Part 58 (2/2)
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, Christabel?”
”In the presence of this I feel I do not care. I gathered the gist of all from what Count Gustav said. What was decided? Did the Duke know that Count Stephen was living?”
”No. The thing was planned by his supporters, as he told you last night, to make sure of his leaders.h.i.+p being secure at a time when, owing to the Emperor's illness, it seemed that the hour was at hand for the Patriots' cause to be proclaimed. They meant to kill the Count, but some one saved him, and then Katona was persuaded to undertake his guardians.h.i.+p.”
”What is to be done?”
”The Duke is a broken man. The knowledge of his favourite son's guilt; the break-up of his plans; the bitterness of the loss of virtually everything he cared for in life has completely unstrung him. He has sent Katona to take Count Stephen to him; he has given Gustav the option of voluntary exile or public exposure; and he has reinstated Karl in his position as elder son and his heir.”
”It is only right. I am glad,” I said.
”Glad?” he echoed, with a meaning glance.
”Yes, very glad.”
”Your tone is very confident. You know what it carries with it--for you, I mean?”
”I do not care what it means to me. It is right.”
”The Duke is very bitter against you, Christabel.”
”He would scarcely be human if he were not. In a sense this is all my doing. I have brought it about, that is. But he cannot harm me, nor prevent my dear father's memory from being cleared. True, it seems he can influence Count Karl.”
His Excellency smiled with deliberate provocation. ”Possibly; yet Karl, although not a Patriot, is still a rebel.”
”He has gone with his father,” I answered, with a shrug.
”That is not fair. The Duke was too ill to go alone.”
”He came with you, General.”
He shook his head. ”Christabel! If matters were not so sad here, I might almost be tempted to put that forbidden question.”
”If you were so minded, I might not now forbid it, perhaps.”
”I think I am glad to hear you say that. The girl in you can perhaps scarcely help resenting Karl's going away just now; but then any girl can be unjust at such a moment.”
”Are you pleading for him?”
”Oh, no; there is no need. You will do that very well yourself when you are alone.”
”You are very provoking.”
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