By noon all Treysa knew, through the papers, of the indisposition of the
Crown Princess; and during the afternoon many smart carriages called at
the gates of the royal palace to inquire after her Imperial Highness's
health.
The pompous, scarlet-liveried porters told every one that the Princess
had, unfortunately, caught a severe chill on her journey from Vienna,
and her medical advisers, although they did not consider it serious,
thought, as a precaution, it was best that for a few days she should
remain confined to her room.
Meanwhile the Princess, in her silent, stunning, overwhelming sorrow,
was wondering how she might call Steinbach. She was unapproachable to
any but the Court set, therefore to call a commoner would be an
unheard-of breach of etiquette. And yet she desired to see him and
obtain his advice. In all that gay, scheming circle about her he was
the only person whom she could trust. He was devoted to her service
because of the little charitable actions she had rendered him. She knew
that he would if necessary lay down his very life in order to serve her,
for he was one of the very few who did not misjudge her.
The long day dragged by. She wrote many letters--mostly to her family
and friends in Vienna. Then taking a sheet of the royal notepaper from
the rack, she again settled herself, after pacing the boudoir in thought
for some time, and penned a long letter, which when finished she reread
and carefully corrected, afterwards addressing it in German to "His
Imperial Majesty the Emperor, Vienna," and sealing it with her own
private seal.
"He misjudges me," she said to herself very gravely; "therefore it is
only right that I should defend myself."
Then she rang, and in answer to her summons one of the royal footmen
appeared.
"I want a special messenger to carry a letter for me to Vienna. Go at
once to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ask the Under-Secretary,
Fischer, whether Steinbach may be placed at my service," she commanded.
"Yes, your Imperial Highness," answered the clean-shaven, grave-faced
man, who bowed and then withdrew.
Allen soon afterwards brought in little Ignatia to show the doll's
perambulator, with which the child was delighted, wheeling it up and
down the boudoir. With the little one her mother played for upwards of
an hour. The bright little chatterbox caused her to forget the tragedy
of her own young life, and Allen's kindly English ways were to her so
much more sympathetic than the stiff formalities of her treacherous
lady-in-waiting.
The little one in her pretty speeches told her mother of her adventures
in the toy-shops of Treysa, where she was, of course, recognised, and
where the shopkeepers often presented her little Royal Highness with
dolls and games. In the capital the tiny Ignatia was a very important
and popular personage everywhere; certainly more popular with the people
than the parrot-faced, hard-hearted old King himself.
Presently, while the Crown Princess was carrying her little one
pick-a-pack up and down the room, the child crowing with delight at its
mother's romping and caresses, there came a loud summons at the door,
the rap that announced a visitor, and the same grave-faced manservant
opened the long white doors, saying,--
"Your Imperial Highness. Will it please you to receive Herr Steinbach
of the Department of Foreign Affairs?"
"Bring Herr Steinbach here," she commanded, and then, kissing the child
quickly, dismissed both her and her nurse.
A few moments later the clean-shaven, dark-haired man in sombre black
was ushered in, and bending, kissed the Crown Princess's hand with
reverent formality.
As soon as they were alone she turned to him, and, taking up the letter,
said,--
"I wish you, Steinbach, to travel to Vienna by the express to-night,
obtain audience of the Emperor, and hand this to him. Into no other
hand must you deliver it, remember. In order to obtain your audience
you may say that I have sent you; otherwise you will probably be
refused. If there is a reply, you will bring it; if not--well, it does
not matter."
The quick-eyed man, bowing again, took the letter, glanced at the
superscription, and placing it in the inner pocket of his coat, said,--
"I will carry out your Imperial Highness's directions."
The Princess crossed to the door and opened it in order to satisfy
herself that there were no eavesdroppers outside. Then returning to
where the man stood, she said in a low voice,--
"I see that you are puzzled by the injury to my face when the papers are
saying I have a chill. I met with a slight accident last night." Then
in the next breath she asked, "What is the latest phase of this
conspiracy against me, Steinbach? Tell me. You need conceal nothing
for fear of hurting my feelings."