I jumped to the conclusion that these were the men who were waiting in ambush at the spot where the carriage ought to have taken me. But I did not know who Fritz was, unless he were the driver, who had fallen off.
"We have had an accident here," I called in reply, m.u.f.fling my voice; "and the Prince von Gramberg has been badly hurt."
"Is that your Honor speaking?" asked the voice again.
"Come along quickly," I cried. "Fritz"--I blurred the word so that it might pa.s.s for any name--"has fallen off the box. You know what to do with the Prince. I must return at once."
"We know," was the answer. "Your Honor"s horse is here"--and a man came up with a led horse.
"Do your work properly," I said as I clambered into the saddle, "and mind he"s a bit delirious. Pay no heed to what he says till you get my instructions."
And with that I clapped my heels into the ribs of my borrowed horse and galloped off through the dark, laughing to myself at the thought that von Nauheim himself had fallen into the clutches of the very rascals in whose hands he had designed to leave me.
CHAPTER XVI
THE BALL AT THE PALACE
The count had good cattle, and the horse that carried me back to Munich answered gamely to the calls I made on him. At any cost I must get back to the house at the earliest possible moment; and though I did not know the road, and could see scarce a dozen feet ahead of the horse"s ears, I plunged along at a hand-gallop, trusting to his instinct and my own luck, that had already stood me in such good stead that night.
I had not much difficulty in finding the way, and I reined up twice to ask it of people whom I met; and at last I chanced on a man on horseback, who rode with me to within a few doors of my destination.
I kept a wary eye about me as I rode into the courtyard of the house, and my first act was to call a groom on whose discretion I knew I could rely.
"Take this horse round at once to Count von Nauheim"s stables," I told the man, "and say he has requested you to bring it. Don"t mention my name. I wish you to find out whether the horse is one of his, but not to say a word to show that I have sent you. Report to me immediately on your return. I must have your news before I go out to-night."
The man mounted and was off instantly, and, as I had expected, he brought me back word that the horse was one of the count"s stud.
In the mean while my arrival allayed the very reasonable alarm which my prolonged absence had caused. It was long past the time at which we were to have started for the ball, and all the others were dressed and waiting for me impatiently.
Von Krugen came to me with a telegram which had arrived some time before, and as I tore open the envelope with feverish haste I told him the pith of what had happened. The message was from Praga, and to my intense relief it was worded as we had agreed it should be if all went well.
"Caught mail. Arrive by first delivery."
Innocent words to read, but meaning much to me. The Duke Marx had been secured, and Praga himself was coming on to Munich at the earliest moment. I was glad enough of this. If these attacks were to continue, the stronger force we had the better.
"The countess is full of anxiety to see you, Prince," said von Krugen when I had told him the news.
"I will go to her directly, but I must dress at once. See that something for me to eat is got ready directly. Is there any news of the Baroness Gratz or of the girl?"
"None, there is not a suspicion of the trick."
My spirits were rising fast, for everything was going well. Despite all their devilment I was master of the position. I held their man in my clutches; and before the night was a couple of hours older they should see openly enough that I had outwitted them. But it was exciting work.
Before hurrying to put on my fancy-dress costume--I was going as a French courtier, a dress in which I could wear a sword and could conceal a revolver easily--I went to Minna"s rooms to let her know I had returned.
She came to me looking so radiantly lovely that I gazed at her in rapture. We had chosen her dress with a care for the part she had to play that night, and she wore a double costume. In the first place she was to wear a plain dark domino covering her entirely from head to foot, the head, of course, to be hooded and the face entirely concealed by a large mask. But underneath this she wore a gorgeously brilliant dress as Maria Theresa; the rich magnificence of the costume being further set off by a profusion of jewels of all kinds, which sparkled and glittered with dazzling brilliance. On her head as crown she wore a splendid tiara of magnificent pearls.
This was all arranged of set purpose. My object was that in the first part of the evening she should run no risk of recognition at all; and that in the second when I led her forward as the actual Queen, she might produce the greatest possible impression of queenly wealth, grandeur, dignity, and loveliness.
If the impression on others were only half as striking as it was upon me, I should be more than satisfied; and if a beautiful and queenly presence could win adherents there was not a man in the ball-room who would not be on her side.
She enjoyed the effect of her loveliness upon me, and stood smiling with bright eyes as I gazed at her.
"Shall I do, cousin?" she asked, with a dash of coquetry.
"The most lovely vision I have ever seen," I cried.
"Not vision, cousin Hans," she said, shaking her head and shrugging her shoulders till the million facets of her jewels gleamed with iridescent l.u.s.tre. "Only flesh and blood--and rather frightened flesh too. I was beginning to fear for you. What has happened?"
"All is going splendidly," I said; but I could not keep my eyes from her. "You are a Queen indeed," I added. "If all Queens were like you, royalty would have no enemies. You will make a profound impression to-night."
"I am satisfied if you are pleased," she answered. "But I am afraid of to-night"s work, Hans," she added, with a slight, movement of alarm, like a pa.s.sing chill of fear. "I shall be glad when it is over, and we are all safe back here."
"If all goes well, you will sleep in the palace to-night as Queen-elect of Bavaria--the Queen of us all."
"No, no; I don"t wish that. I wish to be here among my friends. I feel safe here; I should be frightened there."
"Your friends will be with you there also. You do not think we should desert you; by to-morrow your friends will have multiplied to half a nation."
"But my enemies--what of them? That is my fear."
"I hold the hostage that will silence them, and----But trust me and all will be well, better, I hope, than you can think. We have played a hazardous game, I know; but I have just heard that the move which must decide it in our favor has been made successfully."
"I wish I could feel your enthusiasm," she said, rather sadly.
"I have you to enthuse me," I cried. "And for your sake----"
I stopped, I was losing my head in the craze of her beauty.
"You would what?" she asked, putting her hand on mine, and setting me on fire with a look which I thought and hoped I could read.
I thrust away the almost maddening temptation to say what was in my heart and thoughts.
"I would remember that there is yet much to do," I said stolidly, dropping my eyes.
She s.n.a.t.c.hed her hand away, and turned away from me with a toss of the head.
"I wish I had never gone on with this!" she exclaimed impetuously. "It was not my wish. I should not if you had not persuaded me----No, I don"t mean that at all. Forgive me, cousin, I am so thoughtless!" she cried, changing again quickly. "I know all you have done for me, and I am not ungrateful. Forgive me." She came again and put her hands back into mine. "I am such a poor Queen even for a sham one."
This was even more trying than before, and I had to fight hard to hold myself in hand. But I succeeded.
"Don"t speak of forgiveness; there is nothing to forgive. What lies before us to-night is enough to make any one anxious. I can understand you."
"Can you?" she answered, peering with shining, eloquent eyes into mine.