his efforts. He looked back over his shoulder to see
+the first pair of pursuers push their wiry mounts into the river. Then
+with a groan he realized that the stream was dotted with horsemen.
+
+It seemed almost a hopeless task to strive to reach the boat. That haven
+of safety was anchored a good two hundred yards below and beyond the
+isle. Gritting his teeth, however, he redoubled his efforts.
+
+"They are gaining on us, dear," Trusia prompted.
+
+"If it comes to the worst we can go down together, but we are not caught
+yet. How close are they?"
+
+"Not two hundred yards away," she replied after a careful backward look.
+
+Carter caught sight of a man on deck of the vessel and hailed him with
+desperately good lungs. The seaman seemed to take one fleeting look at
+the struggle in the water and then disappeared hastily down a
+companionway.
+
+"How near are they now, Trusia?" gasped Carter.
+
+"They have gained only about ten yards."
+
+Calvert's head seemed the bursting hive of a million stinging bees. His
+arms ached horribly. His legs were flung out like useless flags. He made
+superhuman efforts to keep up the unequal struggle.
+
+"How near are they now, sweetheart?" he asked again, his voice rasping
+out sharply under his strain.
+
+"They have gained only another ten yards, beloved," she responded
+solacing as a sweet woman does in the very teeth of despair.
+
+His mouth and tongue were swollen and his throat was parched. His head
+throbbed wildly with an ugly drumming, while each breath seemed a solid
+thing racking his burning lungs with a novel pain.
+
+"I'll make it--I'll make it--I'll make it," he repeated in
+semi-conscious determination. "How near now?" he gasped back to her.
+
+"They have gained in all about fifty yards." She began to weep softly.
+It acted like a spur to his flagging strength. It was helpless womankind
+calling upon man for succor. His eyes felt like overripe fruit, ready to
+burst, and blue flashes of pain danced before them. Then all things
+looked black--a veil had fallen in front of him.
+
+"I'll make it--I'll make it--I'll make it," his iteration sounded like a
+mocking echo flung back into his ears. "I must not sink," he asserted to
+himself. "Not until I have saved Trusia," his thoughts were becoming
+incapable of coherence.
+
+"Aboard the _Bronx_. Aboard the _Bronx_." His voice sounded a long way
+off. His movements were becoming feebly automatic. He was sure a
+maliciously grinning horseman was reaching out for Trusia, though it was
+impossible to see him.
+
+"Now?" he gasped.
+
+"Only five yards away," she answered calmly.
+
+It is easy to die, easier to drown, when there is no escape.
+
+
+
+
+XXVII
+
+YOU ARE STILL MY KING
+
+
+It seemed that the shadows were being withdrawn from his eyes, just as a
+curtain is pulled back from a window. As consciousness became a more
+certain quantity he wondered vaguely why he did not feel drenched and
+uncomfortable, instead of cozy and warm. He was aware of a pinkish-gray
+blur hanging above his head; this slowly resolved itself into a human
+face. While he could not distinguish the features in the darkened light
+of the room, he was certain that it was that of a woman.
+
+"Trusia," he cried ecstatically.
+
+"Please be quiet," responded an unfamiliar voice in a tone of
+undemurrable authority. He pondered. He puzzled. Finally he gathered
+courage to speak.
+
+"Who are you?" he queried dubiously.
+
+"I am the nurse," came back indulgently through the dim haze of
+semi-consciousness still enveloping him.
+
+"Nurse," he exclaimed, throwing off the gray mist, to notice for the
+first time that he was in his own bed and room, in New York City.
+Accepting conditions as they were for the time being, he settled back
+and sighed the long, indolent sigh of convalescence. He glanced
+expectantly toward the door, Carrick should be coming soon with the much
+needed shaving things. Carrick? It all came back to him now. He no
+longer was satisfied to lie back comfortably on the pillow and dream the
+hazy dreams of the convalescent. Carrick was dead and he himself had
+been drowned--but Trusia? He groaned in great distress. The nurse
+hastened to his side.
+
+"Are you in pain?" she asked, a trifle surprised that such a symptom
+should appear in this case.
+
+"No," he said abstractedly, his mind revisiting the banks of the
+Vistula; "no, I am not in pain. I was thinking."
+
+The nurse held a draught to his lips. Carter resolutely put it to one
+side. "Wait," he commanded, "I must know how I came here, or I will not
+rest with a thousand soporifics."
+
+"Mr. Saunderson picked you up just as you were drowning in the Vistula.
+You have been ill ever since--delirious."
+
+"Good old Billy," he said in gratitude, then turned a silent inquiry on
+the nurse. She saw the awful heart-hunger in his eyes and, had she
+followed her impulse, would have thrown a sisterly arm about him in
+solace, so compelling was the look, so hopeless its message. "Was
+any--was any one saved with me?" he ventured. "Did any one come with me
+here? On the boat? For God's sake, nurse, tell me." His quivering life
+seemed hanging in the balance. The magnitude of his gravity filled the
+woman with sudden apprehension. She feared equally to tell him or refuse
+him.
+
+"I was not there, Mr. Carter. I cannot tell," she compromised. "Mr.
+Saunderson will make his usual call this afternoon. You can ask him; he
+will doubtless tell you." Partially reassured by this, Carter fell
+asleep.
+
+When he awoke he felt much stronger. The nurse was standing at the
+bedside smiling down at him.
+
+"Mr. Saunderson is waiting in the library. If I let him come in to see
+you, will you be good?"
+
+Carter readily promised, as he would have anything just then, at the
+opportunity of resolving his doubts. Saunderson was ushered in quietly;
+when he bent over the patient, the latter wrenched the proffered hand
+with hysterical strength.
+
+"See here, Carter, this won't do," said his caller, making a wry face;
+"I believe that you have been shamming these two months."
+
+"Two months?" Carter sat upright. "Have I been laid up that long?"
+
+"To the very day," said Saunderson, smiling.
+
+"Tell me, Billy, how you came to be out there. I want to thank you for
+saving my life, though I don't know yet whether you have done a wise or
+a foolish thing."
+
+"So? How soon can you let me know? Dorothy says it's the only sensible,
+useful thing I've ever done. You always were a favorite of Mrs.
+Saunderson, you know."
+
+"It's a serious matter, Billy, so I want the truth for what I'm going to
+ask you. Give it to me straight from the shoulder and don't mince
+matters. Promise?"
+
+"I must confess, Cal, I don't see what you're driving at, but I suppose
+it's all right. Yes, I promise. Now, fire away. Wait a minute. Perhaps
+I'd better lead off with how I got there. You've been pretty loose up
+here, you know," he touched his forehead by way of illustration.
+"Perhaps I may save you the worry of framing up questions--my account
+may cover everything."
+
+"Did I talk much--rot?" asked Carter.
+
+"Yes, rather. Calling all the time for Trusia--said Carrick was a
+King--and lots more of the same kind. Who was Trusia?"
+
+"The Duchess of Schallberg." Carter's reply was unnaturally grave and
+his face solemn and tense. "Tell me, Billy," he requested quietly,
+"when I sank--was there any one with me?"
+
+"It might have been a bundle of rags--it might have been a man or a
+woman, I rather thought it was a woman. What did you do, Cal, run off
+with some Cossack's wife?"
+
+"It was Her Grace."
+
+"The deuce it was!" exclaimed Saunderson.
+
+Carter bent forward until their faces were close. "Oh, Billy," he begged
+piteously, "don't tell me you let her drown! Don't tell me she is dead!
+Don't----"
+
+"I didn't. She isn't," said Saunderson with more care for denial than
+lucidity. He laid a restraining, friendly hand on Carter's shoulder.
+
+"You saved her too, then?" The thin talon-like hand clutched Billy's
+like a vise.
+
+"No," answered Saunderson reluctantly, beginning to see how matters
+stood.
+
+"Where is she then?" was the eager question.
+
+"See here, Cal, you haven't given me a chance to tell you how I came to
+be there. I'm just aching for the opportunity too. You don't know it,
+but I had a bet with Jackson that you'd go over there when the matter
+became known to you. Naturally I took more than a casual interest in
+Krovitch after that. Reports got disturbing, so I ran the _Bronx_ over
+to sort of hang around until needed. To be perfectly frank, I was
+looking for you. When the skipper called me that morning and said some
+one was swimming for the boat I took a long guess that it was you. The
+first time you sank the launch was almost on top of you. We pulled you
+out of the very claws of a Cossack."
+
+"But the girl?--But Her Grace of Schallberg?" It was pitiable how abject
+a strong man could become.
+
+"If that was the Duchess of Schallberg, Cal, a second Russian picked her
+up, apparently unconscious, and made off with her--toward the Austrian
+shore. Just why he went that way no one seemed to know. His comrades
+fired after them. No, don't start; no one hit. Bum shots, those
+Asiatics."
+
+Seeing the terrible pressure under which Carter was laboring, the nurse
+came forward at this juncture and sent Saunderson away. For some
+unaccountable reason Carter could not force the conviction on himself
+that serious evil had befallen Trusia. Hope departs only with life.
+Paradoxical as it may seem, he worried not about her safety, but about
+the dangers which, without his aid, she could overcome only with great
+difficulty. Such is the egotism of love. He reverted anxiously to the
+story of her questionable rescue. Who could the Cossack have been--why
+hadn't he returned to his comrades? Why,--why,--why? Question followed
+question, like the alarm bells at a fire. At last he wearily fell
+asleep.
+
+He opened his eyes the second time to find the day was gathering
+darkness from the corners and niches of the room.
+
+"Nurse," he called. In an instant, silent as the gloaming, she
+approached the bed. "Might I have my mail? It must have been
+accumulating for months."
+
+"You must not read," she said firmly.
+
+"Then read for me," he urged.
+
+Wise as any daughter of Eve, she selected intuitively that one letter
+which she knew would satisfy him so that he would forget there were
+others. It bore the post-mark "Wien."
+
+"Here is one from Vienna," she explained, "shall I read that?"
+
+"Yes, yes," he acceded, tingling with anticipation. She tore off the
+edge with feminine precision. "Who wrote it?" he queried, unable to
+await its perusal. He was partly up now, leaning forward on his elbow,
+his white face gleaming through the dusk. The green shade of the lamp
+accentuated his pallor.
+
+"It is signed 'Sobieska,'" she replied, after turning to the
+subscription.
+
+"Oh," he said in evident disappointment, and sank back on the pillow.
+
+"Here's what he says:
+
+
+     "MY DEAR MAJOR CARTER:
+
+     "When Her Grace, under your escort, left us on the road to the
+     charcoal burner's we had a desperate fight. Muhlen-Sarkey, after
+     giving a good account of himself, fell like the noble gentleman he
+     was and jested with death. Zulka was killed in a three-to-one
+     fight. Delmotte fell badly wounded but not seriously. Casimir and
+     the rest were killed. A cut over the head rendered me unconscious
+     and I fell across Delmotte. Supposing that we were dead, anxious
+     for repairs themselves, the Russians did not disturb us. About dusk
+     I came to and aided Delmotte across the frontier. I returned,
+     determined to reinforce you and Her Grace if I could catch up with
+     you, for I had found out how things were at your first
+     stopping-place.
+
+     "Carefully following the path to the ferry, imagine my surprise at
+     espying a man running rapidly along the same path but toward me.
+     The mutual discovery was simultaneous. It was Josef. He, quicker
+     than I could, drew his revolver. By dodging behind trees, however,
+     I got past him. Had I not had a more sacred duty to Her Grace just
+     then, I should have risked all for the pleasure of killing that
+     snake. After this rencounter, I proceeded more carefully until I
+     reached the cabin in the clearing. Here I found the bodies of two
+     Russian Cossacks, dead apparently from the night before. Both had
+     been killed by the sword. Your work, as I surmised. One was a
+     lieutenant. I appropriated his uniform as a safeguard in case I met
+     other interruptions. His horse was luckily tethered in the woods.
+     Thanking my good fortune, I mounted and pushed on.
+
+     "I soon was to be enlightened as to the dangers of your flight;
+     though in sympathy with the quarry I was running with the hunters.
+
+     "Stimulated by a large reward, offered by their commandant at
+     Schallberg, the country was overrun by Russians searching for the
+     Lady Trusia. I constantly met them. Being very ignorant fellows,
+     they took me for what I seemed to be. By working on their credulity
+     I got each party that I met to believe that I had private
+     information as to the whereabouts of the fugitives whom I had been
+     despatched to capture by the commanding officer himself. Of course
+     forbidding them to follow me, they all trailed after me. Supposing
+     that you had followed the bypath, I plunged right through the most
+     trackless part of the wilderness, to keep the pursuit as far from
+     you as possible. What my fate would be when they discovered I had
+     cheated them, I didn't stop to weigh; if I knew Her Grace was safe,
+     I could but die.
+
+     "Imagine my despair when, on reaching the Vistula, I found I had
+     actually led the pursuit right upon you. At first I considered the
+     advisability of selling my life then and there, carrying down as
+     many as possible in death with me, but I saw that my sword could
+     not account for enough to scare off the pursuit. When you took to
+     the water, I apparently joined the chase. By your side, in the
+     water, I would have a better chance. I helped Her Grace to escape.
+     Was sorry to leave you, but my first duty was to save her. You were
+     not wholly neglected either. I saw you pulled aboard a yacht,
+     which, not seeing my desperate signals, took its course at once
+     toward the mouth of the river.
+
+     "Her Grace is safe. I have offered her the poor protection of my
+     impoverished name, only to learn that she loves you. I assure you
+     that since I learned this, no sister could receive tenderer
+     treatment. I congratulate you. Come at once. Frankly, my scanty
+     funds will be exhausted in three weeks' time. It is impossible to
+     get employment here."
+
+There followed some friendly phrases, their address in Vienna, and the
+subscription.
+
+"What is the date of the letter?" Carter asked apprehensively.
+
+"June second," came the quiet reply.
+
+"And to-day is----"
+
+"July seventeenth."
+
+"What has become of them?" he groaned. "What can they think of me? A
+messenger boy, nurse, at once. Are you paralyzed?"
+
+
+
+
+XXVIII
+
+A RE-UNION
+
+
+Four short months before, Carter and Carrick had set out for Krovitch.
+It did not seem possible that so many conclusive, completed events could
+have transpired in that limited time. It seemed more like some whirlwind
+dream to the man who, pale and wan, sat in the reading-room of the
+Racquet Club gazing indolently at the passing throng outside the club
+windows. It was Calvert Carter, of course, who so reasoned.
+
+Carrick was dead, he continued in his reflections. Of a certainty this
+had been a grievous blow, but even this was overshadowed by the doubt as
+to the whereabouts of his beloved Trusia.
+
+"Four months ago," he said aloud in his surprise, "the same man sat in
+this same club, before this same window, and"--he paused, while his hand
+ran along the arm of the chair as he glanced down at it,--"in this very
+chair. He fretted because life could not give him enough of excitement
+and contest--could not give him love. Well, to show him that her
+resources were boundless, Life gave him all he wanted--then took back
+her gifts." Relapsing into silence again with a heavy sigh, he
+contemplated the strange warp of destiny.
+
+Trusia, his beloved Trusia,--where was she? Wealth had not been spared,
+nor time, in a hitherto fruitless effort to locate her. On this, his
+first excursion from the sick-room, he was already planning to take up
+the search himself--to scour Europe until he found her. Yet some
+instinct, stronger than he dared admit, warned him that she was closer
+to him where he now sat.
+
+Puzzled, he gazed out the window, hoping that the panorama of the moving
+crowds would ease his worried mind. A man's face detached itself from
+the encircling throng, catching and holding Carter's attention. He
+leaned eagerly forward, why, he could not have explained. At this, the
+man, also turned and looked. An impartial observer of both would have
+said that these two were in doubt as to whether they recognized each
+other. The man on the sidewalk, while clean, was rather seedy-looking
+and apparently a foreigner. His face was drawn and hollow as though
+privation had sculptured there. His beard was full and streaked with
+gray. His eyes alternately burned with the fires of inward visions and
+dulled with disappointment at hopes destroyed. Carter arose and went
+closer to the window, with steps still unsteady in his convalescence.
+
+The stranger had passed, but, noting Carter's action, repassed,
+evidently as much at loss as the man inside. To him, too, there was
+something strangely familiar about the thin, pale face, the languid,
+hopeless air, of the man in the club window,--but they were not the
+attributes of the man he remembered. Nor was this shade the vigorous
+friend he had known so short a while before.
+
+Carter walked deliberately out to the street and extended his hand to
+the passer-by who had so strangely moved him. Recognition was complete.
+
+"It is you, at last, Sobieska," he said as the thin hand of the
+Krovitzer closed over his own. A smile lighted up the half-veiled eyes,
+he read in the American's soul that word of their distress had come too
+late.
+
+"Come into the club," Carter urged him. Sobieska smiled grimly as he
+glanced down at his shabby garments. Carter understood.
+
+"Let's walk out to the Park," suggested the Krovitzer. "I have something
+to tell you that I know you are anxious to hear. Wait, though, until we
+get out of the crowd. You don't want Fifth Avenue as an audience, do
+you?" he asked as he noted the quick joy which lit Carter's face.
+
+"Just one question," Calvert begged. "Is she well?"
+
+"Yes," replied the Krovitzer, confining himself to the naked assent.
+Then, pitying the man who had been so wofully shaken since their parting
+in Krovitch, he opened the gate of Pity a bit and added, "She is in New
+York."
+
+Carter stopped short in the street and turned to read in the other's
+eyes whether this promised miracle was true or false. He reached out and
+caught Sobieska's hand and wrung it with the fervor he would fain have
+loosed in a cheer.
+
+"Thank God," he said vehemently. "Are we going to her, now?"
+
+Sobieska nodded an affirmative.
+
+"Is it far?"
+
+"Not over two miles."
+
+"And you intend to walk? Great Scott, man, do you think I have lead in
+my veins instead of blood?"
+
+"No, Carter, but remember that I have no longer money at my command.
+Poverty has taught me strange tricks of economy. Pride would not let me
+think of asking you if you preferred riding."
+
+"You might have known," said Carter reproachfully, "that every cent I
+have would be at your disposal for such an errand."
+
+His companion nodded his head wearily. Was the fellow not satisfied, he
+thought? It meant that he was being led to the woman that he, Sobieska,
+loved with fervor equal to Carter's. Why should he hasten the minute
+that would place her in the American's arms? Ah, well, Trusia loved him.
+That must suffice. They entered a cab which had drawn up in answer to
+Carter's hail.
+
+"I will not apologize for our lodgings," said Sobieska, as he gave a
+cheap East Side locality to the driver as their destination. "Thousands
+of my countrymen have no better."
+
+As the cab rattled along, he gave the details of their varied
+vicissitudes and the determined faith of Trusia in Carter, culminating
+in her insistence that they come to New York to find him. "Some woman
+instinct told her that you had not received my letter and she feared
+that some calamity had befallen you that nothing but her coming would
+dispel." By the work of his hands and the sweat of his brow he had
+finally been able to secure their passage on an ocean steamship.
+
+"We arrived two weeks ago to-morrow," said the Krovitzer. "Twice I
+called at your house, three times at your club. They supposed I was some
+beggar, no doubt, and never gave you my messages. Having no money over
+actual necessities for either telephones or postage stamps, I took the
+poor man's way of communicating with you while I sought work--waited
+till I could see you. In fact, Carter, to be perfectly frank, I did not
+know but that our altered circumstances might influence you as it has
+some other acquaintances I have appealed to."
+
+"That is unjust, Sobieska," said Carter.
+
+"I should have known better," answered Sobieska apologetically, "but,
+Carter, we have had some pretty hard knocks. You were silent to my
+letter--how could I guess you were ill? I was rebuffed at both your
+house and club. A sensitive man might well read your acquiescence in
+such treatment. Will you accept my apology? Here we are," he added, as
+the cab drew up to the curb.
+
+"Don't apologize," said Carter, shaking him by the hand, while his eyes
+hungrily devoured the front of the tenement with avidity that sought for
+some sign of Trusia. "Is this the place?" The grimy pile was sanctified
+in his eyes as it sheltered the woman to whom he had given his whole
+heart.
+
+Trembling like an eager child, after dismissing the cabby, he scrambled
+breathlessly after his guide up steep and dirty stairs to the third
+floor, past passages and open doors, which showed more than one family
+huddled together in single apartments.
+
+"She does not live as these?" he asked with repugnance.
+
+"No," said his companion, regarding a group with unconcealed
+compassion, "I was fortunate enough to secure a separate room for her,
+poor as it is." But the man nobly concealed the price he had had to pay,
+to be content to sleep upon a straw mattress in a sub-cellar--nor did
+Trusia know what sacrifices her former minister was making for her
+meagre comforts.
+
+The door of an apartment stood open at the end of the next turn in the
+entry. Both men, hushed by conflicting emotions, stood regarding the
+scene before them.
+
+At a window, her face a trifle thinner, more _spirituelle_, because of
+her heartaches, sat Trusia. The light, touching the edges of her hair,
+glinted into an iridescent halo about her face. Across her knees lay a
+little child. Its mother, with anxious, peasant face, was bending over
+its ailing form, while the large, whole-souled regard which Trusia bent
+upon the tiny form made a picture of a modern Madonna.
+
+Then, the air whispered its tidings to her soul. She glanced up and saw
+Carter standing in the passageway. Gently placing the infant in the
+maternal arms held out for it, she arose and without a spoken word came
+to him; came so close that there was nothing for him to do but to take
+her tenderly in his arms. Assured of their right, her hands lay on his
+shoulders, while her eyes sought out his soul.
+
+Then, careless whether the whole world looked on or not, their lips met
+gently, lingeringly.
+
+"Though all thrones have fallen," she sighed blissfully, "you are still
+my King."
+
+"Trusia, my Trusia," he said, while Sobieska fled silently from their
+view.
+
+FINALE
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Trusia, by Davis Brinton
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