diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:38:47 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:38:47 -0700 |
| commit | 9405cfc94cea371ab6f3a1cb1d394a52ab0df409 (patch) | |
| tree | f27690f52d87cbf6787ca0976a32cefdbd33cf84 /12057-h | |
Diffstat (limited to '12057-h')
| -rw-r--r-- | 12057-h/12057-h.htm | 9727 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 12057-h/Images/413.jpg | bin | 0 -> 150789 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 12057-h/Images/414.jpg | bin | 0 -> 203466 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 12057-h/Images/415.jpg | bin | 0 -> 211746 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 12057-h/Images/416.jpg | bin | 0 -> 143348 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 12057-h/Images/417.jpg | bin | 0 -> 197723 bytes |
6 files changed, 9727 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/12057-h/12057-h.htm b/12057-h/12057-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d8c1fb6 --- /dev/null +++ b/12057-h/12057-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9727 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<meta name="generator" content= +"HTML Tidy for Windows (vers 1st February 2004), see www.w3.org"> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= +"text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Yoland, Maid of Burgundy, by Charles Major.</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + P { margin-top: .75em; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + blockquote {text-align: justify; + margin-left: 15%; + margin-right: 15%;} + IMG { + BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; + BORDER-TOP: 0px; + BORDER-LEFT: 0px; + BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; } + // --> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Yolanda: Maid of Burgundy, by Charles Major + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Yolanda: Maid of Burgundy + +Author: Charles Major + +Release Date: April 16, 2004 [EBook #12057] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOLANDA: MAID OF BURGUNDY *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Charlie Kirschner and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + +</pre> + +<a name="413.jpg"></a> +<p class="ctr"><a href="Images/413.jpg"><img src="Images/413.jpg" +width="40%" alt=""></a><br> +<b>MAX AND YOLANDA. <i>Frontispiece</i></b></p> +<br> +<br> +<h1>YOLANDA</h1> +<h2>MAID OF BURGUNDY</h2> +<h3><i>By</i> CHARLES MAJOR</h3> +<br> +<h5>WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY</h5> +<h4>CHARLOTTE WEBER DITZLER</h4> +<h4><i>MCMV</i></h4> +<h4>1905.</h4> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<center><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I<br> +A CASTLE AMONG THE CRAGS</a><br> +<br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II<br> +KNIGHTS-ERRANT</a><br> +<br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III<br> +YOLANDA THE SORCERESS</a><br> +<br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV<br> +DOWN THE RHINE TO BURGUNDY</a><br> +<br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V<br> +WHO IS YOLANDA?</a><br> +<br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI<br> +DUKE CHARLES THE RASH</a><br> +<br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII<br> +A RACE WITH THE DUKE</a><br> +<br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII<br> +ON THE MOAT BRIDGE</a><br> +<br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX<br> +THE GREAT RIDDLE</a><br> +<br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X<br> +THE HOUSE UNDER THE WALL</a><br> +<br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI<br> +PERONNE LA PUCELLE</a><br> +<br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII<br> +A LIVE WREN PIE</a><br> +<br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII<br> +A BATTLE IN MID AIR</a><br> +<br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV<br> +SIR KARL MEETS THE PRINCESS</a><br> +<br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV<br> +THE CROSSING OF A "T"</a><br> +<br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI<br> +PARTICEPS CRIMINIS</a><br> +<br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII<br> +TRIAL BY COMBAT</a><br> +<br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII<br> +YOLANDA OR THE PRINCESS?</a><br> +<br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX<br> +MAX GOES TO WAR</a><br> +<br> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX<br> +A TREATY WITH LOUIS XI</a></center> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> +<br> +<center><a href="#413.jpg">MAX AND YOLANDA +<i>Frontispiece</i></a><br> +<a href="#414.jpg">KARL AND MAX AT HAPSBURG CASTLE</a><br> +<a href="#415.jpg">MAX</a><br> +<a href="#416.jpg">THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY</a><br> +<a href="#417.jpg">MAX AT THE GATE OF THE LISTS</a></center> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2>YOLANDA</h2> +<br> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> +<h3>A CASTLE AMONG THE CRAGS</h3> +<br> +<p>Like the Israelites of old, mankind is prone to worship false +gods, and persistently sets up the brazen image of a sham hero, as +its idol. I should like to write the history of the world, if for +no other reason than to assist several well-established heroes down +from their pedestals. Great Charlemagne might come to earth's +level, his patriarchal, flowing beard might drop from his face, and +we might see him as he really was--a plucked and toothless old +savage, with no more Christianity than Jacob, and with all of +Jacob's greed. Richard of England, styled by hero-worshippers "The +Lion-hearted," might be re-christened "The Wolf-hearted," and the +famous Du Guesclin might seem to us a half-brutish vagabond. But +Charles of Burgundy, dubbed by this prone world "The Bold" and "The +Rash," would take the greatest fall. Of him and his fair daughter I +shall speak in this history.</p> +<p>At the time of which I write Louis XI reigned over France, +Edward IV ruled in England, and his sister, the beautiful Margaret +of York, was the unhappy wife of this Charles the Rash, and +stepmother to his gentle daughter Mary. Charles, though only a duke +in name, reigned as a most potent and despotic king over the fair +rich land of Burgundy. Frederick of Styria was head of the great +house of Hapsburg, and Count Maximilian, my young friend and pupil, +was his heir.</p> +<p>Of the other rulers of Europe I need not speak, since they will +not enter this narrative. They were all bad enough,--and may God +have mercy on their souls.</p> +<hr style="width: 25%;"> +<p>Most of the really tragic parts in the great drama of history +have been played by women. This truth I had always dimly known, yet +one does not really know a fact until he feels it. I did not +realize the extent to which these poor women of history have +suffered in the matter of enforced marriages, until the truth was +brought home to me in the person of Mary, Princess of Burgundy, to +whose castle, Peronne La Pucelle, my pupil, Maximilian of Hapsburg, +and I made a journey in the year 1476.</p> +<p>My knowledge of this fair lady began in far-off Styria, and +there I shall begin my story.</p> +<hr style="width: 25%;"> +<p>In times of peace, life in Hapsburg Castle was dull; in times of +war it was doleful. War is always grievous, but my good mistress, +the Duchess of Styria, was ever in such painful dread lest evil +should befall her only child, Maximilian, that the pains of +war-time were rendered doubly keen to those who loved Her +Grace.</p> +<p>After Maximilian had reached the fighting age there was too +little war to suit him. Up to his eighteenth year he had thrice +gone out to war, and these expeditions were heart-breaking trials +for his mother. Although tied to his mother's apron strings by +bonds of mutual love, he burned with the fire and ambition of +youth; while I, reaching well toward my threescore years, had +almost outlived the lust for strife. Max longed to spread his +wings, but the conditions of his birth held him chained to the +rocks of Styria, on the pinnacle of his family's empty +greatness.</p> +<p>Perched among the mountain crags, our castle was almost +impregnable; but that was its only virtue as a dwelling-place. Bare +walls, stone floors, sour wine, coarse boar's meat, brown bread, +and poor beds constituted our meagre portion.</p> +<p>Duke Frederick was poor because his people were poor. They lived +among the rocks and crags, raised their goats, ploughed their tiny +patches of thin earth, and gave to the duke and to each man his +due. They were simple, bigoted, and honest to the heart's core.</p> +<p>Though of mean fortune, Duke Frederick was the head of the great +House of Hapsburg, whose founders lived in the morning mists of +European history and dwelt proudly amid the peaks of their mountain +home. Our castle in Styria was not the original Castle Hapsburg. +That was built centuries before the time of this story, among the +hawks' crags of Aargau in Switzerland. It was lost by the House of +Hapsburg many years before Max was born. The castle in Styria was +its namesake.</p> +<p>To leaven the poor loaf of life in Castle Hapsburg, its inmates +enjoyed the companionship of the kindest man and woman that ever +graced a high estate--the Duke and Duchess of Styria. Though in +their little court, life was rigid with the starch of ceremony, it +was softened by the tenderness of love. All that Duke Frederick +asked from his subjects was a bare livelihood and a strict +observance of ceremonious conventions. Those who approached him and +his son did so with uncovered head and bended knee. An act of +personal familiarity would have been looked on as high treason. +Taxes might remain unpaid, laws might be broken, and there was +mercy in the ducal heart; but a flaw in ceremony was +unpardonable.</p> +<p>The boar's meat and the brown bread were eaten in state; the +sour wine was drunk solemnly; and going to bed each night was an +act of national importance. Such had been the life of this house +for generations, and good Duke Frederick neither would nor could +break away from it.</p> +<p>Of all these painful conditions young Max was a suffering +victim. Did he sally forth to stick a wild boar or to kill a bear, +the Master of the Hunt rode beside him in a gaudy, faded uniform. +Fore-riders preceded him, and after-riders followed. He was almost +compelled to hunt by proxy, and he considered himself lucky to be +in at the death. The bear, of course, was officially killed by +Maximilian, Count of Hapsburg, no matter what hand dealt the blow. +Maximilian, being the heir of Hapsburg, must always move with a +slow dignity becoming his exalted station. He must, if possible, +always act through an officer; I verily believe that Duke +Frederick, his father, regretted the humiliating necessity of +eating his own dinner.</p> +<p>Poor Max did not really live; he was an automaton.</p> +<p>Once every year Duke Frederick gave a tournament, the cost of +which, in entertainments and prizes, consumed fully two-thirds of +his annual income. On these occasions punctilious ceremony took the +place of rich wine, and a stiff, kindly welcome did service as a +feast. These tournaments were rare events for Max; they gave him a +day of partial rest from his strait-jacket life at the little court +among the crags.</p> +<p>I shall give you here ten lines concerning myself. I am Italian +by birth--a younger son of the noble House of Pitti. I left home +when but little more than a boy. Journeying to the East, I became +Sir Karl de Pitti, Knight of the Holy Order of St. John, and in +consequence I am half priest, half soldier. My order and my type +are rapidly passing away. I fought and prayed in many lands during +twenty years. To be frank, I fought a great deal more than I +prayed. Six years out of the twenty I spent in Burgundy, fighting +under the banner of Duke Philip the Good, father to Charles the +Rash. My mother was a Burgundian--a Walloon--and to her love for +things German I owe my name, Karl. During my service under Duke +Philip I met my Lord d'Hymbercourt, and won that most valuable of +all prizes, a trusted friend.</p> +<p>Fifteen years before the opening of this story I grew tired of +fighting. How I drifted, a sort of human flotsam, against the crags +of Styria would be a long, uninteresting story. By a curious +combination of events I assumed the duties of tutor to the small +count, Maximilian of Hapsburg, then a flaxen-haired little beauty +of three summers. I taught him all that was needful from books, and +grounded him fairly well in church lore, but gave my best efforts +to his education in arms.</p> +<p>Aside from my duties as instructor to the young count, I was +useful in many ways about the castle. By reason of the half of me +that was priestly, I could, upon occasion, hear confession, +administer the holy sacrament, and shrive a sinner as effectively +as the laziest priest in Christendom. I could also set a broken +bone, and could mix as bitter a draught as any Jew out of Judea. +So, you will see, I was a useful member of a household wherein +ancestry took the place of wealth, and pride was made to stand for +ready cash.</p> +<p>The good duke might have filled his coffers by pillaging +travellers, as many of his neighbors did; but he scorned to thrive +by robbery, and lived in grandiose but honest penury.</p> +<p>Max took readily to the use of arms, and by the time he was +eighteen, which was three years before our now famous journey to +Burgundy, a strong, time-hardened man might well beware of him. +When the boy was fourteen or fifteen, I began to see in him great +possibilities. In personal beauty and strength he was beyond +compare. His eyes were as blue as an Italian sky, and his hair fell +in a mass of tawny curls to his shoulders. His mother likened him +to a young lion. Mentally he was slow, but his judgment was clear +and accurate. Above all, he was honest, and knew not fear of man, +beast, or devil. His life in Styria, hedged about by ceremonious +conventions, had given him an undue portion of dignity and +reticence, but that could easily be polished down by friction with +the rougher side of the world. Except myself and his mother, he had +never known a real friend.</p> +<p>To Max the people of the world were of two conditions: a very +small class to whom he must kneel, and a very large number who must +kneel to him. Even his mother addressed him publicly as "My Lord +Count." On rare occasions, in the deep privacy of her closet, +mother-love would get the better of her and break through the crust +of ceremony. Then she indulged herself and him in the ravishing, +though doubtful, luxury of calling him "Little Max." No one but I, +and perhaps at rare intervals Duke Frederick, ever witnessed this +lapse from dignity on the part of Her Grace, and we, of course, +would not expose her weakness to the world.</p> +<p>This love-name clung to Max, and "Little Max," though somewhat +incongruous, was pretty when applied to a strapping fellow six feet +two and large of limb in proportion.</p> +<p>When the boy approached manhood, I grew troubled lest this +strait-jacket existence in Styria should dwarf him mentally and +morally. So I began to stir cautiously in the matter of sending him +abroad into the world. My first advances met with a rebuff.</p> +<p>"It is not to be thought of," said the duke.</p> +<p>"Send the count out to the rude world to associate with +underlings? Never!" cried the duchess, horrified and alarmed.</p> +<p>I had expected this, and I was not daunted. I renewed the attack +from different points, and after many onslaughts, I captured the +bailey of the parental fortresses; that is, I compelled them to +listen to me. My chief point of attack was Max himself. He listened +readily enough, but he could not see how the thing was to be done. +When I spoke of the luxuries of Italy and Burgundy, and told him of +deeds of prowess performed daily throughout the world by men vastly +his inferior, his eyes brightened and his cheek flushed. When I +talked of wealth to be won and glory to be achieved in those rich +lands, and hinted at the barren poverty of Styria, he would sigh +and answer:--</p> +<p>"Ah, Karl, it sounds glorious, but I was born to this life, and +father and mother would not forgive me if I should seek another +destiny. Fate has fixed my lot, and I must endure it."</p> +<p>I did not cease my lay; and especially was the fat land of +Burgundy my theme, for I knew it well. Max would listen in +enraptured silence. When he was eighteen, I wrote, with deep-seated +purpose, several letters to my friend Lord d'Hymbercourt, who was +at the time one of the councillors of Charles the Rash, Duke of +Burgundy. In those letters I dwelt at length on the virtues, +strength, and manly beauty of my pupil.</p> +<p>I knew that Charles often negotiated with other states the +marriage of his only child and heiress, Princess Mary. This form of +treaty appeared to be almost a mania with the rash Burgundian. I +also knew that in no instance had he ever intended to fulfil the +treaty. His purpose in each case was probably to create a temporary +alliance with that one state while he was in trouble with another. +His daughter would inherit a domain richer than that of any king in +Europe, and the duke certainly would be contented with nothing less +than the hand of an heir to a crown. Suitors for the fair Mary came +from every land. All were entertained; but the princess remained +unbetrothed.</p> +<p>A few broad hints in my letters to Hymbercourt produced the +result I so much desired. One bright day our castle was stirred to +its foundation-stones by the arrival of a messenger from Duke +Charles of Burgundy, bearing the following missive:--</p> +<hr style="width: 25%;"> +<p>"To His Grace, Duke Frederick of Styria, Elector of the Holy +Roman Empire, and Count of Austria; Charles, Duke of Burgundy and +Count of Charolois, sends greeting:--</p> +<p>"The said Duke Charles recommends himself to the most puissant +Duke Frederick, and bearing in mind the great antiquity and high +nobility of the illustrious House of Hapsburg, begs to express his +desire to bind the said noble House to Burgundy by ties of +marriage.</p> +<p>"To that end, His Grace of Burgundy, knowing by fame the many +virtues of the young and valiant Count of Hapsburg, son to His +Grace, Duke Frederick, would, if it pleasures the said illustrious +Duke Frederick, suggest the appointment of commissioners by each of +the high contracting parties for the purpose of drawing a treaty of +marriage between the noble Count of Hapsburg and our daughter, +Princess Mary of Burgundy. The said commissioners shall meet within +six months after the date of these presents and shall formulate +indentures of treaty that shall be submitted to His Grace of Styria +and His Grace of Burgundy.</p> +<p>"The lady of Burgundy sends herewith a letter and a jewel which +she hopes the noble Count of Hapsburg will accept as tokens of her +esteem.</p> +<p>"May God and the Blessed Virgin keep His Grace of Styria in +their especial care."</p> +<p>Signed with a flourish. "CHARLES."</p> +<hr style="width: 25%;"> +<p>This letter did not deceive me. I did not think for a moment +that Charles meant to give his daughter to Max. But it answered my +purpose by bringing Max to a realization of the nothingness of life +in Styria, and opening his eyes to the glorious possibilities that +lay in the great world beyond the mountain peaks.</p> +<p>Burgundy's missive produced several effects in the household of +Castle Hapsburg, though none were shown on the surface. I was glad, +but, of course, I carefully concealed the reasons for my pleasure +from His Grace. Duke Frederick was pleased to his toes and got +himself very drunk on the strength of it. Otherwise he smothered +his delight. He "was not sure"; "was not quite disposed to yield so +great a favor to this far-away duke"; "the count is young; no need +for haste," and so on. The duke had no intention whatever of +sending such messages to Burgundy; he simply wished to strut before +his little court. Charles most certainly would receive a pompous +and affirmative answer. The poor duchess, torn by contending +emotions of mother-love and family pride, was flattered by +Burgundy's offer; but she was also grieved.</p> +<p>"We do not know the lady," she said. "Fame speaks well of her, +but the report may be false. She may not be sufficiently endued +with religious enthusiasm."</p> +<p>"She will absorb that from Your Grace," I answered.</p> +<p>Her Grace thought that she herself was religious and tried to +impress that belief on others; but Max was her god. In truth she +was jealous of any woman who looked on him twice, and she kept at +the castle only the old and harmless of the dangerous sex. She +would have refused Burgundy's offer quickly enough if her heart had +been permitted to reply.</p> +<p>The effect of the letter on Max was tremendous. He realized its +political importance, knowing full well that if he could add the +rich domain of Burgundy to the Hapsburg prestige, he might easily +achieve the imperial throne. But that was his lesser motive. +Hymbercourt's letters to me had extolled Mary's beauty and +gentleness. Every page had sung her praises. These letters I had +given to Max, and there had sprung up in his untouched heart a +chivalric admiration for the lady of Burgundy. He loved an ideal. I +suppose most men and every woman will understand his condition. It +was truly an ardent love.</p> +<p>Max kept Hymbercourt's letters, and would hide himself on the +battlements by the hour reading them, dreaming the dreams of youth +and worshipping at the feet of his ideal,--fair Mary of Burgundy, +his unknown lady-love.</p> +<p>Before the arrival of the messenger from Duke Charles, Max spoke +little of the Burgundian princess; but the message gave her a touch +of reality, and he began to open his heart to me--his only +confidant.</p> +<p>There seemed to have been a reciprocal idealization going on in +the far-off land of Burgundy. My letters to Hymbercourt, in which +you may be sure Max's strength and virtues lost nothing, fell into +the hands of Madame d'Hymbercourt, and thus came under the eyes of +Princess Mary. That fair little lady also built in her heart an +altar to an unknown god, if hints in Hymbercourt's letters were to +be trusted. Her maidenly emotions were probably far more passive +than Max's, though I have been told that a woman's heart will go to +great lengths for the sake of an ideal. Many a man, doubtless, +would fall short in the estimation of his lady-love were it not for +those qualities with which she herself endows him.</p> +<p>Whatever the lady's sentiments may have been, my faith in +Hymbercourt's hints concerning them were strengthened by Mary's +kindly letter and the diamond ring for Max which came with her +father's message to Styria. They were palpable facts, and young Max +built an altar in his holy of holies, and laid them tenderly upon +it.</p> +<p>Duke Frederick, with my help, composed a letter in reply to +Burgundy's message. It required many days of work to bring it to a +form sufficient in dignity, yet ample in assent. The missive must +answer "yes" so emphatically as to leave no room for doubt in +Burgundy's mind, yet it must show no eagerness on the part of +Styria. (Duke Frederick always spoke of himself as Styria.) +Burgundy must be made to appreciate the honor of this alliance; +still, the fact must not be offensively thrust upon him.</p> +<p>The letter was sent, and Charles of Burgundy probably laughed at +it. Duke Frederick appointed commissioners and fixed Cannstadt as +the place of meeting. Whatever Duke Charles's reasons for making +the offer of marriage may have been, they probably ceased to exist +soon afterward, for he never even replied to Duke Frederick's +acceptance. For months Castle Hapsburg was in a ferment of +expectancy. A watch stood from dawn till dusk on the battlements of +the keep, that the duke might be informed of the approach of the +Burgundian messenger--that never came. After a year of futile +waiting the watch was abandoned. Anger, for a time, took the place +of expectancy; Duke Frederick each day drowned his ill-humor in a +gallon of sour wine, and remained silent on the subject of the +Burgundian insult.</p> +<p>Max's attitude was that of a dignified man. He showed neither +anger nor disappointment, but he kept the letter and the ring that +Mary had sent him and mused upon his love for his ideal--the lady +he had never seen.</p> +<p>A letter from Hymbercourt, that reached me nearly two years +after this affair, spoke of a tender little maiden in Burgundy, +whose heart throbbed with disappointment while it also clung to its +ideal, as tender natures are apt to do. This hint in Hymbercourt's +letter sank to the tenderest spot in Max's heart.</p> +<p>On Max's twenty-first birthday he was knighted by the emperor. A +grand tournament, lasting five days, celebrated the event, and Max +proved himself a man among men and a knight worthy of his spurs. I +had trained him for months in preparation for this, his first great +trial of strength and skill. He was not lacking in either, though +they would mature only with his judgment. His strength was beyond +compare. A man could hardly span his great arm with both hands.</p> +<p>Soon after Max was knighted, I brought up the subject of his +journey into the world. I was again met by parental opposition; but +Max was of age and his views had weight. If I could bring him to +see the truth, the cause would be won. Unfortunately, it was not +his desires I must overcome; it was his scruples. His head and his +heart were full of false ideas and distorted motives absorbed from +environment, inculcated by parental teaching, and inherited from +twenty generations of fantastic forefathers. In-born motives in a +conscientious person are stubborn tyrants, and Max was their slave. +The time came when his false but honest standards cost him dearly, +as you shall learn. But in Max's heart there lived another motive +stronger than the will of man; it was love. Upon that string I +chose to play.</p> +<p>One day while we were sunning ourselves on the battlements, I +touched, as if by chance, on the theme dear to his heart--Mary of +Burgundy. After a little time Max asked hesitatingly:--</p> +<p>"Have you written of late to my Lord d'Hymbercourt?"</p> +<p>"No," I answered.</p> +<p>A long pause followed; then Max continued: "I hope you will soon +do so. He might write of--of--" He did not finish the sentence. I +allowed him to remain in thought while I formulated my reply. After +a time I said:--</p> +<p>"If you are still interested in the lady, why don't you go to +Burgundy and try to win her?"</p> +<p>"That would be impossible," he answered.</p> +<p>"No, no, Max," I returned, "not impossible--- difficult, +perhaps, but certainly not impossible."</p> +<p>"Ah, Karl, you but raise false hopes," he responded +dolefully.</p> +<p>"You could at least see her," I returned, ignoring his protest, +"and that, I have been told, is much comfort to a lover!"</p> +<p>"Indeed, it would be," said Max, frankly admitting the state of +his heart.</p> +<p>"Or it might be that if you saw her, the illusion would be +dispelled."</p> +<p>"I have little fear of that," he returned.</p> +<p>"It is true," I continued, "her father's domains are the richest +on earth. He is proud and powerful, noble and arrogant; but you are +just as proud and just as noble as he. You are penniless, and your +estate will be of little value; your father is poor, and his +mountain crags are a burden rather than a profit; but all Europe +boasts no nobler blood than that of your house. Lift it from its +penury. You are worthy of this lady, were her estates multiplied +tenfold. Win the estates, Max, and win the lady. Many a man with +half your capacity has climbed to the pinnacle of fame and fortune, +though starting with none of your prestige. Why do you, born a +mountain lion, stay mewed up in this castle like a purring cat in +your mother's lap? For shame, Max, to waste your life when love, +fortune, and fame beckon you beyond these dreary hills and call to +you in tones that should arouse ambition in the dullest +breast."</p> +<p>"Duke Charles has already insulted us," he replied.</p> +<p>"But his daughter has not," I answered quickly.</p> +<p>"That is true," returned Max, with a sigh, "but the Duke of +Burgundy would turn me from his gates."</p> +<p>"Perhaps he would," I replied, "if you should knock and demand +surrender to Maximilian, Count of Hapsburg. Take another name; be +for a time a soldier of fortune. Bury the Count of Hapsburg for a +year or two; be plain Sir Max Anybody. You will, at least, see the +world and learn what life really is. Here is naught but dry rot and +mould. Taste for once the zest of living; then come back, if you +can, to this tomb. Come, come, Max! Let us to Burgundy to win this +fair lady who awaits us and doubtless holds us faint of heart +because we dare not strike for her. I shall have one more sweet +draught of life before I die. You will learn a lesson that will +give you strength for all the years to come, and will have, at +least, a chance of winning the lady. It may be one chance in a +million; but God favors the brave, and you have no chance if you +remain perched owl-like upon this wilderness of rock. Max, you know +not what awaits you. Rouse yourself from this sloth of a thousand +years, and strike fire from the earth that shall illumine your name +to the end of time!"</p> +<p>"But we have no money for our travels, and father has none to +give me," he answered.</p> +<p>"True," I replied, "but I have a small sum in the hands of a +merchant at Vienna that will support us for a time. When it is +spent, we must make our bread or starve. That will be the best part +of our experience. A struggle for existence sweetens it; and if we +starve, we shall deserve the fate."</p> +<p>After three days Max gave me his answer.</p> +<p>"I will go with you, Karl," he said; "you have never led me +wrong. If we starve, I shall not be much worse off than I am here +in Styria. It hurts me to say that the love of my father and mother +is my greatest danger; but it is true. They have lived here so +long, feeding on the poor adulation of a poor people, that they do +not see life truly. I have had none of the joys and pleasures +which, my heart tells me, life holds. I have known nothing but this +existence--hard and barren as the rocks that surround me. I must, +in time, return to Styria and take up my burden, but, Karl, I will +first live."</p> +<a name="414.jpg"></a> +<p class="ctr"><a href="Images/414.jpg"><img src="Images/414.jpg" +width="40%" alt=""></a><br> +<b>KARL AND MAX AT HAPSBURG CASTLE.</b></p> +<p>After this great stand, Max and I attacked first the father +fortress and then the mother stronghold. The latter required a long +siege; but at last it surrendered unconditionally, and the day was +appointed when Max and I should ride out in quest of fortune, and, +perhaps, a-bride-hunting. Neither of us mentioned Burgundy. I +confess to telling--at least, to acting--a lie. We said that we +wished to go to my people in Italy, and to visit Rome, Venice, and +other cities. I said that I had a small sum of gold that I should +be glad to use; but I did not say how small it was, and no hint was +dropped that the heir to Styria might be compelled to soil his +hands by earning his daily bread. We easily agreed among ourselves +that Max and I, lacking funds to travel in state befitting a prince +of the House of Hapsburg, should go incognito. I should keep my own +name, it being little known. Max should take the name of his +mother's house, and should be known as Sir Maximilian du +Guelph.</p> +<hr style="width: 25%;"> +<p>At last came the momentous day of our departure. The battlements +of the gate were crowded with retainers, many of them in tears at +losing "My young Lord, the Count." Public opinion in Castle +Hapsburg unanimously condemned the expedition, and I was roundly +abused for what was held to be my part in the terrible mistake. +Such an untoward thing had never before happened in the House of +Hapsburg. Its annals nowhere revealed a journey of an heir into the +contaminating world. The dignity of the house was impaired beyond +remedy, and all by the advice of a foreigner. There was no lack of +grumbling; but of course the duke's will was law. If he wished to +hang the count, he might do so; therefore the grumbling reached the +duke's ears only from a distance.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> +<h3>KNIGHTS-ERRANT</h3> +<br> +<p>The good mother had made a bundle for her son that would have +brought a smile to my lips had it not brought tears to my eyes. +There were her homely balsams to cure Max's ailments; true, he had +never been ill, but he might be. There was a pillow of down for his +head, and a lawn kerchief to keep the wind from his delicate +throat. Last, but by no means least, was the dear old mother's +greatest treasure, a tooth of St. Martin, which she firmly believed +would keep her son's heart pure and free from sin. Of that amulet +Max did not stand in need.</p> +<p>We followed the Save for many leagues, and left its beautiful +banks only to journey toward Vienna. At that city I drew my slender +stock of gold from the merchant that had been keeping it for me, +and bought a beautiful chain coat for Max. He already had a good, +though plain, suit of steel plate which his father had given him +when he received the accolade. I owned a good plate armor and the +most perfect chain coat I have ever seen. I took it from a Saracen +lord one day in battle, and gave him his own life in payment. Max +and I each bore a long sword, a short sword, and a mace. We carried +no lance. That weapon is burdensome, and we could get one at any +place along our journey.</p> +<p>I was proud of Max the morning we rode out of Vienna, true +knights-errant, with the greatest princess in Europe as our +objective prize. Truly, we were in no wise modest; but the God of +heaven, the god of Luck, and the god of Love all favor the man that +is bold enough to attempt the impossible.</p> +<p>My stock of gold might, with frugality, last us three months, +but after that we should surely have to make our own way or starve. +We hoped that Max would be successful in filling our purses with +prize money and ransoms, should we fall in with a tournament now +and then; but, lacking that good fortune, we expected to engage +ourselves as escorts to merchant caravans. By this kind of +employment we hoped to be housed and fed upon our travels and to +receive at each journey's end a good round sum of gold for our +services. But we might find neither tournament nor merchant +caravan. Then there would be trouble and hardship for us, and +perhaps, at times, an aching void under our belts. I had often +suffered the like.</p> +<p>Ours, you see, was not to be a flower-strewn journey of +tinselled prince to embowered princess. Before our return to +Styria, Max would probably receive what he needed to make a man of +him--hard knocks and rough blows in the real battle of life. Above +all, he would learn to know the people of whom this great world is +composed, and would return to Hapsburg Castle full of all sorts of +noxious heresies, to the everlasting horror of the duke and the +duchess. They probably would never forgive me for making a real +live man of their son, but I should have my reward in Max.</p> +<p>To Max, of course, the future was rosy-hued. Caravans were +waiting for our protection, and princes were preparing tournaments +for our special behoof. <i>We</i> want for food to eat or place to +lay our heads? Absurd! Our purses would soon be so heavy they would +burden us; we should soon need squires to carry them. If it were +not for our desire to remain incognito, we might presently collect +a retinue and travel with herald and banner. But at the end of all +was sweet Mary of Burgundy waiting to be carried off by Maximilian, +Count of Hapsburg.</p> +<p>Just what the boy expected to do in Burgundy, I did not know. +For the lady's wealth I believe he did not care a straw--he wanted +herself. He hoped that Charles, for his own peace, would not be too +uncivil and would not force a desperate person to take extreme +measures; but should this rash duke be blind to his own +interests--well, let him beware! Some one <i>might</i> carry off +his daughter right from under the ducal nose. Then let the +Burgundian follow at his peril. Castle Hapsburg would open his +eyes. He would learn what an impregnable castle really is. If Duke +Charles thought he could bring his soft-footed Walloons, used only +to the mud roads of Burgundy, up the stony path to the hawk's crag, +why, let him try! Harmless boasting is a boy's vent. Max did not +really mean to boast, he was only wishing; and to a flushed, +enthusiastic soul, the wish of to-day is apt to look like the fact +of to-morrow.</p> +<p>We hoped to find a caravan ready to leave Linz, but we were +disappointed, so we journeyed by the Danube to the mouth of the +Inn, up which we went to Muhldorf. There we found a small caravan +bound for Munich on the Iser. From Munich we travelled with a +caravan to Augsburg, and thence to Ulm, where we were overjoyed to +meet once more our old friend, the Danube. Max snatched up a +handful of water, kissed it, and tossed it back to the river, +saying:--"Sweet water, carry my kiss to the river Save; there give +it to a nymph that you will find waiting, and tell her to take it +to my dear old mother in far-off Styria."</p> +<p>Do not think that we met with no hard fortune in our journeying. +My gold was exhausted before we reached Muhldorf, and we often +travelled hungry, meeting with many lowly adventures. Max at first +resented the familiarity of strangers, but hunger is one of the +factors in man-building, and the scales soon began to fall from his +eyes. Dignity is a good thing to stand on, but a poor thing to +travel with, and Max soon found it the most cumbersome piece of +luggage a knight-errant could carry.</p> +<p>Among our misfortunes was the loss of the bundle prepared by the +duchess, and with it, alas! St. Martin's tooth. Max was so deeply +troubled by the loss of the tooth that I could not help +laughing.</p> +<p>"Karl, I am surprised that you laugh at the loss of my mother's +sacred relic," said Max, sorrowfully.</p> +<p>I continued to laugh, and said: "We may get another tooth from +the first barber we meet. It will answer all the purposes of the +one you have lost."</p> +<p>"Truly, Karl?"</p> +<p>"Truly," I answered. "The tooth was a humbug."</p> +<p>"I have long thought as much," said Max, "but I valued it +because my mother loved it."</p> +<p>"A good reason, Max," I replied, and the tooth was never +afterward mentioned.</p> +<p>From Ulm we guarded a caravan to Cannstadt. From that city we +hoped to go to Strasburg, and thence through Lorraine to Burgundy, +but we found no caravan bound in that direction. Our sojourn at +Cannstadt exhausted the money we got for our journeys from Augsburg +and Ulm, and we were compelled, much against our will, to accept an +offer of service with one Master Franz, a silk merchant of Basel, +who was about to journey homeward. His caravan would pass through +the Black Forest; perhaps the most dangerous country in Europe for +travellers.</p> +<p>Knowing the perils ahead of us, I engaged two stout men-at-arms, +and late in February we started for Basel as bodyguard to good +Master Franz. Think of the heir of Hapsburg marching in the train +of a Swiss merchant! Max dared not think of it; he was utterly +humiliated!</p> +<p>Our first good fortune at Muhldorf he looked on as the deepest +degradation a man might endure, but he could not starve, and he +would not beg. Not once did he even think of returning to Styria, +and, in truth, he could not have done so had he wished; our bridges +were burned behind us; our money was spent.</p> +<p>By the time we had finished half our journey to Basel, Max liked +the life we were leading, and learned to love personal liberty, of +which he had known so little. Now he could actually do what he +wished. He could even slap a man on the back and call him +"comrade." Of course, if the process were reversed,--if any one +slapped Max on the back,--well, dignity is tender and not to be +slapped. On several occasions Max got himself into trouble by +resenting familiarities, and his difficulties at times were +ludicrous. Once a fist fight occurred. The heir of Hapsburg was +actually compelled to fight with his fists. He thrashed the poor +fellow most terribly, and I believe would have killed him had not I +stayed his hand. Another time a pretty girl at Augsburg became +familiar with him, and Max checked her peremptorily. When he grew +angry, she laughed, and saucily held up her lips for a kiss. Max +looked at me in half-amused wonder.</p> +<p>"Take it, Max; there is no harm in it," I suggested.</p> +<p>Max found it so, and immediately wanted more, but the girl said +too many would not be good for him. She promised others later on, +if he were very, very good. Thus Max was conquered by a kiss at the +wayside.</p> +<p>The girl was very pretty, Max was very good, and she helped me +wonderfully in reducing his superfluous dignity. Her name was +Gertrude, and we spoke of her afterward as "Gertrude the +Conqueror." She was a most enticing little individual, and Max +learned that persons of low degree really may be interesting. That +was his first great lesson. I had some trouble after leaving +Augsburg to keep him from taking too many lessons of the same +sort.</p> +<p>Our contract with Franz provided that we should receive no +compensation until after his merchandise had safely reached Basel, +but then our remuneration was to be large. Max had no doubt as to +the safe arrival of the caravan at Basel, and he rejoiced at the +prospect. I tried to reduce the rosy hue of his dreams, but failed. +I suggested that we might have fighting ahead of us harder than any +we had known, though we had given and taken some rough knocks on +two of our expeditions. Max laughed and longed for the fray; he was +beginning to live. The fray came quickly enough after we reached +the Black Forest, and the fight was sufficiently warm to suit even +enthusiastic Max. He and I were wounded; one of our men-at-arms was +killed, and Franz's life was saved only by an heroic feat of arms +on Max's part. The robbers were driven off; we spent a fortnight in +a near-by monastery, that our wounds might heal, and again started +for Basel.</p> +<p>During the last week in March we approached Basel. Max had saved +the merchant's life; we had protected the caravan from robbery; and +good Franz was grateful. Notwithstanding our sure reward, Max was +gloomy. The future had lost its rosiness; his wound did not readily +heal; Basel was half a hundred leagues off our road to Burgundy. +Why did we ever come to Switzerland? Everything was wrong. But no +man knows what good fortune may lurk in an evil chance.</p> +<p>At the close of a stormy day we sighted Basel from the top of a +hill, and soon the lights, one by one, began to twinkle cosily +through the gloaming. All day long drizzling rain and spitting snow +had blown in our faces like lance points, driven down the wind +straight from the icy Alps. We were chilled to the bone; in all my +life I have never beheld a sight so comforting as the home lights +of the quaint old Swiss city.</p> +<p>Franz soon found a wherry and, after crossing the Rhine, we +marched slowly down the river street, ducking our heads to the +blast. Within half an hour we passed under a stone archway and +found ourselves snug in the haven of our merchant's courtyard. Even +the sumpter mules rejoiced, and gave forth a chorus of brays that +did one's heart good. Every tone of their voices spoke of the warm +stalls, the double feed of oats, and the great manger of sweet hay +that awaited them. Before going into the house Max gave to each +mule a stroke of his hand in token of affection. Surely this proud +automaton of Hapsburg was growing lowly in his tastes. In other +words, nature had captured his heart and was driving out the +inherited conventions of twenty generations. Five months of contact +with the world had wrought a greater cure than I had hoped five +years would work. I was making a man out of the flesh and blood of +a Hapsburg. God only knows when the like had happened before.</p> +<p>Max and I were conducted by a demure little Swiss maid to a +large room on the third floor of the house, overlooking the Rhine. +There was no luxury, but there was every comfort. There were two +beds, each with a soft feather mattress, pillows of down, and warm, +stuffed coverlets of silk. These were not known even in the duke's +apartments at Hapsburg Castle. There we had tarnished gold cloth +and ancient tapestries in abundance, but we lacked the little +comforts that make life worth living. Here Max learned another +lesson concerning the people of this world. The lowly Swiss +merchant's unknown guest slept more comfortably than did the Duke +of Styria.</p> +<p>When we went down to supper, I could see the effort it cost Max +to sit at table with these good people. But the struggle was not +very great; five months before it would have been impossible. At +Hapsburg he sat at table with his father and mother only; even I +had never sat with him in the castle. At Basel he was sitting with +a burgher and a burgher's frau. In Styria he ate boar's meat from +battered silver plate and drank sour wine from superannuated golden +goblets; in Switzerland he ate tender, juicy meats and toothsome +pastries from stone dishes and drank rich Cannstadt beer from +leathern mugs. His palate and his stomach jointly attacked his +brain, and the horrors of life in Hapsburg appeared in their true +colors.</p> +<p>On the morning of our second day at Basel, Franz invited us to +be his guests during our sojourn in the city. His house was large, +having been built to entertain customers who came from great +distances to buy his silks.</p> +<p>Max and I had expected to leave Basel when our wounds were +entirely healed, but we changed our minds after I had talked with +Franz. The conversation that brought about this change occurred one +morning while the merchant and I were sitting in his shop. He +handed me a purse filled with gold, saying:--</p> +<p>"Here is twice the sum I agreed to pay. I beg that you accept it +since I shall still be in your debt."</p> +<p>I knew by the weight of the gold that it was a larger sum than I +had ever before possessed. I did not like to accept it, but I could +not bring myself to refuse a thing so important to Max.</p> +<p>"We should not accept this from you, good Franz, but--but--"</p> +<p>"The boy saved my life and my fortune," he interrupted, "and I +am really ashamed to offer you so small a sum. You should have half +of all my goods."</p> +<p>I protested and thanked him heartily, not only for his gift, but +also for his manner of giving. Then I told him of our intended +journey to Burgundy--of course not mentioning the princess--and +asked if he knew of any merchant who would soon be travelling that +way.</p> +<p>"There are many going down the river from Basel to Strasburg," +he answered, "and you may easily fall in with one any day. But +there will soon be an opportunity for you to travel all the way to +Burgundy. I know the very man for your purpose. He is Master George +Castleman of Peronne. He comes every spring, if there is peace +along the road, to buy silks. We now have peace, though I fear it +will be of short duration, and I am expecting Castleman early this +season. He will probably be here before the first of May. He is a +rich merchant, and was one of the councillors of Duke Philip the +Good, father to the present Duke of Burgundy. Years ago Duke Philip +built a house for him abutting the walls of Peronne Castle. It is +called 'The House under the Wall,' and Castleman still lives in it. +He refused a title of nobility offered him by Duke Philip. He is +not out of favor with the present duke, but he loves peace too +dearly to be of use to the hot-headed, tempestuous Charles. Duke +Charles, as you know, is really King of Burgundy--the richest land +on earth. His domain is the envy of every king, but he will bring +all his grandeur tumbling about his head if he perseveres in his +present course of violence and greed."</p> +<p>At that moment Max joined us.</p> +<p>"I hear this Duke Charles has no son to inherit his rich +domain?" I observed interrogatively.</p> +<p>"No," answered Franz. "He has a daughter, the Princess Mary, who +will inherit Burgundy. She is said to be as gentle as her father is +violent. Castleman tells me that she is gracious and kind to those +beneath her, and, in my opinion, that is the true stamp of +greatness."</p> +<p>Those were healthful words for Max.</p> +<p>"The really great and good have no need to assert their +qualities," I answered.</p> +<p>"Castleman often speaks of the princess," said Franz. "He tells +me that his daughter Antoinette and the Princess Mary have been +friends since childhood--that is, of course, so far as persons so +widely separated by birth and station can be friends."</p> +<p>I briefly told Max what Franz had said concerning Castleman, and +the young fellow was delighted at the prospect of an early start +for Peronne.</p> +<p>In Max's awakening, the radiance of his ideal may have been +dimmed, but if so, the words of Franz restored its lustre. If the +boy's fancy had wandered, it quickly returned to the lady of +Burgundy.</p> +<p>I asked Franz if Duke Charles lived at Peronne.</p> +<p>"No, he lives at Ghent," he answered; "but on rare occasions he +visits Peronne, which is on the French border. Duke Philip once +lived there, but Charles keeps Peronne only as his watch-tower to +overlook his old enemy, France. The enmity, I hope, will cease, now +that the Princess Mary is to marry the Dauphin."</p> +<p>This confirmation of a rumor which I had already heard was +anything but welcome. However, it sensitized the feeling Max +entertained for his unknown lady-love, and strengthened his +resolution to pursue his journey to Burgundy at whatever cost.</p> +<p>I led Franz to speak of Burgundian affairs and he +continued:--</p> +<p>"The princess and her stepmother, the Duchess Margaret, live at +Peronne. They doubtless found life at Ghent with the duke too +violent. It is said that the duchess is unhappily wedded to the +fierce duke, and that the unfortunate princess finds little favor +in her father's eyes because he cannot forgive her the grievous +fault of being a girl."</p> +<p>While Franz was talking I was dreaming. A kind providence had +led us a half-hundred leagues out of our road, through wounds and +hardships, to Basel; but that quiet city might after all prove to +be the open doorway to Max's fortune. My air-castle was of this +architecture: Max would win old Castleman's favor--an easy task. We +would journey to Peronne, seek Castleman's house, pay court to +Antoinette--I prayed she might not be too pretty--and--you can +easily find your way over the rest of my castle.</p> +<p>Within a fortnight Max and I had recovered entirely from our +wounds, and were abroad each day in the growing warmth of the +sunshine. We did not often speak of Castleman, but we waited, each +day wishing for his speedy advent.</p> +<p>At last, one beautiful evening early in May, he arrived. Max and +I were sitting at our window watching the river, when the little +company rode up to the door of the merchant's shop. With Castleman +were two young women hardly more than girls. One of them was a pink +and white young beauty, rather tall and somewhat stout. Her face, +complexion, and hair were exquisite, but there was little animation +in her expression. The other girl had features less regular, +perhaps, but she was infinitely more attractive. She was small, but +beautiful in form; and she sprang from her horse with the grace of +a kitten. Her face was not so white as her companion's, but its +color was entrancing. Her expression was animated, and her great +brown eyes danced like twinkling stars on a clear, moonless +night.</p> +<p>The young women entered the house, and we saw nothing more of +them for several days.</p> +<p>When we met Castleman, he gladly engaged our services to +Peronne, having heard from Franz of our adventures in the Black +Forest. We left the terms to him, and he suggested a compensation +far greater than we should have asked. The sum we received from +Franz, together with that which we should get from Castleman, would +place us beyond want for a year to come. Surely luck was with +us.</p> +<p>After Castleman's arrival our meals were served in our room, and +we saw little of him or of Franz for a week or more. Twice I saw +Castleman ride out with the young women, and after that I haunted +the front door of the house. One bright afternoon I met them as +they were about to dismount. Castleman was an old man and quite +stout, so I helped him from his horse. He then turned to the fair +girl of pink and white, saying:--</p> +<p>"Antoinette, daughter, this is Sir Karl de Pitti, who will +accompany us to Peronne."</p> +<p>I made my bow and assisted Fräulein Antoinette to the +ground. The other young lady sprang nimbly from her saddle without +assistance and waited, as I thought, to be presented. Castleman did +not offer to present her, and she ran to the house, followed by +serene Antoinette. I concluded that the smaller girl was +Fräulein Castleman's maid. I knew that great familiarity +between mistress and servant was usual among the burgher class.</p> +<p>The smaller girl was certainly attractive, but I did not care +for her acquaintance. Antoinette was the one in whose eyes I hoped +to find favor, first for myself and then for Max. By her help I +hoped Max might be brought to meet the Princess of Burgundy when we +should reach Peronne. I had little doubt of Max's success in +pleasing Antoinette; I was not at all anxious that he should please +the smaller maid. There was a saucy glance in her dark eyes, and a +tremulous little smile constantly playing about her red, bedimpled +mouth, that boded trouble to a susceptible masculine heart. Max, +with all his simplicity, though not susceptible, had about him an +impetuosity when his interest was aroused of which I had learned to +stand in wholesome dread. I was jealous of any woman who might +disturb his dreams of Mary of Burgundy, and this little maid was +surely attractive enough to turn any man's head her way if she so +desired.</p> +<p>Later in the afternoon I saw Fräulein Antoinette in the +shop looking at silks and laces. Hoping to improve the opportunity, +I approached her, and was received with a serene and gracious +smile. Near Antoinette were the saucy brown eyes and the bedimpled +mouth. Truly they were exquisitely beautiful in combination, and, +old as I was, I could not keep my eyes from them. The eyes and +dimples came quickly to Antoinette, who presented me to her "Cousin +Fräulein Yolanda Castleman." Fräulein Yolanda bowed with +a grace one would not expect to find in a burgher girl, and said +with the condescension of a princess:--</p> +<p>"Sir Karl, you pleasure me."</p> +<p>I was not prepared for her manner. She probably was <i>not</i> +Antoinette's maid. A pause followed my presentation which might +have been meant by the brown-eyed maid as permission to withdraw. +But I was for having further words with Antoinette. She, however, +stepped back from her cousin, and, if I was to remain, I must speak +to my lady Fräulein Yolanda Castleman or remain silent, so I +asked,--</p> +<p>"Do you reside in Basel, Fräulein?"</p> +<p>"No, no," she replied, with no touch of bourgeois confusion, "I +am a Burgundian. Uncle Castleman, after promising Twonette" (I +spell the name as she pronounced it) "and me for years, has brought +us on this long journey into the world. I am enjoying it more than +any one can know, but poor uncle lives in dread of the journey +home. He upbraids himself for having brought us and declares that +if he but had us home again, nothing could induce him to start out +with such a cargo of merchandise."</p> +<p>"Well he may be fearful," I answered. "Where one's greatest +treasure is, there is his greatest fear, but peace reigns on the +road to Burgundy, and I hope your good uncle's fears are without +ground save in his love."</p> +<p>"I hear you are to accompany us, and of course we shall be +safe," she said, the shadow of a smile playing suspiciously about +her mouth and dancing in her eyes.</p> +<p>"Yes, I am to have that great <i>honor</i>," I replied, bowing +very low. I, too, could be sarcastic.</p> +<p>"Does the--will the--the gentleman who is with you accompany +us?" asked Fräulein Yolanda. So! These maidens of Burgundy had +already seen my handsome Max! This one would surely be tempting him +with her eyes and her irresistible little smile.</p> +<p>"Yolanda!" exclaimed serene Twonette. Yolanda gave no heed.</p> +<p>"Yes, Fräulein," I responded. "He goes with us. Do you live +in Peronne?"</p> +<p>"Y-e-s," she replied hesitatingly. "Where is your home and your +friend's?"</p> +<p>"Yolanda!" again came in tones of mild remonstrance from +Fräulein Antoinette. The dimples again ignored the warning and +waited for my answer.</p> +<p>"We have no home at present save the broad earth, +Fräulein," I responded.</p> +<p>"You cannot occupy it all," she retorted, looking roguishly up +to me.</p> +<p>"No," I responded, "we are occupying this part of the earth at +present, but we hope soon to occupy Burgundy."</p> +<p>"Please leave a small patch of that fair land for Twonette and +me," she answered, in mock entreaty. After a short pause she +continued:--</p> +<p>"It seems easier for you to ask questions than to answer +them."</p> +<p>"Fräulein," I responded, "your question is not easily +answered. I was born in Italy. I lived for many years in the East, +and--"</p> +<p>"I did not ask for your biography," she said, interrupting me. I +did not notice the interruption, but continued:--</p> +<p>"I spent six years in your fair land of Burgundy. My mother was +a Walloon. I dearly love her people, and hope that my home may soon +be among them."</p> +<p>The girl's face had been slightly clouded, but when I spoke +lovingly of the Walloons, the dimples again played around her mouth +and a smile brightened her eyes.</p> +<p>"I also am a Walloon," she answered; "and your friend? He surely +is not Italian: he is too fair."</p> +<p>"The Lombards are fair," I answered, "and the Guelphs, you know, +are of Lombardy. You may have heard of the Houses of Guelph and of +Pitti."</p> +<p>"I have often heard of them," she answered; then, after a short +silence,--"I fear I have asked too many questions." A gentle, +apologetic smile lighted her face and won me instantly. I liked her +as much as I admired her. I knew that she wanted me to speak of +Max, so to please her I continued, even against my +inclination:--</p> +<p>"My young friend, Sir Maximilian du Guelph, wanted to see the +world. We are very poor, Fräulein, and if we would travel, we +must make our way as we go. We have just come from Ulm and +Cannstadt, passing through the Black Forest. Sir Max saved the life +of our host, and in so doing was grievously wounded. Good Master +Franz rewarded us far beyond our deserts, and for the time being we +think we are rich."</p> +<p>"The name Maximilian is not Italian," observed Yolanda. "It has +an Austrian sound."</p> +<p>"That is true," I responded. "My name, Karl, is German. Few +names nowadays keep to their own country. Your name, Yolanda, for +example, is Italian."</p> +<p>"Is that true?" she answered inquiringly, taking up a piece of +lace. I saw that the interview was closing. After a moment's +hesitation Yolanda turned quickly to me and said:--</p> +<p>"You and your friend may sup with us this evening in the dining +room of our hostess. We take supper at five."</p> +<p>The invitation was given with all the condescension of a noble +lady. Twonette ventured:--</p> +<p>"What will father say, Yolanda?"</p> +<p>"I can guess what uncle will say, but we will give him his say +and take our own way. Nonsense, Twonette, if we are to journey to +Peronne with these gentlemen, our acquaintance with them cannot +begin too soon. Come, Sir Karl, and--and bring your young friend, +Sir Maximilian."</p> +<p>It was clear to my mind that, without my young friend, Sir +Maximilian, I should not have had the invitation. Yolanda then +turned to Franz and his silks, and I, who had always thought myself +of some importance, was dismissed by a burgher girl. I soothed my +vanity with the thought that beauty has its own prerogatives.</p> +<p>Without being little, Yolanda was small; without nobility, she +had the <i>haute</i> mien. But over and above all she had a sweet +charm of manner, a saucy gentleness, and a kindly grace that made +her irresistible. When she smiled, one felt like thanking God for +the benediction.</p> +<p>That evening at five o'clock Max and I supped with Frau Franz. +The good frau and her husband sat at either end of the table, +Castleman, his daughter, and Yolanda occupied one side, while I sat +by Max opposite them. If Castleman had offered objection to the +arrangement, he had been silenced.</p> +<p>I was especially anxious that Max should devote himself to +Twonette, but, as I had expected, Yolanda's attractions were far +too great to be resisted. There was a slight Walloon accent in her +French and German (we all spoke both languages) that gave to her +voice an exquisite cadence. I spoke to her in Walloonish, and she +was so pleased that she seemed to nestle toward me. In the midst of +an animated conversation she suddenly became silent, and I saw her +watching Max's hand. I thought she was looking at his ring. It was +the one that Mary of Burgundy had given him.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> +<h3>YOLANDA THE SORCERESS</h3> +<br> +<p>Several days passed, during which we saw the Castlemans +frequently. One evening after supper, when we were all sitting in +the parlor, Yolanda enticed Max to an adjoining room, on the excuse +of showing him an ancient piece of tapestry. When it had been +examined, she seated herself on a window bench and indicated a +chair for Max near by. Among much that was said I quote the +following from memory, as Max told me afterward:--</p> +<p>"So you are from Italy, Sir Max?" queried Yolanda, stealing a +glance at his ring.</p> +<p>"Yes," returned Max.</p> +<p>"From what part, may I ask?" continued the girl, with a slight +inclination of her head to one side and a flash from beneath the +preposterously long lashes toward his hand.</p> +<p>"From--from Rome," stammered Max, halting at even so small a +lie.</p> +<p>"Ah, Sir Karl said you were from Lombardy," answered the +girl.</p> +<p>"Well--that is--originally, perhaps, I was," he returned.</p> +<p>"Perhaps your family lives in both places?" she asked very +seriously.</p> +<p>"Yes, that is the way of it," he responded.</p> +<p>"Were you born in both places?" asked Yolanda, without the +shadow of a smile. Max was thinking of the little lie he was +telling and did not analyze her question.</p> +<p>"No," he answered, in simple honesty, "you see I could not be +born in two places. That would be impossible."</p> +<p>"Perhaps it would be," replied Yolanda, with perfect gravity. +Max was five years her senior, but he was a boy, while she had the +self-command of a quick-witted woman, though she still retained the +saucy impertinence of childhood. Slow-going, guileless Max began to +suspect a lurking intention on Yolanda's part to quiz him.</p> +<p>"Did not Sir Karl say something about your having been born in +Styria?" asked the girl, glancing slyly at the ring.</p> +<p>"No, he did not," answered Max, emphatically. "I suppose I was +born in Rome--no, I mean Lombardy--but it cannot matter much to +you, Fräulein, where I was born if I do not wish to tell."</p> +<p>The direct course was as natural to Max as breathing. The girl +was startled by his abruptness. After a pause she continued:--</p> +<p>"I am sure you are not ashamed of your birthplace, and--"</p> +<p>He interrupted her sharply:--</p> +<p>"I also am sure I am not ashamed of it."</p> +<p>"If you had permitted me to finish," she said quietly, "you +would have had no need to speak so sharply. I spoke seriously. I +wanted to say that I am sure you have no reason to feel ashamed of +your birthplace, and that perhaps I ought not to have asked a +question that you evidently do not want to answer. Uncle says if my +curiosity were taken from me, there would be nothing left but my +toes."</p> +<p>Her contrition melted Max at once, and he said:--</p> +<p>I will gladly tell you, Fräulein, if you want to know. I +was born--"</p> +<p>"No, no," she interrupted, "you shall not tell me. I will leave +you at once and see you no more if you do. Besides, there is no +need to tell me; I already know. I am a sorceress, a witch. I +regret to make the confession, but it is true; I am a witch."</p> +<p>"I believe you are," answered Max, looking at her admiringly and +seating himself beside her on the window bench. He had learned from +Gertrude of Augsburg and many other burgher girls that certain +pleasantries were more objectionable to them in theory than in +practice; but this burgher girl rose to her feet at his approach +and seemed to grow a head taller in an instant. He quietly took his +old place and she took hers. She continued as if unconscious of +what had happened:--</p> +<p>"Yes, I am a sorceress." Then she drew her face close to Max, +and, gazing fixedly into his eyes, said solemnly:--</p> +<p>"I can look into a person's eyes and know if they are telling me +the truth. I can tell their fortunes--past, present, and future. I +can tell them where they were born. I can tell them the history of +anything of value they have. Their jewellery, their--"</p> +<p>"Tell me any one of those things concerning myself," interrupted +Max, suddenly alive with interest.</p> +<p>"No, it is too great a strain upon me," answered the girl, with +amusing gravity.</p> +<p>"I entreat you," said Max, laughing, though deeply interested. +"I believe you can do what you say. I beg you to show me your skill +in only one instance."</p> +<p>The girl gently refused, begging Max not to tempt her.</p> +<p>"No, no, I cannot," she said, "good Father Brantôme has +told me it is sinful. I must not."</p> +<p>Half in jest but all in earnest, Max begged her to try; and, +after a great deal of coaxing, she reluctantly consented to give a +very small exhibition of her powers. Covering her face with her +hands, she remained for the space of a minute as if in deep +thought. Then, making a series of graceful and fantastic passes in +the air with her hands, as if invoking a familiar spirit, she said +in low, solemn tones:--</p> +<p>"You may now sit by me, Sir Max. My words must not be heard by +any ears save yours."</p> +<p>Max seated himself beside the girl.</p> +<p>"Give me your word that you will tell no one what I am about to +do and say," she said.</p> +<p>"I so promise," answered Max, beginning to feel that the +situation was almost uncanny.</p> +<p>"Now, place in my hand some jewel or valued article of which I +may speak," she said.</p> +<p>Excepting his sword and dagger, Max owned but one article of +value--the ring Mary of Burgundy had given him. He hesitatingly +drew it from his finger and placed it in the girl's hand. She +examined it carefully, and said:--</p> +<p>"Now, give me your hand, Sir Max." Her hand was not much larger +than a big snowflake in early spring, Max thought, and it was +completely lost to sight when his great fingers closed over it. The +velvety softness of the little hand sent a thrill through his +veins, and the firm, unyielding strength of his clasp was a new, +delicious sensation to the girl. Startled by it, she made a feeble +effort to withdraw her hand; but Max clasped it firmly, and she +surrendered. After a short silence she placed the ring to her +forehead, closed her eyes, and drew her face so near to Max that he +felt her warm breath on his cheek. Max was learning a new lesson in +life--the greatest of all. She spoke in soft whispers, slowly +dropping her words one by one in sepulchral tones:--</p> +<p>"What--do--I see--surely I am wrong. No--I see clearly--a +lady--a great lady--a princess. She smiles upon a man. He is tall +and young. His face is fair; his hair falls in long, bright curls +like yours. She gives him this ring; she asks him to be her +husband--no--surely a modest maiden would not do that." She stopped +suddenly, snatched her hand from Max, returned the ring and cried, +"No more, no more!"</p> +<p>She tossed her hands in the air, as if to drive off the spirits, +and without another word ran to the parlor laughing, and threw +herself on Uncle Castleman's knee. Max slowly made the sign of the +cross and followed the little enchantress. She had most effectually +imposed on him. He was inclined to believe that she had seen the +ring or had heard of it in Burgundy before the princess sent it; +but Yolanda could have been little more than a child at that +time--three years before. Perhaps she was hardly past fourteen, and +one of her class would certainly not be apt to know of the ring +that had been sent by the princess. She might have received her +information from Twonette, who, Franz said, was acquainted with +Mary of Burgundy; but even had Yolanda heard of the ring, the fact +would not have helped her to know it.</p> +<p>After our first evening with the Castlemans we got on famously +together. True, Max and I felt that we were making great +concessions, and I do not doubt that we showed it in many +unconscious words and acts. This certainly was true of Max; but +Yolanda's unfailing laughter, though at times it was provoking, +soon brought him to see that too great a sense of dignity was at +times ridiculous. He could not, however, always forget that he was +a Hapsburg while she was a burgher girl, and his good memory got +him many a keen little thrust from her saucy tongue. If Max +resented her sauciness, she ran away from him with the full +knowledge that he would miss her. She was much surer that she +pleased and delighted him than he was that he pleased her, though +of the latter fact she left, in truth, little room for doubt.</p> +<p>Max was very happy. He had never before known a playmate. But +here in Basel the good Franz and his frau, Yolanda, Twonette, fat +old Castleman, and myself were all boys and girls together, +snatching the joys of life fresh from the soil of mother earth, +close to which we lived in rustic simplicity.</p> +<p>Since we had left Styria, our life, with all its hardships, had +been a delight to Max, but it was also a series of constantly +repeated shocks. If the shocks came too rapidly and too hard, he +solaced his bruised dignity with the thought that those who were +unduly familiar with him did not know that he was the heir of the +House of Hapsburg. So day by day he grew to enjoy the nestling +comfort of a near-by friend. This, I grieve to say, was too plainly +seen in his relations with Yolanda, for she unquestionably nestled +toward him. She made no effort to conceal her delight in his +companionship, though she most adroitly kept him at a proper +distance. If she observed a growing confidence in Max, she quickly +nipped it by showing him that she enjoyed my companionship or that +of old Franz just as much. On such occasions Max's dignity and +vanity required balm.</p> +<p>"Oh, Karl," he said to me one evening while we were preparing +for bed, "it seems to me I have just wakened to life, or have just +got out of prison. No man can be happy on a pinnacle above the +intimate friendships of his fellow-man and--and woman."</p> +<p>"Yes, 'and woman.' Well put, Max," said I.</p> +<p>Max did not notice my insinuation, but continued:--</p> +<p>"I have lived longer since knowing these lowly friends than in +all the years of my life in Styria. Karl, you have spoiled a good, +stiff-jointed Hapsburg, but you have made a man. If nothing more +comes of this journey into the world than I have already had, I am +your debtor for life. What would my dear old father and mother say +if they should see me and know the life I am leading? In their eyes +I should be disgraced--covered with shame."</p> +<p>"When you go back to Hapsburg," I said, "you can again take up +your old, petrified existence and eat your husks of daily +adulation. You will soon again find satisfaction in the bended +knee, and will insist that those who approach you bow deferentially +to your ancestors."</p> +<p>"I shall, of course, return to Hapsburg," he said. "It is my +fate, and no man can change the destiny to which he was born. I +must also endure the bowing and the adulation. Men shall honor my +ancestors and respect in me their descendant, but I shall never +again be without friends if it be in my power to possess them. As I +have said, that is difficult for one placed above his +fellow-man."</p> +<p>"There is the trouble with men of your degree," I answered. +"Friends are not like castles, cities, and courtly servitors. +Those, indeed, one may really own; but we possess our friends only +as they possess us. Like a mirror, a friend gives us only what we +ourselves give. No king is great enough to produce his own image +unless he stands before the glass."</p> +<p>"Teach me, Karl, to stand before the glass," said Max, +plaintively.</p> +<p>"You are before it now, my dear boy," I answered. "These new +friends are giving you only what you give them. With me, you have +always been before the glass."</p> +<p>"That has been true," said Max, "ever since the first day you +entered Hapsburg. Do you remember? I climbed on your knee and said, +'You have a big, ugly nose!' Mother admonished me, and I quickly +made amends by saying, 'But I like you.'"</p> +<p>"I well remember, Max," I responded. "That day was one of mutual +conquest. That is the prime condition of friendship: mutual +conquest and mutual surrender. But you must have other friends than +me. You see I am not jealous. You must have friends of your own +age."</p> +<p>"I now realize why I have hungered all my life," said Max, +"though I have never before known: I longed for friends. Is it not +strange that I should find them among these low-born people? It +surely cannot be wrong for me to live as I do, though father and +mother would doubtless deem it criminal."</p> +<p>"These good burgher folk are making you better and broader and +stronger," I answered. "But there is one thing I want to suggest: +you are devoting too much of your time to the brown-eyed little +maid. You must seek favor with Twonette. She is harmless, and +through her you may, by some freak of fortune, reach the goal of +your desires. With the prestige of your family and the riches of +Burgundy, you may become the most powerful man in the world, save +the Pope."</p> +<p>"Perhaps Fräulein Yolanda is also acquainted with the +Princess Mary," responded Max, half reluctantly speaking Mary's +name.</p> +<p>"No," I answered, "she is not." I asked her if she were. She +laughed at the suggestion, and said: 'Oh, no, no, the princess is a +very proud person and very exclusive. She knows but one burgher +girl in Peronne, I am told. That one is Twonette, and I believe she +treats her most ungraciously at times. I would not endure her snubs +and haughty ways as Twonette does. I seek the friendship of no +princess. Girls of my own class are good enough for me. "Twonette, +fetch me a cup of wine." "Twonette, thread my needle." "Twonette, +you are fat and lazy and sleep too much." "Twonette, stand up." +"Twonette, sit down." Faugh! I tell you I want none of these +princesses, no, not one of them. I hate princesses, and I tell you +I doubly hate this--this--' She did not say whom she doubly hated. +She is a forward little witch, Max. She laughed merrily at my +questions concerning the princess, and asked me if we were going to +Burgundy to storm Mary's heart. 'Who is to win her?' she asked. +'You, Sir Karl, or Sir Max? It must be you. Sir Max is too slow and +dignified even to think of scaling the walls of a maiden fortress. +It must be you, Sir Karl.' The saucy little elf rose from her +chair, bowed low before me and said, 'I do liege homage to the +future Duke of Burgundy.' Then she danced across the room, laughing +at my discomfiture. She is charming, Max, but remember Gertrude the +Conqueror! Such trifling affairs are well enough to teach a man the +a-b-c of life but one with your destiny ahead of him must not +remain too long in his alphabet. Such affairs are for boys, Max, +for boys."</p> +<p>"Do not fear for me, Karl," answered Max, laughingly. "We are +not apt to take hurt from dangers we see."</p> +<p>"Do you clearly see the danger?" I suggested.</p> +<p>"I clearly see," he responded. "I admire Fräulein Yolanda +as I have never admired any other woman. I respect her as if she +were a princess; but one of the penalties of my birth is that I may +not think of her nor of one of her class. She is not for me; she is +a burgher maiden--out of my reach. For that reason I feel that I +should respect her."</p> +<p>The attitude of Max toward Yolanda was a real triumph of skill +and adroitness over inherited convictions and false education. She +had brought him from condescension to deference solely by the magic +of her art. Or am I wrong? Was it her artlessness? Perhaps it was +her artful artlessness, since every girl-baby is born with a +modicum of that dangerous quality.</p> +<p>"Perhaps you are right, Karl," added Max. "I may underrate the +power of this girl. As you have said, she is a little witch. But +beneath her laughter there is a rare show of tenderness and +strength, which at times seems pathetic and almost elfin. You are +right, Karl. I will devote myself to Twonette hereafter. She is +like a feather-bed in that she cannot be injured by a blow, neither +can she give one; but Yolanda--ah, Karl, she is like a priceless +jewel that may be shattered by a blow and may blind one by its +radiance."</p> +<p>But Max's devotion to Twonette was a failure. She was certainly +willing, but Yolanda would have none of it, and with no +equivocation gave every one to understand as much. Still, she held +Max at a respectful distance. In fact, this Yolanda handled us all +as a juggler tosses his balls. Max must not be too attentive to +her, and he must not be at all attentive to Twonette. In this +arrangement Twonette acquiesced. She would not dare to lift her +eyes to one upon whom Yolanda was looking!</p> +<p>Here was illustrated the complete supremacy of mind over matter. +Castleman, Twonette, Franz and his frau, Max and I, all danced when +the tiny white hand of Yolanda pulled the strings. A kiss or a +saucy nod for Castleman or Twonette, a smile or a frown for Max and +me, were the instruments wherewith she worked. Deftly she turned +each situation as she desired. Max made frequent efforts to obtain +a private moment with her, that he might ask a few questions +concerning her wonderful knowledge of his ring--they had been +burning him since the night of her sorcery--but, though she knew +quite well his desire to question her, she gave him no +opportunity.</p> +<p>During the time that Castleman was buying his silks, the members +of our little party grew rapidly in friendship. In culture, +education, and refinement, the Castlemans were far above any +burghers I had ever known. Franz and his wife, though good, simple +people, were not at all in Castleman's class. They felt their +inferiority, and did not go abroad with us, though we supped daily +with them. Each evening supper was a little fête followed by +a romp of amusement, songs, and childish games in the frau's great +parlor.</p> +<p>The Castlemans, Max, and I made several excursions into the +mountains. Yolanda and Twonette were in ecstasy at the mountain +views, which were so vividly in contrast with the lowlands of +Burgundy.</p> +<p>"These mountains are beautiful," said patriotic Yolanda, "but +our lowlands raise bread to feed the hungry."</p> +<p>On one occasion we rode to the Falls of Schaffhausen, and often +we were out upon the river. During these expeditions Yolanda +adroitly kept our little party together, and Max could have no +private word with her.</p> +<p>I had never been so happy as I was during the fortnight at Basel +while Castleman was buying silk. I was almost a child again; my +fifty odd years seemed to fall from me as an eagle sheds his plumes +in spring. We were all happy and merry as a May-day, and our +joyousness was woven from the warp and woof of Yolanda's gentle, +laughing nature. Without her, our life would have been comfortable +but commonplace.</p> +<p>During all this time Max pondered in vain upon the remarkable +manner in which Yolanda had divined the secret of his ring. He +longed to question her, but she would not be questioned until she +was ready to answer.</p> +<p>On a certain morning near the close of our sojourn in Basel, +Max, after many elephantine manoeuvres, obtained Yolanda's promise +to walk out with him to a near-by hill in the afternoon. It was a +Sabbath day, and every burgher maiden in Basel that boasted a +sweetheart would be abroad with him in the sunshine. Max could not +help feeling that it was most condescending in him, a prince, to +walk out with Yolanda, a burgher maiden. Should any one from Styria +meet him, he would certainly sink into the ground, though in a +certain way the girl's reluctance seemed to place the condescension +with her.</p> +<p>After dinner, which we all took together that day, she put him +off with excuses until drowsy Uncle Castleman had taken himself off +for a nap. Then Yolanda quickly said:--</p> +<p>"Fetch me my hood, Twonette. I shall not need a cloak. I am +going to walk out with Sir Max."</p> +<p>Twonette instantly obeyed, as if she were a tire-woman to a +princess, and soon returned wearing her own hood and carrying +Yolanda's.</p> +<p>"Ah, but you are not to come with us," said Yolanda. She was +ready to give Max the opportunity he desired, and would give it +generously.</p> +<p>"But--but what will father say?" asked Twonette, uneasily.</p> +<p>"We shall learn what he says when we return. No need to worry +about that now," answered Yolanda. Twonette took off her hood.</p> +<p>Max and Yolanda climbed the hill, and, after a little demurring +on the girl's part, sat down on a shelving rock at a point where +the river view was beautiful. As usual, Yolanda managed the +conversation to suit herself, but after a short time she permitted +Max to introduce the subject on which he wished to talk.</p> +<p>"Will you tell me, Fräulein," he asked, "how you were +enabled to know the history of my ring? I cannot believe you are +what you said--a sorceress--a witch."</p> +<p>"No, no," she answered laughingly, "I am not a sorceress."</p> +<p>"You almost made me believe you were," said Max, "but I am slow +of wit, as you have doubtless observed. I told Sir Karl you said +you were a sorceress, and he said--"</p> +<p>"You gave me your word you would not tell!" exclaimed +Yolanda.</p> +<p>"Neither did I tell aught save that you said you were a +sorceress. He laughed and said--"</p> +<p>"Yes, yes, what did he say?" eagerly queried the girl.</p> +<p>"He said--I am sure you will not take amiss what he said?" +responded Max.</p> +<p>"No, no, indeed no! Tell me," she demanded eagerly.</p> +<p>"He said you were a witch, if brown eyes, dimpling smiles, and +girlish beauty could make one," answered Max.</p> +<p>"Ah, did he say that of me?" asked the girl, musingly. After a +pause she continued, "That was kind in Sir Karl and--and evidently +sincere." After another pause devoted to revery she said: "Perhaps +I shall be his friend sometime in a manner he little expects. Even +the friendship of a helpless burgher girl is not to be despised. +But he is wrong. I am not beautiful," she poutingly continued. "Now +let us examine my face." She laughed, and settled herself +contentedly upon the stone, as if to take up a serious discussion. +"I often do so in the mirror. Vain? Of course I am!"</p> +<p>"I am only too willing to examine it," said Max, laughingly.</p> +<p>"My mouth," she said, pursing her lips and lifting her face +temptingly for his inspection, "my mouth is--"</p> +<p>"Perfect," interrupted Max.</p> +<p>She looked surprised and said, "Ah, that was nicely spoken, +Little Max, and quickly, for you."</p> +<p>"'Little Max'!" exclaimed the young man. "Where heard you that +name? No one save my mother has ever used it; no one but Karl and +my father has ever heard her speak the words. Did Karl tell you of +it?"</p> +<p>"Karl did not tell me," she responded, "and I never heard any +one speak the name. The name fits you so well--by contraries--that +it came to me, perhaps, by inspiration."</p> +<p>"That hardly seems possible," returned Max, "and your knowledge +of how I received the ring is more than remarkable."</p> +<p>"Let us talk about my face," said the girl, full of the spirit +of mischief, and wishing to put off the discussion of the ring. +"Now, my eyes, of which Sir Karl spoke so kindly, are--"</p> +<p>"The most wonderful in the world," interrupted Max. "They are +brilliant as priceless jewels, fathomless as deep water, gentle and +tender as--"</p> +<p>"There, there, Little Max," she cried, checking with a gesture +his flow of unexpected eloquence. "I declare! you are not so slow +as you seem. I will tell you just how much of a sorceress I am. I +thought to flatter you by saying a great lady had given you the +ring, and lo, I was right unless you are adroitly leading me to +believe in my own sorcery. Is she a great lady? Come, tell me the +story."</p> +<p>She unconsciously moved nearer to him with an air of pleasant +anticipation.</p> +<p>"Yes, it was a great lady, a very great lady who gave me the +ring," he said most seriously.</p> +<p>"And was I right in my other divination?" she asked, looking +down and flushing slightly. "Did--did she wish to marry you? But +you need not answer that question."</p> +<p>"I will gladly answer it," returned Max, leaning forward, +resting his elbow on his knees and looking at the ground between +his feet. "I hoped she did. I--I longed for it."</p> +<p>"Perhaps she possessed vast estates?" asked the girl, a slight +frown gathering on her brow.</p> +<p>"Yes, she possessed vast estates," said Max, "but I would gladly +have taken her penniless save for the fact that I am very poor, and +that she would suffer for the lack of luxuries she has always +known."</p> +<p>"But how could the lady have felt sure you were not seeking her +for the sake of her estates?" asked Yolanda.</p> +<p>"She could not know," answered Max. "But I sought her for her +own sake and for no other reason."</p> +<p>"What manner of person was she?" asked Yolanda. "Was she dark or +light, short or tall, plain of feature or beautiful, amiable of +temper or vixenish? Was she like any one you have ever seen?"</p> +<p>She spoke in deep earnest and looked eagerly up to his face.</p> +<p>"She was beautiful of feature," answered Max. "Her eyes and her +hair were dark as yours are. She was short of stature, I have been +told."</p> +<p>Yolanda laughed merrily: "I declare, Sir Max, you were in love +with a lady you had never seen. It was her estate you loved."</p> +<p>"No, no," said Max, earnestly. "I ardently desired--"</p> +<p>"Perhaps if you were to see her, your enthusiasm would vanish," +said Yolanda, interrupting him almost sharply. "My magic tells me +she is a squat little creature, with a wizened face; her eyes are +sharp and black, and her nose is a-peak, not unlike mine. That, she +is sour and peevish of temper, as I am, there can be no doubt. And, +although she be great and rich as the Princess of Burgundy, I +warrant you she is not one whit handsomer nor kinder in disposition +than I."</p> +<p>Max started on hearing Mary of Burgundy's name, but quickly +recovering himself said:--</p> +<p>"I would not wish her better than you in any respect. You wrong +both yourself and the lady to speak as you do. Those who know her +say the lady has not her like in all the world."</p> +<p>A soft light came to Yolanda's face as he spoke, and she +answered slowly:--</p> +<p>"Doubtless the lady had like news of you, and is curious to know +what manner of man you are. She too may have dreamed of an +ideal."</p> +<p>"How do you know she has never seen me?" asked Max, who had not +fully caught her reply when she spoke of the fact that he had never +seen the lady of the ring. "I shall surely come to believe you are +a sorceress."</p> +<p>"No, I am not," she answered emphatically. "You shall carry that +jest no further. A moment since you said those who know her say so +and so, and you believed she was short of stature. Had you ever +seen the lady, you would know if she were tall or short. You would +not be in doubt upon so important a matter as the stature of your +lady-love."</p> +<p>The reasoning and the reasoner were so irresistible that Max was +easily satisfied.</p> +<p>"But you have spoken of the lady as in the past. I hope she is +not dead?" asked Yolanda.</p> +<p>"No," answered Max, gravely, "our fathers did not agree. That +is, her father was not satisfied, and it all came to nothing save +a--a heartache for me."</p> +<p>It was well that Max was looking at the ground when she turned +the soft radiance of her eyes upon him, else he might have learned +too much. His modesty and honesty in admitting frankly that the +lady's father was not satisfied with the match pleased her and she +sat in silence, smiling contentedly. After a time she turned almost +fiercely upon him:--</p> +<p>"Do you know what I should do, Sir Max, were I in your +place?"</p> +<p>"What would you do, Fräulein?" queried Max.</p> +<p>"I would show the lady that I was worthy of her by winning her, +even though she were on a throne, guarded by a thousand dragons. I +am a woman, Sir Max, and I know a woman's heart. The heart of a +princess is first the heart of a woman. Be sure the lady will thank +you and will reward you if you fight your way to her and carry her +off against all the world."</p> +<p>"But how is that to be done, Fräulein?" asked Max, +carelessly. In truth, Mary of Burgundy was not uppermost in his +heart at that moment.</p> +<p>"That is for a man to say and for a man to do," she responded. +"A woman knows only how to wait and to long for one who, alas! may +never come. She will wait for you, Sir Max, and when you come to +her, she will place her hand in yours and go with you wherever you +wish to take her. Of this, at least, my powers of sorcery are +sufficient to assure you. Do not fear! do not fear!"</p> +<p>She spoke earnestly, as if from the depths of a personal +experience. Her eyes glowed with the light of excitement and her +face was radiant. Max turned to her and saw all this beauty. Then +he gently took her hand and said huskily:--</p> +<p>"If I thought she were like you, Fräulein, I would gladly +go to the end of the world to win from her even one smile."</p> +<p>"No, no, Sir Max," said Yolanda, withdrawing her hand, "we must +have no more such speeches from you. They are wrong coming from one +of your degree to a burgher girl of Peronne, if she be an honest +girl. Our stations are too far apart."</p> +<p>"That is true, Fräulein," answered Max, sorrowfully, "but I +mean no disrespect. I honor you as if you were a princess"--here +his tones took energy and emphasis--"but I meant what I said, +Fräulein, I meant what I said, and though I shall never say it +again, I know that I shall mean it all the days of my life."</p> +<p>The expression in her eyes as she looked up at him was one of +mingled pleasure and amusement. It seemed to say, "Do not be too +sure that you will never say it again," but she said nothing. After +a moment she suggested:--</p> +<p>"Shall we return, Sir Max?" They rose, and as they started back +to Basel he remarked:--</p> +<p>"The words 'Little Max' on your lips sounded sweet to me, +Fräulein. They bring home to me the voice of my mother, and +though I should not care to hear another speak them, still, the +words are very pretty on your lips, and I like them."</p> +<p>Yolanda glanced quickly up to him with radiant eyes. He caught +the glance, and the last vestige of his ideal, Mary of Burgundy, +left his heart, driven out by the very real little enchantress that +walked by his side.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> +<h3>DOWN THE RHINE TO BURGUNDY</h3> +<br> +<p>Notwithstanding the idle, happy life we were leading, I was +anxious to begin our journey to Burgundy. Just what would--or +could--happen when we should reach that land of promise--perhaps I +should say of no promise--I did not know. I hoped that by some +happy turn of fortune--perhaps through Twonette's help--Max might +be brought to meet Mary of Burgundy. I had all faith in his ability +to please her, or any woman, but what advantage he could gain by +winning her regard I could not guess. The lady's personal +preference would cut no figure in the choosing of a husband. Her +father would do that for her, and she would be powerless against +the will of a man whose chief impulses were those of a mad bull. +This arrogant duke, without so much as a formal withdrawal, had +ignored Duke Frederick's acceptance and had contracted his +daughter's hand to the Dauphin of France, who was a puny, +weak-minded boy of fourteen.</p> +<p>Should Max and I go to Burgundy and say to Charles, "This is +Maximilian of Styria, to whom you offered your daughter in +marriage," his answer might be a sword thrust. Should the duke +learn of our unbidden presence in his domain, his love for making +enemies would probably bring us into trouble. Therefore, though I +ardently wished to begin the journey, I had no real cause to hope +for good results, though there were many reasons to fear the +outcome of our adventures.</p> +<p>One may well ask why I continued in a course so dangerous. My +answer is: A man travels the road of his destiny. The Fates +sometimes hunt out a man for their purposes and snatch him from his +hiding-place in the by-ways, but they usually choose from the +scenes of great events their victims or their favorites. The man +who fears to be their victim is seldom chosen for their favorite. I +should rather be their victim than be overlooked; and what I should +have chosen for myself I desired for Max. I had no future save in +him; I had been overlooked in the by-ways.</p> +<p>At the time of our journeying all Europe turned on a Burgundian +pivot, and the Fates were busy in that land. It was the stage of +the world, on which the strong, the great, and the enterprising of +mankind were playing; and I hoped that Max, who was strong and +enterprising, would find his part in this Burgundian drama. I was +willing to risk sacrificing him, though he was dearer to me than +the blood of my heart, if I might stand even a small chance to make +him great.</p> +<p>At strange variance with my philosophy, I had faith in Max's +luck. It was more than faith; it was a fixed, intuitive conviction +that he would win. For these reasons, all growing out of what I +felt rather than what I reasoned, we continued our dangerous and +apparently useless journey. When a man feels himself led by an +unseen hand, he should gladly follow. There is an intuition that is +better than reason.</p> +<hr style="width: 25%;"> +<p>One bright morning in May we began our journey down the Rhine. +My fears had no place in Max's heart, and his self-confidence was +to me a harbinger of good fortune. A man may do anything that he +knows he can do; failure never disappoints him who expects it.</p> +<p>We left Basel by the west gate and took the road for Strasburg, +leading down the west bank of the Rhine. That was not the most +direct route to Peronne, but it was the safest because of the +numerous river towns wherein we might lie safely by night. The +robber barons whom we had to fear along the river were at least not +pilfering vagabonds, such as we should meet across country. Against +the open attack of a brave foe we felt that we could make a good +defence. Our fighting force consisted of Max, myself, and two lusty +squires. We had also a half-score of men who led the sumpter +mules.</p> +<p>Castleman had purchased two beautiful chargers in Basel, +pretending that he wished to take them to Peronne for sale. He +asked Max to ride one and offered the other for my use. I was sure +that his only reason for buying the horses was his desire to +present them to us, which he afterward did. Max named his charger +"Night," because of its spotless coat of black. Yolanda rode a +beautiful white mare which we re-christened "Day." Castleman +bestrode an ambling Flemish bay, almost as fat as its master and +quite as good-natured, which, because of its slowness, Yolanda +dubbed "Last Week."</p> +<p>We travelled slowly down the Rhine, enjoying the scenery and +filling our hearts with the sunshine of the soft spring days. Our +cautious merchant so arranged our lodging-places that we were never +on the road after dark. His system caused much delay, as we often +rested a half-day in a town that we might be able to lodge there +over night. In this deliberate manner of proceeding, life was a +sweet, lazy holiday, and our journey was like a May outing. We were +all very happy--almost ominously so.</p> +<p>After the explanation between Max and Yolanda on the hill at +Basel she made no effort to avoid him, and he certainly did not +avoid her. They both evidently rested on his remark that he would +never again speak upon a certain subject. They fully understood +each other's position.</p> +<p>Max knew that between him and the burgher maiden there could be +no thought of marriage. She, it seemed, was equally aware of that +fact. All that he had been taught to value in life--father, mother, +family and position, his father's subjects, who would one day be +his, his father's throne, on which he would one day sit--stood +between him and Yolanda. They stood between him and the achievement +of any desire purely personal to himself and not conducive to the +welfare of his state. He felt that he did not belong to himself; +that his own happiness was never to be considered. He belonged to +his house, his people, and his ancestors.</p> +<p>Max had not only been brought up with that idea as the chief +element in his education, but he had also inherited it from two +score generations of men and women that had learned, believed, and +taught the same lesson. We may by effort efface the marks of our +environment, but those we inherit are bred in the bone. Yolanda was +not for Max. He could not control his heart; it took its +inheritance of unbidden passion from a thousand scores of +generations which had lived and died and learned their lesson +centuries before the House of Hapsburg began; but he could control +his lips and his acts.</p> +<p>With Max's growing love for Yolanda came a knightly reverence +which was the very breath of the chivalry that he had sworn to +uphold. This spirit of reverence the girl was quick to observe, and +he lost nothing by it in her esteem. At times I could see that this +reverential attitude of Max almost sobered her spirits; to do so +completely would have been as impossible as to dam the current of a +mountain stream.</p> +<p>On the evening of our first day out of Basel we were merrily +eating our suppers in a village where we had halted for the night, +when I remarked that I had met a man, while strolling near the +river, who had said that war was imminent between Burgundy and +Switzerland. My remark immediately caught Yolanda's sharp +attention.</p> +<p>"Yes," said I, "we left Switzerland none too soon. This man +tells me, on what authority I know not, that a herald will soon be +sent by Duke Charles carrying defiance to the Swiss. What of value +the duke expects to obtain from barren Switzerland outside of +Basel, I do not know. Fighting for fighting's sake is poor +sport."</p> +<p>"Forbear your wise saws, Sir Karl, and tell me what the man +said," demanded Yolanda.</p> +<p>"He told me," I replied, "that he had heard the news at Metz, +and that it was supposed Duke René would muster his forces +in Lorraine and turn them against Burgundy in case of war with +Switzerland."</p> +<p>"I predicted evil when Burgundy took Nancy from Lorraine," cried +Yolanda, excitedly. "The hollow conventions made with Lorraine +after the capture of that city were but the promises of a man under +duress. The only ties that will bind a narrow man are those of +immediate self-interest. There can be no lasting treaty between +France and Burgundy so long as King Louis covets Flanders and is +able to bribe our neighbors. These conventions between Burgundy, +Lorraine, Bourbon, and St. Pol will hold only so long as Burgundy +does not need them."</p> +<p>"That is surely true, Fräulein," I said.</p> +<p>"Yes," she continued, "and should Burgundy suffer any great +misfortune or be crippled for an hour, those small states would be +upon his back like a pack of wolves, and he would be ruined. +Lorraine, Bourbon, and St. Pol do not see that Burgundy alone +stands between them and the greedy maw of France. Should King Louis +survive my--my Lord of Burgundy five years, these dukes and counts +will lose their feudal rights and become servile vassals of France, +not in name, as now they are, but in sorry fact."</p> +<p>I was so astonished at this tempestuous outburst from an +unexpected quarter, and was so surprised at discovering an intimate +knowledge of great affairs in a simple burgher maid, that I dropped +the piece of meat I held in my fingers and stared in wonder across +the table at Yolanda. I had known from the first hour of meeting +her that the girl's mind was marvellously keen; but that a maid of +seventeen or eighteen, in her position, should have so firm a grasp +of international affairs and should possess so clear a conception +of the troublous situation in western Europe, astounded me.</p> +<p>In eastern Europe, where we were not blinded by neighborly +hatred and local jealousies, the truth of Yolanda's statement had +long been apparent. We carried our prophecy further and predicted +that the headlong passions of Charles the Rash would soon result in +his death or overthrow.</p> +<p>My point in dragging in this heavy load of political lore is +this: In case of the death of Charles of Burgundy, the future of +western Europe would depend on the brains and the bravery of the +man who should marry the Princess Mary. I felt that Max was chosen +of God for that destiny. Should he succeed in defending Burgundy +against France, he would become the most powerful man in Europe. No +event save death could keep him from achieving the imperial +crown.</p> +<p>If the existing treaty of marriage between Mary and the Dauphin +of France were carried out, and if the Dauphin as king should +possess one-half the wisdom of his father, Louis, all western +Europe would soon be France. If this treaty were to fail and the +Princess Mary espouse a man capable of defending her territory, +Burgundy would still remain a wall of protection to the smaller +states of the Rhine.</p> +<p>A long silence followed Yolanda's outburst, but her words had so +astonished me that my supper for the evening was finished. +Castleman plied his knife industriously; Yolanda nibbled at a piece +of meat between her dainty fingers, and Twonette gazed serenely out +of the open window.</p> +<p>Yolanda's words and Castleman's constraint filled me with +wonder. There was to me a mystery about this little beauty that had +not been touched on by my friend from Peronne. I hoped to gain +information on the point by inducing Yolanda to talk. She was +willing enough.</p> +<p>"Fräulein," I said, "I quite agree with you. It is a matter +of surprise to me that these noblemen you mention do not see the +truth as you state it."</p> +<p>"They are fools, Sir Karl, sodden fools," exclaimed Yolanda. +"You could buy their souls for a sou. King Louis buys them with an +empty promise of one."</p> +<p>"Why does not Duke Charles buy them?" I asked. "'Tis said he has +enormous quantities of ready gold in Luxembourg Castle."</p> +<p>"Because, Sir Karl," she responded almost savagely, "bribery is +the weapon of a coward. The Duke of Burgundy uses his money to pay +soldiers."</p> +<p>"But, Fräulein," I answered, "the duke has for years--ever +since before his father's death--been wasting his money, +sacrificing his soldiers, and despoiling his land by wars, +prosecuted to no good end. He has conquered large territory, but he +has paid for it with the blood of his people. Neither they nor he +are the better because of those accessions, and the duke has made +enemies who will one day surely wrest them from him. A brave prince +should not fear to be called a coward because of an act that will +bring peace and happiness to his subjects and save their lives, +their liberties, and their estates. That great end will ennoble any +means. The subjects of Burgundy are frugal and peace-loving. They +should be protected from the cruel cost of useless war. I would not +criticise Duke Charles, whose bravery is beyond compare, but for +the sake of his people I could wish that his boldness were tempered +with caution. Policy, not blows, appears to me the only way out of +his present and imminent danger."</p> +<p>"Perhaps you are right, Sir Karl," answered Yolanda, "but I +advise you to keep your views to yourself when you reach Burgundy. +Should they come to the duke's ears, you might lose yours."</p> +<p>"Indeed, Fräulein, your warning is unnecessary," I +responded laughingly. "I already know the disposition of the duke +toward those who disagree with him. His ungovernable passions will +surely lead him to a terrible end. Bravery, if wise, is one of the +noblest attributes of men. The lack of wisdom makes it the most +dangerous. Duke Charles ought to temper his courage with love for +his people. He should fight, when he must, with wise bravery. If he +should die, God pity the poor people of Burgundy unless their +princess choose a husband both wise and brave."</p> +<p>"But she will not be allowed to choose," cried Yolanda, +passionately. "Her freedom is less than that of any serf. She is +bound hand and foot by the chains of her birth. She is more to be +pitied than the poorest maiden in Burgundy. The saddest of all +captives is she who is chained to a throne."</p> +<p>"That surely is the bitterest draught fate offers to mortal +man," sighed Max.</p> +<p>"Yes," whispered Yolanda, huskily. "One cannot rebel; one may +not even kill one's self when one is condemned to live. One can do +nothing but endure and wait in haunting fear and, in rare moments, +hope against a million chances."</p> +<p>Evidently she meant us to know that she sorrowed for Max's +martyrdom, though how she had learned of his true station in life I +could not guess.</p> +<p>"It is strange," said I to Castleman, when Yolanda and Twonette +had left us, "that Fräulein Yolanda, who seems to be all +laughter and thoughtlessness, should be so well informed upon the +affairs of princes and princesses, and should take this public +matter so much to heart."</p> +<p>"Yes, she is a strange, unfortunate girl," answered Castleman, +"and truly loves her native land. She would, I believe, be another +Joan of Arc, had she the opportunity. She and her father do not at +all agree. He wholly fails to comprehend her."</p> +<p>"Is her father your brother?" I asked. I felt a sense of +impertinence in putting the question, but my curiosity was +irresistible.</p> +<p>"Yes," answered Castleman, hesitatingly; then, as if hurrying +from the subject, he continued, "Her mother is dead, and the girl +lives chiefly under my roof."</p> +<p>I wanted to ask other questions concerning Yolanda, but I kept +silent. I had begun to suspect that she was not what she passed +for--a burgher girl; but Castleman was a straightforward, truthful +man, and his words satisfied me. I had, at any rate, to be content +with them, since Yolanda's affairs were none of mine. Had I not +been sure that Max's training and inheritance gave him a shield +against her darts, she and her affairs would have given me deep +concern. At that time I had all the match-making impulses of an old +woman, and was determined that no woman should step between Max and +the far-off, almost impossible Princess of Burgundy.</p> +<p>When we resumed our journey the next morning Yolanda was demure, +grave, and serious; but the bright sun soon had its way with her, +and within a half-hour after leaving the village she was riding +beside Max, laughing, singing, and flashing her eyes upon him with +a lustre that dimmed the sun--at least, so Max thought, and +probably he was right. That evening Max told me much of Yolanda's +conversation.</p> +<p>The road we were travelling clung to the Rhine for several +leagues. In many places it was cut from the bank at the water's +edge. At others it ran along the brink of beetling precipices. At +one of these Max guided his horse close to the brink, and, leaning +over in his saddle, looked down the dizzy heights to the river +below.</p> +<p>"Please do not ride so near the brink, Sir Max," pleaded +Yolanda. "It frightens me."</p> +<p>Max had little of the braggadocio spirit about him, but no +rightly constituted young man is entirely devoid of the desire to +"show off" in the presence of timid and interesting ladies. Without +that spirit of "show-off," what would induce our knights to meet in +glorious tournaments? Without it, what would our chivalry amount +to? Without it, why should a peacock spread its tail? I do not +belittle it, since from this spirit of "show-off" arises one great +good--respect for the opinion of our fellow-man. So Max, with a +dash of "show-off" in his disposition, laughed at Yolanda's fears +and answered that he was in no danger.</p> +<p>"It is very brave in you, Sir Max, to go so near the brink," +said Yolanda, ironically, "but do you remember what Sir Karl said +concerning 'wise bravery'? There can be no need for your bravery, +and therefore no wisdom in it. Were there good reason why you +should go near the brink, I should despise you if you refused; but +there is no reason and, since it frightens me, I wish you would +remain in the road."</p> +<p>"Gladly I will," answered Max, reining his horse beside her.</p> +<p>"Do you know," said Yolanda, with as much seriousness as she +could easily command, "that your friend, Sir Karl, is a +philosopher? His phrase, 'wise bravery,' clings to me. I certainly +wish the Duke of Burgundy would learn it and take it to heart."</p> +<p>"I have heard many conflicting stories concerning this Duke +Charles," said Max. "Some persons say he is all that is brave and +noble; others declare that he is fierce, passionate, and bad. I +wonder which I shall find him to be?"</p> +<p>"Do you expect to take service with him?" asked Yolanda, half +sadly. At the mention of the duke's name all smiles and dimples +fled incontinently.</p> +<p>"No," answered Max, "I think I shall not take service with the +duke. In truth, I don't know what I shall do. For what purpose I am +going to Burgundy I am sure I cannot say."</p> +<p>A short silence ensued, which was broken by Yolanda, speaking +archly:--</p> +<p>"Perhaps you are going to Burgundy or to France to win the lady +who gave you the ring?" Max was surprised, and flushed as he +answered:--</p> +<p>"That would be an impossible thought, Fräulein. If you but +knew who the lady is, you would understand that such a hope on my +part were a phantasy. But I have no such hope or wish. I do not now +want to win the lady of the ring."</p> +<p>"No, no, Sir Max," said Yolanda, protestingly, "you must not +basely desert this lady-love whom you have never seen. If trouble +should come to her, whoever she is, you must hasten to her rescue +and carry her away. The best opportunity to rob, you know, comes in +the midst of a mêlée. Take her, Sir Max. I wish you +success."</p> +<p>"Do you really wish me success, Fräulein?" asked Max, +looking straight ahead. He was not at all flattered by her good +wishes concerning the lady of the ring.</p> +<p>"Indeed I do," responded the girl, joyously; "I will pray to the +Virgin and ask her to help you to win this fair lady who gave you +the ring."</p> +<p>"I thank you for your good wishes," returned Max, "though I +could easily be satisfied with less enthusiasm on the subject."</p> +<p>"Indeed? Why, may I ask?"</p> +<p>"Because, Fräulein--because I had hoped--" Max ceased +speaking, and, leaning forward, smoothed his horse's mane.</p> +<p>Yolanda waited for a moment and then, turning her face toward +Max, asked:--</p> +<p>"You had hoped for what, Sir Max?"</p> +<p>"I had hoped for nothing, Fräulein," he answered. "I am +satisfied as matters now stand between us. Your words at supper +last evening rang in my ears all night, 'Chained to a throne; +chained to a throne.' I knew you referred to my unhappy lot when +you spoke, though how you guessed the truth concerning my station I +do not know."</p> +<p>A surprised little smile spread over her face, but he did not +see it. He was still smoothing his horse's mane.</p> +<p>"You cannot know the terrible truth of your words," continued +Max. "I will tell you a part of my secret, Fräulein. All my +life I have been cut off--chained to a throne--from the fellowship +of men and the love of friends. Karl is the only friend I have ever +known save my mother until I met you and your good people. Only the +good God can know how I have longed and hungered since childhood +for friendship; even for companionship. I did not know what I +yearned for until since my arrival at Basel. Truly it is not good +for man to be alone, even though he be upon a throne. I am not upon +a throne, Fräulein, but I am near one--a small, barren throne, +whose greatest attribute is its ancestry. My home is a sad, lonely +place--how lonely even you, who have guessed so shrewdly and who +speak so eloquently, cannot know. You should thank God for your +lowly birth and your lowly friends."</p> +<p>"I do," the girl answered, with a queer, half-sad, half-amused +expression upon her face which Max could not interpret.</p> +<p>"But we cannot break the chains that have been welded a thousand +years--that have grown stronger and tighter with each generation," +said Max. "You truthfully said, 'One may only endure.'"</p> +<p>"I also said that at rare moments one may hope," she answered, +with drooping head.</p> +<p>"Not I, Fräulein. I may not even hope. I am doomed," +answered Max.</p> +<p>"No, no, Sir Max," responded the drooping head.</p> +<p>After a prolonged silence Max said, "I am sure the secret of my +station is safe with you."</p> +<p>"You need not doubt, Sir Max," she responded. "You cannot know +how safe it is." She turned brightly upon him and continued, "Let +me invoke my spirits, Sir Max." She raised her eyes, saint-fashion, +toward heaven, and spoke under her breath: "I hear the word 'hope,' +Sir Max, 'hope.' It is very faint, but better faint than not at +all."</p> +<p>"I tell you there is no hope for me, Fräulein," responded +Max, desperately. "It is cruel in you to say there is. It is doubly +cruel to speak jestingly."</p> +<p>"I speak earnestly," said Yolanda. "There is hope. If you win +the lady who gave you the ring, you will be happy. I do not +jest."</p> +<p>"You do. You mock me," cried Max. "I tell you, Yolanda, there is +in all the world no woman for me save--save one upon whom I may not +think." Yolanda's face grew radiant, though tears moistened her +eyes. "Even though it were possible for me to defy my parents, to +turn my face against my country, my people, and the sacred +traditions of my house, by asking her to share my life, there could +be only wretchedness ahead for her, and therefore unhappiness for +me. The dove and the eagle may not mate. Consider the fate of sweet +Agnes Bernauer, who married Duke Albert and perished in the Danube. +I tell you, Fräulein, I am hopeless. When I return to my +people, I shall do so knowing that life thereafter will be +something to endure, not a blessing to thank God for."</p> +<p>"No, no, Sir Max," murmured the girl, "you do not know."</p> +<p>Max turned upon her almost angrily:--</p> +<p>"A man knows when he lives; a man knows when he is dying, and a +man, if he be worthy of the name, knows when he loves a woman. I am +not sure that the sun shines, Fräulein, than I am that I shall +not forget this woman nor cease to sorrow for her all the days of +my life."</p> +<p>"You must not speak such words to me, Sir Max," said Yolanda, +reprovingly. "I, too, must live and be happy if--if I can."</p> +<p>She turned her face away from Max and, touching her horse with +her whip, passed a few feet ahead of him. If there were tears in +her eyes, she did not wish Max to see them. After several minutes +of silence he spurred his horse to her side.</p> +<p>"I did not intend to speak, Fräulein. I once said I would +never speak again. I should not have spoken now, though I have told +you only what you already know. I ask no favor in return, not even +a touch from your hand."</p> +<p>"You shall have that at least, Sir Max," she answered, +impulsively reining her horse close to Max and placing her hand in +his.</p> +<p>"Still, you wish me to win the lady who sent me the ring?" asked +Max.</p> +<p>"Yes," returned Yolanda, softly. "It will mean your happiness +and mine--" Suddenly checking herself, she explained: "I shall be +happy if you are. A man cannot know how happy a woman may be for +another's sake."</p> +<p>I felt no desire to reprove Max when he told me of his day's +adventure with Yolanda, since I could in no way remedy the evil. In +fact, Max was growing out of my jurisdiction. He had listened to my +lectures and advice since childhood and had taken them kindly, +because my authority grew out of my love for him and his love for +me. He was a boy when we left Styria, but he was a man when we were +journeying down the Rhine. Though the confidential relations +between us had grown closer, my advice was gradually taking the +form of consultation. I did not seek his confidences, and he gave +them more freely, if that were possible, than ever before. I did +not offer my advice so readily, but he sought it more frequently. +Max told me the sorrowful little story of the day, and I did not +comment on it. I simply led him in another direction.</p> +<p>"Fräulein Yolanda's words have given me food for thought," +I said. "So long as Duke Charles lives, there can be no union +between Burgundy and Hapsburg; but at the pace he is travelling he +will surely receive his <i>coup de grâce</i> before long, and +I hope you will meet and know the princess before the tragedy +occurs. Then declare yourself and back your claim with the duke's +proposal, which has never been withdrawn. That the people of +Burgundy hate France and this French marriage there can be no +doubt. They are fools for so doing, but we may easily profit by +their lack of wisdom. In the event of the duke's death the +inclinations of the princess will be half the battle. So long as he +lives they are no part of it. If, by the help of Twonette, you +should be so fortunate as to meet the princess, our dream may be +realized, and our house may become the greatest in Europe."</p> +<p>"I suppose you are right, Karl," answered Max. "You are always +right; but I have no heart in this matter, and I hope nothing will +come of it. I have never known you to be so cold-blooded as in this +affair."</p> +<p>"If you are to be hot-blooded, or even warm-blooded, you must +turn your back on your house and cast from you the duties and +privileges of your birth," I observed.</p> +<p>"You are right," he answered irritably. "But it will be +difficult for me to please one woman while thinking of another. Ah, +Karl, I am growing tired of this Burgundian dream. Dream? It is +almost a nightmare."</p> +<p>Max's words did not alarm me; he was "chained to a throne." He +would not fail me if the hour of good fortune should come.</p> +<p>"Your thoughts of another woman will not stand in your way," I +said. "Experience is more necessary in dealing with women than in +any other of life's affairs, and this episode with Yolanda is what +you need to prepare you for--for what I pray you may have to +do."</p> +<p>"Karl, please do not talk of this--this--my feeling for Yolanda +as an episode," he said, speaking almost angrily. "It is a part of +my life, and will be my sorrow as long as I live."</p> +<p>The boy's anger warned me that if I would lead him, I must do it +gently.</p> +<p>"I believe, Max, you speak truly," I said; "but it will not be +an unmixed evil. Good will come of it, since the image of a pure +woman injures no man's heart. It keeps him in the narrow way and +guides his hand for righteousness."</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> +<h3>WHO IS YOLANDA?</h3> +<br> +<p>Next morning Yolanda came to breakfast smiling, bedimpled, and +sparkling as a sunlit mountain brook. Max, who was gloomy, took her +sprightliness amiss, thinking, no doubt, that her life also ought +to be darkened by the cloud that he thought was over-shadowing him. +There was no doubt in my mind that Yolanda had inspired a deep and +lasting passion in Max, though he was, I hoped, mistaken in the +belief that it would darken his life. But I would not give a +kreutzer for a young fellow who does not feel that life is +worthless without his lady-love.</p> +<p>Yolanda did not take kindly to clouds of any sort, and she soon +scattered those that Max had conjured up. After we had resumed our +journey Max fell back to ride with her.</p> +<p>"Sir Max," she said, "if you allow yourself to become The Knight +Doleful, I will not only cease having speech with you, but I will +laugh at you."</p> +<p>The latter she did then and there. This from a burgher girl of +Peronne to a prince of the House of Hapsburg! The good duke and +duchess would have swooned with horror had they known of it. Max +was inclined to be angry, but, unfortunately for his ill-humor, he +caught a glimpse of her face, and he, too, laughed.</p> +<p>"I fear I am a great fool," he said. Yolanda did not contradict +him. She simply shrugged her shoulders as if to say, "That +unfortunate condition is apt, at times, to overtake the best of +men."</p> +<p>Soon our little cavalcade came together, and we rode, laughing, +and all talking at once, for a league or more.</p> +<p>Our road had parted from the river at one of its great bends, +and for an hour we had been slowly climbing a long hill. When we +reached the top, we unsaddled for dinner in the shade of a tree by +the wayside. A hundred yards from the road was a dense copse of +undergrowth and bushes on the edge of the forest. Off to the east +flowed the majestic Rhine, a league distant, and to the north ran +the road like a white ribbon, stretching downhill to the valley and +up again to the top of another hill, distant perhaps a +half-league.</p> +<p>While we were eating dinner, a cloud of dust arose from the +hilltop north of us, and immediately began descending in our +direction. At intervals, in the midst of the dust-cloud, we caught +glimpses of men on horseback riding at full gallop. This unwelcome +sight brought our dinner to an end. I at once ordered the sumpter +mules taken to the copse on the forest's edge, and directed every +man to look to his arms and armor. I asked Twonette and Yolanda to +go with the mules, and Yolanda became angry.</p> +<p>"<i>I</i> go with the mules? Sir Karl, you forget yourself," +cried the young lady, drawing herself up with the dignity of a +princess royal. Twonette ran as rapidly as her feet could take her +to seek refuge with the mules, but Yolanda, with flashing eyes, +declared:</p> +<p>"I will remain here."</p> +<p>I felt that an apology was due to this burgher girl.</p> +<p>"I will gladly apologize later, Fräulein, but now I have +only time to beg that you will conceal yourself. These men probably +are robbers. If they see you, we shall be compelled to fight them, +however great their numbers. If we find their force too large for +us, we may easily ransom the mules and their packs, but we could +make no terms for you. If they are Black Riders, they will prefer a +little gold to a great deal of silk, but they will prefer you and +Fräulein Twonette to a great deal of gold."</p> +<p>"I would not pay them one piece of gold," cried Yolanda, +defiantly. "Give me an arquebuse. I will help you fight."</p> +<p>The brave little heroine astonished me.</p> +<p>"Would you prefer that Max or your good uncle and perhaps some +of our poor mule-leaders should be killed by these pigstickers," I +asked, "or would you compound with them in some reasonable way? +Shall we fight them?"</p> +<p>"No, no," she answered, "wise bravery is better. I suppose I +shall learn the lesson some day."</p> +<p>While the troop of horsemen were under the crest of the hill, +Yolanda ran across the open to a place of concealment beside +Twonette. Hardly was she hidden when the dust-cloud rose from the +brink of the hill, and five men, well though roughly armed, +galloped up to us and drew their horses back upon their +haunches.</p> +<p>"What have we here?" demanded the captain, a huge German. Their +grimy armor and bearded faces besmeared with black marked them as +Black Riders. I was overjoyed to see that they numbered but +five.</p> +<p>"What is that to you?" I asked, putting on a bold front, though +I feared our mule-leaders would make but a sorry fight should we +come to blows.</p> +<p>"That depends on what you have," responded our swart friend, +coolly. "Whatever you have, so much it is to us."</p> +<p>"What will you take in gold, my good man, and let us go our way +in peace with our cargo of silks?" asked Castleman.</p> +<p>"By your leave, friend," said I, interrupting the negotiations, +"I am in command when fighting is to be done. Let me settle with +this fellow."</p> +<p>"Settle now, if you are so keen," cried the big German, drawing +his sword and spurring his horse upon me. I could not have +withstood the unexpected onrush, and certainly would have met with +hard blows or worse, had not Max come to my rescue. I hurriedly +stepped back, and the German, in following me, rode near a large +stone by the roadside. He had, doubtless, passed the stone many +times in his travels up and down the road, but the thought probably +had never occurred to him that it would be the cause of his death. +The most potential facts in our lives are usually too insignificant +to attract attention.</p> +<p>When the German charged me, Max sprang upon the stone and dealt +the swart ruffian a blow such as no man may survive. Max's great +battle-axe crushed the Black Eider's helmet as if it were an +egg-shell, and the captain of our foes fell backward, hanging by +his stirrups. One of our squires shot one of the robbers, and the +remaining three took flight. Max caught the captain's horse, and +coolly extricated the dead man's feet from the stirrups. Then he +thrust the body to the roadside with the indifference of a man +whose life has been spent in slaughter. Among his many +inheritances, Max probably had taken this indifference, together +with his instinctive love of battle. He was not quarrelsome, but he +took to a fight as naturally as a duck takes to water.</p> +<p>When the robbers had left, Yolanda came running from her +hiding-place. She was not frightened; she was aglow with +excitement. She, too, must have inherited the love of battle. +Twonette was trembling with fear.</p> +<p>"Ah, Sir Max, it was beautifully done," said Yolanda. "You +sprang upon the rock with the quickness of a panther, and the blow +was dealt with the strength of a lion. I saw it all. When your +battle-axe rose above the robber's head, death was written on the +steel. It was beautiful to see you kill him, Sir Max. Strength is +always beautiful in the eyes of a woman, but it is doubly so when +used in her defence and linked with 'wise bravery.' I thank you, +Sir Karl, for teaching me that word. Sir Max, I--I cannot thank you +now."</p> +<p>She stopped speaking and covered her face with her hands. In a +moment she partly recovered composure and smiled her gratitude +through a little shower of tears. Max was, of course, aglow with +pleasure at Yolanda's praise, but he bore his honors meekly. He did +not look upon his tremendous feat of arms as of much +importance.</p> +<p>Fearing the return of the Schwartreiter with +reënforcements, we lost no time in resuming our journey, Max +and Yolanda quickly finished their dinner, but Castleman, Twonette, +and myself did not care to eat.</p> +<p>Within ten minutes after Max had killed the captain of the Black +Riders we were on our road travelling downhill, very joyful in our +victory and very proud of our knight, Sir Max. We left the dead men +by the roadside, but took with us two fine horses as compensation +for our trouble. The captain's great charger Max appropriated for +his own. He will appear again in this chronicle.</p> +<p>We rode silently but joyfully. Twonette slowly recovered from +her fright, and the pink crept back to her cheeks. The pink had not +left Yolanda's cheeks, nor had her nerves been disturbed by the +adventures of the morning. Max tried hard to suppress his +exuberance of spirit, and Yolanda laved him in the sunshine of her +smiles.</p> +<p>Within three hours we were safely housed at a village by the +Rhine. Castleman, finding me alone, said:--</p> +<p>"You, Sir Karl, and Sir Max little know the value of the friend +you have made this day."</p> +<p>"I thank you, good Castleman," I answered, hardly liking so +great an air of condescension on the part of a burgher. An +afterthought suggested that perhaps Castleman had not referred to +himself as the friend we had made. Strange thoughts and +speculations had of late been swarming in my mind until they had +almost taken the form of a refrain, "Who is Yolanda?" Though the +question repeated itself constantly by day and by night, I received +no whisper of an answer.</p> +<p>We travelled slowly, and it was not until the second day after +our conflict with the Black Riders that we found ourselves near +Strasburg. A league from the city gates we met Raoul de Rose, a +herald of the Duke of Burgundy. Yolanda recognized his banner at a +distance and hastily veiled herself. Twonette remained +unveiled.</p> +<p>We halted, and De Rose, who was travelling alone, safe under a +herald's privileges, drew rein beside Castleman and me, who had +been riding in advance of our cavalcade. While Castleman was +talking to De Rose, Yolanda and Twonette rode forward, passing on +that side of the highway which left Castleman and me between them +and the herald.</p> +<p>"Ah, good Castleman," said De Rose, "you are far from home these +troublous times."</p> +<p>"Your words imply bad news, monsieur," returned Castleman. "I +have already heard hints of trouble, though all was quiet when I +left Peronne."</p> +<p>"When did you leave?" asked the herald.</p> +<p>"More than two months ago," answered Castleman.</p> +<p>"With our rapidly moving duke, two months is ample time to make +a deal of trouble, to gain victories, and to compel peace among his +quarrelsome neighbors," answered De Rose. "It is publicly known +that I carry defiance to the Swiss. They cannot comply with +Burgundy's terms, and war will surely follow. Our duke will teach +these Swiss sheep to stop bleating, and when this war is finished, +the dominion of Burgundy will include the Alps. Duke Charles will +have fresh ice for his dinner every day--ice from the mountain +tops."</p> +<p>"That is all he will get from the barren Swiss land, I fear," +remarked Castleman.</p> +<p>"But if he wants it?" answered De Rose, shrugging his +shoulders.</p> +<p>"Yes," returned Castleman, "if the duke wants it, God give it +him; but I am sorry to see war with so peaceful a people as the +Swiss."</p> +<p>"There are many persons in Burgundy foolish enough to agree with +you," answered De Rose, laughingly, "but for my part, the will of +my master is my will."</p> +<p>"Amen!" said the cautious burgher.</p> +<p>De Rose smiled, and said:--</p> +<p>"There is but one will in Burgundy, and that will be done."</p> +<p>"Where is the duke?" asked Castleman.</p> +<p>"He is at home in Ghent," answered the herald.</p> +<p>"Is he to remain there?" asked the burgher, displaying a sudden +interest.</p> +<p>"I believe he goes soon to Peronne to look after his affairs, on +the French border, and to see the duchess and the princess before +leaving for Switzerland. It is also publicly known that the duke, +while at Peronne, intends to arrange for the immediate marriage of +the princess to the Dauphin. He wishes to tie the hands of King +Louis before making war elsewhere, and he is going to Peronne to +cause this marriage to be celebrated before he leaves +Burgundy."</p> +<p>"Sacred God!" exclaimed the usually phlegmatic burgher. "We must +hasten home. Farewell, Monsieur de Rose. Your news indeed is +bad--your news of war."</p> +<p>Castleman urged "Last Week" to an unwonted pace, and drew rein +beside Yolanda. I followed slowly, and unintentionally overhead him +say:--</p> +<p>"Your father will soon be in Peronne. The duke leaves Ghent +within a day or two."</p> +<p>"Holy Virgin!" cried Yolanda, excitedly. "We must make all +haste, good uncle. Hereafter we must travel night and day. We must +double our retinue at Strasburg and hasten forward regardless of +danger and fatigue. I wish we were across Lorraine and well out of +Metz. If this war begins, Lorraine will surely turn upon +Burgundy."</p> +<p>"I begged you not to come upon this journey," said Castleman, +complainingly.</p> +<p>"I know you did, uncle," returned Yolanda, repentantly.</p> +<p>"But you would come," continued Castleman, determined to give +vent to his feelings. "I could not dissuade you, and now if the +duke leaves Ghent--if your father reaches Peronne--before we +return, God help us all."</p> +<p>"Yes, dear uncle," said Yolanda, humbly; "as usual, I was at +fault. I have been a source of trouble and danger to you nearly all +my life, and you, of all persons in the world, I would make +happy."</p> +<p>I was riding ten paces behind Castleman, but the wind came +toward me, and I was an involuntary listener. What I had heard was +of such tremendous import to Max that I could not bring myself to +rein back my horse, though I despised myself for listening. I +believe that moment was, of all my life, the greatest test of my +love for Max. No less a motive could have induced me to become an +eavesdropper. Castleman was silent for a short time, and then I +heard him say:--</p> +<p>"You have also brought me happiness, Yolanda, and I shall be +wretched when your father takes you from me. Twonette is not dearer +to me than you. Whatever befalls, I shall still thank God for the +happiness He has given me in you."</p> +<p>"Ah, uncle, your kind words almost break my heart," said +Yolanda, placing her kerchief to her eyes. "I wish you would not +forgive me for having brought you into this hard case. I wish you +would upbraid me. I will pray to the Blessed Virgin night and day +to protect you from this trouble my wilfulness has brought upon +you. Never again will I be wilful, dear uncle, never again--with +you. At Strasburg I will make an offering to the Virgin."</p> +<p>"Make her an offering of this young man on whom you are +smiling," suggested Castleman. "I would have left him at Basel but +for your wilfulness and entreaties. We know nothing of him save +that he is big, honest, brave, gentle, and good to look upon. I +have already warned you against the great favor you show him. I +shall not do so again. I advise that we leave him at Metz."</p> +<p>"I will do as you advise," said Yolanda, mournfully. "I will +offer even this, my first great happiness, to the Virgin. Surely it +will propitiate her."</p> +<p>This conversation almost deprived me of the power to think. In a +dimly conscious fashion, I wondered whether Castleman could +possibly have meant the Duke of Burgundy when he told Yolanda that +her father would soon be at Peronne. I could find no other meaning +for his words, and I was almost ready to believe that the +brown-eyed, laughing Yolanda was none other than the far-famed Mary +of Burgundy, whose tiny hand was sought by every nation of Europe +having a marriageable king or prince.</p> +<p>Kings in their dotage and princes in their nonage wooed her. Old +men and babes eagerly sought the favor of this young girl, and +stood ready to give their gold, their blood, and the lives of their +subjects on even the shadow of a chance to win her. The +battle-field and the bower alike had been wooing-ground for her +smiles. After all this, she had been affianced to the Dauphin of +France, and her father would bring the marriage about within a few +weeks. To this girl I had thought to be gracious, and had feared +that I might be too condescending. I then realized what a pitiable +ass a man may make of himself by giving his whole time and +attention to the task.</p> +<p>Of course I was not sure that Yolanda was the princess. Her +father, spoken of by Castleman, might be, and probably was, a great +lord in the duke's train. Yolanda might be the love-daughter of +Charles of Burgundy. Many explanations might be given to +Castleman's remarks; but I could not help believing that Yolanda +was the far-famed Burgundian princess. If so, what a marvellous +romance was this journey that Max and I had undertaken, and what a +fantastic trick fate had played in bringing these two from the ends +of the earth to meet in the quaint old Swiss city. It seemed almost +as if their souls had journeyed toward each other, since the +beginning of time.</p> +<p>That the princess should be abroad with Castleman and his +daughter unattended by even a lady-in-waiting seemed +improbable--almost impossible.</p> +<p>My wavering mind veered with each moment from the conviction +that Yolanda was the princess to a feeling of certainty that she +was not, and back again. That she was the princess seemed at one +moment indubitably true; the next moment it appeared absurdly +impossible. Still, Castleman's words rang in my ears.</p> +<p>I was glad that Max was riding a hundred yards behind me. My +first determination was that he should know nothing of what I had +heard. My second was that he and I should leave the party at Metz. +If I were to disclose to Max my suspicions concerning Yolanda, I +well knew that it would be beyond my power or that of any man to +prevent his journeying to Peronne.</p> +<p>This meeting with the princess far from home, one might suppose, +was the event of all others that I desired, but the situation +presented many points to be considered. If we should conduct +Yolanda to Peronne and should reach that city after the duke's +arrival, there would be untold trouble for us, if (oh, that mighty +if!) she were the Princess Mary. I was thoroughly frightened, since +I could not know what trouble I might bring to Max. We might, with +comparative safety, visit Peronne at a later period; but I +sincerely hoped that Yolanda would offer Max to the Virgin when we +reached Metz.</p> +<p>If Yolanda were the princess, and if the duke with his +intentions regarding her immediate marriage, should reach Peronne +and find his daughter absent, his wrath against all concerned would +be unappeasable. If he should learn that she had been absent from +Peronne on this journey, even though she reached home before her +father, Castleman would probably lose his head for the crime of +taking her, and all concerned in the journey might meet with evil +fortune. Any of these catastrophes might occur if she were the +princess. If she were not the princess, some other great +catastrophe, hinted by Castleman and dreaded by Yolanda, might +happen; and it is well for disinterested persons to remain away +from the scene of impending trouble.</p> +<p>Aside from all these good reasons for cutting short our journey +to Peronne, was the fact that our motive for going there had ceased +to exist. The princess was soon to become the wife of the Dauphin. +If Yolanda were not the princess, there was still good reason why +we should abandon her at Metz. She was dangerously attractive and +was gaining too great a hold on Max. We were under contract to +escort Castleman to Peronne, and no danger should prevent us from +fulfilling our agreement; but if Castleman should voluntarily +release us, our obligation would cease.</p> +<p>As we passed under the portcullis at Strasburg, Max spurred his +horse to Yolanda's side. She neither lifted her veil nor gave any +sign of recognition. The news of impending war had been discussed, +and Max supposed Yolanda was frightened. He spoke reassuringly to +her, and she answered:--</p> +<p>"I thank you, Sir Max, but our danger is greater than you +know."</p> +<p>It was four o'clock when we reached Strasburg, where we stopped +at The Cygnet. Soon after we entered the inn, Twonette and Yolanda +went forth, heavily veiled, and walked rapidly in the direction of +the cathedral. Yolanda was going to make her offering to the Virgin +of the man she loved; surely woman could make no greater.</p> +<p>When Yolanda and Twonette had gone, Castleman asked me to assist +him in procuring a score of men-at-arms. They might be needed in +crossing Lorraine from Strasburg to Metz.</p> +<p>"I shall travel night and day till we reach home," said +Castleman. "I have news of war that hastens us, and--and it is most +important that Yolanda should deliver certain papers at the castle +before the duke arrives at Peronne. If she reaches the castle one +hour or one minute after the duke, the results will be evil beyond +remedy."</p> +<p>"I sincerely hope there may be no delay," I answered, believing +that the papers were an invention of Castleman's.</p> +<p>"Yes," responded the burgher; "and, Sir Karl, I deem it best for +all concerned that you and Sir Max part company with us at Metz. I +thank you for your services, and hope you will honor us by visiting +Peronne at some future time. But now it is best that you leave us +to pursue our journey without you."</p> +<p>Castleman's suggestion was most welcome to me, and I +communicated it to Max when I returned to the inn. He was +sorrowful; but I found that he, too, felt that he should part from +Yolanda.</p> +<p>Castleman and I found the burgomaster, to whom we paid five +hundred guilders (a sum equal to his entire annual salary), and +within an hour a troop of twenty men-at-arms awaited us in the +courtyard of The Cygnet. Castleman barely touched his meat at +supper, though he drank two bottles of Johannesburg; Max ate +little, and I had no appetite whatever.</p> +<p>When Yolanda returned, I said:--</p> +<p>"Fräulein, will you not eat?"</p> +<p>"I do not care to eat," she replied, and I could easily see that +she was struggling to keep back the tears. "Let us resume our +journey at once. I see the men-at-arms are waiting."</p> +<p>Our rare days of sunshine had surely been weather-breeders. We +were all under a dark cloud.</p> +<p>We left Strasburg by the north gate, and, as the city fell back +of us, Max, riding by my side, asked:--</p> +<p>"What is the evil news that has cast this gloom over Yolanda and +good Castleman? If our friends are in danger, I would not leave +them at Metz, and you would not have me do so."</p> +<p>"The evil news grows out of the war," I answered evasively. "I +heard every word spoken by the herald and Castleman. The burgher is +wise to hasten home. If he delays his journey even for a day, he +may find Burgundy--especially Lorraine--swarming with lawless men +going to the various rendezvous. He also tells me he has important +papers that must be delivered in the castle before the duke arrives +at Peronne."</p> +<p>"It is strange," said Max, "that news of merely a general nature +should produce so gloomy an effect; but, if you heard all that De +Rose said, that must be the only cause."</p> +<p>"I cannot say," I responded, "what the cause may be. All I know +is that De Rose spoke of the impending war, and said that the duke +was hastening to Peronne for the purpose of consummating the French +marriage at once. There is now no reason why we should journey to +Peronne. My air-castles have crumbled about my ears in fine +shape."</p> +<p>"I am not sorry, Karl," replied Max. "During the last fortnight +I have changed. Should my marriage with the princess, by any +marvellous chance, become possible, it would now be wholly for the +sake of her estates, and I despise myself when I try to think that +I wish to bring it about. Ah, Karl, it is now impossible even to +hope for this marriage, and I tell you I am glad of it. We will see +the world, then we will return to Styria; and I shall thank you all +my life for having made a man of me."</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> +<h3>DUKE CHARLES THE RASH</h3> +<br> +<p>Our caravan travelled with the mournfulness of a funeral +procession. Early in the evening Max spoke to Yolanda:--</p> +<p>"I hear your uncle desires Sir Karl and me to leave you at +Metz."</p> +<p>"Yes," she answered dolefully, hanging her head, "we part at +Metz. I shall see you there before I leave, and then--and then--ah, +Sir Max, I was wrong and you were right; there is no hope."</p> +<p>"What of the lady who gave me the ring?" asked Max, in a feeble +effort to banter her.</p> +<p>"She would have made you very happy, Sir Max. Her estates would +have compensated for all losses elsewhere."</p> +<p>"You know, that is not true, Yolanda," said Max, earnestly.</p> +<p>"I am not sure, Sir Max," responded the girl, "and do not wish +to be sure. I will see you at Metz, and there we may part. It is +our fate. We must not be doleful, Sir Max, we must be--we must +be--happy and brave." Her poor little effort to be happy and brave +was piteous.</p> +<p>Castleman soon fell back with Yolanda, and Max rode forward +beside me.</p> +<p>At midnight we offsaddled by a stream in a forest and allowed +our horses and mules to rest until sunrise. Then we took up our +journey again, and by forced marches reached Metz one morning an +hour before dawn. We waited in a drizzling rain till the gates +opened, and, after a long parley with the warder, entered the city. +We were all nearly exhausted, and our poor mules staggered along +the streets hardly able to carry their burdens another step. Two +had fallen a half-league outside of Metz; and three others fell +with their loads within the city gates.</p> +<p>Castleman had determined to stop with a merchant friend, and +after what seemed a long journey from the gates we halted at the +merchant's house. Our host left us in his parlor while he went to +arrange for breakfast. When he had gone Castleman turned to +me:--</p> +<p>"You and Sir Max will, if you please, find good lodging at the +Great Tun. My friend will send a man in advance to bespeak your +comfort."</p> +<p>Max and I rose to leave, and Yolanda offered him her hand, +saying:--</p> +<p>"It may be that we are to part here at Metz, but I will send for +you soon and will see you before we leave, and--and--" She could +not speak further; tears were in her eyes and her voice. It was not +so easy after all to be happy and brave.</p> +<p>"You will not fail to send for me?" asked Max, clinging to her +hand.</p> +<p>"I will not fail," she answered, looking up timidly and +instantly dropping her eyes. "Of that you have better assurance +than you will ever know."</p> +<p>Castleman followed us to the street door and handed me a purse +of gold.</p> +<p>"I have expected to part from you here," he said, "and it may be +so; but I fear I shall need your services still further. My mules +are unfit to travel at present; they may never be fit to use; +surely not within a fortnight. I must find other sumpter mules, +wait for those I have to regain their strength, or leave my goods +at Metz. My fortune is invested in these silks, and if I leave them +here, I shall never see them again. In case the Duke of Lorraine +succeeds in rallying his subjects against Burgundy, I shall find it +difficult to buy sumpter mules on the eve of war, and may be +compelled to remain in Metz until my own mules are able to travel. +In that event may I depend upon you and Sir Max to escort my niece +and my daughter to Peronne without me?"</p> +<p>I answered promptly, though against my desires:--"You may depend +on us."</p> +<p>At midnight I was aroused by a knock at my door. I arose and +admitted Castleman.</p> +<p>"I will take you at your word, Sir Karl," said the burgher. "I +cannot obtain sumpter mules, and I shall be ruined in fortune if I +leave my silks at Metz. I have had word that the Duke of Burgundy +leaves Ghent the day after to-morrow for Peronne. If he leaves late +in the day, you may, by starting at once, reach Peronne Castle +ahead of him. His journey will be shorter than yours by twenty-five +leagues, but you will have a better road. If you travel with all +haste, you may be able to take Yolanda, with--with the important +papers, to the castle a half-day before my lord arrives there. Are +you ready to begin the journey at once?"</p> +<p>"We are ready," answered Max.</p> +<p>"I will meet you at the Deutsches Thor Gate within an hour," +said Castleman. "My daughter and my niece will be there. Since you +are to travel rapidly I advise a small retinue. Your squires have +proved themselves worthy men, and I feel sure you will be able to +protect your charges."</p> +<p>"We'll not boast of what we shall do, good Castleman," said Max, +"but we'll do our best."</p> +<p>"If you reach Peronne after the duke arrives," said Castleman, +"I advise you not to enter the gates of the city, but to leave +Burgundy at once and with all the speed you can make. If you reach +Peronne before the duke, I advise you not to tarry; but if you +determine to remain, you will go to The Mitre--a quiet inn kept by +my good friend Marcus Grote. I strongly advise you not to remain at +Peronne; but if you do not see fit to follow my advice, I hope you +will remain close at The Mitre until my return, which, I trust, +will be within three weeks. Danger will attend you if you do not +follow my suggestion. In any case, Sir Max, I hope you will not +visit my house. My words may seem ungracious, but they are for your +good and mine. When I return to Peronne, I shall be happy if you +will honor my poor house; but until my return, untold trouble to +many persons may follow your disregard of what I say."</p> +<p>Castleman then departed, and we immediately arranged for the +journey.</p> +<p>Max and I, with our squires, were waiting at the Deutsches Thor +Gate when Castleman arrived with Twonette, Yolanda, and a guide. I +knocked at the door of the lodge to rouse the warder, who, of +course, was asleep, and that alert guardian of a drowsy city came +grumbling to the wicket.</p> +<p>"What in the devil's name do you want at this time of night?" he +growled. "The gates won't open till dawn."</p> +<p>"Yes, they will," replied Castleman. "I have the burgomaster's +order."</p> +<p>"I open the gates only on an order from the governor of the +citadel," said the warder.</p> +<p>"I have not that, my good friend," responded Castleman, "but I +have a hundred silver marks in my purse."</p> +<p>"Let me see the burgomaster's order," said the worthy +gatekeeper. "I am always glad to be accommodating."</p> +<p>Castleman handed over the order and the purse, and the warder +pretended to read the paper in the dark.</p> +<p>"I'll open the gate to accommodate you and to please the +burgomaster," he said.</p> +<p>The gates screeched upon their hinges, and every link in the +portcullis chain groaned as if it wished to alarm the city. When +the portcullis was a-block, Max, myself, and the squires mounted +our horses. Yolanda leaned down from her saddle and, placing her +arms about Castleman's neck, kissed him. Twonette followed her +example; then our small cavalcade passed out through the gate, and +we entered on our long, hard race with the Duke of Burgundy.</p> +<p>At dawn Yolanda called me to her side.</p> +<p>"Our guide will conduct us to Cinq Voies on the Somme, eight +leagues this side of Peronne," she said. "There we shall dismiss +him. From Cinq Voies the road is straight to Peronne down the +river. Shall we put our horses to the gallop?"</p> +<p>To her last suggestion I objected:--</p> +<p>"We have no relays. These horses must carry us to Peronne. In +Styria we have an adage, 'If you would gallop on a long journey, +walk your horse.'"</p> +<p>"In Styria!" exclaimed Yolanda, laughing. "You told me you were +from Italy."</p> +<p>"So I am," I replied.</p> +<p>"Now you say <i>we</i> have an adage in Styria," she returned, +amused at my discomfiture. "I hope you have not been wandering from +the path of truth in your long journey, Sir Karl."</p> +<p>"No farther than yourself, Fräulein," I answered.</p> +<p>A frown came instantly to her face and, after a moment's +hesitation, she retorted:--</p> +<p>"Ah, but I am a woman; I am privileged to wander a little way +from the narrow road. A man may protect himself with his sword and +battle-axe, and need never stray. A woman's defence lies in her wit +and her tongue." The frown deepened, and she turned sharply upon +me: "But in what respect, pray, have I wandered? I have not spoken +a word to you which has not been the exact truth. If I have left +anything untold, it is because I do not wish to tell it, in which +case, of course, you would not wish to pry."</p> +<p>Her audacity amused me, and though I knew I ought to hold my +tongue, I could not resist saying:--</p> +<p>"I have asked no questions, Fräulein."</p> +<p>Yolanda cast a surprised glance toward me and then broke into a +merry laugh.</p> +<p>"That is to say <i>I</i> have asked too many questions. Good for +you, Sir Karl! I have had the worst of this encounter. I will ask +no more questions nor give you further cause to wander from the +truth. Your memory, Sir Karl, is poor. 'To be a good liar, one must +have a good memory,' as King Louis of France has said."</p> +<p>"Ask all the questions you wish, Fräulein," I responded +penitently, "I will answer with the truth."</p> +<p>"There is no need to ask questions," she said, giving me a side +glance full of sauciness. "I already know all that I wish to +know."</p> +<p>I could not resist saying:--</p> +<p>"Perhaps, Fräulein, I know quite as much about you as you +know about us."</p> +<p>"There is little to know about me that is really worth while, +but what little there is I sincerely hope you do not know," she +replied half angrily. "If you do know anything which I have left +untold, or if, in your vanity, you think you have discovered some +great mystery concerning me, I advise you to keep your supposed +knowledge to yourself. The day that I am made sure you know too +much, our friendship ceases, and that, Sir Karl, would give me +pain. I hope it would pain you."</p> +<p>I at once began an orderly though hasty retreat.</p> +<p>"I do not know to what you refer concerning yourself," I +explained. "All I know about you is that you are Fräulein +Castleman, and a very charming person, whom I would have for my +friend, if that be possible. I spoke but jestingly. I have often +doubted that you are a burgher maiden, but there my knowledge +ceases; and I am willing that it should so remain till you see fit +to enlighten me."</p> +<p>"There is little knowledge in doubt," said Yolanda, with a +nervous laugh, "though a doubt usually precedes wisdom."</p> +<p>Although I was looking at my horse's ears, I could see the light +of her eyes as she watched me inquiringly. After a long pause she +stroked her horse's mane with her whip, and said, musingly:--</p> +<p>"A man should seek to know only the languages, philosophy, and +other useful learning. Useless knowledge has cost many a man his +head."</p> +<p>After a long pause she turned to me with a broad smile:--</p> +<p>"But it is usually not dangerous so long as it does not lodge in +the tongue."</p> +<p>I replied quickly:--</p> +<p>"Fräulein, when my tongue makes a fool of me, I pray God I +may lose it."</p> +<p>"God save all fools by a like fate," she answered.</p> +<p>I was sure she did not mean to include me in the category of +fools.</p> +<p>This conversation revealed to me two facts: first, I learned +that by some means--possibly the ring Max wore--this girl, Yolanda, +whoever she might be, knew Max. Second, I discovered in myself a +dangerous propensity to talk, and of all sure roads to ruin the +tongue is the surest. A man's vanity prompts him to be witty; +hatred prompts him to cut his enemy, and his love of truth often +prompts him to speak it at the wrong time. These three motives +combined often prompt him to lose his head. Max and I were on +dangerous ground, and one untimely error might make it +perilous.</p> +<p>We travelled rapidly, and near midnight of the second day out of +Metz we reached Cinq Voies on the Somme. The village, consisting of +a large inn, a church, a priest's house, and a farrier's shop, is +situate at the meeting of five roads, from which the hamlet takes +its name. One road led down from Cambrai and Ghent in the north, +one from Liege in the northeast, and the one over which we had +travelled from Metz came out of the southeast. Two roads led +westward to Peronne. One followed the right bank of the Somme, +passed Peronne, and thence on to Amiens. Another road followed the +left bank of the Somme, touched Peronne, and thence ran +southwesterly to Paris.</p> +<p>When we reached Cinq Voies on the Somme--within eight leagues of +Peronne--we halted for supper, very tired and weary. While supper +was preparing, we held a consultation, and determined to rest there +for the night. I advised against this course, believing that the +duke would pass that way on his road from Ghent to Peronne. But +Yolanda's sweet face was pinched by weariness, and Twonette was +sound asleep. Our horses, I feared, might fail, and leave us +hopelessly in the lurch. Therefore, I gave the command to +offsaddle, and we halted at the inn for the night.</p> +<p>Our host told me his house was full of guests who had arrived +two hours before, but he found a room for Yolanda and Twonette, and +told Max and me to sleep, if we could, on the tap-room floor. After +an hour on the hard boards I went to the stable, and, rousing a +groom, gave him a silver crown for the privilege of sleeping on a +wisp of hay. I fell asleep at once and must have slept like the +dead, for the dawn was breaking when one of our squires wakened me. +I could not believe that I had been sleeping five minutes, but the +dim morning light startled me, and I ordered the horses +saddled.</p> +<p>I hastened to the inn and wakened Max, to whose well-covered +bones a board was as soft as a feather bed. While I was speaking to +him, I heard a noise in an adjoining room and saw the door opening. +Max and I barely escaped through an open arch when a commanding +figure clad in light armor entered the tap-room.</p> +<p>I had not seen Charles of Burgundy since he was a boy--he was +then Count of Charolois--but I at once knew with terrifying +certainty that I looked on the most dreaded man in Europe. He had +changed greatly since I last had seen him. He was then beardless; +now he wore a beard that reached almost to his belt, and I should +not have recognized in him the young Count of Charolois. There was, +however, no doubt in my mind concerning his identity.</p> +<p>Even had I failed to see the angry scar on his neck, of which I +had often heard, or had I failed to note the lack of upper teeth (a +fact known to all Europe) which gave his face an expression of +savagery, I should have recognized him by his mien. There was not +another man like him in all the world, and I trust there never will +be. His face wore an expression of ferocity that was almost brutal. +The passions of anger, arrogance, and hatred were marked on every +feature; but over all there was the stamp of an almost superhuman +strength, the impress of an iron will, the expression of an +exhaustless energy, and the majesty of a satanic bravery. If +Yolanda was the daughter of this terrible man, and if he should +discover that I had her hidden in the room above his head, I should +never eat another breakfast. Truly, Max and I were on perilous +ground.</p> +<p>Max remained in concealment, and I climbed the stairs, two steps +at a time, to Yolanda's room. I gently knocked, and received a +sleepy response.</p> +<p>"Rise at once," I whispered. "I must speak to you +instantly."</p> +<p>"Enter--we are already dressed," answered Yolanda.</p> +<p>When I entered she had risen from the bed and was rubbing her +eyes.</p> +<p>"We were so tired we slept in our garments. Don't we show it?" +said Yolanda.</p> +<p>Her hands were above her head, vainly endeavoring to arrange her +hair, which had fallen in a great tumble of dark curls over her +shoulder. Rest had flushed her cheeks, and her lips and her eyes +were moist with the dew of sleep. Though my business was urgent I +could not resist exclaiming:--</p> +<p>"Ah, Fräulein, you surely are beautiful."</p> +<p>"I thank you, Sir Karl," she answered, flashing a smile upon me. +"You may kiss my hand."</p> +<p>She offered me her hand and asked:--</p> +<p>"But what is your news?"</p> +<p>While she spoke I heard voices and the tramping of hoofs beneath +the window in front of the inn, and turned to look. I quickly drew +away from the window and beckoned Yolanda:--</p> +<p>"Come here, Fräulein."</p> +<p>She came to my side, and as she looked out upon the road two men +emerged from the inn door. One of them was the Duke of Burgundy. +She clutched my arm and whispered excitedly:--</p> +<p>"Watch them, Sir Karl! Note the road they take! If they go by +the right, we shall take the left. We <i>must</i> reach Peronne +Castle before the duke. Death itself hangs upon the issue, Sir +Karl."</p> +<p>I watched till the duke and all his people had left the inn; +then I followed till I saw them take the road leading down the +right bank of the Somme. When I returned to the inn, I paid the +score, and gave each member of our little party a <i>boule</i> of +bread to be eaten as we rode; and within five minutes after the +duke's departure we were fording the Somme to take the left bank +for Peronne.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> +<h3>A RACE WITH THE DUKE</h3> +<br> +<p>Neither road clung to the river in all its windings, but at too +frequent intervals both touched the stream at the same points. At +places the roads hugged the Somme, separated only by its +width--perhaps two hundred yards. These would be our danger points. +I did not know them, and Yolanda's knowledge of the road was +imperfect.</p> +<p>Soon after leaving Cinq Voies, the road on the right bank--the +one taken by the duke--gained a mile over the road on the left by +cutting across a great bend in the river around which we had to +travel. We therefore lost the duke's cavalcade at the outset.</p> +<p>Hoping to pass the duke before the roads came again within sight +of each other, we urged our horses to full speed. But the duke also +was travelling rapidly, as we learned when we reached the first +point of contact. Should the duke's men see us they would certainly +hail. Four men in armor and two ladies, travelling the road to +Peronne would not be allowed to pass unchallenged. Fortunately, +just before the danger point, a clump of trees and underbushes grew +between our road and the river. Max, who was riding a hundred yards +in advance, suddenly stopped and held up his hand warningly. We +halted immediately, and Max turned back to us, guiding his horse to +the roadside to avoid raising a dust-cloud.</p> +<p>We listened in silence, and I beckoned the squires to our sides. +The men of our little party all dismounted and stood by their +horses' heads, ready to strike the noses of the animals should they +offer to salute the horses across the river with a neigh. Had not +our danger been so great it would have been amusing to see each +man, with uplifted hand, watching the eyes of his horse as intently +as though they were the eyes of his lady-love. Yolanda laughed +despite the danger, but covered her mouth with her hand when I +frowned warningly.</p> +<p>Presently we heard the tramping of horses and the voices of men +across the river, and soon the duke approached at a canter. I could +not help speculating on the consequences should His Grace know that +Yolanda was watching him--if Yolanda were his daughter.</p> +<p>That "if" would surely be the death of me.</p> +<p>When the duke had passed a little way down the road, I peered +through the bushes and saw the dust-cloud ahead of us.</p> +<p>We could not venture from our hiding-place till the duke was out +of sight, and by the delay we lost a good half-league in our race. +I asked Yolanda if she knew how far it was to the next point of +contact, She did not know, but I learned from a peasant that the +river made a great bend, and that our road gained nearly a league +over the other before each again touched the river. This was our +great chance.</p> +<p>We put our horses to their best; and when we again reached the +river, Max, who was riding in advance, announced that the other +cavalcade was not in sight. If it had passed, our race was lost; if +it had not, we felt that we could easily ride into Peronne ahead of +Duke Charles. At that point the roads followed the river within a +stone's throw of each other for a great distance. If the duke had +not reached this point, our need for haste was greater than ever +before. We must be beyond the open stretch before the other +cavalcade should come up to it.</p> +<p>Our poor blown horses were loath to run, but we urged them to +it. When we had covered half this open road, we took to the sod at +the roadside to avoid raising a telltale cloud of dust. After a +hard gallop we reached a forest where the road again left the +river. Here we halted to breathe our horses and to watch the road +on the right bank. After ten minutes we became uneasy and began to +fear that the duke's cavalcade had passed us, but Max insisted that +our fears were groundless.</p> +<p>"Their dust could not have settled so quickly," he declared. "We +should see at least traces of it. They cannot have passed."</p> +<p>"One cannot help believing," said Yolanda, musingly, "that there +are men who command the elements. One would almost say they make +the rain to fall or to cease, the wind to rise or to drop, to suit +their purposes, and the dust to lie quietly beneath their horses' +feet. I pray God we may soon know, else I shall surely die of +suspense."</p> +<p>"There are also some persons, Fräulein, whom God answers +quickly," said Max, looking under his hand down the road. "Do you +see yonder dust-cloud? It is a good two miles back of us."</p> +<p>"It may not be the duke," said Yolanda, doubtingly.</p> +<p>"Let us trust it is," said Max, "and lose no more time +here."</p> +<p>We watered our horses at a small brook and entered the forest, +feeling that our race was won. The exultation of victory was upon +Yolanda, and her buoyant spirits mounted to the skies. All fear and +gloom had left her. She laughed and sang, and the sunshine of her +humor filled all our hearts with delight. Since leaving Metz we had +travelled so rapidly, and a cloud of uncertainty and fear was so +constantly over us, that Yolanda had spoken little to Max or to any +one; but now that victory was in her grasp, she intended to waste +not one moment more in troubled thoughts and painful fears.</p> +<p>"Ride beside me, Sir Max," she cried, beckoning him as if she +were a great princess and he her page. Max spurred his horse to her +side, and after a moment Twonette fell back with me. I overheard +all that was said between Max and Yolanda, and though I do not +pretend to quote accurately, I will give you the substance of their +conversation.</p> +<p>"I cannot help laughing," she said, suiting the action to the +word, "over our tragic parting at Metz. We were separated a whole +day!"</p> +<p>"But we supposed it was to be for a very long time," said Max. +"We--that is, I--feared I should never see you again. As it was, +the day seemed long to me, Fräulein."</p> +<p>The girl laughed joyously. She had, you remember, offered Max to +the Virgin at Strasburg. Perhaps part of her joy was because the +Queen of Heaven had returned him to her.</p> +<p>"I should like to try a separation for many days," she said.</p> +<p>"You will soon have the opportunity," returned Max, with wounded +vanity. She paid no heed to his remark, and continued:--</p> +<p>"The second day would not seem so long to you. The third would +be still shorter, and at the end of a fortnight--nay, at the end of +a week--you would wonder how you were ever brought to fix your eyes +on a poor burgher girl, even for a passing moment--you, a great +lord. You see, I have no vast estates to hold you constant, such as +those possessed by the forward lady who sent you the letter and the +ring. Do you know, Sir Max, if I were very fond of you,--if I were +your sweetheart,--I should be jealous of this brazen lady, very +jealous."</p> +<p>There was a glint in her eyes that might have caused one to +believe the jealousy already existed.</p> +<p>"Your raillery ill becomes you," said Max, half sullenly. "If I +forget my rank and hold it of small account for your sake, you +should not make a jest of it."</p> +<p>You see, he had not entirely washed out of himself the +ceremonious starch of Hapsburg.</p> +<p>She glanced quickly toward him and answered poutingly:--</p> +<p>"If you don't like my jesting, Sir Max, you may leave me to ride +alone."</p> +<p>"You asked me to ride with you," returned Max, "but if you have +changed your mind and insist on being ill-tempered, I will--"</p> +<p>She reached out her hand, and, grasping his bridle-reins, threw +them over the pommel of her saddle.</p> +<p>"Now let me see what you will do, my great Lord Somebody," she +cried defiantly. "You shall not only ride beside me, but you shall +also listen good-humoredly to my jests when I am pleased to make +them, and bear with my ill-humor when I am pleased to be +ill-humored."</p> +<p>Max left the bridle-reins in her hand, but did not smile. She +was not to be driven from her mood.</p> +<p>"You are such a serious person, Sir Max, that you must, at +times, feel yourself a great weight--almost burdensome--to carry +about." She laughed, though his resentment had piqued her, and +there was a dash of anger in her words. "Ponderous persons are +often ridiculous and are apt to tire themselves with their own +weight--no, Sir Max, you can't get away. I have your reins."</p> +<p>"I can dismount," returned Max, "and leave you my horse to +lead."</p> +<p>He turned to leave his saddle, but she caught his arm, rode +close to his side, and, slipping her hand down his sleeve, clasped +his hand--if a hand so small as hers can be said to clasp one so +large as his.</p> +<p>A beautiful woman is born with a latent consciousness of her +power over the subjugated sex. Max found in the soft touch of the +girl's hand a wonderful antidote to her sharp words. She continued +to hold his hand as compensation while she said, laughing +nervously:--</p> +<p>"Sir Max, you are still young. A friend would advise you: Never +lose a chance to laugh, even though it be at your own expense. +There will always be opportunity to grieve and be gloomy. I tell +you frankly, Sir Max, I almost wept when I bade you good-by at +Metz. Now, I am telling you my state secret and am giving you more +than you have asked."</p> +<p>Max joyfully interrupted her:--</p> +<p>"I can forgive you all your raillery, Fräulein, for that +admission."</p> +<p>"Yes, I confess it is a very important admission," she said, in +half-comic seriousness, "but you see, I really did weep when I +parted from my great mastiff, Caesar, at Peronne."</p> +<p>The saucy turn was made so quickly that its humor took Max +unawares, and he laughed.</p> +<p>"There, there! Sir Max, there is hope for you," she cried +exultantly. Then she continued, stealing a side glance at him, "I +loved Caesar very, very much."</p> +<p>There was a satisfying implication in her laughing words, owing +to the fact that she had almost wept at Metz. Max was eager to take +advantage of the opportunity her words gave him, for his caution +was rapidly oozing away; but he had placed a seal on his lips, and +they were shut--at least, for the time. His silence needed no +explanation to Yolanda, and she continued laughingly:--</p> +<p>"Yes, I almost wept. Perhaps I did weep. I will not say truly +that I did not, Sir Max, but within an hour I was laughing at my +foolish self and feared that you, too, would be laughing at me. I +wondered if in all the world there was another burgher maiden so +great a fool as to lift her eyes to a mighty lord, or to think that +he could lower his eyes to her with true intent."</p> +<p>At that point in the conversation I felt that the seal upon +Max's lips would not stand another attack. It was sure to melt; so +I rode to Yolanda's side and interrupted the interesting +colloquy.</p> +<p>Max supposed the girl to be of the burgher class, and if by any +chance she were Mary of Burgundy, he might ruin his future, should +he become too insistent upon his rank in explaining the reasons why +he could not follow the path of his inclinations. He might make +himself ridiculous; and that mistake will ruin a man with any +woman, especially if she be young and much inclined to laugh.</p> +<p>During the foregoing conversation we had been travelling at a +six-mile canter. The day was warm, and I suggested breathing the +horses in the shade of the forest.</p> +<p>"I believe we are approaching the river," I said, "and we should +rest the horses before taking a dash over the open road."</p> +<p>Yolanda assented--in a manner she seemed to have taken command +of the party--and we halted under the trees. Max rode forward to a +point from which he could view the other road, and waved his hand +to let us know that the duke was not in sight. We immediately put +spurs to our horses and covered the stretch of open road by the +river in a short, brisk gallop. On leaving the road again we saw no +indication of the duke's cavalcade. Evidently the race was ours by +an easy canter. From that point to within two miles of Peronne, +Yolanda's song was as joyous as that of a wooing bird. The sun beat +down upon us, and blinding clouds of dust rose from every plunge of +our horses' hoofs; but Yolanda's song transformed our hot, +wearisome journey into a triumphant march. Happiness seemed to +radiate from her and to furnish joy for all.</p> +<p>For a stretch of two miles up river from Peronne the roads +approached each other, but, owing to an intervening marsh, they +were fully half a mile apart. We, or at least Yolanda, had +apparently forgotten the duke when, near the hour of eight in the +morning, we approached the marsh; but when we entered the open +country we saw, to our consternation, the duke's cavalcade within +one mile of Peronne. Where they had passed us we did not know, nor +did we stop to consider. They were five minutes ahead, and if we +could not enter Peronne in advance of them, it were no worse had +they been a day before us.</p> +<p>Yolanda cast one frightened glance toward the duke's party, and +struck her horse a blow with her whip that sent it bounding forward +at a furious gallop. We reached the river and were crossing as the +duke entered Cambrai Gate--the north entrance to the city. We would +enter by the gate on the south known as the Somme Gate; Cambrai +Gate was nearer the castle.</p> +<p>The duke, I supposed, would go directly to the castle; where +Yolanda would go I could not guess. From outside the Somme Gate we +saw the duke enter Cambrai, but after we had passed under the arch +we could not see him for a time because of intervening houses. The +huge, grim pile of stone known as Peronne Castle loomed ominously +on the opposite side of the small town. Yolanda veiled herself +before passing under the gate and hastened, though without +conspicuous speed, toward the castle.</p> +<p>I afterward learned that there was but one entrance to the +castle from the town. It was known as the Postern, though it had a +portcullis and a drawbridge spanning the moat. To the Postern the +duke took his way, as we could see at intervals by looking down +cross streets. Yolanda did not follow him. She held her course down +a narrow street flanked by overhanging eaves. Looking down this +street, I could see that it terminated abruptly at the castle wall, +which rose dark and unbroken sixty feet above the ground.</p> +<p>At the end of this street a stone footbridge spanned the moat, +leading to a strip of ground perhaps one hundred yards broad and +two hundred long that lay between the moat and the castle wall. At +either end of this strip the moat again turned to the castle. The +Cologne River joined the moat at the north end of this tract of +ground and flowed on by the castle wall to the Somme. In a grove of +trees stood a large two-story house of time-darkened stone, built +against the castle wall. One could not leave the strip of ground +save by the stone footbridge, unless by swimming the moat or +scaling the walls.</p> +<p>When we reached the footbridge, Yolanda and Twonette, without a +word of farewell, urged their horses across, and, springing from +their saddles, hurriedly entered the house. Max and I turned our +horses' heads, and, as we were leaving the footbridge, saw the +duke's cavalcade enter the Postern, which was perhaps three hundred +yards back and north of the strip on which stood the House under +the Wall.</p> +<p>To reach the Postern in the castle wall from the footbridge one +must go well up into the town and cross the great bridge that spans +the Cologne; then back along the north bank of the river by the +street that leads to the Postern. From the House under the Wall to +the Postern, by way of the Cologne bridge, is a half-hour's walk, +though in a direct line, as the crow flies, it may be less than +three hundred yards. Neither Max nor I knew whether our journey had +been a success or a failure.</p> +<p>We rode leisurely back to the centre of the town, and asked a +carter to direct us to Marcus Grote's inn, The Mitre. We soon found +it, and gave mine host the letter that we bore from Castleman. +Although the hour of nine in the morning had not yet struck, Max +and I eagerly sought our beds, and did not rise till late in the +afternoon. The next morning we dismissed our squires, fearing they +might talk. We paid the men, gave them each a horse, and saw them +well on their road back to Switzerland. They were Swiss lads, and +could not take themselves out of Burgundy fast enough to keep pace +with their desires.</p> +<p>Notwithstanding Castleman's admonition, Max determined to remain +in Peronne; not for the sake of Mary the princess, but for the +smile of Yolanda the burgher girl. I well knew that opposition +would avail nothing, and was quite willing to be led by the unseen +hand of fate.</p> +<p>The evening of the second day after our arrival I walked out at +dusk and by accident met my friend, the Sieur d'Hymbercourt. He it +was to whom my letters concerning Max had been written, and who had +been responsible for the offer of Mary's hand. He recognized me +before I could avoid him, so I offered my hand and he gave me +kindly welcome.</p> +<p>"By what good fortune are you here, Sir Karl?" he asked.</p> +<p>"I cannot tell," I answered, "whether it be good or evil fortune +that brings me. I deem it right to tell you that I am here with my +young pupil, the Count of Hapsburg."</p> +<p>Hymbercourt whistled his astonishment.</p> +<p>"We are out to see a little of the world, and I need not tell +you how important it is that we remain unknown while in Burgundy. I +bear my own name; the young count has assumed the name of his +mother's family and wishes to be known as Sir Maximilian du +Guelph."</p> +<p>"I shall not mention your presence even to my wife," he replied. +"I advise you not to remain in Burgundy. The duke takes it for +granted that Styria will aid the Swiss, or at least will sympathize +with them in this brewing war, and I should fear for your safety +were he to discover you."</p> +<p>"I understand the duke recently arrived in Peronne?" I +asked.</p> +<p>"Yes," answered Hymbercourt, "we all came yesterday +morning."</p> +<p>"How is the fair princess? Did she come with you?" I asked, +fearing to hear his reply.</p> +<p>"She is well, and more beautiful than ever before," he answered. +"She did not come with us from Ghent; she has been here at the +castle with her stepmother, the Duchess Margaret. They have lived +here during the last two or three years. The princess met her +father just inside the Postern, lovely and fresh as a dew-dipped +rose."</p> +<p>"She met her father just inside the Postern?" I asked, slowly +dropping my words in astonishment. "She was in the castle yard when +her father entered,--and at the Postern?"</p> +<p>"Yes, she took his hand and sprang to a seat behind him," +answered Hymbercourt.</p> +<p>"She met him inside the Postern, say you?" I repeated +musingly.</p> +<p>"What is there amazing about so small an act?" asked +Hymbercourt. "Is it not natural that she should greet her father +whom she has not seen for a year?"</p> +<p>"Indeed, yes," I replied stumblingly, "but the weather is very +hot, and--and I was thinking how much I should have enjoyed +witnessing the meeting. She doubtless was dressed in gala attire +for so rare an occasion?" I asked, wishing to talk upon the subject +that touched me so nearly. Yolanda was in short skirts, stained and +travel-worn, when she left us.</p> +<p>"Indeed she was," answered Hymbercourt. "I can easily describe +her dress. She loves woman's finery, and I must confess that I too +love it. She wore a hawking costume; a cap of crimson--I think it +was velvet--with little knots on it and gems scattered here and +there. A heron's plume clasped with a diamond brooch adorned the +cap. Her hair hung over her shoulders. It is very dark and falls in +a great bush of fluffy curls. When her headgear is off, her hair +looks like a black corona. She is wonderfully beautiful, +wonderfully beautiful. Her gown was of red stuff. Perhaps it was of +velvet like the cap. It was hitched up with a cord and girdle, with +tassels of gold lace and--and--Sir Karl, you are not +listening."</p> +<p>"I am listening," I replied. "I am greatly interested. Her +gown--she wore a gown--she wore a gown--"</p> +<p>"Yes, of course she wore a gown," laughingly retorted +Hymbercourt. "Your lagging attention is what I deserve, Sir Karl, +for trying in my lame fashion to describe a woman's gear to a man +who is half priest, half warrior. I do not wonder that you did not +follow me."</p> +<p>I had heard him, but there was another question dinning in my +ears so loudly that it drowned all other sounds--"Who is +Yolanda?"</p> +<p>Yolanda was entering the door of the House under the Wall less +than five minutes before I saw the duke pass through the Postern. +Marcus Grote had told me there were but two openings to the castle, +the Postern and the great gate on the other side of the castle by +the donjon keep. To reach the great gate one must pass out by +Cambrai or the Somme Gate and go around the city walls--an hour's +journey.</p> +<p>With an air of carelessness I asked Hymbercourt concerning the +various entrances to the castle. He confirmed what Grote had said. +Considering all the facts, I was forced to this conclusion: If the +Princess Mary had met the duke at the Postern, Yolanda was not the +Princess Mary.</p> +<p>The next day I reconnoitred the premises, and again reached the +conclusion that Yolanda could not have met the duke inside the +Postern unless she were a witch with wings that could fly thither +over the castle walls; ergo, she was not the princess. With equal +certainty she was not a burgher girl.</p> +<p>In seeking an identity that would fit her I groped among many +absurd propositions. Yolanda might be the duke's ward, or she might +be his daughter, though not bearing his name. My brain was in a +whirl. If she were the princess, I wished to remain in Peronne to +pursue the small advantage Max had assuredly gained in winning her +favor. The French marriage might miscarry. But if she were not the +princess, I could not get my Prince Max away from her dangerous +neighborhood too quickly. I could not, of course, say to Max, "You +shall remain in Peronne," or "You shall leave Peronne at once;" but +my influence over him was great, and he trusted my fidelity, my +love, and my ability to advise him rightly. I had always given my +advice carefully, but, above all, I had given him the only +pleasurable moments he had ever known. That, by the way, may have +been the greatest good I could have offered him.</p> +<p>When Max was a child, the pleasure of his amusements was +smothered by officialism. My old Lord Aurbach, though gouty and +stiff of joint, was eager to "run" his balls or his arrows, and old +Sir Giles Butch could be caught so easily at tag or blind man's +buff that there was no sport for Max in doing it. Everything the +boy did was done by the heir of Styria, except on rare occasions +when he and I stole away from the castle. Then we were boys +together, and then it was I earned his love and confidence. At such +times we used to leave the Hapsburg ancestry to care for itself and +dumped Hapsburg dignity into the moat. But the crowning good I had +brought to him was this journey into the world. The boy loathed the +clinging dignities that made of him, at home, a royal automaton, +tricked out in tarnished gold lace, faded velvets, and pompous +airs. He often spoke of the pleasures I had given him. One evening +at Grote's inn I answered:--</p> +<p>"Nonsense, Max, nonsense," though I was so pleased with his +gratitude I could have wept.</p> +<p>"It is not nonsense. You have saved me from becoming a mummy. I +see it all, Karl, and shudder to think of the life that might have +been mine. I take no pleasure in seeing gouty old dependents +bowing, kneeling, and smirking before me. Of course, these things +are my prerogative, and a man born to them may not forego what is +due to his birth even though it irks him. But such an existence--I +will not call it living--saps the juice of life. Even dear old +mother is compelled to suppress her love for me. Often she has +pressed me to her breast only to thrust me away at the approach of +footsteps. By the way, Karl," continued Max, while preparing for +bed, "Yolanda one day at Basel jestingly called me 'Little +Max.'"</p> +<p>"The devil she did," I exclaimed, unable to restrain my +words.</p> +<p>"Yes," answered Max, "and when in surprise I told her that it +was my mother's love-name for me, she laughed saucily, 'Yes, I know +it is.'"</p> +<p>"The dev-- Max, you can't mean what you say?" I cried, in an +ecstasy of delight over the news he was telling me.</p> +<p>"Indeed I do," he returned. "I told her I loved the name as a +sweet reminder of my mother."</p> +<p>"What did she say?" I asked.</p> +<p>"She seemed pleased and flashed her eyes on me--you know the way +she has--and said: 'I, too, like the name. It fits you so well--by +contraries.' Where could she have learned it, and how could she +have known it was my mother's love-name for me?"</p> +<p>"I cannot tell," I answered.</p> +<p>So! here was a small fact suddenly grown big, since, despite all +evidence to the contrary, it brought me back to my old belief that +this fair, laughing Yolanda was none other than the great Princess +of Burgundy. I was sure that she had gained all her information +concerning Max from my letters to Hymbercourt.</p> +<p>It racks a man's brain to play shuttlecock with it in that +fashion. While I lay in bed trying to sleep, I thought of the +meeting between the duke and the princess at the Postern, and back +again flew my mind to the conviction that Yolanda was not, and +could not possibly be, the Princess Mary. For days I had been able +to think on no other subject. One moment she was Yolanda; the next +she was the princess; and the next I did not know who she was. +Surely the riddle would drive me mad. The fate of nations--but, +infinitely more important to me, the fate of Max--depended upon its +solution.</p> +<p>Castleman had told us to remain at the inn until his return, and +had exacted from Max, as you will remember, a promise not to visit +the House under the Wall, which we had learned was the home of our +burgher friend. We therefore spent our days and evenings in Grote's +garden near the banks of the river Cologne.</p> +<p>One afternoon, while we were sitting at a table sipping wine +under the shade of a tree near the river bank, Max said:--</p> +<p>"I have enjoyed every day of our journey, Karl. I have learned +the great lesson of life, and am now ready to go back to Styria and +take up my burden. We must see our friends and say farewell to +them. Then--"</p> +<p>"You forget the object of our journey to Burgundy," I +answered.</p> +<p>"No, I have not forgotten it," he replied. "I had abandoned it +even before I heard of the impending French marriage."</p> +<p>"Not with my consent, Max," I answered almost fiercely. "The +princess is not yet married, and no one can foresee the outcome of +these present complications into which the duke is plunging. We +could not have reached Burgundy at a more auspicious time. God's +hand seems to have been in our venture. If evil befall the duke, +there will be an open gate for you, Max,--a gate opened by +fate."</p> +<p>I could not, by my utmost effort, force myself entirely away +from the belief that Yolanda was the princess, and I was near to +telling Max of my suspicions; but doubt came before my words, and I +remained silent. Before many days I was glad of my caution.</p> +<p>"I knew," said Max, "that I would pain you, Karl, by this +determination to return to Styria without so much as an effort to +do--to do what we-- what you wished; but it must be as I say. I +must leave Burgundy and go back to my strait-jacket. I have lived +my life, Karl, I have had my portion of sweet joy and sweeter pain. +The pain will give me joy as long as I live. Now for my duty to my +father, my house, and my ancestors."</p> +<p>"But your duty to all these lies here in Peronne," I answered, +almost stifled by the stupendous import of the moment.</p> +<p>"I suppose you are right," sighed Max, speaking gently, though +with decision. "But that duty I'll shirk, and try to make amends in +other ways. I shall never marry. That, Karl, you may depend upon. +Styria may go at my death to Albert of Austria, or to his +issue."</p> +<p>"No, no! Max," I cried. He ignored my interruption.</p> +<p>"Along with the countless duties that fall to the lot of a +prince are a few that one owes to himself as a man. There are some +sacrifices a man has no right to inflict upon himself, even for the +sake of his family, his ancestors, or his state." He paused for the +space of a minute, and, dropping his words slowly, continued in a +low voice vibrant with emotion: "There is but one woman, Karl, whom +I may marry with God's pleasure. Her, I may not even think upon; +she is as far from me as if she were dead. I must sacrifice her for +the sake of the obligations and conditions into which I was born; +but--" here he hesitated, rose slowly to his feet, and lifted his +hands above his head, "but I swear before the good God, who, in His +wisdom, inflicted the curse of my birth upon me, that I will marry +no other woman than this, let the result be what it may."</p> +<p>He sank back into the chair and fell forward on the table, +burying his face in his arms. His heart for the moment was stronger +than his resolution.</p> +<p>"That question is settled," thought I. No power save that of the +Pope could absolve the boy from his oath, and I knew that the power +of ten score of popes could not move him from its complete +fulfilment. The oath of Maximilian of Hapsburg, whose heart had +never coined a lie, was as everlasting as the rocks of his native +land and, like Styria's mountain peaks, pierced the dome of +heaven.</p> +<p>If Yolanda were not the princess, our journeying to Burgundy had +been in vain, and our sojourn in Peronne was useless and perilous. +It could not be brought to a close too quickly. But (the question +mark seems at times to be the greatest part of life) if Yolanda +were Mary of Burgundy, Max had, beyond doubt, already won the +lady's favor, unless she were a wanton snare for every man's feet. +That hypothesis I did not entertain for a moment. I knew little of +womankind, but my limited knowledge told me that Yolanda was true. +Her heart was full of laughter,--a rare, rich heritage,--and she +was little inclined to look on the serious side of life if she +could avoid it; but beneath all there was a real Yolanda, with a +great, tender heart and a shrewd, helpful brain. She was somewhat +of a coquette, but coquetry salts a woman and gives her relish. It +had been a grievous waste on the part of Providence to give to any +girl such eyes as Yolanda's and to withhold from her a modicum of +coquetry with which to use them. Taken all in all, Yolanda, whoever +she was, would grace any station in life. But if she were not the +princess, I would be willing to give my life--nay, more, I would +almost be willing to take hers--rather than see her marry +Maximilian of Hapsburg. Happiness could not come from such a +union.</p> +<p>Should Max marry a burgher girl, his father and mother would +never look upon his face again. It would alienate his subjects, +humble his house, and bring him to the level of the meanest noble +on the Danube. To all these dire consequences Max was quite as wide +awake as I. He had no intention of bringing them upon his house, +though for himself he would have welcomed them. So I felt little +uneasiness; but when a great love lays hold upon a great heart, no +man may know the outcome.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> +<h3>ON THE MOAT BRIDGE</h3> +<br> +<p>Awaiting Castleman's return, we remained housed up at The Mitre, +seldom going farther abroad than Grote's garden save in the early +morning or after dark. But despite our caution trouble befell us, +as our burgher friend had predicted.</p> +<p>Within a week Max began to go out after dark without asking me +to accompany him. When he came into our room late one evening, I +asked carelessly where he had been. I knew where he had been going, +and had burned to speak, but the boy was twenty-two. Within the +last few months he had grown out of my tutelage, and his native +strength of character had taught me to respect him and in a certain +way to fear him. From the promptness of his reply I thought that he +had wished me to ask concerning his outgoing and incoming.</p> +<p>"I have been to the bridge over the moat, near Castleman's House +under the Wall," he answered.</p> +<p>"What did you there?" I asked, seeing his willingness to be +questioned.</p> +<p>"I stood there--I--I--" He paused, laughed, and stammered on. "I +looked at the castle and at the moat, like a silly fool, +and--and--"</p> +<p>"Castleman's house?" I suggested, helping him out.</p> +<p>"Y-e-s," he answered hesitatingly, "I could not help seeing it. +It is close by the bridge--not twenty paces distant."</p> +<p>"Did you see any one else--except the house?" I asked.</p> +<p>"No," he returned promptly. "I did not want to see any one else. +If I had I should have entered the house."</p> +<p>"Why, then, did you go to the bridge?" I queried.</p> +<p>"I cannot answer that question even to myself," he replied. +"I--I--there is a constant hungering for her, Karl, that I cannot +overcome; it seems as if I am compelled to go to the bridge, though +I know I should not. It is very foolish in me, I am sure, +but--"</p> +<p>"I heartily agree with you," I answered. "It is not only +foolish, it is rash; and it may bring you great trouble."</p> +<p>I did not deem it necessary to tell him that he was following in +the footsteps of his race. I left him to suppose that he was the +only fool of the sort that had ever lived. The thought would abate +his vanity.</p> +<p>"But I <i>must</i> go to the bridge," he continued, finishing +the sentence I had interrupted, "and I do not see how there can be +evil in it."</p> +<p>"No, Max, it Is not wrong in itself," I said reprovingly; "but +Castleman, evidently for good reasons, asked you to stay away from +his house, and counselled us to remain close at the inn. It has +also this evil in it for you, aside from the danger: it will make +your duty harder to perform. When a man longs for what he may not +have, he should not think upon it, much less act on it. Our +desires, like covetousness and jealousy, feed upon themselves. We +may, if we but knew it, augment or abate them at will."</p> +<p>"I shall always think on--on my love for Yolanda," he replied. +"I would not abate it one jot; I would augment it in my heart. But, +Karl--you see, Karl, it is not a question of my own strength to +resist. I need no strength. There is no more reason for you to warn +me against this danger than to admonish a child not to long for a +star, fearing he might get it. The longing may be indulged with +impunity; the star and the danger are out of reach."</p> +<p>I had nothing to say; Max was stronger and nobler than ever I +had believed.</p> +<p>Max continued to go to the bridge, and I made no effort to +prevent him. Meddling mars more frequently than it mends, and when +the Fates are leading, a man is a fool to try to direct their +course. Whatever was to be would be. Fate held Max by the hand and +was leading him. I almost feared to move or to speak in his +affairs, lest I should make a mistake and offend these capricious +Fates. The right or the wrong of his visits to the moat depended +entirely upon the answer to my riddle, "Who is Yolanda?" and I +dared not put it to the touch.</p> +<p>On one occasion he returned from the bridge, and without +lighting the lamp, sat on the arm of my chair. The moonlight +streaming through the window illumined his head as with a halo. He +tossed the damp curls from his face, and his eyes were aglow with +joy. There was no need to tell me what had happened, but he told +me.</p> +<p>"Ah, Karl, I've seen the star," he cried triumphantly. He was +but a boy-man, you must remember.</p> +<p>"I was sure you would see her," I answered. "How did you bring +the meeting about?"</p> +<p>"I did not bring it about," he answered, laughing softly. "The +star came to the child."</p> +<p>"All things come to him that waits at the bridge," I replied +sarcastically. He paid no heed to the sarcasm, but continued:--</p> +<p>"She happened to be near the bridge when I got there, and she +came to me, Karl,--she came to me like a real star falling out of +the darkness."</p> +<p>That little fact solved once more my great riddle--at least, it +solved it for a time. Yolanda was not Mary of Burgundy. I had +little knowledge of princesses and their ways, but I felt sure they +were not in the habit of lurking in dark places or wandering by +sluggish moats in the black shadow of a grim castle. A princess +would not and could not have been loitering by the bridge near the +House under the Wall. Castleman's words concerning Yolanda's +residence under his roof came back and convinced me that my absurd +theory concerning her identity was the dream of a madman.</p> +<p>"She happened to be near the bridge?" I asked, with significant +emphasis.</p> +<p>"Perhaps I should not have used the word 'happened,'" returned +Max.</p> +<p>"I thought as much. What did she have to say for herself, +Max?"</p> +<p>"If I were not sure of your devotion, Karl, I should not answer +a question concerning Yolanda put in such a manner," he replied; +"but I'll tell you. When I stepped on the bridge, she came running +to me from the shadow of the trees. Her arms were uplifted, and she +moved so swiftly and with such grace one could almost think she was +flying--"</p> +<p>"Witches fly," I interrupted. My remark checked his flow of +enthusiasm. After a long silence I queried, "Well?"</p> +<p>Max began again.</p> +<p>"She gave me her hand and said: 'I knew you would come again, +Sir Max. I saw you from the battlements last night and the night +before and the night before that. I could not, with certainty, +recognize you from so great a distance, but I was sure you would +come to the bridge--I do not know why, but I was sure you would +come; so to-night I too came. You cannot know the trouble I took or +the risk I ran in coming. You have not seen me for many days, yet +you remember me and have come five times to the bridge. I was wrong +when I said you would forget the burgher girl within a fortnight. +Sir Max, you are a marvel of constancy.' At that moment the figures +of two men appeared on the castle battlements, silhouetted against +the moon; they seemed of enormous stature, magnified in the +moonlight. One of them was the Duke of Burgundy. I recognized him +by his great beard, of which I have heard you speak. Yolanda caught +one glimpse of the men and ran back to the house without so much as +giving me a word of farewell."</p> +<p>"What did you say during the brief interview?" I asked.</p> +<p>"Not one word," he replied.</p> +<p>"By my soul, you are an ardent lover," I exclaimed.</p> +<p>"I think she understood me," Max replied, confidently; and +doubtless he was right.</p> +<p>Once more the riddle was solved. A few more solutions and there +would be a mad Styrian in Burgundy. My reflections were after this +fashion: Princesses, after all, do wander by the moat side and +loiter by the bridge. Princesses do go on long journeys with no +lady-in-waiting to do their bidding and no servants ready at their +call. Yolanda was Mary of Burgundy, thought I, and Max had been +throwing away God-given opportunities. Had she not seen Max from +the battlements, and had she not fled at sight of the duke? These +two small facts were but scant evidence of Yolanda's royalty, but +they seemed sufficient.</p> +<p>"What would you have me say, Karl?" asked Max. "You would not +have me speak more than I have already said and win her love beyond +her power to withdraw it. That I sometimes believe I might do, but +if my regard for her is true, I should not wish to bring +unhappiness to her for the sake of satisfying my selfish vanity. If +I am not mistaken, a woman would suffer more than a man from such a +misfortune."</p> +<p>Here, truly, was a generous love. It asked only the privilege of +giving, and would take nothing in return because it could not give +all. If Yolanda were Mary of Burgundy, Max might one day have a +reward worthy of his virtue. Yolanda's sweetness and beauty and +Mary's rich domain would surely be commensurate with the noblest +virtue. I was not willing that Max should cease wooing Yolanda--if +I might give that word to his conduct--until I should know +certainly that she was not the princess. This, I admit, was cruel +indifference to Yolanda's peace of mind or pain of heart, if Max +should win her love and desert her.</p> +<p>Because of a faint though dazzling ray of hope, I encouraged Max +after this to visit the bridge over the moat, dangerous though it +was; and each night I received an account of his doings. Usually +the account was brief and pointless. He went, he stood upon the +bridge, he saw the House under the Wall, he returned to the inn. +But a night came when he had stirring adventures to relate.</p> +<p>At the time of which I am writing every court in Europe had its +cluster of genteel vagabonds,--foreigners,--who stood in high +favor. These hangers-on, though perhaps of the noblest blood in +their own lands, were usually exiles from their native country. +Some had been banished for crimes; others had wandered from their +homes, prompted by the love of roaming so often linked with +unstable principles and reckless dispositions. Burgundy under +Charles the Rash was a paradise for these gentry. The duke, who was +so parsimonious with the great and wise Philip de Comines that he +drove him to the court of Louis XI, was open-handed with these +floating villains.</p> +<p>In imitation of King Louis's Scotch guard, Charles had an +Italian guard. The wide difference in the wisdom of these princes +is nowhere more distinctly shown than in the quality of the men +they chose to guard them. Louis employed the simple, honest, brave +Scot. Charles chose the most guileful of men. They were true only +to self-interest, brave only in the absence of danger. The court of +Burgundy swarmed with these Italian mercenaries, many of whom had +followed Charles to Peronne. Count Campo-Basso, who afterward +betrayed Charles, was their chief. Among his followers was a huge +Lombard, a great bully, who bore the name of Count Calli.</p> +<p>On the evening of which I speak Max had hardly stepped on the +bridge when Yolanda ran to him.</p> +<p>"I have been waiting for you, Sir Max," she said. "You are late. +I feared you would not come. I have waited surely an hour, though I +am loath to confess it lest you think me a too willing maiden."</p> +<p>"It would be hard, Fräulein, for me to think you too +willing--you are but gracious and kind, and I thank you," answered +Max. "But you have not waited an hour. Darkness has fallen barely a +quarter of that time."</p> +<p>"I was watching long before dark on the battlements, and--"</p> +<p>"On the battlements, Fräulein?" asked Max, in surprise.</p> +<p>"I mean from--from the window battlements in uncle's house. I've +been out here under the trees since nightfall, and that seems to +have been at least an hour ago. Don't you understand, Sir Max?" she +continued, laughing softly and speaking as if in jest; "the longer +I know you the more shamefully eager I become; but that is the way +with a maid and a man. She grows more eager and he grows less +ardent, and I doubt not the time will soon arrive, Sir Max, when +you will not come at all, and I shall be left waiting under the +trees to weep in loneliness."</p> +<p>Max longed to speak the words that were in his heart and near +his lips, but he controlled himself under this dire temptation and +remained silent. After a long pause she stepped close to him and +asked:--</p> +<p>"Did you not want me to come?"</p> +<p>Max dared not tell her how much he had wanted her to come, so he +went to the other extreme--he must say something--and, in an excess +of caution, said:--</p> +<p>"I would not have asked you to come, Fräulein, though I +much desired it; but sober judgment would prompt me to wish +that--that is, I--ah, Fräulein, I did not want you to come to +the bridge."</p> +<p>She laughed softly and said:--</p> +<p>"Now, Little Max, you do not speak the truth. You did want me to +come, else why do you come to the bridge? Why do you come?"</p> +<p>In view of all the facts in the case the question was +practically unanswerable unless Max wished to tell the truth, so he +evaded by saying:--</p> +<p>"I do not know."</p> +<p>She looked quickly up to his face and stepped back from +him:--</p> +<p>"Did you come to see Twonette? I had not thought of her. She is +but drained milk and treacle. Do you want to see her, Sir Max? If +so, I'll return to the house and send her to you."</p> +<p>"Fräulein, I need not answer your question," returned Max, +convincingly.</p> +<p>"But I love Twonette. I know you do not come to see her, and I +should not have spoken as I did," said Yolanda, penitently.</p> +<p>Perhaps her penitential moods were the most +bewitching--certainly they were the most dangerous--of all her many +phases.</p> +<p>"You know why I come to the bridge, even though I do not," said +Max. "Tell me, Fräulein, why I come."</p> +<p>"That is what you may tell me. I came to hear it," she answered +softly, hanging her head.</p> +<p>"I may not speak, Fräulein," he replied, with a deep, +regretful sigh. "What I said to you on the road from Basel will be +true as long as I live, but we agreed that it should not again be +spoken between us. For your sake more than for mine it is better +that I remain silent."</p> +<p>Yolanda hung her head, while her fingers were nervously busy +with the points of her bodice. She uttered a low laugh, flashed her +eyes upon him for an instant, and again the long lashes shaded +them.</p> +<p>"You need not be <i>too</i> considerate for my sake, Sir Max," +she whispered; "though--though I confess that I never supposed any +man could bring me to this condition of boldness."</p> +<p>Max caught her hands, and, clasping them between his own, drew +the girl toward him. The top of her head was below his chin, and +the delicious scent from her hair intoxicated his senses. She felt +his great frame tremble with emotion, and a thrill of exquisite +delight sped through every fibre of her body, warming every drop of +blood in her veins. But Max, by a mighty effort, checked himself, +and remained true to his self-imposed renunciation in word and act. +After a little time she drew her hands from his, saying:--</p> +<p>"You are right, Max, to wish to save yourself and me from +pain."</p> +<p>"I wish to save you, Yolanda. I want the pain; I hope it will +cling to me all my life. I want to save you from it."</p> +<p>"Perhaps you are beginning too late, Max," said the girl, +sighing, "but--but after all you are right. Even as you see our +situation it is impossible for us to be more than we are to each +other. But if you knew all the truth, you would see how utterly +hopeless is the future in which I at one time thought I saw a ray +of hope. Our fate is sealed, Max; we are doomed. Before long you +shall know. I will soon tell you all."</p> +<p>"Do you wish to tell me now, Fräulein?" he asked.</p> +<p>"No," she whispered.</p> +<p>"In your own good time, Yolanda. I would not urge you."</p> +<p>Max understood Yolanda's words to imply that her station in life +was even lower than it seemed, or that there was some taint upon +herself or her family. Wishing to assure her that such a fact could +not influence him, he said:--</p> +<p>"You need not fear to tell me all concerning yourself or your +family. There can be no stain upon you, and even though your +station be less than--"</p> +<p>"Hush, Max, hush," she cried, placing her hand protestingly +against his breast. "You do not know what you are saying. There is +no stain on me or my family."</p> +<p>Max wondered, but was silent; he had not earned the right to be +inquisitive.</p> +<p>The guard appeared at that moment on the castle battlements, and +Max and Yolanda sought the shelter of a grove of trees a dozen +paces from the bridge on the town side of the moat. They seated +themselves on a bench, well within the shadow of the trees, and +after a moment's silence Max said:--</p> +<p>"I shall not come to the bridge again, Fräulein. I'll wait +till your uncle returns, when I shall see you at his house. Then +I'll say farewell and go back to the hard rocks of my native +land--and to a life harder than the rocks."</p> +<p>"You are right in your resolve not to come again to the bridge," +said Yolanda, "for so long as you come, I, too, shall come--when I +can. That will surely bring us trouble sooner or later. But when +Uncle Castleman returns, you must come to his house, and I shall +see you there. As to your leaving Peronne, we will talk of that +later. It is not to be thought of now."</p> +<p>She spoke with the confidence of one who felt that she might +command him to stay or order him to go. She would settle that +little point for herself.</p> +<p>"I will go, Fräulein," said Max, "soon after your uncle's +return."</p> +<p>"Perhaps it will be best, but we will determine that when we +must--when the time comes that we can put it off no longer. Now, I +wish you to grant me three promises, Sir Max. First, ask me no +questions concerning myself. Of course, you will ask them of no one +else; I need not demand that promise of you."</p> +<p>"I gladly promise," he answered. "What I already know of you is +all-sufficient."</p> +<p>"Second, do not fail to come to my uncle's house when he invites +you. His home is worthy to receive the grandest prince in the +world. My--my lord, Duke Philip the Good, was Uncle Castleman's +dear friend. The old duke, when in Peronne, dined once a week with +my uncle. Although uncle is a burgher, he could have been noble. He +refused a lordship and declined the Order of the Golden Fleece, +preferring the freedom of his own caste. I have always thought he +acted wisely."</p> +<p>"Indeed he was wise," returned Max. "You that have never known +the restraints of one born to high estate cannot fully understand +how wise he was."</p> +<p>Yolanda glanced up to Max with amusement in her eyes:--</p> +<p>"Ah, yes! For example, there is poor Mary of Burgundy, who is to +marry the French Dauphin. I pity her. For all we know, she may be +longing for another man as I--I longed for my mastiff, Caesar, when +I was away. By the way, Sir Max, are you still wearing the ring?" +She took his hand and felt for the ring on his finger. "Ah, you +have left it off," she cried reproachfully, answering her own +question.</p> +<p>"Yes," answered Max. "There have been so many changes within the +last few weeks that I have taken it off, and--and I shall cease to +wear it."</p> +<p>"Then give it to me, Sir Max," she cried excitedly.</p> +<p>"I may not do that, Fräulein," answered Max. "It was given +to me by one I respect."</p> +<p>"I know who the lady is," answered Yolanda, tossing her head +saucily and speaking with a dash of irritation in her voice.</p> +<p>"Ah, you do?" asked Max. "Tell me now, my little witch, who is +the lady? If you know so much tell me."</p> +<p>Yolanda lifted her eyes solemnly toward heaven, invoking the +help of her never failing familiar spirit.</p> +<p>"I see an unhappy lady," she said, speaking in a low whisper, +"whose father is one of the richest and greatest princes in all the +world. A few evenings ago while we were standing on the moat bridge +talking, I saw the lady's father on the battlements of yonder +terrible castle. His form seemed magnified against the sky till it +was of unearthly size and terrible to look on--doubly terrible to +those who know him. If she should disobey her father, he would kill +her with his battle-axe, I verily believe, readily as he would +crush a rebellious soldier. Yet she fears him not, because she is +of his own dauntless blood and fears not death itself. She is to +marry the Dauphin of France, and her wishes are of so small +concern, I am told that she has not yet been notified. This +terrible man will sell his daughter as he would barter a horse. She +is powerless to move in her own behalf, being bound hand and foot +by the remorseless shackles of her birth. She will become an +unhappy queen, and, if she survives her cruel father, she will, in +time, take to her husband this fat land of Burgundy, for the sake +of which he wishes to marry her. She is Mary of Burgundy, and even +I, poor and mean of station, pity her. +She--gave--you--the--ring."</p> +<p>"How did you learn all this, Fräulein? You are not +guessing, as you would have had me believe, and you would not lie +to me. What you have just said is a part with what you said at +Basel and at Strasburg. How did you learn it, Fräulein?"</p> +<p>"Twonette," answered Yolanda.</p> +<p>That simple explanation was sufficient for Max. Yolanda might +very likely know the private affairs of the Princess Mary through +Twonette, who was a friend of Her Highness.</p> +<p>"But you have not promised to visit Uncle Castleman's house when +he invites you," said Yolanda, drawing Max again to the bench +beside her.</p> +<p>"I gladly promise," said Max.</p> +<p>"That brings me to the third promise I desire," said Yolanda. "I +want you to give me your word that you will not leave Burgundy +within one month from this day, unless I give you permission."</p> +<p>"I cannot grant you that promise, Fräulein," answered +Max.</p> +<p>"Ah, but you must, you shall," cried Yolanda, desperately +clutching his huge arms with her small hands and clinging to him. +"I will scream, I will waken the town. I will not leave you, and +you shall not shake me off till I have your promise. I may not give +you my reasons, but trust me, Max, trust me. Give me your +unquestioning faith for once. I am not a fool, Max, nor would I lie +to you for all the world, in telling you that it is best for you to +give me the promise. Believe me, while there may be risk to me in +what I ask, it is best that you grant it, and that you remain in +Peronne for a month--perhaps for two months, unless I sooner tell +you to go."</p> +<p>"I may not give you the promise you ask, Fräulein," +answered Max, desperately. "You must know how gladly I would remain +here forever."</p> +<p>"I believe truly you want to stay," she answered demurely, "else +I surely would not ask this promise of you. Your unspoken words +have been more eloquent than any vows your lips could coin, and I +know what is in your heart, else my boldness would have been beyond +excusing. What I wish is that your desire should be great enough to +keep you when I ask you to remain."</p> +<p>"I may not think of myself or my own desires, Fräulein," he +answered. "Like the lady of Burgundy, I was shackled at my +birth."</p> +<p>"The lady of Burgundy is ever in your mind," Yolanda retorted +sullenly. "You would give this promise quickly enough were she +asking it--she with her vast estate."</p> +<p>There was an angry gleam in the girl's eyes, and a dark cloud of +unmistakable jealousy on her face. She stepped back from Max and +hung her head. After a moment of silence she said:--</p> +<p>"You may answer me to-morrow night at this bridge, Sir Max. If +you do not see fit to give me the promise, then I shall weary you +no further with importunity, and you may go your way."</p> +<p>There was a touch of coldness in her voice as she turned and +walked slowly toward the bridge. Max called softly:--</p> +<p>"Yolanda!"</p> +<p>She did not answer, but continued with slow steps and drooping +head. As her form was fading into the black shadow of the castle +wall he ran across the bridge to her, and took her hand:--</p> +<p>"Fräulein, I will be at the bridge to-morrow night, and I +will try to give the promise you ask of me."</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> +<h3>THE GREAT RIDDLE</h3> +<br> +<p>Max was cautious in the matter of making promises, as every +honest man should be, since he had no thought of breaking them once +they were given. Therefore, he wished to know that he could keep +his word before pledging it. His lifelong habit of asking my advice +may also have influenced him in refusing the promise that he so +much wished to give; or perhaps he may have wanted time to +consider. He did not want to give the promise on the spur of an +impulse.</p> +<p>When he had finished telling me his troubles, I asked:--</p> +<p>"What will you do to-morrow night?"</p> +<p>My riddle was again solved; Yolanda was the princess. Her words +were convincing. All doubt had been swept from my mind. There would +be no more battledore and shuttlecock with my poor brain on that +subject. So when Max said, "I do not know what I shall do," I +offered my opinion; "You surprise me, Max. You lack enterprise; +there is no warmth in your blood. The girl cannot harm you. Give +her the promise. Are your veins filled with water and caution?"</p> +<p>"What do you mean, Karl?" cried Max, stepping toward me with +surprise and delight in his face. "Are you advising me wrongly for +the first time in my life?" Then there was a touch of anger in his +voice as he continued: "Have I blood in my veins? Aye, Karl, +burning, seething blood, and every drop cries wildly for this +girl--this child. I would give the half of it to make her my wife +and to make her happy. But I would not abate one jot of my +wretchedness at her expense. As I treat her I pray God to deal with +me. I cannot make her my wife, and if I am half a man, I would not +win her everlasting love and throw it to the dogs. She all but +asked me last night to tell her of my love for her, and almost +pressed hers upon me, but I did not even kiss her hand. Ah, Karl, I +wish I were dead!"</p> +<p>The poor boy threw himself on the bed and buried his face in his +hands. I went to him and, seating myself on the bed, ran my fingers +through his curls.</p> +<p>"My dear Max, I have never advised you wrongly. Perhaps luck has +been with me. Perhaps my good advice has been owing to my great +caution and my deep love for you. I am sure that I do not advise +you wrongly now. Go to the bridge to-morrow night, and give Yolanda +the promise she asks. If she wants it, give her the ring. Keep +restraint upon your words and acts, but do not fear for one single +moment that my advice is wrong. Max, I know whereof I speak."</p> +<p>Max rose from the bed and looked at me in surprise; but my +advice jumped so entirely with the longing deep buried in his heart +that he took it as a dying man accepts life.</p> +<p>The next evening Max met Yolanda under the trees near the +bridge.</p> +<p>"I may remain but a moment," she said hurriedly and somewhat +coldly. "Do you bring me the promise?"</p> +<p>"Yes," answered Max. "I have also brought you the ring, +Fräulein, but you may not wear it, and no one may ever see +it."</p> +<p>"Ah, Max, it is well that you have brought me the promise, for +had you not you would never have seen me again. I thank you for the +promise and for the ring. No one shall see it. Of that you may be +doubly sure. If by any chance some meddlesome body should see it +and tell this arrogant lady of the castle that I have the keepsake +she sent you, there would be trouble, Max, there would be trouble. +She is a jealous, vindictive little wretch and you shall not think +on her. No doubt she would have me torn limb from limb if she knew +I possessed the jewel. When I touch it, I feel that I almost hate +this princess, whose vast estates have a power of attraction +greater than any woman may exert."</p> +<p>There was real anger in her tone. In truth, dislike and aversion +were manifest in every word she spoke of the princess, save when +the tender little heart pitied her.</p> +<p>"Now I must say good night and adieu, Sir Max, until uncle +returns," said Yolanda. She gave Max her hands and he, in bringing +them to his lips, drew her close to him. At that moment they were +startled by a boisterous laugh close beside them, and the fellow +calling himself Count Calli slapped Max on the back, saying in +French:--</p> +<p>"Nicely done, my boy, nicely done. But you are far too +considerate. Why kiss a lady's hand when her lips are so near? I +will show you, Fräulein Castleman, exactly how so delicate a +transaction is conducted by an enterprising gentleman."</p> +<p>He insultingly took hold of Yolanda, and, with evident intent to +kiss her, tried to lift the veil with which she had hastily covered +her face. Max struck the fellow a blow that felled him to the +ground, but Calli rose and, drawing his dagger, rushed upon Max. +Yolanda stood almost paralyzed with terror. Max was unarmed, but he +seized Calli's wrist and twisted it till a small bone cracked, and +the dagger fell from his hand to the ground. Calli's arm hung limp +at his side, and he was powerless to do further injury. Max did not +take advantage of his helplessness, but said:--</p> +<p>"Go, or I will twist your neck as I have broken your wrist."</p> +<p>Max had gone out that evening without arms or armor. He had not +even a dagger.</p> +<p>When Calli had passed out of sight, Yolanda stooped, picked up +his dagger, and offered it to Max, saying:--</p> +<p>"He will gather his friends at once. Take this dagger and hasten +back to the inn, or you will never reach it alive. No, come with me +to Uncle Castleman's house. There you may lie concealed."</p> +<p>"I may not go to your uncle's house, Fräulein," answered +Max. "I can go safely to the inn. Do not fear for me."</p> +<p>Yolanda protested frantically, but Max refused.</p> +<p>"Go quickly, then," she said, "and be on your guard at all +times. This man who came upon us is Count Calli, the greatest +villain in Burgundy. He is a friend of Campo-Basso. Now hasten to +the inn, if you will not come with me to uncle's house, and beware, +for this man and his friends will seek vengeance; of that you must +never allow yourself to doubt. Adieu, till uncle comes."</p> +<p>Max reached the inn unmolested. We donned our mail shirts, +expecting trouble, and took turn and turn watching and sleeping. +Next day we hired two stalwart Irish squires and armed them +cap-a-pie. We meant to give our Italian friends a hot welcome if +they attacked us, though we had, in truth, little fear of an open +assault. We dreaded more a dagger thrust in the back, or trouble +from court through the machinations of Campo-Basso.</p> +<p>The next morning Max sent one of our Irishmen to Castleman's +house with a verbal message to Fräulein Castleman. When the +messenger returned, he replied to my question:--</p> +<p>"I was shown into a little room where three ladies sat. 'What +have you to say?' asked the little black-haired one in the +corner--she with the great eyes and the face pale as a chalk-cliff. +I said, 'I am instructed, mesdames, to deliver this simple message: +Sir Max is quite well.' 'That will do. Thank you.' said the big +eyes and the pale face. Then she gave me two gold florins. The +money almost took my breath, and when I looked up to thank her, +blest if the white face wasn't rosy as a June dawn. When I left, +she was dancing about the room singing and laughing, and kissing +everybody but me--worse luck! By Saint Patrick, I never saw so +simple a message create so great a commotion. 'Sir Max is quite +well.' I'm blest if he doesn't look it. Was he ever ill?"</p> +<p>After five or six days we allowed ourselves to fall into a state +of unwatchfulness. One warm evening we dismissed our squires for an +hour's recreation. The Cologne River flows by the north side of the +inn garden, and, the spot being secluded, Max and I, after dark, +cooled ourselves by a plunge in the water. We had come from the +water and finished dressing, save for our doublets, which lay upon +the sod, when two men approached whom we thought to be our squires. +When first we saw them, they were in the deep shadow of the trees +that grew near the water's edge, and we did not notice their +halberds until they were upon us. When the men had approached +within four yards, we heard a noise back of us and turning saw four +soldiers, each bearing an arquebuse pointed in our direction. At +the same moment another man stepped from behind the two we had +first seen and came quickly to me. He was Count Calli. In his left +hand he held a parchment. Max and I were surrounded and +unarmed.</p> +<p>"I arrest you on the order of His Grace, the duke," said Calli, +in low tones, speaking French with an Italian accent.</p> +<p>"Your authority?" I demanded.</p> +<p>"This," he said, offering me the parchment, "and this," touching +his sword. I took the parchment but could not read it in the +dark.</p> +<p>"I'll go to the inn to read your warrant," I said, stooping to +take up my doublet.</p> +<p>"You will do nothing of the sort," he answered. "One word more +from you, and there will be no need to arrest you. I shall be only +too glad to dispense with that duty."</p> +<p>I felt sure he wished us to resist that he might have a pretext +for murdering us. I could see that slow-going Max was making ready +for a fight, even at the odds of seven to two, and to avert trouble +I spoke softly in German:--</p> +<p>"These men are eager to kill us. Our only hope lies in +submission."</p> +<p>While I was speaking the men gathered closely about us, and +almost before my words were uttered, our wrists were manacled +behind us and we were blindfolded. Our captors at once led us away. +A man on either side of me held my arms, and by way of warning I +received now and then a merciless prod between my shoulder-blades +from a halberd in the hands of an enthusiastic soul that walked +behind me. Max, I supposed, was receiving like treatment.</p> +<p>After a hundred paces or more we waded the river, and then I +knew nothing of our whereabouts. Within a half-hour we crossed a +bridge which I supposed was the one over the moat at the Postern. +There we halted, and the password was given in a whisper. Then came +the clanking of chains and creaking of hinges, and I knew the gates +were opening and the portcullis rising. After the gates were opened +I was again urged forward by the men on either side of me and the +enterprising soul in the rear.</p> +<p>I noticed that I was walking on smooth flags in place of +cobble-stones, and I was sure we were in the bailey yard of the +castle. Soon I was stopped again, a door opened, squeaking on its +rusty hinges, and we began the descent of a narrow stairway. Twenty +or thirty paces from the foot of the stairway we stopped while +another door was opened. This, I felt sure, was the entrance to an +underground cell, out of which God only knew if I should ever come +alive. While I was being thrust through the door, I could not +resist calling out, "Max--Max, for the love of God answer me if you +hear!" I got no answer. Then I appealed to my guard:--</p> +<p>"Let me have one moment's speech with him, only one moment. I +will pay you a thousand crowns the day I am liberated if you grant +me this favor."</p> +<p>"No one is with you," the man replied. "I would willingly earn +the thousand crowns, but if they are to be paid when you are +liberated, I fear I should starve waiting for them."</p> +<p>With these comforting words they thrust me into the cell, +manacled and blindfolded. I heard the door clang to; the rusty lock +screeched venomously, and then I was alone in gravelike silence. I +hardly, dared to take a step, for I knew these underground cells +were honeycombed with death-traps. I could not grope about me with +my hands, for they were tied, and I knew not what pitfall my feet +might find.</p> +<p>How long I stood without moving I did not know; it might have +been an hour or a day for all I could tell. I was almost stupefied +by this misfortune into which I had led Max. I do not remember +having thought at all of my own predicament. I cannot say that I +suffered; I was benumbed. I remember wondering about Max and +speculating vaguely on his fate, but for a time the thought did not +move me. I also remember sinking to the floor, only half conscious +of what I was doing, and then I must have swooned or slept.</p> +<p>When I recovered consciousness I rose to my feet. A step or two +brought me against a damp stone wall. Three short paces in another +direction, and once more I was against the wall. Then I stopped, +turned my back to the reeking stone, and cursed the brutes that had +treated me with such wanton cruelty. It was not brutal; it was +human. No brute could feel it; only in the heart of man could it +live.</p> +<p>By chafing the back of my head against the wall I succeeded in +removing the bandage from my eyes. Though I was more comfortable, I +was little better off, since I could see nothing in the pitiless +black of my cell. I stretched my eyes, as one will in the dark, +till they ached, but I could not see even an outline of the +walls.</p> +<p>A burning thirst usually follows excitement, and after a time it +came to me and grew while I thought upon it. My parched throat was +almost closed, and I wondered if I were to be left to choke to +death. I knew that in Spain and Italy such refinement of cruelty +was oftened practised, but I felt sure that the Duke of Burgundy +would not permit the infliction of so cruel a fate, did he know of +it. But our captors were not Burgundians, and I doubted if the duke +even knew of our imprisonment. I suffered intensely, though I +believe I could have endured it with fortitude had I not known that +Max was suffering a like fate.</p> +<p>I believed I had been several days in my cell when I heard a key +turn in the lock. The door opened, and a man bearing a basket and a +lantern entered. He placed the basket on the ground and, with the +lantern hung over his arm, unfastened the manacles of my wrists. In +the basket were a <i>boule</i> of black bread and a stone jar of +water. I eagerly grasped the jar, and never in my life has anything +passed my lips that tasted so sweet as that draught.</p> +<p>"Don't drink too much at one time," said the guard, not +unkindly. "It might drive you mad. A man went mad in this cell less +than a month ago from drinking too much water."</p> +<p>"How long had he been without it?" I asked of this cheering +personage.</p> +<p>"Three days," he responded.</p> +<p>"I did not know that men of the north could be so cruel as to +keep a prisoner three days without water," I said.</p> +<p>"It happened because the guard was drunk," answered the fellow, +laughing.</p> +<p>"I hope you will remain sober," said I, not at all intending to +be humorous, though the guard laughed.</p> +<p>"I was the guard," he replied. "I did not intend to leave the +prisoner without water, but, you see, I was dead drunk and did not +know it."</p> +<p>"Perhaps you have been drunk for the last three or four days +since I have been here?" I asked.</p> +<p>He laughed boisterously.</p> +<p>"You here three or four days! Why, you are mad already! You have +been here only over night."</p> +<p>Well! I thought surely I <i>was</i> mad!</p> +<p>Suddenly the guard left me and closed the cell door. I called +frantically to him, but I might as well have cried from the bottom +of the sea.</p> +<p>After what seemed fully another week of waiting, the guard again +came with bread and water. By that time my mind had cleared. I +asked the guard to deliver a message to my Lord d'Hymbercourt and +offered a large reward for the service. I begged him to say to +Hymbercourt that his friends of The Mitre had been arrested and +were now in prison. The guard willingly promised to deliver my +message, but he did not keep his word, though I repeated my request +many times and promised him any reward he might name when I should +regain my liberty. With each visit he repeated his promise, but one +day he laughed and said I was wasting words; that he would never +see the reward and that in all probability I should never again see +the light of day. His ominous words almost prostrated me, though +again I say I suffered chiefly for Max's sake. Could I have gained +his liberty at the cost of my life, nay, even my soul, I should +have been glad to do it.</p> +<p>But I will not further describe the tortures of my imprisonment. +The greatest of them all was my ignorance of Max's fate. It was a +frightful ordeal, and I wonder that my reason survived it.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> +<h3>THE HOUSE UNDER THE WALL</h3> +<br> +<p>To leave Max and myself in our underground dungeon, imprisoned +for an unknown, uncommitted crime, while I narrate occurrences +outside our prison walls looks like a romancer's trick, but how +else I am to go about telling this history I do not know. Yolanda +is quite as important a personage in this narrative as Max and +myself, and I must tell of her troubles as I learned of them long +afterwards.</p> +<p>Castleman reached home ten days or a fortnight after our arrest, +bringing with him his precious silks, velvets, and laces to the +last ell. As he had predicted, they were quadrupled in value, and +their increase made the good burgher a very rich man.</p> +<p>Soon after Castleman reached the House under the Wall, Yolanda +came dancing into the room where he was sitting with good Frau +Katherine, drinking a bottle of rich Burgundy wine well mixed with +pepper and honey.</p> +<p>"Ah, uncle," she cried joyously, "at last you are at home, and I +have a fine kiss for you."</p> +<p>"Thank you, my dear," said Castleman, "you have spoiled my wine. +The honey will now taste vinegarish."</p> +<p>"You are a flatterer, uncle--isn't he, tante?" laughed Yolanda, +turning to Aunt Castleman.</p> +<p>"I am afraid he is," said the good frau, in mock distress. +"Every one tries to spoil him."</p> +<p>"You more than any one, tante," cried Yolanda.</p> +<p>"Tut, tut, child," cried Frau Katherine, "I abate his vanity +with frowns."</p> +<p>Yolanda laughed, and the burgher, pinching his wife's red cheek, +protested:--</p> +<p>"<i>You</i> frown? You couldn't frown if you tried. A clear sky +may rain as easily. Get the peering glass, Yolanda, and find, if +you can, a wrinkle on her face."</p> +<p>Yolanda, who was always laughing, threw herself upon the frau's +lap and pretended to hunt for wrinkles. Soon she reported:--</p> +<p>"No wrinkles, uncle--there, you dear old tante, I'll kiss you to +keep you from growing jealous of uncle on my account."</p> +<p>"If any one about this house has been spoiled, it's you, +Yolanda," said Frau Kate, affectionately.</p> +<p>"When you speak after that fashion, tante, you almost make me +weep," said Yolanda. "Surely you and uncle and Twonette are the +only friends I have, and give me all the joy I know. But, uncle, +now that you are at home, I want you to drink your wine quickly and +give me a great deal of joy--oh, a great deal."</p> +<p>"Indeed I will, my dear. Tell me where to begin," answered +Castleman, draining his goblet.</p> +<p>Yolanda flushed rosily and hesitated. At that moment Twonette, +who had already greeted her father, entered the room.</p> +<p>"Twonette will tell you," said Yolanda, laughing nervously.</p> +<p>"What shall I tell him?" asked Twonette.</p> +<p>"You will tell him what I want him to do quickly, at once, +immediately," pleaded Yolanda. "You know what I have waited for +this long, weary time."</p> +<p>"Tell him yourself what you want quickly, at once, immediately," +answered Twonette. "I, too, have wants."</p> +<p>"What do you want, daughter?" asked Castleman, beaming upon +Twonette.</p> +<p>"I want thirty ells of blue velvet for a gown, and I want you to +ask permission of the duke for me to wear it."</p> +<p>"Many noble ladies would not dare to ask so much of the duke," +suggested Castleman.</p> +<p>"It is true, George," said Frau Kate, "that only noble ladies of +high degree are permitted to wear velvet of blue; but it is also +true that only your stubbornness has deprived our daughter of that +privilege. She might now be noble had you not been stubborn."</p> +<p>"I also want--" began Twonette.</p> +<p>"You shall wear the duke's own color, purple, if you will hold +your tongue about worthless matters and tell your father what I +want," cried Yolanda, impetuously thrusting Twonette toward +Castleman.</p> +<p>"You tell him your own wants," answered Twonette, pouting. "Then +perhaps his own daughter may have his ear for a moment or two."</p> +<p>Yolanda laughed at Twonette's display of ill-temper.</p> +<p>"Well, uncle, since I must tell my own tale, I will begin," said +Yolanda, blushing. "I want you to go to The Mitre and ask a +friend--two friends--of yours here to supper this evening. I have +waited a weary time for you to give this invitation, and I will not +wait another hour, nay, not another minute. We have a fat peacock +that longs to be killed; it is so fat that it is tired of life. We +have three pheasants that will die of grief if they are not baked +at once. I myself have been feeding them this fortnight past in +anticipation of this feast. We have a dozen wrens for a live pie, +so tame they will light on our heads when you cut the crust. We +shall have a famous feast, uncle. There will be present only tante, +you, Twonette, our two guests, and myself. Now, uncle, the wine is +consumed. Hurry to the inn."</p> +<p>"My dear child," said Castleman, seriously, "you know that I am +almost powerless to refuse any request you make, but in this case I +must do so."</p> +<p>"Ah, uncle, please tell me why," coaxed Yolanda, with trouble in +her eyes and grief at the corners of her mouth.</p> +<p>"Because you must see no more of this very pleasing young man," +answered Castleman. "I yielded to your wishes at Basel and brought +him with us; I was compelled to send him with you from Metz; but +now that our journey is over, I shall thank him and pay him an +additional sum, since my goods are safe home, and say farewell to +him. I believe he is a worthy and honorable young man, but we do +not know who he is, and if we did--"</p> +<p>"Ah, but <i>I</i> know who he is," interrupted Yolanda, tossing +her head. "<i>We</i> may not know, but <i>I</i> know, and that is +sufficient."</p> +<p>"Do you know?" asked Castleman. "Pray tell me of him. The +information was refused me; at least, it was not given. He is +probably of noble birth, but we have nobles here in Peronne whom we +would not ask to our house. We know nothing of this wandering young +Max, save that he is honest and brave and good to look upon."</p> +<p>"In God's name, uncle, what more would you ask in a man?" cried +Yolanda, stamping her foot. "'Noble, honest, brave, and good to +look upon!' Will not those qualities fit a man for any one's regard +and delight any woman's heart? I tell you I will have my way in +this. I tell you I know his degree. I know who he is and what he is +and all about him, though I don't intend to tell you anything, and +would inform you now that it's no business of yours."</p> +<p>"Did you coax all this information out of him, you little +witch?" asked Castleman, smiling against his will.</p> +<p>"I did not," retorted Yolanda, leaning forward and lifting her +chin defiantly. "I learned it soon after we reached Basel. I +discovered it by--by magic--by sorcery. He will tell you as +much."</p> +<p>"By the magic of your eyes and smiles. That's the way you +wheedled it out of him, and that's the way you coax every one to +your will," said Castleman, laughing while Yolanda pouted.</p> +<p>"I never saw a girl make such eyes at a man as you made at this +Sir Max," said Twonette, who was waiting for her blue velvet +gown.</p> +<p>"Twonette, you are prettier with your mouth shut. Silence +becomes you," retorted Yolanda, favoring Twonette with a view of +her back. "Now, uncle," continued Yolanda, "all is ready: peacock, +pheasants, wrens; and I command you to procure the guests."</p> +<p>Castleman laughed at her imperious ways and said:--</p> +<p>"I will obey your commands in all else, Yolanda, but not in +this."</p> +<p>The girl, who was more excited than she appeared to be, stood +for a moment by her uncle's side, and, drawing her kerchief from +its pouch, placed it to her eyes.</p> +<p>"Every one tries to make me unhappy," she sobbed. "There is no +one to whom I may turn for kindness. If you will not do this for +me, uncle, if you will not bring him--them--to me, I give you my +sacred word I will go to them at the inn. If you force me to do an +act so unmaidenly, I'll leave you and will not return to your +house. I shall know that you do not love me!"</p> +<p>Castleman was not ready to yield, though he was sure that in the +end he would do so. He also knew that her threat to go to the inn +was by no means an idle word.</p> +<p>Yolanda was not given to tears, but she used them when she found +she could accomplish her ends by no other means. A long pause +ensued, broken by Yolanda's sobs.</p> +<p>"Good-by, uncle. Good-by, tante. Good-by, Twonette. I mean what +I say, uncle. I am going, and I shall not come back if you will not +do this thing for me. I am going to the inn."</p> +<p>She kissed them all and started toward the door. The loving old +tante could not hold out. She, too, was weeping, and she added her +supplications to Yolanda's.</p> +<p>"Do what she asks, father--only this once," said Frau Kate.</p> +<p>"Only this once," pleaded Yolanda, turning her tear-moistened +eyes upon the helpless burgher.</p> +<p>"I suppose I must surrender," exclaimed Castleman, rising from +his chair. "I have been surrendering to you, your aunt, and +Twonette all my life. First Kate, then Twonette, and of late years +they have been reënforced by you, Yolanda, and my day is lost. +I do a little useless fighting when I know I am in the right, but +it is always followed by a cowardly surrender."</p> +<p>"But think of your victories in surrender, uncle. Think of your +rewards," cried Yolanda, running to his side and kissing him. "Many +a man would fight a score of dragons for that kiss."</p> +<p>"Dragons!" cried Castleman, protestingly. "I would rather fight +a hundred dragons than do this thing for you, Yolanda. I know +little concerning the ways of a girl's heart, but, ignorant as I +am, I could see--Mother, I never saw a girl so infatuated with a +man as our Yolanda is with this Sir Max--this stranger."</p> +<p>"There, tante," cried Yolanda, turning triumphantly to Frau +Kate, "you hear what uncle says. Now you see the great reason for +having him here--this Sir Max and his friend. But, uncle, if you +think I mean to make a fool of myself about this man, put the +notion out of your head. I know only too well the barrier between +us, but, uncle mine," she continued pleadingly, all her wonted +joyousness driven from her face, "I am so wretched, so unhappy. If +I may have a moment of joy now, for the love of the Blessed Virgin +don't deny me. I sometimes think you love me chiefly because I so +truly deserve your pity. As for this young man, he is gentle, +strong, and good, and, as you say, he certainly is good to look +upon. Twonette knows that, don't you, Twonette? He is wise, too, +and brave, even against the impulse of his own great heart. He +thinks only of my good and his own duties. I am in no danger from +him, uncle. He can do me only good. I shall be happier and better +all my life long for having known him. Now, uncle?"</p> +<p>"I will fetch him," exclaimed Castleman, seeking his hat. "You +may be right or you may be wrong, but for persuasiveness I never +saw your like. I declare, Yolanda, you have almost made me feel +like a villain for refusing you."</p> +<p>"I wish the world were filled with such villains, uncle. Don't +you, tante?" said Yolanda, beaming upon the burgher.</p> +<p>"No," answered the frau, "I should want them all for my +husbands."</p> +<p>"God forbid!" cried Yolanda, lifting her hands as she turned +toward the door, laughing once more. "Tell them to be here by six +o'clock, uncle. No! we will say five. Tell them to come on the +stroke of five. No! four o'clock is better; then we will sup at +six, and have an hour or two before we eat. That's it, uncle; have +them here by four. Tell them to fail not by so much as a minute, +upon their allegiance. Tell them to be here promptly on the stroke +of four."</p> +<p>She ran from the room singing, and Castleman started toward the +front door.</p> +<p>"The girl makes a fool of me whenever she wishes," he observed, +pausing and turning toward his wife. "She coaxed me to take her to +Basel, and life was a burden till I got her home again. Now she +winds me around her finger and says, 'Uncle Castleman, obey me,' +and I obey. Truly, there never was in all the world such another +coaxing, persuasive little witch as our Yolanda."</p> +<p>"Poor child," said Frau Kate, as her husband passed out of the +door.</p> +<p>Castleman reached The Mitre near the hour of one, and of course +did not find us. At half-past four, Yolanda entered the great oak +room where Twonette and Frau Kate were stitching tapestry.</p> +<p>"Where suppose you Sir Max is--and Sir Karl?" asked Yolanda, +with a touch of anger in her voice. "Why has he not come? I have +been watching but have not seen him--them. He places little value +on our invitation to slight it by half an hour. I am of half a mind +not to see him when he comes."</p> +<p>"Your uncle is downstairs under the arbor, Yolanda," said Frau +Castleman, gently. "He will tell you, sweet one, why Sir Max is not +here."</p> +<p>Frau Katherine and Twonette put aside their tapestry, and went +with Yolanda to question Castleman in the arbor.</p> +<p>"Well, uncle, where are our guests?" asked Yolanda.</p> +<p>"They are not at the inn, and have not been there since nearly a +fortnight ago," answered Castleman.</p> +<p>"Gone!" cried Yolanda, aflame with sudden anger. "He gave me his +word he would not go. I'm glad he's gone, and I hope I may never +see his face again. I deemed his word inviolate, and now he has +broken it."</p> +<p>"Do not judge Sir Max too harshly," said Castleman; "you may +wrong him. I do not at all understand the absence of our friends. +Grote tells me they went to the river one night to bathe and did +not return. Their horses and arms are at the inn. Their squires, +who had left them two hours before, have not been seen since. Grote +has heard nothing of our friends that will throw light on their +whereabouts. Fearing to get himself into trouble, he has stupidly +held his tongue. He was not inclined to speak plainly even to +me."</p> +<p>"Blessed Mother, forgive me!" cried Yolanda, sinking back upon a +settle. After a long silence she continued: "Two weeks ago! That +was a few days after the trouble at the bridge."</p> +<p>"What trouble?" asked Castleman.</p> +<p>"I'll tell you, uncle, and you, tante. Twonette already knows of +it," answered Yolanda. "Less than three weeks ago I was with Sir +Max near the moat bridge. It was dark--after night--"</p> +<p>"Yolanda!" exclaimed Castleman, reproachfully.</p> +<p>"Yes, uncle, I know I ought not to have been there, but I was," +said Yolanda.</p> +<p>"Alone with Sir Max after dark?" asked the astonished +burgher.</p> +<p>"Yes, alone with him, after it was <i>very</i> dark," answered +Yolanda. "I had met him several times before."</p> +<p>Castleman tried to speak, but Yolanda interrupted him:--</p> +<p>"Uncle, I know and admit the truth of all you would say, so +don't say it. While I was standing very near to Sir Max, uncle, +very near, Count Calli came upon us and offered me gross insult. +Sir Max, being unarmed, knocked the fellow down, and in the +struggle that ensued Count Calli's arm was broken. I heard the bone +snap, then Calli, swearing vengeance, left us. Why Sir Max went out +unarmed that night I do not know. Had he been armed he might have +killed Calli; that would have prevented this trouble."</p> +<p>"I, too, wonder that Sir Max went out unarmed," said Castleman +musingly. "Why do you suppose he was so incautious?"</p> +<p>"Perhaps that is the custom in Styria. There may be less danger, +less treachery, there than in Burgundy," suggested Yolanda.</p> +<p>"In Styria!" exclaimed Castleman. "Sir Karl said that he was +from Italy. He did not tell me of Sir Max's home, but I supposed he +also was from Italy, or perhaps from Würtemberg--there are +many Guelphs in that country."</p> +<p>"Yes, I will tell you of that later, uncle," said Yolanda. "When +Calli left us, Sir Max returned safely to the inn, having promised +me not to leave Peronne within a month. This trouble has come from +Calli and Campo-Basso."</p> +<p>"But you say this young man is from Styria?" asked Castleman, +anxiously.</p> +<p>"Yes," replied Yolanda, drooping her head, "he is Maximilian, +Count of Hapsburg."</p> +<p>"Great God!" exclaimed Castleman, starting to his feet +excitedly. "If I have brought these men here to be murdered, I +shall die of grief; all Europe will turn upon Burgundy."</p> +<p>Yolanda buried her face in Mother Kate's breast; Castleman +walked to and fro, and sympathetic Twonette wept gently. It was not +in Twonette's nature to do anything violently. Yolanda, on the +contrary, was intense in all her joys and griefs.</p> +<p>"Did Sir Max tell you who he is?" asked Castleman, stopping in +front of Yolanda.</p> +<p>"No," she replied, "I will tell you some day how I guessed it. +He does not know that I know, and I would not have you tell +him."</p> +<p>"Tell me, Yolanda," demanded Castleman, "what has passed between +you and this Sir Max?"</p> +<p>"Nothing, uncle, save that I know--ah, uncle, there is nothing. +God pity me, there can be nothing. Whatever his great, true heart +feels may be known to me as surely as if he had spoken a thousand +vows, but he would not of his own accord so much as touch my hand +or speak his love. He knows that one in his station may not mate +with a burgher girl. He treats me as a true knight should treat a +woman, and if he feels pain because of the gulf between us, he +would not bring a like pain to me. He is a strong, noble man, Uncle +Castleman, and we must save him."</p> +<p>"If I knew where to begin, I would try at once," said Castleman, +"but I do not know, and I cannot think of--"</p> +<p>"I have a plan," interrupted Yolanda, "that will set the matter +going. Consult my Lord d'Hymbercourt; he is a friend of Sir Karl's; +he may help us. Tell him of the trouble at the bridge, but say that +Twonette, not I, was there. If Lord d'Hymbercourt cannot help us, +I'll try another way if I die for it."</p> +<p>Castleman found Hymbercourt and told him the whole story, +substituting Twonette for Yolanda.</p> +<p>"It is the work of that accursed Basso," said Hymbercourt, +stroking his beard. "No villany is too black for him and his +minions to do."</p> +<p>"But what have they done?" asked Castleman. "They surely would +not murder these men because of the quarrel at the bridge."</p> +<p>"They would do murder for half that cause," replied Hymbercourt. +"A brave man hates an assassin, and I am always wondering why the +duke, who is so bold and courageous, keeps this band of Italian +cut-throats at his court."</p> +<p>"What can we do to rescue our friends if they still live, or to +avenge them if dead?" asked Castleman.</p> +<p>"I do not know," answered Hymbercourt. "Let me think it all +over, and I will see you at your house to-night. Of this I am +certain: you must not move in the matter. If you are known to be +interested, certain facts may leak out that would ruin you and +perhaps bring trouble to one who already bears a burden too heavy +for young shoulders. We know but one useful fact: Calli and +Campo-Basso are at the bottom of this evil. The duke suspects that +the states adjacent to Switzerland, including Styria, will give aid +to the Swiss in this war with Burgundy, and it may be that Duke +Charles has reasons for the arrest of our friends. He may have +learned that Sir Max is the Count of Hapsburg. I hope his finger is +not in the affair. I will learn what I can, and will see you +to-night. Till then, adieu."</p> +<p>True to his promise, Hymbercourt went to Castleman's that +evening, but he had learned nothing and had thought out no plan of +action. Two days passed and there was another consultation. Still +the mystery was as far from solution as on the day of its birth. +Yolanda was in tribulation, and declared that she would take the +matter into her own hands. Her uncle dissuaded her, however, and +she reluctantly agreed to remain silent for a day or two longer, +but she vowed that she would give tongue to her thoughts and arouse +all Burgundy in behalf of Max and myself if we were not soon +discovered.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> +<h3>PERONNE LA PUCELLE</h3> +<br> +<p>The next morning Duke Charles went down to the great hall of the +castle to hear reports from his officers relating to the war that +he was about to wage against the Swiss. When the duke ascended the +three steps of the dais to the ducal throne, he spoke to +Campo-Basso who stood upon the first step at the duke's right.</p> +<p>"What news, my Lord Count?" asked Charles. "I'm told there is a +messenger from Ghent."</p> +<p>"Ill news, my lord," answered Campo-Basso.</p> +<p>"Out with it!" cried the duke. "One should always swallow a +bitter draught quickly."</p> +<p>"We hear the Swiss are gathering their cantons in great +numbers," said Campo-Basso.</p> +<p>"Let the sheep gather," said Charles, waving his hands. "The +more they gather to the fold, the more we'll shear." He laughed as +if pleased with the prospect, and continued, "Proceed, my Lord +Count."</p> +<p>"The Duke of Lorraine is again trying to muster his subjects +against Your Grace, and sends a polite message asking and offering +terms of agreement. Shall I read the missive, my lord?"</p> +<p>"No!" cried the duke, "Curse his soft words. There is no bad +news yet. Proceed."</p> +<p>"It is rumored, Your Grace," continued the count, "that +Frederick, Duke of Styria, is preparing to aid the Swiss against +Your Grace."</p> +<p>"With his advice?" asked the duke. "The old pauper has nothing +else to give, unless it be the bones of his ancestors."</p> +<p>"It is said, Your Highness, that Würtemberg will also aid +the Swiss, and that Duke Albert will try to bring about a coalition +of the German states for the purpose of assisting the Swiss, aiding +Lorraine, and overthrowing Burgundy. This purpose, our informant +tells us, has been fostered by this same Duke Frederick of +Styria."</p> +<p>"This news, I suppose, is intended for our ears by the Duke of +Styria. He probably wishes us to know that he is against us," said +Charles. "He wanted our daughter for his clown of a son, and our +contempt for his claims rankles in his heart. He cannot inflame +Würtemberg, and Würtemberg cannot influence the other +German princes."</p> +<p>The duke paused, and Campo-Basso proceeded:--</p> +<p>"The citizens of Ghent, my lord, petition Your Grace for the +restoration of certain communal rights, and beg for the abolition +of the hearth tax and the salt levy. They also desire the right to +elect their own burgomaster and--"</p> +<p>"Give me the petition," demanded the duke. Campo-Basso handed +the parchment to Charles, and he tore it to shreds.</p> +<p>"Send these to the dogs of Ghent, and tell them that for every +scrap of parchment I'll take a score of heads when I return from +Switzerland."</p> +<p>"We hear also, my lord," said the Italian, "that King Edward of +England is marshalling an army, presumably for the invasion of +France and, because of the close union that is soon to be between +King Louis and Burgundy, I have thought proper to lay the news +before Your Grace."</p> +<p>"Edward wants more of King Louis' gold," answered Charles. +"We'll let him get it. We care not how much he has from this crafty +miser of the Seine. Louis will buy the English ministers, and the +army will suddenly vanish. When King Edward grows scarce of gold, +he musters an army, or pretends to do so, and Louis fills the +English coffers. The French king would buy an apostle, or the +devil, and would sell his soul to either to serve a purpose. Have +you more in your budget, Sir Count?"</p> +<p>"I have delivered all, I believe, my lord," answered +Campo-Basso.</p> +<p>"It might have been worse," said the duke, rising to quit his +throne.</p> +<p>"One moment, my lord! There is another matter to which I wish to +call Your Grace's attention before you rise," said the count. "I +have for your signature the warrants for the execution of the Swiss +spies, who, Your Highness may remember, were entrapped and arrested +by the watchfulness of Your Grace's faithful servant, the noble +Count Calli."</p> +<p>"Give me the warrant," said the duke, "and let the execution +take place at once."</p> +<p>Hymbercourt had been standing in the back part of the room, +paying little attention to the proceedings, but the mention of +Calli's name in connection with the Swiss spies quickly roused him, +and he hurriedly elbowed his way to the ducal throne. A page was +handing Charles a quill and an ink-well when Hymbercourt +spoke:--</p> +<p>"My Lord Duke, I beg you not to sign the warrant until I have +asked a few questions of my Lord Campo-Basso concerning these +alleged spies."</p> +<p>"Why do you say 'alleged spies,' my Lord d'Hymbercourt?" asked +the duke. "Do you know anything of them? Are they friends of +yours?"</p> +<p>"If they are friends of mine, Your Grace may be sure they are +not spies," answered Hymbercourt. "I am not sure that I know these +men, but I fear a mistake has been made."</p> +<p>A soft cry, a mere exclamation, was heard behind the chancel in +the ladies' gallery, which was above the throne, a little to the +right. But it caused no comment other than a momentary turning of +heads in that direction.</p> +<p>"On what ground do you base your suspicion, my lord?" asked +Charles.</p> +<p>"Little ground, Your Grace," answered Hymbercourt. "I may be +entirely wrong; but I beg the privilege of asking the noble Count +Calli two or three questions before Your Grace signs the death +warrant. We may avert a grave mistake and prevent a horrible +crime."</p> +<p>"It is a waste of valuable time," answered Charles, "but if you +will be brief, you may proceed. Count Calli, come into +presence."</p> +<p>Calli stepped forward and saluted the duke on bended knee.</p> +<p>"Your questions, Hymbercourt, and quickly," said Charles, +testily. "We are in haste. Time between the arrest and the hanging +of a spy is wasted."</p> +<p>"I thank you, my lord," said Hymbercourt. He then turned to +Calli, and asked, "When were these men arrested?"</p> +<p>"More than a fortnight ago," answered Calli.</p> +<p>"How came you to discover they were spies?" asked +Hymbercourt.</p> +<p>"I watched them, and their actions were suspicious," replied the +Italian.</p> +<p>"In what respect were they suspicious?"</p> +<p>"They went abroad only at night, and one of them was seen near +the castle several evenings after dark," responded Calli.</p> +<p>"Is that your only evidence against them?" demanded +Hymbercourt.</p> +<p>"It is surely enough," replied Calli, "but if more is wanted, +they were overheard to avow their guilt."</p> +<p>"What were they heard to say and where did they say it?" asked +Hymbercourt.</p> +<p>"I lay concealed, with six men-at-arms, near the river in the +garden of The Mitre Inn, where the spies had been bathing. We heard +them speak many words of treason against our gracious Lord Duke, +but I did not move in their arrest until the younger man said to +his companion: 'I will to-morrow gain entrance to the castle as a +pedler and will stab this Duke Charles to death. You remain near +the Postern with the horses, and I will try to escape to you. If +the gate should be closed, ride away without me and carry the news +to the cantons. I would gladly give my life to save the +fatherland.'"</p> +<p>"Hang them," cried the duke. "We are wasting time."</p> +<p>"I pray your patience, my Lord Duke," said Hymbercourt, holding +up his hand protestingly. "I know these men whom Count Calli has +falsely accused. They are not spies; they are not Swiss; neither +are they enemies of Burgundy. Were they so, I, my lord, would +demand their death were they a thousand-fold my friends. I stake my +life upon their honesty. I offer my person and my estates as +hostages for them, and make myself their champion. Count Calli +lies."</p> +<p>Hymbercourt's words caused a great commotion in the hall. Swords +and daggers sprang from the scabbards of the Italians, and cries of +indignation were uttered by the mercenaries, who saw their crime +exposed, and by the Burgundians, who hated the Italians and their +dastardly methods. Charles commanded silence, and Campo-Basso +received permission to speak.</p> +<p>"Since when did my Lord d'Hymbercourt turn traitor?" said he. +"His fealty has always been as loud-mouthed as the baying of a +wolf."</p> +<p>"I am a Burgundian, my lord," said Hymbercourt, ignoring the +Italian and addressing Charles. "I receive no pay for my fealty. I +am not a foreign mercenary, and I need not defend my loyalty to one +who knows me as he knows his own heart."</p> +<p>"My Lord d'Hymbercourt's honor needs no defence," said Charles. +"I trust his honesty and loyalty as I trust myself. He may be +mistaken; he may be right. Bring in these spies."</p> +<p>"Surely Your Grace will not contaminate your presence with these +wretches," pleaded Campo-Basso. "Consider the danger to yourself, +my dear lord. They are desperate men, who would gladly give their +lives to take yours and save their country. I beg you out of the +love I bear Your Grace, pause before you bring these traitorous +spies into your sacred presence."</p> +<p>"Bring them before me!" cried the duke. "We will determine this +matter for ourselves. We have a score of brave, well-paid Italians +who may be able to protect our person from the onslaught of two +manacled men."</p> +<hr style="width: 25%;"> +<p>On this same morning the guard had been to my cell with bread +and water, and had departed. I did not know, of course, whether it +was morning, noon, or night, but I had learned to measure with some +degree of accuracy the lapse of time between the visits of the +guard, and was surprised to hear the rusty lock turn long before +the time for his reappearance. When the man entered my cell, +bearing his lantern, he said:--</p> +<p>"Come with me."</p> +<p>The words were both welcome and terrible. I could not know their +meaning--whether it was liberty or death. I stepped from the cell +and, while I waited for the guard to relock the door, I saw the +light of a lantern at the other end of a passageway. Two men with +Max between them came out of the darkness and stopped in front of +me. Our wrists were manacled behind us, and we could not touch +hands. I could have wept for joy and grief at seeing Max.</p> +<p>"Forgive me, Max, for bringing you to this," I cried.</p> +<p>"Forgive me, Karl. It is I who have brought you to these +straits," said Max. "Which is it to be, think you, Karl, liberty or +death?"</p> +<p>"God only knows," I answered.</p> +<p>"For your sake, Karl, I hope He cares more than I. I would +prefer death to the black cell I have just left."</p> +<p>We went through many dark passageways and winding stairs to the +audience hall.</p> +<p>When we entered the hall, the courtiers fell back, leaving an +aisle from the great double doors to the ducal throne. When we +approached the duke, I bent my knee, but Max simply bowed.</p> +<p>"Kneel!" cried Campo-Basso, addressing Max.</p> +<p>"If my Lord of Burgundy demands that I kneel, I will do so, but +it is more meet that he should kneel to me for the outrage that has +been put upon me at his court," said Max, gazing unfalteringly into +the duke's face.</p> +<p>"Who are you?" demanded the duke, speaking to me.</p> +<p>"I am Sir Karl de Pitti," I replied. "Your Grace may know my +family; we are of Italy. It was once my good fortune to serve under +your father and yourself. My young friend is known as Sir +Maximilian du Guelph."</p> +<p>"He is known as Guelph, but who is he?" demanded Charles.</p> +<p>"That question I may not answer, my lord," said I, speaking in +the Walloon tongue.</p> +<p>"You shall answer or die," returned the duke, angrily.</p> +<p>"I hope my Lord of Burgundy will not be so harsh with us," +interrupted Max, lifting his head and speaking boldly. "We have +committed no crime, and do not know why we have been arrested. We +beg that we may be told the charge against us, and we would also +know who makes the charge."</p> +<p>"Count Calli," said the duke, beckoning that worthy knight, +"come forward and speak."</p> +<p>Calli came forward, knelt to the duke, and said:</p> +<p>"I, my lord, charge these unknown men as being Swiss spies and +assassins, who seek to murder Your Grace and to betray +Burgundy."</p> +<p>"You lie, you dog," cried Max, looking like an angry young god. +"You lie in your teeth and in your heart. My Lord of Burgundy, I +demand the combat against this man who seeks my life by treachery +and falsehood. I waive my rank for the sweet privilege of killing +this liar."</p> +<p>"My Lord Duke," I exclaimed, interrupting Max, "if my Lord +d'Hymbercourt is in presence, I beg that I may have speech with +him."</p> +<p>Hymbercourt stepped to my side, and the duke signified +permission to speak.</p> +<p>"My Lord d'Hymbercourt," said I, turning to my friend, "I beg +you to tell His Grace that we are not spies. I may not, for reasons +well known to you, give you permission to inform His Grace who my +young companion is, and I hope my Lord of Burgundy will be +satisfied with your assurance that we are honest knights who wish +only good to this land and its puissant ruler."</p> +<p>"Indeed, my Lord Duke, I was right," answered Hymbercourt. +"Again I offer my person and my estates as hostages for these men. +They are not spies. They are not of Switzerland, nor are they +friends to the Swiss; neither are they enemies of Burgundy. I doubt +not they will gladly join Your Lordship in this war against the +cantons. These knights have been arrested to gratify revenge for +personal injury received and deserved by this traitorous Count +Calli."</p> +<p>"It is false," cried Campo-Basso.</p> +<p>"It is true--pitifully true, my lord," returned Hymbercourt. +"This young knight was at the moat bridge near Castleman's House +under the Wall talking with a burgher maid, Fräulein +Castleman. Count Calli stole upon them without warning and insulted +the maiden. My young friend knocked down the ruffian, and, in the +conflict that ensued, broke Calli's arm. Your Grace may have seen +him carrying it in a sling until within the last forty-eight +hours.</p> +<p>"For this deserved chastisement Count Calli seeks the young +man's life by bearing false witness against him; and with it that +of my old friend, Sir Karl de Pitti. It is Burgundy's shame, my +lord, that these treacherous mercenaries should be allowed to +murder strangers and to outrage Your Grace's loyal subjects in the +name of Your Lordship's justice. Sir Maximilian du Guelph has +demanded the combat against this Count Calli. Sir Maximilian is a +spurred and belted knight, and under the laws of chivalry even Your +Grace may not gainsay him."</p> +<p>"My lord, I do not fight assassins and spies," said Calli, +addressing the duke.</p> +<p>"I do," cried Max, "when they put injuries upon me as this false +coward has done. I will prove upon his body, my Lord Duke, who is +the assassin and the spy. My Lord d'Hymbercourt will vouch that my +rank entitles me to fight in knightly combat with any man in this +presence. My wrists are manacled, my lord, and I have no gage to +throw before this false knight; but, my Lord of Burgundy, I again +demand the combat. One brave as Your Grace is must also be just. We +shall leave Count Calli no excuse to avoid this combat, even if I +must tell Your Grace my true rank and station."</p> +<p>"This knight," said Hymbercourt, addressing Charles and +extending his hand toward Max, "is of birth entitling him to meet +in the lists any knight in Burgundy, and I will gladly stand his +sponsor."</p> +<p>"My Lord d'Hymbercourt's sponsorship proves any man," said the +duke, who well knew that Campo-Basso and his friends would commit +any crime to avenge an injury, fancied or real.</p> +<p>"My Lord Duke, I pray your patience," said Campo-Basso, +obsequiously. "No man may impugn my Lord d'Hymbercourt's honesty, +but may he not be mistaken? In the face of the evidence against +this man, may he not be mistaken? The six men who were with Count +Calli will testify to the treasonable words spoken by this young +spy."</p> +<p>"Does any other man in presence know these men?" asked the duke. +No one responded.</p> +<p>After a little time Hymbercourt broke silence.</p> +<p>"I am grieved and deeply hurt, my lord, that you should want +other evidence than mine against the witnesses who make this +charge. I am a Burgundian. These witnesses are Italians who love +Your Grace for the sake of the gold they get. I had hoped that my +poor services had earned for me the right to be believed, but if I +may have a little time, I will procure another man whose word shall +be to you as the word of your father."</p> +<p>"Bring him into our presence," answered the duke. "We will see +him to-morrow at this hour."</p> +<p>"May I not crave Your Grace's indulgence for a half-hour?" +pleaded Hymbercourt. "I will have this man here within that +time."</p> +<p>"Not another minute," replied the duke. "Heralds, cry the +rising."</p> +<p>"Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! His Grace, the Duke of Burgundy, is about to +rise. His Grace has risen," cried the herald.</p> +<p>The duke left the hall by a small door near the dais.</p> +<p>Hymbercourt was standing beside us when the captain of the guard +approached to lead us back to our cells.</p> +<p>"May we not have comfortable quarters, and may we not be placed +in one cell?" I asked, appealing to Hymbercourt. "I have been +confined in a reeking, rayless dungeon unfit for swine, and +doubtless Sir Max has been similarly outraged."</p> +<p>Hymbercourt put his hand into his pouch and drew forth two gold +pieces. These he stealthily placed in the captain's hand, and that +worthy official said:--</p> +<p>"I shall be glad to oblige, my lord."</p> +<p>Hymbercourt left us, and Campo-Basso, beckoning the captain to +one side, spoke to him in low tones. The captain, I was glad to +see, was a Burgundian.</p> +<p>After we left the hall we were taken to our old quarters. The +captain followed me into the cell, leaving his men in the +passageway.</p> +<p>"My Lord Count ordered me to bring you here," he said; "but I +will, if I can, soon return with other men who are not Italians and +will remove you to a place of safety."</p> +<p>"Am I not safe here? Is my friend in danger?" I asked.</p> +<p>The man smiled as though amused at my simplicity:--</p> +<p>"If you remain here to-night, there will be no need to hang you +in the morning. Our Italian friends have methods of their own that +are simple and sure. But I will try to find a way to remove you +before--before the Italians have time to do their work. I will see +my Lord d'Hymbercourt, and if the duke has not gone a-hunting, we +will induce His Grace to order your removal to a place of +safety."</p> +<p>"But if the duke is gone, cannot you get the order when he +returns?" I asked.</p> +<p>"That will be too late, I fear," he answered, laughing, and with +these comforting remarks he left me.</p> +<p>After two or three hours--the time seemed days--I heard a key +enter the lock of my cell door. If the hand inserting the key was +that of an Italian, I might look for death. To my great joy the man +was my Burgundian captain.</p> +<p>"The duke had gone a-hunting," he said, "and I could not find my +Lord d'Hymbercourt; but Her Highness, the princess, asked me to +remove you, and I am willing to risk my neck for her sweet sake. I +am to place you in one of the tower rooms, out of the reach of our +Italian cut-throats."</p> +<p>"Will my young friend be with me?" I asked eagerly.</p> +<p>"Yes," responded the captain.</p> +<p>Again I met Max with a man-at-arms in the passageway outside my +cell door, and we all went up the steps together. We were hurried +through dark passages to a spiral stairway, which we climbed till +my knees ached. But we were going up instead of down, and I was +overjoyed to have the aching leave my heart for my knees.</p> +<p>The room in which the Burgundian left us was large and clean. +There were two beds of sweet straw upon the floor, and to my +unspeakable joy there was a bar on the door whereby it could be +locked from within. There were also two tubs of water for a bath. +On a rude bench was a complete change of clothing which had been +brought by some kind hand from the inn. On an oak table were two +bottles of wine, a bowl of honey, a cellar of pepper, white bread, +cold meat, and pastry. A soul reaching heaven out of purgatory must +feel as we felt then. We were too excited to eat, so we bathed, +dressed, and lay down on the straw beds.</p> +<p>Before leaving us our captain had said:--</p> +<p>"Do not unbolt your door except to the password 'Burgundy.'"</p> +<p>We slept till late in the afternoon. When we wakened the sun was +well down in the west, and we could see only its reflected glare in +the eastern sky. There was but one opening in the room through +which the light could enter--a narrow window, less than a foot +wide. The light in the room was dim even at noon, but the long +darkness had so affected our eyes that the light from the window +was sufficient to illumine the apartment and to make all objects +plainly discernible. There was little to be seen. The arched roof +was of solid masonry; the walls were without a break save the +narrow window and the door. Through the window we could see only a +patch of sky in the east, reddened by the reflection of the sinking +sun; but the sight was so beautiful that Max and I were loath to +leave it even for supper.</p> +<p>"We must eat before the light dies," said Max, whose young +stomach was more imperious than mine, "or we shall have to eat in +the dark. I have had more than enough of that."</p> +<p>"Fall to," I said, as we drew the stools to the table. With the +first mouthful of clean, delicious food my appetite returned, and I +ate ravenously. Had the repast been larger I believe we should have +killed ourselves. Fortunately it was consumed before we were +exhausted, and we came off alive and victorious. After supper +darkness fell, and Max sat beside me on the bench. He was very +happy, for he felt that our troubles would end with the night. I +put my arm over his neck and begged him to forgive me for bringing +this evil upon him.</p> +<p>"You shall not blame yourself, Karl," he protested. "There is no +fault in you. No one is to blame save myself; I should not have +gone to the bridge. I wonder what poor Yolanda is doing. Perhaps +she is suffering in fear and is ignorant of our misfortune. Perhaps +she thinks I have broken my promise and left Peronne. I can see her +stamp her little foot, and I see her great eyes flashing in anger. +Each new humor in her seems more beautiful than the last, Karl. +Knowing her, I seem to have known all mankind--at least, all +womankind. She has wakened me to life. Her touch has unsealed my +eyes, and the pain that I take from my love for her is like a +foretaste of heaven. I believe that a man comes to his full +strength, mental and moral, only through the elixir of pain."</p> +<p>"We surely have had our share of late," I said dolefully.</p> +<p>"All will soon be well with us, Karl; do not fear. We shall be +free to-morrow, and I will kill this Calli. Then I'll go back to +Styria a better, wiser, stronger man than I could ever have been +had I remained at home. This last terrible experience has been the +keystone of my regeneration. It has taught me to be merciful even +to the guilty, and gentle with the accused. No man shall ever +suffer at my command until he has been proved guilty. Doubtless +thousands of innocent men as free from crime and evil intent as we, +are wasting their lives away in dungeons as loathsome as those that +imprisoned us."</p> +<p>"Calli will not fight you," I said.</p> +<p>"If he refuses, I will kill him at the steps of the throne of +Burgundy, let the result be what it may. God will protect me in my +just vengeance. I will then go home; and I'll not return to +Burgundy till I do so at the head of an army, to compel Duke +Charles to behead Campo-Basso."</p> +<p>"What will you do about Yolanda, Max?" I asked.</p> +<p>The interference of the princess in our behalf had thrown more +light on my important riddle, and once again I was convinced that +she was Yolanda.</p> +<p>"I'll keep her in my heart till I die, Karl," he responded, "and +I pray God to give her a happier life than mine can be. That is all +I can do."</p> +<p>"Will you see her before you go?" I asked, fully intending that +there should be no doubt on the question.</p> +<p>"Yes, and then--" He paused; and, after a little time, I +asked:--</p> +<p>"And what then, Max?"</p> +<p>"God only knows what, Karl. I'm sure I don't," he answered.</p> +<p>We talked till late into the night, lay down on our soft, clean +beds of straw, and were soon asleep.</p> +<p>I did not know how long I had been sleeping when I was wakened +by a voice that seemed to fill the room, low, soft, and musical as +the tones of an Aeolian harp. I groped my way noiselessly in the +dark to Max's bed and aroused him. Placing my hand over his mouth +to insure silence, I whispered:--</p> +<p>"Listen!"</p> +<p>He rested on his elbow, and we waited. After a few seconds the +voice again resounded through the room, soft as a murmured ave, +distinct as the notes of a bird. Max clutched my hand. Soon the +voice came again, and we heard the words:--</p> +<p>"Little Max, do you hear? Answer softly."</p> +<p>"I hear," responded Max.</p> +<p>There was an uncanny note in the music of the voice. It seemed +almost celestial. We could not tell whence it came. Every stone in +the walls and ceiling, every slab in the floor seemed resonant with +silvery tones. After Max had answered there was a pause lasting two +or three minutes, and the voice spoke again:--</p> +<p>"I love you, Little Max. I tell you because I wish to comfort +you. Do not fear. You shall be free to-morrow. Do not answer. +Adieu."</p> +<p>"Yolanda! Yolanda!" cried Max, pleadingly; but he received no +answer. He put his hand on my shoulder and said:--</p> +<p>"It was Yolanda, Karl--ah, God must hate a child that He brings +into the world a prince."</p> +<p>For the rest of the night we did not sleep, neither did we +speak. The morrow was to be a day of frightful import to us, and we +awaited it in great anxiety.</p> +<p>When the morning broke and the sun shot his rays through the +narrow window, we carefully examined the floor and walls of our +room, but we found no opening through which the voice could have +penetrated. In the side of the room formed by the wall of the +tower, the mortar had fallen from between two stones, leaving one +of them somewhat loose, but the castle wall at that point was fully +sixteen feet thick, and it was impossible that the voice should +have come through the layers of stone.</p> +<p>From my first acquaintance with Yolanda there had seemed to be a +supernatural element in her nature, an elfin quality in her face +and manner that could not be described. Max had often told me that +she impressed him in like manner. The voice in our stone-girt +chamber, coming as it did from nowhere, and resounding as it did +everywhere, intensified that feeling till it was almost a +conviction, though I am slow to accept supernatural explanations--a +natural one usually exists. Of course, there are rare instances of +supernatural power vested in men and women, and Yolanda's great, +burning eyes caused me at times, almost to believe that she was +favored with it.</p> +<p>The voice that we had heard was unquestionably Yolanda's, but by +what strange power it was enabled to penetrate our rock-ribbed +prison and give tongues to the cold stones I could not guess, +though I could not stop trying. Here was another riddle set by this +marvellous girl for my solving. This riddle, however, helped to +solve the first, and confirmed my belief that Yolanda was Mary of +Burgundy.</p> +<p>After breakfast Max and I were taken to the great hall, where we +found Castleman standing before the ducal throne, speaking to +Charles. The burgher turned toward us, and as we approached I heard +him say:--</p> +<p>"My lord, these men are not spies."</p> +<p>"Who are they?" demanded the duke.</p> +<p>Castleman gave our names and told the story of our meeting at +Basel, after we had escorted Merchant Franz from Cannstadt. Then he +narrated Max's adventure at the moat bridge, closing with:--</p> +<p>"Count Calli grossly insulted Fräulein Castleman, for which +Sir Max chastised him; and no doubt, my lord, this arrest has been +made for revenge."</p> +<p>"Has the younger man name or title other than you have given?" +asked Charles.</p> +<p>The burgher hesitated before he answered:--</p> +<p>"He has, my lord, though I may not disclose it to Your Grace +without his permission, unless you order me so to do upon my +fealty. That I humbly beg Your Grace not to do."</p> +<p>"I beg Your Grace not to ask me to disclose my identity at this +time," said Max. "I am willing, should you insist upon knowing who +I am, to tell it privately in Your Grace's ear; but I am travelling +incognito with my friend, Sir Karl de Pitti, and I beg that I may +remain so. My estate is neither very great nor very small, but what +it is I desire for many reasons not to divulge. These reasons in no +way touch Burgundy, and I am sure Your Grace will not wish to +intrude upon them. Within a month, perhaps within a few days, I +will enlighten you. If you will permit me to remain in Peronne, I +will communicate my reasons to you personally; if I leave, I will +write to Your Grace. I give my parole that I will, within a month, +surrender myself to Your Lordship, if you are not satisfied, upon +hearing my explanations, that my word is that of an honorable +knight, and my station one worthy of Your Grace's respect. I hope +my Lord d'Hymbercourt and my good friend Castleman will stand as +hostages for me in making this pledge."</p> +<p>Both men eagerly offered their persons and their estates as +hostages, and the duke, turning to the captain of the guard, +said:--</p> +<p>"Remove the manacles from these knights."</p> +<p>The chains were removed, and the duke, coming down to the last +step of the dais, looked into Max's face.</p> +<p>Max calmly returned the fierce gaze without so much as the +faltering of an eyelid.</p> +<p>"All step back save this young man," ordered the duke, extending +his open palm toward the courtiers.</p> +<p>We all fell away, but the duke said:--</p> +<p>"Farther back, farther back, I say! Don't crowd in like a pack +of yokels at a street fight!"</p> +<p>Charles was acting under great excitement. I was not sure that +it was not anger since his mien looked much like it. I did not know +what was going to happen, and was in an agony of suspense. Anything +was possible with this brutish duke when his brain was crazed with +passion.</p> +<p>All who had been near the ducal throne moved back, till no one +was within ten yards of Charles save Max. The duke wore a dagger +and a shirt of mail; Max wore neither arms nor armor. After the +courtiers stepped back from the throne a deep, expectant hush fell +upon the room. No one could guess the intentions of this fierce, +cruel duke, and I was terribly apprehensive for Max's safety. Had +Max been armed, I should have had no fear for him at the hands of +the duke or any other man.</p> +<p>Charles stepped from the dais to the floor beside Max, still +gazing fixedly into his face. The men were within four feet of each +other. The silence in the room was broken only by the heavy +breathing of excited courtiers. The duke's voice sounded loud and +harsh when he spoke to Max, and his breath came in hoarse +gusts:--</p> +<p>"You are accused, Sir Knight, by credible witnesses of intent to +murder me. For such a crime it is my privilege to kill you here and +now with my own hand. What have you to say?"</p> +<p>Charles paused for a reply, drawing his dagger from its sheath. +When Max saw the naked weapon, I noticed that he gave a start, +though it was almost imperceptible. He at once recovered himself, +and straightening to his full height, stepped to within two feet of +the duke.</p> +<p>"If I plotted or intended to kill you, my lord," said Max, less +moved than any other man in the room, "it is your right to kill me; +but even were I guilty I doubt if my Lord of Burgundy, who is noted +the world over for his bravery, would strike an unarmed man. If +Your Grace wished to attack me, you would give me arms equal to +your own. If you should kill me, unarmed as I am, you would be more +pitiable than any other man in Burgundy. You would despise +yourself, and all mankind would spurn you."</p> +<p>"Do you not fear me?" asked the duke, still clutching the hilt +of his unsheathed dagger.</p> +<p>"I do not believe you have the least intent to kill me," +answered Max, "but if you have, you may easily do so, and I shall +be less to be pitied than you. No, I do not fear you! Do I look it, +my lord?"</p> +<p>"No, by God, you don't look it. Neither have you cause to fear +me," said Charles. "There is not another man in Christendom could +have stood this ordeal without flinching."</p> +<p>To a brave man, bravery is above all the cardinal virtue. +Charles turned toward his courtiers and continued:--</p> +<p>"There is one man who does not fear me--man, say I? He is little +more than a boy. Men of Burgundy, take a lesson from this youth, +and bear it in mind when we go to war."</p> +<p>The duke began to unbuckle his shirt of mail, speaking as he did +so:--</p> +<p>"I'll soon learn who has lied. I'll show this boy that I am as +brave as he."</p> +<p>Charles turned to Calli.</p> +<p>"Sir Count, did you not say this knight wished to kill me, even +at the cost of his own life?"</p> +<p>"I so said, my lord, and so maintain upon my honor as a knight +and upon my hope of salvation as a Christian. I so heard him avow," +answered Calli.</p> +<p>"I will quickly prove or disprove your words, Sir Count," said +the duke, removing his mail shirt and throwing it to the floor. +Then he turned to Max and offered him the hilt of his dagger: "If +you would purchase my death at the cost of your life, here is my +dagger, and you may easily make the barter. I am unarmed. One blow +from that great arm of yours will end all prospects of war with +your Switzerland."</p> +<p>Max hesitatingly took the dagger and looked with a puzzled +expression from it to the duke's face. Campo-Basso and his Italian +friends moved toward their lord as if to protect him, but Charles +waved them back with a protesting palm.</p> +<p>"Switzerland is not my native land, Your Grace, nor do I seek +your life. Take your dagger," said Max.</p> +<p>"I offer you better terms," said Charles. "If you wish to kill +me, I now give you safe conduct beyond the borders of +Burgundy."</p> +<p>"My lord, you are mistaken," said Max, impatiently, tossing the +dagger to the floor and stepping back from the duke. A soft ripple +of laughter was heard in the ladies' gallery.</p> +<p>"No, it is not I that am mistaken," said Charles. "It is +Campo-Basso and his friends. Count Calli, prepare to give the +combat to this knight, whoever he may be, and God have mercy on +your soul, for the day of your death is at hand."</p> +<p>Another ripple of soft laughter came from the ladies' +gallery.</p> +<p>"I cannot fight him," wailed Calli. "I am suffering from a +broken arm. My horse fell with me three weeks ago, as Your Grace +well knows."</p> +<p>"When your arm mends, you must fight and prove your cause, or by +the soul of God, you hang! We'll make a fête of this combat, +and another of your funeral. There shall be a thousand candles, and +masses sufficient to save the soul of Satan himself. My Lord +Campo-Basso, let not the like of this happen again. Vengeance in +Burgundy is mine, not my Italians'. Heralds, dismiss the company. +These men are free."</p> +<p>All departed save Castleman, Hymbercourt, Max, and myself, who +remained at the duke's request.</p> +<p>"If you will remain at the castle, you are most welcome," said +Charles, addressing Max and me.</p> +<p>I would have jumped at the offer, but Max thanked the duke and +declined.</p> +<p>"We will, with Your Grace's permission, remain at Grote's inn +for a short time and then ask leave to depart from Burgundy."</p> +<p>The duke answered:--</p> +<p>"As you will. I do not press you. If you change your mind, come +to the castle, and you will be very welcome."</p> +<p>He turned and, with brief adieu, left the great-hall by the +small door near the dais. Castleman, Hymbercourt, and Max passed +out through the great doors, and I was about to follow them when I +was startled by the voice I had heard in the night:--</p> +<p>"Little Max, Little Max," came softly from the ladies' +gallery.</p> +<p>I paused to hear more, but all was silent in the great hall. The +words could have come from no other lips than Yolanda's--Mary's. +True, I reasoned, Yolanda might be one of the ladies of the court, +perhaps a near relative of the duke. Once the horrifying thought +that he was her lover came to my mind, but it fled instantly. There +was no evil in Yolanda.</p> +<p>Max did not hear the voice. I intended to tell him of it when we +should reach the inn, and I thought to tell him also that I +believed Yolanda was the Princess Mary. I changed my mind, however, +and again had reason to be thankful for my silence.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> +<h3>A LIVE WREN PIE</h3> +<br> +<p>The next day came the invitation to sup at Castleman's, and we +were on hand promptly at the appointed time--four o'clock. Before +leaving the inn I had determined to ask Castleman to satisfy my +curiosity concerning Yolanda. With good reason I felt that it was +my duty and my right to know certainly who she was. She might not +be Mary of Burgundy, but she surely was not a burgher girl, and in +some manner she was connected with the court of Duke Charles.</p> +<p>Max and I were sitting in the long room (it was on the ground +floor and extended across the entire front of the house) with +Castleman when Frau Kate entered followed by Yolanda and Twonette. +The frau courtesied, and gave us welcome. Twonette courtesied and +stepped to her father's side. Yolanda gave Max her hand and lifted +it to be kissed. The girl laughed joyously, and, giving him her +other hand, stood looking up into his face. Her laughter soon +became nervous, and that change in a womanly woman is apt to be the +forerunner of tears. They soon came to moisten Yolanda's eyes, but +she kept herself well in hand and said:--</p> +<p>"It has been a very long time, Sir Max, since last I saw +you."</p> +<p>"A hard, cruel time for me, Fräulein. Your hot-headed duke +gives strange license to his murderous courtiers," answered +Max.</p> +<p>"It has been a hard time for others, too," she responded. "Hard +for uncle, hard for tante, hard for Twonette--very hard for +Twonette." She spoke jestingly, but one might easily see her +emotion.</p> +<p>"And you, Fräulein?" he asked smilingly.</p> +<p>"I--I dare not say how hard it has been for me, Little Max. Do +you not see? I fear--I fear I shall--weep--if I try to tell you. I +am almost weeping now. I fear I have grown gray because of it," she +answered, closing with a nervous laugh. Max, too, could hardly +speak. She smiled up into his face, and bending before him stood on +tiptoe to bring the top of her head under his inspection.</p> +<p>"You may see the white hairs if you look carefully," she +said.</p> +<p>Max laughed and stooped to examine the great bush of fluffy dark +hair.</p> +<p>"I see not one white hair," he said.</p> +<p>"Look closely," she insisted.</p> +<p>He looked closely, and startled us all, including Yolanda, by +putting his lips to the fragrant, silky mass.</p> +<p>"Ah!" exclaimed Yolanda, stepping back from him and placing her +hand to the top of her head on the spot that he had kissed. She +looked up to him with a fluttering little laugh:--</p> +<p>"I--I did not know you were going to do that."</p> +<p>"Neither did I," said Max.</p> +<p>Castleman and his wife looked displeased and Twonette's face +wore an expression of amused surprise.</p> +<p>After a constrained pause Frau Katherine said:--</p> +<p>"Our guests are not in the habit of kissing us."</p> +<p>"No one has kissed you, tante," retorted Yolanda, "nor do they +intend to do so. Do not fear. I--I brought it on myself, and if I +do not complain, you may bear up under it."</p> +<p>"It certainly is unusual to--" began the frau.</p> +<p>"Tante," cried Yolanda, flushing angrily and stamping her foot. +Tante was silent.</p> +<p>"Your words night before last brought marvellous comfort to us, +Fräulein," said Max. "Where were you, and how--"</p> +<p>"My words? Night before last?" asked Yolanda, in open-eyed +wonder, "I have not seen you since three weeks ago."</p> +<p>"You called to me in my prison in the tower," said Max. "You +called to me by the name you sometimes use."</p> +<p>"Ah, that is wonderful," exclaimed Yolanda. "I wakened myself +night before last calling your name, and telling you not to fear. I +was dreaming that you were in danger, but I also dreamed that you +would soon be free. Can it be possible that the voice of a dreamer +can travel to a distance and penetrate stone walls? You almost make +me fear myself by telling me that you heard my call."</p> +<p>Like most persons, Max loved the mysterious, so he at once +became greatly interested. He would have discussed the subject +further had not Yolanda turned to me, saying:--</p> +<p>"Ah, I have not greeted Sir Karl."</p> +<p>She gave me her hand, and I would have knelt had she not +prevented me by a surprised arching of her eyebrows. My attempt to +salute her on my knee was involuntary, but when I saw the warning +expression in her eyes, I quickly recovered myself. I bowed and she +withdrew her hand.</p> +<p>"Let us go to the garden," she suggested.</p> +<p>The others left the room, but Yolanda held back and detained me +by a gesture.</p> +<p>"You would have knelt to me," she said almost angrily.</p> +<p>"Yes, mademoiselle," I replied, "the movement was +involuntary."</p> +<p>"I once warned you, Sir Karl, not to try to learn anything +concerning me. I told you that useless knowledge was dangerous. You +have been guessing, and probably are very far wrong in your +conclusion. But whatever your surmises are, don't let me know them. +Above all, say nothing to Sir Max; I warn you! Unless you would see +no more of me, bear this warning in mind. Yolanda is a burgher +girl. Treat her accordingly, and impress the fact on Sir Max. Were +I as great as the ill-tempered Princess of Burgundy, whose estates +you came to woo, I should still despise adulation. Bah! I hate it +all," she continued, stamping her foot. "I hate princes and +princesses, and do not understand how they can endure to have men +kneel and grovel before them. This fine Princess of Burgundy, I am +told, looks--" She paused and then went on: "I sometimes hate her +most of all. I am a burgher girl, I tell you, and I am proud of it. +I warn you not to make me other."</p> +<p>"Your warning, my lady, is--"</p> +<p>"Fräulein!" interrupted Yolanda, angrily stamping her foot, +"or Yolanda--call me either. If I give you the privilege, you +should value it sufficiently to use it."</p> +<p>"Yolanda, I will sin no more," I responded. Her face broke into +a smile, and she took my arm, laughing contentedly.</p> +<p>I walked out to the garden--Yolanda danced out--and we sat with +the others under the shade of the arbor vines. Castleman and Max +drank sparingly of wine and honey, while I sipped orange water with +Yolanda, Twonette, and Frau Kate.</p> +<p>"What do you think of Burgundy, Sir Max?" asked the burgher.</p> +<p>"I like Grote's inn well," answered Max. "I like the castle +dungeon ill. I have seen little else of Burgundy save in our +journey down the Somme. Then I saw nothing but the road on the +opposite bank. Had I tried to see the country I should have failed; +the dust-cloud we carried with us was impenetrable." He turned to +Yolanda, "That was a hard journey for you, Fräulein."</p> +<p>"No, no," she cried, "it was glorious. The excitement was worth +a lifetime of monotony; it was delightful. I could feel my heart +beat all the time, and no woman is sure she lives until she feels +the beating of her heart."</p> +<p>I suspected a double meaning in her words, but no trace of +self-consciousness was visible in her face.</p> +<p>"I have often wondered, Fräulein, if the papers reached the +castle before the duke arrived?" asked Max.</p> +<p>"What papers?" queried Yolanda.</p> +<p>"Why, the papers we made the mad race to deliver," answered +Max.</p> +<p>"Oh, y-e-s," responded the girl, "they arrived just in +time."</p> +<p>"And were delivered at the gate?" I suggested.</p> +<p>A quick, angry glance of surprise shot from Yolanda's eyes, and +rising from her chair she entered the house. Twonette followed her, +and the two did not return for an hour. I was accumulating evidence +on the subject of my puzzling riddle, but I feared my last batch +might prove expensive. I saw the mistake my tongue had led me into. +Many a man has wrecked his fortune by airing his wit.</p> +<p>When Yolanda returned, she sat at a little distance from us, +pouting beautifully. The cause of her unmistakable ill-humor, of +course, was known only to me, and was a source of wonder to Max. At +the end of five minutes, during which there had been little +conversation, Max, who was amused at Yolanda's pouting, turned to +her, and said:--</p> +<p>"The Fates owe me a few smiles as compensation for their frowns +during the last three weeks. Won't you help them to pay me, +Fräulein?"</p> +<p>Her face had been averted, but when Max spoke she turned slowly +and gave him the smile he desired as if to say, "I am not pouting +at you."</p> +<p>Her act was so childlike and her face so childishly beautiful +that we all smiled with amusement and pleasure. Yolanda saw the +smiles and turned on us, pouting though almost ready to laugh. She +rose from her chair, stamped her foot, stood irresolutely for a +moment, and then breaking into a laugh, drew her chair to our +little circle--next to Max--and sat down.</p> +<p>"Tante, is supper never to be served?" she asked. "I am +impatient to see the live wren pie."</p> +<p>"Live wren pie?" asked Max, incredulously.</p> +<p>"Yes. Have you never seen one?" asked Yolanda.</p> +<p>"Surely not," he replied.</p> +<p>"Ah, you have a treat in store," she exclaimed, clapping her +hands enthusiastically. "Uncle carves the pie, the wrens fly out, +you open your mouth, and the birds, being very small, fly down your +throat and save you the trouble eating them. They are trained to do +it, you know."</p> +<p>A chorus of laughter followed this remarkable statement. Max +leaned forward, rested his elbows on his knees, looked at the +ground for the space of half a minute, and said:--</p> +<p>"I was mistaken in saying that I had never partaken of the dish. +While at Basel I foolishly opened my mouth, and a beautiful little +bird flew down my throat to my heart."</p> +<p>Frau Castleman coughed, and the burgher moved in his chair and +swallowed half a goblet of wine. Twonette laughed outright at the +pretty turn Max had made upon Yolanda, and I ridiculously tried to +keep my face expressionless. Yolanda laughed flutteringly, and the +long lashes fell.</p> +<p>"That was prettily spoken, Sir Max," she said, smiling. "No +Frenchman could improve upon it. You are constantly surprising +me."</p> +<p>"Are Frenchmen apt at such matters, Fräulein?" I asked.</p> +<p>"I have known but few Frenchmen," she responded. "You know +Burgundy and France are natural enemies, like the cat and the dog. +I have little love for the French. I speak only from hearsay."</p> +<p>"You will do well to learn to like them," I suggested. "Burgundy +itself will soon be French, if the Princess Mary weds the +Dauphin."</p> +<p>By speaking freely of the princess, I hoped Yolanda might +believe that, whatever my surmises were concerning her identity, I +did not suspect that she was Mademoiselle de Burgundy.</p> +<p>Yolanda sighed, but did not answer. Silence fell upon our little +party, and after a long pause I turned to Twonette:--</p> +<p>"I remember that Franz told me at Basel, Fräulein Twonette, +that you and this famous Princess Mary of Burgundy were +friends."</p> +<p>"Yes," answered Twonette, with an effort not to smile, "she has, +at times, honored me with her notice."</p> +<p>"Out of that fact grows Twonette's serene dignity," laughed +Yolanda. "On the strength of this acquaintance she quite lords it +over us at times, and is always reminding me of the many haughty +virtues of her friend as a pattern that I should follow. You see, I +am incessantly confronted with this princess."</p> +<p>I thought it was a pretty piece of acting, though the emphasis +of her dislike for the princess was unmistakably genuine.</p> +<p>"The duke has graciously invited us to the castle," I said, "and +I hope to have the honor of seeing the princess."</p> +<p>When I spoke of the duke's invitation, I at once caught +Yolanda's attention.</p> +<p>"You will not meet the princess if you go to the castle," said +Yolanda. "She is an ill-natured person, I am told, and is far from +gracious to strangers."</p> +<p>"I do not hope for such an honor," I replied. "I should like +merely to see her before I leave Burgundy. That is all the favor I +ask at her hands. She is a lady famed throughout all Europe for her +beauty and her gentleness."</p> +<p>"She doesn't merit her fame," responded Yolanda, carefully +examining her hands folded in her lap, and glancing nervously +toward Max.</p> +<p>"Do you know Her Highness?" I asked.</p> +<p>"I--I have heard enough of her and have often seen her," she +replied. "She usually rides out with her ladies at this hour. From +the upper end of the garden you may soon see her come through the +Postern gate, if you care to watch."</p> +<p>"I certainly should like to see her," I answered, rapidly losing +faith in my conclusion that Yolanda was the princess.</p> +<p>The Castlemans did not offer to move, but Yolanda, springing to +her feet, said, "Come," and led the way.</p> +<p>The upper end of the garden, as I have told you, was on the +banks of the Cologne at a point where it flowed into the castle +moat. The castle wall, sixty feet high at that point, bordered the +west side of the garden. The moat curved along the right side, and +the river flowed past the upper end. Castleman's house faced south, +and stood on the lower end of the strip of ground that lay between +the castle wall and the moat. The Postern was perhaps three hundred +yards north from the upper end of Castleman's garden. Since it was +on the opposite side of the river, one could reach the Postern, +from Castleman's house, only by going up to the town bridge and +back to the castle by the street that followed the north side of +the Cologne.</p> +<p>We all walked to the upper end of the garden, and stood leaning +against the low stone wall at the river's edge. We had waited +perhaps ten minutes when we heard a blare of trumpets and saw a +small cavalcade of ladies and gentlemen ride from the castle and +pass over the drawbridge.</p> +<p>"The lady in scarlet is the duchess," said Castleman.</p> +<p>"She is English," remarked Yolanda, "and loves bright +colors."</p> +<p>"Which is the princess?" I asked of Yolanda, feeling that I also +was acting my part admirably. To my surprise she answered +promptly:--</p> +<p>"She in blue with a falcon on her shoulder. Am I not right, +uncle?"</p> +<p>"Yes," responded Castleman. Twonette confirmed the +statement.</p> +<p>My air-castles fell noiselessly about my head. My dreams +vanished like breath from a cold mirror, and the sphinx-like face +of my great riddle rose before me in defiance.</p> +<p>After the cavalcade had passed I found myself with Yolanda a +dozen paces from the others.</p> +<p>"Fräulein," I said, "I want to confess I thought you were +the Princess Mary of Burgundy."</p> +<p>Yolanda laughed softly.</p> +<p>"I was sure you had some such absurd notion. I supposed you had +seen her, and had believed she was Yolanda, the burgher girl; that +mistake has often been made. You may see this princess at the +castle, and I warn you not to be deceived. I have the great honor, +it is said, to resemble Her Highness as one pea resembles another. +I have been told that she has heard of the low-born maiden that +dares to have a face like hers, and she doubtless hates me for it, +just as I bear her no good-will for the same reason. When two women +greatly resemble each other, there is seldom good feeling between +them. Each believes the other is stealing something of her +personality, and a woman's vanity prompts her to resent it. If you +make the mistake with the princess that you made with me, I warn +you it will not be so easily corrected."</p> +<p>My poor riddle! My stony sphinx! My clinging hallucination! +Again I should have it with me, stalking at my side by day, lying +by me at night, whirling through my brain at all times, and driving +me mad with its eternal question, "Who is Yolanda?" The solution of +my riddle may be clear to you as I am telling you the story. At +least, you may think it is, since I am trying to conceal nothing +from you. I relate this history in the order of its happening, and +wish, if possible, to place before you the manner in which this +question of Yolanda's identity puzzled me. If you will put yourself +in my place, you will at once realize how deeply I was affected by +this momentous, unanswered, unanswerable question, "Who is +Yolanda?" and you will understand why I could not see the solution, +however clear you may believe it to be to yourself.</p> +<p>We soon went in to supper and, after the peacock, the pheasants, +and the pastries were removed, we were served with a most delicious +after-dish in sparkling glass cups. It was frozen orange-water +mixed with wine of Burgundy. I had never tasted a dish so +palatable. I had dined at the emperor's table in Vienna; I had +lived in Italy; I had sojourned in the East, where luxuries are +most valued and used, but I had never partaken of a more delicious +supper than that which I ate at the house of my rich burgher +friend, George Castleman. There might have been a greater showing +of plate, though that was not lacking, but there could have been no +whiter linen nor more appetizing dishes than those which good Frau +Kate gave us that evening.</p> +<p>After the frozen wine had disappeared, a serving-maid brought in +a stoneware pan covered with a snowy pastry, made from the whites +of eggs and clear sugar. At its entry Yolanda clapped her hands and +cried out with childish delight. When the pan was placed before +Castleman, she exclaimed:--</p> +<p>"Be careful, uncle! Don't thrust the knife too deep, or you will +kill the birds."</p> +<p>Uncle Castleman ran the point of the knife around the outer edge +of the crust, and, with a twist of the blade, quickly lifted it +from the pan, when out flew a dozen or more wrens. Yolanda's +delight knew no bounds. She sprang from her chair, +exclaiming:--</p> +<p>"Catch them! Catch them!" and led the way.</p> +<p>She climbed on chairs, tables, and window shelves, and soon had +her hands full of the demure little songsters. Max, too, was +pursuing the wrens, and Twonette, losing part of her serenity, +actually caught a bird. The sport was infectious, and soon fat old +Castleman was puffing like a tired porpoise, and sedate old Karl de +Pitti was in the chase. Frau Katherine grabbed desperately at a +bird now and then, but she was too stout to catch one and soon took +her chair, laughing and out of breath. Yolanda screamed with +laughter, and after she had caught six or seven birds and put them +in the cage provided for them, she asked Max to lift her in his +arms that she might reach one resting on a beam near the ceiling. +Max gladly complied, and Yolanda, having caught the bird, +said:--</p> +<p>"Now, Sir Max, open your mouth."</p> +<p>"I have already swallowed one," said Max, laughing, "and I will +swallow none other so long as I live."</p> +<p>As Max lowered her to the floor her arm fell about his neck for +an instant, and the great strong boy trembled at the touch of this +weak girl.</p> +<p>Out to the garden we went again after supper, and when dusk +began to fall, Yolanda led Max to a rustic seat in the deep shadow +of the vines. I could not hear their words, but I learned afterward +of the conversation.</p> +<p>When I thought Yolanda was the princess, I was joyful because of +the marked favor that she showed Max. When I thought she was a +burgher girl, I felt like a fussy old hen with a flock of ducks if +he were alone with her. She seemed then a bewitching little ogress +slowly devouring my handsome Prince Max. That she was fair, +entrancing, and lovable beyond any woman I had ever known, only +added to my anxiety. Would Max be strong enough to hold out against +her wooing? I don't like to apply the word "wooing" to a young +girl's conduct, but we all know that woman does her part in the +great system of human mating when the persons most interested do +the choosing; and it is right that she should. The modesty that +prevents a woman from showing her preference is the result of a +false philosophy, and flies in the face of nature. Her right to +choose is as good as man's.</p> +<p>If Yolanda's wooing was more pronounced than is usual with a +modest young girl, it must be remembered that her situation was +different. She knew that Max had been restrained from wooing her +only because of the impassable gulf that lay between them. Ardor in +Max when marriage was impossible would have been an insult to +Yolanda. His reticence for conscience' sake and for her sake was +the most chivalric flattery he could have paid her. She saw the +situation clearly, and, trusting Max implicitly, felt safe in +giving rein to her heart. She did not care to hide from him its +true condition. On the contrary she wished him to be as sure of her +as she was of him, for after all that would be the only +satisfaction they would ever know.</p> +<p>I argued: If Yolanda were the princess, betrothed to the +Dauphin, the gulf between her and Max was as impassable as if she +were a burgher girl. In neither case could she hope to marry him. +Therefore, her girlish wooing was but the outcry of nature and was +without boldness.</p> +<p>The paramount instinct of all nature is to flower. Even the +frozen Alpine rock sends forth its edelweiss, and the heart of a +princess is first the heart of a woman, and must blossom when its +spring comes. All the conventions that man can invent will not keep +back the flower. All created things, animate and inanimate, have in +them an uncontrollable impulse which, in their spring, reverts with +a holy retrospect to the great first principle of existence, the +love of reproduction.</p> +<p>Yolanda's spring had come, and her heart was a flower with the +sacred bloom. Being a woman, she loved it and cuddled it for the +sake of the pain it brought, as a mother fondles a wayward child. +Max, being a man, struggled against the joy that hurt him and, with +a sympathy broad enough for two, feared the pain he might bring to +Yolanda. So this unresponsiveness in Max made him doubly attractive +to the girl, who was of the sort, whether royal or bourgeois, +before whom men usually fall.</p> +<p>"I thought you had left me, Sir Max," she said, drawing him to a +seat beside her in the shade.</p> +<p>"I promised you I would not go," he responded, "and I would not +willingly break my word to any one, certainly not to you, +Fräulein."</p> +<p>"I was angry when I heard you had left the inn," she said, "and +I spoke unkindly of you. There has been an ache in my heart ever +since that nothing but confession and remission will cure."</p> +<p>"I grant the remission gladly," answered Max. "There was +flattery in your anger."</p> +<p>The girl laughed softly and, clasping her hands over her knee, +spoke with a sigh.</p> +<p>"I think women have the harder part of life in everything. I +again ask you to promise me that you will not leave Peronne within +a month."</p> +<p>"I cannot promise you that, Fräulein," answered Max.</p> +<p>"You will some day--soon, perhaps--know my reasons," said +Yolanda, "and if they do not prove good I am willing to forfeit +your esteem. That is the greatest hostage I can give."</p> +<p>"I cannot promise," answered Max, stubbornly.</p> +<p>"I offer you another inducement, one that will overmatch the +small weight of my poor wishes. I promise to bring you to meet this +Mary of Burgundy whom you came to woo. I cannot present you, but I +will see that Twonette brings about the meeting. I tell you, as I +have already told Sir Karl, that it is said I resemble this +princess, so you must not mistake her for me."</p> +<p>When Max told me of this offer I wondered if the girl had been +testing him, and a light dawned on me concerning her motives.</p> +<p>"I did not come to woo her," answered Max, "though she may have +been a part of my reason for coming. I knew that she was affianced +to the Dauphin of France. Her beauty and goodness were known to me +through letters of my Lord d'Hymbercourt, written to my dear old +friend Karl. Because of certain transactions, of which you do not +know and of which I may not speak, I esteemed her for a time above +all women, though I had never seen her. I still esteem her, +but--but the other is all past now, Fräulein, and I do not +wish to meet the princess, though the honor would be far beyond my +deserts."</p> +<p>"Why do you not wish to meet her?" asked Yolanda, with an air of +pleasure. Max hesitated, then answered bluntly:--</p> +<p>"Because I have met you, Fräulein. You should not lead me +to speak such words."</p> +<p>Yolanda touched Max's arm and said frankly:--</p> +<p>"There can be no harm, Max. If you knew all,--if I could tell +you all,--you would understand. The words can harm neither of us." +She hesitated and, with drooping head, continued: "And they are to +me as the sun and the south wind to the flowers and the corn. You +already know all that is in my heart, or I would not speak so +plainly. In all my life I have known little of the sweet touch of +human sympathy and love, and, Max, my poor heart yearns for them +until at times I feel like the flowers without the sun and the corn +without the rain,--as if I will die for lack of them. I am almost +tempted to tell you all."</p> +<p>"Tell me all, Yolanda," entreated Max, "for I, too, have +suffered from the same want, though my misfortune comes from being +born to a high estate. If you but knew the lonely, corroding misery +of those born to a station above the reach of real human sympathy, +you would not envy, you would pity them. You would be charitable to +their sins, and would thank God for your lowly lot in life. I will +tell you my secret. I am Maximilian of Hapsburg."</p> +<p>"I have known it since the first day I saw you at Basel," +answered Yolanda.</p> +<p>"I have felt sure at times that you did," responded Max, "though +I cannot think how you learned it. Will you tell me of +yourself?"</p> +<p>The girl hung her head and hesitated. Once she lifted her face +to speak, but changed her mind.</p> +<p>"Please don't ask me now. I will tell you soon, but not now, not +now. Be patient with me. I do pity you. I do, I do. If we could +help each other--but we cannot, and there is no use longing for it. +I sometimes fear that your attitude is the right one, and that it +is best that we should part and meet no more."</p> +<p>The proposition to part and meet no more was good in theory, but +Max found that the suggestion to make a fact of it frightened +him.</p> +<p>"Let us not speak of that now," he said. "The parting will come +soon enough. You will surely deem me cold and unworthy, +Fräulein, but you cannot understand. One may not call a man +hard and selfish who plucks out his eye for the sake of a +God-imposed duty, or who deliberately thrusts away happiness and +accepts a life of misery and heartache because of the chains with +which God bound him at his birth."</p> +<p>"Ah, I do understand, Max; I understand only too well," answered +the girl.</p> +<p>I have often wondered why Max did not suspect that Yolanda was +the Princess Mary; but when I considered that he had not my reasons +to lead him to that conclusion, I easily understood his blindness, +for even I was unconvinced. Had I not overheard Castleman's +conversation with Yolanda on the road to Strasburg, after meeting +De Rose, the supposition that the burgher girl travelling +unattended with a merchant and his daughter could possibly be the +Princess Mary would have been beyond the credence of a sane man. +The thought never would have occurred to me. Even with Castleman's +words always ringing in my ears, I was constantly in doubt.</p> +<p>"There is no reason why one should deliberately hasten the day +of one's thralldom," said Yolanda, softly. "If one may be free and +happy for an hour without breaking those terrible chains of God's +welding, is he not foolish to refuse the small benediction? The +memory of it may sweeten the years to come."</p> +<p>"To woman, such a memory is sweet," answered Max, striving to +steel his heart against the girl. "To men, it is a bitter +regret."</p> +<p>To me he had spoken differently of his pain.</p> +<p>"Then be generous, Little Max, and give me the sweet memory," +said the girl, carried away by the swirling impulse of her +heart.</p> +<p>"You will not need it," answered Max. "Your lot will be +different from mine."</p> +<p>"Yes, it will be different, Max--it will be worse," she cried +passionately, almost in tears. "I think I shall kill myself when +you leave Burgundy." She paused and turned fiercely upon him, "Give +me the promise I ask. I demand at least that consolation as my +right--as a poor return for what you take from me."</p> +<p>Max gently took her hand, which was at once lost in his great +clasp.</p> +<p>"Fräulein, I will not leave Burgundy within a month, +whatever the consequences may be," he said tenderly.</p> +<p>"Upon your honor?" she asked, joyously clapping her hands.</p> +<p>"Every promise I make, Fräulein, is on my honor," said Max, +seriously.</p> +<p>"So it is, Little Max, so it is," she answered gently. Then they +rose and came to the table where Castleman and I were sitting.</p> +<p>Yolanda had gained her point and was joyful over her +victory.</p> +<p>Frau Katherine was asleep in a high-backed chair. Twonette slept +in a corner of the arbor, her flaxen head embowered in a cluster of +leaves and illumined by a stray beam of moonlight that stole +between the vines.</p> +<p>"I am going in now. Come, Twonette," said Yolanda, shaking that +plump young lady to arouse her. "Come, Twonette."</p> +<p>Twonette slowly opened her big blue eyes, but she was slower in +awakening.</p> +<p>"Twonette! Twonette!" cried Yolanda, pulling at the girl's hand. +"I declare, if you don't resist this growing drowsiness you will go +down in history as the 'Eighth Sleeper,' and will be left snoring +on resurrection morn."</p> +<p>When Twonette had awakened sufficiently to walk, we started from +the arbor to the house. As we passed from beneath the vines, the +frowning wall of the castle and the dark forms of its huge towers, +silhouetted in black against the moon-lit sky, formed a picture of +fierce and sombre gloom not soon to be forgotten.</p> +<p>"The dark, frowning castle reminds one of its terrible lord," +said Max, looking up at the battlements.</p> +<p>"It does, indeed," answered Yolanda, hardly above a whisper. +Then we went into the house.</p> +<p>"We hope to see you again for supper to-morrow evening, don't +we, uncle?" said Yolanda, addressing Max and me, and turning to +Castleman.</p> +<p>"Yes--yes, to-morrow evening," said the burgher, +hesitatingly.</p> +<p>Max accepted the invitation and we made our adieux.</p> +<p>At the bridge over the Cologne we met Hymbercourt returning to +his house from the castle. While we talked, the cavalcade of ladies +and gentlemen that we had watched from Castleman's garden cantered +up the street.</p> +<p>"You will now see the princess," said Hymbercourt. "She comes +with the duke and the duchess. They left the castle at five, and +have been riding in the moonlight."</p> +<p>We stepped to one side of the street as the cavalcade passed, +and I asked Hymbercourt to point out the princess.</p> +<p>"She rides between the duke--the tall figure that you may +recognize by his long beard--and the page carrying a hooded +falcon," he answered.</p> +<p>Surely this evidence should have put my mind at rest concerning +my hallucination that Yolanda was Mary of Burgundy; but when we +reached the inn and Max told me of his conversation with Yolanda +the riddle again sprang up like a jack-in-the-box. I felt that I +was growing weak in mind. Yolanda's desire to tell Max her secret, +and her refusal; her longing for human sympathy, and the lack of +it; her wish that he should remain in Peronne for a month--all +these made me feel that she was the princess.</p> +<p>I could not help hoping that Hymbercourt was mistaken in +pointing out Her Highness. She rode in the shadow of the buildings +and the moon was less than half full. Yolanda might have wished to +deceive us by pointing out the princess while we watched the +cavalcade from Castleman's garden. The burgher and Twonette might +have been drawn into the plot against us by the impetuous will of +this saucy little witch. Many things, I imagined, had happened +which would have appeared absurd to a sane man--but I was not sane. +I wished to believe that Yolanda was the princess, and I could not +get the notion out of my head.</p> +<p>Yolanda's forwardness with Max, if she were Mary of Burgundy, +could easily be explained on the ground that she was a princess, +and was entitled to speak her mind. I was sure she was a modest +girl, therefore, if she were of lowly birth, she would have +hesitated to speak so plainly to Max. So, despite overwhelming +evidence to the contrary, I refused to be convinced that Yolanda +was not Mademoiselle de Burgundy. I loved the thought so dearly +that I could not and would not part with it. That night, while I +lay pondering over the riddle, I determined to do no more guessing, +and let the Fates solve it for me. They might give me the answer +soon if I would "give it up."</p> +<p>The next evening we went to Castleman's house, but we did not +see Yolanda. Frau Kate said she was indisposed, and we ate supper +without her. It was a dull meal,--so much does a good appetite wait +upon good company,--and for the first time I realized fully the +marvellous quality of this girl's magic spell. Max, of course, was +disappointed, and we walked back to The Mitre in silence.</p> +<a name="415.jpg"></a> +<p class="ctr"><a href="Images/415.jpg"><img src="Images/415.jpg" +width="40%" alt=""></a><br> +<b>MAX.</b></p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> +<h3>A BATTLE IN MID AIR</h3> +<br> +<p>A day or two after the supper of the wren pie, Max bought from a +pedler a gray falcon most beautifully marked, with a scarlet head +and neck, and we sent our squires to Hymbercourt, asking him to +solicit from the duke's seneschal, my Lord de Vergy, permission to +strike a heron on the marshes. The favor was easily obtained, and +we went forth that afternoon to try the new hawk.</p> +<p>The hours passed quickly. The hawk was perfectly trained, and as +fierce as a mountain wildcat. Its combats in mid air were most +exciting. It would attack its prey and drive it back to a point +nearly over our heads. There it waged the battle of death. It had +killed three herons, all of which had fallen at our feet, and we +were returning home when a fourth rose from the marsh. We were on a +side road or path, perhaps five hundred yards from the main +highway.</p> +<p>At the moment Max gave wing to his bird, two ladies and three +gentlemen came up the road, returning to Peronne, and halted to +witness the aërial combat. That they were of the court, I +could easily see by their habits, though the distance was so great +that I could not distinguish their faces.</p> +<p>Never did hawk acquit itself more nobly. It seemed to realize +that it had a distinguished audience. The heron opened the battle +desperately, and persisted in keeping its course to the south. The +hawk, not ready for battle till the prey should be over our heads, +circled round and round the heron, constantly striking, but +carefully avoiding the <i>coup de grace</i>. After the birds had +flown several hundred yards away from us, and were growing small in +the distance, the heron, less hardy than its knightly foe, showed +signs of weariness and confusion. It changed its course, still +flying away from us. This did not suit the hawk, and it continued +circling about its faltering prey with a vicious swiftness well +calculated to inspire terror. Its movements became so rapid that it +appeared to describe a gray circle about the heron. These circles, +with the heron as the centre, constantly grew smaller, and after a +time we could see that the birds were slowly but surely approaching +us.</p> +<p>When they were almost over our heads, the hawk rose with +incredible swiftness above its prey, and dropped like a bolt of +gray lightning upon the heron. Then followed a struggle that lasted +while the birds fell three hundred feet. When within fifty feet of +the ground the hawk suddenly spread its wings and stood motionless +in mid air, watching its vanquished foe as it fell to a spot within +ten yards of where we stood. The movement of the falcon in +descending to us can only be described as a settling or gradual +sinking, with outstretched, motionless wings. When Max piped, the +bird flew to its master's wrist and held down its beak for the +hood.</p> +<p>At the close of the battle, the gentlemen of our little audience +clapped their hands, and the ladies waved their kerchiefs. Max and +I raised our caps and reined our horses toward the main road. As we +approached, the ladies and one of the gentlemen resumed their +journey toward Cambrai Gate, but the others awaited us. When we +reached them we found, to our surprise, Duke Charles and my Lord +d'Hymbercourt.</p> +<p>"Ah, it is our unknown knight who was so eager to fight Count +Calli," exclaimed the duke.</p> +<p>"And still eager, Your Grace," answered Max. He uncovered upon +approaching the duke, but after a moment said, "By Your Grace's +leave," and resumed his cap. I, of course, remained uncovered. The +duke showed surprise and irritation as he answered:--</p> +<p>"Since you do not see fit to tell us who you are, you should +have the grace to remain uncovered."</p> +<p>Max glanced quickly at the duke's face, and removed his cap, as +he answered, smiling:--</p> +<p>"If it pleases Your Grace, I will remain uncovered even though I +be the Pope himself."</p> +<p>The duke saw the humor of the situation and replied:--</p> +<p>"One who owns so noble a hawk may remain covered in any man's +presence. Never have I seen so rare a battle in mid air. The soul +of Roland himself must inhabit the bird."</p> +<p>"Will Your Grace accept the hawk?" Max asked.</p> +<p>"Gladly," answered the duke, "though I hesitate to deprive you +of a bird to which you must be attached."</p> +<p>"Do not hesitate to give me that pleasure, my lord," answered +Max. "The bird is yours. His name is Caesar. I will send him to the +castle this evening."</p> +<p>"Do not send him," suggested the duke. "Double your kindness by +bringing him to-morrow at the noon hour, after the morning +audience. We must now follow the princess. Adieu, messieurs."</p> +<p>The duke touched his cap, and we bent almost to our horses' +manes.</p> +<p>Charles and Hymbercourt rode forward at a brisk canter, and Max +and I followed slowly. We entered Cambrai Gate three or four +minutes after the duke and the princess.</p> +<p>Max, eager to exhibit his hawk to Yolanda, proposed that we ride +directly to Castleman's house.</p> +<p>While we were crossing the Cologne bridge we saw the duke's +party enter the castle by the Postern, and as we turned a corner +toward Castleman's the ladies looked in our direction and the +gentlemen lifted their caps.</p> +<p>"Yolanda will be delighted when she sees my hawk," said Max.</p> +<p>I did not answer, but I thought that Yolanda would not see the +bird that evening, since she had just entered the castle with her +father. I was in great glee of spirits; I had at last trapped the +young lady. If she were not at Castleman's house there could be but +one answer to my riddle. I did not merely believe that I should not +find her there; I knew I should not.</p> +<p>Max and I hitched our horses, and when Castleman's front door +opened, lo! there stood Yolanda. Never in all my life have I taken +such a fall.</p> +<p>Somewhat out of breath, Yolanda exclaimed:--</p> +<p>"Ah, Sir Max and Sir Karl, I saw you coming and ran to give you +welcome."</p> +<p>She was in an ecstasy of glee, strangely out of proportion to +the event, and there was a look of triumph in her eyes.</p> +<p>After we entered the house Yolanda's laughter continued, and if +it ceased for a moment it broke out again without a pretext. She +was always pleased to see Max, and never failed to show her +pleasure in laughter more or less; but Max's presence could hardly +account for her high merriment and the satisfaction she seemed to +feel, as if a great victory had been gained. My sense of utter +defeat had nothing but Yolanda's peculiar conduct to comfort +it.</p> +<p>To the arbor we went, Yolanda carrying the hawk on her shoulder +and caressing it with her cheek. In the garden, when our adventures +were related, Yolanda, all excitement, could not keep her chair, +but danced delightedly like a child and killed a score of imaginary +herons.</p> +<p>She stroked the falcon's wings, and when I said, "My lord the +duke has graciously consented to accept the bird," she turned upon +Max, exclaiming in mock anger:--</p> +<p>"The duke has graciously consented to accept the bird! I should +think it required little grace to accept such a gift, though much +to give it. Why don't you give the bird to me, Sir Max, if you are +eager to part with it?"</p> +<p>"I would gladly have given it to you, Fräulein," answered +Max, "had I supposed you could use it on the duke's marshes. Only +nobles practise the royal sport of falconry."</p> +<p>Yolanda glanced quickly from Max to Castleman, turned her face +to the bird upon her shoulder, and said, with a touch of +dignity:--</p> +<p>"We receive small favors from court once in a while, don't we, +uncle? We are not dirt under the nobles' feet, if we are plain +burgher folk, are we, uncle?"</p> +<p>"Don't you know, Fräulein, what great pleasure I should +have taken in giving you the bird?" asked Max.</p> +<p>Yolanda bent her head to one side, placed her cheek against the +falcon's wing and pouted. Her pout was prettier even than her +smile, and that is saying a great deal.</p> +<p>After a few minutes Yolanda started to walk up the garden path +and Max followed her, leaving the Castlemans and me under the +arbor. Yolanda, still pouting, carried Caesar on her shoulder, +lavishing caresses on the bird that excited Max's bitterest envy. +Max spoke at intervals, but she answered only to the bird. After +many futile efforts to make her speak, he said:--</p> +<p>"If you won't talk to me, I'll go back to the arbor."</p> +<p>She turned to the bird: "We are willing, Caesar, aren't we--if +he can go."</p> +<p>Max laughed and started toward the arbor.</p> +<p>"Tell him to come back, Caesar. Tell him to come back," +exclaimed Yolanda.</p> +<p>"I take no orders from a bird," declared Max, with pretended +seriousness. Then she turned toward him and her face softened. She +smiled and the dimples came, though there was a nervous tremor in +the upturned corners of her mouth that belied her bantering air and +brought Max quickly to her side. I saw the pantomime, though I did +not hear the words; and I knew that neither Max nor any other man +could withstand the quivering smile that played upon Yolanda's lips +and the yearning invitation that was in her eyes. If Max did not +soon take himself away from Burgundy and lead himself out of this +temptation, I feared that in the end he would cast aside his +ancient heritage, rend his sacred family ties, and forego +everything he possessed in response to this mighty cry of nature, +offering the one chance in life for happiness.</p> +<p>"Now you will give me the bird--I know you will," exclaimed +Yolanda.</p> +<p>A remnant of the pout still hovered about her lips, doing battle +with the dimples of a smile.</p> +<p>"I have already given him to the duke," answered Max.</p> +<p>"Tell the duke the bird escaped, or died suddenly of an +apoplexy. Tell him anything you like, but give me the hawk," said +Yolanda.</p> +<p>"Would you have me lie, Fräulein?" asked Max, amused at her +persistency. "I cannot do that, even for you. If you insist upon +having the bird, I may go to the duke and withdraw my gift."</p> +<p>"Would you do that for me, Sir Max?" she asked, eagerly.</p> +<p>"Ay, and a great deal more, Fräulein. I tremble at the +thought of what you could make me do," he answered.</p> +<p>"In the fiend's name, let the duke have the bird," cried +Yolanda. "He will pout more than I if you don't. He is of a sullen +nature."</p> +<p>"Do you know the duke?" asked Max, suspecting for the first time +that Yolanda might be more intimate about the court than he had +supposed.</p> +<p>"I have heard much of him from those who know him," answered +Yolanda.</p> +<p>So the duke got Caesar.</p> +<p>The next morning Hymbercourt came to the inn to accompany us to +the castle. While we were sipping a mug of wine at a garden table, +he said:--</p> +<p>"I do not want to be officious in your affairs, but I am +convinced that it will be well for you to tell the duke who you +are. If you do not see fit to do so, it were wise in you to leave +Burgundy at your earliest convenience."</p> +<p>"I cannot leave within a month," said Max. I knew the cause of +his detention, and, ignoring his remark, turned to +Hymbercourt:--</p> +<p>"Do you want to give the reasons for your advice?"</p> +<p>"Yes, I am quite willing," he answered, "but I would not have my +words repeated."</p> +<p>"Of that you may rest assured," I answered.</p> +<p>"If you do not tell the duke who you are," said Hymbercourt, "he +will soon learn it from our Italian friends, who have the fiend's +own energy in the pursuit of vengeance. They will discover who you +are, and you will lose the advantage of a frank avowal. Duke +Charles admires Sir Max, but our liege lord is capricious and can +easily fancy that others are plotting to injure him. I am sure that +he will now receive the Count of Hapsburg graciously if you tell +him that Sir Max is that person. What he would do were he to learn +the fact highly colored by his Italians, I cannot say. These +mercenaries have a strange influence over His Grace, and there is +not a nobleman in Burgundy who does not fear them."</p> +<p>"How will the duke feel concerning the old proposition of +marriage?" I asked.</p> +<p>"That, I hope, will be of no moment now, since the duke is +arranging for the immediate celebration of this marriage with the +Dauphin. I am given to understand that His Grace, the Bishop of +Cambrai, secretary to the duke, has received orders to draught a +letter to King Louis expressing our lord's pleasure. King Louis is +so eager for the marriage, which will once more bring Burgundy to +the French kingship, that Duke Charles deems it sufficiently +courteous to express his intentions to Louis, rather than to +request the king's compliance. The duke's contempt for the king of +France is so great that he causes the letter to be written in +English, a language which Charles loves because of the English +blood in his veins, and which Louis, with good reason, hates."</p> +<p>"Has this letter been despatched?" I asked, concealing as well +as I could my deep concern.</p> +<p>Max heard Hymbercourt's statement without even a show of +interest. Had he suspected that Hymbercourt was speaking of +Yolanda's marriage, there surely would have been a +demonstration.</p> +<p>"No," answered Hymbercourt, "the letter has not been sent, but +the duke will despatch it at once. It will probably be the chief +business of this morning's audience. The duke wants the marriage +celebrated before he leaves for Switzerland. That will be within +three or four weeks. I am not informed as to the details of the +ceremony, but I suppose the princess will be taken to St. Denis, +and will there be married. The unfortunate princess, doubtless, has +not yet been told of her impending fate, though she may have heard +of it by rumor. There will be tears and trouble when she learns of +it, for she has a strong dash of her father's temper. But--" He +shrugged his shoulders as if to say that her tears would count for +nothing.</p> +<p>Hymbercourt's words took the heart out of me; and when he left +us for a moment, I urged Max to leave Burgundy at once.</p> +<p>"I must see Yolanda and ask her to release me from my promise +before I go," he said.</p> +<p>"You are surely not so weak as to allow a burgher girl to hold +you?" I asked.</p> +<p>"The girl does not hold me," he answered. "I was so weak as to +give my promise, and that holds me."</p> +<p>"She will give you your release if you demand it," I +suggested.</p> +<p>"If she does, I will go with you to-morrow. It is time that we +were out of Burgundy. I will forego even my combat with Calli to +get away. I should not have given Yolanda my promise; but she is so +persuasive, and I pity her, and--and, oh! Karl, I--the trouble is, +I love her, and it is like death to part from her forever. That is +my weakness."</p> +<p>The poor, suffering boy leaned forward on the table and buried +his face in his arms.</p> +<p>"That isn't your weakness, Max, it's your strength," I +responded. "Few men are so unfortunate as to escape it. God must +pity those who do. It may be well to tell the duke who you are. If +he is displeased, we may leave Burgundy at once. If he receives you +graciously, we may remain and you may fight this Calli. That is the +one duty that holds you in Peronne."</p> +<p>My heart was hardened with years, and its love of just vengeance +was stronger than young Max could feel. Besides, he was possessed +by a softer passion; and though he felt it his pleasant duty to +fight Calli, vengeance held second place in his breast.</p> +<p>Hymbercourt returned, and we started for the castle accompanied +by our squires; all riding in fine state.</p> +<p>We arrived at the great hall before the duke had arisen from the +morning audience, and waited unobserved in the back part of the +chamber. Our Irish squire, Michael, carried Caesar, hooded and +belled. He was held by a golden chain that we had bought from a +goldsmith, notwithstanding our purse was growing dangerously +light.</p> +<p>There was a great stir in the hall as we entered. The courtiers +were buzzing like a swarm of bees discussing a new queen. Evidently +matters of importance had been under consideration. Campo-Basso, my +Lord de Vergy, seneschal of Burgundy, and the Bishop of Cambrai, +clerk to the duke, were standing on the second step of the dais, +each with hand resting on knee, and leaning eagerly toward the +duke. Charles and these councillors were speaking in low tones, and +the courtiers of less degree were taking advantage of the +intermission in public business to settle the great question among +themselves. Each petty courtier felt that he could offer a +suggestion that would be of great value, could he but gain the +duke's ear.</p> +<p>After a little time, Charles saw Hymbercourt with us, and sent a +page to fetch him. Hymbercourt left us, and soon we saw him in +whispered conversation with the duke. Soon after Hymbercourt had +gone to the ducal throne, Calli, with two Italians, stopped four +paces from where we were standing. He gazed insolently at Max, and +said in Italian to his companions:--</p> +<p>"There is the loutish outlander, who boasted before the duke +that he would fight me. He is a big callow fellow, and it would be +a shame to stick the swine."</p> +<p>Max, who understood the Italian language sufficiently to grasp +Calli's meaning, flushed angrily, but I touched his arm and he +turned his back upon the fellow. Then I spoke in tones that Calli +could not fail to hear:--</p> +<p>"Never turn your face from a cowardly foe, Max. He will, if he +can, stab you in the back. Your revenge will come when you send his +soul to hell."</p> +<p>Calli grasped his dagger hilt and muttered something about the +duke's presence. The incident determined us in the course Max +should take. He should tell the duke who he was, remain in Burgundy +to kill this fellow Calli, and to meet such other fortune as the +Fates might have in store for him.</p> +<p>Hymbercourt and the duke spoke together for the space of five +minutes, evidently discussing a parchment that Charles held in his +hand. Then the duke resumed his seat, and handed the parchment to +the Bishop of Cambrai, when all save His Reverence stepped from the +dais to the floor. A herald commanded silence, and the bishop +spoke:--</p> +<p>"It is the will of our most gracious lord that I announce to the +court the impending marriage of Her Grace, the Princess, +Mademoiselle de Burgundy, to the princely Dauphin of France, son to +our lord's royal ally, King Louis. His Grace of Burgundy hopes +within three weeks to open his campaign against the Swiss, and it +is his intention to cause the marriage ceremony to take place +before his departure. When the details have been arranged, they +will be announced to the court."</p> +<p>The bishop had barely stopped speaking when the shutter in the +chancel of the ladies' gallery above the throne opened, and a voice +rang through the vast audience hall, like the tones of an alarm +bell:--</p> +<p>"Make one more announcement, please, my Lord Bishop. Say that if +this wondrous ceremony is to come off within three weeks, the +Dauphin of France must be content with a dead bride."</p> +<p>No one saw the face of the speaker. The shutter closed, and a +deep silence fell upon the room. The duke sprang angrily to his +feet; his face was like a thunder-cloud. He looked toward the +ladies' gallery, and stood for a moment like the incarnation of +wrath. A puzzled expression followed the glare of anger; and within +a moment he laughed, and waved his hands to the heralds, directing +them to cry the rising. The audience was dismissed, and the +courtiers left the hall, laughing in imitation of their lord and +master.</p> +<p>Nothing could be more indicative of cruelty than the laughter +that followed the passionate protest of the unhappy princess. To +the duke, and of course to his courtiers, the girl's suffering and +the fate that was in store for her were mere matters of mirth. They +laughed at her pain as savages laugh at the agonies of a tortured +victim.</p> +<p>I was so startled by the cry of the princess that for a time I +could not think coherently. My first clear thought was of Yolanda. +If she were the princess, this sacrifice that is practised without +a protest throughout the world had come home to me, for Yolanda had +nestled in my heart. That she, the gentle, the tender, the +passionate, the sensitive, should be the victim of this legalized +crime; that she, innocent of all fault, save that she had been born +a girl, should be condemned to misery because the laws of chivalry +and the laws of God, distorted by men to suit their purposes, +declared her to be the chattel of her father, moved me as I was +never moved before. My sympathy for this rare, sweet girl, so +capable of joy, so susceptible to pain, almost brought tears to my +eyes; for I could not help thinking that she was the suffering +princess.</p> +<p>When the courtiers had left the great hall Hymbercourt, Max, and +I approached the duke. Hymbercourt and I made obeisance on bended +knee, but Max saluted the duke with a low bow. After the duke had +spoken, Max said:--</p> +<p>"I hope Your Grace has not forgotten your promise to honor me by +accepting the falcon you admired yesterday."</p> +<p>"I have not, my unknown friend," answered the duke.</p> +<p>Max took the bird from Michael and offered it to Charles, who +accepted the gift graciously. I looked toward Hymbercourt and he, +understanding my unspoken word, again bent his knee before the +duke:--</p> +<p>"My gracious lord, it is the desire of this young knight that he +be presented to you in due form under his own name and title, +though he would humbly ask that he be permitted to retain the name +by which he is known in Burgundy. His reasons for so doing are +good, though they would not interest Your Grace. Have I my lord's +permission to present him?"</p> +<p>"In God's name, yes!" exclaimed the duke, stirred by some +irritation, but spurred by curiosity.</p> +<p>"My lord," said Hymbercourt, speaking to the duke and extending +his hand toward Max, "it is my great honor to present to Your Grace +his highness, Maximilian, Count of Hapsburg."</p> +<p>"By the just God, my lord, you certainly have given us a +surprise," said the duke, stepping back and making no offer of his +hand to Max. He passed the falcon to a page, and continued, "What +business have these men at my court?"</p> +<p>"None, Your Grace, absolutely none," answered Max, standing +proudly before the duke and steadfastly meeting his gaze. "It was +my desire to see the world and to learn something of its people +before I undertook to govern my own. My country is not rich and fat +like this great land of Burgundy. I have neither the means nor the +inclination to travel in state; so my dear friend and instructor, +Sir Karl de Pitti, undertook to guide me and teach me in this +journey to the outer world. I would rather have missed seeing all +other countries than Burgundy, and of all the princes of the world +Your Grace was and is to me the most interesting. Your hand is the +strongest, your courage the bravest, and your land the richest in +Europe. We heard at Metz that you were here in Peronne; and now, my +lord, you understand what business I have in Burgundy."</p> +<p>I had never given the boy credit for so much adroitness. What +the duke's intentions were, immediately after Hymbercourt presented +Max, I could not have told, but his words sounded ominous, and the +expression of his face was anything but pleasant. Max, though not +quarrelsome, was not given to the soft answer that turneth away +wrath; but on this occasion discretion came to his rescue, and he +made the soft answer with a dignity and boldness that won Charles's +respect. The duke's face softened into a half-smile,--if anything +so hard as his face can be said to soften,--and he offered his hand +to Max. He withdrew it almost instantly from Max's grasp, and +said:--</p> +<p>"Are you sure my armament against Switzerland is no part of the +reason for your presence in Burgundy?" Like all highly pugnacious +men, he was suspicious. "I have been told your father is a friend +to the Swiss."</p> +<p>"Does Your Grace mean to ask if I am here in the capacity of a +spy, as Calli has charged?" asked Max, lifting his head and looking +boldly into the duke's face.</p> +<p>"I do not know," said the duke, hesitatingly. "I do not say you +are. I do not think you are, but--"</p> +<p>"I am glad Your Grace does not think we are spies, and am +pleased to believe that you would not put so great an insult upon +us," answered Max, "else we should ask permission to leave Burgundy +at once. I am sure my lord knows we are not spies. If Your Lordship +had a son, would you send him forth as a spy for the sake of +Burgundy? Much less would you do it for another land. Your Grace is +misinformed. My father is not a friend to the Swiss; neither does +he hate them, though perhaps he has better cause to do so than has +Your Grace. Your quarrel with the Swiss is over a few cart-loads of +sheepskins. These same Swiss took from my father our ancient +homestead, the old Castle of Hapsburg, and the surrounding +territory of Aargau."</p> +<p>"I have heard of the spoliation, and have often wondered at your +father's meek submission," said the duke, with an almost +imperceptible sneer. Like Richard the Lion-hearted, of England, +butchery was this duke's trade, and he despised a man who did not +practise it on all possible occasions. A pretext for a quarrel is +balm to the soul of a hero.</p> +<p>"The mountains of Switzerland, my lord, are the graveyard of +foreign soldiers," Max replied. "Old Hapsburg Castle is a mere +hawks' crag, as its name implies, and the half-score of mountain +peaks my father lost with it are not worth the life of his humblest +subject. He loves his people, and would not shed their blood to +soothe his wounded pride. The man who makes war should fight in the +front rank."</p> +<p>"There is where I fight, young sir," returned Charles.</p> +<p>"The world knows that fact, my lord," responded Max. "My father +cannot fight at the head of his army, therefore, he makes war only +in defence of his people's hearths. It is possible that after +consulting with my friend, Sir Karl, I may ask the honor of serving +with Your Grace against these Swiss who despoiled my house. Is Your +Grace now satisfied that we are not Swiss spies? And are we welcome +to sojourn for a time in Peronne? Or shall we leave Burgundy and +return to my father in Styria, to tell him that you turned a guest +and a friend from your door?"</p> +<p>"You are very welcome, Sir Count, and you, Sir Karl," answered +the duke, giving his right hand to Max and familiarly offering me +his left. This hard duke had been beaten into a gracious mood by +Max's adroit mixture of flattery and boldness.</p> +<p>A soft answer may turn away wrath, but it may also involve the +disagreeable necessity of turning the other cheek. If it be not +tempered by spirit, it is apt to arouse contempt. The duke remained +silent for the space of a minute or two. He was evidently +struggling to suppress a good impulse. Then he turned to me and +said, laughingly:--</p> +<p>"By my soul, Sir Karl, you have brought us a Roland and a +Demosthenes in one. Where learned you your oratory, Sir Count?"</p> +<p>"From a just cause, my lord," quickly retorted Max.</p> +<p>"I fear I have had the worst of this encounter, Hymbercourt," +said the duke, smiling, "and I see nothing left for me but +apology."</p> +<p>"I sincerely hope Your Grace will not embarrass us by +apologizing," said Max.</p> +<p>Charles hesitated, gave a short laugh, and apologized by placing +his hand on Max's shoulder.</p> +<p>"Let us go into the little parley room," he said "Hymbercourt, +lead the way with Sir Max; Sir Karl and I will follow +presently."</p> +<p>Max and Hymbercourt passed out at a small door near the throne, +and the duke turned to me:--</p> +<p>"I like the boy's modest boldness, and I hope that I may induce +him and you to accompany me against the Swiss. I would not accept +his offer made on the spur of the moment, but if, on talking it +over with him, you make up your minds to come with me, I will make +it well worth your while. This war will be but a May-day outing. +We'll speak on the subject again. Meantime, I understand that you +and Sir Max wish to remain incognito at Peronne?"</p> +<p>"We do, Your Grace," I responded. "I fear it will be impossible +to accept the honor you have offered, but, as you have graciously +said, we will, if you wish, speak of it again."</p> +<p>"I am content," said the duke. "Let us follow Hymbercourt."</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> +<h3>SIR KARL MEETS THE PRINCESS</h3> +<br> +<p>The duke and I passed through the door by which Max and +Hymbercourt had left the hall, and entered a narrow passageway +eight or ten yards long, having two doors at the farther end. The +door to the right, I soon learned, led to the little parley room +where Max and Hymbercourt had gone. The door to the left opened +into a staircase that led to the apartments of the duchess. A +narrow flight of stone steps that led from the ladies' gallery +opened into the passage, and, just as the duke entered in advance +of me, two ladies emerged from the stairs. They did not see me in +the shadow, and supposed that the duke was alone. The taller, who I +soon learned was the duchess, hastened down the passage and through +the door leading to her apartments. The smaller I at once +recognized. She was Yolanda.</p> +<p>"Father, you cannot mean to send me into France," she cried, +trying to detain the duke. "Kill me, father, if you will, but do +not send me to that hated land. I shall not survive this marriage a +fortnight, and if I die, Burgundy will go to our cousin of +Bourbon."</p> +<p>"Don't hinder me, daughter," returned the duke, impatiently. +"Don't you see we are not alone?"</p> +<p>Yolanda turned in surprise toward me, and the duke said:--</p> +<p>"Go by the right door, Sir Karl. I will be with you at once. I +wish to speak with the duchess."</p> +<p>He hurriedly followed his wife and left me alone with +Yolanda.</p> +<p>"Fräulein, my intrusion was unintentional," I stammered. "I +followed the duke at his request."</p> +<p>"Fräulein!" exclaimed the girl, lifting her head and +looking a very queen in miniature. "Fräulein! Do you know, +sir, to whom you speak?"</p> +<p>"I beg your pardon, most gracious princess," I replied. "Did you +not command me to address you as Fräulein or Yolanda?"</p> +<p>"My name, sir, is not Yolanda. You have made a sad mistake," +said the princess, drawing herself up to her full height. Then I +thought of Yolanda's words when she told me that she resembled the +princess as one pea resembles another.</p> +<p>The girl trembled, and even in the dim light I could see the +gleam of anger in her eyes. I was endeavoring to frame a suitable +apology when she spoke again:--</p> +<p>"Fräulein! Yolanda! Sir, your courtesy is scant to give me +these names. I do not know you, and--did I not tell you that if you +made this mistake with the princess you would not so easily correct +it? That I--you--Blessed Virgin! I have betrayed myself. I knew I +should. I knew I could not carry it out."</p> +<p>She covered her face with her hands and began to weep, speaking +while she sobbed:--</p> +<p>"My troubles are more than I can bear."</p> +<p>I wished to reassure her at once:--</p> +<p>"Most Gracious Princess--Yolanda--your secret is safe with me. +You are as dear to me as if you were my child. You have nestled in +my heart and filled it as completely as one human being can fill +the heart of another. I would gladly give my poor old life to make +you happy. Now if you can make use of me, I am at your +service."</p> +<p>"You will not tell Sir Max?" she sobbed.</p> +<p>She was no longer a princess. She was the child Yolanda.</p> +<p>"As I hope for salvation, no, I will not tell Sir Max," I +responded.</p> +<p>"Sometime I will give you my reasons," she said.</p> +<p>"I wish none," I replied.</p> +<p>After a short pause, she went on, still weeping gently:--</p> +<p>"If I must go to France, Sir Karl, you may come there to be my +Lord Chamberlain. Perhaps Max should not come, since I shall be the +wife of another, and--and there would surely be trouble. Max should +not come."</p> +<p>She stepped quickly to my side. Her hand fell, and she grasped +mine for an instant under the folds of her cloak; then she ran from +the passage, and I went to the room where Max and Hymbercourt were +waiting.</p> +<p>After a few moments the duke joined us. Wine was served, but +Charles did not drink. On account of the excessive natural heat of +his blood he drank nothing but water. His Grace was restless; and, +although there was no lack of courtesy, I fancied he did not wish +us to remain. So after our cups were emptied I asked permission to +depart. The duke acquiesced by rising, and said, turning to +Max:--</p> +<p>"May we not try our new hawk together this afternoon?"</p> +<p>"With pleasure, Your Grace," responded Max.</p> +<p>"Then we'll meet at Cambrai Gate near the hour of two," said the +duke.</p> +<p>"I thank Your Grace," said Max, bowing.</p> +<p>On our way back to the inn, I told Max of my meeting with the +princess, and remarked upon her resemblance to Yolanda.</p> +<p>"You imagined the resemblance, Karl. There can be but one +Yolanda in the world," said Max. "Her Highness, perhaps, is of +Yolanda's complexion and stature,--so Yolanda has told me,--and +your imagination has furnished the rest."</p> +<p>"Perhaps that is true," said I, fearing that I had already +spoken too freely.</p> +<p>So my great riddle was at last solved! The Fates had answered +when I "gave it up." I was so athrill with the sweet assurance that +Yolanda was the princess that I feared my secret would leap from my +eyes or spring unbidden from my lips.</p> +<p>I cast about in my mind for Yolanda's reasons in wishing to +remain Yolanda to Max, and I could find none save the desire to win +his heart as a burgher girl. That, indeed, would be a triumph. She +knew that every marriageable prince in Europe coveted her wealth +and her estates. The most natural desire that she or any girl could +have would be to find a worthy man who would seek her for her own +sake. As Yolanda, she offered no inducement save herself. The girl +was playing a daring game, and a wise one.</p> +<p>True, there appeared to be no possibility that she could ever +have Max for her husband, even should she win his heart as Yolanda. +In view of the impending and apparently unavoidable French +marriage, the future held no hope. But when her day of wretchedness +should come, she would, through all her life, take comfort from the +sweetest joy a woman can know--that the man she loved loved her +because she was her own fair self, and for no other reason. There +would, of course, be the sorrow of regret, but that is passive, +while the joy of memory is ever active.</p> +<p>When Max and I had departed, the duke turned to Hymbercourt and +said:--</p> +<p>"The bishop's letter is not sufficiently direct. It is my desire +to inform King Louis that this marriage shall take place at +once--now! <i>Now</i>! It will effectually keep Louis from allying +with Bourbon and Lorraine, or some other prince, while I am away +from home. They all hate me, but not one of the cowards would say +'Booh!' unless the others were back of him. A word from Louis would +kindle rebellion in Liege and Ghent. This war with Switzerland is +what Louis has waited for; and when I march to the south, he will +march into Burgundy from the west unless he has a counter +motive."</p> +<p>"That is but too true, my lord," said Hymbercourt.</p> +<p>"But if my daughter marries the Dauphin, Louis will look upon +Burgundy as the property of the French kingship in the end, and the +marriage will frighten Bourbon and Lorraine to our feet once more. +This hypocrite, Louis, has concocted a fine scheme to absorb +Burgundy into his realm by this marriage with my daughter. But I'll +disappoint his greed. I'll whisper a secret in your ear, +Hymbercourt,--a secret to be told to no one else. I'll execute this +treaty of marriage now, and will use my crafty foe for my own +purposes so long as I need him; but when I return from Switzerland, +I will divorce my present duchess and take a fruitful wife who will +bear me a son to inherit Burgundy; then King Louis may keep the +girl for his pains."</p> +<p>The duke laughed, and seemed to feel that he was perpetrating a +great joke on his rival.</p> +<p>"But your brother-in-law, Edward of England, may object to +having his sister divorced," suggested Hymbercourt.</p> +<p>"In that case we'll take a page from King Louis' book," answered +Charles. "We'll use gold, Hymbercourt, gold! I shall not, however, +like Louis, buy Edward's ministers! They are too expensive. I'll +put none of my gold in Hastings's sleeve. I'll pension Shore's +wife, and Edward will not trouble himself about his sister. He +prefers other men's sisters. Do not fear, Hymbercourt; the time has +come to meet Louis' craft with craft."</p> +<p>"And Your Grace's unhappy daughter is to be the shuttlecock, my +lord?" suggested Hymbercourt.</p> +<p>"She will serve her purpose in the weal of Burgundy, as I do. I +give my life to Burgundy. Why should not this daughter of mine give +a few tears? But her tears are unreasonable. Why should she object +to this marriage? Even though God should hereafter give me a son, +who should cut the princess out of Burgundy, will she not be queen +of France? What more would the perverse girl have? By God, +Hymbercourt, it makes my blood boil to hear you, a man of sound +reason, talk like a fool. I hear the same maudlin protest from the +duchess. She, too, is under the spell of this girl, and mourns over +her trumped-up grief like a parish priest at a bishop's +funeral."</p> +<p>"But, my lord, consider the creature your daughter is to marry," +said Hymbercourt. "He is but a child, less than fourteen years of +age, and is weak in mind and body. Surely, it is a wretched fate +for your daughter."</p> +<p>"I tell you the girl is perverse," interrupted the duke. "She +would raise a storm were the Dauphin a paragon of manliness. He is +a poor, mean wretch, whom she may easily rule. His weakness will be +her advantage. She is strong enough, God knows, and wilful enough +to face down the devil himself. If there is a perverse wench on all +the earth, who will always have her own way by hook or by crook, it +is this troublesome daughter of mine. She has the duchess wound +around her finger. I could not live with them at Ghent, and sent +them here for the sake of peace. When she is queen of France she +will also be king of that realm--and in God's name what more could +the girl ask?"</p> +<p>"But, my lord, let me beg you to consider well this step before +you take it. I am sure evil will come of it," pleaded +Hymbercourt.</p> +<p>"I have considered," answered the duke. "Let me hear no more of +this rubbish. Two women dinning it into my ears morning, noon, and +night are quite enough for my peace of mind. I hear constantly, +'Dear father, don't kill me. Spare your daughter,' and 'Dear my +lord, I beg you not to sacrifice the princess, whom I so love.' +God's mercy! I say I am tired of it! This marriage shall take place +at once! Now, now, now, do you hear, Hymbercourt? Tell the bishop +to write this letter in English. We will make the draught as bitter +as possible for Louis. He hates the sight of an English word, and +small wonder. Direct the bishop to make the letter short and to the +point. Tell him to say the marriage shall take place <i>now</i>. +Have him use the word <i>now</i>. Do you understand?"</p> +<p>"Yes, my lord," answered Hymbercourt.</p> +<p>"Order him to fetch the missive immediately to the apartments of +the duchess. It shall be read, signed, and despatched in the +presence of my daughter and my wife, so that they may know what +they have to expect. I'll see that I'm bothered no more with their +tears and their senseless importunities."</p> +<p>"I'll carry out your instructions," said Hymbercourt, bowing and +taking his leave.</p> +<p>The duke went to his wife's parlor and fell moodily into a +chair. The duchess was sitting on a divan, and the princess was +weeping in her arms. After a long silence, broken only by Mary's +half-smothered sobs, the duke turned sharply upon the women:--</p> +<p>"For the love of God, cease your miserable whimpering," growled +his lordship. "Is not my life full of vexations without this deluge +of tears at home? A whimpering woman will do more to wear out the +life of a man than a score of battling enemies. Silence, I say; +silence, you fools!"</p> +<p>Mary and the duchess were now unable to control themselves. +Charles rose angrily and, with his clenched hand raised for a blow, +strode across the room to the unhappy women. Clinging to each +other, the princess and Duchess Margaret crouched low on the divan. +Then this great hero, whom the world worships and calls "The Bold," +bent over the trembling women and upbraided them in language that I +will not write.</p> +<p>"God curse me if I will have my life made miserable by a pair of +fools," cried the duke. "I am wretched enough without this useless +annoyance. Enemies abroad and disobedience in my own family will +drive me mad!"</p> +<p>The women slipped from the divan to the floor at the duke's +feet, and clung to each other. The duchess covered the princess to +protect her from the duke's blow, and, alas! took it herself. +Charles stepped back, intending to kick his daughter, but the +duchess again threw herself on Yolanda and again received the blow. +By that time the duke's fury was beyond all measure, and he stooped +to drag his wife from Yolanda that he might vent his wrath upon the +sobbing girl. The duchess, who was a young, strong woman, sprang to +her feet and placed herself between Yolanda, lying on the floor, +and the infuriated duke.</p> +<a name="416.jpg"></a> +<p class="ctr"><a href="Images/416.jpg"><img src="Images/416.jpg" +width="75%" alt=""></a><br> +<b>THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY.</b></p> +<p>"You shall not touch the child, my lord!" cried the duchess. +"Though she is your child, you shall not touch her if I can help +it. Twice, my lord, you have almost killed your daughter in your +anger, and I have sworn to prevent a recurrence of your brutality +or to die in my attempt to save her."</p> +<p>She snatched a dagger from her bosom, and spoke calmly: "Now +come, my lord; but when you do so, draw your dagger, for, by the +Virgin, I will kill you if you do not kill me, before you shall +touch that girl. Before you kill me, my lord, remember that my +brother of England will tear you limb from limb for the crime, and +that King Louis will gladly help him in the task. Come, my husband! +Come, my brave lord! I am but a weak woman. You may easily kill me, +and I will welcome death rather than life with you. When I am out +of the way, you may work your will on your daughter. Because I am +your wife, my brother has twice saved you from King Louis. You owe +your domain and your life to me. I should sell my life at a +glorious price if my death purchased your ruin. Come, my lord!"</p> +<p>The duke paused with his hand on his dagger; but he knew that +his wife's words were true, and he realized that his ruin would +follow quickly on the heels of her death.</p> +<p>"You complain that the world and your own family are against +you, my lord," said the duchess. "It is because you are a cruel +tyrant abroad and at home. It is because you are against the world +and against those whom you should protect and keep safe from evil. +The fault is with you, Charles of Burgundy. You have spoken the +truth. The world hates you, and this girl--the tenderest, most +loving heart on earth--dreads you as her most relentless enemy. If +I were in your place, my lord, I would fall upon my sword."</p> +<p>Beaten by his wife's just fury, this great war hero walked back +to his chair, and the duchess tenderly lifted Mary to the +divan.</p> +<p>"He will not strike you, child," said Margaret. Then she fell to +kissing Yolanda passionately, and tears came to her relief.</p> +<p>Poor Yolanda buried her face in her mother's breast and tried to +smother her sobs. Charles sat mumbling blasphemous oaths. At the +expiration of half an hour, a page announced the Bishop of Cambrai +and other gentlemen. The duke signified that they were to be +admitted; and when the bishop entered the room, Charles, who was +smarting from his late defeat, spoke angrily:--</p> +<p>"By the good God, my Lord Bishop, you are slow! Does it require +an hour to write a missive of ten lines? If you are as slow in +saving souls as in writing letters, the world will go to hell +before you can say a mass."</p> +<p>"The wording was difficult, Your Grace," replied the bishop +obsequiously. "The Lord d'Hymbercourt said Your Grace wished the +missive to be written in English, which language my scrivener knows +but imperfectly. After it was written I received Your Lordship's +instructions to use the word 'now,' so I caused the letter to be +rewritten that I might comply with your wishes."</p> +<p>"Now" is a small word, but in this instance it was a great one +for Yolanda, as you shall soon learn.</p> +<p>"Cease explaining, my Lord Bishop, and read me the missive," +said the duke, sullenly.</p> +<p>The bishop unfolded the missive, which was in a pouch ready for +sealing. Yolanda stopped sobbing that she might hear the document +that touched so closely on her fate. Her tear-stained face, with +its childlike pathos, but served to increase her father's +anger.</p> +<p>"Read, my Lord Bishop! Body of me, why stand you there like a +wooden quintain?" exclaimed the duke. "By all the gods, you are +slow! Read, I say!"</p> +<p>"With pleasure, my lord," answered the bishop.</p> +<p>/# "To His Majesty, King Louis of France, Charles, Duke of +Burgundy and Count of Charolois, sends this Greeting:--</p> +<p>"His Grace of Burgundy would recommend himself to His Majesty of +France, and would beg to inform the most puissant King Louis that +the said Charles, Duke of Burgundy, will march at the head of a +Burgundian army within three weeks from the date of these presents, +against the Swiss cantons, with intent to punish the said Swiss for +certain depredations. Therefore, the said Charles, Duke of Burgundy +and Count of Charolois, begs that His Majesty of France will now +move toward the immediate consummation of the treaty existing +between Burgundy and France, looking to the marriage of the +Princess Mary, Mademoiselle de Burgundy, with the princely Dauphin, +son to King Louis; and to these presents said Charles, Duke of +Burgundy, requests the honor of an early reply.</p> +<p>"We recommend Your Majesty to the protection of God, the Blessed +Virgin, and the Saints." #/</p> +<p>"Words, words, my Lord Bishop," said Charles. "Why waste them on +a graceless hypocrite?"</p> +<p>"I thought only to be courteous," returned the bishop.</p> +<p>"Why should we show King Louis courtesy?" asked the duke. "Is it +because we give him our daughter to be the wife of his +bandy-shanked, half-witted son? There is small need for courtesy, +my Lord Bishop. We could not insult this King Louis, should we try, +while he sees an advantage to be gained. Give me the letter, and I +will sign it, though I despise your whimpering courtesy, as you +call it."</p> +<p>Charles took the letter, and, going to a table near a window, +drew up a chair.</p> +<p>"Give me a quill," he said, addressing the bishop. "Did you not +bring one, my lord?"</p> +<p>"Your Grace--Your Grace," began the bishop, apologetically.</p> +<p>"Do you think I am a snivelling scrivener, carrying quill and +ink-well in my gown?" asked the duke. "Go to your parlor and fetch +ink and quill," said Charles, pointing with the folded missive +toward Yolanda.</p> +<p>"A page will fetch the quill and ink, my lord," suggested the +duchess.</p> +<p>"Go!" cried the duke, turning angrily on the princess. Yolanda +left the room, weeping, and hastened up the long flight of steps to +her parlor. It was the refinement of cruelty in Charles to send +Yolanda for the quill with which he was to sign the instrument of +her doom.</p> +<p>Still weeping, Yolanda hurried back with the writing materials, +but before entering the room she stopped at the door to dry her +tears and stay her sobs. When she entered, she said:--</p> +<p>"There is the quill, father, and there is the ink."</p> +<p>She placed them before the duke and stood trembling with one +hand on the table. After a moment she spoke in a voice little above +a whisper:--"You will accomplish nothing, my lord, my father, by +sending the letter. I shall die before this marriage can take +place. I am willing to obey you, but, father, I shall die. Ah, +father, pity me."</p> +<p>She fell upon her knees before the duke and tried to put her +hands about his shoulders. He repulsed her, and, taking up the +quill, signed the letter. After he had affixed his signature and +had sealed the missive with his private seal, he folded the +parchment and handed it to the bishop, saying:--</p> +<p>"Seal the pouch, my lord, and send Byron, the herald, here to +receive our personal instructions."</p> +<p>"The herald has not yet returned from Cambrai, my lord," said De +Vergy, who stood near by. "He is expected between the hours of five +and six this evening."</p> +<p>"Leave the letter, my lord," said Charles, "and send Byron to me +when he arrives. I shall be here at six o'clock to give him full +instructions."</p> +<p>The letter was deposited in a small iron box on the table, and +the duke left the room, followed closely by the lords and +pages.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> +<h3>THE CROSSING OF A "T"</h3> +<br> +<p>Yolanda and her stepmother remained on the divan in silence for +fully an hour after the duke had left. The duchess was first to +speak.</p> +<p>"Be resigned, sweet one, to your fate. It is one common to +women. It was my hard fate to be compelled to marry your father. It +was your mother's, poor woman, and it killed her. God wills our +slavery, and we must submit. We but make our fate harder by +fighting against it."</p> +<p>Yolanda answered with convulsive sobs, but after a while she +grew more calm.</p> +<p>"Is there nothing I can do to save myself?" she asked.</p> +<p>"No, sweet one," answered the duchess.</p> +<p>"Has God put a curse upon women, mother?" asked Yolanda.</p> +<p>"Alas! I fear He has," answered Margaret. "The Holy Church +teaches us that He punishes us for the sin of our mother Eve, but +though He punishes us, He loves us, and we are His children. He +knows what is best for us here and hereafter."</p> +<p>"He certainly is looking to my <i>future</i> good, if at all," +sighed Yolanda. "But I do believe in God's goodness, mother, and I +am sure He will save me. Holy Virgin! how helpless a woman is." She +began to weep afresh, and the duchess tried to soothe her.</p> +<p>"I believe I will pray to the Virgin. She may help us," said the +girl, in a voice that was plaintively childlike.</p> +<p>"It is a pious thought, Mary," answered the duchess.</p> +<p>Yolanda slipped from the divan to the floor, and, kneeling, +buried her face in her mother's lap. She prayed aloud:--</p> +<p>"Blessed Virgin, Thou seest my dire need. Help me. My prayer is +short, but Thou, Blessed Lady, knowest how fervent it is." The +duchess crossed herself, bowed her head, and murmured a fervent +"Amen."</p> +<p>Yolanda rose from her prayer with a brighter face, and exclaimed +almost joyfully:--</p> +<p>"It was impious in me to doubt God's love, mother. I do believe +I heard the Blessed Virgin say, 'Help is at hand.' At least, I felt +her words, mother."</p> +<p>Yolanda moved about the room aimlessly for several minutes and +by chance stopped at the table. She started to take up the quill +and ink-well to carry them back to her parlor, which was in Darius +(Darius was the name of the tower that rose from the castle +battlements immediately above Castleman's House under the Wall), +and her eyes rested on the small iron box in which the letter to +King Louis had been deposited. An unconscious motive, perhaps it +was childish curiosity, prompted her to examine the missive. She +took the pouch from the box and found it unsealed. She listlessly +drew out the missive and began to read, when suddenly her face grew +radiant with joy. She ran excitedly to her mother, who was sitting +on the divan, and exclaimed:--</p> +<p>"Oh! mother, the sweet Blessed Virgin has sent help!"</p> +<p>"In what manner, child?" asked the duchess, fondling Yolanda's +hair while the girl knelt beside her.</p> +<p>"Here, mother, here! Here is help; here in this very letter that +was intended to be my undoing. I cannot wait to thank the Holy +Mother." She crossed herself and buried her face in her mother's +lap while she thanked the Virgin.</p> +<p>"What is it, Mary, and where is the help?" asked Margaret, +fearing the girl's mind had been touched by her troubles.</p> +<p>"Listen!" cried Yolanda.</p> +<p>Her excitement was so great that she could hardly see the words +the bishop's scrivener had written.</p> +<p>"Listen, listen! Father in this letter first tells the king that +he--that is, father, you understand--is going to war with +Lorraine--no, with Bourbon. I am wrong again. Father is so +constantly warring with some one that I cannot keep track of his +enemies--against the Swiss. See, mother, it is the Swiss. He says +he will go--will start--will begin the war--no, I am wrong again. I +can hardly see the words. He says he will march at the head of a +Burgundian army--poor soldiers, I pity them--within three weeks. +Ah, how short that time seemed when I heard the letter read an hour +ago. How long it is now! I wish he would march to-morrow. Three +long weeks!"</p> +<p>"But, my dear, how will that help you?" asked the duchess. "In +what manner will--"</p> +<p>"Do not interrupt me, mother, but hear what follows. Father says +he will march in three weeks and 'begs that His Majesty of France +will <i>now</i> move toward the immediate consummation of the +treaty existing between Burgundy and France looking to the marriage +of the Princess, Mademoiselle de Burgundy, with the princely +Dauphin, son to King Louis.' In that word 'now,' mother, lies my +help."</p> +<p>"In what manner does help lie in the word 'now,' child?" asked +the duchess.</p> +<p>"In this, mother. 'Now' is a little word of three letters, +n-o-v. See, mother, the letter 'v' is not perfectly made. We will +extend the first prong upward, cross it and make 't' of it, using +the second prong as a flourish. Then the letter will read, 'begs +that His Majesty of France will <i>not</i> move toward the +immediate consummation of the treaty.' What could be more natural +than that my father should wish nothing of importance to occur +until after this war with Switzerland is over? The French king, of +course, will answer that he will not move in the matter, and his +letter will throw father into a delightful frenzy of rage. It may +even induce him to declare war against France, and to break off the +treaty of marriage when he returns from Switzerland. He has often +done battle for a lesser cause. It will at least prevent the +marriage for the present. It may prevent it forever."</p> +<p>"Surely that cannot be; King Louis will immediately explain the +mistake to your father," suggested Margaret.</p> +<p>"But father, you know, will not listen to an explanation if he +fears it may avert blows," returned Yolanda; "and he will be sure +not to believe King Louis whose every word he doubts. I shall enjoy +King Louis' efforts to explain. 'Hypocrite,' 'liar,' 'coward,' +'villain,' will be among father's most endearing terms when +speaking of His Majesty. If by chance the error of 'not' for 'now' +be discovered, the Bishop of Cambrai and father will swear it is +King Louis who has committed the forgery. But should the worst +come, our 't' will have answered its purpose, at least for the +present. The bishop may suffer, but I care not. He did his part in +bringing about this marriage treaty, bribed, doubtless, by King +Louis' gold. In any case, we have no reason to constitute ourselves +the bishop's guardians. We have all we can do to care for +ourselves--and more."</p> +<p>She sprang to her feet and danced about the room, ardently +kissing the letter she had so recently dreaded.</p> +<p>"Mary, you frighten me," said the duchess. "If we should be +discovered in changing this letter, I do believe your father would +kill us. I do not know that it would be right to make the +alteration. It would be forgery, and that, you know, is a crime +punishable by death."</p> +<p>"<i>We</i> shall not be discovered," said Mary. "You must have +no part in this transaction, mother. Father would not kill me; I am +too valuable as a chattel of trade. With my poor little self he can +buy the good-will of kings and princes. I am more potent than all +his gold. This alteration can be no sin; it is self-defence. Think +how small it is, mother. It is only a matter of the crossing of a +'t.' But I care not how great the crime may be; I believe, mother, +I would commit murder to save myself from the fate father wishes to +put upon me."</p> +<p>"You frighten me, child," said Margaret. "I tremble in terror at +what you propose to do."</p> +<p>"I, too, am trembling, mother," sighed Yolanda, "but you must +now leave the room. You must know nothing of this great crime."</p> +<p>The girl laughed nervously and tried to push her mother from the +room.</p> +<p>"No, I will remain," said the duchess. "I almost believe that +you are right, and that the Virgin has prompted you to do this to +save yourself."</p> +<p>"I know she has," answered Yolanda, crossing herself. "Now leave +me. I must waste no more time."</p> +<p>"I will remain with you, Mary," said Margaret, "and I will +myself make the alteration. Then I'll take all the blame in case we +are discovered."</p> +<p>Margaret rose, walked over to the table, and took up the quill. +She trembled so violently that she could not control her hand.</p> +<p>"No, mother, you shall not touch it," cried Yolanda, snatching +the parchment from the countess and holding it behind her. "If I +would let you, you could not make the alteration; see, your hand +trembles! You would blot the parchment and spoil all this fine plan +of mine. Give me the quill, mother! Give me the quill!"</p> +<p>She took the quill from Margaret's passive hand and sat down at +the table. Spreading the missive before her, she dipped the quill +in the ink-well, and when she lifted it, a drop of ink fell upon +the table within a hair's breadth of the parchment.</p> +<p>"Ah, Blessed Virgin!" cried Yolanda, snatching the missive away +from the ink blot. "If the ink had fallen on the parchment, we +surely had been lost. I, too, am trembling, and I dare not try to +make the alteration now. What a poor, helpless creature I am, when +I cannot even cross a 't' to save myself. Blessed Virgin, help me +once more!"</p> +<p>But help did not come. Yolanda's excitement grew instead of +subsiding, and she was so wrought upon by a nameless fear that she +began to weep. Margaret seated herself on the divan and covered her +face with her hands. Yolanda walked the floor like a caged wild +thing, uttering ejaculatory prayers to the Virgin. Again she took +up the quill, but again put it down, exclaiming:--</p> +<p>"I have it, mother! There is a friend of whom I have often told +you--Sir Karl. He will help us if I can bring him here in time. If +father has left the castle, I'll take the letter to my parlor and +fetch Sir Karl. He is a brave, strong old man and his hand will not +tremble."</p> +<p>Yolanda left the room and soon returned.</p> +<p>"Father has gone to the marshes," she whispered excitedly. "We +have ample time if I can find Sir Karl."</p> +<p>She took the missive, the ink, and the quill to her parlor in +Darius Tower, and hurried to Castleman's house. How she got there I +will soon tell you.</p> +<p>She found Twonette sewing, and hastily explained her wishes.</p> +<p>"Run, Twonette, to The Mitre, and fetch me Sir Karl. I don't +want Sir Max to know that I am sending. I think Sir Max has gone +falconing with father; I pray God he has gone, and I pray that Sir +Karl has not. Tell Sir Karl to come to me at once. If he is not at +the inn send for him. If you love me, Twonette, make all haste. +Run! Run!"</p> +<p>Twonette's haste was really wonderful. When she found me her +cheeks were like red roses, and she could hardly speak for lack of +breath. For the first and last time I saw Twonette shorn of her +serenity.</p> +<p>The duke had not invited me to go hawking, and fortunately I had +stayed at home cuddling the thought that Yolanda was the Princess +Mary, and that my fair Prince Max had found rare favor in her +eyes.</p> +<p>"Yolanda wants you at my father's house immediately," said +Twonette, when I stepped outside the inn door. "The need is urgent +beyond measure." Whereupon she courtesied and turned away. Twonette +held that words were not made to be wasted, so I asked no +questions. I almost ran to Castleman's house, and was taken at once +to a large room in the second story. It was on the west side of the +house immediately against the castle wall. The walls of the room +were sealed with broad oak panels, beautifully carved, and the west +end of the apartment--that next the castle wall--was hung with silk +tapestries. When I entered the room I found Yolanda alone. She +hurriedly closed the door after me and spoke excitedly:--</p> +<p>"I am so glad Twonette found you, Sir Karl. I am in dire need. +Will you help me?"</p> +<p>"I will help you if it is in my power, Yolanda," I answered. +"You can ask nothing which I will not at least try to do."</p> +<p>"Even at the risk of your life?" she asked, placing her hand +upon my arm.</p> +<p>"Even to the loss of my life, Yolanda," I replied.</p> +<p>"Would you commit an act which the law calls a crime?" she +asked, trembling in voice and limb.</p> +<p>"I would do that which is really a crime, if I might thereby +serve you to great purpose," I answered. "God often does apparent +evil that good may come of it. An act must be judged as a whole, by +its conception, its execution, and its result. Tell me what you +wish me to do, and I will do it without an 'if'--God giving me the +power."</p> +<p>"Then come with me."</p> +<p>She took my hand and led me to the end of the room next the +castle wall. There she held the draperies to one side while she +pushed back one of the oak panels. Through this opening we passed, +and the draperies fell together behind us. After Yolanda had opened +the panel a moment of light revealed to me a flight of stone steps +built in the heart of the castle wall, which at that point was +sixteen feet thick. When Yolanda closed the panel, we were in total +darkness. She took my left hand in her left and with her right arm +at my back guided me up the long, dark stairway. While mounting the +steps, she said:--"Now, Sir Karl, you have all my great secrets--at +least, they are very great to me. You know who I am, and you know +of this stairway. No one knows of it but my mother, uncle, aunt, +Twonette, and my faithful tire-woman, Anne. Even my father does not +know of its existence. If he knew, he would soon close it. My +grandfather, Duke Philip the Good, built it in the wall to connect +his bedroom with the house of his true friend, burgher Castleman. +Some day I'll tell you the story of the stairway, and how I +discovered it. My bedroom is the one my grandfather occupied."</p> +<p>The stairway explained to me all the strange occurrences +relating to Yolanda's appearances and disappearances at Castleman's +house, and it will do the same for you.</p> +<p>After we had climbed until I felt that surely we must be among +the clouds, I said:--</p> +<p>"Yolanda, you must be leading me to heaven."</p> +<p>"I should like to do that, Sir Karl," she responded, laughing +softly.</p> +<p>"I would gladly give my life to lead you and Max to heaven," +said I.</p> +<p>"Ah, Sir Karl," she answered gently, pressing my hand and +caressingly placing her cheek against my arm. "I dare not even +think on that. If he could and would take me, believing me to be a +burgher girl, he would truly lead me to heaven."</p> +<p>After a pause, while we rested to take a breath, I said: "What +is it you want me to do, Yolanda? I am unarmed."</p> +<p>"I shall not ask you to do murder, Sir Karl," she said, laughing +nervously. I fancied I could see a sparkle of mirth in her eyes as +she continued: "It is not so bad as that. Neither is there a dragon +for you to overthrow. But I shall soon enlighten you--here we are +at the top of the steps."</p> +<p>At the moment she spoke I collided with a heavy oak partition, +in which Yolanda quickly found a moving panel, and we entered a +dimly lighted room. I noticed among the furniture a gorgeously +tapestried bed. A rich rug, the like of which I had seen in +Damascus, covered the floor. The stone walls were draped with silk +tapestry, and a jewelled lamp was pendant from the vaulted ceiling. +This was Yolanda's bedroom, and truly it was a resting-place worthy +of the richest princess in Christendom. I felt that I was in the +holy of holies. I found difficulty in believing that the childlike +Yolanda could be so important a personage in the politics of +Europe. She seemed almost to belong to me, so much at that time did +she lean on my strength.</p> +<p>Out of her sleeping apartment she led me to another and a larger +room, lighted by broad windows cut through the inner wall of the +castle, which at that point was not more than three or four feet +thick. This was Yolanda's parlor. The floor, like that of the +bedroom, was covered with a Damascus rug. The windows were closed +by glass of crystal purity, and the furniture was richer than any I +had seen in the emperor's palace.</p> +<p>Yolanda led me to a table, pointed to a chair for me, and drew +up one for herself. At that moment a lady entered, whom Yolanda ran +to meet. The princess took the lady's hand and led her to me:--</p> +<p>"Sir Karl, this is my mother. As you already know, she is my +stepmother, but I forget that in the love I bear her, and in the +sweet love she gives to me."</p> +<p>I bent my knee before the duchess, who gave me her hand to kiss, +saying:--</p> +<p>"The princess has often spoken to me of you, Sir Karl. I see she +has crept into your heart. She wins all who know her."</p> +<p>"My devotion to Her Highness is self-evident and needs no +avowal," I answered, "but I take pleasure in declaring it. I am +ready to aid her at whatever cost."</p> +<p>"Has the princess told you what she wants you to do?" asked the +duchess.</p> +<p>I answered that she had not, but that I was glad to pledge +myself unenlightened. I then placed a chair for the duchess, but, +of course, remained standing. Yolanda resumed her chair, and +said:--</p> +<p>"Fetch a chair, Sir Karl. We are glad to have you sit, are we +not, mother?"</p> +<p>"Indeed we are," said Margaret. "Please sit by the table, and +the princess will explain why she brought you here."</p> +<p>"I believe I can now do it myself, mother," said Yolanda, taking +a folded parchment from its pouch.</p> +<p>"See, my hand is perfectly steady. Sir Karl has given me +strength."</p> +<p>She spread the parchment before her, and, taking a quill from +the table, dipped it in the ink-well.</p> +<p>"I'll not need you after all, Sir Karl. I find I can commit my +own crime," she said, much to my disappointment. I was, you see, +eager to sin for her. I longed to kill some one or to do some other +deed of valiant and perilous villany.</p> +<p>Yolanda bent over the missive, quill in hand, but hesitated. She +changed her position on the chair, squaring herself before the +parchment, and tried again, but she seemed unable to use the quill. +She placed it on the table and laughed nervously.</p> +<p>"I surely am a great fool," she said. "When I take the quill in +my hand, I tremble like a squire on his quintain trial. I'll wait a +moment, and grow calm again," she added, with a fluttering little +laugh peculiar to her when she was excited. But she did not grow +calm, and after she had vainly taken up the quill again and again, +her mother said:--</p> +<p>"Poor child! Tell Sir Karl what you wish him to do."</p> +<p>Yolanda did so, and then read the missive. I did not know the +English language perfectly, but Yolanda, who spoke it as if it were +her mother tongue, translated as she read. I had always considered +the island language harsh till I heard Yolanda speak it. Even the +hissing "th" was music on her lips. Had I been a young man I would +doubtless have made a fool of myself for the sake of this beautiful +child-woman. When she had finished reading the missive, she left +her chair and came to my side. She bent over my shoulder, holding +the parchment before me.</p> +<p>"What I want to do, but can't--what I want you to do is so small +and simple a matter that it is almost amusing. I grow angry when I +think that I cannot do so little a thing to help myself; but you +see, Sir Karl, I tremble and my hand shakes to that extent I fear +to mar the page. I simply want to make the letter 't' on this +parchment and I can't. Will you do it for me?"</p> +<p>"Ay, gladly," I responded, "but where and why?" Then she pointed +out to me the word "nov" in the manuscript and said:--</p> +<p>"A letter 't,' if deftly done, will make 'not' instead of 'nov.' +Do you understand, Sir Karl?"</p> +<p>I sprang to my feet as if I had been touched by a sword-point. +The thought was so ingenious, the thing itself was so small and the +result was so tremendous that I stood in wonder before the daring +girl who had conceived it. I made no answer. I placed the parchment +on the table, unceremoniously reached in front of the duchess for +the quill, and in less time than one can count three I made a tiny +ink mark not the sixteenth part of an inch long that changed the +destinies of nations for all time to come.</p> +<p>I placed the quill on the table and turned to Yolanda, just in +time to catch her as she was about to fall. I was frightened at the +sight of her pale face and cried out:--</p> +<p>"Yolanda! Yolanda!"</p> +<p>Margaret quickly brought a small goblet of wine, and I held the +princess while I opened her lips and poured a portion of the drink +into her mouth. I had in my life seen, without a tremor, hundreds +of men killed, but I had never seen a woman faint, and the sight +almost unmanned me.</p> +<p>Stimulated by the wine Yolanda soon revived; and when she opened +her eyes and smiled up into my face, I was so joyful that I fell to +kissing her hands and could utter no word save "Yolanda, Yolanda." +She did not at once rise from my arms, but lay there smiling into +my face as if she were a child. When she did rise she laughed +softly and said, turning to the duchess:--</p> +<p>"'Yolanda' is the name by which Sir Karl knows me. You see, +mother, I was not mistaken in deeming him my friend."</p> +<p>Then she turned suddenly to me, and taking my rough old hand in +hers, lifted it to her lips. That simple act of childish gratitude +threw me into a fever of ecstasy so great that death itself could +have had no terrors for me. He might have come when he chose. I had +lived through that one moment, and even God could not rob me of +it.</p> +<p>Yolanda moved away from me and took up the parchment.</p> +<p>"Don't touch it till the ink dries," I cried sharply.</p> +<p>She dropped it as if it were hot, and the duchess came to me, +and graciously offered her hand:--</p> +<p>"I thank you with my whole heart, not only for what you have +done, but for the love you bear the princess. She is the one I love +above all others, and I know she loves me. I love those who love +her. As the French say, '<i>Les amies de mes amies sont mes +amies.'</i> I am a poor helpless woman, more to be pitied than the +world can believe. I have only my gratitude to offer you, Sir Karl, +but that shall be yours so long as I live."</p> +<p>"Your Grace's reward is far too great for the small service I +have rendered," I replied, dropping to my knee. I was really +beginning to live in my sixtieth year. I was late in starting, but +my zest for life was none the less, now that I had at last learned +its sweetness through these two gracious women.</p> +<p>When we had grown more composed, Yolanda explained to me her +hopes regarding the French king's answer to the altered missive, +and the whole marvellous possibilities of the letter "t" dawned +upon my mind. The princess bent over the parchment, watching our +mighty "t" while the ink was drying, but the process was too slow +for her, so she filled her cheeks and breathed upon the writing. +The color returned to her face while I watched her, and I felt that +committing a forgery was a small price to pay for witnessing so +beautiful a sight. Yolanda's breath soon dried the ink, and then we +examined my work. I had performed wonders. The keenest eye could +not detect the alteration. Yolanda, as usual, sprang from the +deepest purgatory of trouble to the seventh heaven of joy. She ran +about the room, singing, dancing, and laughing, until the duchess +warned her to be quiet. Then she placed her hand over her mouth, +shrugged her shoulders, walked on tiptoe, and spoke only in +whispers. Margaret smiled affectionately at Yolanda's childish +antics and said:--</p> +<p>"I think the conspirators should disperse. I hope, Sir Karl, +that I may soon meet you in due form. Meantime, of course, it is +best that we do not know each other."</p> +<p>After examining the missive for the twentieth time, Yolanda +placed it in its pouch and turned to the duchess.</p> +<p>"Take it, mother, to the iron box, and I will lead Sir Karl back +to Uncle Castleman's," she said.</p> +<p>The duchess graciously offered me a goblet of wine, and after I +had drunk, Yolanda led me down the stairway to the House under the +Wall. While descending Yolanda called my attention to a loose stone +in the wall of the staircase.</p> +<p>"The other end of this stone," she said, "penetrates the wall of +the room that you and Sir Max occupied the night before you were +liberated. The mortar has fallen away, and it was here that I spoke +to you and told you not to fear."</p> +<p>Here was another supernatural marvel all too easily +explained.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> +<h3>PARTICEPS CRIMINIS</h3> +<br> +<p>That evening after supper Max and I walked over to Castleman's. +The evening was cool, and we were sitting in the great parlor +talking with Castleman and Twonette when Yolanda entered. The room +was fully fifty feet long, and extended across the entire front of +the house. A huge chimney was built at the east end of the room, +and on either side of the fireplace was a cushioned bench. A +similar bench extended across the entire west end of the room. When +Yolanda entered she ran to me and took my hand.</p> +<p>"Come, Sir Karl, I want to speak with you," she said.</p> +<p>She led me to the west end of the room, sat down on the +cushioned bench, and drew in her skirts that I might sit close +beside her.</p> +<p>"I want to tell you about the missive, Sir Karl," she whispered, +laughing and shrugging her shoulders in great glee. "Mother +returned it to the box, and when I left you I hurried back and +haunted the room, fearing that some one might meddle with the +parchment. Near the hour of six o'clock father entered. I was +sitting on the divan, and he sat down in his great chair, of course +taking no notice of me--I am too insignificant for so great a +person to notice, except when he is compelled to do so. I was +joyful in my heart, but I conjured up all my troubles that I might +make myself weep. I feared to show any change in myself, so I +sobbed aloud now and then, and soon father turned angrily toward +me. 'Are you still there?' he asked. 'Yes, father,' I answered, as +if trying to stifle my sobs. 'Are you really going to send that +cruel letter to King Louis?'"</p> +<p>"Cruel, indeed," I interrupted.</p> +<p>"Ah, yes! Well, father made no reply, and I went over to him and +began to plead. I should have wanted to cut my tongue out had I +succeeded, but I had little fear. Father is not easily touched by +another's suffering, and my tears only hardened his heart. Well, of +course, he repulsed me; and soon a page announced Byron the herald +and the Bishop of Cambrai. Father took the packet from the iron +box, and put his fingers in the pouch, as if he were going to take +out the letter. He hesitated, and during that moment of halting I +was by turns cold as ice and hot as fire. Finally his resolution +took form, and he drew out the missive. I thought I should die then +and there, when he began to look it over. But after a careless +glance he put it back in the pouch, and threw it on the table in +front of the bishop. I could hardly keep from shouting for joy. He +had failed to see the alteration, and in case of its discovery, he +might now be his own witness against King Louis, should that crafty +monarch dare to alter my father's missive by so much as the +crossing of a 't'. If father hereafter discovers anything wrong in +the letter, he will be able to swear that King Louis was the evil +doer, since father himself put the letter in the pouch with his own +hands. Father will never suspect that a friend came to me out of +far-away Styria to commit this crime."</p> +<p>"I rejoice that I came," I said.</p> +<p>"And I," she answered. "I feared the bishop would read the +letter, but he did not. He tied the ribbon, softened the lead wafer +over the lamp flame, and placed it on the bow-knot; then he stamped +it with father's small seal. When it was finished I did not want to +laugh for joy--when one is very happy one wants to weep. That I +could safely do, and I did. The bishop handed the letter to Byron, +and father spoke commandingly: 'Deliver the missive to the French +king before you sleep or eat, unless he has left Paris. If he has +gone to Tours, follow him and loiter not.' 'And if he is not in +Tours, Your Grace?' asked Byron. 'Follow him till you find him,' +answered father, 'if you must cross the seas.' 'Shall I do all this +without eating or sleeping?' asked Byron. Father rose angrily, and +Byron said: 'If Your Grace will watch from the donjon battlements, +in five minutes you will see me riding on your mission. When Your +Grace sees me riding back, it will be, I fear, the ghost of +Byron.'</p> +<p>"It was a wearisome task for me to climb the donjon stairs, but +I knew father would not be there to watch Byron set out, and I felt +that one of the family should give him God-speed; so alone, and +frightened almost out of my wits, I climbed those dark steps to the +battlements, and gazed after Byron till he was a mere speck on the +horizon down toward Paris. I pray God there may be a great plenty +of trouble grow out of the crossing of this 't'. Father is always +saying that women were put on earth to make trouble, so I'll do +what little I can to make true His Lordship's words." She threw +back her head, laughing softly. "Is it not glorious, Sir Karl?"</p> +<p>"Indeed, Princess--" I began, but she clapped her hand over my +mouth and I continued, "Indeed, Yolanda, the plan is so adroit and +so effective that it fills me with admiration and awe."</p> +<p>"I like the name Yolanda," said she, looking toward Max, who was +sitting with Twonette on one of the benches by the chimney.</p> +<p>"And I, too, like it," I responded. "I cannot think of you as +the greatest and richest princess in Europe."</p> +<p>"Ah, I wish I, too, could forget it, but I can't," she answered +with a sigh, glancing from under her preposterously long lashes +toward Max and Twonette.</p> +<p>"How came you to take the name Yolanda?" I asked.</p> +<p>"Grandfather wished to give me the name in baptism," she +answered, "but Mary fell to my lot. I like the present arrangement. +Mary is the name of the princess--the unhappy, faulty princess. +Yolanda is my name. Almost every happy hour I have ever spent has +been as Yolanda. You cannot know the wide difference between me and +the Princess Mary. It is, Sir Karl, as if we were two persons."</p> +<p>She spoke very earnestly, and I could see that there was no +mirth in her heart when she thought of herself as the Princess +Mary; she was not jesting.</p> +<p>"I don't know the princess," I said laughingly, "but I know +Yolanda."</p> +<p>"Yes; I'll tell you a great secret, Sir Karl. The Princess Mary +is not at all an agreeable person. She is morose, revengeful, +haughty, cold--" here her voice dropped to a whisper, "and, Sir +Karl, she lies--she lies. While Yolanda--well, Yolanda at least is +not cold, and I--I think she is a very delightful person. Don't +you?"</p> +<p>There was a troubled, eager expression in her eyes that told +plainly she was in earnest. To Yolanda the princess was another +person.</p> +<p>"Yolanda is very sure of me," I answered.</p> +<p>"Ah, that she is," answered the girl. You see, this was a real +case of billing and cooing between December and May.</p> +<p>A short silence followed, during which Yolanda glanced furtively +toward Max and Twonette.</p> +<p>"You spoke of your grandfather," said I, "and that reminds me +that you promised to tell me the story of the staircase in the +wall."</p> +<p>"So I did," answered Yolanda, haltingly. Her attention was at +the other end of the room.</p> +<p>"Do you think Twonette a very pretty girl?" she asked.</p> +<p>"Yes," I answered, surprised at the abrupt question. I caught a +glimpse of Yolanda's face and saw that I had made a mistake, so I +continued hastily: "That is--yes--yes, she is pretty, though not +beautiful. Her face, I think, is rather dollish. It is a fine +creation in pink and white, but I fear it lacks animation."</p> +<p>"Now for the stairway in the wall," said Yolanda, settling +herself with the pretty little movements peculiar to her when she +was contented. "As I told you, grandfather built it. Afterward he +ceded Peronne to King Louis, and for many years none of our family +ever saw the castle. A few years ago King Louis ceded it to my +father. Father has never lived here, and has visited Peronne only +once in a while, for the purpose of looking after his affairs on +the French border. The castle is very strong, and, being here on +the border at the meeting of the Somme and the Cologne, it has +endured many sieges, but it has never been taken. It is called +'Peronne La Pucelle.'</p> +<p>"Father's infrequent visits to the castle have been brief, and +all who have ever known of the stairway are dead or have left +Burgundy, save the good people in this house, my mother, my +tire-woman, and myself. Three or four years ago, when I was a +child, mother and I, unhappy at Ghent and an annoyance to father, +came here to live in the castle, and--and--I wonder what Sir Max +and Twonette find to talk about--and Twonette and I became friends. +I love Twonette dearly, but she is a sly creature, for all she is +so demure, and she is bolder than you would think, Sir Karl. These +very demure girls are often full of surprises. She has been sitting +there in the shadow with Sir Max for half an hour. That, I say, +would be bold in any girl. Well, to finish about the staircase: my +bedroom, as I told you, was my grandfather's. One day Twonette was +visiting me, and we--we--Sir Max, what in the world are you and +Twonette talking about? We can't hear a word you say."</p> +<p>"We can't hear what you are saying," retorted Max.</p> +<p>"I wish you were young, Sir Karl," whispered Yolanda, "so that I +might make him jealous."</p> +<p>"Shall we come to you?" asked Max.</p> +<p>"No, no, stay where you are," cried Yolanda; then, turning to +me, "Where did I stop?"</p> +<p>"Your bedroom--" I suggested.</p> +<p>"Yes--my bedroom was my grandfather's. One day I had Twonette in +to play with me, and we rummaged every nook and corner we could +reach. By accident we discovered the movable panel. We pushed it +aside, and spurring our bravery by daring each other, we descended +the dark stairway step by step until we came suddenly against the +oak panel at the foot. We grew frightened and cried aloud for help. +Fortunately, Tante Castleman was on the opposite side of the panel +in the oak room, and--and--"</p> +<p>She had been halting in the latter part of her narrative and I +plainly saw what was coming.</p> +<p>"Tante Castleman was--was--It was fortunate she--was in--" She +sprang to her feet, exclaiming: "I'm going to tell Twonette what I +think of her boldness in sitting there in the dark with Sir Max. +Her father is not here to do it." And that was the last I heard of +the stairway in the wall.</p> +<p>Yolanda ran across the room to the bench by the fireplace and +stamped her foot angrily before Twonette.</p> +<p>"It--it is immodest for a girl to sit here in the deep shadow +beside a gentleman for hours together. Shame, Twonette! Your father +is not here to correct you."</p> +<p>Castleman had left the room.</p> +<p>Twonette laughed, rose hurriedly, and stood by Yolanda in front +of Max. Yolanda, by way of apology, took Twonette's hand, but after +a few words she coolly appropriated her place "in the deep shadow +beside a gentleman." A princess enjoys many privileges denied to a +burgher girl. When a girl happens to be both, the burgher girl is +apt to be influenced by the princess, as the princess is apt to be +modified by the life of the burgher girl. Presently Yolanda +said:--</p> +<p>"Please go, Twonette, and mix a bowl of wine and honey. Yours is +delicious. Put in a bit of allspice, Twonette, and pepper, beat it +well, Twonette, and don't spare the honey. Now there's a good girl. +Go quickly, but don't hurry back. Haste, you know, Twonette, makes +waste, and you may spoil the wine."</p> +<p>Twonette laughed and went to mix the wine and honey. I walked +back to the other end of the room, and sat down by a window to +watch the night gather without. I was athrill with the delightful +thought that, all unknown to the world, unknown even to himself, +Max, through my instrumentality, was wooing Mary of Burgundy within +fifty feet of where I sat. He was not, of course, actively pressing +his suit, but all unconsciously he was taking the best course to +win her heart forever and ever. Now, with a propitious trick of +fortune, my fantastic dream, conceived in far-off Styria, might yet +become a veritable fact. By what rare trick this consummation might +be brought about, I did not know, but fortune had been kind so far, +and I felt that her capricious ladyship would not abandon us.</p> +<p>Yolanda turned to Max with a soft laugh of satisfaction, settled +her skirts about her, as a pleased woman is apt to do, and said +contentedly:--</p> +<p>"There, now!"</p> +<p>"Fräulein, you are very kind to me," said Max.</p> +<p>"Yes--yes, I am, Sir Max," she responded, beaming on him. "Now, +tell me what you and Twonette have been talking about."</p> +<p>"You," answered Max.</p> +<p>A laugh gurgled in her throat as she asked:--</p> +<p>"What else?"</p> +<p>"I'll tell you if you will tell me what you and Sir Karl were +saying," he responded.</p> +<p>"Ah, I see!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands gleefully. "You +were jealous."</p> +<p>"I admit it," he answered, so very seriously that one might have +thought him in earnest. "And you, Fräulein?"</p> +<p>"I jealous?" she responded, with lifted eyebrows. "You are a +vain man, Sir Max. I was not jealous--only--only a tiny bit--so +much--" and she measured the extent of her jealousy on the pink tip +of her little finger. "I am told you were falconing with the Duke +of Burgundy to-day. If you go in such fine company, I fear we shall +see little of you."</p> +<p>"There is no company finer than--than--" Max checked his +tongue.</p> +<p>"Say it, Max, say it," she whispered coaxingly, leaning toward +him.</p> +<p>"Than you, Fräulein." The girl leaned back contentedly +against the wall, and Max continued: "Yes, his lordship was kind to +me, and most gracious. I cannot believe the stories of cruelty I +hear of him. I have been told that on different occasions he has +used personal violence on his wife and daughter. If that be true, +he must be worse than the brutes of the field, but you may be sure, +Yolanda, the stories are false."</p> +<p>"Alas! I fear they are too true," responded the girl, sighing in +memory of the afternoon.</p> +<p>"He is a pleasing companion when he wishes to be," said Max, +"and I hear his daughter, the princess, is much like him."</p> +<p>"Heavens!" exclaimed Yolanda, "I hope she is like him only when +he is pleasing."</p> +<p>"That is probably true," said Max.</p> +<p>"There is where I am really jealous, Max--this princess--" she +said, leaning forward and looking up into his face with +unmistakable earnestness.</p> +<p>"Why?" asked Max, laughing.</p> +<p>"Because men love wealth and high estate. There are scores of +men--at least, so I have been told--eager to marry this princess, +who do not even know that she is not hideous to look upon and +vixenish in temper. They would take her gladly, with any deformity, +physical, mental, or moral, for the sake of possessing +Burgundy."</p> +<p>"But I am told she is fair and beautiful," said Max.</p> +<p>"Believe it not," said Yolanda, sullenly. "Whoever heard of a +rich princess who was not beautiful? Anne and Joan, daughters of +King Louis, are always spoken of as paragons of beauty; yet those +who know tell me these royal ladies are hideous. King Louis has +nicknamed Joan 'The Owlet' because she is little, ill-shapen, and +black. Anne is tall, large of bone, fat, and sallow. He should name +her 'The Giantess of Beaujeu'; and the little half-witted Dauphin +he should dub 'Knight of the Princely Order of House Rats.'"</p> +<p>That she was deeply in earnest there could be no doubt.</p> +<p>"I hope you do not speak so freely to others," said Max. "If His +Grace of Burgundy should hear of your words he might--"</p> +<p>"I hope you will not tell him," said Yolanda, laughing. "But +this Mary!" she continued, clinging stubbornly to the dangerous +topic. "You came to woo her estates, and in the end you will do +so."</p> +<p>I am convinced that the girl was intensely jealous of herself. +When she feared that Max might seek the Princess Mary, her heart +brooded over the thought that he would do so for the sake of her +wealth and her domains.</p> +<p>"I have told you once, Fräulein, what I will do and what I +will not. For your own sake and mine I'll tell you no more," said +Max.</p> +<p>"If I were a great princess," said Yolanda, pouting and hanging +her head, "you would not speak so sharply to me." Evidently she was +hurt by Max's words, though they were the expression, not of his +displeasure, but of his pain.</p> +<p>"Fräulein, forgive me; my words were not meant to be sharp. +It was my pain that spoke. You torture me and cause me to torture +myself," said Max. "To keep a constant curb on one's ardent longing +is exhausting. It takes the heart out of a man. At times you seem +to forget that my silence is my great grief, not my fault. Ah, +Fräulein! you cannot understand my longing and my +struggle."</p> +<p>"I do understand," she answered plaintively, slipping her hand +into his, "and unless certain recent happenings have the result I +hope for, you, too, will understand, more clearly than you now do, +within a very short time."</p> +<p>She covered her face with her hands. Her words mystified Max, +and he was on the point of asking her to explain. He loved and +pitied her, and would have put his arm around her waist to comfort +her, but she sprang to her feet, exclaiming:--</p> +<p>"No, no, Little Max, let us save all that for our farewell. You +will not have long to wait."</p> +<p>Wisdom returned to Max, and he knew that she was right in +helping him to resist the temptation that he had so valiantly +struggled against since leaving Basel.</p> +<p>All that I had really hoped for in Styria, all our fair dreams +upon the castle walls of Hapsburg, had come to pass. Max had, +beyond doubt, won the heart of Mary of Burgundy, but that would +avail nothing unless by some good chance conditions should so +change that Mary would be able to choose for herself. In such case, +ambition would cut no figure in her choice. The chains of duty to +family, state, and ancestry that bound Max's feet so firmly would +be but wisps of straw about Yolanda's slender ankles. She would +have no hesitancy in making her choice, were she free to do so, and +states might go hang for all she would care. Her heart was her +state. Would she ever be able to choose? Fortune had been kind to +us thus far; would she remain our friend? She is a coquette; but +the heart of a coquette, if truly won, is the most steadfast of +all.</p> +<p>Twonette brought in the wine and honey; Castleman soon returned +and lighted the lamp, and we all sat talking before the small blaze +in the fireplace, till the great clock in the middle of the room +chimed the hour of ten. Then Yolanda ran from us with a hurried +good night, and Max returned with me to the inn.</p> +<hr style="width: 25%;"> +<p>I cannot describe the joy I took from the recurring thought that +I was particeps criminis with the Princess of Burgundy in the +commission of a crime. At times I wished the crime had been greater +and its extenuation far less. We hear much about what happens when +thieves fall out, but my observation teaches me that thieves +usually remain good friends. The bonds of friendship had begun to +strengthen between Yolanda and me before she sought my help in the +perpetration of her great crime. After that black felony, they +became like links of Milan chain. I shared her secrets, great and +small.</p> +<p>One day while Yolanda and I were sitting in the oak room,--the +room from which the panel opened into the stairway in the wall,--I +said to her:--</p> +<p>"If your letter 't' causes a break with France, perhaps Max's +opportunity may come."</p> +<p>"I do not know--I cannot hope," she responded dolefully. "You +see, when father made this treaty with France, he was halting +between two men in the choice of a husband for me. One was the +Dauphin, son to King Louis, whom father hates with every breath he +draws. The other was the Duke of Gelders, whom father really likes. +Gelders is a brute, Sir Karl. He kept his father in prison four +years, and usurped his domain. He is a drunkard, a murderer, and a +profligate. For reasons of state father chose the Dauphin, but if +the treaty with France is broken, I suppose it will be Gelders +again. If it comes to that, Sir Karl--but I'll not say what I'll +do. My head is full of schemes from morning till night, and when I +sleep my poor brain is a whirl of visions. Self-destruction, +elopement, and I know not what else appeal to me. How far is it to +Styria, Sir Karl?" she asked abruptly.</p> +<p>"Two or three hundred leagues, perhaps--it may be more," I +answered. "I do not know how far it is, Yolanda, but it is not far +enough for your purposes. Even could you reach there, Styria could +not protect you."</p> +<p>"I was not thinking of--of what you suppose, Sir Karl," she said +plaintively.</p> +<p>"What were you thinking of, Yolanda?" I asked.</p> +<p>"Of nothing--of--of--a wild dream of hiding away from the world +in some unknown corner, at times comes to me in my sleep--only in +my sleep, Sir Karl--for in my waking hours I know it to be +impossible. The only pleasant part of being a princess is that the +world envies you; but what a poor bauble it is to buy at the +frightful price I pay!"</p> +<p>"I have been on mountain tops," I answered philosophically, "and +I find that breathing grows difficult as one ascends."</p> +<p>"Ah, Sir Karl," she answered tearfully, "I believe I'll go +upstairs and weep."</p> +<p>I led her to the moving panel and opened it for her. Without +turning her face she held back her hand for me to kiss. Then she +started up the dark stone steps, and I knew that she was weeping. I +closed the panel and sat on the cushioned bench. To say that I +would have given my old life to win happiness for her but poorly +measures my devotion. A man's happiness depends entirely on the +number and quality of those to whom his love goes out. Before +meeting Yolanda I drew all my happiness from loving one +person--Max. Now my source was doubled, and I wished for the first +time that I might live my life again, to lay it at this girl's +feet.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2> +<h3>TRIAL BY COMBAT</h3> +<br> +<p>Max had waited until Calli's arm was mended to bring up the +subject of the trial by combat; but when he would have taken it +before the duke, I dissuaded him by many pretexts, and for a few +days it was dropped. But soon it was brought forward in a most +unpleasant way. Max and I were in the streets of Peronne one +afternoon, and as we approached a group of ragged boys, one of them +cried out:--</p> +<p>"There is the fellow that challenged Count Calli, but won't +fight him!"</p> +<p>Max turned upon the boy, caught him roughly by the shoulder, and +asked him where he got his information. The frightened boy replied +that his father was a hostler in the duke's stables, and had heard +Count Calli say that the fellow who had challenged him was "all +gauntlet but no fight."</p> +<p>We at once sought Hymbercourt, who, on being closely questioned, +admitted that the Italians in the castle were boasting that the +stranger who seemed so eager to fight when Calli's arm was lame, +had lost his courage now that the arm was healed.</p> +<p>Of course I was in a deal of trouble over this combat, and +heartily wished the challenge had never been given, though I had +all faith in Max's strength and skill. I, who had fought constantly +for twenty years, had trained him since his tenth birthday. I had +not only trained him; I had introduced him to the lists at +eighteen--he being well grown, strong of limb, and active as a +wildcat. I waged him against a famous tilt-yard knight, and Max +held his own manfully, to his great credit and to my great joy. The +battle was a draw. My first great joy in life came a few months +afterward, when Max unhorsed this same knight, and received the +crown of victory from the queen of the lists.</p> +<p>But this combat would be a battle of death. Two men would enter +the lists; one would die in the course.</p> +<p>Max could, with propriety, announce his title and refuse to +fight one so far beneath him as Calli; but even my love for the boy +and my fear of the outcome, could not induce me to advise this. The +advice would have been little heeded had I given it. Max was not +one in whose heart hatred could thrive, but every man should have a +just sense of injury received, and no one should leave all +vengeance to God. In Max's heart this sense was almost judicial. +The court of his conscience had convicted Calli of an unforgivable +crime, and he felt that it was his God-appointed duty to carry out +the sentence.</p> +<p>While I had all faith in Max's strength and skill, I also knew +Calli to be a strong, time-hardened man, well used to arms. What +his skill was, I could not say, but fame proclaimed it great. It +would need to be great to kill Max, boy though he was, but +accidents are apt to happen in the lists, and Calli was +treacherous. I was deep in trouble, but I saw no way out but for +Max to fight. So, on the morning after our conversation with +Hymbercourt, Max and I sought admission to the duke's audience. +Charles had been privately told of our purpose and of course was +delighted at the prospect of a battle to the death.</p> +<p>A tournament with, mayhap, a few broken heads furnished him +great enjoyment; but a real battle between two men, each seeking +the other's life, was such keen pleasure to his savage, +blood-loving nature, that its importance could hardly be measured. +Charles would have postponed his war against the Swiss, I verily +believe, rather than miss this combat between Max and Calli.</p> +<p>The duke hurried through the business of the morning, and then +turned toward Max, signifying that his time had come. Max stepped +before the ducal throne, made his obeisance, and said:--</p> +<p>"May it please Your Highness to recall a wage of battle given by +me some weeks ago, in this hall and in this august presence, to one +who calls himself Count Calli? The cause of my complaint against +the said Calli I need not here rehearse. I have waited to repeat my +defiance until such time as Count Calli's arm should mend. I am +told that he is now strong; and, most gracious Lord Charles, Duke +of Burgundy, I again offer my wage of battle against this said +knight and demand the trial by combat."</p> +<p>Thereupon he drew an iron gauntlet from his girdle and threw it +clanking on the stone floor. The gauntlet lay untouched for the +space of a minute or two; and the duke turned toward Calli and +Campo-Basso, who stood surrounded by their Italian friends at the +right of the throne. After a long pause Charles said:--</p> +<p>"Will Count Calli lift the gage, or shall we appoint a court of +heraldry to determine whether or no the combat shall take +place?"</p> +<p>There was a whispered conversation among the Italians, after +which Campo-Basso addressed the duke.</p> +<p>"My most gracious lord," said he, "the noble Count Calli is +loath to lift the gage of an unknown man, and would make bold to +say that he will not do so until he is satisfied that he who so +boastingly offers it is worthy in blood, station, and knighthood to +stand before him."</p> +<p>"For all that I will stand surety," said Hymbercourt, turning to +the duke and to Campo-Basso.</p> +<p>"The Lord d'Hymbercourt's honor is beyond reproach," replied the +Italian, "but Count Calli must have other proof."</p> +<p>Hymbercourt was about to make an angry reply, but he was +silenced by the duke's uplifted hand.</p> +<p>"We will ourself be surety for this knight," said Charles.</p> +<p>"We cannot gainsay Your Lordship's surety, most gracious duke," +returned Campo-Basso; "but with all meekness and humility we would +suggest, with Your Grace's permission, that when a man jeopards his +life against another he feels it his right to know at least his +foe's name."</p> +<p>"Count Calli must content himself with knowing that the knight's +name is Sir Maximilian du Guelph. If Count Calli is right and his +cause just, God will give him victory, and the whole world shall +know of his deed. If he is in the wrong and his cause unjust, may +God have mercy on his soul."</p> +<p>A long pause ensued during which Max stood before the duke, a +noble figure of manly beauty worthy the chisel of a Greek sculptor. +The shutter in the ladies' gallery was ajar and I caught a glimpse +of Yolanda's pale, tear-stained face as she looked down upon the +man she loved, who was to put his life in peril to avenge her +wrong.</p> +<p>"We are wasting time, Count Calli," spoke the duke. "Take up the +gage or demand a court. The charge made by Sir Max will certainly +justify a court of chivalry in ordering the combat. The truth or +falsity of that charge you and Sir Max must prove on each other's +bodies. His desire to remain unknown the court will respect; he has +ample precedent. If you are convinced by the word of our Lord +d'Hymbercourt and myself that he is of birth and station worthy to +engage with you in knightly and mortal combat, you can ask no more. +Few courts of chivalry, I take it, would hold the evidence +inconclusive. Take up or leave the gage, Sir Count, and do one or +the other at once."</p> +<p>Calli walked over to the gauntlet and, taking it from the floor, +held it in his right hand while he bent his knee before the duke. +He did not look toward Max, but turned in the direction of his +friends and tucked the gauntlet in his girdle as he strode +away.</p> +<p>"We appoint this day twelve days, on a Sunday afternoon, for the +combat," said Charles. "Then these men shall do their endeavor, +each upon the other; and may God give victory to the right!"</p> +<hr style="width: 25%;"> +<p>That evening, as usual, Max and I were at Castleman's. Yolanda +did not come down till late, but when she came she clung silently +to Max, and there was a deep pathos in her every word and glance. +As we left, I went back and whispered hurriedly to her:--</p> +<p>"Have no fear, dear one. Our Max will take no harm."</p> +<p>My words were bolder than my heart, but I thought to comfort +her.</p> +<p>"I have no fear, Sir Karl," she said, in a trembling voice. +"There is no man so strong and brave as Max. He is in the right, +and God is just. The Blessed Virgin, too, will help him. It would +be sacrilege to doubt her. I do not doubt. I do not fear, Sir Karl, +but, oh, my friend--" Here she buried her face on my breast and +wept convulsively. Her words, too, had been bolder than her +heart--far bolder.</p> +<p>The brooding instinct in me--the faint remnant of mother love, +that kind Providence has left in every, good man's heart--longed to +comfort her and bear her pains. But I was powerless to help her, +and, after all, her suffering was wholesome. In a moment she +continued, sobbing while she spoke:--</p> +<p>"But--oh! if by any mischance Max should fall; if by treachery +or accident--oh, Sir Karl, my heart is breaking. Do not let Max +fight." These words were from her woman's heart. "His station will +excuse him, but if the affair has gone too far for him to withdraw, +tell him to--to leave Burgundy, to run away, to--"</p> +<p>"Yolanda, what are you saying?" I asked. "Would you not rather +see him dead than a coward?"</p> +<p>"No, no, Sir Karl," she cried, wrought almost to a frenzy by her +grief and fear. "No, no, anything but dead."</p> +<p>"Listen to reason, Yolanda," I answered. "I, who love Max more +than I love the blood of my heart, would kill him with my own hand +rather than have cause to call him coward and speak the truth."</p> +<p>"No, no," she cried desperately, grasping my hand. "Do not let +him fight. Ah, Sir Karl, if you bear me any love, if my grief and +unhappy lot have touched your heart, even on the smallest spot, I +pray you, do this thing for me. Do not let Max fight with this +Count Calli. If Max falls--"</p> +<p>"But Max will not fall," I answered boldly. "He has overthrown +better men than Calli."</p> +<p>"Has he? Ah, tell me, has he? He is little more than a boy. I +seem older than he at times, and it is hard to believe what you +say, though I know he is strong, and that fear has no place in his +heart. Tell me, whom has he overthrown?"</p> +<p>"Another time, Yolanda," I responded soothingly, "but this I say +now to comfort you. Calli is no match for our Max. In the combat +that is to come, Max can kill him if he chooses, barring accidents +and treachery. Over and above his prowess, his cause, you know, is +just, and for that reason God will be with him."</p> +<p>"Yes, yes," sobbed Yolanda, "and the Virgin, too."</p> +<p>The Virgin was a woman in whom she could find a woman's +sympathy. She trusted God and stood in reverent awe of Him; but one +could easily see that the Virgin held her heart and was her refuge +in time of trouble. When I turned to leave she called me back, +saying:--</p> +<p>"I have a mind to tell Max the truth--to tell him who I am."</p> +<p>"I would not do so now," I answered, fearing, perhaps with good +reason, the effect of the disclosure on Max. "After the combat, if +you wish to tell him--"</p> +<p>"But if he should fall?" said the girl, beginning to weep again +and clinging desperately to my arm. "If he should fall, not knowing +who I am?"</p> +<p>"Max will not fall, Yolanda. Dismiss that fear from your +heart."</p> +<p>My bold words served a double purpose. They at least partially +satisfied Yolanda, and they strengthened me.</p> +<p>Of course Max and I at once began to prepare for the combat. The +charger we had captured from the robbers on the Rhine now came to +our hand as if sent by Providence. He was a large, active horse, +with limbs like steel. He was an intelligent animal, too, and a +good brain is almost as valuable in a horse as in a man. He had +evidently borne arms all his life, for when we tried him in the +tilt-yard we found him trained at every point.</p> +<p>There was no heavy plate at the Peronne armorer's large enough +for Max, so Hymbercourt dropped a hint to Duke Charles, and His +Grace sent two beautiful suits to our inn. One was of Barcelona +make, the other an old suit which we judged had come from Damascus. +I tried the latter with my sword, and spoiled a good blade. +Although the Damascus armor was too heavy by a stone, we chose it, +and employed an armorer to tighten a few nuts, and to adjust new +straps to the shoulder plates and arm pieces.</p> +<p>We caused lists to be built outside the walls, and Max worked +eight hours a day to harden himself. He ran against me, against our +squires, who were lusty big fellows, and now and then against +Hymbercourt, who was a most accomplished knight.</p> +<p>Yolanda was prone to coax Max not to fight, and her fear showed +itself in every look and gesture. Her words, of course, could not +have turned him, but her fears might have undermined his +self-confidence. So I pointed out to her the help he would get from +encouragement, and the possible hurt he would take were her fears +to infect him. After my admonition, her efforts to be cheerful and +confident almost brought tears to my eyes. She would sing, but her +song was joyless. She would banter Max and would run imaginary +courses with him, taking the part of Calli, and always falling dead +at Max's feet; but the moment of relaxation brought a haunting, +terrified expression to her eyes. The corners of her sweet mouth +would droop, effacing the cluster of dimples that played about her +lips, and the fair, childish face, usually so joyful, wore the mask +of grief. For the first time in her life real happiness had come, +not within her grasp, but within sight; and this combat might +snatch it from her.</p> +<p>Once when I was helping Max to buckle on his armor for a bout at +practice, he said:--</p> +<p>"Yolanda seems to treat this battle as a jest. She laughs and +banters me as if it were to be a justing bout. I wonder if she +really has a heart?"</p> +<p>"Max, I am surprised at your dulness," I said. "Do you not see +her manner is assumed, though her fear is small because of her +great faith in your prowess?"</p> +<p>"I'll try to deserve her faith," answered Max.</p> +<hr style="width: 25%;"> +<p>When at last the day arrived, Max was in prime condition. At the +inn we carefully adjusted the armor and fitted it on him. One of +our squires led the charger, carefully trapped, to the lists, which +had been built in an open field outside the town, west of the +castle.</p> +<p>Max and I, accompanied by Hymbercourt and two other friends, +rode down to Castleman's, and Max entered the house for a few +minutes. Yolanda had told him that she would not be at the lists, +and Max felt that it were better so.</p> +<p>Twonette and her father had gone to the lists when we reached +the House under the Wall, but Yolanda and Frau Kate were awaiting +us. There was a brief greeting and a hurried parting--tearful on +Yolanda's part. Then we rode around to the Postern and entered the +courtyard of the castle. Crossing the courtyard, we passed out +through the great gate at the keep, and soon stood demanding +admission to the lists.</p> +<p>The course was laid off north and south, the sun being in the +southwest. The hour of battle was fixed at four o'clock, and the +combat was to continue till sundown, if neither champion fell +before that time. The pavilion for the duke and the other +spectators was built at the west side of the false lists--a strip +of ground ten feet wide, extending entirely around the true lists, +but separated from it by a barrier or railing three feet high.</p> +<p>It was an hour after we left Castleman's house before Max and I +entered the false lists. As I expected, the princess was sitting in +the pavilion with her father and Duchess Margaret. A veil partly +concealed her features, and when Max rode down the false lists to +make his obeisance before the duke and the duchess, he could not +know that the white face of Yolanda looked down upon him. I was +sorry to see the princess in the pavilion, because I knew that if +an untoward fate should befall Max, a demonstration would surely +follow in the ducal gallery.</p> +<a name="417.jpg"></a> +<p class="ctr"><a href="Images/417.jpg"><img src="Images/417.jpg" +width="40%" alt=""></a><br> +<b>MAX AT THE GATE OF THE LISTS.</b></p> +<p>At the gate of the true lists, Max was met by a priest, who +heard his oath, and by a herald, who read the laws and the +agreement relating to the combat. A court of heraldry had decided +that three lances should be broken, after which the champions, if +both alive, should dismount and continue the fight with battle-axes +of whatever weight they might choose. If either knight should be +disabled, it was the other's right to kill him.</p> +<p>After Max had entered the true lists the gates were closed, and +Hymbercourt, myself, and our squires stood outside the barrier at +the north end of the false lists,--the north being Max's station on +the course.</p> +<p>Max sat his charger, lance in rest; Calli waited in the south, +and these two faced each other with death between them.</p> +<p>When all was ready the heralds raised their banners, and the +duke gave the word of battle. There was a moment of deep silence, +broken by the thunder of tramping hoofs, as horses and men rushed +upon each other. Calli and Max met in mid-course, and the din of +their contact was like the report of a cannon. Each horse fell back +upon its haunches; each rider bent back upon his horse. Two tough +yule lances burst into a hundred splinters. Then silence ensued, +broken after a moment by a storm of applause from the pavilion.</p> +<p>The second course was like the first, save that Max nearly +unhorsed Calli by a marvellous helmet stroke. The stroke loosened +Calli's helmet by breaking a throat-strap, but neither he nor his +friends seemed to notice the mishap, and the third course was begun +without remedying it. When the champions were within ten yards of +each other, a report like the discharge of an arquebuse was heard, +coming apparently from beneath the pavilion. I could not say whence +the report came--I was too intent upon the scene in the lists to be +thoroughly conscious of happenings elsewhere--but come it did from +somewhere, and Max's fine charger plunged forward on the lists, +dead. Max fell over his horse's head and lay half-stunned upon the +ground.</p> +<p>Above the din rose a cry, a frantic scream, that fairly pierced +my heart. Well I knew the voice that uttered it. The people in the +pavilion rose to their feet, and cries of "Treachery! treachery!" +came from all directions. Calli was evidently expecting the shot, +for just before it came he reined in his horse, and when Max fell +the Italian instantly brought his charger to a standstill and began +to dismount with all the speed his heavy armor would permit. When +safely down, he unclasped his battle-axe from the chain that held +it to his girdle and started toward Max, who was lying prone upon +the ground. Cries of "Shame! shame!" came from the pavilion, but no +one, not even the duke, dared to interfere; it was Calli's right to +kill Max if he could.</p> +<p>I had covered my eyes with my hand, thinking that surely the +boy's hour had come. I removed my hand when I heard the scream, and +I have thanked God ever since for prompting me to do that little +act, for I saw the most beautiful sight that my eyes have ever +beheld. Calli had reached his prostrate foe and was standing over +him with battle-axe uplifted to deal the blow of death. At that +same moment Yolanda sprang from the duke's side, cleared the low +railing in front of the ducal box, and jumped to the false lists +six or eight feet below. Her gown of scarlet and gold shone with +dazzling radiance in the sunlight.</p> +<p>Calli was facing the pavilion, and Yolanda's leap probably +attracted his attention. However that may have been--perhaps it was +because of Calli's haste, perhaps it was the will of God--the blow +fell short, and Calli's battle-axe, glancing from Max's helmet, +buried itself in the hard ground. While Calli was struggling to +release his axe, Yolanda cleared the low barrier of the true lists, +sped across the intervening space like a flash of red avenging +flame, and reached Max not one second too soon, for Calli's axe was +again uplifted. She fell upon Max, and had the axe descended she +would have received the blow. Calli stepped back in surprise, his +heel caught on the toe of Max's iron boot, he fell prone upon his +back, and the weight of his armor prevented him from rising +quickly. The glancing blow on Max's helmet had roused him, and when +he moved Yolanda rose to her knees beside him.</p> +<p>"Let me help you," she cried, lifting Max's mailed hand to her +shoulder; Max did so, and by help of the frail girl he drew himself +to his knees and then to his feet. Meantime, Calli was attempting +to rise. I can still see the terrible picture. Calli's panting +horse stood near by with drooping head. Max's charger lay quivering +in the convulsions of death. Calli, whose helmet had dropped from +his head when he fell, lay resting on his elbow, half risen and +bareheaded. Max stood deliberately taking his battle-axe from his +girdle chain, while Yolanda still knelt at his feet. Battle-axe in +hand, Max stepped toward Calli, who had risen to his knees. The +expression on the Italian's face I shall never forget. With bared +head and upturned face he awaited the death that he knew he +deserved. Max lifted his battle-axe to give the blow. I wondered if +he would give it. He lowered the axe, and a shout went up from the +pavilion:--</p> +<p>"Kill him! Kill him!"</p> +<p>He lifted the axe again, and a silence like the hush of death +fell upon the shouting audience. Again Max hesitated, and I +distinctly heard Yolanda, who was still upon her knees, +whisper:--</p> +<p>"Kill him! Kill him!"</p> +<p>Then came the shouts of a thousand voices, thrilling me to the +marrow:--</p> +<p>"Kill him! Kill him!" and I knew that if I were standing in +Max's shoes, Calli would die within a moment. I also remember +wondering in a flash of thought if Max were great enough to spare +him. Again the battle-axe came slowly down, and the din in the +pavilion was deafening:--</p> +<p>"Kill him! Kill him!"</p> +<p>Again the battle-axe rose; but after a pause, Max let it fall to +the ground behind him; and, turning toward the girl, lifted her +with his mailed hands to her feet. When she had risen Max looked +into her face, and, falling back a step, exclaimed in a voice +hushed by wonder:--</p> +<p>"Yolanda!"</p> +<p>His words coming to the girl's ears, like a far-away sound, from +the cavernous recesses of his helmet, frightened her.</p> +<p>"No, no, my name is not Yolanda. You are mistaken. You do not +know me. I--I am the princess. You do not know me."</p> +<p>Her words were prompted by two motives: she wished to remain +unknown to Max, and she feared lest her father should come to know +that a great part of her life was spent as a burgher girl. Her +hands were clasped at her breast; her face was as pale as a gray +dawn; her breath came in feeble gusts, and her words fell haltingly +from her lips. She took two steps forward, her eyes closed, and she +began to fall. Max caught her and lifted her in his strong arms. On +great occasions persons often do trivial acts. With Yolanda held +tightly in the embrace of his left arm, Max stooped to the ground +and picked up his battle-axe with his right hand. Then he strode to +the north end of the lists and placed the girl in my arms.</p> +<p>"Yolanda," he said, intending to tell me of his fair burden.</p> +<p>"No, Max," I whispered, as he unfastened his helmet. "Not +Yolanda, but the princess. The two resemble each other +greatly."</p> +<p>"Yolanda," returned Max, doggedly. "I know her as a mother knows +her first-born."</p> +<p>Not one hundred seconds had elapsed between the report of the +arquebuse and the placing of Yolanda in my arms; but hardly had Max +finished speaking when a dozen ladies crowded about us and took +possession of the unconscious princess.</p> +<p>After the duke had set on foot a search for the man who had +fired the arquebuse, he came down to the false lists and stood with +Hymbercourt and me, discussing the event. Campo-Basso said that his +heart was "sore with grief," and the Italians jabbered like +monkeys. One of them wanted to kiss Max for sparing his kinsman's +life, but Max thrust him off with a fierce oath. The young fellow +was in an ugly mood, and if I had been his enemy, I would sooner +have crossed the path of a wounded lion than his. He was slow to +anger, but the treachery he had encountered had raised all of Satan +that was in him. Had he stood before Calli thirty seconds longer +that treacherous heart would have ceased to beat.</p> +<p>While we were standing in the false lists, speaking with the +duke, an Italian approached Max, bowed low, and said:--</p> +<p>"The noble Count Calli approaches to thank you for your mercy +and to extol your bravery."</p> +<p>Max turned his head toward the centre of the course, and saw +Calli surrounded by a crowd of jabbering friends who were leading +him toward us. A black cloud--a very mist from hell--came over +Max's face. He stooped and took his battle-axe from the ground. I +placed my hand on the boy's arm and warningly spoke his name:--</p> +<p>"Max!" After a pause I continued, "Leave murder to the +Italians."</p> +<p>Max uttered a snort of disdain, but, as usual, he took my +advice. He turned to Campo-Basso, still grasping his +battle-axe:--</p> +<p>"Keep that fellow away from me," he said, pointing toward Calli. +"My merciful mood was brief. By the good God who gave me the +villain's life, I will kill him if he comes within reach of my +axe."</p> +<p>An Italian ran to the men who had Calli in charge, and they +turned at once and hurried toward the south gate of the lists. All +this action was very rapid, consuming only a minute or two, and +transpired in much less time than it requires to tell of it.</p> +<p>While our squires were removing Max's armor, I heard the duke +say:--</p> +<p>"Arrest Calli. We will hold him until the shot is explained. If +he was privy to it, he shall hang or boil." Then the duke, placing +his hand on Max's shoulder, continued: "You are the best knight in +Christendom, the bravest, the most generous, and the greatest fool. +Think you Calli would have spared you, boy?"</p> +<p>"I am not Calli, my lord," said Max.</p> +<p>"You certainly are not," returned the duke.</p> +<p>Visions of trouble with France growing out of Yolanda's "t," and +of a subsequent union between Max and the princess, floated before +my mind, even amidst the din that surrounded me. Taking the +situation by and large, I was in an ecstasy of joy. Max's victory +was a thousand triumphs in one. It was a triumph over his enemy, a +triumph over his friends, but, above all, a triumph over himself. +He had proved himself brave and merciful, and I knew that in him +the world had a man who would leave it better and happier than he +found it.</p> +<p>Calli was arrested and brought to the duke's presence. Of course +he denied all knowledge of the shot that had killed Max's horse. +Others were questioned, including three Italian friars wearing +cassocks and cowls, who bore a most wondrous testimony.</p> +<p>"Your Grace," said one of the friars, "we three men of God can +explain this matter that so nearly touches the honor of our fair +countryman, the noble Count Calli."</p> +<p>"In God's name, do so," exclaimed the duke.</p> +<p>"This is the explanation, most gracious lord. When the third +course was preparing, we three men of God prayed in concert to God +the Father,"--all the friars crossed themselves,--"God the Son, and +God the Holy Ghost, to save our countryman, and lo! our prayers +were most graciously answered; for, noble lord, at the moment when +this most valiant knight was about to kill our friend, we each +heard a report marvellously like to the discharge of an arquebuse. +At the same instant a fiery shaft descended from the palm of a +mighty hand in the heavens, and the horse of this valiant and most +generous knight, Sir Max, fell dead, stricken by the hand of +God."</p> +<p>I had no doubt that this absurd explanation would be received +with scorn and derision; but the friar knew his audience, and I did +not. His statement was not really accepted as true, but it was not +cast aside as utterly absurd. I saw that it might easily be +believed.</p> +<p>"Why did not others see your wondrous shaft from the hand of +God?" I asked.</p> +<p>"Because, noble lord," answered the friar, "our eyes were +looking upward in prayer. All others were fixed on this worldly +combat."</p> +<p>The explanation actually seemed to explain.</p> +<p>Just then the men who had been sent out to seek evidence +concerning the shot returned, and reported that no arquebuse was to +be found. The lists were surrounded by an open field, and a man +endeavoring to escape would have been seen.</p> +<p>"Did you search all places of possible concealment for an +arquebuse?" asked the duke.</p> +<p>"All, my lord," answered the men, who were Burgundians and to be +trusted.</p> +<p>Faith in the friars absurd story was rapidly gaining ground, and +several of the Italian courtiers, emboldened by encouragement, +affirmed upon their hope of salvation and their knightly honor that +they, too, had witnessed the descent of the shaft from heaven. +Touch a man on his superstitions, and he will believe anything you +tell him. If you assure him that an honest friend has told you so +and so, he may doubt you, but tell him that God tells you, and he +will swallow your hook. If you would have your lie believed, tell a +great one.</p> +<p>Charles, more credulous and gullible than I should have +believed, turned to Hymbercourt. He spoke reverentially, being, you +understand, in the presence of a miracle:--</p> +<p>"This is a wondrous happening, my lord," said the duke.</p> +<p>"If it happened, Your Grace," returned Hymbercourt, "it +certainly was marvellous."</p> +<p>"Don't you think it did happen? Do not you believe that this +bolt came from the hand that was seen by these worthy friars?" +asked the duke.</p> +<p>"The shaft surely did not come from a just God, my lord," +returned Hymbercourt.</p> +<p>"Whence, then, did it come?" asked the duke. "No arquebuse has +been found, and a careful scrutiny has been made."</p> +<p>"Aye!" echoed the friars. "Whence else did it come? Whence, my +Lord d'Hymbercourt, whence?"</p> +<p>I had noticed our Irish servant Michael standing near one of the +friars. At this point in the conversation the Irishman plucked me +by the sleeve, pointed to a friar, and whispered a word in my ear. +Like a stone from a catapult I sprang on the friar indicated, threw +him to the ground, and drew from under his black cassock an +arquebuse.</p> +<p>"Here is the shaft from God!" I exclaimed, holding the arquebuse +up to view. Then I kneeled on the prostrate wretch and clutched his +throat. Anger gathered in my brain as lightning clusters about a +mountain top. I threw aside the arquebuse and proceeded to kill the +canting mendicant. I do not know that I killed him; I hope I did. I +cannot speak with certainty on that point, for I was quickly thrown +away from him by the avenging mob that rushed upon us and tore the +fellow limb from limb. The other friars were set upon by the +populace that had witnessed the combat from without the lists, and +were beaten so unmercifully that one of them died. Of the other's +fate I know nothing, but I have my secret desires.</p> +<p>"Kill the Italians! Murder the assassins! Down with the +mercenaries," cried the populace, who hated the duke's guard. The +barriers were broken down, and an interesting battle ensued. Surely +the people got their full satisfaction of blood and excitement that +day. The Italians drew their swords, but, being separated, they +were at a disadvantage, though their assailants carried only +staves. I expected the duke to stop the fight, but he withdrew to a +little distance and watched it with evident interest. My interest +was more than evident; it was uproarious. I have never spent so +enjoyable a day. The fight raged after Max and I left, and there +was many a sore head and broken bone that night among the Italian +mercenaries of the Duke of Burgundy.</p> +<p>When Max and I returned to Peronne, we went to the noble church +of St. Jean and offered our humble gratitude. Max, having thrown +off his anger, proposed to buy a mass for the dead friar; but I was +for leaving him in purgatory where he belonged, and Max, as usual, +took my advice.</p> +<p>On reaching the inn, Max cried loudly for supper. His calmness +would have done credit to a hardened warrior. There was at least +one hardened warrior that was not calm. I was wrought almost to a +pitch of frenzy and could not eat, though the supper prepared by +Grote was a marvel in its way. The old man, usually grave and +crusty, after the manner of German hosts, actually bent his knee to +Max and said:--</p> +<p>"My poor house has entertained kings and princes; but never has +it had so great an honor as that which it now has in sheltering +you."</p> +<p>That night the duke came with Hymbercourt to honor us at the +inn. Each spoke excitedly and warmly. Max seemed to be the only +calm man in Peronne.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> +<h3>YOLANDA OR THE PRINCESS?</h3> +<br> +<p>After these adventures we could no longer conceal Max's +identity, and it soon became noised about that he was Count of +Hapsburg. But Styria was so far away, and so little known, even to +courtiers of considerable rank, that the fact made no great stir in +Peronne. To Frau Kate and Twonette the disclosure came with almost +paralyzing effect.</p> +<p>The duke remained with us until late in the night, so Max and I +did not go over to the House under the Wall. When we were alone in +our room, Max said:</p> +<p>"The Princess Mary has treated me as if I were a boy."</p> +<p>"She saved your life," I returned. "Calli would certainly have +killed you had she not acted quickly."</p> +<p>"I surely owe her my life," said Max, "though I have little +knowledge of what happened after I fell from my horse until I rose +to my feet by her help. I complain of her conduct in deceiving me +by pretending to be a burgher maiden. It was easily done, Karl, but +ungraciously."</p> +<p>"You are now speaking of Yolanda," I said, not knowing what the +wishes of the princess might be in regard to enlightening him. He +looked at me and answered:--</p> +<p>"Karl, if a woman's face is burned on a man's heart, he knows it +when he sees it."</p> +<p>"You know Yolanda's face, certainly, and I doubt if Yolanda will +thank you for mistaking another's for it."</p> +<p>"I have made no mistake, Karl," he answered.</p> +<p>"I am not so sure," I replied. "The girl you placed in my arms +seemed taller by half a head than Yolanda. I noticed her while she +was standing. She seemed rounder and much heavier in form; but I, +too, thought she was Yolanda, and, after all, you may be +right."</p> +<p>"I caught but a glimpse of her face, and that poorly," said Max. +"It is difficult to see anything looking downward out of a helmet; +one must look straight ahead. But the glimpse I had of her face +satisfied me."</p> +<p>"Do not be too sure, Max. I once took another man for myself." +Max laughed. "I am sure no one could have told us apart. He was the +Pope, and I his cousin. Yolanda herself once told me--I believe she +has also told you--that she has the honor to resemble the +princess."</p> +<p>I did not wish to lie to Max, and you will note that I did not +say the princess was not Yolanda. Still, I wished him to remain +ignorant upon the important question until Yolanda should see fit +to enlighten him. I was not sure of her motive in maintaining the +alias, though I was certain it was more than a mere whim. How great +it was I could not know. Should she persist in it I would help her +up to the point of telling Max a downright falsehood. There I would +stop.</p> +<p>We spent two evenings at Castleman's, but did not see Yolanda. +On the first evening, after an hour of listlessness, Max +hesitatingly asked:--</p> +<p>"Where is Yo--that is, the princess has not been here this +evening."</p> +<p>"The princess!" exclaimed Frau Kate. "No, she has not been here +this evening--nor the duke, nor the king of France. No titled +person, Sir Count, save yourself, has honored us to-day. Our poor +roof shelters few such."</p> +<p>"I mean Yolanda," said Max. Good-natured Frau Kate laughed +softly, and Twonette said, with smiling serenity:--</p> +<p>"Yolanda's head will surely be turned, Sir Count, when she hears +you have called her the princess. So much greatness thrust upon her +will make it impossible for us to live with her."</p> +<p>"She rules us all as it is, sweet soul," said Castleman.</p> +<p>"Yolanda is ill upstairs, Sir Count," said Frau Kate. "She +wanted to come down this evening, but I commanded otherwise. +Twonette, go to her. She will be lonely."</p> +<p>Twonette rose, courtesied, and departed. This splendid bit of +acting almost made me doubt that Yolanda was the princess, and it +shook Max's conviction to its very foundation.</p> +<p>I wish to warn you that the deception practised upon Max by +Yolanda will seem almost impossible, except on the hypothesis that +Max was a very simple fellow. But the elaborate scheme designed and +executed by this girl, with the help of the Castlemans and +myself,--all of whom Max had no reason to distrust,--would have +deceived any man. Max, though simple and confiding where he +trusted,--judging others' good faith by his own,--was shrewd for +his years, and this plan of Yolanda's had to be faultless, as it +really was, to mislead him.</p> +<p>On the morning of the fourth day after the trial by combat, +Yolanda made her appearance at Castleman's, looking pale and +large-eyed. Max and I had walked down to the House under the Wall +before going to dine with the duke. Soon after we were seated +Twonette left, and within five minutes Yolanda came suddenly upon +us in the long parlor. She ran to Max, grasping both his hands. For +a moment she could only say, "Max, Max," and he remained +silent.</p> +<p>When she recovered control of her voice she said:--</p> +<p>"How proud we are of you, Sir Max! Uncle and aunt have told me +how brave and merciful you were at the combat."</p> +<p>"Your Highness surely knows all that can be told on the subject, +since you were there and took so active a part in the adventure," +answered Max. "It is I who should be grateful, and I am. I owe my +life to Your Highness."</p> +<p>"You honor me too much, Sir Max," said Yolanda, looking up with +surprise and bowing low before him. "Let my elevation be gradual +that I may grow accustomed to my rank. Make of me first a great +lady, and then, say, a countess. Afterward, if I prove worthy, call +me princess."</p> +<p>"We will call you a princess now, Your Highness," answered Max, +not to be driven from his position.</p> +<p>"Very well," cried Yolanda, with a laugh and a sweeping +courtesy. "If you will have me a princess, a princess I'll be. But +I will not be the Princess of Burgundy. She saved your life, and I +am jealous of her--I hate her."</p> +<p>She stamped her foot, and the angry gleam in her eyes was +genuine. There could be no doubt that she was jealous of the +princess. I could not account for her unique attitude toward +herself save on one hypothesis: she was, even to herself, two +distinct persons. Yolanda was a happy burgher girl; Mary was a +wretched princess. The two widely differing conditions under which +she lived were so distinct, and were separated by a gulf so broad, +that to her the princess and the burgher girl were in no way +related.</p> +<p>With change of condition there was always a change of person. +The unhappy princess would come down the stairway in the wall; God +would kindly touch her, and lo! she was transformed into a happy +Yolanda. Yolanda's light feet would climb the dark stone steps, and +God was once more a frowning father. There must also be added Max's +share in her emotions. Perhaps she feared the princess as she would +have dreaded a rival; since she longed with all her passionate, +tender heart to win Max for herself only. It would have been an +easy task, as princess, to win him or any man; but if she could win +him as Yolanda, the burgher girl, the prize would be the greatest +that could fall to a woman.</p> +<p>The true situation dawned upon me as I stood before Max and +watched Yolanda. I thought of her adroit plan to make trouble with +France, and I wanted to shout for joy. The impossible might yet +happen. God's hand surely had been in our journeying to Burgundy. +Max might yet win this peerless princess, this priceless girl; or, +reverse it if you choose, Mary of Burgundy might win this peerless +man, and might at the same time attain the unutterable joy of +knowing that she had won him for her own sake.</p> +<p>Perhaps her yearning had led her to hope that he might in the +end be willing to fling behind him his high estate for the sake of +a burgher girl. Then, when she had brought him to that resolution, +what a joy it would be to turn upon him and say: "I am not a +burgher girl. I am Princess Mary of Burgundy, and all these things +which you are willing to forego for my sake you may keep, and you +may add to them the fair land of Burgundy!" Her high estate and +rich domains, now the tokens of her thralldom, would then be her +joy, since she could give them to Max.</p> +<p>While these bright hopes were filling my mind, Yolanda was +playing well her part. She, too, evidently meant to tell no lies, +though she might be forced to act many. Her fiery outburst against +the Princess of Burgundy astonished Max and almost startled me. +Still, the conviction was strong with him that Yolanda was +Mary.</p> +<p>"If--if you are the princess, Yo--Yolanda," said Max, evidently +wavering, "it were ungracious to deceive me."</p> +<p>"But I <i>am</i> the princess," cried Yolanda, lifting her head +and walking majestically to and fro. "Address me not by that low, +plebeian name, Yolanda."</p> +<p>She stepped upon a chair and thence to the top of the great oak +table that stood in the middle of the room. Drawing the chair up +after her she placed it on the table, and, seating herself on this +improvised throne, lifted one knee over the other, after the manner +of her father. She looked serenely about her in a most amusing +imitation of the duke, and spoke with a deep voice:--</p> +<p>"Heralds!"</p> +<p>No one responded. So she filled the office of herald herself and +cried out:--</p> +<p>"Oyez! Oyez! The princess now gives audience!" Resuming the +ducal voice, she continued, "Are there complaints, my Lord +Seneschal?" A pause. "Ah, our guards have stolen Grion's cow, have +they? The devil take Grion and his cow, too! Hang Grion for +complaining." A pause ensues while the duke awaits the next report. +"The Swiss have stolen a sheepskin? Ah, we'll skin the Swiss. My +Lord Seneschal, find me fifty thousand men who are ready to die for +a sheepskin. Body of me! A sheepskin! I do love it well."</p> +<p>Yolanda's audience was roaring with laughter by this time, but +her face was stern and calm.</p> +<p>"Silence, you fools," she cried hoarsely, but no one was silent, +and Max laughed till the tears came to his eyes. Yolanda on her +throne was so irresistibly bewitching that he ran to her side, +grasped her about the waist, and unceremoniously lifted her to the +floor. When she was on her feet, he raised her hand to his lips and +kissed it, saying:--</p> +<p>"Yolanda or Mary--it's all one to me. There is not another like +you in all the world."</p> +<p>She drew herself up haughtily: "Sir, this indignity shall cost +you dear," and turning her back on him she moved away three or four +paces. Then she stopped and glanced over her shoulder. His face had +lost its smile, and she knew the joke had gone far enough; so the +dimples began to cluster about the quivering corners of her mouth, +the long black lashes fell for a moment, a soft radiance came to +her eyes, and she asked:--</p> +<p>"Which shall it be, Sir Max, Yolanda or the princess?"</p> +<p>"Yolanda," cried Max, huskily, while he held out his hands to +her. Quick as the movement of a kitten, she sprang to him and +allowed his arms to close about her for one brief moment. While one +might count ten she rested her head on his breast, but all too +quickly she turned her face to his and whispered:--</p> +<p>"Are you sure? Is it Yolanda?"</p> +<p>"Yes, yes, Yolanda. Thank God! it is Yolanda," he replied, +placing his hand before his eyes. She slipped from his arms, and +Max, too deeply moved to speak, walked over to the window and +looked out upon the frowning walls of Peronne the Impregnable. +There was irony for you!</p> +<p>Probably Max was not sure that Yolanda was Yolanda; but, if he +was, conviction had come through his emotions, and it might be +temporary. He was, however, soon to be convinced by evidence so +cunningly constructed that he was compelled to abandon the +testimony of his own eyes and accept that of seemingly +incontestable facts.</p> +<p>"We are to dine privately with the duke at twelve o'clock," I +said, while Max was standing at the window.</p> +<p>"Indeed?" asked Yolanda, arching her eyebrows; surprise and +displeasure evident in her voice. She glanced at the great clock, +then looked toward Max, and said:--</p> +<p>"It lacks but thirty minutes of that time now, and I suppose I +shall soon lose you."</p> +<p>Max turned from the window, saying:--"Yes, we must go, or we +shall be late."</p> +<p>"Does the princess dine with you?" asked Yolanda.</p> +<p>"I do not know, Fräulein," answered Max. Thereupon Yolanda +left the room pouting, and we took our departure, having promised +to return to Castleman's after dinner.</p> +<p>We went at once to the castle; and thirty minutes after leaving +Castleman's we were in the small parlor or talking room of Duchess +Margaret, where the famous letter to the king of France had been +signed by Duke Charles. When we entered we saw the duchess and the +princess sitting upon the divan. The duke was in his great oak +chair, and Hymbercourt and two other gentlemen were standing near +by. I made obeisance to Charles on bended knee. He rose to receive +Max, and, after a slight hesitation, offered his hand, +saying:--</p> +<p>"You are welcome, my Lord Count."</p> +<p>A year had passed since I had heard Max addressed as "my lord," +and the words sounded strange to my ears. I turned quickly toward +the princess, expecting to see a sparkle of mirth in her eyes, but +Yolanda's ever present smile was wholly lacking. The countenance of +the princess was calm, immovable, and expressionless as a mirror. I +could hardly believe that it was the radiant, bedimpled, pouting +face I had just seen at Castleman's, and for the first time in all +my experience I realized that I was face to face with a dual +personality. The transformation was so complete that I might easily +have been duped had I not known beyond peradventure the identity of +Yolanda and Mary.</p> +<p>After the duke had kindly saluted Max, His Grace presented us to +the ladies. When the princess rose to receive us, she seemed at +least half a head taller than Yolanda. Her hair was hidden, and her +face seemed fuller. These changes were probably wrought by her +head-dress, which towered in two great curved horns twelve inches +high. She wore a long, flowing gown that trailed two yards behind +her, and this added to her apparent height. Max had seen Yolanda +only in the short skirts of a burgher girl's costume.</p> +<p>When Max rose, after kneeling before the princess, he gazed into +her eyes, but the glance he received in return was calm and cold. +Yolanda was rich, red wine, hot and strong; the princess was cold, +clear water. The one was exhilarating, at times intoxicating; the +other was chilling. The face of the princess, though beautiful, was +touched with disdain. Every attitude was one of dignity and +hauteur. Her words, though not lacking intelligence, were +commonplace, and her voice was that of her father's daughter. +Yolanda was a girl; the princess was a woman. The metamorphosis was +complete, and Max's hallucination, I felt sure, would be cured. The +princess's face was not burned on his heart, whatever might be true +of Yolanda's. I can give no stronger testimony to the marvellous +quality of the change this girl had wrought in herself than to tell +you that even I began to doubt, and wonder if Yolanda had tricked +me. The effect on Max was instantaneous. After looking into the +princess's face, he said:--</p> +<p>"I wish to thank Your Highness for saving my life. I surely had +been killed but for your timely help."</p> +<p>The situation bordered on the ridiculous.</p> +<p>"Do not thank me, my Lord Count," responded the princess, in +cold and measured words. "I should have done the same for any man +in your hard case. I once saved a yokel in like manner. Two common +men were fighting with staves. One would have beaten the other to +death had I not entered the lists and parted them. Father feared a +similar exhibition on my part and did not wish me to attend your +combat. He says now that I shall go to no more. I certainly made +myself ridiculous. I enjoy a fair fight, whatever the outcome may +be, but I despise murder. My act was entirely impersonal, Sir +Count."</p> +<p>"On the lists I addressed Your Highness as 'Yolanda,'" said Max. +"Your resemblance to one whom I know well was so great as to +deceive me."</p> +<p>I was eager to take Max away from the dangerous situation, but I +could not. The duke, the courtiers, and myself had moved several +paces from Max and the princess. I, however, kept my eyes and ears +open to what occurred between them.</p> +<p>"Yes," returned the princess, haughtily, "I remember you so +addressed me. I have heard of the person to whom you refer. She is, +I believe, a niece of one Castleman, a burgher of Peronne. I know +Castleman's daughter--a simple creature, with no pretence of being +else. It has been said that--what do they call her? Yolanda, I +believe--resembles me in some respects and is quite proud of the +distinction. I am sure I thank no one for the compliment, since she +is a low creature, but I accept your apology, my Lord Count."</p> +<p>"I do not apologize, Your Highness," answered Max, in tones of +equal hauteur. "You probably do not know the lady of whom you +speak."</p> +<p>The princess seemed to increase by an inch or two in stature as +she drew herself up, and answered:--</p> +<p>"Of course we do not know her."</p> +<p>"If you knew her, Your Highness would apologize," retorted +Max.</p> +<p>Seeing the angry color mounting to his face, I stepped to his +side and joined in the conversation. Presently dinner was +announced, and I rejoiced when we parted from the princess. Turning +our faces toward the ladies, we moved backward from the room, and +went with the duke to the dinner hall.</p> +<p>Compared with Castleman's daily fare, the duke's dinner was +almost unpalatable. We had coarse beef, coarse boar's meat, coarse +bread,--not black, but brown. Frau Kate's bread was like snow. The +sour wine on the duke's table set our teeth on edge, though it was +served in huge golden goblets studded with rare gems. At each +guest's plate was a jewelled dagger. The tablecloth was of rich +silk, soiled by numberless stains. Leeks and garlic were the only +vegetables served.</p> +<p>Nothing of importance occurred at the table, but after dinner +the duke abruptly offered Max a large sum of gold to accompany him +to Switzerland. Max thanked His Grace and said he would give him an +answer soon. The duke urged an early reply, and Max said:--</p> +<p>"With Your Grace's permission we will attend to-morrow's morning +audience, and will make our answer after Your Lordship has +risen."</p> +<p>Charles acquiesced, and we soon left the castle. The duke, as I +have already told you, was very rich. Hymbercourt once told me that +he had two hundred and fifty thousand gold crowns in his coffers at +Luxembourg. That was probably more than the combined treasuries of +any two kings in Europe could show. Max and I were short of money, +and the sum that the duke offered seemed enormous. Neither Max nor +his father, Duke Frederick, had ever possessed as much money at one +time.</p> +<p>While we were leisurely walking across the courtyard toward the +Postern, three ladies and two gentlemen, accompanied by outriders +and pages carrying falcons, rode by us and passed out through the +Postern. We followed, and overtook them at the town end of the +drawbridge, where they had halted. When we came up to them, we +recognized the duchess and the princess. The duchess bowed +smilingly, but the princess did not speak, though she looked in our +direction.</p> +<p>The cavalcade turned to the left, and went up a narrow street +toward Cambrai Gate, evidently bound for the marshes. Max and I +walked straight ahead toward the Cologne bridge, intending, as we +had promised, to go back to Castleman's. Two hundred yards up the +street I glanced back, and saw a lady riding through the Postern, +back to the castle. I knew at once that the princess had returned, +and I was sure of meeting Yolanda,--sweet, smiling, tender +Yolanda,--at the dear old House under the Wall. I did not like the +princess; she was cold, haughty, supercilious, and perhaps tinged +with her father's cruelty. I longed ardently for Yolanda to come +out of her skin, and my heart leaped with joy at the early +prospect.</p> +<p>I was right in my surmise. Yolanda's sweet face, radiant with +smiles and soft with dimples, was pressed against the window-pane +watching for us when we crossed the moat bridge at Castleman's +door.</p> +<p>"To see her face again is like coming back to heaven; isn't it, +Karl?" said Max.</p> +<p>Yolanda ran to the door and opened it.</p> +<p>"I am glad you did not stay with her," she said, giving a hand +to Max and to me, and walking into the room between us. She was +like a child holding our hands.</p> +<p>I had seen the world and its people in all its phases, and I +prided myself on my shrewdness, but without my knowledge of the +stairway in the wall, I would have sworn that Yolanda had played a +trick on me by leading me to believe that she was the Princess +Mary. Even with full knowledge of all the facts, I found myself +doubting. It is small cause for wonder, therefore, that Max was +deceived.</p> +<p>"Uncle is at the shop," said Yolanda. "Tante is at a neighbor's, +and Twonette, of course, is asleep. We three will sit here on this +bench with no one to disturb us, and I shall have you both all to +myself. No! There! I'll sit between you. Now, this is +delightful."</p> +<p>She sat between us, crossed her knees--an unpardonable crime, +Frau Kate would have thought--and giving a hand to Max and to me, +said contentedly:--</p> +<p>"Now, tell me all about it."</p> +<p>I was actually on the point of beginning a narrative of our +adventures, just as if she did not already know them,--so great was +the spell she had thrown over me,--when Max spoke:--</p> +<p>"We had a poor dinner, but a kind host, therefore a fine feast. +The duke has asked us to go to Switzerland with him. Judging by the +enormous sum he offers for our poor services, he must believe that +he will need no other help to conquer the Swiss."</p> +<p>"Yes--yes, that is interesting," said Yolanda, hastily, "but the +princess--tell me of her."</p> +<p>"She is a very beautiful princess," answered Max.</p> +<p>"Yes--I suppose she is," answered Yolanda. "I have it dinned +into my ears till I ought to believe it; but tell me of her manner, +her conversation, her temper. What of them?"</p> +<p>"She is a most beautiful princess," answered Max, evidently +intending to utter no word against Her Highness, though as a matter +of fact he did not like her at all. "I am sure she deserves all the +good that fame speaks of her."</p> +<p>Yolanda flung our hands from her, sprang to her feet, and faced +us angrily.</p> +<p>"That's the way with all men. A rich princess, even though she +be a cold devil, is beautiful and good and gentle and wise and true +and quick of wit. Men care not what she is if her house be great +and rich and powerful. If her domains are fat and broad, she +deserves 'all the good that fame speaks of her.' She can win no man +for herself. She cannot touch a man's heart; she can only satisfy +his greed. You went to the castle, Sir Max, to see this princess. +You want Burgundy. That is why you are in Peronne!"</p> +<p>The girl's passionate outburst was sincere, and showed me her +true motive for deceiving Max. Her plan was not the outgrowth of a +whim; it was the result of a tremendous motive conceived in the +depths of her soul. She had found the man she loved, and was taking +her own way to win him, if she could, for herself. She judged all +men by the standard that she had just announced. She would never +believe in the love of a man who should woo her as Princess Mary of +Burgundy.</p> +<p>Her words came near accomplishing more than she desired. When +she stopped speaking, Max leaned forward and gently took her +hand.</p> +<p>"Yolanda, this princess is nothing to me, and I swear to you +that I will never ask her to marry--"</p> +<p>A frightened gleam came to the girl's eyes when she understood +the oath that Max was about to take, and she quickly placed her +hand over his mouth. Max was swearing too much.</p> +<p>"You shall not make that oath, Little Max," she said. "You shall +not say that you will never marry her, nor shall you say that you +will never marry any one else. You must remain free to choose the +right wife when the right time comes. You must tread the path that +God has marked out for you. Perhaps it leads to this princess; no +one can tell. If so, you must accept your fate, Sir Max." She +sighed at the mere thought of so untoward a fate for Max.</p> +<p>"I need make no oath not to marry the princess," answered Max. +"She is beyond my reach, even though I were dying for love of +her."</p> +<p>"And you are not dying for love of her, are you?" asked Yolanda, +again taking the seat between Max and me.</p> +<p>"No," he responded.</p> +<p>"Nor for love of any woman?" she asked, looking toward Max.</p> +<p>"I'll not say that," he replied, laughing softly, and taking her +hands between his.</p> +<p>"No, no," she mused, looking in revery out the window. "No, we +will not say that."</p> +<p>I have always been as unsentimental as a man well can be, but I +believe, had I been in Max's place, I should have thrown away my +crown for the sake of Yolanda, the burgher girl. I remember +wondering if Max would be strong enough finally to reach the same +conclusion. If he should be, my faith in Yolanda's powers led me to +believe that she would contrive a plan to make him her husband, +despite her father, or the devil and all his imps.</p> +<p>There is a power of finesse in the feminine mind that no man may +fully compass, and Yolanda, in that respect, was the flower of her +sex. That she had been able to maintain her humble personality with +Max, despite the fact that she had been compelled to meet him twice +as princess, proved her ability. Of course, she had the help of +good old Castleman and his sweet Frau Kate, serene Twonette, and +myself; but with all this help she probably would have failed +without the stairway in the wall.</p> +<p>When we left Castleman's, I did not bring up the subject of Mary +and Yolanda. Max walked silently beside me until we had nearly +reached the inn, when he said:--</p> +<p>"I am almost glad I was wrong, Karl. I would not have Yolanda +other than she is. At times, wild thoughts suggest themselves to +me; but I am not so weak as to give way to them. I drive them off +and clench my teeth, determined to take the misery God doles out to +me. I am glad we are soon to leave Burgundy. The duke marches in +three days, and it is none too soon for me."</p> +<p>"Shall not we return to Burgundy?" I asked. "I want you to see +Paris and Brussels, and, if possible, London before we return to +Styria. Don't you think it best that we come back to Peronne after +this war?"</p> +<p>"You are right, Karl; we must come back," he answered. "I do not +fear Yolanda. I am not weak."</p> +<p>"I sometimes wonder if we know our strength from our weakness," +I suggested. "There is doubtless much energy wasted by +conscientious men striving in the wrong direction, who fancy they +are doing their duty."</p> +<p>"You would not have me marry Yolanda?" asked Max, a gleam of +light coming to his eyes.</p> +<p>"I do not know, Max," I responded. "A rare thing has happened to +you. You have won a marvellous love from a marvellous woman. She +takes no pains to conceal it. She could not hide it if she would. +What you feel, only you and God know."</p> +<p>"Only God," cried Max, huskily. "Only God. I cannot measure +it."</p> +<p>"My dear boy," said I, taking his arm, "you are at a point where +you must decide for yourself."</p> +<p>"I have decided," returned Max. "If my father and mother were +not living, I might--I might--bah! there is but one life for me. I +am doomed. I make myself wretched by resistance."</p> +<p>"When we return to Peronne, you will know your mind," I answered +soothingly.</p> +<p>"I know my mind now," he answered. "I know that I would give +half the years of my life to possess Yolanda; but I also know the +fate that God has marked out for me."</p> +<p>"Then you know more than many a wise man thrice your age can +boast," said I.</p> +<hr style="width: 25%;"> +<p>The duke's armies had been gathering throughout Burgundy. Men +had come in great numbers to camp near Peronne, and the town was +noisy with martial preparations. Contrary to Hymbercourt's advice, +the duke was leaving Peronne Castle guarded by only a small +garrison. Charles had great faith in the strength of Peronne the +Impregnable, and, although it was near the French border, he +trusted in its strength and in his treaty with King Louis. He knew +from experience that a treaty with Louis would bind that crafty +monarch only so long as it was to his interest to remain bound; but +Louis' interest in maintaining the treaty seemed greater than +Burgundy's, and Charles rested on that fact. Peronne was to be left +captained by the duchess and Mary, and garrisoned by five score +men-at-arms, who were either too old or too young to go to war.</p> +<p>Without discussing the duke's offer, Max and I decided to accept +it, though for different reasons. Max needed the gold; he also +sniffed battle, and wanted the excitement and the enterprise of +war. I had all his reasons, and still another; I wanted to give +Yolanda time to execute her plans.</p> +<p>The war with Switzerland would probably be short. Max would be +with the duke, and would, I hoped, augment the favor with which +Charles already honored him. Should Yolanda's letter make trouble +with France, Duke Charles might be induced, through his personal +feelings, to listen to Max's suit. If Charles returned from +Switzerland victorious--and no other outcome seemed possible--he +would no longer have reason to carry out the marriage treaty with +France. It had been made largely for the purpose of keeping Louis +quiet while Charles was absent. Anything might happen; everything +might happen, while Max was with Charles in Switzerland and Yolanda +at home making trouble with France.</p> +<p>The next day, by appointment, we waited on the duke at the +morning audience. When we entered the great hall, the urgent +business had been transacted, and half a score of lords and +gentlemen stood near the dais, discussing some topic with the duke +and with one another. We moved near the throne, and I heard Charles +say to Campo-Basso and Hymbercourt:--</p> +<p>"Almost three weeks have passed since our message to France, and +we have had no answer. What think you, gentlemen, of the +delay?"</p> +<p>"His Majesty is not in Paris, or delays answering," said +Hymbercourt.</p> +<p>"By the Host, if I could think that King Louis were holding +Byron and delaying an answer, I would change my plans and march on +Paris rather than on Switzerland."</p> +<p>"I fear, my lord," said Campo-Basso, with a sympathetic desire +to make trouble, if possible, "that His Majesty delays an answer +while he frames one that shall be elusive, yet conciliatory. King +Louis, Your Grace knows, thinks many times before each word he +speaks or writes."</p> +<p>"If he has intentionally delayed this answer, I'll give him +cause to think many times <i>after</i> his words," said +Charles.</p> +<p>Conversations of like nature had occurred on several occasions +since the sending of the missive to Louis, and they offered the +stormy duke opportunity to vent his boastfulness and spleen. While +Charles was pouring out his wrath against his brother-in-law, +Byron, the herald, appeared at the door of the great hall. He +announced himself, and, when ordered to approach, ran to the dais, +kneeled on the second step, and placed a small sealed packet in the +duke's hand.</p> +<p>"Did you find King Louis at Paris?" asked the duke, addressing +Byron.</p> +<p>"I did, my lord."</p> +<p>"Paris is but thirty leagues distant, and you certainly have had +sufficient time since leaving us to journey across Europe and back. +Did not I command you to make haste?"</p> +<p>"You did, my lord," answered the herald. "King Louis put me off +from day to day, always promising me an answer, but giving it only +yesterday afternoon when the sun was half below the horizon."</p> +<p>Charles nervously broke the seals of the package, and attempted +to read the letter. He failed, and handed it to Campo-Basso, +saying:--</p> +<p>"Read the missive. I already know its contents, but read, my +lord, read."</p> +<p>Campo-Basso read the letter.</p> +<br> +<p>"To Our Most Illustrious Brother Charles Duke of Burgundy, and +Count of Charolois:--</p> +<p>"We recommend us and send Your Grace greeting. We are anxious to +pleasure our noble brother of Burgundy in all things, and heartily +desire the marriage between our son and the illustrious Princess of +Burgundy, but we shall not move toward it until our said noble +brother shall return from Switzerland, nor will we do aught to +distract his attention from the perilous business he now has on +hand. We pray that the saints may favor his design, and would +especially recommend that our noble brother propitiate with prayers +and offerings the holy Saint Hubert. We, ourselves, have importuned +this holy saint, and he has proved marvellously helpful on parlous +occasions.</p> +<p>"Louis, R."</p> +<p>The duke's anger was terrible and disgusting to behold. When his +transports of rage allowed him to speak, he broke forth with oaths +too blasphemous to write on a white page.</p> +<p>"The fawning hypocrite!" he cried. "He thinks to cozen us with +his cheap words. The biting insult in his missive is that he takes +it for granted that we are so great a fool as to believe him. Even +his recommendation of a saint is a lie. The world knows his +favorite saint is Saint Andrew. King Louis spends half his time +grovelling on his marrow bones before that saint and the Blessed +Virgin. He recommends to us Saint Hubert, believing that his holy +saintship will be of no avail."</p> +<p>Charles was right. Sir Philip de Comines, seneschal to King +Louis, afterward told me that His Majesty, in writing this letter +to the Duke of Burgundy, actually took counsel and devoted much +time and thought to the choice of a baneful or impotent saint to +recommend to his "noble brother of Burgundy." Disaster to Louis had +once followed supplication to Saint Hubert, and the king hoped that +the worthy saint might prove equally unpropitious for Charles. +Yolanda's wonderful "t" was certainly the most stupendous single +letter ever quilled. Here were the first-fruits of it.</p> +<p>"Were it not that these self-sufficient Swiss need to be +blooded, I would turn my army against France to-morrow," said the +duke.</p> +<p>"And have Bourbon and Lorraine upon Your Lordship's back from +the east, Ghent rebelling in the north, and the Swiss pouring in +from the south," interrupted Hymbercourt.</p> +<p>"You are certainly right, my Lord d'Hymbercourt," replied +Charles, sullenly. "They surround us like a pack of starved wolves, +ready to spring upon us the moment we are crippled. Burgundy stands +alone against all Europe."</p> +<p>"A vast treasure, my lord, attracts thieves," said Hymbercourt. +"Burgundy is the richest land on earth."</p> +<p>"It is, indeed it is," replied the duke, angrily, "and I have no +son to keep it after me. But France shall not have it; that I swear +upon my knighthood. Write to France, my Lord Bishop of Cambrai, and +tell King Louis that my daughter shall not marry his son. Waste no +words, my Lord Bishop, in what you call courtesy. We need no double +meaning in our missives."</p> +<p>Those who heard the duke's words knew that he was committing a +costly error, but no one dared to suggest as much. One might, with +equal success, have flung soft words at a mad bull. Truly that +"t"--but I will speak of it no more, though I have a thrill of joy +and mirth even now when I think of it.</p> +<p>After many explosions, the duke's pent-up wrath found vent, and +began to subside. Espying Max and me he called us to the +throne.</p> +<p>"Have you concluded to join us in our little holiday excursion +against these mountain swine?" asked His Grace, addressing us.</p> +<p>"We have, my lord. We shall be proud to serve under the banner +of so brave a prince," I answered.</p> +<p>"'We have' would have been sufficient, Sir Karl," answered the +duke, still surly from the dregs of his wrath. "We hear so many +soft words from France that we despise them in the mouths of honest +men."</p> +<p>The duke then turned to his seneschal, De Vergy, and spoke in +tones that were heard all over the room:--</p> +<p>"My lord, Maximilian, Count of Hapsburg, and Sir Karl de Pitti +have consented to join our banners. Enroll them in places of honor, +my Lord Seneschal. See that they are supplied with horses, +accoutrements, and tents for themselves and their squires, and +direct my Lord Treasurer to pay to them upon demand a sum of money +of which he shall be duly notified."</p> +<p>When the duke stopped speaking, a murmur of approval ran through +the audience--though the Italians had no part in it. The murmur +grew clamorous and soon a mighty shout filled the vaulted +roof:--</p> +<p>"Long life to the noble Count of Hapsburg! Burgundy and Styria +forever!"</p> +<p>To me, the words seemed delightfully prophetic. Soon afterward +the audience was dismissed, and Max and I had the great honor of +being asked to join the duke's council. A council to the Duke of +Burgundy was indeed a veritable fifth wheel. He made his own plans +and, right or wrong, clung to them. He would, on rare occasions, +listen to Hymbercourt,--a man of few words, who gave advice as if +he were lending a crown,--but the suggestions of others antagonized +him.</p> +<p>The question before the council this morning was: Should the +duke's army carry provisions, or should it take them from the +countries through which it was to pass? Charles favored the latter +course, and it was agreed upon. The people of non-belligerent +states should be paid for the provisions that were taken; that is, +theoretically they should be paid. The Swiss should furnish +provision, gratis, and that doubtless would be terribly +practical.</p> +<p>On each of the three evenings intervening between the day of +this council and the departure of the army, we saw Yolanda at +Castleman's. She was always waiting when we arrived. She had +changed in many respects, but especially in her attitude regarding +Max. She was kind and gentle, but shy. Having dropped her familiar +manner, she did not go near him, but sat at a distance, holding +Twonette's hand, and silently but constantly watching him, as if +she were awaiting something. Her eyes, at times, seemed to be +half-indignant interrogation points. At other times I could see in +them doubt, waiting, and hope--hope almost tired with yearning.</p> +<p>It was no small love that she wanted from Max. She had +hoped--perhaps I should say she had longed with little hope--that +he would, for the sake of the burgher girl, Yolanda, be willing to +turn his back on his family and his land. But now he was leaving, +and her dream was about to close, since Max would probably never +come back to her.</p> +<p>Not the least painful of Yolanda's emotions was the knowledge +that she could insure Max's return by telling him that she was the +Princess of Burgundy. But she did not want this man whom she loved +so dearly, and who, she knew, loved her, if she must win him as +princess. She was strangely impelled to reject a reprieve from a +life of wretchedness, unless it came through the high court of +love.</p> +<p>Max, in speaking to me about his return, had wavered many times. +One day he would return; the next, he would swallow the bitter +draught fate had in store for him. He was a great, honest soul, and +to such the call of duty is compelling.</p> +<p>On the evening before our departure we went to sup with +Castleman. On our way down to the House under the Wall, Max +said:--</p> +<p>"Karl, my duty is clear. I must not return to Peronne. If I do, +I fear I shall never leave it."</p> +<p>I did not answer; but I had resolved that he should return, and +I intended that my resolution should become a fact. Yolanda was not +present at supper, but she appeared soon after we had risen. We sat +under the dim light of a lamp in the long room. Yolanda was on the +cushioned bench in the shadow of the great chimney, silently +clasping Twonette's hand. Twonette, of course, was silent and +serene. Castleman and I talked disjointedly, and Max sat +motionless, gazing through the window into the night. After +greeting us, Yolanda spoke not a word; but ever in the deep shadow +I could see the glow of her eyes looking toward Max. That his heart +was filled with a great struggle, I knew, and I believed that +Yolanda also knew.</p> +<p>We had many preparations to make before our departure next +morning at dawn, so after an hour Max and I rose to leave. +Twonette, leaving Yolanda, came to us, and the Castlemans all gave +us a hearty God-speed. Yolanda sat wordless in the shadow. I went +to her and gave her my hand.</p> +<p>"Farewell, Fräulein," I said.</p> +<p>Max followed me closely, and I stepped aside to make way for +him. The girl rose and stood irresolute before him. I went to the +Castlemans, who were standing at a distance.</p> +<p>"Fräulein--" said Max. But she interrupted him, extending +her hands, which he clasped.</p> +<p>"Have you no word for me, Sir Max?" she asked pathetically, +tears springing to her eyes. "Are you coming back to me? Have you +the right to come into my life as you have done, and to leave me? +Does God impose but one duty on you--that of your birth?"</p> +<p>"Ah, Fräulein," answered Max, huskily, "you know--you know +what I suffer."</p> +<p>"I surely do know," she responded, "else I would not speak so +plainly. But answer me, Sir Max. Answer my question. It is my right +to know upon what I may depend. Will you come back to me?"</p> +<p>The imperious will of the princess had come to the rescue of +Yolanda, the burgher girl.</p> +<p>Max paused before speaking, then grasped her hands fiercely and +answered:--</p> +<p>"Before God, Fräulein, I will come back to you, if I +live."</p> +<p>Yolanda sank upon the cushioned bench, covered her face with her +hands, and the pent-up storm of sobs and tears broke forth as Max +and I passed out the door.</p> +<p>Yolanda had won.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2> +<h3>MAX GOES TO WAR</h3> +<br> +<p>The next morning at dawn our army marched. Although Duke Charles +would not encumber himself with provisions for his men, he carried +a vast train of carts filled with plate, silk tents, rich rugs, and +precious jewels; for, with all his bravery, this duke's ruling +passion was the love of display in the presence of foreigners.</p> +<p>I shall not give the story of this disastrous war in detail; +that lies in the province of history, and my story relates only to +Max and Yolanda, and to the manner in which they were affected by +the results of the war.</p> +<p>We marched with forty thousand men, and laid siege to the city +of Granson, in the district of Vaud. The Swiss sent ambassadors +under a flag of truce, begging Charles to spare them, and saying, +according to my friend Comines, that "there were among them no good +prisoners to make, and that the spurs and horses' bits of the +duke's army were worth more money than all the people of +Switzerland could pay in ransoms, even if they were taken." Charles +rejected all overtures, and on the third of March the brave little +Swiss army sallied against us, "heralding their advances by the +lowings of the Bull of Uri and the Cow of Unterwalden, two enormous +instruments which had been given to their ancestors by +Charlemagne."</p> +<p>God was against Charles of Burgundy, and his army was utterly +routed by one of less than a fourth its size. I was with Charles +after the battle, and his humiliation was more pitiful than his +bursts of ungovernable wrath were disgusting. The king of France, +hoping for this disaster, was near by at Lyons.</p> +<p>A cruel man is always despicable in misfortune. Charles at once +sent to King Louis a conciliatory, fawning letter, recanting all +that he had said in his last missive from Peronne, and expressing +the hope that His Majesty would adhere to the treaty and would +consent to the marriage of Princess Mary and the Dauphin at once. +In this letter Yolanda had no opportunity to insert a disturbing +"t." Louis answered graciously, saying that the treaty should be +observed, and that the marriage should take place immediately upon +the duke's return to Burgundy.</p> +<p>"We have already forwarded instructions to Paris," wrote King +Louis, "directing that preparations be made at once for the +celebration of this most desired union at the holy church of St. +Denis. We wondered much at Your Grace's first missive, in which you +so peremptorily desired us not to move in this matter till your +return; and we wondered more at Your Lordship's ungracious reply to +our answer in which we consented to the delay Your Grace had +asked."</p> +<p>Well might King Louis wonder. Charles also wondered, and cursed +the stupidity of the Bishop of Cambrai, who had so "encumbered his +letter with senseless courtesy as to distort its meaning."</p> +<p>Charles despatched letters to Peronne and Ghent, ordering +immediate preparations for the marriage. As usual, poor Mary was +not considered of sufficient importance to receive notice of the +event that concerned her so vitally. Others would prepare her, as +one might fatten a lamb for slaughter. The lamb need not be +consulted or even informed; the day of its fate would be sufficient +for it. I was in despair. Max, in his ignorance, was +indifferent.</p> +<p>After a short delay, the duke gathered his wrath and his army +and laid siege to the town of Morat, announcing his intention to +give no quarter, but to kill all, old and young, men, women, and +children. The Swiss were prepared for us. "The energy of pride was +going to be pitted against the energy of patriotism." Again +disaster fell upon Charles. Thousands of his army were slain, and +thousands fled in hopeless rout. His soldiers had never wanted to +fight, and one man defending his hearth is stronger than half a +score attacking it.</p> +<p>The loss of this battle drove Charles back to Burgundy. With a +few of his train, including Max and myself, he retired to the +Castle of La Riviera. Here he learned that René, Duke of +Lorraine, had mustered his forces and had laid siege to Nancy, +which city Charles had taken from Duke René, some years +before, and had garrisoned with Burgundians and English. Upon +hearing this unwelcome news, Charles began the arduous task of +collecting another army. He was compelled to leave the neighborhood +of Switzerland and fly to the rescue of Nancy.</p> +<p>The first of January found us before Nancy, but our arrival was +three days too late. The city had capitulated to Duke René. +On the fifth of January a battle was fought before Nancy, but +Fortune had turned her back for all and all on this cruel Duke of +Burgundy and Count of Charolois. The disasters at Granson and Morat +were repeated. At nightfall Charles could not be found. I supposed +that he had escaped, but the next morning his body was found by a +washerwoman, frozen in the ice of a pond. He had been killed +through the machinations of Campo-Basso. Duke René +magnanimously gave Charles regal burial, and dismissed his +followers without ransom. You may be sure I was eager to return to +Peronne.</p> +<p>Fortune, in turning her back upon Charles, had turned her +smiling face toward Max. Her ladyship's smiles were too precious to +be wasted, so we made post-haste for Peronne, I spurred by one +motive, Mary of Burgundy, Max by another--Yolanda. His heart had +grieved for her in castle, in camp, and in din of battle. He had, +unknown to me, formed a great and noble resolution; and there was +no horse swift enough to keep pace with his desire when we started +for Peronne.</p> +<p>I was the first to announce the duke's death. The dark news was +given by me to the duchess and the princess in Margaret's parlor. +These poor women tried to grieve, but they were not hypocrites, and +they could not weep. Each had received at Charles's hands only +ill-usage and cruelty, and in their hearts they must have felt +relief at his death.</p> +<p>"It was sure to come," said Margaret. "The duke's bravery led +him always into danger. It is God's will, and it must be +right."</p> +<p>The princess walked to the window, and said nothing, until I was +about to leave; then she turned to me nervously and asked:--</p> +<p>"Did--did Sir Max come with you?"</p> +<p>I looked at her in surprise, and glanced inquiringly toward the +duchess.</p> +<p>"My mother knows all, Sir Karl," said the princess, +reassuringly. "There have been many things which I could not have +done without her help. I have made many rapid changes, Sir Karl, +from a princess to a burgher girl, and back again, and I should +have failed without my mother's help. I surely mystified you often +before you knew of the stairway in the wall. Indeed, I have often +hurried breathless to Uncle Castleman's house to deceive you. +Mother invented a burgher girl's costume that I used to wear as an +under-bodice and petticoat, so, you see, I have been visiting you +in my petticoats. I will show you some fine day--perhaps. I have +but to unfasten a half-score of hooks, and off drops the +princess--I am Yolanda! I throw a skirt over my head, fasten the +hooks of a bodice, don my head-dress, and behold! the princess once +more. Only a moment intervenes between happiness and wretchedness. +But tell me, Sir Karl, have you ever told Sir Max who I am?"</p> +<p>"Never, Your Highness--"</p> +<p>"Yolanda," she interrupted, correcting me smilingly.</p> +<p>"Never, Yolanda," I responded. "He does not even suspect that +you are the princess. I shall be true to you. You know what you are +doing."</p> +<p>"Indeed I do, Sir Karl," she replied. "I shall win or lose now +in a short time and in short skirts. If Max will wed me as Yolanda, +I shall be the happiest girl on earth. If not, I shall be the most +wretched. If he learns that I am the princess, and if I must offer +him the additional inducement of my estates and my domains to bring +him to me, I shall not see him again, Sir Karl, if I die of grief +for it."</p> +<p>I knew well what she meant, but I did not believe that she would +be able to hold to her resolution if she were put to the test. I +was, however, mistaken. With all my knowledge of the girl I did not +know her strength.</p> +<p>We reached Peronne during the afternoon and, of course, went +early the same evening to Castleman's.</p> +<p>We were greeted heartily by the good burgher, his wife, and his +daughter. Twonette courtesied to Max, but when she came to me, this +serene young goddess of pink and white offered me her cheek to +kiss. I, who had passed my quasi-priestly life without once +enjoying such a luxury, touched the velvet cheek with my lips and +actually felt a thrill of delight. Life among the burghers really +was delicious. I tell you this as a marked illustration of the fact +that a man never grows too old to be at times a fool. Twonette +slipped from the room, and within fifteen minutes returned. She +went directly to Max and said:--</p> +<p>"Some one is waiting for you in the oak room above."</p> +<p>She pointed the way, and Max climbed the stairs two steps at a +time. I thought from his eagerness he would clear the entire flight +at one bound. To his knock a soft voice bade him enter. The owner +of the voice was sitting demurely at the farthest end of the room +on a cushioned bench. Her back rested against the moving panel that +led to the stairway in the wall. She did not move when Max entered. +She had done all the moving she intended to do, and Max must now +act for himself. He did. He ran down the long room to her, +crying:--</p> +<p>"Yolanda! Yolanda!"</p> +<p>She rose to greet him, and he, taking her in his arms, covered +her face with kisses. The unconscious violence of his great +strength bruised and hurt her, but she gloried in the pain, and was +passive as a babe in his arms. When they were seated and half calm, +she clutched one of his great fingers and said:--</p> +<p>"You kept your word, Little Max. You came back to me."</p> +<p>"Did you not know that I would come?" he asked.</p> +<p>"Ah, indeed, I knew--you are not one that makes a promise to +break it. Sometimes it is difficult to induce such a man to give +his word, and I found it so, but once given it is worth +having--worth having, Little Max."</p> +<p>She smiled up into his face while she spoke, as if to say, "You +gave me a deal of trouble, but at last I have captured you."</p> +<p>"Did you so greatly desire the promise, Yolanda?" asked Max, +solely for the pleasure of hearing her answer.</p> +<p>"Yes," she answered softly, hanging her head, "more than any +<i>man</i>, can know. It must be an intense longing that will drive +a modest girl to boldness, such as I have shown ever since the day +I first met you at dear old Basel. It almost broke my heart when +father--fatherland--when Burgundy made war on Switzerland." The +word "land" was a lucky thought, and came to the girl just in the +nick of time.</p> +<p>Max was too much interested in the girl to pay close attention +to any slips she might make about the war with Switzerland. It is +true he was now a soldier, and war was all right in its place; but +there are things in life compared with which the wars of nations +are trivial affairs. All subjects save one were unwelcome to +him.</p> +<p>"Now I am going to ask a promise from you, Fräulein," said +Max, loosening his hand from her grasp and placing his arm about +her waist. She offered no objections to the new situation, but +blushed and looked down demurely to her folded hands.</p> +<p>"It will, I fear, be very easy for you, Max, to induce me to +promise anything you wish. It will be all too easy, for I am not +strong, as you are." She glanced into his face, but her eyes fell +quickly to her hands.</p> +<p>"I shall soon leave you again, Fräulein, and what I wish is +of such moment that I--I almost fear to ask."</p> +<p>"Yes, Max," she murmured, gently reaching across his knee, and +placing her hand in his by way of encouragement.</p> +<p>"It is this, Fräulein. I am going back to Styria, and I +want to carry with me your promise to be my wife," said Max, +softly.</p> +<p>The girl's head fell over against his shoulder, and she clasped +his free hand between both of hers.</p> +<p>"I will ask my father's consent," said Max. "I will tell him of +you and of my great love, which is so great, Fräulein, that +all the world is nothing beside it and beside you, and he will +grant my request."</p> +<p>"But if he doesn't, Max?" asked the face hidden upon his +breast.</p> +<p>"If he does not, Fräulein, I will forego my country and my +estates. I will come back to you and will work in the fields, if +need be, to make you as happy as you will make me."</p> +<p>"There will be no need for that, Max," she answered, tears of +happiness slowly trickling down her cheeks, "for I am rich."</p> +<p>"That I am sorry to hear," he responded.</p> +<p>"Don't you want to know who I am before you wed me?" she asked, +after a long pause. She had almost made up her mind to tell +him.</p> +<p>"That you may tell me when you are my wife," said Max. "I +thought you were the Princess Mary, but I am almost glad that you +are not. I soon knew that I was wrong, for I knew that you would +not deceive me."</p> +<p>The girl winced and concluded to postpone telling her momentous +secret. She was now afraid to do so. As a matter of fact, she had +in her heart a healthy little touch of womanly cowardice on small +occasions. After a long, delicious pause, Max said:--</p> +<p>"Have I your promise, Fräulein?"</p> +<p>"Y-e-s," she answered hesitatingly, "I will be your wife if--if +I can, and if you will take me when you learn who I am. There is no +taint of disgrace about me, Max," she added quickly, in response to +the look of surprise on his face. "But I am not worthy of you, and +I fear that if your father but knew my unworthiness, he would +refuse his consent to our marriage. You must not tell him of my +boldness. I will tell you all about myself before you leave for +Styria, and then, if you do not want me, you may leave me to--to +die."</p> +<p>"I shall want you, Yolanda. I shall want you. Have no doubt of +that," he answered.</p> +<p>"With the assurance that there is no stain or taint upon me or +my family, do you give me your word, Max, that you will want me and +will take me, whoever I am, and will not by word or gesture show me +that you are angry or that you regret your promise?"</p> +<p>"I gladly give you that promise," answered Max.</p> +<p>"Did you ever tell a lie, Little Max?" she asked banteringly, +"or did you ever deliberately break a promise?"</p> +<p>"Did I ever steal or commit wilful murder?" asked Max, +withdrawing his arm.</p> +<p>"No, Max; now put it back again," she said.</p> +<p>After a long pause she continued:--</p> +<p>"I have lied."</p> +<p>Max laughed and drew her to him.</p> +<p>"Your lies will harm no one," he said joyously.</p> +<p>"No," she responded, "I only lie that good may come of it."</p> +<p>Then silence fell upon the world--their world. Was not that hour +with Max worth all the pains that Yolanda had taken to deceive +him?</p> +<p>Yolanda and Max came down to the long room, and she, too, gave +me her cheek to kiss.</p> +<p>Twonette had prepared a great tankard of wine and honey, with +pepper and allspice to suit Yolanda's taste, and we all sat before +the great blazing yule fire, as joyful and content as any six +people in Christendom. Twonette and Yolanda together occupied one +large chair; Twonette serenely allowing herself to be caressed by +Yolanda, who was in a state of mind that compelled her to caress +some one. Gentle Frau Kate was sleeping in a great easy chair near +the chimney-corner. Max sat at one side of the table,--the side +nearest Yolanda,--while Castleman and I sat by each other within +easy reach of the wine. I knew without the telling, all that had +occurred upstairs, and the same light seemed to have fallen upon +the Castlemans. Good old George was in high spirits, and I could +see in his eye that he intended to get drunk and, if possible, to +bring me, also, to that happy condition. After many goblets of +wine, he remarked:--</p> +<p>"The king of France will probably be upon us within a fortnight +after he hears the sad news from Nancy."</p> +<p>Yolanda immediately sat upright in her chair, abandoning +Twonette's soft hand and softer cheek.</p> +<p>"Why do you believe so, uncle?" she asked nervously.</p> +<p>"Because he has waited all his life for this untoward event to +happen."</p> +<p>"Preparations should be made to receive him," said Yolanda.</p> +<p>"Ah, yes," replied Castleman, "but Burgundy's army is scattered +to the four winds. It has given its blood for causes in which its +heart was not. We lack the strong arm of the duke, to force men to +battle against their will. King Louis must be fought by policy, not +by armies; and Hymbercourt is absent."</p> +<p>"Do you know aught of him, Sir Karl?" asked Yolanda.</p> +<p>"I do not, Fräulein," I answered, "save that he was alive +and well when we left Nancy."</p> +<p>"That, at least, is good news," she replied, "and I make sure he +will soon come to Burgundy's help."</p> +<p>"I am sure he is now on his way," I answered.</p> +<p>"What can Burgundy do?" she asked, turning to Castleman and me. +"You will each advise--advise the princess, I hope."</p> +<p>"If she wishes my poor advice," I responded, "she has but to ask +it."</p> +<p>"And mine," said Castleman, tipping his goblet over his +nose.</p> +<p>"If we are to have clear heads to-morrow," I suggested, "we must +drink no more wine to-night. The counsel of wine is the advice of +the devil."</p> +<p>"Right you are, Sir Karl. Only one more goblet. Here's to the +health of the bride to be," said Castleman.</p> +<p>Yolanda leaned back in her chair beside Twonette, and her face +wore a curious combination of smile and pout.</p> +<p>On the way to the inn, Max, who was of course very happy, told +me what had happened in the oak room and added:--</p> +<p>"I look to you, Karl, to help me with father."</p> +<p>"That I will certainly do," I answered. I could not resist +saying: "We came to Burgundy with the hope of winning the princess. +Fortune has opened a door for you by the death of her father. Don't +you wish to try?"</p> +<p>"No," said Max, turning on me. A moment later he added, "If +Yolanda were but the princess, as I once believed she was, what a +romance our journey to Burgundy would make!"</p> +<p>My spirits were somewhat dampened by Castleman's words +concerning the French king. Surely they were true, since King Louis +was the last man in Europe to forego the opportunity presented by +the death of Charles. Should the Princess Mary lose Burgundy just +at the time when Max had won her, my disappointment would indeed be +great, and Max might truly need my help with his father.</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr style="width: 35%;"> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX</h2> +<h3>A TREATY WITH LOUIS XI</h3> +<br> +<p>The next day Castleman and I were called to the castle, and +talked over the situation with the duchess and the Princess Mary. +In the midst of our council, in walked Hymbercourt and Hugonet. +They were devoted friends of Mary.</p> +<p>Our first move was to send spies to the court of France; so two +trusted men started at once. Paris was but thirty leagues distant, +and the men could reach it in fifteen hours. Half a day there +should enable them to learn the true condition of affairs, since +they carried well-filled purses to loosen the tongues of Cardinal +Balau and Oliver the Barber. The bribery plan was Mary's, and it +worked admirably.</p> +<p>Within forty-eight hours the spies returned, and reported that +King Louis, with a small army, was within fifteen leagues of +Peronne. He had quickly assembled the three estates at Paris, all +of whom promised the king their aid. In the language of the +chancellor, "The commons offered to help their king with their +bodies and their wealth, the nobles with their advice, and the +clergy with their prayers." This appalling news set Peronne in an +uproar.</p> +<p>Recruiting officers were sent out in all directions, the town +was garrisoned, and fortifications were overhauled. Mary was again +in trouble, and the momentous affairs resting on her young +shoulders seemed to have put Max out of her mind. I expected her to +call him into council and reveal herself, but she did not.</p> +<p>On the day after we learned of King Louis' approach, the +princess called Hymbercourt, Hugonet, Castleman, and myself to her +closet and graciously asked us to be seated about a small +table.</p> +<p>"I have formed a plan that I wish to submit to you," she said. +"I'll send to King Louis an invitation to visit me here at Peronne, +under safeguard. When he comes, I intend to offer to restore all +the cities that my father took from him, if he will release me from +the treaty of marriage, and will swear upon the Cross of Victory to +support me against my enemies, and to assist me in subduing Ghent, +now in rebellion. What think you of the plan?"</p> +<p>"Your Highness is giving King Louis nearly half your domain," +suggested Hymbercourt.</p> +<p>"True," answered the princess, "but it is better to give half +than to lose all. Where can we turn for help against this greedy +king? When Burgundy is in better case, we'll take them all from him +again."</p> +<p>"Your Highness is right," answered Hymbercourt. "But what +assurance have you that King Louis will accept your terms?"</p> +<p>"Little, my lord, save that King Louis does not know our +weakness. Oliver has by this time told him that he has news of a +vast army collecting within twenty leagues of Peronne. If Louis +accepts our terms, Oliver and the cardinal are each to receive +twenty thousand crowns out of our treasury at Luxembourg. My father +fought King Louis with blows; I'll fight His Majesty with his own +weapon, gold. That is the lesson my father should have +learned."</p> +<p>I rose to my feet during her recital and looked down at her in +wonder.</p> +<p>"Yolanda"--I began, but corrected myself--"Your Highness needs +no councillor. I, for one, deem your plan most wise, and I see in +it the salvation of Burgundy."</p> +<p>The other councillors agreed with me most heartily.</p> +<p>"I have still another plan which I hope may frighten King Louis +into accepting our terms. During the conference which I hope to +hold with His Majesty, I shall receive a message from my mother's +brother, King Edward of England. The missive, of course, will be +directed to my father, since the English king cannot yet know of +the duke's death. The messenger will be an English herald, and will +demand immediate audience, and--and--however, I'll keep the +remainder of that plan to myself."</p> +<p>A broad smile appeared on the faces of all present. Hugonet +gazed at the princess and laughed outright.</p> +<p>"Why did not your father take you into his council?" he +asked.</p> +<p>"I should have been no help to him," she responded. "A woman's +wits, dear Hugonet, must be driven by a great motive."</p> +<p>"But you would have had the motive," answered Hugonet.</p> +<p>"There is but one motive for a woman, my lord," she +answered.</p> +<p>Hugonet unceremoniously whistled his astonishment, and Yolanda +blushed as she said:--</p> +<p>"You shall soon know."</p> +<p>Mary's plan for an interview with Louis succeeded perfectly. He +came post-haste under safe conduct to Peronne.</p> +<p>Whatever may be said against Louis, he did not know personal +fear. He had a wholesome dread of sacrificing the lives of his +people, and preferred to satisfy his greed by policy rather than by +war. Gold, rather than blood, was the price he paid for his +victories. Taken all in all, he was the greatest king that France +ever had--if one may judge a king by the double standard of what he +accomplishes and what it costs his people. He almost doubled the +territory of France, and he lost fewer men in battle than any +enterprising monarch of whom I know.</p> +<p>Within forty-eight hours of receiving the safe conduct, King +Louis was sitting beside Mary on the dais of the ducal throne in +the great hall. She was heavily veiled, being in mourning for her +father. At her left stood Hymbercourt, Hugonet, Max, and myself. At +the king's right stood Cardinal Balau and Oliver the Barber, each +anticipating a rich reward in case Louis should accept Mary's +terms. Back of them stood a score of the king's courtiers. Many +questions of state were discussed; and then Hymbercourt presented +Mary's offer to King Louis. The king hesitated. After a long pause +he spoke, looking straight ahead, at nothing; as was his +custom.</p> +<p>"We will consult with our friends and make answer soon," he +said, speaking to nobody.</p> +<p>Louis seemed to think that if he looked at no one and addressed +nobody, when he spoke, he might the more easily wriggle out of his +obligations later on.</p> +<p>Mary had caused to be drawn up in duplicate a treaty in +accordance with the terms that she had outlined at our little +council. It was handed to Oliver when the king rose to retire to a +private room, to discuss the contents with his councillors.</p> +<p>At the moment when King Louis rose to his feet, a herald was +announced at the great hall door.</p> +<p>"A message from His Majesty, King Edward of England," cried the +Burgundian herald. Louis resumed his seat as though his feet had +slipped from under him.</p> +<p>"We are engaged," answered Mary, acting well a difficult part. +"Let the herald leave his packet, or deliver it later."</p> +<p>A whispered conversation took place between the Burgundian +herald and the Englishman. Then spoke the Burgundian:--</p> +<p>"Most Gracious Princess, the English herald has no packet. He +bears a verbal message to your late father, and insists that he +must deliver it to Your Highness at once."</p> +<p>"Must, indeed!" cried Mary, indignantly. Then turning to the +king: "These English grow arrogant, Your Majesty. What has the +herald to say? Let him come forward. We have no secrets from our +most gracious godfather, King Louis."</p> +<p>The English herald approached the ducal throne, but did not +speak.</p> +<p>"Proceed," said Mary, irritably.</p> +<p>"With all deference, Most Gracious Princess," said the herald, +"the subject-matter of my message is such that it should be +communicated privately, or at Your Highness's council-board."</p> +<p>"If you have a message from my good uncle, King Edward, deliver +it here and now," said the princess.</p> +<p>"As you will, Most Gracious Princess," said the herald. "King +Edward has amassed a mighty army, which is now awaiting orders to +sail for France; and His Majesty asks permission to cross the +territory of Burgundy on his way to Paris. He will pay to Your +Highness such compensation as may be agreed upon when His Majesty +meets you, which he hopes may be within a month. His Majesty begs a +written reply to the message I bear."</p> +<p>Mary paused before she answered.</p> +<p>"Wait without. My answer depends upon the conclusions of His +Majesty, the King of France."</p> +<p>The herald withdrew, but in the meantime Louis had descended to +the floor and was busily conning the treaty that Mary had caused to +be written. He was whispering with Cardinal Balau and Oliver, and +was evidently excited by the news he had just heard from England. +When he resumed his seat beside Mary, he said:--</p> +<p>"By this treaty, which is simple and straightforward, Your +Highness cedes to me certain cities herein named, in perpetuity; +and in consideration thereof, I am to be with you friend of friend +and foe of foe. I am to aid you in subduing your rebellious +subjects, and to sustain you in your choice of a husband. I am also +to release you from the present contract of marriage with my son, +the Dauphin."</p> +<p>"That is all, Your Majesty," said the princess. "It is short and +to the point."</p> +<p>"Indeed it is, Your Highness, and if you will answer King Edward +and will deny him the privilege of crossing Burgundy, I will sign +the treaty, and will swear upon the true cross to keep it +inviolate."</p> +<p>Mary could hardly conceal her exultation, but she answered +calmly:--</p> +<p>"Will Your Majesty sign now?"</p> +<p>Louis and Mary each signed the treaty, and the piece of the true +cross upon which the oath was to be made was brought before them, +resting on a velvet pillow. Now there were many pieces of the true +cross, of which Louis possessed two. Upon one of these he held the +oath to be binding and inviolate; it was known as the Cross of +Victory. Upon the other his oath was less sacred, and the sin of +perjury was venial.</p> +<p>I stood near the throne, and, suspecting Louis of fraud, made +bold to inquire:--</p> +<p>"Most humbly I would ask Your Majesty, is this the Cross of +Victory?"</p> +<p>The king examined the piece of wood resting on the cushion and +said:--</p> +<p>"By Saint Andrew, My Lord Cardinal, you have committed an error. +You have brought me the wrong piece."</p> +<p>The Cross of Victory was then produced, with many apologies and +excuses for the mistake, and the oath was taken while Mary's tiny +hand rested on the relic beside King Louis' browned and wrinkled +talon. When the ceremony was finished, the king turned to Mary and +said:--</p> +<p>"Whom will Your Highness select for a husband?"</p> +<p>"My father sometime had treaty with Duke Frederick of Styria, +looking to my marriage with his son Maximilian, and I shall ratify +the compact."</p> +<p>Max was about to speak, but I plucked him by the sleeve.</p> +<hr style="width: 25%;"> +<p>Now I shall hasten to the end. The king took his departure +within an hour, carrying with him his copy of the treaty. The +audience was dismissed, and the princess left the great hall by the +door back of the throne, having first directed Hymbercourt, +Hugonet, Max, and myself to follow within five minutes, under +conduct of a page. Castleman excused himself and left the hall.</p> +<p>The page soon came to fetch us, and we were taken to Mary's +parlor, adjoining her bedroom in Darius tower. From the bedroom, as +you know, the stairway in the wall descends to Castleman's house. +In the parlor we found Mary, the Duchess Margaret, and several +ladies in waiting. All the ladies, including Mary, were heavily +veiled. When we entered, Mary addressed Max:--</p> +<p>"Sir Count, you doubtless heard my announcement to the king of +France. It was my father's desire at one time to unite Styria and +Burgundy by marriage. I myself sent you a letter and a ring that +you doubtless still possess. Are you pleased with my offer?"</p> +<p>Max fell to his knee before the princess:--</p> +<p>"Your Highness's condescension is far beyond my deserts. There +are few men who could refuse your offer, but I am pledged to +another, and I beg Your Highness--"</p> +<p>"Enough, enough," cried the princess, indignantly. "No man need +explain his reasons for refusing the hand of Mary of Burgundy."</p> +<p>Astonishment appeared on all faces save mine. I thought I knew +the purpose of Her Highness. Max rose to his feet, and Mary +said:--</p> +<p>"We'll go downstairs now, and, if you wish, Sir Count, you may +there say farewell." She whispered a word to her mother, and led +the way into her bedroom. The duchess indicated that Max and I were +to follow. We did so, and Margaret came after us.</p> +<p>"We'll go down by these steps," said the princess, leading us to +the open panel. "The way is dark, and you must use care in +descending, Sir Count, but this is the nearest way to the +ground."</p> +<p>Max started down the steps and Mary followed close at his heels. +I followed Mary, and Duchess Margaret came after me.</p> +<p>When we had descended twenty steps, the upper panel was closed +by some one in the bedroom, and the stairway became inky dark. Ten +steps further, I stumbled and almost fell over a soft obstruction +on the stairs. I stooped and examined it. Fearing that the duchess +might fall when she reached it, I took it up. It was a lady's +head-dress and veil. A few steps farther I picked up a lady's +bodice and then a skirt. By the time I had made this collection, +Max and Mary had reached the moving panel at the foot of the +stairs. I heard it slide back, and a flood of light came in upon +us. Yolanda, in burgher girl's costume, sprang over the cushioned +seat into Castleman's oak room. Max followed, and I, with an armful +of woman's gear, helped the duchess to step to the cushion and +thence to the floor. Max stood for a moment in half-vexed surprise, +but Yolanda, two yards off, laughed merrily:--</p> +<p>"You promised, Sir Max, that you would show no anger when you +learned who I was, and you said you would neither lie, steal, nor +commit murder."</p> +<p>The Castlemans stood near by, and the duchess and I joined them, +forming an admiring group. Max did not reply. He held out his arms +to the girl, and she ran to them. So closely did he hold her that +she could hardly move. She did, however, succeed in turning her +face toward us, and said poutingly:--</p> +<p>"Why don't you leave the room?"</p> +<br> +<p>THE END</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Yolanda: Maid of Burgundy, by Charles Major + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YOLANDA: MAID OF BURGANDY *** + +***** This file should be named 12057-h.htm or 12057-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/0/5/12057/ + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Charlie Kirschner and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. + + https://www.gutenberg.org/etext06 + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/12057-h/Images/413.jpg b/12057-h/Images/413.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..33bef1a --- /dev/null +++ b/12057-h/Images/413.jpg diff --git a/12057-h/Images/414.jpg b/12057-h/Images/414.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..77af790 --- /dev/null +++ b/12057-h/Images/414.jpg diff --git a/12057-h/Images/415.jpg b/12057-h/Images/415.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6344d58 --- /dev/null +++ b/12057-h/Images/415.jpg diff --git a/12057-h/Images/416.jpg b/12057-h/Images/416.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..90ff54d --- /dev/null +++ b/12057-h/Images/416.jpg diff --git a/12057-h/Images/417.jpg b/12057-h/Images/417.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0fbd48c --- /dev/null +++ b/12057-h/Images/417.jpg |
