Part 10 (1/2)
”But, general, to ignore anybody's good work in these times is neither gracious nor politic.”
”I am convinced that, if his majesty knew that Zanti was occupying his castle here, he would have specially requested your highness to hold no communication with the man,” said Ducardi, with emphasis.
”I am not so sure of that, general,” said Othomar, drily. ”I believe, on the contrary, that, if his majesty knew that Zanti was doing so much for the victims of the inundations, his majesty would overlook a good deal of his amateur communism.”
Ducardi gnawed his moustache with a wry smile:
”Your highness speaks rather light-heartedly of that amateur communism.
Zanti's theories and practice are more than mere dilettantism....”
”But, general,” rejoined Othomar, gently, ”I really do not understand why Zanti's socialism need prevent us at this moment--I repeat, at this particular moment--from appreciating what he is doing, nor why it need interfere with our visiting his huts, considering that we have come to Vaza to inform ourselves of everything that concerns the inundations....”
Ducardi looked at him angrily. He was not accustomed to being contradicted like this by his highness. The others listened. The d.u.c.h.ess herself, attracted by the discussion, amid which she heard Othomar's voice ringing with youthful authority, had approached with Dutri, curiously.
”To say the least of it, it could do no harm just to see those huts: I must grant my cousin as much as that, general,” said Herman of Gothland, who was beginning to like Othomar.
Von Fest also supported this view, convincingly, roundly, honestly, thought that they could do no less, having regard to the victims whom Zanti had housed. Every one now gave his opinion: Leoni thought it impossible that the crown-prince should visit Vaza and not those huts; it would look as though his highness were afraid of a bugbear like Zanti. The fact that Othomar was contradicting Ducardi gave them all grounds for thwarting the old general, who hitherto had conducted the expedition with a sort of military tyranny which had frequently annoyed them. Even Dutri, who as a rule was rather indifferent, joined forces with them, cynically, his eyes gleaming because Ducardi for once was being put in his place. He winked at the d.u.c.h.ess.
And only Siridsen and Thesbia took Ducardi's side, hesitating because the general declared with such conviction that the emperor's will would be different from his son's wish; especially Thesbia:
”I can't understand why the prince insists so,” he whispered to the d.u.c.h.ess in alarm. ”Ducardi's right: you yourself know how the emperor loathes Zanti....”
The d.u.c.h.ess shrugged her handsome shoulders with a smile, listening to Othomar, whom she heard defending himself, supported by e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.ns and nods from the others.
”Well,” she heard Ducardi answer, drily, ”if your highness absolutely insists that we should go to Zanti's, we will go; I only hope that your highness will always remember that I did not agree with you in this matter....”
The Duke of Xara now answered laughingly, was the first to make peace after this victory; and, as to the rest of the route to Lycilia, which they worked out on the map, he agreed with the general in everything, with little flattering intonations of approval and appreciation of his penetrating and practical judgement....
”He may not have the makings of a great commander,” whispered Dutri to the d.u.c.h.ess, ”but he will turn out a first-rate little diplomatist....”
But Ducardi was inwardly very angry. For a moment he thought of ascertaining the emperor's wishes by a secret telegram, but he rejected this idea, as it would make a bad impression at the Imperial if the Duke of Xara were not left free in such an apparent trifle. He therefore only attempted, next morning, once more to dissuade Othomar from the visit, but the prince held firm.
”You seem very much opposed to this expedition, general,” said Von Fest.
”Isn't it really quite reasonable?”
”You don't know the prejudice his majesty has against that man, colonel,” replied the general. ”As I have told you before, his majesty is thinking of exiling him and is sure to do so when he hears that he has now shut himself in his castle, doubtless with the object of stirring up the peasantry, as he has already stirred up the workmen in the towns. The man is a dangerous fanatic, colonel: dangerous especially because he has money with which to put his visions into practice. He instigates the lower orders not to fulfil their military duties because it is written: 'Thou shalt not kill.' He looks upon marriage as a useless sacrament; and I have heard that his followers simply come to him and that he marries them himself, with a sort of blessing, which in its turn is based upon a text, I forget which. He is always writing socialistic pamphlets, which are promptly seized and suppressed, and he makes seditious speeches. And the man is even standing for the house of deputies!”
”One who abjures his t.i.tle a member of the house of deputies!” smiled Von Fest.
”Oh, his doctrine swarms with such inconsistencies!” growled Ducardi.
”He will tell you of course that, so long as there is nothing better than the house of deputies, he is content to be a member of it. And the crown-prince wants to take notice of what a man like that does!”
Von Fest shrugged his shoulders:
”Let him be, general. The prince is young. He wants to know and see things. That's a good sign.”
”But ... the emperor will never approve of it, colonel!” thundered the general, with an oath.