The Colonel of the Red Huzzars Read online

  VI

  THE SIXTH DANCE

  It was Colonel Bernheim who brought me the Princess's commands for thedance; and the courteous way he did his office made me like him on theinstant. And this, though there was a certain deference of manner thatwas rather suggestive.

  The Princess was in the small room behind the throne and, when I wasannounced, beckoned me to her.

  "Major Dalberg," said she, when I had made my bow, "I have ordered theband to play an American quickstep; will you dance it with me as it isdone at your great school--West Point, is it not?"

  It was done very neatly, indeed. No one of those present could haveimagined there was any prior arrangement as to that particular dance.I saw the King smile approvingly.

  "Your Royal Highness honors my country and its army, but through a veryunworthy representative, I fear," I said, as I gave her my arm. Thenthe music began.

  I have very little recollection of that dance; but I do know that Dehraneeded no instruction in our way of doing the two-step; she glidedthrough it as naturally as a Point-girl herself. And, when I told herso, she shrugged her pretty shoulders and answered:

  "You are not the first American attache, you know."

  "Nor the last, either," I replied, and then held my peace, though I sawher hide a smile behind her roses.

  "But you are the first that has been my cousin," she said sweetly,--andI succumbed, of course. Yet I was punished promptly, nevertheless, forat the throne she stopped and I led her back to the King.

  "May I not have another dance later?" I asked.

  She shook her head. "Don't you think you have been already favoredmore than you deserve, cousin?"

  "Yes," said I, "I do; that's why I am encouraged to ask for more."

  "What a paragon of modesty!" she mocked.

  I passed it by. "And the dance?" I asked.

  "I shall dance no more to-night," she said. Then we reached the doorand found the small room crowded with officials and dignitaries. ThePrincess halted sharply. "But you may take me for a turn on theterrace," she concluded.

  As we crossed the wide floor the crowd fell back,--but Dehra gave nogreeting to anyone, though she must have known all eyes were upon us.Yet, to give her due credit, she seemed as unconscious of it as if wewere alone in the room. As for me, I admit I was acutely conscious ofit, and the walk to the door seemed endless. I must have shown myrelief when it was over, for the Princess looked up with a smile.

  "That's your first trial as one of the Blood," she said.

  "There are compensations," I answered.

  She ignored the point. "They are very few."

  "Sometimes, one would be ample."

  Again she evaded. "Yes, the privilege to be as free as the lowestsubject," she answered, instantly.

  "Pure theory," I said. "The lowest subject would think you mad."

  "I would gladly exchange places," she said.

  "Don't make any of them the offer."

  "No--out of regard for my Father I won't."

  "It's a great thing to be a Princess Royal," I ventured.

  "Oh, I dare say--to those who care for great things."

  "Who do not?"

  "I don't. At least I think I don't."

  "You would think so only until you were not the Princess Royal."

  "That may be; but, as I am the Princess Royal and cannot well change mybirthright, I don't see how I am to get the chance to think otherwise."

  "It's better to think you do not like great things when you have them,than to like them and not have them."

  "You make it only a choice of unhappinesses," she said.

  "I make it only life."

  "You are too young to be pessimistic," she said.

  "And you are too fortunate in life to be unhappy," I answered.

  "But you said life was but a choice of unhappinesses."

  "Only to the discontented."

  "Oh!" said she. "Instead of a pessimist you are a philosopher."

  "I sincerely trust I'm neither."

  "So do I, cousin," she laughed, "if we are to be friends. I don't likephilosophers; which is natural, doubtless; and as a pessimist I preferno rival."

  "Which is also natural," I added. "And I promise not to interfere withyour prerogative nor do the Socrates act again."

  "_Entre nous_, I think you're wise; neither becomes you particularly."

  I laughed. "You're frank."

  "It's the privilege of cousins," she replied.

  "Oh!" said I. "I'm glad you think so."

  "That is--in matters strictly cousinly," she added quickly.

  "I shall remember," I said.

  She gave me a quick glance. "Can you remember several years back?" shesaid.

  (So, she had recognized me.)

  "That depends," said I. "I have a bad memory except for pleasantthings."

  "Then I am quite sure you will remember," she laughed, and fell topicking a rose apart, petal by petal.

  "I am ready to remember anything," I said, catching one of the petals.

  "Oh! But maybe I don't want you to remember."

  "Then I'm ready----"

  She looked at me quickly. "To forget?" she interrupted.

  "To remember only what you wish," I ended.

  "That means you will remember nothing until I wish it?"

  I caught the half-plucked rose as she let it fall.

  "It means my memory is at your command," I said.

  She drew out another rose and dropped it deliberately.

  "I am very awkward," she said, as I bent for it.

  "On the contrary, I thought you did it very prettily," I answered.

  She laughed. "Then you may keep it instead of the torn one."

  "I shall keep both."

  "Always?" she mocked.

  "At least until I leave you."

  "Thank Heaven, cousin, for once in my life I have had an honestanswer!" she exclaimed, holding out her hand.

  I took it. I did not kiss it, though that may seem strange.Sometimes, I do have the proper sense of the fitness of things.

  "It's the privilege of cousins to be frank," I quoted.

  "Have you always been frank with me?" she asked.

  "Rather too much so, I fear."

  She gave me a sharp look. "Do you know a Captain Smith of your Army?"

  "Smith is a very common name in America. I know at least a dozen whoare officers."

  "John Smith is his name. He was a Captain, six years ago."

  I appeared to think a moment. "I know two such--one in the Cavalry,the other in the Engineers."

  "Describe them, please."

  I showed surprise. "Does Your Royal Highness----?"

  She cut in. "That is just what she is trying to find out."

  "Yes?"

  "Whether either of them is the Captain Smith I have in mind."

  "Both would be much honored."

  "I am not so sure as to the one I mean. He was a very conceitedfellow."

  I gritted back a smile. "It must have been the Engineer," I said."He's a good deal of a prig."

  She bent over the roses. "Oh, I wouldn't call him just that."

  "It's no more than I've heard him call himself," I said.

  "You must know him rather intimately."

  "On the contrary, I know him very slightly, though I've been thrownwith him considerably."

  "Are you not friendly?" she asked.

  "We have had differences."

  Again the roses did duty. "I fear you are prejudiced," she said, and Ithought I caught a smothered laugh.

  "Not at all," I insisted. "I am disposed in his favor."

  "So I should judge."

  I could not decide which way she meant it. "Oh, he is not all bad," Icondescended. "In many ways he is a good sort of chap."

  "Now, that's better." she rejoined; "to say for him what he could not,of course, say for himself."

  I forced back another laugh. "Oh, I don't know why he should not
havesaid that to a friend," said I.

  "It would depend much on the friend."

  I did not know if she had given the opening, deliberately, but I tookit.

  "Of course, he would say that only to one he felt could understand him."

  "You are painting him rather better than you did at first," sheobserved.

  "I'm warming up to the subject."

  "Then suppose you tell me what he looks like."

  "That," said I, "is to tell his greatest fault."

  "I do not understand."

  "He looks like me," I explained.

  "How horrible," she laughed.

  "He has never ceased to deplore it," I said humbly.

  "Surely, he never told you."

  "To my face, many times."

  "You had good cause for differences, then."

  "Thank you, cousin," I said.

  "And, may I ask," she went on, "what you did to him at such times?"

  I shook my head. "It would not tell well."

  "No, possibly not; but tell me, anyway," she said.

  "Sometimes, I put him to bed--and, sometimes, I bought him asuperabundance of red liquor."

  "Don't tell me the other times," she interposed.

  "No," said I, "I won't."

  She fell to plucking the roses again.

  "This Captain Smith," she said presently; "was he in Valeria six yearsago?"

  "That would be in 189--?" I reflected a moment. "Yes he was here thatyear."

  She thought a bit. "Was he given to reminiscing?"

  "No one in America but myself knew he had been to Valeria."

  She smiled.

  I saw the blunder. "It happened he knew of my Dalberg descent," Ihastened to add.

  "Has he ever mentioned an adventure in the forest near the SummerPalace?"

  "I am quite sure he has not," I said, but without looking at her.

  Then I felt a touch on my arm--and I took her gloved fingers in my ownand held them.

  "You are very good, cousin," she said, then loosed her hand.

  "When did you recognize me?" I asked.

  "When you kissed me. That was why I was so angry."

  "I noticed you were annoyed."

  "Yet, I was more disappointed."

  "Yes?" I inflected.

  "To have my ideal Captain Smith shattered so completely."

  "But when you learned it was your cousin?"

  "That saved the ideal."

  "But I cannot live up to the Captain."

  She shook her head. "There is no need. The Captain is dead. It is mycousin Armand now."

  "But every woman has her ideal," I ventured.

  "Yes, I shall have to find a new one."

  "Then it's only exit the Captain to enter a stranger," I said.

  "Not necessarily a stranger," she returned.

  "To be sure," I agreed; "there is His Royal Highness, the Duke ofLotzen."

  "Or Casimir of Titia," she added, drawing down her mouth. "Or even mynew-found cousin Armand."

  "He died with the Captain," I laughed.

  "No, the Captain died with him."

  "I think, as a matter of proper precaution, it would be well to go in,"I said.

  "Are you tired of me, so soon?"

  "You know very well it's because I'm fearful of disgracing the Captainagain."

  "Please don't," she said smilingly, "here comes a friend of yours."

  It was Courtney with Lady Helen on his arm.

  "Two friends of mine," I said, as they passed.

  "You know Lady Helen Radnor?"

  "After a fashion. I was stationed in Washington while Lord Radnor wasAmbassador there."

  "You two would suit each other."

  "Yes?"

  "You both are--shall I say it--flirts."

  I began to disclaim.

  "Nonsense!" she cut in. "Don't you think a woman knows anotherwoman--and also a man?"

  "By your leave, cousin, I'll not think," I said.

  "It's a bit unnecessary sometimes," she laughed.

  I made no reply. In truth, I knew none. But the Princess did not seemto notice it. She was plucking at the roses again.

  "I wish I might flirt," she broke out suddenly.

  I grasped the marble rail for support.

  "Don't look so surprised," she laughed, "I'll not try it--I know whatis permitted me."

  "Then you never flirted?" I asked with assumed seriousness.

  "No; that's another penalty of birth. With whom may the Princess Royalflirt?"

  I waved my hand toward the ball room.

  "I hope I am neither cruel nor indiscreet," she said, rather curtly.

  "But there are many royal guests come to Dornlitz," I ventured.

  She shrugged her shoulders. "They all bore me."

  "Which only makes them the better material to practice on."

  "Surely, I am very innocent," she said. "I thought at least a bit ofsentiment was required."

  "Sentiment only endangers the game," I explained.

  "But suppose the sentiment were to come suddenly--in the midst of the'game,' as you call it?"

  "Then," said I, "there is rare trouble ahead for the other party."

  "But if that one also were to become--you know," she went on.

  "There's an end to the flirtation; it's a different kind of game then."

  "Are you quite sure there can be flirtation without sentiment?" shepersisted.

  "It's the only artistic sort; and the only safe sort, too," I answeredsagely.

  "And is it a pleasant game to play for a while in that fashion?" sheasked.

  "Doubtless," I answered evasively; "only it is rarely done."

  She went back to the roses again. "I think, cousin, I shall flirt withyou," she said suddenly.

  I took a fresh hold on the railing. I was surprised.

  But I was more troubled; for I was quite sure she meant it.

  "Don't you think, Princess, you are putting me to a heavy test?" Iobjected. "I may cease to be artistic."

  "You said it could be done."

  "Yes, as a general----"

  "Then your test is no heavier than mine," she interrupted.

  I bowed. So, this was her punishment for the kiss of salutation.

  "But if I were to fail to carry the game through properly?" I said.

  She hesitated. "I may fail, too," she said.

  "And then?" I asked.

  She looked away. "It would make no difference in the ending. Youwould go away; and I--would make some crazy marriage of politicalexpediency."

  I straightened up. Maybe she had not been maliciously leading me out.Maybe she was simply unhappy and wanting a new sensation. Then,suddenly, she put her hand on my arm.

  "Come, Armand," she said; "take me back to the King. We have flirtedenough for one evening."

  "We?" I said wonderingly.

  She took a rose from her gown--and drew it through my sword belt.

  "Yes," she said; and gave me one of those bewildering smiles."Wouldn't you call it that? At least, you have taught me to-night allI know of the game."

  "And how about six years ago, cousin?" I said, securing her hand.

  She looked down demurely. "Well, maybe I did learn a little that day,"she admitted.