A COUNSEL OF EXPEDIENCY.
The foundation of the family and Castle of Sagan was said to belong to
the period of the Frankish incursions. Some one had once remarked that
Count Simon himself was the most perfect relic of the barbaric period to
be found in Europe, which, coming round in due time to Count Simon, the
joker paid with his life for his poor attempt at wit.
However true this tradition of Sagan might be, the Castle itself was
mediæval, and, though it had been added to and restored, dark and
tortuous passages still existed in the older portion of its huge bulk,
and could by no means be improved away. Treacherous steps waylaid and
betrayed the unwary foot; undreamed-of doors gave upon their dimmest
corners, and not all the efforts of the nervous châtelaine ever
accomplished the adequate lighting of their recesses.
The spirit of fear seemed to be abroad in the Castle that night, and the
guests moved with a causeless but irresistible hurry when coming or
going from the upper apartments or through the winding corridors.
Valerie was conscious of it, as, wrapped in a long cloak, she opened
her door and started back on finding a tall high-shouldered figure
standing outside.
'Take my arm, Mademoiselle, I beg of you,' von Elmur bent his head,
speaking urgently: 'I am aware that his August Impertinence well
deserved your rebuke! But many heard it, and by some a sinister
construction has been put upon it. For your father's sake, will you
condescend to listen to me?'
Valerie withdrew her hand from his arm with a swift movement, but he
caught and replaced it almost roughly.
'Forgive me, Mademoiselle, you must listen to me! I am not urging my
suit upon you--I will not urge it until you consult your father; but, in
the meantime, the exigencies of the case, difficulties which have arisen
as the result of your own words, make it essential for you to follow my
advice. You are aware, you must be aware, of my feelings towards you,
and may I remind you that your father's wishes coincide with mine? Will
you allow me to announce our betrothal to the Count? I will never
presume upon this favour in the future--you may rely upon me. Valerie,
you see I am using no lover's persuasiveness, I do not tell you that I
adore you--though you are well aware of that! I only declare that your
falling in with my request may mean the difference between life and
death to some of us!'
'Is my father in danger through my fault?'
His hand held hers close, and she could see that he was moved out of the
common by some emotion, the cool stillness of his manner was replaced by
a passion of which she had not believed him capable. Her beauty and the
thought of losing her had a good deal to do with this disturbance, but
the chief cause was the fear, that, after all, his mission might fail,
and fail badly.
'I cannot explain; but I implore you to act on my advice.'
Valerie hesitated. Elmur was very much in earnest, yet it might be an
attempt to trick her into a position from which she would find it almost
impossible to withdraw.
'Do you wish to make this public?' she asked.
'No, no. That--pardon me once more--would be equally fatal after the
impression you unluckily conveyed to the Duke. No; I only ask you to
allow Count Sagan to believe that you have consented to become my wife.
I beg you to do this--for M. Selpdorf's sake, and, indeed, Mademoiselle,
for your own!'
As they entered the circle of brilliant light falling from the great
lamp above Madame de Sagan's door Baron von Elmur resumed something of
his usual manner.
'Then I may conduct you no further?' he said, turning in front of her to
screen her agitated face from two persons who were coming along the
gallery.
'Thank you for your protection, Baron,' the girl replied in an audible
tone, 'the Castle is haunted on nights like these, when the _tsa_ cries
around it.'
The door swung open noiselessly beside them, and Count Sagan stood on
the threshold. By some instinct, without looking at him, she seemed to
see his angry, questioning gaze.
'Au revoir,' she added to Elmur, with a coquettish ring in her voice.
'Ah, Mademoiselle, I live for that only--to see you again,' began Elmur.
Sagan cut him short.
'Tut, tut, Baron, too many eyes are looking on to permit of such
endearments as these! Ardour in a betrothed lover is natural, yet----'
Valerie looked up and smiled miserably.
'Au revoir,' she repeated faintly.
With that the door closed behind her as Sagan led her away to his wife,
and Elmur, affecting not to see the two men who were passing, strolled
on singing a love-song under his breath. Unziar paused, then drew
Rallywood with him into the centre of the wide lighted passage, where
they could speak with more freedom. 'That settles more questions than
one!' he said mockingly. 'For example, it settles a question which most
concerns you and me, Rallywood.'
'Concerns me?' Rallywood flung back the words.
'Would you deny it? You are as deep in that as I,' nodding towards the
door behind them.
Rallywood's answer came slowly.
'I do not deny it. Why should I wish to? Though regard for her has led
me to attempt to hide my--folly. I see I have not been altogether as
successful as I hoped. But, had I anything to offer her beside my sword,
I'm hanged if I would let that infernal German have her!'
'In these affairs, my friend, the ladies equally make choice,' Unziar
replied with a sneer. 'Besides, it is only a part of the--plot,' the
last word was scarcely audible.
Rallywood turned on him a long, keen look.
'And you think that she, Mademoiselle, is in it?' he asked at last.
'I wish to God I could say not! But in the teeth of this conspiracy, for
the sake of Maäsau, we of the Guard cannot lie to each other.'
Rallywood, being on duty during the evening, stood, according to usage,
at some little distance behind the Duke's chair. From among the coming
and going, from chance words and prepared speeches he gathered a thread
of suspicion which had its use in the perplexing future that was rapidly
advancing upon them.
Valerie, with a flush upon her face, was looking unusually brilliant as
she talked for a while with Unziar, who, judging from the sourness of
his smile, may have been offering her his congratulations.
Counsellor came up to Rallywood, and as they stood well away from the
crowd, spoke openly.
'You have heard the news I see, John, and you are not nearly such a fool
as you think yourself. She is a girl in ten thousand, and may, not
improbably, make the exceptional woman I once before spoke to you about.
I knew this connection was under consideration by Elmur, but the
engagement did not exist a few hours ago, and the present moment is
precisely the most inopportune which could be chosen for its
announcement, hence it follows that someone has forced Elmur's hand, or
that he is forcing the hand of someone, it may be Mdlle. Selpdorf's.'
'Will it be announced--publicly? The Duke, for example.'
'It is known already to half-a-dozen; what can they do? I had it from
Blivinski, the little Russian _attaché_, as a secret. Russia is, like
nature herself, the vast reservoir of all secrets; and not one is
allowed to escape, except for a purpose. Yet I wonder how it will end.
Look at her! How brilliant she is. But rouge on the cheek of a woman who
habitually uses none means, in all cases--trouble,' said Counsellor, as
he moved off.