|
||||||||
Hes not in Paris now, is he? I asked. Oh no! Hes gone back to be present at the Kings coronation; a ceremony which, I should say, hell not enjoy much. But, Bert, old man, dont despair! He wont marry the fair Antoinetteat least, not unless another plan comes to nothing. Still perhaps she He paused and added, with a laugh: Royal attentions are hard to resistyou know that, dont you, Rudolf? Confound you! said I; and rising, I left the hapless Bertram in Georges hands and went home to bed. The next day George Featherly went with me to the station, where I took a ticket for Dresden. Going to see the pictures? asked George, with a grin. George is an inveterate gossip, and had I told him that I was off to Ruritania, the news would have been in London in three days and in Park Lane in a week. I was, therefore, about to return an evasive answer, when he saved my conscience by leaving me suddenly and darting across the platform. Following him with my eyes, I saw him lift his hat and accost a graceful, fashionably dressed woman who had just appeared from the booking-office. She was, perhaps, a year or two over thirty, tall, dark, and of rather full figure. As George talked, I saw her glance at me, and my vanity was hurt by the thought that, muffled in a fur coat and a neck-wrapper (for it was a chilly April day) and wearing a soft travelling hat pulled down to my ears, I must be looking very far from my best. A moment later, George rejoined me. Youve got a charming travelling companion, he said. Thats poor Bert Bertrands goddess, Antoinette de Mauban, and, like you, shes going to Dresdenalso, no doubt, to see the pictures. Its very queer, though, that she doesnt at present desire the honour of your acquaintance. I didnt ask to be introduced, I observed, a little annoyed. Well, I offered to bring you to her; but she said, Another time. Never mind, old fellow, perhaps therell be a smash, and youll have a chance of rescuing her and cutting out the Duke of Strelsau! No smash, however, happened, either to me or to Madame de Mauban. I can speak for her as confidently as for myself; for when, after a nights rest in Dresden, I continued my journey, she got into the same train. Understanding that she wished to be let alone, I avoided her carefully, but I saw that she went the same way as I did to the very end of my journey, and I took opportunities of having a good look at her, when I could do so unobserved. As soon as we reached the Ruritanian frontier (where the old officer who presided over the Custom House favoured me with such a stare that I felt surer than before of my Elphberg physiognomy), I bought the papers, and found in them news which affected my movements. For some reason, which was not clearly explained, and seemed to be something of a mystery, the date of the coronation had been suddenly advanced, and the ceremony was to take place on the next day but one. The whole country seemed in a stir about it, and it was evident that Strelsau was thronged. Rooms were all let and hotels overflowing; there would be very little chance of my obtaining a lodging, and I should certainly have to pay an exorbitant charge for it. I made up my mind to stop at Zenda, a small town fifty miles short of the capital, and about ten from the frontier. My train reached there in the evening; I would spend the next day, Tuesday, in a wander over the hills, which were said to be very fine, and in taking a glance at the famous Castle, and go over by train to Strelsau on the Wednesday morning, returning at night to sleep at Zenda. Accordingly at Zenda I got out, and as the train passed where I stood on the platform, I saw my friend Madame de Mauban in her place; clearly she was going through to Strelsau, having, with more providence than I could boast, secured apartments there. I smiled to think how surprised George Featherly would have been to know that she and I had been fellow travellers for so long. |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Copyright: All texts on Bibliomania are © Bibliomania.com Ltd, and may not be reproduced in any form without our written permission. See our FAQ for more details. | ||||||||