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Dash for a Throne

<h2>CHAPTER XXVI</h2> <h3>FLIGHT</h3> As soon as Minna had left me the major brought the officer to apologize for the conduct which had so exasperated me on my arrival. The man had of course exceeded his instructions, and although the explanation did not by any means make amends for what I had endured, it was tendered in good faith, and I accepted it. I was in no mood to harbor anger against any one. What I most wished now was to be alone to recall the scene with Minna on the road, the ineffable sweetness of her voice, the soft tenderness of her looks, and the magic thrill of her touch. When the major asked me my plans, I answered almost at random, for my thoughts were away back with the darkly robed figure on the horse looking down on me with a light in the eyes which it filled me with sheer ecstasy to believe had been kindled by the torch of love. I pleaded that I was vastly fatigued, and then went to my room, to lie tossing from side to side like a love-mad loon, grudging even the hours to sleep because I should not be able to think of Minna. I was in truth crazed with the knowledge that she loved me; and when I awoke in the morning—for sleep conquered my silly resistance—it was with just the same fevered longing to be with her. Yet I had plenty to think of and to plan; and when I forced myself to think that even now, though things had gone so well thus far, there was much to do before Minna's safety was secured, I began to think rationally and connectedly. As I stepped into the fresh morning air I found Praga out before me, pacing up and down in heavy thought. He had not been to bed at all, but was like iron, and seemed as fresh as the morning itself. "I was thinking of rousing you, Prince," he said. "What about the Duke Marx? That best of good fellows von Krugen may be getting anxious." "I can say nothing yet; but I think my purpose is accomplished, and that I shall send you to him with an order for the duke's release." "What!" he cried in a tone of astonishment. "Throw it all up when you have the game in your hands? A couple of days' firmness and the countess will have the throne as surely as I know how to whip a sword from its scabbard. You're not turning chicken-hearted, surely?" "You do not understand matters," I said shortly. "Understand! There's not much wit needed to understand this business. I know enough what the people think and want, and what a bold coup would do at this crisis; and if ever a woman had a crown at her feet, and for the mere picking up, it's the countess." "Maybe; but matters are as I say. I will give you my decision later." "I hope you won't let yourself be ruled by a woman's tricky fears. There's danger that way, too. Once give these Ostenburg folk the power, and you may whistle for your chances of any safety. I wouldn't trust one of them. What will you do?" "I have not decided," I repeated; and it was evident that my apparent vacillation mortified him. But the mood passed in a second, as did most moods with him, except revenge, and he laughed. "Well, of course, it must be as you please. It is your game, not mine," and he waved his hand as though the matter were settled. Then he asked with another change of tone: "And about the burial of that carrion von Nauheim?" "Where is the body lying?" "In the shed of a cottage nearest to the spot where he broke his miserable neck." "I will leave directions here for the funeral. There will be some sort of inquiry, and you may have to be present as witness. But I don't suppose any of those who have used him will take much heed of his death, and probably Major Gessler will be able to make all arrangements." Later on I discussed this with him, and he agreed to see that everything the authorities might require should be done. "If you're giving up things, you'll have no more need of me, I suppose?" asked the Corsican after a pause. "You put it bluntly," I answered. "I hope, of course, that all these complications are nearly over, but if you will let me I shall wish to see you about your future. But for you I could not have carried this through, and I shall not forget that." "I never take too serious thought about what you call my future, Prince. If I killed the brother, I've helped to save the sister, and, if she knows it, that's enough for me." He said this with as much earnestness as I had ever observed in him save in his moods of furious passion. But he lapsed into his more customary temper immediately after, and added: "Besides, I've had my revenge, although I'm sorry I didn't run the brute through before he had the luck to break his neck. To the close of my life I shall regret never having had him to play with at the end of my sword." At that moment Major Gessler came out of the house looking very serious and called me aside. "I have very grave news from Munich, Prince," he said. I noticed that he was now always very careful to give me the title which I think he knew did not belong to me. "Last night the Kaiser's confidential adviser, von Augener, arrived there from Berlin. The news of this business has caused a big stir in the capital, and the Emperor himself is expected at Munich. The Duke Marx should be there without an hour's unnecessary delay." "Had you held the Countess Minna safe in your charge yesterday, Major Gessler, he might have been there now. It is not I who am responsible for the delay." I spoke firmly, for I resented the too peremptory tone he adopted. "What are your plans, then?" he asked next. "Will you give me the authority for his release?" "I can tell you better an hour hence, when I have seen my cousin." "You must be good enough to give me some definite news to send to Munich." "You can send them the reason for the delay," I retorted hotly. "I decline your dictation, sir, and can dispense with your interference." He was about to reply with equal warmth when Minna came out of one of the windows. "Good morning, gentlemen," she said brightly. "Good morning, cousin Hans," and, her face radiant with smiles, she came to me holding out her hands. All my anger fled at the sight of her, and when I held her hands in mine and read in her eyes the answering emotions to those which were rushing out through mine I had no thoughts save of peace, gladness, goodwill, and love. "We must speak together at once," I said. "Shall we walk in the gardens here?" I led her to a large, wide lawn, through the centre of which ran a broad path. It was a spot where we could not well be overheard. "I passed the night in wondering what I was to hear this morning," she said. "I think it must be good news, for I was so happy." "You have not slept, then?" "Oh, yes. But while I slept I dreamt, and now and then had spells of delicious wakefulness. I don't know which was the better—the dreams that all was right, or the waking beliefs that all would soon be." "I hope it will be," I declared earnestly. "Nay, I am sure it all will," she declared, as if in rebuke of my doubt. "Isn't this a lovely old garden?" she cried. "Not so good as Gramberg, of course, because no place could be so dear to me as that. But yet lovely. And what flowers! Did you ever see such magnificence? And the perfumes! They seem to distil the very essence of peace. And what a change from yesterday. It was a prison then—to-day a veritable palace of delight. Heigho! And you have changed it for me! And now for this news. You know where you left off? I do. I think I could repeat every word you said. You are going to tell me who you were before you became Heinrich Fischer, the actor at Frankfort." "I was a nameless wanderer, and went there almost direct from my death and burial." She stood still in the path and looked at me in blank surprise; her face wrinkled in perplexity that was only half earnest; and, despite the serious nature of things, her mood partially infected me. "Your death?" she said in wonderment. "It is all true. Did you ever hear your brother speak of a young Count von Rudloff, in the navy, who was at one time a friend of the Royal Family, and whose death at Berlin about five years ago aroused some comment? It happened almost immediately after the Prince, now his Majesty the Emperor, had met with an accident on board the Imperial yacht." "The Count von Rudloff?" she repeated thoughtfully, saying the name over once or twice as though some old memories were partly stirred by it. "I think I did—but what is that to us?" "To me much—everything, indeed. I am the Count von Rudloff," and then I told her unreservedly the whole of my strange story. Her first comment surprised me. "Is this the story you thought would part us?" she asked. "I had misled you." "Yes, and for a base and cruel purpose—to help me out of my trouble," and she raised her eyebrows as she smiled. "You must judge me curiously if you think I should consider that a cause for sacrificing the truest friend a helpless girl could have. I believe I could almost be angry with you for that judgment." "But my helping you was, after all, only for a selfish purpose," I said after a pause. "What was that?" she asked quickly, all unsuspecting. "I loved you, Minna." We were near the end of the gravel walk and, instead of turning as we had done before, I walked on past some large laurels which hid us from the house. I stopped there and took her hand, which she left freely in mine. "I have told you all now," I whispered. "Your answer?" "This is the happiest day of my life," she murmured. I put my arm round her and held her to my heart. "You love me, then?" Her face was close to me, she was smiling trustfully and lovingly, and the answer came in the pressure of her lips to mine as our hearts met in pledge of our betrothal. After that we stood together there, just a pair of happy lovers, for whom the sun was made to shine and the earth to be beautiful, and forgetting all else save the one immeasurable fact of our avowed love. A commotion somewhere near the house recalled us to ourselves as the sounds floated across to our ears. They broke in upon our love ecstasy, and with a sigh Minna unwound her arms from my neck, and we stood hand in hand a minute. "Better than friendship or cousinship, Minna?" I asked. The glad glow on her cheeks and in her eyes answered me, and I kissed her again. "And now we must be common-sense folk, for we have to decide what course to take." "I can make no decision—except that you must not leave me," she said. "Yet we are forgetting you are the Queen." "Do you remember what I once told you would be my first command?" "Your Majesty has been anticipated. I have told you all—and the assembly was certainly a very Privy Council." "Yes. Just Queen—and——" she paused, and then, hiding her face on my shoulder, added softly, "and King. I want no other throne than this." It was very sweet fooling, though not very witty, and I would have been glad enough to continue it if I had not seen through the little gaps in the bushes that a number of people had come out of the house and were walking in different directions through the grounds. Some were coming our way. "Let us walk on here, dearest," I whispered. "There are men coming from the house in search of me, I think. And remember I must still be for the present the Prince, and you my cousin." We moved away then and walked as if in consultation, and I told her what I thought we had best do. "I do not know how matters will go at Munich," I said; "but I hear this morning that the Kaiser himself will see what the trouble is, and that already old von Augener—the 'Kaiser's own man,' as they call him—is there making inquiries." "He is the awful man who came to you years ago, isn't he?" cried Minna, with fear speaking from her eyes at the mere thought of danger to me. "Yes—but there is no reason to fear that he will recognize me. I am so completely changed. The more serious consideration is what view he will take of your supposed part in the disturbance, and of my having kidnapped the Duke Marx on your behalf. I told Baron Heckscher that you were only too anxious to resign all claim to the throne, and that I would use my influence with you—it was not so great then as now," I broke off to say. "Oh, yes, I should always have done whatever you wished," replied Minna. "It never occurred to me to do anything else." "Well, I told him I thought you would remain in hiding long enough for him to settle matters in the Ostenburg interest. And this coming of von Augener makes me more inclined than ever to advise you to put the frontier between yourself and these plotters." "When shall we start?" she asked instantly. "And then I can watch your interests at Munich." "You do not wish me to go alone?" "Not to go alone. But unless you know of some better place you might well go to Charmes to your real cousin; and you could stay there until these troubles have blown over." "And you?" "I shall of course go with you to Charmes, and then return with all speed to Munich to watch matters there." "Why should you go back to face the risks there alone?" "I can do more good for you as well as for myself if I know you are in a place of safety." "We can talk of that on the way; but what should I do now if anything happened to you?" she cried in distress. I loved her for the words, but could not thank her as I would, for at that moment one of the men caught sight of us and came hastily toward me. "Major Gessler is very desirous of seeing your Highness at once," he said. "I will come to the house," I said, and with that we turned, the man hastening on to give my message. "I am sorry to have to press you, Prince," said the major, coming to meet me; "but I am most anxious to send tidings to Munich. Have you made your decision? It is nearly three hours since I spoke to you." I saw Minna start with surprise at this mention of the time we had been together. "It has been a complicated problem to discuss, major," I answered gravely. "But we have decided it at last. The countess will leave by the first train from Landsberg, and I shall accompany her. At the station I will hand the authority you need to you and Signor Praga." "And your destination?" he asked. "Is our own affair, sir," I returned stiffly. "I merely asked so that I should know when to meet you at the station;" and he turned on his heel and left us abruptly. "I can be ready directly," said Minna, and she ran into the house. A few minutes later she returned, and we had breakfast together, in the middle of which a messenger from Major Gessler brought me a list of the chief trains in each direction. I chose the first that started westward; and we set out soon afterward for the station. There Praga was waiting, and I gave him the authority which I had written out to von Krugen to release the Duke Marx, and added in a tone loud enough for the major to hear: "I shall be in Munich to-night or to-morrow. You can see me there." A minute later the train started. "Now for freedom, Minna. A few hours more and we shall be across the French frontier!" I exclaimed. "Did you hear Major Gessler say that we had been three hours in the garden this morning, Karl?" asked Minna, blushing and smiling. "Can it really have been so long?" "The time did not fly on the same wings for him as for us," I answered; "and if the next half-dozen or so will only speed at the same pace, I shall breathe all the more freely." "And will they, do you think?" she asked demurely as she crossed from her seat to that next mine. They did, although I had many moments of anxiety. The journey itself was as uneventful for some hours as a tourist's trip. We had the compartment to ourselves for the greater part of the time, though occasionally an unwelcome passenger came in for a few miles, and so broke the thread of our long, delicious talk. But my anxiety began to increase when, as the hot afternoon passed and the cool evening air refreshed us, we began to approach the frontier. I could not put my fears into words, nor could I see any probable reason to fear interruption. But whenever we stopped I looked out with an ever-increasing apprehension I could not entirely allay, and scanned curiously the people standing about on the platforms. As we ran into the frontier station this feeling quickened up into excitement. A few minutes would see Minna safe, if only there were no interruption. The officials came to examine tickets, then others to see the baggage, and still all was going well. We had no baggage, of course, and sat watching the different effects which that most irritating process of examination produced upon the tempers of our fellow-travellers. As the time slipped away I fast grew easier in mind, and I joined with Minna in laughing at one or two comical incidents. But my laughter died away as I saw a couple of officials walking slowly along the train, scrutinizing closely all who were in the carriages. On catching sight of me one of the men started, and drew the attention of a companion, who looked quickly in my direction, and then referred to some papers. The papers seemed to satisfy him, for he called up a couple of men, and all four came to our carriage. "Something is wrong," I whispered to Minna. "Be on your guard." "Pardon me, sir," said the man, bowing, "but I think you are the Prince von Gramberg, and this lady is the Countess Minna von Gramberg?" "Yes. What do you want?" I replied. "I am sorry to incommode your Highness, but may I ask you to alight for a moment?" "How much time is there before the train starts?" I asked sharply. "There will be plenty of time. Will you come to the waiting-room, and you, madam, as well, if you please?" "No, I will not," I answered firmly. "If you have anything to say to me, say it here. What is it?" "I regret that my instructions are to detain your Highness." "Let me see your instructions." "Pardon me, I am not at liberty to show them. But I trust you will make this repugnant duty as little unpleasant as possible. It is inevitable," and a glance at the men around him emphasized his meaning. "Where are your instructions from? At whose instigation is this unwarrantable liberty taken with us?" I asked, with as grand an air as I could assume. "I can say no more now than that you must really do what I wish. You will surely see the uselessness of resistance." His tone changed slightly, and he showed a little more authority. Minna had turned very pale, and sat trembling. "We had better go," she said in reply to a glance from me. "I comply—under protest, mind," I said to the official. "I shall hold you responsible for this outrage." He spread out his hands and shrugged his shoulders by way of reply; and, when we left the carriage, he and his men walked on each side of us to the waiting-room. He came in alone with us, signing to the others to stay outside, and he gave utterance to the most voluble apologies for his unpleasant duty. At that moment the whistle sounded, and the train started. "You said there was plenty of time for this to be explained before the train went," I cried angrily. "Before your train, your Highness; and, besides, I wished to avoid any scene. But I am pained to say you must consider yourselves under arrest, and must be prepared to return to Munich by the first available train." <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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