A Prince of Lovers: A Romance

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Contents

CHAP. PAGE

I The Duke and his Master . . . . i

II At the Fortune-Teller's 7

Chapter I The Duke And His Master

FOR the greater part of two centuries after the close of the Thirty Years War there existed in Germany some two hundred independent states. It is with two of these, lying in the midst of what was once the Hercynian forest, which tract even then, although in slow process of clearing, retained much of its primitive, desolate wildness, that the events of the following story are concerned.

And it may be well to premise, seeing that nowadays in story-telling the realms of imagination have often a two-fold meaning, literal as well as metaphorical, that, though the embroidery of this tale may be fanciful, the ground upon which it is worked is of the substance called fact For the once secret chronicles of these two hundred kingdoms, principalities, palatinates, bishoprics, duchies, landgravates and what not form very pretty reading to the student of humanity; and the dull atmosphere of much pettiness and fatuous pomp is lighted up in welcome fashion by occasional stars of romance. And, after all, apart from the favourable soil they find in that traditional land of the romantic, these flowers which continually spring up amid the dull herbage are easily accounted for. For what is romance but the opposite of the humdrum? And is not human nature the same all the world over, flourishing even when found in the stifling confinement of a formal and etiquette-bound court? And does not young and healthy humanity rebel against the humdrum, and fight tooth and nail against its own repression ?

Thus it came about that the somewhat dramatic romance of the following pages was played upon a fitting stage, with a change of scenes, the royal palace, and the castle in the wood, homes respectively of the heroine and the villain of the piece. The actors have been dead and forgotten for more than a century, although they live in their types to-day, the style of their playing alone being changed. The weak sovereign, the ambitious, astute, unscrupulous minister, the brave, chivalrous hero, the heroine for whom pride and love and policy are desperately fighting — at least we all know her — ^the cold, imperious beauty with the burning heart. And the unprincipled man-of-the-world, self-indulgent and scheming to his own gratification, at least he is not extinct, nor is the weakly ambitious plotter who would grasp the fruit but fears to climb the tree, and the evil councillor who for the benefit of his own desperate fortunes eggs him up.

With quieter methods they are in our midst to-day. They are walking through their parts with just as much determination of spirit as was theirs who fought and strutted and fretted and postured in the days before life was so carefully toned down — in the days of this story. And that the story is in the main true the annals above mentioned can vouch, even if the events may not in the reality have welded themselves together just as here set down with a mind for the reader's patience as well as his hoped-for entertainment.

In his private cabinet Duke Theodor of Waldavia was going through his daily consultation with his Chancellor,

THE DUKE AND HIS MASTER 3

Baron Rollmar ; a prescribed custom as irksome to both as it was unnecessary to either.

"Your excellency has reckoned without your host," said the Duke.

" I do not propose, Highness," replied the Chancellor, grimly confident, "that my host shall have the making up of the reckoning at all."

" He may not submit to dictation," suggested his highness. it

Then he will be a greater fool than I take him for, seeing that this project is as much for his benefit as ours."

t<

Some men," the Duke hazarded out of his somewhat limited experience, " would not take kindly to a forced marriage."

"Your Highness uses a harsh word," Rollmar observed indiflferently.

" Perhaps. I was thinking of my daughter."

The Chancellor just checked a shrug. " Dukes' daughters and beggars cannot be choosers. But we have yet to learn that Princess Ruperta has occasion to bewail her particular lot."

" She is in an abominably false position. Prince Ludwig's silence and indifference would be galling enough to any woman's pride. And Ruperta has, perhaps, more than her share."

The old minister gave a slight bow of assent. Crowned monarchs are not to be contradicted gratuitously, even when they indulge in self-disparagement.

"The position is becoming intolerable," his highness continued.

" Any hour may end it," said Rollmar, quietly. Then he added, " Surely you approve of the alliance, sire ? "

" Naturally." Duke Theodor emphasised the word with a nod which was intended to express the dignity which in his conferences with his Chancellor was always provokingly elusive. " Of course it would be of untold advantage to both crowns. It is a most natural desire. The uniting of the two kingdoms would more than double their power and influence."

"It should increase them ten-fold," said Rollmar, as repeating a cut-and-dried argument for his policy. " And not only their power but their wealth; the development, more especially, of the natural wealth of the one by union with the labour of the other."

"Yes, yes," snapped the Duke, impatiently, almost petulantly. " That is our view. Our immediate concern, however, is that of Ruperta and Prince Ludwig."

Rollmar smiled, and his smile seemed hardly to endorse the word concern.

" Except to themselves, is it very material ? " he asked significantly.

The Duke tried to look resolute. " I have my daughter's happiness to think of. Baron," he protested.

"Doubtless. So have I," he returned imperturbably. " And am taking the measures to secure it."

"Yes, yes, I know," the Duke admitted pettishly. " But this state of affairs will not do so. We shall be a laughing-stock."

" Let him laugh who wins."

" Ludwig's conduct in ignoring the matter is an insult"

" We will not think so, much less say so."

" But others will."

" Others are not going to marry hinu"

"Are we?"

" Certainly ; without fail ; most assuredly."

The Duke rose and paced the room.

"But how long is this state of things going to last, Baron? You must remember that Ruperta is not one to take kindly to die part of a puppet. She is a girl of spirit, and this wretched fellow Ludwig, by his cavalier treatment, is rousing it in a way that threatens difficulties

THE DUKE AND HIS MASTER 5

to our project. Can nothing be done? Where is the fellow ? "

" Nobody knows. If anybody did it would be I."

" I feel inclined," said Theodor, working himself into a weak man's passion, " to throw over the whole affair. It would be the most dignified course."

" And the most foolish."

The Duke turned sharply at the blunt rejoinder. " Certainly not more foolish than we are showing ourselves at present"

Rollmar gave a great audible sigh as he often did when his master was particularly tiresome.

" Pardon me, sire. A thousand times worse, although I do not seem able to convince you of the fact I may be so unfortunate as to differ in ideas from your Highness, but my notion of foolishness would be to abandon a magnificent chance of imperial aggrandisement for the sake of taking umbrage at a boy's want of manners. Ludwig is a fool ; he may not know it, but we do, and when he sets his eyes for the first time on Princess Ruperta he will know it too. The mischief is that they have taken it into their heads to dislike each other before they have ever met. But I anticipate little difficulty on that account."

" Perhaps not," replied the Duke, who rejoiced in his rare opportunities of twitting his masterful minister with failure. " But you must first find your runaway bridegroom."

I intend to find him," Rollmar returned quietly. When found you may perhaps discover a wife as well," suggested Theodor, making the most of his temporary advantage.

The Chancellor smiled grimly, and there was an ugly gleam in his dark, fierce eyes. " It would be a pity — more particularly for her," he rejoined. " But as his bride would certainly not be of his own rank the position would present little difficulty."

The Duke understood his words the more clearly as read by the pitiless light in his eyes. The talk was tsdcing a turn which he always made a point of avoiding. If he was virtually governed by his astute old servant and left him practically a free hand he would at least take no responsibility for or cognisance of his ruthlessly unscrupulous methods.

" At least we may take care that my daughter forms no undesirable attadiment/' he said somewhat feebly to give a turn to the subject

" You may leave me to deal with such a contingency," Rollmar said, drawing back his lips in a significant smile.

" Ludwig's unheard-of conduct is enough to make a girl of spirit rebel."

" She may rebel," Rollmar retorted, beginning to grow impatient. "We are prepared for rebellion. I think your Highness' hint can be referred to no actual cause ? "

" No," said the Duke, weakly. " I know of no attachment. I only fear it."

"You need not fear it, sire," replied Rollmar, with infinite meaning in his smile. " The favoured lover's life would be a very short one."

Chapter II

THE moon-lit gables of the city threw a zig-zag pattern on the cobble-paved streets, and brought alternately into view and obscurity the few passers-by, among whom were two women, who, hurrying along, seemed, by keeping as near as possible to the base of the triangular shadows, to shun observation. Recognition, indeed, would not have been easy, for the ample hoods of their grey cloaks were drawn well over their faces ; only their figures and lightness of step told that they were young. As to their looks there was, for the reason already given, no room for more than speculation. Close as they kept together but few words passed between them, and those scarcely above a whisper. Of the people whom they met a good many turned to look after them in curiosity, but owing no doubt to their air of purposeful hurry, no man seemed to think it worth while to follow them. Up to a certain point, that is.

Arrived at the fork where one street ran into two the women paused as if uncertain which to take. It was necessary to look up and read the names, and as they did so a man crossing the street caught a momentary glimpse of one of the up-turned faces silhouetted against an oil lamp, which, from its place some yards away, was brought into level with the girl's head. He stopped, almost with a start, then crossing quickly to the shadow of an entry, waited till the girls resumed their way, upon which he came out and followed them.

They went, however, but a couple of hundred yards farther. Before a house in a small secluded Platz they stopped and stood hesitating. On the door was a plate where by the light of a bluish lamp which hung in the portico could ^ be read the one word, "Parabosco." The courage of the two girls, if checked, soon returned ; they went boldly to the door, which at their approach opened silently and admitted them. The man who had followed them now paced up and down the PlcUz in thoughtful indecision.

He was a good-looking young fellow, alert and soldierlike ; yet in the strong moonlight the face seemed much more than that of a mere city lotmger ; its beauty was intellectual, its distinction manifestly came from a sense of power, power in action united with gentleness of manner. That was the man's attraction, his easily imagined fascination, that sense of quiet, unobtrusive strength ; the charm lay not in his mere features but in the spirit behind them.

Presently, as though his resolve was taken, he went up to the blue-lit door. An unseen hand opened it as before and, without a word, he passed in. Meanwhile the two girls had entered a room hung with dark velvet on which were worked strange cabalistic devices. The air was subtily perfumed and a light shining through a globe of blue crystal just illuminated the room enough to enhance its character of mystery. Perhaps the most striking feature of this was the dead silence, a stillness that seemed to strike the visitors dumb with its almost appalling intensity.

"I wish we had not come." Fear forced out the whisper from one of the girls.

"We cannot help it now," returned her companion, whose voice, scarcely above her breath, seemed only just to repress a tremor.

" I had no idea it was a place like this," the other said, looking round with almost a shudder. " If they — ^he — the man should find out "

" He will, easily, if you chatter."

*'Well," persisted tiie irrepressible one, "this is not what I bargained for. I thought it would be a piece of fun, but I don't— oh 1 "

Her talk was cut short by a woman in oriental dress who had suddenly appeared and, holding the curtains aside, was motioning the visitors to pass through. With a momentary hesitation they followed her gesture, and as they crossed a small ante-room a door in front of them swung open and they found themselves in the presence of the fortune-teller to whom their curiosity had attracted them. The sanctum of this modem soothsayer was furnished with the usual stock-in-trade of his profession, objects calculated to inspire awe — or something worse — in the vulgar, and to throw a glamour of the supernatural over what, stripped of the mystic surroundings, might have been a common-place personality. The flamboyant chart of the heavens, the divining crystal, a skull, the glowing brazier, all were there, and at a table by a great parchment volume sat the fortune-teller. A sharp-eyed man with clean-shaven, cunning face in which a certain suggestion of intellectuality was spoilt by the expression resulting from the habitual practice of roguery.

The light was so arranged that it fell on tiie visitors, leaving the fortune-teller in comparative obscurity, like a great spider in the comer of his web.

"Ladies," he said in his professional phrase, with a well practised trick of voice, unnatural and therefore calculated to add to the air of the supernatural, " you have come, I presume, to consult the stars and the oracles of the unseen world whose humble interpreter I am. It is well ; the time is propitious, the hour is golden."

Doubtless the emphasis he laid upon the last word was intended as a hint, for with that he pushed toward lo A PRINCE OF LOVERS

his clients a silver shell in which lay several coins. Each of the girls added a piece of gold, at which the eyes gleaming out of the semi-darkness seemed to give a flash of satisfaction. With that the soothsayer made a show of the tricks of his trade. He described figures with his wand ; cast chemicals into the brazier, causing ghastly flames to leap and spirt; he took, perfunctorily indeed, an observation of the heavens and affected an invocative rapture. All this, however, did not last long, possibly because the performer may have received an intimation that another visitor was waiting to consult him. But the farce was gone through with a gravity which did credit to the restraint behind that very mundane face.

" Now will one of you ladies advance and place the lines of your hand under observation ? " he said in a tone of commanding request.

Still keeping her hood well over her face, one of the girls went forward to the table and extended her hand, a long aristocratic hand of exquisite shape, a hand that even to a man less shrewd than the fortune-teller must have revealed the station of its owner. Whether indeed he had suspected or not the character of his visitors, the man glanced up from the hand with a sharp look of inquiry at the half-concealed face. The scrutiny was but momentary, next instant he was bending with a magnifying glass over the outstretched palm. The time-honoured jargon of the fortune-teller was repeated ; then the cards told the same tale with alluring variations, the stars gave a confirmatory horoscope.

" Jupiter in conjunction with Venus points to a great, we might almost venture to say a royal marriage/' the seer pronounced with professional glibness.

" No, no, not that ! " the girl exclaimed with a vehemence which startled the professor. " At least, I mean it is not certain, is it ? It can be prevented, it can be fought against ? "

AT THE FORTUNE-TELLER'S ii

The smile on the man's face did not hide the look of intense curiosity with which he regarded her.

" Fight against the stars ? " he protested with a deprecating laugh. " You are a bold young lady to imagine that."

"Against the stars? No," she returned impetuously. " But against the powers here below that would coerce fate."

"The fate I have predicted," rejoined the fortune-teller dryly, " is scarcely one which a woman would fight against."

" That may be," the girl retorted, " but perhaps, Herr Professor, if your skill in divination were as great as is pretended you would hardly be surprised at my distaste for the fate you have predicted."

The sharp eyes with their keen iridescence were fastened on her now in triumphant premeditation.

" My skill scarcely deserves your sneer, madame," he replied with a repressing of his thoughts. " It may be greater than you imagine or than I claim. Dare you challenge me to put it to the proof? Will you — ^it is no light test — ^will you look into the magic mirror ? "

" Why should I ?" the girl asked half contemptuously.

" Merely that your scepticism may see how far it is warranted. The mirror may confirm my verbal forecast," he gave a shrug, " or not. Only I warn you that what you shall see there may not be agreeable."

The other girl who had so far sat intently silent rose and caught her companion's arm. " No," she urged in a frightened whisper, " do not look, I beg you. It may be terrible."

" Worse than the royal marriage ? " the other exclaimed with a scornful laugh. " I cannot stop half-way now. I have heard my fate, I must see its confirmation."

" As you will," said the fortune-teller quietly. " Only do not blame me should the result be displeasing." Show me, Herr Professor."

it

He rose. " For that," he said, " you must be here alone. Your friend may wait in the ante-chamber/'

" You hear, Minna ? "

" No, no ; it is not right. I will not leave you. Surely you have heard enough."

"No; I mean to see what this mirror has to show. What," laughing, "did we come for but to know the future ? "

The dark eyes out of the shadow were watching the two girls furtively, but their owner spoke no word of persuasion. Doubtless his knowledge of human nature told him that curiosity would prevail unaided. And so it was. The companion was forced reluctantly to leave them, and when the two were alone the fortune-teller quietly slipped round and, under pretence of seeing that the door was securely shut, slipped home its bolt.

" Remove your hood," he said facing the girl.

" It is unnecessary," she replied. " I came to see, not to be seen."

" Precisely," the professor returned with a sarcastic grin. " And you thought to trifle with our sublime art. You judge so meanly of it as to fancy that we whose knowledge passes human comprehension are ignorant of the very identity of those who consult us. You pay us a poor compliment, Princess."

For a few moments there was silence as she stood, half-fascinated, watching his glittering eyes. The light was on his face now bringing out its Jewish cast, the lines of greed and cunning. If the face disquieted her, she did not show it, she was too proud, too completely mistress of herself for that. Simply, with a slight inclination of the head she accepted his protest, giving no sign of discomfiture at the word which proclaimed her identity, merely saying, as though she were speaking to a servant —

" Will you let me see what the mirror has to show ? "

He was thinking, designing actively as he watched her. " Surely, Princess," he said, with an affectation of humility, " the resources of my art are at your gracious disposal. Will you be seated till the moment of revelation arrives ? "

He turned and busied himself with certain preparations. Presently with a gesture of warning he drew aside a dark curtain and disclosed a deep-set mirror, the surface showing nothing but a dead black reflection. Immediately it was disclosed, a vapour spread over and blurred the glass.

The Princess had risen and taken a step towards the mirror. Parabosco turned sharply as the vapour rose; there was evil intent in his face.

"Princess," he said significantly, "you are not as ordinary inquirers are. The destinies of royal personages float in a higher plane, are woven in a grander frame than those of ordinary mortals. The rewards of divination must be proportionate."

The man's meaning was as obvious as his looks were evil. After a moment's hesitation she took out her purse and laid another gold piece upon the table. The man's eyes remained fixed in their greed.

" That is no price," he said bluntly, " for the revelation of a royal destiny."

" The rewards of divination, as you call them," the Princess replied with quiet scorn, " seem to be governed not so much by proportion as by extortion. Here, I will give you no more."

As she spoke she laid a second gold coin beside the other. Parabosco took them up and turned to the mirror, still obscured by the rising vapour. Without looking back, he beckoned her to his side and enjoining silence by a gesture, pointed to the recess. Gradually the vapour became less dense till at length it was so attenuated that the black reflection could once more be seen. The professor recited a rigmarole in the style of an incantation — once more the vapour swept across the glass and as it rolled away a picture became faintly visible. Standing erect, Parabosco signed to his companion to look closely into the mirror. As she bent forward to see through the tantalising mist, the dim picture grew clearer till she could make out its subject

The interior of a church, a priest at the altar, before him a bride and bridegroom, the man in a splendid uniform. But the whole indistinct, and remaining only a few seconds before it was obscured by a fresh cloud of vapour.

" You saw ? " Parabosco asked.

" Very little. The faces were hidden."

" Was that less than you — ^bargained for. Princess ? " he returned sarcastically. " The lady was yourself."

"How do I know that?"

" The mirror shows the fate of none but the gazer."

"Is that all?"

" By no means. It was hardly worth while to be shown that, except that it has confirmed what I have already predicted. Look," he exclaimed, pointing with a swift gesture to the mirror, " the vapour is agitated ! There is fate behind it; the great crisis, the real story, doubtless, of your life. Dare you read it ? "

" Indeed I dare," she answered half-mockingly, as though she had begun to see through the charlatan's trick. " Do not delay ; I have no time to waste."

Her words were unfortunate, suggesting to him that for the time she was in his power. " You must give me a larger fee. Princess," he demanded sharply. " Look ! Quickly, before the charm dissolves.'*

" I will give you nothing more," she replied firmly.

" Then I will close the mirror, and the chance will be gone forever. See ! Even now it may be too late," he cried in a pretended excitement " It is to see your fate for good or ill. Give me your purse. Quick! Your jewels, it is worth all that and more ! "

She had drawn back and stood facing him steadily.

" I will give you nothing more, I tell you/* she said resolutely. "Your conjuring tricks have been already overpaid."

"Tricks?" he screamed. "You dare to blaspheme our sublime art and mysteries. You know not the risk you run, how near the brink of deadly horror you stand. You shall see your destiny. The fates are not to be invoked lightly. You came here to know the future, you shall know it and shall pay for the knowledge."

The design of intimidation and extortion was manifest now in all its vulgar brutality, but the quack had in his victim, although a woman, yet a woman of character and spirit.

" Not one kreutzer more," she maintained. " I have had enough of this nonsense and your rudeness. Show me the way out of this place."

" Not till you have satisfied my just demands," he returned with an ugly look of menace. " The revelation has been invoked for you and you shall pay for it whether you look or not."

She took a step towards the door. He sprang forward and intercepted her.

" Not so, Princess. You go not till you give what I demand."

Mortified as she was at having put herself in the man's power and at risking the discovery of her identity which was sure to excite his greed, she yet never lost her presence of mind.

" You will let me go at once, fellow," she said haughtily, " or it will be the worse for you."

But he judged shrewdly that it might be the worse for him in any event. " You will pay me to the utmost of your power or it will be the worse for you," he retorted. " I am sorry to have to speak to you bluntly. Princess, but necessity cannot dance attendance on fine speeches or miss golden opportunities, eh ? "

For a moment she deliberated on the simplest way out x6 A PRINCE OF LOVERS

of a false position, false enough anil to most women terrifying, although her high spirit ignored its danger. Distasteful as it was to make terms with the ruffian, it yet seemed the most sensible way out. A scandal would to her proud spirit be hateful, and then there was Chancellor Rollmar to think of.

" I am content to pay for my folly in coming to this den of jugglery," she said composedly. " I will give you two gold ducats beyond what you have already extorted."

" I must have more than that," he demanded threateningly. " What ? Five ducats all told ? It is absurd. Princesses do not come to me every day."

As he spoke he made a grab at her purse and thrust it into the folds of his gown. " Now, your jewels, my Princess ; they are trifles to you but much to me. Come ! Don't force my need to extremity. Pay your ransom, and then you shall go."

Her hood was thrown back now, disclosing the proud beauty of her face in its defiant indignation. The lips were set in unutterable contempt and loathing. It was the first great indignity she had ever suflFered, but if the situation brought its inevitable fear, that was repressed behind the steady, scornful eyes. Parabosco could not meet the look, could not raise his greedy eyes beyond the diamond at her breast

" You shall pay for this, you ruffian," she said between her teeth.

" I care not," he flung back, " so that you pay first Hand over your jewels, or must I take them ? "

In her determination she glanced round as though for a weapon of defence, but none was available. Interpreting her look, the man sprang forward and clutched her wrist, at the same time endeavoring to force the rings from her fingers. It was the fellow's brutal touch that now for the first time beat down her courage and extorted a cry for help.

AT THE FORTUNE-TELLER'S vj

" Minna ! " she called desperately. " Minna 1 Come ! Quickly I "

" It is useless to call," the fellow protested as he struggled to open her clenched hand. "Your friend cannot hear you. You had best be quiet. So I "

Failing to force back her fingers he had seized her brooch and torn it from her bodice.

" Minna ! Help ! " she cried, putting her strength against her assailant's in a fierce effort to regain the jewel.

The handle of the door was tried and rattled.