John Reed Scott - The Colonel of the Red Huzzars

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The graciousness of the gesture, was plain enough to the whole room,
but the words reached only Courtney and me.

"I don't deserve it--cousin," I said; but I took her hand, none the
less.

Then, after a word more, we gave place to those that followed us. But,
as I bowed away, she said low: "The sixth dance, cousin."

And so I knew my peace was made.

I looked for some banter from Courtney, but there was none; only a bit
of a smile under the grey moustache. What he said was:

"Come, let us circle the room and see whom we know."

"We know none, if I'm to do the knowing," I said.

"Queer state of affairs," he reflected; "the true Heir Presumptive, yet
a stranger in the Court."

"Oh! drop that nonsense," I said.

His hand went up to his imperial. "Nonsense? Well, maybe so,--and
there's the pity of it."

I laughed. "My dear fellow," I said, "you are becoming sentimental,
and without even the excuse of a pretty woman in the case."

He faced toward the throne. "You don't act like a blind man," he said.

"I can see the Princess very clearly, but only with Major Dalberg's
eyes," I replied.

"But if you were proclaimed the----"

I cut him short. "I am too old for rainbow-chasing, and Spanish
Castles don't become an ambassador."

"There you are wrong, my dear Major; diplomacy deals in _chateaux en
Espagne_. It has builded many upon weaker foundations than this one,
that have, in time, become substantial and lasting."

"Then, it's a good thing that we army fellows are called upon,
occasionally, to tumble a few of them about your diplomatic ears."

He laughed. "You poor military men don't know it's only the phantom
castles you tumble. We never give you a chance at any others."

"So I've been a Don Quixote all these years and didn't know it?"

"About that!"

"And that warrants you in sending me to tilt against this foolish
heir-presumptive windmill."

"But if it were to prove no windmill?"

"Surely," I said--"Surely, you are not serious?"

He gave me one of his quick glances and his hand went back to his chin.

"'Quien sabe?' as the Spaniard would say, Major; 'Quien sabe?'" he
replied.

"Don't be an ass, Courtney," I exclaimed. "And don't play me for one,
either."

A lift of the eyebrows was his answer--but Courtney could say much that
way.

"It's not a bad sort of occupation--being a King," he reflected.

I ignored him.

"And you could fill the place quite as well as Ferdinand of Lotzen," he
went on.

"You will be offering presently to wager that I'll be the next King of
Valeria," I scoffed.

"With the proper odds, I'd risk it."

"Name them."

"No--not yet," he said; "but I'll go you five thousand even, now, that
you marry the Princess Royal."

"This court atmosphere seems to go to your head."

"That has nothing to do with the wager," he insisted.

"I'll not take you," I said. "The last fool bet is enough for me."

"I thought I heard someone say: 'The sixth dance, cousin.'"

"You did."

"And you call that a 'fool bet'?"

"I do,--and the more so that we were sober when we made it."

"You're a bit hard to please, lately," he mocked.

"I'm a bit easily led astray, lately, you mean," I retorted.

All this talk, as we made our way through the crowd, was interrupted at
intervals while Courtney greeted those he knew and presented me. They
were mainly of the diplomatic corps and, if they noted the coincidence
of my name and Dalberg features, they were adepts enough not to show
it. Not so, however, with some of the elderly Valerian dignitaries and
army officers; they were very evidently surprised and curious,--and,
very shortly, it was plain I was the object of their discussion and
careful observation.

"How do you enjoy it?" Courtney inquired.

"You forget that this is not my first visit to Dornlitz," I answered.

"Some day I'd like to know of those other visits."

"There's nothing to know; they were like any other tourist's."

"Really, Major, you throw your opportunities away," he said, and I saw
he did not believe me.

"What opportunities?" I asked.

He smiled. "Well, not those for prevarication, certainly."

"Isn't that a necessary qualification of a diplomatic attache?" I said.

"Quite the most important,--and I don't doubt you will find it useful
before you leave Valeria."

Then the band blared out into a waltz and the crowd drew away from the
centre of the floor. I expected the real Heir Presumptive to lead out
the Princess. I admit I was curious to see him. Report made him a
very able young fellow, and his pictures showed a goodly figure.
Instead, however, someone in a Colonel's uniform was her partner to
open the dance. I turned to Courtney interrogatingly.

"It is Prince Charles, Lotzen's brother," he explained.

"And the Duke?" I asked.

"Still with the Army, I suppose."

Then the Princess swung by and, catching my eye, gave me a quick smile.

"Sort of a relief, isn't it?" Courtney remarked.

I nodded mechanically.

"Only I wouldn't tell her so," he said.

"Wouldn't tell her what?" I demanded.

"That you were relieved to know she could dance."

"I never doubted it," I said shortly.

He looked surprised. "Oh!" he remarked; "Oh!"--and fell to stroking
his imperial.

"Courtney," said I, "you're a great fool--and I'm another."

"True, Major, quite true; I found that out long ago."

My irritation went down before his unfailing good nature. It was
always so.

"Since we are unanimous on that point," I said, "I have no ground for
quarrel."

I danced the next number with Lady Helen, the youngest daughter of Lord
Radnor, the British Ambassador. We were old friends, after the modern
fashion. I had met her in Washington some four or five years before,
while on staff duty, and we had danced and dined ourselves into each
other's regard. Then, Lord Radnor was transferred to Dornlitz and I
went back into active service. So I had been altogether well pleased
to find her with the Radnors when we chanced upon them during the
stroll around the room, and I had engaged a pair of dances to give us a
chance for a quiet little chat.

"Do you know, Major, for a stranger you are arousing extraordinary
curiosity?" she remarked, as we sat on the terrace.

I smiled. "Yes, I believe I am."

She looked surprised. "So you have heard of it?"

"I knew it years ago."

"Oh, how stupid!" she exclaimed. "Of course, this is not your first
visit to Dornlitz. Yet, it's a queer coincidence that you should have
both the family name and the great Henry's features."

"Oh, no," said I; "not particularly queer, since I am his
great-great-grandson."

She closed her fan with a snap. "His great-great-grandson!" she echoed.

I nodded.

"But I thought yours an old American family. Didn't you tell me, one
day at Mount Vernon, that a Dalberg fought with Washington?"

It was my turn to be surprised. I had long forgotten both the
circumstance and the remark. "And I told you truly enough," I answered.

She frowned a bit; then shook her head. "I cannot understand," she
said.

Doubtless I was foolish--Courtney would have called it something
stronger--but, nevertheless, I told her the story of Hugo. For the
benefit of the scoffer let me say that the Lady Helen could be very
fetching when she was so minded, and this was our first meeting in four
years.

"How romantic!" she exclaimed, when I had finished my tale. "Father
will be so interested."

I almost tumbled out of the chair. "Lord Radnor will not have the
opportunity to be interested," I said sharply. "You may not tell him,
nor anyone."

"Certainly not, if you wish it," she said instantly.

I thought she could be trusted; but it would do no harm to give her a
bit of warning as to the situation.

"None but the King, the Princess and Courtney knows of this
relationship," I said.

She regarded me with an amused smile. "Which means, if it become
known, I alone could be the tattler."

There was no need to press the point further.

"It is His Majesty's secret as well as mine," I said, as if in
explanation.

She shrugged her pretty shoulders. "I shall keep it because
it's--yours," she answered.

There was no doubt Lady Helen could be fetching when she was so minded.

I took her hand and kissed it. Then I glanced around for onlookers.

Lady Helen laughed softly. "You men always do that," she said.

"Oh!" said I.

"You look only after it's all over."

"Oh!" said I, again.

"At least, so I have observed," she admitted, frankly.

"You mean such has been your experience?"

"Well," said she, with a mischievous gleam in her grey eyes, "wasn't it
so just now?"

I got up and looked carefully around. No one was very near and we were
in the shadow. I leaned over and quickly kissed her on the cheek.

"It wasn't so that time," I said.

She sat perfectly quiet for a bit.

"Let us hope," she said, at length; "let us hope that your eyes were
trustworthy. Otherwise----"

"Yes?" I questioned.

"Otherwise our engagement must be announced or----"

"Yes?"

"You must give me the chance to cut you publicly, after which you must
leave Dornlitz."

Here was a mess, sure enough. Yet, I was in for it--as most fools
usually are.

"Which shall it be?" I said gayly.

She leaned close and looked me in the eyes. And beside her winsome
face I saw, in my mind's eye, the Princess's, too--but only for an
instant. Then I took her hand again. She smiled sweetly, almost as
sweetly as Dehra herself could do.

"Let us wait until we know if we were seen," she said.

I made a move to kiss her again, but she drew away.

"Not so, sir; that time you did not look," she said, and stepped out
into the light. Then I took her back to Lady Radnor.

"Don't be disconsolate, Major," she said, as we parted. "No one saw
you--on the terrace."

I looked down at her gravely. "I am beginning to hope someone did," I
said.

She shot a quick glance at me over her fan. "Are you tired of Dornlitz
so soon?" she asked.

"I think I want to stay in Dornlitz," I answered.

"But the alternative, Major, the alternative."

"That is why I want to stay."

She smiled. "You did that very prettily," she said. "I shall forgive
you the--the kiss."

"But if someone saw it?" I protested.

"You great stupid," she exclaimed, "no one did. Do you think I didn't
look?"

"Oh!" said I. "Oh!"

"Sometimes you men are very foolish," she sympathized.

I looked at her a bit in silence. "You have changed since America," I
remarked.

"For the better?"

I shrugged my shoulders.

"That's not nice of you," she said.

Then Courtney came up.

"Run along, Major," he ordered; "you've kept the Lady Helen over time."

She took his arm. "Please take me out on the terrace," she said. Then
she smiled at me aggravatingly.

"Maybe our chairs are still vacant; better take Courtney to them," I
said maliciously.

It was not quite fair, possibly; and she told me so with her eyes,
though her lips smiled. I knew I had given her another score to settle.

VI

THE SIXTH DANCE

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

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

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

It was done very neatly, indeed. No one of those present could have
imagined 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 very
unworthy representative, I fear," I said, as I gave her my arm. Then
the music began.

I have very little recollection of that dance; but I do know that Dehra
needed no instruction in our way of doing the two-step; she glided
through it as naturally as a Point-girl herself. And, when I told her
so, 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 saw
her hide a smile behind her roses.

"But you are the first that has been my cousin," she said sweetly,--and
I succumbed, of course. Yet I was punished promptly, nevertheless, for
at 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 favored
more 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 door
and found the small room crowded with officials and dignitaries. The
Princess halted sharply. "But you may take me for a turn on the
terrace," she concluded.

As we crossed the wide floor the crowd fell back,--but Dehra gave no
greeting 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 we
were alone in the room. As for me, I admit I was acutely conscious of
it, and the walk to the door seemed endless. I must have shown my
relief 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 lowest
subject," 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 my
birthright, 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 like
philosophers; which is natural, doubtless; and as a pessimist I prefer
no rival."

"Which is also natural," I added. "And I promise not to interfere with
your 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?" she
said.

(So, she had recognized me.)

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

"Then I am quite sure you will remember," she laughed, and fell to
picking 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 honest
answer!" 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 who
are 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 conceited
fellow."

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 thrown
with 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 I
thought 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," I
condescended. "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 have
said 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 took
it.

"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," she
observed.

"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 a
superabundance 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 years
ago?"

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

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," I
hastened to add.

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

"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 own
and 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 my
cousin 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 of
Lotzen."

"Or Casimir of Titia," she added, drawing down her mouth. "Or even my
new-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 Captain
again."

"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 was
Ambassador 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 another
woman--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 seem
to 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 what
is permitted me."

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

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

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 of
sentiment 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?" she
persisted.

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

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

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

She went back to the roses again. "I think, cousin, I shall flirt with
you," 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?" I
objected. "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. You
would go away; and I--would make some crazy marriage of political
expediency."

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 flirted
enough 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 all
I 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.

VII

AN EARLY MORNING RIDE

The second morning after the ball I arose early--in fact, just as the
bugles of the garrison were sounding reveille--and went for a horseback
ride into the country. Though I knew about all the roads in the
vicinity, I confess it never occurred to me to take any but that which
led toward the Summer Palace and the place where I had first met the
Princess.

It may be some will scoff at this, but I venture that by far the
majority will deem it only natural. For myself I may further admit
that I ordered my horse the night before for no other purpose; and I
have no excuse to offer. From all of which it may be inferred that I,
at least, was scarcely likely to be artistic long in a certain
flirtation.

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