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30 chapters
CHAPTER I
CHAPTER I
"To John P. Gilmore, Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S.A. "MY DEAR BROTHER-IN-LAW,—For years you have believed me dead, and I have made no effort to disturb that belief. "I am dying now, alone in Paris, far from my beloved country; unjustly degraded, dishonoured and defamed. This letter and its enclosure will not be despatched until the grave has closed over me. "To you I owe a debt of deep gratitude. You have taken and cared for my darling child, Christabel; you have stood between her and the world
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CHAPTER II
CHAPTER II
"If your Excellency makes that move I must mate in three moves." His Excellency's long white fingers were fluttering indecisively above the bishop and were about to close upon it, when I was guilty of so presumptuous a breach of etiquette as to warn him. He was appropriately shocked. He fidgeted, frowned at me, and then smiled. It was one of those indulgent smiles with which a great man is wont to favour a young woman in his employment. "Really, I don't think so," he replied; and having been war
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CHAPTER III
CHAPTER III
When my talk with General von Erlanger over the chess board took place, I had but recently decided to plunge into the maelstrom whose gloomy undercurrent depths concealed the proofs of my father's innocence and the dark secret of his cruel wrongs. My motive in coming to Pesth was rather a desire to gauge for myself at first hand the possibility of success, should I undertake the task, than the definitely formed intention to attempt it. I had studied all my father's papers closely, and in the lig
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CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER IV
For a moment the situation oppressed me, but the next I had mastered it and regained my self-possession. I was not recognized. Karl threw a formal glance at me as Madame d'Artelle mentioned my name, and his eyes came toward me again when she explained that I was an American. I was careful to keep my face from the light and to let him see as little of my features as possible. But I need not have taken even that trouble. He did not give me another thought; and I sat for some minutes turning over t
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CHAPTER V
CHAPTER V
I felt completely satisfied with the result of my conversation with Madame d'Artelle. I had had some qualms about the manner in which I had entered her house; feeling, it must be confessed, something like a spy. But our relations would now be changed. It would be at most an alliance of hostility. I should only remain because she would deem it more dangerous for me to leave; she would trust me no further than she dared; and as I had openly acknowledged that I had an object of my own in view, I ne
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CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VI
I was quite as anxious to avoid police interference as the men themselves could be; but I knew the threat was more likely to drive them off than any other. To recover the girl, they would have bludgeoned me readily enough, if they could have done it without being discovered; but my weapon made that impossible. Moreover, they liked the look of the business end of the revolver as little as many braver men. The stick was lowered; they whispered together, and then tried to fool me. They began to edg
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CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VII
The next day was a busy one for me, for I had to find a place in which Gareth could remain safely hidden. This I felt to be impracticable in my present house. I had rented it on first coming to Pesth, and it was recorded as my address in the register of the University. It was, of course, certain that Count Gustav would have every possible inquiry made about me; and if he or his agents came to the house, Gareth's presence would at once become known. Fortunately, I had already commenced some negot
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CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER VIII
Colonel Katona's impatience mounted fast; and when he again insisted in an even more violent tone that I should tell him all I knew, I had to fall back upon a woman's second line of defence. I became hysterical. I gurgled and sobbed, choked and gasped, laughed and wept in regulation style; and then, to his infinite confusion and undoing, I fainted. At least I fell back in my chair seemingly unconscious, and should have fallen on the floor, I believe in thoroughness, had he not caught me in his r
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CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER IX
My interview with Karl led to a very disquieting discovery. I sat for some time thinking about it—and my thoughts increased rather than diminished my uneasiness. To use a very expressive vulgarism one often hears at home, I began to fear that I "had run up against a snag." In other words, I had misunderstood the real nature of my feelings for Karl; and that miscalculation might cost me dear. It was true that when I had seen him at Madame d'Artelle's I had hated him cordially; but the reason was
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CHAPTER X
CHAPTER X
"Have you any news for me?" was Gareth's eager question, natural enough under the circumstances, and her delicate expressive face clouded as I shook my head. "We could scarcely expect any good news yet, dear." "I suppose not; but I am so anxious." "It will all come right in time, Gareth." But that very trite commonplace had no more soothing effect on her than it often has on wiser folk. "I suppose I must be patient; but I wish I could do something for myself. I hate being patient. Why can't I go
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CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XI
That it was chiefly the stunning unexpectedness of my stroke which overwhelmed Count Gustav was proved by the promptness with which he rallied. Had I given him even a hint of my information or prepared him in any way for the thrust, I am sure he would have met it with outward equanimity. My probe had pierced the flesh, however, before he had had a moment to guard himself; and he had flinched and winced at the unexpected pain of it. But he soon recovered self-possession. "You have a dramatic inst
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CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XII
If the truth must be confessed I had surprised myself quite as much as Count Gustav in declaring my wish that Karl should marry Madame d'Artelle. I had spoken in response to the feeling of hot resentment he had roused by his bitter taunt that a marriage with me would prove an effectual disgrace for Karl. And what stung me was the obvious truth of it all. My father was the proscribed murderer of the man who, had he lived, would have been the future occupant of the new throne; and for Karl to marr
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CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIII
I don't like having to own that General von Erlanger went a little too far in saying that nothing could frighten me. The terms in which he had spoken of the Patriotic movement and his reference to its compassionless sacrifice of victims disturbed me profoundly. I passed a sleepless, tumbling, anxious night; and if it be fear to conjure up all kinds of possible horrors, to shrink at the thought that even my life might be in danger, and to lie wincing and cringing and shuddering at the prospect of
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CHAPTER XIV
CHAPTER XIV
It was only to be expected that as I approached Madame d'Artelle's house I should be nervously uneasy lest the main foundation of my new plan should have collapsed. I had built everything on the assumption that Count Gustav would induce his brother to carry out the original scheme of marrying Madame d'Artelle by stealth. I had threatened to bring her husband to Pesth on the following day; and since he knew as well as she seemed to, that M. Constans' arrival would put an absolute end to Madame's
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CHAPTER XV
CHAPTER XV
I was so astonished at this turn of matters that I squeezed myself up into as small a space as possible in the corner of the carriage, a prey to completely baffling perplexity. The sense of shame with which I had followed his shambling, drunken movements, as he was helped into the vehicle, gave way to a feeling at first of relief, and then of pleasure—both feelings mingled with consummate dismay. Now that he was in possession of his senses, how was I to act toward him? Under the influence of eit
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CHAPTER XVI
CHAPTER XVI
Karl was sitting in an attitude of moody dejection; his elbow on the arm of the chair, and face resting on his hand; and he turned slowly as I opened the door. The look of gloomy indifference vanished, and he rose quickly with a glance of intense surprise. "Chris—Miss Gilmore!" he exclaimed. "You asked for Madame d'Artelle. I have come to say she has left the house," I said in a quite steady tone. "But you—how do you come to be here? I don't understand." "I thought you knew I was Madame d'Artell
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CHAPTER XVII
CHAPTER XVII
I had resolved what to do, and I lost no time. "You are going to trust me in this and do what I wish?" I asked Karl. "Yes, of course. You have a right to no less. But what does it mean?" "You heard the noise at the window?" "Yes." "It was not the wind. Some one was attempting to open it. I am going to find out who it is and why they are there." "How?" "By stratagem. I wish you to go upstairs and remain there until I call you." "Why should I do that?" he asked, hesitating and perplexed. "Because
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CHAPTER XVIII
CHAPTER XVIII
I led Karl into one of the other sitting-rooms. "I am going to make an appeal to your generosity," I said. "What has happened? Who was outside the house? What is the meaning of all the mystery? I was thinking myself mad up there and came down to see." "It is good that you care so much. Two days ago you would have given a shrug of your shoulders, a toss of the head, a lift of the eyebrows, and with an easy smiling 'It doesn't matter,' have left any one else to do the thinking. Don't let your ciga
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CHAPTER XIX
CHAPTER XIX
The following morning found me in a saner mood once more, and I lay for an hour thinking and planning. I hold that there are narcotics for mental pain just as for physical; and if the mind is healthy and the will resolute, one can generally be found. I had to find one then. I did not make the mistake of attempting to underrate my loss. I knew I had had to give up what I prized more than anything in life. I loved Karl with my whole heart; I knew indeed that I had never ceased to love him. The swe
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CHAPTER XX
CHAPTER XX
I stepped out into the sunlight glad of the fresh air in contrast to the dismal closeness of the room. I was quite willing to give Count Gustav a few minutes in which to puzzle over the reasons for the trick I had played him. He would be quite sure that I had some deep purpose in it all. You can always gamble on it that cunning people will credit you with cunning; and I had said enough to him to cause him profound uneasiness. It took him longer than I had expected to decide upon his next step; f
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CHAPTER XXI
CHAPTER XXI
I have said somewhere that I did not take General von Erlanger's importance at his own estimate of it; but what occurred that morning might well have induced me to reconsider that opinion. Certainly none of those present in the room shared it. They all, including Count Gustav himself, stood in considerable awe of him. A slight wave of the hand sent Lieutenant Varga and his men out of the room; and until they had gone and the door closed behind them, not another word was spoken. I threw my cloak
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CHAPTER XXII
CHAPTER XXII
I wrote a short note to Colonel Katona saying that circumstances prevented my going to his house that day; but that I had something important to say to him, and wished him to come to me to General von Erlanger's at once. Next, an equally brief one to Karl: "DEAR FRIEND, "I cannot keep my word to see you to-day. I have been compelled to come here, to General von Erlanger's house, and must remain until to-morrow. But to-morrow I shall see you. Please me by staying where you are until then. Colonel
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CHAPTER XXIII
CHAPTER XXIII
At dinner his Excellency was thoughtful and taciturn, and we had a rather dismal meal. He noticed my dress when we met, however. "You have your clothes, then?" he said in his dryest manner. "Yes, my servant came to arrange the things I needed." "I don't wish to know," he exclaimed, promptly, with a glance which showed me that he understood I had not been idle. But after that he scarcely spoke. The girls chattered to me, chiefly making fun of the new governess before her face in the most impudent
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CHAPTER XXIV
CHAPTER XXIV
"There is always this about chess," said his Excellency, when I had taken my place opposite to him; "you cannot play it unless you detach your thoughts from all other matters." "I don't wish to detach mine," I returned. "Then I shall certainly beat you; for I intend to detach mine, at all events for a few moves. Now study this position;" and he insisted on talking chess for some minutes, and then we played. Gradually the fascination which the game always had laid hold of me, and, concentrating m
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CHAPTER XXV
CHAPTER XXV
His Excellency had at times some very pretty ways. He stepped through the window now, and, plucking three or four of the finest marguerites, offered them to me. "You will accept them—in the sense I have just indicated?" he asked. "You punish tactfully, General. I suppose you think the rebuke is warranted. I would rather you gave them to me—to-morrow, say;" and I turned from the window and sat down. He laid the blossoms on the table. "We will leave them until our chat is over. I hope you will tak
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CHAPTER XXVI
CHAPTER XXVI
As I entered the room Karl came to me with both hands outstretched. Utterly regardless of Colonel Katona's presence, he exclaimed in a tone of intense earnestness; "Thank God, for a sight of you again, Christabel." "Count Karl," I said, half in protest, as I put my hands into his nervously and glanced at the Colonel. "Never mind the Colonel. He knows everything," he declared in the most unabashed manner, "even that I have come to recant. I must take back the promise I made the other night." "Goo
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CHAPTER XXVII
CHAPTER XXVII
I was in the act of going to the Duke and my fingers were all but on the handle of the door, when I recalled the idea which had flashed upon me an hour before when with Gareth, and instantly I resolved to act upon it. Running back into the room where I had been with Count Gustav, I wrote two lines to his Excellency. "I have made one mistake. Count Gustav's marriage is legal. Gareth is really his wife. Let the Duke know this." I sent James Perry in with this note to the General and a message that
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CHAPTER XXVIII
CHAPTER XXVIII
Instantly I thought of Gareth and raised my hand, hoping to still the Colonel's angry, strident tone lest it should reach her. "He is a villain," he repeated. "I care not now who hears me say it. He lured her from me, planned to make me do murder, and now would have me join in dishonouring my child. You must hear this, Miss von Dreschler, for you know much—and shall know the rest." "For Gareth's sake, Colonel, she is in that room and may hear," I protested. "Let her come and let her decide this,
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CHAPTER XXIX
CHAPTER XXIX
It was more than an hour before I could go down to General von Erlanger, and I carried a heavy heart and a bad report of Gareth's condition. "She is very ill," I told him. "The doctor fears brain fever. At best but fragile, recent events have so preyed upon her that the climax to-day found her utterly broken in nerve and strength. I have left her muttering in half-delirious terror of her father's anger. Where is Count Gustav?" "Gone away with the doctor, to return later. And now of yourself, Chr
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CHAPTER XXX
CHAPTER XXX
Why do we women like to tease the men we love? Is the sense of coquetry innate and irresistible in some of us? Or is it merely a defensive instinct warning us of the danger of being won too easily? I knew quite well how the interview with Karl would end; I knew he loved me and that I loved him; I was hungry for the feel of his arms about me and the touch of his lips on mine; and yet my face wore a quite aggrieved look as I met him with words of somewhat petulant reproach on my lips. "I am glad y
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