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Strange that the room should suddenly be filled with a mist. "But there be those who wait there to capture him." He caught desperately at the curtains, with their royal arms embroidered in blue and gold. Shameful, in such company, to stagger so! "Make haste," he said, and slid stiffly to the ground. He lay without moving. The Council roused then. Mettlich was the first to get to him.
The dull-eyed landlord, yawning as he lighted the party upstairs with candles, apparently neither noticed nor cared that the three of them surrounded a fourth, and that the fourth looked both sullen and ill. The car, with one of the secret-service men, Mettlich sent on to follow Nikky's trail, and to report it to him. The other man was assigned to custody of the chauffeur.
Just before they left the Palace the Archduchesss had had a moment of weakening, but the Countess had laughed away her fears. "I really think I shall not go, after all," Annunciata had said nervously. "There are reasons." The Countess had smiled mockingly. "Reasons!" she said. "I know that many things are being said. But I also know that General Mettlich is an alarmist;" purred the Countess.
Five minutes later Nikky Larisch was ushered into the red study, and having bowed, an insolent young bow at that, stood and eyed the King. "I have sent for you to release you," said Karl. Nikky drew a long breath. "I am grateful, sire." "You have been interceded for by the Chancellor of Livonia, General Mettlich, who has just gone." Nikky bowed.
Then, "Sire," he said earnestly, "there is something of which I must speak. The Committee of Ten has organized again." Involuntarily the King glanced at the photograph on the table. "Forgive me, sire, if I waken bitter memories. But I fear " "You fear!" said the King. "Since when have you taken to fearing?" "Nevertheless," maintained General Mettlich doggedly, "I fear.
"Not so true as he would have you believe," replied Olga Loschek steadily. "There are malcontents everywhere, in every land. A few madmen who dream dreams, like Mettlich himself, only not the same dream. It is all ambition, one dream or another." "But my grandfather " "An old man, in the hands of his Ministers!" Hedwig rose and paced the floor, her fingers twisting nervously.
"They are children," said Mettlich contemptuously. "Let one growl, and all growl. Let some one start a cheer, and they will cheer themselves hoarse." "Then let some one cheer, for God's sake!" said Karl, and turned his mocking smile to the packed streets. The Chancellor was not so calm as he appeared.
"His Majesty has asked for you." When he looked up, dazed, she bent down and took his hand. "Courage!" she said quietly. The Chancellor stood a second inside the door. Then he went to the side of the bed, and knelt, his lips to the cold, white hand on the counterpane. "Sire!" he choked. "It is I Mettlich." The King looked at him, and placed his hand on the bowed gray head.
"Out of all the people in this palace, only you and I! The Archduchess hates him. I see it in her eyes. She can never forgive him for keeping the throne from Hedwig. The Court? Do they ever think of the boy, except to dread his minority, with Mettlich in control? A long period of mourning, a regency, no balls, no gayety that is all they think of. And whom can we trust?
"Doctor!" she said sharply. Doctor Wiederman came first, the others following. They grouped around the bed. Then the oldest of them, who had brought Annunciata into the world, touched her on the shoulder. "Madame!" he said. "Madame, I His Majesty has passed away." Mettlich staggered to his feet, and took a long look at the face of his old sovereign and king.
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