"With your majesty's permission I will withdraw," said the Serbian, "and transmit Lutha's proposition to my gov-ernment; but I may say that your majesty need have no apprehension but that a Serbian army corps will be crossing into Lutha before noon today.""And now, Prince Ludwig," said the American after the Serbian had bowed himself out of the apartment, "I sug-gest that you take immediate steps to entrench a strong force north of Lustadt along the road to Blentz."Von der Tann smiled as he replied. "It is already done, sire," he said.
"But I passed in along the road this morning," said Bar-ney, "and saw nothing of such preparations."
"The trenches and the soldiers were there, nevertheless, sire," replied the old man, "only a little gap was left on either side of the highway that those who came and went might not suspect our plans and carry word of them to the Austrians. A few hours will complete the link across the road.""Good! Let it be completed at once. Here is Count Zel-lerndorf now," as the minister was announced.
Von der Tann bowed himself out as the Austrian entered the king's presence. For the first time in two years the chancellor felt that the destiny of Lutha was safe in the hands of her king. What had caused the metamorphosis in Leopold he could not guess. He did not seem to be the same man that had whined and growled at their last audi-ence a week before.
The Austrian minister entered the king's presence with an expression of ill-concealed surprise upon his face. Two days before he had left Leopold safely ensconced at Blentz, where he was to have remained indefinitely. He glanced hurriedly about the room in search of Prince Peter or an-other of the conspirators who should have been with the king. He saw no one. The king was speaking. The Austrian's eyes went wider, not only at the words, but at the tone of voice.
"Count Zellerndorf," said the American, "you were doubt-less aware of the embarrassment under which the king of Lutha was compelled at Blentz to witness the entry of a foreign army within his domain. But we are not now at Blentz. We have summoned you that you may receive from us, and transmit to your emperor, the expression of our surprise and dismay at the unwarranted violation of Luth-anian neutrality."
"But, your majesty--" interrupted the Austrian.
"But nothing, your excellency," snapped the American.
"The moment for diplomacy is passed; the time for action has come. You will oblige us by transmitting to your govern-ment at once a request that every Austrian soldier now in Lutha be withdrawn by noon tomorrow."Zellerndorf looked his astonishment.
"Are you mad, sire?" he cried. "It will mean war!""It is what Austria has been looking for," snapped the American, "and what people look for they usually get, es-pecially if they chance to be looking for trouble. When can you expect a reply from Vienna?""By noon, your majesty," replied the Austrian, "but are you irretrievably bound to your present policy? Remember the power of Austria, sire. Think of your throne. Think--""We have thought of everything," interrupted Barney.
"A throne means less to us than you may imagine, count;but the honor of Lutha means a great deal."