On the Night of the Seventh Moon

“Yes, and taking it to the palace. Sergeant Franck was telling me about it.”

“I shall look forward to seeing it in use. I hope nobody tries to steal it,” Dagobert looked excited.

“If they did I’d run after them.

I’d kill them. I’d get it back. “

“Single-handed?” I asked.

“All by myself,” went on Dagobert.

“Then the Duke would send for me and he’d say you’re my true son and you’ll come before Carl...

“Poor Carl!” I said lightly.

“It’s hard on him. After all, to be set aside because he didn’`t recapture the cross. Is that fair?”

“Nothing’s fair,” said Dagobert.

“My father could be the Prince.

“Now,” said Frau Graben comfortably, ‘that’s enough of that talk, Dagobert. The Prince is the Duke’s son and true heir and little Carl the heir to follow him. That’s how it’s been arranged. You’re getting more like your father every day. Oh look, here’s the beginning. My word, don’t the soldiers look fine in their uniforms! “

They did indeed; the brightly caparisoned horses with their waving plumes; the blue and gold uniforms and the glitter of helmets; the marching tunes of the band; the waving flags. The crowd was reduced to a momentary hush. Then the cheers broke out.

On came the brilliant cavalcade and behind it members of the church in the long black and white robes. A soldier on horseback held the Processional Cross. It scintillated in the bright light; the emeralds, rubies and sapphires shone and the diamond sparkled with red and blue fire. This was the way in which to see it. I recognized Sergeant Franck riding on one side of it; there was another stalwart soldier on the other.

The silence as the cross passed could only be construed as an awed hush.

After the cross came the ducal coach. It was not unlike the pictures I had seen of our queen’s coach, elaborately gilded and drawn by eight white horses. There was the Duke and on one side of him the Prince and on the other the woman whom I had seen at the pavilion and who had reminded me of Ilse.

I hardly saw the Duke, nor the Princess. I felt as though I had stepped back into a mad fantastic dream. I stared; for there, seated between the Duke and the Princess, was Maximilian.

FIVE

Frau Graben was saying, “Are you all right, Miss Trant? My goodness, you do look queer. Is it the heat?”

I’m all right,” I said.

The sound of brass bands seemed a long way off; the crowds below me seemed to sway; I looked at the goose-stepping soldiers without really seeing them.

I could never mistake him. I knew him too well. In his uniform he looked more splendid than he had in the woods. But I would have known him in any costume.

I sat there, aware of Frau Graben’s anxious glances which were somehow eager and excited. I was sure she knew that it was something more than the heat which had disturbed me.

The crowds were sweeping forward; the ducal party and its retinue had now gone into the church; the service was in progress.

Frau Graben had brought her smelling-salts from the capacious pocket of her skirts.

“Have a sniff of these, my dear,” she said.

“And, Fritzi, run and tell the innkeeper to come to me.”

I repeated: “I’m all right.” But my voice sounded strange, shaky.

“I think you felt a bit faint, dear. Would you like us to go back now or would you like to wait?”

Dagobert’s mouth was a round of protest. Liesel began to waiclass="underline" “I won’t go home.” Fritz looked at me anxiously.

“I want to stay,” I said.

Indeed I wanted to stay. I wanted to see him again. I wanted to assure myself that I had been right. I kept saying to myself: When you first saw the Count for a second or so you thought he was Maximilian.

Perhaps you`’ve been mistaken again. But no. I had not been. It was true I would know him anywhere; and the reason there was a resemblance between him and the Count was because they were cousins; they had been brought up together and it was not only their looks which were similar.

The innkeeper came and Frau Graben asked him for brandy. When it came she said: “Here, Miss Trant, sip this.

It’ll do you the world of good. “

“There’s nothing wrong,” I protested.

“I don’t think you’re right, dear.”

She was smiling, faintly complacent. She didn’`t seem to take her eyes from my face.

“There,” she said, when I had taken some brandy, ‘that’s better. “

I wanted to shout: It makes no difference. It’s not the heat. I’ve seen Maximilian and Maximilian is your Prince of Rochenstein.

The children were chattering.

“I liked the cross best.”

“I didn’`t. I liked the soldiers.”

“I liked the drums.”

“Did you see papa?”

“Papa was the best. He was the most handsome.”

And so on. I wished Frau Graben would not show such concern.

“Perhaps we should have left,” she whispered.

No, no. It’ll be all right. “

“It’s too late now. The crowd’s growing more dense. They’ll all be there till after the return procession back to the palace.”

The service was over at last. They rode through the streets. Once more I saw him. At one moment I thought that, as he acknowledged the shouts of the crowd, he would look up at our window, but he did not.

I felt dizzy and bewildered; but there was a great singing gladness in my heart. I had found Maximilian.

I was silent as Prinzstein, one of the coachmen, drove us back to Klocksburg.

When we arrived, Frau Graben said: “I should go and lie down, dear.

That’s the best thing after a turn like that. “

There was nothing I wanted to do so much as to be alone. My thoughts were in a whirl. I had to see him. I must let him know that I was here. Whatever had happened during those three days following the Night of the Seventh Moon I knew that it was the Prince whom I had met in the mist and that he was the father of my child.

Little scraps of Frau Graben’s conversation came back to me. Her boys had been ‘ones’ for the women; they had seen them and fancied them and let nothing stand in the way of their desires. She had impressed that upon me.

I was suddenly reminded of the Princess Wilhelmina - the woman who had a look of Ilse. His wife! But how could she be if he were married to me? Unless of course they had been married before. No, I remembered something Frau Graben had said. Four years ago the Prince had married . reluctantly . a woman who came from a more important state than Rochenstein. So it was a good match. They had a child, who had followed in one of the carriages. I had not noticed him. I could see nothing, think of nothing but Maximilian.

A great desolation came to me. It was nine years since we had met.

What place could I have in his life now?

But I must see him. I might mean nothing to him, but I must see him. I had to know what had happened to me during those six days of my life.

How did one see a Prince? One could not, I supposed, go to the schloss or the palace and ask to see him. Perhaps one asked for an audience.

My life was once more taking a dramatically fantastic turn.

Frau Graben was knocking at the door.

“Ah, lying down!” she said. That’s right. I’ve brought you some of my special wine. “

“You are very good,” I said.

“Stuff and nonsense.” She laughed as though something had secretly amused her.

“This will do you good. I made it myself. It’s made with dandelions and a touch of the sloe, but I’m not giving any more secrets away, not even to you, dear Miss Trant. Poor Fritzi’s very anxious about you. My goodness, you`’ve wormed your way into that boy’s heart-no mistake. And he’s not one to give his affection easily either. You frightened me.”