第20章

"I warned you against this.The chancellor is a man to be respected, whatever his beliefs.I warned you and Mollendorf of the police what the result would be.The chancellor has a hard hand when it falls.He was always bold; now he is more so since he practically stands alone.In games of chance one always should play close.You are in a hurry.""I have waited six years."

"And I have waited fourteen."

"Well, then, I shall pass into the active.I shall watch this Englishman myself.He is likely to prove the agent.Count, the time for waiting is gone.If the debt is liquidated or renewed--and there is Prince Frederick to keep in mind-- we shall have played and lost.Disgrace for you; for me--well, perhaps there is a power behind me too strong.The chancellor? Pouf! I have no fear of him.But you who laugh at the archbishop--""He is too old."

"So you say.But he has dreams unknown to us.He has ceased to act; why? He is waiting for the curtain to rise.Nothing escapes him; he is letting us go to what end we will, only, if we do not act at once, to draw us to a sudden halt.Now to this meddling Englishman: we have offered him a million--five millions for four.He laughs.He is a millionaire.With characteristic bombast he declares that money has no charms.For six months, since his father's death, we have hounded him, in vain.It is something I can not understand.What is Leopold to these Englishmen that they risk a princely fortune to secure him his throne? Friendship? Bah, there is none.""Not in France nor in Austria.But this man was an Englishman;they leave legacies of friendship."

The Colonel walked to the window and looked down into the gardens.He remained there for a time.Von Wallenstein eyed him curiously.Presently the soldier returned to his seat.

"We are crossing a chasm; a man stands in our way; as we can not go around him, we, being the stronger, push him aside.Eh?""You would not kill--" began the minister.

"Let us use the French meaning of the word `suppress.' And why not? Ambition, wherever it goes, leaves a trail of blood.What is a human life in this game we play? A leaf, a grain of sand.""But, since the prince promises to liquidate the debt, what matters it if the Englishman comes? It is all one and the same.""Within twenty, nay, within fifteen days, what may not happen?""You are ambitious," said von Wallenstein, slyly.

"And who is not?"

"Is a Marshal's baton so much, then, above your present position? You are practically the head of the army.""A valiant army!" laughing; "five thousand men.Why, Madame the duchess has six thousand and three batteries.""Her army of six thousand is an expedient; you can raise volunteers to the amount of ten thousand.""To be sure I could; but supposing I did not want to?"The minister dropped his gaze and began fingering the paper cutter.The Colonel's real purpose was still an enigma to him.

"Come, you have the confidence of the king, the friendship of her Royal Highness.What do you gain in serving us? The baton?""You embarrass me.Questions? I should not like to lie to you.

Batons were fine things when Louises and Napoleons conferred them.I have thrown my dice into the common cup; let that be sufficient.""A man who comes from a noble house such as you come from--""Ah, count, that was never to be referred to.Be content with my brain and sword.And then, there is the old saying, Give a man an ell, and look to your rod.We are all either jackals or lions, puppets or men behind the booth.I am a lion." He rose, drew his saber half-way from the scabbard, and sent it slithering back."In a fortnight we put it to the touch to win or lose it all, as the poet says.Every man for himself, and let the strongest win, say I.""You are playing two games," coldly.

"And you? Is it for pure love of Madame the duchess that you risk your head? Come, as you say; admit that you wish to see my hand without showing yours.A baton is not much for me, as you have hinted, but it is all that was promised me.And you, if we win, will still be minister of finances? What is that maggot Isee behind your eyes? Is it not spelled `chancellor'? But, remember, Madame has friends to take care of in the event of our success.We can not have all the spoils.To join the kingdom and the duchy will create new offices, to be sure, but we can have only part of them.As to games, I shall, out of the kindness in my heart, tell you that I am not playing two, but three.Guess them if you can.Next to the chancellorship is the embassy to Vienna, and an embassy to Paris is to be created.Madame is a superior woman.Who knows?" with a smile that caused the other to pale.

"You are mad to dream of that."

"As you say, I come of a noble house," carelessly.

"You are mad."

"No, count," the soldier replied."I have what Balzac calls a thirst for a full life in a short space.""I would give a deal to read what is going on in that head of yours.""Doubtless.But what is to become of our friends the Marshal and Mollendorf? What will be left for them? Perhaps there will be a chamber of war, a chamber of the navy.As a naval minister the Marshal would be nicely placed.There would be no expense of building ships or paying sailors, which would speak well for the economy of the new government.The Marshal is old; we shall send him to Servia.At least the office will pay both his vanity and purse to an extent equal to that of his present office.By the way, nothing has yet been heard from Prince Frederick.Ah, these young men, these plump peasant girls!"Both laughed.

"Till this evening, then;" and the Colonel went from the room.

The minister of finance applied a match to the tapers.He held the burning match aloft and contemplated the door through which the soldier had gone.The sting of the incipient flame aroused him.