Francezka Part 26

"Well, gentlemen," he said to us all, standing around him, Count Saxe in the middle, "I have pleasure in introducing myself--" this, with the jauntiest air in the world--"I am sub-Lieutenant Brohl, of his Imperial Majesty's Hussar Regiment of Baronay, at your service. I see no general officer here--" Count Saxe, being only half dressed, might have been anything--"but we have made a fine haul, and got our prize away, too. The boat is on the other side of the river by this time."

"Kindly explain yourself further, Lieutenant Brohl," said Count Saxe, coolly.

"With pleasure," remarked Lieutenant Brohl. His debonairness reminded me of Gaston Cheverny's, at the same age, for the young Austrian was little past twenty. "You have got me, a sub-lieutenant--caught, because I would not delay our boat in getting off with the finest quarry yet secured in this war."

Count Saxe and the rest of us waited to hear this laughing prisoner explain matters still further.

"We, of the regiment of Baronay, determined to immortalize ourselves by carrying off Count Saxe--and we succeeded. He is, by this, landed on the other side of the river, and in the hands of Prince Eugene, and for ourselves who took him, our fortunes are made--mine, a prisoner, as well as those who escaped--for when my comrades would have delayed the boat for me, I cried to them to pull out into the river, beyond pistol shot, and never wait for me--if they had Count Saxe--and him they have."

"How did you get him?" asked Count Saxe.

"Very cleverly, Monsieur. We landed from the boat, unseen and unheard in the rain and darkness. There were but eighteen of us, all told. We managed to secure all three of the sentries--you should have had at least six--and Count Saxe should never have slept a night in this unguarded place. We then slipped into the house, of which we had a plan, with Count Saxe's room marked there--" he pointed to Gaston Cheverny's empty room. "The window of the room was wide open, and it was quite dark, but we could see that Count Saxe had fallen asleep before his writing table--"

"His writing table," murmured Count Saxe. "He is not much of a writer."

"The candles had been blown out. We surrounded him, and put a pistol to his head, and he wakened with a start. We said to him, 'We want you, Count Saxe, only. We have force enough to carry you all off--the house is surrounded, and we can bag every one of you--go with us quietly and we will let the small fry off. But we are prepared for a fight, if necessary, knowing you are but a handful.' Then Count Saxe said, quite coolly: 'I see there is no use in resisting. Let me but secure some private letters--' which he proceeded to do, as well as he could in the darkness, and with the pistol still at his ear. My captain said to him--'I wonder, Count Saxe, that so experienced a general as your Excellency should have been so imprudent as to come here with scarce a corporal's guard behind you.' 'True,' answered Count Saxe, 'but I am paying for my folly, as you see. I am ready, gentlemen.' I never saw a man take his fate more pleasantly than Count Saxe--he delayed not a moment. He is now our prisoner, while I am yours--but I fancy we have rather the best of the bargain."

We looked at each other, and Count Saxe said:

"That fellow, Gaston Cheverny, has infinite readiness. He saved the whole of us, and he shall have his promotion as soon as he is released. Meanwhile, my dear Lieutenant Brohl, make yourself entirely at home. You are a gallant young man, and I shall have pleasure in exchanging you for Captain Cheverny, waiving the difference of rank.

So, both of you will get credit out of this night's performance, although you did not get Count Saxe, for I am Count Saxe!"

I never saw such a change of countenance as came over that poor little sub-lieutenant. He caught the idea in a moment, that the Austrians had been badly fooled. I felt really sorry for the poor little fellow.

His eyes filled with tears, his lip trembled. He was a gallant boy and we all felt sorry for him. Count Saxe had him conducted to Gaston Cheverny's vacant room, sent him some champagne, and a.s.sured him that his conduct should be brought to the attention of Prince Eugene.

The rain had not ceased, but day was sullenly breaking. I thought, before nightfall, Gaston Cheverny would be with us again. I did not dream of what Destiny was preparing for him, of which this was but the overture. Count Saxe, with that n.o.ble candor which was a part of his character, frankly admitted his imprudence in remaining at Huningen, and declared that Gaston Cheverny should be amply rewarded for saving him; for there is no doubt the Austrians would have carried Count Saxe off, if they had only got into the right room.

As soon as the little Austrian lieutenant was up and dressed, I went into the room he had occupied to secure Gaston Cheverny's papers until he should return. I felt sure that his pretense of securing them was only an ineffectual ruse to gain time. I found nothing on his table of the least consequence, except a letter to Francezka, sealed and addressed. Of this I took possession.

By nine o'clock in the morning, Count Saxe sent me across the river with a flag of truce, to Prince Eugene's headquarters, to arrange for the exchange of Lieutenant Brohl for Gaston Cheverny. I was instructed to waive the required number of common men to make up the difference in rank, if that point were raised.

On reaching the Austrian lines, I was politely escorted to headquarters, where Prince Eugene, that little great man, that mighty hunchback, received me courteously. I handed him Count Saxe's letter and he took off his hat while reading it. He then said to me:

"Nothing has been heard of the expedition since it left last night. We feared the whole party had been captured."

This was surprising, but Prince Eugene suggested, as the most probable event, that, in the rain and darkness, the boat had been carried down the river, and it might yet be some hours before it was heard of. It was arranged that at the first information on either side, we should communicate with each other.

I returned to our own side of the river, a little puzzled, but in no way alarmed at the disappearance of the party, for so fate blinds us when she is about to deliver her heaviest strokes. But search was made in good earnest. Within twenty-four hours every man of the party was accounted for, except Gaston Cheverny. As Prince Eugene had surmised, the boat had drifted a long distance down the river in the darkness, with the wind and tide both urging it on. At daylight an attempt was made to land on the Austrian side where there was an outpost, and before the character of the expedition was found out, several shots were fired on the boat and a bullet made a slight wound in Gaston Cheverny's head. Their greatest danger came after they were recognized, for in attempting to land, the boat had been upset, and every man in it narrowly escaped drowning. All had been saved, however, and three of the Austrians declared that they had seen Gaston Cheverny after they reached the sh.o.r.e. But beyond that, no one could tell anything. They had found out he was not Count Saxe, and in the confusion of the boat's upsetting, and the struggle for their own lives, they had lost sight of their prisoner. This was perfectly satisfactory to us for a time. We supposed that Gaston, seeing his chance, had quietly walked away from his captors. We expected him every day for a week, and to facilitate his return, Count Saxe released Brohl, the lieutenant, with the understanding that Gaston Cheverny was to be set at liberty as soon as found. But he was not found, nor was there any sign of him.

A man can not vanish like a ghost, said Count Saxe; so he set to work with a good heart, to have Gaston Cheverny sought for. His wound in the head might partly account for his disappearance. He had perhaps wandered beyond the Austrian lines, and being wounded, might have sought refuge in some farmhouse or peasant's hut, where he would be found. Nothing seemed more likely. Every farmhouse and peasant's hut, every village, every schloss even, was searched for the wounded French officer, the Austrians a.s.sisting; but if Gaston Cheverny had vanished from the earth, he could not have disappeared more completely. I acknowledged that for the first week--nay for two weeks--I was not seriously alarmed. A wounded man on foot can not get out of a certain zone, and that zone was searched as one searches for a gold piece dropped on the floor. But we found not Gaston Cheverny. At the end of two weeks we were fairly puzzled, but by no means in despair. Marvelous things happen in war, and a story of the strange disappearances and stranger returns of men lost in siege, battle, or reconnaissance, would read like the fables of the ancient mythology.

At the end of a fortnight, I began to see signs of anxiety for Gaston Cheverny in Count Saxe. Perhaps this was because Gaston's disappearance came from his prompt ruse to save Count Saxe, and there was little doubt that the bigger game would have been bagged but for this ruse. Count Saxe thought constantly of Gaston Cheverny. He not only inst.i.tuted the most thorough search, but he offered a large reward in money, out of his own purse. Trust Count Saxe to remember the services of a friend! The one thought in my mind was Francezka.

CHAPTER XXII

HER BEST BELOVED

I considered within myself whether it were not my duty to confide to Count Saxe the fact that Francezka was Gaston's wife, and I quickly concluded that it was my duty. And so one night, sitting at the writing table, I told him the story of Francezka's and Gaston's love.

Count Saxe listened to me attentively.

"So, my lady Francezka takes the bit between her teeth and marries the man of her choice. Well, any one might safely have predicted as much.

It is a good thing, though, that her fancy turned to Gaston instead of Regnard Cheverny, for Gaston is much the better man. But it is impossible--I say, Babache, it is impossible--that Gaston Cheverny should not shortly reappear."

When Count Saxe used the word impossible, I knew for the first time he felt a poignant doubt and anxiety.

"And how shall Madame Cheverny be informed?" I asked.

"As Gaston Cheverny's coolness saved me from the consequences of my own rashness--for look you, Babache, I was rash, and showed all the qualities of a bad general in remaining here practically unguarded--it is as little as I can do to have the news of his disappearance gently conveyed to his wife. So, be prepared to ride for Brabant by the day after to-morrow if nothing be heard of Gaston Cheverny by that time."

My heart leaped and then sank into an abyss. I should see Francezka, but what news should I carry to her!

"It would be well," added Count Saxe, "that Regnard Cheverny be formally notified of his brother's disappearance, that he may a.s.sist in the search."

Which was done, a special messenger taking the letter to Prince Eugene's headquarters, from whence it would be forwarded to Regnard Cheverny.

I made my preparations next day to leave the following morning, for I felt an inward painful conviction that nothing would be heard that day of Gaston Cheverny. Count Saxe gave me leave to remain as many days in Brabant as necessary, and if Francezka wished to return with me, I was to escort her. Such was the generous nature of the man. I took with me that last letter Gaston had written, but his other papers and belongings I left under my master's care, hoping--but alas! not believing--that before I returned Gaston Cheverny would have been found. I rode hard on that journey, and on the fifth evening after leaving Huningen, about ten o'clock, I reached the chateau of Capello.

It had been less than a month since I had left Francezka full of hope and joy, and I had come now to rob her of all except hope.

Although it was the fragrant time of the year, the evening was chill, with a fine, cold rain falling. The lights were still burning in the little yellow room where Francezka usually sat.

My knock at the great door of the chateau sounded to me like the crack of doom. Old Peter opened the door, and by some magic of thought, he saw at a glance that I was a messenger of evil. Without a word, he led me to the yellow saloon, and announced in a trembling voice, which was a warning in itself:

"Here, Madame, is Captain Babache."

Francezka was alone, but not without companionship. The dog Bold lay at her feet. Her harpsichord was open, a book lay by her on the table, and her fingers were busily employed on some fine needlework, for she was an expert needlewoman. I had schooled my countenance, but I verily believe, without levity, that there is something sinister in extreme ugliness, and it was that which gave old Peter the warning of evil, and also Francezka. As she heard my name, she sprang up, her vivid face breaking into a smile like sunlight, and she cried, in her sweet and penetrating voice:

"Oh, Babache, how glad I am to see you! And how is my lord? And where is the letter, for surely he has written me."

I handed her silently the letter I had found on Gaston's table. She s.n.a.t.c.hed it from my hand, kissed the signature, and read it and re-read it, smiling joyfully all the while; then, for the first time, looking closely at me, her smile faded, her eyes grew anxious, and stepping forward, she laid her hand on my arm. She said not one word, but her eyes commanded me to speak. She told me afterward that the look in my face frightened her so that she could hardly stand. But I, obeying the command in her eyes, told her every word concerning Gaston that I knew. She heard me to the end, and I could see that like all really courageous persons, she grew calmer as the danger got closer.

When I had finished, she said to me in a steady voice:

"And you say, Babache, there is not the smallest evidence that my husband is dead?"

"Not the least, Madame. Not a handkerchief belonging to him has been found. There is a boom at the narrowest part of the river, below Huningen, which would stop the body of a ferret, much less a man's, and nothing has been found there."

She drew a long breath of relief, and sat down, leaning her head on her hand--a favorite att.i.tude of hers. The dog Bold, knowing as well as I that Francezka was troubled, lay down at her feet, and licked the half-open hand that hung at her side. I then told her that Count Saxe had directed me to place myself at her service.

"How good that was of him!" she said. "And you, of all persons, would be the most helpful to me, for, of course, I intend myself to go in search of my husband. Has Regnard been notified of Gaston's disappearance?"

I replied that he had, but so far no word had come from him. Francezka reflected a little while. Then she said:

"Babache, you are the best and truest of souls, and are my chief dependence. But I think it would be an abuse of Count Saxe's indulgence to keep you here. I can not, as Mademoiselle Capello, go in search of Gaston Cheverny. I shall have to a.s.semble my friends and neighbors and announce to them my marriage. Then I shall provide myself with a stout traveling chaise and travel to Huningen, and search and search until I find my best beloved."