John Reed Scott

“ And, to-day, I looked down on the crowded Alta Avenue of Dornlitz—then, up at the portrait of my Sovereign—then, down at my uniform, with a Marshal's Insignia on the sleeve and the Princess Royal's note in the pocket.
What mirage could have pictured such realities! What rainbow could have appeared more dazzlingly evanescent!
Then I saw a Victoria approaching. And in it was the Spencer woman—brilliantly beautiful—haughtily indifferent. The passers-by stared at her; men stopped and gazed after; even women threw glances over their shoulders. ”

“ So he meant to give me a chance to win the Crown! I shut my eyes; there was too much satisfaction in them. Yet, I felt almost ashamed. I had sneered so often at Courtney and his suggestions; had called him a fool and his words nonsense—even a short half hour ago I would have done the same again. And now!—Truly there was something strangely impressive and powerfully alluring about that big, brass-bound book, with its Royal restitution and honors and the glorious opportunity extended. Would any man—nay, would any half-man refuse?
Then I opened my eyes and met the King's kindly smile. ”

“ Lady Helen laughed. "I am very human, too, I fear."
"Then, why not breakfast with me at the Summer Palace?" said Dehra.
"We shall be delighted," said Lady Helen, without even questioning me by a glance.
"Your Royal Highness is too gracious," I protested. "I fear I shall——"
Dehra raised her crop. "There is only one shaft, sir; you shall come with us."
So I went; even while my better judgment bade me turn bridle and gallop away. A man is very helpless with one pretty woman; he is utterly at the mercy of two. ”

“ He was steering into strange waters, it seemed to me.
"Now, if she had done it in Paris, or Vienna, or any place outside of Valeria," he went on, "one could see the temporary profit of it. But, to come to Dornlitz and dare it under your very nose!"—he flung up his hands. "She is a bit too much for me!"
I saw his drift, now. He wanted to know if I suspected him; and, to that end, was quite willing to match his wit against mine. His contempt for my discernment was not, especially, flattering; but, sometimes, it does no harm to be taken for a fool—if one is not. ”

“ In Washington, my rank had never entitled me to a seat at her side at dinner; and many was the time I had chaffed Courtney, or some other unfortunate, who had been so stranded beside Her Ponderousness. To-night, however, my turn was come, and Courtney was getting his revenge.
My only solace were the occasional smiles that Dehra gave me—smiles that Courtney noted instantly and, I fancied, understood; and that Lotzen intercepted; but what he thought I did not know and did not care. Who ever cares what his defeated rival thinks! ”

“ Just then there came a step in the corridor and the King stood in the doorway.
"Good morning, Lady Helen," he said, taking her fingers and raising them to his lips in the beautiful old-fashion; "it is a pleasure to see you here again." Then he bent and kissed Dehra on the forehead, and turning to me said, extending his hand: "And, Major Dalberg, you are very welcome."
Frederick was monarch of a powerful nation, but he could, if he so wished, make those about him forget his crown and see only the quiet-mannered gentleman. ”

“ As I lifted the Princess down, she whispered:
"I think you should see the King at once."
"I am in your hands," I answered.
"The others would scarcely think so," she smiled.
Then I realized I was holding her as tightly as when I had swung her out of saddle. I stepped back with a quick apology.
"Oh, they didn't see it," she said, and ran up the steps.
I smiled. She, too, like Lady Helen, had not forgotten to look about her. Women, it would seem, are rather prudent at such times.
"Well," said Courtney, a bit later, when we were alone, "this is a queer go, sure enough. ”

“ Spencer, is the order of the Military Governor," I answered. "If you can induce her to acknowledge the falsity of that certificate, she shall be free to resume her journey to the Devil, via your Chateau, and joy go with her."
He flung back his head and laughed heartily.
"A trifle hard on my Chateau, cousin, to locate it on the road to Hell. But we will let it pass. For, between us, it is a good road and an easy; and they, who travel it, are a finer lot than the superstitious dreamers who grope, in darkness, along the bleak and stony path they fancy leads upward to the Light." ”

“ I heard the gasps of women—a sob or two—and then, the rustle of skirts, followed instantly by Courtney's soft command.
"Stay, madame—the matter is for His Highness only to decide."
Lotzen laughed lightly.
"Strike, man," he said, "or the petticoats will steal me from you."
I stepped back and shot my sword into its sheath.
"Go," I ordered. "I do not want your life. Only, depart this house straightway, and take your bravoes with you. They will have no other opportunity to-night. And, mark you, sir, no further meeting with the Gypsy—now, nor hereafter." ”

“ Dehra persisted.
"Why do thousands visit Dornlitz every month?" I asked.
"She is no casual visitor."
"Very likely," I agreed. "Madeline Spencer is not the sort to do casual travelling. She has an object—but it is not I."
"I wish I could feel secure of it."
"Do you mean it's I you doubt, dear?" I asked.
She gave me her sweetest smile. "I shall doubt you, Armand, only when you yourself order me to—and, even then, I may disregard the order."
Before such love a man falls abject in his absolute unworthiness. ”

“ For generations, it has been instilled into the Valerian soldier that his uniform could be smirched only by himself—and stern, indeed, was the judgment of him who ventured to think and do otherwise. For an officer to strike a civilian without just cause meant to be cashiered; and to kill one, save as justified by the civil law, meant to be hung as a common felon. I had seen enough of the other Continental Armies to be very proud of the Army of Valeria. ”

“ He lit a cigarette and sent a cloud of smoke between us. "It was born in me, I think. At any rate, I've proved it—by letting them alone. Yet," he went on musingly, "were I a Royal Duke and cousin to the Princess of Valeria, I am not so sure—no, I am not so sure."
I looked at him a bit curiously. Surely, it could not be that Courtney—the indifferent—the blasé—envied me; that he would care to be other than he was; or that even a beautiful woman could stir his blood. ”

“ Courtney bowed low. "Your Highness has it exactly," he said.
I shrugged my shoulders. "You flatter me."
"I speak only in general terms; they do not apply to you, my dear Major. You are not plotting to dethrone a King; you are simply trying, frankly and openly, to recover what is yours by birthright. Lotzen's real claim to the Crown is, in justice, subordinate to yours—and he knows it—and so does the King, or he would not have put you on probation, so to speak, with the implied promise to give you back your own again, if you prove worthy." ”

“ I shall have to wait a bit for yours to me."
"And you really want my kiss, Dehra?" I asked doubtingly. Small wonder, indeed, I was slow to realize my fortune.
"You great stupid," she laughed. "Can't you understand I have wanted it for six long years?"
"I think," said I, "I'm dreaming."
"For a dreamer, you're wonderfully brave," she said. "Do you appreciate that you had the audacity to propose to the Princess Royal of Valeria while she sat in the Royal Box before all the fashion of Dornlitz?" ”

“ Like a flash, her face changed and she met him with a smile.
"Just a moment, if you please," she said, with softest accents. Then, with studied deliberation, she turned her back on me and swept the Princess an elaborate courtesy.
"Your Royal Highness may pardon my intrusion," she said, "when I tell you that I am Armand Dalberg's wife—— Now, Major Moore, I am ready," and she put her hand upon his arm.
But Moore never moved. Instead, he looked at me for orders.
Language is utterly inadequate to describe my feelings at that moment; so I shall not try. Imagination is better than words. ”

“ Lady Helen answered.
Inwardly, I consigned the Spencer woman to perdition. They would be interrogating me about her, next; and I did not know just how to answer. I would have to admit knowing her; that would only whet their curiosity and bring further questions. To tell the whole story was absurd—and, yet, only a little of it would leave a rather unpleasant inference against me. At any rate, on Dehra's account, I did not want the matter discussed.
I could feel Lotzen's glance, and I knew he was waiting only for a break in Lady Radnor's discourse. ”

“ It was so unexpected and sounded so queer, withal, that, for a moment, I hesitated; then I took a fresh grip on my busby and followed the King. The next instant, I was bending over the Princess's hand and listening to her words of welcome and congratulation. When I turned to Lady Helen she curtsied deeply, even as she would have done for one of her own Princes.
"God save Your Royal Highness," she said. ”

“ She looked at him with a queer smile.
"My being brought to Valeria to pose as his wife," she explained.
"You don't mean you came here from America expressly for that purpose?" he asked.
Her smile grew broader.
"Really, Duke, you are most delicious," she said. "Armand Dalberg told me, the other day, that I played my part beautifully—he should see you. You are a premier artiste."
"Madame flatters me," Lotzen answered with soft irony; then tried for her hand—and failed.
"Well, you may take it so," said she; "but, believe me, your cousin didn't mean it so, to me." ”

“ I have always liked green—the dark rich green of the forest's depth—and, if there were anything more lovely than the Princess Dehra, when she came back to me, it is quite beyond my Imagination to conceive it. He is a poor lover, indeed, who does not think his sweetheart fair ”

“ The King nodded. "I had anticipated that would be your first question. You will be legitimate."
"But," said I, "if I understand the canons of royalty, my great-grandfather having married one not of royal rank his descendants are, as regards the House of Valeria, illegitimate."
"As a general proposition that is true; but it happens that your case is a peculiar exception."
"I am glad," said I; "otherwise we had reached an end of the matter."
"That, Major, is one of your American notions," said the King; "there is no disgrace in morganatic marriages." ”

“ The King laughed. "There is no need for us to mince words—the matter is perfectly evident. Under the Law, here, it needs but my Decree to make you eligible to the Crown; and that necessarily would displace Lotzen and make you Heir Presumptive. How do you think he would view it?"
"How would any man view it?" I asked.
"But what have Lotzen's views to do with the matter?" Frederick asked sharply. "I am the King; here are the Laws. What Dalberg would dispute them?"
"But, Your Majesty, Lotzen might not be alone in disputing them—the Army and the House of Nobles might join him. ”

“ My first thought was: "The Princess!" my next: "By Jove, she rides well!" Then something familiar in seat and figure struck me and I recognized Lady Helen Radnor. Evidently she had already made me out, for she waved her crop and pulled down to a canter. Here was an end to my solitary ride; I turned back to meet her.
"Why, Major Dalberg, what luck!" she cried. "One might imagine we were in Washington again."
"What need for Washington," said I, "since we are here?"
"True! It's always the people that make the place," she laughed.
"Then you like Dornlitz as well as Washington?" ”

“ What does a man of your age and position want in the hard-working American army?" he exclaimed.
"What does a man of your age and wealth want bothering with diplomacy?" I asked.
"Because I enjoy the business, I reckon."
"Just as someone else may enjoy being a Major of Engineers."
"Come," said he; "if that's all that bothers you, I'll engage to put you back in our Army any time within two years, if you wish it."
"You are very good, Courtney," I said. "I fear, however, the War Department would not be so gracious." ”

“ I said.—This was getting interesting.
"Really, monsieur, your ignorance of the very matters, which you should know, would suggest you are an American diplomat."
"Your Ladyship is severe," I said.
"I meant to be—though there are exceptions; the present Ambassador is one. He ranks with the best of his fellows."
"Now, that," said I, "I have heard."
She laughed. "Come, monsieur, lay aside this affected ignorance and gossip a bit. Is the American to marry the Princess Royal?" ”