THE MAID'S STORY
"I have really very little to tell you," said the actress after a long
silence, in which she had been making strenuous efforts to recover
self-possession. "I know very little. I have known, of course, for a
long time that there was to be special interest attaching to the
proceedings here to-night, and for Signor Praga's sake I had learned all
that I could."
"I wish to know the particular facts in connection with your taking the
place of the countess, that's all," for the time was slipping by and my
anxiety on Minna's account was growing to fever heat.
"I was merely told that I had to play the part of another woman, and
that I was to be paid for doing so. More than that, I was given to
understand that in the event of the matter being carried through
successfully I should gain the favor of some of those high in
authority."
"Do you mean you were doing this for money only?"
"No, but because I believed there was some other great advantage to be
gained."
"Did you tell Praga?"
"No. Why should I tell him everything? I did not know for certain until
my return to-night what was really intended. I might have drawn back
then if I could--if I had not also known that I should be dealing a blow
at you and revenging myself."
"How did you get possession of the countess's domino, and when did you
take her place by the side of the man guarding her?"
"I did not get her domino. The one I wore was ready for me when I
arrived here to-night. Some one had described exactly the dress the
Countess Minna was to wear, and everything was ready for me when I
arrived."
"Did you know it was the Countess Minna you were to personate?"
"Yes. I was not told, but I guessed; and when they told me that you
would come up to me and lead me forward to the throne, I knew of course
all that was meant. I did not do all I was told to do, however. I was to
have kept my mask on and to have walked across the room with you to the
dais, and then have thrown it off, to shame and confuse you before every
one."
"And why didn't you?"
"I preferred to enjoy my revenge privately. And I had it when I saw your
look of dismay on catching sight of my face."
"And how was the change effected?"
"Simply and easily enough. Some of those in the secret began to crowd
and crush round the Countess Minna; others resented this, a confusion
was caused, and in the moment I slipped into her place, while some one
made up to look like the man with her went up and led her, as he said,
to a place of refuge from the pressure of the crowd."
"Where did they take her?" I asked anxiously.
"I don't know. I know no more than yourself what happened afterward. I
had not been in my place more than a few minutes before you came up to
me. You know the rest."
"Who told you all our plans and made this thing possible?"
For it was clear that I had been betrayed by some one in our closest
confidence--some one who knew even of the secret mark on Minna's domino.
It was no mere case of her having been seen and recognized while at the
ball; for the dress had obviously been ready before Minna herself had
arrived.
"I was not told," replied my companion.
Whoever it was, the betrayal had been complete. I had been allowed to
think that my ruse of substituting the waiting-maid Marie for her
mistress had been successful; and just when I had thought everything
safe I had the mine sprung right under my feet. They had reckoned I
should be all unconscious of such a stroke, and unfortunately they had
reckoned correctly.
But who was the traitor? This was no plan that could be laid in an hour.
It showed that from the first there had been some leakage by which my
whole scheme was carried over to my enemies; and it appeared to me that
it must lie between two people, the Baroness Gratz and the waiting-maid
Marie.
"Who gave you your instructions?" I asked sharply.
"I will not tell you," was the equally sharp reply, and though pressed
she held to her refusal.
"Have you seen the Count von Nauheim here to-night?"
"No, he is not here."
"How do you know?"
"I overheard surprise expressed at his absence."
"Can you give any clew as to where I shall find the Countess Minna?"
"No, none whatever. I know no more than you yourself."
It was useless to ask any more questions. It was clear that she had been
used as a tool for this particular task, and had been trusted no
further. I must seek my information elsewhere; from either von Nauheim,
if I could find him, or from Baron Heckscher.
But I was altogether unwilling to see the latter until sufficient time
had passed for von Krugen and Praga to have secured the person of the
Duke Marx.
It was a sheer impossibility, however, for me to remain inactive while
Minna was in the hands of her enemies, and I resolved to try to trace
von Nauheim. From what the actress told me, it appeared probable either
that his accident in the carriage with me had hurt him sufficiently to
prevent his coming to the ball, or else that he had found it difficult
to escape from the hands of the men whom he had planned should hold me.
In either event he would be unable to get to Minna, and so long as that
was the case her danger was proportionately less.
But I must find him if possible; for the suspense of the present
uncertainty was maddening.
I crossed to Steinitz, and telling him to follow me I threaded my way
through the laughing, gossiping, excited throng and made my way to the
nearest exit.
In the ante-room through which I had to pass a group of men were
standing deep in conversation. Among them were several of the leaders of
the movement, and I recognized, to my annoyance, Kummell and Beilager
among them.
Kummell was, as usual, gesticulating rather wildly, and on catching
sight of me he stepped forward and barred my progress.
"Here is the traitor, gentlemen," he cried angrily. "We have caught him
in the very act of trying to sneak away. You won't pass here, my fine
fellow, I can tell you."
It was the very climax of irony that this man, who should have been so
valuable an ally, should in this way be perpetually crossing and
thwarting me. In my angry mood at the moment I could have found it in me
to strike him.
"That has yet to be proved," I answered as quietly as my anger would
permit.
An audible sneer ran round the group.
"I will prove it, for I will stop you," and he planted himself right in
front of me, put his arms akimbo, and stared me insolently in the face.
"Good!" exclaimed one or two of the others.
I took off my mask before I answered. His insulting, swaggering manner
was almost more than I could brook, although I knew the other men were
deliberately endeavoring to provoke a fight, and, further, that it would
be the height of folly for two men who were in reality heart and soul
together in pursuit of the same object to go out and try to kill each
other.
"You can scarcely be in earnest, Herr Kummell," I said, after a pause.
"I have already told you once to-night that later on I shall be ready to
hold myself at your disposal, should you wish it. We are still in the
precincts of the palace, and the business of the night is one on which
you and I are in heart agreed. There are those here whom nothing would
please better than to see us two crossing swords; and it is they who are
the traitors"--I looked round at the rest--"and if any one of them is
minded to make this quarrel his own he will not find me backward. But
with you and Herr Beilager I will not fight at present."
"I shall not allow you to pass for all your big words," said the little
hot-headed fool in the same tone.
"The work I have is too urgent to be delayed now. Stand aside, if you
please," I answered sternly.
"You shall not pass here."
"'Fore God, sir, take care, or you will drive me to do that which I may
regret." I thundered the words out, and putting on as stern and fierce a
look as I could I moved on. He stood his ground a moment, but then
winced and retreated a step.
At this a taunting, jeering laugh came from one of the rest.
I wheeled round instantly upon the group, and, not knowing which of the
men it was, I picked out the biggest of them and, walking up to him till
my face was close to his, I stared him dead in the eyes for some
seconds.
"Did you do me the honor to speak, sir?"
"No, I did not," he answered.
I turned to the rest.
"One of you gentlemen either spoke or sneered. Which of you was it? I am
rather anxious to show him that it is not altogether safe to play in
this way with me." I stared at each of them in turn, but none said a
word.
"To-morrow, Herr Kummell," I said then to the little man, whose
fierceness had very much abated, "you may look for the explanation I
have promised you; and as soon as the business on which I am urgently
engaged is finished I shall be at your service," and with that I swung
forward out of the place, nor was there any longer the least attempt
made to interfere with me.
The incident ruffled my temper considerably, and I went hurriedly out
into the night and set off at a sharp pace for the Gramberg house, when
Steinitz came up and whispered a word or two about the need for caution.
"Won't you drive home?" he asked. "To walk seems like inviting an
attack."
"No, I'll walk. The air will do me good. No one will be expecting me to
do so; and I will be on my guard."
In truth I did not know what my opponents' next move against me might
be. It was not at all improbable that, as they had now the knowledge
which would enable them to accuse me of imposture, they would deem it
needless to run any risks by attacking me with violence. They could
probably get at me by some kind of legal process.
I did not care in the least. I had no thought except the overpowering
desire and resolve to find Minna and rescue her. I was indifferent to
all else.
It was therefore with intense pleasure that I learned when I reached the
house that there was important news. The maid, Marie, had arrived there
about half an hour previously, and was waiting in feverish anxiety to
tell me her story. I was no less anxious to hear it.
"Tell me as plainly and as shortly as you can," I said, "everything that
has passed since you left the palace with the baroness up to this
moment."
"The first thing I noticed was that there was a stranger on the box as
coachman, and that there were also two strangers on the board behind. We
drove away slowly through the lines of people and until we had gone
about half a mile. Then the carriage turned away to the right, and began
to thread a number of streets, the pace gradually increasing until the
outskirts of the town were reached. There the carriage stopped with a
jerk, and a stranger sprang in and took his seat opposite to us.
"'Do not be alarmed, ladies,' he said, 'but the Prince desires you
should call first at the house of Baron Heckscher to complete certain
details.' I made no opposition, because you had told me not to speak a
word if I could avoid doing so; and thus we drove on for about half an
hour at a rapid pace."
"Do you know the road?" I asked.
"Yes, it was the Linden road. Then the carriage turned in through some
side gates," continued the girl, "and we drew up at the door of a large
house."
"'You will come in,' said the man, alighting and leading the way. I
noticed a large number of men about, who took careful heed of us, as we
were led into a room at the far end of a long corridor. There we were
left for a few minutes alone, when the stranger came back to us.
"'I have to tell you now,' he said to the baroness, 'that it will be
necessary for you to remain here some time. Reasons of State have made
it desirable that you should be separated from those whom you have
hitherto looked on as your friends; but, of course, no harm will come to
you, and the detention will only be for a few hours. You will not need
an attendant, baroness, as this young woman'--waving his hand toward
me--'can transfer to you the services she is accustomed to render to her
mistress, the Countess Minna.'
"'What do you mean, sir?' I asked, for I could not keep quiet.
"'That it is perfectly well known to me that you are not the Countess
Minna von Gramberg, but merely her waiting-maid. You will therefore be
good enough to attend to the baroness,' and with that he went out of the
room."
"And the baroness?" I asked eagerly.
"I was so overcome at learning that the scheme had got known to them,
and that, therefore, the danger to my dear young mistress was as great
as ever, perhaps greater, that I did not know what to say, or think, or
do. The baroness seemed to think I had been guilty of treachery, but,
your Highness, I would die sooner than be the means of any harm coming
to my mistress," cried the girl, with what appeared to me to be the
energy of truth, and with the tears in her eyes.
"'Have you told any one of this change?' the baroness asked me, and,
despite my utter protests, I could not make her believe that I had not.
I sat there utterly miserable, only thinking and fearing what might
happen to my mistress.
"The baroness would not speak to me, and hour after hour passed in this
awful suspense. They brought us food, but I could not touch it, though
the baroness ate some, and told me to do the same. But I could not. The
dreadful thought of my mistress' danger seemed to shut out everything
else, even anger at these suspicions of treachery."
"Well, how did you get away?" I asked as she paused. "Stay, will you
know the house again? And could you guide me to it?"
"Yes, your Highness," was the ready answer.
I sent for Steinitz and told him to have a carriage got ready for me at
once.
"After we had been thus for some hours," the girl resumed when I turned
to her again, "I thought I heard the sound of a horse galloping up to
the house, and about an hour later the same man came to our room.
"'You can get ready to go. We have done with you,' he said bluntly to
me. 'I regret it is impossible to release you yet, baroness; but your
niece will certainly have need of you, and you will probably wish to be
with her again.'
"'Can I not go to my mistress?' I asked, in distress at the thought of
her being in this man's power.
"'No, you can return to the Prince von Gramberg, and tell him the next
time he plans a coup to do it more shrewdly.'
"I wrung my hands in despair and prayed and begged of him to let me go
to the countess; but he scowled and frowned me down and ordered me to be
silent. Then he led me away alone to where a carriage was waiting for
me, and after I had been driven back to the city they set me down, and I
hurried here as fast as I could."
I had already resolved to go to the place, although it was almost
certain I should not find Minna there.
"Get ready to go with me. You will take your place by the coachman and
direct him where to drive;" and after a rapid change of dress I armed
myself and set out for the house where the girl had been detained,
bidding the man drive as fast as his horses could travel.