FINIS
The navy of land-locked Switzerland has always been a subject for jest
among nations that go down to the sea in ships. But the patrol service
of Lake Constance, which guards the line running midway down the length
of the lake against illegality--the smuggling of arms and ammunition,
the use of improper passports, and all the illicit dealings that are a
part of the secret operations of nations at war, has been and continues
to be a highly efficient force in the preservation of neutral relations.
Herr Lieutnant Hoffmeier, no lover, in spite of his name, of methods
Teutonic, took as great a pride in his craft as though she had been a
twenty thousand ton battleship, as much joy in his two small deck rifles
as though they had been thirty-eight centimeters in caliber. It was his
business to watch the lake for signs of suspicious craft and especially
to note the movement of the German Government vessels at Lindau and
Friedrichshafen. So that when the German Patrol emerged from Lindau,
vomiting black smoke, he came out at once, assured that the two small
fishing boats that he had been watching for some moments crossing in the
storm were the objects of German attention. The round shots sent as
warning aroused him to greater interest, especially as now it was clear
that the sail-boats had reached Swiss waters. over which Herr Lieutnant
Hoffmeier had dominion. He was somewhat jealous of his authority and
found himself growing warm as the firing proceeded, quite in
contravention of international agreements.
And so, just to show that he was on the job, and not lightly to be
considered, he had his bow-gun cast loose and fired one shot well to
windward of the pursuing boat. The sail-boats were now easily visible
to the Herr Lieutnant with the naked eye and he noted with amazement the
crashing of the two boats together, the reports of fire-arms and the
fight that followed, in which one man had gone overboard. And so when
he got within hailing distance, he shouted to the occupants of one
sail-boat which had now swung clear, but got no answer. So he gave
several quick orders and when his vessel lost way, jumped into his gig,
which was swung overside, and pulled rapidly to the badly sailing
lugger.
There was a girl at the helm, a very beautiful girl with reddish-brown
hair, who looked at him blankly and refused to relinquish the helm. She
was bewildered and terrified and after a brief question fainted in his
arms. In the bottom of the boat at her feet a man lay, bleeding from a
wound in his body, and forward, in the wash of the water the boat had
shipped, another woman, dead.
The Herr Lieutnant took the helm and brought the lugger alongside the
gangway of his craft, where with the help of his gig crew the
unconscious girl, the wounded man and the dead woman were carried upon
deck, his boatswain also bringing up from the lugger a black robe and a
large valise which weighed heavily. Lieutnant Hoffmeier gave some brief
orders--a restorative for the girl, first aid for the wounded man, who
though desperately hurt, had a chance for life; then mounted his bridge
and took down his megaphone, for the German patrol-boat had drawn up
within a cable's length and was now lowering a boat to come aboard him.
"I would inform you, Herr Lieutnant, that you have already violated
neutrality by firing over my line," he roared.
He spoke of the international boundary with the casual air of possession
that was habitual with him.
"Escaping spies," came the reply, "we are within our rights."
"You have no rights in Swiss territory," he snapped, and lowered the
megaphone, for his boatswain had mounted the bridge beside him and
saluted.
"The lady has come to, sir, and would like to speak to you at once."
"Very good. Take the deck and receive the Herr Lieutnant. I will
return."
And with a glance at the approaching boat, he went below.
Tanya was sitting up among some pillows on a bench in the cabin. She
was very pale, her skin, transparent like onyx, blue-veined, her gray
eyes dark and luminous.
"You wanted to see me?" asked the Lieutnant with brisk politeness.
"Yes, Herr----"
"Hoffmeier----"
"Herr Hoffmeier. I plead with you that you do not give us up--I am a
Russian, the wounded man an American. We claim the protection of Swiss
neutrality----"
"The German captain claims that you are spies----"
"It is not true. I was taken into Germany against my will, by the man
who was drowned--an agent of the German Government, with the money in
the valise yonder which we have recovered."
And breathlessly, in as few words as possible, she told him her story.
He listened, attentively, aware of the fact that his captive was
struggling bravely against her weakness, against terror of the horrors
through which she had passed. In the midst of their conversation a
sailor entered, touching his cap.
"Herr Lieutnant Zapp of the Bodensee patrol and His Excellency General
Graf von Stromberg----"
Tanya stared past the man toward the door of the cabin as though
expecting to see the terrible old man following the messenger.
"Herr Hoffmeier----" she pleaded, "his power is without limit. It is
death for me----"
Hoffmeier turned and dismissed the man.
"I will be on deck in a moment."
And then to Tanya gently, "You are no spy?"
"No, I swear it."
"Nor he--the American----"
"Nor he--that also I swear----"
He caught the hands she extended toward him and pressed them firmly.
"That's all I want to know. Fear nothing. Even the German Emperor has
no dominion over me."
"You will not let them----"
"No. Be at rest."
And with a smile, he vanished through the door and went up on deck,
walking straight to where the two visitors awaited him, then halting,
saluted.
After formal introductions General von Stromberg smiled.
"It was most kind of you, Herr Lieutnant Hoffmeier. We are thankful for
your assistance. We have come to relieve you of our prisoners."
"_Bitte?_" said Hoffmeier.
"Our prisoners," repeated Von Stromberg. "We have come for them."
"There is doubtless some misunderstanding," said the Swiss officer
politely. "I have no prisoners of yours. As Herr Lieutnant Zapp will
doubtless tell you----"
"Come, Herr Lieutnant," broke in Von Stromberg, "we do not wish to delay
you or indeed to be delayed. Our time is short."
"And mine. I have a patient who must go to the hospital at once."
"And you have the temerity to say that you will not relinquish these
prisoners to me?"
Hoffmeier bowed.
"You have not mistaken my meaning."
"And you are willing to accept the consequences of this action?"
"Beyond doubt, or I would not take it."
Von Stromberg turned to his companion.
"Herr Lieutnant Zapp,--it cannot be that this gentleman is aware of my
power--my authority----"
"You are mistaken," broke in the Swiss quite coolly, "You are Herr
General Graf von Stromberg, Head of the military sections of the
Imperial German Secret Service, Geheimrath, Privy Councilor of his
Majesty, Emperor William II." He took two steps toward the brass rail
and pointed, "But your power--your authority--ends yonder--a mile away.
If you are unfamiliar with the treaties--with the law which governs the
Bodensee, Herr Lieutnant Zapp will doubtless enlighten you, on your way
back to Lindau."
"You are impudent, sir."
"I am merely obedient to those who command me."
"Those who command you, shall command your dismissal."
"This is not Prussia, Excellency. Not while I do my duty."
Von Stromberg glared at the boy as though he would have liked to
strangle him.
"Do you realize that the money which these prisoners have looted belongs
to citizens of Germany?"
"That is a matter which the courts will determine," said the Swiss
lightly.
Von Stromberg shrugged and laughed unpleasantly.
"You are a very foolish young man."
Then after a moment of hesitation he took a pace forward, catching
Hoffmeier by the arm and walking a few paces along the deck with him,
whispering.
In the midst of the conversation the Swiss suddenly flung away.
"Bribery!" he cried hotly. "You've found the wrong man, Excellency. I
will give you one minute to leave my ship, or I will take you to
Switzerland and intern you."
And walking to the gangway he pointed down to where the visiting boat
lay, the men at their oars.
"Your boat awaits you, Herr Lieutnant Zapp. I bid you good morning,
Excellency."
Von Stromberg scowled, bit his lip and scowled again, but he followed
his lieutenant down the ladder and silently entered the boat, wrapping
himself in his great cape and was rowed away.
Lieutnant Hoffmeier mounted to the bridge and gave the orders for full
speed ahead. Then he leaned over the rail and watched the small craft
approach the German patrol-boat.
"Sacred pig of a Prussian bully. On my own quarterdeck, too! Tish!"
And he spat to leeward.
For three weeks Rowland had lain in the hospital at Rorschach, unaware
of the storm that had raged about his bed. For a week he had been
between life and death, for the bullet of Herr Hochwald had passed
through his right lung and embedded itself between the ribs at his side.
But careful nursing and the ministrations of an excellent surgeon had
pulled him through, and the danger point had long since passed. Modern
firearms, unless they kill outright, are not necessarily fatal, and
modern surgery, almost an exact science, is on the side of strong
constitutions. And so Rowland, the bullet removed, was now
convalescent, sitting in a wonderful arm-chair, by a sunny window,
looking out across the lake that had come so near being his grave,
toward the Bavarian shore, where in the distance he could just see the
dim outlines of the island of Lindau rising from the water.
Tanya had been to see him twice, Shestov once, each for a few moments
only, in the presence of his nurse, and yesterday Tanya had told him
that all was going well--that influence had been brought to bear at
Berne by Shestov, Barthou and the Swiss Councilors of Nemi, and that the
money of the Society which he had fought so hard to bring back was in
the way of being restored to its rightful Trustees. Tanya was coming to
visit him again this morning and he had been promised a half hour with
her alone. Thus it was that the sun of the morning seemed so bright and
the cloud-flecked sky so blue. Also he had shaved and was conscious of
a supreme sense of well being.
She came to him, all in white (as became a bride), looking
extraordinarily handsome, radiant with happiness and glowing with the
joy of his recovery. The nurse, who was a discreet person, smiled at
them both and withdrew.
He held out his arms and without a word she came into them, kneeling.
"Philippe," she murmured, "you are sure that you are getting well? It
seems----"
"Right as rain. The cough has stopped. In a week I'll be as strong as
ever. And then----"
He paused and she raised her lips to his, flushing adorably.
"And then----?"
She knew what he wanted to say, but she wanted him to say it.
"You and I--Tanya--my wife."
"Whenever you wish, Philippe Rowlan'," she murmured.
"Today?" he urged.
"Whenever you wish. We have won life together."
He was silent in a moment of soberness.
"We have a great work to do, Tanya."
"Yes. We shall do it--together. Russia!" Her voice sank. "Oh, _mon_
Philippe--my country--the cause seems so hopeless--anarchy--nothing
less----"
"Order will follow--reason--regeneration----"
"Honor cannot come from dishonor. Russia is false--a Judas among the
nations----"
Rowland laughed. "Cheer up, my princess. Wave your wand and all will
yet be well."
"My wand! A reed, Philippe--broken. I have never felt so weak--so
powerless."
"But never have you been so strong--for in you I have already found new
strength,--new power--authority. But there must be no more mediaevalism
in Nemi, Tanya. I have been thinking much. I have learned something in
Germany ... We must make a new fight--for the people yonder. They are
not ready yet, but soon--soon. In the meanwhile we can work secretly.
Our giant with a hundred arms has only been groping in the darkness. But
he has a giant's strength.... He shall use it. If you and I alone
against Von Stromberg--all Germany--can emerge victorious ... we can win
again and again. We have given the first blow and are unharmed. There
are rumors of strikes--you have heard? There will be other
strikes--more blood shed--until the people of Germany arise in their
might. A dream? Perhaps. But it is a good dream--for France, for
England and America. But of one thing I am resolved--that the Society of
Nemi shall not pass into the hands of the enemies of our allies----"
"God forbid. Hochwald----"
"Others will come--like him--from Russia--from Germany. But they shall
not win--for we will know them."
"But if you are interned----?"
"They know nothing of my service in the French army. I shall not tell
them. Barthou hopes for my full freedom."
"I was almost hoping----" she paused and pressed his hand gently.
"What?"
"That they would intern you. I am afraid of danger, now, Philippe. I
never was before. The legend----"
"There shall be no more legends."
He laughed, kissing her hands gently.
"And yet after all was it not a legend that brought me Princess
Tatyana?"
"But she is here to guard you against danger, Philippe Rowlan'. Death
seems to me so much the more terrible now that Life and happiness
stretch before us both.... Poor Zoya!"
"And Markov. But they went together--as he would have wished."
She hid her face in her hands.
"Together? Yes. I can never forget him.... Never."
"Nor I."
"She ... loved _you_, Philippe----" she whispered.
He was silent, thinking. And then----
"She did what she could--to atone. One is judged, I think--by one's
whole life, Tanya--not a part of it. Her record is finished, but its
last item is the most important. She paid ... in blood," he finished
soberly.
"And Grisha Khodkine--he too----"
Rowland shrugged. "He was game----" he muttered.
She took from her hand bag some papers, much wrinkled, soiled and
water-stained.
"His _dossier_----"
"We'll hardly need it now----"
He caught her hands in his and the papers fell to the floor, papers once
so significant and now merely--soiled papers.
"We have now this moment, Tanya. Let us forget--everything else. Later
we will give for others. Now we will take--for ourselves."
"It is too wonderful to be true----"
"Like the fairy tale. Listen and I will tell it to you. Once upon a
time, there was a very small boy who lived in a very large house in a
very noisy city. And there came to him in his dreams a wonderful fairy
who carried a wand with a star at its end which had the property of
making all good things come true. Her name was Princess Tatyana and he
loved her, for she was very, very beautiful----"
Tanya laid her fingers across his lips.
"Is not our own fairy story more beautiful than this?"
He kissed her fingers and then, since her lips were near, took them too,
for fairy tales, beautiful as they may be, are after all, mere creatures
of dreams. And Tanya's lips were very real....
THE END
* * * * * * * *
By George Gibbs
The Golden Bough
The Secret Witness
Paradise Garden
The Yellow Dove
The Flaming Sword
Madcap
The Silent Battle
The Maker of Opportunities
The Forbidden Way
The Bolted Door
Tony's Wife
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
Publishers New York