Kitabı oku: «Under a Charm. Vol. I», sayfa 9

CHAPTER II

At no great distance from the Castle stood the dwelling of Herr Frank, the land-steward. The administration of the Wilicza estates had ever been carried on distinct from the Castle, which, whether it were inhabited or not, stood apart in stately seclusion, while the management of the property was left exclusively in the hands of the agent. The latter's handsome house, with its surrounding buildings and offices, almost all newly erected, excited much admiration; and the order reigning throughout the farm, so different from what was to be seen on the neighbouring estates, was marvelled at, though not imitated, by the whole country-side. The position of the Wilicza steward was, indeed, one which many a landed proprietor might have envied, both as regarded income and his manner of life.

It was growing dusk. Over at the Castle the long rows of windows on the first story were being gradually illuminated; there was a grand reception at the Princess's. In the agent's parlour no light had as yet been kindled, and the two gentlemen sitting there were so absorbed by their conversation that they did not appear to notice the ever-increasing darkness.

The elder of these was a fine man of noble presence, still in the prime of life, and with a frank and exceedingly sunburnt face. The younger, on the other hand, bore in his whole appearance evident marks of town breeding. In spite of his rather diminutive stature, he might be considered a good-looking man. His carefully curled hair, and the fashionable cut of his clothes, gave him somewhat of the air of a dandy; but there was no affectation of this in his manner. On the contrary, his speech and bearing were weighted with an excess of dignity and importance which occasionally came into rather comic contrast with his small person. "The thing is settled, I shall go!" the elder man was saying. "I made known to the Princess the day before yesterday that I intended doing her the pleasure of turning my back on Wilicza, since to that her manœuvres have long been tending. I got no further in my disclosures, for she interrupted me in her majestic way, 'My good Frank, I sincerely regret that you are wishing to leave us; but I will place no obstacles in your path. Be persuaded that your long and active service at Wilicza will be forgotten neither by my son nor myself.' She said that to me–to me, whom she has systematically hunted out! Do you think I could make head against that look and tone? I had intended to relieve my mind at length by telling her the whole truth, as a parting compliment; but at this–I made my bow and went."

The younger man shook his head. "A remarkable woman, but a most dangerous one! We Government men have proofs of it. I tell you, Herr Frank, that Princess Baratowska is a source of danger to the whole province."

"Stuff and nonsense!" said the agent, irritably; "but she is a source of danger to Wilicza. She has contrived now to get the whole property under her dominion. I was the last stumbling-block in her way; and, at last, she is ridding herself of me. You may believe me, Herr Assessor, when I say I have held out as long as I possibly could; not for the sake of the post–thank God, I am sufficiently before the world to stand on my own feet any day–but I don't like to think of all I have worked for and accomplished these last twenty years going to the dogs now because the old Polish management is to the fore again. When I came to the place, Herr Nordeck had been dead a few years, his son was living with his guardian at Altenhof, and farmers, foresters, and agents were working the concern merrily as best suited themselves. Here at Wilicza things were worst of all. My predecessor had robbed so openly and audaciously that it grew too strong even for Herr Witold, who, one fine day, dismissed him summarily. The Castle, the magnificence of which was talked of far and wide, stood shut up and deserted. Of the state of things in the village and on the farms about, I can give you no idea. Miserable wood and clay huts tumbling down over one's head, dirt and disorder whichever way one turned; the lower orders cringing, false, and full of pious national hatred to the 'German'; the fields in a condition to make a good farmer's heart sick within him. There was need, truly, of a pair of strong fists to the rescue. It was a good six months before I could send for my wife and children, because, outside the Castle, there was not what to our notions would seem a single habitable house to be found anywhere about. How could it be otherwise? The deceased Nordeck had never done anything but hunt and shoot, and quarrel with his wife, and Herr Witold did nothing at all. There were a few rows regularly each time he came; but, in general, he let himself be led by the nose, and that was pretty well known throughout the place. If the accounts were down on paper in black and white, and the figures added up right, then all was as it should be; whether the expenditure were real or fictitious, he never troubled himself to inquire. What sums I had to ask for at first to bring the concern into anything like order! They were granted me without delay or difficulty; and the fact that I really employed them on the estate, instead of putting them into my own pockets like my worthy colleagues, was a mere hazard. Mine was an exceptional case. But the old gentleman had some glimmering of the fact that I was the only honest man of the whole set, for at the end of the first year he raised my salary and commission, so that I, with my honesty, fared just as well as the others with their thieving; and if he had lived, I should never have left Wilicza, in spite of the Princess's intrigues. She was too wise to attack me in those days. She knew I had only to write to Altenhof and put Heir Witold up to what was going on, and there would have been an explosion. He had still influence enough over his adopted son to procure me liberty of action. During his lifetime I was left in peace; but when he died, all that was over. What good does it do me that my contract guarantees me a free and independent position? When these continual encroachments proceed from the Castle itself and are authorised by the owner's mother, there is nothing for me but either to bear them, or to go. I have borne them long enough, and now I shall go."

"But it is a real misfortune for Wilicza!" struck in the Assessor. "You were the only one who ventured in some degree to resist the Princess, whose sharp eyes inspired a wholesome fear. If you go, they will have full scope for all their secret machinations. We Government men"–he each time laid great stress on these words–"best know what will be the consequences if the Nordeck estates, with all their vast extent and confounded proximity to the frontier, come under the rule of a Baratowska."

"Yes, she has made good progress in the space of four years," said the steward, bitterly. "She set to work on the very first day, and has continued slowly, but surely, advancing always towards her aim with an energy one cannot but admire. When some time ago the farm leases expired, she contrived that they should all be taken up by men of her own nationality. They applied for and acquired them. Herr Nordeck probably never knew that there were any other applicants. From the administration of the woods and forests every German element has been gradually expelled. The whole staff is now composed of obedient partisans of the Princess. How often I have had to interfere in the most energetic manner, in my endeavour to keep my German inspectors and overseers in their situations! It grew to be of no use at last. They went of their own free will, tired out by the refractoriness of the people; and we are pretty well aware who urged and incited the underlings on to resist. I think I know my successor in office. He is a drunken lout who understands as good as nothing of agricultural economy, and who will altogether ruin Wilicza, just as the tenants and foresters are busy ruining the other estates and the woodlands; but he is a National of the purest water, and that is enough for the Princess. He is sure of the post."

"If Herr Nordeck would only make up his mind to come!" said the Assessor. "He has no suspicion, I dare say, of what is going on here on his property."

Frank shrugged his shoulders. "The young master? As if he ever troubled his head about Wilicza! He has never set foot in it for the last ten years; he likes roaming about the world better. I hoped that, on reaching his majority, he would come here for some length of time, and there was some talk of it at first; but he stayed away, and sent us instead his lady mother, who lost no time in assuming the reins of government. None of the officials are in direct communication with him. We send in all our accounts, make our payments, and address all our statements and demands to the magistrate at L–. Besides, before I decided to go, I tried my last resource, and wrote to Herr Nordeck myself. I knew that my position was untenable; but I thought it my duty, after twenty years' service, to make him acquainted with the doings here, and to tell him frankly that, if matters went on so, not even his fortune would be able to stand it. I sent the letter off a month ago, and–would you believe it?–I have never had an answer. No, from that quarter there is nothing to hope.–But with all this worry, I am forgetting that we are sitting in the dark. I can't think why Gretchen does not bring in the lamp as usual. She probably does not know you are here."

"Yes, she does," said the Assessor, in a tone of pique. "Fräulein Margaret was in the hall when I drove up; but she did not give me time to speak to her. She ran upstairs as fast as she could, right up to the garret."

Frank looked a little embarrassed.

"No, no, you must have been mistaken."

"Right up to the garret," repeated the little gentleman, emphatically, raising his eyebrows and looking fixedly at the steward, as though calling on him to join in his indignation; but Frank only laughed.

"I am sorry for it; but with the best will in the world, I can't help you."

"You can help me very much," cried the Assessor, warmly. "A father's authority is unbounded, and if you were to say to your daughter that it was your will and desire …"

"That I will never do," interrupted Frank, with quiet decision. "You know that I place no obstacle in the way of your suit. I believe you have a sincere affection for my daughter, and I have no objection to make to you either personally or as regards your circumstances; but to obtain the girl's consent is your business. I shall not meddle with that. If she, of her own accord, thinks fit to say yes, you'll be welcome to me as a son-in-law; but I must say there seems to me little chance of it."

"You are wrong, Herr Frank," said the Assessor, confidently. "You are most decidedly wrong. True, Fräulein Margaret sometimes treats me rather strangely–inconsiderately, I may say; but that is nothing but the usual bashfulness of young girls. They like to be sought and won, like to hold back, so as to make the prize of greater value. I understand them perfectly. Make your mind easy. I shall certainly succeed."

"I shall be glad of it," replied the agent, breaking off shortly as the object of their conversation came into the room, carrying the lamp in her hand.

Gretchen Frank might be about twenty. She was no delicate, ideal beauty, but a true living picture of youth and health. There was something of her father's stately vigour about her; and, as the bright rays from the lamp fell on her fresh rosy face, with its clear blue eyes and fair crown of plaits, she looked so charming that it was easy to understand how the Assessor at once forgot that flight to the garret, and sprang to his feet in a violent hurry in order to greet the maiden.

"Good evening, Herr Assessor," said she, returning his greeting somewhat coolly. "So it was you who drove into the courtyard just now. I certainly did not expect that, as you were here only last Sunday."

The Assessor thought proper not to notice the last words. "Official business brings me here this time," he replied; "an affair of great importance which has been entrusted to me, and will detain me in this neighbourhood for some days. I have taken the liberty of making a claim on your father's hospitality. We Government men are having a bad time of it just now, Fräulein Margaret. There is a sort of dull ferment abroad everywhere, secret machinations, revolutionary tendencies! The whole province is one nest of conspirators."

"You hardly need tell us that," said the agent, drily. "I think we are at the fountain head for such news here at Wilicza."

"Yes, this Wilicza is the real centre of all their plots and intrigues," cried the Assessor, warmly. "They dare not play their game so openly at Rakowicz. It is too near L–, and is enclosed on all sides by German settlements. That somewhat shackles the noble Count Morynski; here, on the other hand, he has free elbow-room."

"And the most favourable ground to work on," added Frank; "the Nordeck domain extending to the very frontier, and all the foresters, rangers, and inspectors at the beck and call of the Princess! You would say such a sharp look-out is kept that not a cat could get across without its being known; and yet every night of our lives there is passing to and fro, and all who come from out yonder find open doors at Wilicza, though, to be sure, for the present they are only the back doors."

"We know it all, Herr Frank," asserted the Assessor, with a look which betokened omniscience, to say the least. "All, I tell you; but we can do nothing, for proofs are wanting. We can discover absolutely nothing. At the approach of one of our people the whole busy hive vanishes–sinks, so to speak, into the earth. My present mission is connected with these doings; and as you have the superintendence of the police here, I shall in some measure have to rely on you for help."

"If I must, I must; but you know how unwillingly I lend my hand to such services–though over at the Castle they insist upon it that I am a spy and a detective, because I will not deliberately close my eyes, and when the people turn refractory I proceed against them with all severity."

"But you must. There are two dangerous persons wandering about this neighbourhood under all manner of pretexts, who must be placed in safe custody if possible. I am on their traces already. On my road hither I met two most suspicious-looking individuals. They were on foot."

Gretchen laughed out. "Is that a reason for suspecting them? Perhaps they had no money to pay the post."

"I beg your pardon, Fräulein. They had even money enough for a private post-chaise, for they had passed me in one previously; but at the last station they left the carriage, and made all sorts of the most minute inquiries about Wilicza. They declined the proffered guide, and continued their journey on foot, avoiding the main road, and striking off straight across the fields. They could give no account of themselves to the post-master. I, unfortunately, did not reach the station until after they had left it, and as dusk was coming on apace, all further investigations were at an end for to-day; but to-morrow I intend to set about them in earnest. The two men must still be lurking somewhere in the neighbourhood."

"Perhaps over there, even," said Gretchen, pointing in the direction of the Castle, with its long rows of illuminated windows shining across through the darkness. "There is a great meeting of conspirators this evening at the Princess's."

The Assessor started up. "Meeting of conspirators? How? Do you know it for a certainty? I will surprise them, I will …"

The steward pushed him laughingly down into his seat again. "Don't let yourself be taken in. It is only an absurd notion of the girl's own, nothing more."

"But, papa, you yourself said not long ago that there are good and special reasons for all the gaieties which are going on at the Castle," interposed Gretchen.

"I certainly am of that opinion. Much as the Princess may love show and splendour, I am convinced that at a time like the present she can have no real heart for such festive doings. These great hunting parties and balls are the simplest, the most convenient pretext for calling all Wilicza together without exciting surprise or remark. They dine and dance, no doubt. Appearances have to be kept up–but most of the guests remain all night at the Castle, and that which goes on when the great chandeliers are put out is perhaps of not quite so innocent a nature."

The Assessor listened breathlessly to a discussion which for him was fraught with the profoundest interest. Unfortunately it was interrupted at this point, the steward's attention being called off. News was brought him that his own very valuable riding horse had been seized by an attack of illness which seemed likely to take a serious turn. Frank went himself to look after the animal, leaving the two young people alone.

Fräulein Margaret was evidently put out by this unexpected tête-à-tête with the Assessor, to whom, on the other hand, it appeared highly acceptable. He twisted his moustaches, passed his white hands through his carefully curled hair, and resolved upon making the most of so favourable an opportunity.

"Herr Frank has been telling me that he intends to give up his post here," he began. "The thought that he and his were about leaving Wilicza would, under other circumstances, have been a heavy blow to me–would have come upon me, so to speak, like a thunderclap; but as I myself am not likely to remain very long in L– …"

"Are you going away?" asked the girl, in surprise.

The Assessor smiled self-consciously. "You know, Fräulein Margaret, that to us officials promotion generally means a change of place, and I hope soon to advance in my career."

"Really?"

"Undoubtedly. I am already Government Assessor, and in a state like ours that is saying sufficient. It is in some sort the first rung of the great official ladder which leads straight up to the Minister's seat."

"Well, you have got a long way to go," said Gretchen, rather distrustfully.

The little gentleman leaned back with an air of dignity, as though the cane chair on which he was seated were already the before-named stool of office.

"Such an eminence is not, it is true, attained in a day; but for the future … one should always keep great things in view, Fräulein, always propose to one's self the highest aims. Ambition is the placeman's spur. As for myself, I daily expect to be raised to the rank of Counsellor."²

"But you have been expecting that a long time," said the young girl.

"Because envy and malevolence are constantly blocking the path," cried the Assessor, with a burst of wounded feeling. "We younger officials are kept down by our superiors as long as we possibly can be. Hitherto I have had no opportunity of distinguishing myself, but at last they have seen the necessity of confiding to me a mission of importance. His Excellency the President himself gave the necessary instructions, and charged me to make a personal report to him of the result of my researches. If things go well, I am sure of the Counsellorship."

He looked so significantly at the young lady, as he uttered these last words, that she could entertain no doubt as to who would be the future Counsellor's bride-elect. Notwithstanding this, she preserved an obstinate silence.

"In that case a change of place would necessarily follow," continued the Assessor. "I should in all probability remove to the capital. I have influential connections there. You do not know the capital, Fräulein …" And thereupon he began to describe the city life and amusements, to vaunt the influential relatives, skilfully contriving to group all these advantages around himself as central figure. Gretchen listened, half curious, half thoughtful. The brilliant pictures now unrolled before her were seductive to the eyes of a young country-bred maiden. She leaned her blonde head on her hand, and gazed meditatively at the table-cover. Evidently, to her thinking, the drawback lay in that unavoidable corollary of the present Assessor and future Counsellor. The latter saw his advantage right well, however, and made no delay in following it up. He prepared to open a full battery on the besieged fort.

"But, in spite of all this, I shall feel lonely and desolate there," he said, pathetically, "for I shall leave my heart behind, Fräulein Margaret."

Gretchen grew frightened. She saw that the Assessor, who after pronouncing her name had made a long dramatic pause, was now rising from his chair with the unmistakable intention of falling on his knees before her. The solemnity and ceremony with which he went through these preliminaries to a love scene were, however, destined to prove fatal to him. They gave the girl time for reflection. She sprang up in her turn.

"Excuse me one minute. I think–I think the house door has fallen to. Papa won't be able to get in when he comes back. I must go and open it!" and she rushed out of the room.

The Assessor stood with his dramatic pause, and knees half bent to do her homage, the picture of consternation. It was the second time to-day his chosen one had fled from him, and such bashfulness began to be inconvenient. But it never occurred to him to think of a serious resistance. She was acting from caprice, coquetry, perhaps even–the suitor smiled–fear of his irresistible ascendancy. Evidently she dared not say him nay, so took flight in charming confusion, postponing the decisive moment. There was something exceedingly consoling to the Assessor in this thought, and though he regretted having once more failed to attain his object, he never doubted of his final victory. He so thoroughly understood what he was about!

The pretext used by the young girl was not altogether a vain one. The hall door, pushed by some careless hand, had really closed with a bang. It is true that, at his return, the steward would only have had to call from outside to one of the maids to have it opened; but his daughter did not seem to think of this. She rushed through the adjoining room out into the hall.

An exclamation of pain and one of alarm resounded in the same instant. As Gretchen violently thrust open the door, a stranger, who at that very moment had grasped the handle from outside, struck by the sudden rebound, staggered back several paces and would have fallen, if some one who was with him had not caught and supported him.

"Good gracious, what is it?" cried the girl.

"I beg your pardon a thousand times," said a timid voice in a tone of great courtesy.

Gretchen looked up in surprise at the man who excused himself so politely for having nearly been knocked down, while yet in the act of raising himself to an upright posture. Before she had time for an answer, the other stranger drew near and addressed himself to her.

"We wish to see Herr Frank. He is at home, we hear."

"Papa is not here just at this moment, but he will be back directly," replied Gretchen, to whom this late and unexpected visit came as a great relief, offering her the means of escape from her difficulty. Without it, she must either have committed the rudeness of leaving the Assessor alone during her father's absence, or have been compelled to stay with him to keep him company. Instead, therefore, of showing the new-comers into the agent's study, as was customary, she led them straightway into the sitting-room.

"Two gentlemen who wish to speak to papa," said she, by way of explanation, to the astonished Assessor, who looked up and rose as the strangers entered and bowed to him, while the girl, kindly offering to let her father know, went out again for that purpose.

She had just sent off one of the maids, and was about to return to the room, when, to her amazement, the Assessor appeared in the dimly lighted hall, and inquired hastily whether Herr Frank had been sent for. Gretchen answered in the affirmative.

The Assessor came up to her, and said in a whisper–

"Fräulein Margaret, those are the men."

"What men?" asked she, in surprise.

"The two suspicious characters. I have them. They are in the trap."

"But they are not Poles, not a bit of it," objected the girl.

"They are the two individuals who passed me in the post-chaise," he replied, obstinately. "The same who, later on, behaved in a way calculated to arouse suspicion. At all events, I shall take my measures. I shall interrogate, and if necessary arrest them."

"But need it all be done in our house?" asked Gretchen, in a very ungracious tone.

"The duty of my office requires it!" said the Assessor, with dignity. "First of all, the entrance must be secured, to prevent any possible attempt at flight. I shall lock the hall door." So saying, he turned the key in the lock and drew it out.

"What are you thinking of?" protested Gretchen. "Papa won't be able to get in when he comes back."

"We shall post the maid at the door, and give her the key," whispered the little gentleman, who by this time was in a fever of official zeal. "She will open when Herr Frank comes, and at the same time call in the men to guard the door. Who knows whether the delinquents will surrender easily?"

"But how do you know they are delinquents at all? Suppose you were to make a mistake?"

"Fräulein Margaret, you have not the eye of a detective," declared the Assessor, with conscious superiority. "I am a good physiognomist, and I tell you I never yet saw two faces on which 'conspirator' was stamped more legibly, more unmistakably. I am not to be deceived, however pure their German may be. For the present, I will merely subject them to an interrogation, until Herr Frank arrives. It is dangerous, no doubt, to let such men get an inkling that they are found out–extremely dangerous, particularly when one is alone with them; but duty demands it!"

"I will go with you," said Gretchen, valiantly.

"Thank you," said the Assessor, as solemnly as though the girl had resolved on going to the scaffold with him. "Thank you. Now let us act."

He called the maid, gave her the required instructions, and then returned to the parlour, Gretchen following him. She was naturally courageous, and felt quite as much curiosity as uneasiness about the issue. The two strangers had evidently not the smallest notion of the storm about to burst over their heads. They imagined themselves in perfect security. The younger of the two, who was a remarkably tall man, towering more than a head above his companion, was pacing the room with folded arms, while the elder, a person of slight build, with pale but agreeable features, had obediently taken the place offered him, and was sitting harmlessly enough in the armchair.

The Assessor assumed an air of authority. Convinced of the importance of the moment, and conscious that the eyes of his beloved were upon him, he rose to the measure of his task. He looked the judicial mind personified, as he stepped up to the two 'individuals.'

"I have not yet introduced myself to you, gentlemen," he began, courteous as yet. "Government Assessor Hubert, of L–."

The persons addressed could have been no novices in the art of conspiracy, for they did not even change colour at the mention of his official quality. The elder man rose, bowed in silence, but with much politeness, and then sat down again. The younger merely inclined his head slightly, and said in a careless tone, "Very happy, I'm sure.

"Might I in my turn inquire the names of these gentlemen?" continued Hubert.

"What makes you ask?" said the younger stranger, indifferently.

"I wish to know them."

"I am sorry for that. We don't wish to tell."

The Assessor nodded as much as to say: "So I thought." "I am connected with the police department of L–," he said, significantly.

"Very agreeable position," said the stranger, his eyes just glancing at the official with an indifference positively offensive, and then wandering off and fixing themselves on the young girl, who had retreated to the window.

For a moment Hubert was disconcerted. They must indeed be case-hardened conspirators! Even the mention of the L– police could extract from them no sign of alarm, though by this time some inkling of their fate must have dawned upon them. But there were means of overcoming their obduracy. The interrogation proceeded.

"About two hours ago you passed me in a post-chaise?"

This time the younger man made no answer. He seemed to have had enough of the conversation; but the elder replied civilly, "Certainly, we noticed you in your carriage."

"At the last station you left the post-chaise and continued your journey on foot. You were, according to your own statement, bound for Wilicza–you avoided the high-road, and took a side-path across the fields." The Assessor was sternly judicial now again, as he hurled out these accusations one after the other, in a manner which ought to have been crushing, and which did indeed produce some effect. The elder of the two conspirators showed signs of uneasiness, and the younger, on whom the lynx eye of the official had at once fixed as the more dangerous of the pair, went up quickly to his companion, and laid his hand protectingly as it were on the back of his chair.

"We put on our coats, too, when it began to get cool, and left a pair of gloves at the post-house by mistake," said the latter, with unconcealed irony. "Perhaps you would like to add these two facts to your interesting notes on our conduct and deportment."

"Sir, that is not a tone in which to address a representative of the Government," exclaimed Hubert, angrily.

The stranger shrugged his shoulders and turned to the window.

"You leave us quite to ourselves, Fräulein. Will you not come out and deliver us by your presence from this gentleman's unrefreshing discourse?"

The Assessor was seized with a just wrath; such boldness was more than he could bear. The steward might come in at any moment now, he knew, so he threw to the winds his previous caution, and replied in a lofty tone–