The Sign Of Flame Part 21

He broke off and arose, for his young wife now appeared in the door of the tower.

Prince Adelsberg renewed the acquaintance of yesterday and inquired innocently if his friend, Rojanow, had pa.s.sed by here. He could not explain his absence.

A glance from Wallmoden warned his sister, who was proof this time against surprise. Wallmoden himself regretted not having seen the gentleman, and said that he was just about to leave with his wife and sister, having only awaited the former's return. The order for the carriage was given at once, to which Egon accompanied them, taking leave of them with a deep bow, but following the carriage with attentive eyes.

Hartmut stood alone at a window of the inn, also observing the departure. The same ashy paleness again overspread his face, which had gleamed there at the first mention of the name of Wallmoden; but now it was the whiteness of a wild anger which almost shocked him.

He had expected questions and reproaches, which, of course, he had intended to refute haughtily; but was met instead with a complete ignoring, which was a deadly insult to his pride. Wallmoden's harsh warning to his sister, "We do not know him--have I to remind you of that?" had wrought up his whole being. He felt the annihilation contained in it. And the woman, who had always shown him a mother's love--even Frau von Eschenhagen--had joined her brother in turning her back upon him, as upon a person one is ashamed to have once known. This was too much.

"Well, here you are!" Egon's voice came from the door. "You disappeared as if the earth had swallowed you. Has the unlucky letter-case been found?"

Rojanow turned. He was obliged to recall the pretext he had used.

"Yes, indeed," he answered absently, "it lay upon the stairs."

"Well, the guide would have found it just as well. Why did you not come back? Very polite of you to leave Frau von Wallmoden and me without ceremony. You have not even taken leave of the lady. His Excellency's highest displeasure is sure to fall upon you."

"I shall know how to bear the misfortune," said Hartmut, shrugging his shoulders.

The Prince drew near and laid his hand jestingly upon his friend's shoulder.

"So? It is probably because you fell into disgrace yesterday. It is not your usual way to run off where the entertainment of a beautiful lady is concerned. Oh, I know all about it. Her Excellency has given you a lecture over your loving tirades against Germany, and the spoiled favorite has been offended. Why, one could afford to be told the truth by such lips."

"You seem to be quite transported," sneered Hartmut. "Beware lest the husband be not jealous in spite of his years."

"It is a strange couple," said Egon musingly, as if lost in thought; "that old diplomat, with his gray hair and immovable face, and his young wife with her brilliant beauty like----"

"An aurora which rises from a sea of ice. It is only a question of which stood furthest below zero."

The young Prince laughed heartily. "Very poetical and very malicious; but you are not far wrong. I have also felt something of this polar breath touching me chillingly several times; but that is my luck.

Otherwise I would fall hopelessly in love with the beautiful Excellency. But I think it is time for us to leave, _nicht wahr?_"

He went to the door to call the groom. Hartmut following, threw one more glance out to where, through an opening in the forest, the Amba.s.sador's carriage was again visible, and his hands clinched involuntarily.

"We shall speak yet, Herr Wallmoden," he muttered. "I shall remain now.

He shall not think that I fly from his presence. I shall allow Egon to present me at court, and exert my utmost to make my work a success. We shall see then if he dares treat me like a first-cla.s.s adventurer. He shall pay for that tone and look!"

CHAPTER XVIII.

Everything at Furstenstein was in a state of preparation for the arrival of the Court. Their stay was to be of longer duration than for a short hunting expedition; they were to remain several weeks, for which time the d.u.c.h.ess also was expected. The upper stories of the castle, with their numerous suites of rooms, were being aired and put in order. A portion of the court officials and servants had already arrived. Extensive and festive preparations were also being made in Waldhofen, through which the Court was to pa.s.s on its way to the castle.

Wallmoden's stay, which, under ordinary circ.u.mstances, would have been short, was prolonged. The Duke, who was pleased to distinguish the Amba.s.sador in every way, had heard of his attending a family fete at Furstenstein, and had expressed a wish to find him and his wife still there. The invitation was equivalent to a command which had to be obeyed.

Frau von Eschenhagen and her son also wished to remain to look at the Court in close proximity; and the Chief Forester, who wished to distinguish himself in the probably extensive hunts, held daily conferences with the Head Forester and his subordinates, and put the whole forestry in motion.

There was much bustle already about the castle. A sound of merry chattering and clear laughter came from Fraulein von Schonan's room.

Marietta Volkmar had come to her friend for an hour, and as usual there was no end to the talking and laughing.

Toni sat near the window, and Willibald, who was acting as guard at his mother's command, stood beside her.

Frau von Eschenhagen so far had not had her way about the intercourse of the two girls. Her brother-in-law had remained obstinate, and even her future daughter-in-law, usually so compliant, rendered unexpected resistance when the subject was broached.

"I cannot, dear Aunt," Toni had answered. "Marietta is so sweet and good that I cannot offend her so bitterly."

Sweet and good! Frau Regine shrugged her shoulders over the inexperience of the young girl, whose eyes she did not wish to open, but she felt bound to interfere, and concluded to act diplomatically this time.

Willibald, accustomed to confess everything to his mother, had narrated to a fine point the encounter with the young singer. Frau von Eschenhagen had naturally been beside herself to think that the master of Burgsdorf should have carried a satchel behind the "theatre princess!" On the other hand, she heard the description of his horror upon learning who this lady really was, and his running away, with high pleasure, and thought it exceedingly praiseworthy that he objected to the role of guard over the girl. Of course he disliked every touch with such a person; but since his mother found it beneath her dignity to attend these meetings, he _must_ protect his bride-elect.

He was given the curt command to never leave the young ladies alone, but to report explicitly how this Marietta actually behaved herself.

After the first report, which would undoubtedly be atrocious, Frau Regine would impress upon her brother-in-law's conscience the frivolous a.s.sociation he had allowed his child; would call upon her son as witness, and request emphatically the breaking off of the friendship.

Willibald had finally consented. He had been present when Fraulein Volkmar made her first visit to Furstenstein. He had accompanied his fiancee when she returned the call at Waldhofen, and now stood at his post to-day.

Antonie and Marietta talked about the expected arrival of the Court, and the former, who had but little taste in dress, asked her friend's advice, which was gladly given.

"What must you wear? Roses, of course," said Marietta; "white or delicate-colored ones. They will look lovely with the dainty blue."

"But I do not like roses," declared Toni. "I intended to wear asters----"

"Then why not sunflowers? Do you wish to appear autumnal in spite of everything, although you are a young girl and a bride-elect? And how can you help liking roses? I love them pa.s.sionately and use them at every opportunity. I wanted so much to wear a rose in my hair at the Mayor's party to-night, and am quite unhappy because none are to be found anywhere in Waldhofen. Of course it is late in the season."

"The gardener has roses in the hothouse," remarked Antonie in the sleepy manner which was such a sharp contrast to her vivacious friend.

The latter shook her head laughingly.

"They are doubtless for the d.u.c.h.ess' use, and we poor mortals dare not venture to ask for one. What's the use? I must deny myself that pleasure---- But to return to the dress question. You are quite superfluous in this, Herr von Eschenhagen. You do not understand a thing about it and must be bored to death, but in spite of it you do not waver nor move; besides, what is there so remarkable about me that you look at me so constantly?"

The words sounded very ungracious. w.i.l.l.y started, for the last reproach was well founded. He had been meditating upon how a fresh, half-open rose would look in the dark, curly locks, and, of course, had to subject the curls and the head belonging to them to a minute observation, which his fiancee had pa.s.sed unnoticed.

"Yes, w.i.l.l.y, go," she now said good-naturedly. "You must really feel bored over our dress affairs, and I have much to talk over yet with Marietta."

"Just as you wish, dear Toni," returned the young lord; "but may I not come back?"

"Of course, as soon as you wish."

Willibald left the room, not in the least remembering that he was deserting his post. He was thinking of something quite different as he stood for a few moments in the little ante-room. In consequence of this meditation he finally descended the stairs and turned his steps straight to the house of the castle gardener.

He had scarcely left when Marietta sprang up and exclaimed with comic vehemence: "Gracious heavens! what a tiresome couple you are!"

"But, Marietta----"

"Yes, whether you are offended or not, I declare it is a sacrifice to friendship to stand it in your presence, and I had antic.i.p.ated such a jolly time when I heard you were engaged. You were never particularly lively, but your betrothed seems to have lost his speech entirely. How did you manage to become engaged? Did he actually speak then, or did his mamma attend to that?"

"Stop your foolishness," replied Antonie, displeased. "w.i.l.l.y is only so silent in your presence. He can be quite entertaining when we are alone."