CHAPTER VI.
It had already been settled, some little time ago, that his Eminence Cardinal d’Orsay would leave Vienna on the day following—Thursday—to take two or three weeks’ relaxation from his diplomatic duties, under the strictest incognito, somewhere among the mountains of Bohemia. He had terminated his mission from his Holiness Leo XIII. to his Catholic and Apostolic Majesty Franz Jozef I. with that ease and tact which characterised all his Eminence’s methods of procedure, whether diplomatic or otherwise, and would presently be going to St. Petersburg also on a diplomatic mission, but one of a most intricate character, which would require all his Eminence’s skill and knowledge of the world and of that Imperial enigma—the Czar.
Iván Volenski had been kept incessantly at work all that day, ever since his Eminence had returned from Low Mass, classifying and arranging the diplomatic correspondence relating to the concluded mission, and preparing the documents that the Nuncio would require when, having returned from his well-earned holiday, he would be ready to start for St. Petersburg.
Iván had worked hard, chiefly to calm his agitation and force his mind to wander away from visions of various possible occurrences on the dreaded Russian frontier, which had haunted him during the night. Also he was anxious to conclude all his duties connected with the Legation; he was eager to start as soon as possible, to hand over the terrible responsibility of the papers, which already was weighing him down heavily.
It was late in the afternoon when his Eminence returned from his final leave-taking of his Majesty. Iván, who was waiting for him, noticed at once the look of annoyance that seemed to ruffle the Cardinal’s placid features.
“Cardinal proposes and Emperor disposes!” said his Eminence wearily, after he had with the greatest care deposited his precious burden on the table. “Iván, my son, I have bad news to tell you.”
“Bad news, your Eminence?”
“Don’t look so scared, my son; it is merely a matter of a great inconvenience and of a bitter disappointment. I shall not be able to go to Carlsbad to-morrow.”
“Oh?”
“No; I am to be Cupid’s messenger instead. Truly a novel form of diplomacy, even after my years of experience. And this,” added his Eminence, pointing to the bulky parcel on the table, “is the message I am to take.”