There could be no further hesitation. Something must be done and
instantly. He gently closed the door before answering the third
question. In his nervousness he spoke in English, advancing to the
middle of the room. Impossible to see the woman to whom he hissed this
alarming threat-he only could speculate as to its effect:
“If you utter a sound, madam, I shall kill you. Be calm, and allow me to
explain my presence here!”
He expected her to shriek, forgetting that she might not understand his
words. Instead there was a deathly silence. Had she swooned? His heart
was leaping with hope. But she spoke softly again, tremulously, and in
English:
“You will find my jewels on the dressing table. Take them and go You
will not hurt me?”
“I am not here to do you injury, but to serve your Princess,” whispered
the man. “For God's sake, do not make an outcry. You will ruin
everything. Will you let me explain?”
“Go! Go! Take anything! I can be calm no longer. Oh, how can I expect
mercy at your hands!” Her tones were rising to a wail of terror.
“Sh! Do you want to die?” he hissed, striding to the canopy bed,
discernible as his eyes grew accustomed to the darkness. “I will kill
you if you utter a sound, so help me God!”
“Oh!” she moaned.
“Listen! You must aid me! Do you hear?”
Another heart-breaking moan. “I am here to save the Princess. There is
a plot to abduct her to-night. Already there are men in the castle,
perhaps in her room. You must tell me where she sleeps. There is no time
to be lost. I am no thief, before God! I am telling you the truth. Do
not be alarmed, I implore you. Trust me, madam, and you will not regret
it. Where does the Princess sleep?” He jerked out these eager, pleading
words quickly, breathlessly.
“How am I to trust you?” came back a whisper from the bed.
“Here is a revolver! Take it and kill me if I attempt the slightest
injury. Where are you?” He felt along the bed with his hand.
“Keep away! Please! Please!” she sobbed.
“Take the pistol! Be calm, and in heaven's name help me to save her.
Those wretches may have killed her already!”
The revolver dropped upon the clothes. He was bending eagerly over,
holding the curtains back.
“My friend is in the hall. We have traced the men to the Princess's
door, I think. My God, be quick! Do you wish to see her stolen from
under your eyes?”
“You are now in the Princess's room,” answered the voice from the bed,
calmer and with some alacrity. “Is this true that you tell me?”
“As God is my witness! And you--you--are you the Princess?” gasped the
man, drawing back.
“I am. Where is Dannox?” She was sitting bolt upright in the bed, the
pistol in her trembling fingers.
“He is one of the conspirators. One of the cooks and two other guards
are in the plot. Can you trust me enough to leave your bed and hide in
another part of the room? The scoundrels have mistaken the door, but
they may be here at any moment. You must be quick! I will protect you--I
swear it! Come, your Highness! Hide!”
Something in the fierce, anxious whisper gave her confidence. The
miracle had been wrought! He had composed this woman under the most
trying circumstances that could have teen imagined. She slipped from the
bed and threw a long, loose silken gown about her.
“Who are you?” she asked, touching his arm.
“I am a foreigner--an American--Grenfall Lorry! Hurry!” he implored.
She did not move for a moment, but he distinctly heard her catch her
breath.
“Am I dreaming?” she murmured, faintly. Her fingers now clutched his arm
tightly.
“I should say not! I don't like to order you around, your Highness,
but--”
“Come---- come to the light!” she interrupted, excitedly. “Over here!”
Noiselessly she drew him across the room until the light fell across
his face. It was not a bright light, but what she saw satisfied her. He
could not see her face, for she stood outside the strip of dusky yellow.
“Two men lie beneath your window, and two are coming to this room.
Where shall I go? Come, be quick, madam! Do you want to be carted off to
Ganlook? Then don't stand there like a--like a--pardon me, I won't say
it.”
“I trust you fully. Shall I alarm the guard?” she whispered, recovering
her self-possession.
“By no means. I want to catch those devils myself. Afterwards we can
alarm the guards!”
“An ideal American!” she surprised him by saying. “Follow me!”
She led him to the doorway. “Stand here, and I will call the Countess.
At this side, where it is dark.”
She opened the door gently and stood in the light for a second. He saw
before him a graceful figure in trailing white, and then he saw her
face. She was Miss Guggenslocker!
“My God!” he hoarsely gasped, staggering toward her. “You! You! The
Princess?”
“Yes, I am the Princess,” she whispered, smiling as she glided away
from his side. His eyes went round in his head, his legs seemed to be
anywhere but beneath him, he felt as though he were rushing toward the
ceiling. For the moment he was actually unconscious. Then his senses
rushed back, recalling his mission and his danger.
“She is sleeping so soundly that I fear to awaken her,” whispered a
soft voice at his back, and he turned.. The Princess was standing in the
doorway.
“Then pray stand back where you will be out of danger. They will be here
in a moment, unless they have been frightened away.”
“You shall not expose yourself,” she said, positively. “Why should you
risk your life now? You have accomplished your object. You have saved
the Princess!”
“Ah--yes, the Princess!” he said. “And I am sorry you are the Princess,”
he added, in her ear.
“Sh!” she whispered, softly.
The door through which he had first come was softly opened, and they
were conscious that some one was entering. Lorry and the Princess stood
in the dark shadow of a curtain, she close behind his stalwart figure.
He could hear his own heart and hers beating, could feel the warmth of
her body, although it did not touch his. His heart beat with the pride
of possession, of power, with the knowledge that he had but to stretch
out his hand and touch the one woman in all the world.
Across the dim belt of light from the open doorway in which they stood,
crawled the dark figure of a man. Her hand unconsciously touched his
back as if seeking reassurance.
He shivered beneath its gentle weight. Another form followed the first,
pausing in the light to look toward their doorway. The abductor was
doubtless remembering the instructions to chloroform the Countess. Then
came the odor of chloroform. Oh, if Anguish were only there!
The second figure was lost in the darkness and a faint glow of light
came from the canopied bed in the corner The chloroformer holding the
curtains had turned his screen-lantern, toward the pillow in order to
apply the dampened cloth. Now was the time to act!
Pushing the Princess behind the curtain and in the shelter of the
door-post, Lorry leaped toward the center of the room, a pistol in each
hand. Before him crouched the astonished desperadoes.
“If you move you are dead men!” said he, in slow decided tones. “Here,
Harry!” he shouted. “Scoundrels, you are trapped! Throw up your hands!”
Suddenly the room was a blaze of light; flashing candles, lamps, sprung
into life from the walls, while a great chandelier above his head
dazzled him with its unexpected glare.
“Hell!” he shouted, half throwing his hands to his eyes.
Something rushed upon him from behind; there was a scream and then a
stinging blow across the head and neck. As he sank helplessly, angrily,
to his knees he heard the Princess wail:
“Dannox! Do not strike again! You have killed him!”
As he rolled to the floor he saw the two forms near the bed moving about
like shadows: two red objects that resembled dancing telegraph poles
leaped past him from he knew not where, and then there was a shout, the
report of a pistol, a horrid yell. Something heavy crashed down beside
him and writhed. His eyes were closing, his senses were going, he was
numb and sleepy. Away off in the distance he heard Harry Anguish crying:
“That settles you, damn you!”
Some one lifted his head from the carpet and a woman's voice was crying
something unintelligible. He was conscious of an effort on his part to
prevent the blood from streaming over her gown--a last bit of gallantry.
The sound of rushing feet, shouts, firearms--oblivion!
. . . . . . . . . . .
When Lorry regained consciousness, he blinked in abject amazement. There
was a dull, whirring sound in his ears, and his eyes had a glaze over
them that was slow in wearing off. There were persons in the room. He
could see them moving about and could hear them talking. As his eyes
tried to take in the strange surroundings, a hand was lifted from his
forehead and a soft, dream-like voice said:
“He is recovering, Mr. Anguish. See, his eyes are open! Do you know me,
Mr. Lorry?”
The unsteady eyes wandered until they fell upon the face near his
pillow. A brighter gleam came into them, and there was a ray of
returning intelligence. He tried to speak, but could only move his lips.
As he remembered her, she was in white, and he was puzzled now to see
her in a garment of some dark material, suggestive of the night or the
green of a shady hillside. There was the odor of roses and violets and
carnations. Then he looked for the fatal, fearful, glaring chandelier.
It was gone. The room was becoming lighter and lighter as his eyes
grew stronger, but it was through a window near where he lay. So it was
daylight! Where was he?
“How do you feel, old man?” asked a familiar voice. A man sat down
beside him on the couch or bed, and a big hand grasped his own. Still he
could not answer.
“Doctor,” cried the voice near his head, “you really think it is not
serious?”
“I am quite sure,” answered a man's voice from somewhere out in the
light. “It is a bad cut, and he is just recovering from the effect of
the ether. Had the blow not been a glancing one his skull would have
been crushed. He will be perfectly conscious in a short time. There is
no concussion, your Highness.”
“I am so happy to hear you say that,” said the soft voice. Lorry's eyes
sought hers and thanked her. A lump came into his throat as he looked up
into the tender, anxious blue eyes. A thrill came over him. Princess or
not, he loved her--he loved her! “You were very brave--oh, so brave!”
she whispered in his ear, her hand touching his hair caressingly. “My
American!”
He tried to reach the hand before it faded, but he was too weak. She
glided away, and he closed his eyes again as if in pain.
“Look up, old man; you're all right,” said Anguish. “Smell this
handkerchief. It will make you feel better.” A moist cloth was held
beneath his nose, and a strong, pungent odor darted through his
nostrils. In a moment he tried to raise himself to his elbow. The world
was clearing up.
“Lie still a bit, Lorry. Don't be too hasty. The doctor says you must
not.”
“Where am I, Harry?” asked the wounded man, weakly.
“In the castle. I'll tell you all about it presently.”
“Am I in her room?”
“No, but she is in yours. You are across the hall in”--here he
whispered--“Uncle Caspar's room. Caspar is a Count.”
“And she is the Princess--truly?”
“What luck!”
“What misery--what misery!” half moaned the other.
“Bosh! Be a man! Don't talk so loud, either! There are a half-dozen in
the room.”
Lorry remained perfectly quiet for ten minutes, his staring eyes fixed
on the ceiling. He was thinking of the abyss he had reached and could
not cross.
“What time is it?” he asked at last, turning his eyes toward his friend.
“It's just seven o'clock. You have been unconscious or under the
influence of ether for over four hours. That guard hit you a fearful
crack.”
“I heard a shot--a lot of them. Was any one killed? Did those fellows
escape?”
“Killed! There have been eight executions besides the one I attended to.
Lord, they don't wait long here before handing out justice.”
“Tell me all that happened. Was she hurt?”
“I should say not! Say, Gren, I have killed a man. Dannox got my bullet
right in the head and he never knew what hit him. Ghastly, isn't it? I
feel beastly queer. It was he who turned on the lights and went at you
with a club. I heard you call, and was in the door just as he hit you.
His finish came inside of a second. You and he spoiled the handsomest
rug I ever saw.”
“Ruined it?”
“Not in her estimation. I'll wager she has it framed, blood and all. The
stains will always be there as a reminder of your bravery, and that's
what she says she's bound to keep. She was very much excited and alarmed
about you until the room filled with men and then she remembered how she
was attired. I never saw anything so pretty as her embarrassment when
the Countess and her aunt led her into the next room. These people are
going out, so I'll tell you what happened after you left me with the
cook. He was a long time falling under the influence, and I had barely
reached the top of the stairs when I saw Dannox rush down the hall. Then
you called, and I knew the jig was on in full blast. The door was open,
and I saw him strike you. I shot him, but she was at your side before
I could get to you. The other fellows who were in the room succeeded in
escaping while I was bending over you, but neither of them shot at me.
They were too badly frightened. I had sense enough left to follow
and shoot a couple of times as they tore down the stairs. One of them
stumbled and rolled all the way to the bottom. He was unconscious and
bleeding when I reached his side. The other fellow flew toward the
dining-hall, where he was nabbed by two white uniformed men
and throttled. Other men in white--they were regular police
officers--pounced upon me, and I was a prisoner. By George, I was
knocked off my feet the next minute to see old Dangloss himself come
puffing and blowing into the hall, redder and fiercer than ever. 'Now
I know what you want in Edelweiss!' he shrieked, and it took me three
minutes to convince him of his error. Then he and some of the men went
up to the Princess' room, while I quickly led the way to the big gate
and directed a half-dozen officers toward the ravine. By this, time
the grounds were alive with guards. They came up finally with the two
fellows who had been stationed beneath the window and who were unable
to find the gate. When I got back to where you were the room was full of
terrified men and women, half dressed. I was still dazed over the
sudden appearance of the police, but managed to tell my story in full to
Dangloss and Count Halfont--that's Uncle Caspar--and then the chief told
me how he and his men happened to be there. In the meantime, the castle
physician was attending to you. Dannox had been carried away. I never
talked to a more interested audience in my life! There was the Princess
at my elbow and the Countess--pretty as a picture--back of her, all
eyes, both of 'em; and there was the old gray-haired lady, the Countess
Halfont, and a half-dozen shivering maids, with men galore, Dangloss
and the Count and a lot of servants,--a great and increasing crowd.
The captain of the guards, a young fellow named Quinnox, as I heard him
called, came in, worried and humiliated. I fancy he was afraid he'd lose
his job. You see, it was this way: Old Dangloss has had a man watching
us all day. Think of it! Shadowing us like a couple of thieves.
This fellow traced us to the castle gate and then ran back for
reinforcements, confident that we were there to rob. In twenty minutes
he had a squad of officers at the gate, the chief trailing along behind.
They found the pile of tools we had left there, and later the other chap
in the arbor. A couple of guards came charging up to learn the cause of
the commotion, and the whole crew sailed into the castle, arriving just
in time. Well, just as soon as I had told them the full story of the
plot, old Caspar, the chief and the captain held a short consultation,
the result of which I can tell in mighty few words. At six o'clock they
took the whole gang of prisoners down in the ravine and shot them. The
mounted guards are still looking for the two Viennese who were left with
the carriage. They escaped. About an hour after you were hurt you were
carried over here and laid on this couch. I want to tell you, Mr. Lorry,
you are the most interesting object that ever found its way into a royal
household. They have been hanging over you as if you were a new-born
baby, and everybody's charmed because you are a boy and are going to
live. As an adventure this has been a record-breaker, my son! We are
cocks of the walk!”
Lorry was smiling faintly over his enthusiasm.
“You are the real hero, Harry, You saved my life and probably hers. I'll
not allow you or anybody to give me the glory,” he said, pressing the
other's hand.
“Oh, that's nonsense! Anybody could have rushed in as I did. I was only
capping the climax you had prepared--merely a timely arrival, as the
novels say. There is a little of the credit due me, of course, and
I'll take it gracefully, but I only come in as an accessory, a sort of
bushwhacker who had only to do the shoot, slap-bang work and close the
act. You did the hero's work. But what do you think of the way they hand
out justice over here? All but two of 'em dead!”
“Whose plan was it to kill those men?” cried Lorry, suddenly sitting
upright.
“Everybody's, I fancy. They didn't consult me, though, come to think of
it. Ah, here is Her Royal Highness!”
The Princess and Aunt Yvonne were at his side again, while Count Caspar
was coming rapidly toward them.
“You must not sit up, Mr. Lorry,” began the Princess, but he was crying:
“Did they make a confession, Harry?”
“I don't know. Did they, Unc--Count Halfont? Did they confess? Great
heavens, I never thought of that before.”
“What was there to confess?” asked the Count, taking Lorry's hand
kindly. “They were caught in the act. My dear sir, they were not even
tried.”
“I thought your police chief was such a shrewd man,” cried Lorry,
angrily.
“What's that?” asked a gruff voice, and Baron Dangloss was a member of
the party, red and panting.
“Don't you know you should not have killed those men?” demanded Lorry.
They surveyed him in amazement, except Anguish, who had buried his face
in his hands dejectedly.
“And, sir, I'd like to know why not?” blustered Dangloss.
“And, sir, I'd like to know, since you have shot the only beings on
earth who knew the man that hired them, how in the name of your alleged
justice you are going to apprehend him?” said Lorry, sinking back to his
pillow, exhausted.
No reserve could hide the consternation, embarrassment and shame that
overwhelmed a very worthy but very impetuous nobleman, Baron Jasto
Dangloss, chief of police in Edelweiss. He could only sputter his
excuses and withdraw, swearing to catch the arch-conspirator or to die
in the attempt. Not a soul in the castle, not a being in all Graustark
could offer the faintest clew to the identity of the man or explain
his motive. No one knew a Michael, who might have been inadvertently
addressed as “your” possible “Highness.” The greatest wonder reigned;
vexation, uneasiness and perplexity existed everywhere.
Standing there with her head on her aunt's shoulder, her face grave and
troubled, the Princess asked:
“Why should they seek to abduct me? Was it to imprison or to kill me?
Oh, Aunt Yvonne, have I not been good to my people? God knows I have
done all that I can. I could have done no more. Is it a conspiracy to
force me from the throne? Who can be so cruel?”
And no one could answer. They could simply offer words of comfort and
promises of protection. Later in the day gruff Dangloss marched in
and apologized to the Americans for his suspicions concerning them,
imploring their assistance in running down the chief villain. And as the
hours went by Count Halfont font came in and, sitting beside Grenfall,
begged his pardon and asked him to forget the deception that had been
practiced in the United States. He explained the necessity for traveling
incognito at that time. After which the Count entered a plea for Her
Royal Highness, who had expressed contrition and wished to be absolved.