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Updated: June 4, 2025
"Having paid for your ticket, you may as well come on to Vienna," said Alec with irritating composure. "Curse Vienna! Why should I take that long journey for nothing?" "To oblige me." "You'll drive me crazy. How will it oblige you?" "Because I am going to Delgratz, General, and there is a whole lot of things I want to ask you." Stampoff bounced up again.
"I want to consult my mother and you as to a certain matter," he said, answering Prince Michael with apparent nonchalance. "I shall not detain you very long. Beliani, Julius, and Monsieur Nesimir are in the building, and then we only await Stampoff with whom, by the way, I almost succeeded in quarreling to-day."
Stampoff, you, I know, would not scruple to sacrifice my dearest hopes to further your designs. Could you find none but my mother to aid you?" He reeled as under a blow from an unseen hand, and at that unfortunate moment Prince Michael Delgrado thought fit to assert his authority. "This ridiculous scene has gone far enough," he cried.
The Greek, it was evident, heard of the murders at the earliest possible moment; Julius too was singularly well informed, though his interest in Kosnovian affairs had long seemed dormant; even the fiery Stampoff was no laggard once the news was bruited. Alec went so far as to fix the exact time at which Julius appeared in the Rue Boissière.
With a quick movement that sent tremors through Julius and the Greek, since he was compelled to pass close to both, he strode to the quaking Princess and caught her almost roughly by the shoulder. "I feared this from the outset," he cried. "Did Stampoff make you the agent of his hellish work? Joan would trust you. Speak to me, mother! Was it you who wrought this evil?"
"You must forgive me, Paul," he said huskily. "I am not fitted for the work. I am broken down, a trifler, a worn out old dandy. You have got the right metal in Alexis. See to it that he does not follow my example, but keeps unstained the family name." "God's bones! he will do that at least," muttered Stampoff.
There were few French or English on board, and not one American. A couple of Turks, a Bulgarian, a sprinkling of Russians and Levantines, and a crowd of Teutons, either German or Austrian, made up the company. Stampoff remained invisible, and Alec shared a table with an Armenian, who insisted on speaking execrable English, though he understood French far better.
Alec, powerless to move Stampoff, who believed, rightly, as it transpired, that the ringleaders were foremost in the attack, turned to Beaumanoir. "Release that fellow," he said. "If I am able to make my voice heard through the racket, I can put an end to this butchery." Beaumanoir let go the arm, and a body fell on the other side of the door. "You are too late, I hope," he said quietly.
So far as the American press was concerned, the topic was soon forgotten; but Alec, having obtained a Budapest journal, found that Stampoff, Beliani, and Sergius Nesimir were taking steps to form a Republic. "Sometimes," said Alec during their talk that evening, "it is the expected that happens."
"Ask Prince and Princess Delgrado to come here," he said. "Send to General Stampoff and tell him that the King urgently desires his presence. I believe that Monsieur Beliani and Count Julius Marulitch are in the smoking-room with Monsieur Nesimir. Ask those three gentlemen also to join me." The attendant saluted and withdrew. Alec examined the door to make sure that the key was in the lock.
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