THE REASON OF THE INTRIGUE.
When I was alone and the strange charm of the Princess Weletsky's
presence had given way to calm reflection, my doubts began to grow. I
was naturally a cautious man under ordinary circumstances; and now my
suspicions were the keener because my caution had been momentarily
lulled to sleep.
I was all inclined to disbelieve the story which the Princess had told,
or rather had suggested; and I began to look behind all she had said
for some motive or intrigue. I thought she might wish for the help of
my sword for some altogether different purpose than she had suggested:
but I could think of nothing. Nor could Olga, with whom I spoke very
freely on the subject.
She said she could see no more than appeared on the surface; and what
that was it was superfluous to ask; especially when she told me that
the Princess could, or would talk of nothing else to her but my
bravery, my good looks, my courtesy, my chivalry, and so on at great
length.
"It is agreeable to have my brother praised," said Olga once, laughing.
"But there are limits."
During the next four or five days Olga had ample opportunities of
hearing these praises, moreover, as the Princess would scarcely let her
out of her sight. When I called on the day following the ball I found
the two together, and the Princess in a few words we had together out
of my sister's hearing would say nothing at all about the subject of
her wrongs. She enlarged on the suggestion of the previous night that
she had been led by her impulses and her instinctive trust in me to
speak too fully.
For some days she maintained the same attitude of reserve, and then
quite suddenly when we were alone, she changed again, and in words
which I could not fail to understand she let me know indirectly that if
I would avenge her wrongs, her hand would be my reward.
I have never in my life had to face a more awkward crisis than that.
What reply she expected I cannot tell: whether she looked for some
eager passionate protestations of love, or some strong pledge of
defence, or what. Whether she really cared for me and the confusion
she shewed was the sign of it, or whether the whole part was assumed
and everything mere acting, I cannot say. But I know that I on my part
felt indescribably embarrassed and scarcely knew how to answer her.
I knew, too, the danger to Olga and myself of offending a woman so
highly placed, so influential, and powerful as the Princess. We had
enough troubles as it was: and if they were to be multiplied and
aggravated in this way, we should be overwhelmed. It was certain that
I must find some way of temporising.
"Princess, I am your devoted servant to do with as you will," I
answered. "And if my sword can be of service, tell me how." She
started and flushed with pleasure as I said this.
"I knew I should not count on you in vain.
"The Grand Duke Servanieff will now learn that a more stalwart arm than
his protects me from his insults." Her eyes seemed to glitter as she
watched the effect of this name on me.
"Do you mean that that is the man you wish me to fight?" I cried in the
deepest astonishment. He was all but on the very steps of the Throne,
and if I had approached him he would have brushed me away into a gaol
with no more concern or difficulty than he would have whisked a fly off
his hand.
The woman was mad.
"He persists in forcing his attentions on me, and I will not have
them," she said.
All my suspicions had been stung into activity by the mention of the
name of the Grand Duke; and as I looked at the Princess she appeared to
be watching me with quite suspicious vigilance as she added:--"He
cannot refuse to meet anyone to whom I give the right to protect me
from him."
It was an intrigue. I was sure of it; and this lovely woman was making
me her tool.
I answered guardedly.
"A lieutenant in a marching regiment who should presume to challenge
that man would stand a better chance of being whipped at the cart's
tail than of meeting him."
"He is a great swordsman, I know," she said, as if to pour suspicion on
my courage. But I was not a fool to be tripped by a gibe. If I had
wished to marry the woman I would have consented readily enough there
and then, and risked all; but my object was to get out of Russia and to
get Olga out with me.
"I should not fear him were he twice as skilful; but this is no mere
matter of sword fence."
"Easy words, Lieutenant."
"I will make them good, Princess," replied I, quietly. "But I must
first see the course clearer for the meeting. What say your friends?
Can I depend on their influence?"
"Won't you do this for me, then? Am I mistaken in you?" There was a
sharp accent of irritation in her tone that I noticed now.
"Princess, it does not best become a beautiful woman to doubt a man's
courage until he is proved a craven. Here is no matter of personal
courage only; but I should be loosing upon me all the waters of
bitterest political intrigue. Alone I should be absolutely powerless
to stem the torrents that would sweep me to certain ruin. Alone,
therefore I cannot do what you ask. But understand me, give me the
powerful support of your family, and I will meet the man, were he fifty
times the Highness that he is--if we can arrange the meeting."
She seemed disappointed at this; quite unreasonably so; and tried to
move me. But I stood firm, and then with evident reluctance, she told
me her brother was with her in the matter, and that if I would see him
all would be simple.
"My brother, Prince Bilbassoff, is, as you know, Minister of the
Interior, and is now in Moscow in connection with the visit of the
Emperor." I had not known who her brother was; but when she gave me
the name and told me where I could see him, a rapid conclusion leapt
into my thoughts.
Prince Bilbassoff was the real power behind the Police, and I was
probably going to find now why Christian Tueski had had to hold his
hand against me.
I went at once to see him.
I found him the very opposite of the popular ideal of a bureaucrat--a
short, grey, close-haired, spare man, with the air of a man of the
world, and a pleasant cheery manner that suggested nothing formidable
or even powerful. Yet without doubt the man was in many respects the
most powerful and the most feared in all Russia.
He appeared to be expecting me; for the instant I was announced, he got
up and welcomed me with a hearty shake of the hand and said:---
"I thought my sister would have to make us acquainted, Lieutenant
Petrovitch. She said she wouldn't; but I expected you. Women think
beauty will do everything; and somehow are always calculating without
the effects of self-interest. Don't you think so?" He spoke with a
sort of easy club mannerism, and just let his eyes rest a moment on my
face.
"Of course you know the drift of what has passed then?"
"Of course I do. As well as I know that your coming to me means that
my sister's method has failed. I from the first disagreed with it. I
know a great deal about you, Lieutenant Petrovitch; and I think I could
have saved time. But my sister was attracted to you--women always like
you handsome young fire-eaters, especially women like my sister--and as
she is to take a rather large hand in the matter, she wanted to play it
her own way. She appealed to your feelings, Lieutenant. I should have
gone straight to your interest: and really it will be to your interest
to do this."
"Will you tell me plainly what is wanted?"
"Certainly. The death of the man whose name has no doubt been
mentioned to you."
"Why?"
"Not because he has insulted my sister: though that is fortunately a
plausible pretext: but because he is a menace to the Empire."
His bluntness astounded me.
"Do you take me for an assassin?"
"No. I take you for a very resolute young man, with a great skill of
fence, a large desire to push your fortunes high, and not too much
scruple to act like a sword scabbard between your legs and trip you up.
If you weren't that, you'd be no use to me. As you are, I open before
you a career such as lies before no other man in the Emperor's wide
dominions at the present moment. Do this, and you win a woman as rich
and beautiful and, as women go, as good as any in Russia for a wife;
and you can ask and have almost what place you like, either in or out
of the army."
"And if I refuse?"
He laughed and shrugged his shoulders.
"You won't refuse," he said, shaking his head. "If you do, you will be
a young fool--too foolish to be trusted at large."
I knew what he meant; and when I looked at him next, I understood why
men feared him. That laugh of his would usher a man to the knout or
the gallows.
I thought rapidly.
"I like the project," I replied. "But can you arrange the meeting?"
He was as quick as the devil, and detected the false note in my voice.
"Lieutenant, there are two courses open to you," he said in a tone so
sharp, stern and ringing that the change surprised me. "You can accept
or refuse the offer--but don't try to fool me."
"Well, then, I'm not a murderer," I rapped out, angered by his words.
"That's better," he said, with a return to his light clubbish manner.
"But this is no murder. The man is a traitor: and no juster act could
be compassed than his death."
"Then why not do it openly?"
He smiled and threw up his hands.
"Is justice always done openly? Of course we might do that: but he
would laugh at our efforts. We might get him assassinated; but he is
too powerful and the noise of the act would defeat the very object we
have. He is a swordsman worthy of your skill. He has insulted, and
will again insult my sister, your betrothed--for what is not an insult
when you wish to make it one?--and he would delight to meet you. He
will think he can kill you. Perhaps he can: may be, probably; for he
is a very devil with the weapon. That is your risk. Will you take it?
It's no light one. But you are a young fellow with all to gain in
winning and nothing to lose but your life. You will do it, I know.
I'm only surprised you hesitate."
I sat thinking: but not in the groove he guessed.
"We'll make your sister's fortune as well," he said, raising the terms.
"She shall make a marriage into one of the best families in Russia, and
found a family of the highest distinction. Think, Lieutenant."
I was thinking about as hard as I could: but no opening offered itself.
"I must have time to determine," I said. "It seems to me that I run
the chance of playing the cat's paw with all the flame for my share.
What guarantee have I that if I do this and am successful I shall not
then be deemed--too foolish to be trusted at large, as you say?"
"First, my honour; secondly, your betrothal to my sister; and thirdly,
her feeling for yourself."
"And if I refuse, Siberia, I suppose?"
"No, not so far as that," he replied, lightly.
"But what if I feign to consent and carry the story to the man you
threaten?"
"There is that chance of course. But in the first place he would not
believe you, Lieutenant; and in the second, if he did, neither you nor
he could do any harm; and in the third, you would have me for an enemy.
And I am pleasanter and safer as a friend. I have discounted that
risk, and it is nothing."
"How long will you give me to decide?"
"A week. We can then announce the betrothal just before the Emperor's
visit here, and gain the Imperial blessing on so righteous a marriage
between a brave man and a beautiful woman, each motived by the highest
patriotic feelings for Russia."
With this half sneer ringing in my ears, he sent me away.