Part 7 (1/2)
The others looked at him with quick interest, but got only a smile and another shrug.
”Then why didn't he sign it?” Duval demanded.
The Baron leaned back in his chair and studied the ceiling. ”When you say 'he,' you mean--?”
”The King, of course,” the other snapped. ”Who the devil else would I mean?”
”And by 'the King,'” drawled Retz, ”you mean--?”
There was a sudden silence-then General Duval brought his fist down on the table with a bang.
”Monsieur le Baron,” he exclaimed, ”you understand perfectly whom I meant by the King-the Archduke Armand. If he is not the King, and you know it, it is your duty as a member of the Council to disclose the fact to us forthwith; this is no time nor place to indulge in innuendoes.”
The Baron's small grey eyes turned slowly and, for a brief instant, lingered, with a dull glitter, on the War Minister's face.
”My dear General,” he laughed, ”you are so precipitate. If you ever lead an army you will deal only in frontal attacks-and defeats. I a.s.sure you I know nothing; but to restate your own question: if the Archduke Armand be the King, why didn't he sign the proclamation?”
Steuben, the grey-bearded Minister of the Interior, cut in with a growl.
”What is the profit of all these wonderful theories?” he demanded, eyeing Retz. ”The ordinary and reasonable explanation is that the proclamation is to be submitted to us this morning.”
”In which event,” said the Baron, ”we shall have the explanation in a very few minutes,” and resumed his study of the ceiling.
”And in the meantime,” remarked Admiral Marquand, ”I am moved to inquire, where is the Duke of Lotzen?”
Steuben gave a gruff laugh. ”Doubtless the Department of Justice can also offer a violent presumption on that subject.”
”On the contrary, my friend,” said Retz, ”it will offer the very natural presumption that the Duke of Lotzen is hastening to Dornlitz; to the funeral-and the coronation.”
”Whose coronation?” Duval asked quickly.
”My dear General,” said the Baron, ”there can't be two Kings of Valeria, and it would seem that the Army has spoken for the Archduke Armand.”
”And the Department of Justice for whom?” the General exclaimed.
A faint sneer played over Retz's lips. ”Monsieur le General forgets that when the Army speaks, Justice is bound and gagged.”
It was at that moment that Count Epping had entered.
When the clock on the mantel chimed the hour the Count sat down and motioned the others to attend.
”Will not the King be present?” Retz asked casually, as he took his place.
The Prime Minister looked at him in studious comprehension.
”Patience, monsieur, patience,” he said softly, ”His Majesty will doubtless join us in proper time. Have you any business that requires his personal attention?”
The Baron shook his head. ”No-nothing. I was only curious as to what uniform he would wear.”