The Colonel of the Red Huzzars Page 3

  III

  IN DORNLITZ AGAIN

  The declaration of war by Titia had come so suddenly that when Courtneyand I sailed for Europe, the Powers were still in the air and watchingone another. No battle had been fought; but the armies were frowningat each other on the frontier, and several skirmishes had occurred.

  Ostensibly, the trouble was over a slice of territory which Henry theThird had taken from Titia as an indemnity for some real or fanciedwrongs done him. Valeria, with its great general and powerful army,was too strong in those days for Titia to do more than protest--and,then, to take its punishment, which, for some reason that was doubtlesssufficient to him. Henry had seen fit to make as easy as it might be,by giving his daughter, Adela, to Casimir for wife.

  Whether the lady went voluntarily or not I cannot say. Yet it was,doubtless, the same with both Kings: The one got an unwilling province;the other, an unwilling bride. Only, Titia's trouble was soonest over.

  This ravished Murdol had always been a standing menace to the peace ofthe two countries; Titia had never forgiven its seizure, and Valeriawas afflicted with the plague of disaffected subjects on its veryborder. Here, as I have said, was the real _casus belli_,--a constantirritation that had at length got past bearing.

  But, in truth, the actual breach was due to a woman. The Crown Princeof Titia had come a wooing of the Princess Royal of Valeria, and hadbeen twice refused by her. King Frederick had left the questionentirely in her hands. Her choice was her own, to marry or to decline.As a matter of state policy the match was greatly desired by him andhis Ministers. They were becoming very weary of Murdol and the turmoilit maintained on the border, and the great force of troops requiredthere to preserve order. Then, too, Titia had grown vastly in wealthand population since old Henry's time, and, now, was likely more than amatch for its ancient enemy. Frederick was aging and desired peace inhis closing years. He had long wished for a diplomatic way to ridhimself of the troublesome province, and the marriage of Casimir andDehra would afford it. Murdol could be settled upon the Princess asher dower.

  It was an admirable solution of the whole vexing question. Yet, unlikeold Henry, Frederick was the father before he was the King; and, beyondtelling the Princess frankly the policy which moved him in the matter,he did nothing to coerce her. But the Ministers had no scruples ofaffection nor of kinship to control them and they brought all sorts ofpersuasive pressure upon her to obtain her consent to the match. Allthis was known to the Kingdom, and the vast majority of the people werewith the Princess. The Army was with her to a man.

  The first proposal Dehra had declined promptly to the Prince in person.He had made it lover-like, and not through the diplomatic channels.After that the Titian Foreign Office took a hand, and the poor girl'stroubles began.

  For six months the matter pended,--and still Dehra held firm. ThenTitia mobilized its army and demanded a decision within twodays:--either the Princess or Murdol. It got a "No" in two hours. Thedeclaration of war followed straight-way.

  Most of these facts were already known to me. Those of latesthappening came to Courtney from the State Department on the eve of oursailing.

  "It looks like a one-battle war," he had observed.

  "Add a letter to your sentence and you will be nearer right," Ianswered.

  He laughed. "A none-battle war, you mean."

  And so it proved. When we landed it was to find that Germany hadoffered to mediate, and that, while the two Kingdoms were thinking itover, a truce had been declared. Consequently, instead of hurryingstraight to the Valerian army, I journeyed leisurely with Courtney tothe capital. There the first news that met us was that Germany'smediation had been accepted and that the war was at an end--for thepresent, at least.

  So, once again, had the Powers, in the interest of European peace,struck up the swords.

  As we drove from the station to the Embassy we observed flags flyingfrom almost every house, and that the public buildings were lavishlydecorated.

  "Peace seems to be well received," I remarked.

  "It's the King's birthday," Courtney answered.

  "And a very happy one, I fancy."

  Courtney stared at me. "How so?" he said.

  "He can now both keep his daughter and be rid of Murdol."

  "The Princess is saved, of course, but in deference to the nationalself-respect, he dare give up Murdol only in one contingency:--if Titiacan be persuaded to pay a money value for it. Which I doubt."

  I said nothing. I, too, doubted.

  "However, it's not important to us," said he. "Whatever the outcomethe lady will be here long enough for you to lose the wager."

  "Damn the wager," I exclaimed.

  "Damn everything you have a mind to, my dear fellow," he encouraged.

  "And you in particular," I said.

  "Wherefore, my dear Major?" he laughed.

  "For suggesting this fool thing."

  "Poor boy! I should have regarded your youthful impetuosity."

  I shrugged my shoulders.

  "And grey hairs," he added.

  "I've a mind to toss you out of the carriage," said I.

  "Do it,--and save me the trouble of getting myself out," he answered;and then we drew under the _porte cochere_ at the Embassy.

  The matter of a residence had not bothered Courtney. He simply tookGeneral Russell's lease off his hands, and twenty thousand a year rentwith it. I was to live at the Legation, there being no Ambassadorialwomen folks to make the staff _de trop_. Naturally, I was quitesatisfied. It was a bit preferable to hotel hospitality. And, then,the assistants were good fellows.

  Cosgrove, who had been First Secretary for ten years, was from theestate next my own on the Eastern Shore. It was through him I had beenable to preserve my incog. so securely during my former visits toValeria. And if he had any curiosity as to my motives, he wascourteous enough never to show it. "The best assistant in Europe,"Courtney had once pronounced him.

  Then there was Pryor, the Naval Attache. He had been off "cruisingwith the Army," as Cosgrove put it, pending my arrival and was not yetreturned to Dornlitz. The others of the office force were youngfellows,--rich boys, either _in presente_ or _futuro_,--who, likely,could only be depended upon to do the wrong thing. Being fit fornothing at home, therefore, they had been considered to be particularlywell qualified for the American diplomatic service.

  My room overlooked the Avenue, and the writing-desk was near thewindow. I was drawing the formal report to the War Department of myarrival at Dornlitz and the status political and military, when theclatter of hoofs on the driveway drew my attention. It was a tallofficer in the green-and-gold of the Royal Guards, and pulling upsharply he tossed his rein to his orderly. I heard the door open andvoices in the hall; and, then, in a few minutes, he came out and rodeaway, with the stiff, hard seat of the European cavalryman. I wasstill watching him when Courtney entered.

  "What do you think of him?" he asked.

  "I haven't seen enough of him to think," said I.

  "Not even enough to wonder who he is?"

  I yawned. "His uniform tells me he is a colonel of the Guard."

  "But nothing else?"

  "I can read a bit more."

  "From the uniform?" he asked.

  I nodded.

  "You're a veritable Daniel," Courtney laughed. "What saith thewriting--or rather, what saith the uniform?"

  "It's very simple to those who read uniforms."

  "So!" said he. "I await the interpretation."

  "It's too easy," I retorted. "A Point Plebe could do it. Your visitorwas one of His Majesty's Aides-de-Camp bearing an invitation to theball at the Palace to-night."

  For once I saw Courtney's face show surprise.

  "How did you guess it?" he said, after a pause.

  "A diplomat should watch the newspapers," said I, and pointed to thisitem in the Court News of that morning's issue:

  "His Excellency the Honorable Richard Courtney, the newly acc
reditedAmerican Ambassador, is expected to arrive to-day. He is accompaniedby Major Dalberg, the Military Attache. His Majesty has ordered hisAide-de-Camp, Colonel Bernheim, to invite them to the Birthday Ballto-night; where they will be honored by a special presentation."

  Courtney read it carefully. "At last I see the simple truth in a dailypaper," he commented. "But, as for you, my friend, button your coatwell over your heart for it's in for a hard thump tonight."

  "So?" said I.

  "There won't be so much indifference after you've met Her and--seen acertain picture in the Corridor of Kings," he retorted, with a superiorsmile.

  "Think not?" said I, with another yawn. "What if I've done both yearsago?"

  He eyed me sharply. "It's foolish to bluff when a show-down iscertain," he said.

  "So one learns in the army."

  "Of course not every hand needs to bluff," he said slowly.

  "No--not every hand," I agreed.

  He went over to the door. On the threshold he turned.

  "I wonder if this is my laugh, or yours, to-night," he said.

  "We will laugh together," I answered.

  Then he went out.