Part 44 (2/2)

The Prince started violently. The shock caused him to forget his new-found dignity.

”How, in the devil's name, do you know that?” he demanded.

”I know more,” the Baron continued. ”I know the consideration which you were to give for this money.”

Then the Prince began plainly to show the terror which had crept into his heart--the terror and the shame. He looked at his host like a man dazed with hearing strange things.

”It comes to nothing,” he said, in a hard, unnatural tone. ”It is a foolish bargain, indeed. Between me and the throne are four lives.

My promise is not worth the paper it is written upon. I shall never succeed.”

”That, Prince, is probably where you are misinformed,” the Baron replied. ”You are just now in disgrace with your family, and you hear from them only what the newspapers choose to tell.”

”Has anything been kept back from me?” the Prince asked.

”Tell me this first,” De Grost insisted. ”Am I not right in a.s.suming that you have signed a solemn undertaking that, in the event of your succeeding to the throne of your country, you will use the whole of your influence towards concluding a treaty with a certain Power, one of the provisions of which is that that Power shall have free access to any one of your ports in the event of war with England?”

There was a moment's silence. The Prince clutched the back of the chair against which he was leaning.

”Supposing it were true?” he muttered. ”It is, after all, an idle promise.”

The Baron shook his head slowly.

”Prince,” he said, ”it is no such idle promise as it seems. The man who is seeking to trade upon your poverty knew more than he would tell you.

You may have read in the newspapers that your two cousins are confined to the palace with slight colds. The truth has been kept quiet, but it is none the less known to a few of us. The so-called cold is really a virulent attack of diphtheria, and, according to to-night's reports, neither Prince Cyril nor Prince Henry are expected to live.”

”Is this true?” the Prince gasped.

”It is true,” his host declared. ”My information can be relied upon.”

The Prince sat down suddenly. He was looking whiter than ever, and very scared.

”Even then,” he murmured, ”there is John.”

”You have been out of touch with your family for some months,” De Grost reminded his visitor. ”One or two of us, however, know what you, probably, will soon hear. Prince John has taken the vows and solemnly resigned, before the Archbishop, his heirs.h.i.+p. He will be admitted into the Roman Catholic Church in a week or two, and will go straight to a monastery.”

”It's likely enough,” the Prince gasped. ”He always wanted to be a monk.”

”You see now,” the Baron continued, ”that your friend's generosity was not so wonderful a thing. Count von Hern was watching you to-night at the Bridge Club. He has gone home; he is waiting now to receive you.

Apart from that, the man Nisch, with whom you have played so much, is a confederate of his, a political tout, not to say a spy.”

”The brute!” Prince Albert muttered. ”I am obliged to you, Baron, for having warned me,” he added, rising slowly to his feet. ”I shall sign nothing. There is another way.”

De Grost shook his head.

”My young friend,” he said, ”there is another way, indeed, but not the way you have in your mind at this moment. I offer you an alternative.

I will give you notes for the full amount you owe to-night, so that you can, if you will, go back to the club direct from here and pay everything--on one condition.”

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