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diff --git a/old/14656.txt b/old/14656.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..261cd29 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14656.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13729 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Sword Maker, by Robert Barr + +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: The Sword Maker + +Author: Robert Barr + +Release Date: January 10, 2005 [EBook #14656] +[Date last updated: December 14, 2005] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SWORD MAKER *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Richard Lammers and the PG Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + THE + + SWORD MAKER + + BY + + ROBERT BARR + + + AUTHOR OF + + "TEKLA" "CARDILLAC" "THE VICTORS" + "IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS" + ETC. + + NEW YORK + + FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY + + PUBLISHERS + + + + + FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY + + June, 1910 + + + + + TABLE OF CONTENTS + + I. AN OFFER TO OPEN THE RIVER + II. THE BARGAIN IS STRUCK + III. DISSENSION IN THE IRONWORKERS' GUILD + IV. THE DISTURBING JOURNEY OF FATHER AMBROSE + V. THE COUNTESS VON SAYN AND THE ARCHBISHOP OF COLOGNE + VI. TO BE KEPT SECRET FROM THE COUNTESS + VII. MUTINY IN THE WILDERNESS + VIII. THE MISSING LEADER AND THE MISSING GOLD + IX. A SOLEMN PROPOSAL OF MARRIAGE + X. A CALAMITOUS CONFERENCE + XI. GOLD GALORE THAT TAKES TO ITSELF WINGS + XII. THE LAUGHING RED MARGRAVE OF FURSTENBERG + XIII. "A SENTENCE; COME, PREPARE!" + XIV. THE PRISONER OF EHRENFELS + XV. JOURNEYS END IN LOVERS' MEETING + XVI. MY LADY SCATTERS THE FREEBOOTERS AND CAPTURES THEIR CHIEF + XVII. "FOR THE EMPRESS, AND NOT FOR THE EMPIRE" + XVIII. THE SWORD MAKER AT BAY + XIX. THE BETROTHAL IN THE GARDEN + XX. THE MYSTERY OF THE FOREST + XXI. A SECRET MARRIAGE + XXII. LONG LIVE THEIR MAJESTIES + + + + +THE SWORD MAKER + + + + +I + +AN OFFER TO OPEN THE RIVER + + +Considering the state of the imperial city of Frankfort, one would not +expect to find such a gathering as was assembled in the Kaiser cellar of +the Rheingold drinking tavern. Outside in the streets all was turbulence +and disorder; a frenzy on the part of the populace taxing to the utmost +the efforts of the city authorities to keep it within bounds, and +prevent the development of a riot that might result in the partial +destruction at least of this once prosperous city. And indeed, the +inhabitants of Frankfort could plead some excuse for their +boisterousness. Temporarily, at any rate, all business was at a +standstill. The skillful mechanics of the town had long been out of +work, and now to the ranks of the unemployed were added, from time to +time, clerks and such-like clerical people, expert accountants, +persuasive salesmen, and small shopkeepers, for no one now possessed the +money to buy more than the bare necessities of life. Yet the warehouses +of Frankfort were full to overflowing, with every kind of store that +might have supplied the needs of the people, and to the unlearned man it +seemed unjust that he and his family should starve while granaries were +packed with the agricultural produce of the South, and huge warehouses +were glutted with enough cloth from Frankfort and the surrounding +districts to clothe ten times the number of tatterdemalions who clamored +through the streets. + +The wrath of the people was concentrated against one man, and he the +highest in the land; to blame, of course, in a secondary degree, but not +the one primarily at fault for this deplorable state of things. The +Emperor, always indolent from the time he came to the throne, had grown +old and crabbed and fat, caring for nothing but his flagon of wine that +stood continually at his elbow. Laxity of rule in the beginning allowed +his nobles to get the upper hand, and now it would require a civil war +to bring them into subjection again. They, sitting snug in their +strongholds, with plenty of wine in their cellars and corn in their +bins, cared nothing for the troubles of the city. Indeed, those who +inhabited either bank of the Rhine, watching from their elevated castles +the main avenue of traffic between Frankfort and Cologne, her chief +market, had throughout that long reign severely taxed the merchants +conveying goods downstream. During the last five years, their exactions +became so piratical that finally they killed the goose that laid the +golden eggs, so now the Rhine was without a boat, and Frankfort without +a buyer. + +For too long Frankfort had looked to the Emperor, whose business it was +to keep order in his domain, and when at last the merchants, combining +to help themselves, made an effort towards freedom, it was too late. The +result of their combination was a flotilla of nearly a hundred boats, +which, gathering at Frankfort and Mayence, proceeded together down the +river, convoyed by a fleet containing armed men, and thus they thought +to win through to Cologne, and so dispose of their goods. But the robber +Barons combined also, hung chains across the river at the Lorely rocks, +its narrowest part, and realizing that this fleet could defeat any +single one of them, they for once acted in concert, falling upon the +boats when their running against the chains threw them into confusion. + +The nobles and their brigands were seasoned fighters all, while the +armed men secured by the merchants were mere hirelings, who fled in +panic; and those not cut to pieces by their savage adversaries became +themselves marauders on a small scale, scattered throughout the land, +for there was little use of tramping back to the capital, where already +a large portion of the population suffered the direst straits. + +Not a single bale of goods reached Cologne, for the robbers divided +everything amongst themselves, with some pretty quarrels, and then they +sank the boats in the deepest part of the river as a warning, lest the +merchants of Frankfort and Mayence should imagine the Rhine belonged to +them. Meantime, all petitions to the Emperor being in vain, the +merchants gave up the fight. They were a commercial, not a warlike +people. They discharged their servants and underlings, and starvation +slowly settled down upon the distressed city. + +After the maritime disaster on the Rhine, some of the merchants made a +futile attempt to amend matters, for which their leaders paid dearly. +They appealed to the seven Electors, finding their petitions to the +Emperor were in vain, asking these seven noblemen, including the three +warlike Archbishops of Cologne, Treves, and Mayence, to depose the +Emperor, which they had power to do, and elect his son in his stead. But +they overlooked the fact that a majority of the Electors themselves, and +probably the Archbishops also, benefited directly or indirectly by the +piracies on the Rhine. The answer to this request was the prompt hanging +of three leading merchants, the imprisonment of a score of others, and a +warning to the rest that the shoemaker should stick to his last, leaving +high politics to those born to rule. This misguided effort caused the +three Archbishops to arrest Prince Roland, the Emperor's only son, and +incarcerate him in Ehrenfels, a strong castle on the Rhine belonging to +the Archbishop of Mayence, who was thus made custodian of the young man, +and responsible to his brother prelates of Cologne and Treves for the +safe-keeping of the Prince. The Archbishops, as has been said, were too +well satisfied with the weak administration then established at +Frankfort to wish a change, so the lad was removed from the capital, +that the citizens of Frankfort might be under no temptation to place him +at their head, and endeavor to overturn the existing order of things. + +This being the state of affairs in Frankfort, with every one gloomy, and +a majority starving, it was little wonder that the main cellar of the +Rheingold tavern should be empty, although when times were good it was +difficult to find a seat there after the sun went down. But in the +smaller Kaiser cellar, along each side of the single long table, sat +young men numbering a score, who ate black bread and drank Rhine wine, +to the roaring of song and the telling of story. They formed a close +coterie, admitting no stranger to their circle if one dissenting voice +was raised against his acceptance, yet in spite of this exclusiveness +there was not a drop of noble blood in the company. They belonged, +however, to the aristocracy of craftsmen; metal-workers for the most +part, ingenious artificers in iron, beaters of copper, fashioners of +gold and silver. Glorious blacksmiths, they called themselves; but now, +like every one else, with nothing to do. In spite of their city +up-bringing all were stalwart, well-set-up young men; and, indeed, the +swinging of hammers is good exercise for the muscles of the arm, and in +those turbulent days a youth who could not take care of himself with his +stick or his fists was like to fare ill if he ventured forth after +nightfall. + +This, indeed, had been the chief reason for the forming of their guild, +and if one of their number was set upon, the secret call of the +organization shouted aloud brought instant help were any of the members +within hearing. Belonging neither to the military nor the aristocracy, +they were not allowed to wear swords, and to obtain this privilege was +one of the objects of their organization. Indeed, each member of the +guild secretly possessed a weapon of the best, although he risked his +neck if ever he carried it abroad with him. Among their number were +three of the most expert sword makers in all Germany. + +These three sword makers had been instrumental in introducing to their +order the man who was now its leader. This youth came to one of them +with ideas concerning the proper construction of a sword, and the +balancing of it, so that it hung easily in the hand as though part of +the fore-arm. Usually, the expert has small patience with the theories +of an amateur; but this young fellow, whose ambition it was to invent a +sword, possessed such intimate knowledge of the weapon as it was used, +not only in Germany, but also in France and Italy, that the sword maker +introduced him to fellow-craftsmen at other shops, and they taught him +how to construct a sword. These instructors, learning that although, as +Roland laughingly said, he was not allowed to wear a sword, he could +wield it with a precision little short of marvelous, the guild gave +permission for this stranger to be a guest at one of their weekly +meetings at the Kaiser cellar, where he exhibited his wonderful skill. + +Not one of them, nor, indeed, all of them together, stood any chance +when confronting him. They clamored to be taught, offering good money +for the lessons, believing that if they acquired but a tithe of his +excellence with the blade they might venture to wear it at night, and +let their skill save them from capture. But the young fellow refused +their money, and somewhat haughtily declined the role of fencing-master, +whereupon they unanimously elected him a member of the coterie, waiving +for this one occasion the rule which forbade the choice of any but a +metal-worker. When the stranger accepted the election, he was informed +that it was the duty of each member to come to the aid of his brethren +when required, and they therefore requested him to teach them +swordsmanship. Roland, laughing, seeing how he had been trapped, as it +were, with his own consent, acceded to the universal wish, and before a +year had passed his twenty comrades were probably the leading swordsmen +in the city of Frankfort. + +Shortly after the disaster to the merchants' fleet at the Lorely, Roland +disappeared without a word of farewell to those who had come to think so +much of him. He had been extremely reticent regarding his profession, if +he had one, and no one knew where he lodged. It was feared that the +authorities had arrested him with the sword in his possession, for he +grew more reckless than any of the others in carrying the weapon. One +night, however, he reappeared, and took his seat at the head of the +table as if nothing had happened. Evidently he had traveled far and on +foot, for his clothes were dusty and the worse for wear. He refused to +give any account of himself, but admitted that he was hungry, thirsty, +and in need of money. + +His hunger and thirst were speedily satisfied, but the money scarcity +was not so easily remedied. All the score were out of employment, with +the exception of the three sword makers, whose trade the uncertainty of +the times augmented rather than diminished. To cheer up Roland, who was +a young fellow of unquenchable geniality, they elected him to the empty +honor of being their leader, Kurzbold's term of office having ended. + +The guild met every night now, instead of once a week, and it may be +shrewdly suspected that the collation of black bread and sausage formed +the sole meal of the day for many of them. Nevertheless, their hilarity +was undiminished, and the rafters rang with song and laugh, and echoed +also maledictions upon a supine Government, and on the rapacious Rhine +lords. But the bestowal of even black bread and the least expensive of +wine could not continue indefinitely. They owed a bill to the landlord +upon which that worthy, patient as he had proved himself, always hoping +for better times, wished for at least something on account. All his +other customers had deserted him, and if they drank at all, chose some +place where the wine was thin and cheap. The landlord held out bravely +for three months after Roland was elected president, then, bemoaning his +fate, informed the guild that he would be compelled to close the +Rheingold tavern. + +"Give me a week!" cried Roland, rising in his place at the head of the +table, "and I will make an effort to get enough gold to settle the bill +at least, with perhaps something over for each of our pockets." + +This promise brought forth applause and a rattle of flagons on the +table, so palpably empty that the ever-hopeful landlord proceeded +forthwith to fill them. + +"There is one proviso," said Roland, as they drank his health in the +wine his offer produced. "To get this money I must do something in +return. I have a plan in mind which it would be premature to disclose. +If it succeeds, none of us will ever need to bend back over a workman's +bench again, or hammer metal except for our own pleasure. But acting +alone I am powerless, so I must receive your promise that you will stand +by any pledge I make on your behalf, and follow me into whatever danger +I choose to lead you." + +There was a great uproar at this, and a boisterous consent. + +"This day week, then," said Roland, as he strapped sword to side, threw +cloak over shoulders, so that it completely concealed the forbidden +weapon, waved a hand to his cheering comrades, and went out into the +night. + +Once ascended the cellar steps, the young man stood in the narrow street +as though hesitating what to do. Faintly there came to him the sound of +singing from the cellar he had quitted, and he smiled slightly as he +listened to the rousing chorus he knew so well. From the direction of +the Palace a more sinister echo floated on the night air; the +unmistakable howl of anger, pain, and terror; the noise that a pursued +and stricken mob makes when driven by soldiers. The populace had +evidently been engaged in its futile and dangerous task of +demonstrating, and proclaiming its hunger, and the authorities were +scattering it; keeping it ever on the move. + +It was still early; not yet ten o'clock, and a full moon shone over the +city, unlighted otherwise. Drawing his cloak closer about him, Roland +walked rapidly in an opposite direction to that from which the tumult of +the rabble came, until he arrived at the wide Fahrgasse, a street +running north and south, its southern end terminating at the old bridge. +Along this thoroughfare lived the wealthiest merchants of Frankfort. + +Roland turned, and proceeded slowly towards the river, critically +examining the tall, picturesque buildings on either hand, cogitating the +question which of them would best answer his purpose. They all seemed +uninviting enough, for their windows were dark, most of them tightly +shuttered; and, indeed, the thoroughfare looked like a street of the +dead, the deserted appearance enhanced, rather than relieved, by the +white moonlight lying on its cobble-stones. + +Nearing the bridge, he discovered one stout door ajar, and behind it +shone the yellow glow of a lamp. He paused, and examined critically the +facade of the house, which, with its quiet, dignified architectural +beauty, seemed the abode of wealth. Although the shutters were closed, +his intent inspection showed him thin shafts of light from the chinks, +and he surmised that an assemblage of some sort was in progress, +probably a secret convention, the members of which entered unannounced, +and left the door ajar ready for the next comer. + +For a moment he thought of venturing in, but remembering his mission +required the convincing of one man rather than the persuasion of a +group, he forbore, but noted in his mind the position and designation of +the house, resolving to select this building as the theater of his first +effort, and return to it next morning. It would serve his purpose as +well as another. + +Roland's attention was then suddenly directed to his own position, +standing in the bright moonlight, for there swung round from the river +road, into the Fahrgasse, a small and silent company, who marched as one +man. The moon was shining almost directly up the street, but the houses +to the west stood in its radiance, while those in the east were still in +shadow. Roland pressed himself back against the darkened wall to his +left, near the partially opened door; between it and the river. The +silent procession advanced to the door ajar, and there paused, forming +their ranks into two lines, thus making a passage for a tall, +fine-looking, bearded man, who walked to the threshold, then turned and +raised his bonnet in salute. + +"My friends," he said, "this is kind of you, and although I have been +silent, I ask you to believe that deeply I appreciate your welcome +escort. And now, enter with me, and we will drink a stoup of wine +together, to the somber toast, 'God save our stricken city!'" + +"No, no, Herr Goebel. To-night is sacred. We have seen you safely to +your waiting family, and at that reunion there should be no intruders. +But to-morrow night, if you will have us, we will drink to the city, and +to your own good health, Herr Goebel." + +This sentiment was applauded by all, and the merchant, seeing that they +would not accept his present invitation, bowed in acquiescence, and bade +them good-by. When the door closed the delegation separated into units, +and each went his own way. Roland, stepping out of the shadow, accosted +the rearmost man. + +"Pardon me, mein Herr," he said, "but may I ask what ceremony is this in +which you have been taking part?" + +The person accosted looked with some alarm at his questioner, but the +moonlight revealed a face singularly gentle and winning; a face that in +spite of its youth inspired instinctive confidence. The tone, too, was +very persuasive, and seemed devoid even of the offense of curiosity. + +"'Tis no ceremony," said the delegate, "but merely the return home of +our friend, Herr Goebel." + +"Has he, then, been on a journey?" + +"Sir, you are very young, and probably unacquainted with Frankfort." + +"I have lived here all my life," said Roland. "I am a native of +Frankfort." + +"In that case," replied the other, "you show yourself amazingly ignorant +of its concerns; otherwise you would know that Herr Goebel is one of the +leading merchants of the city, a man honorable, enlightened, and +energetic--an example to us all, and one esteemed alike by noble or +peasant. We honor ourselves in honoring him." + +"Herr Goebel should be proud of such commendation, mein Herr, coming I +judge, from one to whom the words you use might also be applied." + +The merchant bowed gravely at this compliment, but made no remark upon +it. + +"Pardon my further curiosity," continued the young man, "but from whence +does Herr Goebel return?" + +"He comes from prison," said the other. "He made the mistake of thinking +that our young Prince would prove a better ruler than his father, our +Emperor, and but that the Archbishops feared a riot if they went to +extremes, Herr Goebel ran great danger of losing his life rather than +his liberty." + +"What you say, mein Herr, interests me very much, and I thank you for +your courtesy. My excuse for questioning you is this. I am moved by a +desire to enter the employ of such a man as Herr Goebel, and I purpose +calling upon him to-morrow, if you think he would be good enough to +receive me." + +"He will doubtless receive you," replied the other, "but I am quite +certain your mission will fail. At the present moment none of us are +engaging clerks, however competent. Ignorant though you are of civic +affairs, you must be aware that all business is at a standstill in +Frankfort. Although Herr Goebel has said nothing about it, I learn from +an unquestionable source that he himself is keeping from starvation all +his former employees, so I am sure he would not take on, for a stranger, +any further obligation." + +"Sir, I am well acquainted with the position of affairs, and it is to +suggest a remedy that I desire speech with Herr Goebel. I do not possess +the privilege of acquaintance with any merchant in this city, so one +object of my accosting you was to learn, if possible, how I might secure +some note of introduction to the merchant that would ensure his +receiving me, and obtain for me a hearing when once I had been admitted +to his house." + +If Roland expected the stranger to volunteer such a note, he quite +underestimated the caution of a Frankfort merchant. + +"As I said before, you will meet with no difficulty so far as entrance +to the house is concerned. May I take it that you yourself understand +the art of writing?" + +"Oh yes," replied Roland. + +"Then indite your own letter of introduction. Say that you have evolved +a plan for the redemption of Frankfort, and Herr Goebel will receive you +without demur. He will listen patiently, and give a definite decision +regarding the feasibility of your project. And now, good sir, my way +lies to the left. I wish you success, and bid you good-night." + +The stranger left Roland standing at the intersection of two streets, +one of which led to the Saalhof. They had been approaching the +Romerberg, or market-place, the center of Frankfort, when the merchant +so suddenly ended the conversation and turned aside. Roland remembered +that no Jew was allowed to set foot in the Romerberg, and now surmised +the nationality of his late companion. The youth proceeded alone through +the Romerberg, and down directly to the river, reaching the spot where +the huge Saalhof faced its flood. Roland saw that triple guards +surrounded the Emperor's Palace. The mob had been cleared away, but no +one was allowed to linger in its precincts, and the youth was gruffly +ordered to take himself elsewhere, which he promptly did, walking up the +Saalgasse, and past the Cathedral, until he came once more into the +Fahrgasse, down which he proceeded, pausing for another glance at +Goebel's house, until he came to the bridge, where he stood with arms +resting on the parapet, thoughtfully shaping in his mind what he would +say to Herr Goebel in the morning. + +Along the opposite side of the river lay a compact mass of barges; ugly, +somber, black in the moonlight, silent witnesses to the ruin of +Frankfort. The young man gazed at this melancholy accumulation of +useless floating stock, and breathed the deeper when he reflected that +whoever could set these boats in motion again would prove himself, +temporarily at least, the savior of the city. + +When the bells began to toll eleven, Roland roused himself, walked +across the bridge to Sachsenhausen, and so to his squalid lodging, +consoling himself with the remembrance that the great King Charlemagne +had made this his own place of residence. Here, before retiring to bed, +he wrote the letter which he was to send in next day to Herr Goebel, +composing it with some care, so that it aroused curiosity without +satisfying it. + +It was half-past ten next morning when Roland presented himself at the +door of the leading merchant in the Fahrgasse, and sent in to that +worthy his judiciously worded epistle. He was kept waiting in the hall +longer than he expected, but at last the venerable porter appeared, and +said Herr Goebel would be pleased to receive him. He was conducted up +the stair to the first floor, and into a front room which seemed to be +partly library and partly business office. Here seated at a stout table, +he recognized the grave burgher whose home-coming he had witnessed the +night before. + +The keen eyes of the merchant seemed to penetrate to his inmost thought, +and it struck Roland that there came into them an expression of +disappointment, for he probably did not expect so youthful a visitor. + +"Will you be seated, mein Herr," said his host; and Roland, with an +inclination of the head, accepted the invitation. "My time is very +completely occupied to-day," continued the elder man, "for although +there is little business afoot in Frankfort, my own affairs have been +rather neglected of late, and I am endeavoring to overtake the arrears." + +"I know that," said Roland. "I stood by your doorcheek last night when +you returned home." + +"Did you so? May I ask why?" + +"There was no particular reason. It happened that I walked down the +Fahrgasse, endeavoring to make up my mind upon whom I should call +to-day." + +"And why have I received the preference?" + +"Perhaps, sir, it would be more accurate to say your house received the +preference, if it is such. I was struck by its appearance of solidity +and wealth, and, differing from all others in the door being ajar, I +lingered before it last night with some inclination to enter. Then the +procession which accompanied you came along. I heard your address to +your friends, and wondered what the formality was about. After the door +was closed I accosted one of those who escorted you, and learned your +name, business, and reputation." + +"You must be a stranger in Frankfort when you needed to make such +inquiry." + +"Those are almost the same words that my acquaintance of last night +used, and he seemed astonished when I replied that I was born in +Frankfort, and had lived here all my life." + +"Ah, I suppose no man is so well known as he thinks he is, but I venture +to assert that you are not engaged in business here." + +"Sir, you are in the right. I fear I have hitherto led a somewhat +useless existence." + +"On money earned by some one else, perhaps." + +"Again you hit the nail on the head, Herr Goebel. I lodge on the other +side of the river, and coming to and fro each day, the sight of all +those useless barges depresses me, and I have formulated a plan for +putting them in motion again." + +"I fear, sir, that wiser heads than yours have been meditating upon that +project without avail." + +"I should have been more gratified, Herr Goebel, if you had said 'older +heads.'" + +The suspicion of a smile hovered for a brief instant round the shrewd, +firm lips of the merchant. + +"Young sir, your gentle reproof is deserved. I know nothing of your +wisdom, and so should have referred to the age, and not to the equipment +of your head. It occurs to me, as I study you more closely, that I have +met you before. Your face seems familiar." + +"'Tis but a chance resemblance, I suspect. Until very recently I have +been absorbed in my studies, and rarely left my father's house." + +"I am doubtless mistaken. But to return to our theme. As you are +ignorant of my name and standing in this city, you are probably unaware +of the efforts already made to remove the deadlock on the Rhine." + +"In that, Herr Goebel, you are at fault. I know an expedition of folly +was promoted at enormous expense, and that the empty barges, numbering +something like fivescore, now rest in the deepest part of the Rhine." + +"Why do you call it an expedition of folly?" + +"Surely the result shows it to be such." + +"A plan may meet with disaster, even where every precaution has been +taken. We did the best we could, and if the men we had paid for the +protection of the flotilla had not, with base cowardice, deserted their +posts, these barges would have reached Cologne." + +"Never! The defenders you chose were riff-raff, picked up in the gutters +of Frankfort, and you actually supposed such cattle, undisciplined and +untrained, would stand up against the fearless fighters of the Barons, +swashbucklers, hardened to the use of sword and pike. What else was to +be expected? The goods were not theirs, but yours. They had received +their pay, and so speedily took themselves out of danger." + +"You forget, sir, or you do not know, that several hundred of them were +cut to pieces." + +"I know that, also, but the knowledge does not in the least nullify my +contention. I am merely endeavoring to show you that the heads you spoke +of a moment ago were only older, but not necessarily wiser than mine. It +would be impossible for me to devise an expedition so preposterous." + +"What should we have done?" + +"For one thing, you should have gone yourselves, and defended your own +bales." + +The merchant showed visible signs of a slowly rising anger, and had the +young man's head contained the wisdom he appeared to claim for it, he +would have known that his remarks were entirely lacking in tact, and +that he was making no progress, but rather the reverse. "You speak like +a heedless, untutored youth. How could we defend our bales, when no +merchant is allowed to wear a sword?" + +Roland rose and put his hands to the throat of his cloak. + +"I am not allowed to wear a sword;" and saying this, he dramatically +flung wide his cloak, displaying the prohibited weapon hanging from his +belt. The merchant sat back in his chair, visibly impressed. + +"You seem to repose great confidence in me," he said. "What if I were to +inform the authorities?" + +The youth smiled. + +"You forget, Herr Goebel, that I learned much about you from your friend +last night. I feel quite safe in your house." + +He flung his cloak once more over the weapon, and sat down again. + +"What is your occupation, sir?" asked the merchant. + +"I am a teacher of swordsmanship. I practice the art of a +fencing-master." + +"Your clients are aristocrats, then?" + +"Not so. The class with which I am now engaged contains twenty skilled +artisans of about my own age." + +"If they do not belong to the aristocracy, your instruction must be +surreptitious, because it is against the law." + +"It is both surreptitious and against the law, but in spite of these +disadvantages, my twenty pupils are the best swordsmen in Frankfort, and +I would willingly pit them against any twenty nobles with whom I am +acquainted." + +"So!" cried the merchant. "You are acquainted with twenty nobles, are +you?" + +"Well, you see," explained the young man, flushing slightly, "these +metal-workers whom I drill, being out of employment, cannot afford to +pay for their lessons, and naturally, as you indicated, a fencing-master +must look to the nobles for his bread. I used the word acquaintance +hastily. I am acquainted with the nobles in the same way that a clerk in +the woolen trade might say he was acquainted with a score of merchants, +to none of whom he had ever spoken." + +"I see. Am I to take it that your project for opening the Rhine depends +for its success on those twenty metal-workers, who quite lawlessly know +how to handle their swords?" + +"Yes." + +"Tell me what your plan is." + +"I do not care to disclose my plan, even to you." + +"I thought you came here hoping I should further your project, and +perhaps finance it. Am I wrong in such a surmise?" + +"Sir, you are not. The very first proviso is that you pay to me across +this table a thousand thalers in gold." + +The smile came again to the lips of the merchant. + +"Anything else?" he asked. + +"Yes. You will select one of your largest barges, and fill it with +whatever class of goods you deal in." + +"Don't you know what class of goods I deal in?" + +"No! I do not." + +Goebel's smile broadened. That a youth so ignorant of everything +pertaining to the commerce of Frankfort, should come in thus boldly and +demand a thousand thalers in gold from a man whose occupation he did not +know, seemed to the merchant one of the greatest pieces of impudence he +had encountered in his long experience of men. + +"After all, my merchandise," he said, "matters little one way or another +when I am engaged with such a customer as you. What next?" + +"You will next place a price upon the shipload; a price such as you +would accept if the boat reached Cologne intact. I agree to pay you that +money, together with the thousand thalers, when I return to Frankfort." + +"And when will that be, young sir?" + +"You are better able to estimate the length of time than I. I do not +know, for instance, how long it takes a barge to voyage from Frankfort +to Cologne." + +"Given fair weather, which we may expect in July, and premising that +there are no interruptions, let us say a week." + +"Would a man journeying on horseback from Cologne to Frankfort reach +here sooner than the boat?" + +"The barge having to make headway against a strong current, I should say +the horseman would accomplish the trip in a third of the time." + +"Very well. To allow for all contingencies, I promise to pay the money +one month from the day we leave the wharf at Frankfort." + +"That would be eminently satisfactory." + +"I forgot to mention that I expect you, knowing more about navigation +than I, to supply a trustworthy captain and an efficient crew for the +manning of the barge. I should like men who understand the currents of +the river, and who, if questioned by the Barons, would not be likely to +tell more than they were asked." + +"I can easily provide such a set of sailors." + +"Very well, Herr Goebel. Those are my requirements. Will you agree to +supply them?" + +"With great pleasure, my young and enthusiastic friend, provided that +you comply with one of the most common of our commercial rules." + +"And what is that, mein Herr?" + +"Before you depart you will leave with me ample security that if I never +see you again, the value of the goods, plus the thousand thalers, will +be repaid to me when the month is past." + +"Ah," said the young man, "you impose an impossible condition." + +"Give me a bond, then, signed by three responsible merchants." + +"Sir, as I am acquainted with no merchant in this city except yourself, +how could I hope to obtain the signature of even one responsible man?" + +"How, then, do you expect to obtain my consent to a project which I know +cannot succeed, while I bear all the risk?" + +"Pardon me, Herr Goebel. I and my comrades risk our lives. You risk +merely your money and your goods." + +"You intend, then, to fight your way down the Rhine?" + +"Surely. How else?" + +"Supported by only twenty followers?" + +"Yes." + +"And you hope to succeed where a thousand of our men failed?" + +"Yes; they were hirelings, as I told you. With my twenty I could put +them all to flight. Aside from this, I should like to point out to you +that the merchants of Frankfort formed their combination at public +meetings, called together by the burgomaster. There was no secrecy about +their deliberations. Every robber Baron along the Rhine knew what you +were going to attempt, and was prepared for your coming. I intend that +your barge shall leave Frankfort at midnight. My company will proceed +across country, and join her at some agreed spot, probably below +Bingen." + +"I see. Well, my young friend, you have placed before me a very +interesting proposal, but I am a business man, and not an adventurer. +Unless you can furnish me with security, I decline to advance a single +thaler, not to mention a thousand." + +The young man rose to his feet, and the merchant, with a sigh, seemed +glad that the conference was ended. + +"Herr Goebel, you deeply disappoint me." + +"I am sorry for that, and regret the forfeiting of your good opinion, +but despite that disadvantage I must persist in my obstinacy." + +"I do not wonder that this fair city lies desolate if her prosperity +depends upon her merchants, and if you are chief among them; yet I +cannot forget that you risked life and liberty on my behalf, though now +you will not venture a miserable thousand thalers on my word of honor." + +"On _your_ behalf? What do you mean?" + +"I mean, Herr Goebel, that I am Prince Roland, only son of the Emperor, +and that you placed your neck in jeopardy to elevate me to the throne." + + + + +II + +THE BARGAIN IS STRUCK + + +Every epoch seems to have possessed a two-word phrase that contained, as +it were, the condensed wisdom of the age, and was universally believed +by the people. For instance, the aphorism "Know thyself" rose to +popularity when cultured minds turned towards science. In the period to +which this recital belongs the adage "Blood tells" enjoyed universal +acceptance. It was, in fact, that erroneous statement "The King can do +no wrong" done up into tabloid form. From it, too, sprang that +double-worded maxim of the days of chivalry, "_Noblesse oblige_." + +In our own time, the two-worded phrase is "Money talks," and if diligent +inquirers probe deeply into the matter, they will find that the +aspirations of the people always correspond with reasonable accuracy to +the meaning of the phrase then in use. Nothing could be more excellent, +for instance, than the proverb "Money talks" as representing two +commercial countries like America and England. In that short sentence is +packed the essence of many other wise and drastic sayings, as, for +instance, "The devil take the hindmost;" for, of course, if money talks, +then the man without it must remain silent, and his place is at the tail +of the procession, where the devil prowls about like a Cossack at the +rear of Napoleon's army. + +Confronting each other in that ancient house on the Fahrgasse, we +witness, then, the personification of the two phrases, ancient and +modern: blood represented by the standing lad, and money by the seated +merchant. + +"I am Prince Roland, only son of the Emperor," the young man had said, +and he saw at once by the expression on the face of his host that, could +he be convinced of the truth of the assertion, the thousand thalers that +the Prince had demanded would be his on the instant. + +For a full minute Roland thought he had succeeded, but as the surprise +died out of the merchant's countenance, there replaced it that mask of +caution which had had so much to do with the building of his fortune. +During their conference Herr Goebel cudgeled his brain, trying to +remember where he had seen this young man before, but memory had roamed +among clerks, salesmen, and industrious people of that sort where, +somehow, this young fellow did not fit in. When Roland suddenly sprung +on him the incredible statement that he was a member of the Imperial +family, the merchant's recollection then turned towards pageants he had +seen, in one of which this young stranger might very well have borne a +part. Blood was beginning to tell. + +But now experience came to the merchant's aid. Only in romances did +princes of the blood royal wander about like troubadours. Even a member +of the lesser nobility did not call unheralded at the house of a +merchant. The aristocracy always wanted money, it is true, "but what +they thought they might require, they went and took," as witness the +piratical Barons of the Rhine, whose exactions brought misery on the +great city of Frankfort. + +Then all at once came the clinching remembrance that when the Electors +were appealed to on behalf of the young Prince, the three Archbishops +had promptly seized his Royal Highness, and, in spite of the pleadings +of the Empress (the Emperor was drunk and indifferent) placed him in the +custody of the Archbishop nearest to Frankfort, the warrior prelate of +Mayence, who imprisoned him in the strong fortress of Ehrenfels, from +which, well guarded and isolated as it was upon a crag over-hanging the +Rhine, no man could escape. + +"Will you kindly be seated again, sir," requested the merchant, and if +he had spoken a short time before, he would have put the phrase "your +Royal Highness" in the place of the word "sir." + +Roland, after a moment's hesitation, sat down. He saw that his coup had +failed, because he was unable to back it up by proofs. His dramatic +action had been like a brilliant cavalry charge, for a moment +successful, but coming to naught because there was no solid infantry to +turn the temporary confusion of the enemy into complete rout. Realizing +that the battle must be fought over again, the Prince sat back with a +sigh of disappointment, a shade of discontent on his handsome face. + +"I find myself in rather a quandary," proceeded the merchant. "If indeed +you are the Emperor's son, it is not for such as I to cross-examine +you." + +"Ask me any questions you like, sir. I shall answer them promptly +enough." + +"If I beg you to supply proof of the statement you make, you would be +likely to reply that as you dared not enter your father's Palace, you +are unable to furnish me with corroboration." + +"Sir, you put the case in better language than I could employ. In more +halting terms that is what I should have said." + +"When were you last in the Palace?" + +"About the same time, sir, that you took up your residence in prison." + +"Ah, yes; that naturally would be your answer. Now, my young friend, you +have shown me that you know nothing of mercantile practice; therefore it +may perhaps interest you if I explain some of our methods." + +"Herr Goebel, you may save your breath. Such a recital must not only +fail to interest me, but will bore me extremely. I care nothing for your +mercantile procedure, and, to be quite plain with you, I despise your +trade, and find some difficulty in repressing my contempt for those who +practice it." + +"If an emissary of mine," returned Goebel, unperturbed, "approached a +client or customer for the purpose of obtaining a favor, and used as +little tact as you do, I should dismiss him." + +"I'm not asking any favors from you." + +"You wish me to hand over to you a thousand thalers, otherwise why came +you here?" + +"I desire to bestow upon you the greatest of boons, namely to open up +the Rhine, and bring back prosperity to Frankfort, which you brainless, +cowardly merchants have allowed to slip through your fingers, blaming +now the Barons, now the Emperor, now the Electors; censuring everybody, +in fact, except the real culprits ... yourselves. You speak of the money +as a favor, but it is merely an advance for a few weeks, and will be +returned to you; yet because I desire to confer this inestimable gift +upon you and your city, you expect me to cringe to you, and flatter you, +as if I were a member of your own sycophantic league. I refuse to do +anything of the kind, and yet, by God, I'll have the money!" + +The merchant, for the first time during their conference, laughed +heartily. The young man's face was aflame with anger, yet the truculent +words he used did more to convince Herr Goebel that he belonged to the +aristocracy than if he had spoken with the most exemplary humility. +Goebel felt convinced he was not the Prince, but some young noble, who, +intimate with the Royal Family, and knowing the Emperor's son to be out +of the way, thought it safe to assume his name, the better to carry +forward his purpose, whatever that purpose might actually be. That it +was to open the Rhine he did not for a moment credit, and that he would +ever see his cash again, if once he parted with it, he could not +believe. + +"At the risk of tiring you, I shall nevertheless proceed with what I was +about to say. We merchants, for our own protection, contribute to a fund +which might be entitled one for secret service. This fund enables us to +procure private information that may be of value in our business. Among +other things we need to know are accurate details pertaining to the +intentions and doings of our rulers, for whatever our own short-comings +may be, the actions of those above us affect business one way or the +other. May I read you a short report that came in while I was serving my +term of imprisonment?" + +"Oh, read what you like," said Roland indifferently, throwing back his +head, and partially closing his eyes, with an air of _ennui_. + +The merchant drew towards him a file of papers, and going through them +carefully, selected a document, and drew it forth, then, clearing his +throat, he read aloud-- + +"'At an hour after midnight, on St. Stanislas' Day, three nobles, one +representing the Archbishop of Mayence, the second the Archbishop of +Treves, and the third the Archbishop of Cologne, armed with authority +from these three Electors and Princes of the Church, entered the Saalhof +from the side facing the river, and arrested in his bed the young Prince +Roland. They assured the Empress, who protested, that the Prince would +be well cared for, and that, as an insurrection was feared in Frankfort, +it was considered safer that the person whom they intended to elevate to +the throne on the event of the Emperor's death, should be out of harm's +way, being placed under the direct care of the Archbishop of Mayence. +They informed the Empress that the Archbishops would not remove the +Prince from the Palace in opposition to the wishes of either the Emperor +or herself, but if this permission was not given, a meeting of the +Electors would at once be called, and some one else selected to succeed +the present ruler. + +"'This consideration exerted a great influence upon the Empress, who +counseled her son to acquiesce. The young man was led to a boat then in +waiting by the river steps of the Palace, and so conveyed down the Main +to the Rhine, which was reached just after daybreak. Without landing, +and keeping as much as possible to the middle of the river, the party +proceeded down the Rhine, past Bingen, to the foot of the crag on which +stands the castle of Ehrenfels. The Prince was taken up to the Castle, +where he now remains. + +"'The Archbishops from their revenues allot to him seven hundred thalers +a month, in addition to his maintenance. It is impossible for him to +escape from this stronghold unaided, and as the Emperor takes no +interest in the matter, and the Empress has given her consent, he is +like to be an inmate of Ehrenfels during the pleasure of the +Archbishops, who doubtless will not elect him to the throne in +succession unless he proves compliant to their wishes. The Prince being +a young man of no particular force of character'" (the merchant paused +in his reading, and looked across at his _vis-a-vis_ with a smile, but +the latter appeared to be asleep), "'he will probably succumb to the +Archbishops, therefore merchants are advised to base no hopes upon an +improvement in affairs, even though the son should succeed the father. +Despite the precautions taken, the arrest and imprisonment of the +Prince, and even the place of his detention, became rather generally +known in Frankfort, but the news is in the form of rumor only, and +excites little interest throughout the city.' + +"There, Sir Roland, what do you say to that?" + +"Oh, nothing much," replied Roland. "The account might have stated that +in the boat were five rowers, who worked lustily until we reached the +Rhine, when, the wind being favorable, a sail was hoisted, and with the +current assisting the wind, we made excellent time to Ehrenfels. I +observe, further, that your secret service keeps you very well informed, +and therefore withdraw a tithe of the harsh things I said regarding the +stupidity of the merchants." + +"Many thanks for the concession," said Goebel, replacing the document +with its fellows. "Now, as a plain and practical man, what strikes me is +this: you need only return to Ehrenfels for two months, and as there is +little use for money in that fortress, your maintenance being +guaranteed, and seven hundred thalers allowed, you can come away with +four hundred thalers more than the sum you demand from me, and thus put +your project into force without being under obligations to any despised +merchant." + +"True, Herr Goebel, but can you predict what will happen in Frankfort +before two months are past? You learn from that document that the shrewd +Archbishops anticipate an insurrection, and doubtless they command the +force at hand ready to crush it, but during this conflict, which you +seem to regard so lightly, does it ever occur to you that the merchants' +palaces along the Fahrgasse may be sacked and burnt?" + +"That, of course, is possible," commented the merchant. + +"Nay, it is absolutely certain. Civil war means ruin, to innocent and +guilty alike." + +"You are in the right. Now, will you tell me how you escaped from +Ehrenfels?" + +"Yes; if you agree to my terms without further haggling." + +"I shall agree to your terms if I believe your story." + +"It seems impossible, sir, to pin you down to any definite bargain. Is +this the way you conduct your business?" + +"Yes; unless I am well assured of the good faith of my customer. I +offered you ordinary business terms when I asked for security, or for +the signature of three responsible merchants to your bond. It is because +I am a merchant, and not a speculator, that I haggle, as you term it." + +"Very well, then, I will tell you how I got away, but I begin my recital +rather hopelessly, for you always leave yourself a loophole of escape. +If you believe my story, you say! Yes: could I weave a romance about +tearing my sheets into ropes; of lowering myself in the dark from the +battlements to the ground; of an alarm given; of torches flashing; of +diving into the Rhine, and swimming under the water until I nearly +strangled; of floating down over the rapids, with arrows whizzing round +me in the night; of climbing dripping to the farther shore, far from +sight of Ehrenfels, then, doubtless, you would believe. But my escape +was prosaically commonplace, depending on the cupidity of one man. The +material for it was placed in my hands by the Archbishops themselves. +Your account states that the Castle is well guarded. So it is, but when +the Archbishop needs an augmentation of his force, he withdraws his men +from Ehrenfels to Mayence, as my prison is the nearest of his +possessions to his capital city, and thus at times it happens that the +Castle is bereft of all save the custodian and his family. His eldest +son happens to be of my own age, and not unlike me in appearance. None +of the guards saw me, except the custodian, and you must remember he was +a very complacent jailer, for the reason that he knew well every rising +sun might bring with it tidings that I was his Emperor, so he cultivated +my acquaintance, to learn in his own thrifty, peasant way what manner of +ruler I might become, and I, having no one else to talk to, made much of +his company. + +"Frequently he impressed upon me that his task of jailer was most +irksome to him, but poverty compelling, what could he do? He swore he +would accomplish whatever was in his power to mitigate my captivity, and +this indeed did; so at last when the Castle was empty I made him a +proposal. Now remember, Sir Merchant, that what I tell you is in +confidence, and should you break faith with me, I will have you hanged +if I become Emperor, or slit your throat with my own sword if I don't." + +"Go on. I shall tell no one." + +"I said to my jailer: 'There are not half a dozen people in this world +who know me by sight, and among that half-dozen no Elector is included. +Outside the Palace at Frankfort I am acquainted with a sword maker or +two, and about a score of good fellows who are friends of theirs, but to +them I am merely a fencing-master. Now, seven hundred thalers a month +pass through your honest hands to mine, and will continue to do so. Your +son seems to be even more silent than yourself, and he is a young fellow +whom I suspect knows the difference between a thaler and a button on his +own coat. If you do what I wish, there will be some slight risk, but +think of the reward immediate and in future! At once you come into an +income of seven hundred thalers a month. If I am elected Emperor, I +shall ennoble you, and present you with the best post in the land. If +you don't do what I wish, I shall cause your head cut off as the first +act of my first day of power.'" + +"You did not threaten to slit his throat with your own sword, failing +your elevation?" asked the merchant, with a smile. + +"No. He was quite safe from my vengeance unless I came to the throne." + +"In that case I should say the custodian need not fear the future. But +please go on with your account." + +"I proposed that his son and I should exchange costumes; in short, the +young man was to take my place, occupying the suite of rooms assigned to +me in the Castle. I told his father there was not the slightest fear of +discovery, for if the Archbishop of Mayence sent some one to see that +the Prince was safe, or even came himself, all the young man need do was +to follow my example and keep silent, for I had said nothing from the +time I was roused in my room in the Saalhof until I was lodged in +Ehrenfels. I promised, if set at liberty, to keep within touch of +Frankfort, where, at the first rumor of any crisis, I could return +instantly to Ehrenfels. + +"The custodian is a slow-minded man, although not so laggard in coming +to an agreement as yourself. He took a week to turn the matter over in +his mind, and then made the plunge. He is now jailer to his own son, and +that young peasant lives in a style he never dreamed of before. The +Archbishops are satisfied, because they believe I cannot escape from the +stronghold--like yourself, holding but a poor opinion of my abilities; +and their devout Lordships know that outside the fortress no person, not +even my mother, wishes me forth. I took in my wallet five hundred +thalers, and fared like the peasant I seemed to be, down the Rhine, now +on one side, now on the other, until I came to the ancient town of +Castra Bonnensia of the Romans, which name the inhabitants now shorten +to Bonn. There I found the Archbishop in residence, and not at Cologne, +as I had supposed. The town being thronged with soldiers and inquisitive +people of Cologne's court, I returned up the Rhine again, remembering I +had gone rather far afield, and although you may not believe it, I +called upon my old friend the custodian of Ehrenfels, and enjoyed an +excellent meal with him, consuming some of the seductive wine that is +grown on the same side of the river about a league above Ehrenfels." + +"I dare say," said the merchant, "that I can give the reason for this +apparently reckless visit of yours to Ehrenfels. You were in want of +money, the five hundred thalers being spent." + +"Sir, you are exactly in the right, and I got it, too, without nearly so +much talk as I have been compelled to waste on the present occasion." + +"What was your object in going down the river instead of turning to +Frankfort?" + +"I had become interested in my prison, and had studied methods by which +it could be successfully attacked. I knew that my father allowed the +Barons of the Rhine to override him, and I wondered if his wisdom was +greater than I thought. Probably, said I to myself, he knew their +castles to be impregnable, but, with the curiosity of youth, I desired +to form an opinion of my own. I therefore lodged as a wayfarer at every +castle to I could gain admittance, making friends with some underling, +and getting a bed on occasion in the stables, although often I lodged +within the castle itself. Thus I came to the belief, which I bring to +you, that assisted by twenty fearless men I can capture any castle on +the Rhine with the exception of three. And now, Herr Goebel, I have said +all I intend to say. Do you discredit my story?" + +The merchant gazed across at him quizzically for some time without +making any reply, then he said: + +"Do you think I believe you?" + +"Frankly, I do not." + +"If I am unable to give you the gold, I can at least furnish some good +advice. Set up as a poet, good Master Roland, and weave for our +delectation stories of the Rhine. I think your imagination, if +cultivated, would give you a very high place among the romancers of our +time." + +With a patience that Herr Goebel had not expected, Roland replied: + +"It grieves me to return empty-handed to my twenty friends, who last +night bade me a very confident adieu." + +"Yes, they will be disappointed, and I shrewdly suspect that my thousand +thalers would not go towards the prosecuting of the expedition you have +outlined, but rather in feasting and in wine." + +"Again, sir, you are right. It is unfortunate that I am so often +compelled to corroborate your statements, when all the acumen with which +you credit my mind is turned towards the task of proving you a +purse-proud fool, puffed up in your own conceit, and as short-sighted as +an owl in the summer sunlight. However, let us stick to our text. If +what I said had been true, although of course you know it isn't, you +have nevertheless enough common sense to be aware that I would certainly +show a pardonable reluctance about visiting my father's Palace. It is +thronged with spies of the Archbishop, and although, as I have said, I +am not very well known, there is a chance that one or another might +recognize me, and then, almost instantly, a man on a swift horse would +be on his way to Mayence. If I knew that I had been discovered, I should +make at once for Ehrenfels, arriving there before an investigation was +held. But my twenty comrades would wait for me in vain. Nevertheless, I +shall venture into the Saalhof this very afternoon, and bring to you a +letter written by my mother certifying that I am her son. Would that +convince you?" + +"Yes; were I sure the signature was genuine." + +"Ah, there you go again! Always a loophole!" + +The young man spoke in accents of such genuine despair that his host was +touched despite his incredulity. + +"Look you here," he said, bending across the table. "There is, of +course, one chance in ten thousand that you are what you say. I have +never seen the signature of the Empress, and such a missive could easily +be forged by a scholar, which I take you to be. If, then, you wish to +convince me, I'll put before you a test which will be greatly to your +advantage, and which I will accept without the loophole." + +"In Heaven's name, let's hear what it is." + +"There is something that you cannot forge: the Great Seal of the Realm, +attached to all documents signed by the Emperor." + +"I have had no dealings with my father for years," cried the young man. +"I have not even seen him these many months past. I can obtain the +signature of my mother to anything I like to write, but not that of my +father." + +"Patience, patience," said the merchant, holding up his hand. "'Tis well +known that the Empress can bend the Emperor to her will when she chooses +to exert it. You see, in spite of all, I am quite taking it for granted +that you are the Prince, otherwise 'twere useless to waste time in this +talk. You display all the confidence of youth in speaking of the +exploits you propose, and, indeed, it is cheering for a middle-aged +person like myself to meet one so confident of anything in these +pessimistic days. But have you considered what will happen if something +goes wrong during one of your raids?" + +"Nothing can go wrong. I feel no fear on that score." + +"I thought as much. Very well, I will tell you what could go wrong. Some +Baron may entrap you and your score, and forthwith hang you all from his +battlements. Now, it is but common sense to prevent such a termination, +if it be possible. Therefore seek out the Empress. Tell her that you and +your twenty companions are about to embark on an enterprise greatly +beneficial to the land. Say that you go incognito, and that, even should +you fail, 'twill bring no discredit to your Royal House. But point out +the danger of which I forewarn you. Ask her to get the signature of the +Emperor attached to a safe-conduct, together with the device of the +Great Seal; then if the Baron who captures you cannot read, he will +still know the potency of the picture, and as there is no loophole to my +acceptance of this proof, I will, for your convenience, and for my own +protection, write the safe-conduct on as sound a bit of parchment as +ever was signed in a palace." + +Saying this, Herr Goebel rose, and went to his desk in a corner of the +room, where he indited the memorial he had outlined, and, after +sprinkling it with sand, presented it to Roland, who read: + +"These presents warn him to whom they are presented that Roland the +bearer is my son, and that what he has done has been done with my +sanction, therefore he and his twenty comrades are to be held scathless, +pending an appeal to me in my capital city of Frankfort. + +"Whomsoever disobeys this instrument forfeits his own life, and that of +his family and followers, while his possessions will be confiscated by +the State." + +Roland frowned. + +"Doesn't it please you?" asked Goebel, his suspicions returning. + +"Well, it seems to me rather a plebeian action, to attack a man's +castle, and then, if captured, crawl behind a drastic threat like this." + +The merchant shrugged his shoulders. + +"That's a sentimental objection, but of course you need not use the +document unless you wish, though I think if you see twenty-one looped +ropes dangling in the air your hesitation will vanish. Oh, not on your +own account," cried Goebel, as a sign of dissent from his visitor, "but +because of those twenty fine young fellows who doubtless wait to drink +wine with you." + +"That is true," said Roland, with a sigh, folding up the stiff +parchment, opening his cloak, and thrusting it under his belt, standing +up as he did this. + +"Bring me that parchment, bearing the Emperor's signature and the Great +Seal, and you will find the golden coins awaiting you." + +"Very well. At what time this evening would it please you to admit me?" + +"Friends of mine are coming to-night, but they are not likely to stop +long; merely a few handshakes, and a few cups of wine. I shall be ready +for you when the Cathedral clock strikes ten." + +With this the long conference ended, and the aged servitor in the hall +showed Roland into the Fahrgasse. + +As the young man proceeded down the Weckmarkt into the Saalgasse, he +muttered to himself: + +"The penurious old scoundrel! God keep me in future from dealing with +such! To the very last he suspects me of being a forger, and has written +this with his own hand, doubtless filling it with secret marks. Still, +perhaps it is as well to possess such a safeguard. This is my loophole +out of the coming enterprise, I fear we are all cowards, noble and +merchant alike." + +He walked slowly past the city front of the Palace, cogitating some +means of entering without revealing his identity, but soon found that +even this casual scrutiny made him an object of suspicion. He could not +risk being accosted, for, if taken to the guard-room and +questioned--searched, perhaps, and the sword found on him--a +complication would arise adding materially to the difficulties already +in his way. Quickening his pace, he passed through the Fahrthor, and so +to the river-bank, where he saw that the side of the Saalhof fronting +the Main was guarded merely by one or two sentries, for the mob could +not gather on the surface of the waters, as it gathered on the +cobble-stones of the Saalgasse and the Fahrthor. + +Retracing his steps, the Prince walked rapidly until he came to the +bridge, advancing to the iron Cross which commemorates the fowl +sacrifice to the devil, as the first living creature venturing upon that +ancient structure. Here he leaned against the parapet, gazed at the +river facade of the Palace, and studied his problem. There were three +sets of steps from the terrace to the water, a broad flight in the +center for use upon state occasions, and a narrow flight at either end; +the western staircase being that in ordinary use, and the eastern steps +trodden by the servants carrying buckets of water from the river to the +kitchen. + +"The nearer steps," he said to himself, "offer the most feasible +opportunity. I'll try them." + +He counted his money, for here was probably a case for bribery. He found +twenty-four gold pieces, and some loose silver. Returning the coins to +his pouch, he walked to the land, and proceeded up the river until he +reached a wharf where small skiffs were to let. One of these he engaged, +and refusing the services of a waterman, stepped in, and drifted down +the stream. He detached sword and scabbard from his belt, removed the +cloak and wrapped the weapon in it, placing the folded garment out of +sight under the covering at the prow. With his paddle he kept the boat +close to the right bank, discovering an excellent place of concealment +under the arch supporting the steps, through which the water flowed. He +waited by the steps for a few moments until a scullion in long gabardine +came down and dipped his bucket in the swift current. + +"Here, my fine fellow," accosted Roland, "do you wish to earn a pair of +gold pieces?" and he showed the yellow coins in the palm of his hand. + +The menial's eyes glistened, and he cast a rapid glance over his +shoulder. + +"Yes," he replied breathlessly. + +"Then leave your bucket where it is, and step into this wherry." + +The underling, again with a cautious look around, did as he was ordered. + +"Now throw off that outer garment, and give it to me." + +Roland put it on over his own clothes, and flung his bonnet beside the +cloak and sword, for the servant was bareheaded. + +"Get under that archway, and keep out of sight until you hear me +whistle." + +Taking the bucket, Roland mounted the steps, and strode out of the +brilliant sunlight into the comparative gloom of the corridor that led +to the kitchen. He had been two hours with the merchant, and it was now +the time of midday eating. Every one was hurrying to and fro, with no +time to heed anything that did not pertain to the business in hand, so +placing the bucket in a darkened embrasure, the intruder flung off the +gabardine beside it, and searching, found a back stair which he +ascended. + +Once in the upper regions, he knew his way about, and proceeded directly +to his mother's room, being sure at this hour to find her within. On his +unannounced entrance the Empress gave utterance to an exclamation that +indicated dismay rather than pleasure, but she hurried forward to meet +and embrace him. + +"Oh, Roland!" she cried, "what do you here? How came you to the Palace?" + +"By way of the river. My boat is under the arch of the servants' +stairway, and I have not a moment to lose." + +"How did you escape from Ehrenfels, and why have you come here? Surely +you know the Palace will be the first place searched for you?" + +"There will be no search, mother. Take my word for it that no one is +aware of my absence from Ehrenfels but the custodian, and for the best +of reasons he dare not say a word. Do not be alarmed, I beg of you. I am +free by his permission, and shall return to the Castle before he needs +me. Indeed, mother, so far from jeopardizing my own safety, I am here to +preserve it." + +He drew from under his belt Herr Goebel's parchment, and handed it to +her. + +"In case it should occur to the good Archbishop, or any other noble, to +hang me, I thought it best to get such a declaration signed by the +Emperor, and decorated with the Great Seal of the Empire. Then, if any +attempt is made on my life, as well as on my liberty, I may produce this +Imperial decree, and bring my case to Frankfort." + +"Surely, surely," exclaimed the agitated lady, her hands trembling as +she held the document and tried to read it; "I can obtain your father's +signature, but the Great Seal must be attached by the Chamberlain." + +"Very good, mother. The Chamberlain will do as his Majesty orders. The +seal is even more important than the signature, if it comes to that, and +I am sure the Chamberlain will make no objection when the instrument is +for the protection of your son's life. It is not necessary to say that I +am here, or have anything to do with the matter. But lose not a moment, +and give orders that no one shall enter this room." + +The empress hastened away with the parchment, while the young man walked +impatiently up and down the room. It seemed hours before she returned, +but at last she came back with the document duly executed. Roland thrust +it under his belt again, and reassuring his mother, who was now weeping +on his shoulder, he tried to tear himself away. The Empress detained him +until, with fumbling hands, she unlocked a drawer in a cabinet, and took +from it a bag that gave forth a chink of metal as she pressed it on her +son. + +"I must not take it," he said. "I am quite well provided. The generous +Archbishops allow me seven hundred thalers a month, which is paid with +exemplary regularity." + +"There are only five hundred thalers here," replied the Empress. "I wish +there were more, but you must accept it, for I should feel easier in my +mind to know that you possess even that much. Do they misuse you at +Ehrenfels, my son?" + +"Oh, no, no, no! I live like a burgomaster. You need feel no fear on my +account, mother. Ehrenfels is a delightful spot, with old Bingen just +across the water. I like it much better than I did Frankfort, with its +howling mobs, and shall be very glad to get quit again of the city." + +Then, with a hurried farewell, he left the weeping woman, and descending +the back stair, secured the abandoned gabardine, put it on, and so came +to the water's edge, entering into possession of his boat again. +Returning the craft to its owner, he resumed sword and cloak once more, +and found his way to a tavern, where he ordered a satisfactory meal. + +In the evening he arrived at the Rheingold, and meeting the landlord in +the large, empty, public cellar, asked that worthy if his friends had +assembled yet, and was told they were all within the Kaiser cellar. + +"Good!" he cried. "I said I would be gone a week, but here I am within a +day. If that's not justifying a man's word, I should like to know what +is. And now, landlord, set forth the best meal you can provide, with a +double quantity of wine." + +"For yourself, sir?" + +"For all, landlord. What else? The lads have had no supper, I'll +warrant." + +"A little black bread has gone the rounds." + +"All the more reason that we should have a huge pasty, steaming hot, or +two or three of them if necessary. And your best wine, landlord. That +from the Rheingau." + +But the landlord demurred. + +"A meal for yourself, sir, as leader, I could venture upon, but feeding +a score of hungry men is a different matter. Remember, sir, I have not +seen the color of their silver for many a long day, and, since these +evil times have set in, I am a poor man." + +"Sordid silver? Out upon silver! unless it is some silvery fish from the +river, fresh and firm; and that's a good idea. We will begin with fish +while you prepare the meat. 'Tis gold I deal with to-night, and most of +it is for your pouch. Run your hand in here and enjoy the thrill," and +Roland held open the mouth of the bag which contained his treasure. + +"Ah!" cried the inn-keeper, his face aglow. "No such meal is spread +to-night in Frankfort as will be set before you." + +There was a great shout as Roland entered the Kaiser cellar, and a +hurrah of welcome. + +"Ha, renegade!" cried one. "Have you shirked your task so soon?" + +"Coward, coward, poltroon!" was the cry. "I see by his face he has +failed. Never mind them, Roland. Your chair at the head of the table +always awaits you. There is a piece of black bread left, and though the +wine is thin, it quenches thirst." + +Roland flung off his cloak, hung it and the sword on a peg, and took his +seat at the head of the table. Pushing away the flagons that stood near +him, he drew the leathern bag from his belt, and poured the shining +yellow coins on the table, at the sight of which there arose such a yell +that the stout beams above them seemed to quake. + +"Apologize!" demanded Roland, when the clamor quieted down. "The man who +refuses to apologize, and that abjectly, must take down his sword from +the peg and settle with me!" + +A shout of apology was the response. + +"We grovel at your feet, High Mightiness!" cried the man who had called +him poltroon. + +"I have taken the liberty of ordering a fish and meat supper, with a +double quantity of Rudesheimer wine. Again I offer to fight any man who +resents this encroachment on my part." + +"I could spit you with a hand tied behind my back," cried one, "but I am +of a forgiving nature, and will wait instead for the spitted fowl." + +"Most of this money," continued Roland quietly, "goes, I suspect, to the +landlord, as a slight recognition of past kindness, but I am promised a +further supply this evening, which will be divided equally among +ourselves. I ask you, therefore, to be sparing of the wine." Here he was +compelled to pause for some moments, and listen to groans, hoots, howls, +and the rapping of empty flagons on the stout table. + +The commotion was interrupted by the entrance of the landlord, who +brought with him the promised Rhine wine; for, hearing the noise, he +supposed it represented impatience of the company at the delay, a +mistake which no one thought it worth while to rectify. He promised that +the fish would follow in a very few minutes, and went out to see that +his word was kept. + +"Why should we be sparing of the wine?" asked a capable drinker, who had +drained his flagon before asking the question. "With all that money on +the table it seems to me a scandalous proviso." + +"'Tis not a command at all," replied Roland, "but merely a suggestion. I +spoke in the interests of fair-play. An appointment was made by me for +ten o'clock this evening, and I wish to keep it and remain uninfluenced +by wine." + +"What's her name, Roland?" inquired the wine-bibber. + +"I was about to divulge that secret when you interrupted me. The name is +Herr Goebel." + +"What! the cloth merchant on the Fahrgasse?" + +"Is it cloth he deals in? I didn't know the particulars of his +occupation beyond the facts that he is a merchant, and lives in the +Fahrgasse. This morning I enjoyed the privilege of presenting to Herr +Goebel a mutually beneficial plan which would give us all something to +do." + +"Oh, is Goebel to be our employer? I'm a sword forger, and work for no +puny cloth merchant," said Kurzbold. + +"This appointment," continued Roland, unheeding, "is set for ten +o'clock, and I expect to return here before half-past, therefore--" + +"Therefore we're not to drink all the wine." + +"Exactly." + +Their leader sat down as the landlord, followed by an assistant, +entered, carrying the paraphernalia for the substantial repast, and +proceeded to set the table. + +When the hilarious meal was finished, the company sat for another +half-hour over its wine, then Roland rose, buckled on his sword, and +flung his cloak over his shoulders. + +"Roland, I hope you have not sold your soul for this gold?" + +"No; but I have pledged your bodies, and my own as well. Greusel, will +you act as secretary and treasurer? Scrutinize the landlord's bill with +a generous eye, and pay him the amount we owe. If anything is left, we +will divide it equally," and with that he waved his hand to them, +departing amidst a round of cheers, for the active youths were tired of +idleness. + +Punctuality is the politeness of kings, and as the bells of Frankfort +were ringing ten o'clock, Roland knocked at the door of the merchant's +house in the Fahrgasse. It was promptly opened by the ancient porter, +who, after securing it again, conducted the young man up the solid +stairway to the office-room on the first floor. + +Ushered in, the Prince found the merchant seated in his usual chair, as +if he had never moved from the spot where Roland had left him at noon +that day. Half a dozen candles shed their soft radiance over the table, +and on one corner of it, close by Herr Goebel's right elbow, the visitor +saw a well-filled doeskin bag which he fancied might contain the +thousand thalers. + +"Good even to you, Herr Goebel," said the young man, doffing his bonnet. +"I hope I have not trodden too closely on the heels of my appointment, +thus withdrawing you prematurely from the festivities, which I trust you +enjoyed all the more that you breathed the air of liberty again." + +"The occasion, sir, was solemn rather than festive, for although I was +glad to see my old friends again, and I believe they were glad to see +me, the condition of the city is such, and growing rapidly worse, that +merchants cannot rejoice when they are gathered together." + +"Ah, well, Herr Goebel, we will soon mend all that. How long will it +require to load your boat and choose your crew?" + +"Everything can be ready by the evening of the day after to-morrow." + +"You will select one of your largest barges. Remember, it must house +twenty-one men besides the crew and the goods." + +"Yes; I shall see that complete arrangements are made for your comfort." + +"Thank you. But do not provide too much luxury. It might arouse +suspicion from the Barons who search the boat." + +"But the Barons will see you and your men in the boat." + +"I think not. At least, we don't intend to be seen. I will call upon you +again to-morrow at ten o'clock. Will you kindly order your captain to be +here to meet me? I wish you to give him instructions in my presence that +he is to do whatever I ask of him. We will join the boat on the Rhine +between Ehrenfels and Assmannshausen. Instruct him to wait for us midway +between the two places, on the right bank. And now the money, if you +please." + +"The money is here," said the merchant, sitting up a little more stiffly +in his chair as he patted the well-stuffed bag. "The money is here if +you have brought the instrument that authorizes you to take it." + +"I have brought it with me, mein herr." + +"Then show it to me," demanded the merchant, adjusting his horn glasses +with the air of one who will not allow himself to be hoodwinked. + +"With the greatest pleasure," returned the young man, standing before +him. He unfastened his cloak, and allowed it to fall at his feet, then +whisked out his sword, and presented the point of it to the merchant's +throat. + +Goebel, who had been fumbling with his glasses, suddenly became aware of +his danger, and shrank back so far as his chair allowed, but the point +of the sword followed him. + +"What do you mean by that?" he gasped. + +"I mean to show you that in this game iron is superior to gold. Your +card is on the table, represented by that bag. Mine is still in my hand, +and unplayed, but it takes the trick, I think. I hope you see the +uselessness of resistance. You cannot even cry out, for at the first +attempt a thrust of this blade cuts the very roots of utterance. It will +be quite easy for me to escape, because I shall go quietly out with the +bag under my cloak, telling the porter that you do not wish to be +disturbed." + +"It is the Prince of Thieves you are, then," said Herr Goebel. + +"So it would appear. With your right hand pass that bag of gold across +the table, and beg of me to accept it." + +The merchant promptly did what he was told to do. + +The young man put his sword back in its place, laughing joyously, but +there was no answering smile on the face of Herr Goebel. As he had said, +the condition of things in Frankfort, especially in that room, failed to +make for merriment. Roland, without being invited, drew up a chair, and +sat down at the opposite side of the table. + +"Please do not attempt to dash for the door," he warned, "because I can +quite easily intercept you, as I am nearer to it than you are, and more +active. Call philosophy to your aid, and take whatever happens calmly. I +assure you, 'tis the best way, and the only way." + +He untied the cord, and poured the bulk of the gold out upon the table. +The merchant watched him with amazement. For all the robber knew, the +door might be opened at any moment, but he went on with numbering the +coins as nonchalantly as if seated in the treasury of the Corn Exchange. +When he had counted half the sum the bag contained, he poured the loose +money by handfuls into the wallet that had held his mother's +contribution, and pushed towards the merchant the bag, in which remained +five hundred thalers. + +"You are to know," he said with a smile, abandoning his bent-forward +posture, "that when I visited my mother this afternoon, she quite +unexpectedly gave me five hundred thalers, so I shall accept from you +only half the sum I demanded this morning." + +"Your mother!" cried the merchant. "Who is your mother?" + +"The Empress, as I told you. Oh, at last I understand your uneasiness. +You wished to see that document! Why didn't you ask for it? I asked for +the money plainly enough. Well, here it is. Examine Seal and +sign-manual." + +The merchant minutely scrutinized the Great Seal and the signature above +it. + +"I don't know what to think," stammered Herr Goebel at last, gazing +across the table with bewildered face. + +"Think of your good fortune. A moment ago you imagined a thousand +thalers were lost. Now it is but five hundred thalers invested, and you +are a partner with the Royal House of the Empire." + + + + +III + +DISSENSION IN THE IRONWORKERS' GUILD + + +Up to the time of his midnight awakening, Prince Roland had led a +care-free, uneventful life. Although he received the general education +supposed to be suitable for a youth of his station, he interested +himself keenly in only two studies, but as one of these challenged the +other, as it were, the result was entirely to the good. He was a very +quiet boy, much under the influence of his mother, seeing little or +nothing of his easy-going, inebriated father. It was his mother who +turned her son's attention towards the literature of his country, and he +became an omnivorous reader of the old monkish manuscripts with which +the Palace was well supplied. Especially had his mind been attracted by +the stories and legends of the Rhine. The mixture of history, fiction, +and superstition which he found in these vellum pages, so daintily +limned, and so artistically embellished with initial letters in gold and +crimson and blue, fascinated him, and filled him with that desire to see +those grim strongholds on the mountain-sides by the river, which later +on resulted in his journey from Ehrenfels to Bonn, when his ingenuity, +and the cupidity of his custodian, freed him from the very slight +thraldom in which he was held by the Archbishop of Mayence. + +If his attention had been entirely absorbed by the reading of these +tomes, he might have become a mere dreamy bookworm, his intellect +saturated with the sentimental and romantic mysticism permeating Germany +even unto this day, and, as he cared nothing for the sports of boyhood, +body might have suffered as brain developed. + +But, luckily, he had been placed under the instruction of Rinaldo, the +greatest master of the sword that the world had up to that period +produced. Rinaldo was an Italian from Milan, whom gold tempted across +the Alps for the purpose of instructing the Emperor's son in Frankfort. +He was a man of grace and politeness, and young Roland took to him from +the first, exhibiting such aptitude in the art of fencing that the +Italian was not only proud of one who did such credit to his tuition, +but came to love the youth as if he were his own son. + +For the sword-making of Germany the Italian expressed the utmost +contempt. The coarse weapons produced by the ironworkers of Frankfort +needed strength rather than skill in their manipulation. Between the +Italian method and the German was all the contrast that exists between +the catching of salmon with a delicate line and a gossamer fly, or +clubbing the fish to death as did the boatmen at that fishery called the +Waag down the Rhine by St. Goar. + +Roland listened intently and without defense to the diatribe against his +country's weapons and the clumsy method of using them, but although he +said nothing, he formed opinions of his own, believing there was some +merit in strength which the Italian ignored; so, studying the subject, +he himself invented a sword which, while lacking the stoutness of the +German weapon, retained some of its stability, and was almost as easily +handled as the Italian rapier, without the disadvantage of its extreme +frailty. + +Thus it came about that young Roland stole away from the Palace and made +the acquaintance of the sword makers. The practice of fencing exercises +every muscle in the body, and Roland's constant bouts with Rinaldo did +more than make him a master of the weapon, with equal facility in his +right arm or his left; it produced an athlete of the first quality; +agile and strong, developing his physical powers universally, and not in +any one direction. + +Meanwhile Roland remained deplorably ignorant regarding affairs of +State, this being a subject of which his mother knew nothing. The +Emperor, who should have been his son's natural teacher, gave his whole +attention to the wine-flagon, letting affairs drift towards disaster, +allowing the power that deserted his trembling fingers to be grasped by +stronger but unauthorized hands. Roland's surreptitious excursions into +the city to confer with the sword makers taught him little of politics, +for his conversations with these mechanics were devoted entirely to +metal-working. He was hustled now and again by the turbulent mob, in +going to and fro, but he did not know why it clamored, and, indeed, took +little interest in the matter, conscious only that he came more and more +to hate the city and loathe its inhabitants. When he could have his own +way, he said to himself, he would retire to some country castle which +his father owned, and there devote himself to such employment as fell in +with his wishes. + +But he was to receive a sharp lesson that no man, however highly placed, +is independent of his fellows. He was unaware of the commotion that +arose round his own name, and of the grim hanging of the leaders who +chose him as their supreme head. When, bewildered and sleepy, he was +aroused at midnight, and saw three armed men standing by his bedside, he +received a shock that did more to awaken him than the grip of alien +hands on his shoulders. During that night ride in the boat he said +nothing but thought much. He had heard his mother plead for him without +for a moment delaying his departure. She, evidently, was powerless. +There was then in the land a force superior to that of the Throne. +Something that had been said quieted his mother's fears, for at last she +allowed him to go without further protest, but weeping a little, and +embracing him much. There was no roughness or rudeness on the part of +those who conveyed him down the river Main, and finally along the Rhine +to Ehrenfels, but rather the utmost courtesy and deference, yet Roland +remained silent throughout the long journey, agitated by this new, +invisible, irresistible sovereignty animated with the will and power to +do what it liked with him. + +At the Castle of Ehrenfels he found awaiting him no rigorous +imprisonment. He was treated as a welcome guest of an invisible host. It +was his conversations with the garrulous custodian, who was a shrewd +observer of the passing show, that gradually awakened the young Prince +to some familiarity with the affairs of the country. He learned now in +what a deplorable state the capital stood, through the ever-increasing +exactions of the robber Barons along the Rhine. He asked his instructor +why the merchants did not send their goods by some other route, which +was a very natural query, but was told there existed no other route. A +great forest extended for the most part between Frankfort and Cologne, +and through the wilderness were no roads, for even those constructed by +the Romans had been allowed to fall into decay; overgrown with trees, +Nature thus destroying the neglected handiwork of man; the forest +reclaiming its own. + +"Indeed," continued the custodian, "for the last ten years things have +been going to the devil, for the lack of a strong hand in the capital. A +strong hand is needed by nobles and outlaws alike. We want a new +Frederick Barbarossa; the hangman's rope and the torch judiciously +applied might be the saving of the country." + +Ehrenfels, belonging to the Archbishop, was not a nest of piracy, and so +its guardian could talk in this manner if he chose, but had he uttered +these sentiments farther down the Rhine, he would himself have +experienced the utility of the hangman's rope. Roland, knowing by this +time who had taken him into custody, said: + +"Why do not the three Archbishops put a stop to it? They possess the +power." + +The old jailer shrugged his shoulders. + +"My chief, the great prelate of Mayence, would do it speedily enough if +he stood alone, but the Archbishops of Treves have ever been robbers +themselves, and Cologne is little better, therefore they neutralize one +another. No two of them will allow the other to act, fearing he may gain +in power, and thus upset the balance of responsibility, which I assure +your Highness is very nicely adjusted. Each of the three claim +allegiance from this Baron or the other, and although the Archbishops +themselves may not lay toll directly on the Rhine, their ardent +partisans do, which produces a deadlock." + +Thus Roland received an education not to be had in palaces, and, saying +little beyond asking an occasional question, he thought much, and came +to certain conclusions. He arrived at an ambition to open the lordly +Rhine and spent his time gathering knowledge and forming plans. + +Twelve hours after receiving the five hundred thalers from the merchant, +he again presented himself at the now familiar door in the Fahrgasse. In +the room on the first floor he found with Herr Goebel a thick-set, +heavily-bearded, weather-beaten man, who stood bonnet in hand while the +merchant gave him final instructions. + +"Good-morning, Sir Roland," cried Herr Goebel cheerfully. He exhibited +no resentment for his treatment of the night before, and apparently +daylight brought with it renewed confidence that the young man might +succeed in his mission. There was now no hesitation in the merchant's +manner; alert and decided, all mistrust seemed to have vanished. "This +is Captain Blumenfels, whom I put in charge of the barge, and who has +gathered together a crew on which he can depend although, of course, you +must not expect them to fight." + +"No," said Roland, "I shall attend to that portion of the enterprise." + +"Now, Captain Blumenfels," continued Herr Goebel, "this young man is +commander. You are to obey him in every particular, just as you would +obey me." + +The captain bowed without speaking. + +"I shall not detain you any longer, captain, as you will be anxious to +see the bales disposed of to your liking on the barge." + +The captain thereupon took himself off, and Roland came to the +conclusion that he liked this rough-and-ready mariner with so little to +say for himself; a silent man of action, evidently. + +Herr Goebel turned his attention to Roland. + +"I have ordered bales of cloth to the value of a trifle more than four +thousand thalers to be placed in the barge," he said. "The bales are +numbered, and I have given the captain an inventory showing the price of +each. I suppose you despise our vulgar traffic, and, indeed, I had no +thought of asking so highly placed a person as yourself to sell my +goods, therefore Blumenfels will superintend the marketing when you +reach Cologne--that is, if you ever get so far." + +"Your pardon, Herr Goebel, but I have my own plans regarding the +disposal of your goods. I intend to be quit of them long before I see +Cologne. Indeed, should I prosper, I hope your boat will set its nose +southward for the return journey some distance this side of Coblentz." + +The merchant gazed up at him in astonishment. + +"Your design is impossible. There is no sale for cloth nearer than +Coblentz. Your remarks prove you unacquainted with the river." + +"I have walked every foot of both sides of the river between Ehrenfels +and Bonn. There are many wealthy castles on this side of Coblentz." + +"True, my good sir, true; but how became they wealthy? Simply by robbing +the merchants. Are you not aware that each of these castles is inhabited +by a titled brigand? You surely do not expect to sell my cloth to the +Barons?" + +"Why not? Remember how long it is since a cloth-barge went down the +Rhine. Think for a moment of the arduous life which these Barons lead, +hunting the boar, the bear, and the deer, tearing recklessly through +thicket and over forest-covered ground. Why, our noble friends must be +in rags by this time, or clad in the skins of the beasts they kill! They +will be delighted to see and handle a piece of well-woven cloth once +more." + +For a full minute the merchant gaped aghast at this senseless talk so +seriously put forward; then a smile came to his lips. + +"Prince Roland, I begin to understand you. Your words are on a par with +the practical joke you played upon me so successfully last night. Of +course, you know as well as I that the Barons will buy nothing. They +will take such goods as they want if you but give them opportunity. What +you say is merely your way of intimating it is none of my affair how the +goods are disposed of, so long as you hand over to me four thousand +thalers." + +"Four thousand five hundred, if you please." + +"I shall be quite content with the four thousand, regarding the extra +five hundred as paid for services rendered. Now, can I do anything +further to aid you?" + +"Yes. I wish you to send a man on horseback to Lorch, there to await the +barge. Choose a man as silent as your captain; one whom you trust +implicitly, for I hope to send back with him four thousand five hundred +thalers, and also some additional gold, which I beg of you to keep +safely for me until I return." + +"Prince Roland, there can be no gold for me at Lorch." + +"Dispatch a trustworthy man in case I receive the money. You will be +anxious to know how we prosper, and I can at least forward a budget of +news." + +"But should there be gold, he cannot return safely with it to +Frankfort." + +"Oh, yes, if he keeps to the eastern bank of the Rhine. There is no +castle between Lorch and Frankfort except Ehrenfels, and that, being the +property of the Archbishop, may be passed safely." + +"Very well. The man shall await you at Lorch. Inquire for Herr Kruger at +Mergler's Inn." + +That night, in the Kaiser cellar, another excellent supper was spread +before the members of the metal-workers' league. It was quite as +hilarious as the banquet of the night before; perhaps more so, because +now, for the first time in months, the athletic young men were well fed, +with money in their pouches. Each was clad in a new suit of clothes. +Nothing like uniformity in costume had been attempted, there being but +one day in which to replenish the wardrobes, which involved the +acquiring of garments already made. However no trouble was experienced +about this, for each branch of the metal-workers had its own recognized +outfit, which was kept on hand in all sizes by various dealers catering +to the wants of artisans, from apprentices to masters of their trade. +The costumes were admirably adapted to the use for which they were +intended. There was nothing superfluous in their make-up, and, being +loosely cut, they allowed ample play to stalwart limbs. For dealing with +metal the wearers required a cloth tightly woven, of a texture as nearly +as possible resembling leather, and better accouterment for a +rough-and-tumble, freebooter's excursion could not have been found, +short of coats of mail, or, failing that, of leather itself. + +Roland appeared in the trousers and doublet of a sword maker, and his +comrades cheered loudly when he threw off his cloak and displayed for +the first time that he was actually one of themselves. Hitherto +something in the fashioning of his wearing apparel had in a manner +differentiated him from the rest of the company, but now nothing in his +dress indicated that he was leader of the coterie, and this pleased the +independent metal-workers. + +The previous night, after the landlord's bill was generously liquidated, +each man had received upwards of thirty thalers. Roland then related to +them his adventure with the merchant, and the result of his sword-play +in the vicinity of Herr Goebel's throat. Two accomplishments he +possessed endeared Roland to his comrades: first, the ability to sing a +good song; and second, his talent for telling an interesting story, +whether it was a personal adventure, a legend of the Rhine, or some tale +of the gnomes which, as every one knows, haunt the gloomy forests in the +mountain regions. His account of the evening spent with Herr Goebel +aroused much laughter and applause, which greatly augmented when the +material advantages of the interview were distributed among the guild. + +This evening he purposed making a still more important disclosure; thus +when the meal was finished, and the landlord, after replenishing the +flagons, had retired, the new sword maker rose in his place at the head +of the table. + +"I crave your strict attention for a few minutes. Although I refused to +confide my plans to Herr Goebel, I consider it my duty to inform you +minutely of what is before us, and if I speak with some solemnity, it is +because I realize we may never again meet around this table. We depart +from Frankfort to-morrow upon a hazardous expedition, and some of us may +not return." + +"Oh, I say, Roland," protested Conrad Kurzbold, "don't mar a jovial +evening with a note of tragedy. It's bad art, you know." + +Kurzbold was one of the three actual sword makers, and had been +president of the guild until he gave place to Roland. He was the oldest +of the company; an ambitious man, a glib talker, with great influence +among his fellows, and a natural leader of them. What he said generally +represented the opinion of the gathering. + +"For once, Kurzbold, I must ask you to excuse me," persisted Roland. "It +is necessary that on this, the last, opportunity I should place before +you exactly what I intend to do. I am very anxious not to minimize the +danger. I wish no man to follow me blindfold, thus I speak early in the +evening, that you may not be influenced by the enthusiasm of wine in +coming to a decision. I desire each man here to estimate the risk, and +choose, before we separate to-night, whether or not he will accompany +the expedition. + +"Here is the compact made with Herr Goebel: I promised that, with the +help of my comrades, I would endeavor to open the Rhine to mercantile +traffic. On the strength of such promise he gave me the money." + +At this announcement rose a wild round of applause, and with the thunder +of flagons on the table, and the shouting of each member, no single +voice could make itself heard above the tumult. These lads had no +conception of the perils they were to face, and Roland alone remained +imperturbable, becoming more and more serious as the uproar went on. +When at last quiet was restored, he continued, with a gravity in +striking contrast to the hilarity of his audience: + +"Herr Goebel is filling his largest barge with bales of cloth, and he +has engaged an efficient crew, and a capable captain who will assume +charge of the navigation. The barge will proceed to-morrow night down +the Main, leaving Frankfort as unostentatiously as possible, while we +march across the country to Assmannshausen, and there join this craft. +It is essential that no hint of our intention shall spread abroad in +gossipy Frankfort, therefore, depending on Captain Blumenfels to get his +boat clear of the city without observation, and before the moon rises, I +ask you to leave to-morrow separately by different gates, meeting me at +Hochst, something more than two leagues down the river. I dare say you +all know the Elector's palace, whose beautiful tower is a landmark for +the country round." + +"I protest against such a rendezvous," objected Kurzbold. "Make it the +tavern of the Nassauer Hof, Roland. We shall all be thirsty after a walk +of two leagues." + +"Not at that time in the morning, I hope," said Roland, "for I shall +await you in the shadow of the tower at nine o'clock. Let every man +drink his fill to-night, for I intend to lead a sober company from +Hochst to-morrow." + +"Oh, you're optimistic, Roland," cried John Gensbein. "Give us till +twelve o'clock to cool our heads." + +"Drink all you wish this evening," repeated Roland, "but to-morrow we +begin our work, with a long day's march ahead of us, so nine is none too +early for a start from Hochst." + +"Sufficient to the day is the wine thereof," said Conrad Kurzbold, +rising to his feet. "Wine, blessed liquor as it is, possesses +nevertheless one defect, which blot on its escutcheon is that it cannot +carry over till next day, except in so far as a headache is concerned, +and a certain dryness of the mouth. It is futile to bid us lay in a +supply to-night that will be of any use to-morrow morning. For my part, +I give you warning, Roland, that I shall make directly for the Nassauer +Hof, or for the Schone Aussicht, where they keep most excellent +vintages." + +To this declaration Roland made no reply, but continued his explanatory +remarks. + +"We shall join the barge, as I have said, above Assmannshausen, probably +at night, and then cross directly over the river. The first castle with +which I intend to deal is that celebrated robber's roost, Rheinstein, +standing two hundred and sixty feet above the water. Disembarking about +a league up the river from Rheinstein, before daybreak we will all lie +concealed in the forest within sight of the Castle gates. When the sun +is well risen, Captain Blumenfels will navigate his boat down the river, +and as it approaches Rheinstein we shall probably enjoy the privilege of +seeing the gates open wide, as the company from the Castle descend +precipitously to the water. While they rifle the barge we shall rifle +the Castle, overpowering whoever we may find there, and taking in return +for the cloth they steal such gold or silver as the treasury affords. We +will then imprison all within the Castle, so that a premature alarm may +not be given. If we are hurried, we may lock them in cellars, or place +them in dungeons, then leave the Castle with our booty, but I do not +purpose descending to the river until we have traversed a league or more +of the mountain forest, where we may remain concealed until the barge +appears, and so take ship again. + +"The next castle is Falkenberg, the third Sonneck, both on the same side +of the river as Rheinstein, and within a short distance from the +stronghold, but the plan with each being the same as that already +outlined, it is not necessary for me to repeat it." + +"An excellent arrangement!" cried several; but John Gensbein spoke up in +criticism. + +"Is there to be no fighting?" he asked. "I expected you to say that +after we had secured the gold we would fall on the robbers to the rear, +and smite them hip and thigh." + +"There is likely to be all the fighting you can wish for," replied +Roland, "for at some point our scheme may go awry. It is not my +intention to attack, but I expect you to fight like heroes in our own +defense." + +"I agree with Herr Roland," put in Conrad Kurzbold, rising to his feet. +"If we purpose to win our way down to Cologne, it is unnecessary to +search for trouble, because we shall find enough of it awaiting us at +one point or another. But Roland stopped his account at what seems to me +the most interesting juncture. What is the destination of the gold we +loot from the castles?" + +"The first call upon our accumulation will be the payment of four +thousand five hundred thalers to Herr Goebel." + +"Oh, damn the merchant!" cried Conrad. "We are risking our lives, and I +don't see why he should reach out his claws. He will profit enough +through our exertions if we open the Rhine." + +"True; but that was the bargain I made with him. We risk our lives, as +you say, but he risks his goods, besides providing barge, captain, and +crew. He also furnished us with the five hundred thalers now in our +pockets. We must deal honestly with the man who has supported us in the +beginning." + +"Oh, very well," growled Kurzbold, "have it your own way; but in my +opinion the merchants should combine and raise a fund with which to +reward us for our exertions if we succeed. Still, I shall not press my +contention in the face of an overwhelming sentiment against me. However, +I should like to speak to our leader on one matter which it seemed +ungracious to mention last night. The merchant offered him a thousand +thalers in gold, and he, with a generosity which I must point out to him +was exercised at our expense, returned half that money to Herr Goebel. I +confess that all I received has been spent; my hand is lonesome when it +enters my pouch. I should be glad of that portion which might have been +mine (and when I speak for myself, I speak for all) were it not for the +misplaced prodigality of our leader who, possessing the money, was so +thoughtless of our fellowship that he actually handed over five hundred +thalers to a man who had not the slightest claim upon it." + +"Herr Kurzbold," said Roland, with some severity, "many penniless nights +passed over our heads in this room. If you know so much better than I +how to procure money, why did you not do so? I should not venture to +criticise a man who, without any effort on my part, placed thirty +thalers at my disposal." + +There was a great clamor at this, every one except Kurzbold, who stood +stubbornly in his place, and Gensbein, who sat next to him, becoming +vociferous in defense of their leader. + +"It is uncomrade-like," cried Ebearhard above the din, "to spend the +money and then growl." + +"I speak in the interests of us all," shouted Kurzbold. "In the +interests of our leader, no less than ourselves," but the others howled +him down. + +Roland, holding up his right hand, seemed to request silence and +obtained it. + +"I am rather glad," he said, "that this discussion has arisen, because +there is still time to amend our programme. Herr Goebel's barge will not +be loaded until to-morrow night, so the order may even yet be +countermanded. The five hundred thalers which belonged to me I say +nothing about, but the five hundred advanced by Herr Goebel must be +returned to him unless we are in perfect unanimity." + +At this suggestion Kurzbold sat down with some suddenness. + +"I told you, when I left this room, promising to find the money within a +week, that one condition was the backing of my fellows. You empowered me +to pledge the efforts of our club as though it contained but one man. If +that promise is not to be kept in spirit as well as in letter, I shall +retire from the position I now hold, and you may elect in my stead +Conrad Kurzbold, John Gensbein, or any one else that pleases you. But +first I must be in a position to give back intact Herr Goebel's money; +then, as I have divulged to you my plans, Conrad Kurzbold may approach +him, and make better terms than I was able to arrange." + +There were cries of "Nonsense! Nonsense!" "Don't take a little +opposition in that spirit, Roland." "We are all free-speaking comrades, +you know." "You are our leader, and must remain so." + +Kurzbold rose to his feet for the third time. + +"Literally and figuratively, my friend Roland has me on the hip, for my +hip-pocket contains no money, and it is impossible for me to refund. I +imagine, if the truth were told, we are all more or less in the same +condition, for we have had equipment to buy, and what-not." + +"Also Hochheimer," said one, at which there was a laugh, as Kurzbold was +noted for his love of good wine. Up to this point Roland had carried the +assemblage with him, but now he made an injudicious remark that +instantly changed the spirit of the room. + +"I am astonished," he said, "that any objection should be made to the +fair treatment of Herr Goebel, for you are all of the merchant class, +and should therefore hold by one of your own order." + +He could proceed no farther. Standing there, pale and determined, he was +simply stormed down. His ignorance of affairs, of which on several +occasions the merchant himself had complained, led him quite +unconsciously to touch the pride of his hearers. It was John Gensbein +who angrily gave expression to the sentiment of the meeting. + +"To what class do _you_ belong, I should like to know? Do you claim +affinity with the merchant class? If you do, you are no leader of ours. +I inform you, sir, that we are skilled artisans, with the craft to turn +out creditable work, while the merchants are merely the vendors of our +products. Which, therefore, takes the higher place in a community, and +which deserves it better: he who with artistic instinct unites the +efforts of brain and hand to produce wares that are at once beautiful +and useful, or he who merely chaffers over his counter to get as much +lucre as he can for the creations that come from our benches?" + +To Roland's aristocratic mind, every man who lacked noble blood in his +veins stood on the same level, and it astonished him that any mere +plebeian should claim precedence over another. He himself felt +immeasurably superior to those present, sensible of a fathomless gulf +between him and them, which he, in his condescension, might cross as +suited his whim, but over which none might follow him back again; and +this, he was well aware, they would be the first to admit did they but +know his actual rank. + +For a moment he was tempted to acknowledge his identity, and crush them +by throwing the crown at their heads, but some hitherto undiscovered +stubbornness in his nature asserted itself, arousing a determination to +stand or fall by whatever strength of character he might possess. + +"I withdraw that remark," he said, as soon as he could obtain a hearing. +"I not only withdraw it, but I apologize to you for my folly in making +it. It was merely thoughtlessness on my part, and, resting on your +generosity, I should like you to consider the words unsaid." + +Once more eighteen of the twenty swung round to his side. Roland now +turned his attention to Conrad Kurzbold, ignoring John Gensbein, who had +sat down flushed after his declamation, bewildered by the mutability of +the many as Coriolanus had been before him. + +"Herr Kurzbold," began Roland sternly, "have you any further criticism +to offer?" + +"No; but I stand by what I have already said." + +"Well, I thank you for your honest expression of that determination, and +I announce that you cannot accompany this expedition." + +Again Roland instantaneously lost the confidence of his auditors, and +they were not slow in making him of the fact. + +"This is simply tyranny," said Ebearhard. "If a man may not open his +mouth without running danger of expulsion, then all comradeship is at an +end, and I take it that good comradeship is the pivot on which this +organization turns. I do not remember that we ever placed it in the +power of our president merely by his own word to cast out one of us from +the fellowship. I may add, Roland, that you seem to harbor strange ideas +concerning rank and power. I have been a member of this guild much +longer than you, and perhaps understand better its purpose. Our leader +is not elected to govern a band of serfs. Indeed, and I say it subject +to correction from my friends, the very opposite is the case. Our leader +is our servant, and must conduct himself as we order. It is not for him +to lay down the law to us, but whatever laws exist for our governance, +and I thank Heaven there are few of them, must be settled in conclave by +a majority of the league." + +"Right! Right!" was the unanimous cry, and when Ebearhard sat down all +were seated except Roland, who stood at the end of the table with pale +face and compressed lips. + +"We are," he said, "about to set out against the Barons of the Rhine, +entrenched in their strong castles. Hitherto these men have been +completely successful, defying alike the Government and the people. It +was my hope that we might reverse this condition of things. Now, Brother +Ebearhard, name me a single Baron along the whole length of the Rhine +who would permit one of his men-at-arms to bandy words with him on any +subject whatever." + +"I should hope," replied Ebearhard, "that we do not model our conduct +after that of a robber." + +"The robbers, I beg to point out to you, Ebearhard, are successful. It +is success we are after, also a portion of that gold of which Herr +Kurzbold has pathetically proclaimed his need." + +"Do you consider us your men-at-arms, then, in the same sense that a +Rhine Baron would employ the term?" + +"Certainly." + +"You claim the liberty of expelling any one you choose?" + +"Yes; I claim the liberty to hang any of you if I find it necessary." + +"Oh, the devil!" cried Ebearhard, sitting down as if this went beyond +him. He gazed up and down the table as much as to say, "I leave this in +your hands, gentlemen." + +The meeting gave immediate expression of its agreement with Ebearhard. + +"Gentlemen," said Roland, "I insist that Conrad Kurzbold apologizes to +me for the expressions he has used, and promises not again to offend in +like manner." + +"I'll do nothing of the sort," asserted Kurzbold, with equal firmness. + +"In that case," exclaimed Roland, "I shall retire, and I ask you to put +me in a position to repay Herr Goebel the money I extracted from him. I +resign the very thankless office of so-called leadership." + +At this several wallets came out upon the table, but their contents +clinked rather weakly. The majority of the guild sat silent and sobered +by the crisis that had so unexpectedly come upon them. Joseph Greusel, +seeing that no one else made a move, uprose, and spoke slowly. He was a +man who never had much to say for himself; a listener rather than a +talker, in whom Roland reposed great confidence, believing him to be one +who would not flinch if trial came, and he had determined to make +Greusel his lieutenant if the expedition was not wrecked before it set +out. + +"My friends," said Greusel gloomily, "we have arrived at a deadlock, and +I should not venture to speak but that I see no one else ready to make a +suggestion. I cannot claim to be non-partisan in the matter. This crisis +has been unnecessarily brought about by what I state firmly is a most +ungenerous attack on the part of Conrad Kurzbold." + +There were murmurs of dissent, but Greusel proceeded stolidly, taking no +notice. + +"It is not disputed that Kurzbold accepted the money from Roland last +night, spent it to-day, and now comes penniless amongst us, quite unable +to refund the amount when his unjust remarks produce their natural +effect. He is like a man who makes a wager knowing he hasn't the money +to pay should he lose. If Roland retires from this guild, I retire also, +ashamed to keep company with men who uphold a trick worthy of a ruined +gambler." + +"My dear Joseph," cried Ebearhard, springing up with a laugh, "you were +misnamed in your infancy. You should have been called Herod, practically +justifying a slaughter of us innocents." + +"I stand by Benjamin," growled Gruesel, "the youngest and most capable +of our circle; the one who produced the money while all the rest of us +talked." + +"You never talked till now, Joseph," said Ebearhard, still trying to +ease the situation with a laugh, "and what you say is not only +deplorably severe, but uttered, as I will show you, upon entirely +mistaken grounds. We did not, and do not, support Conrad Kurzbold in +what he said at first. Now you rate us as if we were no better than +thieves. Dishonest gamblers, you call us, and Lord knows what else, and +then you threaten withdrawal. I submit that your diatribe is quite +undeserved. We all condemn Kurzbold for censuring Roland's generosity to +the merchant, unanimously upholding Roland in that action, and have said +so plainly enough. What we object to is this: Roland arrogates to +himself power which he does not possess, of peremptorily expelling any +member whose remarks displease him. Surely you cannot support him in +that any more than we." + +"Let us take one thing at a time," resumed Greusel, "not forgetting from +whom came the original provocation. I must know where we stand. I +therefore move a vote of censure on Conrad Kurzbold for his unmerited +attack upon our president anent his dealings with Herr Goebel." + +"I second that with great pleasure," said Ebearhard. + +"Now, as we cannot ask our leader to put that motion, I shall take the +liberty of submitting it myself," continued Greusel. "All in favor of +the vote of censure which you have heard, make it manifest by standing +up." + +Every one arose except Roland, Gensbein, and Kurzbold. + +"There, we have removed that obstacle to a clear understanding of the +case, and before I formally deliver this vote of censure to Herr +Kurzbold, I request him to reconsider his position, and of his own +motion to make such delivery unnecessary. + +"If it is the case that Roland assumes authority to expel whom he +pleases from this guild, I shall not support him." + +"It _is_ the case! It _is_ the case!" shouted several. + +"Pardon me, comrades; I have the floor," continued Greusel. "I am not +attempting oratory, but trying to disentangle a skein in which we have +involved ourselves. I wish to receive neither applause nor hissing until +I have finished the business. You say it is the case. I say it is not. +Roland gave Herr Kurzbold the alternative either of apologizing or of +paying over the money, so that it might be returned to the merchant. As +I understand the matter, our president does not insist on Kurzbold +leaving the guild, but merely announces his own withdrawal from it. You +have allowed Kurzbold to put you in the position of being compelled to +choose between himself and Roland. If you are logical men you cannot +pass a vote of censure on Kurzbold, and then choose him instead of +Roland. I therefore move a vote of confidence in our chief, the man who +has produced the money, a thousand thalers in all, half of which was his +own, and has divided it equally amongst us, when the landlord's bill was +paid, withholding not a single thaler, nor arrogating--I think that was +your word, friend Ebearhard--to himself a stiver more of the money than +each of the others received. While Kurzbold has prated of comradeship, +Roland has given us an excellent example of it, and I think he deserves +our warmest thanks and our cordial support. I therefore submit to you +the following motion: This meeting tenders to the president its warmest +thanks for his recent efforts on behalf of the guild, and begs to assure +him of its most strenuous assistance in carrying out the project he has +put before it to-night." + +"Joseph," said Ebearhard, rising, with his usual laugh, "you are a very +clever man, although you usually persist in hiding your light under a +bushel. I desire to associate myself with the expressions you have used, +and therefore second your motion." + +"I now put the resolution which you have all heard," said Greusel, "and +I ask those in favor of it to stand." + +Every one stood up promptly enough except the two recalcitrants, and of +those two John Gensbein showed signs of hesitation and uneasiness. He +half rose, sat down again; then, apparently at the urging of the man +next him, stood up, a picture of irresolution. Kurzbold, finding himself +now alone, laughed, and got upon his feet, thus making the vote +unanimous. As the company seated itself, Greusel turned to the +president. + +"Sir, it is said that all's well that ends well. It gives me pleasure to +tender you the unanimous vote of thanks and confidence of the +iron-workers' guild, and before calling upon you to make any reply, if +such should be your intention, I will ask Conrad Kurzbold to say a few +words, which I am sure we shall all be delighted to hear." + +Kurzbold rose bravely enough, in spite of the fact that Joseph Greusel's +diplomacy had made a complete separation between him and all the others. + +"I should like to say," he began, with an air of casual indifference, +"that my first mention of the money was wholly in jest. Our friend +Roland took my remarks seriously, which, of course, I should not have +resented, and there is little use in recapitulating what followed. As, +however, my utterances gave offense which was not intended by me, I have +no hesitation in apologizing for them, and withdrawing the ill-advised +sentences. No one here feels a greater appreciation of what our +president has done than I, and I hope he will accept my apology in the +same spirit in which it is tendered." + +"Now, Master of the Guild," said Greusel, and Roland took the floor once +more. + +"I have nothing to say but 'Thank you.' The antagonists whom we hope to +meet are men brave, determined, and ruthless. If any one in this company +holds rancor against me, I ask him to turn it towards the Barons, and +punish me after the expedition is accomplished. Let us tolerate no +disagreements in face of the foe." + +The young man took his cloak and sword from the peg on which they hung, +passed down along the table, and thrust across his hand to Kurzbold, who +shook it warmly. Arriving at the door, Roland turned round. + +"I wish to see Captain Blumenfels, and give him final instructions +regarding our rendezvous on the Rhine, so good-night. I hope to meet you +all under the shadow of the Elector's tower in Hochst to-morrow morning +at nine," and with that the president departed, being too inexperienced +to know that soft words do not always turn away wrath, and that mutiny +is seldom quelled with a handshake. + + + + +IV + +THE DISTURBING JOURNEY OF FATHER AMBROSE + + +The setting summer sun shone full on the western side of Sayn Castle, +sending the shadow of that tenth-century edifice far along the +greensward of the upper valley. Upon a balcony, perched like a swallow's +nest against the eastern end of Sayn Castle, a lovely girl of eighteen +leaned, meditating, with arms resting on the balustrade, the harshness +of whose stone surface was nullified by the soft texture of a +gaudily-covered robe flung over it. This ample cloth, brought from the +East by a Crusading ancestor of the girl, made a gay patch of scarlet +and gold against the somber side of the Castle. + +The youthful Countess Hildegunde von Sayn watched the slow oncoming of a +monk, evidently tired, who toiled along the hillside deep in the shadow +of the Castle, as if its cool shade was grateful to him. Belonging, as +he did, to the very practical Order of the Benedictines, whose belief +was in work sanctioned by prayer, the Reverend Father did not deny +himself this temporary refuge from the hot rays of the sun, which had +poured down upon him all day. + +Looking up as he approached the stronghold, and seeing the girl, little +dreaming of the frivolous mission she would propose, he waved his hand +to her, and she responded gracefully with a similar gesture. + +Indeed, however strongly the monk might disapprove, there was much to be +said in favor of the resolution to which the young lady had come. She +was well educated, probably the richest heiress in Germany, and +carefully as the pious Sisters of Nonnenwerth Convent may have concealed +the fact from her, she was extremely beautiful, and knew it, and +although the valley of the Saynbach was a very haven of peace and +prosperity, the girl became just a trifle lonely, and yearned to know +something of life and the Court in Frankfort, to which her high rank +certainly entitled her. + +It is true that very disquieting rumors had reached her concerning the +condition of things in the capital city; nevertheless she determined to +learn from an authoritative source whether or not it was safe to take up +a temporary residence in Frankfort, and for this purpose the reluctant +Father Ambrose would journey southward. + +Father Ambrose was more than sixty years old, and if he had belonged to +the world, instead of to religion, would have been entitled to the name +Henry von Sayn. His presence in the Benedictine Order was proof of the +fact that money will not accomplish everything. His famous, or perhaps +we should say infamous, ancestor, Count Henry III. of Sayn, who died in +1246, was a robber and a murderer, justly esteemed the terror of the +Rhine. Concealed as it was in the Sayn valley, half a league from the +great river, the situation of his stronghold favored his depredations. +He filled his warehousing rooms with merchandise from barges going down +the river, and with gold seized from unhappy merchants on their way up. +He thought no more of cutting a throat than of cutting a purse, and it +was only when he became amazingly wealthy that the increase of years +brought trouble to a conscience which all men thought had ceased to +exist. Thereupon, for the welfare of his soul, he built the Abbey of +Sayn, and provided for the monks therein. Yet, when he came to die, he +entertained fearsome, but admittedly well-founded doubts regarding his +future state, so he proceeded to sanctify a treasure no longer of any +use to him, by bequeathing it to the Church, driving, however, a bargain +by which he received assurance that his body should rest quietly in the +tomb he had prepared for himself within the Abbey walls. + +He was buried with impressive ceremony, and the monks he had endowed did +everything to carry out their share of the pact. The tomb was staunchly +built with stones so heavy that no ordinary ghost could have emerged +therefrom, but to be doubly sure a gigantic log was placed on top of it, +strongly clamped down with concealed bands of iron, and, so that this +log might not reveal its purpose, the monks cunningly carved it into +some semblance of Henry himself, until it seemed a recumbent statue of +the late villainous Count. + +But despite such thoughtfulness their plan failed, for when next they +visited the tomb the statue lay prone, face downwards, as if some +irresistible, unseen power had flung it to the stone flags of the floor. +Replacing the statue, and watching by the tomb, was found to be of +little use. The watchers invariably fell asleep, and the great wooden +figure, which during their last waking moments lay gazing towards the +roof, was now on its face on the monastery floor, peering down in the +opposite direction, and this somehow was regarded by the brethren as a +fact of ominous significance. + +The new Count von Sayn, heir to the title and estate of the late Henry +III. was a gloomy, pious man, very different indeed from his turbulent +predecessor. Naturally he was much perturbed by the conduct of the +wooden statue. At first he affected disbelief in the phenomena despite +the assurances of the monks, and later on the simple brethren deeply +regretted they had made any mention of the manifestations. The new Count +himself took up the task of watching, and paced all night before the +tomb of the third Henry. He was not a man to fall asleep while engaged +on such a somber mission, and the outcome of his vigil was so amazing +that in the morning he gathered the brethren together in the great hall +of the Abbey, that he might relate to them his experience. + +The wooden statue had turned over, and fallen to the floor, as was its +habit, but on this occasion it groaned as it fell. This mournful sound +struck terror into the heart of the lonely watcher, who now, he +confessed, regretted he had not accepted the offer of the monks to share +his midnight surveillance. The courage of the House of Sayn is, however, +a well-known quality, and, notwithstanding his piety, the new holder of +the title was possessed of it, for although admitting a momentary +impulse towards flight, and the calling for assistance which the monks +would readily have given, he stood his ground, and in trembling voice +asked what he could do to forward the contentment of his deceased +relative. + +The statue replied, still face downward on the stone floor, that never +could the late wicked Count rest in peace unless the heir to his titles +and lands should take upon himself the sins Henry had committed during +his life, while a younger member of the family should become a monk of +the Benedictine Order, and daily intercede for the welfare of his soul. + +"With extreme reluctance," continued the devout nobleman, "I gave my +assent to this unwelcome proposal, providing only that it should receive +the sanction of the Abbot and brethren of the Monastery of Sayn, hoping +by a life of continuous rectitude to annul, in some measure at least, +the evil works of Henry III.; and that holy sanction I now request, +trusting if given it may remove any doubts regarding the righteousness +of my promise." + +Here the Count bowed low to the enthroned Abbot and, with less +reverence, to the assembled brethren. The Abbot rose to his feet, and in +a few well-chosen words complimented the nobleman on the sacrifice he +made, predicting that it would redound greatly to his spiritual welfare. +Speaking for himself, he had no hesitation in giving the required +sanction, but as the Count made it a proviso that the brethren should +concur, he now requested their acquiescence. + +This was accorded in silent unanimity, whereupon Count von Sayn, deeply +sighing as one accepting a burden almost too heavy to bear, spoke with a +tremor of grief in his voice. + +"It is not for me," he said, "to question your wisdom, nor shrink from +my allotted task. After all, I am but human, and up to this decisive +moment had hoped, alas! in vain, that some one more worthy than I might +be chosen in my place. The most grievous part of the undertaking, so far +as I am concerned, was outlined in the last words spoken by the wooden +statue. The evil deeds my ancestor has committed will in time be +obliterated by the prayers of the younger member of my family who +becomes a monk, but the accumulated gold carries with it a continual +curse, which can be wiped off each coin only by that coin benefiting the +merchants who have been robbed. The contamination of this metal, +therefore, I must bear, for it adds to the agony of my ancestor that, +little realizing what he was doing, he bequeathed this poisonous dross +to the Abbey he founded. I am required to lend it in Frankfort, upon +undoubted security and suitable usury, that it may stimulate and +fertilize the commerce of the land, much as the contents of a compost +heap, disagreeable in the senses, and defiling to him who handles it, +when spread upon the fields results in the production of flower, fruit, +and food, giving fragrance, delight, and sustenance to the human frame." + +The count, bowing for the third time to the conclave, passed from its +presence with mournful step and sorrowful countenance; whereupon the +brethren, seeing themselves thus denuded of wealth they had hoped to +enjoy, gave utterance to a groan doubtless much greater in volume than +that emitted by the carven statue, which wooden figure may be seen +to-day in the museum of the modern Castle of Sayn by any one who cares +to spend the fifty pfennigs charged for admission. + +All that has been related happened generations before the time when the +Countess Hildegunde reigned as head of the House of Sayn, but Father +Ambrose formed a link with the past in that he was the present scion of +Sayn who, as a Benedictine, daily offered prayer for the repose of the +wicked Henry III. The gold which Henry's immediate successor so craftily +deflected from the monks seemed to be blessed rather than cursed, for +under the care of that subtle manager it multiplied greatly in +Frankfort, and scandal-mongers asserted that besides receiving the usury +exacted, the pietistic Count tapped the treasure-casks of upward-sailing +Rhine merchants quite as successfully, if more quietly, than the profane +Henry had done. Thus the House of Sayn was one of the richest in +Germany. + +The aged monk and the youthful Countess were distant relatives, but he +regarded her as a daughter, and her affection was given to him as to a +father, in other than the spiritual sense. + +In his youth Ambrose the Benedictine, because of his eloquence in +discourse, and also on account of his aristocratic rank, officiated at +the court in Frankfort. Later, he became spiritual and temporal adviser +to that great prelate, the Archbishop of Cologne, and the Archbishop, +being guardian of the Countess von Sayn, sent Father Ambrose to the +castle of his ancestor to look after the affairs of Sayn, both religious +and material. Under his gentle rule the great wealth of his House +increased, although he, the cause of prosperity, had no share in the +riches he produced, for, as has been written of the Benedictines: + +"It was as teachers of ... scientific agriculture, as drainers of fens +and morasses, as clearers of forests, as makers of roads, as tillers of +the reclaimed soil, as architects of durable and even stately buildings, +as exhibiting a visible type of orderly government, as establishing the +superiority of peace over war as the normal condition of life, as +students in the library which the rule set up in every monastery, as the +masters in schools open not merely to their own postulants but to the +children of secular families also, that they won their high place in +history as benefactors of mankind." + + * * * * * + +"Oh, Father Ambrose," cried the girl, when at last he entered her +presence, "I watched your approach from afar off. You walked with +halting step, and shoulders increasingly bowed. You are wearing yourself +out in my service, and that I cannot permit. You return this evening a +tired man." + +"Not physically tired," replied the monk, with a smile. "My head is +bowed with meditation and prayer, rather than with fatigue. Indeed, it +is others who do the harassing manual labor, while I simply direct and +instruct. Sometimes I think I am an encumberer in the vineyard, lazily +using brain instead of hand." + +"Nonsense!" cried the girl, "the vineyard would be but a barren +plantation without you; and speaking of it reminds me that I have poured +out, with my own hand, a tankard of the choicest, oldest wine in our +cellars, which I allow no one but yourself to taste. Sit down, I beg of +you, and drink." + +The wise old man smiled, wondering what innocent trap was being set for +him. He raised the tankard to his lips, but merely indulged in one sip +of the delectable beverage. Then he seated himself, and looked at the +girl, still smiling. She went on speaking rapidly, a delicate flush +warming her fair cheeks. + +"Father, you are the most patient and indefatigable of agriculturists, +sparing neither yourself nor others, but there is danger that you grow +bucolic through overlong absence from the great affairs of this world." + +"What can be greater, my child, than increasing the productiveness of +the land; than training men to supply all their needs from the fruitful +earth?" + +"True, true," admitted the girl, her eyes sparkling with eagerness, "but +to persist overlong even in well-doing becomes ultimately tedious. If +the laborer is worthy of his hire, so, too, is the master. You should +take a change, and as I know your fondness for travel, I have planned a +journey for you." + +The old man permitted himself another sip of the wine. + +"Where?" he asked. + +"Oh, an easy journey; no farther than the royal city of Frankfort, there +to wander among the scenes of your youth, and become interested for a +time in the activities of your fellow-men. You have so long consorted +with those inferior to you in intellect and learning that a meeting with +your equals--though I doubt if there are any such even in +Frankfort--must prove as refreshing to your mind as that old wine would +to your body, did you but obey me and drink it." + +Father Ambrose slowly shook his head. + +"From what I hear of Frankfort," he said, "it is anything but an +inspiring town. In my day it was indeed a place of cheer, learning, and +prosperity, but now it is a city of desolation." + +"The rumors we hear, Father, may be exaggerated; and even if the city +itself be doleful, which I doubt, there is sure to be light and gayety +in the precincts of the Court and in the homes of the nobility." + +"What have I to do with Court or palaces? My duty lies here." + +"It may be," cried the girl archly, "that some part of your duty lies +there. If Frankfort is indeed in bad case, your sage advice might be of +the greatest benefit. Prosperity seems to follow your footsteps, and, +besides, you were once a chaplain in the Court, and surely you have not +lost all interest in your former charge?" + +Again that quiet, engaging smile lit up the monk's emaciated features, +and then he asked a question with that honest directness which sometimes +embarrassed those he addressed: + +"Daughter Hildegunde, what is it you want?" + +"Well," said the girl, sitting very upright in her chair, "I confess to +loneliness. The sameness of life in this castle oppresses me, and in its +continuous dullness I grow old before my time. I wish to enjoy a month +or two in Frankfort, and, as doubtless you have guessed, I send you +forth as my ambassador to spy out the land." + +"In such case, daughter, you should present your petition to that Prince +of the Church, the Archbishop of Cologne, who is your guardian." + +"No, no, no, no!" cried the girl emphatically; "you are putting the +grapes into the barrel instead of into the vat. Before I trouble the +worthy Archbishop with my request, I must learn whether it is +practicable or not. If the city is indeed in a state of turbulence, of +course I shall not think of going thither. It is this I wish to +discover, but if you are afraid." She shrugged her shoulders and spread +out her hands. + +And now the old monk came as near to laughing as he ever did. + +"Clever, Hildegunde, but unnecessary. You cannot spur me to action by +slighting the well-known valor of our race. I will go where and when you +command me, and report to you faithfully what I see and hear. Should the +time seem favorable for you to visit Frankfort, and if your guardian +consents, I shall raise not even one objection." + +"Oh, dear Father, I do not lay this as a command upon you." + +"No; a request is quite sufficient. To-morrow morning I shall set out." + +"Along the Rhine?" queried the girl, so eagerly that the old man's eyes +twinkled at the celerity with which she accepted his proposition. + +"I think it safer," he said, "to journey inland over the hills. The +robbers on the Rhine have been so long bereft of the natural prey that +one or other of them may forget I am Father Ambrose, a poor monk, +remembering me only as Henry of the rich House of Sayn, and therefore +hold me for ransom. I would not willingly be a cause of strife, so I +shall go by way of Limburg on the Lahn, and there visit my old friend +the Bishop, and enjoy once more a sight of the ancient Cathedral on the +cliff by the river." + +When the young Countess awoke next morning, and reviewed in her mind the +chief event of the preceding day, remembering the reluctance of Father +Ambrose to undertake the quest she had outlined without the consent of +his overlord the Archbishop, a feeling of compunction swept over her. +She berated her own selfishness, resolving to send her petition to her +guardian, the Archbishop, and abide by his decision. + +When breakfast was finished, she asked her lady-in-waiting to request +the presence of Father Ambrose, but instead of the monk came disturbing +news. + +"The seneschal says that Father Ambrose left the Castle at daybreak this +morning, taking with him frugal rations for a three days' journey." + +"In which direction did he go?" asked the lady of Sayn. + +"He went on horseback up the valley, after making inquiries about the +route to Limburg on the Lahn." + +"Ah!" said the Countess. "He spoke yesterday of taking such a journey, +but I did not think he would leave so early." + +This was the beginning of great anxiety for the young lady of the +Castle. She knew at once that pursuit was useless, for daybreak comes +early in summer, and already the good Father had been five hours on his +way--a way that he was certain to lose many times before he reached the +capital city. An ordinary messenger might have been overtaken, but the +meditative Father would go whither his horse carried him, and when he +awoke from his thoughts and his prayers, would make inquiries, and so +proceed. A day or two later came a message that he had achieved the +hospitality of Limburg's bishop, but after that arrived no further word. + +Nearly two weeks had elapsed when, from the opposite direction, +Hildegunde received a communication which added to her already painful +apprehension. It was a letter from her guardian in Cologne, giving +warning that within a week he would call at her Castle of Sayn. + +"Matters of great import to you and me," concluded the Archbishop, "are +toward. You will be called upon to meet formally my two colleagues of +Mayence and Treves, at the latter's strong Castle of Stolzenfels, above +Coblentz. From the moment we enter that palace-fortress, I shall, +temporarily, at least, cease to be your guardian, and become merely one +of your three overlords. But however frowningly I may sit in the throne +of an Elector, believe me I shall always be your friend. Tell Father +Ambrose I wish to consult with him the moment I arrive at your castle, +and that he must not absent himself therefrom on any pretext until he +has seen me." + +Here was trouble indeed, with Father Ambrose as completely disappeared +as if the dragons of the Taunus had swallowed him. Never before on his +journeys had he failed to communicate with her, even when his travels +were taken on account of the Archbishop, and not, as in this case, on +her own. She experienced the darkest forebodings from this incredible +silence. Imagine, then, her relief, when exactly two weeks from the day +he had left Schloss Sayn, she saw him coming down the valley. As when +she last beheld him, he traveled on foot, leading his horse, that had +gone lame. + +Throwing etiquette to the wind, she flew down the stairway, and ran to +meet her thrice-welcome friend. + +She realized with grief that he was haggard, and the smile he called up +to greet her was wan and pitiful. + +"Oh, Father, Father!" she cried, "what has happened to you? I have been +nearly distraught with doubt and fear, hearing nothing of you since your +message from Limburg." + +"I was made a prisoner," said the old man quietly, "and allowed to +communicate with no one outside my cell. 'Tis a long and sad story, and, +worse than all one that bodes ill for the Empire. I should have arrived +earlier in the day, but my poor, patient beast has fallen lame." + +"Yes!" said the girl indignantly, "and you spare him instead of +yourself!" + +The monk laid his left hand affectionately on her shoulder. + +"You would have done the same, my dear," he said, and she looked up at +him with a sweet smile. They were kin, and if she censured any quality +in him, the comment carried something of self-reproach. + +A servitor took away the lame horse; another waited on Father Ambrose in +his small room, which was simple as that of a monastery cell, and as +meagerly furnished. After a slight refection, Father Ambrose received +peremptory command to rest for three full hours, the lady of the Castle +saying it was impossible for her to receive him until that time had +elapsed. The order was welcome to the tired monk, although he knew how +impatient Hildegunde must be to unpack his budget of news, and he fell +asleep even as he gave instructions that he should be awakened at nine. + +Descending at that time, the supper hour of the Castle, he found a +dainty meal awaiting him, flanked by a flagon of that rare wine which he +sipped so sparingly. + +"I lodged with my brethren in their small and quiet monastery on the +opposite side of the Main from Frankfort, in that suburb of the +workingmen which is called Sachsenhausen. Even if my eyes had not seen +the desolation of the city, with the summer grass growing in many of its +streets, the description given of its condition by my brethren would +have been saddening enough to hear. All authority seems at an end. The +nobles have fled to their country estates, for defense in the city is +impossible should once a universal riot break out, and thinking men look +for an insurrection when continued hunger has worn down the patience of +the people. Up to the present sporadic outbreaks have been cruelly +suppressed, starving men falling mutilated before the sword-cuts of the +soldiers; but now disaffection has penetrated the ranks of the Army +itself, through short rations and deferred pay, and when the people +learn that the military are more like to join them than oppose, +destruction will fall upon Frankfort. The Emperor sits alone in drunken +stupor, and it is said cannot last much longer, he who has lasted too +long already; while the Empress is as much a recluse as a nun in a +convent." + +"But the young Prince?" interrupted the Countess. "What of him? Is there +no hope if he comes to the throne?" + +"Ah!" cried the monk, with a long-drawn sigh, dolefully shaking his +head. + +"But, Father Ambrose, you knew him as a lad, almost as a young man. I +have heard you speak highly of his promise." + +"He denied me; denied his own identity; threatened my life with his +sword, and finally flung me into the most loathsome dungeon in all +Frankfort!" + +The girl uttered an ejaculation of dismay. If so harsh an estimate of +the heir-presumptive came from so mild and gentle a critic as Father +Ambrose, then surely was this young man lower in the grade of humanity +than even his bestial father. + +"And yet," said the girl to herself, "what else was to be expected? Go +on," she murmured; "tell me from the beginning." + +"One evening, crossing the old bridge from Frankfort to Sachsenhausen, I +saw approach me a swaggering figure that seemed familiar, and as he drew +nearer I recognized Prince Roland, son of the Emperor, despite the fact +that he held his cloak over the lower part of his face, as if, in the +gathering dusk, to avoid recognition. + +"'Your Highness!' I cried in surprise. On the instant his sword was out, +and as the cloak fell from his face, displaying lips which took on a +sinister firmness, I saw that I was not mistaken in so accosting him. He +threw a quick glance from side to side, but the bridge, like the silent +streets, was deserted. We stood alone, beside the iron Cross, and there +under the Figure of Christ he denied me, with the sharp point of his +sword against my breast. + +"'Why do you dare address me by such a title?' + +"'You are Prince Roland, son of the Emperor.' + +"The sword-point pressed more sharply. + +"'You lie!' he cried, 'and if you reiterate that falsehood, you will pay +the penalty instantly with your life, despite your monkish cowl. I am +nobody. I have no father.' + +"'May I ask, then, sir, who you are?' + +"'You may ask, but there is no reason for me to answer. Nevertheless, to +satisfy your impertinent curiosity, I inform you that I am an +ironworker, a maker of swords, and if you desire a taste of my +handiwork, you have but to persist in your questioning. I lodge in the +laboring quarter of Sachsenhausen, and am now on my way into Frankfort, +which surely I have the right to enter free from any inquiry +unauthorized by the law.' + +"'In that case I beg your pardon,' said I. 'The likeness is very +striking. I had once the honor to be chaplain at Court, where frequently +I saw the young Prince in company with that noble lady, noble in every +sense of the word, his mother, the Empress.' + +"I watched the young man narrowly as I said this, and despite his +self-control, he winced perceptibly, and I thought I saw a gleam of +recognition in his eyes. He thrust the sword back into its scabbard, and +said with a light laugh: + +"''Tis I that should beg your pardon for my haste and roughness. I +assure you I honor the cloth you wear, and would not willingly offer it +violence. We are all liable to make mistakes at times. I freely forgive +yours and trust you will extend a like leniency to mine.' + +"With that he doffed his hat, and left me standing there." + +"Surely," said the Countess, deeply interested in the recital, "so far +as speech was concerned he made amends?" + +"Yes, my daughter; such speech never came from the lips of an +ironworker." + +"You are convinced he was the Prince?" + +"Never for one instant did I doubt it." + +"Be that as it may, Father Ambrose, why should not the young man walk +the streets of his own capital city, and even explore the laborers' +quarter of Sachsenhausen, if he finds it interesting to do so? Is it not +his right to wear a sword, and go where he lists; and is it such a very +heinous thing that, being accosted by a stranger, he should refuse to +make the admission demanded? You took him, as one might say, unaware." + +The monk bowed his head, but did not waste time in offering any defense +of his action. + +"I followed him," he went on, "through the narrow and tortuous streets +of Frankfort, an easy adventure, because darkness had set in, but even +in daylight my course would have been safe enough, for never once did he +look over his shoulder, or betray any of that suspicion characteristic +of our laboring classes." + +"I think that tells in his favor," persisted the girl. + +"He came to the steps of the Rheingold, a disreputable drinking cellar, +and disappeared from my sight down its steps. A great shout greeted him, +and the rattle of tankards on a table, as he joined what was evidently +his coterie. Standing outside, I heard song and ribaldry within. The +heir-presumptive to the throne of the Empire was too obviously a drunken +brawler; a friend and comrade of the lowest scum in Frankfort. + +"After a short time he emerged alone, and once more I followed him. He +went with the directness of a purposeful man to the Fahrgasse, the +street of the rich merchants, knocked at a door, and was admitted. Along +the first-floor front were three lighted windows, and I saw his form +pass the first two of these, but from my station in the street could not +witness what was going on within. Looking about me, I found to my right +a narrow alley, occupied by an outside stairway. This I mounted, and +from its topmost step I beheld the interior of the large room on the +opposite side of the way. + +"It appeared to me that Prince Roland had been expected, for the elderly +man seated at the table, his calm face toward me, showed no surprise at +the Prince's entrance. His Highness sat with his back towards me, and +for a time it seemed that nothing was going forward but an amiable +conversation. Suddenly the Prince rose, threw off his cloak, whisked out +his sword, and presented its point at the throat of the merchant. + +"It was clear, from the expression of dismay on the merchant's face, +that this move on the part of his guest was entirely unexpected, but its +object was speedily manifested. The old man, with trembling hand, pushed +across the table to his assailant a well-filled bag, which the Prince at +once untied. Pouring out a heap of yellow gold, he began with great +deliberation to count the money, which, when you consider his precarious +situation, showed the young man to be old in crime. Some portion of the +gold he returned to the merchant; the rest he dropped into an empty bag, +which he tied to his belt. + +"I did not wait to see anything more, but came down to the foot of the +stairs, that I might learn if Roland took his money to his dissolute +comrades. He came out, and once more I followed him, and once more he +led me to the Rheingold cellar. On this occasion, however, I took step +by step with him until we entered the large wineroom at the foot of the +stairs, he less than an arm's length in front of me, still under the +illusion that he was alone. Prince though he was, I determined to +expostulate with him, and if possible persuade a restitution of the +gold. + +"'Your Highness!' I began, touching him lightly on the shoulder. + +"Instantly he turned upon me with a savage oath, grasped me by the +throat, and forced me backward against the cellar wall. + +"'You spying sneak!' he cried. 'In spite of my warning you have been +hounding my footsteps!' + +"The moment I attempted to reply, he throttled me so as to choke every +effort at utterance. There now approached us, with alarm in his +wine-colored face, a gross, corpulent man, whom the Prince addressed as +proprietor of the place, which doubtless he was. + +"'Landlord,' said Roland very quietly, 'this unfortunate monk is weak in +the head, and although he means no harm with his meddling, he may well +cause disaster to my comrades and myself. Earlier in the evening he +accosted on the bridge, but I spared him, hoping never to see his +monkish costume again. You may judge the state of his mind when I tell +you he accuses me of being the Emperor's son, and Heaven only knows what +he would estimate to be the quality of my comrades were he to see them.' + +"Two or three times I attempted to speak, but the closing of his fingers +upon my throat prevented me, and even when they were slightly relaxed I +was scarcely able to breathe." + +The Countess listened with the closest attention, fixing upon the +narrator her splendid eyes, and in them, despite their feminine beauty +and softness, seemed to smoulder a deep fire of resentment at the +treatment accorded her kinsman, a luminant of danger transmitted to her +down the ages from ancestors equally ready to fight for the Sepulcher in +Palestine or for the gold on the borders of the Rhine. In the pause, +during which the monk wiped from his wrinkled brow the moisture brought +there by remembrance of the indignity he had undergone, kindliness in +the eyes of the Countess overcame their menace, and she said gently: + +"I am quite confident, Father, that such a ruffian could not be Prince +Roland. He was indeed the rude mechanic he proclaimed himself. No man of +noble blood would have acted thus." + +"Listen, my child, listen," resumed Father Ambrose. "Turning to the +landlord, the Prince asked: + +"'Is there a safe and vacant room in your establishment where I could +bestow this meddlesome priest for a few days?' + +"'There is a wine vault underneath this drinking cellar,' responded the +landlord. + +"'Does anyone enter that vault except yourself?' + +"'No one,' + +"'Will you undertake charge of the priest, seeing that he communicates +with none outside?' + +"'Of a surety, Captain,' + +"'Good. I will pay you well, and that in advance.'" + +"This ruffian was never the Prince," interrupted the Countess firmly. + +"I beg you to listen, Hildegunde, and my next sentence will convince +you. The Prince continued: + +"'Not only prevent his communication with others, but do not listen to +him yourself. He will endeavor to persuade you that his name is Father +Ambrose, and that he is a monk in good standing with the Benedictine +Order. If he finds you care little for that, he may indeed pretend he is +of noble origin himself; that he is Henry von Sayn, and thus endeavor to +work on whatever sympathy you may feel for the aristocrats. But I assure +you he is no more a Sayn than I am Prince Roland.' + +"'Indeed, Captain,' replied the host, 'I have as little liking for an +aristocrat as for a monk, so you may depend that I will keep him safe +enough until you order his release.' + +"Now, my dear Hildegunde, you see there was no mistake on my part. This +young man asserted he knew nothing of me, and indeed, I believed he had +forgotten the time of my chaplaincy at the Court, often as he listened +to my discourses, yet all the time he knew me, and now, with an +effrontery that seems incredible, he showed no hesitation in proving me +right when I accosted him as son of the Emperor. I must in justice, +however, admit that he instructed the landlord when he paid him, to +treat me with gentleness, and to see that I had plenty to eat and drink. +When three days had expired, I was to be allowed my liberty. + +"'He can do no harm then,' concluded the Prince, in his talk with the +landlord, 'for by that time I shall have succeeded or failed.' + +"I was led down a narrow, broken stairway by the proprietor, and thrust +into a dark and damp cellar, partially filled with casks of wine, and +there I remained until set at liberty a few days ago. + +"I returned at once to the Benedictine Monastery where I had lodged, +expecting to find my brethren filled with anxiety concerning me, but +such was not the case. Any one man is little missed in this world, and +my comrades supposed that I was invited to the Court, and had forgotten +them as I saw they had forgotten me, so I said nothing of my adventure, +but mounted my waiting horse and journeyed back to the Castle of Sayn." + +For a long time there was silence between the two, then the younger +spoke. + +"Do you intend to take any action regarding your unauthorized +imprisonment?" + +"Oh, no," replied the forgiving monk. + +"Is it certain that this dissolute young man will be chosen Emperor?" + +"There is a likelihood, but not a certainty." + +"Would not the election of such a person to the highest position in the +State prove even a greater misfortune to the land than the continuance +of the present regime, for this young man adds to his father's vice of +drunkenness the evil qualities, of dishonesty, cruelty, ribaldry, and a +lack of respect for the privileges both of Church and nobility?" + +"Such indeed is my opinion, daughter." + +"Then is it not your duty at once to acquaint the three Archbishops with +what you have already told me, so that the disaster of his election may +be avoided?" + +"It is a matter to which I gave deep thought during my journey thither, +and I also invoked the aid of Heaven in guiding me to a just +conclusion." + +"And that conclusion, Father?" + +"Is to say nothing whatever about my experiences in Frankfort." + +"Why?" + +"Because it is not given to a humble man like myself, occupying a +position of no authority, to fathom what may be in the minds of those +great Princes of the Church, the Archbishops. In effect they rule the +country, and it is possible that they prefer to place on the throne a +drunken nonentity who will offer no impediment to their ambitions, +rather than to elect a moral young man who might in time prove too +strong for them." + +"I am sure no such motive would actuate the Archbishop of Cologne." + +"His Lordship of Cologne, my child, dare not break with their Lordships +of Treves and Mayence, so you may be sure that if these two wish to +elect Prince Roland Emperor, nothing I could say to the Archbishop of +Cologne would prevent that choice." + +"Oh, I had forgotten, in the excitement of listening to your adventures, +but talking of the Archbishop reminds me his Highness of Cologne will +visit us to-morrow, and he especially wishes to see you. You may imagine +my anxiety when I received his message a few days ago, knowing nothing +of your whereabouts." + +"Wishes to see me?" ejaculated Father Ambrose, wrinkling a perplexed +brow. "I wonder what for. Can he have any knowledge of my visit to +Frankfort?" + +"How could he?" + +"The Archbishops possess sources of enlightenment that we wot not of. If +he charges me with being absent from my post, I must admit the fact." + +"Of course. Let me confess to him as soon as he arrives; your journey +was entirely due to my persistence. I alone am to blame." + +The old man slowly shook his head. + +"I am at least equally culpable," he said. "I shall answer truthfully +any question asked me, but I hope I am not in the wrong if I volunteer +no information." + +The girl rose. + +"You could do no wrong, Father, even if you tried; and now good-night. +Sleep soundly and fear nothing. On the rare occasions when the good +Archbishop was angry with me, I have always managed to placate him, and +I shall not fail in this instance." + +Father Ambrose bade her good-night, and left the room with the languid +air of one thoroughly tired. As the young Countess stood there watching +his retreat and disappearance, her dainty little fist clenched, and her +eyebrows came together, bringing to her handsome face the determined +expression which marked the countenances of some of her Crusader +ancestors whose portraits decorated the walls. + +"If ever I get that ruffian Prince Roland into my power," she said to +herself, "I will make him regret his treatment of so tolerant and +forbearing a man as Father Ambrose." + + + + +V + +THE COUNTESS VON SAYN AND THE ARCHBISHOP OF COLOGNE + + +It was high noon when that great Prince of the Church, the Archbishop of +Cologne, arrived at Castle Sayn, with a very inconsiderable following, +which seemed to indicate that he traveled on no affair of State, for on +such occasions he led a small army. The lovely young Countess awaited +him at the top of the Castle steps, and he greeted her with the courtesy +of a polished man of the world, rather than with the more austere +consideration of a great Churchman. Indeed, it seemed to the quick +apprehension of the girl that as he raised her fair hand to his lips his +obeisance was lower, more deferential, than their differing stations in +life justified. + +He shook hands with Father Ambrose in the manner of old friend accosting +old friend, and nothing in his salutation indicated displeasure of any +sort in the background. + +Perhaps, then, that sense of uneasiness felt by both the aged Father +Ambrose and the youthful Countess Hildegunde in the Archbishop's +presence came from their consciousness of conspiracy, resulting in the +ill-fated journey to Frankfort. Nevertheless, all that afternoon the two +were oppressed by the shadow of some impending danger, and the good +spirits of the Archbishop seemed to them assumed for the occasion, and +indeed in this they were not far wrong. His Lordship of Cologne was +keenly apprehensive regarding an important conference set down for the +next day, and the exuberance of an essentially serious man in such a +crisis is prone to be overdone. + +Father Ambrose, who, in the midst of luxury and plenty, lived with the +abstemiousness of an anchorite, and always partook of his scant +refreshment alone in his cell, was invited by the Archbishop to a seat +at the table in the dining-hall. + +"So long as you cast no look of reproach upon me for my enjoyment of +Sayn's most excellent cuisine, and my appreciation of its unequaled +cellar, I shall not comment on your dinner of parched peas and your +unexhilarating tankard of water. Besides, I wish to consult with Ambrose +the librarian of Sayn, touching the archives of this house, rather than +with Ambrose the superintendent of farms, or Father Ambrose the monk." + +During the midday meal the Archbishop led, and at times monopolized, the +conversation. + +"While you were under the tutelage of the good Sisters at Nonnenwerth +Convent, Hildegunde, the Abbess frequently spoke of your proficiency in +historical studies. Did you ever turn your attention to the annals of +your own House?" + +"No, Guardian. From what I heard casually of my ancestors a record of +their doings would be scarcely the sort of reading recommended to a +young girl." + +"Ah, very true, very true," agreed the Archbishop. "Some of the Counts +of Sayn led turbulent lives, and except with a battle-ax it was +difficult to persuade them not to meddle with the goods and chattels of +their neighbors. A strenuous line they proved in those olden days; but +many noble women have adorned the Castle of Sayn whose lives shine out +like an inspiration against the dark background of medieval tumult. Did +you ever hear of your forebear, the gracious Countess Matilda von Sayn, +who lived some hundreds of years ago? Indeed, the letters I have been +reading, written in her quaint handwriting, are dated about the middle +of the thirteenth century. I cannot learn whether she was older or +younger than the Archbishop of Cologne of that period, and thus I wish +to enlist the interest of Father Ambrose in searching the archives of +Sayn for anything pertaining to her. The Countess sent many epistles to +the Archbishop which he carefully preserved, while documents of much +more importance to the Archbishopric were allowed to go astray. + +"Her letters breathe a deep devotion to the Church, and a warm +kindliness to its chief ornament of that day, the then Archbishop of +Cologne. She was evidently his most cherished adviser, and in points of +difficulty her counsel exhibits all the clarity of a man's brain, to +which is added a tenderness and a sense of justice entirely womanly. I +could not help fancying that this great prelate's success in his +Archbishopric was largely due to the disinterested advice of this noble +woman. It is clearly to be seen that the Countess was the benignant +power behind the throne, and she watched his continued advancement with +a love resembling that lavished on a favorite son. Her writings now and +then betray an affection of a quality so motherly that I came to believe +she was much older than the great Churchman, but then there is the fact +that she long outlived him, so it is possible she may have been the +younger." + +"Why, my Lord, are you about to weave us a romance?" + +The Archbishop smiled, and for a moment placed his hand upon hers, which +rested on the table beside him. + +"A romance, perhaps, between myself and the Countess of long ago, for as +I read these letters I used much of their contents for my own guidance, +and found her precepts as wise to-day as they were in 1250, and to me +... to me," the Archbishop sighed, "she seems to live again. Yes, I +confess my ardent regard for her, and if you call that romance, it is +surely of a very innocent nature." + +"But the other Archbishop? Your predecessor, the friend of Matilda; what +of him?" + +"There, Hildegunde, I have much less evidence to go upon, for his +letters, if they exist, are concealed somewhere in the archives of Sayn +Castle." + +"To-morrow," cried the girl, "I shall robe myself in the oldest garments +I possess, and will rummage those dusty archives until I find the +letters of him who was Archbishop in 1250." + +"I have bestowed that task upon one less impulsive. Father Ambrose is +the searcher, and he and I will put our wise old heads together in +consultation over them before entrusting them to the perusal of that +impetuous young noblewoman, the present Countess von Sayn." + +The impetuous person referred to brought down her hand with a peremptory +impact upon the table, and exclaimed emphatically: + +"My Lord Archbishop, I shall read those letters to-morrow." + +Once more the Archbishop placed his hand on hers, this time, however, +clasping it firmly in his own. There was no smile on his face as he said +gravely: + +"My lady, to-morrow you will face three living Archbishops, more +difficult, perhaps, to deal with than one who is dust." + +"Three!" she cried, startled, a gleam of apprehension troubling her fine +eyes. "My Lords of Mayence, Treves, and yourself? Are they coming here?" + +"The conclave of the Archbishops will be held at Castle Stolzenfels, the +Rhine residence of my brother of Treves." + +"Why is this Court convened?" + +"That will be explained to you, Hildegunde, by his Highness of Mayence. +I did not intend to speak to you about this until later, so I will +merely say that there is nothing to fear. I, being your guardian, am +sent to escort you to Stolzenfels, and as we ride there together I wish +to place before you some suggestions which you may find useful when the +meeting takes place." + +"I shall faithfully follow any advice you give me, my Lord." + +"I am sure of it, Hildegunde, and you will remember that I speak as +guardian, not as Councilor of State. My observations will be requests +and not commands. You see, we have reversed the positions of my +predecessor and the Countess Matilda. It was always she who tendered +advice, which he invariably accepted. Now I must take the role of +advice-giver; thus you and I transpose the parts of the former +Archbishop of Cologne, and the former Countess of Sayn, who, I am sorry +to note, have been completely banished from your thoughts by my +premature announcement regarding the three living Archbishops." + +"Oh, not at all, not at all! I am still thinking of those two. Have you +told me all you know about them?" + +"Far from it. Although I was handicapped in my reconstitution of their +friendship by lack of the Archbishop's letters, he had nevertheless made +a note here and there upon the communications he received from the +Countess. Throughout the letters certain paragraphs are marked with a +cross, as if for reperusal, these paragraphs being invariably most +delicately and charmingly written. But now I come to the last very +important document, the only one of which a copy has been kept, written +in the Archbishop's own hand. + +"In the year 1250, the Countess von Sayn had ceded to him the Rhine town +of Linz. Linz seems to have been a rebellious and troublesome fief, +which the Sayns held by force of arms. When it came into the possession +of the Archbishop, the foolish inhabitants, remembering that Cologne was +a long distance down the river compared with the up-river journey to +Sayn, broke out into open revolt. The Archbishop sent up his army, and +most effectually crushed this outbreak, severely punishing the rebels. +He returned from this subdued town to his own city of Cologne, and +whether from the exposure of the brief campaign, or some other cause, he +was taken ill and shortly after died. + +"The new Archbishop was installed, and nearly two years passed, so far +as I can learn, before the Countess Matilda made claim that the town of +Linz should come again within her jurisdiction, saying that this +restitution had been promised by the late Archbishop. His successor, +however, disputed this claim. He possessed, he said, the deed of gift +making over the town of Linz to his predecessor, and this document was +definite enough. If then, it was the intention of the late Archbishop to +return Linz to the House of Sayn, the Countess doubtless held some +document to that effect, and in this case he would like to know its +purport. + +"The Countess replied that an understanding had existed between the late +Archbishop and herself regarding the subjugation of the town of Linz and +its return to her after the rebellion was quelled. But for the untimely +death of the late Archbishop she did not doubt that his part of the +contract would have been kept long since. Nevertheless, she did possess +a document, in the late Archbishop's own hand, setting out the terms of +their agreement, and of this manuscript she sent a copy. + +"The crafty Archbishop, without casting doubt on the authenticity of the +copy, said that of course it would be illegal for him to act upon it. He +must have the original document. Matilda replied, very shrewdly, that on +her part she could not allow the original document to quit her custody, +as upon it rested her rights to the town of Linz. She would, however, +exhibit this document to any ecclesiastical committee her correspondent +might appoint, and the members of the committee so chosen should be men +well acquainted with the late Archbishop's writing and signature. In +reply the Archbishop regretted that he could not accept her suggestion. +The people of Cologne, believing that their overlord had rightfully +acquired Linz, cheerfully consented to make good their title by battle, +thus having, as it were, bought the town with their blood, and indeed, a +deplorable sacrifice of life, it would become a dangerous venture to +give up the town unless indisputable documentary evidence might be +exhibited to them showing that such a bargain was made by the deceased +prelate. + +"But before proceeding farther in this matter, he asked the Countess if +she were prepared to swear that the copy forwarded to him was a full and +faithful rendition of the original. Did it contain every word the late +Archbishop had written in that letter? + +"To this the Countess made no reply, and allowed to lapse any title she +might have to the town of Linz." + +"I think," cried the girl indignantly, "that my ancestress was in the +right, refusing further communication with this ignoble Churchman who +dared to impugn her good faith." + +The Archbishop smiled at her vehemence. + +"I shall make no attempt to defend my astute predecessor. A +money-lender's soul tenanted his austere body, but what would you say if +his implication of the Countess Matilda's good faith was justified?" + +"You mean that the copy which she sent of the Archbishop's letter was +fraudulent? I cannot believe it." + +"Not fraudulent. So far as it went her copy was word perfect. She +neglected to add, however, a final sentence, and rather than make it +public forfeited her rightful claim to great possessions. Of the +Archbishop's communications to her there remains in our archives a copy +of this last epistle written in his own hand. I cannot imagine why he +added the final clauses to what was in essence an important business +communication. The premonition he admits may have set his thoughts upon +things not of this world, but undoubtedly he believed that he would live +long enough to conquer the rebels of Linz, and restore to the Countess +her property. This is what he wrote, and she refused to publish: + +"'Matilda, I feel that my days are numbered, and that their number is +scant. To all the world my life seems to have been successful beyond the +wishes of mortal man, but to me it is a dismal failure, in that I die +bachelor Archbishop of Cologne, and you are the spinster Countess von +Sayn.'" + + + + +VI + +TO BE KEPT SECRET FROM THE COUNTESS + + +There are few favored spots occupied by blue water and greensward over +which a greater splendor is cast by the rising sun on a midsummer +morning than that portion of the Rhine near Coblentz, and as our little +procession emerged from the valley of the Saynbach every member of it +was struck with the beauty of the flat country across the Rhine, +ripening toward a yellow harvest, flooded by the golden glory of the +rising sun. + +Their route led to the left by the foot of the eastern hills, and not +yet along the margin of the great river. Gradually, however, as they +journeyed in a southerly direction, the highlands deflected them +westward until at last there was but scant room for the road between +rock and water. Always they were in the shade, a comforting feature of a +midsummer journey, an advantage, however, soon to be lost when they +crossed the Rhine by the ferry to Coblentz. The distance from Sayn +Castle to Schloss Stolzenfels was a little less than four leagues, so +their early start permitted a leisurely journey. + +The Archbishop and the Countess rode side by side. Following them at +some distance came Father Ambrose, deep in his meditations, and paying +little attention to the horse he rode, which indeed, faithful animal, +knew more about the way than did his rider. Still farther to the rear +rode half a dozen mounted lancemen, two and two, the scant escort of one +who commanded many thousands of armed men. + +"How lovely and how peaceful is the scene," said the Countess. "How +beautiful are the fields of waving grain; their color of dawn softened +by the deep green of interspersed vineyards, and the water without a +ripple, like a slumbering lake rather than a strong river. It seems as +though anger, contention, and struggle could not exist in a realm so +heavenly." + +"'Seems' is the word to use," commented the Archbishop gravely, "but the +unbroken placidity of the river you so much admire is a peace of defeat. +I had much rather see its flood disturbed by moving barges and the +turmoil of commerce. It is a peace that means starvation and death to +our capital city, and, indeed, in a lesser degree, to my own town of +Cologne, and to Coblentz, whose gates we are approaching." + +"But surely," persisted the girl, "the outlook is improving, when you +and I travel unmolested with a mere handful of men to guard us. Time was +when a great and wealthy Archbishop might not stir abroad with less than +a thousand men in his train." + +The Archbishop smiled. + +"I suppose matters mend," he said, "as we progress in civilized usage. +The number of my escort, however, is not limited by my own modesty, but +stipulated by the Court of Archbishops. Mayence travels down the Rhine +and Treves down the Moselle, each with a similar following at his +heels." + +"You are pessimistic this lovely morning, my Lord, and will not even +admit that the world is beautiful." + +"It all depends on the point of view, Hildegunde. I regard it from a +position toward the end of life, and you from the charming station of +youth: the far-apart outlook of an old man and a young girl." + +"Nonsense, Guardian, you are anything but old. Nevertheless I am much +disappointed with your attitude this morning. I fully expected to be +complimented by you." + +"Doesn't my whole attitude breathe of compliment?" + +"Ah, but I expected a particular compliment to-day!" + +"What have I overlooked?" + +"You overlooked the fact that yesterday you aroused my most intense +curiosity regarding the journey we are now taking together, and the +conference which is to follow. Despite deep anxiety to learn what is +before me I have not asked you a single question, nor even hinted at the +subject until this moment. Now, I think I should be rewarded for my +reticence." + +"Ah, Countess, you are an exception among women, and I merely withheld +the well-earned praise until such time as I could broach the subject +occupying my mind ever since we left the Castle. With the awkwardness of +a man I did not know how to begin until you so kindly indicated the +way." + +"Perhaps, after all, I make a false claim, because I have guessed your +secret, and therefore my deep solicitude is assumed." + +"Guessed it?" queried the Archbishop, a shade of anxiety crossing his +face. + +"Yes. Your story of the former Archbishop and the Countess Matilda gave +me a clue. You have discovered a document proving my right to the town +of Linz on the Rhine." + +The Archbishop bowed his head, but said nothing. + +"Your sense of justice urges you to make amends, but such a long time +has elapsed that my claim is doubtless outlawed, and you do not quite +know how restoration may be effected. You have, I take it, consulted +with one or other of your colleagues, Mayence or Treves, or perhaps with +both. They have made objection to your proposed generosity, and put +forward the argument that you are but temporary trustee of the Cologne +Archbishopric; that you must guard the rights of your successor; and +this truism could not help but appeal to that quality of equity which +distinguishes you, so a conference of the prelates has been called, and +a majority of that Court will decide whether or not the town of Linz +shall be tendered to me. Perhaps a suggestion will be made that I allow +things to remain as they are, in which case I shall at once refuse to +accept the town of Linz. Now, Guardian, how near have I come to solving +the mystery?" + +They rode along in silence together, the Archbishop pondering on the +problem of her further enlightenment. At last he said: + +"Cologne is ruled by its Archbishop, wisely or the reverse as the case +may be. The Archbishop, much as he reveres the opinion of his +distinguished colleagues, would never put them to the inconvenience of +giving a decision on any matter not concerning them. Linz's fate was +settled when the handwriting of my predecessor, prelate of 1250 A.D., +convinced me that this Rhine town belonged to the House of Sayn. +Restitution has already been accomplished in due legal form, and when +next the Countess Hildegunde rides through Linz, she rides through her +own town." + +"I shall never, never accept it, Guardian." + +"It is yours now, Countess. If you do not wish to hold the town, use it +as a gift to the fortunate man you marry. And now, Hildegunde, this +long-postponed advice I wish to press upon your attention, must be +given, for we are nearing the ferry to Coblentz, and between that town +and Stolzenfels we may have company. Of the three Archbishops you will +meet to-day, there is only one of whom you need take account." + +"Oh, I know that," cried the girl, "his Lordship of Cologne!" + +The Archbishop smiled, but went on seriously: + +"Where two or three men are gathered together, one is sure to be leader. +In our case the chief of the trio supposed to be equal is his Highness +of Mayence. Treves and I pretend not to be under his thumb, but we are: +that is to say, Treves holds I am under his thumb, and I hold Treves is +under his thumb, and so when one or the other of us join the Archbishop +of Mayence, there is a majority of the Court, and the third member is +helpless." + +"But why don't you and Treves join together?" + +"Because each thinks the other a coward, and doubtless both are right. +The point of the matter is that Mayence is the iron man of the +combination; therefore I beg you beware of him, and I also entreat you +to agree with the proposal he will make. It will be of tremendous +advantage to you." + +"In that case, my Lord, how could I refuse?" + +"I hope, my child, you will not, but if you should make objection, do so +with all the tact at your disposal. In fact, refrain wholly from +objection if you can, and plead for time to consider, so that you and I +may consult together, thus affording me opportunity of bringing +arguments to bear that may influence your decision." + +"My dear Guardian, you alarm me by the awesome way in which you speak. +What fateful choice hangs over my head?" + +"I have no wish to frighten you, my daughter, and, indeed, I anticipate +little chance of disagreement at the conference. I merely desire that +you shall understand something of Mayence. He is a man whom opposition +may drive to extremity, and being accustomed to crush those who disagree +with him, rather than conquer by more diplomatic methods, I am anxious +you should not be led into any semblance of dissent from his wishes. By +agreement between Mayence, Treves, and myself, I am not allowed to +enlighten you regarding the question at issue. I perhaps strain that +agreement a little when I endeavor to put you on your guard. If, at any +point in the discussion, you wish a few moments to reflect, glance +across the table at me, and I shall immediately intervene with some +interruption which must be debated by the three members of the Court. Of +course, I shall do everything in my power to protect you should our grim +friend Mayence lose his temper, as may happen if you thwart him." + +"Why am I likely to thwart him?" + +"Why indeed? I see no reason. I am merely an old person perhaps +over-cautious. Hence this warding off of a crisis which I hope will +never arise." + +"Guardian, I have one question to ask, and that will settle the matter +here on the border of the Rhine, before we reach Stolzenfels. Do you +thoroughly approve, with your heart, mind, and conscience, of the +proposition to be made to me?" + +"I do," replied the Archbishop, in a tone of conviction that none could +gainsay. "Heart and soul, agree." + +"Then, Guardian, your crisis that never came vanishes. I shall tell his +Lordship of Mayence, in my sweetest voice and most ingratiating manner, +that I will do whatever he requests." + +Here the conversation ceased, for the solitude now gave way to a scene +of activity, as they came to the landing alongside which lay the +floating bridge, a huge barge, capable of carrying their whole company +at one voyage. Several hundred persons, on horseback or on foot, +gathered along the river-bank, raised a cheer as the Archbishop +appeared. The Countess thought they waited to greet him, but they were +merely travelers or market people who found their journey interrupted at +this point. An emissary of the Archbishop had commanded the ferry-boat +to remain at its eastern landing until his Lordship came aboard. When +the distinguished party embarked, the crew instantly cast off their +moorings, and the tethered barge, impelled by the swift current, gently +swung across to the opposite shore. + +A great concourse of people greeted their arrival at Coblentz, and if +vociferous shouts and hurrahs are signs of popularity, the Archbishop +had reason to congratulate himself upon his reception. The prelate bowed +and smiled, but did not pause at Coblentz, and, to the evident +disappointment of the multitude, continued his way up the Rhine. When +the little cavalcade drew away from the mob, the Countess spoke: + +"I had no thought," she said, "that Coblentz contained so many +inhabitants." + +"Neither does it," replied the Archbishop. + +"Then is this simply an influx of people from the country, and is the +conclave of the Archbishops of such importance that it draws so many +sightseers?" + +"The Court held by the Archbishops on this occasion is very important. I +suspect, however, that those are no sightseers, for the general public +is quite unaware that we meet to-day. They who cheered so lustily just +now are, I think, men of Treves." + +"Do you mean soldiers?" + +"Aye. Soldiers in the dress of ordinary townsmen, but I dare say they +all know where to find their weapons should a war-cry arise." + +"Do you imply that the Archbishop of Treves has broken his compact? I +understood that your escort was limited to the few men following you." + +His Lordship laughed. + +"The Archbishop of Treves," he said, "is not a great strategist, yet I +surmise he is ready in case of trouble to seize the city of Coblentz." + +"What trouble could arise?" + +"The present moment is somewhat critical, for the Emperor lies dying in +Frankfort. We three Electors hope to avoid all commotion by having our +plans prepared and acting upon them promptly. But the hours between the +death of an Emperor and the appointment of his successor are fateful +with uncertainty. I suppose the good Sisters at Nonnenwerth taught you +about the Election of an Emperor?" + +"Indeed, Guardian, I am sorry to confess that if they did I have +forgotten all about it." + +"There are seven Electors; four high nobles of the Empire and three +Archbishops, Lords Temporal and Lords Spiritual. The present Count +Palatine of the Rhine is, like my friend Treves, completely under the +dominion of the Archbishop of Mayence, so the three Lords Spiritual, +with the aid of the Count Palatine, form a majority of the Electoral +Court." + +"I understand. And now I surmise that you assemble at Stolzenfels to +choose our future Emperor." + +"No; he has already been chosen, but his name will not be announced to +any person save one before the Emperor dies." + +"Doubtless that one is the Count Palatine." + +"No, Countess, he remains ignorant; and I give you warning, Madam, I am +not to be cross-questioned by indirection. You should be merciful: I am +but clay in your hands, yet there is certain information I am forbidden +to impart, so I will merely say that if the Archbishop happens to be in +good-humor this afternoon, he is very likely to tell you who will be the +future Emperor." + +The girl gave an exclamation of surprise. + +"To tell me? Why should he do so?" + +"I said I was not to be cross-examined any further. I tremble now with +apprehension lest I have let slip something I should not, therefore we +will change the subject to one of paramount importance; namely, our +midday meal. I intended to stop at Coblentz for that repast, but the +Archbishop of Treves, whose guests we are, was good enough to accept a +menu I suggested, therefore we will sit at table with him." + +"You suggested a menu?" + +"Yes; I hope you will approve of it. There is some excellent Rhine +salmon, with a sauce most popular in Treves, a sauce that has been +celebrated for centuries. Next some tender venison from the forest +behind Stolzenfels, which is noted for its deer. There are, beside, +cakes and various breads, also vegetables, and all are to be washed down +by delicate Oberweseler wine. How does my speis-card please you, +Countess?" + +"I am committing it to memory, Guardian, so that I shall know what to +prepare for you when next you visit my Castle of Sayn." + +"Oh, this repast is not in my honor, but in yours. I feared you might +object to the simplicity of it. It is upon record that this meal was +much enjoyed by a young lady some centuries ago, at this very Castle of +Stolzenfels, shortly after it was completed. Indeed, I think it likely +she was the noble castle's first guest. Stolzenfels was built by Arnold +von Isenberg, the greatest Archbishop that ever ruled over Treves, if I +may except Archbishop Baldwin, the fighter. Isenberg determined to have +a stronghold on the Rhine midway between Mayence and Cologne, and he +made it a palace as well as a fortress, taking his time about it--in all +seventeen years. He began its erection in 1242, and so was building at +the time your ancestress Matilda ceded Linz to the Archbishop of +Cologne, therefore I imagine Cologne probably wished to have a +stronghold within striking distance of Treves' new castle. + +"One of the first to visit Stolzenfels was a charming young English girl +named Isabella, who was no other than the youngest daughter of John, +King of England. Doubtless she came here with an imposing suite of +attendants, and I surmise that the great prelate's castle saw impressive +pageants and festivities, for the chronicler, after setting down the +menu whose excellence I hope to test to-day, adds: + +"'They ate well, and drank better, and the Royal maiden danced a great +deal.' + +"Her brother then occupied the English throne. He was Henry III., and of +course much attention was paid over here to his dancing sister." + +"Why, Guardian, what you say gives a new interest to old Stolzenfels. I +have never been within the Castle, but now I shall view it with delight, +wondering through which of the rooms the English Princess danced. Why +did Isabella come from England all the way to the Rhine?" + +"She came to meet the three Archbishops." + +"Really? For what purpose?" + +"That they might in ecclesiastical form, and upon the highest +ecclesiastical authority, announce her betrothal." + +"Announce in Stolzenfels the betrothal of an English Princess, the +daughter of one king and sister of another! Did she, then, marry a +German?" + +"Yes; she married the Emperor, Frederick II.; Frederick of +Hohenstaufen." + +Slowly the girl turned her head, and looked steadfastly at the +Archbishop, who was gazing earnestly up the road as if to catch a +glimpse of the Castle which had been the scene of the events he related. +Her face became pale, and a questioning wonder rose in her eyes. What +did the Archbishop really mean by this latest historical recital? True, +he was a man who had given much study to ancient lore; rather fond of +exhibiting his proficiency therein when he secured patient listeners. +Could there be any secret meaning in his story of the English Princess +who danced? Was there any hidden analogy between the journey of the +English Isabella, and the short trip taken that day by Hildegunde of +Sayn? She was about to speak when the Archbishop made a slight signal +with his right hand, and a horseman who had followed them all the way +from Coblentz now spurred up alongside of his Lordship, who said sharply +to the newcomer: + +"How many of Treves' men are in Coblentz?" + +"Eight hundred and fifty, my Lord." + +"Enough to capture the town?" + +"Coblentz is already in their possession, my Lord." + +"They seem to be unarmed." + +"Their weapons are stored under guard in the Church of St. Castor, and +can be in the hands of the soldiers within a few minutes after a signal +is rung by the St. Castor's bells." + +"Are there any troops in Coblentz from Mayence?" + +"No, my Lord." + +"How many of my men have been placed behind the Castle of Stolzenfels?" + +"Three thousand are concealed in the forest near the hilltop." + +"How many men has my Lord of Mayence within call?" + +"Apparently only the scant half-dozen that reached Stolzenfels with him +yesterday." + +"Are you sure of that?" + +"Scouts have been sent all through the forest to the south, and have +brought us no word of an advancing company. Other scouts have gone up +the river as far as Bingen, but everything is quiet, and it would have +been impossible for his Lordship to march a considerable number of men +from any quarter towards Stolzenfels without one or other of our hundred +spies learning of the movement." + +"Then doubtless Mayence depends on his henchman Treves." + +"It would seem so, my Lord." + +"Thank you; that will do." + +The rider saluted, turned his horse towards the north, and galloped +away, and a few moments later the little procession came within sight of +Stolzenfels, standing grandly on its conical hill beside the Rhine, +against a background of green formed by the mountainous forests to the +rear. + +This conversation, which she could not help but hear, had driven +entirely from the mind of Hildegunde the pretty story of the English +Princess. + +"Why, Guardian!" she said, "we seem to be in the midst of impending +civil war." + +The Archbishop smiled. + +"We are in the midst of an assured peace," he replied. + +"What! with Coblentz practically seized, and three thousand of your men +lurking in the woods above us?" + +"Yes. I told you that Treves was no strategist. I suppose he and Mayence +imagine that by seizing the town of Coblentz they cut off my retreat to +Cologne. They know it would be useless in a crisis for me to journey up +the river, as I should then be getting farther and farther from my base +of supplies both in men and provisions, therefore the Archbishop of +Mayence has neglected to garrison that quarter." + +"But, Guardian, you are surely entrapped, with Coblentz thus held?" + +"Not so, my child, while I command three thousand men to their eight +hundred." + +"But that means a battle!" + +"A battle that will never take place, Hildegunde, because I shall seize +something much more valuable than any town, namely, the persons of the +two Archbishops. With their Lordships of Treves and Mayence in my +custody, cut off from communication with their own troops, I have slight +fear of a leaderless army. The very magnitude of the force at my command +is an assurance of peace." + +They now arrived at the branching hill-road leading up to the gates of +Stolzenfels just above them, and conversation ceased, but the Countess +was fated to remember before the afternoon grew old the final words +Cologne spoke so confidently. + + + + +VII + +MUTINY IN THE WILDERNESS + + +It was a lovely morning in July when Prince Roland walked into the +shadow of the handsome tower which to-day is all that survives of the +Elector's palace at Hochst, on the river Main. He found Greusel there +awaiting him, but none of the others. When the two had greeted one +another, the Prince said: + +"Joseph, I determined several days ago to appoint you my lieutenant on +this expedition." + +"If you take my advice, Roland, you will do nothing of the kind." + +"Why?" + +"Because it may be looked upon as favoritism, and so promote jealously +in the ranks, which is a thing to avoid." + +"Whom would you suggest for the place?" + +"Conrad Kurzbold." + +"What! and run the risk of divided authority? I am determined to be +commander, you know." + +"Kurzbold, even if made lieutenant, would be as much under your orders +as the rest of us. He is an energetic man, and you may thus direct his +energy along the right path. From being a critic, he will become one of +the criticised, giving him something to think about. Then your +appointment of him would show that you bear no ill-feeling for what he +said last night." + +"You appear to think, Greusel, that it is the duty of a commander to +curry favor with his following." + +"No; but I regard tact as a useful quality. You see, you are not in the +position of a general with an army. The members of the guild can depose +you whenever they like and elect a successor, or they may desert you in +a body, and you have no redress. Your methods should not be drastic, but +rather those of a man who seeks election to some high office." + +"I fear I am not constituted for such a role, Greusel." + +"If you are to succeed in the task you have undertaken, Roland, you must +adapt yourself to your situation as it actually is, and not as you would +wish to have it. I stood by you yesterday evening, and succeeded in +influencing the others to do the same, yet there is no denying that you +spoke to those men in a most overbearing manner. Why, you could not have +been more downright had you been an officer of the Emperor himself. What +passed through my mind as I listened was, 'Where did this youth get his +swagger?' You ordered Kurzbold out of the ranks, you know." + +"Then why favor my action?" + +"Because I was reluctant to see a promising marauding adventure wrecked +at the very outset for lack of a few soothing words." + +Roland laughed heartily. The morning was inspiring, and he was in good +fettle. + +"Your words to Kurzbold were anything but soothing." + +"Oh, I was compelled to crush him. He was the cause of the disturbance, +and therefore I had no mercy so far as the affair impinged upon him. But +the others, with the exception of Gensbein perhaps, are good, honest, +sweet-tempered fellows, whom I did not wish to see misled. I think you +must put out of your mind all thought of punishment, no matter what the +offense against your authority may be." + +"Then how would you deal with insubordination when it arises?" + +"I should trust to the good sense of the remaining members of your +company to make it uncomfortable for the offender." + +"But suppose they don't?" + +Greusel shrugged his shoulders. + +"In that case you are helpless, I fear. At any rate, talking of hanging, +or the infliction of any other punishment, is quite futile so long as +you do not possess the power to carry out your sentence. To return to my +simile of the general: a general can order any private in his army to be +hanged, and the man is taken out and hanged accordingly, but if one of +the guild is to be executed, he must be condemned by an overwhelming +vote of his fellows, because even if a bare majority sentenced one +belonging to the minority it would mean civil war among us. Suppose, for +example, it was proposed to hang you, and eleven voted for the execution +and nine against it. Do you think we nine would submit to the verdict of +the eleven? Not so. I am myself the most peaceful of men, but the moment +it came to that point, I should run my sword through the proposer of the +execution before he had time to draw his weapon. In other words, I'd +murder him to lessen the odds, and then we'd fight it out like men." + +"Why didn't you say all this last night, Greusel?" + +"Last night my whole attention was concentrated on inducing Kurzbold to +forget that you had threatened the company with a hangman's rope. Had he +remembered that, I could never have carried the vote of confidence. But +you surely saw that the other men were most anxious to support you if +your case was placed fairly before them, a matter which, for some +reason, you thought it beneath your dignity to attempt." + +"My dear Joseph, your wholesale censure this morning does much to +nullify the vote I received last night." + +"My dear Roland, I am not censuring you at all; I am merely endeavoring +to place facts before you so that you will recognize them." + +"Quite so, but what I complain of is that these facts were not exhibited +in time for me to shoulder or shirk the responsibility. I do not believe +that military operations can be successfully carried on by a little +family party, the head of which must coddle the others in the group, and +beg pardon before he says 'Devil take you!' I would not have accepted +the leadership last night had I known the conditions." + +"Well, it is not yet too late to recede. The barge does not leave +Frankfort until this evening, and it is but two leagues back to that +city. Within half an hour at the farthest, every man of us will be +assembled here. Now is the time to have it out with them, because +to-morrow morning the opportunity to withdraw will be gone." + +"It is too late even now, Greusel. If last night the guild could not +make up the money we owe to Goebel, what hope is there that a single +coin remains in their pockets this morning? Do I understand, then, that +you refuse to act as my lieutenant?" + +"No; but I warn you it will be a step in the wrong direction. You are +quite sure of me; and as merely a man-at-arms, as you called us last +night, I shall be in a better position to speak in your favor than if I +were indebted to you for promotion from the ranks." + +"I see. Therefore you counsel me to nominate Kurzbold?" + +"I do." + +"Why not Gensbein, who was nearly as mutinous as Kurzbold?" + +"Well, Gensbein, if you prefer him." + +"He showed a well-balanced mind last night, being part of the time on +one side and part on the other." + +"My dear commander, we were all against you last night, when you spoke +of hanging, and even when you only went as far as expulsion." + +"Yes, I suppose you were, and the circumstances being such as you state, +doubtless you were justified. I am to command, then, a regiment that may +obey or not, according to the whim of the moment; a cheering prospect, +and one I had not anticipated. When I received the promise of twenty men +that they would carry out faithfully whatever I undertook on their +behalf, I expected them to stand by it." + +"I think you are unjust, Roland. No one has refused, and probably no one +will. If any one disobeys a command, then you can act as seems best to +you, but I wish you fully to realize the weakness of your status should +it come to drastic punishment." + +"Quite so, quite so," said Roland curtly. He clasped his hands behind +his back, and without further words paced up and down along the bank of +the river, head bowed in thought. + +Ebearhard was the next arrival, and he greeted Greusel cordially, then +one after another various members of the company came upon the scene. To +the new-comers Roland made no salutation, but continued his meditating +walk. + +At last the bell in the tower pealed forth nine slow, sonorous strokes, +and Roland raised his head, ceasing his perambulations. Greusel looked +anxiously at him as he came forward to the group, but his countenance +gave no indication whether or not he had determined to abandon the +expedition. + +"Are we all here?" asked Roland. + +"No," was the reply; "Kurzbold, Eiselbert, Rasselstein, and Gensbein +have not arrived yet." + +"Then we will wait for them a few moments longer," said the commander, +with no trace of resentment at their unpunctuality, and from this +Greusel assumed that he not only intended to go on, but had taken to +heart the warning given him. Ebearhard and a comrade walked up the road +rapidly toward Frankfort, hoping for some sign of the laggards, and +Roland resumed his stroll beside the river. At last Ebearhard and his +companion returned, and the former approached Roland. + +"I see nothing of those four," he said. "What do you propose to do?" + +Roland smiled. + +"I think sixteen good men, all of a mind, will accomplish quite as much +as twenty who are divided in purpose. I propose, therefore, to go on, +unless you consider the missing four necessary, in which case we can do +nothing but wait." + +"I am in favor of going forward," said Ebearhard; then turning to the +rest, who had gathered themselves around their captain, he appealed to +them. All approved of immediate action. + +"Do you intend to follow the river road, Captain?" asked Ebearhard. + +"Yes, for two or three leagues, but after that we strike across the +country." + +"Very well. We can proceed leisurely along the road, and our friends may +overtake us if they have any desire to do so." + +"Right!" said Roland. "Then let us set out." + +The seventeen walked without any company formation through the village, +then, approaching a wayside tavern, they were hailed by a loud shout +from the drinkers in front of it. Kurzbold was the spokesman for the +party of four, which he, with his comrades, made up. + +"Come here and drink success to glory," he shouted. "Where have you lads +been all the morning?" + +"The rendezvous," said Roland sternly, "was at the Elector's tower." + +"My rendezvous wasn't. I have been here for more than an hour," said +Kurzbold. "I told you last night that when I arrived at Hochst I should +be thirsty, and would try to mitigate the disadvantage at a tavern." + +"Yes," said Ebearhard, with a laugh, "we can all see you have succeeded +in removing the disadvantage." + +"Oh, you mean I'm drunk, do you? I'll fight any man who says I'm drunk. +It was a tremendous thirst caused by the dryness of my throat from last +night, and the dust on the Frankfort road this morning. It takes a great +deal of wine to overcome two thirsts. Come along, lads, and drink to the +success of the journey. No hard feeling. Landlord, set out the wine here +for seventeen people, and don't forget us four in addition." + +The whole company strolled in under the trees that fronted the tavern, +except Roland, who stood aloof. + +"Here's a salute to you, Captain," cried Kurzbold. "I drink wine with +you." + +"Not till we return from a successful expedition," said Roland. + +"Oh, nonsense!" hiccoughed Kurzbold. "Don't think that your office +places you so high above us that it is _infra dig_. to drink with your +comrades." + +To this diatribe Roland made no reply, and the sixteen, seeing the +attitude of their leader, hesitated to raise flagon to lip. The +diplomatic Ebearhard seized a measure of wine and approached Roland. + +"Drink with us, Commander," he said aloud; and then in a whisper, +"Greusel and I think you should." + +"Thank you, comrade," said Roland, taking the flagon from him. "And now, +brethren, I give you a toast." + +"Good, good, good!" cried Kurzbold, with drunken hilarity. "Here's to +the success of the expedition. That's the toast, I make no doubt, eh, +Captain?" + +"The sentiment is included in the toast I shall offer you. Drink to the +health of Joseph Greusel, whom I have this morning appointed my +lieutenant. If we all conduct ourselves as honorably and capably as he, +our project is bound to prosper." + +Greusel, who was seated at a table, allowed his head to sink into his +hands. Here was his advice scouted, and a direct challenge flung in the +face of the company. He believed now that, after all, Roland had +resolved to return to Frankfort, money or no money. If he intended to +proceed to the Rhine, then even worse might happen, for it was plain he +was bent on rule or ruin. Instantly the challenge was accepted. Kurzbold +stood up, swaying uncertainly, compelled to maintain his upright +position by grasping the top of the table at which he had been seated. + +"Stop there, stop there!" he cried. "No man drinks to that toast just +yet. Patience, patience! all things in their order. If we claim the +power to elect our captain, by the cock-crowned Cross of the old bridge +we have a right to name the lieutenant! This is a question for the +companionship to decide, and a usurpation on the part of Roland." + +"Sit down, you fool!" shouted Ebearhard savagely. "You're drunk. The +Captain couldn't have made a better selection. What say you, comrades?" + +A universal shout of "Aye!" greeted the question, and even Kurzbold's +three comrades joined in it. + +"And now, gentlemen, no more talk. Here's to the health of the new +lieutenant, Joseph Greusel." + +The toast was drunk enthusiastically, all standing, with the exception +of Kurzbold, who came down in his seat with a thud. + +"All right!" he cried, waving his hand. "All right; all right! That's +what I said. Greusel's good man, and now he's elected by the +companionship, he's all right. I drink to him. Drink to anybody, I +will!" + +In groping round for the flagon, he upset it, and then roared loudly for +the landlord to supply him again. + +"Now, comrades," said Roland sharply, "fall in! We've a long march ahead +of us. Come, Greusel, we must lead the van, for I wish to instruct you +in your duties." + +It was rather a straggling procession that set out from Hochst. + +"Perhaps," began Roland, as he strode along beside Greusel, "I should +make some excuse for not following the advice you so strenuously urged +upon me this morning regarding the appointment of a lieutenant. The +truth is I wished to teach you a lesson, and could not resist the +temptation of proving that a crisis firmly and promptly met disappears, +whereas if you compromise with it there is a danger of being +overwhelmed." + +"I admit. Commander, that you were successful just now, and the reason +is that most of our brigade are sane and sober this morning. But wait +until to-night, when the wine passes round several times, and if you try +conclusions with them then you are likely to fail." + +"But the wine won't pass round to-night." + +"How can you prevent it?" + +"Wait, and you will see," said Roland, with a laugh. + +By this time they arrived at a fork in the road, one section going +southwest and the other straight west. The left branch was infinitely +the better thoroughfare, for the most part following the Main until it +reached the Rhine. Roland, however, chose the right-hand road. + +"I thought you were going along by the river," said his lieutenant. + +"I have changed my mind," replied Roland, without further explanation. + +At first Kurzbold determined to set the pace. He would show the company +he was not drunk, and tax them to follow him, but, his stout legs +proving unable to carry out this excellent resolution, he gradually fell +to the rear. As the sun rose higher, and grew hotter, the pace began to +tell on him, and he accepted without protest the support of two comrades +who had been drinking with him at Hochst. He retrograded into a +condition of pessimistic dejection as the enthusiasm of the wine +evaporated. A little later he wished to lie down by the roadside and +allow a cruel and unappreciative world to pass on its own way, but his +comrades encouraged him to further efforts, and in some manner they +succeeded in dragging him along at the tail of the procession. + +As they approached the village of Zeilsheim, Roland requested his +lieutenant to inform the marchers that there would be no halt until +_mittagessen_. + +Zeilsheim is rather more than a league from Hochst, and Kurzbold allowed +himself to wake up sufficiently to maintain that the distance earned +another drink, but his supporters dragged him on with difficulty past +those houses which displayed a bush over the door. At the larger town of +Hofheim, five leagues from Frankfort, the same command was passed down +the ranks, and at this there was some grumbling, for the day had become +very hot, and the way was exceedingly trying, up hill and down dale. + +Well set up as these city lads were, walking had never been their +accustomed exercise. The interesting Taunus mountains, which to-day +constitute an exercise ground full of delights to the pedestrian, +forming, as they do, practically a suburb of Frankfort, were at that +time an unexplored wilderness, whose forests were infested by roving +brigands, where no man ventured except at the risk of an untimely grave. +The mediaeval townsman rarely trusted himself very far outside the city +gates, and our enterprising marauders, whom to outward view seemed +stalwart enough to stand great fatigue, proved so soft under the hot sun +along the shadeless road that by the time they reached Breckenheim, +barely six leagues from Frankfort, there was a mopping of brows and a +general feeling that the limit of endurance had been reached. + +At Breckenheim Roland called a halt for midday refreshment, and he was +compelled to wait nearly half an hour until the last straggler of his +woebegone crew limped from the road on to the greensward in front of the +_Weinstaube_ which had been selected for a feeding-place. Black bread +and a coarse kind of country cheese were the only provisions obtainable, +but of these eatables there was an ample supply, and, better than all to +the jaded wayfarers, wine in abundance, of good quality, too, for +Breckenheim stands little more than a league to the north of the +celebrated Hochheim. + +The wanderers came in by ones and twos, and sank down upon the benches +before the tavern, or sprawled at full length on the short grass, where +Kurzbold and his three friends dropped promptly off into sleep. A more +dejected and amenable gang even Roland could not have wished to command. +Every ounce of fight, or even discussion, was gone from them. They cared +not where they were, or what any one said to them. Their sole desire was +to be let alone, and they took not the slightest interest even in the +preparing of their frugal meal. A mug of wine served to each mitigated +the general depression, although Kurzbold showed how far gone he was by +swearing dismally when roused even to drink the wine. He said he was +resolved to lead a temperate life in future, but nevertheless managed to +dispose of his allowance in one long, parched draught. + +Greusel approached his chief. + +"There will be some difficulty," he said, "when this meal has to be paid +for. I find that the men are all practically penniless." + +"Tell them they need anticipate no trouble about that," replied Roland. +"I have settled the bill, and will see that they do not starve or die of +thirst before we reach the Rhine." + +"It is proposed," continued Greusel, "that each man should give all the +money he possesses into a general fund to be dealt with by a committee +the men will appoint. What do you say to this?" + +"There is nothing to say. I notice that the proposal was not made until +the proposers' pouches were empty." + +"They know that some of us have money," Greusel went on, "myself, for +instance, and they wish us to share as good comrades should--at least, +that is their phrase." + +"An admirable phrase, yet I don't agree with it. How much money have +you, Greusel?" + +"The thirty thalers are practically intact, and Ebearhard has about the +same." + +"Well, fifty thalers lie safe in my pouch, but not a coin goes into the +treasury of any committee the men may appoint. If they choose a +committee, let them finance it themselves." + +"There will be some dissatisfaction at that decision, Commander." + +"I dare say. Still, as you know, I am always ready to do anything +conducive to good feeling, so you may inform them that you and Ebearhard +and myself, that is, three of us, will contribute to the committee's +funds an amount equal to that subscribed by the other eighteen. Such +lavishness on our part ought to satisfy them." + +"It won't, Commander, because there's not a single kreuzer among the +eighteen." + +"So be it. That's as far as I am willing to go. Appeal to their +reasoning powers, Greusel. If each of the eighteen contributes one +thaler, we three will contribute six thalers apiece. Ask them whether +they do not think we are generous when we do six times more than any one +of them towards providing capital for a committee." + +"'Tis not willingness they lack, Commander, but ability." + +"They are not logical, Joseph. They prate of comradeship, and when it +comes to an exercise of power they demand equality. How, then, can they, +with any sense of fairness, prove ungrateful to us when we offer to bear +six times the burden they are asked to shoulder?" + +The lieutenant said no more, but departed to announce the decision to +the men, and either the commander's reasoning overcame all opposition, +or else the company was too tired to engage in a controversy. + +When the black bread and cheese were served, with a further supply of +wine, all sat up and ate heartily. The banquet ended, Greusel made an +announcement to the men. There would now be an hour's rest, he said, +before taking to the road again. The meal and the wine had been paid for +by the commander, so no one need worry on that account, but if any man +wished more wine he must pay the shot himself. However, before the +afternoon's march was begun flagons of wine would be served at the +commander's expense. This information was received in silence, and the +men stretched themselves out on the grass to make the most of their hour +of rest. Roland strolled off alone to view the village. The lieutenant +and Ebearhard sat together at a table, conversing in low tones. + +"Well," said Ebearhard, "what do you think of it all?" + +"I don't know what to think," replied Greusel. "If the Barons of the +Rhine could see us, and knew that we intended to attack them, I imagine +there would be a great roar of laughter." + +Ebearhard emulated the Barons, and laughed. He was a cheerful person. + +"I don't doubt it," he said; "and talking of prospects, what's your +opinion of the Commander?" + +"I am quite adrift on that score also. This morning I endeavored to give +him some good advice. I asked him not to appoint me lieutenant, but to +choose Kurzbold or Gensbein from among the malcontents, for I thought if +responsibility were placed on their shoulders we should be favored with +less criticism." + +"A very good idea it seems to me," remarked Ebearhard. + +"Well, you saw how promptly he ignored it, yet after all there may be +more wisdom in that head of his than I suspected. Look you how he has +made a buffer of me. He gives no commands to the men himself, but merely +orders me to pass along the word for this or that. He appears determined +to have his own way, and yet not to bring about a personal conflict +between himself and his following." + +"Do you suppose that to be cowardice on his part?" + +"No; he is not a coward. He doubtless intends that I shall stand the +brunt of any ill-temper on the part of the men. Should disobedience +arise, it will be my orders that are disobeyed, not his. If the matter +is of no importance one way or the other, I take it he will say nothing, +but I surmise that when it comes to the vital point, he will brush me +aside as though I were a feather, and himself confront the men +regardless of consequences. This morning I thought they would win in +such a case, but, by the iron Cross, I am not so confident now. Remember +how he sprung my appointment on the crowd, counting, I am sure, on your +help. He said to me, when we were alone by the tower, that you were the +most fair-minded man among the lot, and he evidently played on that, +giving them not a moment to think, and you backed him up. He carried his +point, and since then has not said a word to them, all orders going +through me, but I know he intended, as he told you, to take the river +road, instead of which he has led us over this hilly district until +every man is ready to drop. He is himself very sparing of wine, and is +in fit condition. I understand he has tramped both banks of the Rhine, +from Ehrenfels to Bonn, so this walk is nothing to him. At the end of it +he was off for a stroll, and here are these men lying above the sod like +the dead underneath it." + +"I cannot make him out," mused Ebearhard. "What has been his training? +He appears to be well educated, and yet in some common matters is +ignorant as a child, as, for instance, not knowing the difference in +status between a skilled artisan and a chaffering merchant! What can +have been his up-bringing? He is obviously not of the merchant class, yet +he persuades the chief of our merchants, and the most conservative, to +engage in this wild goose chase, and actually venture money and goods in +supporting him. This expedition will cost Herr Goebel at least five +thousand thalers, all because of the blandishments of a youth who walked +in from the street, unintroduced. Then he is not an artisan of any sort, +for when he joined us his hands were quite useless, except upon the +sword-hilt." + +"He said he was a fencing-master," explained Greusel. + +"I know he did, and yet when he was offered a fee to instruct us he +wouldn't look at it. The first duty of a fencing-master, like the rest +of us, is to make money. Roland quite evidently scorns it, and at the +last instructs us for nothing. Fencing-masters don't promote freebooting +expeditions, and, besides, a fencing-master is always urbane and polite, +cringing to every one. I have watched Roland closely at times, trying to +study him, and in doing so have caught momentary glimpses of such +contempt for us, that, by the good Lord above us, it made me shrivel up. +You know, Greusel, that youth has more of the qualities usually +attributed to a noble than those which go to the make-up of any +tradesman." + +"He is a puzzle to me," admitted Greusel, "and if this excursion does +not break up at the outset, I am not sure that it will be a success." + +Noticing a look of alarm in Ebearhard's eyes, Greusel cast a glance over +his shoulder, and saw Roland standing behind him. The young man said +quietly: + +"It hasn't broken up at the outset, for we are already more than five +leagues from Frankfort. Our foray must be a success while I have two +such wise advisers as I find sitting here." + +Neither of the men replied. Both were wondering how much their leader +had overheard. He took his place on the bench beside Ebearhard, and said +to him: + +"I wish you to act as my second lieutenant. If anything happens to me, +Greusel takes my place and you take his. This, by the way, is an +appointment, rather than an election. It is not to be put before the +guild. You simply act as second lieutenant, and that is all there is +about it." + +"Very good, Commander," said Ebearhard. + +"Greusel, how much money have you?" + +"Thirty thalers." + +"Economical man! Will you lend me the sum until we reach +Assmannshausen?" + +"Certainly." Greusel pulled forth his wallet, poured out the gold, and +Roland took charge of it. + +"And you, Ebearhard? How are you off for funds?" + +"I possess twenty-five thalers." + +"May I borrow from you as well?" + +"Oh, yes." + +"I was thinking," continued the young man, as he put away the gold, +"that this committee idea of the men has merits of its own; therefore I +have formed myself into a committee, appointed, not elected, and will +make the disbursements. How much money does our company possess?" + +"Not a stiver, so far as I can learn." + +"Ah, in that case there is little use in my attempting a collection. +Now, as I was saying, Greusel, if anything happens to me, you carry on +the enterprise along the lines I have laid down. The first thing, of +course, is to reach Assmannshausen." + +"Nothing can happen to you before we arrive there," hazarded Greusel. + +"I'm not so sure. The sun is very powerful to-day, and should it beat me +down, let me lie where I fall, and allow nothing to interrupt the march. +Once at Assmannshausen, you two must keep a sharp lookout up the river. +When you see the barge, gather your men and lead them up to it. It is to +await us about half a league above Assmannshausen." + +The three conversed until the hour was consumed, then Roland, throwing +his cloak over his arm, rose, and said to his lieutenant: + +"Just rouse the men, if you please; and you, Ebearhard, tell the +landlord to give each a flagon of wine. We take the road to Wiesbaden. I +shall walk slowly on ahead, so that you and the company may overtake +me." + +With this the young leader sauntered indifferently away, leaving to his +subordinates the ungracious task of setting tired men to their work +again. Greusel looked glum, but Ebearhard laughed. + +Some distance to the east of Wiesbaden the leader deflected his company +from the road, and thus they passed Wiesbaden to the left, arriving at +the village of Sonnenberg. The straggling company made a halt for a +short time, while provisions were purchased, every man carrying his own +share, which was scantly sufficient for supper and breakfast, and a +quantity of wine was acquired to gratify each throat with about a liter +and a half; plenty for a reasonable thirst, but not enough for a +carouse. + +The company grumbled at being compelled to quit Sonnenberg. They had +hoped to spend the night at Wiesbaden, and vociferously proclaimed +themselves satisfied with the amount of country already traversed. Their +leader said nothing, but left Greusel and Ebearhard to deal with them. +He paid for the provisions and the wine, and then, with his cloak +loosely over his arm, struck out for the west, as if the declining sun +were his goal. The rest followed him slowly, in deep depression of +spirits. They were in a wild country, unknown to any of them. The hills +had become higher and steeper, and there was not even a beaten path to +follow; but Roland, who apparently knew his way, trudged steadily on in +advance even of his lieutenants. A bank of dark clouds had risen in the +east, the heat of the day being followed by a thunderstorm that growled +menacingly above the Taunus mountains, evidently accompanying a torrent +of rain, although none fell in the line of march. + +The sun had set when the leader brought his company down into the valley +of the Walluf, about two and a half leagues from Sonnenberg. Here the +men found themselves in a wilderness through which ran a brawling +stream. Roland announced to them that this would be their camping place +for the night. At once there was an uproar of dissent. How were they to +camp out without tents? A heavy rain was impending. Listen to the +thunder, and taking warning from the swollen torrent. + +"Wrap your cloaks around you," said Roland, "and sleep under the trees. +I have often done it myself, and will repeat the experience to-night. If +you are not yet tired enough to ensure sound slumber, I shall be +delighted to lead you on for another few leagues." + +The men held a low-voiced, sullen consultation, gathered in a circle. +They speedily decided upon returning to Sonnenberg, which it was the +unanimous opinion of the company they should never have left. Townsmen +all, who had not in their lives spent a night without a roof over their +heads, such accommodation as their leader proposed they should endure +seemed like being cast away on a desert island. The mystery of the +forest affrighted them. For all they could tell the woods were full of +wild animals, and they knew that somewhere near lurked outlaws no less +savage. The eighteen, ignoring Greusel and Ebearhard, who stood on one +side, watching their deliberations with anxious faces, moved in a body +upon their leader, who sat on the bank of the torrent, his feet dangling +down towards the foaming water. + +"We have resolved to return to Sonnenberg," said the leader of the +conclave. + +"An excellent resolution," agreed Roland cheerfully. "It is a pleasant +village, and I have passed through it several times. By the way, +Wiesbaden, which is much larger, possesses the advantage to tired men of +being half a league nearer." + +The spokesman seemed taken aback by Roland's nonchalant attitude. + +"We do not know the road to Wiesbaden, and, indeed, are in some doubt +whether or no we can find our way to Sonnenberg with darkness coming +on." + +"Then if I were you, I shouldn't attempt it. Why not eat your supper, +and drink your wine in this sheltering grove?" + +"By that time it will be as dark as Erebus," protested the spokesman. + +"Then remain here, as I suggested, for the night." + +"No; we are determined to reach Sonnenberg. A storm impends." + +"In that case, gentlemen, don't let me detain you. The gloom thickens as +you spend your time in talk." + +"Oh, that's all very well, but when we reach Sonnenberg we shall need +money." + +"So you will." + +"And we intend to secure it." + +"Quite right." + +"We demand from you three thalers for each man." + +"Oh, you want the money from me?" + +"Yes, we do." + +"That would absorb all the funds I possess." + +"No matter. We mean to have it." + +"You propose to take it from me by force?" + +"Yes." + +"Ah, well, such being the case, perhaps it would be better for me to +yield willingly?" + +"I think so." + +"I quite agree with you. There are eighteen of you, all armed with +swords, while I control but one blade." + +Saying this he unfastened his cloak, which he had put on in the +gathering chill of the evening, and untying from his belt a well-filled +wallet, held it up to their gaze. + +"As this bag undisputedly belongs to me, I have a right to dispose of it +as I choose. I therefore give it to the brook, whose outcry is as +insistent as yours, and much more musical." + +"Stop, Roland, stop!" shouted Ebearhard, but the warning came too late. +The young man flung the bag into the torrent, where it disappeared in a +smother of foam. He rose to his feet and drew his sword. + +"If you wish a fight now, it will be for the love of it, no filthy lucre +being at stake." + +"By Plutus, you are an accursed fool!" cried the spokesman, making no +further show of aggression now that nothing but steel was to be gained +by a contest. + +"A fool; yes!" said Roland. "And therefore the better qualified to lead +all such. Now go to Sonnenberg, or go to Hades!" + +The men did neither. They sat down under the trees, ate their supper, +and drank their wine. + +"Will you dine with me?" said Roland, approaching his two gloomy +lieutenants, who stood silent at some distance from the circle formed by +the others. + +"Yes," said Greusel sullenly, "but I would have dined with greater +pleasure had you not proven the spokesman's words true." + +"You mean about my being a fool? Oh, you yourself practically called me +that this morning. Come, let us sit down farther along the stream, where +they cannot overhear what we say." + +This being done, Roland continued cheerfully: + +"I may explain to you that a week ago I had only a wallet of my own, but +before leaving on this journey I called upon my mother, and she +presented me with another bag. I foresaw during _mittagessen_ that a +demand would be made upon us for money, therefore I borrowed all that +you two possessed. Walking on ahead, I prepared for what I knew must +come, filling the empty wallet with very small stones picked up along +the road. That wallet went into the stream. It is surprising how prone +human nature is to jump at conclusions. Why should any of you think that +I am simpleton enough to throw away good money? Dear, dear, what a world +this is, to be sure!" + +Half an hour later all were lying down enveloped in their cloaks, +sleeping soundly because of their fatigue, despite being out of doors. +Next morning there was consternation in the camp, real or pretended. +Roland was nowhere to be found, nor did further search reveal his +whereabouts. + + + + +VIII + +THE MISSING LEADER AND THE MISSING GOLD + + +Probably because of the new responsibility resting upon him, Joseph +Greusel was the first to awaken next morning. He let his long cloak fall +from his shoulders as he sat up, and gazed about him with astonishment. +It seemed as if some powerful wizard of the hills had spirited him away +during the night. He had gone to sleep in a place of terror. The thunder +rolled threateningly among the peaks of Taunus, and the reflection of +the lightning flash, almost incessant in its recurrence, had lit up the +grove with an unholy yellow glare. The never-ceasing roar of the foaming +torrent, which in the darkness gleamed with ghostly pallor, had somehow +got on his nerves. Under the momentary illumination of the lightning, +the waves appeared to leap up at him like a pack of hungry wolves, +flecked with froth, and the noise strove to emulate the distant thunder. +The grove itself was ominous in its gloom, and sinister shapes seemed to +be moving about among the trees. + +How different was the aspect now! The sun was still beneath the eastern +horizon. The cloudless sky gave promise of another warm day, and the +air, of crystalline clearness, was inspiring to breathe. To Greusel's +mind, tinged with religious feeling, the situation in which he found +himself seemed like a section of the Garden of Eden. The stream, which +the night before had been to his superstitious mind a thing of terror, +was this morning a placid, smiling, rippling brook that a man might +without effort leap across. + +He rubbed his eyes in amazement, thinking the mists of sleep must be +responsible for this magic transformation, until he remembered the +distant thunderstorm of the night before among the eastern mountains, +and surmised that a heavy rainfall had deluged these speedily drained +peaks and valleys. + +"What a blessed thing," he said to himself fervently, "is the +ever-recurring morning. How it clears away the errors and the passions +of darkness! It is as if God desired to give man repeated opportunities +of reform, and of encouragement. How sane everything seems now, as +compared with the turbulence of the sulphurous night." + +As he rose he became aware of an unaccustomed weight by his side, and +putting down his hand was astonished to encounter a bag evidently filled +with coin. It had been tied by its deerskin thong to his belt, just as +was his own empty wallet. He sat down again, drew it round to the front +of him, and unfastened it. Pouring out the gold, he found that the +wallet contained a hundred and fifteen thalers, mostly in gold, with the +addition of a few silver coins. At once it occurred to him that these +were Roland's sixty thalers, his own thirty, and Ebearhard's +twenty-five. For some reason, probably fearing the men would suspect the +ruse practiced on them the night before, Roland had made him treasurer +of the company. But why should he have done it surreptitiously? + +Readjusting the leathern sack, he again rose to his feet, but now cast +his cloak about him, thus concealing the purse. Ebearhard lay sound +asleep near him. Farther away the eighteen remaining members of the +company were huddled closely together, as if they had gone to rest in a +room too small for them, although the whole country was theirs from +which to choose sleeping quarters. + +Remembering how the brook had decreased in size, and was now running +clear and pellucid, he feared that the bag of stones Roland had so +dramatically flung into it might be plainly visible. He determined to +rouse his commander, and seek the bag for some distance downstream; for +he knew that when the men awakened, all night-fear would have departed +from them, and seeing the shrinkage of the brook they might themselves +institute a search. + +On looking round for Roland he saw no sign of him, but this caused +little disquietude, for he supposed that the leader had risen still +earlier than himself, wishing to stroll through the forest, or up and +down the rivulet. + +Greusel, with the purpose of finding the bag, and in the hope, also, of +encountering his chief, walked down the valley by the margin of the +waterway. Peering constantly into the limpid waters, he discovered no +trace of what he sought. Down and down the valley, which was wooded all +the way, he walked, and sometimes he was compelled to forsake his liquid +guide, and clamber through thickets to reach its border again. + +At last he arrived at a little waterfall, and here occurred a break in +the woods, causing him to stand entranced by the view which presented +itself. Down the declivity the forest lasted for some distance, then it +gave place to ever-descending vineyards, with here and there a house +showing among the vines. At the foot of this hill ran a broad blue +ribbon, which he knew to be the Rhine, although he had never seen it +before. Over it floated a silvery gauze of rapidly disappearing mist. +The western shore appeared to be flat, and farther along the horizon was +formed by hills, not so lofty as that on which he stood, but beautiful +against the blue sky, made to seem nearer than they were by the first +rays of the rising sun, which tipped the summits with crimson. + +Greusel drew a long breath of deep satisfaction. He had never before +realized that the world was so enchanting and so peaceful. It seemed +impossible that men privileged to live in such a land could find no +better occupation than cutting one another's throats. + +The gentle plash of the waterfall at his right hand accentuated the +stillness. From his height he glanced down into the broad, pellucid +pool, into whose depths the water fell, and there, perfectly visible, +lay the bag of bogus treasure. Cautiously he worked his way down to the +gravelly border of the little lake, flung off his clothes, and plunged +head-first into this Diana's pool. It was a delicious experience, and he +swam round and round the circular basin, clambered up on the gravel and +allowed the stream to fall over his glistening shoulders, reveling in +Nature's shower-bath. Satisfied at length, he indulged in another +rainbow plunge, grasped the bag, and rose again to the surface. Coming +ashore, he unloosened the swollen thongs, poured out the stones along +the strand, then, after a moment's thought, he wrung the water out of +the bag itself, and tied it to his belt, for there was no predicting +where the men would wander when once they awoke, and if he threw it away +among the bushes, it might be found, breeding first wonder how it came +there, and then suspicion of the trick. + +Greusel walked back to camp by the other bank of the stream. Although +the early rays of the sun percolated through the upper branches of the +trees above them, the eighteen prone men slept as if they were but +seven. He sprang over the brook, touched the recumbent Ebearhard with +his foot, and so awoke him. This excellent man yawned, and stretched out +his arms above his head. + +"You're an early bird, Greusel," he said. "Have you got the worm?" + +"Yes, I have," replied the latter. "I found it in the basin of a +waterfall nearly a league from here," and with that he drew aside his +cloak, showing the still wet but empty bag. + +For a few moments Ebearhard did not understand. He rose and shook +himself, glancing about him. + +"Great Jove!" he cried, "this surely isn't the stream by which we lay +down last night? Do you mean to tell me that thread of water struck +terror into my heart only a few hours ago? I never slept out of doors +before in all my life, and could not have imagined it would produce such +an effect. I see what you mean now. You have found the bag which Roland +threw into the foaming torrent." + +"Yes; I was as much astonished at the transformation as you when I +awoke, and then it occurred to me that when our friends saw the +reduction of the rivulet, they would forthwith begin a treasure-hunt, so +I determined to obliterate the evidence." + +"Was the bag really full of stones?" + +"Oh, yes." + +"Well, that is a lesson to me. I believe after all that Roland is +helplessly truthful, but last night I thought he befooled us. I was +certain it was the bag of coin he had thrown away, and becoming ashamed +of himself, had lied to us." + +"How could you imagine that? He showed us both the bag of money." + +"He produced a bag full of something, but I, being the doubting Thomas +of the group, was not convinced it contained money." + +"Ah, that reminds me, Ebearhard; here is the bag we saw last night. I +discovered it attached to my belt this morning." + +"He attached it to the wrong belt, then, for you believed him. He should +have tied it to mine. What reason does he give for presenting it to +you?" + +"Ah, now you touch a point of anxiety in my own mind. I have seen +nothing of Roland this morning. I surmised that he had arisen before me, +and expected to meet him somewhere down the stream, but have not done +so." + +"He may have gone farther afield. As you found the bag, he of course, +missed it, and probably continued his search." + +"I doubt that, because I came upon a point of view reaching to the Rhine +and the hills beyond. I could trace the stream for a considerable +distance, and watched it for a long time, but there appeared to be +nothing alive in the forest." + +"You don't suppose he has gone back to Frankfort, do you?" + +"I am at loss what to think." + +"If he has abandoned this gang of malcontents, I should be the last to +blame him. The way these pigs acted yesterday was disgraceful, ending up +their day with rank mutiny and threats of violence. By the iron Cross, +Greusel, he has forsaken this misbegotten lot, and it serves them +perfectly right, prating about comradeship and carrying themselves like +cut-throats. This is Roland's method of returning our money, for I +suppose that bag contains your thirty thalers and my twenty-five." + +"Yes, and his own sixty as well. Poor disappointed devil, generous to +the last. It was he who obtained all the money at the beginning, then +these drunken swine spend it on wine, and prove so generous and brave +that eighteen of them muster courage enough to face one man, and he the +man who had bestowed the gold upon them." + +"Greusel, the whole situation fills me with disgust. I propose we leave +the lot sleeping there, go to Wiesbaden for breakfast, and then trudge +back to Frankfort. It would serve the brutes right." + +"No," said Greusel quietly; "I shall carry out Roland's instructions." + +"I thought you hadn't seen him this morning?" + +"Not a trace of him. You heard his orders at Breckenheim." + +"I don't remember. What were they?" + +"That if anything happened to him, I was to drive the herd to +Assmannshausen. I quite agree with you, Ebearhard, that he is justified +in deserting this menagerie, but, on the other hand, you and I have +stood faithfully by him, and it doesn't seem to me right that he should +leave us without a word. I don't believe he has done so, and I expect +any moment to see him return." + +"You're wrong, Greusel. He's gone. That purse is sufficient explanation, +and as you recall to my mind his instructions, I believe something of +this must have suggested itself to him even that early in the day. He +has divested himself of every particle of money in his possession, +turning it over to you, but instead of returning to Frankfort he has +made his way over the hills to Assmannshausen, and will await us there." + +"What would be the object of that?" + +"One reason may be that he will learn whether or not you have enough +control over these people to bring them to the Rhine. He will satisfy +himself that your discipline is such as to improve their manners. It may +be in his mind to resign, and make you leader, if you prove yourself +able to control them." + +"Suppose I fail in that?" + +"Well, then--this is all fancy, remember--I imagine he may look round +Assmannshausen to find another company who will at least obey him." + +"What you say sounds very reasonable. Still, I do not see why he should +have left two friends like us without a word." + +"A word, my dear Greusel, would have led to another, and another, and +another. One of the first questions asked him would be 'But what are +Ebearhard and I to do?' That's exactly what he doesn't wish to answer. +He desires to know what you will do of your own accord. He is likely +rather hopeless about this mob, but is giving you an opportunity, and +then another chance. Why, his design is clear as that rivulet there, and +as easily seen through. You will either bring those men across the +hills, or you won't. If you and I are compelled to clamber over to +Assmannshausen alone, Roland will probably be more pleased to see us +than if we brought this rogues' contingent straggling at our heels. He +will appoint you chief officer of his new company, and me the second. If +you doubt my conclusions, I'll wager twenty-five thalers against your +thirty that I am in the right." + +"I never gamble, Ebearhard, especially when certain to lose. You are a +shrewder man than I, by a long bowshot." + +In a work of fiction it would of course be concealed till the proper +time came that all of these men were completely wrong in their +prognostications regarding the fate of Roland, but this being history it +may be stated that the young man had not the least desire to test +Greusel's ability, nor would his lieutenants find him awaiting them when +they reached Assmannshausen. + +"Hello! Rouse up there! What have we for breakfast? Has all the wine +been drunk? I hope not. My mouth's like a brick furnace!" + +It was the brave Kurzbold who spoke, as he playfully kicked, not too +gently, those of his comrades who lay nearest him. He was answered by +groans and imprecations, as one by one the sleeping beauties aroused +themselves, and wondered where the deuce they were. + +"Who has stolen the river?" cried Gensbein. + +"Oh, stealing the river doesn't matter," said a third. "It's only +running water. Who drank all the wine? That's a more serious question." + +"Well, whoever's taken away the river, I can swear without searching my +pouch has made no theft from me, for I spent my last stiver yesterday." + +"Don't boast," growled Kurzbold. "You're not alone in your poverty. +We're all in the same case. Curse that fool of a Roland for throwing +away good money just when it's most needed." + +"Good money is always most needed," exclaimed the philosophic Gensbein. + +He rose and shook himself, then looked down at the beautiful but +unimportant rivulet. + +"I say, lads, were we as drunk as all that last night? Was there an +impassable torrent here or not?" + +"How could we be drunk, you fool, on little more than a liter of wine +each," cried Kurzbold. + +"Please be more civil in your talk," returned his friend. "You were +drunk all day. The liter and a half was a mere nightcap. If you are +certain there was a torrent, then I must have been in the same condition +as yourself." + +The spokesman of the previous night, who had been chided for not +springing on Roland before he succeeded in doing away with the treasure, +here uttered a shout. + +"This water," he said, "is clear as air. You can see every pebble at the +bottom. Get to work, you sleepyheads, and search down the stream. We'll +recover that bag yet, and then it's back to Sonnenberg for breakfast. +Whoever finds it, finds it for the guild; a fair and equal division +amongst us. That is, amongst the eighteen of us. I propose that Roland, +Greusel, and Ebearhard do not share. They were all in the plot to rob +us." + +"Agreed!" cried the others, and the treasure-hunt impetuously began. + +Greusel and Ebearhard watched them disappear through the forest down the +stream. + +"Greusel," said Ebearhard, "what a deplorable passion is the frantic +quest for money in these days, especially money that we have not earned. +Our excited treasure-hunters do not realize that at such a moment in the +early morning the only subject worth consideration is breakfast. Being +unsparing and prodigal last night, it would take a small miracle of the +fishes to suffice them to-day. There is barely enough for two hungry +men, and as we are rid of these chaps for half an hour at least, I +propose we sit down to our first meal." + +Greusel made no comment upon this remark, but the advice commended +itself to him, for he followed it. + +Some time after they had finished breakfast, the unsuccessful company +returned by twos and threes. Apparently they had not wandered so far as +the waterfall, for no one said anything of the amazing view of the +Rhine. Indeed, it was plain that they considered themselves involved in +a boundless wilderness, and were too perplexed to suggest a way out. +After a storm of malediction over the breakfastless state of things, and +a good deal of quarreling among themselves anent who had been most +greedy the night before, they now turned their attention to the silent +men who were watching them. + +"Where's Roland?" they demanded. + +"I don't know," replied Greusel. + +"Didn't he tell you where he was going?" + +"We have not seen him this morning," explained Ebearhard gently. "He +seems to have disappeared in the night. Perhaps he fell into the stream. +Perhaps, on the other hand, he has deliberately deserted us. He gave us +no hint of his intentions last night, and we are as ignorant as +yourselves regarding his whereabouts." + +"This is outrageous!" cried Kurzbold. "It is the duty of a leader to +provide for his following." + +"Yes; if the following follows." + +"We have followed," said Kurzbold indignantly, "and have been led into +this desert, not in the least knowing where in Heaven's name we are. And +now to be left like this, breakfastless, thirsty--" Here Kurzbold's +language failed him, and he drew the back of his hand across parched +lips. + +"When you remember, gentlemen," continued Ebearhard, in accents of +honey, "that your last dealings with your leader took place with +eighteen swords drawn; when you recollect that you expressed your +determination to rob him, and when you call to mind that you brave +eighteen threatened him with personal violence if he resisted this +brigandage on your part, I cannot understand why you should be surprised +at his withdrawal from your fellowship." + +"Oh, you always were a glib talker, but the question now is what are we +to do?" + +"Yes, and that is a question for you to decide," said Ebearhard. "When +you mutinied last night, you practically deposed Roland from the +leadership. To my mind, he had no further obligations towards you, so, +having roughly taken the power into your own hands, it is for you to +deal with it as you think best. I should never so far forget myself as +to venture even a suggestion." + +"As I hinted to you," said Kurzbold, "you are talking too much. You are +merely one of ourselves, although you have kept yourself separate from +us. Greusel has been appointed lieutenant by our unanimous vote, and if +his chief proves a poltroon, he is the man to act. Therefore, Joseph +Greusel, I ask on behalf of the company what you intend to do?" + +"Before I can answer that question," replied Greusel, "I must know +whether or not you will act as you did yesterday?" + +"What do you mean by that?" Several, speaking together, put the +question. + +"I wish to know whether you will follow cheerfully and without demur +where I lead? I refuse to act as guide if I run the risk of finding +eighteen sword-points at my throat when I have done my best." + +"Oh, you talk like a fool," commented Kurzbold. "We followed Roland +faithfully enough until he brought us into this impasse. You make +entirely too much of last night's episode. None of us intended to hurt +him, as you are very well aware, and besides, we don't want a leader who +is frightened, and runs away at the first sign of danger." + +"Make up your minds what you propose to do," said Greusel stubbornly, +"and give me your decision; then you will receive mine." + +Greusel saw that although Kurzbold talked like the bully he was, the +others were rather subdued, and no voice but his was raised in defense +of their previous conduct. + +"There is one thing you must tell us before we can come to a decision," +went on Kurzbold. "How much money have you and Ebearhard?" + +"At midday yesterday I had thirty thalers, and Ebearhard had +twenty-five. While you were all sleeping on the grass, after our meal at +Breckenheim, Roland asked us for the money." + +"You surely were not such idiots as to give it to him?" + +"He was our commander, and we both considered it right to do what he +asked of us." + +"He said," put in Ebearhard, "that your suggestion about a finance +committee was a good one, and that he had determined to be that +committee. He asked us if any of you had money, but I told him I thought +it was all spent, which probably accounts for his restricting the +application to us two." + +"Then we are here in an unknown wilderness, twenty men, hungry, and +without a florin amongst us," wailed Kurzbold, and the comments of those +behind him were painful to hear. + +"I am glad that at last you thoroughly appreciate our situation, and I +hope that in addition you realize it has been brought about not through +any fault of Roland's, who gave in to your whims and childishness until +you came to the point of murder and robbery. Therefore blame yourselves +and not him. You now know as much of our position as I do, so make up +your minds about the next step, and inform me what conclusion you come +to." + +"You're a mighty courageous leader," cried Kurzbold scornfully, and with +this the hungry ones retired some distance into the grove, from whence +echoes of an angry debate came to the two men who sat by the margin of +the stream. After a time they strode forward again. Once more Kurzbold +was the spokesman. + +"We have determined to return to Frankfort." + +"Very good." + +"I suppose you remember enough of the way to lead us at least as far as +Wiesbaden. Beyond that point we can look to ourselves." + +"I should be delighted," said Greusel, "to be your guide, but +unfortunately I am traveling in the other direction with Ebearhard." + +"Why, in the name of starvation?" roared Kurzbold. "You know no more of +the country ahead of us than we do. By going back we can get something +to eat, and a drink, at one of the farmhouses we passed this side of +Sonnenberg." + +"How?" inquired Greusel. + +"Why, if they ask for payment we will give them iron instead of silver. +No man need starve with a sword by his side." + +"Granted that this is feasible, and that the farmers yield instead of +raising the country-side against you, when you reach Frankfort what are +you going to do? Eat and drink with the landlord of the Rheingold until +he becomes bankrupt? You must remember that it was Roland who liquidated +our last debt there, without asking or receiving a word of thanks, and +he did that not a moment too soon, for the landlord was at the end of +his resources and would have closed his tavern within another week." + +Kurzbold stormed at this harping on the subject of Roland and his +generosity, but those with him were hungry, and they now remembered, too +late, that what Greusel said was strictly true. If Roland had put in an +appearance then, he would have found a most docile company to lead. They +were actually murmuring against Kurzbold, and blaming him and his clan +for the disaster that had overtaken them. + +"Why will you not come back with us?" pleaded the penitents, with +surprising mildness. + +"Because the future in Frankfort strikes me as hopeless. Not one amongst +us has the brains of Roland, whom we have thrown out. Besides, it is +nine and a half long leagues to Frankfort, and only three and a half +leagues to Assmannshausen. I expect to find Roland there, and although I +know nothing of his intentions, I imagine he has gone to enlist a +company of a score or thereabouts that will obey his commands. There is +some hope by going forward to Assmannshausen; there is absolutely none +in retreating to Frankfort. Then, as I said, Assmannshausen is little +more than three leagues away; a fact worth consideration by hungry men. +On the Rhine we are in the rich wine country, where there is plenty to +eat and drink, probably for the asking, whereas if we turn our faces +towards the east we are marching upon starvation." + +The buzz of comment aroused by this speech proved to the two men that +Kurzbold stood once more alone. Greusel, without seeming to care which +way the cat jumped, had induced that unreasoning animal to leap as he +liked. His air of supreme indifference aroused Ebearhard's admiration, +especially when he remembered that under his cloak there rested a +hundred and fifteen thalers in gold and silver. + +"But you know nothing of the way," protested Kurzbold. "None of us are +acquainted with the country to the west." + +"We don't need to be acquainted with it," said Greusel. "We steer +westward by glancing at the sun now and then, and cannot go astray, +because we must come to the Rhine; then it's either up or down the +river, as the case may be, to reach Assmannshausen." + +"To the Rhine! To the Rhine!" was now the universal cry. + +"Before we begin our journey," said Greusel, as if he accepted the +leadership with reluctance, "I must have your promise that you will obey +me without question. I am not so patient a man as Roland, but on my part +I guarantee you an excellent meal and good wine as soon as we reach +Assmannshausen." + +"How can you promise that," growled Kurzbold, "when you have given away +your money?" + +"Because, as I told you, I expect to meet Roland there." + +"But he threw away his bag." + +"Yes; I told him it was a foolish thing to do, and perhaps that is why +he left without saying a word, even to me. He is an ingenious man. +Assmannshausen is familiar to him, and I dare say he would not have +discarded his money without knowing where to get more." + +"To the Rhine! To the Rhine! To the Rhine!" cried the impatient host, +gathering up their cloaks, and tightening their belts, as the savage +does when he is hungry. + +"To the Rhine, then," said Greusel, springing across the little stream +in company with Ebearhard. + +"You did that very well, Greusel," complimented the latter. + +"I would rather have gone alone with you," replied the new leader, "for +I have condemned myself to wear this heavy cloak, which is all very well +to sleep in, but burdensome under a hot sun." + +"The sun won't be so oppressive," predicted his friend, "while we keep +to the forest." + +"That is very true, but remember we are somewhere in the Rheingau, and +that we must come out into the vineyards by and by." + +"Don't grumble, Greusel, but hold up your head as a great diplomatist. +Roland himself could not have managed these chaps so well, you flaunting +hypocrite, the only capitalist amongst us, yet talking as if you were a +monk sworn to eternal poverty." + +Greusel changed the subject. + +"Do you notice," he said, "that we are following some sort of path, +which we must have trodden last evening, without seeing it in the dusk." + +"I imagine," said Ebearhard, "that Roland knew very well where he was +going. He strode along ahead of us as if sure of his ground. I don't +doubt but this will lead us to Assmannshausen." + +Which, it may be remarked, it did not. The path was little more than a +trail, which a sharp-eyed man might follow, and it led up-hill and down +dale direct to the Archbishop's Castle of Ehrenfels. + +The forest lasted for a distance that the men in front estimated to be +about two leagues, then they emerged into open country, and saw the +welcome vines growing. Climbing out of the valley, they observed to the +right, near the top of a hill, a small hamlet, which had the effect of +instantaneously raising the spirits of the woebegone company. + +"Hooray for breakfast!" they shouted, and had it not been for their own +fatigue, and the steepness of the hill, they would have broken into a +run. + +"Halt!" cried Greusel sternly, standing before and above them. At once +they obeyed the word of command, which caused Ebearhard to smile. + +"You will climb to the top of this hill," said Greusel, "and there rest +under command of my lieutenant, Ebearhard. As we now emerge into +civilization, I warn you that if we are to obtain breakfast it must be +by persuasion, and not by force. Therefore, while you wait on the +hilltop, I shall go alone into the houses on the right, and see what can +be done towards providing a meal for eighteen men. Ebearhard and I will +fast until we reach Assmannshausen. On the other hand, you should be +prepared for disappointment; loaves of bread are not to be picked up on +the point of a sword. If I return and order you to march on unfed, you +must do so as cheerfully as you can." + +This ultimatum called forth not a word of opposition, and Ebearhard led +the van while Greusel deflected up the hill to his right, the sooner to +reach the village. + +He learned that the name of the place was Anton-Kap; that the route he +had been following would take him to Ehrenfels, and that he must adopt a +reasonably rough mountain-road to the right in order to reach +Assmannshausen. + +By somewhat straining the resources of the place, which proved to +possess no inn, he collected bread enough for the eighteen, and there +was no dearth of wine, although it proved a coarse drink that reflected +little credit on the reputation of the Rheingau. He paid for this meal +in advance, saying that they were all in a hurry to reach +Assmannshausen, and wished to leave as soon as the frugal breakfast was +consumed. + +Mounting a small elevation to the west of the village, he signaled to +the patient men to come on, which they lost no time in doing. The bread +was eaten and the wine drunk without a word being said by any one. And +now they took their way down the hill again, crossed the little +Geisenheim stream, and up once more, traversing a high table-land giving +them a view of the Rhine, finally descending through another valley, +which led them into Assmannshausen, celebrated for its red wine, a color +they had not yet met with. + +Assmannshausen proved to be a city as compared with the hamlets they had +passed, yet was small enough to make a thorough search of the place a +matter that consumed neither much effort nor time. Greusel led his men +to a _Weinstaube_ a short distance out of the village, and, to their +delight, succeeded in establishing a credit for them to the extent of +one liter of wine each, with a substantial meal of meat, eggs, and +what-not. Greusel and Ebearhard left them there in the height of great +enjoyment, all the more delightful after the hunger and fatigue they had +encountered, for the three and a half leagues had proved almost without +a single stretch of level land. The two officers inquired for Roland, +without success, at the various houses of entertainment which +Assmannshausen boasted, then canvassed every home in the village, but no +one had seen anything of the man they described. + +Coming out to the river front, deeply discouraged, the two gazed across +the empty water, from which all enlivening traffic had departed. It was +now evident to both that Roland had not entered Assmannshausen, for in +so small and gossipy a hamlet no stranger could even have passed through +without being observed. + +"Well, Joseph," asked Ebearhard, "what do you intend to do?" + +"There is nothing to do but to wait until our money is gone. It is +absolutely certain that Roland is not here. Can it be possible that +after all he returned?" + +"How could he have done so? We know him to have been without money; +therefore why to Frankfort, even if such a trip were possible for a +penniless man?" + +"I am sorry now," said Greusel despondently, "that I did not follow a +suggestion that occurred to me, which was to take the men direct down +the valley where we encamped, to the banks of the Rhine, and there make +inquiries." + +"You think he went that way?" + +"I did, until you persuaded me out of it." + +"Again I ask what could be his object?" + +"It seems to me that this mutiny made a greater impression on his mind +than I had supposed. After all, he is not one of us, and never has been. +You yourself pointed that out when we were talking of him at +Breckenheim. If you caught glances of contempt for us while we were all +one jolly family in the Kaiser cellar, what must be his loathing for the +guild after such a day as yesterday?" + +"That's true. You must travel with a man before you learn his real +character." + +"Meaning Roland?" + +"Meaning this crew, guzzling up at the tavern. Meaning you, meaning me; +yes, and meaning Roland also. I never knew until yesterday and to-day +what a capable fellow you were, and when I remember that I nominated +Kurzbold for our leader before Roland appeared on the scene, I am amazed +at my lack of judgment of men. As for Roland himself, my opinion of him +has fallen. Nothing could have persuaded me that he would desert us all +without a word of explanation, no matter what happened. My predictions +regarding his conduct are evidently wrong. What do you think has +actually occurred?" + +"It's my opinion that the more he thought over the mutiny, the angrier +he became; a cold, stubborn anger, not vocal at all, as Kurzbold's would +be. I think that after fastening the money to my belt he went down the +valley to the Rhine. He knows the country, you must remember. He would +then either wait there until the barge appeared, or more likely would +proceed up along the margin of the river, and hail the boat when it came +in sight. The captain would recognize him, and turn in, and we know the +captain is under his command. At this moment they are doubtless poling +slowly up the Rhine to the Main again, and will thus reach Frankfort. +Herr Goebel has confidence in Roland, otherwise he would never have +risked so much on his bare word. He will confess to his financier that +he has been mistaken in us, and doubtless tell him all that happened, +and the merchant will appreciate that, even though he has lost his five +hundred thalers, Roland would not permit him to lose his goods as well." + +"Do you suppose Roland will enlist another company?" + +"It is very likely, for Herr Goebel trusts him, and, goodness knows, +there are enough unemployed men in Frankfort for Roland to select a +better score than we have proved to be." + +It was quite certain that Roland was not in Assmannshausen, yet Greusel +was a prophet as false as Ebearhard. + + + + +IX + +A SOLEMN PROPOSAL OF MARRIAGE + + +When Roland wrapped his cloak about him, and lay down on the sward at +some distance from the spot where his officers already slept, he found +that he could not follow their example. Although, he had remained +outwardly calm when the attack was made upon him, his mind was greatly +perturbed over the outlook. He reviewed his own conduct, wondering +whether it would be possible for him so to amend it that he could +acquire the respect and maintain the obedience of his men. If he could +not accomplish this, then was his plan foredoomed to failure. His +cogitations drove away sleep, and he called to mind the last occasion on +which he made this same spot his bedroom. Then he had slumbered +dreamlessly the night through. He was on the direct trail between +Ehrenfels Castle and the town of Wiesbaden, the route over which +supplies had been carried to the Castle time and again when the +periodical barges from Mayence failed to arrive. It had been pointed out +to him by the custodian of the Castle when the young man first became +irked by the confined limits of the Schloss, and frequently since that +time he had made his way through the forest to Wiesbaden and back. + +Never before had he seen the little Walluf so boisterous, pretending +that it was important, and he quite rightly surmised that the cause was +a sudden downpour in the mountains farther east. The distant mutterings +of thunder having long since ceased, he recognized that the volume of +the stream was constantly lessening. As the brook gradually subsided to +its customary level, the forest became more and more silent. The greater +his endeavor to sleep, the less dormant Roland felt, and all his senses +seemed unduly quickened by this ineffectual beckoning to somnolence. He +judged by the position of the stars, as he lay on his back, that it was +past midnight, when suddenly he became aware of a noise to the west of +him, on the other side of the brook. Sitting up, and listening intently, +he suspected, from the rustle of the underbrush, that some one was +following the trail, and would presently come upon his sleeping men. + +He rose stealthily, unsheathed his sword, leaped across the rivulet, and +proceeded with caution up the acclivity, keeping on the trail as best he +could in the darkness. He was determined to learn the business of the +wayfarer, without disturbing his men, so crept rapidly up the hill. +Presently he saw the glimmer of a light, and conjectured that some one +was coming impetuously down, guided by a lanthorn swinging in his hand. +Roland stood on guard with sword extended straight in front of him, and +the oncomer's breast was almost at the point of it when he hauled +himself up with a sudden cry of dismay, as the lanthorn revealed an +armed man holding the path. + +"I have no money," were the first words of the stranger. + +"Little matter for that," replied Roland. "'Tis information I wish, not +gear. Why are you speeding through the forest at night, for no sane man +traverses this path in the darkness?" + +"I could not wait for daylight," said the stranger, breathing heavily. +"I carry a message of the greatest importance. Do not delay me, I beg of +you. I travel on affairs of State; Imperial matters, and it is necessary +I should reach Frankfort in time, or heads may fall." + +"So serious as that?" asked Roland, lowering the point of his sword, for +he saw the messenger was unarmed. "Whom do you seek?" + +"That I dare not tell you. The message concerns those of the highest, +and I am pledged to secrecy. Be assured, sir, that I speak the truth." + +"Your voice sounds honest. Hold up the lanthorn at arm's length, that I +may learn if your face corresponds with it. Ha, that is most +satisfactory! And now, my hurrying youth, will you reveal your mission, +or shall I be compelled to run my sword through your body?" + +"You would not learn it even then," gasped the young man, shrinking +still farther up the hill. + +Roland laughed. + +"That is true enough," he said, "therefore shall I not impale you, but +will instead relate to you the secret you carry. You are making not for +Frankfort--" + +"I assure you, sir, by the sacred Word, that I am, and grieve my oath +does not allow me to do your bidding, even though you would kill me, +which is easily done, since I am unarmed." + +"You pass through Frankfort, I doubt not, but your goal is a certain +small room in the neighboring suburb of Sachsenhausen, and he whom you +seek is a youth of about your own age, named Roland. You travel on the +behest of your father, who was much agonized in mind when you left him, +and he, I take it, is custodian of Ehrenfels Castle." + +"In God's name!" cried the youth, aghast, "how did you guess all that?" + +Again Roland laughed quietly. + +"Why, Heinrich," he said, "your agitation causes you to forget old +friends. Hold up your lanthorn again, and learn whether or not you +recognize me, as I recognized you." + +"Heaven be praised! Prince Roland!" + +"Yes; your journey is at an end, my good Heinrich, thank the fortune +that kept me awake this night. Do you know why you are sent on this long +and breathless journey?" + +"Yes, Highness. There has come to the Castle from the Archbishop of +Mayence a lengthy document for you to sign, and you are informed that +the day after to-morrow their Lordships of Mayence, Treves, and Cologne, +meet together at the Castle to hold some conversation with you." + +"By my sword, then, Heinrich, had you found me in Sachsenhausen we had +never attained Ehrenfels in time." + +"I think I could have accomplished it," replied the young man. "I should +have reached Wiesbaden before daybreak, and there bought the fastest +horse that could be found. My father told me to time myself, and if by +securing another horse at Frankfort for you I could not make the return +journey speedily enough, I was to engage a boat with twenty rowers, if +necessary, and convey you to Ehrenfels before the Archbishops arrived." + +"Then, Heinrich, you must have deluded me when you said you had no +money." + +"No, Highness, I have none, but I carry an order for plenty upon a +merchant in Wiesbaden, who would also supply me with a horse." + +"Heinrich, there are many stars burning above us to-night, and I have +been watching them, but your star must be blazing the brightest of all. +Sit you down and rest until I return. Make no noise, for there are +twenty others asleep by the stream. My cloak is at the bottom of the +hill, and I must fetch it. I shall be with you shortly, so keep your +candle alight, that I may not miss you." + +With that Roland returned rapidly down the slope, untying his bag of +money as he descended. Cautiously he fastened it to the belt of Greusel, +then, snatching his cloak from the ground, he sprang once more across +the stream, and climbed to the waiting Heinrich. + +It was broad daylight before they saw the towers of Ehrenfels, and they +found little difficulty in rousing Heinrich's father, for he had slept +as badly that night as Roland himself. + +The caretaker flung his arms around the young prisoner. + +"Oh, thank God, thank God!" was all he could cry, and "Thank God!" again +he repeated. "Never before have I felt my head so insecure upon my +shoulders. Had you not been here when they came, Highness, their +Lordships would have listened to no explanation." + +"Really you were in little danger with such a clever son. The +Archbishops would never have suspected that he was not I, for none of +the three has ever seen me. I am quite sure Heinrich would have effected +my signature excellently, and answered to their satisfaction all +questions they might ask. So long as he complied with their wishes, +there would be no inquiries set afoot, for none would suspect the +change. Indeed, custodian, you have missed the opportunity of your life +in not suppressing me, thus allowing your son to be elected Emperor." + +"Your Highness forgets that my poor boy cannot write his own name, much +less yours. Besides, it would be a matter of high treason to forge your +signature, so again I thank God you are here. Indeed, your Highness, I +am in great trouble about my son." + +"Oh, the danger is not so serious as you think." + +"'Tis not the danger, Highness. That it is his duty to face, but he +takes advantage of his position as prisoner. He knows I dare refuse him +nothing, and he calls for wine, wine, wine, spending his days in revelry +and his nights in stupor." + +"You astonish me. Why not cudgel the nonsense out of him? Your arm is +strong enough." + +"I dare not lay stick on him, and I beg you to breathe nothing of what I +have told you, for he holds us both in his grasp, and he knows it. If I +called for help to put him in a real dungeon, he would blurt out the +whole secret." + +"In that case you must even make terms with him. 'Twill be for but a +very short time, and after that we will reform him. He was frightened +enough of my sword in the forest, and I shall make him dance to its +point once this crisis is over." + +"I shall do the best I can, Highness. But you must have been on your way +to Ehrenfels. Had you heard aught of what is afoot?" + +"Nothing. 'Twas mere chance that Heinrich and I met in the forest, and +he was within a jot of impinging himself upon my sword in his hurry. I +stood in the darkness, while he himself held a light for the better +convenience of any chance marauder who wished to undo him." + +"Unarmed, and without money," said the custodian, "I thought he was +safer than otherwise. But you are surely hungry, Highness. Advance then +within, and I will see to your needs." + +So presently the errant Prince consumed an excellent, if early +breakfast, and, without troubling to undress, flung himself upon a +couch, sleeping dreamlessly through the time that Greusel and Ebearhard +were conjuring up motives for him, of which he was entirely innocent. + +When Roland woke in the afternoon, he had quite forgotten that a score +of men who, nominally, at least, acknowledged him master, were wondering +what had become of him. He called the custodian, and asked for a sight +of the parchments that his Lordship of Mayence had sent across the river +for his perusal. He found the documents to be a very carefully written +series of demands disguised under the form of requests. + +The pledges which were asked of the young Prince were beautifully +engrossed on three parchments, each one a duplicate of the other two. If +Roland accepted them, they were to be signed next day, in presence of +the three Archbishops. Two certainties were impressed upon him when he +had read the scroll: first, the Archbishops were determined to rule; and +second, if he did not promise to obey they would elect some other than +himself Emperor on the death or deposition of his father. The young man +resolved to be acquiescent and allow the future to settle the question +whether he or the Archbishops should be the head of the Empire. A +strange exultation filled him at the prospect, and all thought of other +things vanished from his mind. + +Leaving the parchments on the table in the knights' hall, where he had +examined them, he mounted to the battlements to enjoy the fresh breeze +that, no matter how warm the day, blows round the towers of Ehrenfels. +Here a stone promenade, hung high above the Rhine, gave a wonderful view +up and down the river and along the opposite shore. From this elevated, +paved plateau he could see down the river the strongholds of Rheinstein +and Falkenberg, and up the river almost as far as Mayence. He judged by +the altitude of the sun that it was about four o'clock in the afternoon. +The sight of Rheinstein should have suggested to him his deserted +company, for that was the first castle he intended to attack, but the +prospect opened up to him by the communication of the Archbishops had +driven everything else from his mind. + +Presently the cautious custodian joined him in his eyrie, and Roland +knew instinctively why he had come. The old man was wondering whether or +not he would make difficulties about signing the parchments. He feared +the heedless impetuosity and conceit of youth; the natural dislike on +the part of a proud young prince to be restricted and bound down by his +elders, and the jailer could not conceal his gratification when the +prisoner informed him that of course he would comply with the desires of +the three prelates. + +"You see," he continued, with a smile, "I must attach my signature to +those instruments in order to make good my promises to you." + +He was interrupted by a cry of astonishment from his aged comrade. + +"Will wonders never cease!" cried the old man. "Those merchants in +Frankfort must be irredeemable fools. Look you there, Highness! Do you +see that barge coming down the river, heavily laden, as I am a sinner, +for she lies low in the water. It is one of the largest of the Frankfort +boats, and those hopeful simpletons doubtless imagine they can make +their way through to Cologne with enough goods left to pay for the +journey. 'Tis madness! Why, the knights of Rheinstein and Falkenberg +alone will loot them before they are out of our sight. If they think to +avoid those rovers by hugging our shore, their mistake will be apparent +before they have gone far." + +Roland gazed at the approaching craft, and instantly remembered that he +was responsible for its appearance on the Rhine. He recognized Herr +Goebel's great barge, with its thick mast in the prow, on which no sail +was hoisted because the wind blew upstream. On recollecting his deserted +men, he wondered whether or not Greusel had brought them across the +hills to Assmannshausen. Had they yet discovered that Joseph carried the +bag of gold? He laughed aloud as he thought of the scrimmage that would +ensue when this knowledge came to them. But little as he cared for the +eighteen, he experienced a pang of regret as he estimated the +predicament in which both Greusel and Ebearhard had stood on learning he +had left them without a word. Still, even now he could not see how any +explanation on his part was possible without revealing his identity, and +that he was determined not to do. + +Turning round, he said abruptly to the custodian: + +"Were the seven hundred thalers paid to you each month?" + +"Of a surety," was the reply. + +"That will be two thousand one hundred thalers altogether. Did you spend +the money?" + +"I have not touched a single coin. That amount is yours, and yours +alone, Prince Roland. If I have been of service I am quite content to +wait for my reward, or should I not be here, I know you will remember my +family." + +"May the Lord forget me if I don't. Still, the twenty-one hundred +thalers are all yours, remember, but I beg of you to lend me a thousand, +for I possess not a single gold piece in my bag. Indeed, if it comes to +that, I do not possess even a bag. I had two yesterday, but one I gave +away and the other I threw away." + +The old man hurried down, and presently returned with the bag of money +that Roland had asked of him. Before this happened, however, Roland, +watching the barge, saw it round to, and tie up at the shore some +distance above Assmannshausen. He took the gold, and passed down the +stone stair to the courtyard. + +"I shall return," he said, "before the sun sets," and without more ado, +this extraordinary captive left his prison, and descended the hill in +the direction of the barge. + +After greeting Captain Blumenfels, he learned that the boat had been +delayed by running on a sandbank in the Main during the night, but they +had got it off at daybreak, and here they were. As, standing on the +shore, Roland talked with the captain on the barge, he saw approaching +from Assmannshausen two men whom he recognized. Telling the captain he +might not be ready for several days, he walked along the shore to meet +his astonished friends, who, as was usual with them, jumped at an +erroneous conclusion, and supposed that he arrived on the barge which +they had seen rounding to for the purpose of taking up her berth by the +river-bank. + +Greusel and Ebearhard stood still until he came up to them. + +"Good afternoon, gentlemen. Are you here alone, or have you brought the +mob with you?" + +"Your capable lieutenant, sir," said Ebearhard, before his slower +companion could begin to frame a sentence, "allowed the men to think +they were having their own way, but in reality diverted them into his, +so they are now enjoying a credit of one liter each at the tavern of the +Golden Anker." + +"That," said Roland, "is but as a drop of water in a parched desert. +Have they discovered you hold the money, Greusel?" + +"No, not yet; but I fear they will begin to suspect by and by. I suppose +you went down the valley of the brook to the Rhine, and overhauled the +barge there?" + +"I suppose so," said Roland. "What else did you think I could do?" + +"I was sure you had done that, but I feared you would turn the barge +back to Frankfort." + +"I never thought of such a thing. Indeed, the captain told me he met +difficulty enough navigating the shallow Main, and I think he prefers +the deeper Rhine. Of course, you know why I left you." + +The men looked at each other without reply, and Roland laughed. + +"I see you have been harboring dark suspicions, but the case is very +simple. The pious monks tell us that the Scriptures say if a man asks us +to go one league with him, we should go two. My good friends of the +guild last night made a most reasonable request, namely, that I should +bestow upon them three thalers each, and surely, to quote the monks +again, the laborer is worthy of his hire." + +"Oh, that is the way you look upon it, then," said Greusel. + +"From a scriptural point of view, yes; and I am going to better the +teachings of my young days by giving each of the men ten times the +amount he desired. Thirty thalers each are waiting in this bag for +them." + +"By my sword!" cried Ebearhard, "if that isn't setting a premium on +mutiny it comes perilously close." + +"Not so, Ebearhard; not so. You and Greusel did not mutiny, therefore to +each of you I give a hundred and thirty thalers, which is the thirty +thalers the mutineers receive, and a hundred thalers extra, as a reward +of virtue because you did not join them. After all, there is much to be +said for the men's point of view. I had led them ruthlessly under a +burning July sun, along a rough and shadeless road, then dragged them +away from the ample wine-vaults of Sonnenberg; next guided them on +through brambles, over streams, into bogs and out again; and lastly, +when they were dog-tired, hungry and ill-tempered, I carelessly pointed +to a section of the landscape, and said, 'There, my dear chaps, is your +bedroom'; lads who had never before slept without blankets and a roof. +No wonder they mutinied; but even then, by the love of God for His +creatures, they did not actually attack me when I stood up with drawn +sword in my hand." + +"Of course you have that at least to be thankful for," said Ebearhard. +"Eighteen to one was foul odds." + +"I be thankful! Surely you are dreaming, Ebearhard. Why should I be +thankful, except that I escaped the remorse for at least killing a dozen +of them!" + +Ebearhard laughed heartily. + +"Oh, if so sure of yourself as all that, you need no sympathy from me." + +"You thought I would be outmatched? By the Three Kings! do you imagine +me such a fool as to teach you artisans the higher qualities of the +sword? There would have been a woeful surprise for the eighteen had they +ventured another step farther. However, that's all past and done with, +and we'll say no more about it. Let us sit down here on the sward, and +indulge in the more agreeable recreation of counting money." + +He spread his cloak on the grass, and poured out the gold upon it. + +"I am keeping two hundred thalers for myself, as leader of the +expedition, and covetous. Here are your hundred and thirty thalers, +Greusel, and yours, Ebearhard. You will find remaining five hundred and +forty, which, if divided with reasonable accuracy, should afford thirty +thalers to each of our precious eighteen." + +"Aren't you coming with us to Assmannshausen, that you may give this +money to the men yourself?" asked Greusel. + +"No; that pleasure falls to my lieutenants, first and second. One may +divide the money while the other delivers the moral lecture against +mutiny, illustrated by the amount that good behavior gains. Say nothing +to the men about the barge being here, merely telling them to prepare +for action. Now that you are in funds, engage a large room, exclusively +for yourselves, at the Golden Anker. Thus you will be the better able to +keep the men from talking with strangers, and so prevent any news of our +intentions drifting across the river to Rheinstein or Falkenberg. You +might put it to them, should they object to the special room, that you +are reconstituting, as it were, the Kaiser cellar of Frankfort in the +village of Assmannshausen. Go forward, therefore, with your usual +meetings of the guild, as it was before I lowered its tone by becoming a +member. Knowing the lads as I do, I suggest that you make your bargain +with them before you deliver the money. No promise; no thirty thalers. +And now, good-by. I shall be exceedingly busy for some days arranging +for a further supply of money, so do not seek me out no matter what +happens." + +With this Roland shook hands, and returned to Ehrenfels Castle. + + * * * * * + +The three sumptuous barges of the Archbishops hove in sight at midday, +two coming up the river and one floating down. They maneuvered to the +landing so that all reached it at the same time, and thus the three +Archbishops were enabled to set foot simultaneously on the firm ground, +as was right and proper, no one of them obtaining precedence over the +other two. On entering the Castle of Ehrenfels in state, they proceeded +to the large hall of the knights, and seated themselves in three equal +chairs that were set along the solid table. Here a repast was spread +before them, accompanied by the finest wine the Rheingau produced, and +although the grand prelates ate lustily, they were most sparing in their +drink, for when they acted in concert none dared risk putting himself at +a disadvantage with the others. They would make up for their abstinence +when each rested in the security of his own castle. + +The board being cleared, Roland was summoned, and bowing deeply to each +of the three he took his place, modestly standing on the opposite side +of the table. The Archbishop of Mayence, as the oldest of the trio, +occupied the middle chair; Treves, the next in age, at his right hand, +and Cologne at his left. A keen observer might have noticed that the +deferential, yet dignified, bearing of the young Prince made a favorable +impression upon these rulers who, when they acted together, formed a +power that only nominally was second in the realm. + +It was Mayence who broke the silence. + +"Prince Roland, some months ago turbulence in the State rendered it +advisable that you, as a probable nominee to the throne, should be +withdrawn from the capital to the greater safety which this house +affords. I hope it has never been suggested to you that this unavoidable +detention merited the harsh name of imprisonment?" + +"Never, your Lordships," said Roland, with perfect truth. + +The three slightly inclined their heads, and Mayence continued: + +"I trust that in the carrying out of our behests you have been put to no +inconvenience during your residence in my Castle of Ehrenfels, but if +you find cause for complaint I shall see to it that the transgressor is +sharply punished." + +"My Lord, had such been the case I should at once have communicated with +your Lordship at Mayence. The fact that you have received no such +protest from me answers your question, but I should like to add emphasis +to this reply by saying I have met with the greatest courtesy and +kindness within these walls." + +"I speak for my brothers and myself when I assert we are all gratified +to hear the expression that has fallen from your lips. There was sent +for your perusal a document in triplicate. Have you found time to read +it?" + +"Yes, my Lord, and I beg to state at once that I will sign it with the +greater pleasure since in any case, if called to the high position you +propose, I should have consulted your Lordships on every matter that I +deemed important enough to be worthy of your attention, and in no +instance could I think of setting up my own opinion against the united +wisdom of your Lordships." + +For a few minutes there ensued a whispered conversation among the three, +then Mayence spoke again: + +"Once more I voice the sentiments of my colleagues, Prince Roland, when +I assure you that the words you have just spoken give us the utmost +satisfaction. In the whole world to-day there is no prouder honor than +that which it is in the Electors' power to bestow upon you, and it is a +blessed augury for the welfare of our country when the energy and +aspiration of youth in this high place associates itself with the +experience of age." + +Here he made a signal, and the aged custodian, who had been standing +with his back against the door, well out of earshot, for the +conversation was carried on in the most subdued and gentle tones, +hurried forward, and Mayence requested him to produce the documents +entrusted to his care. These were spread out before the young man, who +signed each of them amidst a deep silence, broken only by the scratching +of the quill. + +Up to this point Roland had been merely a Prince of the Empire; now, to +all practical purposes, he was heir-apparent to the throne. This +distinction was delicately indicated by Mayence, who asked the attendant +to bring forward a chair, and then requested the young man to seat +himself. Roland had supposed the ceremonies at an end, but it was soon +evident that something further remained, for the three venerable heads +were again in juxtaposition, and apparently there was some whispered +difference as to the manner of procedure. Then Cologne, as the youngest +of the three, was prevailed upon to act as spokesman, and with a smile +he regarded the young man before he began. + +"I reside farther than my two colleagues from your fair, if turbulent, +city of Frankfort, and perhaps that is one reason why I know little of +the town and its ways from personal observation. You are a young man +who, I may say, has greatly commended himself to us all, and so in +whatever questions I may put, you will not, I hope, imagine that there +is anything underneath them which does not appear on the surface." + +Roland drew a long breath, and some of the color left his face. + +"What in the name of Heaven is coming now," he said to himself, "that +calls for so ominous a prelude? It must be something more than usually +serious. May the good Lord give me courage to face it!" + +But outwardly he merely inclined his head. + +"We have all been young ourselves, and I trust none of us forget the +temptations, and perhaps the dangers, that surround youth, especially +when highly placed. I am told that Frankfort is a gay city, and +doubtless you have mixed, to some extent at least, in its society." Here +the Archbishop paused, and, as he evidently expected a reply, Roland +spoke: + +"I regret to say, my Lord, that my opportunities for social intercourse +have hitherto been somewhat limited. Greatly absorbed in study, there +has been little time for me to acquire companions, much less friends." + +"What your Highness says, so far from being a drawback, as you seem to +imagine, is all to the good. It leaves the future clear of complications +that might otherwise cause you embarrassment." Here the Archbishop +smiled again, and Roland found himself liking the august prelate. "It +was not, however, of men that I desired to speak, but of women." + +"Oh, is that all?" cried the impetuous youth. "I feared, my Lord, that +you were about to treat of some serious subject. So far as women are +concerned, I am unacquainted with any, excepting only my mother." + +At this the three prelates smiled in differing degrees; even the stern +lips of Mayence relaxing at the young man's confident assumption that +consideration of women was not a matter of importance. + +"Your Highness clears the ground admirably for me," continued Cologne, +"and takes a great weight from my mind, because I am entrusted by my +brethren with a proposal which I have found some difficulty in setting +forth. It is this. The choice of an Empress is one of the most momentous +questions that an Emperor is called upon to decide. In all except the +highest rank personal preference has much to do with the selection of a +wife, but in the case of a king do you agree with me that State +considerations must be kept in view?" + +"Undoubtedly, my Lord." + +"This is a matter to which we three Electors have given the weightiest +consideration, finally agreeing on one whom we believe to possess the +necessary qualifications; a lady highly born, deeply religious, +enormously wealthy, and exceedingly beautiful. She is related to the +most noble in the land. I refer to Hildegunde Lauretta Priscilla Agnes, +Countess of Sayn. If there is any reason why your preference should not +coincide with ours, I beg you quite frankly to state it." + +"There is no reason at all, your Lordships," cried Roland, with a deep +sigh of relief on learning that his fears were so unfounded. "I shall be +most happy and honored to wed the lady at any time your Lordships and +she may select." + +"Then," said the Archbishop of Mayence, rising to his feet and speaking +with great solemnity, "you are chosen as the future Emperor of our +land." + + + + +X + +A CALAMITOUS CONFERENCE + + +The prelate and his ward were met at the doors of Stolzenfels by the +Archbishop of Treves in person, and the welcome they received left +nothing to be desired in point of cordiality. There were many servants, +male and female, about the Castle, but no show of armed men. + +The Countess was conducted to a room whose outlook fascinated her. It +occupied one entire floor of a square tower, with windows facing the +four points of the compass, and from this height she could view the +Rhine up to the stern old Castle of Marksburg, and down past Coblentz to +her own realm of Sayn, where it bordered the river, although the +stronghold from which she ruled this domain was hidden by the hills +ending in Ehrenbreitstein. + +When she descended on being called to _mittagessen_, she was introduced +to a sister of the Archbishop of Treves, a grave, elderly woman, and to +the Archbishop's niece, a lady about ten years older than Hildegunde. +Neither of these grand dames had much to say, and the conversation at +the meal rested chiefly with the two Archbishops. Indeed, had the +Countess but known it, her presence there was a great disappointment to +the two noblewomen, for the close relationship of the younger to the +Archbishop of Treves rendered it impossible that she should be offered +the honor about to be bestowed upon the younger and more beautiful +Countess von Sayn. + +The Archbishop of Mayence, although a resident of the Castle, partook of +refreshment in the smallest room of the suite reserved for him, where he +was waited upon by his own servants and catered for by his own cook. + +When the great Rhine salmon, smoking hot, was placed upon the table, +Cologne was generous in his praise of it, and related again, for the +information of his host and household, the story of the English Princess +who had partaken of a similar fish, doubtless in this same room. Despite +the historical bill of fare, and the mildly exhilarating qualities of +the excellent Oberweseler wine, whose delicate reddish color the +sentimental Archbishop compared to the blush on a bride's cheeks, the +social aspect of the midday refection was overshadowed by an almost +indefinable sense of impending danger. In the pseudogenial conversation +of the two Archbishops there was something forced: the attitude of the +elderly hostess was one of unrelieved gloom. After a few conventional +greetings to her young guest, she spoke no more during the meal. Her +daughter, who sat beside the Countess on the opposite side of the table +from his Lordship of Cologne, merely answered "Yes" or "No" to the +comments of the lady of Sayn praising the romantic situation of the +Castle, its unique qualities of architecture, and the splendid outlook +from its battlements, eulogies which began enthusiastically enough, but +finally faded away into silence, chilled by a reception so unfriendly. + +Thus cast back upon her own thoughts, the girl grew more and more uneasy +as the peculiar features of the occasion became clearer in her own mind. +Here was her revered, beloved friend forcing hilarity which she knew he +could not feel, breaking bread and drinking wine with a colleague while +three thousand of his armed men peered down on the roof that sheltered +him, ready at a signal to pounce upon Stolzenfels like birds of prey, +capturing, and if necessary, slaying. She remembered the hearty cheers +that welcomed them on their arrival at Coblentz, yet every man who thus +boisterously greeted them, waving his bonnet in the air, was doubtless +an enemy. The very secrecy, the unknown nature of the danger, depressed +her more and more as she thought of it; the fierce soldiers hidden in +the forest, ready to leap up, burn and kill at an unknown sign from a +Prince of religion; the deadly weapons concealed in a Church of Christ: +all this grim reality of a Faith she held dear had never been hinted at +by the gentle nuns among whom she lived so happily for the greater part +of her life. + +At last her somber hostess rose, and Hildegunde, with a sigh of relief, +followed her example. The Archbishop of Cologne gallantly held back the +curtain at the doorway, and bowed low when the three ladies passed +through. The silent hostess conducted her guest to a parlor on the same +floor as the dining-room; a parlor from which opened another door +connecting it with a small knights' hall; the _kleine Rittersaal_ in +which the Court of the Archbishops was to be held. + +The Archbishop's sister did not enter the parlor, but here took formal +farewell of Countess von Sayn, who turned to the sole occupant of the +room, her kinsman and counselor, Father Ambrose. + +"Were you not asked to dine with us?" she inquired. + +"Yes; but I thought it better to refuse. First, in case the three +Archbishops might have something confidential to say to you; and second, +because at best I am poor company at a banquet." + +"Indeed, you need not have been so thoughtful: first, as you say, there +were not three Archbishops present, but only two, and neither said +anything to me that all the world might not hear; second, the rest of +the company, the sister and the niece of Treves, were so doleful that +you would have proved a hilarious companion compared with them. Did my +guardian make any statement to you yesterday afternoon that revealed the +object of this coming Court?" + +"None whatever. Our conversation related entirely to your estate and my +management of it. We spoke of crops, of cultivation, and of vineyards." + +"You have no knowledge, then, of the reason why we are summoned hither?" + +"On that subject, Hildegunde, I am as ignorant as you." + +"I don't think I am wholly in the dark," murmured the Countess, +"although I know nothing definite." + +"You surmise, in spite of your guardian's disclaimer, that the +discussion will pertain to your recovery of the town of Linz?" + +"Perhaps; but not likely. Did you say anything of your journey to +Frankfort?" + +"Not a word. I understood from you that no mention should be made of my +visit unless his Lordship asked questions proving he was aware of it, in +which case I was to tell the truth." + +"You were quite right, Father. Did my guardian ask you to accompany us +to Stolzenfels?" + +"Assuredly, or I should not have ventured." + +"What reason did he give, and what instructions did he lay upon you?" + +"He thought you should have by your side some one akin to you. His +instructions were that in no circumstances was I to offer any remark +upon the proceedings. Indeed, I am not allowed to speak unless in answer +to a question directly put to me, and then in the fewest possible +words." + +Hildegunde ceased her cross-examination, and seated herself by a window +which gave a view of the steep mountain-side behind the Castle, where, +sheltered by the thick, dark forest, she knew that her guardian's men +lay in ambush. She shuddered slightly, wondering what was the meaning of +these preparations, and in the deep silence became aware of the +accelerated beating of her heart. She felt but little reassured by the +presence of her kinsman, whose lips moved without a murmur, and whose +grave eyes seemed fixed on futurity, meditating the mystery of the next +world, and completely oblivious to the realities of the earth he +inhabited. + +She turned her troubled gaze once more to the green forest, and after a +long lapse of time the dual reveries were broken by the entrance of an +official gorgeously appareled. This functionary bowed low, and said with +great solemnity: + +"Madam, the Court of my Lords the Archbishops awaits your presence." + + * * * * * + +The _kleine Rittersaal_ occupied a fine position on the river-side front +of Stolzenfels, its windows giving a view of the Rhine, with the strong +Castle of Lahneck over-hanging the mouth of the Lahn, and the more +ornamental Schloss Martinsburg at the upper end of Oberlahnstein. The +latter edifice, built by a former Elector of Mayence, was rarely +occupied by the present Archbishop, but, as he sat in the central chair +of the Court, he had the advantage of being able to look across the +river at his own house should it please him to do so. + +The three Archbishops were standing behind the long table when the +Countess entered, thus acknowledging that she who came into their +presence, young and beautiful, was a very great lady by right of descent +and rank. She acknowledged their courtesy by a graceful inclination of +the head, and the three Princes of the Church responded each with a bow, +that of Mayence scarcely perceptible, that of Treves deferential and +courtly, that of Cologne with a friendly smile of encouragement. + +In the center of the hall opposite the long table had been placed an +immense chair, taken from the grand _Rittersaal_, ornamented with gilded +carving, and covered in richly-colored Genoa velvet. It looked like a +throne, which indeed it was, used only on occasions when Royalty visited +the Castle. To this sumptuous seat the scarcely less gorgeous +functionary conducted the girl, and when she had taken her place, the +three Archbishops seated themselves. The glorified menial then bent +himself until his forehead nearly touched the floor, and silently +departed. Father Ambrose, his coarse, ill-cut clothes of somber color in +striking contrast to the richness of costume worn by the others, stood +humbly beside the chair that supported his kinswoman. + +The Countess gave a quick glance at the Archbishop of Mayence, then +lowered her eyes. Cologne she had known all her life; Treves she had met +that day, and rather liked, although feeling she could not esteem him as +she did her guardian, but a thrill of fear followed her swift look at +the man in the center. + +"A face of great strength," she said to herself, "but his thin, straight +lips, tightly compressed, seemed cruel, as well as determined." With a +flash of comprehension she understood now her guardian's warning not to +thwart him. It was easy to credit the acknowledged fact that this man +dominated the other two. Nevertheless, when he spoke his voice was +surprisingly mild. + +"Madam," he said, "we are met here in an hour of grave anxiety. The +Emperor, who has been ill for some time, is now upon his death-bed, and +the physicians who attend him inform me that at any moment we may be +called upon to elect his successor. That successor has already been +chosen; chosen, I may add, in an informal manner, but his selection is +not likely to be canceled, unless by some act of his own which would +cause us to reconsider our decision. Our adoption was made very recently +in my castle of Ehrenfels, and we are come together again in the Castle +of my brother Treves, not in our sacred office as Archbishops, but in +our secular capacity as Electors of the Empire, to determine a matter +which we consider of almost equal importance. It is our privilege to +bestow upon you the highest honor that may be conferred on any woman in +the realm; the position of Empress. + +"When you have signified your acceptance of this great elevation, I must +put to you several questions concerning your future duties to the State, +and these are embodied in a document which you will be asked to sign." + +The Countess did not raise her eyes. While the Archbishop was speaking +the color flamed up in her cheeks, but faded away again, and her +guardian, who watched her very intently across the table, saw her face +become so pale that he feared she was about to faint. However, she +rallied, and at last looked up, not at her dark-browed questioner, but +at the Archbishop of Cologne. + +"May I not know," she said, in a voice scarcely audible, "who is my +future husband?" + +"Surely, surely," replied her guardian soothingly, "but the Elector of +Mayence is our spokesman here, and you must address your question to his +Lordship." + +She now turned her frightened eyes upon Mayence, whose brow had become +slightly ruffled at this interruption, and whose lips were more firmly +closed. He sat there imperturbable, refusing the beseechment of her +eyes, and thus forced her to repeat her question, though to him it took +another form. + +"My Lord, who is to be the next Emperor?" + +"Countess von Sayn, I fear that in modifying my opening address to +accord with the comprehension of a girl but recently emerged from +convent life, I have led you into an error. The Court of Electors is not +convened for the purpose of securing your consent, but with the duty of +imposing upon you a command. It is not for you to ask questions, but to +answer them." + +"You mean that I am to marry this unknown man, whether I will or no?" + +"That is my meaning." + +The girl sat back in her chair, and the moisture that had gathered in +her eyes disappeared as if licked up by the little flame that burned in +their depths. + +"Very well," she said. "Ask your questions, and I will answer them." + +"Before I put any question, I must have your consent to my first +proposition." + +"That is quite unnecessary, my Lord. When you hear my answer to your +questions, you will very speedily withdraw your first proposition." + +The Elector of Treves, who had been shifting uneasily in his chair, now +leaned forward, and spoke in an ingratiating manner. + +"Countess, you are a neighbor of mine, although you live on the opposite +side of the river, and I am honored in receiving you as my guest. As +guest and neighbor, I appeal to you on our behalf: be assured that we +wish nothing but your very greatest good and happiness." The spark in +her eyes died down, and they beamed kindly on the courtier Elector. "You +see before you three old bachelors, quite unversed in the ways of women. +If anything that has been said offends you, pray overlook our default, +for I assure you, on behalf of my colleagues and myself, that any one of +us would bitterly regret uttering a single word to cause you +disquietude." + +"My disquietude, my Lord, is caused by the refusal to utter the single +name I have asked for. Am I a peasant girl to be handed over to the hind +that makes the highest offer?" + +"Not so. No such thought entered our minds. The name is, of course, a +secret at the present moment, and I quite appreciate the reluctance of +my Lord of Mayence to mention it, but I think in this instance an +exception may safely be made, and I now appeal to his Lordship to +enlighten the Countess." + +Mayence answered indifferently: + +"I do not agree with you, but we are here three Electors of equal power, +and two can always outvote one." + +The Elector of Cologne smiled slightly; he had seen this comedy enacted +before, and never objected to it. The carrying of some unimportant point +in opposition to their chief always gave Treves a certain sense of +independence. + +"My Lord of Cologne," said the latter, bending forward and addressing +the man at the other end of the table "do you not agree with me?" + +"Certainly," replied Cologne, with some curtness. + +"In that case," continued Treves, "I take it upon myself to announce to +you, Madam, that the young man chosen for our future ruler is Prince +Roland, only son of the dying Emperor." + +The hands of the Countess nervously clutched the soft velvet on the arms +of her chair. + +"I thank you," she said, addressing Treves, and speaking as calmly as +though she were Mayence himself. "May I ask you if this marriage was +proposed to the young man?" + +Treves looked up nervously at the stern face of Mayence, who nodded to +him, as much as to say: + +"You are doing well; go on." + +"Yes," replied Treves. + +"Was my name concealed from him?" + +"No." + +"Had he ever heard of me before?" + +"Surely," replied the diplomatic Treves, "for the fame of the Countess +von Sayn has traveled farther than her modesty will admit." + +"Did he agree?" + +"Instantly; joyfully, it seemed to me." + +"In any case, he has never seen me," continued the Countess. "Did he +make any inquiry, whether I was tall or short, old or young, rich or +poor, beautiful or ugly?" + +"He seemed very well satisfied with our choice." + +Treves had his elbows on the table, leaning forward with open palms +supporting his chin. He had spoken throughout in the most ingratiating +manner, his tones soft and honeyed. He was so evidently pleased with his +own diplomacy that even the eye of the stern Mayence twinkled +maliciously when the girl turned impulsively toward the other end of the +table, and cried: + +"Guardian, tell me the truth! I know this young man accepted me as if I +were a sack of grain, his whole mind intent on one thing only: to secure +for himself the position of Emperor. Is it not so?" + +"It is not so, Countess," said Cologne solemnly. + +"Prince Roland, it is true, made no stipulation regarding you." + +"I was sure of it. Any Gretchen in Germany would have done just as well. +I was merely part of the bargain he was compelled to make with you, and +now I announce to the Court that no power on earth will induce me to +marry Prince Roland. I claim the right of my womanhood to wed only the +man whom I love, and who loves me!" + +Mayence gave utterance to an exclamation that might be coarsely +described as a snort of contempt. The Elector of Treves was leaning back +in his chair discomfited by her abrupt desertion of him. The Elector of +Cologne now leaned forward, dismayed at the turn affairs had taken, deep +anxiety visible on his brow. + +"Countess von Sayn," he began, and thus his ward realized how deeply she +had offended, "in all my life I never met any young man who impressed me +so favorably as Prince Roland of Germany. If I possessed a daughter whom +I dearly loved, I could wish her no better fortune than to marry so +honest a youth as he. The very point you make against him should have +told most strongly in his favor with a young girl. My reading of his +character is that so far as concerns the love you spoke of, he knows as +little of it as yourself, and thus he agreed to our proposal with a +seeming indifference which you entirely misjudge. If you, then, have any +belief in my goodwill towards you, in my deep anxiety for your welfare +and happiness, I implore you to agree to the suggestion my Lord of +Mayence has made. You speak of love knowing nothing concerning it. I +call to your remembrance the fact that one noble lady of your race may +have foregone the happiness that love perhaps brings, in her desire for +the advancement of one whom she loved so truly that she chose for her +guide the more subdued but steadier star of duty. The case is presented +to you, my dear, in different form, and I feel assured that duty and +love will shine together." + +As the venerable Archbishop spoke with such deep earnestness, in a voice +she loved so well, the girl buried her face in her hands, and he could +see the tears trickle between her fingers. A silence followed her +guardian's appeal, disturbed only by the agitated breathing of +Hildegunde. + +The cold voice of the Elector of Mayence broke the stillness, like a +breath from a glazier: + +"Do you consent, Madam?" + +"Yes," gasped the girl, her shoulders quivering with emotion, but she +did not look up. + +"I fear that the object of this convocation was like to be forgotten in +the gush of sentiment issuing from both sides of me. This is a business +meeting, and not a love-feast. Will you do me the courtesy, Madam, of +raising your head and answering my question?" + +The girl dashed the tears from her eyes, and sat up straight, grasping +with nervous hands the arms of the throne, as if to steady herself +against the coming ordeal. + +"I scarcely heard what you said. Do you consent to marry Prince Roland +of Germany?" + +"I have consented," she replied firmly. + +"Will you use your influence with him that he may carry out the behests +of the three Archbishops?" + +"Yes, if the behests are for the good of the country." + +"I cannot accept any qualifications, therefore I repeat my question. +Will you use your influence with him that he may carry out the behests +of the three Archbishops?" + +"I can have no influence with such a man." + +"Answer my question, Madam." + +"Say yes, Hildegunde," pleaded Cologne. + +She turned to him swimming eyes. + +"Oh, Guardian, Guardian!" she cried, "I have done everything I can, and +all for you; all for you. I cannot stand any more. This is torture to +me. Let me go home, and another day when I am calmer I will answer your +questions!" + +The perturbed Archbishop sat back again with a deep sigh. The ignorance +of women with which his colleague of Treves had credited all three was +being amazingly dispelled. He could not understand why this girl should +show such emotion at the thought of marrying the heir to the throne, +when assured the young man was all that any reasonable woman could +desire. + +"Madam, I pray you give your attention to me," said the unimpassioned +voice of Mayence. "I have listened to your conversation with my +colleagues, and the patience I exhibited will, I hope, be credited to +me. This matter of business"--he emphasized the word--"must be settled +to-day, and to clear away all misapprehension, I desire to say that your +guardian has really no influence on this matter. It was settled before +you came into the room. You are merely allowed a choice of two outcomes: +first, marriage with Prince Roland; second, imprisonment in Pfalz +Castle, situated in the middle of the Rhine." + +"What is that?" demanded the Countess. + +"I am tired of repeating my statements." + +"You would imprison me--me, a Countess of Sayn?" + +Again the tears evaporated, and in their place came the smoldering fire +bequeathed to her by the Crusaders, and, if the truth must be known, by +Rhine robbers as well. + +"Yes, Madam. A predecessor of mine once hanged one of your ancestors." + +"It is not true," cried the girl, in blazing wrath. "'Twas the Emperor +Rudolph who hanged him; the same Emperor that chastised an Archbishop of +Mayence, and brought him, cringing, to his knees, begging for pardon, +which the Emperor contemptuously flung to him. You dare not imprison +me!" + +"Refuse to marry Prince Roland, and learn," said the Archbishop very +quietly. + +The girl sprang to her feet, a-quiver with anger. + +"I do refuse! Prince Roland has hoodwinked the three of you! He is a +libertine and a brawler, consorting with the lowest in the cellars of +Frankfort; a liar and a thief, and not a brave thief at that, but a +cutthroat who holds his sword to the breast of an unarmed merchant while +he filches from him his gold. Added to that, a drunkard as his father +is; and, above all, a hypocrite, as his father is not, yet clever +enough, with all his vices, to cozen three men whose vile rule has +ruined Frankfort, and left the broad Rhine empty of its life-giving +commerce;" she waved her hand toward the vacant river. + +The Archbishop of Cologne was the first to rise, horror-stricken. + +"The girl is mad!" he murmured. + +Treves rose also, but Mayence sat still, a sour smile on his lips, yet a +twinkle of admiration in his eyes. + +"No, my poor Guardian, I am not mad," she cried, regarding him with a +smile, her wrath subsiding as quickly as it had risen. "What I say is +true, and it may be that our meeting, turbulent as it has been, will +prevent you from making a great mistake. He whom you would put on the +throne is not the man you think." + +"My dear ward!" cried Cologne, "how can you make such accusations +against him? What should a girl living in seclusion as you live, know of +what is passing in Frankfort." + +"It seems strange, Guardian, but it is true, nevertheless. Sit down +again, I beg of you, and you, my Lord of Treves. Even my Lord of Mayence +will, I think, comprehend my abhorrence when such a proposal was made to +me, and I hope, my Lord, you will forgive my outburst of anger just +now." + +She heard the trembling Treves mutter: + +"Mayence never forgives." + +"Now, Father Ambrose, come forward." + +"Why?" asked Ambrose, waking from his reverie. + +"Tell them your experiences in Frankfort." + +"I am not allowed to speak," objected the monk. + +"Speak, speak!" cried Cologne. "What, sir, have you had to do with this +girl's misleading?" + +"I thought," he said wistfully to his kinswoman, "that I was not to +mention my visit to Frankfort unless my Lord the Archbishop brought up +the subject." + +"Have you not been listening to these proceedings?" cried the girl +impatiently. "The subject is brought up before three Archbishops, +instead of before one. Tell their Lordships what you know of Prince +Roland." + +Father Ambrose, with a deep sigh, began his recital, to which Treves and +Cologne listened with ever-increasing amazement, while the sullen +Mayence sat back in his chair, face imperturbable, but the thin lips +closing firmer and firmer as the narrative went on. + +When the monologue ended, his Reverence of Cologne was the first to +speak: + +"In the name of Heaven, why did you not tell me all this yesterday?" + +Father Ambrose looked helplessly at his kinswoman, but made no reply. + +"I forbade him, my Lord," said the girl proudly, and for the first time +addressing him by a formal title, as if from now on he was to be +reckoned with her enemies. "I alone am responsible for the journey to +Frankfort and its consequences, whatever they may be. You invoked the +name of Heaven just now, my Lord, and I would have you know that I am +convinced Heaven itself intervened on my behalf to expose the real +character of Prince Roland, who has successfully deluded three men like +yourselves, supposed to be astute!" + +The Archbishop turned upon her sorrowful eyes, troubled yet kindly. + +"My dear Countess," he said, "I have not ventured to censure you; +nevertheless I am, or have been, your guardian, and should, I think, +have been consulted before you committed yourself to an action that +threatens disaster to our plans." + +The girl replied, still with the hauteur so lately assumed: + +"I do not dispute my wardship, and have more than once thanked you for +your care of me, but at this crisis of my life--a crisis transforming me +instantly from a girl to a woman--you fail me, seeing me here at bay. I +wished to spend a month or two at the capital city, but before troubling +you with such a request I determined to learn whether or not the state +of Frankfort was as disturbed as rumor alleged. Finding matters there to +be hopeless, the project of a visit was at once abandoned, and knowing +nothing of the honor about to be conferred on Prince Roland, I thought +it best to keep what had been discovered regarding his character a +secret between the Reverend Father and myself. I dare say an attempt +will be made to cast doubt on the Reverend Father's story, and perhaps +my three judges may convince themselves of its falseness, but they +cannot convince me, and I tell you finally and formally that no power on +earth will induce me to marry a marauder and a thief!" + +This announcement effectually silenced the one friend she possessed +among the three. Mayence slowly turned his head, and looked upon the +colleague at his right, as much as to say, "Do you wish to add your +quota to this inconsequential talk?" + +Treves, at this silent appeal, leaned forward, and spoke to the +perturbed monk, who knew that, in some way he did not quite understand, +affairs were drifting towards a catastrophe. + +"Father Ambrose," began the Elector of Treves, "would you kindly tell us +the exact date when this encounter on the bridge took place?" + +"Saint Cyrille's Day," replied Father Ambrose. + +"And during the night of that day you were incarcerated in the cellar +among the wine-casks?" + +"Yes, my Lord." + +"Would it surprise you to know, Father Ambrose, that during Saint +Cyrille's Day, and for many days previous to that date, Prince Roland +was a close prisoner in his Lordship of Mayence's strong Castle of +Ehrenfels, and that it was quite impossible for you to have met him in +Frankfort, or anywhere else?" + +"Nevertheless, I did meet him," persisted Father Ambrose, with the quiet +obstinacy of a mild man. + +Treves smiled. + +"Where did you lodge in Frankfort, Father?" + +"At the Benedictine Monastery in Sachsenhausen." + +"Do the good brethren supply their guests with a potent wine? Frankfort +is, and always has been, the chief market of that exhilarating but +illusion-creating beverage." + +The cheeks of the Countess flushed crimson at this insinuation on her +kinsman's sobriety. The old monk's hand rested on the arm of her throne, +and she placed her own hand upon his as if to encourage him to resent +the implied slander. After all, they were two Sayns hard pressed by +these ruthless potentates. But Ambrose answered mildly: + +"It may be that the monastery contains wine, my Lord, and doubtless the +wine is good, but during my visit I did not taste it." + +Cross-examination at an end, the Lord of Mayence spoke scarcely above a +whisper, a trace of weariness in his manner. + +"My Lords," he said, "we have wandered from the subject. The romance by +Father Ambrose is but indifferently interesting, and nothing at all to +the point. Even a child may understand what has happened, for it is +merely a case of mistaken identity, and my sympathy goes out entirely +towards the unknown; a man who knew his own mind, and being naturally +indignant at an interference both persistent and uncalled for, quite +rightly immured the meddler among the casks, probably shrewd enough to +see that this practicer of temperance would not interfere with their +integrity. + +"Madam, stand up!" + +The Countess seemed inclined to disobey this curt order, but a +beseeching look from her now thoroughly frightened guardian changed her +intention, and she rose to her feet. + +"Madam, the greatest honor which it is in the power of this Empire to +bestow upon a woman has been proffered to you, and rejected with +unnecessary heat. I beg therefore, to inform you, that in the judgment +of this Court you are considered unworthy of the exalted position which, +before knowing your true character, it was intended you should fill. The +various calumnies you have poured upon the innocent head of Prince +Roland amount in effect to high treason." + +"Pardon, my Lord!" cried the Archbishop of Cologne, "your contention +will hold neither in law nor in fact. High treason is an offense that +can be committed only against the realm as a whole, or against its ruler +in person. Prince Roland is not yet Emperor of Germany, and however much +we may regret the language used in his disparagement, it has arisen +through a misunderstanding quite patent to us all. A good but dreamy man +made a mistake, which, however deplorable, has been put forward with a +sincerity that none of us can question; indeed, it was the intention of +Father Ambrose to keep his supposed knowledge a secret, and you both saw +with what evident reluctance he spoke when commanded to do so by my +colleague of Treves. Whatever justice there may be in disciplining +Father Ambrose, there is none at all for exaggerated censure upon my +lady, the Countess of Sayn, and before pronouncing a further censure I +beg your Lordship to take into consideration the circumstances of the +case, by which a young girl, without any previous warning or +preparation, is called upon suddenly to make the most momentous decision +of her life. I say it is to her ladyship's credit that she refused the +highest station in the land in the interests of what she supposes to be, +however erroneously, the cause of honesty, sobriety, and, I may add, of +Christianity; qualities for which we three men should stand." + +"My Lord," objected Treves, "we meet here as temporal Princes, and not +as Archbishops of the Church." + +"I know that, my brother of Treves, and my appeal is to the temporal +law. Prince Roland, despite his high lineage, is merely a citizen of the +Empire, and a subject of his Majesty, the Emperor. It is therefore +impossible that the crime of treason can be committed against him." + +During this protest and discussion the Elector of Mayence had leaned +back again in his usual attitude of tired indifference; his keen eyes +almost closed. When he spoke he made no reference to what either of his +two confreres had said. + +"Madam," he began, without raising his voice, "it is the sentence of +this Court that you shall be imprisoned during its pleasure in the +Castle of Pfalzgrafenstein, which stands on a rock in the middle of the +Rhine. Under the guardianship of the Pfalzgraf von Stahleck, who will be +responsible for your safe keeping, I hope you will listen to the devout +counsel of his excellent wife to such effect that when next you are +privileged to meet a Court so highly constituted as this you may be +better instructed regarding the language with which it should be +addressed. You are permitted to take with you two waiting-women, chosen +by yourself from your own household, but all communication with the +outside world is forbidden. You said something to the effect that this +Court dared not pronounce such sentence against you, but if you +possessed that wisdom you so conspicuously lack, you might have surmised +that a power which ventured to imprison the future Emperor of this land +would not hesitate to place in durance a mere Countess von Sayn." + +The Countess bowed her head slightly, and without protest sat down +again. The Elector of Cologne arose. + +"My Lord, I raised a point of law which has been ignored." + +"This is the proper time to raise it," replied Mayence, "and you shall +be instantly satisfied. This Court is competent to give its decision +upon any point of law. If my Lord of Treves agrees with me, your +objection is disallowed." + +"I agree," said the Elector of Treves. + +"My Lord of Cologne," said Mayence, turning towards the person +addressed, "the decision of the Court is against you." + +Hildegunde was already learning a lesson. Although dazed by the verdict, +she could not but admire the quiet, conversational tone adopted by the +three men before her, as compared with her own late vehemence. + +"The decision of the Court is not unexpected," said Cologne, "and I +regret that I am compelled to appeal." + +"To whom will you appeal?" inquired Mayence mildly, "The Emperor, as you +know, is quite unfit for the transaction of public business, and even if +such were not the case, would hesitate to overturn a decision given by a +majority of this Court." + +"I appeal," replied Cologne, "to a power that even Emperors must obey; +the power of physical force." + +"You mean," said Mayence sadly, "to the three thousand men concealed in +the forest behind this house in which you are an honored guest?" + +The Elector of Cologne was so taken aback by this almost whispered +remark that he was momentarily struck speechless. A sudden pallor swept +the usual ruddiness from his face. The Lord of Mayence gently inclined +his head as if awaiting an answer, and when it did not come, went on +impassively: + +"I may inform you, my Lord, that my army occupies the capital city of +Frankfort, able and ready to quell any disturbance that may be caused by +the announcement of the Emperor's death, but there are still plenty of +seasoned troops ready to uphold the decisions of this Court. When your +spies scoured the country in the forests, and along the river almost to +the gates of my city of Mayence, they appeared to labor under the +illusion that I could move my soldiers only overland. Naturally, they +met no sign of such an incursion, because I had requisitioned a hundred +barges which I found empty in the river Main by Frankfort. These were +floated down the Main to Mayence, and there received their quota of a +hundred men each. The night being dark they came down the Rhine, it +seems, quite unobserved, and are now concealed in the mouth of the river +Lahn directly opposite this Castle. + +"When my flag is hoisted on the staff of the main tower this flotilla +will be at the landing below us within half an hour. You doubtless have +made similar arrangements for bringing your three thousand down upon +Stolzenfels, but the gates of this Castle are now closed. Indeed, +Stolzenfels was put in condition to withstand a siege very shortly after +you and your ward entered it, and it is garrisoned by two hundred +fighting men, kindly provided at my suggestion by my brother of Treves. +I doubt if its capture is possible, even though you gave the signal, +which we will not allow. Of course, your plan of capturing Treves and +myself was a good one could it be carried out, for a man in jeopardy +will always compromise, and as I estimate you are in that position I +should be glad to know what arrangement you propose." + +The Archbishop of Cologne did not reply, but stood with bent head and +frowning brow. It was the Countess von Sayn who, rising, spoke: + +"My Lord Archbishop of Mayence," she said, "I could never forgive myself +if through action of mine a fatal struggle took place between my +countrymen. I have no desire to enact the part of Helen of Troy. I am +therefore ready and willing to be imprisoned, or to marry Prince Roland +of Frankfort, whichever alternative you command, so long as no +disadvantage comes to my friend, his Lordship of Cologne." + +"Madam," said Mayence suavely, "there are not _now_ two alternatives, as +you suppose." + +"In such case, your Highness, I betake myself instantly to Pfalz Castle, +and I ask that my guardian be allowed to escort me on the journey." + +"Madam, your determination is approved, and your request granted, but, +as the business for which the three Electors were convened is not yet +accomplished, I request you to withdraw until such time as an agreement +has been arrived at. Father Ambrose is permitted to accompany you." + +The gallant Elector of Treves sprang at once to his feet, pleading for +the privilege of conducting the Countess to the apartments of his sister +and her daughter. As the door to the ante-room opened the Elector of +Cologne, whose eyes followed his departing ward, did not fail to observe +that the lobby was thronged with armed men, and he realized now, if he +had not done so from Mayence's observation, how completely he was +trapped. Even had a hundred thousand of his soldiers stood in readiness +on the hills, it was impossible for him to give the signal bringing them +to his rescue. + +A few minutes later the Elector of Treves returned, and took his place +at Mayence's right hand. The latter spoke as though the conference had +been unanimous and amiable. + +"Now that we three are alone together, I think we shall discuss our +problems under a feeling of less apprehension if the small army in the +forest is bade God-speed on its way to Cologne. Such being the case," he +went on, turning to Cologne, "would you kindly write an order to that +effect to your commander. Inform him that we three Electors wish to +review your troops from the northern balcony, and bid them file past +from the hills to the river road. They are to cross the Moselle by the +old bridge, and so return to your city. You will perhaps pledge faith +that no signal will be made to your officers as they pass us. I make +this appeal with the greater confidence since you are well aware three +thousand men would but destroy themselves in any attempt to capture this +Castle, with an army of ten thousand on their flank to annihilate them. +Do you agree?" + +"I agree," replied Cologne. + +He wrote out the order required, and handed it to Mayence, who +scrutinized the document with some care before passing it on to Treves. +Mayence addressed Cologne in his blandest tones: + +"Would you kindly instruct our colleague how to get that message safely +into the hands of your commander." + +"If he will have it sent to the head of my small escort, ordering him to +take it directly up the hill behind this Castle until he comes to my +sentinels, whom he knows personally, they will allow him to pass +through, and deliver my written command to the officer in charge." + +This being done, and Treves once more returned, Mayence said: + +"I am sure we all realize that the Countess von Sayn, however admirable +in other respects, possesses an independent mind and a determined will +rendering her quite unsuited for the station we intended her to occupy. +I think her guardian must be convinced now, even though he had little +suspicion of it before, that this lady would not easily be influenced by +any considerations we might place before her. The regrettable incidents +of this conference have probably instilled into her mind a certain +prejudice against us." + +Here, for the first time, the Elector of Cologne laughed. + +"It is highly probable, my Lord," he said, "and, indeed, your moderate +way of putting the case is unanswerable. Her ladyship as an Empress +under our influence is out of the question. I therefore make a proposal +with some confidence, quite certain it will please you both. I venture +to nominate for the position of Empress that very demure and silent lady +who is niece of my brother the Elector of Treves." + +Treves strangled a gasp in its birth, but could not suppress the light +of ambition that suddenly leaped into his eyes. The elevation of his +widowed sister's child to the Imperial throne was an advantage so +tremendous, and came about so unexpectedly, that for the moment his slow +brain was numbed by the glorious prospect. It seemed incredible that +Cologne had actually put forward such a proposition. + +The eyes of Mayence veiled themselves almost to shutting point, but in +no other manner did emotion show. Like a flash his alert mind saw the +full purport of the bombshell Cologne had so carelessly tossed between +himself and his henchman. Cologne, having lost everything, had now +proved clever enough to set by the ears those who overruled him by their +united vote. If this girl were made Empress she would be entirely under +the influence of her uncle, of whose household she had been a pliant +member ever since childhood. Yet what was Mayence to do? Should he +object to the nomination, he would at once obliterate the unswerving +loyalty of Treves, and if this happened, Treves and Cologne, joining, +would outvote him, and his objection would prove futile. He would enrage +Treves without carrying his own point, and he knew that he held his +position only because of the dog-like fidelity of the weaker man. Slow +anger rose in his heart as he pictured the conditions of the future. +Whatever influence he sought to exert upon the Emperor by the indirect +assistance of the Empress, must be got at through the complacency of +Treves, who would gradually come to appreciate his own increased +importance. + +All this passed through the mind of Mayence, and his decision had been +arrived at before Treves recovered his composure. + +"It gives me great pleasure," said the Elector of Mayence, firmly +suppressing the malignancy of his glance towards the man seated on his +left,--"it gives me very great pleasure indeed to second so admirable a +nomination, the more so that I am thus permitted to offer my +congratulations to an esteemed colleague and a valued friend. My Lord of +Treves, I trust that you will make this nomination unanimous, for, to my +delight, his Lordship of Cologne anticipated, by a few moments the +proposal I was about to submit to you." + +"My Lord," stammered Treves, finding his voice with difficulty, +"I--I--of course will agree to whatever the Court decides. I--I thank +you, my Lord, and you too, my brother of Cologne." + +"Then," cried Mayence, almost joyfully, "the task for which we are +convened is accomplished, and I declare this Court adjourned." + +He rose from his chair. The overjoyed Prince at his right took no +thought of the fact that their chairman had not called upon the lady +that she might receive the decision of the conclave and answer the +questions to be put to her, but Cologne perceived the omission, and knew +that from that moment Mayence would set his subtility at work to nullify +the nomination. Even though his bombshell had not exploded, and the two +other Electors were apparently greater friends than ever, Cologne had +achieved his immediate object, and was satisfied. + +Through the open windows came the sound of the steady tramping of +disciplined men, and the metallic clash of armor and arms in transit. + +"Ah, now," cried Mayence, "we will enjoy the advantage of reviewing the +brave troops of Cologne. Lead the way, my Lord of Treves. You know the +Castle better than we do." + +The proud Treves, treading on air, guided his guests to the northern +balcony. + + + + +XI + +GOLD GALORE THAT TAKES TO ITSELF WINGS + + +In the thick darkness Roland paced up and down the east bank of the +Rhine at a spot nearly midway between Assmannshausen and Ehrenfels. The +night was intensely silent, its stillness merely accentuated by the +gentle ripple of the water current against the barge's blunt nose, which +pointed upstream. Standing motionless as a statue, the massive figure of +Captain Blumenfels appeared in deeper blackness against the inky hills +on the other side of the Rhine. Long sweeps lay parallel to the bulwarks +of the barge, and stalwart men were at their posts, waiting the word of +command to handle these exaggerated oars, in defiance of wind and tide. +On this occasion, however, the tide only would be against them, for the +strong southern breeze was wholly favorable. Their voyage that night +would be short, but strenuous; merely crossing the river, and tying up +against the opposite bank; but the Rhine swirled powerfully round the +rock of Ehrenfels above them, and the men at the sweeps must pull +vigorously if they were not to be carried down into premature danger. + +Roland, who when they left Frankfort was in point of time the youngest +member of the guild, now seemed, if one could distinguish him through +the gloom of the night, to have become years older, and there was an +added dignity in his bearing, for, although now but a potential +freebooter, he had received assurance that he would be eventually +elected Emperor. + +He had sent word that morning to Greusel at the Golden Anker, bidding +him get together his men, and lead them up to the barge not later than +an hour before the moon rose, for Roland was anxious to reach the other +side of the Rhine unseen from either shore. He cautioned Greusel to make +his march a silent one, and this order Joseph at first found some +difficulty in carrying out, but in any case he need have entertained no +fear. The strong red wine of Assmannshausen is a potent liquid, and the +inhabitants of the town were accustomed to song and laughter on the one +street of the place at all hours of the night. + +When they arrived, the men were quiet enough, and speedily stowed +themselves away in their quarters at the stern of the barge, whereupon +Roland, the last to spring aboard, waved his hand at the captain to cast +off. The nose of the boat was shoved away from land, and then the +powerful sweeps dipped into the water. Slowly but surely she made her +way across the river; silent and invisible from either bank. The +current, however, swept them down opposite the twinkling lights of +Assmannshausen, after which, in the more tranquil waters of the western +shore, they rowed steadily upstream for about half a league, and then, +with ropes tied round trees growing at the water's edge, laid up for the +remainder of the night. + +Roland now counseled his company to enjoy what sleep was possible, as +they would be roused at the first glint of daybreak; so, with great +good-nature, each man wrapped himself up in his cloak and lay down on +the cabin floor. + +When the eastern sky became gray, the slumberers were awakened, and a +ration of bread and wine served to each. The captain already had +received his instructions, and the men discarding their cloaks, followed +their leader into the still gloomy forest. Here, with as little noise as +might be, they climbed the steep wooded hill, and arriving at something +almost like a path, a hundred yards up from the river, they turned to +the right, and so marched, no man speaking above a whisper. + +The forest became lighter and lighter, and at last Roland, holding up +his hand to sign caution, turned to the left from the path, and farther +up into the unbroken forest. They had traversed perhaps a league when +another silent order brought them to a standstill, and peering through +the trees to the east, the men caught glimpses of the grand, gray +battlements of that famous stronghold, Rheinstein, seeing at the corner +nearest them a square tower, next a machicolated curtain of wall, and a +larger square tower almost as high as the first hanging over the +precipice that descended to the Rhine. Inside this impregnable enclosure +rose the great bulk of the Castle itself, and near at hand the massive +square keep, with an octagonal turret on the southeast corner, the top +of which was the highest point of the stronghold, although a round tower +rising directly over the Rhine was not much lower. + +Roland, advancing through the trees, but motioning his men to remain +where they were, peered across to the battlements and down at the +entrance gate. + +Baron von Hohenfels sat so secure in his elevated robber's nest, which +he deemed invincible--and, indeed, the cliff on which it stood, nearly a +hundred yards high, made it so if approached from the Rhine--that he +kept only one man on watch, and this sentinel was stationed on the +elevated platform of the round tower. Roland saw him yawn wearily as he +leaned against his tall lance, and was glad to learn that even one man +kept guard, for at first he feared that all within the Castle were +asleep, the round tower, until Roland had shifted his position to the +north, being blotted out by the nearer square donjon keep. Now +satisfied, he signaled his men to sit down, which they did. He himself +took up a position behind a tree, where, unseen, he could watch the man +with the lance. + +So indolent was the sentry that Roland began to fear the barge would +pass by unnoticed. Not for months had any sailing craft appeared on the +river, and doubtless the warden regarded his office as both useless and +wearisome. Brighter and brighter became the eastern sky, and at last a +tinge of red appeared above the hills across the silent Rhine. Suddenly +the guardian straightened up, then, shading his eyes with his right +hand, he leaned over the battlements, peering to the south. A moment +later the stillness was rent by a lusty shout, and the man disappeared +as if he had fallen through a trap-door. Presently the notes of a bugle +echoed within the walls, followed by clashes of armor and the buzzing +sound of men, as though a wasp's nest had been disturbed. Half a dozen +came into sight on top of the various towers and battlements, glanced at +the river, and vanished as hastily as the sentinel had done. + +At last the gates came ponderously open, and the first three men to +emerge were on horseback, one of them hastily getting into an outer +garment, but the well-trained horses, who knew their business quite as +thoroughly as their riders, for they were accustomed to plunge into the +river if any barge disobeyed the order commanding it to halt, turned +from the gate, and dashed down the steep road that descended through the +forest. The men-at-arms poured forth with sword or pike, and in turn +went out of sight. They appeared to be leaderless, dashing forward in no +particular formation, yet, like the horses, they knew their business. +All this turmoil was not without its effect on Roland's following, who +edged forward on hands and knees to discover what was going on, everyone +breathless with excitement; but they saw their leader cool and +motionless, counting on his fingers the number of men who passed out, +for he knew exactly how many fighters the Castle contained. + +"Not yet, not yet!" he whispered. + +Finally three lordly individuals strode out; officers their more +resplendent clothing indicated them to be, and the trio followed the +others. + +"Ha!" cried Roland, "old Baron Hugo drank too deeply last night to be so +early astir." + +He was speaking aloud now. + +"Take warning from that, my lads, and never allow wine to interfere with +business. Follow me, but cautiously, one after the other in single file, +and look to your footing. 'Tis perilous steep between here and the +gate;" and, indeed, so they found it, but all reached the level +forecourt in safety, and so through the open portal. + +"Close and bar those gates," was the next command, instantly obeyed. + +Down the stone steps of the Castle, puffing and grunting, came a +gigantic, obese individual, his face bloated with excess, his eyes +bleary with the lees of too much wine. He was struggling into his +doublet, assisted by a terrified old valet, and was swearing most +deplorably. Seeing the crowd at the gate, and half-blindly mistaking +them for his own men, he roared: + +"What do you there, you hounds? To the river, every man of you, and +curse your leprous, indolent souls! Why in the fiend's name--" But here +he came to an abrupt stop on the lowest step, the sting of a sword's +point at his throat, and now, out of breath, his purple face became +mottled. + +"Good morning to you, Baron Hugo von Hohenfels. These men whom you +address so coarsely obey no orders but mine." + +"And who, imp of Satan, are you?" sputtered the old man. + +"By profession a hangman. From our fastnesses in the hills, seeing a +barge float down the river, we thought it likely you would leave the +Castle undefended, and so came in to execute the Prince of Robbers." + +The Baron was quaking like a huge jelly. It was evident that, although +noted for his cruelty, he was at heart a coward. + +"You--you--you--" he stammered, "are outlaws! You are outlaws from the +Hunsruck." + +"How clever of you, Baron, to recognize us at once. Now you know what to +expect. Greusel, unwind the rope I gave you last night. I will show you +its purpose." + +Greusel did as he was requested without comment, but Ebearhard +approached closely to his chief, and whispered: + +"Why resort to violence? We have no quarrel with this elephant. 'Tis his +gold we want, and to hang him is a waste of time." + +"Hush, Ebearhard," commanded Roland sternly. "The greater includes the +less. I know this man, and am taking the quickest way to his +treasure-house." + +Ebearhard fell back, but by this time the useful Greusel had made a loop +of the rope, and threw it like a cravat around the Baron's neck. + +"No, no, no!" cried the frightened nobleman. "'Tis not my life you seek. +That is of no use to such as you; and, besides, I have never harmed the +outlaws." + +"That is a lie," said Roland. "You sent an expedition against us just a +year ago." + +"'Twas not I," protested Hohenfels, "but the pirate of Falkenberg. +Still, no matter. I'll buy my life from you. I am a wealthy man." + +"How much?" asked Roland, hesitating. + +"More than all of you can carry away." + +"In gold?" + +"Of a surety in gold." + +"Where are the keys of your treasury?" + +"In my chamber. I will bring them to you," and the Baron turned to mount +the steps again. + +"Not so," cried Roland. "Stand where you are, and send your man for +them. If they are not here before I count twoscore, you hang, and +nothing will save you." + +The Baron told the trembling valet where to find the keys. + +"Greusel, you and Ebearhard accompany him, and at the first sign of +treachery, or any attempt to give an alarm, run him through with your +swords. Does your man know where the treasury is?" he continued to the +Baron. + +"Oh, yes, yes!" + +"How is your gold bestowed?" + +"In leathern bags." + +"Good. Greusel, take sixteen of the men, and bring down into the +courtyard all the gold you can carry. Then we will estimate whether or +not it is sufficient to buy the Baron's life, for I hold him in high +esteem. He is a valuable man. See to it that there is no delay, Greusel, +and never lose sight of this valet. Bring him back, laden with gold." + +They all disappeared within the Castle, led by the old servitor. + +"Sit you down, Baron," said Roland genially. "You seem agitated, for +which there is no cause should there prove to be gold enough to outweigh +you." + +The ponderous noble seated himself with a weary sigh. + +"And pray to the good Lord above us," went on Roland, "that your men may +not return before this transaction is completed, for if they do, my +first duty will be to strangle you. Even gold will not save you in that +case. But still, you have another chance for your life, should such an +untoward event take place. Shout to them through the closed gates that +they must return to the edge of the river until you join them; then, if +they obey, you are spared. Remember, I beg of you, the uselessness of an +outcry, for we are in possession of Rheinstein, and you know that the +Castle is unassailable from without." + +The Baron groaned. + +"Do not be hasty with your cord," he said dejectedly. "I will follow +your command." + +The robbers, however, did not return, but the treasure-searchers did, +piling the bags in the courtyard, and again Hohenfels groaned dismally +at the sight. Roland indicated certain sacks with the point of his +sword, ordering them to be opened. Each was full of gold. + +"Now, my lads," he cried, "oblige the Baron by burdening yourselves with +this weight of metal, then we shall make for the Hunsruck. Open the +gates. Lead the men to the point where we halted, Greusel, and there +await me." + +The rich company departed, and Roland beguiled the time and the +weariness of the Baron by a light and interesting conversation to which +there was neither reply nor interruption. At last, having allowed time +for his band to reach their former halting-place, he took the rope from +the Baron's neck, tied the old robber's hands behind him, then bound his +feet, cutting the rope in lengths with his sword. He served the +trembling valet in the same way, shutting him up within the Castle, and +locking the door with the largest key in the bunch, which bunch he threw +down beside his lordship. + +"Baron von Hohenfels," he said, "I have kept my word with you, and now +bid farewell. I leave you out-of-doors, because you seem rather scant of +breath, for which complaint fresh air is beneficial. Adieu, my lord +Baron." + +The Baron said nothing as Roland, with a sweep of his bonnet, took leave +of him, climbed the steep path and joined his waiting men. He led them +along the hillside, through the forest for some distance, then descended +to the water's edge. The river was blank, so they all sat down under the +trees out of sight, leaving one man on watch. Here Roland spent a very +anxious half-hour, mitigated by the knowledge that the men of Rheinstein +were little versed in woodcraft, and so might not be able to trace the +fugitives. It was likely they would make a dash in quite the opposite +direction, towards the Hunsruck, because Hohenfels believed they were +outlaws from that district, and did not in any way associate them with +the plundered barge. + +But if the robbers of Rheinstein took a fancy to sink the barge, an act +only too frequently committed, then were Roland and his company in a +quandary, without food, or means of crossing the river. However, he was +sure that Captain Blumenfels would follow his instructions, which were +to offer no resistance, but rather to assist the looters in their +exactions. + +"Within a league," said Roland to his men, "stand three pirate castles: +Rheinstein, which we have just left; Falkenberg, but a short distance +below, and then Sonneck. If nothing happens to the barge, I expect to +finish with all three before nightfall; for, the strongholds being so +close together, we must work rapidly, and not allow news of our doings +to leap in advance of us." + +"But suppose," said Kurzbold, "that Hohenfels' men hold the barge at the +landing for their own use?" + +"We will wait here for another half-hour," replied Roland, "and then, if +we see nothing of the boat, proceed along the water's edge until we +learn what has become of her. I do not think the thieves will interfere +with the barge, as they have not been angered either by disobedience of +their orders to land, or resistance after the barge is by the shore. +Besides, I count on the fact that the officers, at least, will be +anxious to let the barge proceed, hoping other laden boats may follow, +and, indeed, I think for this reason they will be much more moderate in +their looting than we have been." + +Before he had finished speaking, the man on watch by the water announced +the barge in sight, floating down with the current. At this they all +emerged from the forest. Captain Blumenfels, carefully scanning the +shore, saw them at once, and turned the boat's head towards the spot +where they stood. + +The bags of gold were bolted away in the stout lockers extending on each +side of the cabin. While this was being done, Roland gave minute +instructions to the captain regarding the next item in the programme, +and once more entered the forest with his men. + +The task before them was more difficult than the spoiling of Rheinstein, +because the huge bulk of Falkenberg stood on a summit of treeless rock; +the Castle itself, a gigantic, oblong gray mass, with a slender square +campanile some distance from it, rising high above its battlements on +the slope that went down towards the Rhine, forming thus an excellent +watch-tower. But although the conical hill of rock was bare of the large +trees that surrounded Rheinstein, there were plenty of bowlders and +shrubbery behind which cover could be sought. On this occasion the +marauding guild could not secure a position on a level with the +battlements of the Castle, as had been the case behind Rheinstein, and, +furthermore, they were compelled to make their dash for the gate up-hill. + +But these disadvantages were counterbalanced by the fact that Falkenberg +was situated much higher than Rheinstein, and was farther away from the +river, so that when the garrison descended to the water's edge it could +not return as speedily as was the case with Hohenfels' men. Rheinstein +stood directly over the water, and only two hundred and sixty feet above +it, while, comparatively speaking, Falkenberg was back in the country. +Still all these castles had been so long unmolested, and considered +themselves so secure, that adequate watching had fallen into abeyance, +and at Falkenberg guard was kept by one lone man on the tall campanile. +The attacking party saw no one on the battlements of the Castle, so +worked their way round the hill until the man on the tower was hidden +from them by the bulk of the Castle itself, and thus they crawled like +lizards from bush to bush, from stone to stone, and from rock-ledge to +rock-ledge, taking their time, and not deserting one position of +obscurity until another was decided upon. The fact that the watchman was +upon the Rhine side of the Castle greatly favored a stealthy approach +from any landward point. + +At last the alarm was given; the gate opened, and, as it proved, every +man in the Castle went headlong down the hill. The amateur cracksmen +therefore had everything their own way, and while this at first seemed +an advantage, they speedily found it the reverse, for although they +wandered from room to room, the treasure could not be discovered. The +interior of Falkenberg was unknown to Roland, this being one of the +strongholds where he had been compelled to sleep in an outhouse. At last +they found the door to the treasure-chamber, for Roland suggested it was +probably in a similar position to that at Rheinstein, and those who had +accompanied Hohenfels' valet made search according to this hint, and +were rewarded by coming upon a door so stoutly locked that all their +efforts to force it open were fruitless. + +Deeply disappointed, with a number of the men grumbling savagely, they +were compelled to withdraw empty handed, warned by approaching shouts +that the garrison was returning, so the men crawled away as they had +come, and made for the river, where on this occasion the boat already +awaited them. + +The lord of Falkenberg proved as moderate in his exactions as the men +of Rheinstein. Many bales had been cut open, and the thieves, with the +knowledge of cloth-weavers, selected in every case only the best goods, +but of these had taken merely enough for one costume each. + +Although the company had made so early a beginning, it was past noon by +the time they reached the barge on the second occasion. A substantial +meal was served, for every man was ravenously hungry, besides being +disgusted to learn that there were ups and downs even in the trade +of thievery. + +Early in the afternoon they made for the delicate Castle of Sonneck, +whose slender turrets stood out beautifully against the blue sky. Here +excellent cover was found within sight of the doorway, for Sonneck stood +alone on its rock without the protection of a wall. + +In this case the experience of Rheinstein was repeated, with the +exception that it was not the master of the Castle they encountered, but +a frightened warder, who, with a sharp sword to influence him, produced +keys and opened the treasury. Not nearly so large a haul of gold was +made as in the first instance, yet enough was obtained to constitute a +most lucrative day's work, and with this they sought the barge in high +spirits. + +They waited in the shadow of the hills until dusk, then quietly made +their way across the river behind the shelter of the two islands, and so +came to rest alongside the bank, just above the busy town of Lorch, +scarcely two leagues down the river from the berth they had occupied the +night before. After the barge was tied up, Roland walked on deck with +the captain, listening to his account of events from the level of the +river surface. It proved that, all in all, Roland could suggest no +amendment of the day's proceedings. So far as Blumenfels was concerned, +everything had gone without a hitch. + +As they promenaded thus, one of the men came forward, and said, rather +cavalierly: + +"Commander, your comrades wish to see you in the cabin." + +Roland made no reply, but continued his conversation with the captain +until he learned from that somewhat reticent individual all he wished to +know. Then he walked leisurely aft, and descended into the cabin, where +he found the eighteen seated on the lockers, as if the conclave were a +deliberate body like the Electors, who had come to some momentous +decision. + +"We have unanimously passed a resolution," said Kurzbold, "that the +money shall be divided equally amongst us each evening. You do not +object, I suppose?" + +"No; I don't object to your passing a resolution." + +"Very good. We do not wish to waste time just now in the division, +because we are going to Lorch, intending to celebrate our success with a +banquet. Would Greusel, Ebearhard, and yourself care to join us?" + +"I cannot speak for the other two," returned Roland quietly; "but +personally I shall be unable to attend, as there are some plans for the +future which need thinking over." + +"In that case we shall not expect you," went on Kurzbold, who seemed in +no way grieved at the loss of his commander's company. + +"Perhaps," suggested John Gensbein, "our chief will drop in upon us +later in the evening. We learned at Assmannshausen that the Krone is a +very excellent tavern, so we shall sup there." + +"How did you know we were to stop at Lorch?" asked Roland, wondering if +in any way they had heard he was to meet Goebel's emissary in this +village. + +"We were not sure," replied Gensbein, "but we made inquiries concerning +all the villages and castles down the Rhine, and have taken notes." + +"Ah, in that case you are well qualified as a guide. I may find occasion +to use the knowledge thus acquired." + +"We are all equally involved in this expedition," said Kurzbold +impatiently, "and you must not imagine yourself the only person to be +considered. But we lose time. What we wish at the present moment is that +you will unlock one of these chests, and divide amongst us a bag of +gold. The rest is to be partitioned when we return this evening; and +after that, Herr Roland, we shall not need to trouble you by asking for +more money." + +"Are the thirty thalers I gave you the other day all spent, Herr +Kurzbold?" + +"No matter for that," replied this insubordinate ex-president. "The +money in the lockers is ours, and we demand a portion of it now, with +the remainder after the banquet." + +Without another word, Roland took the bunch of keys from his belt, +opened one of the lockers, lifted out a bag of gold, untied the thongs, +and poured out the coins on the lid of the chest, which he locked again. + +"There is the money," he said to Kurzbold. "I shall send Greusel and +Ebearhard to share in its distribution, and thus you can invite them to +your banquet. My own portion you may leave on the lid of the locker." + +With that he departed up on deck again, and said to his officers: + +"Kurzbold, on behalf of the men, has demanded a bag of gold. You will go +to the cabin and receive your share. They will also invite you to a +banquet at the Krone. Accept that invitation, and if possible engage a +private room, as you did at Assmannshausen, to prevent the men talking +with any of the inhabitants. Keep them roystering there until all the +village has gone to bed; then convoy them back to the barge as quietly +as you can. A resolution has been passed that the money is to be divided +amongst our warriors on their return, but I imagine that they will be in +no condition to act as accountants when I have the pleasure of beholding +them again, so if anything is said about the apportionment, suggest a +postponement of the ceremony until morning. I need not add that I expect +you both to drink sparingly, for this is advice I intend to follow +myself." + +Roland paced the deck deep in thought until his difficult contingent +departed towards the twinkling lights of the village, then he went to +the cabin, poured his share of the gold into his pouch, and followed the +company at a distance into Lorch. He avoided the Krone, and after +inquiring his way, stopped at the much smaller hostelry, Mergler's Inn. +Here he gave his name, and asking if any one waited for him, was +conducted upstairs to a room where he found Herr Kruger just about to +sit down to his supper. A stout lad nearing twenty years of age stood in +the middle of the room, and from his appearance Roland did not need the +elder man's word for it that this was his son. + +"I took the precaution of bringing him with me," said Kruger, "as I +thought two horsemen were better than one in the business I had +undertaken." + +"You were quite right," returned Roland, "and I congratulate you upon so +stalwart a traveling companion. With your permission I shall order a +meal, and sup with you, thus we may save time by talking while we eat, +because you will need to depart as speedily as possible." + +"You mean in the darkness? To-night?" + +"Yes; as soon as you can get away. There are urgent reasons why you +should be on the road without delay. How came you here?" + +"On horseback; first down the Main, then along the Rhine." + +"Very well. In the darkness you will return by the way you came, but +only as far as the Castle of Ehrenfels, three leagues from here. There +you are to rouse up the custodian, and in safety spend the remainder of +the night. To-morrow morning he will furnish you a guide to conduct you +through the forest to Wiesbaden, and from thence you know your way to +Frankfort, which you should reach not later than evening." + +At this point the landlord, who had been summoned, came in. + +"I will dine with my friends here," said Roland. "I suppose I need not +ask if you possess some of the good red wine of Lorch, which they tell +me equals that of Assmannshausen?" + +"Of the very best, mein Herr, the product of my own vineyard, and I can +therefore guarantee it sound. As for equaling that of Assmannshausen, we +have always considered it superior, and, indeed, many other good judges +agree with us." + +"Then bring me a stoup of it, and you will be enabled to add my opinion +to that of the others." + +When the landlord produced the wine, Roland raised it to his lips, and +absorbed a hearty draught. + +"This is indeed most excellent, landlord, and does credit alike to your +vines and your inn. I wish to send two large casks of so fine a wine to +a merchant of my acquaintance in Frankfort, and my friend, Herr Kruger, +has promised to convey it thither. If you can spare me two casks of such +excellent vintage, they will make an evenly balanced burden for the +horse." + +"Surely, mein Herr." + +"Choose two of those long casks, landlord, with bung-holes of the +largest at the sides. Do you possess such a thing as a pack-saddle?" + +"Oh, yes." + +"And you, my young friend," he said, turning to Kruger's son, "rode here +on a saddle?" + +"No," interjected his father; "I ride a saddle, but my son was forced to +content himself with a length of Herr Goebel's coarse cloth, folded four +times, and strapped to the horse's back." + +"Then the cloth may still be used as a cushion for the pack-saddle, and +you, my lad, will be compelled to walk, to which I dare venture you are +well accustomed." + +The lad grinned, but made no objection. + +"Now, landlord, while we eat, fill your casks with wine, then place the +pack-saddle on the back of this young man's horse, and the casks +thereon, for I dare say you have men expert in such a matter." + +"There are no better the length of the Rhine," said the landlord +proudly. + +"Lay the casks so that the bung-holes are upward, and do not drive the +bungs more tightly in place than is necessary, for they are to be +extracted before Frankfort is reached, that another friend of mine may +profit by the wine. When this is done, bring me word, and let me know +how much I owe you." + +The landlord gone, the three men fell to their meal. + +"There is more gold," said Roland, "than I expected, and it is +impossible even for two of you to carry it in bags attached to your +belts. Besides, if you are molested, such bestowal of it would prove +most unsafe. A burden of wine, however, is too common either to attract +notice or arouse cupidity. I propose, then, when we leave here, to bring +you to the barge belonging to Herr Goebel, and taking out the bungs, we +will pour the gold into the barrels, letting the wine that is displaced +overflow to the ground. Then we will stoutly drive in the bungs, and +should the guards question you at the gates of Frankfort, you may let +them taste the wine if they insist, and I dare say it will contain no +flavor of the metal." + +"A most excellent suggestion," said Herr Kruger with enthusiasm. "An +admirable plan; for I confess I looked forward with some anxiety to this +journey, laden down with bags of gold under my cloak." + +"Yes. You are simply an honest drinker, tired of the white wine of +Frankfort, and providing yourself with the stronger fluid that Lorch +produces. I am sure you will deliver the money safely to Herr Goebel, +somewhat in drink, it is true, but, like the rest of us, none the worse +for that when the fumes are gone." + +The repast finished, and all accounts liquidated, the trio left the inn, +and, leading the two horses, reached the barge without observation. Here +the bungs were removed from the casks, and the three men, assisted by +the captain, quietly and speedily opened bag after bag, pouring the +coins down into the wine; surely a unique adulteration, astonishing even +to so heady a fluid as the vintage of Lorch. From the whole amount +Roland deducted two thousand thalers, which he divided equally between +two empty bags. + +"This thousand thalers," said he to Kruger, "is to be shared by your son +and yourself, in addition to whatever you may receive from Herr Goebel. +The other you will hand to the custodian of Ehrenfels Castle, saying it +came from his friend Roland, and is recompense for the money he lent the +other day. That will be an effective letter of introduction to him. Say +that I ask him to send his son with you as guide through the forest to +Wiesbaden; and so good-night and good luck to you." + +It was long after midnight when the guild came roystering up the bank of +the Rhine to the barge. The moon had risen, and gave them sufficient +light to steer a reasonably straight course without danger of falling +into the water. Ebearhard was with them, but Greusel walked rapidly +ahead, so that he might say a few words to his chief before the others +arrived. + +"I succeeded in preventing their talking with any stranger, but they +have taken aboard enough wine to make them very difficult and rather +quarrelsome if thwarted. When I proposed that they should leave the +counting until to-morrow morning they first became suspicious, and then +resented the imputation that they were not in fit condition for such a +task. I recommend, therefore, that you allow them to divide the money +to-night. It will allay their fear that some trick is to be played upon +them, and if you hint at intoxication, they are likely to get out of +hand. As it does not matter when the money is distributed, I counsel you +to humor them to-night, and postpone reasoning until to-morrow." + +"I'll think about it," said Roland. + +"They have bought several casks of wine, and are taking turns in +carrying them. Will you allow this wine to come aboard, even if you +determine to throw it into the water to-morrow?" + +"Oh, yes," said Roland, with a shrug of the shoulders. "Coax them into +the cabin as quietly as possible, and keep them there if you can, for +should they get on deck, we shall lose some of them in the river." + +Greusel turned back to meet the bellowing mob, while Roland roused the +captain and his men. + +"Get ready," he said to Blumenfels, "and the moment I raise my hand, +shove off. Make for this side of the larger island, and come to rest +there for the remainder of the night. Command your rowers to put their +whole force into the sweeps." + +This was done accordingly, and well done, as was the captain's custom. +The late moon threw a ghostly light over the scene, and the barren +island proved deserted and forbidding, as the crew tied up the barge +alongside. Most of the lights in Lorch had gone out, and the town lay in +the silence of pallid moonbeams like a city of the dead. Roland stood on +deck with Greusel and Ebearhard by his side, the latter relating the +difficulties of the evening. There had been singing in the cabin during +the passage across, then came a lull in the roar from below, followed by +a shout that betokened danger. An instant later the crowd came boiling +up the short stair to the deck, Kurzbold in command, all swords drawn, +and glistening in the moonlight. + +"You scoundrel!" he cried to Roland, "those lockers are full of empty +bags." + +"I know that," replied Roland, quietly. "The money is in safe keeping, +and will be honestly divided at the conclusion of this expedition." + +"You thief! You robber!" shouted Kurzbold, flourishing his weapon. + +"Quite accurate," replied Roland, unperturbed. "I was once called a +Prince of Thieves when I did not deserve the title. Now I have earned +it." + +"You have earned the penalty of thieving, and we propose to throw you +into the Rhine." + +"Not, I trust, before you learn where the money is deposited." + +Drunk as they were, this consideration staggered them, but Kurzbold was +mad with rage and wine. + +"Come on, you poltroons!" he shouted. "There are only three of them." + +"Draw your swords, gentlemen," whispered Roland, flashing his own blade +in the moonlight. + +Greusel and Ebearhard obeyed his command. + + + + +XII + +THE LAUGHING RED MARGRAVE OF FURSTENBERG + + +Ebearhard laughed, and took two steps forward. Whenever affairs became +serious, one could always depend on a laugh from Ebearhard. + +"Excuse me, Commander," he said, "but you placed Greusel and me in +charge of this pious and sober party; therefore I, being the least of +your officers, must stand the first brunt of our failure to keep these +lambs peaceable for the night. Greusel, stand behind me, and in front of +the Commander. I, being reasonably sober, believe I can cut down six of +the innocents before they finish with me. You will attend to the next +six, leaving exactly half a dozen for Roland to eliminate in his own +fashion. Now, Herr Conrad Kurzbold, come on." + +"We have no quarrel with you," said Kurzbold. "Stand aside." + +"But I force a quarrel upon you, undisciplined pig. Defend yourself, +for, by the Three Kings, I am going to tap your walking wine-barrel!" + +Kurzbold, however, retreating with more haste than caution, one or two +behind him were sent sprawling, and the half-dozen which were Roland's +portion tumbled over one another down the steep ladder into the cabin. + +Ebearhard laughed again when the last man disappeared. + +"I think," he said to Roland, "that you will meet no further trouble +from our friends. They evidently broke open the lockers, alarmed because +Greusel and I asked for a postponement of the counting, probably +intending to make the division without our assistance." + +"Have you hidden the money?" asked Greusel. + +"Not exactly," replied Roland; "but, in case anything should happen to +me, I will tell you what I have done with it." + +When he finished his recital, he added: + +"I will give each of you a letter to Herr Goebel, identifying you. He is +entitled to four thousand five hundred thalers of the money. The balance +you will divide among those of us who survive." + +Roland slept on deck, wrapped in his cloak. His two lieutenants took +turn in keeping watch, but nothing except snores came up from the cabin. +The mutineers were not examples of early rising next morning. The sun +gave promise of another warm day, and Roland walked up and down the +deck, anxiety printed on his brow. He had made up his mind to knock at +the door of the Laughing Baron, a giant in stature, reported to be the +most ingenious, most cruel, and bravest of all the robber noblemen of +the Rhine, whose Castle was notoriously the hardest nut to crack along +the banks of that famous river. For several reasons it would not be wise +to linger much longer in the neighborhood of Lorch. The three castles +they had entered the day before were still visible on the western bank. +News of the raid would undoubtedly travel to Furstenberg, also within +sight down the river, and thus the hilarious Margrave would be put on +his guard, overjoyed at the opportunity of trapping the moral marauders. +Furstenberg was also a fief of Cologne, and any molestation of it would +involve the meddler, if identified, in complications with the Church and +the Archbishop. + +It was necessary, therefore, to move with caution, and to retreat, if +possible, unobserved. These difficulties alone were enough to give pause +to the most intrepid, but Roland was further handicapped by his own +following. How could he hope to accomplish any subtle movement requiring +silence, prompt obedience, and great alertness, supported by men whose +brains were muddled with drink, and whose conduct was saturated with +conspiracy against him? They had wine enough on board to continue their +orgy, and he was quite unable to prevent their carouse. With a deep sigh +he realized that he would be compelled to forego Furstenberg, and thus +leave behind him a virgin citadel, which he knew was bad tactics from a +military point of view. + +During his meditations his men were coming up from the fuming cabin into +the fresh air and the sunlight. They appeared by twos and threes, +yawning and rubbing their eyes, but no one ventured to interrupt the +leader as, with bent head, he paced back and forth on the deck. The men, +indeed, seemed exceedingly subdued. They passed with almost overdone +nonchalance from the boat to the island, and sauntered towards its lower +end, from which, in the clear morning air, the grim fortress of +Furstenberg could be plainly discerned diagonally across the river. It +was Ebearhard who broke in upon Roland's reverie. + +"Our friends appear very quiet this morning, but I observe they have all +happened to coincide upon the northern part of the island as a +rendezvous for their before-breakfast walk. I surmise they are holding a +formal meeting of the guild, but neither Greusel nor I have been +invited, so I suppose that after last night's display we two are no +longer considered their brethren. This meekness on their part seems to +me more dangerous than last night's flurry. I think they will demand +from you a knowledge of what has been done with the gold. Have you +decided upon your answer?" + +"Yes; it is their right to know, so I shall tell them the truth. By this +time Kruger is on his way somewhere between Ehrenfels and Wiesbaden. He +will reach Frankfort to-night, and cannot be overtaken." + +"Is there not danger that they will desert in a body, return to +Frankfort, and demand from Herr Goebel their share of the spoil?" + +"No matter for that," returned Roland. "Goebel will not part with a +florin except under security of such letters as I purpose giving you and +Greusel, and even then only when you have proven to him that I am dead." + +"That is all very well," demurred Ebearhard, "but don't you see what a +dangerous power you put into the hands of the rebels? Goebel is merely a +merchant, and, though rich, politically powerless. He has already come +into conflict with the authorities, and spent a term in prison. Do not +forget that the Archbishops have refused to take action against these +robber Barons. Our men, if there happen to be one of brains among them, +can easily terrify Goebel into parting with the treasure by threatening +to confess their own and his complicity in the raids. Consider what an +excellent case they can put forward, stating quite truly that they +joined this expedition in ignorance of its purport, but on the very +first day, learning what was afoot, they deserted their criminal leader, +and are now endeavoring to make restitution. Goebel is helpless. If he +says that they first demanded the gold from him, they as strenuously +deny it, and their denial must be believed, because they come of their +own free-will to the authorities. The merchant, already tainted with +treason, having suffered imprisonment, and narrowly escaped hanging, +proves on investigation to be up to the neck in this affair. There is no +difficulty in learning that his barge went down the river, manned by a +crew of his own choosing. Of course, it need never come to this, because +Goebel, being a shrewd man, could at once see in what jeopardy he stood, +and convinced from the men's own story that they were part, at least, of +your contingent, would deliver up the treasure to them. Don't you see he +must do so to save his own neck?" + +Roland pondered deeply on what had been said to him, but for the moment +made no reply. Greusel, who joined them during the conversation, +remaining silent until Ebearhard had finished, now spoke: + +"I quite agree with all that has been said." + +"What, then, would you advise me to do?" asked Roland. + +"I have been talking with one or two of the men," said Greusel. "(They +won't speak to Ebearhard because he drew his sword on them.) I find they +believe you took advantage of their absence to bury the gold in what you +suppose to be a safe place. They are sure you are acquainted with no one +in Lorch to whom you could safely entrust it, and of course do not +suspect an emissary from Frankfort. I should advise you to say that +arrangements have been made for every man to get his share so long as +nothing untoward happens to you. This will preserve your life should +they go so far as to threaten it, and compel them to stay on with us. +After all, we are merely artisans, and not fighting men. I am convinced +that if ever we are really attacked, we shall make a very poor showing, +even though we carry swords. Remember how the men tumbled over one +another in their haste to get out of reach when Ebearhard flourished his +blade." + +"I think Greusel's suggestion is an excellent one," put in Ebearhard. + +"Very well," said Roland, "I shall adopt it, although I had made up my +mind fully to enlighten them." + +"There is one more matter that I should like to speak to you about," +continued Ebearhard. "Both at Assmannshausen, and at Lorch last night, +we heard a good deal anent Furstenberg. It is the most dangerous castle +on the Rhine to meddle with. The Laughing Baron, as they call him, +although he is a Margrave, is the only man who dared to stop a king on +his way down the Rhine, and hold him for ransom." + +"Yes," said Roland; "Adolf of Nassau, on his way to be crowned at +Aix-la-Chapelle." + +"Quite so. Well, this huge ruffian--I never can remember his name; can +you, Greusel?" + +"No, it beats me." + +"Margrave Hermann von Katznellenbogenstahleck," said Roland, so solemnly +that Ebearhard laughed and even Greusel smiled. + +"That's the individual," agreed Ebearhard, "and you must admit the name +itself is a formidable thing to attack, even without the giant it +belongs to." + +"Banish all apprehension," said Roland. "I have already decided to +remain here through the day, and drop quietly down the river to-night in +the darkness past Furstenberg." + +"I think that is a wise decision," said Ebearhard. + +"'Tis against all military rules," demurred Roland, "but nevertheless +with such an army as I lead it seems the only way. Do the men know that +Furstenberg is our point of greatest danger?" + +"Yes; but they do not know so much as I. Last night I left them in +Greusel's charge, being alarmed about what I heard of Furstenberg, and +engaged a boatman to take me over there before the moon rose. I +discovered that the Laughing Baron has caused a chain to be buoyed up +just below the surface of the water, running diagonally up the river +more than half-way across it, so that any boat coming down is caught and +drawn into the landing, for the main flood of the Rhine, as you know, +runs to the westward of this island. The boatman who ferried me knew +about this chain, but thought it had been abandoned since traffic +stopped. He says it runs right up into the Castle, and the moment a +barge strikes against it, a big bell is automatically rung inside the +stronghold, causing the Baron to laugh so loudly that they sometimes +hear him over in Lorch." + +"This is very interesting, Ebearhard, and an excellent feat of scouting +must be set down to your credit. Say nothing to the men, because, +although we give Furstenberg the go-by on this occasion, I shall pay my +respects to Herman von Katznellenbogenstahleck on my return, and the +knowledge you bring me will prove useful." + +"Ha!" cried Greusel, "here are our infants returning, all in a body, +Kurzbold at their head as usual. I imagine this morning they are going +to depend on rhetoric, and allow their swords to remain in scabbard. +They have evidently come to some momentous decision." + +The three retired to the prow of the boat as the guild clambored on at +the stern. The captain and two of his men had taken the skiff belonging +to the barge, and were absent at Lorch, purchasing provisions. Roland +stood at the prow of the barge, slightly in advance of his two +lieutenants, and awaited the approach of Kurzbold, with seventeen men +behind him. + +"Commander," said the spokesman, with nothing of the late truculence in +his tone, "we have just held a meeting of the guild, and unanimously +agreed to ask you one question, and offer you one suggestion." + +"I shall be pleased," replied Roland, "to answer the first if I think it +desirable, and take the second into consideration." + +He inclined his head to the delegation, and received a low bow in +return. This was a most auspicious beginning, showing a certain +improvement of method on the part of the majority. + +"The question is, Commander, what have you done with the gold we +captured yesterday?" + +"A very proper inquiry," replied Roland, "that it gives me much pleasure +to answer. I have placed the money in a custody which I believe to be +absolute, arranging that if nothing happens to me, this money shall be +properly divided in my presence." + +"Do you deny, sir, that the money belongs to us?" + +"Part of it undoubtedly does, but I, as leader of the expedition, am +morally, if not legally, responsible to you all for its safe keeping. +Our barge has stopped three times so far, and Captain Blumenfels tells +me that he has had no real violence to complain of, but as we progress +farther down the river, we are bound to encounter some Baron who is not +so punctilious; for instance, the Margrave von Katznellenbogenstahleck, +whose stronghold you doubtless saw from the latest meeting-place of the +guild. Such a man as the Margrave is certain to do what you yourselves +did without hesitation last night, that is, break open the lockers, and +if gold were there you may depend it would not long remain in our +possession after the discovery." + +"You miss, or rather, evade the point, Commander. Is the gold ours, or +is it yours?" + +"I have admitted that part of it is yours." + +"Then by what right do you assert the power to deal with it, lacking our +consent? If you will pardon me for saying so, you, the youngest of our +company, treat the rest of us as though we were children." + +"If I possessed a child that acted at once so obstreperously and in so +cowardly a manner as you did last night, I should cut a stick from the +forest here, and thrash him with such severity that he would never +forget it. As I have not done this to you, I deny that I treat you like +children. The truth is that, although the youngest, I am your commander. +We are engaged in acts of war, therefore military law prevails, and not +the code of Justinian. It is my duty to protect your treasure and my +own, and ensure that each man shall receive his share. After the +division you may do what you please with the money, for you will then be +under the common law, and I should not presume even to advise concerning +its disposal." + +"You refuse to tell us, then, what you have done with the gold?" + +"I do. Now proceed with your suggestion." + +"I fear I put the case too mildly when I called it a suggestion, +considering the unsatisfactory nature of your reply to my question, +therefore I withdraw the word 'suggestion,' and substitute the word +'command.'" + +Kurzbold paused, to give his ultimatum the greater force. Behind him +rose a murmur of approval. + +"Words do not matter in the least. I deal with deeds. Out, then, with +your command!" cried Roland, for the first time exhibiting impatience. + +"The command unanimously adopted is this: the Castle of Furstenberg must +be left alone. We know more of that Castle than you do, especially about +its owner and his garrison. We have been gathering information as we +journeyed, and have not remained sulking in the barge." + +"Well, that is encouraging news to hear," said Roland. "I thought you +were engaged in sampling wine." + +"You hear the command. Will you obey?" + +"I will not," said Roland decisively. + +Ebearhard took a step forward to the side of his chief, and glanced at +him reproachfully. Greusel remained where he was, but neither man spoke. + +"You intend to attack Furstenberg?" + +"Yes." + +"When?" + +"This afternoon." + +Kurzbold turned to his following: + +"Brethren," he said, "you have heard this conversation, and it needs no +comment from me." + +Apparently the discussion was to receive no comment from the others +either. They stood there glum and disconcerted, as if the trend of +affairs had taken an unexpected turn. + +"I think," said one, "we had better retire and consult again." + +This was unanimously agreed to, and once more they disembarked upon the +island, and moved forward to their Witenagemot. Still Greusel and +Ebearhard said nothing, but watched the men disappear through the trees. +Roland looked at one after another with a smile. + +"I see," he said, "that you disapprove of my conduct." + +Greusel remained silent, but Ebearhard laughed and spoke. + +"You came deliberately to the conclusion that it was unwise to attack +Furstenberg. Now, because of Kurzbold's lack of courtesy, you deflect +from your own mature judgment, and hastily jump into a course opposite +to that which you marked out for yourself after sober, unbiased +thought." + +"My dear Ebearhard, the duty of a commander is to give, and not to +receive, commands." + +"Quite so. Command and suggestion are merely words, as you yourself +pointed out, saying that they did not matter." + +"In that, Ebearhard, I was wrong. Words do matter, although Kurzbold +wasn't clever enough to correct me. For example, I hold no man in higher +esteem than yourself, yet you might use words that would cause me +instantly to draw my sword upon you, and fight until one or other of us +succumbed." + +Ebearhard laughed. + +"You put it very flatteringly, Roland. Truth is, you'd fight till I +succumbed, my swordsmanship being no match for yours. I shall say the +words, however, that will cause you to draw your sword, and they are: +Commander, I will stand by you whatever you do." + +"And I," said Greusel curtly. + +Roland shook hands in turn with the two men. + +"Right," he cried. "If we are fated to go down, we will fall with +banners flying." + +After a time the captain returned with his supplies, but still the +majority of the guild remained engaged in deliberation. Evidently +discussion was not proceeding with that unanimity which Kurzbold always +insisted was the case. + +At noon Roland requested the captain to send some of his men with a meal +for those in prolonged session, and also to carry them a cask which had +been half-emptied either that morning or the night before. + +"They will enjoy a picnic under the trees by the margin of the river," +said Roland, as he and his two backers sat down in the empty cabin to +their own repast. + +"Do you think they are purposely delaying, so that you cannot cross over +this afternoon?" + +"'Tis very likely," said Roland. "I'll wait here until the sun sets, and +then when they realize that I am about to leave them on an uninhabited +island, without anything to eat, I think you will see them scramble +aboard." + +"But suppose they don't," suggested Greusel. "There are at least three +of them able to swim across this narrow branch of the Rhine, and engage +a boatman to take them off, should their signaling be unobserved." + +"Again no matter. My plan for the undoing of the castles does not depend +on force, but on craft. We three cannot carry away as much gold as can +twenty-one, but our shares will be the same, and then we are not likely +to find again so full a treasury as that at Rheinstein. My belief that +these chaps would fight was dispelled by their conduct last night. Think +of eighteen armed men flying before one sword!" + +"Ah, you are scarce just in your estimate, Commander. They were under +the influence of wine." + +"True; but a brave man will fight, drunk or sober." + +Although the sun sank out of sight, the men did not return. There had +been more wine in the cask than Roland supposed, for the cheery songs of +the guild echoed through the sylvan solitude. Roland told the captain to +set his men at work and row round the top of the island into the main +stream of the Rhine. The revelers had evidently appointed watchmen, for +they speedily came running through the woods, and followed the movements +of the boat from the shore, keeping pace with it. When the craft reached +the opposite side of the island, the rowers drew in to the beach. + +"Are you coming aboard?" asked Roland pleasantly. + +"Will you agree to pass Furstenberg during the night?" demanded +Kurzbold. + +"No." + +"Do you expect to succeed, as you did with the other castles?" + +"Certainly; otherwise I shouldn't make the attempt." + +"I was wrong," said Kurzbold mildly, "in substituting the word 'command' +for 'suggestion,' which I first employed. There are many grave reasons +for deferring an attempt on Furstenberg. In the heat of argument these +reasons were not presented to you. Will you consent to listen to them if +we go on board?" + +"Yes; if you, on your part, will unanimously promise to abide by my +decision." + +"Do you think," said Kurzbold, "that your prejudice against me, which +perhaps you agree does exist--" + +"It exists," confessed Roland. + +"Very well. Will you allow that prejudice to prevent you from rendering +a decision in the men's favor?" + +"No. If they present reasons that convince Greusel and Ebearhard against +the attack on Furstenberg, I shall do what these two men advise, even +although I myself believe in a contrary course. Thus you see, Herr +Kurzbold, that my admitted dislike of you shall not come into play at +all." + +"That is quite satisfactory," said Kurzbold. "Will you tie up against +the farther shore until your decision is rendered?" + +"With pleasure," replied Roland; and accordingly the raiders tumbled +impetuously on board the barge, whereupon the sailors bent to their long +oars, and quickly reached the western bank, at a picturesque spot out of +sight of any castle, where the trees came down the mountain-side to the +water's edge. Here the sailors, springing ashore, tied their stout ropes +to the tree-trunks, and the great barge lay broadside on to the land, +with her nose pointing down the stream. + +"You see," said Roland to his lieutenants, "without giving way in the +least I allow you two the decision, and so I take it Furstenberg or +ourselves will escape disaster on this occasion." + +"Aside from all other considerations," replied the cautious Greusel, "I +think it good diplomacy on this occasion to agree with the men, since +they have stated their case so deferentially. They are improving, +Commander." + +"It really looks like it," he agreed. "You and Ebearhard had better go +aft, and counsel them to begin the conference at once, for if we are to +attack we must do so before darkness sets in. I'll remain here as usual +at the prow." + +Some of the men were strolling about the deck, but the majority remained +in the cabin, down whose steps the lieutenants descended. Roland's +impatience increased with the waning of the light. + +Suddenly a cry that was instantly smothered rose from the cabin, then a +shout: + +"Treachery! Look out for yourself!" + +Roland attempted to stride forward, but four men fell on him, pinioning +his arms to his side, preventing the drawing of his weapon. Kurzbold, +with half a dozen others, mounted on deck. + +"Disarm him!" he commanded, and one of the men drew Roland's sword from +its sheath, flinging it along the deck to Kurzbold's feet. The others +now came up, bringing the two lieutenants, both gagged, with their arms +tied behind them. Roland ceased his struggles, which he knew to be +fruitless. + +"We wish an amicable settlement of this matter," said Kurzbold, +addressing the lieutenants, "and regret being compelled to use measures +that may appear harsh. I do this only to prevent unnecessary bloodshed. +Earlier in the day," he continued, turning to Roland, "when we found all +appeals to you were vain, we unanimously deposed you from the +leadership, which is our right, and also our duty." + +"Not under martial law," said Roland. + +"I beg to point out that there was no talk of martial law before we left +Frankfort. It was not till later that we learned we had appointed an +unreasoning tyrant over us. We have deposed him, and I am elected in his +place, with John Gensbein as my lieutenant. We will keep you three here +until complete darkness sets in, then put you ashore unarmed. Bacharach, +on this side of the Rhine, is to be our next resting-place, and +doubtless so clever a man as you, Roland, may say that we choose +Bacharach because it is named for Bacchus, the god of drunkards. +Nevertheless, to show our good intentions towards you, we will remain +there all day to-morrow. You can easily reach Bacharach along the +hilltops before daybreak. We have written a charter of comradeship which +all have signed except yourselves. If at Bacharach you give us your word +to act faithfully under my leadership, we will reinstate you in the +guild, and return your swords. By way of recompense for this leniency, +we ask you to direct the captain to obey my commands as he has done +yours." + +"Captain Blumenfels," said Roland to the honest sailor, who stood +looking on in amaze at this turn of affairs, "you are to wait here until +it is completely dark. See that no lights are burning to give warning to +those in Furstenberg; and, by the way," added Roland, turning to his +former company, "I advise you not to drink anything until you are well +past the Castle. If you sing the songs of the guild within earshot of +Furstenberg, you are like to sing on the other side of your mouths +before morning. Don't forget that Margrave Hermann von +Katznellenbogenstahleck is the chief hangman of Germany." Then once more +to the captain: + +"As the Castle of Furstenberg stands high above the river, and well back +from it, you will be out of sight if you keep near this shore. However, +you can easily judge your distance, because the towers are visible even +in the darkness against the sky. No man on the ramparts of the Castle +can discern you down here on the black surface of the water, so long as +you do not carry a light." + +"Roland, my deposed friend," said Kurzbold, "I fear you bear resentment, +for you are giving the captain orders instead of telling him to obey +mine." + +"Kurzbold, you are mistaken. I resign command with great pleasure, and, +indeed, Greusel and Ebearhard will testify that I had already determined +to pass Furstenberg unseen. As my former lieutenants are disarmed, +surely the company, with eighteen swords, is not so frightened as to +keep them gagged and bound. 'Tis no wonder you wish to avoid the +Laughing Baron, if that is all the courage you possess." + +Stung by these taunts, Kurzbold gruffly ordered his men to release their +prisoners, but when the gags were removed, and before the cords were +cut, he addressed the lieutenants: + +"Do you give me your words not to make any further resistance, if I +permit you to remain unbound?" + +"I give you my word on nothing, you mutinous dog!" cried Greusel; "and +if I did, how could you expect me to keep it after such an example of +treachery from you who pledged your faith, and then broke it? I shall +obey my Commander, and none other." + +"I am your Commander," asserted Kurzbold. + +"You are not," proclaimed Greusel. + +Ebearhard laughed. + +"No need to question me," he said. "I stand by my colleagues." + +"Gag them again," ordered Kurzbold. + +"No, no!" cried Roland. "We are quite helpless. Give your words, +gentlemen." + +Gloomily Greusel obeyed, and merrily Ebearhard. Darkness was now +gathering, and when it fell completely the three men were put off into +the forest. + +"You have not yet," said Kurzbold to Roland, "ordered the captain to +obey me. I do not object to that, but it will be the worse for him and +his men if they refuse to accept my instructions." + +"Do you know this district, Captain Blumenfels?" asked Roland. + +"Yes, mein Herr." + +"Is there a path along the top that will lead us behind Furstenberg on +to Bacharach?" + +"Yes, mein Herr, but it is a very rough track." + +"Is it too far for you to guide us there, and return before the moon +rises?" + +"Oh no, mein Herr, I can conduct you to the trail in half an hour if you +consent to climb lustily." + +"Very good. Herr Kurzbold, if you are not impatient to be off, and will +permit the captain to direct us on our way, I will tell him to obey +you." + +"How long before you can return, captain?" asked Kurzbold. + +"I can be back well within the hour, mein Herr." + +"You will obey me if the late Commander orders you to do so?" + +"Yes, mein Herr." + +"Captain," said Roland, "I inform you in the hearing of these men that +Herr Kurzbold occupies my place, and is to be obeyed by you until I +resume command." + +Kurzbold laughed. + +"You mean until you are re-elected to membership in the guild, for we do +not propose to make you commander again. Now, captain, to the hill, and +see that your return is not delayed." + +The four men disappeared into the dark forest. + +"Captain," said Roland, when they reached the track, "I have taken you +up here not that I needed your guidance, for I know this land as well as +you do. You will obey Kurzbold, of course, but if he tells you to make +for Lorch, allow your boat to drift, and do not get beyond the middle of +the river until opposite Furstenberg. There is a buoyed chain--" + +"I know it well," interrupted the captain. "I have many times avoided +it, but twice became entangled with it, in spite of all my efforts, and +was robbed by the Laughing Baron." + +"Very well; I intend you to be entrapped by that chain to-night. Offer +no resistance, and you will be safe enough. Do not attempt to help these +lads should they be set upon, and it will be hard luck if I am not in +command again before midnight. Keep close to this shore, but if they +order you into the middle of the river, or across it, dally, my good +Blumenfels, dally, until you are stopped by the chain for the third +time." + +When the captain returned to his barge, he found Kurzbold pacing the +deck in a masterly manner, impatient to be off. For once the combatants, +with an effort, were refraining from drink. + +"We will open a cask," said Kurzbold, "as soon as we have passed the +Schloss." + +He ordered the captain to follow the shore as closely as was safe, and +take care that they did not come within sight of Furstenberg's tall, +round tower. All sat or reclined on the dark deck, saying no word as the +barge slid silently down the swift Rhine. Suddenly the speed of the boat +was checked so abruptly that one or two of the standing men were flung +off their feet. From up on the hillside there tolled out the deep note +of a bell. The barge swung round broadside on the current, and lay there +with the water rushing like hissing serpents along its side, the bell +pealing out a loud alarm that seemed to keep time with the shuddering of +the helpless boat. + +"What's wrong, captain?" cried Kurzbold, getting on his feet again and +running aft. + +"I fear, sir, 'tis an anchored chain." + +"Can't you cut it?" + +"That is impossible, mein Herr." + +"Then get out your sweeps, and turn back. Where are we, do you think?" + +"Under the battlements of Furstenberg Castle." + +"Damnation! Put some speed into your men, and let us get away from +here." + +The captain ordered his crew to hurry, but all their efforts could not +release the boat from the chain, against which it ground up and down +with a tearing noise, and even the un-nautical swordsmen saw that the +current was impelling it diagonally toward the shore, and all the while +the deep bell tolled on. + +"What in the fiend's name is the meaning of that bell?" demanded +Kurzbold. + +"It is the Castle bell, mein Herr," replied the captain. + +Before Kurzbold could say anything more the air quivered with shout +after shout of laughter. Torches began to glisten among the trees, and +there was a clatter of horses' hoofs on the echoing rock. A more +magnificent sight was never before presented to the startled eyes of so +unappreciative a crowd. Along the zigzag road, and among the trees, +spluttered the torches, each with a trail of sparks like the tail of a +comet. The bearers were rushing headlong down the slope, for woe to the +man who did not arrive at the water's edge sooner than his master. + +The torchlight gleamed on flashing swords and glittering points of +spears, but chief sight of all was the Margrave Hermann von +Katznellenbogenstahleck, a giant in stature, mounted on a magnificent +stallion, as black as the night, and of a size that corresponded with +its prodigious rider. The Margrave's long beard and flowing hair were +red; scarlet, one may say, but perhaps that was the fiery reflection +from the torches. Servants, scullions, stablemen carried the lights; the +men-at-arms had no encumbrance but their weapons, and the business-like +way in which they lined up along the shore was a study in discipline, +and a terror to any one unused to war. Above all the din and clash of +arms rang the hearty, stentorian laughter of the Red Margrave actually +echoing back in gusts of fiendish merriment from the hills on the other +side of the Rhine. + +Now the boat's nose came dully against the ledge of rock, to whose +surface the swaying chain rose dripping from the water, sparkling like a +jointed snake under the torchlight. + +"God save us all!" cried the Margrave, "what rare show have we here? By +my sainted patron, the Archbishop, merchants under arms! Whoever saw the +like? Ha! stout Captain Blumenfels, do I recognize you? Once more my +chain has caught you. This makes the third time, does it not, +Blumenfels?" + +"Yes, your Majesty." + +"You may as well call me 'your Holiness' as 'your Majesty.' I'm +contented with my title, the 'Laughing Baron,' Haw-haw-haw-haw! And so +your merchants have taken to arms again? The lesson at the Lorely taught +them nothing! Are there any ropes aboard, captain?" + +"Plenty, my lord." + +"Then fling a coil ashore. Now, my tigers," he roared to his +men-at-arms, "hale me to land those damned shopkeepers." + +With a clash of armor and weapons the brigands threw themselves on the +boat, and in less time than is taken to tell it, every man of the guild +was disarmed and flung ashore. Here another command of the Red Margrave +gave them the outlaw's knot, as he termed it, a most painful tying-up of +the body and the limbs until each victim was rigid as a red of iron. +They were flung face downwards in a row, and beaten black and blue with +cudgels, despite their screams of agony and appeals for mercy. + +"Now turn them over on their backs," commanded the Margrave, and it was +done. The glare of the pitiless torches fell upon contorted faces. The +Baron turned his horse athwart the line of helpless men, and spurred +that animal over it from end to end, but the intelligent horse, more +merciful than its rider, stepped with great daintiness, despite its +unusual size, and never trod on one of the prostrate bodies. During what +followed, the Red Baron, shaking with laughter, marched his horse up and +down over the stricken men. + +"Now, unload the boat, but do not injure any of the sailors! I hope to +see them often again. You cannot tell how we have missed you, captain. +What are you loaded with this time? Sound Frankfort cloth?" + +"Yes, your Majesty--I mean, my lord." + +"No, you mean my Holiness, for I expect to be an Archbishop yet, if all +goes well," and his laughter echoed across the Rhine. "Uplift your +hatches, Blumenfels, and tell your men to help fling the goods ashore." + +Delicately paced the fearful horse over the prone men, snorting, perhaps +in sympathy, from his red nostrils, his jet-black coat a-quiver with the +excitement of the scene. The captain obeyed the Margrave with promptness +and celerity. The hatches were lifted, and his sailors, two and two, +flung on the ledge of rock the merchant's bales. The men-at-arms, who +proved to be men-of-all-work, had piled their weapons in a heap, and +were carrying the bales a few yards inland. Through it all the Baron +roared with laughter, and rode his horse along its living pavement, +turning now at this end and now at the other. + +"Do not be impatient," he cried down to them, "'twill not take long to +strip the boat of every bale, then I shall hang you on these trees, and +send back your bodies in the barge, as a lesson to Frankfort. You must +return, captain," he cried, "for you cannot sell dead bodies to my liege +of Cologne." + +As he spoke a ruddy flush spread over the Rhine, as if some one had +flashed a red lantern upon the waters. The glow died out upon the +instant. + +"What!" thundered the Margrave, "is that the reflection of my beard, or +are Beelzebub and his fiends coming up from below for a portion of the +Frankfort cloth? I will share with good brother Satan, but with no one +else. Boil me if I ever saw a sight like that before! What was it, +captain?" + +"I saw nothing unusual, my lord." + +"There, there!" exclaimed the Margrave, and as he spoke it seemed that a +crimson film had fallen on the river, growing brighter and brighter. + +"Oh, my lord," cried the captain, "the Castle is on fire!" + +"Saints protect us!" shouted the Red Margrave, crossing himself, and +turning to the west, where now both hearing and sight indicated that a +furnace was roaring. The whole western sky was aglow, and although the +flames could not be seen for the intervening cliff, every one knew there +was no other dwelling that could cause such an illumination. + +Spurring his horse, and calling his men to come on, the nobleman dashed +up the steep acclivity, and when the last man had departed, Roland, +followed by his two lieutenants, stepped from the forest to the right +down upon the rocky plateau. + + + + +XIII + +"A SENTENCE; COME, PREPARE!" + + +"Captain," said Roland quietly, "bring your crew ashore, and fling these +bales on board again as quickly as you can." + +An instant later the sailors were at work, undoing their former efforts. + +"In mercy's name, Roland," wailed one of the stricken, "get a sword and +cut our bonds." + +"All in good time," replied Roland. "The bales are more valuable to me +than you are, and we have two barrels of gold at the foot of the cliff +to bring in, if they haven't sunk in the Rhine. Greusel, do you and +Ebearhard take two of the crew, launch the small boat, and rescue the +barrels if you can find them." + +"Mercy on us, Roland! Mercy!" moaned his former comrades. + +"I have already wasted too much mercy upon you," he said. "If I rescue +you now, I shall be compelled to hang you in the morning as breakers of +law, so I may as well leave you where you are, and allow the Red +Margrave to save me the trouble. The loss of his castle will not make +him more compassionate, especially if he learns you were the cause of +it. You will then experience some refined tortures, I imagine; for, like +myself, he may think hanging too good for you. I should never have fired +his castle had it not been for your rebellion." + +The men on the ground groaned but made no further appeal. Some of them +were far-seeing enough to realize that an important change had come over +the young man they thought so well known to them, who stood there with +an air of indifference, throwing out a suggestion now and then for the +more effective handling of the bales; suggestions carrying an impalpable +force of authority that caused them to be very promptly obeyed. They did +not know that this person whom they had regarded as one of themselves, +the youngest at that, treating him accordingly, had but a day or two +before received a tremendous assurance, which would have turned the head +of almost any individual in the realm, old or young; the assurance that +he was to be supreme ruler over millions of creatures like themselves; a +ruler whose lightest word might carry their extinction with it. + +Yet such is the strange littleness of human nature that, although this +potent knowledge had been gradually exercising its effect on Roland's +character, it was not the rebellion of the eighteen or their mutinous +words that now made him hard as granite towards them. It was the trivial +fact that four of them had dared to manhandle him; had made a personal +assault upon him; had pinioned his helpless arms, and flung his sword, +that insignia of honor, to the feet of Kurzbold, leader of the revolt. + +The Lord's Anointed, he was coming to consider himself, although not yet +had the sacred ointment been placed upon his head. A temporal Emperor +and a vice-regent of Heaven upon earth, his hand was destined to hold +the invisible hilt of the Almighty's sword of vengeance. The words "I +will repay" were to reach their fulfillment through his action. +Notwithstanding his youth, or perhaps because of it, he was animated by +deep religious feeling, and this, rather than ambition, explained the +celerity with which he agreed to the proposals of the Archbishops. + +The personage the prisoners saw standing on the rock-ledge of +Furstenberg was vastly different from the young man who, a comrade of +comrades, had departed from Frankfort in their company. They beheld him +plainly enough, for there was now no need of torches along the +foreshore; the night was crimson in its brilliancy, and down the hill +came a continuous roar, like that of the Rhine Fall seventy leagues +away. + +Into this red glare the small boat and its four occupants entered, and +Roland saw with a smile that two well-filled casks formed its freight. +The bales were now aboard the barge again, and the Commander ordered the +crew to help the quartette in the small boat with the lifting of the +heavy barrels. Greusel and Ebearhard clambered over the side, and came +thus to the ledge where Roland stood, as the crew rolled the barrels +down into the cabin. + +"Lieutenants," said the Commander, "select two stout battle-axes from +that heap. Follow the chain up the hill until you reach that point where +it is attached to the thick rope. Cut the rope with your axes, and draw +down the chain with you, thus clearing a passage for the barge." + +The two men chose battle-axes, then turned to their leader. + +"Should we not get our men aboard," they said, "before the barge is +free?" + +"These rebels are prisoners of the Red Margrave. They belong to him, and +not to me. Where they are, there they remain." + +The lieutenants, with one impulse, advanced to their Commander, who +frowned as they did so. A cry of despair went up from the pinioned men, +but Kurzbold shouted: + +"Cut him down, Ebearhard, and then release us. In the name of the guild +I call on you to act! He is unarmed; cut him down! 'Tis foul murder to +desert us thus." + +The cutting down could easily have been accomplished, for Roland stood +at their mercy, weaponless since the _emeute_ on the barge. +Notwithstanding the seriousness of the occasion, the optimistic +Ebearhard laughed, although every one else was grave enough. + +"Thank you, Kurzbold, for your suggestion. We have come forward, not to +use force, but to try persuasion. Roland, you cannot desert to death the +men whom you conducted out of Frankfort." + +"Why can I not?" + +"I should have said a moment ago that you will not, but now I say you +cannot. Kurzbold has just shown what an irreclaimable beast he is, and +on that account, because birth, or training, or something has made you +one of different caliber, you cannot thus desert him to the reprisal of +that red fiend up the hill." + +"If I save him now, 'twill be but to hang him an hour later. I am no +hangman, while the Margrave is. I prefer that he should attend to my +executions." + +Again Ebearhard laughed. + +"'Tis no use, Roland, pretending abandonment, for you will not abandon. +I thoroughly favor choking the life out of Kurzbold, and one or two of +the others, and will myself volunteer for the office of headsman, +carrying, as I do, the ax, but let everything be done decently and in +order, that a dignified execution may follow on a fair trial." + +"Commander," shouted the captain from the deck of the barge, "make +haste, I beg of you. The rope connecting with the Castle has been burnt, +and the chain is dragging free. The current is swift, and this barge +heavy. We shall be away within the minute." + +"Get your crew ashore on the instant," cried Roland, "and fling me these +despicable burdens aboard. A man at the head, another at the heels, and +toss each into the barge. Is there time, captain, to take this heap of +cutlery with us as trophies of the fray?" + +"Yes," replied the captain, "if we are quick about it." + +The howling human packages were hurled from ledge to barge; the strong, +unerring sailors, accustomed to the task, heaved no man into the water. +Others as speedily fell upon the heap of weapons, and threw them, +clattering, on the deck. All then leaped aboard, and Roland, motioning +his lieutenants to precede him, was the last to climb over the prow. + +The chain came down over the stones with a clattering run, and fell with +a great splash into the river. The barge, now clear, swung with the +current stern foremost; the sailors got to their oars, and gradually +drew their craft away from the shore. A little farther from the landing, +those on deck, looking upstream, enjoyed an uninterrupted view of the +magnificent conflagration. The huge stone Castle seemed to glow white +hot. The roof had fallen in, and a seething furnace reddened the +midnight sky. Like a flaming torch the great tower roared to the +heavens. The whole hilltop resembled the crater of an active volcano. +Timber floors and wooden partitions, long seasoned, proved excellent +material for the incendiaries, and even the stones were crumbling away, +falling into the gulf of fire, sending up a dazzling eruption of sparks, +as section after section tumbled into this earthly Hades. + +The long barge floated placidly down a river resembling molten gold. The +boat was in disarray, covered with bales of cloth not yet lowered into +the hold, cluttered here and there with swords, battle-axes, and spears. +In the various positions where they had been flung lay the helpless men, +some on their faces, some on their backs. The deck was as light as if +the red setting sun were casting his rays upon it. Roland seated himself +on a bale, and said to the captain: + +"Turn all these men face upward," and the captain did so. + +"Ebearhard, you said execution should take place after a fair trial. +There is no necessity to call witnesses, or to go through any court of +law formalities. You two are perfectly cognizant of everything that has +taken place, and no testimony will either strengthen or weaken that +knowledge. As a preliminary, take Kurzbold, the new president, and +Gensbein, his lieutenant, from among that group, and set them apart. Two +members of the crew will carry out this order," which was carried out +accordingly. + +Roland rose, walked along the prostrate row, and selected, apparently at +haphazard, four others, then said to the members of his crew: + +"Place these four men beside their leader. Left to myself," he continued +to his lieutenants, "I should hang the six. However, I shall take no +hand in the matter. I appoint you, Joseph Greusel, and you, Gottlieb +Ebearhard, as judges, with power of life and death. If your verdict on +any or all of the accused is death, I shall use neither the ax nor the +cord, but propose flinging them into the river, and if God wills them to +reach the shore alive, their binding will be no hindrance to escape." + +Kurzbold and his lieutenant broke out into alternate curses and appeals, +protesting that Greusel and Ebearhard had not been expelled from the +guild, and calling upon them by their solemn oath of brotherhood to +release them now that they possessed the power. To these appeals the +newly-appointed judges made no reply, and for once Ebearhard did not +laugh. + +The other four directed their supplications to Roland himself. They had +been misled, they cried, and deeply regretted it. Already they suffered +punishment of a severity almost beyond power of human endurance, and +they feared their bones were broken with the cudgeling, since which +assault their bonds grievously tortured them. All swore amendment, and +their grim commander still remaining silent, they asked him in what +respect they were more guilty than the dozen others whom seemingly he +intended to spare. At last Roland replied. + +"You four," he said sternly, "dared to lay hands upon me, and for that I +demand from the judges a sentence of death." + +Even his two lieutenants gazed at him in amazement, that he should make +so much of an action which they themselves had endured and nothing said +of it. Surely the laying-on of hands, even in rudeness, was not a +capital crime, yet they saw to their astonishment that Roland was in +deadly earnest. + +The leader turned a calm face toward their scrutiny, but there was a +frown upon his brow. + +"Work while ye have the light," he said. "Judges, consider your +decision, and deliver your verdict." + +Greusel and Ebearhard turned their backs on every one, walked slowly +aft, and down into the cabin. Roland resumed his seat on the bale of +cloth, elbows on his knees, and face in his hands. All appeals had +ceased, and deep silence reigned, every man aboard the boat in a state +of painful tension. The fire in the distant castle lowered and lowered, +and darkness was returning to the deck of the barge. At last the judges +emerged from the cabin, and came slowly forward. + +It was Greusel who spoke. + +"We wish to know if only these six are on trial?" + +"Only these six," replied Roland. + +"Our verdict is death," said Greusel. "Kurzbold and Gensbein are to be +thrown into the Rhine bound as they lie, but the other four receive one +chance for life, in that the cords shall be cut, leaving their limbs +free." + +This seeming mercy brought no consolation to the quartette, for each +plaintively proclaimed that he could not swim. + +"I thank you for your judgment," said Roland, "which I am sure you must +have formed with great reluctance. Having proven yourself such excellent +judges, I doubt not you will now act with equal wisdom as advisers. A +phrase of yours, Ebearhard, persists in my mind, despite all efforts to +dislodge it. You uttered on the ledge of rock yonder something to the +effect that we left Frankfort as comrades together. That is very true, +and unless you override my resolution, I have come to the conclusion +that if any of us are fated to die, the penalty shall be dealt by some +other hand than mine. The twelve who lie here are scarcely less guilty +than the six now under sentence, and I propose, therefore, to put ashore +on the east bank Kurzbold and Gensbein, one a rogue, the other a fool. +The sixteen who remain have so definitely proven themselves to be +simpletons that I trust they will not resent my calling them such. If +however, they abandon all claim to the comradeship that has been so much +prated about, swearing by the Three Kings of Cologne faithfully to +follow me, and obey my every word without cavil or argument, I will +pardon them, but the first man who rebels will show that my clemency has +been misplaced, and I can assure them that it shall not be exercised +again. Captain, your sailors are familiar with knotted ropes. Bid them +release all these men except the six condemned." + +The boatmen, with great celerity, freed the prostrate captives from +their bonds, but some of the mutineers had been so cruelly used in the +cudgeling that it was necessary to assist them to their feet. The early +summer daybreak was at hand, its approach heralded by the perceptible +diluting of the darkness that surrounded them, and a ghastly, pallid +grayness began to overspread the surface of the broad river. Down the +stream to the west the towers of Bacharach could be faintly +distinguished, looking like a dream city, the lower gloom of which was +picked out here and there by points of light, each betokening an early +riser. + +It was a deeply dejected, silent group that stood in this weird +half-light, awaiting the development of Roland's mind regarding them; +he, the youngest of their company, quiet, unemotional, whose dominion no +one now thought of disputing. + +"Captain," he continued, "steer for the eastern shore. I know that +Bacharach is the greatest wine mart on the Rhine, and well sustains the +reputation of the drunken god for whom it is named, but we will +nevertheless avoid it. There is a long island opposite the town, but a +little farther down. I dare say you know it well. Place that island +between us and Bacharach, and tie up to the mainland, out of view from +the stronghold of Bacchus. He is a misleading god, with whom we shall +hold no further commerce. + +"Now, Joseph Greusel, and Gottlieb Ebearhard, do you two administer the +oath of the Three Kings to these twelve men; but before doing so, give +each one his choice, permitting him to say whether he will follow +Kurzbold on the land or obey me on the water." + +Here Kurzbold broke out again in trembling anger: + +"Your pretended fairness is a sham, and your bogus option a piece of +your own sneaking dishonesty. What chance have we townsmen, put ashore, +penniless, in an unknown wilderness, far from any human habitation, +knowing nothing of the way back to Frankfort? Your fraudulent clemency +rescues us from drowning merely to doom us to starvation." + +The daylight had so increased that all might see the gentle smile coming +to Roland's lips, and the twinkle in his eye as he looked at the +wrathful Kurzbold. + +"A most intelligent leader of men are you, Herr Conrad. I suppose this +dozen will stampede to join your leadership. They must indeed be proud +of you when they learn the truth. I shall present to each of you, out of +my own store of gold that came from the castle you so bravely attacked +last night, one half the amount that is your due. This will be more +money than any of you ever possessed before; each portion, indeed, +excelling the total that you eighteen accumulated during your whole +lives. I could easily bestow your share without perceptible diminution +of the fund we three, unaided, extracted from the coffers of the Red +Margrave. The reason I do not pay in full is this. When you reach +Frankfort, I must be assured that you will keep your foolish tongues +silent. If any man speaks of our labors, I shall hear of it on my +return, and will fine that man his remaining half-share. + +"It distresses me to expose your ignorance, Kurzbold, but I put you +ashore amply provided with money, barely two-thirds of a league from +Lorch, where you spent so jovial an evening, and where a man with gold +in his pouch need fear neither hunger nor thirst. Lorch may be attained +by a leisurely walker in less than half an hour; indeed, it is barely +two leagues from this spot to Assmannshausen, and surely you know the +road from that storehouse of red wine to the capital city of Frankfort, +having once traversed it. A child of six, Kurzbold, might be safely put +ashore where you shall set foot on land. Therefore, lieutenants, let +each man know he will receive a bag of coin, and may land unmolested to +accompany the brave and intelligent Kurzbold." + +As he finished this declamation, that caused even some of the beaten +warriors to laugh at their leader, the barge came gently alongside the +strand, well out of sight of Bacharach. Each of the dozen swore the +terrible, unbreakable oath of the Three Kings to be an obedient henchman +to Roland. + +"You may," said Roland, "depart to the cabin, where a flagon of wine +will be served to every man, and also an early breakfast. After that you +are permitted to lie down and relax your swollen limbs, meditating on +the extract from Holy Writ which relates the fate of the blind when led +by the blind." + +When the dozen limped away, the chief turned to his prisoners. + +"Against you four I bear resentment that I thought could not be appeased +except by your expulsion, but reflection shows me that you acted under +instruction from the foolish leader you selected, and therefore the +principal, not the agent, is most to blame. I give you the same choice I +have accorded to the rest. Unloose them, captain; and while this is +being done, Greusel, get two empty bags from the locker, open one of the +casks, and place in each bag an amount which you estimate to be one half +the share which is Kurzbold's due." + +The four men standing up took the oath, and thanked Roland for his +mercy, hurrying away at a sign from him to their bread and wine. + +"Send hither," cried Roland after them, "two of the men who have already +refreshed themselves, each with a loaf of bread and a full flagon of +wine. And now, captain, release Kurzbold and Gensbein." + +When these two stood up and stretched themselves, the bearers of bread +and wine presented them with this refreshment, and after they had +partaken of it, Greusel gave them each a bag of gold, which they tied to +their belts without a word, while Greusel and Ebearhard waited to escort +them to land. + +"We want our swords," said Kurzbold sullenly. + +Ebearhard looked at his chief, but he shook his head. + +"They have disgraced their swords," he said, "which now by right belong +to the Margrave Hermann von Katznellenbogenstahleck. Put them ashore, +lieutenant." + +It was broad daylight, and the men had all come up from the cabin, +standing in a silent group at the stern. Kurzbold, on the bank, foaming +at the mouth with fury, shook his fist at them, roaring: + +"Cowards! Pigs! Dolts! Asses! Poltroons!" + +The men made no reply, but Ebearhard's hearty laugh rang through the +forest. + +"You have given us your titles, Kurzbold," he cried. "Send us your +address whenever you get one!" + +"Captain," said Roland, "cast off. Cross to this side of that island, +and tie up there for the day. Set a man on watch, relieving the sentinel +every two hours. We have spent an exciting night, and will sleep till +evening." + +"Your honor, may I first stow away these bales, and dispose of the +battle-axes, spears, and broadswords, so to clear the deck?" + +"You may do that, captain, at sunset. As for the bales, they make a very +comfortable couch upon which I intend to rest." + + + + +XIV + +THE PRISONER OF EHRENFELS + + +There is inspiration in the sight of armed men marching steadily +together; men well disciplined, keeping step to the measured clank of +their armor. Like a great serpent the soldiers of Cologne issued from +the forest, coming down two and two, for the path was narrow. They would +march four abreast when they reached the river road, and the evolutions +which accomplished this doubling of the columns, without changing step +or causing confusion, called forth praise from the two southern +Archbishops. + +A beautiful tableau of amity and brotherly love was presented to the +troops as they looked up at the three Archbishops standing together on +the balcony in relief against the gray walls of the Castle. The +officers, who were on horseback, raised their swords sky-pointing from +their helmets, for they recognized their overlord and his two notable +confreres. With the motion of one man the three Archbishops acknowledged +the salute. The troops cheered and cheered as the anaconda made its +sinuous way down the mountain-side, and company after company came +abreast the Castle. The Archbishops stood there until the last man +disappeared down the river road on his way to Coblentz. + +"May I ask you," said Mayence, addressing Treves, "to conduct me to the +flat roof of your Castle? Will you accompany us?" he inquired of +Cologne. + +Cologne and Treves being for once in agreement, the latter led the way, +and presently the three stood on the broad stone plateau which afforded +a truly striking panorama of the Rhine. The July sun sinking in the west +transformed the river into a crimson flood, and at that height the cool +evening breeze was delicious. Cologne stood with one hand on the +parapet, and gazed entranced at the scene, but the practical Mayence +paid no attention whatever to it. + +"Your troublesome guest, Treves, has one more request to make, which is +that you order his flag hoisted to the top of that pole." + +Treves at once departed to give this command, while Cologne, with +clouded brow, turned from his appreciation of the view. + +"My Lord," he said, "you have requested the raising of a signal." + +"Yes," was the reply. + +"A signal which calls your men from the Lahn to the landing at +Stolzenfels?" + +"Yes," repeated Mayence. + +"My Lord, I have kept my promise not only to the letter, but in the +spirit as well. My troops are marching peaceably away, and will reach +their barracks some time to-morrow. Although I exacted no promise from +you, you implied there was a truce between us, and that your army, like +my company, was not to be called into action of any kind." + +"Your understanding of our pact is concisely stated, even though my +share in that pact remained unspoken. A truce, did you say? Is it not +more than that? I hoped that my seconding of the nomination you proposed +proved me in complete accord with your views." + +"I am not in effect your prisoner, then?" + +"Surely not; so contrary to the fact is such an assumption that I +implore you to accept my hospitality. The signal, which I see is now at +the mast-head, calls for one barge only, and that contains no soldier, +merely a captain and his ten stout rowers, whom you may at this moment, +if you turn round, see emerging from the mouth of the Lahn. I present to +you, and to the Countess von Sayn, my Schloss of Martinsburg for as long +as you may require it. It is well furnished, well provisioned, and +attended to by a group of capable servants, who are at your command. I +suggest that you cross in my barge, in company with the Countess and her +kinsman, the Reverend Father. You agree, I take it, to convoy the lady +safely to her temporary restraint in Pfalz. It was her own request, you +remember." + +"I shall convoy her thither." + +"I am trusting to you entirely. The distance is but thirteen leagues, +and can be accomplished easily in a day. Once on the other side of the +river she may despatch her kinsman, or some more trustworthy messenger, +to her own Castle, and thus summon the two waiting-women who will share +her seclusion." + +"Is it your intention, my Lord, that her imprisonment shall--?" + +The Archbishop of Mayence held up his thin hand with a gesture of +deprecation. + +"I use no word so harsh as 'imprisonment.' The penance, if you wish so +to characterize it, is rather in the nature of a retreat, giving her +needed opportunity for reflection, and, I hope, for regret." + +"Nevertheless, my Lord, your action seems to me unnecessarily severe. +How long do you propose to detain her?" + +"I am pained to hear you term it severity, for her treatment will be of +the mildest description. I thought you would understand that no other +course was open to me. So far as I am personally concerned, she might +have said what pleased her, with no adverse consequences, but she +flouted the highest Court of the realm, and such contempt cannot be +overlooked. As for the duration of her discipline, it will continue +until the new Emperor is married, after which celebration the Countess +is free to go whither she pleases. I shall myself call at Pfalz four +days from now, that I may be satisfied the lady enjoys every comfort the +Castle affords." + +"And also, perhaps, to be certain she is there immured." + +Mayence's thin lips indulged in a wry smile. + +"I need no such assurance," he said, "since my Lord of Cologne has +pledged his word to see that the order of the Court is carried out." + +The conversation was here interrupted by the return of Treves. Already +the great barge was half-way across the river. The surging, swift +current swept it some distance below Stolzenfels, and the rowers, five a +side, were working strenuously to force it into slower waters. Lord, +lady, and monk crossed over to the mouth of the Lahn, and the barge +returned immediately to convey across horses and escort. + +As the valley of the Lahn opened out it presented a picture of quiet +sylvan beauty, apparently uninhabited by any living thing. The +Archbishop of Cologne rose, and, shading his eyes from the still radiant +sun, gazed intently up the little river. No floating craft was anywhere +in sight. He turned to the captain. + +"Where is the flotilla from Mayence?" he asked. + +"Flotilla, my Lord?" + +"Yes; a hundred barges sailed down from Mayence in the darkness either +last night or the night before, taking harbor here in the Lahn." + +"My Lord, even one barge, manned as this is, could not have journeyed +such a distance in so short a time, and, indeed, for a flotilla to +attempt the voyage, except in daylight, would have been impossible. No +barges have come down the Rhine for months, and had they ventured the +little Lahn is too shallow to harbor them." + +"Thank you, captain. I appear to be ignorant both of the history and the +geography of this district. If I were to ask you and your stout rowers +to take me down through the swiftest part of the river to Coblentz, how +soon would we reach that town?" + +"Very speedily, my Lord, but I could undertake no such voyage except at +the command of my master. He is not one to be disobeyed." + +"I quite credit that," said Cologne, sitting down again, the momentary +desire to recall his marching troops, that had arisen when he saw the +empty Lahn, dying down when he realized how effectually he had been +outwitted. + +When the horses were brought across, Father Ambrose, at the request of +the Countess, rode back to Sayn, and sent forward the two waiting-women +whom she required, and so well did he accomplish his task that they +arrived at Schloss Martinsburg before ten of the clock that night. At an +early hour next morning the little procession began its journey up the +Rhine, his Lordship and the Countess in front; the six horsemen bringing +up the rear. + +The lady was in a mood of deep dejection; the regret which Mayence had +anticipated as result of imprisonment already enveloped her. It was only +too evident that the Archbishop of Cologne was bitterly disappointed, +for he rode silently by her side making no attempt at conversation. They +rested for several hours during midday, arriving at Caub before the red +sun set, and now the Countess saw her pinnacled prison lying like an +anchored ship in midstream. + +At Caub they were met by a bearded, truculent-looking ruffian, who +introduced himself to the Archbishop as the Pfalzgraf von Stahleck. + +"You take us rather by surprise, Prince of Cologne," he said. "It is +true that my overlord, the Archbishop of Mayence, called upon me several +days ago while descending the Rhine in his ten-oared barge, and said +there was a remote chance that a prisoner might shortly be given into my +care. This had often happened before, for my Castle covers some gruesome +cells that extend under the river,--cells with secret entrances not +easily come by should any one search the Castle. It is sometimes +convenient that a prisoner of State should be immured in one of them +when the Archbishop has no room in his own Schloss Ehrenfels, so I paid +little attention, and merely said the prisoner would receive a welcome +on arrival. This morning there came one of the Archbishop's men from +Stolzenfels, and both my wife and myself were astonished to learn that +the prisoner would be here this evening under your escort, my Lord, and +that it was a woman we were to harbor. Further, she was to be given the +best suite of rooms we had in the Castle, and to be treated with all +respect as a person of rank. Now, this apartment is in no state of +readiness to receive such a lady, much less to house one of the dignity +of your Lordship." + +"It does not matter for me," replied the Archbishop. "Being, as I may +say, part soldier, the bed and board of an inn is quite acceptable upon +occasion." + +"Oh no, your Highness, such a hardship is not to be thought of. The +Castle of Gutenfels, standing above us, is comfortable as any on the +Rhine. Its owner, the Count Palatine, is fellow-Elector of yours, and a +very close friend of my overlord of Mayence, and I am told they vote +together whenever my overlord needs his assistance." + +"That is true," commented Cologne. + +"My overlord sent word that anything I needed for the accommodation of +her ladyship, he recognizing that my warning had been short, I should +requisition from the Count Palatine, so at midday I went up to call upon +him, not saying anything, of course, about State prisoners, male or +female. The moment he heard that you, my Lord, were visiting this +neighborhood, he begged me to tender to you, and to all your companions +or following, the hospitality of his Castle for so long as you might +honor him with your presence." + +"The Count Palatine is very gracious, and I shall be glad to accept +shelter and refreshment." + +"He would have been here to greet your Highness, but I was unable to +inform him at what hour you would arrive, so I waited for you myself, +and will be pleased to guide you to the gates of Gutenfels." + +The conversation was interrupted by a great clatter of galloping horses, +descending the hill with reckless speed, and at its foot swinging round +into the main street of the town. + +"Ha!" cried the amateur jailer, "here is the Count Palatine himself;" +and thus it is our fate to meet the fourth Elector of the Empire, who, +added to the three Archbishops, formed a quorum so potent that it could +elect or depose an Emperor at will. + +The cavalry of the Count Palatine was composed of fifty fully-armed men, +and their gallop through the town roused the echoes of that ancient +bailiwick, which, together with the Castle, belonged to the Palatinate. +The powerful noble extended a cordial welcome to his fellow-Elector, and +together they mounted to the Castle of Gutenfels. + +At dinner that night the Count Palatine proved an amiable host. Under +his geniality the charming Countess von Sayn gradually recovered her +lost good spirits, and forgot she was on her way to prison. After all, +she was young, naturally joyous, and loved interesting company, +especially that of the two Electors, who were well informed, and had +seen much of the world. The Archbishop also shook off some of his +somberness; indeed, all of it as the flagons flowed. Being asked his +preference in wine, he replied that yesterday he had been regaled with a +very excellent sample of Oberweseler. + +"That is from this neighborhood," replied the Count. "Oberwesel lies but +a very short distance below, on the opposite side of the river, but we +contend that our beverage of Caub is at least equal, and sometimes +superior. You shall try a good vintage of both. How did you come by +Oberweseler so far north as Stolzenfels?" + +"Simply because I was so forward, counting on the good nature of my +friend of Treves, that I stipulated for Oberweseler." + +"Ah! I am anxious to know why." + +"For reasons of history, not of the palate. A fair English Princess was +guest of Stolzenfels long ago, and this wine was served to her." + +"In that case," returned the Count, "I also shall fall back on history, +and first order brimming tankards of old Caub. Really, Madam," he said, +turning to Hildegunde, "we should have had Royalty here to meet you, +instead of two old wine-bibbers like his Highness and myself." + +The girl looked startled at this mention of Royalty, bringing to her +mind the turbulent events of yesterday. Nevertheless, with great +composure, she smiled at her enthusiastic host. + +"Still," went on the Count, "if we are not royal ourselves, 'tis a +degree we are empowered to confer, and, indeed, may be very shortly +called upon to bestow. That is true from what I hear, is it not, your +Highness?" + +"Yes," replied the Archbishop gravely. + +"Well, as I was about to say, this Castle belonged to the Falkensteins, +and was sold by them to the Palatinate. Rumor, legend, history, call it +what you like, asserts that the most beautiful woman ever born on the +Rhine was Countess Beatrice of Falkenstein. But when I drink to the +toast I am about to offer I shall, Madam," he smiled at Hildegunde, +"assert that the legend no longer holds, a contention I am prepared to +maintain by mortal combat. Know then that the Earl of Cornwall, who was +elected King of Germany in 1257, met Beatrice of Falkenstein in this +Castle. The meeting was brought about by the Electors themselves, who, +stupid matchmakers, attempted to coerce each into a marriage with the +other. Beatrice refused to marry a foreigner. + +"The Chronicles are a little vague about the most interesting part of +the negotiations, but minutely plain about the outcome. In some manner +the Earl and Beatrice met, and he became instantly enamored of her. This +is the portion so deplorably slurred by these old monkish writers. I +need hardly tell you that the Earl himself succeeded where the seven +Electors failed. Beatrice became Cornwall's wife and Queen of Germany, +and they lived happily ever afterwards. + +"I give you the toast!" cried the chivalrous Count Palatine, rising. "To +the cherished memory of the Royal lovers of Gutenfels!" + +The Archbishop's eyes twinkled as he looked across the table at +Hildegunde. + +"This seems to be a time of Royal betrothals," he said, raising his +flagon. + +"'Seems' is the right word, Guardian," replied the Countess. + +Then she sipped the ancient wine of Caub. + +Next morning Hildegunde was early afoot. Notwithstanding her trouble of +mind, she had slept well, and awakened with the birds, so great is the +influence of youth and health. During her last conscious moments the +night before, as she lay in the stately bed of the most noble room the +Castle contained, she bitterly accused herself for the disastrous +failure of the previous day. The Archbishop of Cologne had given her +good counsel that was not followed, and his disappointment with the +result, generously as he endeavored to conceal it, was doubtless the +deeper because undiscussed. Thinking of coming captivity, a dream of +grim Pfalz was expected, but instead the girl's spirit wandered through +the sweet seclusion of Nonnenwerth, living again that happy, earlier +time, free from politics and the tramp of armed men. + +In the morning the porter, at her behest, withdrew bolt, bar, and chain, +allowing exit into the fresh, cool air, and skirting the Castle, she +arrived at a broad terrace which fronted it. A fleecy mist extending +from shore to shore concealed the waters of the Rhine, and partially +obliterated the little village of Caub at the foot of the hill. Where +she stood the air was crystal clear, and she seemed to be looking out on +a broad snow-field of purest white. Beyond Caub its surface was pierced +by the dozen sharp pinnacles of her future prison, looking like a bed of +spikes, upon which one might imagine a giant martyr impaled by the +verdict of a cruel Archbishop. + +Gazing upon this nightmare Castle, whose tusks alone were revealed, the +girl formulated the resolution but faintly suggested the night before. +On her release should ensue an abandonment of the world, and the +adoption of a nun's veil in the convent opposite Drachenfels, an island +exchanged for an island; turmoil for peace. + +At breakfast she met again the jovial Count Palatine, and her more sober +guardian, who both complimented her on the results of her beauty rest, +the one with great gallantry, the other with more reserve, as befitted a +Churchman. The Archbishop seemed old and haggard in the morning light, +and it was not difficult to guess that no beauty sleep had soothed his +pillow. It wrung the girl's heart to look at him, and again she accused +herself for lack of all tact and discretion, wishing that her guardian +took his disappointment more vengefully, setting her to some detested +task that she might willingly perform. + +The hospitable Count, eager that they should stop at least another night +under his roof, pressed his invitation upon them, and the Archbishop +gave a tacit consent. + +"If the Countess is not too tired," said Cologne, "I propose that she +accompany me on a little journey I have in view farther up the river. We +will return here in the evening." + +"I should be delighted," cried Hildegunde, "for all sense of fatigue has +been swept away by a most restful night." + +The good-natured Count left them to their own devices, and shortly +afterwards guardian and ward rode together down the steep declivity to +the river. The mist was already driven away, except a wisp here and +there clinging to the gray surface of the water, trailing along as if +drawn by the current, for the air was motionless, and there was promise +of a sultry day. They proceeded in silence until a bend in the Rhine +shut Caub and its sinister water-prison out of sight, and then it was +the girl who spoke. + +"Guardian," she said, "have I offended you beyond forgiveness?" + +A gentle smile came to his lips as he gazed upon her with affection. + +"You have not offended me at all, my dear," he said, "but I am grieved +at thwarting circumstance." + +"I have been thinking over circumstances too, and hold myself solely to +blame for their baffling opposition. I will submit without demur to +whatever length of imprisonment may please, and, if possible, soften the +Archbishop of Mayence. After my release I shall ask your consent that I +may forthwith join the Sisterhood at Nonnenwerth. I wish to divide my +wealth equally between yourself and the convent." + +The Archbishop shook his head. + +"I could not accept such donation." + +"Why not? The former Archbishop of Cologne accepted Linz from my +ancestress Matilda." + +"That was intended to be but a temporary loan." + +"Well; call my benefaction temporary if you like, to be kept until I +call for it, but meanwhile to be used at your discretion." + +"It is quite impossible," said the Archbishop firmly. + +"Does that mean you will not allow me to adopt the religious life?" + +"It means, my child, that I should not feel justified in permitting this +renunciation of the world until you knew more of what you were giving +up." + +"I know enough already." + +"You think so, but your experience of it is too recent for us to expect +unbiased judgment this morning. I should insist on a year, at least, and +preferably two years, part of that time to be spent in Frankfort and in +Cologne. I anticipate a great improvement in Frankfort when the new +Emperor comes to the throne. If at the end of two years you are still of +the same mind, I shall offer no further opposition." + +"I shall never change my intention." + +"Perhaps not. I am told that the determination of a woman is +irrevocable, so a little delay does not much matter. Meanwhile, another +problem passes my comprehension. I have thought and thought about it, +and am convinced there is a misunderstanding somewhere, which possibly +will be cleared away too late. I am quite certain that Father Ambrose +did not meet Prince Roland in Frankfort." + +"Do you, then, dispute the word of Father Ambrose?" asked the girl, +quickly checking the accent of indignation that arose in her voice, for +humility was to be her role ever after. + +"Father Ambrose is at once both the gentlest and most truthful of men. +He has undoubtedly seen somebody rob a merchant in Frankfort. He has +undoubtedly been imprisoned among wine-casks; but that this thief and +this jailer was Roland is incredible to me who know the young man, and +physically impossible, for Prince Roland at that time was himself a +prisoner, as, indeed, he is to-day. Prince Roland cannot be liberated +from Ehrenfels without an order signed by Mayence, Treves, and myself. I +alone have not the power to encompass his freedom, and Mayence is +equally powerless although he is owner of the Castle. Some scoundrel is +walking the streets of Frankfort pretending to be Roland." + +"In that case, my Lord, he would not deny his identity when accosted on +the bridge." + +"A very clever point, my dear, but it does not overcome my difficulty. +There might be a dozen reasons why the rascal would not incriminate +himself to any stranger who thus took him by surprise. However, it is +useless to argue the question, for I persuade you as little as you +persuade me. The practical thing is to fathom the misunderstanding, and +remove it. Will you assist me in this?" + +"Willingly, if I can, Guardian." + +"Very well. I must first inform you that your imprisonment is likely to +be very short. You are to know that the harmony supposed to exist in +Stolzenfels is largely mythical: I left behind me the seeds of discord. +I proposed that the glum niece of Treves, whom you met at our historic +lunch, should be the future Empress. This nomination was seconded by +Mayence himself, and received with unconcealed joy by my brother of +Treves." + +"Then for once the Court was unanimous? I think your choice an admirable +one." + +"The Archbishop of Mayence does not agree with you, my dear." + +"Then why did he second your nomination?" + +"Because he is so much more clever than Treves, who a few minutes later +would have been the seconder." + +"Why should his Lordship of Mayence think one thing and act another?" + +"Why is he always doing it? No one can guess what Mayence really thinks, +if he is judged by what he says. Were Treves' niece to become Empress, +her uncle would speedily realize his power, and Mayence would lose his +leadership. Could Mayence to-day secretly promote you to the position of +Empress, he would gladly do so." + +"But won't he at once look for some one else?" + +"Certainly. That choice is now occupying his mind. His seconding of the +nomination was merely a ruse to gain time, but if he proposes any one +else he will find both Treves and myself against him. His only hope of +circumventing the ambition of Treves is that something may happen, +causing you to change your mind concerning Prince Roland." + +"You forget, Guardian," protested the girl, "that his Lordship of +Mayence said he would not permit me to marry Prince Roland after the way +I had spoken and acted." + +"He said that, my dear, under the influence of great resentment against +you, but Mayence never allows resentment or any other feeling to stand +in the way of his own interests. If you wrote him a contrite letter +regretting your defiance of him, and expressing your willingness to bow +to his wishes, I am very sure he would welcome the communication as a +happy solution of the quandary in which he finds himself." + +"You wish me to do this, Guardian?" she asked wistfully. + +"Not until you are satisfied that Prince Roland is innocent of the +charges you make against him." + +"How can I receive such assurance?" + +"Ah, now you come to the object of this apparently purposeless journey. +I have had much experience in the world you are so anxious to renounce, +and although I have seen the wicked prosper for a time, yet my faith has +never been shaken in an overruling Providence, and what happened last +night set me thinking so deeply that daylight stole in upon my +meditations." + +"Oh, my poor Guardian, I knew you had not slept, and all because of a +worthless creature like myself, and a wicked creature, too, for I did +not see the hand of Providence so visible to you." + +"Surely, my dear, a moment's thought would reveal it to you. Remember +how we came almost to the door of the prison, when a temporary reprieve +was handed to us by that coarse reprobate, the Pfalzgraf. Your suite of +rooms was not yet ready, and thus we found bestowed upon us another free +day; a day of untrammeled liberty, quite unlooked for. Now, much may be +done in a day. An Empire has been lost and won within a few hours. With +this gift came a revelation. That wine-blotched Pfalzgraf would have +shown no consideration for you: to him a prisoner is a prisoner, to be +cast anywhere, lock the door, and have done, but a wholesome fear had +been instilled into him by his overlord. The Archbishop of Mayence had +taken thought for your comfort, ordering that the best rooms in the +Castle should be placed at your disposal. Hence, after all that had +passed, his Lordship felt no malignancy against you, and I dare say +would have been glad to rescind the order for your imprisonment, were it +not that he would never admit defeat." + +"Oh, Guardian, what an imagination is yours! I am sure his Lordship of +Mayence will never forgive me." + +"His Lordship of Mayence, my dear, is in a dilemma from which no one +except yourself can extricate him." + +"His own cleverness will extricate him." + +"Perhaps. Still, I'm not troubling about him. My thoughts are much too +selfish for that. I wish you to lift me from _my_ uncertainty." + +"You mean about Prince Roland? I shall do whatever you ask of me." + +"I place no command, but I proffer a suggestion." + +"It shall be a command, nevertheless." + +"We have left your own prison far behind, and are approaching that of +Prince Roland. To the door of that detaining Castle I propose to lead +you. I am forbidden by my compact with the other Electors to see Prince +Roland or to hold any communication with him. The custodian of the +Castle, who knows me well, will not refuse any request I make, even if I +ask to see the young man himself. He will therefore not hesitate to +admit you when I require him to do so. To take away any taint of +surreptitiousness about my action, interfering, as one might say, with +another man's house, I shall this evening write to the Archbishop of +Mayence, tell him exactly what I have done, and why." + +"Do you intend, then, that I should see Prince Roland and talk with +him?" + +"Yes." + +"My dear Guardian!" cried the girl, her face flushing red, "what on +earth can I say to him? How am I to excuse my intrusion?" + +"A prisoner, I fancy, does not resent intrusion, especially if the +intruder is--" The old man smiled as he looked at the girl, whose blush +grew deeper and deeper; then, seeing her confusion, he added: "There are +many things to say. Introduce yourself as the ward of his Lordship of +Cologne; reveal that your guardian has confided to you that Prince +Roland is to be the future Emperor; ask for some assurance from him that +the property descending to you from your ancestors shall not be +molested; or perhaps, better still, with the same introduction, tell him +the story of Father Ambrose. Add that this has disquieted you: demand +the truth, hearken to what the youth says for himself, thank him, and +withdraw. It needs no long conversation, though I am prepared to hear +that he wished to lengthen your stay. I am certain that five minutes +face to face with him will completely overturn all Father Ambrose has +said to his disparagement, and a few simple words from him will probably +dispel the whole mystery. If someone is personating him in Frankfort it +is more than likely he knows who it is." + +They traveled a generous furlong together in silence, the girl's head +bowed and her brow troubled. At last, as if with an effort, she cleared +doubt away, and raised her head. + +"I will do it," she said decisively. + +The Archbishop heaved a deep sigh of relief. He knew now he was out of +the wood. + +"Is this Assmannshausen we are coming to?" she asked, as if to hint that +the subject on which they had talked so earnestly was finally done with. + +"No; this is Lorch, and that is the Castle of Nollich standing above +it." + +"I hope," said the girl, with a sigh of weariness, "that no English +Princess about to marry an Emperor lodged there, or no Englishman who +was to become an Emperor--" + +The Archbishop interrupted the plaint with a hearty laugh, the first he +had enjoyed for several days. + +"The English seem an interfering race," she went on. "I wish they would +attend to their own affairs." + +"Nollich is uncontaminated," said the Archbishop, "though in olden days +a reckless knight on horseback rode up to secure his lady-love, and I +believe rode down again with her, and his route is still called the +Devil's Ladder." + +"Did the marriage turn out so badly?" + +"No; I believe they lived happily ever after; but the ascent was so +cliff-like that mountain sprites are supposed to have given their +assistance." + +"How much farther is Assmannshausen?" + +"Less than two leagues. We will stop there and refresh ourselves. Are +you tired?" + +"Oh no; not in the least. I merely wish the ordeal was past." + +"You are a brave girl, Hildegunde." + +"I am anything but that, Guardian. Still, do not fear I shall flinch." + +After partaking of the midday meal at Assmannshausen, the Countess +proposed that they should leave their horses in the stable, and walk the +short third of a league to Ehrenfels, and to this her guardian agreed. + +He found more difficulty with the custodian than had been expected. The +man objected, trembling. Without a written order from his master he dare +not allow any one to visit the prisoner. He would be delighted to oblige +his Lordship of Cologne, but he was merely a poor wretch who had no +option in the matter. + +"Very well," said Cologne. "I have just come from your master, who is +stopping with my brother Treves at Stolzenfels. If you persist I must +then request lodgings from you until such time as a speedy messenger can +bring your master hither. This journey may cause him great +inconvenience, and should such be the case, I fear you will fare ill +with him." + +"That may be, my Lord, but I must do my duty." + +"Are you sure you have already done it on all occasions?" asked the +Archbishop severely. + +The man's face became ghastly in its pallor. + +"I don't know what you mean, my Lord." + +"Then I will quickly tell you what I mean. It is rumored that Prince +Roland has been seen on the streets of Frankfort." + +"How--how could that be, my Lord?" + +"That is exactly what I wish to know. I believe the Prince is not in +your custody." + +"I assure you, my Lord," said the now thoroughly frightened man, "that +his Highness is in his room." + +"Very well; then conduct this lady thither. Although she does not know +the Prince, a relative of hers who does asserts that he met his Highness +in Frankfort. I said this was impossible if you had done that duty you +prate so much about. The lady merely wishes to ask him for some +explanation of this affair, so make your choice. Shall she go up with +you now, or must I send for the other two Archbishops?" + +There was but one comforting phrase in this remark, namely, that the +lady did not know the Prince. Still, it was a dreadful risk, yet the +custodian hesitated no longer. He took down a bunch of keys, and asked +the Countess to follow him. Ascending the stair, he unlocked the door, +and stood aside for the Countess to pass through. + +Some one with wildly tousled hair sat sprawling in a chair; arms on the +table, and head sunk forward down upon them. A full tankard of wine +within his reach, and a flagon had been overset, sluicing the table with +its contents, which still fell drip, drip, drip, to the floor. + +The young man raised his head, aroused by the harsh unlocking of the +door, and with the crash it made as his father flung it hard against the +stone wall for the purpose of giving him warning, but the youth was in +no condition to profit by this thoughtfulness, nor to understand the +signals his father made from behind the frightened girl. He clutched +wildly at the overturned flagon, and with an oath cried: + +"Bring me more wine, you old--" + +Staggering to his feet, he threw the flagon wide, then slipped on the +spilled wine and fell heavily to the floor, roaring defiance at the +world. + +The panic-stricken girl shrank back, crying to the jailer: + +"Let me out! Close the door quickly, and lock it!" an order obeyed with +alacrity. + +When Hildegunde emerged to the court her guardian asked no question. The +horror in her face told all. + +"I am sorry, my Lord," said the cringing custodian, "but his Highness is +drunk." + +"Does this--does this happen often?" + +"Alas! yes, my Lord." + +"Poor lad, poor lad! The sins of the fathers shall be visited on the +children to the third and fourth generation. Hildegunde, forgive me. Let +us away and forget it all." + +The next morning the Countess began her imprisonment in Pfalz. + + + + +XV + +JOURNEYS END IN LOVERS' MEETING + + +Roland slept until the sun was about an hour high over the western +hills. He found the captain waiting patiently for him to awake, and then +that useful martinet instantly set his crew at tying up the bales which +had been torn open, placing them once more in the hold. He was about to +do the same with the weapons captured from Furstenberg, but Greusel +stepped forward, and asked him to put pikes, battle-axes, and the long +swords into the cabin. + +Roland nodded his approval, saying: + +"They may prove useful instruments in case of an attack on the barge. +Our own swords are just a trifle short for adding interest to an +assault." + +When once more the hatches were down, and the deck clear, supper was +served. Shortly after sunset, Roland told the captain to cast off, +directing him to keep to the eastern shore, passing between what might +be called the marine Castle of Pfalz and the village of Caub, with the +strictest silence he could enjoin upon his crew. Pfalz stands upon a +rock in the Rhine, a short distance up the river from Caub, while above +that village on the hill behind are situated the strong, square towers +of Gutenfels. + +"Don't you intend to pay a call upon Pfalzgrafenstein?" asked Ebearhard. +"It is notoriously the most pestilent robber's nest between Mayence and +Cologne." + +"No," said Roland. "On this occasion Pfalz shall escape. You see, +Ebearhard, on our first trip down the Rhine it is not my intention to +fight if I can avoid conflict. The plan which proved successful with the +four castles we have visited is impossible so far as Pfalz is concerned. +If we attempted to enter this waterschloss by stealth, we would be +discovered by those levying contributions on the barge. There is no +cover to conceal us, so I shall give Pfalz the go-by, and also +Gutenfels, because the latter is not a robber castle, but is owned by +the Count Palatine, a true gentleman and no thief. The next object of +our attentions will be Schonburg, on the western side of the river, near +Oberwesel." + +As the grotesque, hexagonal bulk of the Pfalz, with its numerous jutting +corners and turrets, and over all the pentagonal tower, appeared dimly +in the center of the Rhine, under the clear stars, the captain ordered +his men to lie flat on the deck, himself following their example. Roland +and his company were already seated in the cabin, and the great barge, +lying so low in the water as to be almost invisible with its black +paint, floated noiseless as a dream down the swift current. + +Without the slightest warning came a shock, and every man on the lockers +was flung to the floor of the cabin, with cries of dismay, for too well +they recognized the preliminary to their disasters of the night before. +Roland sprang up on deck, and found the boat swinging round broadside to +the current, which had swept it so near to the Castle that at first it +seemed to have struck against one of the outlying rocks. The fantastic +form of the Pfalz hung over them, looking like some weird building seen +in a nightmare, its sharp, pointed pinnacles outlined against the +starlit sky. + +The captain, muttering sonorous German oaths, ordered his men to the +sweeps, but Roland saw at once that they were too close to the ledge of +rock for any chance of escape. He hurried down into the cabin. + +"Every man his sword, and follow me as silently as possible!" + +Up on deck again, Roland said to the captain: + +"Let your rowers help the chain to bring the barge alongside, but when +the robbers appear, pretend to be getting away, although you must +instantly obey them when ordered to cease your efforts." + +The prow of the boat ground against the solid rock, jammed in between +the stout chain and the low cliff. Roland was the first to spring +ashore, and the rest nimbly followed him. With every motion of the barge +the bell inside the Castle rang, and now they could hear the bestirring +of the garrison, and clashing of metal, although the single door of the +Pfalz had not yet been opened. This door stood six feet above the +plateau of rock, and could be entered or quitted only by means of a +ladder. + +Roland led his men to a place of effective concealment along the western +wall of the Pfalz, only just in time, for as he peered round the corner, +his men standing back against the wall to the rear, he saw the flash of +torches from the now-open door, and the placing of a stout ladder at a +steep angle between the threshold and the floor of rock below. Most of +the garrison, however, did not wait for this convenience, but leaped +impetuously from doorway to rock. Others slid down the ladder, and all +rushed headlong towards the barge, which made its presence known by the +grinding of its side against the rock, and also by the despairing orders +of the captain, and the hurrying footsteps of his men on deck. + +More leisurely down the ladder came two officers, followed by one whom +Roland recognized as lord of the Castle, Pfalzgraf Hermann von Stahleck, +a namesake and relative of the Laughing Baron of Furstenberg, and quite +as ruthless a robber as he. + +"Cease your efforts at the prow," shouted the Pfalzgraf to the captain +when he had descended the ladder, "and concentrate your force at the +stern, swinging your boat round broadside on to the landing." + +The captain obeyed, and presently the boat lay in such position as the +nobleman desired. Now there was a great commotion as, at a word from the +Pfalzgraf, the garrison fell on the barge, and began to wrench off the +hatches, a task which they well knew how to perform. + +"Follow as quietly as possible," whispered Roland to the two lieutenants +behind him, who, under their breath, passed on word to the men. Roland +ran nimbly up the ladder. No guard was set where none had ever been +needed before. Greusel was the last to ascend, then the ladder was +pulled up, and the massive door swung shut, bolted and chained. + +The invaders found torches stuck here and there along the wall, and the +picturesque courtyard, with its irregular balconies and stairways, +seemed, in the flickering light, more spacious than was actually the +case. + +Although for the moment in safety, Roland experienced a sense of +imprisonment as he gazed round the narrow limits of this enclosure. He +had endeavored to count the number of men who followed the Pfalzgraf, +but their impetuosity in seeking the barge prevented an accurate +estimate, although he knew there were more than double the force that +obeyed him, and therefore it would be suicidal to lead his untrained +coterie against the seasoned warriors of Stahleck. + +He ordered Greusel to take with him six men, and search the Castle, +bringing into the courtyard whomsoever they might find; also to discover +whether any window existed that looked out upon the eastern +landing-place. The remainder of his men he grouped at the door, under +command of Ebearhard. + +"I fear, Ebearhard," he said, "that I boasted prematurely in thinking +good luck would attend me now that I lead what appears to be an obedient +following. Here we are in a trap, and unless we can escape through +rat-holes, I admit that I fail to see for the moment how we are to get +safely afloat again." + +"We are in better fettle than the Pfalzgraf and his men outside," +returned Ebearhard, "because this fortress is doubtless well supplied +with provisions, and is considered impregnable, while the Pfalzgraf's +impetuous chaps, who did not know enough to stay in comfortable quarters +when they had them, are without shelter and without food. You have +certainly done the best you could in the circumstances, and for those +circumstances you are free of blame, since, not being a wizard, you +could scarcely know of the chain." + +"Indeed, Ebearhard, it is just in that respect I blame myself, +neglecting your own good example, who discovered the chain at +Furstenberg. This trap is a new invention, and, so far as I know, has +never before been attempted on the Rhine. I might have remembered that +Stahleck here is cousin to the Red Margrave, who likely has told him of +the device. Indeed, the chances are that Stahleck himself was the +contriver of the chain, for he seems a man of much more craft and +intelligence than that huge, laughing animal farther up the river. I +should have ordered the captain to tie up against the eastern bank, and +then sent some men in a small boat to learn if the way was clear. No, +Ebearhard, I blame myself for this muddle, and, through anxiety to pass +the Pfalz, I have landed myself and my men within its walls. I must pace +this courtyard for a time, and ponder what next to do. Go you, +Ebearhard, with the men to the door. Allow no talking or noise. Listen +intently, and report to me if you hear anything. You see, Ebearhard, the +devil of it is that Stahleck, like his cousin with Cologne, swears +allegiance to the Archbishop of Mayence, and here am I, after destroying +the fief of one Archbishop, securely snared in the fief of another. I +fear their Lordships' next meeting with me will not pass off so amicably +as did the last." + +"_Next_ meeting?" cried Ebearhard in astonishment; "have you ever met +the Archbishops?" + +Roland gasped, realizing that his absorption in one subject had nearly +caused him to betray his momentous secret. + +"Ah, I remember," continued Ebearhard. "It was on account of the +Archbishop's presence in Bonn that you returned from that town when +first you journeyed up the Rhine." + +"Yes," said Roland, with relief. + +"It seems to me," went on Ebearhard consolingly, "that even if we may +not leave the Castle, at least the Pfalzgraf cannot penetrate into the +stronghold, therefore we are safe enough." + +"Not so, Ebearhard," replied his chief. "The Pfalzgraf has the barge, +remember, and it can carry his whole force to Caub or elsewhere, +returning with ample provisions and siege instruments that will batter +in the door despite all we can do. Nevertheless, let us keep up our +hearts. Get you to the gate, Ebearhard. I must have time to think before +Greusel returns." + +Alone, with bent head, he paced back and forwards across the courtyard +under the wavering light of the torches. Very speedily he concluded that +no plan could be formed until Greusel made his report regarding the +intricacies of the Castle. + +"My luck is against me! My luck is against me!" he said aloud to +himself, as if the sound of his own voice might suggest some way out of +the difficulty. + +"Luck always turns against a thief and a marauder," said a sweet and +clear voice behind him; "and how can it be otherwise, when the +gallows-tree stands at the end of his journey." + +Roland stopped in his walk, and turned abruptly towards the sound. He +saw standing there, just descended from the stairway at her back, one +quite evidently a lady; not more than eighteen, perhaps, but +nevertheless with a flash of defiance in her somber eyes, which were +bent fearlessly upon him. The two tirewomen accompanying her shrank +timorously to the background, palpably panic-stricken, and ready to +faint with fright. + +"Ah, Madam, how came you here?" cried Roland, ignoring her insulting +words, too much surprised by her beauty of face and form to think of +aught else. + +"I came here, because your bully upstairs hammered at my door and bade +me open, which I would not do, defying him to break it down if he had +the power. It so happened that he possessed the power, and used it." + +"I deeply regret that you should have been disturbed, Madam. My +lieutenant erred through over-zeal, and I ask your pardon for the +offense." + +The girl laughed. + +"Why, sir, you are the politest of pirates, but, indeed, your lieutenant +seems a harsh man. Without even removing his bonnet, he commanded me to +betake myself to the courtyard and report to his chief, which obediently +I have done." + +"I did not guess that women inhabited this robber's nest. My lieutenant +is searching for men in hiding, so please accept my assurance that you +will suffer no further annoyance. You are surely not alone in this +house?" + +"Oh no. Her ladyship the Pfalzgraf's wife, and her entourage, have +sought shelter in another part of the Castle, and presently they will +all troop down here, prisoners to your most ungallant subordinate; that +is, should their doors prove no stouter than mine, or if your furious +men have not dislocated their shoulders." + +"How came you to be absent from her ladyship's party?" + +"Because, urbane pirate captain, I am an unwilling prisoner in this +stronghold, being an obstreperous person, who refused to obey my +superiors; those set in authority over me. Consequently am I immured in +this dismal dungeon of the water-rats, and thus, youthful pirate, I +welcome even so red-handed an outlaw as yourself." + +"Then are we in like case, my lady of midnight beauty, for I, too, am a +prisoner in Pfalzgrafenstein, and, when you came, was cogitating some +plan of escape. Therefore, rebellious maiden, the sword of this +red-handed freebooter is most completely at your service," and the +speaker once more doffed his bonnet with a gallant sweep that caused the +plume to kiss the flagstones at his feet, and he bowed low to the brave +girl who had shown no fear of him. + + + + +XVI + +MY LADY SCATTERS THE FREEBOOTERS AND CAPTURES THEIR CHIEF + + +Greusel appeared on one of the balconies, and called down to his leader. + +"There are," he said, "a number of women in the western rooms of the +Castle. They have bolted their doors, but tell me that the rooms contain +the Pfalzgravine von Stahleck and other noble ladies, with their +tirewomen. What am I to do?" + +"Place a guard in the corridor, Greusel, to make sure that these ladies +communicate with no one outside the fortress." + +"I thought it well," explained Greusel, "not to break in the doors +without definite instructions from you to that effect." + +"Quite right. Tell the ladies we will not molest them." + +"You molested me!" cried the handsome girl in the courtyard, her dark +eyes flashing in the glow of the torches. + +"This person," said the unemotional Greusel, betraying no eye for +beauty, "called us every uncomplimentary name she could think of. We +were the scum of the earth, according to her account." + +The girl laughed scornfully. + +"But I would not have dislodged her," continued Greusel, unperturbed, +"had she not said there was a window in her room, which is on the +eastern side of the Castle, overlooking the operations of the Pfalzgraf +on the barge, and she proclaimed her determination to warn Stahleck that +his Castle was filled with freebooters, as soon as she could make her +voice heard above the din at the landing. Therefore I broke in the door, +ordering her and the tirewomen to descend to the courtyard. On examining +her room I find there is no such window as she described, and she could +not communicate with the Count, so I advise that you send her back +again." + +Once more the young lady laughed, and exclaimed: + +"I could not break down the door for myself, so compelled you and your +clods to do it. I am immured here; a reluctant captive. You will not +have me sent back to my cell, I hope, Commander?" + +"No; if you are really my fellow-prisoner, and not one of the enemy." + +"She may be deluding you also," warned Greusel. + +"I will take the risk of that," replied Roland, smiling at the girl, who +smiled back at him. She had a will of her own, but seemed sensitively +responsive to fair treatment. + +"Are there any men-servants?" asked Roland. + +"Only three, and they are tottering with age," replied Greusel, "more +frightened than the women themselves. Nevertheless, one of the retainers +is important, being, as he told me, keeper of the treasure-house. I +relieved him of his keys, and find that the strong-room is well supplied +with bags of gold. 'Twill be the richest haul yet, excepting our two +barrels of coin from--" + +"Hush, hush!" cried Roland. "Mention no names. Did you discover any +other exit excepting the door by which we entered?" + +"No; but at the northern end there is a window through which a man of +ordinary size might pass. It is, however, high above the rocks, and I +discern floating in the tide a fleet of small boats." + +"Ah," said Roland, "that is important." + +"Taken in conjunction with the gold, most amiable robber," suggested the +girl. + +"Taken in conjunction with the gold," repeated Roland, smiling again; +and adding, "Taken also in conjunction with a lady who, if I understand +her, wishes to escape from the Pfalz." + +"You are right," agreed the young girl archly. "Do I receive a share of +the money?" + +"Yes; if you join our band." + +"Oh!" she cried, with a pout of feigned disappointment, "I thought you +had already accepted me as a member. And what am I to call my new +overlord, who acquires wealth so successfully that he does not wish the +amount mentioned, or the place from which it was taken specified?" + +"My name is Roland. Will you consent to a fair exchange?" + +"I am called Hilda by my friends." + +"Then, Hilda," said the young man, looking at her with admiration, "I +welcome you as one of my lieutenants." + +"One, indeed!" she exclaimed, with affected indignation. "I shall be +first lieutenant or nothing." + +"Up to this moment Herr Joseph Greusel, who so unceremoniously made your +acquaintance, has been my chief lieutenant, but I willingly depose him, +and give you his place." + +"Do you hear that, Joseph?" Hilda called up to the man leaning over the +balcony. + +The deposed one made a grimace, but no reply. + +"Set your guard, and come down, Greusel." + +Presently Greusel appeared in the courtyard, followed by four men. + +"I have left two on guard," he said. + +"Right. What have you done with the servants?" + +"Tied them up in a hard knot. I found a loft full of ropes." + +"Right again. Take your four men, and stand guard at the door. Send +Ebearhard to me." + +Before Ebearhard arrived, Roland turned to the girl. + +"Retire to your room," he said, "and bid your women gather together +whatever you wish to carry with you." + +"I'd rather stay where I am," protested Hilda, "being anxious to hear +what your plans are. I confess I don't know how you can emerge from this +Castle in safety." + +"Fraeulein Hilda, the first duty of a chief lieutenant is obedience." + +"Refusing that, what will you do?" + +"I shall call two of my men, cause you to be transported to your room, +and order them to see that you do not leave it again." + +"Remaining here when you have departed?" + +"That, of course." + +"You will take the gold, however." + +"Certainly; the gold obeys me; doing what I ask of it." + +For a few moments the girl stood there, gazing defiance at him, but +although a slight smile hovered about his lips, she realized in some +subtle way--woman's intuition, perhaps--that he meant what he said. Her +eyes lowered, and an expression of pique came into her pretty face; then +she breathed a long sigh. + +"I shall go to my room," she said very quietly. + +"I will call upon you the moment I have given some instructions to my +third lieutenant." + +"You need not trouble," she replied haughtily, speaking, however, as +mildly as himself. "I remain a prisoner of the Pfalzgraf von Stahleck, +who, though a distinguished pillager like yourself, nevertheless +possesses some instincts of a gentleman." + +With that, the young woman retired slowly up the stairway, and +disappeared, followed by her two servants. + +"Ebearhard," said Roland, when that official appeared, "Greusel has +discovered a window to the north through which yourself and a number of +your men can get down to the rocks with the aid of a cord, and he tells +me there is a loft full of ropes. A flotilla of boats is tied up at the +lower end of the Castle. He has visited the treasury, and finds it well +supplied with bags of coin. I intend to effect a junction between those +bags and that flotilla. Our position here is quite untenable, for there +is probably some secret entrance to this Castle that we know nothing of. +There are also a number of women within whom we cannot coerce, and must +not starve. Truth to tell, I fear them more than I do the ruffians +outside. Have any of the men-at-arms discovered that we pulled up the +ladder and closed the door?" + +"I think not, for in such case they would return from their pillages as +quickly as did the Red Margrave when he found his house was ablaze. My +opinion is that they are making a clean job of looting the barge." + +"If that is so, our barrels of gold are gone, rendering it the more +necessary that we should carry away every kreuzer our friend Stahleck +possesses. Call, therefore, every man except one from the door. Greusel +has the keys, and will lead you to the treasury. Hoist the bags to the +north window. While your men are doing this, rive a stout rope so that +you may all speedily descend to the rocks, except as many as are +necessary to lower the bags. When this is accomplished, Greusel is to +report to me from the balcony, and then descend, taking with him the man +on guard at the door. Apportion men and bags in all the boats but one. +That one I shall take charge of. Put Greusel in command of the flotilla, +and tell him to convey his fleet as quietly as possible to the eastern +shore; then paddle up in slack water until he is, say, a third of a +league above Pfalz. There he must await my skiff. You will stand by that +skiff until I join you. I shall likely be accompanied by three women, so +retain the largest and most comfortable of the small boats." + +Ebearhard raised his eyebrows at the mention of the women, but said +nothing. + +Roland went in person to the room occupied by the young woman, and +knocked at her door, whereupon it was opened very promptly. + +"Madam," he said, "there is opportunity for escape if you care to avail +yourself of it." + +The girl had been seated when he entered, but now she rose, speaking in +a voice that was rather tremulous. + +"Sir, I was wrong to disobey you when you had treated me so kindly. I +shall therefore punish myself by remaining where I am." + +"In that case, Madam, you will punish me as well; and, indeed, I deserve +it, forgetting as I did for the moment that I addressed a lady. If you +will give me the pleasure of escorting you, I shall conduct you in +safety to whatever place of refuge you wish to reach." + +"Sir, you are most courteous, but I fear my intended destination might +take you farther afield than would be convenient for you." + +"My time is my own, and nothing could afford me greater gratification +than the assurance of your security. Tell me your destination." + +"It is the Convent of Nonnenwerth, situated on an island larger than +this, near Rolandseck." + +"I shall be happy to convoy you thither." + +"Again I thank you. It is my desire to join the Sisterhood there." + +"Not to become a nun?" cried Roland, an intonation of disappointment in +his voice. + +"Yes; although to this determination my guardian is opposed." + +"Alas," said Roland, with a sigh, "I confess myself in agreement with +him so far as your taking the veil is concerned. Still, imprisonment +seems an unduly harsh alternative." + +The girl's seriousness fled, and she smiled at him. + +"As you have had some experience of my obstinacy, and proposed an even +harsher remedy than that--" + +"Ah, you forget," interrupted Roland, "that I apologized for my lack of +manners. I hope during our journey to Nonnenwerth I may earn complete +forgiveness." + +"Oh, you are forgiven already, which is magnanimous of me, when you +recollect that the fault was wholly my own. I will join you in the +courtyard at once if I may." + +"Very well. I shall be down there after I have given final instructions +to my men." + +Roland arrived at the north window, and saw that the flotilla had +already departed. He could discern Ebearhard standing with his hand on +the prow of the remaining boat, so pulled up the rope, untied it from +the ring to which it was fastened, and threw it down to his lieutenant. + +"A rope is always useful," he whispered, "and we will puzzle the good +Pfalzgraf regarding our exit." + +In the courtyard he found the three women awaiting him. Quietly he drew +back the heavy bolts, and undid the stout chains. Holding the door +slightly ajar, he peered out at the scene on the landing, brightly +illuminated by numerous torches which the servants held aloft. + +The men-at-arms were enjoying themselves hugely, and the great heap of +bales already on the rocks showed that they resolved not to leave even +one package on the barge. The fact that they stood in the light +prevented their seeing the exit of the quartette from the Castle, even +had any been on the outlook. + +Roland swung the door wide, placed the ladder in exactly the same +position it had formerly occupied, assisted the three women to the +ground, and then led them round the western side of the Castle through +the darkness to Ebearhard and his skiff. Dipping their paddles with +great caution, they kept well out of the torchlight radius. + +As they left the shadow of the Castle, and came within sight of the +party on the landing, they were somewhat startled by a lusty cheer. + +"Ah," said Ebearhard, "they have discovered our barrels of gold." + +"'Tis very likely," replied Roland. + +"Still," added Ebearhard consolingly, "I think we have made a good +exchange. There appears to be more money in Stahleck's bags than in our +two barrels." + +"By the Three Kings!" cried Roland, staring upstream, "the barge is +getting away. They have looted her completely, and are giving her a +parting salute. The robbers evidently bear no malice against our popular +captain. Hear them inviting him to call again!" + +They listened to the rattle of the big chain. It was more amenable than +that at Furstenberg, confirming Roland in his belief that Stahleck was +the inventor of the device. They saw half a dozen men paying out a rope, +while the first section of the chain sank, leaving a passage-way for the +barge. Silhouetted against the torchlight, the boatmen were getting +ready with their sweeps, prepared to dip them into the water as soon as +the vessel got clear of the rocky island. + +"We will paddle alongside before they begin to row," said Roland; and +Captain Blumenfels was gently hailed from the river, much to his +astonishment. + +"Make for the eastern bank, captain," whispered Roland, "and keep a +lookout ahead for a number of small boats like this." + +Presently, rowing up the river strenuously, close to the shore, the +barge came upon the flotilla. Here Roland bade Hilda remain where she +was, and leaving Ebearhard in charge of the skiff, he clambered up on +the barge, ordering Greusel to range his boats alongside and fling +aboard the treasure. + +"Well, captain, did his Excellency of Pfalz leave you anything at all?" + +"Not a rag," replied the captain. "The barge is empty as a drum." + +"In that case there is nothing for it but a speedy return to Frankfort. +I do not regret the cloth, which has been paid for over and over again, +but I am mercenary enough to grudge Stahleck our two barrels of gold." + +"Oh, as to the gold," replied the captain gravely, "I took the liberty +of reversing your plan at Lorch." + +"What plan?" + +"Your honor poured gold into wine barrels, but I poured the red wine of +Lorch into the gold barrels, and threw the empty cask overboard. Perhaps +you know that the Pfalzgraf grows excellent white wine round his Castle +of Stahleck, and despises the red wine of Lorch and Assmannshausen. He +tasted the wine, which had not been improved by being poured into the +dirty gold barrels, spat it out with an oath, and said we were welcome +to keep it. He has also promised to send me a cask of good white wine to +Frankfort." + +"Captain, despite your quiet, unassuming manner, you are the most +ingenious of men." + +"Indeed, I but copied your honor's ingenuity." + +"However it happened, you saved the gold, and that action alone will +make a rich man of you, for you must accept my third share of the +money." + +By this time the bags had been heaved aboard. Greusel followed them, and +stood ready to receive further orders. + +"You will all make for Frankfort," said Roland, "keeping close as +possible to this side of the river. No man is to be allowed ashore until +you reach the capital. Captain, are there provisions enough aboard for +the voyage?" + +"Yes, your honor." + +"Very well. Put every available person at the oars, and get past +Furstenberg before daybreak. My men, who have not had an opportunity to +distinguish themselves as warriors, will take their turn at the sweeps. +You and Ebearhard," he continued, turning to Greusel, "will employ the +time in counting the money and making a fair division. With regard to +the two barrels, the captain will receive my third share, and also be +one of us in the apportionment of the gold we secured to-night. It was +through his thoughtfulness that the barrels were saved. Whatever portion +you find me entitled to, place in the keeping of the merchant, Herr +Goebel. And now I shall tie four bags to my belt for emergencies." + +"Are you not coming with us, Roland?" asked Greusel anxiously. + +"No. Urgent business requires my presence in the neighborhood of Bonn, +but I shall meet you in the Kaiser cellar before a month is out." + +Saying this, he shook hands with the captain and Greusel, and descended +into the small boat, bidding farewell to Ebearhard. + +"Urge them," were his last words, "to get well out of sight of Pfalz and +Furstenberg before the day breaks, and as for the small boats, turn them +loose; present them as a peace-offering to the Rhine." + +In the darkness Prince Roland allowed his frail barque to float down the +stream, using his paddle merely to keep it toward the east, so to avoid +the chain. He found himself accompanied by a silent, spectral fleet; the +empty boats that his men had sent adrift. To all appearance the little +squadron lay motionless, while the dim Castle of Pfalz, with its score +of pointed turrets piercing a less dark sky, seemed like a great ship +moving slowly up the Rhine. When it had disappeared to the south, Roland +ventured to speak, in a low voice. + +"Madam," he said, "tell your women so to arrange what extra apparel you +have brought to form a couch, where you may recline, and sleep for the +rest of the night." + +"Captain Roland," she replied, her gentle little laugh floating with so +musical a cadence athwart the waters that he found himself regretting +such a sweet voice should be kept from the world by the unappreciative +walls of a convent,--"Captain Roland, I was never more awake than I am +at this moment. Life has somehow become unexpectedly interesting. I +experience the deliciously guilty feeling of belonging to a stealthy +society of banditti. Do not, I beg of you, deprive me of that pleasure +by asking me to sleep." + +"In the morning, Madam, there will be little opportunity for rest. We +must put all the distance we can between ourselves and the Pfalzgraf +von Stahleck. I expect you to ride far and fast to-morrow." + +"Do you intend, then, to abandon this boat?" + +"I must, Madam. The river has been long so empty that this flotilla, +which I cannot shake off, being unaccustomed to oars or paddle, will +attract attention from both sides of the Rhine, and when the darkness +lifts we are almost certain to be stopped. The boats will be recognized +as belonging to the Pfalzgraf, and I wish to sever all connection +between this night's work and my own future." + +"What, then, do you propose?" + +"As soon as day breaks we will come to land, and allow our boat to float +away with the rest. Can you walk?" + +"I love walking," cried the girl with enthusiasm. "I ask your pity for +myself, immured in that windowless dungeon, situated on a tiny point of +rock; I, who have roamed the hills and explored the valleys of my own +land on foot, breathing the air of freedom with delight. Let me, +therefore, I beg of you, remain awake that I may taste the pleasure of +anticipation in my thoughts; or is such a wish disobedience on the part +of your first lieutenant? I do not mean it so, and will quietly cry +myself to sleep if you insist." + +"Indeed, Hilda," said Roland, laughing, and abandoning the more formal +title of "madam," "I am no such tyrant as you suppose. Besides, your +office of first lieutenant has lapsed, because our men have all gone +south, while we travel north." + +"Then may I talk with you?" + +"Nothing would please me better. I was thinking of your own welfare, and +not of my desire, when I counseled slumber." + +"Oh, I assure you I slept very well during the first part of the night, +for, there being nothing else to do, I went to bed early, and was quite +unconscious until the dreadful ringing of that alarm bell, which set the +whole Castle astir." + +"Why were you imprisoned?" + +"Because--because," she replied haltingly, "I had chosen the religious +life, the which my guardian opposed. He appeared to think that some +experience of the rigors of the convent might make me less eager to +immure myself in a nunnery, which, like Pfalz Castle, is also on a +restricted island." + +"Then his remedy has proved unavailing?" + +"Quite. The Sisters will be very good to me, for I shall enrich their +convent with my wealth. 'Twill be vastly different from incarceration in +Pfalz." + +"Hilda, I doubt that. Captivity is captivity, under whatever name you +term it. I cannot understand why one who spoke so enthusiastically just +now of hills and valleys and liberty should take the irrevocable step +which you propose; a step that will rob you forever of those joys." + +The girl remained silent, and he went on, speaking earnestly: + +"I think in one respect you are like myself. You love the murmur of the +trees, and the song of the running stream." + +"I do, I do," she whispered, as if to herself. + +"The air that blows around the mountain-top inspires you, and you cannot +view the hills on the horizon without wishing to explore them, and learn +what is on the other side." + +There was light enough for him to see that the girl's head sank into her +open hand. + +"You, I take it, have never been restricted by discipline." + +Her head came up quickly. + +"You think that because of what I said in the courtyard?" + +"No; my mind was running towards the future rather than to the past. The +rigor of strict rules would prove as irksome to you as would a cage to a +free bird of the forest." + +"I fear you are in the right," she said with a sigh; and then, +impatiently, "Oh, you do not understand the situation, and I cannot +explain! The convent is merely a retreat for me; the lesser of two evils +presented." + +"You spoke of your land. Where is that land?" + +"Do you know Schloss Sayn?" she asked. + +"Sayn? Sayn?" he repeated. "Where have I heard that name before, and +recently too? I thought I knew every castle on the Rhine, but I do not +remember Sayn." + +The girl laughed. + +"You will find no fellow-craftsman there, Pirate Roland, if ever you +visit it. The Schloss is not on the Rhine, and, perhaps on that account, +rather than because of its owner's honesty, is free from the taint you +suggest. It stands high in the valley of the Saynbach, more than half a +league from this river." + +"Ah, that accounts for my ignorance. I never saw Sayn Castle, although I +seem to have heard of it. Are you its owner?" + +"Yes; I told you I was wealthy." + +"Where is the Schloss situated?" + +"Below Coblentz, on the eastern side of the river." + +"Then why not let me take you there instead of to the convent?" + +"Willingly, if you had brought your barge-load of armed men, but in Sayn +Castle I am helpless, commanding a peaceful retinue of servants who, +although devoted to me, are useless when it comes to defense." + +"I cannot account for it," said Roland in meditative tone, "but the +thought of that convent becomes more and more distasteful. You will be +free of your guardian, no doubt, but you merely exchange one whom you +know for another whom you don't, and that other a member of your own +sex." + +"Do you disparage my sex, then?" + +"No; but I cannot imagine any man being discourteous to you. Surely +every gentleman with a sword by his side should spring at once to your +defense." + +The girl laughed. + +"Ah, Captain Roland, you are very young, and, I fear, inexperienced, +despite your filibustering. However, this lovely, still, summer night, +with its warm, velvety darkness, was made for pleasant thoughts. Enough +about myself. Let me hear something of you. Did you come up the river or +down, with your barge?" + +"We came down." + +"How long since you adopted a career of crime? You do not seem to be a +hardened villain." + +"Believe me," protested Roland earnestly, "I am not, and I do not admit +that my career is one of crime." + +"Indeed," said the girl, laughing again, "I am not so gullible as you +think. I could almost fancy that you were the incendiary of Furstenberg +Castle." + +"What!" exclaimed Roland in consternation. "How came you to learn of its +destruction?" + +"There!" cried the girl gleefully, "you have all but confessed. You are +as startled as if I had said: 'I arrest you in the name of the +Emperor!'" + +"Who told you that Furstenberg Castle was burned?" demanded the young +man sternly. + +"Yesterday morning there came swiftly down the river, with no less than +twelve oarsmen, a long, thin boat, traveling like the wind. It did not +pause at Pfalz, but the man standing in the stern hailed the Castle, and +shouted to the Pfalzgraf that Furstenberg had been burned by the outlaws +of the Hunsruck. He was on his way to Bonn to inform the Archbishop of +Cologne, and he carried also Imperial news for his Lordship: tidings +that the Emperor is dead." + +"Dead!" breathed Roland in horror, scarcely above his breath. "The +Emperor dead! I wonder if that can be true." + +"Little matter whether it is true or no," said the girl indifferently. +"He doubtless passed away in a drunken sleep, and I am told his drunken +son will be elected in his place." + +"Madam!" said Roland harshly, awakened from his stupor by her words, "I +must inform your ignorance that the Emperor's son is not a drunkard, +and, indeed, scarcely touches wine at all, being a most strenuous +opposer to its misuse. How can one so fair, and, as I believed, so +honest, repeat such unfounded slander?" + +"Are you a partisan of his?" + +"I come from Frankfort; have seen the Prince, and know I speak the +truth." + +"Ah, well," replied the girl lightly, "you and I will not quarrel over +his Highness. I accept your amendment, and will never more bear false +witness against him. After all, it makes slight difference one way or +the other. An Emperor goes, and an Emperor is elected in his place as +powerless as his predecessor. 'Tis the Archbishops who rule." + +"You seem well versed in politics, Madam." + +The girl leaned forward to him. + +"Do not 'madam' me, I beg of you, Roland. I dare say rumor has +prejudiced me against the young man, but I have promised not to speak +slightingly of him again. I wish this veil of darkness was lifted, that +I might see your face, to note the effect of anger. Do you know, I am +disappointed in you, Roland? You spoke in such level tones in the +courtyard that I thought anger was foreign to your nature." + +"I am not angry," said Roland gruffly, "but I detest malicious gossip." + +"Oh, so do I, so do I! I spoke thoughtlessly. I will kneel to the new +Emperor and beg his pardon, if you insist." + +Roland remained silent, and for a time they floated thus down the river, +she trailing her fingers in the water, which made a pleasant ripple +against them, looking up at him now and then. Perceptibly the darkness +was thinning. One seemed to smell morning in the air. A bird piped +dreamily in the forest at intervals, as if only half-awakened. The two +women reclining in the prow were sound asleep. + +Roland picked up the paddle, and with a strong, sweeping stroke turned +the head of the boat towards the land. Now she could see his lowering +brow, and if the sight pleased her, 'twas not manifested in her next +remark. + +She took her hand from the water, drew herself up proudly, and said: + +"I shall not apologize to you again, and I hate your blameless Prince!" + +"Madam, I ask for no apology, and whether you hate or like the Prince +matters nothing to me, or, I dare say, to him, either." + +"Cannot you even allow a woman her privilege of the last word?" she +cried indignantly. + +Roland's brow cleared, and a smile came to his lips, as he remained +silent, thus bestowing upon her the prerogative she seemed to crave. +Hilda lay back in the prow of the boat between her sleeping women, with +hands clasped behind her head, and her eyes closed. More and more the +light increased, and sturdily with his paddle Roland propelled the boat +towards the shore, bringing it alongside the low bank at last. He sprang +out on the turf, and with the paddle in one hand held the boat to land +with the other. + +"We are now," he said, "a short distance above St. Goarhausen, where I +hope to purchase horses. Will you kindly disembark?" + +The girl, without moving, or opening her eyes, said quietly: + +"Please throw the paddle into the boat again. I shall make for +Nonnenwerth in this craft, which is more comfortable than a saddle." + +The paddle came rattling down upon the bottom of the skiff. Roland +stooped, and before she knew what he was about, took Hilda in his arms, +lifted her ashore, and laid her carefully on the grass. + +"Come," he cried to the newly-awakened serving-women, "tumble out of +that without further delay," and they obeyed him in haste. + +He stepped into the skiff, flung their belongings on the sward, turned +the prow to the west, and, leaping ashore, bestowed a kick upon the boat +that impelled it like an arrow far out into the stream. + +Hilda was standing on her feet now, speechless with indignation. + +"Come along," urged Roland cheerfully, "breakfast awaits us when we earn +it;" but seeing that she made no move, the frown furrowed his brow +again. + +"Madam," he said, "I tell you frankly that to be thwarted by petulance +annoys me. It happens that time is of the utmost importance until we are +much farther from Pfalz. If you think that the ownership of wealth and a +castle gives you the right to flout a plain, ordinary man, you take a +mistaken view of things. I care nothing for your castle, or for your +wealth. You may be a lady of title for aught I know, but even that does +not impress me. We must not stand here like two quarrelsome children. I +will conduct you to the Adler Inn at St. Goarhausen, where I know from +experience you will be taken care of. I shall then purchase four horses, +and return to the inn after you have breakfasted. Three of these horses +are at your disposal, also the fourth and myself, if you will condescend +to make use of us. If not, I shall ask you to accept what money you need +for your journey, so that you may travel north unmolested, while I take +my way in the other direction." + +"How can I repay the money," she demanded, "if I do not know who and +what you are?" + +"I shall send for it, either to your Castle of Sayn, or the Convent of +Nonnenwerth. You need be under no obligation to me." + +"But," cried the girl with a sob, "I am already under obligation to you; +an obligation which I cannot repay." + +"Oh yes, you can." + +"How?" + +"By coming with me, who will persuade you, as readily as you did with +your guardian, who coerced you." + +"I am an ungrateful simpleton," she murmured. "Of course your way is the +right one, and I am quite helpless if you desert me." + +"There," cried Roland, with enthusiasm, "you have more than repaid +whatever you may owe." + +After breakfasting at St. Goarhausen and purchasing the horses, they +journeyed down the rough road that extended along the right bank of the +Rhine. Roland and Hilda rode side by side, the other two following some +distance to the rear. The young man maintained a gloomy silence, and the +girl, misapprehending his thoughts, remained silent also, with downcast +eyes, seeing nothing of the beautiful scenery they were passing. Every +now and then Roland cast a sidelong glance at her, and his melancholy +deepened as he remembered how heedlessly he had pledged his word to the +three Archbishops regarding his marriage. + +"I see," she said at last, "that I have offended you more seriously than +I feared." + +"No, no," he assured her. "There is a burden that I cannot cast from my +mind." + +"May I know what it is?" + +"I dare not tell you, Hilda. I have been a fool. I am in the position of +a man who must break his oath and live dishonored, or keep it, and +remain for ever unhappy. Which would you do were you in my place?" + +"Once given, I should keep my oath," she replied promptly, "unless those +who accepted it would release me." + +Roland shook his head. + +"They will not release me," he said dolefully. + +Again they rode together in silence, content to be near each other, +despite the young man's alternations of elation and despair. 'Twas, all +in all, a long summer's day of sweet unhappiness for each. + +One of Roland's reasons for choosing the right bank of the Rhine was to +avoid the important city of Coblentz, with its inevitable questioning, +and it was late afternoon when they saw this town on the farther shore, +passing it without hindrance. + +"You will rest this night," she said, "in my Castle of Sayn, and then, +as time is pressing, to-morrow you must return. We have met no +interference even by this dangerous route, and I shall make my way alone +without fear to Nonnenwerth, for I know you are anxious to be in +Frankfort once more." + +"I swear to you, Hilda, that if, without breaking my oath, I should +never see Frankfort again, I would be the most joyous of men." + +"Does your oath relate to Frankfort?" + +"My oath relates to a woman," he said shortly. + +"Ah," she breathed, "then you must keep it," and so they fell into +silence and unhappiness again. + +She had talked of security on the road they traversed, but turning a +corner north of Vallandar they speedily found that a Rhine road is never +safe. + +Both reined in their horses as if moved by the same impulse, but to +retreat now would simply draw pursuit upon them. Mounted on a splendid +white charger, gorgeous with trappings, glittering with silver and gold, +rode a dignified man in the outdoor habit of a general in times of +peace. + +Following him came an escort of twoscore horsemen; they in the full +panoply of war; and behind them, on foot, in procession extending like a +gigantic snake down the Rhine road, an army of at least three thousand +men, the setting sun flashing fire from the points of their spears. Here +and there, down the line, floated above them silken flags, and Roland +recognized the device on the foremost one. + +"God!" he shouted in dismay. "The Archbishop of Cologne!" + +The girl uttered a little frightened cry, and edged her horse nearer to +that of her escort. + +"My guardian! My guardian!" she breathed. "I shall be rearrested!" + +Seeing them standing as if stricken to stone, two horsemen detached +themselves from the cavalry and galloped forward. + +"Make way there, you fools!" cried the leader. "Get ye to the side; into +the river; where you like; out of the path of my Lord the Archbishop." + +Nevertheless Roland stood his ground, and dared even to frown at the +officers of his Lordship. + +"Stand aside _you_," he commanded in a tone of mastery, "and do not +venture to intrude between the Archbishop and me." + +The rider knew that no man who valued his head would dare use such +language in the very presence of the Archbishop, unless he were the +highest in the land. His dignified Lordship looked up to see the cause +of this interruption, and of these angry words. + +First came into his face an expression of amazement, then a smile melted +the stern lips as he looked on Roland and recognized him. The impetuous +horsemen faded away to the background. There was no answering smile on +Roland's face. He reached out and clasped the hand of the girl. + +"Now, by the Three Kings!" he whispered, "I shall break my oath." + +Hilda glanced up at him, frightened by his vehemence, wincing under his +iron grasp. + +An unexpected sound interrupted the tension. The Archbishop had come to +a stand, and "Halt! Halt! Halt!" rang out the word along the line of +men, whose feet ceased to stir the dust of the road. The unexpected +sound was that of hearty laughter from the dignified and mighty Prince +of the Church. + +"Forgive me, your Highness!" he cried, "but I laugh to think of the +countenances of my somber brothers, Treves and Mayence, when they learn +how sturdily you have kept your word with them. By the true Cross, +Prince Roland, although we wished you to marry her, we had no thought +that you would break into the Castle of Pfalz to win her hand. Ah, dear, +what a pity 'tis we grow old! The impetuousness of youth outweighs the +calculated wisdom of the three greatest prelates outside Rome. Judging +by your fair face (and I have always held it to be beautiful, remember), +you, Hildegunde Lauretta Priscilla Agnes, Countess of Sayn, are not +moving northward to Nonnenwerth. I always insisted that the Saalhof at +Frankfort was a more cheerful edifice than any nunnery on the Rhine, yet +you never turned upon me such a glance of confidence as I see you bestow +on your future Emperor." + +"I hope, my Lord and Guardian," cried the girl, "that I have met you in +time to deflect your course to my Castle of Sayn." + +"Sweet Countess, I thank you for the invitation. My men can go on to +their camp in the stronghold of my brother of Mayence, Schloss +Martinsburg, and I shall gladly return with you to the hospitable hearth +of Sayn. Indeed," said the Archbishop, lowering his voice, "I shall feel +safer there than in enjoying the hospitality I had intended to accept." + +"Are you not surprised to meet me?" asked the lady, with a laugh, +adjusting words and manner to the new situation, which she more quickly +comprehended than did her companion, who glanced with bewilderment from +Countess to prelate, and back again. + +The Archbishop waved his hand. + +"Nothing you could do would surprise me, since your interview with the +Court of Archbishops. I am on my way to Frankfort." Then, more +seriously, to Prince Roland: "You heard of your father's death?" + +"I learned it only this morning, my Lord. I shall return to Frankfort +when I am assured that this gentlewoman is in a place of safety." + +"Ah, Countess, there will be no lack of safety now! But will you not +ease an old man's conscience by admitting he was in the right?" + +The Countess looked up at Roland with a smile. + +"Yes, dear Guardian," she said. "You were in the right." + + + + +XVII + +"FOR THE EMPRESS, AND NOT FOR THE EMPIRE" + + +While the long line of troops stood at salute in single file, the +Archbishop turned his horse to the north and rode past his regiments, +followed by the Countess and Roland. His Lordship was accompanied to the +end of the ranks by his general, who received final instructions +regarding the march. + +"You will encamp for the night not at Schloss Martinsburg, as I had +intended, but a league or two up the Lahn. To-morrow morning continue +your march along the Lahn as far as Limburg, and there await my arrival. +We will enter Frankfort by the north gate instead of from the west." + +The Archbishop sat on his horse for some minutes, watching the departing +force, then called Roland to his right hand, and Hildegunde to his left, +and thus the three set out on the short journey to Sayn. + +"Your Highness," began the Archbishop, "I find myself in a position of +some embarrassment. I think explanations are due to me from you both. +Here I ride between two escaped prisoners, and I travel away from, +instead of towards, their respective dungeons. My plain duty, on +encountering you, was to place you in custody of a sufficient guard, +marching you separately the one to Pfalz and the other to Ehrenfels. +Having accomplished this I should report the case to my two colleagues, +yet here am I actually compounding a misdemeanor, and assisting +prisoners to escape." + +"My Lord," spoke up Roland, "I am quite satisfied that my own +imprisonment has been illegal, therefore I make no apology for +circumventing it. Before entering upon any explanation, I ask +enlightenment regarding the detention of my lady of Sayn. Am I right in +surmising that she, like myself, was placed under arrest by the three +Archbishops?" + +"Yes, your Highness." + +"On what charge?" + +"High treason." + +"Against whom?" + +There was a pause, during which the Archbishop did not reply. + +"I need not have asked such a question," resumed the Prince, "for high +treason can relate only to the monarch. In what measure has her ladyship +encroached upon the prerogative of the Emperor?" + +"Your Highness forgets that there is such a thing as treason against the +State." + +"Are not members of the nobility privileged in this matter?" + +"They cannot be, for the State is greater than any individual." + +"I shall make a note of that, my Lord of Cologne. I believe you are in +the right, and I hope so. During my lonely incarceration," the Prince +laughed a little, "I have studied the condition of the State, arriving +at the conclusion that the greatest traitors in our land are the three +Archbishops, who, arrogating to themselves power that should belong to +the Crown, did not use that power for suppressing those other +treason-mongers, the Barons of the Rhine." + +"What would you have us do with them?" + +"You should disarm them. You should exact restitution of their +illegally-won wealth. You should open the Rhine to honest commerce." + +"That is easy to enunciate, and difficult to perform. If the Castles +were disarmed, especially those on the left bank, a great injustice +would be done that might lead to the extinction of many noble families. +Why, the forests of Germany are filled with desperate outlaws, who +respect neither life nor property. I myself have suffered but recently +from their depredations. In broad daylight an irresistible band of these +ruffians descended upon and captured the supposed impregnable Castle of +Rheinstein, shamefully maltreating Baron Hugo von Hohenfels, tying him +motionless, and nearly strangling him with stout ropes, after which the +scoundrels robbed him of every stiver he possessed. The following +midnight but one they descended on Furstenberg, a fief of my own, and +not contenting themselves with robbery, brought red ruin on the Margrave +by burning his Castle to the ground." + +"My Lord, red ruin and the Red Margrave were made for each other. It was +the justice of God that they should meet." The young man raised aloft +his swordarm, shaking his clenched fist at the sky. "That hand held the +torch that fired Furstenberg. The Castle was taken and burned by three +sword makers from Frankfort, who never saw the Hunsruck or the outlaws +thereof." + +The Archbishop reined in his horse, and looked at the excited young man +with amazement. + +"_You_ fired Furstenberg?" + +"Yes; and effectively, my Lord. I shall rebuild it for you, but the Red +Margrave I shall hang, as my predecessor Rudolph did his ancestor." + +An expression of sternness hardened the Archbishop's face. + +"Sir," he said, "I regret to hear you speak like this, and your safety +lies in the fact that I do not believe a word of it. Even so, such wild +words fill me with displeasure. I beg to remind you that the Election of +an Emperor has not yet taken place, and I, for one, am likely to +reconsider my decision. Still, as I said, I do not believe a word of +your absurd tale." + +"I believe every syllable of it!" cried the Countess with enthusiasm, +"and glory that there is a mind brave enough, and a hand obedient to it, +to smoke out a robber and a murderer." + +The tension this astonishing revelation caused was relieved by a laugh +from the Archbishop. + +"My dear Hildegunde, you are forgetting your own ancestors. I venture +that no woman of the House of Sayn talked thus when the Emperor Rudolph +marched Count von Sayn to the scaffold. You would probably sing another +song if asked to restore the millions amassed by Henry III. of Sayn and +his successors; all accumulated by robbery as cruel as any that the Red +Margrave has perpetrated." + +"My Lord," said the Countess proudly, "you had no need to ask that +question, for you knew the answer to it before you spoke. Every thaler I +control shall be handed over to Prince Roland, to be used for the +regeneration of his country." + +Again the Archbishop laughed. + +"Surely I knew that, my dear, and I should not have said what I did. I +suppose you will not allow me to vote against his Highness at the coming +Election." + +"Indeed, you shall vote enthusiastically for him, because you know in +your own heart he is the man Germany needs." + +"Was there ever such a change of front?" cried the Archbishop. "Why, my +dear, the charges you so hotly made against his Highness are as nothing +to what he has himself confessed; yet now he is the savior of Germany, +when previously--Ah, well, I must not play the tale-bearer." + +"Prince Roland," cried the girl, "my kinsman, Father Ambrose, said he +met you in Frankfort, although now I believe him to have been mistaken." + +"Oh no; I encountered the good Father on the bridge." + +"There now!" exclaimed the Archbishop, "what do you say to that, my +lady?" + +She seemed perplexed by the admission, but quickly replied to his +Lordship: + +"'Twas you said that could not be, as he was a close prisoner in +Ehrenfels." She continued, addressing the Prince: "Father Ambrose +asserted that you were a companion of drinkers and brawlers in a low +wine cellar of Frankfort." + +"Quite true; a score of them." + +The girl became more and more perplexed. + +"Did you imprison Father Ambrose?" + +"Yes; in the lowest wine cellar, but only for a day or two. I am very +sorry, Madam, but it was a stern necessity of war. He was meddling with +affairs he knew nothing of, and there was no time for explanations. He, +a man of peace, would not have sanctioned what there was to do even if I +had explained." + +"He says," continued the girl, "that he saw you rob a merchant of a bag +of gold." + +"That is untrue!" cried the Prince. + +"My dear Hildegunde, what is the robbing of a bag of gold from a +merchant when he admits having stolen gold by the castle full?" + +"I robbed no merchant," protested the Prince. "How could Father Ambrose +make such a statement?" + +"He mounted an outside stairway on the Fahrgasse, and through lighted +windows on the opposite side saw you place the point of your sword at +the throat of an unarmed merchant, and take from him a bag of gold." + +Roland, whose brow had been knitted into an angry frown, now threw back +his head and laughed joyously. + +"Oh, that was a mere frolic," he alleged. + +It was the girl's turn to frown. + +"When you took stolen treasure from thievish Barons and Margraves +protected by scores of armed men, with the object of breaking their +power, for the relief of commerce, I admired you, but to say that the +despoiling of a helpless merchant is a frolic--" + +"No, no, my dear, you do not understand," eagerly corrected the Prince, +unconscious of the affectionate phrase that caused a flush to rise in +the cheeks of his listener. "The merchant was, and is, my partner; a +blameless man, Herr Goebel, who came near to being hanged on my behalf +when these Archbishops took me captive. I sought from him a thousand +thalers; he insisted on learning my plans for opening the Rhine, and +still would not give the money until, reluctantly, I was obliged to +confess myself son of the Emperor. This he could not credit, stipulating +that before giving the money I must produce for him a safe-conduct, +signed by the Emperor, and verified by the Great Seal of the Empire. +This document I obtained at dire personal risk, through the aid of my +mother. Here it is." + +He thrust his hand into his doublet, and produced the parchment in +question, delivering it to the lady, who, however, did not unfold it, +but kept her eyes fixed upon him. + +"This distrust annoyed me; it should not have done so, for he was merely +acting in the cautious manner natural to a merchant. With a boyishness I +now regret, I put my sword to his throat, demanding the money, which I +received. I took only half of it, for my mother had given me five +hundred thalers. Oh, no; I did not rob my friend Goebel, but merely +tried to teach him that lack of faith is a dangerous thing." + +If the old man who listened could have exchanged confidences with the +young woman who listened, he would have learned they shared the same +thought, which was that the young Prince spoke so straight-forwardly +neither doubted him for a moment. The old man, it is true, felt that his +talk was rather reckless of consequences, but, on the other hand, this +in itself was complimentary, for, as he remembered, the Prince had been +cautious enough when catechized by the three Archbishops together. + +"I have often read," said Cologne, with a smile, "pathetic accounts of +prisoners, who in extreme loneliness carved their names over and over +again on stone as hard as the jailer's heart, but your Highness seems +rather to have enjoyed yourself while so cruelly interned. May I further +beg of you to enlighten us concerning a somewhat bibulous youth who at +the present moment is enjoying, in every sense of the word, the +hospitality of Ehrenfels Castle?" + +It was now the Archbishop's turn to astonish the Prince. + +"You knew of my device, then?" + +"'Knew' is a little too strong. 'Suspect' more nearly fits the case. You +won over your jailer, and some one else took your place as prisoner." + +"Yes; a young man to whom I owe small thanks, and with whom I have an +account to settle. He is son of the custodian, and thinks he has us both +under his thumb, Heinrich drinks as if he were a fish or a Baron, but I +shall cure him of that habit before it becomes firmly established." + +"Am I correct in assuming that you found your liberty only after your +interview with the three Electors?" + +"Oh, bless you, no! I was free months before that time. Indeed, it is +only since then that my substitute is practically useless. Heinrich +might have passed for me at a pinch, but only because neither you nor +your colleagues had seen me. I have kept him under lock and key ever +since, because I dare not allow him abroad until the Election has taken +place." + +"I see. A very wise precaution. Well, your Highness, I shall say nothing +of what you tell me; furthermore, I still promise you my vote; that is, +if you will obey my orders until you are elected Emperor. I foresee we +are not going to have the easy time with you that was anticipated, but +this concerns Mayence and Treves, rather than myself, for I have no +ambition to rule by proxy. And now, my lady of Sayn, when we journeyed +southward that day from Gutenfels Castle I gave you some information +regarding the mind of Mayence. You remember, perhaps, what I said about +his quandary. I rather suspect that he admires you, notwithstanding your +defiance of him; but there is nothing remarkable in that, for we all +appreciate you, old and young. I, too, carry a document of safe-conduct, +like Prince Roland here, although I see that his Highness has placed his +safety in your hands." + +The old man smiled, and Hildegunde found herself still carrying the +parchment Roland had given her. For a moment she was confused, then +smiled also, and offered it back; but the Prince shook his head. The +Archbishop went on: + +"Mayence sent down to me your written release, signed by himself and +Treves. He asked me to attach a signature, and liberate you on my way to +Frankfort, which I intended to do had this impetuous young man not +forestalled me. By the way, Highness, how did you happen to meet +Countess von Sayn in Pfalz?" + +"We will tell you about that later, Guardian," said Hildegunde, before +Roland could speak. "What instructions did his Lordship of Mayence give +concerning me?" + +"He asked me to bring you to my palace in Frankfort, and subtly +expressed the hope you had changed your mind." + +"You may assure him I have," said the Countess, again speaking rapidly; +"but let us leave all details of that for the moment. I am then to go +with you to the capital?" + +"Yes; to-morrow morning." + +"To remain until the coronation?" + +"Certainly; if such is your wish. But do you not see something very +significant in my brother Mayence's change of plan, for you know he did +not intend to release you until after that event?" + +"Yes, yes," replied the Countess breathlessly. "I see it quite clearly, +but do not wish to discuss the matter at the present moment." + +"Very well. I intended to enter Frankfort from the west, but meeting you +so unexpectedly, I have deflected my troops up the Lahn to Limburg, at +which town we will join them to-morrow night, thus following Father +Ambrose's route to the capital." + +"Ah, that will be very interesting. Prince Roland, you accompany us, I +hope?" + +"Of a surety," replied the young man confidently. + +"No," quietly said the Archbishop. + +"Why not?" + +"Because I say no." + +The young man almost an Emperor drew himself up proudly, and his lips +pressed together into a firm line of determination. + +"Does your Highness so quickly forget your promise?" + +"What promise?" asked the Prince, scowling. + +"In consideration of my keeping silence touching your recent outrageous +career of fire and slaughter, and the enslavement of Heinrich, you +promised to obey me until you became Emperor." + +"I intend to obey all reasonable requests, but I very much desire to +accompany the Countess from her Castle to the capital, I have never seen +Limburg, or taken that route to Frankfort." + +"It is a charming old city," replied the Archbishop dryly, "which you +can visit any time at the expense of a day's ride. Meanwhile, I shall +escort the Countess thither, and endeavor to entertain her with pleasing +and instructive conversation during the journey." + +The Prince continued to frown, yet bit his lip and repressed an angry +retort. + +"But," protested the girl, "would it not be much safer for his Highness +to enter the city of Frankfort protected by your army?" + +The Archbishop laughed a little. + +"My dear Hildegunde, the presence of Prince Roland causes you to +overlook a vast difference in the status of you both, but surely the +exercise of a little imagination should present to you the true aspect +of affairs. You are a free woman, and I hold the document by which you +regained your liberty. Do not be deluded, therefore, by the apparent +fact that his Highness can raise a clenched fist aloft and defy the +heavens. It is not so. He wears fetters on his ankles, and manacles +round his wrists. Roland is a prisoner, and must straightway immure +himself. Your Highness, before us stands the stately Castle of Sayn, +where presently you shall refresh yourself, and be furnished with an +untired charger, on which to ride all night, that you may reach the +gates of Ehrenfels early to-morrow morning. Once there, place the +wine-loving Heinrich out of harm in the deepest dungeon, and take his +place as prisoner. It is arranged that the three Archbishops personally +escort you to Frankfort in the barge of Mayence, which will land you at +the water-steps of the Royal Palace. If it were known that I had been +even an hour in your company your chances of reaching the throne would +be seriously jeopardized." + +"Surely such haste is unnecessary," cried the girl. "He can set out +to-morrow in one direction while we go in another. He traveled all last +night, and for most part of it was paddling a boat containing four +people; has ridden almost since daylight, and now to journey on +horseback throughout the night is too much for human endurance." + +The grave smile of the Archbishop shone upon her anxiety. + +"For lack of a nail the shoe was lost," he said, "and you know the +remainder of the warning. If Prince Roland cares to risk an Empire for a +night's rest, I withdraw my objection." + +The Prince suddenly wheeled his horse, and coming briskly round to the +side of the girl, placed a hand on hers. + +"A decision, Countess!" he cried. "Give me your decision. I shall always +obey you!" + +"Oh, the rashness of youth!" murmured the Archbishop. + +The girl looked up at the young man, and he caught his breath and +clasped her hand more tightly as he gazed into the depths of her +glorious eyes. + +"You must go," she sighed. + +"Yes, alas!" + +He raised her unresisting hand to his lips, and again turned his horse. + +"You will obey?" asked the Archbishop. + +"I will obey, my Lord." + +He flashed from its scabbard, into the rays of the setting sun, the +sword he had made, and elevating the hilt to his forehead, saluted the +Archbishop. + +"I shall see you at Ehrenfels, my Lord." + +"Ah, do not go thus. Come to the Castle for an hour's rest at least." + +The young man whirled his sword around, and caught it by the blade, +touching the hilt with his lips as if it were a cross. + +"I thank God," said he, "that I can willingly keep my oath." + +Then, looking at the girl--"For the Empress, and not for the Empire!" he +cried. + +The sword seemed to drop into the scabbard of its own accord, as Roland +set spurs to his steed and away. + + + + +XVIII + +THE SWORD MAKER AT BAY + + +The heir-presumptive to the throne reached Frankfort very quietly in the +Archbishop's barge, and was landed after nightfall at the water-steps of +the Imperial Palace. The funeral of the Emperor took place almost as if +it were a private ceremonial. Grave trouble had been anticipated, and +the route of the procession for the short distance between Palace and +Cathedral was thickly lined on either side by the troops of the three +Archbishops. This precaution proved unnecessary. The dispirited citizens +cared nothing for their late nominal ruler, and they manifested their +undisguised hatred of the real rulers, the Archbishops, by keeping +indoors while their soldiers marched the streets. + +The condition of the capital was unique. It suffered from a famine of +money rather than a famine of food. Frankfort starved in the midst of +plenty. Never had the earth been more fruitful than during this year, +and the coming autumn promised a harvest that would fill the granaries +to overflowing, yet no one brought in food to Frankfort, for the common +people had not the money to buy. The working population depended +entirely upon the merchants and manufacturers, and with the collapse of +mercantile business thousands were thrown out of employment, and this +penniless mob was augmented by the speedy cessation of all +manufacturing. + +After the futile bread riots earlier in the year, put down so +drastically by the Archbishops, the population of the city greatly +diminished, and the country round about swarmed with homeless wanderers, +who at least were sure of something to eat, but being city-bred, and +consequently useless for agricultural employment, they gradually joined +into groups and marauding bands, greatly to the menace of the provinces +they traversed. Indeed, rumor had it that the robberies from certain +castles on the Rhine, and the burning of Furstenberg, were the work of +these free companies, consequently a sense of uneasiness permeated the +Empire, whose rulers, great and small, began to foresee that a +continuance of this state of things meant disaster to the rich as well +as misery to the poor. Charity, spasmodic and unorganized, proved wholly +unable to cope with the disaster that had befallen the capital city. + +When darkness set in on the third night after Roland's return to +Frankfort, he made his way out into the unlighted streets, acting with +caution until certain he was not followed, then betook himself to the +Palace belonging to the Archbishop of Cologne. + +The porter at first refused him entrance, and Roland, not wishing to +make himself known, declared he had an appointment with his Lordship. +Trusting that the underling could not read, he presented his parchment +safe-conduct, asking him to give that to his Lordship, with a message +that the bearer awaited his pleasure. The suspicious servant, seeing the +Grand Seal of the Empire upon the document, at once conducted Roland to +a room on the ground floor, then departed with the manuscript to find +his master. + +The Archbishop returned with him, the Imperial scroll in his hand, and a +distinctly perceptible frown on his brow. When the servant withdrew, +closing the door, the prelate said: + +"Highness, this is a very dangerous procedure on your part." + +"Why, my Lord?" + +"Because you are certain to have been followed." + +"What matter for that?" asked the young man. "I am quite unknown in +Frankfort." + +"Prince Roland," said the Archbishop gravely, "until your Election is +actually accomplished, you would be wise to do nothing that might arouse +the suspicion of Mayence. This house is watched night and day, and all +who come and go are noted. I dare say that within fifteen minutes +Mayence will know you have visited me." + +"My dear Archbishop, they cannot note an unknown man. The uneasiness of +Frankfort has already taken hold of me, and therefore I saw to it that I +was not followed." + +"If you were not followed when you came, you will certainly be followed +as you return." + +"In that case, my Lord, the spies will track me to the innocent home of +Herr Goebel, the merchant, in the Fahrgasse." + +"They will shadow you when you leave his house." + +"Then their industry will be rewarded by an enjoyable terminus; in other +words, the drinking cellar of the Rheingold." + +"Be assured, your Highness, that ultimately you will be traced to the +Royal Palace." + +"Again not so, my Lord. They will be led across the bridge into the +mechanics' quarter of Sachsenhausen, and if the watch continues, they +must make a night of it, for I shall enter my humble room there and go +to bed." + +"I see you have it all planned out," commented the discomfited +Archbishop. + +The young man laughed. + +"I anticipate an interesting life, my Lord, because it is my habit to +think before I act, and I notice that this apparently baffles the +Electors. The truth is that you three are so subtle, and so much afraid +of one another, so on the alert lest you be taken by surprise, that a +straightforward action on my part throws all intrigue out of gear. Now, +I'll warrant you cannot guess why I came here to-night." + +"Oh, I know the reason very well." + +"Do you? That astonishes me. What is the reason?" + +"You came to see the Countess von Sayn." + +"Ah, is the lady within? Why, of course, she must be. I remember now, +she was to accompany you to Frankfort, and it naturally follows she is +your guest." + +"She is my guest, your Highness, and one reason why you cannot see her +is because at this moment the lady converses with the Count Palatine, +who has just arrived from Gutenfels. As the Countess and myself enjoyed +his hospitality not long ago in that stronghold, I have invited him to +be my guest until the coronation ceremonies are completed." + +"My Lord, I regret that your hospitality halts when it reaches your +future Emperor. Why may I not be introduced to the Count Palatine?" + +"Such introduction must not take place except in the presence of the +other Electors. I am very anxious, as you may perceive, that nothing +shall be done to jeopardize your own prospects. We have arrived, your +Highness, at a critical moment. History relates that more than one +candidate has come to the very steps of the throne, only to be rejected +at the last moment. I am too sincere a friend to risk such an outcome in +your own case." + +"Then you think it injudicious of me to see the Countess until after the +Election?" + +"I not only think it injudicious, your Highness, but I intend to prevent +a meeting." + +Again the young man laughed. + +"'Tis blessed then that I came for no such purpose; otherwise I might be +deeply disappointed." + +"For what purpose did you come, Highness?" + +"The Imperial Palace, my Lord, belongs no more to my mother. If she or I +continue there to reside, we seem to be taking for granted that I shall +be elected Emperor; an assumption unfair to the seven Electors, whose +choice should be untrammeled by even a hint of influence. I beg of you, +therefore, my Lord, to extend your hospitality to my mother. I have +spoken to her on this subject, and she will gladly be your guest, happy, +I am sure, to forsake that gloomy abode." + +"I am honored, your Highness, by the opportunity you give me. I shall +wait upon the Empress to-morrow at whatever hour it is convenient for +her Majesty to receive me." + +"You are most kind. I suggested that she should name an hour, and midday +was chosen." + +The Archbishop bowed profoundly. The young man rose, and held out his +hand, which the Archbishop took with cordiality. The Prince looked very +straight-forwardly at his host, and the latter thought he detected a +twinkle in his eye, as he said with decision: + +"To-morrow I shall formally notify my Lord of Mayence that the Empress +has chosen your Palace as her place of residence until after the +coronation, and I shall request his Lordship to crave your permission +that I may call here every day to see my mother." + +Again Cologne bowed, and made no further protest, although Roland +seemingly expected one, but as it did not come, the Prince continued: + +"Here is my address in Sachsenhausen, should you wish a communication to +reach me in haste; and kindly command your porter not to parley when I +again demand speech with your Lordship. Good-night. I thank you, my +Lord, for your courtesy," and the energetic youth disappeared before the +slow-thinking Archbishop could call up words with which to reply. + +Cologne did not immediately rejoin his guests, but stood a very figure +of perplexity, muttering to himself: + +"If our friend Mayence thinks that youngster is to be molded like soft +clay, he is very much mistaken. I hope Roland will not cause him to feel +the iron hand too soon. I wonder why Mayence is delaying the Election? +Can it be that already he distrusts his choice, or is it the question of +a wife?" + +Meanwhile the front door of the Archbishop's Palace had clanged shut, +and Roland strode across the square careless or unconscious of spies, +looking neither to the right nor to the left. He made his way speedily +to the Fahrgasse, walking down that thoroughfare until he came to Herr +Goebel's door, where he knocked, and was admitted. Ushered into the room +where he had parted from the merchant, he found Herr Goebel seated at +his table as if he had never left it. The merchant, with a cry of +delight, greeted the young man. + +"Well, Herr Goebel, you see I have been a successful trafficker. Your +bales of goods are all in Castle Pfalz, and I trust the barge returned +safely to you with the money." + +"It did indeed, your Highness." + +"Has the coin been counted?" + +"Yes; and it totals an enormous, almost unbelievable, sum, which I have +set down here to the last stiver." + +"That is brave news. Have any demands been made on you for its +partition?" + +"No, your Highness." + +"Now, Herr Goebel, I have determined that all that money, which is in +effect stolen property, shall go to the feeding of Frankfort's poor. +Buying provender shrewdly, how long would this treasure keep hunger away +from the gates of Frankfort?" + +"That requires some calculation, your Highness." + +"A month?" + +"Surely so." + +"Two months, perhaps?" + +"'Tis likely; but I deal in cloth, not in food, and therefore cannot +speak definitely without computation and the advice of those expert in +the matter." + +"Very well, Herr Goebel; get your computations made as soon as possible. +Call together your merchants' guild, and ask its members--By the way," +said Roland, suddenly checking himself, "give to me in writing the +amount of gold I have sent you." + +The unsuspecting merchant did so, and Roland's eyes opened with +astonishment when he glanced at the total. He then placed the paper in +the wallet he carried. + +"You were perhaps about to suggest that a committee be appointed," +ventured the merchant. + +"Yes; a small but capable committee, of which you shall be chairman and +treasurer. But first you will ask the merchants to subscribe, out of +their known wealth, a sum equaling the gold I filched from the Barons." + +The merchant's face fell, and took on a doleful expression. + +"The times, your Highness, have long been very bad, none of us making +money--" + +The Prince held up his hand, and the merchant ceased his plaint. + +"If I can strip a Baron of his wealth," he said, "I will not waste words +over the fleecing of merchants. This contribution is to be given in the +name of the three Archbishops, whose heavy hands came down on you after +the late insurrection. The Archbishops have now nine thousand troops in +Frankfort. If given leave, they will collect the sum three times over +within a very few hours; so you, as chairman of the committee, may +decide whether the fund shall be a voluntary contribution or an impost +gathered by soldiery: it matters nothing to me. Have it proclaimed +throughout the city that owing to the graciousness of the three +Archbishops starvation is now at an end in Frankfort." + +"Highness, with your permission, and all due deference, it seems rather +unjust that we should contribute the cash and lose the credit." + +"Yes, Herr Goebel; this is a very unjust world, as doubtless many of the +starving people thought when they recollected that a few hundred of you +possessed vast wealth while they were penniless. Nevertheless, there are +good times ahead for all of us. Let me suggest that this money which I +sent to you may prove sufficient and so the subscriptions of the +merchants can be returned to them; that is, if the relief fund is +honestly administered. So set to work early to-morrow with energy. You +merchants have had a long vacation. I think the Rhine will be open +before many weeks are past, and then you can turn to your money-making, +but our first duty is to feed the hungry. Good-night, Herr Goebel." + +He left the merchant as dazed as was the Archbishop. Once again outside +he made directly for the wine cellar of the Rheingold. On reaching the +steps he heard a roar of talk, lightened now and then by the sound of +laughter. He paused a moment before descending. It was evident that the +company was enjoying itself, and Roland soliloquized somewhat sadly: + +"I am the disturbing element in that group. They seem to agree famously +when by themselves. Ah, well, no matter. They will soon be rid of me!" + +When Roland descended the stair, the proprietor greeted him with joy. + +"I have missed you, Herr Roland," he said, "so you may imagine how much +the guild has regretted your absence." + +"Yes; I hear them bemoaning their fate." + +The inn-keeper laughed. + +"How many are here to-night?" + +"There is a full house, Sir Roland." + +"Really? Are Kurzbold and Gensbein within?" + +"Oh, yes; and there is no scarcity of money, thanks to you, I +understand." + +"Rather, our thanks are for ever due to you, Herr Host, for sustaining +us so long when we were penniless. We shall never forget that," and so +with a semi-military salute to the gratified cellar-man, Roland pushed +open the door and entered the banqueting room of the iron-workers' +guild. An instant silence fell on the group. + +"Good evening to you, gentlemen," said the Prince, taking off his hat, +and with a twist of his shoulders flinging the cloak from them. + +Instantly arose a great cheer, and Greusel, who occupied the chair at +the head of the table, strode forward, took Roland's hat and cloak, and +hung them up. After that he attempted to lead their Captain to the seat +of honor. + +"No, no, my dear lieutenant," said Roland, placing his hand +affectionately on the other's shoulder, "a better man than I occupies +the chair, and shall never be displaced by me." + +The others, now on their feet, with the exception of Kurzbold and +Gensbein, vociferously demanded that Roland take the chair. Smilingly he +shook his head, and holding up his hand for silence, addressed them. + +"Take your seats, comrades; and, Greusel, if you force me to give a +command, I order you into that chair without further protest." + +Greusel, with evident reluctance, obeyed. + +"Truth to tell, brothers, I have but a few moments to stop. I merely +dropped in to enjoy a sip of wine with you, and to offer a proposal +that, within five minutes, will make me the most unpopular man in this +room, therefore you see my wisdom in refusing a chair from which I +should be very promptly ejected." + +One of the members poured a tankard full of wine from a flagon, and +handed it to Roland, who, saluting the company, drank. + +"You did not divide the money, Greusel?" + +"No, Roland. We gave each man five hundred thalers, to keep as best he +might. We then concealed the rest of the gold between the bottom of the +boat and its inner planking. Ebearhard and I construed your orders +somewhat liberally, conceiving it was your desire to get our treasure +and ourselves safely into Frankfort." + +"Quite right," corroborated Roland. + +"When morning came upon us, we soon discovered that the whole country +was aroused, because of the destruction of Furstenberg and the looting +of Sonneck. No one knew where the next raid would strike, and therefore +the whole country-side was in a turmoil. Now, the only fact known to the +despoiled was that a long black barge had appeared in front of the +Castle while the attack was made from behind. We realized that it would +be impossible for us to go up the river except in darkness, so in case +of a search we concealed the treasure where it was not likely to be come +at, and each day lay quiet at an unfrequented part of the river, rowing +all night. Not until we reached the Main did we venture on a daylight +voyage. It was agreed among us unanimously that the money should be +placed in Herr Goebel's keeping until you returned." + +"That was all excellently done," commented Roland. "I have just been to +see Herr Goebel, and was surprised to learn how much we had actually +taken. And now I ask you to make a great sacrifice. This city is +starving. If we give that gold to its relief, the merchants of Frankfort +will contribute an equal amount. I do not know how long such a total +will keep the wolves from the doors of Frankfort; probably for six +months. I shall learn definitely to-morrow." Here Roland outlined his +plan of relief, which was received in silence. + +Kurzbold spoke up. + +"I should like to know how much the total is?" + +"That is a matter with which you have nothing to do," growled Greusel; +then, turning to Roland, who had not yet taken a seat, he said: "So far +as my share is concerned, I agree." + +"I agree," added Ebearhard; and so it went down along each side of the +table until eighteen had spoken. + +Kurzbold rose with a smile on his face. + +"I don't know how it is, ex-Captain, that the moment you come among us +there seems to arise a spirit of disputation." + +"Curiously enough, Herr Kurzbold, that same thought arose in my mind as +I listened to your hilarity before I entered. I beg to add, for your +satisfaction, that this is my last visit to the guild, and never again +shall I disturb its harmony." + +"There is no lack of harmony," cried Ebearhard, laughing, as he rose. +"The agreement has been practically unanimous--quite unanimous in fact, +among those entitled to share in the great treasure. I believe Herr +Kurzbold has a claim, if it has not been forfeited, to the loot of +Rheinstein." + +"Now, even the genial Ebearhard," continued Kurzbold, "although his +words are blameless, speaks with a certain tone of acerbity, while my +friend Greusel has become gruff as a bear." + +"You need not labor that point, Herr Kurzbold," said Roland. "I have +resigned." + +"I just wished to remark," Kurzbold went on, "that I rose for the +purpose of stating I had some slight share in something; stolen +property; honor among thieves, you know. Are my rights to this share +disputed?" + +"No," said the chairman shortly. + +"Very well," concluded Kurzbold, "as I am graciously permitted to speak +in the august presence of our ex-Captain, I desire to say that whatever +my share happens to be, I bestow it gladly, nay, exultantly, upon the +poor of Frankfort." + +With that Kurzbold sat down, and there was first a roar of laughter, +followed by a clapping of hands. Gensbein rose, and said briefly: + +"I do as Kurzbold does." + +"Now," said Roland, "I want a number of volunteers to start out into the +country early to-morrow morning, Greusel, you, as chairman, will +designate the routes. Each man is to penetrate as far as he can along +the main roads, asking the farmers to bring everything in the shape of +food they have to sell. Tell them a vast sum has been collected, and +that their cartloads will be bought entire the moment they enter the +city. There will be no waiting for their money. Prompt payment, and +everything eatable purchased immediately. Greusel, I put on you the +hardest task. Penetrate into the forest south of the Main, and tell the +charcoal-burners and woodmen to bring in material for kitchen fires. How +many will volunteer?" + +Every man rose. Roland thanked them. "I shall now divulge a secret, and +you will see that when it was told to me I remembered your interests. It +has been my privilege to meet, since I saw you, more than one man who is +a ruler in this Empire." + +"Did they tell you who is to be the new Emperor?" cried one. + +"That is known only to the Electors. But what I was about to say is +this. There are to be established by the Government ironworks on a scale +hitherto unknown in any land. I believe, and did my best to inculcate +that belief in others, that we are on the verge of an age of iron, and, +knowing your skill, I am privileged to offer each of you the +superintendency of a department, with compensation never before given so +lavishly in Germany. I am also induced to believe that the new Emperor +will bestow a title on each of you who desire such honor, so that there +can be no question of your right to wear a sword. Greusel, you must +receive reports from each of our food scouts, and I shall be glad to +know the outcome, if you take the trouble to call upon me any hour after +nine o'clock at night, at my old room in Sachsenhausen. And now, +good-night, and good-luck to you all." + +Roland went over the bridge, and so reached his room on the other side. +He glanced around several times to satisfy himself he was not spied +upon, and laughed at the apprehension of the Archbishop. Entering his +room, he lit a lamp, took off his cloak and flung it on the bed, then +unbuckled his sword-belt and hung it and the weapon on a peg, placing +his cloak above them. He was startled by a loud knock at the door, and +stood for a moment astonished, until it was repeated with the stern +warning: + +"Open in the name of the Archbishop!" + +The young man strode forward, drew back the bolt, and flung open the +door. An officer, with two soldiers behind him, came across the +threshold, and at the side-motion of the officer's head a soldier closed +and bolted the door. Roland experienced a momentary thrill of +indignation at this rude intrusion, then he remembered he was a +mechanic, and that his line must be the humble and deferential. + +"You came to-night from the Imperial Palace. What were you doing there?" + +"I was trying to gain admission, sir." + +"For what purpose?" + +"I wished," said Roland, rapidly outlining his defense in his own mind, +"I wished to see some high officer; some one of your own position, sir, +but was not so fortunate as to succeed. I could not pass the sentries +without a permit, which I did not then possess, but hope to acquire +to-morrow." + +"Again I ask, for what purpose?" + +"For a purpose which causes me delight in meeting your excellency." + +"I am no excellency. Come to the point! For what purpose?" + +"To show the officer a sword of such superior quality that a man armed +with it, and given a certain amount of skill, stands impregnable." + +"Do you mean to tell me you went to the Royal Palace for the purpose of +selling a second-hand sword?" + +"Oh, no, my lord." + +"Do not be so free with your titles. Call me Lieutenant." + +"Well, Lieutenant, sir; I hope to get orders for a hundred, or perhaps a +thousand of these weapons." + +"Where did you go after leaving the Palace?" + +"I went to the residence of that great Prince of the Church, the +Archbishop of Cologne." + +"Ah! You did not succeed in seeing his Lordship, I suppose?" + +"Pardon me, Lieutenant, but I did. His Lordship is keenly interested in +both weapons and armor." + +"Did he give you an order for swords?" + +"No, Lieutenant; he seems to be a very cautious man. He asked me to +visit him in Cologne, or if I could not do that, to see his general, now +in Frankfort. You understand, Lieutenant, the presence of the three +Archbishops with their armies offers me a great opportunity, by which I +hope to profit." + +The officer looked at him with a puzzled expression on his face. + +"Where next did you go?" + +"I went to the house of a merchant in the Fahrgasse." + +"Ah, that tale doesn't hold! Merchants are not allowed to wear swords." + +"No, Lieutenant, but a merchant on occasion can supply capital that will +enable a skilled workman to accept a large contract. If I should see the +general of his Lordship to-morrow, and he gave me an order for, say, two +thousand swords, I have not enough money to buy the metal, and I could +not ask for payment until I delivered the weapons." + +"Did the merchant agree to capitalize you?" + +"He, too, was a cautious man, Lieutenant. He wished first to see the +contract, and know who stood responsible for payment." + +"Wise man," commented the officer; "and so, disheartened, I suppose, you +returned here?" + +"No, Lieutenant; the day has been warm, and I have traveled a good deal. +I went from the merchant's house to the Rheingold tavern, there to drink +a tankard of wine with my comrades, a score of men who have formed what +they call the ironworkers' guild. I drank a tankard with them, and then +came direct here, where I arrived but a few moments ago." + +The officer was more and more puzzled. Despite this young man's +deferential manner, his language was scarcely that of a mechanic, yet +this certainly was his own room, and he had told the absolute truth +about his wanderings, as one who has nothing to fear. + +The Lieutenant stood for a space of time with eyes to the floor, as +silent as the soldiers behind him. Suddenly he looked up. + +"Show me the sword. I'll tell you where it's made!" + +If he expected hesitation he was mistaken. Roland gave a joyful cry, +swept aside the cloak, whisked forth the sword, flung it up, and caught +it by the blade, then with a low bow handed it to the officer, who +flashed it through the air, bent the blade between finger and thumb, +then took it near the lamp and scrutinized it with the eye of an expert. + +"A good weapon, my friend. Where was it made? I have never seen one like +it." + +"It was made by my own hands here in Frankfort. Of course I go first to +those who know least about the matter, but if I can get an introduction +to his Lordship of Mayence, his officers will know a sword when they see +it; and I hope to-night fortune, in leading you to my door, has brought +me an officer of Mayence." + +The Lieutenant looked at him, and for the first time smiled. He handed +back the weapon, signed to his men to unbolt the door, which they did, +stepping out; then he said: + +"I bid you good-night. Your answers have been satisfactory, but I set +you down not as a mechanic, but a very excellent merchant of swords." + +"Lieutenant," said Roland, "you do not flatter me." He raised his weapon +in military salute. "I am no merchant, but a sword maker." + + + + +XIX + +THE BETROTHAL IN THE GARDEN + + +Next morning Prince Roland sent a letter to the Archbishop of Mayence +informing him that the Empress had taken up her abode in the Palace of +her old friend, the Lord of Cologne, giving the reasons for this move +and his own desertion of the Imperial Palace, and asking permission to +call upon his mother each day. The messenger brought back a prompt +reply, which commended the delicacy of his motives in leaving the Royal +Palace, but added that, so far as the three Archbishops were concerned, +the Saalhof was still at their disposal: of course Prince Roland's +movements were quite untrammeled, and again, so far as concerned the +three Archbishops, he was at liberty to visit whom he pleased, as often +as he liked. + +While waiting for the return of his messenger, Roland called upon Herr +Goebel, and told him that twenty emissaries had gone forth in every +direction from Frankfort to inform the farming community that a market +had been opened in the city, and in exchange learned what the merchant +had already done towards furthering the necessary organization. + +"Oh, by the way, Herr Goebel," he cried, suddenly recollecting, "just +write out and sign a document to this effect: 'I promise Herr Roland, +sword maker of Sachsenhausen, to supply him with the capital necessary +for carrying out his contract with his Lordship the Archbishop of +Cologne.'" + +Without demur the merchant indited the document, signed it, and gave it +to the Prince. + +"If any emissary of Mayence pays you a domiciliary visit, Herr Goebel, +asking questions about me, carefully conceal my real status, and reply +that I am an honest, skillful sword maker, anxious to revive the +iron-working industry, and for this reason, being yourself solicitous +for the welfare of Frankfort, you are risking some money." + +In the afternoon Roland walked to the Palace of Cologne and boldly +entered, with no attempt at secrecy, the doorkeeper on this occasion +offering no impediment to his progress. He learned that the Empress, +much fatigued, had retired to her room and must not be disturbed; that +the Archbishop was consulting with the Count Palatine, while the +Countess von Sayn was walking in the garden. Roland passed with some +haste through the Palace, and emerged into the grounds behind it: +grounds delightfully umbrageous, and of an extent surprisingly large, +surrounded by a very high wall of stone, so solidly built that it might +successfully stand a siege. + +Roland found the girl sauntering very slowly along one of the most +secluded alleys, whose gravel-path lay deeply in the shade caused by the +thick foliage of over-hanging trees, which made a cool, green tunnel of +the walk. Her head was slightly bowed in thought, her beautiful face +pathetic in its weariness, and the young man realized, with a pang of +sympathy, that she was still to all intents and purposes a prisoner, +with no companions but venerable people. She could not, and indeed did +not attempt to suppress an exclamation of delight at seeing him, +stretching out both hands in greeting, and her countenance cleared as if +by magic. + +"I was thinking of you!" she cried, without a trace of coquetry. + +"I judged your thoughts to be rather gloomy," he said, with a laugh, in +which she joined. + +"Gloomy only because I could see or hear nothing of you." + +"Did you know I came yesterday?" + +"No. Why did you not ask to see me?" + +"I was informed you were entertaining the Count Palatine." + +"Ah, yes. He is a delightful old man. I like him better and better as +time goes on. My guardian and I were guests of his at Gutenfels just +before I occupied the marine prison of Pfalz." + +"So your guardian told me." + +They were now walking side by side in this secluded, thickly-wooded +avenue, just wide enough for two, running in a straight line from wall +to wall the whole length of the property, in the part most remote from +the house. + +"Nothing disastrous has happened to you?" she asked. "I have had +miserable forebodings." + +"No; I am living a most commonplace life, quite uneventful." + +"But why, why does the Archbishop of Mayence delay the Election?" + +"I did not know he was doing so." + +"Oh, my guardian is very anxious about it. Such postponement, I +understand, never happened before. The State is without a head." + +"Has your guardian spoken to Mayence about it?" + +"Yes; and has been met by the most icy politeness. Mayence wishes this +Election to take place with a full conclave of the seven Electors, three +of whom have not yet arrived. But my guardian says they never arrive, +and take no interest in Imperial matters. He pointed out to Mayence that +a quorum of the Court is already in Frankfort, but his Lordship of the +Upper Rhine merely protests that they must not force an Election, all of +which my guardian thinks is a mere hiding of some design on the part of +Mayence." + +Prince Roland meditated on this for a few moments, then, as if shaking +off his doubts, he said: + +"It never occurs to one Archbishop that either of the others may be +speaking the truth. There is so much mistrust among them that they +nullify all united action, which accounts for the prostrate state of +this city, the capital of one of the most prosperous countries under the +sun. So far as I can see, taken individually, they are upright, +trustworthy men. Now, to give you an instance. Your guardian last night +was simply panic-stricken at my audacity in visiting him. He said I must +not come again, refusing me permission to see you; he told you nothing +of my conference with him: he felt certain I was being tracked by spies, +and could not be made to understand that my presence here was of no +consequence one way or another." + +"Then why are you here now?" + +"I am just coming to that. I asked your guardian to invite my mother as +his guest. Have you met her yet?" + +"No; they told me the Empress was too tired to receive any one. I am to +be introduced at dinner to-night." + +"Well, this morning I wrote to the Archbishop of Mayence, telling him of +my interview with your guardian, the reason for it, and the results. His +reply came promptly by return." Roland produced the document. "Just read +that, and see whether you detect anything sinister in it." + +She read the letter thoughtfully. + +"That is honest enough on the surface." + +"On the surface, yes; but why not below the surface as well? That is a +frank assent to a frank request. I think that if the Archbishops would +treat each other with open candor they would save themselves a good deal +of anxiety." + +"Perhaps," said the girl, very quietly. + +"You are not convinced?" + +"I don't know what to think." Then she looked up at him quickly. "Were +you followed last night?" + +"Ah!" ejaculated Roland, laughing a little "apparently not, so far as I +could see, but the night was very dark." Then he related to her the +incidents succeeding the return to his room, while she listened with +breathless eagerness. "The Lieutenant," he concluded, "did not deny that +he was in the service of Mayence when I hinted as much, but, on the +other hand, he did not admit it. Of course, I knew by his uniform to +whom he belonged. He conducted my examination with military abruptness, +but skillfully and with increasing courtesy, although I proclaimed +myself a mechanic." + +"You a mechanic!" she said incredulously. "Do you think he believed it?" + +"I see you doubt my histrionic ability, but when next he waits upon me I +shall produce documentary evidence of my status, and, what is more, I'll +take to my workshop." + +"Do you possess a workshop?" cried the girl in amazement. + +"Do I? Why, I am partner with a man named Greusel, and we own a workshop +together. A gruff, clumsy individual, as you would think, but who, +nevertheless, with his delicate hammer, would beat you out in metal a +brooch finer than that you are wearing." + +"Do you mean Joseph?" + +"Yes," replied Roland, astonished. "What do you know of him?" + +"Have you forgotten so soon? It was his stalwart shoulders that burst in +my door at Pfalz, and you yourself told me his name was Joseph Greusel. +Were all those marauders you commanded honest mechanics?" + +"Every man of them." + +"Then you must be the villain of the piece who led those worthy +ironworkers astray?" + +Roland laughed heartily. + +"That is quite true," he said. "Have I fallen in your estimation?" + +"No; to me you appeared as a rescuer. Besides, I come of a race of +ruffians, and doubtless on that account take a more lenient view of your +villainy than may be the case with others." + +The young man stopped in his walk, and seized her hands again, which she +allowed him to possess unresisting. + +"Hilda," he said solemnly, "your guardian thought the Archbishop of +Mayence had relented, and would withdraw his opposition to our marriage. +Has Mayence said anything to corroborate that estimate?" + +"Nothing." + +"Has your guardian broached the subject to him?" + +"Yes; but the attitude of my Lord of Mayence was quite inscrutable. +Personally I think my guardian wrong in his surmise. The Archbishop of +Treves murmured that Mayence never forgives. I am certain I offended him +too deeply for pardon. He wishes the future Empress to be a pliable +creature who will influence her husband according to his Lordship's +desires, but, as I have boasted several times, I belong to the House of +Sayn." + +"Hilda, will you marry me in spite of the Archbishops?" + +"Roland, will you forego kingship for my sake?" + +"Yes; a thousand times yes!" + +"You said 'For the Empress; not for the Empire,' but if I am no Empress, +you will as cheerfully wed me?" + +"Yes." + +"Then _I_ say yes!" + +He caught her in his arms, and they floated into the heaven of their +first kiss, an ecstatic melting together. Suddenly she drew away from +him. + +"There is some one coming," she whispered. + +"Nothing matters now," said Roland breathlessly. "There is no one in the +world to-day but you and me." + +Hildegunde drew her hands down her cheeks, as if to brush away their +tell-tale color and their warmth. + +"'Tis like," said Roland, "that you marry a poor man." + +"Nothing matters now," she repeated, laughing tremulously. "I am said to +be the richest woman in Germany. I shall build you a forge and enlist +myself your apprentice. We will paint over the door 'Herr Roland and +wife; sword makers.'" + +Two men appeared at the end of the alley, and stood still; the one with +a frown on his brow, the other with a smile on his lips. + +"Oh!" whispered the Countess, panic striking from her face the color +that her palms had failed to remove, "the Archbishop and the Count +Palatine!" + +His Lordship strode forward, followed more leisurely by the smiling +Count. + +"Prince Roland," said Cologne, "I had not expected this after our +conference of last night." + +"I fail to understand why, my Lord, when my parting words were 'Tell +your porter to let me in without parley.' That surely indicated an +intention on my part to visit the Palace." + +"Your Highness knows that so far as I am concerned you are very welcome, +and always shall be so, but at this juncture there are others to +consider." + +Roland interrupted. + +"Read this letter, my Lord, and you will learn that I am here with the +full concurrence of that generous Prince of the Church, Mayence." + +Cologne, with knitted brow, scrutinized the communication. + +"Your Highness is most courageous, but, if I may be permitted, just a +trifle too clever." + +"My Highness is not clever at all, but merely meets a situation as it +arises." + +"Prince Roland," said the Countess, her head raised proudly, "may I +introduce to you my friend, and almost my neighbor, the Count Palatine +of the Rhine?" + +"Ah, pardon me," murmured the Archbishop, covered with confusion, but +the jovial Count swept away all embarrassment by his hearty greeting. + +"Prince Roland, I am delighted with the honor her ladyship accords me." + +"And I, my Lord, am exceedingly gratified to meet the Count Palatine +again." + +"Again?" cried the Count in astonishment, "If ever we had encountered +one another, your Highness, I certainly should not have been the one to +forget the privilege." + +The Prince laughed. + +"It is true, nevertheless. My Lord Count, there is a namesake of mine in +the precincts of your strong Castle of Gutenfels; a namesake who does +more honor to the title than I do myself." + +The Count Palatine threw back his head, and the forest garden echoed +with boisterous laughter. + +"You mean my black charger, Prince Roland!" he shouted. "A noble horse +indeed. How knew you of him? If your Highness cares for horses allow me +to present him to you." + +"Never, my Lord Count. You are too fond of him yourself, and I have +always had an affectionate feeling towards you for your love of that +animal, which, indeed, hardly exceeds my own. I grasped his bridle-rein, +and held the stirrup while you mounted." + +"How is that possible?" asked the astonished Count. + +"I cared for Prince Roland nearly a month, receiving generous wages, +and, what I valued more, your own commendation, for you saw I was as +fond of horses as you were." + +"Good heavens! Were you that youth who came so mysteriously, and +disappeared without warning?" + +"Yes," laughed the Prince. "I know Gutenfels nearly as well as you do. I +was a spy, studying the art of war and methods of fortification. I +stopped in various capacities at nearly all the famous Castles of the +Rhine, and this knowledge recently came in--" + +"Your Highness, your Highness!" pleaded the Archbishop. "I implore you +to remember that the Count Palatine is an Elector of the Empire, and, as +I told last night, we are facing a crisis. Until that crisis is passed +you will add to my already great anxiety by any lack of reticence on +your part." + +"By the Three Kings!" cried the Count, "this youth, if I may venture to +call him so, has bound me to him with bands stronger than chain armor. I +shall vote for him whoever falters." + +"His Highness," said the Archbishop, with a propitiatory smile, "has +been listening to the Eastern tales which our ancestors brought from the +Crusades, and I fear has filled his head with fancies." + +"Really, Archbishop, you misjudge me," said the young man; "I am the +most practical person in the Empire. You interrupted my boasting to her +ladyship of my handiwork. I would have you know I am a capable mechanic +and a sword maker. What think you of that, my Lord?" he asked, drawing +forth his weapon, and handing it to Cologne. + +"An excellent blade indeed," said the latter, balancing it in his hand. + +"Very well, my Lord, I made it and tempered it unassisted. I beg you to +re-enter your palace, and write me out an order for a thousand of these +weapons." + +"If your Highness really wishes me to do this, and there is no concealed +humorism in your request which I am too dull to fathom, you must +accompany me to my study and dictate the document I am to indite. I +shall wait till you bid farewell to the Countess." + +A glance of mutual understanding flashed between the girl and himself, +then Roland raised her hand to his lips, and although the onlookers saw +the gallant salutation, they knew nothing of the gentle pressure with +which the fingers exchanged their confidences. + +"Madam," said the Prince, "it will be my pleasure and duty to wait upon +my mother to-morrow. May I look forward to the happiness of presenting +you to her?" + +"I thank you," said the Countess simply, with a glance of appeal at her +guardian. That good man sighed, then led the way into the house. + + + + +XX + +THE MYSTERY OF THE FOREST + + +Roland left the palace with a sense of elation he had never before +experienced, but this received a check as he saw standing in the middle +of the square the Lieutenant of the night before. His first impulse was +to avoid the officer, yet almost instinctively he turned and walked +directly to him, which apparently nonplussed the brave emissary of +Mayence. + +"Good afternoon to you, sir," began Roland, as if overjoyed to see him. +"Will you permit me to speak to you, sir?" + +"Well?" said the Lieutenant curtly. + +"My forge, which has been black and cold for many a long day, will soon +be alight and warm again. What think you of this?" He handed to the +Lieutenant his order for a thousand swords, and the officer made a +mental note of the commission as an interesting point in armament that +would be appreciated by his chief. + +"You did not inform me last night who was the merchant you hoped would +finance your enterprise." + +"Hoped?" echoed Roland, his eyes sparkling. "'Tis more than hope, Herr +Lieutenant. His name is Goebel, and he is one of the richest and +chiefest traffickers of Frankfort. Why, my fortune is made! Read this, +written in his own hand. I got it from him before midday, on my mere +word that I was certain of an order from his Lordship." + +"You are indeed much to be envied," said the Lieutenant coldly, +returning the two documents. + +"Ah, but I am just at the beginning. If _you_ would favor me by +smoothing the way to his Lordship, the Archbishop of Mayence, I in +return--" + +"Out upon you for a base-born, profit-mongering churl! Do you think that +I, an officer, would demean myself by partnering a bagman!" + +The Lieutenant turned on his heel, strode away and left him. Roland +pursued his way with bowed head, as though stricken by the rebuff. +Nearing the bridge, he saw a crowd around an empty cart, standing by +which a man in rough clothing was cursing most vociferously. + +At first he thought there had been an accident, but most of the people +were laughing loudly; so, halting in the outskirts, he asked the cause +of the commotion. + +"'Tis but a fool farmer," said a man, "who came from the country with +his load of vegetables. 'Tis safer to enter a lion's den unarmed than to +come into Frankfort with food while people are starving. He has been +plundered to the last leaf." + +Roland shouldered his way through the crowd, and touched the frantic man +on the shoulder. + +"What was the value of your load?" he said. + +"A misbegotten liar told me this morning that a market had opened in +Frankfort, and that there was money to be had. No sooner am I in the +town than everything I brought in is stolen." + +"Yes, yes; I know all about that. My question is, How much is your +merchandise worth?" + +"Worth? Thirty thalers I expected to get, and now--" + +"Thirty thalers," interrupted the Prince. "Here is your money. Get you +gone, and tell your neighbors there is prompt payment for all the +provender they can bring in." + +The man calmed down as if a bucket of water had been thrown on him. He +counted the payment with miserly care, testing each coin between his +teeth, then mounted his cart without a word of thanks, and, to the +disappointment of the gathering mob, drove away. Roland, seething with +anger, walked directly to the house of Herr Goebel, and found that +placid old burgher seated at his table. + +"Ten thousand curses on your indolence!" he cried. "Where are your +committee, and the emissaries empowered to carry out this scheme of +relief I have ordered?" + +"Committee? Emissaries?" cried the astonished man. "There has been no +time!" + +"Time, you thick-headed fool! I'll time you by hanging you to your own +front door. There has been time for me to send my men out into the +country; time for a farmer to come in with a cartload of produce, and be +robbed here under your very nose! Maledictions on you, you sit here, +well fed, and cry there is no time! If I had not paid the yeoman he +would have gone back into the country crying we were all thieves here in +Frankfort. Now listen to me. I drew my sword once upon you in jest. +Should I draw it a second time it will be to penetrate your lazy carcass +by running you through. If within two hours there is not a paymaster at +every gate in Frankfort to buy and pay for each cartload of produce as +it comes, and also a number of guides to tell that farmer where to +deliver his goods, I'll give your town over to the military, and order +the sacking of every merchant's house within its walls." + +"It shall be done; it shall be done; it shall be done!" breathed the +merchant, trembling as he rose, and he kept repeating the phrase with +the iteration of a parrot. + +"You owe me thirty thalers," said the Prince calming down; "the first +payment out of the relief fund. Give me the money." + +With quivering hands Herr Goebel, seeing no humor in the application, +handed over the money, which the Prince slipped into his wallet. + +Dusk had fallen when at last he reached his room in Sachsenhausen, and +there he found awaiting him Joseph Greusel, in semi-darkness and in +total gloom. + +"Your housekeeper let me in," said the visitor. + +"Good! I did not expect you back so soon. Have the others returned?" + +"I do not know. I came direct here. I carry very ominous news, Roland, +of impending disaster in Frankfort." + +"Greater than at present oppresses it?" + +"Civil war, fire, and bloodshed. Close the door, Roland; I am tired out, +and I do not wish to be overheard." + +The Prince obeyed the request, locking the door. Going to a cupboard, he +produced a generous flagon of wine and a tankard, setting the same on a +small table before Greusel, then he threw himself down in the one +armchair the room possessed. Greusel filled the tankard, and emptied it +without drawing breath. He plunged directly into his narrative. + +"I had penetrated less than half a league into the forest when I was +stopped by an armed man who stepped out from behind a tree. He wore the +uniform of Mayence, and proclaimed me a prisoner. I explained my +mission, but this had no effect upon him. He asked if I would go with +him quietly, or compel him to call assistance. Being helpless, I said I +would go quietly. Notwithstanding this, he bound my wrists behind me, +then with a strip of cloth blindfolded me. Taking me by the arm, he led +me through the forest for a distance impossible to calculate. I think, +however, we walked not more than ten minutes. There was a stop and a +whispered parley; a pause of a few minutes, and a further conference, +which I partially heard. The commander before whom I must be taken was +not ready to receive me. I should be placed in a tent, and a guard set +over me. + +"This was done. I asked that the cord, which hurt my wrists, might be +removed, but instead, my ankles were tied together, and I sat there on +the ground, leaning against a pole at the back of the tent. Here my +conductor left me, and I heard him give orders to those without to +maintain a strict watch, but to hold no communication with me. + +"I imagine that the tent I occupied stood back to back with the tent of +the commander, for after some time I heard the sound of voices, and it +seemed to me voices of two men in authority. They had come to the back +part of their tent, as if to speak confidentially, and their voices were +low, yet I could hear them quite distinctly, being separated from them +merely by two thicknesses of cloth. What I learned was this. There is +concealed in the forest, within half an hour's quick march of the +southern gate, a force of seven thousand soldiers. These soldiers belong +to the Archbishop of Mayence, who commands an additional three thousand +within the walls of Frankfort. Mayence holds the southern gate, as +Treves holds the western and Cologne the northern. You see at once what +that implies. Mayence can pour his troops into Frankfort, say, at +midnight, and in the morning he has ten thousand soldiers as compared +with the three thousand each commanded by the Archbishops of Treves and +Cologne. That means civil war, and the complete crushing of the two +northern Archbishops." + +"I think you take too serious a view of the matter," commented Roland. +"Mayence is undoubtedly a subtle man, who takes every precaution that he +shall have his own way. The reason that there will be no civil war is +this. I happen to know on very excellent authority that so far as the +Electoral Court goes, Mayence is paramount. He does not need to conquer +Cologne and Treves by force, because he is already supreme by his genius +for intrigue. He is a born ruler, and his methods are all those of +diplomacy as against those of arms. I dare say if occasion demanded it +he would strike quick and strike effectually, but occasion does not +demand. I am rather sure of my facts, and I know that the three +Archbishops, together with the Count Palatine of the Rhine, are in +agreement to elect my namesake, Prince Roland, Emperor of Germany." + +"Yes," said Greusel, "I heard that rumor, and it is generally believed +in Frankfort. Rumor, however, as usual, speaks falsely." + +The Prince smiled at his pessimistic colleague, for that colleague was +talking to the man who knew; nevertheless, he listened patiently, for of +course he could not yet reveal himself to his somber lieutenant, who +continued his narrative: + +"The two men spoke of the unfortunate Prince, who is, I understand, +still a prisoner in Ehrenfels." + +Here Roland laughed outright. + +"My dear Greusel, you are entirely mistaken. The Prince was never really +a prisoner, and is at this moment in Frankfort, as free to do what he +likes as I am." + +"I am sorry," said Greusel, "that you do not grasp the seriousness of +the situation, but I have not yet come to the vital part of it, although +I thought the very fact that seven thousand men threatened Frankfort +would impress you." + +"It does, Greusel," said Roland, remembering the distrust in which both +the Countess and her guardian held Mayence, and also the close watch his +Lordship was keeping over Frankfort, as evidenced by the domiciliary +visit paid to himself by an officer of that potentate. "Go on, Greusel," +he said more soberly, "I shall not interrupt you again." + +"I gathered that Prince Roland actually had been chosen, but +complications arose which I do not altogether understand. These +complications relate to a woman, or two women; both of them equally +objectionable to the Archbishop of Mayence. One of these two women was +to marry the new Emperor, but rather than have this happen, Mayence +determined that another than Prince Roland should be elected, the reason +being that Mayence feared one Empress would be entirely under the +influence of Cologne, if chosen, and the other under the influence of +Treves. So his subtle Lordship is deluding both of these Electors. +Cologne has been asked to bring to Frankfort the woman he controls, +therefore he harbors the illusion that Mayence is reconciled to her. +Treves also has been requested to bring the lady who is his relative; +thus she, too, is in Frankfort, and Treves blindly believes Mayence is +favorable to her cause. + +"As a matter of fact Mayence will have neither, but has resolved to +spring upon the Electoral Court at the last moment the name of the Grand +Duke Karl of Hesse, a middle-aged man already married, and entirely +under the dominance of his Lordship of Mayence." + +"Pardon me, Greusel, I must interrupt, in spite of my disclaimer. What +you say sounds very ingenious, but it cannot be carried out. Treves, +Cologne, and the Count Palatine are already pledged to vote for Prince +Roland, so is Mayence himself, and to change front at the last moment +would be to forswear himself, and act as traitor to his colleagues. Now, +he cannot afford to lose even one vote, and I believe that the +Archbishop of Cologne will vote for Prince Roland through thick and +thin. I think the same of the Count Palatine. Treves, of course, is +always doubtful and wavering, but you see that the negative vote of the +Archbishop of Cologne would render Mayence powerless and an Election +impossible." + +"Doubtless what you say is true, and now you have put your finger on the +danger spot. Why has the Election been delayed beyond all precedent?" + +"That I do not know," replied Roland. + +"Then I will tell you. The Archbishop of Mayence has sent peremptory +orders to the other three Electors, who are reported to be careless so +far as Imperial affairs are concerned, and quite indifferent regarding +the personality of the future Emperor. No one of these three Electors, +however, dares offend so powerful a man as Mayence. If the Archbishop +can overawe his colleagues nominally equal to him in position, each +commanding an army, how think you can three small nobles, with no +soldiers at their beck, withstand his requests, suavely given, no doubt, +but with an iron menace behind them?" + +"True, true," muttered Roland. + +"Two of these nobles have already arrived, and are housed with the +Archbishop of Mayence. The third is expected here within three days; +four days at the farthest. Mayence will immediately convene the +Electoral Court, when the Count Palatine, with the two Archbishops, may +be astonished to find that for the first time in history, the whole +seven are present in the Wahlzimmer. Mayence will ask Cologne to make +the nomination, and he will put forward the name of Prince Roland. On a +vote being taken the Prince will be in a minority of one. Mayence then +shows his hand, nominating the Grand Duke Karl, who will be elected by a +majority of one. Then may ensue a commotion in the Wahlzimmer, and +accusations of bad faith, but remember that Cologne and Treves are taken +completely by surprise. They cannot communicate with their commanders, +for the three thousand troops which Mayence already has within Frankfort +will have quietly surrounded the Town Hall that contains the Election +Chamber, and Mayence's seven thousand men from the forest are pouring +through the southern gate into the city, making straight for the Romer. +Meanwhile the Grand Duke Karl, a man well known to the populace of +Frankfort, appears on the balcony of the Kaisersaal, and is loudly +acclaimed the new Emperor." + +"Ah, Greusel, forgive my attitude of doubt. It is all as plain now as +the Cathedral tower. Still, there will be no civil war. Treves and +Cologne will gather up their troops and go home, once more defeated by a +man cleverer and more unscrupulous than both of them put together. They +are but infants in his hands." + +"Have you any suggestion to make?" asked Greusel. + +"No; there is nothing to be done. You see, the young Prince has no +following. He is quite unknown in Frankfort. His name can arouse no +enthusiasm, and, all in all, that strikes me as a very good thing. The +Grand Duke Karl is popular, and I believe he will make a very good +Emperor." + +"You mean, Roland, that the Archbishop of Mayence will make a very good +ruler, for he will be the real king." + +"Well, after all, Joseph, there is much to be said in favor of Mayence. +He is a man who knows what he wants, and, what is more, gets it, and +that, after all is the main thing in life. If any one could sway the +Archbishop so that he put his great talents to the benefit of his +country, instead of thinking only of himself, what a triumph of +influence that would be! By the Three Kings, I'd like to do it! I admire +him. If I found opportunity and could persuade him to join us in the +relief of Frankfort, and in opening the Rhine to commerce, we would give +these inane merchants a lesson in organization." + +Greusel rose from his chair, poured out another tankard full from the +flagon, and drank it off. + +"I must go down now and meet the guild," he said. "I have eaten nothing +all day, and am as hungry as a wolf from the Taunus." + +"Oh, how did you escape, by the way?" + +"I didn't escape. I was led blindfolded into a tent, where my bandage +was removed, and here a man in ordinary dress questioned me concerning +my object in entering the forest. I told him exactly the truth, and +explained what we were trying to do in Frankfort. I dare say I looked +honest and rather stupid. He asked when I set out; in what direction I +came; questioning me with a great affectation of indifference; wanted to +know if I had met many persons, and I told him quite truthfully I met no +one but the man I understood was a forester; a keeper, I supposed." + +"'There are a number of us,' he said, 'hunting the wild boar, and we do +not wish the animal life of these woods to be disturbed. We shall not be +here longer than a week, but I advise you to seek another spot for what +timber you require.' + +"He asked me, finally, if any one in Frankfort knew I had come to the +forest, and I answered that the guild of twenty knew, and that we were +all to meet to-night at the Rheingold tavern to report. He pondered for +a while on this statement, and I suppose reached the conclusion that if +I did not return to Frankfort, this score of men might set out in the +morning to search for me, it being well known that the forest is +dangerous on account of wild boars. So, as if it were of no consequence, +he blindfolded me again, apologizing privately for doing so, saying it +was quite unnecessary in the first instance, but as the guard had done +so, he did not wish to censure him by implication. + +"I answered that it did not matter at all, but desired him to order my +wrists released, which was done." + +"I must say," commented Roland, "that the Archbishop of Mayence is well +served by his officers. Your examiner was a wise man." + +"Yes," replied Greusel, "but nevertheless, I am telling my story here in +Frankfort." + +"No difference for that, because, as I have said, we can do nothing. +Still, it is a blessing your examiner could not guess what you overheard +in the other tent. He let you go thinking you had seen and learned +nothing, and in doing so warded off a search party to-morrow." + + + + +XXI + +A SECRET MARRIAGE + + +Blessed is he that expects nothing, for he shall not be disappointed. +Roland walked with Greusel across the bridge and through the streets to +the entrance of the Rheingold, and there stopped. + +"I shall not go down with you," he said. "You have given me much to +think of, and I am in no mood for a hilarious meeting. Indeed, I fear I +should but damp the enthusiasm of the lads. Continue your good work +to-morrow, and report to me at my room." + +With this Roland bade Greusel good-night and turned away. He walked very +slowly as far as the bridge, and there, resting his arms on the parapet, +looked down at the dark water. He was astonished to realize how little +he cared about giving up the Emperorship, and he recalled, with a glow +of delight, his recent talk in the garden with Hildegunde, and her +assurance that she lacked all ambition to become the first lady in the +land so long as they two spent their lives together. + +The bells of Frankfort tolling the hour of ten aroused him from his +reverie, and brought down his thoughts from delicious dreams of romance +to realms of reality. The precious minutes were passing over his head +swiftly as the drops of water beneath his feet. There was little use of +feeding Frankfort if it must be given over to fire and slaughter. + +With a chill of apprehension he reviewed the cold treachery of Mayence, +willing to levy the horrors of civil war upon an already stricken city +so long as his own selfish purposes were attained. + +"And yet," he said to himself, "there must be good in the man. I wish I +knew his history. Perhaps he had to fight for every step he has risen in +the world. Perhaps he has been baffled and defeated by deception; +overcome by chicanery until his faith died within him. My faith would +die within me were it not that when I meet a Mayence I encounter also +the virtue of a Cologne, and the bluff honesty of a Count Palatine. How +marvelous is this world, where the trickery of a Kurzbold and a Gensbein +is canceled by the faithfulness unto death of a Greusel and an +Ebearhard! Thus doth good balance evil, and then--and then, how Heaven +beams upon earth in the angel glance of a good woman. God guide me +aright! God guide me aright!" he repeated fervently, "and suppress in me +all anger and uncharitableness." + +He walked rapidly across the bridge into Sachsenhausen, past his room at +the street corner, and on to the monastery of the Benedictines, whose +little chapel stood open night and day for the prayers of those in +trouble or in sadness, habited only by one of the elder brothers, who +gave, if it were needed, advice, encouragement, or spiritual comfort. +Removing his hat, the Prince entered into the silence on tiptoe, and +kneeling before the altar, prayed devoutly for direction, asking the +Almighty to turn the thoughts of His servant, Mayence, into channels +that flowed towards peace and the relief of this unhappy city. + +As he rose to his feet a weight lifted from his shoulders, and the +buoyancy of youth drove away the depression that temporarily overcame +him on hearing of the army threatening Frankfort. His plans were honest, +his methods conciliatory, and the path now seemed clear before him. The +monk in charge, who had been kneeling in a dark corner near the door, +now came forward to intercept him. + +"Will your Highness deny me in the chapel as you did upon the bridge?" + +Roland stopped. In the gloom he had not recognized the ghostly Father. + +"No, Father Ambrose, and I do now what I should have done then. I pray +your blessing on the enterprise before me." + +"My son, it is willingly given, the more willingly that I may atone in +part my forgetting of the Holy Words: 'Judge not, that ye be not +judged.' I grievously misjudged you, as I learn from both the Archbishop +and my kinswoman. I ask your forgiveness." + +"I shall forgive you, Father Ambrose, if you make full, not partial +atonement. The consequences of your mistake have proved drastic and +far-reaching. The least of these consequences is that it has cost me the +Emperorship." + +"Oh," moaned the good man, "_mea culpa, mea culpa!_ No penance put upon +me can compensate for that disaster." + +"You blame yourself overmuch, good Father. The penance I have to impose +will leave me deeply in your debt. Now, to come from the least to the +greatest of these results, so far as I am concerned, my marriage with +your kinswoman, whom I love devotedly, is in jeopardy. Through her +conviction that I was a thief, she braved the Archbishop of Mayence, who +imprisoned her, and now his Lordship has determined that the Grand Duke +Karl of Hesse shall be Emperor. Thus we arrive at the most important +outcome of your error. Between the overwhelming forces of Mayence and +the insufficient troops of Cologne and Treves there may ensue a conflict +causing the streets of Frankfort to flow with blood." + +The pious man groaned dismally. + +"I have a plan which will prevent this. The day after to-morrow I shall +renounce all claim to the throne; but being selfish, like the rest, I +refuse to renounce all claim to the woman the Archbishops themselves +chose as my wife, neither shall I allow the case to be made further the +plaything of circumstance. Your kinswoman, no later ago than this +afternoon, confessed her love for me and her complete disregard of any +position I may hold in this realm. Now, Father Ambrose, I ask you +several questions. Is it in consonance with the rules of the Church that +a marriage be solemnized in this chapel?" + +"Yes." + +"Are you entitled to perform the ceremony?" + +"Yes." + +"Is it possible this ceremony can be performed to-morrow?" + +"Yes." + +"Will you therefore attend to the necessary preliminaries, of which I am +vastly ignorant, and say at what hour the Countess and I may present +ourselves in this chapel?" + +"The Archbishop of Cologne is guardian to her ladyship. Will you bring +me his sanction?" + +"Ah, Father Ambrose, there is just the point. So far as concerns himself +I doubt not that the Archbishop is the most unambitious of men, but to +the marriage of his ward with a sword maker I fear he would refuse +consent which he would gladly give to a marriage with an Emperor." + +The monk hung his head, and pondered on the proposition. At last he +said: + +"Why not ask my Lord the Archbishop?" + +"I dare not venture. Too much is at stake. She might be carried away to +any castle in Germany. Remember that Cologne has already acquiesced in +her imprisonment, and but that the iron chain of the Pfalzgraf brought +me to her prison door--The iron chain, do I say? 'Twas the hand of God +that directed me to her, and now, with the help of Him who guided me, +not all the Archbishops in Christendom shall prevent our marriage. No, +Father Ambrose, pile on yourself all the futile penances you can adopt. +They are useless, for they do not remedy the wrong you have committed. +And now, good-night to your Reverence!" + +The young man strode towards the door. + +"My son," said the quiet voice of the priest, "when you were on your +knees just now did you pray for remission from anger?" + +Roland whirled round. + +_"Mea culpa,_ as you said just now. Father Ambrose, I ask your pardon. I +made an unfair use of your mistake to coerce you. You were quite right +in relating what your own eyes saw here in Frankfort, and although the +inference drawn was wrong, you were not to blame for that. I recognize +your scruples, but nevertheless protest that already I possess the +sanction of the Archbishop, which has never been withdrawn." + +"Prince Roland, if you bring hither the Countess von Sayn to-morrow +afternoon, when the bells strike three, I will marry you, and gladly +accept whatever penances ensue. I fear the monk's robe has not crushed +out all the impulses of the Sayn blood. In my case, perhaps, it has only +covered them. And now, good-night, and God's blessing fall upon you and +her you are to marry." + +Roland went directly from the chapel to his own room, where he slept the +sleep of one who has made up his mind. Nevertheless, it was not a +dreamless sleep, for throughout the night he seemed to hear the tramp of +armed men marching upon unconscious Frankfort, and this sound was so +persistent, that at last he woke, yet still it continued. Springing up +in alarm, and flinging wide the wooden shutters of his window, he was +amazed to see that the sun was already high, while the sound that +disturbed him was caused by a procession of heavy-footed horses, +dragging over the cobble-stones carts well-laden with farm produce. + +Having dressed and finished breakfast, he wrote a letter to the +Archbishop of Mayence: + + "My LORD ARCHBISHOP,--There are some important proposals which I + wish to make to the Electors, and as it is an unwritten rule that I + should not communicate with them separately, I beg of you to + convene a meeting to-morrow, in the Wahlzimmer, at the hour of + midday. Perhaps it is permissible to add, for your own information, + that while my major proposition has to do with the relief of + Frankfort, the minor suggestions I shall make will have the effect + of clearing away obstacles that at present obstruct your path, and + I venture to think that what I say will meet with your warmest + approval." + +It was so necessary that this communication should reach the Archbishop +as soon as possible that Roland became his own messenger, and himself +delivered the document at the Archbishop's Palace. As he turned away he +was startled by a hand being placed on his shoulder with a weight +suggesting an action of arrest rather than a greeting of friendship. He +turned quickly, and saw the Lieutenant who had so discourteously used +him in the square. There was, however, no menace in the officer's +countenance. + +"Still thrusting your sword at people?" + +"Yes, Lieutenant, and very harmlessly. 'Tis a bloodless combat I wage +with the sword. I praise its construction, and leave to superiors like +yourself, sir, the proving of its quality." + +"You are an energetic young man, and we of Mayence admire competence +whether shown by mechanic or noble. Was the letter you handed in just +now addressed to his Lordship?" + +"Yes, Lieutenant." + +"'Twill be quite without effect." + +"It grieves me to hear you say so, sir." + +"Take my advice, and make no effort to see the Archbishop until after +the Election. I judge you to be a sane young fellow, for whom I confess +a liking. You are the only man in Frankfort who has unhesitatingly told +me the exact truth, and I have not yet recovered from my amazement. Now, +when you return to your frugal room in Sachsenhausen you do not attempt +to reach it by mounting the stairs with one step?" + +"Naturally not, Lieutenant." + +"Very well. When the Emperor is proclaimed, come you to me. I'll +introduce you to my superior, and he, if impressed with your weapon, +will take you a step higher, and thus you will mount until you come to +an officer who may give you an astonishing order." + +"I thank you, Lieutenant, and hope later to avail myself of your +kindness." + +The Lieutenant slapped him on the shoulder, and wished him good-luck. As +Roland pushed his way through the crowd, he said to himself, with a +sigh: + +"I regret not being Emperor, if only for the sake of young fellows like +that." + +Frankfort was transformed as if a magician had waved his wand over it. +The streets swarmed with people. Farmers' vehicles of every description +added to the confusion, and Roland frowned as he noticed how badly +organized had been the preparations for coping with this sudden influx +of food, but he also saw that the men of Mayence had taken a hand in the +matter, and were rapidly bringing method out of chaos. The uniforms of +Cologne or Treves were seldom seen, while the quiet but firm soldiers of +Mayence were everywhere ordering to their homes those already served, +and clearing the way for the empty-handed. + +At last Roland reached the Palace of Cologne, through a square thronged +with people. Within he found his mother and the Countess, seated in a +room whose windows overlooked the square, watching the stirring scene +presented to them. Having saluted his mother, he greeted the girl with a +quiet pressure of the hand. + +"What is the cause of all this commotion?" asked the Empress. + +Roland tapped his breast. + +"I am the cause, mother," and he related the history of the relief +committee, and if appreciation carries with it gratification, his was +the advantage of knowing that the two women agreed he was the most +wonderful of men. + +"But indeed, mother," continued Roland, "I selfishly rob you of the +credit. The beginning of all this was really your gift to me of five +hundred thalers, that time I came to crave your assistance in procuring +me this document I still carry, and without your thalers and the +parchment, this never could have happened. So you see they have +increased like the loaves and fishes of Holy Writ, and thus feed the +multitude." + +Her Majesty arose, smiling. + +"Ah, Roland," she said, kissing him, "you always gave your mother more +credit than she deserved. It wrung my heart at the time that I was so +scant of money." Then, pleading fatigue, the Empress left the room. + +"Hilda!" cried the young man, "when you and I discuss things, those +things become true. Yesterday we agreed that the Imperial throne was not +so enviable a seat as a chair by the domestic hearth. To-day I propose +to secure the chair at the hearth, and to-morrow I shall freely give up +the Imperial throne." + +The girl uttered an exclamation that seemed partly concurrence and +partly dismay, but she spoke no word, gazing at him intently as he +strode up and down the room, and listening with eagerness. Walking +backwards and forwards, looking like an enthusiastic boy, he very +graphically detailed the situation as he had learned it from Greusel. + +"Now you see, my dear, any opposition to the Archbishop of Mayence means +a conflict, and supposing in that conflict our friends were to win, the +victory would be scarcely less disastrous than defeat. I at once made up +my mind, fortified by my knowledge of your opinion on the subject, that +for all the kingships in the world I could not be the cause of civil +dissension." + +"That is a just and noble decision," she said, speaking for the first +time. + +Then, standing before her, the young man in more moderate tone related +what had happened and what had been said in the chapel of the +Benedictine Fathers. She looked up at him, earnest face aglow, during +the first part of his recital, and now and then the sunshine of a smile +flickered at the corners of her mouth as she recognized her kinsman in +her lover's repetition of his words, but when it came to the question of +a marriage, her eyes sank to the floor, and remained there. + +"Well, Hilda," he said at last, "have you the courage to go with me, all +unadvised, all unchaperoned, to the chapel this afternoon at three +o'clock?" + +She rose slowly, still without looking at him, placed her hands on his +shoulders, then slipped them round his neck, laying her cheek beside +his. + +"It requires no courage, Roland," she whispered, "to go anywhere if you +are with me. I need to call up my courage only when I think with a +shudder of our being separated." + +Some minutes elapsed before conversation was resumed. + +"Where is the Archbishop?" asked Roland, in belated manner remembering +his host. + +"He and the Count Palatine went out together about an hour since. I +think they were somewhat disturbed at the unusual commotion, and desired +to know what it meant. Do you want to consult my guardian after all?" + +"Not unless you desire me to do so?" + +"I wish only what you wish, Roland." + +"I am glad his Lordship is absent. Let us to the garden, Hilda, and +discover a quiet exit if we can." + +A stout door was found in the wall to the rear, almost concealed with +shrubbery. The bolts were strong, and rusted in, but the prowess of +Roland overcame them, and he drew the door partially open. It looked out +upon a narrow alley with another high wall opposite. Roland looked up +and down the lane, and saw it was completely deserted. + +"This will do excellently," he said, shoving the door shut again, but +without thrusting the bolts into position. He took her two hands in his. + +"Dearest, noblest, sweetest of girls! I must now leave you. Await me +here at half-past one. I go out by this door, for it is necessary I +should know exactly where the alley joins a main street. It would be +rather embarrassing if you were standing here, and Father Ambrose +looking for us in the chapel, while I was frantically searching for and +not finding the lane." + +Some time in advance of the hour set, the impatient young man kept the +appointment he had made, and when the Countess appeared exactly on the +minute, he held open the door for her, then, drawing it shut behind him, +they were both out in the city of Frankfort together. Roland's high +spirits were such that he could scarcely refrain from dancing along at +her side. + +"I'd like to take your hand," he said, "and swing it, and show you the +sights of the city, as if we were two young people in from the country." + +"I am a country girl, please to remember," said the Countess. "I know +nothing of Frankfort, or, indeed, of any other large town." + +"I am glad of that, for there is much to see in Frankfort. We will make +for the Cathedral, that beautiful red building, splendid and grand, +where we should have been married with great and useless ceremony if I +had been crowned Emperor. But I am sure the simple chapel in the working +town of Sachsenhausen better suits a sword maker and his bride." + +Now they came out into the busy street, which seemed more thronged than +ever. In making their way to the Cathedral, the mob became so dense that +progression was difficult. The current seemed setting in one direction, +and it carried them along with it. Hildegunde took the young man's arm, +and clung close to him. + +"They are driving us, whether we will or no, towards our old enemy, the +Archbishop of Mayence. That is his Palace facing the square. There is +some sort of demonstration going on," cried Roland, as cheer after cheer +ascended to the heavens. "How grim and silent the Palace appears, all +shuttered as if it were a house of the dead! Somehow it reminds me of +Mayence himself. I had pictured him occupying a house of gloom like +that." + +"Do you think we are in any danger?" asked the girl. "The people seem +very boisterous." + +"Oh, no danger at all. This mob is in the greatest good-humor. Listen to +their heart-stirring cheers! The people have been fed; that is the +reason of it." + +"Is that why they cheer? It sounds to me like an ovation to the +Archbishop! Listen to them: 'Long live Mayence! God bless the +Archbishop!' There is no terror in those shouts." + +Nevertheless his Lordship of Mayence had taken every precaution. The +shutters of his Palace were tightly closed, and along the whole front of +the edifice a double line of soldiers was ranged under the silent +command of their officers. They stood still and stiffly as stone-graven +statues in front of a Cathedral. The cheers rang unceasingly. Then, +suddenly, as if the sinister Palace opened one eye, shutters were turned +away from a great window giving upon the portico above the door. The +window itself was then thrown wide. Cheering ceased, and in the new +silence, from out the darkness there stepped with great dignity an old +man, gorgeous in his long robes of office, and surmounting that splendid +intellectual head rested the mitered hat of an Archbishop. After the +momentary silence the cheers seemed to storm the very door of the sky +itself, but the old man moved no muscle, and no color tinged his wan +face. + +"By the Kings," whispered Roland, during a temporary lull, "what a man! +There stands power embodied, and yet I venture 'tis his first taste of +popularity. I am glad we have seen this sight, both mob and master. How +quick are the people to understand who is the real ruler of Germany! I +wish he were my friend!" + +Slowly the Archbishop raised his open hands, holding them for a moment +in benediction over the vast assemblage. Once more the cheers died away, +and every head was bowed, then the Archbishop was in his place no +longer. Unseen hands closed the windows, and a moment later the shutters +blinded it. The multitude began to dissolve, and the two wanderers found +their way become clearer and clearer. + +Together they entered the empty, red Cathedral, and together knelt down +in a secluded corner. After some minutes passed thus Roland remembered +that the hour of two had struck while they were gazing at the +Archbishop. Gently he touched the hand of his companion. They rose, and +walked slowly through the great church. + +"There," he whispered, "is where the Emperor is crowned. The Archbishop +of Mayence always performs that ceremony, so, after all, there is some +justification for his self-assumed leadership." + +Again out into the sunshine they walked to the Fahrgasse, and then to +the bridge, where the Countess paused with an expression of delight at +the beauty of the waterside city, glorified by the westering sun. +Crossing the river, and going down the Bruckenstrasse of Sachsenhausen, +Roland said: + +"Referring to people who are not Emperors, that is my room at the +corner, where I lived when supposed to be in prison." + +"Is that where you made your swords?" she asked. + +"No; Greusel's workshop and mine is farther along that side street. It +is a grimy shop of no importance, but here, on the other side, we have +an edifice that counts. That low building is the Benedictine monastery, +and this is its little chapel." + +The Countess made no comment, but stood looking at it for a few moments +until her thoughts were interrupted by the solemn tones of a bell +striking three. Roland went up the steps, and held open the door while +she passed in, then, removing his hat, he followed her. + + + + +XXII + +LONG LIVE THEIR MAJESTIES + + +The most anxious man in all Frankfort was not to be found among the +mighty who ruled the Empire, or among the merchants who trafficked +therein, or among the people who starved when there was no traffic. The +most anxious man was a small, fussy individual of great importance in +his own estimation, cringing to those above him, denouncing those +beneath; Herr Durnberg, Master of the Romer, in other words, the Keeper +of the Town Hall. The great masters whom this little master served were +imperious and unreasonable. They gave him too little information +regarding their intentions, yet if he failed in his strict duty towards +them, they would crush him as ruthlessly as if he were a wasp. + +Unhappy Durnberg! Every morning he expected the Electoral Court to be +convened that day, and every evening he was disappointed. It was his +first duty to lay out upon the table in that great room, the Kaisersaal, +a banquet, to be partaken of by the newly-made Emperor, and by the seven +potentates who elected him. It was also his duty to provide two huge +tanks of wine, one containing the ruby liquor pressed out at +Assmannshausen; the other the straw-colored beverage that had made +Hochheim famous. These tanks were connected by pipes with the plain, +unassuming fountain standing opposite the Town Hall in that square +called the Romerberg. The moment an election took place Herr Durnberg +turned off the flow of water from the fountain, and turned on the flow +of wine, thus for an hour and a half there poured from the northward +pointing spout of the fountain the rich red wine of Assmannshausen, and +from the southern spout the delicate white wine of Hochheim. Now, wine +will keep for a long time, but a dinner will not, so the distracted +Durnberg prepared banquet after banquet for which there were no +consumers. + +At last, thought Herr Durnberg, his vigilance was about to be rewarded. +There came up the broad, winding stair, to the landing on which opened +the great doors of the Kaisersaal, two joyous-looking young people, +evidently lovers, and with the hilt of his sword the youth knocked +against the stout panels of the door. It was Herr Durnberg himself who +opened, and he said haughtily-- + +"The Romer is closed, and will not be free to strangers until after the +Election." + +"We enter, nevertheless. I am Prince Roland, here to meet the Court of +Electors, who convene at midday in the adjoining Wahlzimmer. You, +Romer-meister, will announce to their august Lordships that I am here, +and, when their will is expressed, summon me to audience with them." + +Herr Durnberg bowed almost to the polished floor, and flinging open both +doors, retreated backwards, still bent double as he implored them to +enter. Locking the doors, for the Electors would reach the Wahlzimmer +through a private way, to be used by none but themselves, the bustling +Durnberg produced two chairs, which he set by the windows in the front, +and again running the risk of falling on his nose, bowed his +distinguished visitors to seats where they might entertain themselves by +watching the enormous crowd that filled the Romerberg from end to end, +for every man in Frankfort knew an Election was impending, and it was +after the banquet, when the wine began to flow in the fountain, that the +new Emperor exhibited himself to his people by stepping from the +Kaisersaal out upon the balcony in front of it. + +"Do you feel any shyness about meeting this formidable conclave? +Remember you have at least two good friends among them." + +The girl placed her hand in his, and looked affectionately upon him. + +"When you are with me, Roland, I am afraid of nothing." + +"I should not ask you to pass through this ordeal were it not for your +guardian. His astonishment at the announcement of our marriage will be +so honest and unacted that even the suspicious Mayence cannot accuse him +of connivance in what we have done. Of course, the strength of my +position is that I have but carried out the formal request of their +three Lordships; a request which has never been rescinded." + +Before she could reply the hour of twelve rang forth. The deferential +Herr Durnberg entered from the Wahlzimmer, and softly approached them. + +"Your Highness," he said, "my Lords, the Electors, request your presence +in the Wahlzimmer." + +"How many are there, Romer-meister?" + +"There are four, your Highness; the three Archbishops and the Count +Palatine." + +"Ah," breathed Roland, relieved that Mayence had not called up his +reserve, and assured now that the seventh Elector had not arrived. With +a glance of encouragement at his wife, Roland passed into the presence. + +Herr Durnberg, anxious about the outcome, showed an inclination to close +the door and remain inside, but a very definite gesture from Mayence +wafted the good man to outer regions. + +Mayence opened the proceedings. + +"Yesterday I received a communication from your Highness, requesting me +to convene this Court. I am as ignorant as my colleagues regarding the +subjects to be placed before us. I therefore announce to you that we are +prepared to listen." + +"I thank you, my Lord of Mayence," began the Prince very quietly. "When +first I had the honor of meeting your three Lordships in the Castle of +Ehrenfels, I signed certain documents, and came to an agreement with you +upon other verbal requests. I am not yet a man of large experience, but +at that time, although comparatively few days have elapsed, I was a mere +boy, trusting in the good faith of the whole world, knowing nothing of +its chicanery. Since then I have been through a bitter school, learning +bitter lessons, but I am nevertheless encouraged, in that for every man +of treachery and deceit I meet two who are trustworthy." + +"Pardon me," said Mayence suavely, "I did not understand that the +discourse you proposed was to be a sermon. If your theme is a lecture on +morality, I beg to remind you that this Wahlzimmer is a place of +business, and what you say is better suited to a chapel or even a +church, than to the Election Chamber of the Empire." + +"I am sorry, my Lord," said Roland humbly, "if my introduction does not +meet your approval. I assure you that the very opposite was my +intention. My purpose is to show you why a change has come over me, and +in order--" + +"Once more I regret interrupting, but the reason for whatever change has +occurred can be of little interest to any one but yourself. You begin by +making vague charges of dishonesty, treachery, and what-not, against +some person or persons unknown. May I ask you to be definite?" + +"Is it your Lordship's wish that I should mention names?" + +Cologne showed signs of uneasiness; Treves looked in bewilderment from +one to another of his colleagues; the Count Palatine sat deeply +interested, his elbows on the table, massive chin supported by huge +hands. + +"Your Highness is the best judge whether names should be mentioned or +not," said Mayence, quite calmly, as if his withers were unwrung. "But +you must see that if you hint at conspiracy and bafflement, certain +inferences are likely to be drawn. Since the time you speak of there has +been no opportunity for you to meet your fellow-men, therefore these +inferences are apt to take the color that reference is made to one or +the other of the three personages you did meet. I therefore counsel you +either to abstain from innuendo or explain explicitly what you mean." + +"I the more willingly bow to your Lordship's decision because it is +characterized by that wisdom which accompanies every word your Lordship +utters. I shall therefore designate good men and bad." + +Mayence gazed at the young man in amazement, but merely said: + +"Proceed, sir, on your perilous road." + +"I am the head of a gang of freebooters. When this company left +Frankfort under my command we appeared to be all of one mind. My gang +consisted entirely of ironworkers, well-set-up young fellows in splendid +physical condition, yet before I was gone a day on our journey I found +myself confronted by mutiny. A man named Kurzbold was the leader of this +rebellion; a treacherous hound, whom I sentenced to death. The two who +stood by me were Greusel and Ebearhard, therefore I told you that when I +met one villain I encountered two trustworthy men." + +"When did this happen?" asked Mayence. "And what was the object of your +freebooting expedition?" + +"High Heaven!" cried the Archbishop of Cologne, unable longer to +restrain his impatience when he saw the fatal trend of the Prince's +confession, "what madness has overcome you? Can you not see the effect +of these disturbing disclosures?" + +The Prince smiled, and answered first the last question. + +"'Tis an honest confession, my Lord, of what may be considered a +dishonest practice. It is information that should be within your +knowledge before you sit down to elect an Emperor. + +"When did this happen, my Lord of Mayence?" he continued, turning to the +chairman. "It happened when you thought I was your prisoner in +Ehrenfels. Never for a day did you hold me there. I roamed the country +at my pleasure. I examined leisurely and effectively the defenses of +nearly every castle on the Rhine from the town of Bonn to your own city +of Mayence. The object of our expedition, you ask? It was to loot the +stolen treasure of the robber castles, and incidentally it resulted in +the destruction by fire of Furstenberg. The marauding excursion ended at +Pfalz, where I lightened the Pfalzgraf of his wealth, and liberated the +Countess von Sayn, unlawfully imprisoned within that fortress." + +"By the Three Kings!" cried the Count Palatine, bringing his huge fist +down on the table like the blow of a sledge hammer, "you are a man, and +I glory that it is my privilege to vote for you." + +"I agree with my brother of Cologne," said Treves, speaking for the +first time, "that this young man does not properly weigh the inevitable +result of his terrible words. I vote, of course, with my Lord of +Mayence, but such a vote will be most reluctantly given for a +self-confessed burglar and incendiary." + +"Be not too hasty, gentlemen," counseled Mayence. "We are not met here +to cast votes. Your Highness, I complained a moment ago of lack of +interest in your recital; I beg to withdraw that plea. After having +heard you I agree that the Countess was unjustly imprisoned. She was +accurate in her estimate of your character." + +"I think not, my Lord, I do not regard myself as burglar, incendiary, +thief, or robber. I call myself rather a restorer of stolen property. I +shed no blood, which in itself is a remarkable feature of action so +drastic as mine. The incendiarism was merely incidental, forced upon me +by the fact that the Red Margrave tied up eighteen of my men, whom he +proposed presently to hang. I diverted his attention from this execution +by the first method that occurred to me, namely, the firing of his +Castle. In my letter to you yesterday, my Lord, I promised to clear away +certain obstacles from your path. I therefore remove one, by saying that +an object of this conference is my own renunciation of the Emperorship, +thus while I thank my Lord Count for his proffered franchise, I quiet +the mind of my Lord of Treves by assuring him his defection has no +terror for me. And now, my Lord of Mayence, will you listen carefully to +my suggestion?" + +"Prince Roland," replied his Lordship, almost with geniality, "I have +never heard so graphic a narrator in my life. Proceed, I beg of you." + +"When our band of cut-purses set out from Frankfort, they supposed the +gold was to be shared equally among us. Mutiny taught me to use the arts +of diplomacy, which I despise. I hoped to attain such influence over +them that they would agree to abjure wealth for the benefit of +Frankfort. I am happy to say that I accomplished my object, so that +yesterday and to-day you have witnessed the results of my efforts; the +relief of a starving city. I merely removed the wealth of robbers to +benefit those whom they robbed. Knowing the dangerous feeling actuating +this town against your Lordships, I caused proclamation to be made +crediting this relief to the Archbishops. + +"My Lord of Mayence, when yesterday I saw you appear on your own +balcony, the most stern, the most dignified figure I ever beheld; when I +heard the ringing cheers that greeted you; when I realized, as never +before, the majesty of your genius, I cursed the stupid decree of Fate +that denied me your friendship. What could we not have accomplished +together for the Fatherland? I, with my youth and energy, under the +tutelage of your wisdom and experience. You tasted there, probably for +the first time in your life, the intoxicating cup of popularity, yet it +affected you no more than if you had drunk of the fountain in the +Romerberg. + +"Now, my Lords, here is what I ask of you, and it will show how much I +would have depended upon you had I been chosen to the position at first +proposed to me. I request you, my Lord of Treves, to remove your three +thousand troops to the other side of the Rhine." + +"I shall do nothing of the sort," blurted Treves, amazed at the absurd +proposal. + +Roland went on, unheeding: + +"I ask you, my Lord of Cologne, to march your troops to Assmannshausen." + +"You indeed babble like the boy you said you were!" cried the indignant +Cologne. "You show no grasp of statesmanship." + +A faint smile quivered on the thin lips of Mayence at his colleagues' +ill-disguised fear at leaving him the man in possession so far as +Frankfort was concerned. The naive proposal which angered his two +brethren merely amused Mayence. This young man's absurdity was an +intellectual treat. Roland smiled in sympathy as he turned towards him, +but his next words banished all expression of pleasure from the face of +Mayence. + +"I hope to succeed better with you, my Lord. Of course I recognize I +have no standing with this Court since my refusal of the gift you +intended to bestow. I ask you to draft into this city seven thousand +men;" then after a pause: "_the seven thousand will not have far to +march, my Lord._" + +He caught an expression almost of fear in the Archbishop's eyes, which +were quickly veiled, but his Lordship's tone was as unwavering as ever +when he asked: + +"What do you mean by that?" + +"I mean that the city of Mayence is nearer to Frankfort than either +Cologne or Treves." + +"Your geographical point is undeniable. What am I to do with my ten +thousand once they are here?" + +"My Lord, I admire the rigid discipline of your men, and estimate from +that the genius of organization possessed by your officers; a genius +imparted, I believe, by you. No one knows better than I the state of +confusion which this effort at relief has brought upon the city. I +suggest that your capable officers divide this city into cantons, +proclaim martial law, and deliver to every inhabitant rations of food as +if each man, woman, and child were a member of your army. Meanwhile the +merchants should be relieved of a task for which they have proved their +incapacity, and turn their attention to commerce. This relief at best +must be temporary. The vital task is to open the Rhine. The merchants +will load every barge on the river with goods, and this flotilla the +armies of Treves and Cologne will escort in safety to the latter city. +In passing they will deliver an ultimatum to every castle, demanding a +contribution in gold towards the further relief of Frankfort, until +commerce readjusts itself, and assuring each nobleman that if this +commerce is molested, his castle shall be forfeited, and himself +imprisoned or hanged." + +"Quite an effective plan, I think, your Highness, to which I willingly +agree, if you can assure me of the support of my two colleagues, which I +regret to say has already been refused." + +His Lordship looked from one to another, but neither withdrew his +declaration. + +"Prince Roland," continued Mayence, "we seem to have reached a deadlock, +and I fear its cause is that distrust of one human being toward another +that you deplored a while ago. I confess myself, however, so pleased +with the trend of your mind as exhibited in your conversation with us, +that I am desirous to know what further proposals you care to make, now +that our mutual good intentions have led us into an impasse." + +"Willingly, my Lord. I propose that you at once proceed to the Election +of an Emperor, for the delay in his choosing has already caused an +anxiety and a tension dangerous to the peace of this country." + +"Ah, that is easier said than done, your Highness. Having yourself +eliminated the one on whom we were agreed, it seems to me you should at +least suggest a substitute." + +"Again willingly, my Lord. You should choose some quiet, conservative +man, and, if possible, one well known to the citizens of Frankfort, and +held in good esteem by the people everywhere. He should be a man of +middle age--" Mayence's eyes began to close again, and his lips to +tighten--"and if he had some experience in government, that would be all +to the good. One already married is preferable to a bachelor, for then +no delicate considerations regarding a woman can arise, as, I need not +remind your Lordship, have arisen in my own case. A man of common sense +should be selected, who would not make rash experiments with the ideals +of the German people, as a younger and less balanced person might be +tempted to do. That he should be a good Churchman goes without saying--" + +"A truce, a truce!" cried Mayence sternly. "Again we are running into a +moral catalogue impossible of embodiment. Is there any such man in your +mind, or are you merely treating us to a counsel of perfection?" + +"Notwithstanding my pessimism," said Roland, "I still think so well of +my countrymen as to believe there are many such. Not to make any +recommendation to those so much better qualified to judge than I, but +merely to give a sample, I mention the Grand Duke Karl of Hesse, who +fulfills every requirement I have named." + +For what seemed to the onlookers a tense period of suspense, the old man +seated and the young man standing gazed intently at one another. Mayence +knew at once that in some manner unknown to him the Prince had fathomed +his intentions; that his Highness alone knew why the Election had been +delayed, yet the Prince conveyed this knowledge directly to the person +most concerned, in the very presence of those whom Mayence desired to +keep ignorant, without giving them the slightest hint anent the actual +state of affairs. + +The favorable opinion which the Archbishop had originally formed of +Roland in Ehrenfels during this conference became greatly augmented. +Even the most austere of men is more or less susceptible to flattery, +and yet in flattering him Roland had managed to convey his own sincerity +in this laudation. + +"We will suppose the Grand Duke Karl elected," Mayence said at last. +"What then?" + +"Why then, my Lord, the three differing bodies of troops at present +occupying Frankfort would be withdrawn, and the danger line crossed over +to the right side." + +Mayence now asked a question that in his own mind was crucial. Once more +he would tempt the young man to state plainly what he actually knew. + +"Can your Highness give us any reason why you fear danger from the +presence of troops commanded by three friendly men like my colleagues +and myself?" + +"My fear is that the hands of one or the other of you may be forced, and +I can perhaps explain my apprehension better by citing an incident to +which I have already alluded. I had not the slightest intention of +burning Castle Furstenberg, but suddenly my hand was forced. I was +responsible for the safety of my men. I hesitated not for one instant to +fire the Castle. Of the peaceful intentions of my Lords the Archbishops +there can be no question, but at any moment a street brawl between the +soldiers, say, of Cologne and Treves, may bring on a crisis that can +only be quelled by bloodshed. Do you see my point?" + +"Yes, your Highness, I do, and your point is well taken. I repose such +confidence in our future Emperor that voluntarily I shall withdraw my +troops from Frankfort at once. Furthermore, I shall open the Rhine, by +sending along its banks the ultimatum you propose, not supported by my +army, but supported by the name of the Archbishop of Mayence, and I +shall be interested to know what Baron on the Rhine dare flout that +title. Will you accept my aid, Prince Roland?" + +"I accept it, my Lord, with deep gratitude, knowing that it will prove +effective." + +His Lordship rose in his place. + +"I said this was not an Electoral Court. I rise to announce my mistake. +We Electors here gathered together form a majority. I propose to you the +name of Prince Roland, son of our late Emperor." + +"My Lord, my Lord!" cried Roland, raising his hand, "you do not know +all." + +"Patient Heaven!" cried the irritated Archbishop, "you make too much of +us as father confessors. Do not tell us now you have been guilty of +assassination!" + +"No, my Lord, but you should know that I have married the Lady +Hildegunde, Countess von Sayn, whom you have already rejected as +Empress." + +"Well, if you have accepted the dame, the balance is redressed. I am not +sure but you made an excellent choice." + +It was now the turn of the amazed Archbishop of Cologne to rise to his +feet. + +"What his Highness says is impossible. The Lady von Sayn has been in my +care ever since she entered Frankfort, and I pledge my word she has +never left my Palace!" + +"We were married yesterday at three o'clock, in the chapel of the +Benedictine Fathers, and in the presence of four of them. We left your +Palace, my Lord, by a door which you may discover in the wall of your +garden, near the summer-house, and my wife is present in the adjoining +room to implore your forgiveness." + +Cologne collapsed into his chair, and drew a hand across his bewildered +brow. The situation appeared to amuse Mayence. + +"I wish your Highness had withheld this information until I was sure +that my brother of Treves will vote with me, as he promised. My Lord of +Treves, you heard my proposition. May I count on your concurrence?" + +Treves' house of cards fell so suddenly to the ground that under the +compelling eyes of Mayence he could do no more than stammer his +acquiescence. + +"I vote for the Prince," he said in tones barely audible. + +"And you, my Lord of Cologne?" + +"Aye," said Cologne gruffly. + +"The Count Palatine?" + +"Yes," thundered the latter. "A choice that meets my full approval, and +I speak now for the Empress as well as the Emperor." + +"Durnberg!" cried Mayence, raising his voice. + +The doors were instantly opened, and the cringing Romer-meister +appeared. + +"Is the banquet prepared?" + +"Ready to lay on the table, my Lord." + +"The wine for the fountains?" + +"Needs but the turning of the tap, my Lord." + +"Order up the banquet, turn the tap; and as the new Emperor is unknown +to the people, cause heralds with trumpets to set out and proclaim the +Election of Prince Roland of Frankfort." + +"Yes, my Lord." + +The Archbishop of Mayence led the way out into the grand Kaisersaal, and +the new Empress rose from her chair, standing there, her face white as +the costume she wore. Mayence advanced to her, bending his gray head +over the hand he took in his own. + +"Your Majesty," he said gravely, and this was her first hint of the +outcome, "I congratulate you upon your marriage, as I have already +congratulated your husband." + +"My Lord Archbishop," she said in uncertain voice, "you cannot blame me +for obeying you." + +"I think my poor commands would have been futile were it not for the +assistance lent me by his Majesty." + +The salutations of the others were drowned by the cheers of the great +assemblage in the Romerberg. The red wine and white had begun to flow, +and the people knew what had happened. In the intervals between the +clangor of the trumpets, they heard that a Prince of their own town had +been elected, so all eyes turned to the Romer, and cries of "The +Emperor! The Emperor!" issued from every throat. The multitude felt that +a new day was dawning. + +"I believe," said Mayence, "that hitherto only the Emperor has appeared +on the balcony, but to-day I suggest a precedent. Let Emperor and +Empress appear before the people." + +He motioned to Herr Durnberg, and the latter flung open the tall +windows; then Roland taking his wife's hand, stepped out upon the +balcony. + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Sword Maker, by Robert Barr + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SWORD MAKER *** + +***** This file should be named 14656.txt or 14656.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/6/5/14656/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Richard Lammers and the PG 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. 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