Part 15 (1/2)
”Has it come to this, then-that my life isn't safe here-nor in my house, nor on the street! Is this civilization or savagery?”
Bernheim shrugged his shoulders.
”Neither,” he said, ”neither-it's h.e.l.l. It's always h.e.l.l where Lotzen plays. Surely, sir, you have not forgot the past.”
”No-no-but that was a Masque, and a.s.sa.s.sination went with the costumes and the atmosphere; yet now, in Dornlitz of the twentieth century-I can't bring myself to believe ... why don't you threaten me with poison or a bomb?”
”Poison is possible, but not a bomb-it is not neat enough for Lotzen.”
Armand looked at him in puzzled amus.e.m.e.nt.
”I see,” he said, ”I see-he murders artistically-he doesn't like a mess.”
”Just so, sir; and the most artistic and least messy is a neat hole through the heart.... You will wear the vest, my lord?”
The Archduke's glance wandered to the window-electric cars were speeding down the avenue-an automobile whizzed by-and another-and another.
”Look,” said he, ”look! isn't it absurd to talk of steel vests!”
Bernheim shook his head. ”Lotzen does not belong yonder-he is a remnant of the Middle Ages.”
”Well, I'm not; so no armor for me, my dear Bernheim-I'll keep my eyes open and take my chances. I don't believe the crown of Valeria will be the reward of an a.s.sa.s.sin.”
Disappointment shone in the Aide's eyes.
”I'm something of a Fatalist, myself, sir,” he said, ”but I wouldn't play with a tiger after I had goaded him to fury.”
Armand smiled. ”The case isn't exactly parallel.”
”No-not exactly:-the tiger might not kill me.”
The Archduke picked up the letter knife and slowly cut lines on the blotter.
”You need not go into the tiger's cage,” he remarked.
”There isn't any cage-the beast is at large.”
”Nonsense, Colonel; this fellow Lotzen has got on your nerves. I thought you hadn't any.”
”The pity of it is, sir, that he hasn't got on yours.”
”And when he does,” said Armand kindly, ”will be time enough for the chain-mail.”
Bernheim took the vest and deliberately laid it on the blotter.
”For the sake of those who love you, my lord,” he said-”and”-turning to a picture of the Princess, which hung on the opposite wall, and saluting-”for her whom we all serve.”
The Archduke looked at the picture in silence for a moment.
”Send the vest to the Epsau,” he said; ”I will wear it-sometimes.”