"Well, I am waiting now for news from Reist," the King said. "We are in telegraphic communication with Solika, and I can get there on my engine in an hour. So long as we can hold Solika we are safe, for I do not think that we can possibly be outflanked. Our whole southern frontier only extends for forty miles, and there are only two practicable pa.s.ses."
"Reist anything of a soldier?" Mr. Van Decht asked after a brief silence.
"For this sort of work--excellent!" Ughtred answered.
"You trust him?"
"As myself. I never knew a man more devoted to his country. It is his religion! Why do you ask?"
Van Decht took his cigar from his mouth and regarded it thoughtfully.
"Sara doesn"t like him!"
The King laughed.
"He"s no lady"s man."
"Sara has instinct," her father remarked. "Can"t say I take to him myself. There"s a kink in the man somewhere."
Ughtred smiled.
"Well, it isn"t in his loyalty or his bravery," Ughtred answered. "He is my best soldier, my most capable adviser, and I owe him my kingdom."
Van Decht abandoned the subject.
"I"ll get along," he said, rising. "Take my advice. Lie down a bit till your message comes along. You"re looking pretty bad."
Ughtred smiled.
"The first day of war," he said, "even on a small scale, is the most wearing. Later on we shall take things more easily. Only you must remember, sir, that it is for the liberty of an ancient kingdom we fight, not only for our own lives, but for the happiness of unborn generations. I would sooner see Theos blotted out forever from the map of Europe and the memory of man than have her exist a va.s.sal state of Russia."
Mr. Van Decht departed in respectful silence. If tradition or sentiment appealed to him but slightly, he knew an honest man by instinct, and he was fast drifting into a very close sympathy with his future son-in-law.
There came word from Reist within the hour. Ughtred tore open the envelope and spread out the cipher-book before him.
"No signs of movement on part of enemy. Scouts report big guns being mounted on positions commanding ours. Solika restless. Have hung two spies. General Dartnoff desires council of war this afternoon."
CHAPTER x.x.xI
Before the great high window, Marie of Reist watched the red fires flaring in the mountains and listened to the far-off booming of the guns. Behind her the room was in darkness, for she had turned out the lamps to see more clearly into the night. So when a voice at her elbow roused her she started with a sudden fear.
"Countess, you hear the war-note yonder! Listen again! Those guns are sounding the knell of the House of Tyrnaus."
She recovered herself--yet she was amazed.
"Baron Domiloff! What, are you still in Theos?"
"Still in Theos, Countess. I remain here to the end."
"But you were banished," she exclaimed.
He smiled inscrutably.
"Yes," he answered. "I was banished--by Ughtred of Tyrnaus. Still, as you see, I remain. To tell you the truth, Countess, it did not seem worth my while to go--for so short a time."
"You must be a master in the art of corruption," she remarked.
"Indeed no," he a.s.sured her. "There are a few of my country people in the city. There are also Thetians who understand that the Tyrnaus dynasty is only a pa.s.sing thing."
"I am not so sure," she answered, "that I agree with you. They say that he is a skilful and gallant soldier, and we of Theos love brave men. An hour ago he rode back to the palace, his uniform stained with dust and blood, and the people cheered him like mad things. They say that he has driven the Turks back at all points."
Domiloff smiled.
"Dear lady," he said, "the successes of to-day or to-morrow are of no account. The Turks are mounting great guns in positions which must command every point where the Thetians are covering the pa.s.ses. The end of it is as certain as a mathematical problem. Before a month has pa.s.sed Theos must sue for peace or admit the Turks to the city."
"You are very certain."
"Warfare to-day," he answered, "can be determined on mathematical lines. Bravery is a delightful quality in the abstract, but brave men are killed as easily as cowards. Tell me, have you spoken with your brother?"
"Yes!"
"He will not consent to this Van Decht alliance?"
"No!"
Domiloff smiled.
"It is good," he answered. "I think that the time has come when I may approach him myself."
She shook her head.
"He is wild with the excitement of fighting," she said. "The King and he have fought together, and Nicholas speaks of him as a brave comrade and a patriot. Last night he wrote to me from Solika, and he spoke of the King as a brother. For the moment he has forgotten all about the Van Decht alliance. Take my advice--leave Nicholas alone."
Domiloff looked out into the night, frowning and thoughtful.
"When the tide of battle changes," he said, "your brother"s enthusiasm will wane. He will remember the slight upon you--upon his name."
She regarded him proudly.
"It is very seldom," she remarked, "that you permit me to forget it."
He smiled. The sight of his white teeth gleaming in the twilight filled her with repulsion. The man was like a wolf.
"Countess," he said, "I am not a hypocrite. I am pledged to the deposition of the King, and you are my natural ally, for it is your brother who must take his place, and you who must prevent the sacrilege of this proposed marriage. So you see I am open with you. We are both working towards the same end. Therefore I say, let us work together."