CHAPTER XXXIX - THE PRINCE DISAPPEARS

It was late, but the events of the last few days had completely disorganised the social system of Velia, and in the neighbourhood of the Baths and Gymnasium a crowd of restless, dissatisfied people still lingered, discussing the one engrossing subject, refusing to separate until some feasible scheme of action had been devised. They had lost the Queen and Vedrona, but they were determined to know how, by whom, and why. That Glarces was guilty they would not believe, but that he had fallen a victim to some inhuman conspiracy they were equally assured. As to the moving spirit in this act of treachery, they had no information, but, failing knowledge, they held a fairly vigorous suspicion, and a determination to see the mystery solved was hourly strengthening in the public mind. The intimations which had fallen from Glarces in the morning had encouraged confidence, and while the Queen had been too busily engaged with the affairs of the palace to take cognisance of, or interest in, matters outside, men and women had ventured to discuss opinions with their intimates, and circles had gradually widened until the whole city had practically congregated to command justice on behalf of the Prince and themselves.

It was after midnight, and the Queen, while waiting for Casca to answer her summons, stepped from her room to the porch of the palace to enjoy the cool night air. The murmur from the city and the lights at once attracted her attention. She had no need to question as to the meaning, but the thought was unpleasant - disquieting. Well might she assure Tasha of her inability to tell who were friends or foes, when it was possible for such a movement to arise and she not be apprised of its origin and progress.

At this moment Casca presented himself.

“What is the meaning of this commotion?” enquired the Queen.

“The people are finishing up the interrupted revels, most mighty Queen.”

“Have a care, my lord. I am in no mood for drollery or treachery - especially from you. Call Petronius.”

The captain was happily near at hand.

“What strange noise is this I hear from the city, my good Petronius?” she asked.

“Some one has roused them into discontent, O Queen, in an attempt to defend the Prince.”

“Against whom?” “That I cannot learn.”

“But why was not their wish reported to me? In this you have been negligent, my trusty Casca. I am as anxious as themselves to have the Prince cleared of these unworthy rumours with which suspicion has accused him. The enquiry shall be held at once upon the morrow. Go, summon the Council to meet upon the second watch, and let the public be admitted. Bid them hide nothing - fear nothing! Let all who can give evidence be patiently heard, for I would have my brother's innocence established as I would have my own. Will this be enough to still this outrage on the night?” she asked of the officer.

“If the Queen will also command that the proclamation shall be made at once from the Baths,” he answered.

“Your advice is excellent. Let it be done forthwith. And after that Casca will return to learn my wishes in the matter.”

It was as the captain thought, the announcement at once satisfied the people, who retired in order to prepare for the enquiry which had been so hurriedly and unexpectedly commanded.

The great hall of the palace, in which the Queen had directed the court to be held, was already full, and eager crowds of disappointed citizens thronged the peristyle, atrium, and porch. Others found what gratification was obtainable in grouping themselves in the gardens to discuss this unforeseen concession by the Queen in the light of their previous suspicion concerning her.

For the moment the situation had assumed a most ludicrous aspect, and every man was trying to escape there-from with what show of dignity was possible. Yesterday an imaginary judicial tug-of-war was initiated between Queen and people, under the auspices of popular opinion. The day had been occupied by the community in securing firm and advantageous positions, and taking such a grip of the rope as would secure victory in a first determined tug. By night all was in satisfactory readiness, and a preliminary tightening of the rope was attempted to test its strength, when - lo! the Queen had not accepted the challenge - had no intention or thought of doing so, but, on the contrary, was at one with the community, the great majority of whom went down in a most grotesque sprawl.

The ceremony of regaining the feet was truly burlesque. But what necessity to describe a scene so familiar? We have all at some time been players in the self-same pantomime, and know the excuses, explanations, and arguments by which we attempted to make it clear that we did not fall with the crowd, but only slipped in company with our friend because we did not wish to desert him altogether in his erroneous position. Of course, we knew from the beginning that he was wrong, and should not have been present at the unfortunate occurrence, only we were interested in getting him away. All this while we are busy brushing the mud from our own attire. It was just the same that morning in Velia; the anticipated contest proved to be abortive, and with one consent the whole city entered into a competition of imaginative prevarication in an attempt to establish the fact that no one among them had ever thought of suspecting the Queen.

In the midst of all these animated assurances, both inside and outside the palace, a rumour presently found its way which put an end to argument, and caused a consternation equal, if not greater, to the announcement of Vedrona's death.

Glarces was gone.

Where? Ah, that was the mystery!

The discovery had been made much earlier in the morning by the attendant who had taken the place of Orasus.

He had at once called in the guard, who summoned Petronius, and the information was sent to the Queen. The news instantly recalled to her mind the words of the Prince's farewell last night, and she understood them now in a sense she failed to realise then.

Absolute secrecy was commanded until the palace had been searched and the guard who had been on duty most rigorously examined. It was all of no avail. Glarces had gone - vanished; in no other way was it possible for him to elude the guard.

When the fact was finally and indisputably established, it was pitiful to see the condition of the Queen, who took to herself all the blame and responsibility for this new and crowning catastrophe. Machaon, who had privately interviewed the Prince, had assured her that he was not responsible for his actions. This opinion was shared by Tasha, and her own experience had served to confirm it. The words of his farewell rung in her ears like an accusation from the gods; yet she had allowed him to escape, and fling the gates of the future open to a thousand possibilities she could neither anticipate nor prepare for.

Presently the Council were in readiness to open the enquiry, and Casca - who was already acquainted with the secret - waited upon the Queen with a request for the Prince's presence.

She answered the summons in person. In her mingled grief and fear she threw aside all restraints of ceremony and formality; nothing but the wildest abandonment could afford her scope and room in the storm of feeling which by this time had broke upon her. If there was anything majestic to be found in her appearance as she burst into the hall, it was the majesty of terror with which she flung herself on her knees before the judges and cried - like an abject criminal suing for mercy

“There is no Prince! He's gone - he's gone!”

Then she dropped speechless, while the hush and pallor of death fell on all around.

Teresh was the first to recover himself.

“What is the meaning of this - do you understand? “ he enquired of the captain.

The officer then stood forth and made a full explanation of the affair so far as he could interpret it, adding that the Council had not been previously informed by the Queen's command, since it was impossible the Prince could have left the palace without observation, and it was anticipated that his hiding-place would be discovered in time to meet the enquiry.

Nothing more could be gathered from Petronius, but Machaon volunteered the information that the condition of the Prince was such as to cause the gravest alarm, and he suggested the advisability of recourse to the oracle as the readiest means of recovering him, since what had transpired was to his mind the work and influence of such agencies as only the gods have power to control.

Meshrac supported this advice. The night through which they had just passed was one singularly propitious to malignant shades with which the mind of Glarces might inadvertently be in peculiar sympathy. He, therefore, suggested an adjournment of the enquiry while the oracle should be consulted, during which time search parties should be sent to cover the whole valley and hills in every direction, if perchance the Prince might be found.