“Still,” Conrad interrupted, “I ’ave publicly proclaimed you Maria Lalena and Queen of Alaria. If I now declare I made a mistake—it is awkward.”
“Very,” she agreed. “I throw myself contritely on your mercy, and beg that since you have committed sins yourself, posing as the Black Ghost, and imprisoning King Bela, you will pardon and help me.” She turned on him her melting glance, but this time it did not remind me of Parisian pastry. It was sweet, but honest.
“I will most certainly pardon and ’elp you,” he promised, going over to her. “But the sins you ’ave named will always be my greatest pride. They ’ave saved my country from revolution. Shall I explain? It might be as well, I think. We are all friends ’ere and even Count Visichich is ignorant of a few things that ’ave taken place. Not that I keep anything from ’im, but that there was no time for explanations.
“First, I will state that I am the only man in Alaria who can see the country through this storm. You ’ave discovered that I ’ave been the Black Ghost. That was my idea, but the part ’as been played by all of us, even by the Countess Katerina Visichich.”
John interrupted to say, “yes, but I recognised her in Vorgo. It should be done by a man.”
“Ah?” said Conrad. “You are the first who ’as done that.” He continued, “After the accession of Bela I saw that something must be done. I considered the possibilities and decided that the legend of the Black Ghost was the only one that offered a sure way to the loyalties of the people. There ’ave always been communities of semi-bandits in the mountains. When they were attacked they simply separated and ’id until their attackers tired themselves out. They burned charcoal part of the time, and were a continual but rather petty annoyance to travellers through the Pass, and to neighboring villages. It is because of them that Visichich manor is so well fortified. Like most mountaineers they were backward, illiterate, fierce in loyalties and ’ates, and very superstitious. I donned the dress of Fakat Zol, and went among them with more money than they ’ad seen in a ’undred years, and won them easily. I drilled them, gave them medical care, repaired their fortresses, and made them the nucleus of a real power. That power must continue. It is the greatest and most loyal force we ’ave.” He paused. “I am talking a great deal,” he apologised with a smile, “I beg your pardon. I confess I am a little proud of my secret soldiery.”
He paused again, and then went on. “You will wish to understand about Bela’s imprisonment. It was necessary to remove Bela. I could not quite bring myself to murder ’im, though since he ’ad tried three times to murder me, it would ’ave been justified. I am not afraid to kill men for revenge, or for another’s benefit, per’aps, but I am too much a Royalist to kill my King that I might mount ’is throne myself. To imprison ’im for my own safety and the peace of Alaria was a different matter. With Count Visichich I arranged the coup very elaborately. ’e would appear to ’ave been thrown down a precipice, and the body at the bottom would be found dressed in ’is clothes, complete, but the face too crushed for recognition. The friends with whom ’e ’unted that day would ’ave separated from ’im all but two, and those two were badly in debt. They are now in Switzerland, and receive an allowance from me so they will be silent. Bela was to stay quietly in Visichich Manor until ’is beard grew long enough so that with ’is mustache cut shorter and a tonsure ’e would not be easily recognised. Then I should ’ave ’im taken to one of the mountain castles, where ’e would be surrounded by as many books and wines and phonographs as ’e wished. We would say ’e was a mad monk, and that would explain all he said. It was a perfect plan, but I fear that my friends and I are not good jailors. We lack experience. You gentlemen,” he smiled at us amusedly, “would probably ’ave shown a natural aptitude for such a problem. I wish I ’ad known you in time. May I inquire whether your facility in escaping is the result of much experience or are you untrained geniuses?”
“I fear we must immodestly claim genius,” John admitted.
“’owever,” Prince Conrad considered, still smiling, “you are Americans, and I ’ave been informed that lawbreaking and the related arts enjoy a great vogue in that remarkable country.”
John grinned back at him. “Yes,” he admitted, “we have an innate love of swashbuckling for which our more conventional forms of endeavor offer no outlet.”