Kaiuolani

First one and then another retired until finally only the officials, the foreign diplomats, the Patriots, and a partial representation of Royalists remained. Gutenborj held his post and at each withdrawal renewed his activity. The queen rallied with encouragement and turning directly to the high chamberlain demanded, sharply:

“Order, in the throne room.”

Instantly the confusion ceased, and every man resumed his place. Wrangling ministers shuffled back to their seats and not one dared voice a contrary sentiment, though the interim had been spent in dangerous parley and hostile subterfuge. Their faces alone betrayed a signal change,—some flushed and excited, others pale and serious,—but Bender! His countenance revealed not a thought or an emotion. A colorless skin drew hard round the dark, meaningless eyes that held an audience keenly subservient to his penetrating thought. No word or act escaped him, and only the distant rumble of fife and drum disturbed his withering conscience.

The procession came on, diverting the queen’s attention; yet they had marched too soon; the soft strains of God Save the Queen rose above the din of tramp, tramp, tramp; patriotism again stirred the hearts of those he had betrayed: but there was one whom he understood; he could trust Kenlikola, appointed to the ministry at his sole solicitation; Pauahieu, doubtful courtier, knew the way, and only time stood between the thought and the deed.

Among the many faces there assembled, but one caused the wary minister of finance the least uneasiness;—Norton was rid of: had her hands full elsewhere;—Ihoas never lost sight of him; her native wit followed his every movement, discerned the depth of his feigned plausibility—and Bender knew it; her presence disconcerted him, and the queen’s chief lady in waiting viewed thus afar the lone cloud that foreshadowed a beggarly attempt.

“The devil take me,” said he, to himself, with set and angry jaws, as the knowing princess half watched at the window for Elmsford’s carriage. “I have betrayed myself. And to her, cursed mongrel?”

The constitution bearers halted at the doorstep below. A shout of applause drowned the players’ best efforts, and their lofty sentiment resounded far above, even unto the throne they worshipped.

Bender trembled at the awful approbation, shrivelled at his own base intent, and then that other force seized him, and taking advantage of an opportune moment, amid their confusion, he gave the signal that set in motion an avalanche that respects neither the virtuous nor the sinful, grinds beneath its ponderous, listless weight alike the strong and the weak.

The high chamberlain turned his back and prince Kenlikola, sulking Royalist that he proved to be, secretly left his post and devoid of a promise or a hope stealthily left the room.

The ministry stood broken, and without their undivided sanction and individual signatures the queen’s act of promulgation while yet one remained present had been considered revolutionary. Kenlikola, a descendant of the ancient Kamehamehas and a power under the Mauas, had, with the connivance of Pauahieu, the high chamberlain, deliberately absented himself, thus openly denying the queen her pleasure and lawful prerogative. In such manner Bender reasoned himself free from taint. Should his scheme fall through he could still save face before the populace and force retention upon the administration. Busying himself at table, ostensibly with legitimate business, but in reality with fanning into flame the spark that ignited the fancy of servile ministers yet lingering, the queen doubting none other momentarily relaxed under the stress of enthusiasm her vigilance, and unfortunately the withdrawal of Kenlikola for the time being passed unnoticed.

Directly the carriers entered, solemnly proceeding down the aisle, Pauahieu, trusted custodian, turned mechanically to meet and greet them. It remained only for him to receive at their hands and lay before the queen and cabinet the precious instrument; therefore, sooner than face the displeasure that his willing demeanor must have provoked, the poisoned, revengeful decadent irreverently grasped the proffered tray and wheeling round advanced within convenient distance, announcing bruskly:

“The proposed constitution, your majesty.”

The queen, pained and alert, gazed steadfastly at her old and respected chamberlain. She could not make answer; that thrust had been a dagger, reaching deep into a bewildered consciousness. Amid the great rejoicing many were the discrepancies that had met the keen, unslackened observation of Liliuokolani. She knew only too well that there forged traitors on every hand,—cunning artificers ready to strike as served their convenience,—but whom to suspect and how effectively to eradicate the destructive germs were, in consequence of so strained a situation, beyond the ken of humankind.

Without taking her eyes from Pauahieu’s rigid, downcast face, the proud, resourceless woman half-unconsciously muttered:

“And you, too, Pauahieu?”

A hushed fear seized upon all those within hearing, and shorn of a warning or an apology the disappointed heir to nobility dropped dead before their startled gaze. Bender stood ready at hand and realizing instantly the unexpected rushed forward in time to save the jeopardized instrument: assuming an air of wounded respect, he looked all round, haughtily and self-convinced, as he proudly spread the ruffled parchment directly before the throne.

Thereupon Norton ran into the room, nervous and expectant. The guards closed in front, but she tore by and frantically approaching cried with vehemence:

“There is commotion at the docks!”

A deathly silence ensued; the lifeless form of Pauahieu lay stretched on the floor; the weird notes of bewailing natives fell significantly upon their ears, and all eyes turned toward the queen.

Liliuokolani sat motionless and serene above the cowering throng, while a rising flush drove the pallor from her cheeks; then an effective majesty asserted its sway; with fixed expression and studied emphasis the tottering monarch gave command:

“Arrest the offender.”

Two heavy guards laid hold upon the good-intentioned intruder, and pandemonium reigned in the throne room. Everybody sprang up and shouting his say ran hither and thither, while the ministry flew with fear and only Bender remained to thwart the queen, or to deny her the inalienable right of promulgation attending their total decampment.

His presence alone saved the cabinet’s only prerogative and left the queen helpless either to enforce conjoint submission or proclaim individually the law. Liliuokolani, therefore, looked hopelessly after the absconding ministers, whose signatures she so urgently required, and for once and for all realized fully the necessity of a controlling force behind the mandates of effective government. Gutenborj stood ready with reasonable assurances,—her own life seemed to exemplify the virtue of sympathy,—but underneath it all there appeared to stand boldly and effectively the supremacy of grim-visaged arms. Philosophers might predict, the humanitarian deplore, a vain world swagger blindly on, yet shot and shell lay at the foundation of all that man in his wisdom had deigned concede—the end and aim of modern civilization. The queen deeply despaired and leaning hard upon Ihoas retired to the Blue Room, where Bender begged cringingly:

“I would do your majesty the service were it in my power alone—you see I am helpless; my colleagues have deserted. I——”

“Hold your tongue, defamer of other men’s sacred rights; Ihoas is the truer spokesman. What would you have, good lady?” said the queen, as the towering princess arose and beckoning a hearing thrust herself between the prating minister and their sovereign whom she worshipped.

“That man is a traitor; I hold the proof,” replied Ihoas, pointing to the halting man who stood wincing under the fire of her unremitting gaze.

“Stand aside, Ihoas: let the minister interpose a defense, if such he has,” commanded Liliuokolani, firmly but respectfully.

Shuffling and hesitating the whipped minister glanced round, then advancing observed not alone Ihoas but Gutenborj firmly standing at the queen’s side. Their eyes met momentarily, and Bender read in that one supreme look the fixed determination of a dreaded opponent and the real mainstay of the throne: his thoughts ran back to Kaiuolani, to wealth, to position—all these crowded fast upon a quickening memory, and without warning or preparation the means of their fruition must be subtly resolved. The lip that he would hold firm quivered, and clutching tight the loose parchment that shook in his hand a mastering will and broken movement laid bare the weakened mainspring behind a bolstered purpose.

“I am not responsible for a refractory ministry,” said he, with unmeaning emphasis and doubtful intent.

“But you have led me to the brink of a precipice: would you have me take the leap alone?” replied the queen, significantly.

“The act would be revolutionary, as long as there is, even, but one member present.”

“Then complete the representation and sign the document or depart, that I may serve my people. Your promise: have you forgotten?”

“I—we have not examined the document; I must ask for time——”

“How dare you say that, having had it in your possession for a month? Officer, eject the unruly minister; the law must be proclaimed.”

No sooner had the words escaped her lips, than the shrill blast of a strange, mysterious bugle broke faintly upon the still, resonant air. Every man’s heart leaped and their feet stood riveted and chained in the presence of threatening danger. Bender smiled a sickening smile, and rolling taut the fated constitution boldly withdrew and quietly absconded before an astonished court could recover its sense or a destined people might comprehend the sudden burst of decisive revolution.