NOT AT HOME
It was a jäger clad in green who opened the door of the hunting lodge,
and gazed, apparently without recognition, at the two men standing in
the dark embrasure of the porch.
"We wish to see his Royal Highness, your master," said the Chancellor,
taking the initiative, as he knew the Emperor would wish him to do.
"His Royal Highness is not at home, sir," replied the jäger.
Leopold's eyes lightened as he threw a glance of sarcastic meaning at
his companion. But Iron Heart was undaunted. He knew very well now,
that this was only a prelude to the drama which would follow; and
though he had suffered a sharp pang of anxiety at first, he saw that
his Royal friend was playing with commendable realism. Naturally, when
beautiful young actresses ventured into the forest unchaperoned, to
dine with fascinating princes, the least that such favored gentlemen
could do was to be "not at home" to an intrusive public.
"You are mistaken," insisted the Chancellor, "his Royal Highness is at
home, and will receive us. It will be better for you to admit us
without further delay."
Under the domination of those eyes which could quell a turbulent
Reichstag, the jäger weakened, as his master had doubtless expected
him to do after the first resistance.
"It may be I have made a mistake, sir," he stammered, "though I do not
think so. If you will have the kindness to walk in and wait for a few
minutes until I can inquire whether his Royal Highness has come home,
or will come home--"
"That is not necessary," said the Chancellor. "His Royal Highness
dines here this evening. We will go with you to the door of the
dining-room, which you will open for us, and announce that two
gentlemen wish to see him."
[Illustration: _At sight of her the Emperor stopped on the threshold_]
With this, all uncertainty in the mind of the jäger was swept away.
He knew his duty and determined to stand by it; and the Chancellor
saw that, if the master had given instructions meaning them to be
over-ridden, at least the servant was sincere. He put himself in the
doorway, and looked an obstacle difficult to dislodge.
"That is impossible, sir!" he exclaimed. "I have had my orders, which
are that his Royal Highness is not at home to-night, and until I know
whether or not these orders are to stand, nobody, not if it were the
Emperor, should force his way."
"Fool, those orders are not for us; and it is the Emperor who will go
in." With a step aside, the Chancellor let the light from the hanging
lamp in the hall shine full upon Leopold's face, hitherto masked in
shadow.
His boast forgotten, the jäger uttered a cry of dismay, and with a
sudden failing of the knees, he moved, and left the doorway free.
"Your Majesty!" he faltered. "I did not see--I could not know. Most
humbly I beg your Majesty's gracious pardon. If your Majesty will but
hold me blameless with my master--"
"Never mind yourself, and never mind your master," broke in the
Chancellor. "Open that door at the end of the hall, and announce the
Emperor and Count von Breitstein."
The unfortunate jäger, approaching a state of collapse, obeyed. The
door of the dining-room, which Leopold knew of old, was thrown open,
and a quavering voice heralded "His Imperial Majesty the Emperor, and
the Herr Chancellor Count von Breitstein."
The scene disclosed was as unreal to Leopold's eyes as a painted
picture; the walls of Pompeian red; the gold candelabra; the polished
floor, spread with the glimmering fur of Polar bears; and in the
center a flower-decked table lit with pink-shaded lights, and
sparkling with gold and crystal; springing up from a chair which faced
the door, a young man in evening dress; sitting motionless, her back
half turned, a slender girl in bridal white.
At sight of her the Emperor stopped on the threshold. All the blood in
his body seemed rushing to his head, then surging back upon his heart.
The impossible had happened.