Chapter 16
Back in Prussia, Phileas Fogg renewed an acquaintance with an old enemy. During the war in Crimea, he had worked at crossed purposes with a young officer of the Prussian Army who had overseen a small network of spies. The then Captain Von Kessler had been a canny man. They had won and lost small skirmishes to each other until Phileas was called back to England and assigned to China.
The tall blonde, blue-eyed Prussian, now a colonel, approached the English agent in mid- May at a dinner party. Phileas greeted him as if they were strangers. In the crowded atmosphere of the party, both men were forced to restraint. After nonsense pleasantries, Von Kessler invited Phileas to play a game of whist against him. The game went back and forth for most of the evening. Neither man gaining any ground.
"I understand you have returned from China," Von Kessler commented after another hand began.
"Indeed," Phileas acknowledged. "It's good to be back. Very formal there."
"Yes, so I've been told," Von Kessler said. "You have enjoyed your time in Berlin?"
"Very much." Phileas laid his trick down.
"Good. I have alvays believed zat Berlin is a friendly city. Ve welcomer to nose zat are villing to meet us varmly," he boasted.
On the third hand after midnight, Phileas began a topic of conversation. "Where has the Army been keeping you?" Phileas asked, not expecting an answer.
Von Kessler smiled over his cards like a fox or a snake about to strike. "I have been traveling. One must keep abreast of ze opposition, no?"
Phileas nodded and took the next trick. "A grand tour of Europe then?"
Von Kessler laughed in amusement at Fogg's diligence. After taking up the cards and dealing the next hand, he rewarded it.
"Somzing like zat yes." He laid down the first card. "Paris, Brussels, London. A most enjoyable city, your London, but too damp. I don't mind the cold, but ze rains vere vearing. Zere vere a few days of good veazer zough. I had ze good fortune to come across a voman of your family. A true beauty zat one… Ve bumped into each ozer in ze street. No harm done. Your family is to be paid homage for bringing such beauty into ze world."
Phileas just kept his face blank and his anger in check. He chose his card and laid it down. Von Kessler had just admitted to his face being the assassin who had attacked Richard. That also meant he gave Rebecca that message at Richard's house.
"She vas a flame-haired voman, sapphire eyes and skin like milk," Von Kessler continued. "Statuesque as a goddess, and strong. Not at all ze timid sparrow I vould expect of an English voman. She is a relative of yours, vasn't she?"
Von Kessler glanced up, smiling. "Is she spoken for?"
Phileas took in a breath, let it out slowly. He calmed his temper and contemplated the next card. "If she is the cousin, I think she is. She is seeing someone."
"Ah," Von Kessler said in an exaggerated show of disappointment. "Alvays I am too late. All ze best vomen are spoken for before I arrive. I fear I am doomed to be a bachelor."
Another hand was won and lost before Von Kessler spoke again. "Your Princess Vicky is another unique English beauty," he said. "She has made a very loving vife to our prince. It has been a terrible shame zat her birzing should be so hard on her and ze child. A shame she cannot find it in herself to adapt to her new home. I zink she vill make us a fine Queen one day." He laid down another card, taking the trick and setting them even.
"Indeed?"
Phileas dealt the next hand, wondering where the man was headed with this turn of conversation. He was grateful for it, despite the thought of Von Kessler having an interest in Rebecca turning his stomach.
Von Kessler laid down his third card. "I have not been at court for some time. I vas most distressed to hear zat ze princess has been treated so coolly. Queen Augusta, a hard voman. It is a shame her dislike has ozers treating ze princess poorly, too. Now zat I am part of ze court, I shall be of help to her. I have some influence here, even after my absence. Zese fools should not take zeir political differences out on a voman proving herself so good and loving a vife."
"I am glad to hear the princess will have your support," Phileas said. "You say you are part of the court now? Have you left the Army?"
Von Kessler laughed. "No, I am a soldier zrough and zrough." He laid down his next card. "My fazer died two veeks ago, of old age in his own bed–A fitting end for an old soldier. I meant zat I have taken on ze barony and a position here under General Von Hohenzollern. Another old soldier zat one… old and addled. It is vonder how Prussian intelligence learns anyzing of substance viz his antiquated mezods. Changing zat one of my first duties."
Phileas declined to comment. General Hohenzollern was an old man from an ancient Prussian line. Sir Boniface had wondered who might take his place. Now Phileas knew–and wondered if the General did.
"My sympathies on your loss," Phileas offered.
"Zank you," Von Kessler absently accepted.
Three turns later, Von Kessler took the last trick and the rubber.
"Yes, fresh blood is needed around here, and vigilance. In ze court and in ze Army. I zink a more friendly attitude toward ze princess vould help her adapt to Prussia. I zink once she learns to love Prussia, she vill understand zat ze English attitudes she brought viz her, vile fine in Britain, are not vat is needed here. Prince Albert is right, you know. Germany should be united, but let it never be zat a Prussian King becomes ze hollow ruler zat ze British monarchy is moving toward."
With that pointed maligning of the British government, the officer stood and gave Phileas a bow. "A very good friendly game," he said. "I pray all our competitions in ze future vill be as pleasant and bloodless."
"Whist is a friendly game played without guns and bayonets," Phileas said.
Von Kessler's voice went hard. "True, but cloak and dagger is not." He walked around the table, coming close to Phileas. His voice was low, almost a whisper. "As long as England does nozing to interfere in ze vay Prussia handles her business, all vill be vell between us. But if England again tries to dictate policy behind our backs, our next game vill not be so pleasant. Good day."
Phileas's eyes followed Von Kessler's steps until he left the room. He felt put on notice. A new player in Berlin had introduced himself. He didn't plan to conduct business as usual.