第27章

However, I might have waited till the twentieth.I should have come openly and informed the British minister of my mission.As to the pheasants, they could have waited.Perhaps my fears are without foundation, unless you have been the unconscious cause of my true name being known.Every one has heard the story.It is known as 'Fitzgerald's folly,' and has gone the rounds of the diplomatic circles for ten years.I shall ask for an audience to-morrow morning."

"And these certificates fall due the same day that the princess is to be married," mused his auditor."What a yarn for the papers!" his love of sensation being always close to the surface.

"Your father, you say, took four million crowns; what became of the fifth?""The duke was permitted to secure that."

"A kind of court plaster for his wounds, eh? Why don't you get that other million and run the kingdom yourself? It's a great opportunity." Maurice laughed.

"Her Royal Highness must not be forgotten.My father thought much of her.""But really I do not see why you are putting yourself to all this trouble.The king will pay off the indebtedness; the kingdom is said to be rich, or Austria wouldn't meddle with it.""The king, on the twentieth of this month, will be some three millions short.""And since he can not pay he is bankrupt.Ah, I see the plan.

The duke knew that he wouldn't be able to pay.""You have hit it squarely."

"But Austria, having placed Leopold here, is his sponsor.""Austria has too many debts of her own; she will have to disavow her protege, which is a fact not unthought of by the house of Auersperg.By constant machination and intrigue the king's revenues have been so depleted that ordinary debts are troublesome.The archbishop, to stave off the probable end, brought about the alliance between the houses of Carnavia and Osia.My business here is to arrange for a ten years' renewal of the loan, and that is what the duchess wishes to prevent, mon ami.What's to become of the king and his daughter if aught in the way of mishap should befall me? I have not seen the king, but I have seen her Royal Highness.""What is she like?" Maurice asked, innocently.He saw no reason why he should confide to the Englishman his own adventure.

"I'm not much of a judge," said Fitzgerald cautiously."I have lived most of my life in cantonments where women were old and ran mostly to tongue.I should say that she is beautiful." Ashort sigh followed this admission.

"Ah!" said Maurice with a loud laugh to cover the sudden pang of jealousy which seized him; "in gratitude for saving her father's throne the daughter will fall in love with you.It is what the dramatist calls logical sequence.""Why don't you write novels? Your imagination has no bounds.""Writing novels is too much like work.But I'm serious.Your position in the world to-day is nearly equal to hers, and certainly more secure.Ah, yes; I must not forget that prince.

He's a lucky dog--and so are you, for that matter.Millions and titles! And I have slapped you cavalierly on the back, smoked your cigars, drunk your whisky, and beaten you at poker!"comically.

"Ah, Maurice, it is neither wealth nor titles; it is freedom.Iam like a boy out of school for good and all.Women, the society of women, who are the salt of earth; that is what I want.I have knocked out thirteen years of my life in furnace holes, and have not met nor spoken to a dozen young women in all that time.How I envy you! You know every one; you have seen the world;.you are at home in Paris, or London, or Vienna; you have enjoyed all I wish to enjoy.""Why did you ever get into the army?"

"You ought to know."

"But it was bread and butter to me."

"Well, I was young; I saw fame and glory.If the matter under hand is closed to-morrow, what do you say to the Carpathians and bears? I shall not remain here; some one will be looking for blood.What do you say?""I don't know," said Maurice, thoughtfully.He was thinking of Mademoiselle of the Veil and her prophecy of ravens."I don't know that I shall be able.It is my opinion that your part in the affair is only a curtain-raiser to graver things.Every one of importance in town goes about with an air of expectancy.Inever saw anything like it.It is the king, the archbishop and the chancellor against two hundred thousand.You're a soldier;can't you smell powder?"

"Powder! You do not believe the duchess mad enough to wage war?""Trust a woman to do what no one dreams she will.""But Austria would be about her ears in a minute!""Maybe.Have you seen this Colonel Beauvais of the royal cuirassiers, the actual head of the army here?""A fine soldier," said the Englishman, heartily."Rides like a centaur and wields a saber as if it were a piece of straw.""I can hold a pretty good blade myself; I've an idea that I can lick him at both games."Fitzgerald laughed good-naturedly."There is the one flaw in your make-up.I admit your horsemanship; but the saber! Believe me, it is only the constant practice and a wrist of iron which make the saber formidable.You are more familiar with the pen; Idare say you could best him at that."

"What makes you think I can not lick him?""Since when have the saber and the civilian been on terms? And these continental sabers are matchless, the finest in the world.

I trust you will steer clear of the Colonel; if you have any challenge in mind, spring it on me, and I'll let you down easy."Then: "Why the devil do you want to lick him, anyway?""I don't know," said Maurice."I had a close range to-night, and somehow the man went against the grain.Well, Jack, I'll stay with you in this affair, though, as the county judge at home would say, it's out of my circuit."They shook hands across the table.

"Come," said Fitzgerald; "a toast, for I must be off.""What do you say to her Royal Highness?"

"Let us make it general: to all women!"

They set down the glasses and shook hands again.