Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 266: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A DASH FOR A THRONE, 259 then requested Von Natuheim’s presence. At first he would not come; and then I sent the captain to tell him exactly what I meant to do; and that if he did not come, every man and woman in the place would be warned to take no orders from him under pain of instant dismissal. Von Krugen carried the message with glee, and it roused the count to such anger that he came at once ina fury. Without giving him time to speak, I said : “T sent for you, Count von Nauheim, because these good people here are in some difficulty as to where they are to look for orders. Will you explain to them that although the prince has left his fortune to his daughter, the castle passes to me with the headship of the house, and that as at times like these there can be only one master, they must take their orders from me, and that where any instructions clash with mine, they must be referred to me? ” | He eyed me angrily, but could not dispute what I implied. ‘Iam no mouthpiece for you,” he answered sullenly. “I have been ac- customed to control matters here, for an obvious reason known to every one— because I have the honor to be the Countess Minna’s affianced husband. What object, then, have you for any change? ”’ “ Will you tell them what I have said, or will you compel me to issue per- emptory orders, and cancel openly what you have done?” I asked in a quick, resolute tone, but low enough to be heard only by him. “If you dare to humiliate me in that way——” he began. | “Quick, decide,” I interposed sharply. ‘“ There can’t be two masters here.” : He hesitated, glancing first at, and then away from me, while I kept my eyes fixed steadily on his face. “ Quick,” I repeated sternly. “ Curse you; I’ll make you pay for this,” he swore under his breath, with a vicious scowl. Then aloud: “ Of course you people will understand that for the moment the present prince here is your master,” and with a wave of the hand he indicated me. He did it as ungraciously as he dared, and as soon as he had finished he left. the room. The effect of the incident was twofold; it strengthened my authority in the castle, and made it more difficult than ever for me to draw back. But I had no thought now of doing that. I felt that I had cut off my retreat; and although I would much rather have told the Countess Minna exactly what my position was, any such candor was, for the moment at least, quite out of the question. Of the girl herself I saw nothing during the next few days, and I passed the time absorbing all the information I could get, and trying to form a plan of campaign. I guessed that nothing would be done by the agents of the Ostenburg family until a sufficient time had elapsed after the prince’s funeral to make it plain what we intended to do; and I judged that their next move would be de- termined by our own acts. The funeral took place and directly afterwards Von Nauheim left the GONG OOO UN ceo