Part 28 (1/2)

Bigler nodded. ”That was the crash I heard.” He took another cigarette, and lighted it carefully. ”And that, madame, is the story,” he ended, looking at Mrs. Spencer.

She flashed him a bright smile.

”The nicest thing about it, my dear Count,” she said, ”is that you are here to tell it.”

”Even if he doesn't in the least deserve to be here,” the Duke interjected. ”Such a-my dear Edmund, don't do it again. You're too young and innocent to die. Leave the strategy to me-and my lady, yonder; we will give you enough of fighting in due time-and soon.”

The Count laughed in good natured imperturbability.

”I'm done,” he said frankly. ”I'm ready to take orders from you or my lady-particularly from my lady.”

The Duke gave him a quick, sharp glance.

”The orders will come through me,” he said, rather curtly.

Madeline Spencer held out her hand to the Count.

”When His Highness grows jealous,” she said, languidly arising and shaking down her skirts, ”it's time, you know, for you to go-come back when he is not here;” and with a provoking smile at the Duke, she flung the Count a kiss-”for your wounded ear, my lord.”

XIII IN THE j.a.pONICA WALK

The Regent signed the last doc.u.ment, and, pus.h.i.+ng it across the table, laid aside the pen.

”How much better it would be if that were 'Armand, Rex,'” she said.

The Prime Minister was putting up his papers.

”And better, still, if it were 'Dehra, Regina,'” he returned, closing the portfolio and locking it.

She made a gesture of dissent.

”There would be no need for the Book, then,” he continued; ”and no danger of Lotzen becoming king. It is G.o.d's blessing on Valeria that you were you, and could a.s.sume the government-otherwise, we would have had civil war. Your Highness has no conception of the sentiment in the Army; it is two to one for the Archduke; but Lotzen's third is unduly powerful because of a coterie of high officers, who are jealous of the 'American,'

as he is styled, and their readiness to precipitate a contest; and Armand's contingent is unduly weak, because they do not feel a.s.sured that he would countenance war. In a word, the rogues and rascals are for Lotzen-they recognize a kindred leader and the opportunity for high reward. But they would accept you for Queen with enthusiasm-even rogues and rascals love a pretty woman who can rule them with a heavy hand.”

Dehra looked at her hand, slender, soft, small, and smiled.

Count Epping nodded. ”Very pretty,” he said, ”very pretty, but it's a Dalberg hand, you know-and they know, too.”

”And as they shall experience,” she remarked, eyelids narrowed just a trifle, ”if they show a disposition to forget it.... And in the experience they may learn that the Governor of Dornlitz also has a Dalberg hand.”

”There will be no civil war now,” said the Count; ”your regency has quite obviated any such catastrophe; and if the Book be found, its decision will be accepted without protest by the Army, as well as by the people at large. What I fear is the contest in the House of n.o.bles-the margin there will be very narrow, I apprehend; and that involves high feeling and fierce antagonism and smoldering family hate fanned into fire; and then, if Lotzen lose, the new king may have a chance to show his hand.”

”Armand the First will show it, never fear,” she said, with the pride a woman always has for him she loves.

”I have no fear,” he said; ”if I had, I would not help to make him king-yet, if I may be permitted, Henry the Fifth would be a t.i.tle far more pleasing to the nation than Armand the First. He bears the Great Henry's features, let him bear his name, as well.”

She sprang up.