The Puppet Crown | Page 9

he knew that there was a net of intrigue
enmeshing him, but it was so very fine that he could not pick up the
smallest thread whereby to unravel it. Down in his soul he felt the
shame of the knowledge that he dared not. A dreamer, rushing toward
the precipice, would rather fall dreaming than waken and struggle
futilely.
"My friend," he said, finally, sighing, "proceed. I am all attention."
"I never doubted your Majesty's perspicacity. You do not know, but
you suspect, what I am about to disclose to you. My hope is that, when
I am done, your Majesty will throw Kant and the rest of your
philosophers out of the window. The people are sullen at the mention
of your name, while they cheer another. There is an astonishing
looseness about your revenues. The reds and the socialists plot for
revolution and a republic, which is a thin disguise for a certain
restoration. Your cousin the duke visits you publicly twice each year.
He has been in the city a week at a time incognito, yet your minister of
police seems to know nothing." The speaker ceased, and fondled the
dahlia in his button-hole.
The king, noting the action, construed it as the subtle old diplomat
intended he should. "Yes, yes! I am a king only for her sake. Go on.
Tell me all."
"The archbishop and the chancellor are the only friends you possess.
The Marshal, from personal considerations merely, remains neutral.
Your army, excepting the cuirassiers, are traitors to your house. The
wisest thing you have done was to surround yourself with this
mercenary body, whom you call the royal cuirassiers, only, instead of
three hundred, you should have two thousand. Self-interest will make
them true to you. You might find some means to pay them, for they
would be a good buffer between you and your enemies. The president
of the Diet and the members are passing bills which will eventually
undermine you. How long it will take I can not say. But this last folly,

the loan, which you could have got on without, caps the climax. The
duke was in the city last week unknown to you. Your minister of
finance is his intimate. This loan was a connivance of them all. Why
ten years, when it could easily be liquidated in five? I shall tell you.
The duke expects to force you into bankruptcy within that time, and
when the creditor demands and you can not pay, you will be driven
from here in disgrace.
"And where will you go? Certainly not to Osia, since you traded it for
this throne. It was understood, when you assumed the reign, that the
finances of the kingdom would remain unimpeachable. Bankrupt, the
confederation will be forced to disavow you. They will be compelled to
restore the throne to your enemy, who, believe me, is most anxious to
become your creditor.
"This is an independent state,--conditionally. "The confederation have
formed themselves into a protectorate. Why? I can only guess. One or
more of them covet these beautiful lands. What are ten years to Josef,
when a crown is the goal? Your revenues are slowly to decline, there
will be internal troubles to eat up what money you have in the treasury.
O, it is a plot so fine, so swiftly conceived, so cunningly devised that I
would I were twenty years younger, to fight it with you! But I am old.
My days for acting are past. I can only advise. He was sure of his
quarry, this Josef whose hair is of many colors. Had you applied to the
money syndicates of Europe, the banks of England, France, Germany,
or Austria, your true sponsor, the result would always be the same:
your ruin. Covertly I warned you not to sign; you laughed and signed.
A trap was there, your own hand opened it. How they must have
laughed at you! If you attempt to repudiate your signature the Diet has
power to overrule you.
"Truly, the shade of Macchiavelli masks in the garb of your cousin. I
admire the man's genius. This is his throne by right of inheritance. I do
not blame him. Only, I wish to save you. If you were alone, why, I do
not say that I should trouble myself, for you yourself would not be
troubled. But I have grown to love that child of yours. It is all for her.
Do you now understand why I make the request? It appears Quixotic?

Not at all. Put my money in jeopardy? Not while the kingdom exists. If
you can not pay back, your kingdom will. Perhaps you ask what is the
difference, whether I or the duke becomes your creditor? This: in ten
years I shall be happy to