"What," he mused aloud, as he arranged the papers on his desk, "is his third game?""It appears to me," said a voice from the wall behind, "that the same question arises in both our minds."The minister wheeled his chair, his mouth and brows puckered in dismay.From a secret panel in the wall there stepped forth a tall, thin, sour-visaged old man of military presence.He calmly sat down in the chair which Beauvais had vacated.
"I had forgotten all about you, Marshal!" exclaimed the count, smiling uneasily.
"A statement which I am most ready to believe," replied old Marshal Kampf, with a glance which caused the minister yet more uneasiness."What impressed me among other things was, `But what is to become of our friends the Marshal and Mollendorf?' I am Marshal; I am about to risk all for nothing.Why should I not remain Marshal for the remainder of my days? It is a pleasant thing to go to Vienna once the year and to witness the maneuvers, with an honorary position on the emperor's staff.To be Marshal here is to hold a sinecure, yet it has its compensations.The uniforms, gray and gold, are handsome; it is an ostrich plume that I wear in my chapeau de bras; the medals are of gold.My friend, it is the vanity of old age which forgives not." And the Marshal, the bitterest tongue in all Bleiberg, reached over and picked up the cigar which lay by the inkwells.He lit it at one of the tapers, and sank again into the chair."Count, how many games are you playing?""My dear Marshal, it was not I who spoke of games.I am playing no game, save for the legitimate sovereign of this kingdom.Iask for no reward."
"Disinterested man! The inference is, however, that, since you have not asked for anything, you have been promised something.
Confess it, and have done."
"Marshal!"
"Well?"
"Is it possible that you suspect me?" The cold eyes grew colder, and the thin lips almost disappeared.
"When three men watch each other as do Beauvais, Mollendorf and you, it is because each suspects the other of treachery.You haven't watched me because I am old, but because I am old I have been watching you.Mollendorf aspires to greatness, you have your gaze on the chancellorship, and curse me if the Colonel isn't looking after my old shoes! Am I to give up my uniform, my medals and my plume--for nothing? And who the devil is this man Beauvais, since that is not his name? Is he a fine bird whose feathers have been plucked?"The minister did not respond to the question; he began instead to fidget in his chair.
"When I gave my word to his Highness the duke, it was without conditions.I asked no favors; I considered it my duty.Let us come to an understanding.Material comfort is necessary to a man of my age.Fine phrases and a medal or two more do not count.Iam, then, to go to Servia.You were very kind to hide me in your cabinet.""It was to show you that I had no secrets from you," quickly.
"Let us pass on.Mollendorf is to go to Paris, where he will be a nonentity, while in his present office he is a power in the land-- Devil take me, but it seems to me that we are all a pack of asses! Our gains will not be commensurate with our losses.
The navy? Well, we'll let that pass; the Colonel, I see, loves a joke.""You forget our patriotism for the true house.""Why not give it its true name--self-interest?""Marshal, in heaven's name, what has stirred your bile?" The minister was losing his patience, a bad thing for him to do in the presence of the old warrior.
"It is something I've been swallowing this past year." The Marshal tipped the ash of his cigar into the waste basket.
"Marshal, will you take the word not of the minister, but of the von Wallenstein, that whatever my reward shall be for my humble services, yours shall not be less?""Thanks, but I have asked for no reward.If I accepted gain for what I do, I should not be too old to blush.""I do not understand."
"Self-interest blinds us.I have nothing but pity for this king whose only crime is an archbishop; and I can not accept gain at his expense; I should blush for shame.Had I my way, he should die in peace.He has not long to live.The archbishop--well, we can not make kings, they are born.But there is one thing more:
Over all your schemes is the shadow of Austria.""Austria?"
"Yes.The Colonel speaks of a power behind him.Bismarck looks hungrily toward Schleswig-Holstein.Austria casts amorous eyes at us.A protectorate? We did not need it.It was forced on us.
When Austria assumed to dictate to us as to who should be king, she also robbed us of our true independence.Twenty years ago there was no duchy; it was all one kingdom.Who created this duchy when Albrecht came on the throne? Austria.Why? If we live we shall read." He rose, shook his lean legs."I have been for the most part neutral.I shall remain neutral.There is an undercurrent on which you have failed to reckon.Austria, mistress of the confederation.There are two men whom you must watch.One is the archbishop.""The archbishop?" The minister was surprised that the Marshal should concur with the Colonel."And the other?""Your friend the Colonel," starting for the door.
The minister smiled."Will you not dine with me?" he asked.
"Thanks.But I have the Servian minister on my hands to-night.Apropos, tell the Colonel that I decline Belgrade.I prefer to die at home." And he vanished.
Von Wallenstein reviewed the statements of both his visitors.
"I shall watch Monseigneur the archbishop." Then he added, with a half-smile: "God save us if the Marshal's sword were half so sharp as his tongue! It was careless of me to forget that I had shut him up in the cabinet."Meanwhile Beauvais walked slowly toward his quarters, with his saber caught up under his arm.Once he turned and gazed at the palace, whose windows began to flash with light.
"Yes, they are puppets and jackals, and I am the lion.For all there shall serve my ends.I shall win, and when I do--" He laughed silently."Well, I am a comely man, and Madame the duchess shall be my wife."
