"I don"t go much on alliances," said the capitalist. "I believe in keeping out of them if possible."
"I see," said the Baron reflectively. There was another silence.
Then: "It has come to our notice in a most direct manner that the Prince of Dawsbergen feels that his friendly consideration of a proposal made by our government some years ago is being disregarded in a manner that can hardly be anything but humiliating to him, not only as a sovereign but as a father."
"He"s the one who has the marriageable daughter, eh? I had really forgotten the name."
The Baron leaned forward, still tapping the table-top with his long, slim fingers.
"The report that Prince Robin is to marry your daughter, Mr.
Blithers, has reached his ears. It is only natural that he should feel resentful. For fifteen years there has been an understanding that the Crown Princess of Dawsbergen and the Prince of Graustark were one day to be wedded to each other. You will admit that the present reports are somewhat distressing to him and unquestionably so to the Crown Princess."
Mr. Blithers settled back in his chair. "It seems to me that he is making a mountain out of a molehill."
Baron Romano shrank perceptibly. "It devolves upon me, sir, as spokesman for the Ministry, the court and the people of Graustark, to inform you that marriage between our Prince and any other than the Crown Princess of Dawsbergen is not to be considered as possible."
Mr. Blithers stared. "Hasn"t the Prince any voice in the matter?" he demanded.
"Yes. He has already denied, somewhat publicly, that he is not contemplating marriage with your daughter. He has had a voice in that matter at least."
A fine moisture started out on the purplish brow of Mr. Blithers.
Twenty-two eyes were upon him. He realised that he was not attending an informal conference. He had been brought here for a deliberate purpose.
"I may be permitted the privilege of reminding you, my lords, that his denial was no more emphatic than that expressed by my daughter,"
he said, with real dignity.
"We have accepted her statement as final, but it is our earnest desire that the minds of the people be set at rest," said the Baron gravely. "I sincerely trust that you will appreciate our position, Mr. Blithers. It is not our desire or intention to offend in this matter, but we believe it to be only fair and just that we should understand each other at the outset. The impression is afoot that--"
"My lords," said Mr. Blithers, rising, his face suddenly pale, "I beg leave to a.s.sure you that my daughter"s happiness is of far more importance to me than all the d.a.m.ned princ.i.p.alities in the world.
Just a moment, please. I apologise for the oath--but I mean it, just the same. I do not resent your att.i.tude, nor do I resent your haste in conveying to me your views on the subject. It may be diplomacy to go straight to a question and get it over with, but it isn"t always diplomatic to go off half-c.o.c.ked. I will say, with perfect candour, that I should like to see my daughter the Princess of Graustark, but --by G.o.d! I want you to understand that her own wishes in the matter are to govern mine in the end. I have had this marriage in mind, there"s no use denying it. I have schemed to bring these two young people together with a single object in view. I knew that if they saw enough of each other they would fall in love, and they would want the happiness that love brings to all people. Just a moment, Baron! I want to say to you now, all of you, that if my girl should love your prince and he should love her in return, there isn"t a power below heaven that can keep them apart. If she doesn"t love him, and he should be unlucky enough to love her, I"d see him hanged before he could have her. I"ll admit that I have counted on seeing all of this come to pa.s.s, and that I have bungled the thing pretty badly because I"m a loving, selfish father,--but, my lords, since you have brought me here to tell me that it is impossible for my girl to marry your prince, I will say to you, here and now, that if they ever love each other and want to get married, I"ll see to it that it isn"t impossible. You issue an ultimatum to me, in plain words, so I"ll submit one to you, in equally plain words. I intend to leave this matter entirely to my daughter and Prince Robin. They are to do the deciding, so far as I am concerned. And if they decide that they love each other and want to get married, _they will get married_. Do I make myself perfectly plain, my lords?"
The dignified Ministry of Graustark sat agape. With his concluding words, Mr. Blithers deposited his clenched fist upon the table with a heavy thud, and, as if fascinated, every eye shifted from his face to the white knuckles of that resolute hand.
Baron Romano also arose. "You place us in the extremely distressing position of being obliged to oppose the hand of a benefactor, Mr.
Blithers. You have come to our a.s.sistance in a time of need. You have--"
"If it is the loan you are talking about, Baron, that is quite beside the question," interrupted Mr. Blithers. "I do not speculate. I may have had a personal motive in lending you this money, but I don"t believe you will find that it enters into the contract we have signed. I don"t lend money for charity"s sake. I sometimes give it to charity, but when it comes to business, I am not charitable. I have made a satisfactory loan and I am not complaining. You may leave out the word benefactor, Baron. It doesn"t belong in the game."
"As you please, sir," said Romano coldly. "We were only intent upon conveying to you our desire to maintain friendly relations with you, Mr. Blithers, despite the unpleasant conditions that have arisen. I may at least question your right to a.s.sume that we are powerless to prevent a marriage that is manifestly unpopular with the subjects of Prince Robin."
"I had it on excellent authority to-day that the people are not opposed to the union of my daughter and the prince," said Mr.
Blithers.
"I am compelled to say that you have been misinformed," said the Baron, flatly.
"I think I have not been misinformed, however, concerning the personal views of Prince Robin. If I am not mistaken, he openly declares that he will marry to suit himself and not the people of Graustark. Isn"t it barely possible, my lords, that he may have something to say about who he is to marry?"
"I confess that his att.i.tude is all that you describe," said the Baron. "He has announced his views quite plainly. We admit that he may have something to say about it."
"Then I submit that it isn"t altogether an improbability that he may decide to marry according to the dictates of his heart and not for the sake of appearances," said Mr. Blithers scathingly. "I have an idea that he will marry the girl he loves, no matter who she may be."
[Ill.u.s.tration: The dignified Ministry of Graustark sat agape]
Count Quinnox and Baron Gourou exchanged glances. These two men were guilty of having kept from their colleagues all information concerning a certain Miss Guile. They, as well as Dank, were bound by a promise exacted by their sovereign prince. They alone knew that Mr.
Blithers was supported by an incontrovertible truth. For the present, their lips were sealed, and yet they faced that anxious group with a complete understanding of the situation. They knew that Mr. Blithers was right. Prince Robin would marry the girl that he loved, and no other. They knew that their prince expected to marry the daughter of the man who now faced these proud n.o.blemen and virtually defied them!
"Am I not right, Count Quinnox?" demanded Mr. Blithers, turning suddenly upon the Minister of War. "You are in a position to know something about him. Am I not right?"
Every eye was on the Count. "Prince Robin will marry for love, my lords," he said quietly, "I am forced to agree with Mr. Blithers."
Baron Romano sank into his chair. There was silence in the room for many seconds.
"May I enquire, Count Quinnox, if you know anything of the present state of Prince Robin"s--er--heart?" inquired the Prime Minister finally.
A tinge of red appeared in each of Count Quinnox"s swarthy cheeks.
"I can only surmise," said he briefly.
"Has--has he met some one in whom he feels a--er--an interest?"
"Yes."
"May we have the benefit of your conclusions?" said Baron Romano, icily.
"I am not at liberty to supply information at present," said the Count, visibly distressed.
Mr. Blithers leaned forward, his hands upon the table. "Some one he met after leaving New York?" he inquired eagerly.
"Time will reveal everything, Mr. Blithers," said the Count, and closed his jaws resolutely. His colleagues looked at him in consternation. The worst, then, had happened!
A gleam of triumph shot into the eyes of Mr. Blithers. His heart swelled. He felt himself stepping out upon safe, solid ground after a period of floundering. The very best, then, had happened!
"My lords, I find that my half-hour is almost up," he said, pulling out his gold watch and comparing its time with that of the clock on the wall. "Permit me to take my departure. I am content to let matters shape themselves as they may. Shakespeare says "there is a destiny that shapes our ends, rough hew them"--er--and so forth.
Allow me, however, before leaving, to a.s.sure you of my most kindly interest in the welfare of your State. You may be pleased to know that it is not from me that Graustark--did I get it right that time?
--will redeem her bonds when they mature, but from my only daughter.
She is nearly twenty-one years of age. On her twenty-fifth birthday I shall present to her--as a gift--all of my holdings in Graustark. She may do as she sees fit with them. Permit me to wish you all good day, my lords. You may send the contract to my hotel, Baron. I expect to remain in the city for some time."
As he traversed the vast halls on his way to the outer world, he was again overcome by the uneasy conviction that ironic eyes were looking out upon him from luxurious retreats. Again he felt that his coat fitted him too tightly and that his waistcoat was painfully in evidence. He hurried a bit. If he could have had his way about it, he would have run. Once outside the castle doors, he lighted a big cigar, and threw the burnt-out match upon the polished flagstones of the terrace. He regretted the act on the instant. He wished he had not thrown it there. If the solemn grooms had not been watching, he would have picked it up and stuck it into his pocket for disposal on the less hallowed stones of a city thoroughfare.
Outside the gates he felt more at ease, more at home, in fact. He smoked in great contentment. In the broad, shady avenue he took out his watch and pried open the case. A great pride filled his eyes as he looked upon the dainty miniature portrait of his daughter Maud.
She _was_ lovely--she was even lovelier than he had ever thought before.
At the Regengetz a telegram awaited him. It was from Maud.
"I shall be in Edelweiss this week without fail. I have something very important to tell you." So it read.