THE HEIR TO THE THROVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15563, 21 March 1914, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE HEIR TO THE THROVE.

BY ARTHUR W. MARCHMONT, iuthor of "By Right of Sword," "I Dash for a Throne," " For Love or Crown." "When I was Czar." ' in the Kama of the People," "The Man Who was Dead.'' "The Queen's Advocate." "In the Name of a Woman," " A Courier of Fortune." etc. COPYRIGHT. CHAPTER XXIV. EVALA ASSENTS HERSKLF. Pkixcr Osca was "in a furioiM temper, and was literally trembling with rage as he turned on me. " I am amazed to find you have the hardihood to come here, sir. I could scarcely believe the news when I heard it ; and I insist that you leave this house at once." Evala attempted to protest, but he would not listen to her. "Don't speak to rat-. I know this man'? object, and I will net have him Mere. e has done his utmost to injure my cause, I and every moment that he remains here adds to the wrong he has done me. Leave the house, sir." " Does your Highness know the circumstances under which " " I want to know nothing more about you, sir. Leave '.lie house, I say." " You will not go. Sir lan, please," said Evala, firmly. " Silence, Evala ! How dare you set me at defiance?" She met his indignant stare very steadily, quite unmoved by his passion ; and, as I knew that he went r in considerable awe of I her, I was not surprised that he bepn to wilt before her resolute look. "I am not setting you at defiance; but in your anger you are doing an injustice to me as much as to Sir lan Calmadale. And I will not submit to that even from you. - ' " Do you mean that I have no right to say who shall come here?" " 1 mean that if vou send Sir lan away without hearing what has occurred and why he is here I shall also leave the ! house." j "Evala!" "You know whether I shall keep ray word." "I beg you not to allow me to be a I cause of disagreement," I said, extremely uncomfortable at the turn matters were taking. " Nothing that even you can say, Sir lan, will alter my decision," she declared. " I hope you are proud of the result of your influence, sir," sneered the prince. "My reason is this. If you drive Sir lan from the Chase and leave me in the power of Baron von Bergstein, it would not be safe for me to remain." " I am not surprised that he has poisoned you against the baron, our best friend in all respects." " You had better read this letter, written to ' our best friend.' by Duke Volassa, from whose house Sir lan rescued me iast night; and meanwhile 1 will send for the baron that he may explain it." She gave him the letter and Tang the bell, and sent for the baron, Count Lugo, and Valtoun.

" A mere forgery, I suppose," said the prince contemptuously as he took it tart bis look changed as he read it. " How did you get this?" he asked. " It was found in the baron's possession, and it enabled Sir lan Calmadale and his friend, Lord Valtoun, to find me." The prince was intensely disconcerted, I and he had good reason to be. It was j clear that von Bergstein had sent "for him J to get rid of me. and as he was in the baron's power and the latter held the pursestrings the dilemma was profoundly awkward. To dismiss the baron would cause the stoppage of supplies, while to send me packing meant a quarrel with Evala, on whose co-operation the success jor failure of the whole scheme depended. When von Bergstein came he was evidently confident that the prince dared not take any action against him; but his confidence was shaken when he found that he had to deal with Evala, and that hers and not her father's was the dominating influence at the moment. Count Lugo came with him and his glance at me showed that he also was looking for my discomfiture. "I have sent for you, baron, that you may explain to' me the meaning of the letter from Duke Volassa which was found in your possession by -Sir lan Calmadale and Lord Valtoun last night," said Evala, whose tone and bearing could not have been more dignified had she been already a queen. "I mi sorry to gather from your Excellency's manner that I have already been tried and condemned. Yet the explanation is very simple. Permit me to see the letter." While he read it, I whispered to Valtoun what had occurred. "It is as I thought. Since the letter was stolen from me, it has been garbled; but that is no matter;" and he tossed it down. " I received* information that Volassa had some such design as this against you, countess, and I got into cor-' respondence with him in order to draws hie plans from him. Under a pretence of helping him, I was successful in getting that letter, and I was taking steps to deal with him when I was betrayed, first by the fact that your Excellency and Miss Maltravers left here secretly, and secondly by the scoundrel who drove car." "There, you hear, Evala," cried the prince, in great relief. "I hear, of course, but' I do not believe the explanation," replied Evala icily. "A former attempt of the same kind was made at Southampton, and there was no scoundrelly chauffeur to be put forward as the scapegoat in that instance." Von Bergstein protected his innocence with much show of virtuous indignation and with many appeals to the prince on th« score of services rendered to the cause; but Evala was not moved in the least by his denials. " Duke Volassa, acknowledged that the letter was from him and that he had acted upon it. Is not that so?" she asked, turning to Valtoun and me. "Certainly it is," said Valtoun. "And I have no doubt he would admit it to you," I added. ,; He is a man of honour, I am convinced." Evala paused a moment in thought. " That will be the best" way. I believe with you, Sir lan, that he is a man of honour, and Baron von Bergstein will no doubt be glad to have such a test applied to his own good faith." " He would be only too glad to welcome a chance of alienating me from his Highness," said von Bergstein. "He is not likely to bear me much good-will after my having tricked him." She saw through this pretence and shook her head. "He will tell us the whole circumstances of the intrigue. You will leave the Chase at once, baron, and you will not return, unless your explanation is proved to be true." "Your Highness will not see this done— this open humiliation put upon me." But to his surprise and greatly to mine, the prince sided with Evala. "The matter is a very grave one and must be settled, baron, at any cost. It is not any humiliation for you "to take a few days' holiday. It will be simple enough to give a reason for your absence." At that von Bergstein lost his self-con-trol entirely. His eyes blazed with fury, and to the prince's consternation, he broke out into a wild harangue, reproaching him bitterly with his ingratitude, denouncing in violent terms his mode of life, which he declared was ruining the cause,and giving some luridly unsavoury details, to which Evala listened with dismay and humiliation.

The prince cowered under the storm like a frightened child, and made some feeble attempts at denial, but von Berg*tein, beside himself with rage, would not be stopped. Feeling that our presence added to Evala's embassassment, I turned to leave the room and take Valtoun with me. But she stopped us. " Sir lan, may I ask you to see H»i Bftjofl, yog Bergatgia

leaves the Chase at once? " She spoke , with quiet firmness. "He is not to enter J his rooms again. After what baa passed, baron, you will not return here so long as I am in the house. Your pereonal_ belongings shall be sent to yon; but it is necessary that your papers should be examined carefully." He began to bluster, evidently in great concern at this; but she appealed to me and Valtoun, so we hurried him out of the room, spluttering and protesting and oathing in a fine frenzy, and did not leave him for an instant until we had seen him clear of the gates. " Going to be a stiffish job, lan," said Valtoun, when the car had gone. " His people here will make thing? as hot- for yon as they can. I expect they're all in hie pay." " It's a devil of a business altogether. Shall we have a look round the place while Evala and the prince are together?' We went first to von Bernstein's rooms, and as the secretary wat not there, I locked the doors and took the keys away to give them to Evala. Muriel met us as we came out. and after we had given her the news about the baron, she' told us the position of matters in the house. The whole had been under his absolute control and every toul in it had taken orders from him. There were about a. dozen men who were lodged in a separate wing of the house who, she declared, were all his creatures, in his pay and ready to do virtually anything he told them. They were mostly Hungarians, represented by him to be staunch adherent.? of Prince Osca and members of influential Hungarian families, but, according to her, mere riff-raff fortune-hunters, representing nobody but themselves and their only motive for being at the Chase was that they had nowhere else to go and nothing else to do to earn a living.

"Looks pretty much like the break up of things," said Valtoun. "No. Evala will go through with it," declared Muriel emphatically. "She wouldn't give in if she stood absolutely alone, so long as she believed it was the right thing to do." "But you don't believe in it?" he asked. She looked very grave. " I did not so lons as that old baron was left to pull the strings; but it will be different now. I don't believe she would have darer 1 *-> fiend him away ; but if it isn't too law- - 1 mean if his intriguing hasn't done too much mischief—she may still succ'eced. She has a wonderful power in inspiring people."

"Do you think these fellows here will make trouble ? " asked Valtoun. " It depends who butters their bread foi them," she replied contemptuously, .Now about the other arrangements ii the house," she said after a pause. Sh< took us to the rooms which Evala anc herself and the Countess Viralmi used 01 the floor above in the main portion of th< house and then explained other matter! in which I took little interest; so thatafter a time, I left the two together an< went out into the grounds. It was indeed a devil of a business. I knew that if Evala decided to go further she would have to make drastic changes in all directions, for they were certainly necessary; but what the effect would be was very doubtful. For one thing, von Bergstein's friends wonld have to be turned out neck and crop. It would then be essential to ascertain at first hand what the feeling was among those people in Hungary whose opinions and influence counted: since it was useless to think of depending upon any representations which von Bergstein had made. He had been exploiting the thing solely in his own interests and would say anything that suited the purpose of tie moment.

So far as I could see, there was not one single individual on whom -he slightest reliance could be placed; and that it would be possible to carry thrown a scheme of this far-reaching nature under such conditions looked like a sheer impossibility. Yet I shared Muriel's belief that Evala would not give it up and that no difficulties nor dangers nor obstacles would influence her, if she were once convinced that that was the right course. And in that case I should find myself in the position of a Secretary of State where there was no State, Councilor to a Queen without a Throne, helping the woman I loved to become the wife of another man* for whom she shared the deep contempt I felt for him; and this for a cause in which I had neither .belief nor sympathy. That this was likely to be the run of matters I found when she sent for me an hour or so later. The Prince and she were alone, and judging by her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes and his sullen look and depressed manner, the conference had been very frank and the results exceedingly distasteful to him. But her victory had been complete and he was as clay in her virile resolute hands. " I have explained to my father tae precise position of matters so far as you are concerned, Sir lan, and he desires to tell you how cordially he invites your advice and assistance at this junctcure," she said, every syllable crisp and firm and ringing with determination. Cordial he certainly was not. if his manner meant anything, for he looked as if he would very much have preferred to kick me out of the house. " That is so," he said. "We shall welcome your cooperation, Sir lan." "In consequence of what has occurred in regard to Baron von Bergstein, my father feels that it is necessary that he himself should reside here for the future, so that he may be in closer touch with everything." she continued; and then of course I understood the cause of his discomfiture. She had insisted that the West End flat and all that it meant must be given up. "I feel that I nave allowed the baTon too free a hand, Sir lan," ho said, with an attempt to save his face; " and he has abused my confidence. And my hope is that, so far as practicable, you will take up his work." "I am honoured by your Highnese's confidence," I murmured with appropriate humility; and then a font? conference followed on the general position. The discussion was mainly between Evala and myself, for. the prince was evidently resigned to the necessity of leaving the future arrangements to her. As I had feared, she was convinced that her duty was to persevere in achieving the independence of her country, if the influential Hungarian nobles desired it and their support could be obtained. "But on this we are both absolutely resolved," she declared, and her face glowed with enthusiasm; " our cause shall be spotless in purity of thought, motive, and act. We believe that it is both just and necessary in the interests of our country : and it is because we know that onr honour and that of our cause will be safe in your liands that the prince accepts your offer to assist him. Sir lan." That others beside the prince himself would rebel against a campaign which was to be conducted on the lines she indicated I had no doubt and was soon to have unmistakable proof. But she was in dead earnest. My first duty was to arrange for the closing of the flat- The prince was not to return there; and I got Valtoun to see to the immediate removal of his personal belongings to the Chase. While that was being done, Evala and I went through von Bergstein's papers and found in them abundant evidence of his double-dealing. He had aimed to make himself the pivot upon which everything turned and had been very successful. All correspondence with the supporters abroad had been carried on by him: he was the medium for all the financial support of the cause. & very large amount -of which had been obtained by the grossest misrepresentations and the wildest promises of future rewards; and it was quite nleai that by all he was regarded as the one person who might make success possible and the only individual who counted. When we had finished with the papers we drew up a short statement of the reasons why he had been sent about his business. This was to Be signed by boil: Evala and her father and sent to such of the supporters abroad as it was considered necessary to inform of the change. It was in drafting this document thai Count Lugo's name had to be mentioned. "It will, well to include some refer ence to >,he future course of matters." .] suggested. "As your betrothal to Counl Lugo was von Bergstein's suggestion, ii may be thought that you have abandonee that intention in getting rid of him." "It is not abandonedj of course," sh '■ replied without hesitation. " But it miis UitePjeni tfl some, extent agog tbg g^Bto

of out friends. You are right that it should be mentioned that we may learn their opinion.''

There is also the matter of you* brother's return."

" That is arranged already. He has • signed a formal renunciation of his claim - to the succession. But it would be better . not to refer to that, surely) lest it should create misunderstanding."

Thus I had to draft what was tantamount to the death sentence upon my hopes in regard to Evala. But I succeeded in doing it without evincing a sign of my feelings. She understood, however ; and her hand trembled as she read it.

" It is for my country," she said, her grave eyes fixed on me; and I knew the thought which inspired the words.

" There is one other question to settle," 5 I replied, changing the subject at once. "What is to be done about von Bergstein's people here?'' and added that in my opinion they should be cleared out) of the house instantly. She did not agree without some hesitation, believing that) there were some of them on whom reliance could be placed; but in the end gave way, and 1 was left to send them away. I lost no time about it. _ I regarded! them as von Bergsiein's spies and was 1 convinced that he would use his influence ;to make trouble. So I went straight to) j their wing of the house and told them to | go. It was not a. pleasant interview., I They knew of von Bergstein's dismissal I and set ii down to my account and, as j they had evidently been expecting similar | treatment, they vvere not slow co express i their bitter resentment toward me.. lb I was only when I threatened to send for • the police and turn them out, that thejj yielded. I breathed all the more freely for their departure. Lest they should make trouble, it was essential that we should have some reliable people about us, so "Valtoun and I talked the matter over in. the grounds that evening, and agreed that some of his people and one or two of mine should be brought to the house. In the course of the discussion, Muriel joined us: and after a time she and Valtoun wandered off together, leaving me to my thoughts. I had ample matter for them in the changed position of affairs and the strange responsibilities which had hus unexpectedly been placed on my shoulders; and I was engrossed in this way when I was suddenly attacked from .behind. A heavy blow, meant for my head, no doubt, fell on my shoulder and at th» same moment a cloth was flung over my . head, and I was seized and dragged bacfc under the trees close by. i " Utter a sound and it'll be your last," , growled a voice in my ear with a fierce [ oath; and I felt the prick of a Knife, i I recognised the voice as that of one ' of von Bergstein's men. 1 The trouble had come even sooner than j I had anticipated.

CHAPTER XXV. JEALOUSY. Luckily 1 did not lose my presence of mind when I was seized by von Bergstein's friends and as I was alone and unarmed, while there seemed to be two " or three of them, I thought it best to ; let them believe that the blow had knocked the senses out of me. I groaned once or twice as they dragged me through the trees, and when the hold on my arms relaxed I slipped to the ground and lay as still as death. m . my fall the cloth over my head was dis-< .. placed sufficiently to enable me to see ■ •that there were three men and that one of them was threatening me with a bared _ dagger. ....... ... ... He was a. biggish lout of a.brute.and I was mortally afraid that be would plunge.„ I the knife into my heart and make an end .., of the thing before I should have a chance to resist. He went so far indeed as to raise the weapon for the . blow, but one ' of the others caught his hand. " Don't be a fool, Nischka. He's help* ' less. You know the agreement." f : The man swore, but gave way and low ered his knife. .. ' " Give me the rope,", he said.. :} ._\{ "/I left it here somewhere," said.".one \% of the others. He had a thick stick and was evidently the man who had struck me, and he laid this down almost within 'ray reach, while he turned to look for the raps. ' ! ; . "...T.

I saw my chance then. If I was to '•*.&■' cape serious trouble I must art before thev could tie me up. I groaned again| and* rolled slightly so that I'could reach, the stick. This brought the fellow with,: the knife, Nkchka. back to my side, .and**,,. he was beading over me again I gripped,„ his ankle and wrenched it from nndei' him with force enough to throw him pa ' his back. In another instant I was oil my feet and had possession of the stick, and as Nischka ' was! scrambling ,iipj,l£ brought it down on his head ana put" brat out of action. ~"S~''^.J His two companions drew their knives'"', and came at me; but at dose quarters '. a long stick is a better friend than a short '" knife. A blow from my stick disabled the fellow nearest-tome and I struck hard enough to break his arm. It knocked all the fight out of him and he bolted, cursing and groaning as he nursed toei m-" jured limb- The third man had littlestomach to continue the struggle alone and after a single futile thrust at me, heturned and scampered off through, the " trees. I had had a narrow escape and had every reason to congratulate myself. Ihe sentence I had overheard - about the "agreement" was enough to tell me Wat the attempt had been carefully planned,. and that the object had been to get me * away from the Chase. I set it down at once as von Bergsteins doings, and resolved to get some of the proofs from my prisoner. He was of the truculent order of bullies, and in all probability therefore an arrant coward, so I planned a little melodramatic scene for the purpose of terrifying him sufficiently to loosen his tongue. Having made sure that he had no other weapon on him, I half-dragged, half-carried km to the bouse, squeezed some blood out of the hurt where he had pricked my arm, made a brave show of it. so that he should believe it was his and not mine bared his chest and ran the point of his knife into the skin just over his heart. Thus, when he came to. he found me standing over him with the blood-stained dagger held ready to strike and looking as much like a murderer as I could. The little scene had all the dramatic effect I „ desired. He thought *hat I had already stabbed him and began to howl for mercy till I clapped mv hand on his mouth and swore by all the "gods of mythology to kill him if he uttered another sound or a single word except in answer to ray questions. . He was in a pitiable fright, and I let a moment or two pass in grim silence till he was thoroughly saturated with the conviction that his life hung on the thinnest thread. Then I gave him the chance to save it by telling me everything about the attempt on me. To my surprise the man who had instigated it was not von Bergstein but Count Lugo. He had used the former s dismissal to stir up animosity against me, giving alurid account of the consequences to them, if I remained at the Chase; he had promised *- big reward if they got me out of the way; and had agreed to entice me into the grounds so that the attack mignt be made. Nischka stuck to the story, although I questioned him closely; and. wheal it came out that the attempt .was not to have been made until later, i resolved to put it to the test. I sent for Valtoun to keep watch over the man and then went off to put myself in Lugo's way. I strolled up and down, the drive close to the front door smoking ... i and, sure enough, after a little while the . count joined me. He was a treacherous little beast and began by apologising for ;_; his manner to me before, declaring that he was exceedingly pleased to hear that,» i I "was going to remain at the Chase, that, he hoped I should bear him no ill-wi11,.... ■ and a great deal more to the same effect. While we talked he edged farther "and"l2 ' farther from the house until we were close g-. ' to the spot of ray adventure. He began to v I get nervous then; shooting quick glance^.| through the trees and leading me farther - > and farther into them, and raising his t voice the while. ' % '

(To bo co&timea d»UyJi