THE OPENING OF A DOOR
IT was a jäger who opened the door of the hunting-lodge and gazed at
the two men standing in the shadow of the porch, apparently without
recognition.
"We wish to see the Prince," said the Chancellor crisply, taking the
initiative, as he knew that the Emperor would desire him to do.
"The Prince is not at home, sir," returned the jäger.
Maximilian'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 comedy, and though he had had
a pang of anxiety at first, he thought that his young friend was
playing the part allotted him with commendable realism. Naturally,
when beautiful actresses came into the country unchaperoned, to dine
with fascinating princes, the least such favoured Royalties could do
was to issue notice to an intrusive public that they were "not at
home."
"You are mistaken," returned the Chancellor "The Prince is at home,
and he will receive us. It will be better for you to admit us without
further parley."
Under the domination of the eyes which could quell a Reichstag, the
jäger weakened, as doubtless his master had expected would happen in
good time. "If may be that 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 until I can inquire whether the Prince has come home, or when
he is likely to come home, I----"
"That is not necessary," said the Chancellor. "The Prince dines here
with a lady this evening. We will go with you to the door of the
dining-room, and follow your announcement of our presence."
But the jäger was no longer uncertain of his duty. The reaction had
come, and he faced the invaders boldly. If his master had given
instructions only to be overridden, at least the servant was sincere
in his respect for them. He put himself in the doorway, and looked a
barrier formidable to dislodge.
"That is impossible, sir!" he exclaimed. "I have my orders, which are
that His Royal Highness is not at home to-night, and until I find out
differently, nobody, not if it were the Emperor himself, should force
himself in."
"You 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 a hanging
lamp in the hall shine full upon Maximilian's face, hitherto masked in
shadow.
His boast forgotten, the jäger uttered an exclamation of dismay, and,
with a sudden falling of the knees, he 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 His Royal Highness----"
"Never mind yourself, and never mind His Royal Highness," broke in the
Chancellor. "Open that door at the end of the hall, and announce the
Emperor and Count von Markstein."
The unfortunate jäger, well-nigh in a state of collapse, obeyed. The
door of the dining-room, which Maximilian knew of old, was flung wide,
and a quavering voice made known to whom it might concern the arrival
of "His Imperial Majesty the Emperor and the Herr Chancellor von
Markstein."
The scene disclosed was as unreal, in Maximilian's eyes, as a
painted picture: the walls of Pompeian red, the bronze candelabra,
the polished floor, with rugs of creamy fur, and in the centre a
flower-decked table glittering with lights, sparkling with silver;
springing up from his chair a young man in evening dress, who faced
the door; sitting motionless, her back half-turned, a slender girl
in satin of bridal white, her uncovered shoulders gleaming with the
soft sheen of pearl in the candle-light. This was the stage setting;
these the characters discovered.
At sight of the girl Maximilian stopped on the threshold. All the
blood in his body seemed rushing to his head, then surging back again
upon his heart. The impossible had happened. His star had fallen from
heaven, and the sky was dark.