A Son of the Immortals
By LOUIS TRACY
Author of "The Stowaway," "The Message," "The Wings of the Morning," etc.
Illustrations by HOWARD CHANDLER CHRISTY
New York Edward J. Clode Publisher
Copyright, 1909, by EDWARD J. CLODE
Entered at Stationers' Hall
[Illustration: The sight of Alec and his fair burden brought a cheer from the crowd Frontispiece]
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. THE FORTUNE TELLER 1 II. MONSEIGNEUR 22 III. IN THE ORIENT EXPRESS 44 IV. THE WHITE CITY 64 V. FELIX SURMOUNTS A DIFFICULTY 89 VI. JOAN GOES INTO SOCIETY 112 VII. JOAN BECOMES THE VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCES 132 VIII. SHOWING HOW THE KING KEPT HIS APPOINTMENT 154 IX. MUTTERINGS OF STORM 176 X. WHEREIN THE SHADOWS DEEPEN 196 XI. JOAN DECIDES 221 XII. THE STORM BREAKS 241 XIII. WHEREIN A REASON IS GIVEN FOR JOAN'S FLIGHT 263 XIV. THE BROKEN TREATY 284 XV. THE ENVOY 310
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
The sight of Alec and his fair burden brought a cheer from the crowd _Frontispiece_
PAGE
"Gentlemen, here stands Alexis Delgrado" 75 Beaumanoir and Felix fortified the position 153 Joan laughed at Alec's masterful methods 199 Stampoff saluted the King in silence 268 In a few minutes the three were securely bound 298 He felt the thrill that ran through her veins 306
A SON OF THE IMMORTALS
CHAPTER I
THE FORTUNE TELLER
On a day in May, not so long ago, Joan Vernon, coming out into the sunshine from her lodging in the Place de la Sorbonne, smiled a morning greeting to the statue of Auguste Comte, founder of Positivism. It would have puzzled her to explain what Positivism meant, or why it should be merely positive and not stoutly comparative or grandly superlative. As a teacher, therefore, Comte made no appeal. She just liked the bland look of the man, was pleased by the sleekness of his white marble. He seemed to be a friend, a counselor, strutting worthily on a pedestal labeled "_Ordre et Progres_"; for Joan was an artist, not a philosopher.
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: A Son of the Immortals by Louis Tracy
- 2: But the cabaret had its customers
- 3: Bagatelle is near the polo ground in the Bois
- 4: Alec isn't mother's darling for Alexis
- 5: When he learned why Delgrado was patronizing the arts
- 6: Have you forgotten how Rudin introduced me
- 7: The Prince and Princess Michael Delgrado
- 8: Like the gourd along the ground
- 9: Joan swung round to her picture
- 10: CHAPTER IIMONSEIGNEUR The Wanderers beat Chantilly
- 11: Delgrado ran the gauntlet of congratulations
- 12: Recognition of his undoubted rank had
- 13: Prince Michael looked at him fixedly
- 14: It was on guard at the Schwarzburg
- 15: Stampoff was on his feet instantly
- 16: And Julius Marulitch was waxen
- 17: General Stampoff standing on the hearthrug
- 18: For he was sure he would become King of Kosnovia
- 19: He wondered how Joan would take his great news
- 20: Alec gave her a five franc piece
- 21: Beliani was no stranger to him
- 22: The name was that on the passport
- 23: After dinner Stampoff found him
- 24: If the butchers of the Schwarzburg are to form my cohort
- 25: They and their like are the curse of Kosnovia
- 26: You can trust Bosko with your life
- 27: The various factions in Delgratz had declared a truce
- 28: And Stampoff went into the corridor
- 29: Nesimir hastily ordered a servant to close the outer door
- 30: Kosnovia should be governed by a constitutional King
- 31: But there was an awkward moment when Nesimir
- 32: And a deputy from the Shumadia
- 33: Never was Kingdom won so easily
- 34: Who was breakfasting with Nesimir
- 35: Was arrested at Semlin this morning
- 36: Baron von Rothstein thought silence was best
- 37: At last Marulitch flung the paper aside with an angry snarl
- 38: Provided Stampoff keeps a still tongue
- 39: Delgratz is the nerve center now
- 40: Marulitch made straight for the Louvre
- 41: A Byzantine study of Saint Peter
- 42: Ask some one who has heard of Felix Poluski
- 43: Now give me the railway timetable
- 44: Thereby giving Poluski the exact information he needed
- 45: Because he believes that Alec is infatuated about you
- 46: Alec had not said much in his letter
- 47: By that time she would be in Delgratz
- 48: Their talk dealt with art and artists
- 49: What will Princess Delgrado think
- 50: That is how Alec won his throne
- 51: Went on Poluski when the man had gone
- 52: Are you traveling beyond Vienna
- 53: Monsieur Monsieur Felix Poluski
- 54: And does he know that you are coming to Delgratz
- 55: You'll hear me singing in Delgratz
- 56: Now that Alec is firmly established
- 57: Who had stood up in the carriage
- 58: Stout Nesimir met his unexpected guests cordially
- 59: You know far more than Giotto about Saint Peter
- 60: He strolled out into Fuerst Michaelstrasse
- 61: And within ten minutes Felix was back in his nook
- 62: Now he rides through Delgratz like a courier
- 63: Beaumanoir dismounted leisurely
- 64: Say that Felix Poluski sent you
- 65: For Alec had asked no questions
- 66: But Felix happened to be watching Bosko
- 67: That man of yours is Bosko his name
- 68: Who must be Lord Adalbert Beaumanoir
- 69: Beaumanoir twisted his head round and grinned
- 70: He whirled round on Beaumanoir
- 71: Beaumanoir gave an extra wrench
- 72: Stampoff heard him and looked up
- 73: Approached Stampoff and wrung his hand
- 74: What will Prince and Princess Delgrado say now
- 75: The restoration of the Delgrado line
- 76: Vowed Drakovitch in his emphatic story to Felix
- 77: Especially when I told him Monsieur Poluski sent me
- 78: And Prince Delgrado stood for an instant on the stairs
- 79: The King of Kosnovia must marry a Serb
- 80: That Alec Delgrado might have married your young friend
- 81: Delgrado shot a baleful glance at the hunchback
- 82: Then my son did not know you were in Delgratz
- 83: For Alec at once turned in the saddle
- 84: Beaumanoir seemed to weigh the point
- 85: Prince Michael and Alec had the pull of me there
- 86: Beaumanoir winked brazenly at her
- 87: Seemed to accept the inevitable
- 88: An art student of the type of Miss Vernon
- 89: Beliani listened with a rapt attention
- 90: Yet passports are useless there
- 91: Stampoff driving with my mother
- 92: Placid and contented as Delgratz looks
- 93: It chanced that morning that Alec had taken a holiday
- 94: For Joan was no neurotic subject
- 95: You say you are leaving Delgratz to night
- 96: Felix grew round eyed with amazement
- 97: The Pole's next words were tender and soothing
- 98: From that instant Felix urged her no more
- 99: Joan and Felix occupied separate carriages
- 100: Alec himself is not a member of the national church
- 101: And Alec must never know what you have done for him
- 102: Why do you harp on Austria in this connection
- 103: This attack on Joan was premeditated
- 104: But Stampoff was not to be placated
- 105: Delgratz is not Kosnovia Rubbish
- 106: Alec was stung beyond endurance
- 107: Bosko and the soldier left the room
- 108: Alec was disinclined for a heavy meal
- 109: The frightened Frenchwoman dared not speak or move
- 110: Their Excellencies the Prince and Princess Delgrado
- 111: And Monsieur Nesimir are in the building
- 112: While Beliani and Marulitch strove
- 113: He guessed rightly that Stampoff had not failed him
- 114: Was it you who drove Joan from Delgratz
- 115: Did Stampoff make you the agent of his hellish work
- 116: Monsieur Nesimir will do nothing of the kind
- 117: Stampoff and your mother and I
- 118: He had never respected Michael Delgrado
- 119: Princess Delgrado had flung herself forward on the table
- 120: And after them there is no Delgrado
- 121: Stampoff rose and silently wrung Alec's hand
- 122: Lord Adalbert never hurried unless he was on horseback
- 123: Go to my mother's suite and tell Bosko I want him instantly
- 124: Beliani was the first to enter
- 125: He had brought little into Kosnovia
- 126: Passenger from Delgratz to Paris
- 127: Left Delgratz seven hours later than you
- 128: In a calmer moment Alec told Joan what had happened
- 129: Beaumanoir grabbed him by the collar
- 130: And had not yet returned to Delgratz
- 131: It was sheer selfishness that drove me from Kosnovia
- 132: And Bosko went to the front door
- 133: So Denver heard wild snatches of song