Part 4 (1/2)
Its detonation rang through the room and left them all silent, as though their ears were stunned and their tongues paralyzed. Alec was the first to see that some event far out of the common had reduced his cousin, Count Julius Marulitch, almost to a state of hysteria.
”We are at cross purposes,” he said quietly. ”My father, like the rest of us, read this morning's telegram about the overflowing of the river----”
Count Marulitch waved his hands frantically. He was literally beside himself. His full red lips, not at all unlike those of the youth in Joan's picture, moved several times before sounds came.
”It is at least my good fortune to be the first to congratulate my King!” he cried at last. ”Be calm, I pray you; but a tremendous change has been affected at Delgratz. Last night, while Theodore and the Queen were at dinner, the Seventh Regiment mutinied. It was on guard at the Schwarzburg. Officers and men acted together. There was no resistance.
It was impossible. Theodore and Helena were killed!” This man, who appealed for calmness, was himself in a white heat of emotion.
A stifled scream, a sob, almost a groan, broke from the Princess, and she clung to her son as though she sought protection from that bloodthirsty Seventh Regiment. Prince Michael, fumbling with an eyegla.s.s, dropped it in sheer nervousness. Alec, throwing an arm round his mother, recalled the hoa.r.s.e yelling of the newsboys on the boulevards. Was it this latest doom of a monarchy that they were bawling so l.u.s.tily? He glanced at his father, and the dapper little man found it inc.u.mbent on him to say something.
”But, Julius--is this true? There are so many canards. You know our proverb: 'A stone that falls in the Balkans causes an earthquake in St.
Petersburg.'”
”Oh, it is true, sire. And the telegrams declare that already you have been proclaimed King.”
”I!”
Prince Michael's exclamation was most unkingly. Rather was it the wail of a criminal on being told that the executioner waited without. His ruddy cheeks blanched, and his hands were outstretched as if in a piteous plea for mercy. There was a tumult of objurgations in the outer pa.s.sage; but this King in spite of himself paid no heed.
”I?” he gasped again, with relaxed jaws.
”You, sire,” cried Marulitch. ”Our line is restored. There will be fighting, of course; but what of that? One audacious week will see you enthroned once more in the Schwarzburg. Ah! Here come Stampoff and Beliani. You are quick on my heels, messieurs; but I promised my cabman a double fare.”
A scared manservant, vainly endeavoring to protect his master's private apartments, was rudely thrust aside, and a fierce looking old warrior entered, followed by a man who was obviously more of a Levantine than a Serb. The older man, small, slight, gray haired, and swarthy, but surprisingly active in his movements for one of his apparent age, raced up to Prince Michael. He fell on his knees, caught that nerveless right hand, and pressed it to his lips.
”Thank Heaven, sire, that I have been spared to see this day!” he exclaimed.
The Greek, less demonstrative, nevertheless knelt by Stampoff's side. ”I too am your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subject,” said he.
The Prince did then make a supreme effort to regain his self possession.
”Thank you, General,” he murmured, ”and you also, Monsieur Beliani. I have only just been told. Theodore and Helena both dead! What a thing!
They were my enemies; but I am shocked, I may almost say grieved. And what am I to do? I am practically powerless,--few friends, no money. One does not merely pack a valise and go off by train to win a throne. You say I am proclaimed King, Julius. By whom? Have the representatives met?
Is there an invitation from the people?”
Stampoff was on his feet instantly. A man of steel springs and volcanic energy, his alertness waged constant war against his years. ”The people!” he shouted. ”What of them? What do they know? There is talk of a Republic. Think of that! Could folly go farther? A Republic in the Balkans, with Russia growling at one door, Austria picking the lock of another, and the Turk squatting before a third! No, Monseigneur. Start from Paris to-night, cross the Danube, reveal yourself to your supporters, and you will soon show these windbags that a man who means to rule is worth a hundred demagogues who exist only to spout.”
His Serene Highness was slowly but surely recovering lost ground. He grasped the eyegla.s.s again, and this time gouged it into its accustomed crease.
”You, Beliani, you are not one to be carried away by emotion,” he said.
”Count Marulitch spoke of a proclamation. Who issued it? Was there any authority behind it?”
”G.o.d's bones! what better authority is there than your Majesty's?”
roared Stampoff.
But the Prince extended a protesting palm. ”An excellent sentiment, my friend; but let us hear Beliani,” he said.
The Greek, thus appealed to, seemed to find some slight difficulty in choosing the right words. ”At present, everything is vague, Monseigneur,” he said. ”It is certain that a battalion of the Seventh Regiment revolted and declared for the Delgrado dynasty. Two other battalions of the same regiment in the capital followed their lead. But the Chamber met this morning, and there was an expression of opinion in favor of a democratic Government. No vote was taken; but the latest reports speak of some disorder. The approaches to the Schwarzburg are held by troops. There are barricades in the main streets.”
Prince Michael's hands went under his coattails. His face had not regained its claret red color, and its present tint suggested that it had been carved out of a Camembert cheese; but he was gradually taking the measure of current events in Kosnovia.