"Then, rising from her seat, she took my hands in hers, and, looking down into my face, said, her voice breaking:--
""It is eleven o"clock. Soon you must leave me. You cannot stay longer. I know that in a few hours I shall never see you again. Will you join me in my prayers before I go?"
"A few minutes later she called to me. She was on her knees in the next room, two candles burning beside her, her rich dark hair loose about her shoulders, an open breviary bound with silver in her hands. I can see her now, with her eyes closed, her lips moving noiselessly, her great lashes wet with tears, and that Madonna-like look as she motioned me to kneel.
For several minutes she prayed thus, the candles lighting her face, the room deathly still. Then she arose, and with her eyes half shut, and her lips moving as if with her unfinished prayer, she lifted her head and kissed me on the forehead, on the chin, and on each cheek, making with her finger the sign of the cross. Then, reaching for a pair of scissors, and cutting a small tress from her hair, she closed the locket upon it, and laid it in my hand.
"Early the next morning I was at her door. She was dressed and waiting.
She greeted me kindly, but mournfully, saying in a tone which denoted her belief in its impossibility:--
""And you will not go to Cracow?"
"When we reached the station, and I halted at the small gate opening upon the train platform, she merely pressed my hand, covered her head with her veil, and entered the carriage followed by Polaff. I watched, hoping to see her face at the window, but she remained hidden.
"I turned into the Ringstra.s.se, still filled with her presence, and tortured by the thought of the conditions that prevented my following her, called a cab, and drove to our minister"s. Mr. Motley then held the portfolio; my pa.s.sport had expired, and, as I was entering Germany, needed renewing. The attache agreed to the necessity, stamped it, and brought it back to me with the ink still wet.
""His excellency," said he, "advises extreme caution on your part while here. Be careful of your a.s.sociates, and keep out of suspicious company.
Vienna is full of spies watching escaped Polish refugees. Your name"--reading it carefully--"is apt to excite remark. We are powerless to help in these cases. Only last week an American who befriended a man in the street was arrested on the charge of giving aid and comfort to the enemy, and, despite our efforts, is still in prison."
"I thanked him, and regained my cab with my head whirling. What, after all, if the countess should have deceived me? My blood chilled as I remembered her words of the day before: recalled by the government she hated, her two brothers forced into the army, the cruelties and indignities Russia had heaped upon her family, and this last peremptory order to return. Had my sympathetic nature and inexperience gotten me into trouble? Then that Madonna-like head with angelic face, the lips moving in prayer, rose before me. No, no; not she. I would stake my life.
"I entered my hotel, and walked across the corridor for the key of my room. Standing by the porter was an Austrian officer in full uniform, even to his white kid gloves. As I pa.s.sed I heard the porter say in German:--
""Yes; that is the man."
"The Austrian looked at me searchingly, and, wheeling around sharply, said:--
""Monsieur, can I see you alone? I have something of importance to communicate."
"The remark and his abrupt manner indicated so plainly an arrest, that for the moment I hesitated, running over in my mind what might be my wisest course to pursue. Then, thinking I could best explain my business in Vienna in the privacy of my room, _I_ said stiffly:--
""Yes; I am now on my way to my apartment. I will see you there."
"He entered first, shut the door behind him, crossed the room; pa.s.sed his hand behind the curtains, opened the closet, shut it, and said:--
""We are alone?"
""Quite."
"Then, confronting me, "You are an American?"
""You are right."
""And have your pa.s.sport with you?"
"I drew it from my pocket, and handed it to him. He glanced at the signature, refolded it, and said:--
""You took the Countess Smolensk! to the station this morning. Where did you meet her?"
""On the train yesterday leaving Venice."
""Never before?"
""Never."
""Why did she not leave Venice earlier?"
""The count was dying, and could not be moved. He was buried two days ago."
"A shade pa.s.sed over his face, "Poor De Rescka! I suspected as much."
"Then facing me again, his face losing its suspicious expression:--
""Monsieur, I am the brother of the countess,--Colonel Boski of the army.
A week ago my letters were intercepted, and I left Cracow in the night.
Since then I have been hunted like an animal. This uniform is my third disguise. As soon as my connection with the plot was discovered, my sister was ordered home. The death of the count explains her delay, and prevented my seeing her at the station. I had selected the first station out of Vienna. I tried for an opportunity this morning at the depot, but dared not. I saw you, and learned from the cabman your hotel."
""But, colonel," said I, the attache"s warning in my ears, "you will pardon me, but these are troublous times. I am alone here, on my way to Berlin to pursue my studies. I found the countess ill and suffering, and unable to sleep. She interested me profoundly, and I did what I could to relieve her. I would have done the same for any other woman in her condition the world over, no matter what the consequences. If you are her brother, you will appreciate this. If you are here for any other purpose, say so at once. I leave Vienna at noon."
"His color flushed, and his hand instinctively felt for his sword; then, relaxing, he said:--
""You are right. The times are troublous. Every other man is a spy. I do not blame you for suspecting me. I have nothing but my word. If you do not believe it, I cannot help it. I will go. You will at least permit me to thank you for your kindness to my sister," drawing off his glove and holding out his hand.
""The hand of a soldier is never refused the world over," and I shook it warmly. As it dropped to his side I caught sight of his seal-ring.
""Pardon me one moment. Give me your hand again." The ring bore the crest and motto of the countess.
""It is enough, colonel. Your sister showed me her own on the train.
Pardon my suspicions. What can I do for you?" He looked puzzled, hardly grasping my meaning.
""Nothing. You have told me all I wanted to know."
""But you will breakfast with me before I take the train?" I said.
""No; that might get you into trouble--serious trouble, if I should be arrested. On the contrary, I must insist that you remain in this room until I leave the building."
""But you perhaps need money; these disguises are expensive," glancing at his perfect appointment.
""You are right. Perhaps twenty rubles--it will be enough. Give me your address in Berlin. If I am taken, you will lose your money. If I escape, it will be returned."
"I shook his hand, and the door closed. A week later a man wrapped in a cloak called at my lodgings and handed me an envelope. There was no address and no message, only twenty rubles."
I looked out over the sea wrinkling below me like a great sheet of gray satin. The huge life-boat swung above our heads, standing out in strong relief against the sky. After a long pause,--the story had strangely thrilled me,--I asked:--
"Pardon me, have you ever seen or heard of the countess since?"