An Imperial Marriage Read online

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  AN

  IMPERIAL MARRIAGE

  BY

  ARTHUR W. MARCHMONT

  AUTHOR OF "BY RIGHT OF SWORD," "WHEN I WAS CZAR," ETC.

  _ILLUSTRATED_

  WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED LONDON, MELBOURNE AND TORONTO 1909

  CONTENTS

  CHAP.

  I. The "Imperial Marriage" II. Complications III. Chalice IV. Ephraim Ziegler V. Althea's Story VI. A Stroke of Luck VII. Preliminary Steps VIII. Trapped IX. A Perilous Crisis X. In the Hands of the Police XI. My Return XII. Murder XIII. In the House of Death XIV. The Murderer XV. Baron von Ringheim XVI. My Role as a Conspirator XVII. "W. Mischen's" Warehouse XVIII. The Luck Turns XIX. Von Felsen Gains his End XX. A Bride Elect XXI. Like a Dog at Heel XXII. In Search of the Baron XXIII. In the Grip of an Enemy XXIV. From Peril to Peril XXV. An Awkward Plight, indeed XXVI. A Charge of Murder XXVII. Once Again in the Toils XXVIII. Dragen Again XXIX. Just in Time XXX. The End

  CHAPTER I

  THE "IMPERIAL MARRIAGE"

  When the Kaiser planned the marriage between his kinswoman, the Princessvon Altenvelt, and his handsome favourite, the Prince von Graven--the"Imperial Marriage," as the Court gossips styled it--there did notappear to be even the remotest possibility that it could ever be anyconcern of mine.

  The news was almost the last I sent through to my paper, the _LondonNewsletter_, for I heard of it just before I resigned my position asBerlin Special Correspondent, on succeeding to my uncle's fortune. Ihad remained on in the capital, ostensibly to give a lift to mysuccessor, my old Varsity chum, Gerald Bassett, but in reality for areason which no one knew, except my sister, Bessie. And she onlyguessed it was on Althea's account.

  Sisters have a knack of ferreting out these secrets, and I gathered thatshe had guessed mine because she had dropped more than one hint thatAlthea, being a great friend of hers, would be very welcome as asister-in-law.

  That was the position when, at a dance one night, Hugo von Felsen toldme with a grin on his thin long malicious face that the ImperialMarriage was in danger because Prince von Graven had fallen in love withAlthea and she with him.

  I had always detested von Felsen, and had only tolerated him in mynewspaper days because, as the son of a powerful Minister, Count vonFelsen, he could sometimes be tapped for valuable information. The factthat this news came from him made it seem even worse than it was.

  "You can see for yourself," he added. "There they are, together. AllBerlin knows about it. Look, everybody is watching them"; and hisclose-set cunning eyes were fixed on my face as if he knew how his wordswould affect me, and was pleased.

  "They are worth looking at, anyhow," I answered, with a shrug ofindifference. They were. In my eyes Althea was the most beautiful girlin the room. The type of a lovely brunette, with perfectly mouldedfeatures, large lustrous eyes instinct with tenderness and sympathy, anda figure of consummate grace. But then I looked at her with the eyes ofa lover. The Prince was also strikingly handsome. Tall, with asoldierly bearing, and as fair as Althea was dark, his face was marredonly by the weakness of the mouth.

  "We only want the Kaiser himself and the Princess von Altenvelt tocomplete the picture, eh?" sneered von Felsen with a chuckle of malice."How his High-and-Mightiness would enjoy the sight! As much as you do,Bastable."

  "Yourself, you should say, rather, judging by your looks," I retorted."It is nothing to me."

  "You wouldn't have a chance, if it were," he snapped.

  I was not going to let him see how hard I was hit by the news, and asthe band struck up then I turned away in search of my partner. This wasChalice Mennerheim; really Althea's niece, although the relationshipappeared a little absurd as there was only a year or so between them. Imeant to find out from her whether there was any foundation for vonFelsen's insinuation.

  Chalice had a remarkable voice, and Althea had brought her to Berlin tobe trained by Herr Grumpel, the great professor, whose influence atCourt was as powerful as his skill in voice culture was great.

  After a couple of turns round the room I led her into one of theconservatories. She was very vain and intensely selfish, and would havebeen really pretty, had it not been for a certain hard, calculatingexpression in her light blue eyes. They always suggested to me the eyesof an unskilfully painted picture.

  I paid her a number of compliments and then led round to the subject ofthe Prince, observing casually that I had just heard some news abouthim.

  "Tell me," she said, with a quick side glance and a very musical laugh,as she laid her hand on my arm with a little coaxing gesture. "It'sawfully wicked, and Althea is always at me about it; but I love scandal.And I'm scarcely twenty yet. What I shall be at thirty makes meshudder. A regular old scandal-monger, I expect."

  "You are not shuddering; only smiling and looking very pretty. ThePrince thinks you very pretty too, I presume, by the way he was lookingat you when you were dancing with him just now."

  She laughed again. "What were you going to tell me?"

  "They say the Imperial Marriage is in danger because he----" I left thesentence unfinished intentionally.

  "Go on. Go on. Because----? Tell me."

  "Haven't you noticed anything which would enable you to finish thesentence?"

  "You don't mean--Althea?" Her voice sank to a whisper.

  I felt a grip at my heart at this confirmation. "Half the people herewere watching them just now as they stood together in the centre of theroom."

  She burst suddenly into a fit of merry, irresponsible laughter. "Isn'tit fun?" she cried. I suppose it was, to her. I did not see the humourof it, however.

  "There may not be much laughter in it when the Kaiser hears," I growled.

  "Ah, the Kaiser!" and she shrugged her shapely shoulders petulantly."What business has he to turn matchmaker? Why should not the Princemarry whom he pleases? Think what an ugly thing is that Princess vonAltenvelt!" She appeared to be quite indignant on Althea's account.

  "It would cost the Prince the Emperor's favour and his position atCourt," I replied; "and probably he would be packed off to some feverhole in the Colonies on military service. Nice for Althea, that. TheKaiser can be hard when he likes."

  "It is unjust! Infamous!" she exclaimed vehemently. "Poor Althea! Butyou don't think that really? The Kaiser likes him too well."

  "He has done it before, remember." Jealousy plays odd pranks with aman. Here was I finding a sort of morbid delight in drawing this gloomypicture, when in reality I wished Althea all the happiness in the world.But the smart of my disappointment was so fresh that I felt positivelyspiteful for the moment.

  Chalice cast her eyes down, and in the pause a partner came to look forher. She threw me a little nod and a smile, as if we had had thepleasantest chat, and flitted off prattling to her partner and makingeyes at him as I had seen her make them to a hundred other men before.

  I sat on and brooded. I had been a self-centred ass not to have seenthings, and a fool to dream that such a girl as Althea would ever giveme a second thought. And then with a sigh I resolved to get out ofBerlin without loss of time. I was walking off to the smoking room whenI came on Althea sitting alone.

  "I believe you have actually forgotten that this was our dance, Mr.Bastable," she said with a reproachful look and
a smile. She alwaysspoke English, and spoke it remarkably well.

  I had forgotten it, and mumbled a lame apology.

  "Let us sit out the remainder of it then. I am rather tired. And youlook as if the weight of a throne were on your shoulders. Are youworried?"

  I dropped into the seat by her side and began to make small talk,although every pulse in my body was leaping with the desire to speak ofthe feeling that filled my heart.

  At length she spoke of Chalice. "You were talking to her just now," shesaid, "and appeared to be discussing some very grave subject."

  I resolved suddenly to get the truth from her. "It was about you, infact."

  "About me?" she asked in surprise.

  "I don't know whether you'll think I'm putting my foot in it, but Ishould like to tell you something."

  "What a grave preface!" she said jestingly, but with an earnest look.

  I fidgeted uneasily under her gaze. "The fact is, I heard somethingfrom von Felsen, and Chalice confirmed it--about you and Prince vonGraven."

  She pressed her hands together quickly, and a tinge of colour crept upinto her cheeks. "Chalice confirmed it?" she repeated. "What did shesay?"

  "Well, the fact is--you see, when you and the Prince were standingtogether in the middle of the room a while back, a whole lot of peoplewere staring at you; and--there was a lot of talk as to what the Kaiserwould be likely to do when he--when he heard about you two."

  I kept my eyes on the ground and felt many parts of a fool in the pausewhich followed. Then Althea laughed, and I looked up.

  "It is a very awkward position, of course; and equally of course you donot quite understand it. I--I meant to tell you and Bessie all aboutit. I will do so one day. We must be more careful for the future."And again she laughed.

  Her laughter nettled me. It ought not to have done so, of course. Shecould not possibly know how I felt. "If you wish to avoid the Kaiser'sanger, you certainly must be. But I am going off to England by theafternoon mail to-morrow," I declared bluntly.

  My reference to the Kaiser stopped her laughter, and she looked verygrave for a moment. Then she got up. "I must say good-bye to you then,I suppose."

  We shook hands; and then to my surprise she added: "I wish I knew whatthe Kaiser would do. It would let the thing be cleared up."

  "I wish you happiness with all my heart," I replied earnestly.

  "Thank you, Mr. Bastable. I am sure you do. I should like---- But ofcourse I can't. Good-bye"; and with this she turned away a littleabruptly.

  I told my sister as we were driving home that I was going to England onthe following day, and she guessed at once that Althea was the cause,and got the truth out of me.

  "I don't believe it, Paul," was her verdict; "but perhaps the best thingis for you to go away. A change will do you good; and as Aunt Charlotteis coming here I must stay behind." Aunt Charlotte was Mrs. Ellicott, awealthy, childless widow, who made a great favourite of Bessie and wasto leave her her money.

  A sleepless night's reflection confirmed me in my resolve to go away,and the next afternoon found me at the station.

  Then the unexpected happened. I was looking after my luggage and Bessiehad gone off to buy me some papers, when Althea came hurrying up to me.

  "Oh, Mr. Bastable, I remembered you would be here. I am in desperatetrouble. Will you help me?"

  She was pale and, although she smiled, I could see she was tremblingwith nervous excitement. "Of course I will. Tell me," I repliedquickly. To help her, I was ready to toss every plan I had formed intothe melting-pot of change.

  "I am to be arrested."

  "Arrested! You!" I exclaimed in profound astonishment.

  She laid her hand on my arm and made a brave effort to smile again. "Ithink it is on account of--of Prince von Graven." Her voice died downgradually as she said this hesitatingly, until it was little more than awhisper; and her eyes fell.

  "And where is _he_, then?" I blurted out, like the clumsy lout I was.

  I guessed of course that the news had reached the Kaiser's ears and hehad taken prompt action. But that the Prince should have left her tobear the brunt of the Imperial anger alone in this way was downrightcowardice.

  "You don't understand, Mr. Bastable," she said, biting her lip. "ButI---- Oh, they are following me now. What am I to do?"

  I pulled myself together. "Do you mean the police?"

  "I don't know. I was on the point of leaving the house when they came.The maid, Lotta, helped me to slip away; but I think they followed me."

  "Do they know you well by sight?"

  "I think not. I passed one of them outside. I got a cab, but theyfollowed."

  "It will be all right. Bessie is here. Don't worry. We'll see youthrough."

  Bessie came hurrying up with an exclamation of surprise at seeingAlthea.

  "Don't stop to ask any questions, Bess," I said. "Fraeulein Korper is insome bother. Take her into one of the waiting-rooms and change cloaksand hats with her. She can come back to me; but you must drive offsomewhere in a cab. Get out when you are a mile or so away, and then gohome on foot. There isn't a moment to lose. Quick, both of you."

  Bessie hurried Althea away almost before I had finished speaking, and Iturned to see that my luggage was put back into the cloak-room insteadof being registered. I made the excuse that one of the trunks had beenforgotten.

  Althea returned before I had finished, and I gave her a critical look.My sister had been wearing a long drab driving coat and a very plain,essentially English golf cap; and I could not restrain a smile at thechange they effected in Althea. No German would dream of taking theirwearer for one of his countrywomen.

  She was still nervous, and as she came up she whispered that the men shemeant had just entered the station.

  A glance in the direction she indicated showed me that I knew one ofthem--a police agent, named Dormund. Not the one who had seen her,fortunately.

  "It will be all right," I said reassuringly. "Now just a touch or twomore, and you will pass as English. Put your hair back right out ofsight; slip on these sun spectacles, purse up your lip and show as manyof your teeth as possible--you know the German cartoon of the averageEnglish girl; look as plain and formidable as you can; and only speak tome to snap out a word or so, as if we were quarrelling."

  She tried to follow my directions, and I was glad to see her smile inamusement, despite her alarm.

  "That's better. I know one of the men, and he will probably come overand speak to me. We are supposed to be brother and sister for a minuteor two--he has never seen Bessie--and we are wrangling because you haveleft one of my trunks behind and caused me to lose the train inconsequence. Be looking among those trunks over there, so that you cankeep your face averted."

  "He is not the man who saw me," she whispered, when I pointed toDormund, who caught sight of me soon afterwards and came over.

  "Why you couldn't see that all the things were brought beats me," Iexclaimed in a loud, irritable tone to Althea. "I thought you could betrusted to count as far as four without a mistake. Giving all thisinfernal trouble. I shall have to go back for it, and so miss thetrain. Enough to make a man almost swear."

  Dormund was now close and had heard much of what I said and was lookingintently at Althea.

  "Heir Bastable, excuse me," he said.

  I turned on him quickly and irritably, and then smiled. "Hullo, HerrDormund. I wondered who the deuce it was, and was within an ace ofventing a bit of temper on you for the interruption. My sister hasforgotten a trunk of mine, and now I shall miss the train," I gesturedtoward Althea. She had her profile toward him, and his face showed methat he had no suspicion.

  "Ah, your sister," he said; and raised his hat and looked first at herand then to me as if expecting an introduction. "I heard you wereleaving Berlin to-day," he continued, when I did not take the hint. "Itis indeed annoying."

  A scowl and an angry murmur gave him the measure of my temper. "It's amarvel
to me that women can make such blunders," I growled.

  "Where are you going?"

  "London. And now there's no train till the night mail, and I hate nighttravelling."

  "Have you been long in the station?"

  "About half an hour or so. It took my sister that time to find out thatshe had made any mistake at all"; and I shot another wrathful glance atAlthea. There was no doubt about my being in a very bad temper over it.

  "Then perhaps you can do me a little service. You know FraeuleinKorper, I believe? Have you seen her here within the last few minutes?"

  "My dear fellow, I haven't had eyes for anything but my luggage, and notenough eyes to see all that even," I replied with a short angry laugh."Have you seen anything of Althea Korper here, Bessie?" I called.

  "No," she snapped, as irritably as I had spoken before. It was welldone.

  "Thank you," I replied in the same snappy tone, "I am sorry," I said toDormund; "don't you know her by sight then?"

  "Unfortunately, no."

  I lowered my voice. "You're surely not seeking her officially?"

  He smiled and threw up his hands, leaving me to infer what I pleased.

  "By Jove," I exclaimed. "Can't say I wish you luck, Dormund." Then Iturned to the porter. "Here, get these trunks to the cloak-room. I'lldrive back for the other and see if I can catch the train after all.Come along, Bessie."

  She acted the sulky sister to the life and succeeded in keeping her facealmost entirely averted from Dormund.

  He remained with me while I got rid of the luggage and then while Ichartered the cab; and I began to wonder if after all he had not somesuspicion and whether he would let Althea go.

  She had kept behind us and when the cab was ready, the door of whichDormund himself held open, she hurried past him and took her seat. Heclosed the door and stood bareheaded while we drove off.

  I drew a breath of relief.

  "Will he follow us?" asked Althea nervously.

  "Not he. He hasn't a thought of the trick we've played him."

  "Oh, Mr. Bastable, how could you do it so naturally? I was positivelytrembling the whole time."

  "You needn't worry about anything now," I said reassuringly. "Try tofix your thoughts on what is to be done next."

  "I don't know what to do," she murmured.

  Neither did I. Nor did I seem to care. The unexpectedness of it allhad taken my breath away. The whole position was so unreal that I wasin the clouds.

  A few minutes before I had been bent only upon rushing away in search ofdistraction from the galling rack of my disappointment on her account;and now she had rushed to me in the hour of her trouble, and was by myside, trusting to me to get her out of it all.

  I would do it at any cost; but for the moment I was so elated by theproof of her confidence, that I could think of nothing else.