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Updated: June 4, 2025
"I am not afraid to measure my strength against the pitiful cowards who struck at me through a woman's love." "Pay no heed to him, Monsieur Nesimir!" piped Prince Michael, whose voice rose to a thin falsetto. "He is beside himself. If he chooses to vacate the throne, it reverts to me." "A Republic in Kosnovia!" snarled Stampoff. "That, indeed, will mark the beginning of the end for the Slav race.
Stampoff was ignored, and all went well till Bosko, laden with portmanteaus, led the way to the exit. Alec, swayed by a desire to please his father, carried under his arm the sword of Ferdinand VII. The customs officials at the barrier allowed the party to pass; but a shrewd visaged officer standing just outside eyed Alec's package.
And, indeed, the unprecedented action of the gruff old Serbian General in taking Princess Delgrado for a drive that evening was destined to have consequences not to be foreseen by any person, least of all the young couple whose contemplated marriage was then in the mouths of all men. It was the first step in the new march of events. Stampoff meant to prove to the King's mother that her son would be ruined in the eyes of his people if he married a foreigner, ruined instantly and irretrievably, no matter how gracious and pleasing Joan might seem to be in their eyes, and, true to his military caste, he wasted no time in making the Princess aware of his motive in seeking this tête-
His hurried search was not rewarded, and Alec, scarcely understanding him, asked Stampoff who had given the alarm. "Bosko, of course. He came tearing up to the War Office like a madman. Had any other brought the same message I really should not have believed it." "Then you heard nothing of a waiter from this hotel, a waiter named Sobieski?" "Nothing, your Majesty.
He found his father looking into the street, General Stampoff standing on the hearthrug, and Count Julius whispering something in Beliani's ear. "My mother will soon be all right," he announced cheerily. "She was a bit upset, I suppose, by our warlike talk; but we were so excited that we forgot she was present. Well, father, what say you to my proposal?" Prince Michael turned.
He will win the people, it is true; but he will alienate the men who can twist the people this way and that to suit their own purposes. Before a month is out he will be wrangling with the Assembly. See if I am not a prophet. Oh, yes, Julius, you and I must go to Delgratz. No hurry; slow but sure. I'll break the journey at Vienna. We must sound Stampoff too.
From that instant war should be declared, ruthless war on each and every person present who had reft him of his promised bride. Stampoff entered.
"Mirabel, of course?" "She is unnamed." "That's it. I know, I know! He will marry Mirabel. By Heaven! if he does, I'll shoot him myself!" "The trial of the regicides is fixed for June," went on Beliani, wholly unmoved by Marulitch's vehemence. "Now, the vital question is, How far can Stampoff be relied on?" "How does our reliance on Stampoff concern Mirabel?"
Adhering rigidly to his scheme of narrowing the field of inquiry by putting the same straight question to each individual in turn, Alec next appealed to the man who had helped him to gain a throne. "Paul," he said, "you who were my friend and have become my enemy, you, at least, will speak the truth. Tell me, then, who has done this thing!" Stampoff strode forward.
"I have sent for Stampoff," he said, exercising amazing self control in concealing his fierce desire to have done with subterfuge, "and my message was couched in such terms that he will hardly refuse to honor us with his presence. Meanwhile, let me rescue you, Monsieur Nesimir, from the embarrassment of explaining away the difficulty you yourself brought about at to-day's meeting of the Cabinet.
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