In Honour's Cause Part 34

And still the time went on.

Baron Steinberg was declared by the doctor well enough to take his journey; and one day, to Frank's relief, Andrew met him with the news that the German n.o.ble had taken his departure.

"I saw him go," said Andrew; "and, as he came out to the carriage, looking as thin as a herring, I couldn't help smiling, for all the bounce seemed to be gone out of him, and he was walking with a stick."

"Poor wretch!" said Frank.

"Nonsense! Got what he deserved. Some of these foreign officers seem to think that they wear swords and learn to use them for nothing else but to enable them to play the part of bullies and insult better men, force them to a fight, and then kill them. I'm only too glad one of them has had his lesson."

"But it's very horrible," said Frank thoughtfully.

"Of course it is," said Andrew, purposely misunderstanding him. "He'd have killed your father with as little compunction as he would a rat."

"Yes, I'm afraid so," said Frank, with a shiver.

"But he won't be so ready to insult people next time; and next time will be a long way off, I know. But, I say, it's sickening, that it is."

"What is?"

"The fuss made over a fellow like that. Baron indeed! He's only a foreign mercenary; and here is your poor father sent out of the country, while my lord has apartments set aside for him in the Palace, and he's petted and pampered, and now at last he goes off in one of the King's carriages with an escort."

"Oh, well, as far as he is concerned, it does not matter."

"Oh, but it does. I say it's shameful that such preference should be shown to foreigners. If matters go on like this, there'll be no old England left; we shall be all living in a bit of Germany."

"Well, he has gone," said Frank; "so let it rest."

"I can't, I tell you; it makes my blood boil."

"Go and drink some cold water to cool it."

"Bah! You'll never make a good outspoken Englishman, Frank."

"Perhaps not. I shall never make a quarrelsome one," said Frank quietly.

"What! Oh, I like that! Why, you're the most quarrelsome fellow I ever met. I wonder we haven't had our affair in the Park before now. If it hadn't been for my forbearance we should."

Frank stared at his companion in astonishment, for it was quite evident that he was speaking sincerely.

"Come along," said Andrew.

"Where?"

"Out in the Park, where we can breathe the fresh air. I feel stifled in these close rooms, breathing the air of a corrupt court."

"No, thank you," said Frank.

"What? You won't come?"

"No, thank you."

"Why? We're quite free this morning."

"I'm afraid."

"What, that I shall challenge you to fight somewhere among the trees?"

"No; I don't want to go and feed the ducks."

"There, what did I say?" cried Andrew. "You really are about as quarrelsome a fellow as ever lived. No, no; I don't mean that. Come on, Frank, old lad; I do want a breather this morning. I'll do anything you like--run races if you wish."

"Will Mr George Selby be out there on the look-out for you?"

"No," said Andrew, with a gloomy look. "Poor fellow! I wish he would.

Honour bright, we shan't meet any one I sympathise with there."

"Very well then, I'll come."

"Hurrah!" cried Andrew eagerly.

"It is stuffy and close in here. I did hope that we should have been down at the old house by this time."

"Yes, that holiday got knocked on the head. Has Lady Gowan heard from your father again?"

"Hush!"

"Oh, very well; I'll whisper. But there are no spies here."

"Mother hasn't heard now for some time, and she's growing very uneasy.

She has been getting worse and worse. Oh, what a miserable business it is! I wish we were with him."

"Yes, I wish we were; for if matters go on like this much longer, I shall run away. Here, what do you say, Frank? I'm sick of being a palace poodle. Let's go and seek adventures while we're searching for your father."

"Seek nonsense!" said Frank testily. "Life isn't like what we read in books."

"Oh yes, it is--a deal more than you think. Let's go; it would be glorious."

"Nonsense! Even if I wanted to, how could I? You know what my father said--that I was to stay and protect my mother."

"She'd be safe enough where she is, and she'd glory in her son being so brave as to go in search of his father."

"No, she would think it was cowardly of me to forsake her, whatever she might say; and if I went off in that way, after the kind treatment we have received from the Prince and Princess, it would make my poor mother's position worse than ever."

"I don't believe that the Prince and Princess would mind it a bit. For I will say that for him--he isn't such a bad fellow; and I nearly like her. He isn't so very easy, Frank, I can tell you. He's pretty nearly a prisoner. The King won't let him go and live away, because he's afraid he'd grow popular, and things would be worse than they are. Look how the people are talking, and how daring they are getting."

"Are they?"

"Oh yes. There'll be trouble soon. Come on."