Part 21 (1/2)
The cold eyes of the man were turned from Von Salzinger upon a doc.u.ment lying on the table. Just for a moment his hard voice ceased from stirring the echoes of the vaulted chamber. But it was only for a moment. The next he was reading from the paper before him.
”It appears that on Prince von Hertzwohl's last visit to Borga, when he was conveying thither his relative, his most important engineer, for the rectification of certain defects in his new light, you displayed towards him the gratuitous discourtesy of refusing the Prince's guarantee of his relative, and sought to submit the man to the interrogatory customary where there is some doubt of a visitor's credentials. The Prince, somewhat naturally, refused to submit to such an indignity, and left the a.r.s.enal. Whereupon you persisted in your att.i.tude, and even went so far as to endanger the Prince's valuable life by opening the secret batteries upon his vessel--a course which was utterly unwarranted in view of the Prince's ident.i.ty and position.
It is necessary that you should now state your story of this affair without any reservations.”
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”The Complaint is a Serious One.”]
Von Berger's charge was coldly formal. It was also distinctly threatening in its final p.r.o.nouncement. The arrogant Von Salzinger was bitterly forced to the reflection that he might expect small enough mercy if he failed to convince with his explanation. That which disturbed him more, however, was the ident.i.ty of at least one of the men to whom he must explain. He had counted on a military tribunal, where his rank and the nature of his office would count. He felt that these things would by no means count here.
But he dared not display any misgiving. He knew the value of promptness and brevity, with, at least, one of his audience. So he replied--
”In every detail the complaint is accurately outlined. But it avoids entirely Prince von Hertzwohl's offence.”
”Offence?”
The interrogation came sharply from the man at the head of the table, who was almost lost to Von Salzinger's view behind the bulk of the oil-lamp which lit the scene.
”It was his right, just as it would have been your right, sir,” Von Salzinger replied daringly, ”to submit to the discipline of the place, a discipline which has been ordered by those who have a right to order such things. The complaint must come after obedience, not after open defiance of Berlin's most imperative orders. That is the case of Prince von Hertzwohl. I could not have acted otherwise than I did in the interests of our greatest of all State secrets.”
The man at the head of the table nodded in seeming approval at the robust vindication. Von Berger gave no sign. His eyes never left the angular figure of the Captain-General.
”But you threatened his life--by your action in the matter.” Von Berger's words came without emotion. The hard eyes were unchanging.
”I submit that it had been better for the State had I more than threatened it.”
”How do you mean, sir?”
The man at the head of the table was sitting up. His eyes were angrily alight.
For a second Von Salzinger flinched before this display. He recovered himself swiftly, however. He knew he dared not lose a second in such a crisis.
”Your pardon, sir, if my manner should seem rough. I feel strongly. If a man in Von Hertzwohl's position refuses to obey the laws he is fully cognizant of, then, I say, he has reason--grave reason for so doing.”
”You imply?”
Again it was the question of the man at the head of the table.
”He dared not have his--nephew interrogated, sir.”
”And if he dared not?” It was still the same speaker.
Von Salzinger shrugged.
”There can only be one interpretation, sir.”
”You mean--betrayal of Borga's secrets.”
”Yes, sir.”
The man at the head of the table turned to Von Berger with a smile that never reached his eyes.
”Tell him,” he said imperiously.