CHAPTER XVI.
THE ARMY’S PLANS.
Nikolitch was as glad to meet me as I to welcome him, and our mutual greeting was very warm and cordial.
“I could scarcely believe it was really you, Bergwyn,” he said, when we were through with the hand-shaking and had lighted our cigars. “That was why I wrote on my card that I came from Colonel Petrosch. I can scarcely believe it now, I think;” and he smiled. He was a year or so older than I; a fair, handsome, frank-faced fellow with a winning manner and a delightful smile.
“It’s a bit like a fairy tale, perhaps. How did you hear of me?”
“What a question, my dear fellow, when you’re the centre of financial attraction just now in half a dozen circles. And do you mean to tell me you’re a millionaire? Why, in those jolly old days you were as poor as I was and, worse luck, still am.”
“They were jolly old days, weren’t they? I am just delighted to see you again. Yes, I’m a millionaire; and if you’d done as I wanted you to then, gone out with me to the States, you would be one too. I had a toughish time of it for a year or two; and it was all luck at the end. Nothing else. I got hold of a mine which had broken the hearts of the men who had been working it with me. When they gave up in despair I got it for next to nothing and held on; and inside a month came on the gold by pure accident just where we hadn’t looked for it. My perseverance had paid me and I stepped out of the mine that day as rich as a man need wish to be. That’s all.”
“You were always a dogged beggar,” he said.
“I don’t like being beaten.”
“The same thing another way round,” he laughed. “And so you’ve come back to the old hunting ground to take a hand here as a big financier. You’ll have to be careful, Bergwyn. This is no gold mine.”
“Tell me about yourself.”
“Oh, there’s nothing to tell; nothing much. I entered the army here, and having some influence, got my captaincy sooner than I deserved it. I like it well enough; but I wish I’d gone with you. I’d rather be a millionaire.”
“Why does Colonel Petrosch send you to me?”
“I’m a favourite of his a bit, and of others. They’ve let me know things, you see; trust me, I suppose; and all that. When I heard your name mentioned I pricked up my ears, and told Petrosch I fancied I knew you. He wants you and your money bags on the side of the army in all this mess of messes; and picked me out as a sort of informal ambassador to negotiate with you. Though why the devil you want to meddle with things here beats me.”
“I had the Colonel’s name given me this morning as a man who could tell me the hang of things in regard to the intentions of the army. I suppose he could.”
Nikolitch laughed. “If he can’t no one can, Bergwyn. But who sent you to him?”
I told him the name of the Minister.
“By the blue sky, that’s a curiosity. Why, old Petrosch is in the very thick of the army plans and dead against the Court, King, Queen, and all the rest of them. He’ll grin when I tell him.”
“The Minister assured me that the army was loyal to the throne, and that the Colonel could convince me of that. He admitted there was some disaffection in certain regiments, but that the feeling was insignificant.”
“Oh, he’s an ass; and nothing else. That’s the usual rot talked in the Court circles; and of course the officers don’t undeceive them and shew their hand.”
“And what’s the truth?”
“Why that—of course we’re talking as old friends, Bergwyn, and you won’t repeat what I say?”
“I give you my word on that. I’m going to talk to you presently about myself on the same understanding.”
“Well, the fact is then that we’re on the eve of a revolution; and there’s only one real power in the country. The army. They can’t stand the Queen’s methods—and they don’t mean to.”
“Show me.”
“I can’t understand either the King or the Queen. She’s one of the most wonderful women that ever drew breath; and in some respects the ablest and shrewdest. In others, she acts like a perfect fool. She comes from the people, of course; and that’s against her; but she could have made her position absolutely secure if she’d shewn a gulden’s worth of tact in the right direction. But she never does. She could have had the army leaders at her feet; but she has alienated every one of them, by sticking all sorts of impossible men, relations or favourites, at the top of things; and degrading every man of capacity who won’t kow-tow to her in everything. As a result, bar her favourites she hasn’t a friend left in the army. It’s the same in everything else; and the limit has been reached.”
“And the King?”
“He says ditto to every word she utters. She can’t forget she came from the gutter, or near it; and, having power, is never at rest unless she is shewing it. She wants us all to be too afraid of her to dare to remember her origin. That, at least, is what many of us think. Anyhow, she has made the present position impossible and the officers are going to change it. It’s the only way to save the country.”
“How will they change it?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “By a revolution, Bergwyn; a peaceful one, if possible; but a revolution, certainly.”
“If possible? What does that mean?”
“The abdication of the King and Queen—if they’ll go.”
“And if they won’t go?”
“They’ll have to,” he replied, with another shrug. “To tell you the truth, there’s a section of the officers who urge violent means.”
“Assassination?” I recalled Elma’s prophecy.
“Yes, it comes to that,” he said, gloomily. “I’m dead against violent methods; but what they contend is that it is better half a score of lives should be lost than as many thousands by a civil war. Our hope—I mean the hope of the moderate men in the army—is that the King will see the uselessness of resisting the army and go.”
“You are convinced that the army will stand together?”
“Oh, yes. Petrosch gave me the proofs to bring to you;” and he took out some papers and plunged into a description of the feeling in almost all the regiments in the army.
“It looks convincing enough on paper,” I said.
“My dear Bergwyn, it’s the result of months of work and agitation, and you may rely on it. And we have the country with us. Look here;” and out came more papers, proving that the feeling of people of all classes was on the side of the army.
“There is only one real power in Servia to-day, Bergwyn. The army.”
“And why does Colonel Petrosch send you to me with all this?”
“Two reasons. Either that you may be induced to join our side at once; or, failing that, that you may be persuaded of the uselessness of financing the Government or any other faction opposed to us.”
“And your own opinion, Nikolitch?”
“My dear fellow, I’m only a fly on the wheel; but I think you must be in a great hurry to chuck your money away, if you think of taking any side at all. The army will win in the end: we must, for nothing can stop us; and there will be a new Government, and with a new King—Peter Karageorgevics, I expect—but until things are settled what’s to be your security for any loan?”
“You put it plainly,” said I, with a smile at his bluntness.
“That’s what I came for, Bergwyn. I speak partly as old Petrosch’s mouthpiece, but chiefly as an old chum. Mind you, when the new Government is in the stirrups matters may be different; there’s a great deal got to happen before that, however. But I suppose you don’t really come to fool your money away?”
“Is that a mouthpiece question or your own?”
“Petrosch might like to know,” he laughed, stroking his moustache; “but of course I shan’t tell him a word you don’t wish me to repeat. He doesn’t think you came here with any thought of such business; but he does want to kill the chance of your doing any with others than the army.”
“If the army really holds the key to the position I might wish to have their influence for a certain purpose.”
“He’s a cute devil, and that’s the truth. That’s just how he summed up your visit. But of course he doesn’t know what the purpose is.”
“Could the influence be got?”
“My dear Bergwyn, anything could be got in this little kingdom of ours—at a price. I fancy his notion is that you are after a title of some sort, or some concessions, and are ready to buy them by floating this loan. That’s the idea in the Court too, I know. I chuckled when I heard it—but then I know you and they don’t.”
“No. I don’t want either a title or concessions; but I can see now the gist of certain hints thrown out this morning. What I do want is to get to the bottom of certain things here in the first place. You’ve spoken freely enough about the army, are you at liberty to talk about other matters?”
“Of course I am. Fire away, ask what you like.”
“What are the Court intentions about the succession?”
“The Queen means to secure it for her brother—and it’s that which has put the final touch to the army discontent. They simply won’t have him; and yet it’s a fact that the formal pronouncement in his favour is actually drawn up. Some of our people have seen the document. Of course it’s a secret; but we’ve got friends even in the Palace itself.”
“But the claims of the Prince Albrevics and his marriage with Princess Gatrina?”
“Why, of course, mere rot. The Princess stands in the direct line of succession, but she’s a woman and barred from the throne. Albrevics is an impossible; everyone knows that—and a very unsavoury impossibility too. But the Princess has or had something of a following and they would be glad to see her on the throne if a husband could be found who’d be received as King. They know this at Court, and so the plan is hatched to marry her to Albrevics and get her out of the road. It’s an infernal business, for she’s just as good as gold. But she’s in the way of the Court schemes and consequently is to be sacrificed. That’s a specimen of the royal methods.”
“Isn’t there another scheme about here—to marry her to the Duke Barinski?”
“So you’ve heard that, eh? That’s the Russian plan. He’s a tool of Russia and would make a pretty puppet for them if they could succeed. But they won’t. The army won’t have it; and what the army decides will be done.”
“You astound me,” I exclaimed in surprise at the freedom with which he spoke. “Does everybody know everybody else’s schemes in this extraordinary country?”
“Pretty well. I suppose it looks odd to a stranger; but our chief talk here is conspiracy of one kind or another. Why, even the plans of the army have been carried to the Court; and they are so blind that they won’t believe them. It isn’t etiquette there even to think that anything hostile to the Court can happen.”
“Are there any other plots?” I asked with a smile.
“Heaps; but you’ve got hold of the three that count for anything; and only that of the army will come to a head. Next, please;” and he threw himself back in his chair and laughed at my look of surprise. After a moment he added: “There’s only one person in all the mess I pity—the Princess Gatrina. She may find things very ugly; although there’s not a soul who knows about her who would do her an injury. You’ve heard the tattle about her?”
“What is that?”
“She was kidnapped the other night; at least, so we believe. At any rate she disappeared and no one knew where she’d gone. There was a story that she had been carried off by brigands; but that’s all rot, of course. Nobody knows exactly what happened except herself, perhaps; although I doubt if she does.”
“I know,” I said, quietly.
“What?” His astonishment was complete. “The devil you do.”
“I’m going to tell you. Nikolitch: as my friend, you know, not the Colonel’s mouthpiece.”
“I’m friend first, Bergwyn, mouthpiece only afterwards—and a long way afterwards, too.”
“Well, then, I’m here because of the Princess;” and I told him as briefly as I could of the adventure in the hills and Karasch’s discovery of the part played by Duke Barinski. I said nothing, however, of my feelings for Gatrina, leaving him to believe merely that I was anxious for her safety.
“You’re a lucky devil, Bergwyn,” was his first comment. “I wish I could have had such a chance to serve her. But what an infernal scheme! What are you going to do?”
“I want the army influence to protect her in case of trouble. Now you understand. How can I get it?”
“Tell Petrosch what you’ve told me in the first place, and in the second, pledge yourself to negotiate a loan for the new Government as soon as it’s well established.”
I thought a moment. “No, to the first part,” I said. “That’s for ourselves alone at present. To the second, yes, as soon as you like.”
“He’s very quick. He’ll guess.”
“Guess what?”
He smiled significantly. “You want this Albrevics marriage off, I suppose.”
“Any woman should be prevented from marrying such a brute.”
“Of course,” he replied, drily, and paused. “You might put it on that ground; but he wouldn’t believe it was all. We don’t deal much in platonic affection in Servia.”
“I don’t care what he believes.”
“I don’t know him if he wouldn’t be glad to believe a lot. The princess is very much in the way. I told you no one wishes her any harm.”
“What do you mean by that grave look?” I asked, for his face was very serious.
“It’s a very ugly matter. I told you what the moderate men among us feel; but there’s the other section to be reckoned with. If their views prevail, it will be a clean sweep.”
“A clean sweep?”
“Yes; everyone connected with the Obrenovics family will be in danger—even the Princess herself.”
“Do you mean....” I began, excitedly.
“Yes, I mean all the worst that may be in your thoughts, Bergwyn. And neither you nor Petrosch himself, nor anyone, might be able to save her in the mad mood that would prevail in such a crisis. It will be a very ugly time.”
“Do you think the other section will prevail?”
“Anything is possible in the present temper, Bergwyn.”
“Good God!” I exclaimed, intensely moved and alarmed by the thoughts which this admission suggested.
For a few moments we were silent.
“I think I ought to tell you why I thought you had come here,” said Nikolitch, breaking the pause. “Do you know there’s an old—old associate of yours here? Her name now is the Baroness von Tulken.”
“She came to me this morning.”
“She gave me to understand you were coming here on her account.”
I laughed. “It doesn’t amount to anything what she says.”
“No; but she talks, Bergwyn, and—well, it’s none of my affairs,” he broke off, and looked at me as if inviting me to speak.
“Let her talk,” I answered, not accepting the invitation.
“Then it isn’t anything to do with her?”
“No, nothing. I’ve told you the only reason why I’m here.”
“I’m afraid you’ve got a devilish hard task, old fellow. But if I can help in any way, use me. I must go. I’ve duty on. What shall I tell Petrosch?” and he rose.
“That I want the influence, and that to get it I’ll do that business of the loan for the new Government—but not if there’s to be any violence in establishing it. Prepare him in that way and arrange for me to see him to-morrow.”
“Take my tip and tell him your motive, Bergwyn.”
“I’ll think it over,” I said; and after arranging to see as much as possible of one another during my stay in the capital we parted.
After he had gone I did think it over and saw one thing clearly enough. I must secure the help and influence of the army at any cost; as that promised the most effective means of protecting Gatrina.
On the whole the talk with Nikolitch had the result of restoring my confidence and raising my hopes again. There were plenty of difficulties to be overcome, of course; but if the army was resolved to change the dynasty and was strong enough to force that resolve upon the country, Gatrina’s chances in regard to the succession were as good as dead; her marriage with either Prince Albrevics or Duke Barinski would be objectless, and then—well, she would be free to choose for herself.
That was all I could ask for and I awaited the interview with Colonel Petrosch with keen anticipation.
On the following morning Nikolitch came to report that the Colonel had been suddenly called away, however, and that he would come to see me the next day.
“Anything fresh occurred?” I asked.
“Something is always occurring just now, Bergwyn. But I fancy the Colonel has really gone to avoid the reception at the Palace to-night. He doesn’t wish to be present himself for one thing; and for another, I fancy he wishes you to go there without having committed yourself to us. You’re to be tackled, of course—the show is got up for that purpose, I suppose—and crediting you with the blunt methods of certain Americans, he thinks you might feel impelled to tell the truth. We don’t work in that crude way here, you know.”
I smiled. “Did you say anything about the Princess?”
“Very little. I dropped a hint that you were anxious about her safety. He made just the answer I should have expected.”
“Well?”
“That he wished to Heaven she could be induced to leave the country.”
“And so do I; but I doubt it. You’ll be at the Palace to-night, I suppose.”
“I. My dear fellow, no. There’ll be no place for small fry like me there. But I can tell you who will be there;” and he rattled away with a lot of Court gossip until I pulled him up.
“There’s one thing I have to do to-day, Nikolitch: perhaps you can help me. I want to satisfy myself from outside sources that the army can do all you think. Whom should I see?”
“You must take it from us that we are united, Bergwyn: for no one knows it. That the army, if united, must be all powerful, you can learn from any one anywhere. No one doubts it. Here, see these people;” and he wrote down a number of names of influential people in various positions.
I spent the rest of the day prosecuting my inquiries; and everywhere I went, I heard the same verdict. That grave troubles were close at hand, and that everything must turn upon the attitude of the army. Of that no one entertained a shadow of a doubt.
Nothing in all that strange time amazed me more than the openness with which the plans of the opposing parties were canvassed on all sides.
Everyone appeared to be agreed that a revolution of some kind was actually impending. The attitude of the two Great Powers concerned was matter of free talk. Russia had been favoured under Milan; Austrian influence had now the upper hand under Alexander and his Queen. Austria was hopeful to maintain the King; Russia resolved to countercheck him and regain her former influence. The army was speaking for the nation at large and equally opposed to both the Powers.
These aims and the possible methods of attaining them respectively seemed to be known to all; but nowhere, save in her immediate circle, was a good word, nay, scarcely a civil word, used toward the Queen. The note everywhere was one of inveterate hostility, almost of execration. And this was the most sinister omen of all, not only as affecting her, but as touching Gatrina also, of whom I heard many harsh things said.
It was thus in a mood of troubled uneasiness that I set out to attend the reception at the Palace, while my private doubts as to how Gatrina would meet me in my altered character added a special poignancy to my anxiety and disquietude.
I made the most strenuous efforts to hold myself well in hand and maintain complete self-restraint; but when at length my eager eyes found her, my heart began hammering against my ribs with quite painful excitement, in which dread and delight were almost equally mingled.