But, after all, it was only Nicholas of Reist who entered. He closed
the door behind him carefully, and approached them. Brand stepped
forward.
"I have a message for you," he said.
Reist smiled.
"A message which it seems you found necessary to deliver to my
sister," he remarked. "I have not been informed of your desire to see
me."
"I should not have left the house without doing so," Brand answered.
"My message is from the King."
"Proceed."
Reist stood motionless before the window. In the clear daylight the
physical change in the man was painful enough to witness. The flesh
had fallen away from his cheeks, leaving great hollows underneath his
eyes. His forehead was furrowed with lines, his pallor was unnatural
and unwholesome. Brand saw these things, and wondered more than ever
how the defection of such a man could have been brought about.
"The King bade me seek you out and remind you that in all human
probability before to-morrow's sun has set the great battle will have
been fought. The Turks are concentrating before Solika, and it is
there that we shall fight. Your men are asking for you. At such a
crisis in the history of your country the King does not believe that
you will be content to sit in idleness. He bids you come, and
afterwards seek for redress, if any is needed, in the matters which
rest between you and him."
"I thank you," Reist said, slowly. "To the King I return no answer to
his message. To you I say this. I have lost confidence in Ughtred of
Tyrnaus. I regret that my hand ever raised him to the throne. I
recognize him no longer as the ruler of this country."
"Then you are a rebel?" Brand exclaimed. "Is that what you mean?"
Reist's dark eyes were lit with fire.
"Be careful, sir," he said, fiercely. "Those are not the words to be
used to a Duke of Reist. By inheritance and by virtue of my name I,
too, am the guardian of these people of Theos. I have lived with them
all my life, as did my fathers and my grandfathers before me. Their
freedom and their happiness are a solemn charge to me. I have come to
the conclusion that Ughtred of Tyrnaus is not able to maintain for
them either."
"Then who is?" Brand asked. "This war is none of his seeking. How in
God's name could he do more for Theos than stand at the head of her
people with drawn sword, prepared to die rather than submit to this
barbarous invasion? Is there higher patriotism than this?"
"The King is your friend," Reist answered, "and you judge him from
your own standpoint. Yet I am willing to admit that he is a brave man.
Few cowards have ever sprung from Thetian stock. But bravery is not
everything, and in the present case it can avail him nothing. The
odds are too overwhelming. If Theos is to be saved it will not be at
the point of the sword."
Brand was within an ace of losing his temper. His cheeks were flushed
and his voice was not so steady as usual.
"Theos will never be saved by those who plot with such rogues as
Domiloff behind the city walls," he exclaimed. "Duke of Reist, I know
you to be a brave man, or I would not dare to use these words to you.
You are being grossly deceived. The Turks, and now you, are the
catspaw of Russia. Domiloff's mission is to secure Theos for a Russian
state. Oh, can't you see through his miserable scheming? I am an
outsider in the game. Perhaps for that reason I am the better judge--I
see the clearer. It is so simple! There will be a supposed rising of
the people. You, or another of Domiloff's puppets, will be set up as
King or Protector. The hand of Turkey will be stayed I grant you, but
at the cost of an indemnity which you will never be able to pay. There
will be a Russian loan, secured upon the customs and the receipts of
the country. Every link in the chain of bondage is as clear as day.
Russians will stream over your frontiers and settle in your cities.
Everywhere Theos will have to give way to the new influence. In ten
years at the most the thing will be complete. Theos will become a
second Poland. Duke of Reist, you are at heart a patriot and a brave
soldier, but you are no match for Domiloff in what he would call his
modern diplomacy. Arrest him. His presence in the city is illegal. You
have every justification. Out to the camp and take your place by the
King's side. I know something of war, and I know that your cause is
far from hopeless. At least you can hold the Turks in check, and I
tell you that intervention is no longer a dream. England is at this
moment hesitating, and if she moves Germany will stand by her. Don't
make the mistake of your life. Take down your sword, order your horses
and ride with me to Solika."
It was obvious that Reist was moved. A spot of colour burned in his
cheeks, and he glanced for a moment at his sister as though for
guidance. She too was agitated. Brand turned to her.
"Countess," he exclaimed, "will you not add your words to mine? I come
here as your friend. The King is guiltless of all offence towards you.
Plead with your brother. Beg him to ride with me to the King."
She laid her hand softly upon his.
"My friend," she said, "you have spoken like a brave man and an honest
man, and both my brother and I respect you very much for it. But you
are a stranger here, and we are Thetians. We know our country and her
needs better than you. We do not believe that Ughtred of Tyrnaus is
the man to save her. He is too, what you call in the west, democratic
for an ancient kingdom. The heart of the people is not with him. As
for Domiloff, we do not trust wholly to him. We are not quite so blind
as you would have us believe. Yet we need friends--and, believe me--we
shall know how to reward them. Stay here with us, Mr. Brand. We will
try to treat you so that you shall never regret it."
The upward glance of her dark eyes was eloquent enough, but Brand only
shook his head.
"I am for the King," he said.
"And I," the Duke of Reist said, with a sudden vehemence, "am for my
country. Mr. Brand, you are answered. You have my permission to repeat
the whole of our conversation to the King. Now as to yourself. You are
a brave man, and I do not care to see harm come to such. Leave this
house at once. Marie will show you an exit from this side. You are in
danger from which even I am powerless to protect you."
"I thank you," Brand answered, taking up his hat. "Your friend
Domiloff is, I suppose, still anxious as to my whereabouts. And in all
probability--here he is."