The Princess Dehra, Page 2

  II TO-MORROW AND THE BOOK

  Frederick of Valeria had died as every strong man wants to die: suddenlyand in the midst of his affairs, with the full vigor of life still uponhim and no premonition of the end. It had been a sharp straightening insaddle, a catch of breath, a lift of hand toward heart, and then, withthe great band of the Foot Guards thundering before him, and the regimentswinging by in review, he had sunk slowly over and into the arms of theArchduke Armand. And as he held him, there was a quick touch of surgeon'sfingers to pulse and breast, a shake of head, a word; and then,sorrowfully and in silence, they bore him away; while the regiment,wheeling sharply into line, spread across the parade and held back thepopulace. And presently, as the people lingered, wondering and fearful,and the Guards stood stolid in their ranks, the royal standard on thegreat tower of the Castle dropped slowly to half staff, and the mellowbell of the Cathedral began to toll, to all Valeria, the mournful messagethat her King was dead.

  And far out in the country the Princess Dehra heard it, but faintly; anddrawing rein, she listened in growing trepidation for a louder note. Wasit the Cathedral bell?--the bell that tolled only when a Dalberg died!For a while she caught no stroke, and the fear was passing, when down thewind it came, clear and strong--and again--and yet again.

  And with blanched cheek and fluttering heart she was racing at top speedtoward Dornlitz, staying neither for man nor beast, nor hill nor stream,the solemn clang smiting her ever harder and harder in the face. Therewere but two for whom it could be speaking, her father and her lover--forshe gave no thought to Lotzen or his brother, Charles. And now,which?--which?--which? Mile after mile went behind her in dust and flyingstones, until six were passed, and then the outer guard post rose infront.

  "The bell!" she cried, as the sentry sprang to attention, "the bell, man,the bell?"

  The soldier grounded arms.

  "For the King," he said.

  But as the word was spoken she was gone--joy and sorrow now fightingstrangely in her heart--and as she dashed up the wide Avenue, the menuncovered and the women breathed a prayer; but she, herself, saw only thebig, gray building with the drooping flag, and toward it she sped, theecho of the now silent bell still ringing in her ears.

  The Castle gates were closed, and before them with drawn swords, sternand impassive, sat two huge Cuirassiers of the Guard; they heard thenearing hoof beats, and, over the heads of the crowd that hung about theentrance, they saw and understood.

  "Stand back!" they cried; "stand back--the Princess comes!"

  And the gates swung open, and the big sorrel horse, reeking with sweatand flecked with foam and dust, flashed by, and on across the courtyard.And Colonel Moore, who was about to ride away, sprang down and swung herout of saddle.

  "Take me to him," she said quietly, as he stood aside to let her pass.

  She swayed slightly at the first step, and her legs seemed strangelystiff and heavy, but she slipped her hand through his arm and droveherself along. And so he led her, calm and dry-eyed, down the longcorridor and through the ante-room to the King's chamber, and all who metthem bowed head and drew back. At the threshold she halted.

  "Do you please bid all retire," she said. "I would see my father alone."

  And when he had done her will, he came and held open the door for her alittle way, then stood at attention and raised his hand in salute; andthe Princess went in to her dead.

  Meanwhile, the Archduke Armand was searching for the Princess. The momenthe had seen the King at rest in the Castle, declining all escort, he hadgalloped away for the Summer Palace, first ordering that no informationshould be conveyed there by telephone. It was a message for him todeliver in person, though he shrank from it, as only a man can shrinkfrom such a duty. But he knew nothing of the Cathedral bell and itstolling, and when, as he neared the Park, the first note broke upon him,he listened in surprise; then he grasped its meaning, and with animprecation, spurred the faster, racing now with a brazen clapper as towhich should tell the Princess first. And the sentry at the gate staredin wonder; but the officer on duty at the main entrance ran out to meethim, knowing instantly for whom the bell was tolling and for whom theArchduke came.

  "Her Highness is not here," he cried. "She rode away alone by the NorthAvenue a short while ago."

  "Make report to the Castle the instant she returns," Armand called, andwas gone--to follow her, as he thought, on the old forge road.

  "Ye Gods!" the officer exclaimed, "that was the King--the new King!" andmechanically he clicked his heels together and saluted.

  Nor did he imagine that all unwittingly he had sent his master farastray; for the Princess had gone but a little way by the North Avenue,and then had circled over to the South gate.

  And so Armand searched vainly, until at last, bearing around towardDornlitz, he struck the main highway and learned that she had passed longsince, making for the Capital as fast as horse could run. And he knewthat the Bell had been the messenger, and that there was now naught forhim to do but to return with all speed and give such comfort as he might.Though what to do or to say he had no idea--for never before had he beencalled upon to minister to a woman's grief; and he pondered upon it witha misgiving that was at its deepest when, at length, he stood outside herdoor and heard her bid the servant to admit him.

  But if he looked for tears and trembling he was disappointed, for she methim as she had met those in the corridor and the ante-room, dry-eyed andcalmly. And in silence he took her in his arms, and held her close, andstroked her shining hair.

  And presently she put his arms aside, and stepping back, she curtsied lowand very gravely.

  "Life to Your Majesty!" she said; "long live the King!" and kissed hishand.

  He raised her quickly. "Never bend knee to me, Dehra," he said. "Andbelieve me, I had quite forgot everything except that you had lost yourfather."

  She went back to him. "And so had I, dear, until you came; but now, sincehe is gone, you are all I have--is it very selfish, then, for me to thinkof you so soon?"

  He drew her to a chair and stood looking down at her.

  "If it is," he said, "I am surely not the one to judge you."

  She shook her head sadly. "There is no one to judge but--him," sheanswered; "and he, I know, would give me full approval." She was silentfor a while, her thoughts in the darkened room across the court, wherethe tapers burned dimly, and a Captain of the Guard kept watch. And herheart sobbed afresh, though her lips were mute and her eyes undimmed. Atlast she spoke.

  "Is the Book of Laws at the Summer Palace or here?" she asked.

  "I do not know," said Armand, "I have never seen it except the day thatthe King read old Henry's decree and offered me Hugo's titles andestates."

  "Well, at least, he spoke of it to you to-day."

  Armand shook his head. "Never a word; neither to-day nor for many days."

  A faint frown showed between her eyes. "Didn't he mention to you, thisafternoon, the matter of the Succession?"

  "No."

  She sat up sharply. "It can't be he didn't----"

  The Archduke dropped on the floor at her feet and took her hand. "Iassure you, Dehra, the King didn't speak a single word to me on such amatter."

  "No, no," she said, "you don't understand. I mean it can not be he didn'tmake the decree."

  "The decree!" Armand exclaimed, though he knew well there was but one shewould refer to; and his pulse bounded fiercely and his face grew veryhot.

  "Yes, dear--the decree--that would have made you Heir Presumptive--andnow King."

  "And you think it was drawn?"

  "I am sure of it."

  "The King told you so?"

  "Not directly, but by inference. I came upon him late last night in hislibrary, with the Laws open before him and a pen in his hand; and when Iventured to voice my curiosity, he smiled and closed the book, saying,'You may see it to-morrow, child; after I have told Armand.'"

  "Doubtless he intended to t
ell me after the review."

  The Princess leaned over and put her arm around his neck.

  "And now you are the King, dear; as he had always intended you shouldbe," she whispered. "Thank God, the decree was made in time."

  For a while Armand toyed with her slender fingers, and did not answer. Ofcourse, she was right:--it was the decree they both had been hoping forso earnestly, but which neither had dared mention to the King. And now,when it had come, and in such fashion, was it really worth the while.Worth the turmoil and the trouble, and, may be, the fighting, that wassure to follow his assumption of the royal dignity. Had Frederick livedto proclaim the decree and to school the Nation into accepting him as hissuccessor, the way would have been easy and well assured. But it wasvastly different now--with Frederick dead, the decree yet to beannounced, and few, doubtless, of those in authority around him, to bedepended on to aid him hold the throne. Dalberg though he was, and now,by birth, the Head of the House, yet he was a foreigner, and no peopletake kindly to a foreign King. Frederick had died too soon--anotheryear----

  And Dehra, bending down questioning his abstraction, read his face andunderstood his thoughts.

  "Come, dear," she said, "the crisis is here, and we must face it. Dismissthe idea that you're a foreigner. Only you and Lotzen and I are familiarwith our Laws. You forget that the people do not know it required aspecial decree to make you eligible for the Crown; and to them you havebeen the next King ever since you were proclaimed as Hugo's heir. Andsurely they have shown you a rare good will, and an amazing preferenceover the Duke. He has spent his whole life in cultivating their dislike;do you fancy it won't bring its harvest now?"

  He had turned and was watching her with an indulgent smile. It was sweetto hear her argue so; to see her intense devotion to his cause; herpassionate desire that he should sit in her father's place and rule theancient monarchy. And at her first words, and the sight of her lovingeyes and flushed cheeks, his doubts had vanished, and his decision hadbeen made. Yet, because he liked to see her so, he led her on.

  "But what of the Nobility," he objected; "in Valeria they still lead thepeople."

  "True," she answered instantly, "true; but you forget again that theNobles are sworn to maintain the Laws of the Dalbergs; and that forcenturies none has ever broken faith. No, no, Armand, they will be trueto their oaths; they will uphold the decree."

  "Don't you think, dear," he smiled, "you are making it rather tooassured? If the people are for me (or at least are not for Lotzen) andthe Nobles will abide by the Laws, nothing remains but to mount theThrone and seize the sceptre."

  "Just about that, I fancy," she replied.

  "And, meanwhile, what will Lotzen be doing?"

  She frowned. "Whatever the Head of his House orders him to do. As aDalberg he is bound to obey."

  "And you think he will obey?"

  "I surely do. I cannot imagine a Dalberg dishonoring the Book of Laws."

  "I fear you do not know Ferdinand of Lotzen," said Armand seriously. "Heintends to dispute the Succession. I have never told you how, long ago,he warned me what to expect if I undertook to 'filch the Crown,' as heput it. It was the afternoon he insulted me at headquarters--the VierleMasque was in the evening."

  The Princess nodded eagerly. "Yes," said she, "yes--I know--the time hewanted you to toss up a coin for me. What did he say?"

  The Archduke reflected a moment. "I can give you his exact words: 'Do youthink,' he said, 'that I, who have been the Heir Presumptive since theinstant of my birth, almost, will calmly step aside and permit you totake my place? Do you fancy for an instant that the people of Valeriawould have a foreigner for King? And even if old Frederick were to becomeso infatuated with you that he would restore you to Hugo's place in theline of Succession, do you imagine that the House of Nobles wouldhesitate to annul it the instant he died?'"

  When he had finished, Dehra's fingers were beating a tattoo on thechair's arm, and her eyes were snapping--as once or twice he had seenFrederick's snap.

  "And I suppose you never told the King?" she exclaimed.

  "Naturally not."

  "Of course, of course," with a toss of the handsome head. "That's a man'sway--his silly, senseless way--never tell tales about a rival. And as aresult, see what a mess you have made. Had you informed the King, heinstantly would have proclaimed you as his heir, and then disgracedLotzen publicly and sent him into exile. And you would now be hissuccessor, without a shadow of opposition."

  Armand subdued a smile. "You don't understand, Dehra----" he began.

  "Quite right," she cut in; "quite right; I don't. Why didn't you tell me?I would have told the King, you may be sure."

  "Of course you would, little woman; that's just the reason I didn't tellyou."

  She shrugged her shoulders, and the tattoo began afresh.

  "I've no patience with such nonsense," she declared; "Lotzen deserved nogentlemanly consideration; he would have shown none to you; and besides,it was your duty to your King and your House to uphold the Laws of theDalbergs and to prevent any attempt to violate them."

  "I am very much afraid that lately, between Lotzen and myself, the Lawsof the Dalbergs have been sadly slighted."

  His bantering jarred upon her. "To me, Armand," she answered gravely,"our Laws are holy. For almost a thousand years they have been ourunchallenged rule of governance. I can understand why, to you, they haveno sacredness and no sentiment; but Lotzen has been born and bred underthem, and should honor them with his life--and more especially as theyalone made him the Heir Presumptive. But for the decree of the firstDalberg King, four hundred years ago, I would be the Queen-Regent ofValeria."

  "It's a pity, a crying pity!" he exclaimed.

  She looked down at him with shining eyes. "No, dear, it isn't; once Ithought it was; but now I'm quite content to be Queen-consort."

  He took both her hands and held them between his own. "That, dear, iswhat makes it possible, and worth the struggle; and if Valeria doesaccept me as its King, it will be solely for love of you, and to get youfor its Queen."

  A smile of satisfaction crossed her face. "I hope the people do love me,"she said. "I would like to feel I may have helped you, even a little."

  "A little! but for you, my princess, I'd go back to America and leave theway clear for Lotzen."

  She laughed softly. "No, no, Armand, you would do nothing of the sort. ADalberg never ran from duty--and least of all the Dalberg whom God hasmade in the image of the greatest of them all."

  He glanced in the tall mirror across the room. He was wearing the dressuniform of the Red Huzzars (who had been inspected immediately before theFoot Guards; and he, as titular Colonel, had led them in the march by),and there was no denying he made a handsome figure, in the brillianttunic and black, fur-bound dohlman, his Orders sparkling, his swordacross his knees.

  She put her head close beside his and smiled at him in the mirror.

  "Henry the Great was not at all bad looking," she said.

  He smiled back at her. "But with a beastly bad temper, at times, I'mtold."

  "I'm not afraid--I mean his wife wasn't afraid; tradition is, she managedhim very skilfully."

  "Doubtless," he agreed; "any clever woman can manage a man if she takethe trouble to try."

  "And shall I try, Armand?"

  "Try!" he chuckled; "you couldn't help trying; man taming is your naturalavocation. By all means, manage me--only, don't let me know it."

  "I'll not," she laughed--"the King never----" and she straightenedsharply. "I forgot, dear, I forgot!" And she got up suddenly, and wentover to the window. Nor did he follow her; but waited silently, knowingwell it was no time for him even to intrude.

  After a while she came slowly back to him, a wistfully sad look in hereyes. And as he met her she gave him both her hands.

  "I shall never be anything but a thoughtless child, Armand," she said,with a wan, little smile. "So be kind to me, dear--and don't forget."

  He drew her arms about his neck. "Let us always be
children to eachother," he answered, "forgetting, when together, everything but the joyof living, the pleasures of to-day, the anticipations of to-morrow."

  She shook her head. "A woman is always a child in love," she said; "it'sthe man who grows into maturity, and sobers with age."

  He knew quite well she was right, and for the moment he had no words toanswer; and she understood and helped him.

  "But this is no time for either of us to be children," she went on;"there is work to do and plans to be arranged." She drew a chair close tothe table and, resting both arms upon it, looked up at the Archdukeexpectantly. "What is first?"

  He hesitated.

  "Come, dear," she said; "Frederick was my father and my dearest friend,but there remains for him now only the last sad offices the living do thedead; we will do them; but we will also do what he has decreed. We willseat you in his place, and confound Lotzen and his satellites."

  He took her hand and gravely raised it to his lips.

  "You are a rare woman, Dehra," he said, "a rare woman. No man can reachyour level, nor understand the beauty of your faith, the meaning of yourlove. Yet, at least, will I try to do you honor and to give you truth."

  She drew him down and kissed him lightly on the cheek.

  "You do not know the Dalberg women, dear," she said--"to them the King isnext to God--and the line that separates is very narrow."

  "But I'm not yet the King," he protested.

  "You've been king, in fact, since the moment--Frederick died. With us,the tenet still obtains in all its ancient strength; the throne is nevervacant."

  "So it's Lotzen or I, and to-morrow the Book will decide."

  "Yes," she agreed; "to-morrow the Book will decide for the Nation; but weknow it will be you."

  "Not exactly," he smiled; "we think we know; we can't be sure until wesee the decree."

  "I have no doubt," she averred, "my father's words can bear but oneconstruction."

  "It would seem so--yet I've long learned that, in this life, it's thecertain things that usually are lost."

  She sprang up. "Why not settle it at once--let us send for the Book; ofcourse it is at the Palace--it was there last night."

  He shook his head decisively. "No, dear, no; believe me it is not wisenow for either of us to touch the Book. It were best that it be openedonly by the Prime Minister in presence of the Royal Council. We must giveLotzen no reason to cry forgery."

  She shrugged her shoulders. "Small good would it do him, as againstFrederick's writing and my testimony. However, we can wait--the Councilmeets in the morning, I assume?"

  "Yes; at ten o'clock, at the Palace."

  She looked up quickly. "The key?" she asked; "it was always on his watchchain--have you got it?"

  "No," said he; "I never thought of it."

  She rang the bell and sent for the Chamberlain.

  "Bring me King Frederick's watch, and the Orders he was wearing," shesaid. When they came she handed the Orders to Armand.

  "They are yours now, dear," she said. She took the watch and held up thechain, from the end of which hung the small, antique key of the brassbound box, in which the Book of Laws had been kept for centuries that nowreached back to tradition. She contemplated, for a moment, the swayingbit of gold and bronze, then loosed it from the ring.

  "This also is yours, Sire," she said, and proffered it to him.

  But he declined. "To-morrow," he said.

  "And in the meantime?"

  "If Count Epping is still in the Castle, we will let him hold it."

  The Princess nodded in approval. "Doubtless that is wiser," she said,"though quite unprecedented; none but the King ever holds that key, savewhen he rides to war."

  "We are dealing with a situation that has no precedents," he smiled; "wemust make some."

  As he went toward the bell, a servant entered with a card.

  "Admit him," he said.... "It is Epping," he explained.

  The Prime Minister of Valeria was one of those extraordinary exceptionsthat occasionally occur in public officials; he had no purpose in lifebut to serve his King. Without regard to his own private ends or personalambition, he had administered his office for a generation, and Fredericktrusted him as few monarchs ever trusted a powerful subject. To theNation, he was honesty and justice incarnate, and only the King and thePrincess Royal excelled him in popularity and respect. Seventy years hadpassed over the tall and slender figure, leaving a crown of silver abovethe pale, lean face, with its tight-shut mouth, high cheek bones andfaded blue eyes; but they had brought no stoop to the shoulders, norfeebleness to the step, nor dullness to the brain.

  He saluted Armand with formal dignity; then bent over Dehra's hand,silently and long--and when he rose a tear was trembling on his lashes.He dashed it away impatiently and turned to the Archduke.

  "Sire," he said--and Armand, in sheer surprise, made no objection--"Ihave brought the proclamation announcing His late Majesty's death andyour accession. It should be published in the morning. Will it please youto sign it now?"

  There are moments in life so sharp with emotion that they cut into one'smemory like a sculptor's tool, and, ever after, stand clear-lined andcameoed against the blurred background of commonplace existence. Such wasthe moment at the Palace when Frederick had handed him the patents of anArchduke, and such now was this. "Sire!" the word was pounding in hisbrain. "Sire!" he, who, less than a year ago, was but a Major in theAmerican Army; "Sire!" he--he--King of Valeria!

  Then, through the mirage, he saw Dehra's smiling face, and he awokesuddenly to consciousness and the need for speech, and for immediatedecision. Should he sign the proclamation on the chance that the decreewas in his favor, and that he was, in truth, the King? He hesitated justan instant--tempted by his own desires and by the eager eyes of the fairwoman before him; then he straightened his shoulders and chose the way ofprudence.

  He waved the Prime Minister to a chair.

  "Your pardon, my lord," he said; "your form of address was so new andunexpected, it for the moment bound my tongue."

  The old man bowed. "I think I understand, Sire," he said, with a smilethat, for an instant, softened amazingly his stern face. "Yet, believeme, one says it to you very naturally"--and his glance strayeddeliberately to the wall opposite, where hung a small copy of the GreatHenry's portrait in the uniform of the Red Huzzars. "It is verywonderful," he commented;--"and I fancy it won you instant favor and,even now, may be, makes us willing to accept you as our King. Sometimes,Your Majesty, sentiment dominates even a nation."

  "Then I trust sentiment will be content with the physical resemblance andnot examine the idol too closely."

  The Count smiled again; this time rather coldly.

  "The first duty of a king is to look like one," he said; "and sentimentdemands nothing else;" and, with placid insistence, he laid theproclamation on the table beside Armand.

  The latter picked it up and read it--and put it down.

  "My lord," he said, "I prefer not to exercise any prerogative of kingshipuntil the Royal Council has examined the Book of Laws and confirmed mytitle under the decrees."

  The faded blue eyes looked at him contemplatively.

  "I assumed there was no question as to the Succession," he remarked.

  "Nor did I mean to intimate there was," Armand answered.

  "Then, with all respect, Sire, I see no reason why you should not signthe proclamation."

  Armand shook his head. "May be I am foolish," he said; "but I will notassume the government until after the Council to-morrow--it will do noharm to delay the proclamation for a few hours. And, in the interim, youwill oblige Her Royal Highness and me by keeping this key, which sheremoved from King Frederick's watch chain, but a moment before you came."

  The Count nodded and took the key.

  "I recognize it," he replied. "I know the lock it opens."

  "Good," said Armand; "the box is at the Palace, and doubtless you alsoknow what it contains. For reasons you may easily appreciate, I desire toavoid
any imputation that the Book has been touched since His Majesty'sdemise. You will produce this key at the meeting to-morrow, explaininghow and where you got it; and then, in the presence of the Council, Ishall open the box and if, by the Laws of the Dalbergs, I am Head of theHouse, I will enter into my heritage and try to keep it."

  The Prime Minister got up; gladness in his heart, though his face wasquite impassive. He had come in doubt and misgiving; he was easynow--here was a man who led, a man to be served; he asked no more--he wascontent.

  "I understand," he said; "the proclamation can wait;" then he drewhimself to his full height. "God save Your Majesty!" he ended.