The Sign Of Flame Part 42

CHAPTER x.x.xIX.

After some hours the two friends were alone together in Wallmoden's study. The latter had just made the unavoidable as well as painful disclosure. He had told the Colonel under what circ.u.mstances Rojanow was in the city, and had unveiled to him uncompromisingly everything he knew of Hartmut's life and that of his mother, finally informing him of her death.

He had feared this hour, but the result was quite different from what he had expected. Mutely Falkenried leaned against the window with folded arms and listened to the long explanations, without interrupting by a word or gesture. His face remained cold and impa.s.sive; no quiver, no motion betrayed that he heard those things which must bring anguish to his heart. He was now also "a man of stone."

"I believed I owed these explanations to you," concluded the Amba.s.sador finally. "If I have kept what I knew of the fate of the two from you so long, it was done solely that you might not be tortured unnecessarily with what was hard enough for you to overcome. But you had to learn now what has happened, and how matters stand at present."

The Colonel retained his position and his voice betrayed no mental excitement as he replied:

"I thank you for your good will, but you could have spared yourself these explanations. What is that adventurer to me?"

Wallmoden looked up amazed; he had not expected such a response.

"I thought it necessary to prepare you for the possibility of meeting him," he returned. "As you have heard, Rojanow now plays an important role; he is celebrated everywhere. The Duke is deeply wrapped up in him. You might meet him at the castle."

"And what then? I do not know anybody by the name of Rojanow, and he will not dare to know me. We should pa.s.s each other as strangers."

The Amba.s.sador's gaze rested searchingly upon Falkenried's features as if to fathom this real coldness or incomprehensible self-command.

"I thought you would receive the news of the reappearance of your son very differently," he said, half aloud.

For the first time he intentionally used this t.i.tle; hitherto he had merely said Rojanow. But now, for the first time also, an emotion was visible in the calm figure at the window. But it was an emotion of anger.

"I have no son--remember that, Wallmoden. He died to me that night at Burgsdorf, and the dead do not rise."

Wallmoden was silent; the Colonel approached him and laid his hand heavily upon his arm.

"You said just now that it was your duty to enlighten the Duke, and that you had not done so solely out of consideration for me. I have, indeed, but one thing to guard in the world--the honor of my name--which, through that exposition, would be at the mercy of the world's raillery and scorn. Do what you think you must do--I shall not hinder you. But--I shall also do what I have to do."

His voice sounded as cold as before, but it contained something so awful that the Amba.s.sador started up in affright.

"Falkenried, for heaven's sake, what do you mean? How am I to interpret those words?"

"As you like. You diplomats define honor differently at times from us.

I am very one-sided about it."

"I shall keep silence inviolably, I pledge you my word," a.s.sured Wallmoden, who did not understand the last bitter hint, for he had no idea of Adelaide's confession. "I had decided on that before you came; the name of Falkenried shall not be sacrificed by me."

"Enough, and now no more of it. You have prepared the Duke for what I bring?" asked Falkenried, pa.s.sing on to an entirely different subject after a short pause. "What has he to say to it?"

Here again was the old iron, unbending will, which put aside all questioning; but the sudden change seemed to be acceptable to the Amba.s.sador. He was, here as well as elsewhere, the wise diplomat who dreaded nothing so much as public exposure, and who would never have thought of exposing Hartmut, had he not feared that by a possible leaking out of the truth later and of his knowledge of it, it might be counted against him. Now, in the worst case, he could cover himself with the promise he had given the father. Even the Duke must acknowledge that he--Wallmoden--had had to spare his friend. The shrewd Herbert knew how to calculate here, too.

The stay of Colonel Falkenried was only of short duration, and during the time he had no rest. Audience with the Duke--conferences with high military dignitaries, communications with his own emba.s.sy--all were crowded within a few days.

Wallmoden was hardly less occupied, until finally everything was settled. The Amba.s.sador, and especially Colonel Falkenried, had reason to be satisfied with the results, for everything had been successful that was expected and desired by their government, and they could be sure of the highest appreciation at home.

Only the most nearly connected circles knew that something important was going on, and even in these circles only a few knew the full importance of the conferences. Scarcely anything was noticed in public, which, therefore, occupied itself only the more with its present favorite, the poet of Arivana, whose incomprehensible behavior made him so much more interesting in the Residenz.

Almost immediately after that brilliant triumph of his work he had withdrawn from all praise and homage, and had gone into "forest solitude," as Prince Adelsberg laughingly informed all questioners.

Where this solitude was, n.o.body learned. Egon a.s.sured them that he had given his word not to betray the place of his friend's seclusion, for he needed rest after all his excitement, but would return in a few days. n.o.body knew that Hartmut was at Rodeck.

Within the week, one cold winter morning, the carriage of Herr von Wallmoden stood at his palace door. It seemed to be preparing for a long excursion, for servants were carrying furs and travelling rugs to it, while upstairs in the room where they had just breakfasted, the Amba.s.sador was taking leave of Colonel Falkenried.

"Until to-morrow evening, _auf wiedersehen_," he was saying as he shook hands. "We shall be back by that time without fail, and you will surely remain a few days longer?"

"Yes, since the Duke wishes it so particularly," answered the Colonel.

"I have so reported it to Berlin, and my report left on the same train that carried yours."

"Yes, I believe they will be satisfied with these reports; but it has been a hot time. We had no rest all those days. Now, fortunately, everything is arranged, and I can afford to absent myself for twenty-four hours to drive to Ostwalden with Adelaide."

"Ostwalden is the name of your new country home? I remember that you spoke of it yesterday. Where is it situated?"

"About two miles from Furstenstein. Schonan drew my attention to it while we were with him and I looked at the place at that time. It is rather an extensive possession in the famous Wald, beautifully situated, but the price was too high at first, which has delayed the settlement. We have but now come to a final understanding."

"I believe Ada is not quite satisfied with your selection. She seems to have something against the vicinity of Furstenstein," interrupted Falkenried, but the Amba.s.sador only shrugged his shoulders carelessly.

"A caprice, nothing more. At first Adelaide was quite delighted with Ostwalden, but later she raised all sorts of objections--but I cannot pay any attention to that. I shall probably remain there for considerable periods, as I no longer like to travel far in the summer.

A country seat which is only four hours removed from town is therefore of great value to me. The castle itself is in rather a dilapidated condition at present, but something can be made of it. With appropriate changes and additions it can be made a really superb residence, and I intend doing that. I shall therefore look it over carefully, so that the plans can be finished as soon as possible. I have not been there as yet since I bought it."

He made his statements with much evident satisfaction over his plans.

Herbert von Wallmoden, who had originally possessed only a limited fortune, and was compelled to expend it with great care, had suddenly found it necessary to buy a sumptuous place in town, where he lived only temporarily, and to have a princely villa for his summer residence. But he did not find it necessary to consider the wishes of his wife, whose wealth made it possible to him to play the great land-owner.

Falkenried may have had such ideas while listening, but he did not speak of them. He had turned graver and stonier, if possible, in the last few days, and if he really asked a question or made a remark during the conversation, one could see it was but mechanical, and because he had to say something.

Only when Adelaide entered, perfectly equipped for the journey, he arose promptly and offered his arm to lead her to the carriage. He lifted her in, and Wallmoden, who followed her, leaned once more from the carriage door. "We shall a.s.suredly return to-morrow. Au revoir."

Falkenried bowed and stepped back; It was indifferent to him whether he saw the friend of his youth again. This, too, had lost its interest; but when he ascended the steps, he murmured half aloud; "Poor Ada, she deserved a better fate!"

CHAPTER XL.

In the meanwhile everything pursued its usual course at Furstenstein.

Willibald had been there a week. He had arrived two days later than had been expected, but the injury to his hand was the cause of that.

According to his explanation it had happened through his own carelessness, and the hand was already rapidly getting well.

The Chief Forester found that his future son-in-law had changed much for the better during the short intervening time of his absence, and that he had become much more earnest and decided; and he remarked to his daughter with the highest satisfaction: "I believe that w.i.l.l.y is only now commencing to be human. One notices directly when his lady mamma is not standing commandingly at his side."

But Herr von Schonan did not have much time at his disposal to notice the engaged couple, as he was at present overwhelmed with official duties. The Duke had ordered several changes in the forest government to be made according to the suggestions of the Chief Forester, who was now zealously occupied in executing all of them.