Posted: April 24th, 2008, 10:21 am
Chapter VI
Where Things Get Even Worse (End)
Tito didn't understand. He stayed beside her for long minutes waiting for an unforeseen event. His hand was in Bianca's; he was waiting for another misfortune to happen. And now he still doubted, fearing that Bianca's mind might be affected. She recovered and briefly in short sentences she told him what had happened with the Chancellor:
- I came to kill you… To kill Cassatti… This man discovered my project… he gave me the dagger… I had to kill you before two o'clock… Two has just struck; I am sure he is behind the door. Tito, don't go! Don't open this door, he is there, I can feel it.
As if she could look through the door, she stayed there, her eyes fixed on it as if she was waiting for death to come in. Tito went towards the door. She stopped him as he was about to open it:
- No, Tito, my love! Don't open it!
Then, calmer, understanding the danger, he came back to her. The former clown was always perfectly in control in the most difficult circumstances. He was a man used to fight and found some unsuspected resources when he was in danger. He asked again Bianca for some explanations. When she told him all the details, he reassured her with a smile:
- Do not worry, he said, they won't catch me this time.
Bianca felt better in front of such composure. As before, she felt calm and quiet like when they were preparing a new dangerous routine in front of the public. He used to tell her before coming on the ring of the Barretti circus:
- Do not worry, little girl! In ten minutes, you'll be the happiest artist in the world.
Again, Tito's smiling courage gave her some strength. She said:
- I'll do anything you ask me, Tito. I'll listen and follow you.
Then he replied simply:
- Let me do it.
They waited for a minute, silent, listening behind the door. Soon, Bianca's hand squeezed Tito's arm a bit more. He blinked indicating:
- Yes, I heard.
Somebody walked in the corridor and was approaching the door. Slowly the door knob turned and the door was ajar. Quickly, Tito took Bianca by the arm and went towards the person who was going to come in. The Chancellor, Count Arnoldi, nearly jumped when he saw the King's face only a few inches for him. He was so used to the Royal customs of respect that he murmured mechanically:
- Sire!
Tito didn't seem to notice his embarrassment:
- Allow me, he said.
And as he talked, he pushed Bianca in front of him so that she could leave between him and the Chancellor. Count Arnoldi, astonished, didn't regain his composure quickly enough. It's only when Bianca reached the corridor that he attempted something to stop her. But Tito was in front of him and addressing Bianca already out, told her:
- Go along this corridor and take the first staircase on the left. Go downstairs, it leads to the park. Once outside, wait for me.
Bianca ran to the exit. Tito stayed with the Chancellor.
- If you allow me, he said, I'd like to take my coat.
This scene wasn't short enough so that the Chancellor couldn't gather, at least in part, what happened. His plans were foiled but he still had the possibility to do it himself. Anyway, he realised he couldn't hesitate. Bianca certainly talked and if he didn't get rid of the King, he would be arrested and sent to prison himself. He went back to Tito and the clown was struck by his face, convulsed with hatred. He burst out laughing:
- Good lord! He said cheekily, you certainly look pretty fed up, my dear Chancellor… You'll need to change that face of yours to go to your rendezvous with your girlfriends!
Then he saw Count Arnoldi raising his right hand, so far hidden under his coat, and saw in it a dark metallic object, a gun.
- Ah! Said Tito, so you want to kill your King, my dear friend?
The Chancellor had to put his cards on the table. His retreat was cut off. He was nevertheless disconcerted by such a level of irony. He replied, clenched teeth, with a very low and menacing voice:
- Yes, I come to kill the King, my King, like you say. As this woman didn't do it, I must act and she will pay.
Tito didn't look nervous in the least and putting his hand on the Chancellor's shoulder, he told him in a pleasant voice:
- In this case, mate, you'll have to look for somebody else; as for today, you are mistaken!
Then, considering the situation very seriously as if he was determined to tell Count Arnoldi some precious secret, he bent towards his ear and pushing his gun away, said:
- I am what you can call an impostor.
The Chancellor turned his head suddenly towards Tito. This revelation didn't seem to affect him that much. He repeated:
- An impostor?
The former clown nodded:
- Yes, my man, an impostor. I am no more King than my father was. I never lived in your blasted country before I came for the first time last month. Is that enough for you? Can you to let me go?
The Chancellor didn't reply and was thinking about the situation. Tito mistook this silence for an approval.
- Then, my man, just let me go and let's stay good friends.
As he was about to go through the door, he saw the barrel of the gun pointed at him.
- One moment!
Count Arnoldi has realised the opportunity and was acting accordingly. He was sure that Tito wasn't joking. He himself had doubts about the King's identity. He was too sharp and too cunning not to have noticed Tito's difficulties with power. But another point was bothering him. If he did let go the man that people and government considered the King, things would become very uneasy in the palace afterwards. Responsible of the security of the Prince, Count Arnoldi would be accused of negligence, or even worse. He told too much to Major Kreizbaum and showed too much hatred for the dynasty. A murder was easy to cover up as he had carefully arranged for another person to carry the full responsibility. But an escape! An elopement! No, he would be the first one accused. Out of curiosity, as well as for his own information, still holding the gun pointed at Tito, he asked him for the truth. The clown told him everything thinking it was the best way to recover his freedom. He told him who he was:
- A clown, mate, I caper about! If you leave me alone, I'll give some free tickets to thank you, one of these days.
Then he told him how he met Cassatti, that is The Prince of Illyria and how he had wanted to seduce Bianca. He told him about the fight and the fall in the abyss that killed Cassatti.
- And, now, you know about as much as I do. Let me go, my fiancée is waiting.
- One more minute.
This time, Tito realised he would have to use some violence. Arnoldi's face was still menacing. There weren't any forgiveness in a man who was fighting for his own security.
- As you are not the King…He started.
- Ah! Exclaimed Tito. Then, you are now persuaded. It's about time!
The Chancellor went on:
- As you are not the King, I arrest you as the murderer of the King.
The situation was tragic for Tito, but, in such circumstances, he could still laugh. He said:
- Alright, he exclaimed, if that's so, and if I have to choose, here it is: I stay King, my dear Chancellor. I ask you to consider me as such.
Count Arnoldi was starting to loose his nerves. The self-confidence of this man troubled him strangely. As a sharp politician, he was starting to wonder if it wasn't better to let things as they were and wait for a better occasion, if ever. His gun was still aimed at Tito, but, he started to lower it. The clown understanding he was getting the better of him took advantage of the situation:
- But yes! I am the King! And I challenge you to prove otherwise. Lower you gun, please. My friend Bianca is now in the garden. If you killed me now, she wouldn't be accused as she has now certainly been seen by the sentries that no doubt you posted at all doors.
The Chancellor knew full well it was the truth and to hear it disturbed him greatly. Tito didn't wait any longer. He knew he had won. He passed in front of the Chancellor and ran away. Before turning in the corridor to take the staircase, he turned around and waved to Count Arnoldi whom he saw standing in the doorway, his useless gun hanging from his hand.