The grapes went round, and healths were drunk with much merriment, for in travelling on the Continent it is impossible for the gruffest, primmest person to long resist the frank courtesy and vivacious chat of foreigners.
The major was unusually social and inquisitive, and while the soldiers fought their battles over again the girls listened and took notes, with feminine wits on the alert to catch any personal revelations which might fall from the interesting stranger. The wrongs and sufferings of Poland were discussed so eloquently that both young ladies were moved to declare the most undying hatred of Russia, Prussia, and Austria, the most intense sympathy for "poor Pologne."
All day they travelled together, and as Baden-Baden approached, they naturally fell to talking of the gay place.
"Uncle, I must try my fortune once. I"ve set my heart upon it, and so has Nell. We want to know how gamblers feel, and to taste the fascination of the game which draws people here from all parts of Europe," said Amy, in her half-pleading, half-imperious way.
"You may risk one napoleon each, as I foolishly promised you should, when I little thought you would ever have an opportunity to remind me of my promise. It"s not an amus.e.m.e.nt for respectable Englishwomen, or men either. You will agree with me there, monsieur?" and the major glanced at the Pole, who replied, with his peculiar smile:--
"Surely, yes. It is great folly and waste of time and money; yet I have known one man who found some good in it, or, rather, brought good out of it. I have a friend who has a mania for giving. His own fortune was spent in helping needy students at the University, and poor professors. This displeased his father, and he refused supplies, except enough for his simple personal wants. Sigismund chafed at this, and being skilful at all games, as a gentleman may be in the way of amus.e.m.e.nt, he resolved to play with those whose money was wasted on frivolities, and give his winnings to his band of paupers."
"How did it succeed, this odd fancy?" asked Helen, with an interested face, while Amy pinched her arm at the word "Sigismund."
"Excellently. My friend won often, and as his purpose became known it caused no unkind feeling, this unusual success, for fortune seemed to favor his kind object."
"Wrong, nevertheless, to do evil that good may come of it," said the major, morally.
"It may be so: but it is not for me to censure my benefactor. He has done much for my countrymen and myself, and is so truly n.o.ble I can see no fault in him."
"What an odd name! Sigismund is German, is it not?" asked Amy, in the most artless tone of interest.
"Yes, mademoiselle, and Palsdorf is a true German; much courage, strength and intellect, with the gayety and simplicity of a boy. He hates slavery of all kinds, and will be free at all costs. He is a good son, but his father is tyrannical, and asks too much. Sigismund will not submit to sell himself, and so is in disgrace for a time."
"Palsdorf!--was not that the name of the count or baron we heard them talking of at Coblentz?" said Helen to Amy, with a well-feigned air of uncertainty.
"Yes; I heard something of a duel and a broken betrothal, I think. The people seemed to consider the baron a wild young man, so it could not have been your friend, sir," was Amy"s demure reply, glancing at Helen with mirthful eyes, as if to say, "How our baron haunts us!"
"It is the same, doubtless. Many consider him wild, because he is original, and dares act for himself. As it is well known, I may tell you the truth of the duel and the betrothal, if you care to hear a little romance."
Casimer looked eager to defend his friend, and as the girls were longing to hear the romance, permission was given.
"In Germany, you know, the young people are often betrothed in childhood by the parents, and sometimes never meet till they are grown. Usually all goes well; but not always, for love cannot come at command. Sigismund was plighted, when a boy of fifteen, to his young cousin, and then sent away to the University till of age. On returning, he was to travel a year or two, and then marry. He gladly went away, and with increasing disquiet saw the time draw near when he must keep his troth-plight."
"Hum! loved some one else. Very unfortunate to be sure," said the major with a sigh.
"Not so; he only loved his liberty, and pretty Minna was less dear than a life of perfect freedom. He went back at the appointed time, saw his cousin, tried to do his duty and love her; found it impossible, and, discovering that Minna loved another, vowed he would never make her unhappiness as well as his own. The old baron stormed, but the young one was firm, and would not listen to a marriage without love; but pleaded for Minna, wished his rival success, and set out again on his travels."
"And the duel?" asked the major, who took less interest in love than war.
"That was as characteristic as the other act. A son of one high in office at Berlin circulated false reports of the cause of Palsdorf"s refusal of the alliance--reports injurious to Minna. Sigismund settled the matter in the most effectual manner, by challenging and wounding the man. But for court influence it would have gone hardly with my friend. The storm, however, has blown over; Minna will be happy with her lover, and Sigismund with his liberty, till he tires of it."
"Is he handsome, this hero of yours?" said Amy, feeling the ring under her glove, for in spite of Helen"s advice, she insisted on wearing it, that it might be at hand to return at any moment, should chance again bring the baron in their way.
"A true German of the old type; blond and blue-eyed, tall and strong.
My hero in good truth--brave and loyal, tender and true," was the enthusiastic answer.
"I hate fair men," pouted Amy, under her breath, as the major asked some question about hotels.
"Take a new hero, then; nothing can be more romantic than that,"
whispered Helen, glancing at the pale, dark-haired figure wrapped in the military cloak opposite.
"I will, and leave the baron to you;" said Amy, with a stifled laugh.
"Hush! Here are Baden and Karl," replied Helen, thankful for the interruption.
All was bustle in a moment, and taking leave of them with an air of reluctance, the Pole walked away, leaving Amy looking after him wistfully, quite unconscious that she stood in everybody"s way, and that her uncle was beckoning impatiently from the carriage door.
"Poor boy! I wish he had some one to take care of him." she sighed, half aloud.
"Mademoiselle, the major waits;" and Karl came up, hat in hand, just in time to hear her and glance after Casimer, with an odd expression.
V
LUDMILLA
"I wonder what that young man"s name was. Did he mention it, Helen?"
said the major, pausing in his march up and down the room, as if the question was suggested by the sight of the little baskets, which the girls had kept.
"No, uncle; but you can easily ask Hoffman," replied Helen.
"By the way, Karl, who was the Polish gentleman who came on with us?" asked the major a moment afterward, as the courier came in with newspapers.
"Casimer Teblinski, sir."
"A baron?" asked Amy, who was decidedly a young lady of one idea just then.
"No, mademoiselle, but of a n.o.ble family, as the "ski" denotes, for that is to Polish and Russian names what "von" is to German and "de"
to French."
"I was rather interested in him. Where did you pick him up, Hoffman?"
said the major.
"In Paris, where he was with fellow-exiles."
"He is what he seems, is he?--no impostor, or anything of that sort?
One is often deceived, you know."
"On my honor, sir, he is a gentleman, and as brave as he is accomplished and excellent."
"Will he die?" asked Amy, pathetically.
"With care he would recover, I think; but there is no one to nurse him, so the poor lad must take his chance and trust in heaven for help."
"How sad! I wish we were going his way, so that we might do something for him--at least give him the society of his friend."
Helen glanced at Hoffman, feeling that if he were not already engaged by them, he would devote himself to the invalid without any thought of payment.
"Perhaps we are. You want to see the Lake of Geneva, Chillon, and that neighborhood. Why not go now, instead of later?"