John Reed Scott

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

“ Better that half the women in Dornlitz should be beaten and choked than that his master should be smirched by the tongue of calumny. He had no patience with this Quixotism that succored foolish females at foolish hours, in a place where neither the female nor they had any right to enter—and where, for her, at least, to enter was a crime. If he were able, he would have picked the Archduke up bodily, and borne him back to the palace, and have left the infernal woman to shift for herself, and to save herself or not, as her luck might rule. ”

“ She recoiled at his touch, much as though the snake had stung her, and tried to wrench free, tearing her thin gown and scarring her flesh on the sharp thorns of the japonica, but making no outcry.
And this encouraged Lotzen; she was playing it very prettily indeed—to yield presently, the weary captive of superior strength. That a woman might be honest in her resistance, he was always slow to credit; but that one should actually be honest, and yet struggle silently rather than permit others to see her with him, was quite beyond his understanding. ”

“ Here the Duke lived in a splendor and munificence almost rivaling the King himself, and with a callous indifference to certain laws of society, that would have scandalized the Capital had it become public knowledge. But in his household, the servant who babbled, never babbled twice; he left Dornlitz quite too suddenly; and those who were wise learned quickly that they lost nothing in wage nor perquisite by being blind and dumb. For Lotzen did not skimp his steward—all he required was skillful service, and that what occurred within the Palace must not go beyond the walls. ”

“ Dehra held out her hand, and gave him the smile she knew he loved.
“Of course you may,” she said, “and gladly; but first I want a cup of tea—Scartman, the kettle instantly!”—and before Armand could detain her, she was past him and into the room.
As she crossed the threshold, she caught the faint perfume that a woman always carries, and which often-times is so individualized, as to betray her identity instantly. ”

“ She reined over close to him and held out her hand.
“My good Bernheim, nothing is going to happen to me,” she said; “but if there should, it will be for you and Epping to seat the Archduke where he belongs, and to confound Lotzen and his satellites—promise me.”
The Colonel’s face twitched, and his eyes glistened, and for a moment he bowed his head on his breast; then he leaned over and kissed her gauntlet.
“As God reigns, it shall be done, my mistress,” he said; “and though I have to kill Lotzen with my own hand.” ”

“ 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 each other,” he answered, “forgetting, when together, everything but the joy of 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’s the man who grows into maturity, and sobers with age.” ”

“ The valet sprang to obey; and as he leaned across the desk—his back to the Duke—and dropped the Book into the box, Ferdinand of Lotzen whipped out his sword, and, with the sure hand of the skilled fencer, drove the rapier-like blade through the man’s heart. ”

“ At the sight, Bernheim swore a good round oath and seized the Archduke’s arm.
“It’s a trap, my lord, it’s a trap!” he exclaimed.
And again Armand hesitated; and again the cry came, though muffled now and indistinct.
“We will have to chance it,” he said, “I can’t desert a woman who calls for help.”
“Very well, sir,” said Bernheim, knowing that further opposition was useless, “but if it is a trap, she’ll be the first I kill.” ”

“ All Dornlitz was familiar with the features of the Great Henry, and so it was quite impossible for the Archduke Armand to escape recognition—and to-night, as he and Bernheim went out the Avenue, the people made way for him with a respect and deference that even he could not but feel was honest and sincere, and of the quietly enthusiastic sort that is most dependable. ”

“ But even twelve men hesitate to close with five, whose swords are ready; and in the instant’s pause, Dehra, flinging off her hat, sprang between Bigler and the Archduke, and covered the former with her pistol.
“God in Heaven! the Princess!” he cried, and stared at her.
“Will you play with treason, my lord Count?” she asked. “Drop that revolver!—drop it, I say!—and you men, stand aside!—into line, so!—return swords!—now, by the left flank, march!—fall in behind, Count, if you please—march!”
With a laugh and a shrug he obeyed.
“The Regent commands,” he said.—“Attention! salute!” ”

“ And for once she was frightened—the flickering candelabra held aloft—the leveled guns—the masked group around the desk—the lone man leaning nonchalantly on a chair, smiling, idly indifferent, as much the master of it all as a painter, brush poised before his canvas, able to smear it out at a single stroke.
He held out his hand to her. She shook her head, meaning to go away; yet lingering, fascinated and intense. Armand Dalberg was yonder—on the brink of the grave, she knew. Once she had loved him—still loved him, may be—but assuredly not as she loved herself, and the power of wealth and place. ”

“ She put her hand on his arm. “Please, Armand, please; don’t you understand—I want to be sure of you a little longer; the day you enter Lotzen Castle may be our last.”
Moore turned quickly away—and the Archduke looked once into the soft eyes, and at the adorable smile; and the eyes and the smile conquered, as eyes and smile always will when the one woman uses them, as the one woman always can, if she try. ”

“ His insinuation was so apparent that the Archduke turned upon him instantly.
“Don’t be a coward, Ferdinand of Lotzen,” he said. “Speak plainly; do you mean to charge me with having removed the Book from the box?”
The Duke bowed. “Just that, Your Royal Highness,” he said; “just that, since you must have it—you Americans are so blunt of speech.”
Armand leaned forward. “The only way to deal with a liar,” he answered, “is to put him where he can’t lie out.”
Ferdinand shrugged his shoulders deprecatingly. “You play it very cleverly, cousin mine, but the logic of elimination is against you. ”

“ Bernheim raised his cap.
“Her Royal Highness the Regent—until they serve you.”
No man could be quite insensible to all that this implied of kingly power, and the traditional homage of inherited devotion, the hot love for him who was born their chief—given them of God, and their own before all others. The Archduke’s fingers closed a bit tighter on his stick, his blood pulsed faster, and the stubborn spirit of old Hugo awoke to new life ”

“ 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 the way clear for Lotzen.”
She laughed softly. “No, no, Armand, you would do nothing of the sort. A Dalberg never ran from duty—and least of all the Dalberg whom God has made in the image of the greatest of them all.” ”

“ The Archduke smiled. “And just to prove that the friend isn’t meddling, I shall accept his advice—bearing in mind, however, that this is particularly an exigency where prudence must be subordinate to daring. Prudence is all very well in the abstract, but it is more dangerous to our success than recklessness. I’m playing for a Crown and a Nation’s favor—let my personal courage be questioned for an instant, and the game is lost as surely as though I were dead. As for my dear cousin of Lotzen, I assure you I’ve not the least scruple about killing him, under proper opportunity. ”

“ Courtney’s eye-brows lifted expressively. Than the Archduke himself there was but one better swordsman in the kingdom.
“What has Lotzen been doing to Moore?” he asked.
“Insulting Elise d’Essoldé.”
“By making advances?”
Armand nodded. “And in a particularly nasty way.”
“He isn’t bothered about Moore,” said Courtney. “He thinks he is safe from any one that isn’t of his station.”
“He doesn’t know the Irishman—Moore would kill him without a thought.”
“I’m not so sure,” said Courtney. “Moore is bred to respect for royalty; he would hesitate to use sword against one of the Blood except in defense.” ”

“ Armand made no answer; he was trying to find the latch.
“I pray Your Highness to refrain,” Bernheim begged; “an Archduke—”
“Help! For God’s sake help!” came the cry.
The latch yielded, and Armand flung back the gate.
“Come on,” he ordered, “I’m a man, and yonder a woman calls.”
He sprang down the path toward the house, which he could see now in black forbiddingness among the trees far back from the street.
Again Bernheim ventured to protest.
“It may be Lotzen’s trap, sir,” he warned.
For the shadow of an instant the Archduke hesitated; and at that moment the voice rang out again. ”

“ And Bernheim, with a silent curse, went beside him, loosening his sword as he ran, and feeling for the small revolver he had slipped inside his tunic, before they left the Epsau. To him, now, everything of mystery or danger spelled Lotzen—but even if it were not he, there was trouble enough ahead, and scandal enough, too, likely; scandal in which the Governor of Dornlitz, an Archduke, may be the King, had no place, and which could serve only to injure him before the people and in the esteem of the Nobles. ”

“ Ferida Palace, the residence of His Royal Highness the Duke of Lotzen, on the Alta Avenue half a mile or so beyond the Epsau, is a great, rambling pile of gray stone, of varying height and diverse architecture, set in the midst of grounds that occupy two entire squares, and are surrounded by a high, embattled wall, pierced with four wide entrances, whose bronze gates are famous in their craftsmanship. ”

“ Now there came a chime from the mantel, and Dehra glanced at the old French clock that her Bourbon ancestress had brought with her—among wagon loads of clothes and furniture—when she came to be wife to Henry the Third.
“Well, Armand,” she said, “if we are to be at our dear cousin’s rear gate at eleven, I suppose it’s the last moment for me to change my gown, this one isn’t especially appropriate—have you anything in particular to suggest?”
“Nothing,” he smiled, “nothing; except that you don’t make yourself any more attractive than is absolutely unavoidable.” ”

“ An impatient smile shone in her eyes.
“I do not understand, Ferdinand, why you persist in under-rating your enemy; it’s the climax of bad generalship. The American may be reckless and a bit headstrong, but assuredly he is not a fool.”
The Duke shrugged his shoulders. “He can fight, I grant you—but he can’t scheme nor plot—nor detect one, though it’s as evident as the sun.”
“And yet—” she waved her hand toward the Epsau—“it is he you’re fighting for the Crown.”
“Luck!” he scoffed—“a dotard King, a damn Huzzar uniform, and a silly girl.” ”