第30章

THE RED CHATEAU

Two o'clock in the morning, on the king's highway, and a small body of horse making progress.The moon was beginning to roll away toward the west, but the world was still frost-white, and the broad road stretched out like a silver ribbon before the horsemen, until it was lost in the blue mist of the forests.

The troop consisted of ten men, two of whom rode with their hands tied behind their backs and their feet fastened under the bellies of the horses.The troop was not conspicuous for this alone.Three others had their heads done up in handkerchiefs, and a fourth carried his arm in a sling.

Five miles to the rear lay the sleeping city of Bleiberg, twenty miles beyond rose the formidable heights of the Thalians.At times the horses went forward at a gallop, but more often they walked; when they galloped the man with his arm in the sling complained.Whenever the horses dropped into a walk, the leader talked to one of the prisoners.

"You fight like the very devil, my friend," he said; "but we were too many by six.Mind, I think none the less of you for your attempt; freedom is always worth fighting for.As I said before, no harm is meant to you, physically; as to the moral side, that doesn't concern me.You have disabled four of my men, and have scarcely a dozen scratches to show for it.I wanted to take only four men with me; I was ordered to take eight.The hand of providence is in it.""You wouldn't be so polite, Colonel," spoke up the trooper whose arm was in the sling, "if you had got this crack.""Baron, who told you to call me Colonel?" the leader demanded.

"Why, we are out of the city; there's no harm now that I can see.""Is it possible," said Maurice ironically, "that I have had the honor of hitting a baron on the head and breaking his arm?"The baron muttered a curse and fell back.

"And you," went on Maurice, addressing the leader, "are a Colonel?""Yes."

"For the duchess?"

"For the duchess."

"A black business for you, Colonel; take my word for it.""A black business it is; but orders are orders.Have you ever been a soldier?""I have."

"Well, there's nothing more to be said."

"America--" Maurice began.

"Is several thousand miles away."

"Not if you reckon from Vienna."

"I'd rather not reckon, if it's all the same to you.Your friend--I might say, your very valuable friend--takes the matter too much to heart.""He's not a talkative man."

Fitzgerald looked straight ahead, stern and impassive.

"But now that we are talking," said Maurice, "I should like to know how the deuce you got hold of my name and dragged me into this affair?""Simple enough.A card of yours was given to me; on it was your name and address.The rest was easy."Maurice grew limp in the saddle.

"By George! I had forgotten! The woman is at the bottom of it.""Quite likely.I thought you'd come to that conclusion.

Sometimes when we play with foxes they lead us into bear traps.

Young man, witness these gray hairs; never speak to strange women, especially when they wear veils."Fitzgerald was now attending the conversation.

"And who is this woman?" asked Maurice.

"Mademoiselle of the Veil, according to your picturesque imagination; to me she is the intimate friend and adviser of her Highness Stephonia." He wheeled to the troopers with a laugh:

"Hoch, you beggars, hoch!"

Maurice indulged in some uncomplimentary remarks, among which was: "I'm an ass!""Every man improves on making that discovery; the Darwinian theory is wrong."After a pause Maurice said: "How did you get on the ground so quickly?""We arrived yesterday afternoon as the escort of your charmer.Apretty woman finds it troublesome to travel alone in these parts.

When you slapped your friend on the back and bawled out his name--a name known from one end of the kingdom to the other--the plan of action was immediately formed.You were necessary, for it was taken for granted that you knew too much.You had also promised your sword," with a chuckle.

"I made no promise," said Maurice."I only said that I should easily be found when wanted.""Well, so you were; there's no gainsaying that."Maurice said some more uncomplimentary things.

"It was neatly done, you will admit.Life is a game of cards; he wins who plays first.""Or he doesn't.Colonel, a game is won only when it is played'.""That's true enough."

"Kings are a tolerable bother on earth," Maurice declared, trying to ease his wrists by holding them higher against his back.

"What do you know about them?"

"When I was in the army I often fell in with three or four of a night.""Eh?--kings?"

"Yes; but usually I was up against aces or straight flushes.""Cards! Well, well; when you get down to the truth of the matter, real kings differ but little from the kings in pasteboard;right side up, or wrong side up, they serve the purpose of those who play them.There's a poor, harmless devil back there," with a nod toward Bleiberg."He never injured a soul.Perhaps that's it; had he been cruel, avaricious, sly, all of them would be cringing at his feet.Devil take me--but I'm a soldier," he broke off abruptly; "it's none of my business.""Have you any titles?" Maurice asked presently.

"Titles?" The Colonel jerked around on his horse."Why?""O," said Maurice carelessly, "I thought it not unlikely that you might have a few lying around loose."The Colonel roared."You Americans beat the very devil with your questions.Well, I am politely known as Count Mollendorf, if that will gratify you.""What! brother of Mollendorf of the king's police?""God save the mark! No; I am an honest man --some of the time."Maurice laughed; the old fellow was amusing, and besides, this conversation helped to pass away the time.

"Wake up, Jack; here's entertainment," he said.

A scowl added itself to the stern expression on Fitzgerald's face.

"I trust that none of your teeth are loose," ventured the Colonel.

"If they are, they'll be tight enough ere many days have passed,"was the threatening reply.

"Beware the dog!" cried the Colonel, and he resumed his place at the head of the little troop.