Part 17 (1/2)
My father's intellect, impaired as it was by his solitary confinement, could not coherently piece the facts together. Synthetical reasoning was beyond him for one thing; and for another he could not bring himself to believe that the man whom beyond all others in the world he admired and trusted, Duke Ladislas, could be guilty of such baseness and crime as the facts suggested. Appalled, therefore, by the conclusions which were being forced upon him, he had abandoned the work in fear and horror.
I had no such predispositions or prejudices; but as yet I had no proofs. I could only set to work from the other end, and attempt to discover the agents who had done the deed, and work up through them to the man whose originating impulse might have been the real first cause.
But the solid fact remained that Count Stephen's death cleared the way to the new throne for Duke Ladislas and his sons; and therefore, if I were to succeed in killing Karl's opium habit, and even induce him to play the great part in life open to him, he would be the heir to the throne, when gained, and I impossible except as a friend.
Two days before, nay two hours before, I should have asked and desired no more than that; but after this talk with Karl--and at that moment I stamped my foot in impotent anger, and wrenching my thoughts away from that part of the subject, got up and walked hurriedly away in the direction of Madame d'Artelle's house.
I arrived as she was sitting down to lunch, and she gave me a very frigid reception. I saw that she had pa.s.sed a very uncomfortable morning. She had been weeping, and having found in her tears no solution of the problem I had set her, was sullen and depressed.
”You have been out, Christabel?”
”Yes, completing my plans.”
”What a knack you have developed of making spiteful speeches! I had no idea you could be so nasty.”
”What is there spiteful in having plans to complete?”
”I suppose they are aimed at me!”
”My dear Henriette, must I not be careful to have some place to go and live in? Be reasonable.”
”You always seem to have some undercurrent in what you say. It's positively hateful. What do you mean by that?”
”Some of us Americans have a trick of answering one question with another. I think I'll do that now. What do you think I'd better do when you are gone?”
”I don't understand that either,” she said very crossly.
”I mean to-morrow.”
”I am not going anywhere to-morrow.” She could lie glibly.
”That may be nearer the truth than you think; but you have planned to go away to-morrow--with Count Karl.”
”Preposterous.”
”So I think--but true, all the same. You are very foolish to attempt to hoodwink me, Henriette. You are thinking of trying to deny what I say. I can see that--but pray don't waste your breath. I told you this morning that in an hour or two I should know everything. I do now.”
”Have you seen Count Karl?”
”Do you think I should tell you how I find out things? So long as I do find them out, nothing else matters. But I will tell you something.
You will not go, Henriette. I shall not allow it.”
”Allow?” she echoed, shrilly.
”I generally use the words I mean. I said 'allow'--and I mean no other word. I shall not allow it.”
She let her ill temper have the reins for a minute, and broke out into a storm of invective, using more than one little oath to point her phrases. I waited patiently until her breath and words failed her.
”I am glad you have broken out like that. There's more relief in it than tears. Now I will tell you what I mean to do--and to do to-day.
I have had inquiries made in Paris for M. Constans, and a wire from me will bring him here in search of you. You know what that means;” I added, very deliberately, as I saw her colour change. I guessed there was ground for the bluff that I knew much more than my words expressed.