A GAME OF POKER AND THE STAKES
The next morning Beauvais came for his answer.It was not the answer he had expected.
"So be it," he replied."Your government had better appoint your successor at once.Good morning.""You will die suddenly some day," said Maurice.
Beauvais shrugged, and departed.
It was a dreary long day for the prisoner, who saw no one but his jailers.He wondered what time they would start for Brunnstadt.He had never seen Brunnstadt.He hoped the city would interest him.Was he to be disposed of on the road? No, that would scarcely be; there were too many witnesses.In the city prison, then; that was possible.The outlook was not rose-colored.He set to work to challenge each of his jailers, but this did not serve.At five o'clock the bluff old Colonel Mollendorf came in.He dismissed the troopers, who were glad enough to be relieved.
"I'll be responsible for the prisoner from now on," he said.As soon as he and Maurice were alone he propped his chin and contemplated the sullen face of the prisoner."Well, my son, Iam positive that you have been accused somewhat hastily, but that's the way women have, jumping at conclusions before they read the preface.But you must give Madame credit for being honest in the matter, as well as the others.Beauvais is positive that the move of the archbishop is due to your selling out to him.Come, tell me the story.If you wish, I'll promise not to repeat it.Madame is determined to lock you up in any event."There was something so likable about the old warrior that Maurice relented.
"There was nothing in the gun-barrels," he said."Some one had entered that room before me.I thought at first that Beauvais had them; but he is the last man in the world to dispose of them to the prelate.But has the archbishop got them? I wish I knew.
That's all there is to the story."
"And her Royal Highness's dog?" slyly.
"What! Did you hear about that?" Maurice flushed.
"There is little going on in Bleiberg that we don't hear about.
The princess is charming.Poor girl!"
"Madame's victory will have a strange odor.Can she not let the king die in peace?""My son, she dares not.If that throne were vacant of a king--Let us not talk politics."
"Madame has no love for me," said Maurice.
"Madame has no love for any one, if that will give you any satisfaction.""It does.My lord the Englishman came near striking me last night.""I would not lay that up against him.Madame was the power behind the throne.""And the impulse behind Madame?" smiling.
"You are the only man who has ever crossed Madame's path; she can not forget it.""And she has put me in a bad light, as far as Fitzgerald is concerned.A man will believe anything a woman says to him, if he loves her.""Let us avoid dissertations."
"What do you want to talk about?"
"Yourself; you are interesting, entertaining, and instructive,"the Colonel answered, laughing."I never ran across an American who wasn't, and I have met a number.What have you done to Beauvais?""It is not exactly what I've done; it is what I know.""What do you know?"
Maurice repeated the story.
"And you bested him at the rapiers?" in astonishment.
"Is there anything startling about it?" asked Maurice.
"He has no match hereabout." The Colonel looked across the table at the smooth-faced boy-- he was scarcely else--and reflected.
"Why did you give up the army?"
"The army in America doesn't run to good clothes; the officers have to work harder than the privates, and, save in Washington, their social status is nil.Besides, there is too much fighting going on all the time.Here, an officer is always on dress parade.""Still, we are always ready.In the past we show up pretty well in history.But to return to Beauvais, it is very embarrassing, very.""It will be for him, if I live long enough.""Eh?"
"Beauvais has promised to push me off the board, to use his own words.I am wondering how he will do it.""Don't let that disturb you; he will do nothing--now.Well, well;it is all a sorry game; and I find that making history has its disadvantages.But I have dandled Madame as a child on my knee, and her wish is law; wherever her fortunes lead, I must follow.
She will win; she can not help winning.But I pity that poor devil of a king, who, they say, is now bereft of speech.Ah, had he been a man, I could have gone into this heart and soul.""He is on his deathbed.And his daughter, God knows what is in store for her.Prince Frederick is dallying with his peasant girl.The day for the wedding has come and gone, unless he turned up to-day, which is not likely.""Which is not likely indeed," repeated the Colonel sadly.He pulled out his pipe, and smoked for a time."But let us not judge harshly, says the Book.There may be circumstances over which Prince Frederick has no control.I suppose your sympathies are on the other side of the path.Youth is always quick and generous; it never stops to weigh causes or to reason why.And strange, its judgment is almost always unerring.I am going to share my dinner with you to-night.I'll try to brighten you up a bit.""Thanks."
"Then after dinner we'll play poker until they come to take you to Brunnstadt.""What sort of a city is it?"
"You will not see much of it; so I will not take the trouble to tell you that it is slightly inferior to Bleiberg."Sure enough, when the dark of evening fell, two servants entered with trays and baskets, and proceeded to lay the table.They put new candles in the bayonets.
"Ha!" said the Colonel; "you have forgotten the wine, rascals!""Bring a dozen bottles," Maurice suggested, having an idea in mind.
"Eh?"
"Remember, Colonel, I've been a soldier and a journalist in a country where they only wash with water.In the summer we have whisky iced, in the winter we have it hot; an antidote for both heat and cold.Ah, Colonel, if you only might sniff a mint julep!""A dozen bottles, then," said the Colonel to the servants, who retired to execute the order.
"How old will it be?" asked Maurice.
