Nicholas of Reist said nothing. He pointed to the open panel. A look of horror flashed into the girl"s face. She understood.
"Nicholas," she cried, "that message never came from the King. Where you found it I do not know, but I never saw it before. You must believe me, Nicholas. The King was ignorant of my coming. He was unwilling that I should remain even for a moment."
"I repeat," the King said, gravely, "that the writing which you hold in your hands is a forgery, Nicholas. I have never written to your sister in my life. This is part of a plot which shall be sifted to the bottom."
Still Nicholas stood silent before the panel, and Marie pa.s.sed out. He shut it carefully. Then he turned to the King, who was still standing with that half-sheet of notepaper in his hand.
"Your Majesty," he said, "I desire to know whether it is your intention to marry my sister."
The King looked him squarely in the face.
"Nicholas," he said, "have I ever in my life done or said anything to give rise to such a belief?"
"Your Majesty," Reist answered, with a bow, "has been ever most discreet. Yet before witnesses you pledged my sister in our ancient betrothal cup, well knowing its immutable record."
"That is true," the King answered, "but at the time I showed clearly that with me at least it was a jest. I plead guilty to an act of folly. I came straight here from life amongst a people to whom symbols and ceremonies have become as empty things--a practical and utilitarian people, and I did not recognize the pa.s.sionate clinging of the dwellers in these more romantic countries to old customs and old ritual. I deeply regret it, Nicholas. I have no other regret."
Reist pointed to the letter which still remained in the King"s fingers. Ughtred tore it through with a gesture of contempt.
"I did not write it," he said. "I did not invite your sister"s presence."
Reist controlled himself with a visible effort.
"Your Majesty," he said, "I beg you for one moment to reflect. I appeal once more, less for your sake or mine, than for our country"s, to your honour. Your throne you owe to me. I have been your faithful servant, and my sword is yet wet with the blood of your enemies. Our name is great throughout Europe. An alliance with us can only strengthen your hold upon the people. It ill becomes me to force these things upon you, but the issue is great. Do you seek the hand of my sister in marriage?"
"I do not," the King answered. "I never have done. Wait."
Reist paused with his hand upon the hilt of his sword. The King continued.
"For the sake of my kingdom I do not order you from my presence, Reist. We are in danger, as you know, and I can ill spare a brave man.
Listen. On my honour I, Ughtred of Tyrnaus, declare to you that the letter you found is a forgery, that your sister"s presence here was as much a surprise to me as to you, that I never for one single moment failed in the respect which I owe to her as the sister of my best subject."
"That," Reist said, coldly, "is your Majesty"s last word?"
"It is."
Reist drew his sword from his scabbard and bent it upon the ground till the blade snapped. The pieces he threw before the King.
"I resign my position in the army," he said, "and I withdraw my oath of allegiance. We are on equal terms now, Ughtred of Tyrnaus, and I demand satisfaction from you for this affront upon my House."
Ughtred eyed him sternly for a moment, but without anger.
"First, sir," he said, "discharge yourself of your duty. Report to me of the position at Solika."
"We have withstood a fierce attack," Reist answered, coldly, "and driven the Turks off with heavy losses. I regret to add, however, that Solika is a hotbed of Russian intrigue, and what we gain in the field we shall doubtless lose through treachery. My force are encamped outside the city, and there are scouts duly posted to warn us of any fresh attack. I desire your answer, Ughtred of Tyrnaus."
The King"s eyes flashed with anger.
"Be careful, sir," he exclaimed, "or my answer will be a file of soldiers and the prison."
There was a brief pause. An angry spot burned on Reist"s cheeks, but he kept silent.
"My answer to you is this, sir," the King said. "All duties which I owe as a private individual are secondary to those I owe my country.
So long as the war lasts I decline your challenge. The day it is over I will meet you under any condition you choose to name. Now go!"
"But----"
"Sir," the King thundered, "I do not bandy words with my subjects.
Go!"
Reist pa.s.sed out in silence. The panel rolled heavily back. The King was alone! He sank heavily on to his couch and buried his face in his hands.
CHAPTER x.x.xIV
Once more brother and sister stood face to face in the great shadowy audience-room of the Reist palace. Again, too, there was the clamour of many voices in the streets below, for a messenger had just galloped in with news from the front, and a sad procession of ambulance wagons had arrived for the hospital. Only it seemed to them both that that other day, of which both for a moment thought, lay far back in some uncertain past. Events had marched so rapidly during the last few months that all sense of proportion and distance was lost. They looked at one another with white, haggard faces. Marie saw that her brother no longer wore his sword.
"What has happened?" she asked, faintly.
The fires of h.e.l.l were smouldering in his dark eyes. Yet he answered with some attempt at calmness.
"I challenged him. I had the right! He did not deny it, but he will not fight until the war is over. I have broken my sword. I am an outcast from my people--and he is still their king. Marie, you have brought great trouble upon our House."
"It was not I who brought him here," she answered. "I was against it always. The trouble is of your making--and his. He drank with me from the King"s cup."
"Ay! And to-night he refused absolutely to marry you, Marie. I suffered the everlasting humiliation of offering your hand--to have it refused."
She drew a short, quick breath. It was humiliation indeed. A sudden wild anger seized her. She locked and interlocked her fingers nervously.
"They are an accursed race, these men of Tyrnaus," she cried. "They make vows only to break them. Their honour is a broken reed."
Then Nicholas, his face gleaming white through the darkness, leaned over to her.
"Marie," he said, "those written words--which summoned you to him--were his?"
She hesitated. He raised his hand.
"Marie," he said, solemnly, "answer me as though your foot were upon the threshold of eternity. Remember that the name of Reist will become a name of shame for ever if you speak falsely. He is young, and he came here a stranger to us and our traditions. With our country in peril I might forgive for the while his broken troth--if that were all. But if he has dared to hold you lightly--that I cannot forgive.
Tell me the truth! Was that message, indeed, from him which summoned you to a clandestine meeting?"
She met his fixed gaze with beating heart. Her bosom rose and fell quickly. She was torn with a hundred emotions. At last she answered.
"Nicholas," she said, "I know nothing of that note. I sought the king of my own free will."
Reist paced the room with quick, uneven footsteps. Marie sat at the table, her head buried in her hands. He did not approach her. Through the open window came the dull booming of guns. The sound was a torture to him.