An Imperial Marriage Page 4

  CHAPTER IV

  EPHRAIM ZIEGLER

  Althea's statement--that von Felsen had pressed her to marry him--madeit plain to me that he was pulling the strings in everything; althoughwhy he should endeavour to secure her arrest in order to further hispurpose, baffled me.

  If his motive were jealousy, however, it was possible that he would calla halt when he learnt the truth about the Prince. I urged Althea to letme tell him, but she would not. Her quixotic regard for Chalice stoodin the way. Nor would she adopt the alternative advice I tendered--that"Aunt Charlotte" should leave Berlin as secretly and mysteriously as shehad arrived.

  Nothing was left for me, therefore, but to cast about for some othermeans of dealing with von Felsen. In the meantime I knew he would loseno time in confirming his suspicions as to Althea's whereabouts.

  This was soon made plain. I was speaking to Bessie when von Bernhoff'scard was brought to us; and when he was shown up, von Felsen was withhim. Von Bernhoff introduced him to Bessie, and he made himselfinsinuatingly polite to her.

  A lot of small talk followed: a good deal of it about my interruptedjourney; and von Bernhoff asked if I was going on the following day.

  "I don't think Aunt Charlotte will let you go, Paul," said Bessie, whowas as cool and self-possessed as possible.

  "Frau Ellicott has come then?" said von Bernhoff, who had known of theintended visit. "I shall be glad to see her again. She is a charminglady."

  "She arrived this morning," said Bessie in the most matter of fact tone.

  "You should see Frau Ellicott," said von Bernhoff to von Felsen, who hadpricked up his ears at this. "She is a perfect type of an English lady."

  "I shall hope for the honour of being presented," he smirked.

  "She will be delighted, I am sure. Lieutenant von Bernhoff is afavourite of hers, and any friend of his may count upon her goodgraces." I thought Bessie was carrying things a bit too far; but vonFelsen was keeping an eye on me, and I could not warn her. "To-day shehas a bad headache. You may remember how a journey upsets her."

  "Ah yes, indeed"; and von Bernhoff shrugged his shoulders with a gestureof commiseration. "I remember too how interested she was in FraeuleinChalice Mennerheim. More than once she has spoken to me in rapturesabout her voice."

  "She is passionately fond of music and used to be a great singerherself," was Bessie's absolutely composed reply.

  "This news about Fraeulein Korper will interest her greatly, then,"interjected von Felsen; and I saw why Chalice's name had been dragged inso clumsily.

  Bessie was on the point of replying when we heard footsteps in the roomoverhead, and the sound of some one singing the jewel song from Faust.Then the door above was opened and the voice sounded nearer. The singercame downstairs.

  "One of Fraeulein Chalice's songs," said von Felsen, with a grin.

  Bessie rose. She was quite cool. "Aunt Charlotte must be better, Paul.I'll go and see if she will not come down to see Lieutenant vonBernhoff."

  Von Felsen hastened to open the door for her, and took the opportunityof glancing up the stairs. "She has a young voice, your aunt," he saidto me as he closed the door behind Bessie.

  "She is no longer a young woman, as you will see."

  "If she is well enough to come to us," he retorted meaningly.

  "At any rate her headache is better," grinned von Bernhoff; and then wesat in silence until Bessie returned, laughing merrily.

  "A most ridiculous mistake, Paul. I don't know how we could be sostupid. It was Ellen singing--our maid, you know," she added to theothers. "Aunt Charlotte opened the door to tell her to be quiet. Sheis very angry at having been woke up."

  Then came another mishap. The two men were murmuring their obviouslyinsincere regrets when Ellen entered and said the Prince von Gravenwished to see me.

  "Show him up," I said, with a sort of feeling that nothing mattered now.

  Von Felsen gave such a leer of triumph that I could have kicked him."He is, indeed, an ultimate friend of yours, Bastable. Two visits inone day"; and with that the two men went, meeting the Prince on thelanding.

  "I could almost cry with vexation," whispered Bessie.

  "It's too serious for tears, Bess. Was Althea coming down here?"

  She nodded. "I was just in time to stop her."

  "She might almost as well have come," I grunted. "You had better leaveme alone with the Prince. Try and persuade Althea to make a bolt ofit."

  The interview with the Prince was very short. Eagerness to learn theresult of my visit to Chalice had brought him together with the desireto tell me he had found out that the arrest was not ordered by theKaiser, who knew nothing about it. I told him what had passed betweenChalice and myself.

  "I was afraid of it; but of course she must have her own way," hedeclared feebly.

  "Do you think she has the right to ruin Fraeulein Althea, then?"

  "It is most perplexing, baffling. I do not see what to do."

  "Not to tell the truth is simply cowardly," I said with some warmth.

  "Herr Bastable!" and he drew himself up to his full height.

  "To place one woman in danger merely for another woman's caprice iscowardly, Prince von Graven. And you are chiefly responsible."

  "Do you speak in this way with Fraeulein Althea's sanction?"

  "On the contrary, she is all too willing to sacrifice herself."

  "Then it is scarcely pertinent to the matter."

  "Pertinent or impertinent, it is the truth," I declared bluntly,disgusted at his indifference to Althea's welfare.

  "Are you seeking to force a quarrel upon me, sir?"

  "No. I am merely trying to rouse you to do what you ought to do."

  "I am the best judge of that."

  "Then we may as well end the interview"; and I threw open the door.

  He was bursting with indignation. "I am extremely disappointed in you,Herr Bastable."

  "A mutual feeling, I assure you, Prince"; and I bowed him out.

  I was glad to be rid of him. His news--that the arrest was not at theKaiser's bidding--confirmed my belief that I must deal with von Felsenas the chief instigator, and I must lose no time in getting to work tocheckmate him.

  I knew a good deal about him. He had lived a wastrel, dissipated life,and was deep in the hands of the Jews; and the fact that I had seen himwith Hagar Ziegler led me to think I could get from her father what Iwanted--something discreditable which would enable me to pull him upshort.

  Old Ephraim Ziegler was under a considerable obligation to me. Duringmy newspaper work I had refrained from taking a certain line in regardto a very dirty transaction in which he was concerned, and had saved theold Jew from being prosecuted. He knew this, and had more than onceexpressed himself anxious to show me some practical appreciation of thatservice.

  I was shown at once into his office, and he received me with more thanunctuous servility.

  "Ah, Herr Bastable, this is indeed an honour," he said, rubbing his fathands together while his beady eyes searched my face in doubt whether Ihad again come to undo some of his questionable work.

  "So you haven't forgotten me?"

  "Forgotten you!" he cried, spreading wide his arms. "You are one of theonly friends poor Ephraim Ziegler ever had. You come on business? Alittle money, eh?"

  I shook my head. "Oh no, not that."

  This disconcerted him somewhat. He jumped to the conclusion that itmust be something unpleasant. I let him think that for a while and,referring to one of the former cases, hinted that I had come to warnhim, and that something had been discovered which might mean trouble forhim. But I ended with an assurance that personally I would not doanything against him. Then I rose as if to leave.

  He trembled and was very frightened; his flabby cheeks paled, and hisvoice shook as he pressed me to stay. "It is such an honour you do me,"he declared. Thus pressed, I resumed my seat, and we chatted about anumber
of matters until I brought the talk round to von Felsen,mentioning his name casually among several others. "He's one of theflies in your web, you old spider," I laughed.

  "He owes me a lot of money, that young man," he said. It was his habitto gloat over his cunning in such matters. "But it will be all right inthe end."

  "Where's he to get it from to pay you? Not from his father."

  "Not from his father; that is true. But he will get it, he will getit"; and he sat pressing his finger-tips together with such an air ofsatisfaction that it set me thinking. I remembered that he was a Pole,and had been mixed up once before with one of the Polish schemes.

  "There are other things beside money to pay debts with, eh?" I put allthe significance I could into the question, and winked at him. "You oldfox!"

  "You almost make me afraid of you, Herr Bastable. You get to know somuch," he answered after a pause, and with a leer intended to flatterme.

  "Would you like to know what I do know about this?" I laughed. "Your'almost' would then be 'quite,' I assure you"; and I rose again as if toleave.

  "Oh no, no. Don't go yet," he cried eagerly.

  Down I sat again with a shrug as if to please him. "You want to find outhow much I do know, eh? But I did not come to discuss politics"--Ipaused intentionally on the word, and the effect satisfied me--"but justto warn you about that old Martin affair. You can't pump me; but you'dbetter go carefully in both concerns."

  His uneasiness showed that my old experience with him stood me in goodstead now. He had a wholesome fear of my sources of information. Hepaused, hunched up in his chair, and asked suddenly: "Why did youmention Hugo von Felsen's name to me?"

  I had an inspiration and resolved upon a shot. I took out my cigarettecase, selected one with great care, and as I lit it, looked across athim. "Your daughter is a very handsome girl, Ziegler."

  The shot told instantly. "You mean something. Herr Bastable," he cried,leaning forward in his eagerness. "You are my friend. You must tellme. I love my Hagar. She is the light of my life. Tell me," herepeated.

  I wished with all my heart that I could; but I could only look as if mysecret knowledge would fill an encyclopaedia.

  This spurred his eagerness. "Ah, my friend, my dear Herr Bastable, youmust tell me," he urged.

  I shook my head. "You are a very clever old spider but--some one isblabbing. Look out." It was a safe general sort of shot and added tohis mystification. He bit his nails and his eyes rolled from side toside rapidly. It was his way when deeply moved. "Do you mean aboutHagar?" he asked at length.

  I knew by this that there was something more important than Hagarbehind. He would always put the less important consideration in front."No. It's the other affair; about the----" I broke off, and his eyesfastened on mine as if to read in them the rest of the sentence. "Butit's no affair of mine," I added with a shrug. "Why should I bothermyself? But don't forget my warning."

  "Do you mean we have been betrayed? That there is a spy among us?"

  I turned grave for an instant. "I name no names, Ziegler; but some onegave you away the other day when you failed."

  The effect of this second shot was startling. "God of my fathers, if Ithought it was von Felsen I would----." He clenched his hands in rage.

  I was almost as excited as he was, but I took care he should not see it.Von Felsen was mixed up in these Polish schemes; and if I could get atthe truth, I should have him in the hollow of my hand. "It wasn't vonFelsen," I said to reassure him. "He's too deep in, and too much inyour power to chatter. You know that. And I shan't give you away. Ihave too much sympathy with your cause. But it wasn't von Felsen. Iassure you that, although I bear him no good-will."

  I had succeeded in convincing him that I knew a lot; and he had not asuspicion that I had been merely guessing on the strength of the hintshe himself had dropped. He sat a long time thinking, and was greatlydisturbed.

  "You have startled me, Herr Bastable; but I know you sympathize with thecause. I know that from what you have written in your paper. But whydo you bear ill-will to Hugo?"

  "Hugo," eh? He spoke or thought of him by his Christian name. Theinference was easy. Von Felsen was playing a double matrimonial game."When may one offer congratulations, Ziegler?" I asked with a smile. Icould afford to smile, for I was winning, hands down.

  "It is Hagar's wish. She loves him; and she will be a countess, too."

  "Two excellent reasons. And meanwhile you find him useful to get----"Again I broke off the sentence and finished with a knowing smile.

  "You are the devil, Herr Bastable," he replied with a laugh.

  "Well, it is at least useful to be able to get inside information whenvery important papers are in the hands of an Imperial messenger, eh?"

  "I don't know what you mean by that," he answered, wagging his head.

  I affected to take offence. "It's enough for my purposes that I do. Isit worth while to try and fool me? I don't take to it easily, you know."

  "I am not trying it," he protested.

  "Then don't pretend that von Felsen isn't in all this with you. I knowtoo much. And now, look here, I'll tell you the real object of thisvisit. Von Felsen is trying a fool's game with me, and it has to stop.I know he daren't go against you, Ziegler, and you daren't go againstme; even if your friendship for me were less than it is."

  My tone alarmed him. "What is he doing? I have influence with him, ofcourse."

  "What he is doing may turn out to touch you pretty closely; but nevermind what it is for the present. Give me a line to him--that I am yourfriend and that anything he does against me is the same as if doneagainst you."

  "Of course I will," he consented. He wrote a few lines quickly andhanded them to me.

  MY DEAR HUGO,--

  "Herr Bastable is a great friend of mine. Any service to him is aservice to me; and the reverse.

  "EPHRAIM ZIEGLER."

  "That will do. And now a last word. Not a syllable to him or any oneof what has passed between us to-day."

  "I give you my honour, my dear Herr Bastable," he agreed readily.

  "I shall hear if you talk, mind; and if I do--well I shall take it as asign that I am to talk on my side. And I shall." I left him with thatand walked out of his office on excellent terms with myself.

  I was convinced that von Felsen was so tight in the toils that theletter I had obtained would frighten him consumedly. But I littlethought of the grim results which were to flow from that afternoon'sconversation.

  I hurried home as fast as I could, and it was fortunate that I did so.As my cab drew up at the house, I found von Felsen and Dormund at theopen door. I saw the move at once, without von Felsen's smugexplanation. "Herr Dormund has a question to put to your sister,Bastable, about Fraeulein Althea."

  "I trust I am not intruding, Herr Bastable," said Dormundapologetically; "but Herr von Felsen tells me Miss Bastable hasexpressed the wish to give me important information."

  "Von Felsen is wrong. My sister does not know any more than I do; butcome into my den here and I'll see if she is at home," I repliedindifferently.

  "Your servant has already told us she is," put in von Felsen.

  "Then I'll go and fetch her"; and I handed out my cigars and left them.

  It was a tight corner; but of course Dormund must not see Bessie. Itwould at once reveal the trick I had played him at the station. Yet todeny her after Ellen's admission that she was at home would be thetamest subterfuge which he would see through in a second.

  There was only one course: to call von Felsen out, face him withZiegler's letter and make him get rid of Dormund. I was about to dothis when another blow fell.

  Ellen came running up to me, white of face and trembling.

  "There are a number of police at the door, sir."

  A loud knock at that instant confirmed her words.

  It was a pretty fix in all truth, and I stood hesitating in perplexitywhat to do, when the knocking was repeated mor
e insistently.

  Obviously there was nothing for it but to admit the police, so I sentEllen downstairs, and prepared to meet the crisis with as bold a face aspossible.