I saw that Dumergue did not yet appreciate the princess in whose household he had the honor to serve.
"She won"t compromise herself, I suppose?"
"Not she!" he replied regretfully. "She may compromise the prince."
I rebuked him for his cynicism, and promised to consider and let him know if anything occurred to me. My hope lay in Daynesborough. I could see that he was _galant malgre lui_, and I thought I could persuade him that he had done all that his mistaken promise fairly entailed on him; or, if I could not convince him, I had a suspicion that his wife might, could, and would, in a very peremptory fashion, if I brought about an encounter between them. I was full of eagerness, for, apart from my zeal in the cause of morality and domestic happiness, I did not approve of being called a clumsy young animal. It was neither true nor witty; and surely abuse ought to be one or the other, if it is to be distinguished from mere vulgar scurrility.
I have been told, by those who know the place, that Glottenberg is not, as a rule, a very exciting residence. But for the next four-and-twenty hours I, at least, had no reason to grumble at a lack of incidents.
The play began, if I may so express myself, by the princess sending for the doctor. The doctor, having heard from the princess what she wanted to do, told her what she ought to do; of course I speak from conjecture.
He prescribed a visit to her country villa for a week or two, plenty of fresh air, complete repose, and freedom from worry. Dumergue told me that the princess considered that the terms of this prescription entailed a temporary separation from her husband, and that the prince had agreed to remain in Glottenberg. The princess started for her villa at twelve o"clock on Wednesday morning. The distance was but fifteen miles, and she traveled by road in her own carriage, although the main line of railway from Glottenberg to Paris pa.s.sed within two miles of her destination.
At one o"clock Lord Daynesborough was received by Prince Ferdinand, having requested an interview for the purpose of taking his leave, as he left for Paris by the five o"clock train. Everybody knew that the prince and Daynesborough were not on cordial terms; but this fact hardly explained Daynesborough"s extreme embarra.s.sment and obvious discomfort during the brief conversation. Dumergue escorted him from the prince"s presence, and said that he was shaking like an aspen-leaf or an ill-made blanc-mange.
At three o"clock I went to the hotel, and had an interview with Lady Daynesborough. I then returned to the palace, and made a communication to the prince. The prince was distinctly perturbed.
"I never thought she would go so far," he said. "It"s not that she cares twopence about Daynesborough."
"To what, then, sir, do you attribute----"
"Temper! all temper, Mr. Jason! She is angry about that wretched ball, and she wants to anger me."
"Her Royal Highness is, however, giving a handle to her enemies," I ventured to suggest.
"She must come back to-night," said he. "I won"t be made to look like a fool."
"My plan will, I hope, dispose of Lord Daynesborough. If so, Your Royal Highness might join the princess."
"I shan"t do anything of the sort. I shall have her brought back."
Apparently there was a reserve of resolution latent somewhere in this indolent gentleman.
"Will you go yourself, sir?"
"No. You must do it."
"I, sir? Surely, M. Dumergue----"
"Dumergue"s afraid of her. Will you bring her back?"
"Supposing she won"t come?"
"I didn"t request you to ask her to come. I requested you to bring her."
I looked at him inquiringly. He inhaled a mouthful of smoke, and added, with a nod:
"Yes, if necessary."
"Will Your Royal Highness hold me harmless from the king--or the law."
"No. I can"t. Will you do it?"
"With pleasure, sir."
At ten minutes to five, Lady Daynesborough, heavily veiled, and I drove up to the station in a hired cab, and hid ourselves in the third-cla.s.s waiting room. At five minutes to five, Lord Daynesborough arrived. He wore a scarf up to his nose, and a cap down to his eyes, and walked to the station, unattended and without luggage. He got into a second-cla.s.s smoking carriage--one of the long compartments divided into separate boxes by intervening part.i.tions reaching within a yard of the roof, a gang-way running down the middle. On seeing him enter, I caught the guard, gave him twenty marks, and told him to admit no one except myself and my companion into that carriage. Then I hauled Lady Daynesborough in, and we sat down at the opposite end to that occupied by her husband.
The train started. It was only five-and-twenty minutes" run to the station for the princess" villa. There was no time to lose.
"Are you ready?" I whispered.
"Yes," she answered, her voice trembling a little.
We rose, walked along, and sat down opposite to Lord Daynesborough. He was looking out of the window, although it was dark, and did not turn.
"Lord Daynesborough," said I, "you have forgotten your ticket." And I held out a through ticket to Paris.
He started as if he had been shot.
"Who the devil----" he began. "Jason!"
"Yes," said I. "Here"s your ticket."
"I thought you were in England," he gasped.
"No, I am here."
"Spying on my actions?"
"Acquainted with them."
"I"ll have no interference, sir. If you know me, you will kindly be silent, and leave me to myself."
Time was pa.s.sing.
"You are going to Paris with this lady," said I.
"You"re insolent, sir--you and your----"
"Don"t say what you"ll regret. She"s your wife."
Well, of course he was very much in the wrong, and looked uncommonly ridiculous to boot. Still, the way he collapsed was rather craven. I withdrew for five minutes. Then I returned, and held out the ticket again. He took it.
"If you will leave us for five minutes, Lady Daynesborough?"
She went into the next box. Then I said:
"Now, we"ve only ten minutes. We"re going to change clothes. Be quick."
I took off my coat.