Part 54 (1/2)
”It does. My lord the Englishman came near striking me last night.”
”I would not lay that up against him. Madame was the power behind the throne.”
”And the impulse behind Madame?” smiling.
”You are the only man who has ever crossed Madame's path; she can not forget it.”
”And she has put me in a bad light, as far as Fitzgerald is concerned. A man will believe anything a woman says to him, if he loves her.”
”Let us avoid dissertations.”
”What do you want to talk about?”
”Yourself; you are interesting, entertaining, and instructive,” the Colonel answered, laughing. ”I never ran across an American who wasn't, and I have met a number. What have you done to Beauvais?”
”It is not exactly what I've done; it is what I know.”
”What do you know?”
Maurice repeated the story.
”And you bested him at the rapiers?” in astonishment.
”Is there anything startling about it?” asked Maurice.
”He has no match hereabout.” The Colonel looked across the table at the smooth-faced boy--he was scarcely else--and reflected. ”Why did you give up the army?”
”The army in America doesn't run to good clothes; the officers have to work harder than the privates, and, save in Was.h.i.+ngton, their social status is nil. Besides, there is too much fighting going on all the time. Here, an officer is always on dress parade.”
”Still, we are always ready. In the past we show up pretty well in history. But to return to Beauvais, it is very embarra.s.sing, very.”
”It will be for him, if I live long enough.”
”Eh?”
”Beauvais has promised to push me off the board, to use his own words. I am wondering how he will do it.”
”Don't let that disturb you; he will do nothing--now. Well, well; it is all a sorry game; and I find that making history has its disadvantages.
But I have dandled Madame as a child on my knee, and her wish is law; wherever her fortunes lead, I must follow. She will win; she can not help winning. But I pity that poor devil of a king, who, they say, is now bereft of speech. Ah, had he been a man, I could have gone into this heart and soul.”
”He is on his deathbed. And his daughter, G.o.d knows what is in store for her. Prince Frederick is dallying with his peasant girl. The day for the wedding has come and gone, unless he turned up to-day, which is not likely.”
”Which is not likely indeed,” repeated the Colonel sadly. He pulled out his pipe, and smoked for a time. ”But let us not judge harshly, says the Book. There may be circ.u.mstances over which Prince Frederick has no control. I suppose your sympathies are on the other side of the path.
Youth is always quick and generous; it never stops to weigh causes or to reason why. And strange, its judgment is almost always unerring. I am going to share my dinner with you to-night. I'll try to brighten you up a bit.”
”Thanks.”
”Then after dinner we'll play poker until they come to take you to Brunnstadt.”
”What sort of a city is it?”