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diff --git a/32708-8.txt b/32708-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a94e9c6 --- /dev/null +++ b/32708-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9915 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Golden Age in Transylvania, by Mór Jókai + +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 Golden Age in Transylvania + +Author: Mór Jókai + +Translator: S. L. Waite + A. V. Waite + +Release Date: June 6, 2010 [EBook #32708] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOLDEN AGE IN TRANSYLVANIA *** + + + + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[Illustration] + + + +THE GOLDEN AGE IN TRANSYLVANIA + + + + +Publisher's Note. + + +This delightful historical romance by Jokai (pronounced by critics his +best), is published in England under the title of "Midst the Wild +Carpathians." This, the American edition, is printed in a more +readable type, making a volume of one hundred additional pages. + +The scene of the story is laid in Transylvania; the time is the close +of the seventeenth century, and the incidents relate to the reign of +Michel Apafi, whom the Turks raised to the throne, ending with the +murder of Denis Banfi, the last of the powerful Transylvanian barons. +The story which has more than simple basis of truth, is absorbingly +interesting and displays all the virility of Jokai's powers, his +genius of description, his keenness of characterization, his subtlety +of humor and his consummate art in the progression of the novel from +one apparent climax to another. + + + + +THE GOLDEN AGE +IN +TRANSYLVANIA + +BY +MAURUS JOKAI + +Author of "Black Diamonds," "Peter the Priest," Etc., Etc. + +TRANSLATED BY S. L. AND A. V. WAITE + +[Illustration] + +NEW YORK +R. F. FENNO & COMPANY +9 and 11 EAST 16th STREET +1898 + +Copyright 1898 +BY +R. F. FENNO & COMPANY + +_The Golden Age in Transylvania_ + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS + + +I. A HUNTING PARTY IN THE YEAR 1666 7 +II. THE HOUSE IN EBESFALVA 32 +III. A PRINCE BY COMPULSION 45 +IV. THE HUNGARIAN PRINCES IN BANQUET 60 +V. CASTLE BODOLA 69 +VI. THE BATTLE OF NAGY-SZÖLLÖS 86 +VII. THE PRINCESS 107 +VIII. AZRAELE 130 +IX. THE PRINCE AND HIS MINISTER 143 +X. THE LIEUTENANT OF THE ROUNDS 170 +XI. SANGA-MOARTA 184 +XII. A GREAT LORD IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY 215 +XIII. THE NIGHT 243 +XIV. THE COURT OF JUSTICE IN THE BANQUET HALL 266 +XV. THE DIET OF KARLSBURG 279 +XVI. THE LEAGUE 297 +XVII. DEATH FOR A KISS 308 +XVIII. WIFE AND ODALISQUE 325 +XIX. THE JUDGMENT 356 + + + + +THE GOLDEN AGE IN TRANSYLVANIA + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A HUNTING PARTY IN THE YEAR 1666 + + +Before we cross the Kiralyhago, let us cast a parting glance at +Hungary. I will unroll before your eyes a scene, partly the result of +an adverse fate, partly of a dark mystery, representing joy and also +deep sorrow. An incident of a moment becomes the turning-point of a +whole century. + +My soul is saddened by the images thus conjured up; the figures out of +the past blind my sight. Would that my hand were mighty enough to +write down what my soul sees in that magic mirror. May your +impressions, your recollections, complete the scene wherever the +writer fails through weariness. + + * * * * * + +We find ourselves in the valley of the Drave, in one of those +boundless tracts where even the wild beasts lose themselves. Here are +primeval forests, the roots of which rest in the water of a great +swamp encircled not by water lilies and reed-grass, but by giant trees +whose branches, dropping below the surface, form new roots in the +quickening water. Here the swan builds its nest; this is the haunt of +the heron and all those wild creatures one of which only now and then +marches out into more frequented regions. On the higher ground, where +in late summer the waters ebb, spring such flowers as might have been +seen just after the deluge, so luxuriant and so strange is their +mighty growth out of the slimy mud. The branches of ivy, stout as +grape vines, reach from tree to tree winding about the trunks and +decking the dark maples as if some wood-nymph had garlanded her own +consecrated grove. + +When the sun has set, life grows active in this watery kingdom; swarms +of water-birds rise, and with their monotonous, gruesome cries sound +the note of the bittern, the whistle of the turtle, and the four notes +of the swan, now heard only in the land of fable, for there alone +mankind is not; that kingdom still belongs to God. + +Occasionally bold hunters venture to penetrate this pathless maze, +making their way among the trees in small boats, often overturned by +the long roots under the water many fathoms deep, although the dark +grass, the yellow marsh flowers and the small dark-red lizard seem to +be within reach of one's hand. Sometimes a thicket bars the way of the +boat, trees never touched by human hand are rotting here heaped +mountain-high thousands of years before. Those trunks that have +fallen into the water have been petrified, and the grasses and vines +have grown over them in such a tangle that they form a strong crust +which sways and bends but does not break beneath the tread. This crust +appears to stretch far and wide, but in reality one step too far +brings death, so that this strange and remote region is but rarely +visited. + +On the south flows the Drave, whose rapid current frequently sweeps +away the tallest trees, to the peril of the boatmen. To the north the +forest stretches as far as Csakathurm, and where the swamp ends, oaks +and beeches tower higher and mightier than any in all Hungary. +Throughout this wilderness are wild beasts of every kind; especially +the wild boar that wallows in the swampy ground; and here too the stag +grows to his greatest strength and beauty. In the days that we write +of, the buffaloes roamed through this wilderness, making nightly raids +on the neighboring millet fields, but at the first attempt to catch +them they plunged into the heart of the swamp and were safe from +pursuit. + +On the edge of the forest in those days stood a castle of so many +styles of architecture that one must conclude it had been the favorite +hunting-resort of some Hungarian or Croatian noble. The greater part +of the building seemed to be a century older than the rest, in fact +the oldest part was merely a hut of oak logs rudely put together, its +roof overgrown with moss and its walls with ivy and periwinkle; over +the door were the antlers of a patriarchal stag; the later lords must +have entertained a pious regard for its builder or they would have +torn down this hut. On the side toward the woods was a long, barn-like +building of one room, intended for the large hunting parties of later +times; here masters and servants, horses and hounds, staid in friendly +companionship when the bad weather brought them together. Around an +old oak with wide-spreading branches was a strange looking hermitage, +the oak forming its single column of support; the entire hut had been +built of the skulls of boars taken in a single hunt. Finally, on a +hill somewhat higher than the rest, where the trees had been cleared +away stood the most modern building; it consisted of a small, tasteful +hunting-castle, with columns in front, tiled roof, marble terraces, +oriel windows and other features of medićval architecture. The +bastions near by, begun but left unfinished, the deep moats and the +walls stretching beyond all proportions, seemed to indicate that the +man who had begun the building had intended a stronghold, perhaps +against the Turks. Behind the building were still to be seen two long +culverins and a stout iron mortar with a Turkish inscription that +threw some light on their origin; but the times and the spirit of the +times had changed, and later comers had built a Tusculan villa upon +foundations intended for a fortress. + +On one of the brightest days of the year in which our story begins, a +large hunting party was stirring at the castle. Hardly had the sun +sent his first rays through the dense trees when the boys of the +stable and kennel led out the horses and the hounds straining at the +leash and bounding to the shoulders of their keepers in their excited +anticipation. Long wagons, drawn by six to ten oxen, had already gone +to the meet to bring back the game. The villagers summoned to the +chase, variously armed with axes, forks, or occasional guns, were +divided into groups by the hunters. Some peasants, in parties of twos +and threes, carried on their shoulders boats hollowed from the trunks +of trees, to drive back the game if it escaped to the swamp. Men and +beasts alike showed signs of haste and impatience; only a few of the +older men took the time to sit over the fire and cook their bacon. At +last the hunting-horn sounded from the castle yard, the company sprang +with shouts of joy upon their snorting horses; the restless, yelping +pack dragged their keepers this way and that; the hunters armed +themselves,--in short, everything was ready and waited only for the +lords and ladies. In a few moments a group of riders came down the +hill attended by the squires; in front rode a tall, muscular man, the +lord of the castle; the rest seemed involuntarily to have fallen +behind him. His broad shoulders and well-rounded chest were of +Herculean strength; his face was burned by the sun and showed no trace +of age; his close-trimmed beard and heavy moustache gave his +countenance a martial aspect, and the Roman nose and coal black, bushy +eyebrows added to his features an imperious look, though the +melancholy curve of the lips and the delicate oval of the blue eyes +lent a certain poetic expression to his knightly countenance. A round +cap with an eagle's feather covered his short hair; he wore a plain, +shaggy coat unfastened, beneath which showed a white dolman of +deerskin ornamented with silver; at his side hung a broad sword in +ivory sheath, and from his studded girdle of red shone the pearl +handle of a Turkish dagger. Next him rode a young knight and a +youthful Amazon; the knight could count scarcely twenty years and the +lady looked still younger. Two people better suited to each other +could not be found. The young man had pale, gentle features and rich +chestnut hair curling on his shoulders; a small moustache barely +covered his upper lip, his blue eyes wore a constant smile of +carelessness, if not frivolity, and had not the strong sinews of his +arm shown under his close-fitting sleeves one would have taken him for +only a fanciful boy; on his head he wore a marten cap with a heron's +feather and his garments were of silk; from his shoulder hung a +magnificent tiger skin, its claws serving for buckles joined by a +sapphire clasp. He rode a coal-black Turkish horse with housings +embroidered in gold, some woman's delicate handiwork. + +The Amazon, to whom the youth seemed to be whispering many a sweet +word, formed a complete contrast to him; she had an earnest, fearless, +lively countenance; her eyes were brighter than garnets; she loved to +curl her lip and draw down her fine, thick eyebrows, giving to her +face an expression of pride, then when she glanced up again and parted +her lips with a spirited smile, you might see a heroine indeed. Her +dark braids hung over her shoulders half their length and then were +looped back under her cap of ermine with its waving plume. She wore a +silk riding habit fitting closely to her slender figure and falling in +heavy folds over the flanks of her Arab horse. Figure and face called +for homage rather than love; no smile played over these features, her +great, dark, fathomless eyes rested many a time upon the youth as he +bent toward her, shedding a rare charm, a fulness of love, a nobler, +higher longing which means more than love, more than ambition, which +is perhaps the self-consciousness of great souls who have a hint of +their eternal fame. + +Behind this beautiful pair rode two men whose dress indicated their +high rank; one about thirty years old, the other a pale, elderly man +with dress simple to affectation. It is worth while to mark this man's +face, for we shall often meet him; cold dry features, thin blonde hair +and beard mixed with grey, a pointed cleft chin, scornful pale lips, +quick watery blue eyes with red rims, jutting eyebrows, a high bald +shining forehead which with every change of feeling was wrinkled in +all directions. This face we may not forget. The rest--the Herculean +rider, the smiling youth, the stately girl,--will hurry past us like +fleeting pictures which come only to go; but this last will accompany +us throughout the entire course of events, ever appearing only to cast +down or to build up, to determine the fate of great men and lands. The +bald head moved nearer to the knight at his side who was testing his +lance as if for a throw, and said to him in an undertone, evidently +continuing a conversation: + +"So, then, you Transylvanians will not have anything to do with this +affair?" + +"Let me have a rest from politics to-day," answered the other, +starting impatiently. "You have got so that you cannot live a single +day without intrigues, but I beg of you, spare me to-day. To-day I +wish to hunt, and you know how passionately I love the chase." + +With these words he spurred his horse forward, and joined the stately +knight. + +Thus rebuffed, the older man bit his lips in vexation, then turned +with a smile to the youthful knight riding before him. + +"A glorious morning, gracious lord; would that our horizon were as +bright in every direction." + +"Would that it were," answered the youth, without really knowing what +it was to which he was replying, while the beautiful Amazon leaned +over and said to him: + +"I don't know why it is but I cannot place any confidence in that man. +He is forever putting questions and never answers any himself." + +Just then the stately rider came up with the group of hunters, +acknowledged their loud greetings and stopped in their midst. + +"David," he called to an old grey-bearded hunter who came forward, cap +in hand, "put your cap on. Have the drivers of the game all taken +their places?" + +"Every man is in his place, gracious lord. I have already sent boats +to the swamp in case the beasts are frightened back there." + +"You think of everything. Now start with the men and hounds and follow +the road that we usually take; we alone are enough for the road I have +in mind, we will go straight through the forest." + +At once a murmur of astonishment and incredulity arose among the +hunters. + +"Beg pardon, gracious lord," said the old man, with his cap again in +his hand, "I know the way, and no God-fearing man should make trial of +it; the impenetrable undergrowth, the deep water and slimy ground +threaten with a thousand perils; and besides, straight through the +forest goes the wide devil's gorge that no human being with horse has +yet crossed." + +"We shall get over, my good fellow. We have already been through more +difficult places. No bad luck befalls the man who follows me; you know +yourself that fate favors me." + +The hunter obediently made ready to march forward with the rest. At +this moment the bald head rode to the noble's side. + +"Gracious lord," he said, quietly, not to say sarcastically, "I +consider it a great calamity for a human being to imperil his life for +a mere brute, especially when he has urgent need of that life, but +your grace has made the decision and I know it will be carried out. +Still, have the goodness to look about you for a moment and remember +that we are not all men here; there is a delicate lady in our midst, +and to expose her to death for the sake of our adventure is surely +want of tenderness." + +During this speech the knight did not look at the older man but gazed +fixedly at the young Amazon, and the glow of pride on his cheeks was +brighter as he saw how calmly the stately lady measured with her eye +her unbidden protector, and with what proud self-reliance she took her +lances from her page, chose one, and sharpening the point on her +pommel, assumed the position of a true matadore. + +"Look at her," cried the knight, "do you feel any anxiety for this +girl, my niece?" + +These words of the knight echoed loudly; there was no voice like his, +deep as thunder and carrying far. + +The young Amazon allowed the knight who had called her his niece to +put his arm about her and kiss her blushing cheek, for in those days +the Hungarian woman still blushed even if the kiss came from a +kinsman's lips. + +"Is it to no purpose that she sprang from my blood? shall she not +match the best man in fearlessness? Have no anxiety for her, she will +face greater dangers than these and bring her husband to them too." + +With these words the hero put spurs to his horse; the startled +creature reared and plunged but the hard knees of his rider brought +him under control. + +"Follow me," he cried, and the brilliant company vanished in the +thicket of the forest. + + * * * * * + +Let us arrive there before them. Let us hurry to the place where the +stags take their noonday rest in the shady grove, where the turtles +sun themselves and the herons bathe. What dwellings are these in +groups of fives and sixes between the water and the wilderness--these +huts built up on piles with round roofs clay-covered and bound with +twigs? Who built this dam, and for what purpose, so that the water at +the entrance of their dwellings should never fail? Here dwell the +dear, industrious beavers whom Nature has taught the art of building. +This is their colony. These thick beams they have hewn with their +teeth. They have shaped all this,--they have dug down into the earth +to build a dam, and year after year they keep this dam in repair. See, +at this very moment comes one gliding out from the lowest story of his +dwelling below the water; with what a gentle eye he looks around him; +as yet he has never seen a human being. But let us go back to the day +of the hunt. In the shadow of an old hollowed tree was resting a +family of deer--stag, doe and little fawns. The stag had stepped into +the sunlight where he might see his own shadow; his stately form +seemed to please him; he licked his bright coat, scratched his back +with his branching antlers and walked proudly, stepping high with a +certain affectation; the movements of his slender figure were marked +by the play of his muscles. The doe lay lazily in the muddy sedge; at +times raising her beautiful head, her great dark eyes full of feeling, +she gazed at her companion or at the sporting fawns; if she noticed +that they were too far away she gave a certain restless moaning cry, +at which the lively creatures would hasten to her, tumbling over each +other, leaping and bounding about the mother, never an instant quiet, +their limbs quivering and every movement quick and graceful. Suddenly +the stag stood fixed. Scenting danger he gave a cry and lifted his +nose; his nostrils dilated as he snuffed the air, pawed the ground and +ran restlessly about, angrily shaking his antlers; again he stood +still and his wide-opened eyes showed instinctive fear; he ran to his +precious doe and with unspeakable tenderness they put their two heads +together,--they too have a language in which they understand each +other. The two fawns fled to their mother, their slender legs +trembling. Then the stag with long, noiseless stride, made his way +into the forest. The doe remained licking her trembling fawns, who +returned the motherly caresses with their little red tongues. At every +noise she raised her head and pricked up her ears; suddenly she +bounded into the air; she had heard something hardly perceptible to +human ear; far, far away there was a sound in the forest; hunters know +this sound well--the chase had begun. The doe cast restless glances +about her, then quietly lay down; she knew that her mate would come +back and that she must wait for him. Nearer and nearer came the +chase. Soon the stag came noisily back and turned with a peculiar +sound to his mate, who at once sprang up and with her young fled +straight across the line of chase. The stag stood still for a moment, +digging up the ground with his antlers, either with rage or to efface +the traces of his mate's lying there. Then he stretched his neck and +barked loudly in imitation of the hounds, to lead them on a false +scent; a trick often observed by hunters. He then bounded away, +tossing his antlers, and followed the doe. Ever nearer came the chase; +with the barking of dogs was heard also the cracking of the underbrush +and the shouts of the hunters. The forest became alive: the startled +hares and foxes ran among the trees in every direction to escape the +cries of the men. Now and then a fox fled in haste to a hole, only to +bound back again frightened by the fiery eyes of the badger. Among the +timid hares a grey striped wolf stood forgetful of his thirst for +blood; switching his tail he looked about him for some possible escape +and ran howling on, driven by the nearing voices. + +Yet no one was hunting these poor creatures--a greater quarry was the +game,--a stag with mighty antlers. + +The hunting net was drawn closer and closer, already the dogs were on +the track and the horn gave a signal that they were near the stag. +"Hurrah, hurrah!" rang out from afar. The hunters coming from the +opposite direction halted and blocked the way. The noise of the +pursuers came rapidly nearer. Suddenly, a peculiar noise was heard; +the two deer with their young broke through the bushes and +disappeared; between them and the hunters was a wide ravine; the noble +quarry leaped like lightning over the tree trunks lying in the way, +and at last reached the ravine. Before and behind were the hunters, +but the pursuit from behind was more terrible; there were the knight, +the fearless Amazon and the eager hunter. The stag bounded across the +broad ravine without the slightest effort, raising both feet at once +and throwing back his head; the doe too made ready for the leap but +her young shrank back from the edge; then the doe gave out, her knees +sank, her head drooped, and she stayed with her young. A lance hurled +by the Transylvanian hunter pierced her side. The wounded creature +gave a distressed cry, like the wail of a human being only more +terrible. Even her murderer in his pity did not venture to approach +her until her struggles were over. The two fawns stood sorrow-stricken +by their mother and allowed themselves to be taken alive. Meanwhile +the stag, already across the ravine, dashed wildly toward the hunters +before him, who blocked his way, and tossed his heavy antlers in fury. +The hunters knew the courage born of despair which comes to these +animals otherwise so timid, and throwing themselves to the ground, +gave him free pass. Only a few hounds ran after him, but the maddened +creature tossed them on his antlers and leaving them to roll on the +ground in their blood, plunged on to the swamp. + +"After him," roared the knight with thundering voice, and galloped at +full speed to the ravine over which the stag had fled. + +"May the Lord help him," screamed those on the other side, in terror; +but the next moment their terror was turned to shouts of joy, for the +horse with his bold rider was over. Of the entire company only two +ventured to follow, the stately Amazon and the delicate youth. The two +horses made the leap in the same moment; the lady's habit swelled out +like a pennant in the breeze and she glanced backward as if to ask if +any man had so much courage. The rest of the company considered it +advisable not to try the bold leap, except Nicholas, the +Transylvanian, who made a dash although his horse had already hurt his +hind foot in the woods and the huntsman might have been very sure that +he was not equal to the leap. + +Fortunately for the rider, just before the spring his saddle-girth +gave way and he fell on the edge of the bank, while the horse just +reached it with his forefeet, and tumbling, fell into the depths of +the ravine. The three riders were alone in their pursuit of the +fleeing stag which, once out of the circle, led his followers on to +the bog. The knight went first. The Amazon and her comrade followed by +a sweeping détour through the tree trunks; just as they were on the +edge of the bog, there suddenly appeared snorting before them two wild +boars;--they had come into the lair of these beasts which had been +deaf to everything around them as they lay in the reeds and mud, only +noticing the newcomers when the young man's horse trampled to death +two young ones rubbing themselves against the old sow. The rest of the +young scattered into the sedge while the old ones, with threatening +growls, turned upon the intruders. The sow plunged blindly at the +youth, while the boar stood still a moment, his bristles raised and +ears pointed. He leveled his tusks and, with deep grunt and blood-shot +eye, charged at the maiden. The young man hurled his lance from a safe +distance at the sow; the whizzing weapon struck into the hard skull of +the creature, the point piercing to the brain. The sow ran like a +monstrous unicorn, the lance still sticking in her skull, but her eyes +had lost the power of sight and she passed the rider and fell without +a sound at a little distance. The maiden waited calmly for the raging +boar; seizing her lance with her left hand she aimed its point +downward and held her bridle firmly. The noble horse stood quiet +against his raging opponent, pricking up his ears, and with a turn of +his neck kept his eye on the boar so that just as the tusk would have +entered the side, the trained animal bounded away, and at the same +moment the Amazon bent over and hurled her lance deep between the +shoulder-blades of the boar. The creature, wounded to the death, sank +down with a groan, but made one more onset at the maiden, when the +youth sprang like lightning from his horse and dealt him a final blow +with his sword. Just then from afar was heard the sound of the horn; +the other riders who, by making a long circuit, had now overtaken the +leaders, greeted the heroes of the day, the knight, the Amazon and the +youth, with loud huzzas. The strongly-built man was bespattered with +mud and the others did not look much better. Only the riding habit of +the lady was without spot and without rent. Even in such circumstances +as these, ladies know how to take care of their clothes. When the +knight saw the monster that his niece had laid low, looking larger +than ever now that it was stretched out in death, he appeared like one +just realizing the peril to which his darling had been exposed, and +cried out in terror, "My dear Helen!" Then he took her hand with a +smile and glanced at the bystanders with triumph. + +"Did I not tell you that she was of my blood?" Every man hurried +forward to compliment the brave heroine, who on this occasion seemed +to experience that extraordinary pleasure peculiar to the lucky +hunter. + +"Nicholas, my son, do the boars grow as large as that in +Transylvania?" + +The Transylvanian, already somewhat out of sorts from his recent +accident, could not let this pass without denying that there was +anything in Hungary better worth having than Transylvania could +produce, so he answered sulkily, "Yes, indeed, and even larger." No +reply possible could have so angered the knight as this;--to say to an +excited hunter that there is better game anywhere than that he has +just praised; and still more, that had been laid low by his own +darling. + +"Good, my son, good," growled the knight, "it remains to be seen." + +With undisguised signs of annoyance on his countenance he turned aside +from the ill-natured Transylvanian and gave orders to have the game +carried back to the hunting castle. On the way thither he spoke no +word except to his dear one, whom he flattered and extolled to the +very heavens. + + * * * * * + +It was already late in the afternoon when the hunters sat down to +their meal. The simple but appetizing food had been arranged on a +large grassplot in the middle of the forest; wine and joy thawed out +their spirits and they talked of this and of that, of the war and of +the chase, of beautiful women and of poesy, which at that time was in +great favor among the upper circles. But in spite of the merry +conversation the knight could not keep from asking, in a tone of +reproach, "So, then, there really is better game in Transylvania?" +until the repeated question became irksome to the young man, who had +not intended his reply to be taken with such seriousness. + +The bald head saw the situation and attempted to give another turn to +the conversation by taking up his beaker and proposing this +toast;--"May God put the Turks in good spirits." + +The knight in his vexation overturned his glass and replied angrily, +"That He shall not! I have not grown old fighting against them to turn +round now and pray for them. He is a fool who changes only to find a +new master." + +"The Turk is a gracious master for us," said the young man, with an +ambiguous smile. + +"Didn't I say so? With you, even the Turks are finer and greater than +with us. So it is; in Transylvania everything is better than it is in +Hungary; the boars are larger and the Turks are smaller than with us." + +While they were talking the old huntsman David approached his master +and whispered in his ear. The features of the knight lighted as by +magic, and springing from his seat he cried, + +"Give me a gun." + +Seizing his silver-mounted rifle, with a happy expression he said to +his guests: + +"Just stay here, there is a colossal boar near by. You shall see him, +my son," he said, touching Nicholas on the shoulder. "Twice already +have I given him chase, but this time I will have him. He is the +genuine descendant of the Calydonian boar." + +With that the knight directed his steps in eager self-forgetfulness +toward that part of the forest pointed out by the huntsman, whom he +commanded to turn back, for he would have no one with him. + +"I do not know why it is," whispered Helen to the youth at her side, +"but I feel as if I had cause to fear some peril threatening my +uncle." The youth rose without a word and took his rifle. "Do not +follow him," called out the Transylvanian when he noticed this move, +"you would only anger him. Never fear, he will do it alone. A man that +has wiped out entire armies of Tartars will surely be able to manage +an unreasoning beast." And in this way the young man was held back at +the very moment of departing. The men went on drinking and the maiden +continued with her thoughts, from time to time glancing anxiously +toward the forest. Suddenly there was a shot heard in the forest; all +set down their glasses, and looked expectantly in that direction. A +few moments later came the cry of a boar in pain; not the sound of a +boar at the point of death, but the rattling sound of an interrupted +struggle. + +"What's that?" each asked of another. + +"Surely he would call if he were in peril." + +With that came a second shot. + +"What's that?" all shouted, and sprang to their feet. "Up! Up!" cried +the maiden, trembling in every limb, and the entire company hurried in +the direction of the shot. + + * * * * * + +The knight had gone only a few steps into the forest when he came upon +the boar at the foot of a great oak. It was a monstrous boar with long +black bristles on his back and forehead; his skin like iron lay in +thick folds on his neck and his feet were long and sinewy. He had dug +himself a litter in the brush, where he now lay. Where he had laid his +monstrous head he had torn up by the roots shrubs as thick as one's +arm. When the monster heard the steps of a man he raised his head, +opened wide his jaws and looked sidewise at his opponent. In order to +get a better aim the knight had dropped on one knee, and shot through +the sedges at the beast just at the moment when he raised his head. +Instead of hitting the skull the ball entered the creature's neck, +wounding but not killing him. The wounded animal sprang up, and in his +charge at the knight struck his crooked tusks together so that the +sparks flew. Such a furious attack might easily have been avoided by a +spring to one side, but the knight was not the man to avoid his +antagonist. He threw down his gun, tore his sword from its scabbard, +stood face to face with the boar and dealt a blow at his head which +might have cleft it through and through; but the dangerous stroke fell +on the tusk, and upon this, hard as stone, the sword was broken in two +at the hilt. Stunned by the blow the boar, though he plunged at the +knight with his tusks, inflicted only a light wound in his thigh, at +which the man seized the animal by the ears with both hands and a +furious struggle began. Without weapon he fought the beast which +turned its head with grunt and groan, but the steel-like grasp of the +man held his broad ears with irresistible might and when the creature +raised himself on his hind legs to throw his opponent, the knight with +giant strength gave him a push and threw him over backward. True, he +fell too as he did so, but he was on top and raising himself up, +pressed down the wild beast struggling in vain against his superior +strength, and seated himself in triumph on his belly. The boar seemed +to be entirely conquered. His glazing eye grew dim, blood streamed +from jaws and nose, he had ceased to roar and made only a rattling +sound; his legs contracted, his nose hung down; in a few moments he +must certainly die. The knight should have called to his comrades, +only a little way off, or kept quiet until the boar bled to death, but +this took too much time. He remembered that he had in his girdle a +Turkish knife and he thought to put a quick end to the struggle, so he +pressed down the head of the boar with one knee, that he might be able +to spring when he drew out his knife at his side, and with one hand +seized his girdle. Just then, a shot was heard in the forest; the +overmastered boar, feeling the pressure of hand and knee lightened, +with his remaining strength threw the knight off and dealt one last +blow with his tusk. This blow was fatal--it tore the man's throat. + +The guests and relations hurrying to him, found the hero dying beside +the dead boar. With cries of sorrow they strove to bind his terrible +wound. + +"It is nothing, my children, nothing," said the knight, even then +dying, and he was gone. + +"Poor knight!" said the bystanders. + +"My poor fatherland," cried Helen, raising to heaven her eyes heavy +with tears. + +The day of rejoicing was changed to one of mourning; the hunt to a +funeral feast. In sorrow the guests attended the corpse of their best +friend back to Csakathurm. Only the bald head took another direction. + +"That is just what I said," he muttered to himself, "one needs his +life for something more. Well, what matters it? there are still people +elsewhere; I'll go to the next country." + + * * * * * + +So died Nicholas Zrinyi, the younger, the greatest writer and the +bravest fighter of his fatherland. So died the man, who had been the +favorite of fortune, the darling of his country, its protection and +its glory. In vain would you look now for the hunting-lodge or the +castle;--all is gone--the name, the family of the hero, even his +memory. The general and the statesman have fallen into oblivion; one +part only of the man is left, one part only lives forever,--the +writer. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE HOUSE IN EBESFALVA + + +We now move forward one country;--one country forward, and four years +backward. We are in Transylvania in the year 1662. Before us is a +dwelling, plain but of the nobility, at the lower end of Ebesfalva, +almost the last house in the place. The building was planned more for +convenience than for fancy; on both sides are stables for horses and +for sheep, built partly of stone, partly of plaster and partly of +wood; sheds for wagons, poultry-yards, open barns, high-gabled sheep +pens covered with straw; in the rear is a fruit garden where one +catches sight of the arched top of a beehive, and finally, in the +middle of the courtyard stands the whitewashed dwelling of one wing, +with shady nut-trees under which is a round table improvised out of a +mill-stone. A stone wall separates the court of the dwelling from the +threshing floor, where are to be seen piles of hay and great heaps of +grain, from the top of which a peacock utters his disagreeable cries. +It is evening; the men have returned from the fields; the oxen are +loosed from their heavy wagons loaded with corn; the sheep come with +tinkling bells from the meadow; the grunting swine hurry through the +open gate each to his own trough; the cocks quarrel together on the +nut-trees where they went to roost at sunset; in the distance is heard +the sound of the evening bell; and from still farther away comes the +sound of the village maidens going to the fountain. The men look after +the cattle, one brings a great bundle of fresh-mown grass, and another +carries in a large pail of fresh milk, fragrant and foaming. From the +kitchen comes the gleam of a blazing fire, over which a maiden with +round red cheeks is holding a great pan that gives out the fragrance +of food, soon to be placed on the heavy green earthenware. The farm +hands sit round the mill-stone table, eating heartily, while the +patient house-dogs watch them with thoughtful attention. Then the +dishes are cleared away and the ears of corn are taken from the wagon +and put under cover. The peasant maidens of the neighborhood gather +for the husking; the more timid are frightened for their lives by the +mischievous lads who hollow out ripe pumpkins, cut eyes and mouth and +set a burning light inside to use as a lantern. The more clever of the +lads, seated on upturned baskets, weave long garlands of the corn +husks; and over their quiet work ring out jolly songs, and fairy tales +are told of golden-haired princesses and waifs. Here and there a game +is played, not without kisses proclaimed to all the world with loud +shrieks. The children make merry if they chance to find a red ear in +the corn. And so they sit and sing and tell stories and laugh over +trifles until the heaps of corn are all gone. Then come the long +farewells; down the length of the street they sing on their way home, +partly in joyousness of spirit and partly to keep up their courage. +Each one goes to his house, locks the door and puts out the fire; the +shepherd-dogs throughout the village answer one another, the moon +rises and the night watchman begins to call off the hours in measured +rhythm, while the other villagers sleep unmindful of the golden +proverbs of his song. + +Only in one window of the manor house is there still a light: there +only they have not yet gone to rest. The watchers are an old +maidservant, grown grey in service, and a younger one. The old woman +is reading laboriously something from the Psalter that she already +knows by heart from beginning to end. The young maid has sat down to +her spindle as if she had not done enough through the long day, and is +drawing the long threads of the silken flax, which yesterday she +combed and to-day carded. + +"Go to bed, Clara," said the old woman kindly, "if I sit up, that is +enough. To-morrow you will have to get up early just the same." + +"Surely I could not go to sleep before the return of our noble lady," +replied the other, continuing her work. "Even though the men are all +at home I am afraid while she is not here; but when once the noble +lady comes I feel as safe as if castle walls surrounded us." + +"You are right, my child, she is worth more than many men, poor soul! +For many years all the cares that belong to a man have rested on her +shoulders. She has to look out for everything; and as if that were not +enough she has leased beside the estate of her sisters, Madame Banfy +and Madame Beleky. How many lawsuits she has had to carry on with this +and that neighbor or kinsman! but they meet their match in her! She +goes herself to the judge and the courts and is so clever that an +advocate might learn of her. Once, when my lord Banfy came to play the +gallant with her, thinking our gracious lady one of those +grass-widows, how quickly she showed him the door; the good man hardly +knew which foot to put first and yet he is one of the royal judges. To +pay for that he quartered on us the head collector with a mixed crowd +of troopers. You were here then, weren't you, when our noble lady had +them driven out of the village? How they took to their heels when they +saw that our noble lady herself stood there with her gun." + +"If they hadn't," boasted the excited maiden, "I would have struck +them over the head with my oven-cloth." + +"You see, Clara, when a woman is compelled to take care of a house +alone for so long a time, to defend herself and her family with her +own strength, she comes to feel just like a man. That is why our lady +has that determined look, as if she had not been a maiden of high +birth." + +"But tell me, Aunt Magdalene," said the girl, drawing her stool +nearer, "are we really never to see our gracious master again?" + +"God only knows," replied the old woman, with a sigh, "when the poor +man will be set free. I have a sure presentiment which I have told, +but nobody listens to me. When the late Prince George became +dissatisfied with his own country and set out to conquer Poland with +the best Hungarian nobility, our Master Michael went with him. How +hard I tried to keep him back, and so did his noble lady; for they had +been married then but a short time; and the good master himself had no +wish to go, he had much rather sit in the house and read books or +build mills and take care of his trees, but honor bade him go. +However, I insisted that he should at least take my son Andy with him; +surely God ordained it wisely that he should go with him, otherwise we +never should have heard anything more of our gracious master. For when +the prince saw the beastly crowd of Tartars drawn up against him in +the field he hurried home, while all the nobility were taken prisoners +by the heathen Tartars and carried off to Tartary to bitter bondage. +My son Andy begged so hard that they finally let him come home, +especially as he had a wound that made him unfit for work. He brought +back the news that our Master Michael was pining away there in +imprisonment and that the Tartars, when they observed in what esteem +he was held by the other prisoners, took him for a duke and demanded +such a frightfully high ransom for him that all his estate turned into +money would not pay it. However, our noble lady was very happy when +she learned that her husband was still living, and went round trying +to raise the money. But neither relatives nor good friends would help +her, not even for security, for in war-times people do not like to +lend on real estate. So she sold all the valuables she had brought +with her from home; beautiful silver plates, bracelets set with +precious stones, gold cups that were heirlooms, beautiful garments +embroidered with silk and threads of gold, rings, buckles, clasps, +real pearls, in short everything that can be turned to gold. Yet as +all that was not half of what the Tartars demanded she leased the +estates of her sisters, and had the fallow ground ploughed and the +woods cleared away to make room for grain fields. She turned night +into day to find time for all the work. Nothing connected with farming +that would bring money did she leave undone; she had loam-pits made +and stone-quarries opened; she raised cattle that the Armenian cattle +drivers bought; she herself went to market, took her wine even into +Poland, her grain to Hermanstadt, her honey, wax and dried fruits to +Kronstadt; she even went as far as Debreczin to get a good price for +her wool; and how prudently she lived all that time! she never took +anything from her serving people that belonged to them, but she +herself saved every bit. In harvest time, when she would be in the +field all day long she would often go a week at a time without having +any dinner cooked; her entire meal then would be a small piece of +bread, so small that a child would not have been satisfied with it, +and a glass of cold water. But you can take my word for it, Clara, +that no one ever saw her out of temper, and no bitter tear ever fell +on the dry bread which was all she allowed herself in loyalty to her +husband." + +"What do you mean by that?" + +"Why, I mean that the money that she got together in this way, by hard +work and saving, has been carried by Andy into Tartary at this season +every year to make up the ransom. During this time the poor lady +stinted herself in every way." The old servant wiped the tears from +her eyes. + +"And what is the ransom required?" + +"I don't know exactly, my child. Andy has always brought back a paper +on which the Tartar has written the amount received and what still +remains to be paid, and the noble lady keeps it very carefully. Of +course I do not like to ask any questions." + +The maiden became silent and seemed thoughtful; the spindle went twice +as fast in her hands and her heart beat more rapidly. + +"My son Andy has gone on such a journey now, and I am expecting him +back every hour; from him we shall know something certain." + +At that very moment the outside gate creaked; a small wagon was driven +noisily into the courtyard and the joyous barking of the dogs showed +that it was no stranger who had come. + +"They've come," cried the two serving women, and had just time to rise +from their seats when Anna Bornemissa, wife of Michael Apafi, +entered,--a well-built woman, almost as tall as a man; through the +plain grey linen gown showed the slender but rounded outlines of a +strong figure; she might have been thirty-six years old. Her face was +one of those that give no trace of time until far on in years. She was +sunburned, but with the bloom of youth and her healthy color this only +heightened her peculiar beauty. Her glance was quick and masterful but +its charm lay in the soul which it reflected. In her features there +was nothing hard, rough or masculine; her brow was arched, smooth, +free from wrinkles and full of nobility; her eyebrows were delicately +marked, her eyes exquisitely shaped, with long lashes that only half +shaded them; they were not the fierce black, but rather nut-brown +eyes, showing fire and light, yet now so cold. The nose and the oval +of her face were delicately formed, her lips when her mouth was closed +were gentle and delicate. The rest of her features seemed to be making +an effort not to share her smile, and the mouth when open was proud +and authoritative. + +"What, still awake!" she said to her maids. Her voice had a pleasant +ring although the lower tones were subdued by sorrow. + +"We wished to sit up for your ladyship so that you would not have to +wait outside for us," answered the old woman, bustling about her +mistress and taking the heavy cloak from her shoulders. + +"Is not Andy back yet?" asked Madame Apafi, in a voice almost stifled. + +"Not yet, but I am expecting him every moment." The lady sighed +deeply. How much suppressed sorrow, how many vanishing hopes, what +depths of resignation lay in that sigh! Before the strong soul of this +woman passed the many sufferings of her joyless life, her struggles +with fate, mankind and her own heart; her love had been grafted upon +pain that could bring forth wishes only--no pleasures. Another year +of her life had passed, rich only in struggles. With the industry of a +bee, she had succeeded in getting together a few offerings for the +single purpose of her life, and who knew how many more such years +there must be before she could attain it: thus far, she had only work, +patience and a joyless love. Madame Apafi forced her countenance back +into its wonted coldness, bade her servants good-night and was just +going to her room, when Clara kissed the hand of her mistress, causing +her to look at the maid with astonishment. She felt a hot tear on her +hand, which had come in spite of the maiden. + +"What is the matter with you?" asked the lady, taken aback. + +"Nothing is the matter with me," sobbed the maiden, "but you--most +gracious lady--I am so sorry for you. I have for a long time been +thinking of something, but have never dared tell it. We often talk of +it--how our master has been taken prisoner, and how hard it is to get +his ransom;--I mean my friends in the village;--all of us have +necklaces with much useless gold and silver coin on them, and so we +girls have agreed to put this money together that we have no use for +and give it to you, gracious lady, to send off as ransom for our +master." Madame Apafi pressed the hand of her maidservant and a tear +came to her eye. + +"I thank you, my girl," she said, touched. "I prize this offering of +yours far more than I should if my sister Banfy had placed ten +thousand gold necklaces at my disposal. But God will help us." Just +then a horse's hoofs were heard in the courtyard and the dogs began a +tremendous barking. + +"Who's that? Robbers, perhaps,--the redcoats," stammered the old +woman, and neither of the serving women dared go to the door; but +Madame Apafi took the light from the table, and boldly going to the +door opened it so that the light shone far out into the courtyard. + +"Who is that?" she called, in a strong firm voice. + +"Us--I mean me," answered somebody, confusedly; and all three at once +recognized Andy by the voice. + +"Oh, it's you, is it? Come, be quick," called Madame Apafi, joyously, +and pulled the evidently confused servant into the house. He stood +twirling his cap, not knowing how to begin. + +"Did you see him--speak with him?--is he well?" asked Madame Apafi, +quickly. + +"Yes, well," answered the boy, glad to find a starting point. "He +sends you greetings and kisses, my noble lady." + +"Why do you look around that way?--whom are the dogs barking at +outside?" + +"Perhaps at the black horse; they are so glad to see him again." + +"Did you give the money to Murza?" + +Instead of answering Andy began rummaging in the pocket of his fur +coat, and as the opening of the pocket was very high and the bottom +seemed very deep, he turned all colors while he was searching for the +paper, and trembled as he handed it over to his mistress. + +"Is there much left yet? What did Murza say?" asked Madame Apafi, in a +tone almost trembling. + +"There is not much more,--you could almost say there was very little +more," answered Andy, with downcast eyes, in his embarrassment +fumbling with his hat. + +"How much? how much more?" They all cried at once. Andy turned red. +"There isn't any more!" he blurted out, and burst into a loud laugh +followed by tears;--at once the lady caught the meaning of his words. + +"Man," she cried passionately, seizing him by the shoulders, "you have +brought my husband with you!" Andy pointed behind him and nodded in +silence. He wept and laughed all at once but not a word could he +speak. + +With a cry such as one utters only in deepest joy, the lady ran to the +half open door and there stood listening, Michael Apafi, long waited +and oft lamented. + +"Michael, my own dear husband!" cried his wife, trembling with +feeling; and, beside herself, she fell on her husband's neck, +whispering to him words too low to be heard, expressions of +tenderness, joy and love. Apafi pressed his wife to his heart; no +sound was to be heard save low sobbing. + +"You are mine, mine at last," stammered his wife, after a long pause, +recovering from the violence of her feelings. + +"I am yours. And I swear to you that no country, no world can tear me +from you again." + +"Oh, my God, what happiness!" cried Anna, raising to heaven her face +covered with tears of joy. "What joy you have brought back to me," +again leaning on her husband and burying her face on his breast. + +"If the whole world were mine I should not be rich enough to repay you +for your loyalty to me. If I could call a kingdom my own I would give +it to you, and that would be only a beggarly reward." + +The husband and wife, exultant in their joy and love, remained +undisturbed in their happiness. Until late in the night the light +burned in their room,--how much, how much they had to say! + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A PRINCE BY COMPULSION + + +A year had passed since Apafi's return. In the manor house at +Ebesfalva all was excitement. Before one pair of horses could rest +another started out on the road. The servants were sent in every +direction. There seemed to be great confusion in the house, yet nobody +appeared troubled. To those who asked confidentially it was whispered +that the wife of Michael Apafi might give birth to a child at any +hour. The master did not for one instant leave the chamber of his +suffering wife. + +Suddenly a wild noise rang out in the courtyard; about twenty-four +horsemen had arrived, led by a Turkish Aga. To the terror of the +serving people the Turkish troops carried lances and knives. + +"Is your master at home?" the Aga said, haughtily, to Andy, who in his +terror had remained riveted to the spot. "If he is," he went on +without waiting for an answer, "tell him to come out, I wish to speak +to him." + +Still Andy could not speak, at which the Turk with emphasis added, "If +he will not come out I will go after him." + +With these words he sprang from his horse and crossed the space before +the entrance. Andy ventured to stammer a brief--"But, gracious +lord,"--when the Turk cut him off with--"I should like it better, my +boy, if you would stop your talk and go into the house." + +Just then Apafi, attracted by the rattling of the lances, came out of +his wife's room. He was terror-stricken when he faced his unexpected +guest. + +"Are you Michael Apafi?" asked the Turk, angrily. + +"At your service, gracious lord," replied Apafi, quietly. + +"Good. His majesty, the celebrated Ali Pasha, sends you word to enter +this carriage without delay and come to my lord in camp at +Klein-Selyk, and that without any attendants." + +"That's a pretty story," muttered Apafi to himself. "I beg your +pardon, worthy Aga," he added aloud, "just at present it is quite +impossible for me to carry out this wish, as my wife is in travail, +and any moment may decide her life or death. I cannot leave her now." + +"Call a doctor if your wife is sick; and remember that you will not +restore her to health by bringing down the anger of the Pasha on you." + +"Grant me only one day and then it does not matter if it costs me my +life." + +"I tell you, it won't cost you your life if you only obey, but if you +don't you may soon cause yourself trouble; so be reasonable." + +Anna from her room heard the conversation outside, and full of anxiety +called her husband to her. "What's the matter?" asked the sufferer, +anxiously. + +"Nothing, nothing, sweetheart, I have just had a summons but I am not +going." + +But Madame Apafi had seen the spear-points of the Turks through the +window curtains and said in despair, "Michael, they want to carry you +off!" and she pressed her husband convulsively to her breast; "they +shall kill me rather than drag you off into slavery so that I lose you +again." + +"Keep quiet, my dear child. I am sure I do not know what they want of +me. I certainly have not done the good people any harm. At the most +they will demand a tax, which I will get together at once." + +"I have a presentiment of something dreadful; my heartstrings tighten, +harm has come to you," stammered the sick woman, and she broke out +into violent sobbing and threw herself on her husband. "Michael, I +shall never see you again!" + +The Aga was getting tired of waiting and began to knock at the door +and call out, "Apafi, here Apafi, come out; I cannot enter your wife's +room--that would not be proper--but if you don't come out I will burn +the house down over your head." + +"I will go," said Apafi, striving to quiet his wife with kisses. "My +refusal will only make matters worse; but as soon as they let me go I +will be here at once." + +"I shall never see you again," she gasped, trembling; she was almost +in a swoon. Apafi, taking advantage of this momentary unconsciousness, +left his wife and went out to the Aga, his eyes heavy with tears. + +"Now, my lord, we can go," he said. + +"Surely you are not going like a peasant, without a sword," said the +Turk. "Gird on your sword, and tell your wife that she has nothing to +fear." + +Apafi went back into the room, and as he took down his heavy +silver-mounted sword from the wall above the bed, he said to his wife, +consolingly, "See, sweetheart, there cannot be anything disagreeable +to expect, or I should not have been told to buckle on my sword. Trust +in God." + +"I do, I do trust in Him," said his wife, still kissing her husband's +hand passionately and pressing him to her heart; then she began to +weep bitterly,--"Apafi, if I die, do not forget me." + +"Oh!" cried Apafi. He tore himself with bitter feelings from the +embrace of his wife, and wished all the Turks born and unborn at the +bottom of the sea. Then he jumped into the wagon, looking neither to +heaven nor earth, but struggling all the way with a single +thought--that it had not been allowed him to leave his wife when she +had happened to fall asleep. + +Hardly were they an hour away from Ebesfalva when the Turks caught +sight of a rider at full speed, who was evidently trying to overtake +them. They called Apafi's attention to it. At first he would not +listen to them, but when told that the rider came from the direction +of Ebesfalva he ordered the wagon to stop and waited for the +messenger. It was Andy who, waving his handkerchief, came galloping +toward them. + +"What has happened, Andy?" called out his master with beating heart, +while his servant was still at a distance. + +"Good news, master," shouted Andy, "our most gracious lady has a son +and she herself is out of all danger--God be praised!" + +"Blessed be the name of the Lord," cried Apafi, with lightened heart, +and sent the messenger back. As soon as this chief cause of his +anxiety had vanished all his other troubles disappeared. He thought of +his son and in the glow of this thought began to believe that his +Turkish attendants were as good, respectable, civilized people as he +had ever seen. Late at night they reached the tent of Ali Pasha. The +sentinels were sleeping like badgers; as far as they were concerned +one might have carried off the whole camp. Apafi had to wait before +the tent of the Pasha until he had dressed himself, when drawing aside +the curtains, the Pasha bade him enter. There sat Ali with crossed +legs on a rug at the back of the tent, and behind him two finely-clad +Moors. On the rug that formed a partition in the tent, was outlined +the figure of some one standing behind. + +"Are you that Michael Apafi," asked the Pasha after the customary +greetings, "who for several years was a prisoner of the Tartar Murza?" + +"The very same, most gracious Pasha, the one to whom, in his mercy, he +granted exemption from the full ransom." + +"That will be made right. Murza granted exemption from the full ransom +because His Excellency the Sultan commanded him to do so, and His +Majesty will do even more for you." + +"I hear these words with astonishment and gratitude, for I do not know +how I can have deserved this grace." + +"His Excellency has learned that you conducted yourself wisely, +honorably, and like a man, in that sad imprisonment, and that you knew +so well how to win the hearts of the other prisoners that although +there is no respect of rank among prisoners they all had the highest +respect for you. In consideration of this, and furthermore taking into +account that the present prince, John Kemény, as he has plainly +shown, intends to set himself free from the Sublime Porte, His +Excellency has determined without further delay to raise you to the +throne of Transylvania and to support you there." + +"Me,--gracious lord! It is your pleasure to jest," stammered Apafi. It +seemed as if everything was beginning to go round before him. + +"Yes, you! You have no cause to wonder at this, for when my lord +pleases pashas and princes are made, at a glance from him, slaves, +beggars or corpses; and at another glance, common soldiers, nobles, or +slaves step into their superiors' places. You were so fortunate as to +come in for a share of his good-will. Make this to your advantage and +do not misuse it." + +"But, gracious lord, what an idea that I can become a prince!" + +"That is my affair, I will make you one." + +"But Transylvania has another prince, John Kemény." + +"That is also my affair. I will settle with him soon." + +Apafi shrugged his shoulders; he felt that he had never been entangled +in a worse affair.--"That was a true presentiment of my wife's, that +to-day a great danger threatened me," he thought. + +The Pasha resumed the conversation. "Now then, without further delay, +write an order for a convention of the States so that the ceremony of +inauguration may take place as quickly as possible." + +"I--who will come at my call? My lord, I am one of the least important +of the nobles of my country: they will only laugh at me and say that I +have gone crazy." + +"And then they will become aware that they themselves have gone +crazy." + +"Then surely I could not send out such a summons, for, with the +exception of the country of the Szeklers, Kemény has all in his +power." + +"Then we will send to the Szeklers, they will certainly come." + +"And even among the Szeklers the more influential are unknown to me, +for I am not one of them. There I know such people as John Daczo, +Stephen Run and Stephen Nalaczy." + +"Well, then, call these men, Run, Daczo, and Nalaczy, if you think +they are honest folk." + +Apafi began to scratch his head. "But suppose they came, where should +we hold the convention? we have no suitable place. In Klausenburg my +brother-in-law, Dionysius Banfy, is my sworn foe, and he is captain of +the train bands. In Hermanstadt John Kemény himself lives." + +"Certainly we have Klein-Selyk, we can assemble here." In spite of his +distress, Apafi had to laugh. "There is not a house here where thirty +men could find room at the same time," he answered, quickly. + +"Yes there is, there is the church," replied the Pasha, "there you can +hold your meeting. If that building is good enough to pay one's +respects to God in, surely it is good enough to pay one's respects to +men in." + +Apafi did not know what further objection to urge. "Can you write?" +asked the Pasha. + +"To be sure I can," answered Apafi, sighing deeply. + +"Because I can't. Well then, sit down and send your summons to the +states." + +A slave brought a table, parchment, and red ink. Apafi sat down like a +lamb for the sacrifice, and by way of beginning made a letter on the +parchment so large that the Turk sprang up in fright and asked him +what that meant. + +"That is an S," answered Apafi. + +"Leave some space for the rest of the letters." + +"That is the initial letter, the rest will be smaller of course." + +"Read aloud to me what you are writing." + +Apafi wrote with trembling hand, and read, "Whereas"--The Pasha tore +the parchment away from him in anger and roared out, +"'Whereas,--since'--what is the use of such roundabout expressions? +Write as is the custom, 'We, Michael Apafi, Prince of Transylvania, +command you, miserable slave, that as soon as you receive this +writing, without fail you appear before us at once in Klein-Selyk.' +Then stop." + +It required some effort on the part of Apafi to make the Pasha +understand that it was not the custom to use such terms with the +Hungarian nobility. At last he gained permission to write as seemed +best to him, only the contents were to be decisive and authoritative. + +The circular letter was finished at last. The Pasha ordered a man to +mount his horse at once, and gave him instructions to deliver this at +full speed. + +Apafi shook his pen and sighed to himself;--"I would like to see the +man who can tell me what will be the result of all this." + +"Now, until the convention assembles, stay with me here in camp." + +"May I not go back to my wife and child at home?" asked Apafi, with +throbbing heart. + +"The devil! That you may run away from us? That is the way all these +Hungarians treat the rank of prince. The men we do not wish lie down +on us and beg for the honor, and those we do wish take to flight." And +with that the Pasha showed Apafi to his tent and left him, at the same +time giving the order to the sentinel stationed at the entrance as a +mark of honor, to be sure not to let him escape. + +"He got into a pretty scrape that time!" sighed Apafi, in deep +resignation. The only hope that remained for him now was that the men +summoned would not appear for the convention. + + * * * * * + +A few days later, in the early morning while Apafi was still in bed, +there entered his tent suddenly Stephen Run, John Daczo and Stephen +Nalaczy, with all the rest of the noble Szeklers to whom the letter +had been sent. + +"For God's sake!" cried out Apafi, "what are you here for?" + +"Why, your majesty summoned us here," replied Nalaczy. + +"That's true, but you might have had the sense not to come. What can +we do now?" + +"Enthrone your majesty with all due ceremony and if necessary, defend +you in true Szekler fashion," said Stephen Run. + +"You are too few for that, my friends." + +"Have the goodness just to look out in front of the tent," began +Nalaczy, and drawing aside the curtain, he showed him a crowd of +Szeklers with swords and lances, who had remained without. "We are +here _cum gentibus_ to prove to your grace that if we acknowledge you +as our Prince, this is not done in mere jest." + +Apafi shrugged his shoulders and began to draw on his boots. But he +was so thoughtful and melancholy with it all, that an hour passed +before he was dressed, for he took up each article of dress the wrong +way, and put on his coat before he thought of his waistcoat. Several +hundred of the nobility had assembled in Selyk at his call, more than +he expected or even wished. + +When Ali Pasha came out of his tent, in the presence of all assembled +he took Apafi by the hand and threw about him a new green velvet +cloak, set on his head a cap bordered with ermine, and gave the States +assembled to understand that they were to receive this man from this +time as their true Prince. The Szeklers roared out a huzza, raised +Apafi on their shoulders and set him on a platform covered with velvet +that Ali Pasha had ordered built for him. + +"Now let the lords betake themselves to the church--and do you give +your oath to your Prince according to your custom and swear fealty to +each other. The bells have already been rung at my order. Have mass +said in due form." + +"Pardon me, but I am of the Reformed Church," protested Apafi. + +"That suits me all the better. The affair can be conducted with less +formality. There is his Reverence Franz, the Magyar, he shall preach +the sermon." + +Apafi let them do as they would, only nervously stroking his moustache +and shrugging his shoulders when he was questioned. Nalaczy and the +rest of the Szeklers considered it proper to meet him in the church +with all the reverence due to princes. The Reverend Franz extemporized +a powerful sermon, in which he assured them in thundering language +that the God of Israel who had called David from his sheep to the +kingly throne and exalted him above all his enemies, would now too +maintain his chosen one in his good pleasure, though his foes were as +numerous as the blades of grass in the field, or the sands of the +seashore. + +This little church could never have dreamed that it would one day be +the scene of a convention and a princely election. And Apafi could +certainly never have dreamed that all this would have been fulfilled +for him. He had neither ear nor eye for the consecration nor for the +sermon, for his mind was constantly busied with the thought of what +might become of his wife and child and where would they find refuge if +he should fall into the hands of Kemény and they should be driven from +house and home. Then it occurred to him that somewhere in the land of +the Szeklers he had a brother, Stephen Apafi, with whom he had always +had the friendliest relations, and who would certainly take care of +them if he saw them in misery. These thoughts made him forget +everything about himself so completely that when at the conclusion of +the assembly all present rose and began the Te Deum, he too arose, +quite ignoring the fact that these services were in his honor. But +some one behind laid his hands on his shoulders and pressed him down +into his place, telling him in a low, familiar voice that he was to +remain seated. Apafi looked around and fell back on his seat in +astonishment, for the man behind him was no other than his brother +Stephen. + +"You here, too!" said Apafi to him, deeply affected. + +"I was a little belated," said Stephen, "but I arrived in time and +will stay as long as you command." + +"Will you also run into danger?" + +"My brother, our fate lies in God's hand, but we too have something in +hand which will have a little to say," and with that he laid his hand +on his sword hilt. "Kemény has forfeited the love of his country,--I +need not tell you why. You have good cause to triumph and the ways and +means will not fail you." + +"But if it should prove otherwise? what is then to become of my +wife--have you not seen her?" + +"I have just come from there. That is why I was late." + +"You have talked with her? What did she say about my affairs? Is she +very much worried?" + +"Not in the least. On the contrary, she is very much pleased, and +thinks Transylvania could not have found a better prince; that you +deserve this honor much more than any of the great lords, who have no +thought except for tyranny or carousal, and she regrets very much that +her child is still so young she cannot come to strengthen and +encourage you." + +"I should have been much better pleased had she been chosen prince," +said Apafi, half in vexation and half in jest. + +"Look out," said Stephen, "the young woman is so accustomed to +managing affairs at home that if you do not keep the crown firmly on +your own head we shall yet live to see her wearing it on hers. This, +of course, I speak only in jest." + +There is many a truth spoken in jest. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE HUNGARIAN PRINCES IN BANQUET + + +His Excellency, Prince John Kemény, was meantime tarrying mid sport +and pleasure in Hermanstadt. This good lord had a perfect passion for +eating, and would not have given up his dinner if the last spoke in +the last wheel of the state carriage had been broken. Among his +counsellors his cook stood first. The entire town-hall was at his +disposal and had been taken possession of by his attendants. In the +courtyard spur-clanking cuirassiers amused themselves with +Transylvanian-Saxon serving-women. A few German musketeers stationed +on guard, had leaned their weapons against the gate-post and entered +into friendly relations with the boys who were carrying the food away +from the table, at the same time singing with merriment Hungarian +songs quickly picked up, and dancing as they sang. On the other hand, +the Hungarian guards were sitting in their yellow cloaks with green +fastenings, leaning silently against the wall. They gave no heed to +the tankards of wine set in their hands, except to pour them down at a +single draught and return the mighty cup to the friendly butler. The +latter could hardly hold himself up--smiled at all, the happy and the +unhappy, and marched off backward to the cook, who, carrying +everything on high, now brought in on a silver dish a great tart +decked with flowers and sugar, representing the Tower of Babel; and +again a huge porcelain bowl, from which came the spicy fragrance of a +hot punch; and again a great wooden platter, on which rested a whole +roast peacock in all his plumage. With difficulty could he make his +way across the courtyard with his amazing burdens, for the crowds had +gathered there for the adjustment of their affairs, and were waiting +until the prince should leave the table. Meantime they got wine, +roasts and pastry; everything except what they came for--justice. + +In the banquet-hall were the lords and ladies, all somewhat mellow +with drink. The meal had lasted some time and was still far from +finished. French cookery seemed to have reserved its most wonderful +products for this princely feast. The three natural kingdoms had been +taxed to tickle the palates of men. Everything considered appetizing +and extraordinary, from the days of Lucullus down to the time of the +French gourmand, had been brought together there. All kinds of native +and foreign wines were taken from great silver coolers and poured into +richly cut and colored Venetian glasses. The rarest game, cooked in +all sorts of ways, was set out on silver dishes; then followed +transparent, rosy, quivering jellies, preserved fruits from the +Indies, ragouts of cocks' combs, delicacies made of snails, lobsters +and rare sea fish, dishes that the guests could only by the wildest +fancy imagine appetizing, after they were already sated with what was +good; artichokes, oysters, turtles, the enjoyment of which I should, +for my part, count a punishment, great pasties and rose-stained swans' +eggs in large baskets, which the guests, by way of diversion could +cook for themselves over a small spirit lamp placed before each one. +Finally came countless other wonderful dishes, the names of which +would be hardly recognizable by ordinary mortals and in abundance +sufficient for six times as many guests. There were all kinds of spicy +drinks to suit the taste of each one. Behind each guest was stationed +a page, who as soon as the guest turned his head, immediately removed +his full plate and gave him a clean one. + +Behind the Prince stood the son of Ladislaus Csaki, who was proud that +his son might fill the glass of the Prince, and the Prince needed to +have it filled frequently. The Transylvanian feasters were wont to +close their banquets by drinking each other down for a wager. John +Kemény now called on the brave spirits for the wonted contest. Most of +the guests declined the challenge. The sober ones expressed their +thanks for the honor and excused themselves; only three took up the +challenge. The first was Wenzinger, leader of the German troops, the +second was Paul Beldi, general of the Szeklers and supreme judge of +the court at Haromszek, a fine-looking man; his noble brow indicated +rest, his gentle eyes were brightened a little by the wine, his silent +lips opened in a smile; otherwise no effect of the drinking was to be +seen. Opposite him was the third contestant, Dionysius Banfy, captain +of the train bands at Klausenburg and general of the troops, a medium +sized, broad shouldered, haughty man, with a touch of unbecoming +affectation in his aristocratic countenance. + +John Kemény was seated at the upper end of the table and at either +side sat the wives of Banfy and Beldi. One of them, Banfy's wife, was +a young woman barely twenty years old, who since her sixteenth year +had been under the dominion of her husband. She hardly dared to raise +her eyes, or if she did it was only to turn them to her husband. On +the other side sat Beldi's wife, between her husband and the Prince; +hers was still a dazzling beauty like that of a white rose, and now +lighted up by the cheer of the feast, the healthy color seemed fairly +to burn. There was an eloquent charm in her eyebrows, and when she let +fall her lashes over her burning eyes her look was fascinating. +Bethlen's wife at the opposite end of the table talked openly of the +coquettish woman who had a marriageable daughter and yet dared appear +with open bodice; but this gave all the more pleasure to the Prince, +not less to the impetuous Banfy, and even to the gentle husband, who +worshipped his wife. + +The wager had electrified all the men, so that the music which sounded +from the gallery throughout the feast now began to chime in with +songs, when Gabriel Haller entered and hurrying to the Prince, +whispered a few words to him with a serious look. Kemény stared at +him, then emptied the glass in his hand and laughed loudly. + +"Tell the news to the company that they too may know," he called out +to Haller. + +He hesitated. + +"Out with it; you could hardly say anything more entertaining. Set +your music to it, up there. It is a great joke." + +The men all urged Haller to share his joke with them. "It is quite +unimportant," said the man, with a shrug, "Ali Pasha has raised +Michael Apafi to be Prince." + +"Ha, ha, ha!"--The laughter went round the table. The Prince turned +with absurd affectation first to one and then to another of the +company. "Does any one of you know this man? Has anybody ever heard of +him before?" + +Banfy's wife clung with blanched face to her husband's arm, while he, +leaning his elbows on the table said, not without annoyance; "I am a +distant connection of the poor wretch. In fact, he married a relative +of my wife. He was a long time in slavery to the Tartars, and the +Turks, who are now angry with us, have undoubtedly set him free on +condition that he should allow himself to be made prince. He must have +lost his wits entirely." + +Again the men laughed loudly. + +"We will crown him at once," said Kemény, sarcastically, throwing back +his head. + +"That has been done already," said Haller. + +"Where? By whom?" questioned the good-natured Prince, with contracted +brow. + +"In Klein-Selyk, by the State Convention." + +Kemény indicated by a motion of the hand and uplifted eyebrow that he +did not fully understand this reply. + +"Who was present? Surely all the men of importance in the country are +here with us." + +"There were present Stephen Apafi, Nalaczy, Daczo and others, a couple +of hundred Szekler nobility." + +"Well, we will count them up as soon as we are through with other +affairs," said the Prince, contemptuously. "Give Gabriel Haller a +chair." + +"They are not waiting for us, but are already coming against us; they +are in Schassburg now." + +"I suppose they will drive us out,--Michael Apafi with his two +hundred Szeklers," said Kemény, laughing. + +Wenzinger now arose and said in soldierly fashion; "Does your Highness +wish me to have the army called together? we have eight thousand armed +men. If it pleases your Highness, we will scatter these people so +completely that there will be no two men left standing together." + +"Keep quiet," replied Kemény, who looked down with contempt upon the +whole business. "Sit down and drink. Let them come nearer, why should +we take the trouble to go to them? we can certainly take them, bag and +baggage.--I am sorry, Dionysius Banfy, that this man is a connection +of yours, but out of consideration for you I will see to it that he is +not broken on the wheel; I'll have him--stuffed." + +This hit of Kemény's was received with roars of laughter. + +"Bring a glass for Gabriel Haller, we will go on with our wager. Play +the rest of that interrupted music." + +Again the music rang out. The gypsy band played a Czardas. The men +clinked their glasses and sang to the music. The servants outside +joined in. The emptied glasses flew against the wall; there was not +one among them who could not have dashed his glass in a thousand +pieces except Gabriel Haller, who had come last and was still sober, +ashamed to smash the costly Venetian glass. + +"Break it against the table so the pieces will fly," thundered the +Prince at him, and Haller, in obedience to his Prince, struck the +glass lightly against the table and snapped the stem, and then bowed +with respectful humility before his master. + +Madame Banfy sighed as she thought of her kinsfolk. Her husband, to +prevent any one's thinking that he was in the least concerned in the +affair, jumped from his seat and amid the sounds of the Czardas +invited the beautiful Madame Beldi to dance. The little lady was +ready. Banfy grasped the beauty about her waist, held her firmly and +whirled her around. The excited woman flew with the lightness of a +fairy on the arm of her partner. With that, the rest of the men jumped +from their places, seized other women for a dance, and soon the entire +company was swept away in fantastic revelry, every one clapping, +dancing and shouting. Banfy was hot-blooded and light-headed; he loved +beautiful women, and now in addition there was the glow of the wine. +When his beautiful partner once more hung on his arm, her glowing +cheeks came so near him that he suddenly so far forgot himself as to +press the bewitching woman passionately to his heart and imprint a hot +kiss on her cheek. Madame Beldi cried out and pushed the bold man +from her. Banfy, also startled at what he had done, cast a glance +about him but everybody was so taken up with his own pleasure that, to +all appearances, neither kiss nor cry had been noticed. However, +Madame Beldi angrily left her partner, and when Banfy stammered out an +apology, indicated to him that he should stay at a distance. + +This kiss was to cost Banfy dear one of these days. Nobody had noticed +it except the man whom it most concerned,--the husband. Beldi's eye +had seen it. Let not anybody think that a husband who loves is not +jealous. Even if he acts as if he had not seen, had not heard, he sees +and hears and notices everything. He had indeed seen Banfy kiss his +wife, although he acted as if he did not notice the confusion of his +wife who, all excited, sought her husband. He took her hand and led +her from the hall. Once outside he bade her make ready for a journey. +"Where are we going?" asked his wife, quivering with excitement. + +"Home to Bodola." + +Of all the guests Dionysius Banfy alone noticed that two had vanished +from the hall. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +CASTLE BODOLA + + +In a part of the country of upper Weissenburg, as soon as you have +left the Pass of Boza or made a détour of the ravine in the footpath +around the mountain heights, you catch sight of the valley of the +Tatrang. On all sides are low mountains covered with light fog, and in +the background the sky-piercing heights of the foothills of Capri, +bright in the early autumnal snow. In the fog-wrapped valley are four +or five hamlets with whitewashed houses, from which the smoke arises +amid the green fruit trees. The little stream of Tatrang winds clear +as crystal between the quiet villages, forming here and there +waterfalls with snowy mist. The clouds hang so low over the valley as +to shut out with their golden veil first one object and then another +from the observer on the mountain-height. There is Hosszufalu with its +long street; and the church of Trajzonfalu reflects the sunbeams from +its painted metal roof. Tatrang is right on the bank of the stream, at +this point crossed by a long wooden bridge; far in the distance appear +dark and misty the walls of Kronstadt and the outline of the citadel, +at that time still unharmed. Farther down in the valley are the +scattered dwellings of the little village of Bodola, its church high +on a hill; opposite the village stands a small castle with broad +towers and black bastions with battlements; the western bastion is +built on a steep rock. But it is only from afar that the castle looks +gloomy; as you draw nearer you see that what appeared a dark green +growth on the bastion is a garden of flowers. The great Gothic windows +are decorated with sculpture and painted glass. Up the steep cliff is +a well-kept, winding path, with mossy stone benches at every turn; at +its summit is a parapet and the pointed turrets of the castle are +painted red and topped with fantastic weather-vanes. + +The road to Kronstadt through the Boza Pass leads to this little +castle in a few hours, and at the very time when John Kemény had +abandoned himself utterly to pleasure in Hermanstadt, a long line of +horsemen was moving out of the castle; there might have been two +thousand Turkish riders, recognizable from afar by their red turbans +and their snow-white caftans; with them were a few hundred Wallachian +howitzers in charge of men in brown woolen cloaks and black turbans. +The way was so narrow here that the horsemen could ride only two by +two, and those in the rear had hardly emerged from the mountain pass +when the first riders were already in Tatrang. Their leader was a +medium sized, sunburned man, with eyes like an eagle's; there was a +long scar across his forehead; the sharp upward turn of his moustache +indicated an unusually hot temper, an impression confirmed by the +short, crisp speech, the proud turn of the head, and the abrupt +movements. Beyond the village he called a halt to await the rear; at +the very end rumbled two baggage-wagons and a melon-shaped calęche, +the entire baggage of the Turk. A child followed, whose serious +expression and gleaming short sword seemed hardly appropriate to the +full round face; he might have been twelve years old. Within the +carriage, the curtains of which had been thrown wide open to give free +play to the evening breeze, sat a young woman of possibly two and +thirty, whose dress was partly Turkish, partly Christian; for she wore +the loose silk trousers and short blue caftan of Turkish women, but +had taken off her turban. Her face, contrary to Turkish custom, was +unveiled, and she looked calmly out of the window at the country and +the passing peasants. + +Beyond the village the Turkish leader marshaled his troops, evidently +accustomed to some discipline. At the head of the left wing was the +young boy; the right was led by a strong man. + +"My brave men," said the Pasha to his troops, "you will encamp here. +Let every man keep his place beside his horse and not lay down his +arms. Ferhad Aga with twelve men will go to the village and say to the +justiciary most respectfully that he is to send four hundred-weight of +bread, as much meat, and twice as much hay and oats, for which he will +receive four asper the pound,--no more and no less." + +The Pasha then turned to the Wallachians. "You dogs, do not think that +we have come here to plunder. Do not stir from your places. If I find +that a single goose has been stolen from the village, I will have your +captains hung and you decimated." + +Then he chose four horsemen from the company. "You will follow me. The +others are to rest. We will continue our march to-night. In my +absence, Feriz Bey is in command." + +The small boy saluted. "As soon as Feriz Bey receives word from me to +leave you, you will be in command of Ferhad Aga until my return." + +With that the Pasha struck spurs to his horse and galloped off to +Bodola with his escort of four men. Then the boy called Feriz Bey by +the Pasha, rode forward with soldierly bearing and in the clearest, +firmest tones gave order to dismount. His Arab steed, with foaming bit +reared and plunged, but the little commandant went on with his orders +as if he did not notice the mad leaps of his horse. Meantime, the +Pasha continued his ride toward the castle of Bodola. The lord of the +castle, Paul Beldi, had just returned the day before with his wife +from the court of Kemény, which he had left without parting words, and +was standing before the dwelling when the Turkish riders came into the +courtyard. In those days the relations of Transylvania and Turkey were +such that a visit of this kind might take place without previous +announcement. As soon as the Pasha caught sight of Beldi he jumped +from his horse, hurried up the steps to him and presented himself +briefly. + +"I am Kutschuk Pasha. Since my road lay through this country I have +come to speak with you, if you have time." + +"Your servant," replied Beldi, giving his guest precedence as he +showed him to the castle salon. It was a square room, with the walls +painted in Oriental landscapes; in the spaces between the windows were +great mirrors in metal frames; the marble floor was covered over with +large, bright rugs; on the walls above the windows were portraits and +trophies of old weapons of strange shapes and settings; in the centre +of the room was a large table of green marble, with claw feet, and +here and there easy chairs upholstered in leather, with heavy +carvings. Opposite the entrance a door led to the terrace from which +was a wide view of the snow-covered mountains. The evening light +streaming through the painted glass cast a bright reflection over the +faces of the men as they entered. + +"In what way can I serve you?" asked Beldi. + +"You are well aware," replied Kutschuk, "that at present there is a +great division in the country over the princely succession in +Transylvania." + +"That does not concern me and I do not intend to take sides with +either party," answered Beldi, guardedly. + +"I did not come here to ask you for help or advice in this affair. The +question is to be settled by the sword. What has brought me to you is +purely a family affair and concerns me and me only." + +Beldi, in amazement, bade his guest be seated and said to him, +"Speak." + +"You may have heard that there was once here in Transylvania a +Mademoiselle Kallay, who fell in love with a young Turk and became his +wife; naturally, without the knowledge or consent of her parents." + +"I do know about it. They used to say that the young Turk knew as well +how to conquer a woman's heart as a foe on the battlefield." + +"Perhaps so. Conquests in war have meantime effaced the traces of love +from his cheeks. As you see, my face is crossed this way and that with +scars. For the man who married that woman stands before you." + +Beldi looked at the Pasha with astonishment. + +"I have loved this woman without ceasing and with adoration," +continued the Pasha; "this may sound strange to you, coming from the +lips of a Turk, but it is true. I have no other wife. She has borne me +a son of whom I am proud. Now my affairs are in so critical a +condition that I must either work wonders with the help of God, or +fall in battle. You know that the religion of Mohammed sets a high +value on death in battle, so that this causes me little anxiety; but I +am thinking of my wife, who if she should lose me and my son would be +placed in a most doubtful position. In Turkey, she would be exposed to +persecution because she had remained a Christian; in Transylvania, +because she had married a Mohammedan; there through my relatives and +here through her own. For that reason I turn to you with a request. I +have heard you spoken of as a man of honor and of your wife as a +worthy woman. Receive my wife into your family. I have sufficient +property for her so that she will be no burden to you in that respect; +she needs only your protection. If you promise to grant me this +request you can count on my friendship and gratitude forever, the +command of my sword and my property and, in case I survive, of my +life." + +Beldi grasped the Pasha by the hand. "Bring your wife," he said, in +cordial tones, "my wife and I will receive her as a sister." + +"Not as a sister, I beg of you," said Kutschuk, laughingly, "with us +that is equivalent to enmity. So then, I may bring her?" + +"We shall be happy to have her with us," replied Beldi, and gave order +to his servants to return to Tatrang with the Pasha's followers and +bring his carriage from there by torch light. Kutschuk sent word that +Feriz Bey was to come too. Meantime, Beldi presented Kutschuk Pasha to +his wife, and it gave him no little pleasure to find that she +remembered the Pasha's wife as a friend in her youth, whom she would +meet again with natural interest and joy. + +In the course of a few hours the carriage arrived and rolled heavily +over the stone-paved courtyard. Madame Beldi hurried down the steps to +meet the Pasha's wife, and as the latter stepped from the carriage +received her with a cry of joy. "Katharine, do you know me still?" She +too recognized her playmate of old and the two friends rushed into +each other's arms, kissed each other and said sweetly, "How handsome +you have grown!" "What a stately woman you have become!" + +"See, this is my son," said Katharine, pointing to Feriz Bey who, +dismounted from his horse, was now hurrying forward to help his mother +from the carriage. + +"What a fine boy!" exclaimed Madame Beldi, charmed; she threw her arms +around the handsome, rosy-cheeked child and kissed him again and +again;--if she had only known that this child was no longer a child, +but a general! + +"I too have children," said Madame Beldi, with the sweet rivalry of +maternal feeling. "You shall see them. Does your son speak Hungarian?" + +"Hungarian!" asked Katharine, almost hurt. "Does the child of a +Hungarian mother speak Hungarian! How can you ask such a question?" + +"So much the better," said Madame Beldi, "the children will become +acquainted the more easily and they will belong to one family +henceforth. Our husbands have arranged that with each other and it +certainly will please us." + +The affectionate mother threw her arms around her friend again, took +Feriz Bey by the hand, and brought them both into the midst of the +family circle, where they chatted uninterruptedly and asked and +answered thousands of questions. + +In the little boudoir was a cheerful open fire; large, beflowered silk +curtains shaded the windows; on an ivory table ticked a handsome clock +set with jewels. In the back part of the room an easy sofa covered +with cornflower blue velvet invited one to rest. On a centre-table +covered with a handsome Persian rug was a massive silver candelabrum +in the form of a siren who held up a wax candle in each hand. In front +of the fireplace stood Madame Beldi's children; the older, Sophie, a +maiden of thirteen years, tall, delicately built, with shy glance, +appeared to be arranging the fire. She still wore her hair in childish +fashion in two long, heavy braids reaching almost to her heels. This +girl afterward became the wife of Paul Wesselenyi. + +The second child, a little girl of four, knelt before her older sister +and scattered light sticks on the fire. Her name was Aranka, the +Hungarian for gold-child; her hair was in golden curls falling over +her little shoulders; her features were animated and her eyes as well +as her hands in constant motion, interfering with her sister in one +way or another; she laughed innocently when the older girl at last +became angry. + +The two children rose when they heard steps and voices at the door. As +soon as the older girl caught sight of the strangers she tried to +smooth out her dress, while Aranka rushed noisily to her mother, and +catching her by the dress looked up at her with a smile on her little +round face. Katharine embraced the older girl who timidly offered her +forehead to be kissed. + +"And your cousin, little Feriz, you must kiss him, too," said Madame +Beldi, and brought the two reluctant children together, who hardly +dared touch each other's lips. Sophie turned red to her very ears, ran +out of the room and could not be persuaded to come back that evening. + +"Oh, you bashful Mimosa," said Madame Beldi, with a laugh. "Aranka is +braver than you are, I am sure. You are not afraid to kiss Cousin +Feriz, are you, darling?" + +The child looked up at Feriz and drew back, clinging to her mother's +gown, with her large, dark blue eyes fixed on Feriz. Feriz Bey on his +side knelt down, embraced the child and imprinted a hearty kiss on her +round, red cheeks. Now that this first step had been taken the +acquaintance was made for Aranka. She bade her Turkish cousin sit down +beside the fireplace, and leaning against him she began to question +him about everything she saw on him, from the sword hilt to the +feathers on his turban; nothing escaped her. + +"Let us leave the children to play," said Madame Beldi, and led her +friend out on the balcony from which was a view of the valley of +Tatrang flooded with moonlight. While the men talked seriously and the +children gave themselves up to play, the two ladies began one of those +confidential conversations so dear to young women, especially when +they have so much to tell each other, to ask and to inquire, as these +two had. Madame Beldi sat down beside Katharine, took her +affectionately by the hand and asked half in jest;--"So your husband +has no other wife?" + +Katharine laughed, but there was a little vexation with it, as she +said;--"I suppose you think a Hungarian marries a Turk only to be his +slave. My husband loves me dearly." + +"I don't doubt it, Katharine, but that certainly is the custom with +you." + +"With _us_! I am no Turk." + +"What then?" + +"A Protestant like yourself. It was a Protestant who married me--the +Reverend Martin Biro, who lives in Constantinople in banishment, and +to whom my husband in his gratitude gave a house where the +Transylvanians and Hungarians living in Constantinople can meet for +worship." + +"What, does not your husband persecute the Christians?" + +"No, indeed. The Turks believe that every religion is good and leads +to heaven, only they think their own religion is the best; for in +their opinion theirs leads the way to the heaven of heavens. Besides, +my husband has a kind heart and is much more enlightened than most +Turks." + +"Then why couldn't you bring him over to the Christian faith?" + +"Why not? perhaps because whenever the story-tellers relate the +romance of a Turk who fell in love with a Christian girl, they end the +tale with her bringing him to baptism and exchanging the caftan for a +coat. In this case they have a romance in which the wife follows her +husband and sacrifices everything for him." + +"You are quite right, Katharine, but you see it takes me some little +time to become accustomed to the thought that a Christian, a Hungarian +woman, can have a Turk for a husband." + +"But consider, my good friend, God might not have counted it such a +good service on my part if I had brought my husband over to our +religion, as he does that I left him in the religion in which he was +born. A Christian renegade, the most that he could have done would +have been to take his place in the Church. But now, as one of the most +influential Pashas, he can transform the fate of any Christian in +Turkey to one so favorable that the Christian subjects of other lands +crowd thither as to the Holy Land. How often, when he has received his +portion of the war-plunder, has he handed me a long list on which were +marked the names of my imprisoned countrymen whom he had set free for +a large sum. He has expended immense treasure for this purpose, and, +my darling, the reading of such a list gives me more pleasure than +would the most beautiful Eastern pearls he could have bought for the +same treasure; and such a deed raises him higher in my eyes than if he +could say all the psalms by heart. Beside, he is not at all the man +whom you would expect to change his opinions in the least for God or +man; then, too, if he were ready to give up his religion I could no +longer trust his love, for he would cease to be the same man I knew +and loved--a man who, when he had once said a thing, stood firmly by +it and never yielded to any fear or persuasion." + +Madame Beldi embraced her friend and kissed her glowing cheeks. "You +are right, my good Katharine. Our prejudices prevent us from +entertaining more than the general opinion. It is true, love too has +its religion. But what of your country? Have you never thought of your +country?" + +"Know my love for my country from the fact that I am now sacrificing +to that the life of my husband and of my child, whom I see now +probably for the last time." + +The expression of Madame Beldi's face showed that she did not fully +comprehend the meaning of her friend's words and Katharine had begun +to explain this to her when the servant announced that the gentlemen +had already been for some time in the dining-hall and were waiting +only for the ladies. Madame Beldi led the way. The children were so +far on in their friendship that Aranka let herself be carried into the +dinning-room by Feriz Bey, while she played with his jeweled feathers. + +When Katharine saw a large decanter of wine before her husband she +seized it quickly and changed it for a glass carafe of pure +spring-water. Madame Beldi noticed it and glanced inquiringly at her +embarrassed friend. + +"He never drinks wine," said Katharine, by way of excuse. "It hurts +him for he is somewhat passionate by nature." Kutschuk raised +Katharine's hand to his lips with a smile. "Why do you spare the +truth,--that I never drink wine because the Koran forbids it,--because +I am a Turk." + +Beldi shook his head at his wife and to give the conversation another +turn pointed to the children sitting side by side. + +"Your son, Kutschuk Pasha, seems to feel quite at home already. You +will see what a Hungarian we shall make of him before your return." + +At that Kutschuk looked up quickly and proudly at Feriz and both +looked at Beldi. In an instant the child's countenance changed +completely, and he was wonderfully like his father; the same firm +glance, the same proud toss of the head, the same haughty brow. + +"Your speech leads me to infer, Beldi," said Kutschuk, "that you think +I have brought my son only to leave him here with you." + +"You surely will not take such a child into battle!" + +"Such a child! He commands four hundred spahi horse, has already taken +part in three engagements, had two horses shot down under him, and in +the coming war is to lead the left wing of my corps." + +The Beldis now looked in astonishment at the child who, conscious +that all eyes were directed toward him, strove to assume a proud look. + +"But you will at least stand beside your son in the contest?" said +Madame Beldi, anxiously. + +"By no means. I shall lead the centre and he will look after his +division. At his age I was already wearing the Order of Nischan and I +hope he will not return without having won it, too." + +"But suppose he should come to a hand-to-hand fight and be in danger?" +asked Madame Beldi, with growing anxiety. + +"Then he will be fighting as befits him," replied Kutschuk, stroking +his moustache, that seemed to rise of its own accord. + +"But he is far too young to enter a contest with men," said Madame +Beldi, with an expression of pity. + +"Feriz," Kutschuk called to his son, "take a sword from the wall there +and show our friends that you know how to swing it like a man." + +The boy sprang up and chose from the weapons hanging on the wall, not +a sword but a heavy club, seized it at the very end of the handle and +swung it with outstretched arm so easily in every direction that it +would have been a credit to any man. His proof of strength was +rewarded by a general cry of astonishment. + +"Kutschuk, give me the boy!" said Beldi. + +"With all my heart. Will you give me your daughter?" + +"Which one? You may have your choice." + +"The one next him. When she is grown up she will be just a match for +him and we shall both have a son and a daughter." + +Beldi laughed good-naturedly, the two women smiled at each other and +Kutschuk Pasha looked with satisfaction at his son, while the latter +drew the heron's feather out of his turban, tore off the jeweled clasp +which had been most pleasing to the little Aranka, and gave it to the +child with generous gallantry. The little maid reached for the costly +present timidly, without the slightest suspicion of either its +material or moral worth; but when once the trinket was in her hand she +would not have let it go for anything in the world. The parents +suddenly became silent. True, their expression was a smiling one, but +their eyes were serious. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE BATTLE OF NAGY-SZÖLLÖS + + +Meanwhile Michael Apafi assured by Ali Pasha that help would come to +him in a short time, advanced on Schassburg and there awaited the +change of fortune. John Kemény came against him with a great army of +German and Hungarian troops in imposing numbers, and he himself was a +bold general in time of action. Michael Apafi could make but slight +opposition. He had a few hundred stiff-necked Szeklers incapable of +discipline, together with the blue janissaries who had stayed behind +as bodyguard for him; in all not the tenth of Kemény's force in point +of strength. By the advice of Stephen Apafi the Prince determined to +stay in Schassburg on the defensive until he could be joined by the +auxiliaries from his Turkish patron. This decision was pleasing to the +Saxon burghers, for behind the walls of their own town they knew how +to defend themselves, but in open field they were never quite +comfortable. With the Szeklers it was just the opposite. It was +Nalaczy's mission to keep them in a warlike frame of mind. One evening +he brought them to such a state of excitement at the inn that with the +dawn they went noisily to the windows of the Prince and swore roundly +that the gate must be opened to them for they were determined to +attack Kemény and fight it out to the death. The Prince and his +advisers came down in terror and strove in every way to make them +understand that Kemény's troops were more numerous than they; that the +half of his army was made up of musketeers while on their side none +but the Saxons knew how to use firearms; that if they should make a +sally by one gate the enemy would rush in by the other and all would +be confusion. But the man who thinks he can clear a Szekler's mind of +an idea once gained is much mistaken. + +"We are either going to be led against the enemy or we are going +home," they shouted. "We positively will not consent to stay here ten +years like the Trojans, for we are needed at home. Portion out to +every man the number of the enemy that falls to his share, these he +shall strike down and then take his discharge. We do not wish to stay +here and be besieged and starved out, and then thrown to the dogs and +rats." + +"If you do not wish to stay, my friends, you may go," was the final +decision of Apafi, "but it would be madness for me to be drawn into an +engagement." + +The Szeklers said never a word but took up their knapsacks, shouldered +their spears and moved out of Schassburg as if they never had been +there. From this time on the Szeklers were Apafi's enemies and +remained so until his death. + +The next day Kemény's forces were beneath the city walls, where Apafi +had barely armed men enough to guard the gates. Wenzinger was the man +who best understood the art of war. This general, true to the +principles of the military art in which he had been trained, first +inspected the ground, then carefully occupied any point which could be +of any importance, taking care to cover the besieging forces in every +direction; in short, in accordance with a systematic method he +prolonged his preparations so that when at last he was ready to begin, +at that very moment came the news that the Turkish auxiliaries were +approaching on the double-quick. Thereupon, still in accordance with +his system, he assembled the scattered troops and made ready to meet +the approaching Turks. But John Kemény was in the way. He feared that +if the Turkish force proved large his forces would have to take +flight, and in that case with Schassburg in the rear they would come +between two fires. He preferred to wait the attack of his enemy and +withdrew from the town altogether, taking up his position in +Nagy-Szöllös in a spot that will for some time still to come be known +as an important battlefield; from that point he watched calmly the +advance of Kutschuk Pasha's horsemen into Schassburg. + +Apafi, in his anxiety over a state of affairs into which he had fallen +through no fault of his own, had not eaten anything for three days, +when word was brought him that the auxiliaries had come. It was +already late in the evening when Kutschuk Pasha, after a forced march +over rough mountain paths, entered the city. Apafi rode forward to +greet the Turk, whom he looked upon as his guardian angel. Great was +his astonishment when, after carefully surveying the line, he learned +that they were barely equal to the fifth part of the opposing force. + +"What does your Grace intend with this small force?" he asked the +Pasha. + +"God knows, who from above orders the fates of men," answered the Turk +with characteristic fatalism; and did not take the Prince into his +plans any further. + +That night the Turks encamped in the public square in front of the +Prince's dwelling. At last Apafi could sleep again after so many +restless nights. It was such a satisfaction to him to hear the +snorting of the horses under his window and the clanking of the +sentinels' swords, that he fell asleep with a light heart amid these +quieting sounds; then too there was the thought that with these troops +he could hold out for some time, when--something might happen. Long +before dawn he was wakened by the rattling on a board which called +the Turkish horsemen to breakfast. + +"They breakfast early," thought the Prince, turned over and fell +asleep again. As he dozed it seemed to him that he heard dervishes +singing; their song is of a kind to make a man sleep even if he felt +wide awake; but soon his Excellency was roused again by the sound of +trumpets. "What are they doing in the middle of the night?" he cried +out with annoyance; he got up, looked from the window, and saw that +the Turkish riders had already mounted, though it was still dark; and +with another sound of the trumpet the entire company rode out. The +noise of the hoofs on the pavement and the words of command sounded +out in the night. + +"What a restless fellow this Pasha is!" thought Apafi, "he does not +give his army any rest even at night, and that too after so many +hardships," and with these thoughts he went to bed again, fell into +still sweeter sleep, and woke late in the morning. The sun was high in +the heavens when Apafi rang for John Cserei, at that time his +factotum. His first question was, + +"What is the Pasha doing?" + +"He withdrew from the town during the night and sent back a messenger +who has been waiting since dawn." + +"Let him enter," said Apafi, and began to dress in haste. + +With Kutschuk's messenger entered Stephen Apafi, Nalaczy and Daczo. +They too had been waiting two hours for the Prince to awaken, and +besides this they were eager for the Pasha's message. + +"What news? Speak quickly," called Apafi to the messenger. + +The latter stood with arms crossed, bowed to the ground, and began, + +"Excellent Prince, my lord, Kutschuk Pasha, sends you the following +message through me, 'Stay quietly in Schassburg and keep good hope; +with the troops under your command guard the walls and gates.' +Meantime my lord Kutschuk Pasha will advance against John Kemény and +enter into an engagement with him wherever he finds him. It will be a +struggle unto death, even if he should perish with his entire host." + +This announcement so confounded the Prince that he could find no word +of reply. Kutschuk Pasha in point of numbers was equal to the fifth of +Kemény's force; besides, his troops were worn out with forced marches. +The man who could hope for victory at such a time must believe in +miracles. + +"Let us prepare for the worst," said Stephen Apafi, "and put our trust +in God." + +That was the most sensible speech to be made under the circumstances. +Michael Apafi let affairs take their course, any man who chose might +guard the walls. The guards left their soldiers to look out for +themselves and the soldiers did not trouble themselves much about the +walls. The fate of the land lay in God's hand, literally speaking, for +the hand of man was withdrawn. The Prince did no more than to order +old Cserei to keep watch in the church tower and let them know when he +saw the troops moving. + + * * * * * + +Meanwhile John Kemény had halted in Nagy-Szöllös, which was a few +hours distant from Schassburg. He made his headquarters in the little +parsonage, and the little room is still shown where he rested for the +last time, and the round hill in the garden on which stood a +summerhouse where the Prince had begun his last meal but had not +finished it. + +The Hungarian forces consulted for a long time with Wenzinger and the +Prince about the course of action. Some advised taking the town by +storm and others maintained that they should besiege it and starve the +people to submission. Wenzinger shook his head. + +"Permit me, my lord," said the experienced German, "to express my +opinion. I am an old soldier, have been through all kinds of +campaigns, know the value of superior forces in war and also of good +positions, and know how to balance the two. I have learned by +experience that often a hundred men under favorable circumstances are +more difficult to displace than a thousand. I also know what a +difference the spirit of an army makes. I know too the importance of +taking into account the different kinds of weapons, and the importance +of nationality. We have ten thousand men and there are barely three +thousand drawn up against us. But we must take into consideration that +the greater part of our Hungarian force consists of horsemen, and that +it is impossible to storm a city with horsemen--still less possible to +compel a Hungarian on a horse to dismount and fight on foot; +furthermore I would remark that the Hungarian is a brave fighter when +drawn up against foreigners, but whenever I have seen him against his +own people,--and I have frequently had the opportunity, he has been so +lazy and indifferent that it seemed as if he could hardly wait to turn +his back on the battlefield. We have a force of men that are very good +on the defensive, and if we had them behind the walls of that town we +could hold out against a force of ten times that number; but except +behind fortifications they are of no use. They are strong enough to +defend a bastion but too weak to storm one. Then we have no cannon for +storming so we must send to Temesvar for cannon, and before they can +arrive over those roads--and it is a great question too whether the +commander will send us any--Ali Pasha may return with fresh forces, +while we shall have spent the time here to no purpose. So I maintain +that we had better wait here no longer. We are in no condition to take +the enemy within the walls by force or siege. We cannot suppose him so +mad as to be drawn into an open engagement. The wisest thing for us +under these circumstances is to go without delay to Hungary, there get +troops and cannon, and then make it our object to force the enemy into +a field engagement." + +Kemény, who was not accustomed to listen for any length of time to +words of reason, could hardly wait for Wenzinger to come to a pause; +as if the plan of action was of the most trifling importance to him, +he interrupted with frivolous impatience, + +"Let's put it off until afternoon. General, after dinner everything +looks different." + +"No, indeed, not after dinner," said the German; "there is no time to +be lost. We are in the midst of war where every hour is precious and +not in the Diet where an affair can be dragged out for years." + +At this hit the Hungarians laughed loudly, seized Wenzinger by the +arm, and dragged him with jests to the table, saying, + +"You know we have plenty of time after dinner." + +"Many such soldiers whom no one can command would quite meet my +views," said Wenzinger, half in jest and half in vexation, and then he +spoke no more during the meal, but drank the harder. + +During the dinner John Uzdi, captain of the scouts, entered the +extemporized banquet-hall with terror in his face. In his extreme +haste speech almost failed him. + +"Majesty--I saw great clouds of dust in the direction of Schassburg, +and coming this way." + +The Prince turned his head with humorous nonchalance toward the +messenger; "If it is any pleasure to you to inspect those clouds of +dust, why keep on looking at them." + +Wenzinger sprang up from his place. + +"I too must see them," he said, and ordered his horse brought forward +at once. "Evidently the enemy has come out to draw us nearer." + +The rest did not allow themselves to be disturbed but went on with +their pleasures. After a few minutes Wenzinger came hurrying back; on +his features could be read that secret joy which a soldier always +feels when his plan nears success. + +"Victory," he cried, as he entered, "the enemy is moving off, bag and +baggage; provided only he is not doing it for appearances, and is not +avoiding a battle, all's won." + +At this news some of the men rose and began to buckle on their swords, +but the Prince did not leave his place. + +"Are they still far away?" he asked the general, calmly. + +"Half an hour distant," answered the other with glowing countenance. + +"Then let them come nearer, and meantime sit down beside me." + +"The Devil I will!" said the general, angrily, "I have hardly time to +assign the army their positions." + +"What is the use of assigning them positions? Let them march in a +solid column so that the enemy will be frightened to death at the mere +sight of them." + +"Quite right. However, I do not wish to frighten them away but to +surround them. One half of the army I will draw up against them, and +the other I will arrange as follows: one division shall steal through +the grain fields and cut off the enemy's retreat in the direction of +this city; another shall fall on his flank just above the millstream; +and the third shall be stationed as rear guard. Your Majesty with his +court shall join the rear guard." + +"What," said Kemény, roused at last, "I in the rear guard! Hungarian +Princes are in the habit of going first in battle." + +"That was well enough in former times, but in a combined assault, so +precious a life that must always be looked out for is only in the +general's way, and has a disturbing effect on the movements of the +troops. But if it is your Majesty's express wish, then I give over the +command to you and take my place in the rank and file. Let your +Majesty take the command. Here only one can be general." + +"Stay at your post and arrange matters as you will, only let me choose +my position as I wish, and it shall not interfere with yours." + +And Kemény staid at table with a few of the men. Wenzinger had hardly +time to make the necessary arrangements when word was brought the +Prince that the army was in line of battle. Kemény rose calmly from +his place, girded on his sword, but forbade them to put on his coat of +mail. + +"What for," he cried, "is the heart beneath any bolder?" + +Then he had his finest horse led forward, which tossed his head so +fiercely that two men could hardly hold his bridle. The spirited black +beast reared and plunged; his nostrils steamed, the white foam flecked +his breast and his long waving tail reached almost to the ground. +Kemény swung himself into his saddle, drew his sword and galloped to +the head of the army. Everybody was astonished at the fine rider. He +adapted his movements to the horse as if they were one creature. When +the high-spirited horse reached the front he began to slacken his +pace, struck his hoofs on the ground and seemed to salute the army +with his head. + +The men broke out into a loud huzza. At this moment the Prince's horse +stumbled and fell forward, breaking the silver bit in his mouth; only +the greatest skill and presence of mind saved the Prince from plunging +over his horse's head. His attendants crowded about him. + +"That's a bad sign, your Majesty," stammered Alexis Bethlen. "Let your +Majesty mount another horse." + +"No, it is not a bad sign," replied Kemény, "for I staid in my +saddle." + +"However it would be well if your Majesty would not ride this horse. +He will keep stumbling now that he has been frightened." + +"I intend to stay on this horse just to show that I do not give in to +omens and am not afraid of them," replied Kemény, defiantly, and +ordered the bridle with broken bit to be taken away and another +brought. Just then Kutschuk's trumpeter sounded for the attack. + + * * * * * + +The Turkish horsemen were drawn up in the form of a crescent with the +ends turned backward, and in the centre rode Kutschuk Pasha. The +Turkish general on this occasion wore a costume of unusual splendor. +His caftan was of heavy silk embroidered in flowers of gold; under +this a dolman woven in threads of gold, and around his waist a costly +Oriental shawl; his sword was studded with precious stones; in his +turban was the entire wing of a gerfalcon, with a diamond clasp. He +rode a fiery Arab steed with slender neck, long braided mane and +flowing black tail. The proud creature tossed his head and shook the +fringed housings; there was a kind of gold net over his body with +leather knots at the ends from which hung large golden crescents +hitting against each other. As soon as Kutschuk Pasha came in sight of +the princely troops of Kemény, he prostrated himself on the ground and +kissed the earth three times, raised himself as many times to his +knees, lifted his hands and devout face to heaven and cried "Allah, +Allah!" Then he mounted his horse again, ordered his son called to +him, tore a falcon feather from his turban, and said as he stuck it in +the boy's cap, "Now go to the left wing of the enemy and try to fight +bravely, for it is better that you should fall by the enemy's hand and +I should see you dead than that you should flee and be obliged to fall +a sacrifice to my sword." + +With these words he put his hand on the weapon at his side. Feriz Bey +bowed with an expression of the deepest homage, kissed his father's +robe and galloped proudly to his appointed post. He seemed to know +that all eyes were now directed to those falcon feathers that his +father had placed in his turban. The Pasha then rode along the front +of his host and spoke to his men: + +"Brave comrades, now you see the enemy with your own eyes. I will not +say whether their numbers are great or small, for you can see for +yourselves. They are many more than we, but trust in Allah and fight +bravely; it is more honorable to fall here sword in hand, than to +disgrace numbers by flight. We are in the middle of Transylvania; +whoever runs away will be hunted down by pursuers before he can get to +the borders, but even if any one should escape the Sultan will have +him killed. We have no choice but victory or death." + +Then he turned to the Wallachians and addressed them in hard, angry +tones: + +"Well do I know, you dogs, that you are ready to ride off at the first +shot, but I have given orders to the troops stationed on the outside +to shoot down any one of you who so much as looks backward." + +Then the Pasha took his place at the head of the host and with +unsheathed sword gave the sign to the trumpeter. As he once more +surveyed the troops he noticed that the Moors in their metal caps +stationed behind him had reached for their guns and made ready to aim. + +"What do you mean!" growled the Pasha. "Down with your muskets! The +enemy has more of them. Nothing but swords now! Let every man ride +boldly against the enemy and when I give the sign, bend low on his +horse and gallop forward without trembling." + +The army obeyed the command. The Moors slung their weapons on their +shoulders, drew their broad swords and marched forward following the +Pasha. Kemény's troops stood before them like a wall of steel. In the +first line the musketeers and behind them the infantry. In the centre +was Wenzinger and on the right wing John Kemény. The troops on the +flanks marched stealthily behind the mill and the grain fields to +attack the rear. When the Turks were almost within shot of Kemény's +army Kutschuk Pasha turned round and cast commanding glances at his +soldiers right and left, at which they instantly dropped their heads +on their horses' necks, swung their swords forward, struck spurs into +their horses' flanks and rode madly into the lines of the enemy. + +"Allah! Allah! Allah!" rang out three times from the lips of the +assailing Turks. At the third shout there came a tremendous report. +Kemény's musketeers had at that moment fired in line at the assailing +horsemen and their ranks were for the instant enveloped in smoke. +Generally speaking such firing does little harm in war, causing more +noise than destruction. In this case only two Turks fell with their +horses, the rest galloped forward under the hot firing. Wenzinger saw +that his artillery had no time to load again and gave command for the +infantry to advance. If these troops could have stood their ground +against the attack of the horsemen until the artillery could load +again, or until the flank troops could have fallen on the Turks in the +rear, Kemény would have won the battle, but the ranks of the infantry +were broken through at the first onset, and after a desperate +engagement largely mown down. Thereupon the defenseless musketeers +fled in great numbers and by their cries threw the rest of the army +into the utmost confusion. Wenzinger tried to restore order at once by +giving command for a retreat along the whole line, and had this been +carried out the engagement might have taken another turn. But the +horseguards who were under the command of the Prince, by Kemény's +orders stood where they were; the rest of the troops changed their +position and continued to fight with those opposite them. The Pasha +suddenly turned from the pursuit of the musketeers in their mad flight +and fell upon Kemény with his entire force. The latter, attacked in +front and on the side at the same time, lost his wits, and as there +was neither time nor space for an orderly retreat, plunged frantically +along the first way that opened. Naturally he did not notice in such a +flight that he was riding down his own infantry, then in retreat, +since the horseguards who had charged in disorderly assault at the +rank still in line, and trampled down their own troops, had prevented +the use of the reserves; so the whole army was brought into confusion +and disorder. + +The infantry threw down their weapons and fled, pursued by the +horsemen of both armies; any still remaining in line were trampled to +death by the horsemen. Neither the genius of the leader nor the +self-sacrifice of a few brave men availed to restore order. The wild +flight in one part threw the rest into confusion. The battle was +completely lost. In the general panic that reigned the Prince too +fled. As he had been in the front ranks of the battle he was now at +the rear, and could with difficulty escape his pursuers in such a +tumult. The Turks pursued closely and knocked down all within reach. +Close on the track of the Prince followed a young Turk, and as his +horse carried a much lighter weight he soon overtook the Prince. By +the falcon's feather waving in his turban could be recognized Feriz +Bey, son of Kutschuk Pasha. His features were ablaze with a youthful +glow, those of the Prince were dark with rage and shame. During the +flight he often looked back and gnashed his teeth. "To flee from a +child is a disgrace," he cried out in his anger. Several times he +tried to stop but his maddened horse swept him along. Meantime the +youth had come so near that he began to show his sword. At first the +Prince did not consider the strokes of the boy worthy his attention, +but as the latter coming nearer grew bolder and bolder, the Prince +drew his sword and returned the blows. + +"Don't come any nearer, you bastard," shouted Kemény, furiously, "or +I'll deal you a blow that will knock your very breath out." + +By this time Feriz with a bound of his horse reached the side of the +Prince and aimed a Damascus blade at his neck, while Kemény leaning +back, drew his sword for a fearful blow. The two swords were whizzing +through the air, when Kemény's horse stumbled again and fell with a +broken leg. This gave his blow another direction, and instead of +hitting Feriz as he had intended, he struck the head of his own horse +and cleft it in twain just as the young Turk's sword gleamed against +Kemény's forehead. The Prince, falling from his horse looked darkly at +his foe: the blood was streaming from his forehead. Once more he +struck his spurs into his horse and the poor creature struggled to his +hind feet, only to fall backward with his rider still clinging to him, +and rider and horse were trampled under the feet of the pursuing +enemy. During the wild conflict nobody paid any attention to the spot +where the Prince had fallen. + +Several days later in the Schassburg market-place his torn coat and +broken weapon, found and offered for sale by some Turkish +freebooters, were bought by Michael Apafi and laid away for +safe-keeping in the treasury at Fogaras. Apafi ordered a careful +search for the body of the fallen Prince, that he might bury it with +due honors, but nobody could distinguish the Prince's corpse among the +stripped and mutilated. + + * * * * * + +When the battle was won Kutschuk Pasha ordered the trumpet sounded to +call back his men from the pursuit of the conquered foe. At the sound +of the retreat the Turkish horsemen came bounding back man for man, in +marked contrast to the usual custom of Turkish armies, who are as +disorderly after victory as their vanquished foes. Kutschuk had +accustomed them to stern discipline. The men returned blackened with +smoke and covered with blood, but none more so than Feriz Bey; in his +coat were the holes made by many balls and he rode his third horse +since the beginning of the conflict; two had been shot under him. +Kutschuk embraced his son without a word, kissed his brow, fastened +his own Order of Nischan on his breast and exchanged swords with him, +a mark of the highest honor among the Turks of those times. + +Ferhad Aga, the leader of the right wing, was brought in dead. He had +received all kinds of wounds and was completely covered with shots, +spear-thrusts, and sabre-cuts. Kutschuk sprang from his horse, fell +weeping upon the corpse, covered it with kisses and swore by Allah +that he would not have given this man's life for all Transylvania. He +did not go into town until Ferhad had been buried. The dervishes +surrounded the body at once, washed it, wrapped it in fragrant linen, +and the Pasha himself selected a sunny spot under the trees. There the +dead man was laid with his face toward the East, a spear with waving +pennant was planted above the grave, and a guard of men set for three +days to keep off the witchlike Djinns from the body of the fallen +one. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE PRINCESS + + +After the battle of Nagy-Szöllös John Kemény's faithful followers fled +to Hungary and transferred their allegiance from the fallen one to his +son Simon Kemény. But his sinking fortunes had few friends, and while +the faction of the younger Kemény grew daily less, Apafi's gained from +day to day. By his triumph he won over the best and most distinguished +of the town, the judges, nobility, commanders of the fortresses, in +short everybody hurried to do him homage. The State in a body +recognized him as Prince. Only a few places where Kemény had left +German garrisons, still resisted, among these Klausenburg. Kutschuk +Pasha brought Apafi with a strong force under the walls of this town. +He had a tent pitched for him in sight of the old town in Hidele. At +that time it was a place of thatched huts, and there the new Prince +received deputations. By early dawn Apafi was fairly besieged by the +hosts of visitors and place-seekers. At first the newly-chosen Prince, +carried away by the novelty of his agreeable position, was able to +fulfil the wishes of everybody and refused hardly a request. As soon +as Nalaczy and Daczo learned that he had his boots on, they were with +him and announced great crowds of people outside the tent eager for +entrance. Apafi made haste to dress that no one need wait. He could +hardly expect to satisfy everybody. Among the throng was Ladislaus +Csaki; he came to offer the Prince as page the same son who had filled +Kemény's glass a few weeks before. Apafi could hardly express his +pleasure at this offer. Then came Gabriel Haller who bowed countless +times and in the name of his two companions made an elaborate speech +to Apafi. Apafi could scarcely conceal his childish pleasure in being +called Excellency, a title used in Transylvania only for great +princes. He invited Gabriel Haller at once to dine with him. At the +back of the tent a raised seat had been placed, which the modest +Prince positively would not accept until his brother Stephen had +forcibly set him there. He received everybody standing and accompanied +each one to the door when he went. Then they came singly to present +themselves, make requests of the Prince, or swear allegiance. + +At the Prince's side stood Nalaczy, Daroczy, Stephen Apafi and John +Cserei, who repeatedly urged the Prince to sit down. The oaths of +allegiance were received, the commanders of the citadels laid their +keys in the Prince's hand and then followed visits. + +First came Martin Pok, the jailer at Fogara, with the humble request +that he should be made captain of this stronghold instead of the +foreign incumbent who had fled with Simon Kemény. Apafi promised to +remember him. John Szasz came next, supreme judge in Hermanstadt, to +make complaint that his fellow citizens had persecuted him and beg the +Prince for help. Apafi took him under his protection. Then followed +Moses Zagoni who begged that the Prince would most graciously set him +free from certain taxes imposed by Kemény and still in arrears. He too +went away comforted by Apafi. + +Last of all came before the Prince, a Szekler of the mountains, in +short peasant coat and jacket of fur, who, he said, came sent from +Olahfalu to bring Apafi the oath of allegiance in the name of his +people, and to make his strange requests: first, that Olahfalu should +be permitted to be only two miles distant from Klausenburg (the actual +distance between the two places was more than twenty); secondly, that +there should be a law enacted that if a man had not a horse he should +go on foot. + +The Prince received these strange requests with laughter. They seemed +to put him in extremely good spirits and the young student, Clement, +sought to take advantage of this. He was a crooked-nosed, high-cheeked +youth, wrapped to the chin in a foxskin, who knelt before Apafi and +handed him a roll of parchment that with the aid of his friends Apafi +took and unrolled. Within, he found a green leaved tree showing the +complete genealogy of his family. In this document he was connected +with the Bethlens and Bathorys, taken back to King Aba and on the way +connected with Huba, one of the seven leaders of the Magyars. But the +good man did not rest even here; the lineage extended even to Csaba, +youngest son of Attila. On the mother's side it went still further to +the daughter of the Emperor Porphyrogeneta, and on the father's side +to Nimrod the first king on earth. This flattery seemed to annoy Apafi +somewhat, but he had not sufficient decision to order the flatterer +out of the tent. He rolled up the genealogy, put it behind him and +undertook to satisfy the impertinent poet with a few ducats. But that +did not disturb the Prince's good-humor in the very least. It seemed +as if he must express especial thanks to each man for approaching him, +and show him the obligation that he felt; and after he had received +and listened to the various suppliants, as if this were all too +little, he turned to Nalaczy and Daczo with the question, "Is there +nothing that I can do for you? What reward shall I make you for the +fidelity with which you have stood by me from the first?" + +Nalaczy and Daczo had for some time been puzzling their minds as to +what request they might make that should not be too small. + +"I leave the reward of my trifling services to the generosity of your +Excellency," said Nalaczy, thinking that without doubt the Szeklers +would now receive a new captain instead of Beldi. + +"The little that I have done for your Excellency does not now deserve +mention," said Daczo, but it occurred to him that the position of +Captain of the train bands at Klausenburg, left vacant by Banfy's +flight, would be an appropriate one. + +Apafi was well-disposed toward them and perhaps might have made these +excellent but useless people his privy counsellors, but to their great +misfortune, at that very moment there was a tumult at the entrance to +the tent. When the guard drew back the curtain Kutschuk Pasha entered. +The Prince sprang from his seat and would have hurried to him, but his +brother Stephen pulled his coat and whispered in his ear:-- + +"Maintain your dignity in the presence of the Turk; he is only a +subordinate Pasha while you are Prince of Transylvania." + +In spite of the warning Apafi was not satisfied until Kutschuk made +him a sign to be seated, and although the Turk remained standing +before the Prince, the impression on the bystanders was that Apafi +appeared amiable and grateful and Kutschuk haughty and dignified. + +"How can I thank you for your exertions in my behalf?" Apafi asked +the Pasha, with true feeling. + +"Not to me, but to the Sultan have you cause to be grateful," the +other replied, drily. "I was only following out his wishes when I +placed you on the throne of Transylvania. Your enemies, with God's +help, I have laid low, except for a few strongholds still in their +possession; as soon as these are won my task is at an end. The rest is +my affair. To-morrow I march to the siege of Klausenburg and shall not +rest until the city is taken at any cost; when that stronghold has +fallen the rest will go of their own accord." + +"Then in your judgment it is not necessary that I should order the +country troops to horse?" said Apafi. + +"I do not need them," replied Kutschuk. "Let them stay at home and +look after their own affairs. My troops will do it all." + +Apafi was going to thank the Pasha for his generosity, when he +suddenly became aware that the eyes of all were turned toward a side +entrance of the tent, where somebody had entered without announcement. +The Prince looked in that direction, and what he saw caused him to +forget for the moment Transylvania, Kutschuk Pasha and Klausenburg. +There before him stood his wife, the beautiful and stately Anna +Bornemissa. + +Her look was indeed princely. How well this imperious countenance +knew how to maintain a friendly and yet proud gaze! No adornment was +noticeable in her costume, but was there any need of precious stones +where such speaking eyes gleamed? Did this royal figure need velvet +and ermine to be recognized? Apafi saw her to-day for the first time +since his departure. She was as beautiful as ever. Accustomed now to +good fortune and comfort, her features had gained a transparent gleam; +her eyes, long unfilled with sorrow, were brighter than ever; the +smile of her lips that had known such joy only a short time, was all +the sweeter, and her figure formerly slight had now gained in +roundness. The gracious dignity of her figure and movements suited her +well. + +When Apafi caught sight of his wife he forgot all propriety and +dignity, hurried toward her, seized her hand, drew his trembling wife +to him, as was his wont when a plain nobleman, and kissed her mouth +and cheeks in a way plainly audible to the assembled states. Anna +nestled into the embrace of her husband, offered her beautiful lips to +his kisses, and at the same time her great serious eyes, over her +husband's shoulder, seemed to be searching the faces of those +assembled in the tent, resting a longer or shorter time on each +individual. The embrace seemed on Apafi's part to have no end, until +Anna with a smile freed herself and said: + +"You are lavishing all your effusions on me alone; there is some one +else here who claims his share." + +She motioned to her maid, Sarah, who with smiling countenance had +followed her mistress into the tent, and now disclosed to Apafi's eyes +a beautiful sleeping child that, covered with a silken wrap, the maid +had lulled in her arms. + +Beside himself with joy, Apafi took the child in his arms and kissed +the round angel-face again and again. The child woke up, endured the +kisses and embraces without a cry, and tugged at his father's beard, +to the unspeakable joy of his parents. + +The men standing about thought it fitting to congratulate the Prince +on his paternal joy. + +Apafi turned to them and said:--"Do you see how serious he is? he does +not cry, because he is a man." + +Anna beckoned Stephen Apafi to her and whispered to him:--"I trust the +gentlemen will not be annoyed if family joys and cares withdraw the +Prince from public affairs for a few minutes." + +"Your ladyship has taken the words out of my mouth," replied Stephen. +"I was just on the point of speaking to them." + +With that he turned to those present and begged them to leave the +Prince to himself for the few moments claimed by family ties, and to +withdraw to the adjoining tent. The gentlemen considered the request +natural and left the tent, Kutschuk Pasha leading. + +Anna took the child from her husband's hands, gave it over to Sarah +and sent them away. + +When they were alone Apafi approached his wife with new expressions of +tenderness. She took her husband by the hand, looked him earnestly in +the eye, and said: + +"It is to the Prince that I have come." + +This earnest look cooled Apafi a little, which did not escape Anna's +notice, and she drew toward him again affectionately. + +"It seemed to me probable that the Prince might need me more than the +husband," and then she added with her irresistible smile, "I hope you +will not misunderstand my intentions in this." + +Apafi put his arm around his wife and drew her to him. The throne was +quite wide enough for both. + +"You are right. It is well you have come. There is always something +lacking when I cannot see you. You certainly deserve to come nearest +my heart; I am not in the least afraid to lay your mind in the balance +with any man in the circle." + +"Who are all these men?" asked Anna. + +"You shall know them by their names. The tall, slender man is +Ladislaus Csaki who has just offered me his son for a page." + +"No time lost there. It is only a short time since the boy was serving +Kemény." + +Apafi's face darkened a little. + +"The man with the heavy moustache is Gabriel Haller." + +Anna clapped her hands with surprise. + +"Is that he?" + +"What fault have you to find with him?" + +"That he has always served your enemies as a spy. He brought Kemény +the first news of your coronation, and he was the one who announced +the approach of Kutschuk Pasha." + +Apafi's face grew darker still. + +"And I have invited the man to dine," he muttered between his teeth. + +"What do Nalaczy and Daczo wish, that they are here on so friendly a +footing?" + +"They are my faithful partisans who have been on my side from the +beginning." + +"Do not for that reason give them the first positions in the land. In +a large sphere of activity, simple, ignorant men do more harm than +sensible antagonists. Reward them, but only in proportion to their +work." + +"That I will," said the distressed Prince, and strove in every way +possible to make the rôle of husband prominent throughout the rest of +the scene, but Anna did not stop. + +"What is John Szasz trying to get from you? I saw him too." + +"The poor fellow is being persecuted," replied Apafi, curtly, for he +began to weary of this fault-finding. + +"There are bad reports in circulation about this man. It is said, and +plainly, too, that he carried off a young girl from Saxony, and when +he had wearied of her had her poisoned. The parents have begun a +prosecution and he sees no safety except in winning your favor by +flattery." + +Apafi started up furious. "If that is true I will show Szasz the door; +he shall not find protection with me." + +"And for what purpose is the noble ragged Szekler here, I should like +to know? His face seemed to me to indicate subtlety, for the Szekler +is never so sly and dangerous as when he looks simple." + +At this question the Prince was overcome with merriment. Fairly +choking with laughter, he said, "He was the deputy of the people of +Olahfalu." + +At the mention of this name Anna too could hardly repress a smile. + +"Poor people, all sorts of untrue stories are told of them; their +minds work strangely." + +"You understand everybody perfectly. Now explain the meaning of the +demand which the Szekler has made of me. He begged for two things. In +the first place that the distance between Olahfalu and Klausenburg +from this time on should be considered only two miles." + +"Oh, the sly simpleton," said Anna. "They already have the privilege +of offering their lumber for sale at a distance of two miles and now +their purpose is to open a market for themselves in Klausenburg as +well." + +"You are quite right," replied Apafi, convinced. "Now their second +request seems somewhat suspicious to me, although it had nothing to do +with their public affairs. They wished it to be established by law +that anybody who had not a horse should go on foot." + +"I understand," said Apafi's wife, after short reflection, "Olahfalu +has recently been made a post-town, and on this ground the couriers, +as they pass through, often demand horses. The good people are weary +of the burden and for that reason wished a new law which should +enforce going on foot for the couriers." + +Apafi stamped angrily with his foot. + +"The villain, to allow himself such a jest. You will see how I shall +pay him for that. But it is time to admit the gentlemen again." + +"One word more, Apafi," said Anna, with a winning glance, throwing her +arms around her husband's neck. "I noticed Kutschuk Pasha among those +waiting. I suppose he came to take leave." + +Apafi drew back startled. + +"On no account to take leave. Surely you understand that we are here +to take Klausenburg by storm? This depends on Kutschuk Pasha." + +"Michael," said his wife, entreatingly, and laid her hands on his +shoulders;--"will you allow Klausenburg to be taken by the Turks? do +you forget that the Ottomans have never of their own accord given back +a Hungarian stronghold once taken by them? do you not remember that +Klausenburg is the capital of your country and that those within its +walls are your own people, of your country and of your faith? will you +expose them to the rage of assailants? they who might otherwise be +your friends are pagans and foreigners, whom you cannot allow to +prevail against your own people. Did not your heart sink when you saw +the walls of Klausenburg? could you look at these dwellings, these +towers, without remembering that they are the homes of your people, +the churches of your God into which the besiegers would throw their +firebrands? Could you look at these walls without seeing on them +mothers huddled together with their young children in their arms, +crying out to you that within dwelt your own people, an innocent, +true-hearted folk? and could you make your entry into the capital city +of your own country over the fallen bodies of these women and +children?" + +Apafi stood up, his forehead bathed in perspiration. In his confused +expression were traces of involuntary repentance. + +"No indeed, Anna, no indeed! do not think me so heartless. I who could +never withstand a woman's tears, could I be insensible to the sorrow +of an entire people? but what can I do? I had intended to call out the +troops of the country, to invest the city and to compel the garrison +to yield; but what could I do with Kutschuk Pasha? he is determined to +take the city by storm at once, and I can find no valid reason to +bring against it." + +"Be calm. All those in command of Turkish troops now in Transylvania +have received firmans ordering them to join the army of the +General-in-chief at Neuhaüsel as soon as possible. Kutschuk has +doubtless received a firman of this character." + +"I did not know that. Is that the reason he has been in such a hurry +to storm the town?" + +"You too will receive such an order from the Turkish Council of State. +Under the pretext that this order has already come it will be an easy +matter to prevail on the Pasha to abandon the siege of Klausenburg." + +"I will try it, Anna. I will do it," replied Apafi, pacing back and +forth in the tent. "I owe it to my people. Better abandon those walls +than force my way through with fire and sword." + +"You must not do that either," answered his clever wife. "There are +ways and means of getting possession of the stronghold beside taking +it by storm." + +Apafi stood still and looked at his wife inquiringly. She drew him to +her and whispered as follows: "Before you reached the walls of +Klausenburg, I commissioned Raldi and several other of our faithful +followers to try to win the garrison over to our side; this morning +our spies brought me word that the infantry are so won over to us by +promises and the force of circumstances that at the first sound of the +drum from here they are ready to open the gates and give themselves up +to you, bag and baggage. The cavalry alone cannot then offer further +resistance." + +Apafi in amazement said, "You certainly were created for a prince." + +Anna took her husband gently by the arm, led him to the throne and +made him take his seat. + +"The sceptre is no toy, Apafi," she said, earnestly. "Never forget +that posterity and eternity sit in judgment on princes. Every deed and +every word of a ruler may mean safety or destruction to millions. +Therefore consider everything that you say or do. Now I am going. Be +firm." + +Anna kissed her husband on the brow and as she did so her glance fell +on the roll of parchment of the traveling student. + +"What kind of campaign plan is this?" she asked, taking up the +parchment. + +Annoyed, Apafi tried to take it from her hand, but he was too late. +Anna had unrolled it and as she looked at the tuft-hunting pedigree, +cast a reproachful glance at the prince who stood before her with +downcast eyes. + +"Did you have that drawn up?" she asked him, quietly. + +"No indeed!" answered Apafi, quickly. "An impertinent poet brought it +to me." + +"Throw it into the fire," said his wife, calmly. + +"That is what I meant to do. I got rid of the author by means of a few +ducats." + +"He deserved a thrashing, and not gold," said Anna, angrily; then her +features grew gentle again. She looked her husband straight in the eye +and said in kindly tone;--"Be strong; be a Prince. Grant protection to +the faithful, pardon to those who return in penitence, and scorn to +the flatterer." + +With these words she bowed low, kissed her husband's hand and was gone +before he could reply. + +Apafi then sent for those in waiting to return. It was very evident +from the expression of their faces as they entered that they thought +they might now ask and expect everything good from the Prince, for the +happiness of the previous family scene would naturally leave him in a +state of mind in which he could not refuse anybody. + +Stephen Apafi was the only one cool-headed enough to observe the +change in his brother's features during this interval. Genuine +princely firmness, dignity and energy seemed now enthroned upon this +countenance. + +"Faithful comrades," began Apafi in a strong voice without waiting for +any one to speak;--"in respect to the requests with which you have +approached us, it is our wish to send you away with a just and worthy +answer. Your oaths of allegiance we have received with due +appreciation and hope you will not cease to remain constant in your +loyalty. You, Ladislaus Csaki, we hereby permit to return home to +share the peace of the family circle; as for your son we will have him +maintained in foreign lands at our expense until he seems fitted for +our service." + +Ladislaus Csaki thanked him gloomily for the favor granted of +returning to the peace of his own family circle, when he would so +gladly have remained with his family at court. + +Gabriel Haller the Prince passed over as if he did not see him, and +turned to Nalaczy and Daczo, who made every effort to appear humble. + +"My faithful friend, Stephen Nalaczy, in consideration of your active +zeal for us we appoint you first chamberlain at our court; and you, +John Daczo, we appoint Lieutenant of Csikszerda." + +Both men looked as would any one who had expected a great reward and +received a very small portion. They could hardly express their thanks +to their Prince for his favor, so great was their chagrin. + +Meantime Martin Pok had pressed forward that he might not be left out, +and completely hid the worthy Cserei, who was standing modestly behind +the others. + +"Why do you stand so in the background?" said Apafi, beckoning to him. + +Thinking that the signal was for him, Martin Pok advanced still +farther. + +"We meant you, Cserei," continued the Prince. "Do you think we do not +know how to search out our tried and faithful followers? Your fidelity +and wisdom are known to us and for that reason we deem it advisable to +appoint you Captain of the castle at Fogara." + +Martin Pok was so amazed that he looked up at the ceiling to see if it +was falling. + +"Martin Pok on the other hand," continued the Prince, "we confirm in +his former position. He will remain jailer of the same castle." + +Martin Pok gasped. Cserei wished to remonstrate, but the Prince +motioned to him to keep quiet. + +The next in turn was John Szasz. + +"The charge of a great crime has been brought against you, which we +have neither desire nor power to free you from. You will be taken +under guard to Hermanstadt and we advise you to try to defend yourself +there as well as you can." + +John Szasz looked in astonishment to right and left. He was utterly +unable to comprehend what had happened. + +"You, Moses Zagoni, will give in your accounts to the next treasury +officers." + +Zagoni considered it advisable to address words of consolation to +Szasz by way of concealing his own discomfiture. + +Now the Prince came to the messenger from Olahfalu, and it was high +time; for while the Prince had been portioning out these different +favors the smile had gradually vanished from his countenance and the +comical old countryman was now at his own expense to restore +cheerfulness to the company. + +"What I promised you,"--said the Prince turning toward him, and in +doing so he could scarcely conceal his amusement;--"remains pledged to +you. Olahfalu shall be just two miles from Klausenburg, if that is of +any advantage to you; and also everybody who has not a horse shall go +on foot if you wish it; but I make this condition; that you shall not +bring any timber to Klausenburg to sell, and that you furnish the post +couriers the necessary teams." + +The Szekler shook his head, scratched it and raised his eyes to the +Prince as if to ask with a look how Apafi had found out his dodges. + +The Prince could not keep from laughing at the embarrassed expression +of the Szekler and at that the others laughed unrestrainedly. But the +Szekler who had thus far smiled confusedly, now grew serious at the +general outburst, tossed his head back defiantly, looked furiously at +the lords, drew up his coat and hurled these words at those standing +around: + +"Listen to me, you lords! I will stand it from the Prince that he +makes fun of me, but I will ask you not to laugh at my expense." + +The Prince motioned them to be silent, and to turn their attention +called up the traveling student, Clement, who slouched in on his long, +thin legs, looking as if he would fall on his knees at any moment. + +"We have given orders to our treasurer," said the Prince, "to pay you +from our own private purse for the work which you have done, three +groschen." + +"Your Excellency says"--stammered out the poet. + +"You heard perfectly well. Three groschen, I said; that is the price +of the writing material you have spent on the work. Hereafter employ +your time more profitably." + +Then the Prince signified that the audience was over. They left the +tent with low bows. Kutschuk Pasha alone remained. During the entire +scene the Pasha had shaken his head in surprise, as if he would not +have expected this from Apafi, and when he was left alone with him he +noticed that it was no longer necessary to urge Apafi to maintain his +princely bearing toward others. Apafi wore a friendly look, but in his +friendliness one saw princely condescension. + +"With regret we have learned," he began, turning to the Pasha, "that +we must shortly lose you, whose bravery we so admired and whose +friendship we so honored." + +The Pasha hurriedly drew near in surprise. + +"What does your Excellency mean?" + +"In consequence of those firmans which order the Transylvania guards +to assemble in the camp of the Grand Vizier, it will be our misfortune +not to see you in our circle longer." + +Kutschuk bit his lips angrily. "Whence could he get his information so +soon?" thought he. + +"We would gladly retain you, for your person is more precious to us +than any other. We know that the commands of the Sublime Porte demand +immediate obedience, and therefore that you may not for us draw down +the displeasure of the Sublime Porte, we have so conducted the taking +of Klausenburg that we shall march in without any assault; in that way +you will be relieved of the burdensome task of maintaining your +troops here any longer. As for your services in establishing our +position as Prince, we will settle this in person with the Vizier, as +we too have been summoned to Neuhaüsel." + +During this speech Kutschuk Pasha with folded arms stared in wonder at +the Prince's firm glance, and when the Prince had concluded still kept +the same position without answering a word. + +Apafi went on calmly: + +"However, to express even in a slight degree the gratitude which we +owe you individually, accept from us this slight remembrance, more as +a token of our high esteem than as reward." + +And the Prince took from his neck a gold chain set with beautiful +jewels, and hung it about the neck of the Pasha. Kutschuk stood still +riveted to the spot. He watched the Prince closely, and wrinkled his +forehead gloomily. Then suddenly he began to laugh and said: + +"Well done, Apafi, very well done! I observe you are in the habit of +giving your intelligence over to your wife for safe-keeping. Salem +Aleikum." + +And the Pasha went off shaking his head. + +Apafi with lightened feelings hurried to his wife. + +Gabriel Haller waited for some time at the door, until an attendant +informed him that the Prince was dining with his family and then he +stole away. + + * * * * * + +A few days later Apafi made his entry into Klausenburg with fife and +drum. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +AZRAELE + + +Again we are in Hungary, among the mountains of Homolka, in that part +of the country where no one has yet cared to dwell. In a circuit of +ten miles there is not a single village to be seen. Over the entire +mountain chain not a single roadway; even the footpaths break off +suddenly in the rocks, either leading to a waterfall covered over with +leaves, or to an abandoned charcoal hut where no grass could grow in +the sooty vicinity. + +While the sunbeams lie aslant over this region, drawing over it a +gilded veil of mist, we can hardly distinguish a single object of the +panorama. Gradually a broad ravine draws our attention. The mountain +peaks which seemed to close in all sides are blue grey, and in the +centre of this ravine rises a huge, solitary rock, looking just as if +it had fallen from heaven. A hasty glance passes it by lightly, but a +more careful observer discovers a small wooden bridge, supported on +piles, which appears to connect this circle of mountain summits with +one of the steep walls adjoining. Gradually we become aware that this +trestle is not the work of nature; those stones forming walls which +appear to continue the mountain heights are really the work of man's +hand. It is a massive rock-bastion built as high as its support. And +as the walls are built out in all directions as high as the steep +edges of the cliff, it looks as if it had grown out of the rock, and +as if the vines clinging to the walls were there simply to form a +natural tangle. + +In the year 1664 the eye that glanced over these walls might see +within magic buildings. Corsar Bey, the terror of the country, +inhabited this stronghold, and at his bidding hedges of roses sprang +up on the bastions, and the castle stood in a grove of orange and +pomegranate trees. On all sides could be seen those splendid buildings +which Oriental pomp erects for the moment's pleasure: spacious domed +buildings overlaid with sky-blue enamel where the sun mirrored itself; +gay painted towers on the bastions with balconies decorated with +Moorish carvings, and on these vases of flowers; slender white +minarets covered over with vines; lattice-work kiosks with slender +gilded columns, the whole as light as a card house; nothing but gilded +wood, painted glass, enameled tiles, and gay-colored rugs. From the +pointed roof-tops waved gay flags and high above all shone a golden +crescent. Every kiosk, every dome, every minaret was adorned with +crescents and flags. It seemed a magic castle ready to vanish; but +the walls surrounding this delicate structure impregnable. On all +sides were impassably steep rocks behind which the pursued, if he once +reached them, could defend himself against a hundred times as many. +The guards stood day and night with lighted fuse by the cannon, which +Corsar Bey had had cast on the spot, as there was no way of conveying +such defence there. Two of these fiery-throated monsters were turned +toward the bridge, to blow it to atoms in case of attack. + +From this vantage ground Corsar Bey roved the land, plundering and +killing defenseless people; if he fell upon an army he ordered his +Spahis and Bedouins to turn about while he, taking advantage of the +mountain paths, fled to his castle with the booty loaded on beasts of +burden, the Timariots, stationed in reserve, made a barricade of trees +and stoned to death those who dared follow into the valleys. + +Sometimes he allowed his pursuers to follow him close to the castle, +and while they shot at the walls of cliff with their small cannon +dragged up with the utmost difficulty, and thought to starve him out, +he would play the trick on them of bursting out from some subterranean +passage to rob and burn in their rear. Every attempt to surprise him, +to surround him, was in vain. The inhabitants of the surrounding +villages began to withdraw to more remote places to escape this +frightful neighborhood. + +After the battle of St. Gotthard, (1664) in which the Turkish general +lost twelve thousand men in an engagement with Hungarian and Austrian +troops, a twenty years' peace was concluded between the Porte, the +Transylvania principality and the Emperor, which left the Turk in +possession of all the fortresses conquered or built in Hungary. The +men of these fortresses now carried on the war on their own account; +robbing and burning where they could. The Sultan could not hold each +one accountable; all he could do was to empower the complainants to +seize the disturbers of peace and do with them as they would. + +In these times five or six counties, a few nobles, or the people of +single villages would combine to carry on war against the foe within +their borders. The country did not concern itself and furthermore +could not have done so had it wished. The Roman Emperor was engrossed +in the Spanish Succession, the Sultan in a war against Venice, the +lesser antagonists struggled as they could. + + * * * * * + +Now, away from our sight, cold outer world--narrow panorama of +mountain and horizon without charm. Arise before us, magic halls! We +see a magnificent apartment, the splendor of which bears us to a more +beautiful world, while thought flitting from object to object, grows +weary of the beautiful and luxurious, sought out by fancy and employed +to form a poetic, charming whole. + +On a purple couch in the most splendid room of the castle lay Azraele, +Corsar Bey's favorite. Beside her rested a live panther, stretched out +like a gay footstool, and played with her hair like a young kitten. + + * * * * * + +The clatter of horses' hoofs was heard ringing out from the winding +way that led through the valley and Corsarburg. The noise was heard +through the woods long before the riders could be distinctly seen. +Soon they reached the height where the road, climbing to the mountain +ridge runs along its length. It was Corsar Bey with his robber band. +First came the beasts of burden laden with spoils. From the full +leathern sacks gleamed church treasures; then came the Bey himself +with his gay horsemen recruited from all classes; spahis clothed in +silk and carrying long spears. Bashkirs with bow and arrow, Bedouins +in white cloaks with brass-hilted swords. The Bey was in his prime, +his thin beard and moustache barely showed on his brown face, his high +cheekbones and broad chin gave him a bold, cruel look. His dress was +covered with jewels in barbaric profusion. His troop followed him in +silence. Blood was clinging to all their garments: some had not taken +the trouble to wipe it off their faces. The beasts trotted quietly +toward the castle urged on by fellahs, while the troop followed them +along the mountain ridge. + + * * * * * + +The shadows of night had fallen. + +"I am afraid," said Azraele. + +"Why are you afraid?" said Corsar. + +"I have had bad dreams," replied Azraele, trembling. "I dreamed that +the Giaours stormed your castle by night and murdered you. I tried to +throw myself down from the battlements but could not, and I was +caught. A Christian had me. Oh, it was frightful." + +"Don't be afraid," said Corsar. "The Koran says only the birds can fly +and no one can get into this castle who has not learned to fly. But +even if it were possible you need not be afraid of falling into the +hands of the infidels, for there under the entrance is a fuse reaching +to the powder houses; if all is lost you have only to touch that fuse +with the night lamp, and the entire place will be blown to atoms, with +us and our foes." + +"What a comforting thought," said Azraele. + +Suddenly she sprang up again with a scream. "Do not you hear the noise +of the Djinns?" and she trembled in every limb. + +The Bey looked around him in terror. A storm raged without; the +weather vanes creaked. From the tops of the minarets the wind threw +the tiles on the kiosks below. The lightning flashed and the thunder +made the crags tremble. + +"Do you hear these invisible creatures howling and rattling the closed +windows with their mighty hands?" + +"By the shades of Allah, I do," said the man, his eyes fixed with +fear. + +"Have mercy, have mercy! Away from this house, you bad spirits," cried +Azraele. "May the sunbeams strike you and the darkness bury you. Go +torment the Christians. May your wings break on the top of our +crescents as you float over them. Ha, how their eyes shine! Spirit of +Allah, cover us, that they may not see us with their eyes of fire." + +The great, strong man trembled like a child. His superstitious fear +had taken all strength out of his heart. + +"Do you hear how they murmur? Say a prayer quickly aloud and stop your +ears, so you shall not hear what they say." + +At this moment the frightful storm broke in a window pane and the wind +rushing in shook the curtains and made the lights flicker. + +"Ah, do you see him?" cried Azraele. "Be still, don't look, don't open +your eyes. Cover your face. Asafiel, the angel of Death is here. Don't +you feel his cold breath? Hush, cover yourself up, perhaps he does not +notice you." + +Corsar clung to Azraele and covered his face with his hands. + +"What do you want?" called Azraele, as if she were speaking with a +visible spirit. "Whom have you come for, black shade, your eyes +glowing with blue fire? There is nobody here but me. Corsar has not +come. Come later, come an hour later. Away with you, black creature! +May Allah crush you!" + +Corsar did not dare open his eyes. + +"Away with you, I say." + +At this moment the lightning struck one of the bastions and shook the +mountains to their foundations. When the sound of thunder ceased, a +light fall of rain began on the roof; the roar of the storm grew more +and more distant; was heard dully near by and howled mournfully in the +distant woods. + +"He has gone," whispered Azraele, in a barely audible tone. "He +promised to be back in an hour. Corsar, you can live just one hour." + +"One hour!" repeated Corsar, with dulled senses. "Oh, Azraele, where +can you hide me?" + +"That is quite impossible. Asafiel is relentless. One hour more and +then he will carry you off." + +"Bargain with him. If he must have dead men, I will have a hundred +slaves beheaded. Promise him blood, treasure, prayers, burning +villages, everything. Only beg him to spare my life." + +"It is of no use. In my dreams I saw your sword broken in two. Your +days are numbered. There is only one way of escape for you--one way of +baffling this bloodthirsty angel. Some one of the dead must exchange +names with you and Asafiel when he comes for you must drag him off in +your stead." + +"That is right. That is right," stammered the strong man in fear. +"Find me such a dead man who will exchange names with me. You know the +incantations. Go call up somebody from his grave; promise him +everything, fellah or rajah, I will give him my name and take his. Go, +hurry." + +"You must go yourself. Throw your cloak around you. Leave your weapons +here; spirits are afraid of sharp iron. We will go down into the +churchyard under the castle walls, set fire to amber and borax over a +tripod, plunge the magic staff into the most recent grave and so +compel its inmate to appear before you. When the spirit has appeared +you must take three steps toward him and call out three times bravely, +'Die for me!' Then the spirit will vanish and Asafiel will not call +for you." + +"But you will be near me," said the timid Corsar. + +"I will be at your side. Now hurry. An hour is a short time." + +Corsar threw on his cloak and repeated the beginning of a prayer the +end of which he could not recall. + +"Be careful not to wake the guards," said Azraele, cautiously, "if a +human being should by chance hear us the power of the enchantment +would be broken, for they might utter a prayer that would contradict +ours. We will saddle our own horses and go down by the secret path. We +must not say a word on the way and you must not look behind." + +The Bey was ready. He put on his furlined cloak he was so cold. +Azraele called to the panther lying on the rug, + +"Oglan, you shall go too and keep watch. If we meet a wild beast you +shall defend us." + +As if he had understood the words of his mistress the panther rose on +his hind feet and laid his paws on her arm, and the trembling man +clung to her on the other side. A strange group! A pale woman wrapped +in white, and by her side two princely creatures, a haughty man +steeled for conflict, and a panther; both mastered by a glance from +her, driven to joy or to despair. + + * * * * * + +The Moslem churchyard below the castle is planted with cypresses. Amid +these dark trees of mourning are the graves rising ghostlike with +their layers of white stones. At the sound of the approaching steps a +grey wolf ran out from the graves, otherwise the place was absolutely +desolate. The clouds were broken after the storm; and here and there +might be seen the dark blue sky with stars like diamonds. The +raindrops were falling from the trees. The rumbling of the thunder was +still heard occasionally in the distance and the lightning played over +the mountain tops brightening all with its white light. + +The figures reached the churchyard by the underground passage and +dismounted from their horses beside the graves. Azraele laid the reins +of both horses in Oglan's mouth. The clever beast stood still on his +hind feet and held the two snorting horses more firmly than any post +could. + +The man and woman reached a high grave with its stone just showing +among the branches of a weeping willow. "It is hardly probable that a +slave rests under this stone," whispered Azraele to the trembling +knight; she placed her magic pan on the stone and lighted the amber +and borax which blazed up and cast a white vapor over the grave. In +the distance was heard a slight rustling and Corsar's horse whinnied +restlessly. + +"What's that?" asked knight. + +"The Djinns," answered Azraele. "Don't look behind you." + +Then she raised the magic wand and uttered an incantation over the +grave interspersing it with unintelligible words. + +"Restless spirit, appear at my command. Whether you are beneath the +dark tree of Hell, or in the garden of the houris. Whether you sleep +bound by chains of fire, or on beds of roses, hear my call. Flee +through the air, cleave the darkness and appear before me in living +form as you were. Appear!" + +At the words she struck with her wand against the side of the stone, +and there rose up from behind a figure wrapped in white. + +"Now take three steps toward him," said Azraele to the dazed knight, +"and speak to him." + +Corsar Bey approached the figure before him with tottering steps, and +said in a hoarse, quavering voice: + +"My name is Corsar Bey; and you, accursed shade, who are you?" + +"I am Balassa," said the spirit with a clear voice. + +The white shroud fell off and revealed a mighty man with unsheathed +sword in his hands. + +"Corsar Bey, you are my prisoner," he said to the Turk, who stood +petrified at the sudden turn. + +The next moment the Bey put his hand to his side and not finding any +sword there, ran with a cry of rage to his horse, threw himself into +the saddle and used his spurs, but Oglan held the horse firmly with +the bridle in his teeth, and when the horse tried to move, the panther +dug his claws into him and held him back. + +"To Hell with you, you cursed beast," yelled Corsar, foaming with +rage, and gave the panther a kick. + +But the panther only pulled the bridle this way and that, stood in the +horse's way and frightened him with its leaps, compelling him to +circle about. + +"Speak to your beast, Azraele," screamed the Bey, turning around, and +looking for his beloved saw her in the arms of the young Hungarian. + +At this instant the churchyard became alive. The Hungarian soldiers +who had been lying concealed tore the Bey from his horse. Even when +thrown to the ground he tried to defend himself with stones. + +"A curse upon you," said the vanquished outlaw. + +The troops moved past him along the secret passage to his castle, and +an hour later by the light of his burning castle he saw his favorite +ride away mounted behind Balassa. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE PRINCE AND HIS MINISTER + + +A few years had passed since Apafi rose to his princely rank. We are +in the period when, in consequence of the sudden death of Nicholas +Zrinyi the party of Hungarian malcontents had lost their standing and +most of them had gone to Transylvania, which country was rejoicing in +Home rule, owing to the rivalry of the German and Turkish monarchs. +True, the country paid the Sublime Porte a tribute, but in its diets +it could make what plans it would; and if the Tartars did burn the +villages of the country to the ground, in that very act they gave +proof that they did not consider the country their own. All the +fortresses were in the hands of the Prince, who could maintain as many +soldiers as he had means to pay, and carry on war whenever he found +himself in a position to do so. Furthermore, if it gave him any +satisfaction, he could even dupe the Turks. + +The Turk did not find anything to object to in the constitution of the +country; in its privileges, its patriarchal aristocracy, its Latin +language and Hungarian costume, nor in its many religions; all that +did not concern him. He pitied from his soul the poor people who gave +so bright an outlook to the affairs of the country. He did not exert +himself in the least to procure them a more exact acquaintance with +his own simple system; in this respect he was like the Turk in the +story, who when he saw a Hungarian eating with his open knife in hand, +sat down behind in confident expectation that the Hungarian would put +out his eyes in carrying his knife to his mouth, and when he saw that +this did not happen, went away in the pleasant belief that it +certainly would happen a little later. + + * * * * * + +Great changes had taken place in Ebesfalva in this time; the princely +residence was no longer the simple manor house. At some distance from +that, on a height, the Prince had a castle built with a high square +tower, and from each corner rose small pointed turrets; the entrance +was guarded by two stone lions, and on the façade was this inscription +in high relief: + +"Fata viam invenient." + +Beyond the carved columns along the front was a corridor connecting +one wing of the castle with the other; the windows were all made with +pointed arches and with antique decorations, and the inner court was +reached through an arched passage under the building. In this +courtyard instead of plows and wagons we now see rampart guns and long +culverins. Instead of farm boys, we see outside the gates guards in +yellow cloaks and red hose. To reach the Prince's office you must pass +through long passage-ways and echoing apartments where pages announce +your arrival from door to door, and when at last the reception-room is +reached you stand not in the presence of the Prince but of Michael +Teleki, his first counsellor. He is the same bald-headed man whom we +met on that memorable day that saw the death of Nicholas Zrinyi. + +In early days the good man had been only a captain fallen into +disfavor with George Rakoczi. Since then his affairs had prospered and +he was now chief captain of Kövar and all powerful in the name of the +Prince. His mother was the sister of the Princess. Through the +protection of his aunt he came into the protection of the Prince. Once +there Teleki needed no further support; his comprehensive mind, his +extended acquaintance, his statesmanlike training made him +indispensable to the Prince, who preferred to bury himself in his +books and antiquities and considered himself hindered by anything that +took him from his family or his studies. + +His reception-room to-day was crowded with men who wished to speak to +his Excellency. They were the Hungarian fugitives whom the Prince +seemed to hold in special horror. These restless, gloomy people, +always in quest of war, did not suit the placid, meditative nature of +the Prince. Now he shut them all out, and admitted only, of all his +courtiers, a learned pastor, John Passai who had a professorship in +Nagy-Emged, and was dear to the Prince on account of his learning. +Apafi's office looked more like that of a student than a ruler. The +walls were covered with bookcases, in the corners were maps, and on +the narrow spaces remaining were clocks, which the Prince wound up +himself. The chairs and sofas were covered with books needed at once, +so that often when the Prince received the visit of a friend he did +not know where to seat him. Sometimes even the floor was covered with +maps, dusty documents and open books; if Teleki entered at such a +moment he would have to pick his way with as much care as a man +looking for a dry path through the mud. + +At this moment Apafi and the pastor stood before a table on which lay +some old coins. Apafi looked carefully at a gold piece, turned it in +his fingers and held it to the light. Passai stood in front of the +Prince like a post, hat in hand, with knitted brows. Apafi twirled the +coin and studied it on both sides. + +"Those are not Roman letters," he growled, "neither are they Greek nor +Arabic; and they certainly are not Hunnic. I have never seen such +characters. Where were they found?" he asked, turning to Passai. + +"In Varhely, when the Wallachians were clearing away the old temple." + +"Why did they clear it away?" + +"It was an old ruin that they called a Roman temple." + +"But it cannot have been a Roman temple, for it is not a Roman coin." + +"I agree with you, but the Wallachians are in the habit of calling +every ruin in Transylvania Roman." + +"But why did they clear it away?" + +"The villagers thought they might burn the statues for lime." + +"O godless people!" cried Apafi, "to make lime out of rare works of +art. Did you not try to save at least part from destruction?" + +"I bought a cover of a sarcophagus adorned with sculpture, and a well +preserved sphinx; but it was not convenient for the Wallachian who was +moving them to lift them whole, so he broke the statues in five or six +pieces that he might carry them in his cart more easily." + +"He deserves to be impaled! I will have a law passed that nobody +hereafter shall dare lay hands on any antique." + +"I am afraid your Excellency will be too late, for when the people +learned that I was paying for their stones, the story went abroad that +I was hunting for diamonds and carbuncles in the stones, and they +broke them all up in such small pieces that now they might be used +for writing sand." + +"Have you spoken with the Lord of Deva about the mosaic?" + +"He will not let it go at any price. He said that none of his +ancestors had ever sold any of their possessions. If he would only +allow it to be moved from the spot where it was found,--but he will +not even consent to that. As it is the corn-stall stands over it and +the oxen lie on the figures of Venus and Cupid." + +"I have a great mind to confiscate the property and so get possession +of the priceless treasures," said Apafi, with the zeal of a student, +and again turned to examine the puzzling coin. + +At this moment Teleki entered the Prince's apartment with an important +air, took some writing from a silk envelope, opened it and placed it +in Apafi's hand. The Prince appeared to read it with care and knit his +brow as he did so. Suddenly he called out, "They certainly are Dacian +letters!" + +"What!" said Teleki, astounded, with wide open eyes. He could not +comprehend how the Prince had found Dacian writing in the letter +handed him. + +"Yes, I am positive. I remember reading, perhaps in Dio Cassius, that +the Romans had medals struck with a Dacian inscription and on the +obverse the picture of a headless man. Here it is." + +"But your Highness," said Teleki with annoyance, "the writing that I +handed you"-- + +Now for the first time Apafi noticed that there was a parchment in his +hand waiting to be read, and sullenly gave it back to Teleki. + +"I have told you already that I did not wish to see anybody to-day. In +a month's time the Diet will be convened and then the Hungarians may +talk about their affairs as much as they will." + +"But, I beseech your Highness," replied Teleki, satirically, "this +writing has nothing to do with the Hungarians, but with his grace the +Tartar Khan." + +"What does he want?" said Apafi, and glanced at the parchment, but +when he saw its length he laid it aside. "I will make short work of +him. Who brought the letter?" + +"An Emir." + +Apafi girded on his sword and went into the reception-room. + +"Good-day, good-day," he said, hastily, to those assembled. In this +way he made an end of their long greetings, and gave a searching +glance through the throng. + +"Where is the Emir?" + +At this the Tartar deputy came forward. He stood boldly before the +Prince with an air of consequence. + +"Salem Alech." + +"What is it?" said Apafi, curtly. + +The Emir measured the Prince keenly with his piercing eyes, threw his +head back and said: + +"My lord, the gracious Kuba Khan sends word to you, Prince of the +Giaours, that you are a false, faithless, godless man. You gave your +word of honor that we should live as neighbors and how do you conduct +yourself now? A year ago it happened that in passing through Saxony we +visited cities the names of which a true-believer may not utter, and +there took our usual plunder in due form. They were always profitable, +but as some of them were not quite quick enough in the payment of the +tribute, at the command of his Grace, Kuba Khan, they were burned to +ashes as punishment, that they might improve. Then did they improve? +Not at all. For when we visited there again this year we found only +the bare walls that we had left before. The unbelieving dogs fled +before us and left us only a search. So then, my lord the mighty Kuba +Khan sends word to you to know what kind of a Prince you are that you +allow these unbelieving dogs to leave their towns and make fools of +us. Formerly when we came the hay had been put in barns, the grain +threshed and the cattle fatted; now we find nothing but weeds, with +hares and other unclean creatures that you unbelievers are accustomed +to eat. And that we may not take our revenge, the towns are not built +up again. Now if you do not wish to bring down upon your head the +wrath of the mighty Khan, see to it that you order those fugitives +back to their towns, and send word to the rest of the Saxon towns that +have surrounded themselves with inaccessible walls, to open their +gates to us. Otherwise we will visit you in Klausenburg with fire and +sword and leave not one stone above another." + +During this speech Apafi had several times grasped his sword. Then he +reconsidered and said calmly: + +"Go back, give greetings to your lord, and tell him that we will give +him satisfaction at once." + +Then he turned his back on the messenger and would have left the room +at once, but Teleki placed himself in his way. + +"That is not enough, your Highness. Once for all there must be an end +made of this dog-headed Tartar's coming into the presence of the +Prince of Transylvania with such a speech." + +"Then speak to him yourself." + +Teleki advanced toward the Emir with an earnest, dignified expression, +looked him fixedly in the eye, and said firmly: + +"Your lord is indeed the ruler of Tartary, and my lord the Prince of +Transylvania, and his Majesty, the Sultan is one lord of us all. Know +then that his Majesty the Sultan did not make your lord Khan of +Tartary to dwell at Vienna, nor did he set Michael Apafi on the +throne of Transylvania to support your lord. Go back to your land and +do not come here any more to wonder that a town burned down by you one +year is not built up the next. We will take care that the houses are +rebuilt and also that the bastions are made high enough to keep you +off. If you have any desire to pay us a visit in Klausenburg we will +take care that you do not have your trouble for nothing, and shall +know how to greet you from afar with our good cannon." + +The Emir fumed with rage; his eyes were bloodshot, his hand felt for +his dagger and he stammered out: + +"If a slave should make such a speech in the presence of my lord he +would have his head cut off at once." + +Apafi now touched Teleki on the shoulder and said: + +"Good, Teleki! you spoke like a man." + +The Emir turned on his heel and hurried out of the room, shaking his +fist. + +This scene put Apafi into a good humor, especially toward Teleki. The +minister read this in the Prince's face and took advantage of it at +once. Taking one of the bystanders by the hand he brought him up to +Apafi and introduced him in these words: + +"My future son-in law, your Excellency." + +An introduction under any other title would probably have been evaded +by Apafi, but in this form it was impossible not to accept it. He +found himself compelled to look at the young man. He was a +fine-looking, slender youth and had no trace of a beard. With his +feminine features the only sign of the man was his independent +bearing. Apafi was pleased with him. + +"What is the name of your son-in-law?" he asked Teleki. + +The latter answered with a peculiar smile: + +"Emerich Tököli, son of Stephen Tököli." + +At mention of this name Apafi grew serious and said: + +"Your father was a good friend of mine." But he did not offer him his +hand. + +"I know that," replied the young man, "and for that reason I sought +your Highness." + +"If only he had not been such a disturber of the peace. It is well +that you have not followed his counsel. I remember well the contest +between the defeated and half-crazed David Zolyomi. Both had married +daughters of Bethlen, who had received as dowry in common the castle +of Bajda-Hunyad; one had one-half, and one the other; after the two +men had taken counsel together they gathered their servants in their +respective castle-yards, began battle and shot at each other from the +opposite windows; both had a great love for war. Your father was in +battle just before his death. In the very hour of death he needed the +thunder of cannon and the tumult of the siege. It is well that you are +not like him. You look gentle." + +"That is praise undeserved," said Tököli, proudly. "I too was in the +stormed castle and defended it until my father fell." + +Apafi heard this with displeasure. However he wished to show interest +in the youth and so after a pause he asked: + +"And how did you happen to save yourself?" + +At that Emerich turned red and did not answer at once. + +Teleki told the truth as if excusing the youthful fire of the young +man. + +"He is so young that in woman's clothes he easily escaped the notice +of the besiegers." + +This amusing explanation put Apafi in good humor again. He stroked the +bright red cheeks of the boy and motioned to Teleki to introduce the +rest of the men. They were all of them Hungarian fugitives. The Prince +exerted himself to meet them kindly. Just then an official entered and +announced, + +"His Excellency, the ambassador of France wishes to be admitted." + +Evident confusion came over Apafi. He drew Teleki to him and whispered +in his ear, + +"I will not, I cannot receive him. Go out and speak with him and +explain the matter to him." + +Apafi slipped quickly out of the reception-room, rejoiced that this +time he had rolled off the burden on Teleki. However he stood and +listened at the door thinking that there might be some sudden outbreak +after his back was turned. And something did happen, though not of a +character to make one's hair stand on end. The ambassador uttered a +jovial laugh, and with that all in the room burst out laughing as if +at a word of command. + +"Something strange must have happened," thought Apafi, "to force these +men to such offensive laughter," and he opened the door part way. But +he could not fully open the door, for the learned Passai, renowned for +his gravity, had fallen into such a fit of laughter that he leaned +against the door of the private office. + +"Let me in, Passai," said the curious Prince; and when the door was +opened the cause of the general laughter became clear. The worthy +minister stood in the middle of the room clad in Hungarian costume. +You cannot imagine anything more comical! the good man, aside from the +fact that he was quite stout, was smooth-shaven and wore always a +friendly smile; but this unusual costume gave him an appearance so +ridiculous that only a Hungarian can appreciate it. Everybody knows +that the Magyar costume for men shows the figure very plainly. Then +too the worthy Frenchman moved about so helplessly in his tight hose +and spurred boots that it seemed as if he might lose his footing any +moment. He had forgotten to put on his scarf, which added to the +comical effect of his costume, his long curled wig, making him look +for all the world like a lion, and his round hat with a long heron's +feather completed his droll appearance. Apafi saw no reason why he +should not join in the laughter. + +With the French ease in mingling jest and earnest the ambassador +tripped up to him and said, + +"Your Highness, you have so many times refused me admittance that the +idea occurred to me that perhaps I did not come in appropriate +costume, and as your Highness sees, results have proved the wisdom of +the idea for now that I have approached you in Hungarian costume I +have been so fortunate as to see you." + +"Parbleu!" replied Apafi, with difficulty, suppressing his desire to +laugh. "I am always glad to see you. The only condition I impose is +that politics shall not enter into our conversations. But you have no +sash, and without the sash the Hungarian costume is as incomplete as +the French costume without culottes." + +Saying this the Prince took a jeweled sash and himself fastened it +about the figure of the ambassador. + +"And what does this mean? who told you to stick your handkerchief in +your trousers? only a haiduk does that, a nobleman puts his in his +calpac. But what a fine handkerchief that is of yours!" + +"Is it not a beauty?" + +"It is, indeed, with its silk wreaths and gold and silver embroidery +around the hem. Paris alone can furnish the like." + +"But the truth is it was made in Transylvania." + +"Incredible!" + +"And what is more in Ebesfalva." + +Apafi looked at the Reverend gentleman in astonishment. + +"And I am not to know the skilful hands that busy themselves in this +way!" + +"Your Highness does know them. The name of the maker is in one corner +of the handkerchief embroidered in beautiful Gothic letters." + +Apafi looked at each corner of the handkerchief in turn; no two were +embroidered alike; in one was a wreath of oak leaves, in one a trophy, +in the third a Turkish, a Hungarian and a French sword fastened +together with a ribbon, in the fourth under a Prince's crown was +embroidered the name Apafi. + +The Prince read the name aloud. The bystanders looked at him timidly +expecting an outburst of anger. To the astonishment of all a smile +played over the Prince's lips; he put the handkerchief in the Reverend +gentleman's hat, put this on the ambassador's head, and said with very +good humor: + +"So you have succeeded in winning over my wife?" + +The minister laughed at the ambiguous joke. + +"But you will not win me," added Apafi, laughing. + +The minister bowed low; then held his head erect and said +significantly: + +"Those mightier than I will accomplish it." + +At this moment the door opened and a servant announced: + +"Her Highness Anna Bornemissa, wife of Apafi, wishes to be admitted to +the presence of the Prince." + +Apafi looked at Teleki. + +"This is your work." + +Teleki answered calmly: "At your service, Highness." + +"Did you bring the ambassador to the Princess?" + +"Even so, Highness." + +"Then it was you who advised him to appear in this masquerade that he +might the more readily draw me out." + +"That too was my work, your Highness." + +"A very foolish plan on your part, Michael Teleki." + +"That remains to be proved, your Highness," thought his minister, in +proud consciousness of his clever superiority. + +Madame Apafi entered the room. Her bearing was princely as was her +dress. The gentlemen present vied with each other in greeting her. +Apafi stepped quickly toward her, drew her arm within his and +endeavored with marked consideration to take her to his private room. + +"Let us stay here," said the Princess. "It is time enough to look at +your Dutch clocks later; at present there are more serious affairs +before us; the gentlemen from Hungary are waiting for a hearing." + +"I know already what they wish, and have said that I will not hear +anything more on the subject." + +"Then you will listen to me. Yes, to me. I too am a Hungarian and make +supplication to the Prince of Transylvania for help in the name of my +Fatherland. That it may not be said that I influenced the Prince's +will in secret, I have come here publicly before his throne and +beseech him for protection for Hungary, whose sons are called +strangers here in Transylvania where her daughter is the princess." + +It was evident to all that Apafi would have much preferred to listen +to men rather than to his wife, but he was caught this time. She stood +before him as a suppliant, and there was no way of escape. Teleki +ordered the pages outside not to give admittance to any one else. +Apafi sat in an armchair in feverish excitement, and listened to the +words of his wife. But before Anna could begin her speech the rattling +of a coach was heard in the courtyard, and shortly after came the +sound of decided footsteps through the corridor, and an imperious +voice familiar to all inquired if the Prince was within. + +When the page attempted to stand in his way a still more authoritative +voice called, "Out of the way, boy." At the same time Dionysius Banfy +pushed his way into the room. He was just as he had alighted from his +carriage. His cheeks were redder than usual and his eyes blazed; he +went directly to the Prince and said without preliminaries: + +"Do not listen to these men, your Highness, do not listen to a word +they say." + +The Prince greeted Banfy with a smile and the words, "Welcome, +kinsman." + +"Pardon, your Highness, that in my haste I forgot to greet you; but +when I heard that these Hungarians had gained audience here I was +beside myself. What do you want?" he went on, turning to the Hungarian +nobleman. "It is not enough for them that they have brought their own +country to ruin by their restlessness; they would like to drag ours +down too." + +"You speak of us," said Teleki, with cold scorn, "as if we belonged +to some Tartar race and had been driven here from God knows what +strange, savage country." + +"On the contrary, I have spoken of you, my lords, as people who from +the very first have by your restlessness involved Transylvania in a +course leading to destruction. The Hungarians are, to a man, stupid." + +"I beg you not to forget that I too"--said Madame Apafi. + +"It is with no pleasure that I see the will of your Highness is +authority here." + +Madame Apafi turned to her brother-in-law in injured pride: + +"I shall not for that reason cease to remain your well-wishing +relative," and with these words she left the room. + +"You might have spoken to the Prince more becomingly," said Teleki, +sharply, to the great lord. + +"What have I said to the Prince, as yet?" asked Banfy, shrugging his +shoulders. "I cannot get anywhere near him with you in the way. So +far, I have only spoken against those, and shall continue to speak +against those who have absolutely no right to stand at the foot of the +throne. I mean you too, Michael Teleki. I know very well why you have +this Hungarian campaign so much at heart. It is not enough for you to +stand first after the Prince in Transylvania, you would like to be +Palatine of Hungary as well. What a delusion you are cherishing! The +French promise help to Hungary. Hungary promises Teleki the +Palatinate. Teleki promises Apafi a crown; and all are lying, and all +are going to deceive one another." + +"My lord," replied Teleki, bitterly, "is it allowed to speak so to +guests, to kinsmen who are unfortunate and in exile?" + +"Nobody need instruct me in magnanimity," replied Banfy, proudly. +"Guest and fugitive have always found refuge with me; and if these +fugitives wish us to share our home, our fatherland with them, here is +my hand; I receive them to a share. But in the same way in which I +should have the sense to forbid my guests to set fire to the house +over my head, so do I protest against setting fire to the country. And +if they do not stop trying to disturb the peace once more prospering +in our country I will use every means to have them driven out." + +"These words need not surprise us," said Teleki in bitter satire, +turning to the noblemen, "My gracious lord has been of late years +pardoned by the Prince. Before that time he was in arms against us." + +Apafi sat uneasily. "Have done with this quarreling. You are +dismissed. As you see my counsellors are in opposition and without +them I can do nothing." + +"We will bring it before the Diet," said Teleki, solemnly. + +The Prince withdrew, greatly annoyed, to his private room, and the +lords went out the other door. + +Banfy looked at him proudly as he went away and then straightened his +fur cap. + +"My good standing is at an end," he said mockingly as he went away. + +Teleki looked after him coldly. When all had gone Teleki whispered a +few words to a page, who went away and soon came back with a +curly-haired blonde youth. + +It seems as if we had already seen this young man at some time, but +for so short a time that we cannot at once recall him. Over his warm +dress hung a beggar's pouch, and in his hand was a knotted stick. + +"So at last you allow me to come into the presence of the Prince," he +said in a somewhat imperious tone to Teleki. + +"Take your place here at the door," replied the minister. "The Prince +will soon pass on his way to dinner; you may then speak with him." + +The young man with the beggar's pouch sat for a long time at the +Prince's door, until Apafi finally appeared and the beggar placed +himself at once in his way. + +"Who are you?" asked the Prince astonished. + +"I am the ransomed knight Emerich Balassa, who was once named among +Hungary's most influential men, and who now stands before your +Highness with a beggar's staff." + +"You were concerned in that conspiracy, I believe," said Apafi, who +appeared unpleasantly affected by the scene. + +"I was not, your Highness. If you will deign to listen to my story"-- + +"Tell it." + +"As you well know there was once in Hungary a notorious Turkish +robber-knight, by name Corsar Bey, who for a long time laid waste the +upper country and whom the united powers of the counties could not +succeed in bringing under control, in his rocky fortress. This man I +caught by stratagem and in such a manner as to win over to my side his +favorite. Under pretext of an apparition she enticed him alone outside +the castle. I was duly informed, fell upon him with my men who had +been concealed in the forest, and took him captive with his favorite, +one of the most beautiful and unprincipled of women." + +"I have already heard the story, Balassa. That was a worthy deed." + +"Then hear the rest, your Highness. No sooner was the news of the +capture spread abroad than the Palatine demanded of me most +emphatically to give over my prisoners to him. The Turks had already +offered me sixteen thousand ducats for the two, but I would not let +them go at any price and sent word to the Palatine that if he wished +to call a Bey his own, he must crawl out from behind his wife's shadow +and catch one for himself. I had caught mine for my own use." + +Apafi laughed loudly. "You gave him the right answer." + +"At that the Palatine became angry and by the Emperor's command sent +troops against me who were to take my prisoners by force. His +Excellency your brother-in-law, Dionysius Banfy, had at that time +found refuge in my house and I introduced to him this woman who had +completely befooled me. He was to flee with her to my castle, Ecsed. +But when I saw that the Palatine interfered with every attempt of mine +to deliver Corsar Bey over to the Turks for the offered ransom, and +yet all he wanted of him was to cut his head off like any other +freebooter's, I gave the Turk poison, which he took gratefully for the +sake of escaping justice. Then when the Palatine's troops came they +found only the dead body which the Turks took off my hands for a +thousand ducats." + +"Naturally the Palatine was angry with you for that," said Apafi. + +"I had good cause to be angry with him, for I had lost fifteen +thousand ducats by him; yet he succeeded in getting a writ of arrest +against me from the minister. I scented it in time and got together my +valuables, intending to flee to Transylvania until the affair had +been forgotten. Then I hurried to my castle Ecsed where, as I have +said, Banfy had been sent before me with the Turkish woman. On the way +I learned that Banfy had been pardoned by your Highness and restored +to his former position. I rejoiced not a little that in him I should +find a powerful protector here. Imagine my astonishment when I reached +Ecsed to find the woman gone without a trace, and I learned from my +castle warden that Banfy had taken her with him and left a letter for +me. In the letter was written: 'My friend: Learn from this that a man +should never trust another with his horse, his watch, nor his love.'" + +"What!" cried Apafi. "Is that the truth?" + +"Your Excellency can see his writing," replied Balassa, and drew from +his pouch the letter referred to. "The woman must be hid somewhere in +his forest of Banfy-Hunyad, I suppose." + +"That is monstrous!" said Apafi, glowing with anger. "Can a man with +such a beautiful, noble wife, my own wife's sister, so far forget his +duty as husband! I'll not forgive him that." + +"Pardon me, your Highness, I have nothing more to do with Banfy. My +complaint is now urgently directed against Kapi." + +"What have you against him? It is unheard-of to have so beautiful a +wife and yet keep a Turkish slave woman!" + +"This Kapi was the man who had the use of my Transylvania estates. I +determined to know nothing more of Banfy and immediately took up my +quarters with Kapi in his castle of Aranyos. Of the splendor displayed +by this man I had never had the least idea before, although all my +life I had been to the courts of Palatines and Princes in no small +number. His wife did not put her foot to the ground, but was carried +to the very gate in a gilded chair, and she never wore the same gown +twice." + +"What have I to do with Madame Kapi's finery?" + +"I am coming to the point. It is just because of this finery that her +husband is compelled to resort to all kinds of trickery to satisfy the +wishes of his lady. Furthermore your Highness is concerned, for such +immoderate luxury only makes the contrast the more striking between +the simplicity of your Excellency's court life and the insolent +splendor of these small kings. And it carries its impression with the +strangers who so frequently visit us; the effect of it is already +felt; for when the Bavarian ambassador came recently to Aranyos from +Ebesfalva I heard him say in flattering tones to Madame Kapi that she +was the real Princess of Transylvania." + +"Did he say that?" said the Prince, beginning to take great interest +in the affair. "Go on with your story. Did he say that Kapi's wife was +the real Princess?" + +"In point of beauty and bearing she is not worthy to tie the shoe of +her Highness, the Princess Apafi, if you were to strip her of the +costly jewels that she wears in such numbers she can hardly move." + +"Go on, go on." + +"Now Kapi informed me one fine day that your Excellency had received +command from the Palatine to have me arrested and delivered over." + +"I-- received command-- I never heard a word of it!" + +"Unfortunately I believed the story, and thinking that I stood between +two fires saw no way of escape except to give over to Kapi my +Transylvania estates to prevent their falling into the public +treasury. In return for this he gave me a written promise that I +should have the property back again as soon as I was in a position to +receive it. I then determined to flee to Poland during the period of +danger. Kapi gave me two guides who were to lead me over the mountains +to the frontier, and at the time he sent word secretly to the guard on +the frontier that I was a spy sent by the Roman Emperor, who had been +finding out the affairs of Transylvania and would now like to get back +unseen. These rascals stopped me on the way, robbed me of all my money +and papers, and dragged me off to Karlsburg. There, it is true my +innocence was proved, but my money and my papers were lost. And now +Kapi asserts that I had actually sold him all my property and had +nothing left but this leather pouch." + +"Be comforted," replied the angered Prince. "I will give you full +satisfaction." + +"Your Highness owes it to his own authority," replied Balassa, by way +of urging on the Prince. "These nobles act as arbitrarily as if there +were nobody in authority over them." + +"Do not be disturbed. I will soon prove to them that there is a Prince +in Transylvania." Apafi left the audience room very much excited. + +Over the heads of two powerful men who stood in Teleki's way, the +storm was already threatening. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE LIEUTENANT OF THE ROUNDS + + +Clement put his pen behind his ear and read over the beautiful verses +he had just written. There were two hundred stanzas all ending in +"was," except one that ended in "were." + +As Apafi always repented if he had hurt anybody's feelings, so in the +case of the traveling student Clement, he did not rest until he had +made up to him for the disgrace inflicted. And this he did by making +the inoffensive poet Lieutenant of the Rounds. + +In those days there were many duties connected with this office, all +of which Clement calmly let slip while he wrote chronicles and epics +in abundance. Now his glance rested upon an epic in which he had +related the victory of Apafi at Neuhaüsel. This poetic musing had so +engrossed Clement's power of thought that an entire week had passed +since his serving-man had run away carrying off his master's spurred +boots, and he had not yet pursued the faithless servant in spite of +his office as Lieutenant of the Rounds. He kept persistently going +around in the same circle; when he looked for his boots, he remembered +that his servant had stolen them, and when he started to go after his +servant he became aware that he had no boots. Under these +circumstances where could he make a beginning! So he set himself down +and wrote verses without end. + +His room had not been swept for a week, so there was no lack of dust +and cobwebs, beside the ink spots on the floor all around the table. +This table had only two legs, the other two being replaced by piles of +tiles. + +The poet wrote, scratched out, and chewed the end of his pen. On the +window-sill lay a piece of bread and some cheese and it occurred to +the poet that this food was intended for his consumption. But first he +must use the ink in his pen; before this was finished, a second, +third, and fourth thought had crowded on the first; meantime three +mice had come out of a chink, sported about the tempting morsel and +then gnawed away until there was nothing left. After which they had +glided back to their holes. + +The poet had worked the Pegasus harnessed to his plow until his senses +were gone. When he finally roused himself and looked for his bread and +cheese he discovered that only crumbs were left, concluded that he had +already eaten and imagined that he was satisfied; so he set himself +down again and went on with his poetry. While he was subduing the +flesh in this way, there was a scratching at the door; somebody +rattled the hinge evidently mistaking it for the latch, and naturally +could not open the door. This noise rudely frightened Clement from his +poetic thought. When he had called out several times to no purpose +that the door was not locked he found himself obliged to rise and open +it to prevent the visitor from breaking the latch or taking off the +hinge. + +There stood a Wallachian with a sealed letter in his hand. He seemed +to be much frightened when the door opened, although that was the +fulfilment of his wishes. + +"What is it?" said Clement, becoming angry when the peasant did not +speak. + +The Wallachian raised his round eyebrows, looked at the poet with +wide-opened eyes and asked: "Are you the man who lies for money?" + +In this choice language the Wallachian described the office of our +Clement. His veins swelled with anger. "Whose ox are you?" he +thundered at the Wallachian. + +"The gracious lord's who sent this letter," answered the peasant, +slily. + +"What is his name?" asked Clement, furiously, and tore the letter from +the Wallachian's hand. + +"Gracious lord is what he is called." + +Clement opened the letter and read: "Come at once to me where the +bearer will lead you." + +Clement was already raging, but now the thought that he had been +summoned somewhere and had no boots made him beside himself. + +"Go," he shouted to the Wallachian. "Tell your lord whoever he is, +that it is no farther from him to me, than from me to him. If he +wishes to speak with me let him take the trouble to come here." + +"I understand, Dumnye Macska." In his terror the peasant had called +Clement by the name used by the peasants for the Lieutenant of the +Rounds, and at once he hurried out of the room. + +Clement drew himself up with a great effort in his high-backed chair, +and placed two large books on the floor before him that his visitor +should not notice that he was barefooted. + +Heavy footsteps were soon heard on the street before the house, and +when he looked from the window he saw to his great dismay that his +visitor was no other than Count Ladislaus Csaki, attended by two +Hungarian foot-soldiers with gold lacings. + +"Now, Clement," said the poet to himself, "maintain your dignity. It +is true he is a Count and a distinguished man, but one who has fallen +into disfavor with the Prince while you are in his favor, and besides +that are in an official position." So he hid his feet under the books, +placed his pen between his lips and bade Csaki come in. He did not +even rise at his entrance. Csaki appeared displeased at this +reception. + +"You know how to maintain your official dignity," he said to Clement. + +"What I am, I am, thanks to the favor of the Prince," he replied, with +affectation, and folded his arms proudly. + +"I have come to you only at the bidding of the Prince. His Highness +has intrusted me with a very delicate affair in which I need your +help. The affair must be managed with the utmost secrecy and for that +reason I could have wished that you should come to me." + +At this explanation Clement suddenly lost his insolent manner. + +"I beg your pardon," he stammered confusedly and with head humbly +bowed. "I did not know-- I pray you be seated." + +But as the chair in which he sat was the only specimen of the kind in +the room, he jumped up to make room for the Count, and in so doing +displayed his feet without their customary covering, at which Csaki +burst into a hearty laugh. + +"What the devil does this mean, Lieutenant," he exclaimed. "Are you +like the Turks who take off their boots in excess of reverence?" + +"I beg your pardon. I have not taken them off but they were stolen +from me by my servant while I slept. This was my only reason for +making your Grace such a rude reply. But I dare hope that your Grace +has already pardoned me." + +Csaki's good-humor was only increased by this explanation. + +"Certainly, if that is all, we will relieve your distress at once," he +said. And he ordered the soldier waiting without to bring his own +dress boots in the carriage box for the Lieutenant. + +Clement was just opening his lips to make some objections--the favor +shown him was too great--when he caught sight of the boots; they +pleased him greatly, for they were made of royal green morocco, +stitched with gold threads, trimmed on each side with broad gold +fringe and finished with enameled spurs. + +"Put them on quickly," said Csaki to the Lieutenant. "You must be on +your way at once without delay." + +Clement took one of the boots by the two straps and began to draw it +on, first looking in with a satisfied smile, but it was no small task +for Csaki wore a very narrow cavalier's boot. Clement, on the other +hand, moved on moderately large feet, so that he had to begin from the +very beginning as many as three times and give it up from the very +beginning as many times, thoroughly tired before he succeeded in +getting his foot into the leg of the boot; in these exertions he +worked his eyes and mouth so that Ladislaus Csaki had to put his head +out of the window, he was so overcome with laughter. Then he came to +the heel and there he stuck; he seized the foot gear firmly by both +straps and began to stamp himself into it, thumping about the room in +this bent position and groaning loudly at every push, till his eyes +stood out and the perspiration ran down his face, before he had worked +his way into the first boot. The same difficulties attended the second +boot; but after he had used six-horse power to get his foot into this +insufficient space he looked at his shining tight boots with a glow of +satisfaction, though they were not in perfect harmony with the rest of +his dusty, greasy, ink-spotted clothing. + +"Now listen carefully to what I tell you," said Csaki, seating himself +on the only chair with an air of authority, while the student still +standing, lifted first one foot and then the other and his face turned +green and blue with pain, for the boots began to make havoc with his +corns. + +"When did you make your last circuit?" + +"I don't remember exactly." + +"But you ought to know. Why did you not make a note of it? The Prince +wishes you to set out at once and make your round without delay, +paying special attention to the districts lying between Torocko, +Banfy-hunyad, and Bonczida; in addition to the usual questions you are +to add this one, Has anybody seen any foreign animals in the +surrounding woods?" + +"'Foreign animals,'" repeated mechanically the doleful official. + +"And if anywhere you receive the reply that such have been seen, you +are to go through that locality and examine carefully until you get +track of them." + +"I beg your pardon, but what kind of animals will they be?" asked the +student, timorously. + +"Oh, have no fear, it is neither a seven-headed dragon nor a minotaur. +At the worst a young panther." + +"Panther"--stammered Clement in terror. + +"You are not expected to catch him," said Csaki, consolingly. "You are +to hunt out where he stays and then let us know." + +"Suppose that beast of prey, whose presence in Transylvania I doubt +greatly, should happen to be in the territory of Dionysius Banfy, what +shall I do then?" + +"Follow him up." + +"I beg your pardon, but his territory is baronial, where my authority +does not extend." + +"Don't be such a simpleton, Clement," said Csaki. "I did not say, did +I, that you were to go with an armed guard? The entire expedition must +be kept a secret. You and your guide alone are to get track of the +beast. We have positive information that he is somewhere in this +vicinity. Now a careful investigation is demanded of your skill. The +rest will be given over to more fearless workers." + +The entire mission seemed to Clement a very strange one, but he did +not dare make any objection, and bowed with a deep sigh. + +"Above everything else, skill, speed, secrecy. These are the three +things that I recommend to your especial consideration." + +"I will set out at once, gracious lord, only I must borrow a horse +somewhere first, so I shall not ruin these fine boots with walking." + +"That would delay matters. You must not exert yourself about a horse; +one of my servants shall give up his and you can mount that. Don't +forget to think of his fodder, so that you will bring him back +something besides skin and bones." + +So much kindness fairly bewildered Clement. In all haste he strapped +on his traveling bag and his rusty sword; and after he had put in the +first a roll of parchment, a pen, and a bottle of ink, declared +himself ready. + +"That is a light traveling bag of yours," said Csaki. + +"'Integer vitae, scelerisque purus, non eget Mauri jaculis, neque +arcu,'" replied the philosopher, with a quotation from Horace, and, +the reins being handed him, made ready to mount. + +But when the spirited steed noticed that the philosophical student had +put one foot in the stirrup he began to kick and circle round, +compelling the poet to jump round on one foot until the laughing +servant seized the horse by the bridle and helped the inoffensive +rider to mount. But as he had long legs and the soldiers had +shortened the stirrups, he had to stoop on his horse as if it were a +camel. + +Once more Ladislaus Csaki called after him not to forget his +injunctions, at which the poet unintentionally struck spurs to his +horse and galloped madly away over the stones. Coat, sword and +traveling bag flew about the unhappy rider. He held fast to the front +and back of the saddle and rode on amid the laughter of the villagers +of Torocko, who sat in groups in front of their houses. + +First the Lieutenant took the road to Gross-Schlatten. Formerly when +he had a servant, the servant constituted his retinue. But now for +lack of a servant he was compelled to go from town to town in +solitude, following the directions of the village magnate. As he was +trotting through a defile he noticed in a thicket a group seated about +a fire. At first he thought it was a party of gypsies, until +approaching nearer he discovered to his great horror that they were +Tartars who were roasting an ox and sat around it in a circle. To turn +around was not advisable for the way led straight past the Tartars +sunning themselves, so Clement decided it was best to act as if he had +no fear, and trotted calmly past the staring group. He pretended to be +counting with greatest interest the fruit beside the road, and when he +was quite near took off his hat as if he noticed them for the first +time, murmured hurriedly, "Salem Aleikum," and rode on without looking +behind. So far, so good; but at this moment up jumped two Tartars and +shouted after the rider to stop. When Clement saw that the two were +running toward him without any weapons, he thought perhaps they had no +intention of murder and waited for them. But when the two dark-faced +creatures came near, they seized the rider between them, caught hold +of his legs and gave evidence of no less intentions than to strip him +of his fine boots. + +"A curse upon your soul!" shouted the furious Clement, laid hold of +his rusty sword and tried to draw it and cut off one of their ears. +But the good blade had not been drawn from its scabbard for ten years +and was so rusted that, in spite of all his efforts, Clement could not +draw it out. Meantime the two Tartars pulled the struggling rider this +way and that by his legs and naturally did not succeed in getting off +the tight boots. The Tartars berated Clement, and Clement berated the +Tartars. The uproar brought the Aga, a man with a figure like an +orang-outang, his brown features framed by a white beard, who inquired +hoarsely what was the matter. + +Clement drew out his warrant of authority and showed it to the Aga in +silence, for rage stifled his voice, while the two Tartars explained +something in a foreign tongue, with angry gestures, and pointed to his +green boots. + +"Who are you, crooked-nosed unbeliever," inquired the Aga, "that you +dare wear light-green, the sacred color of the prophets, that the +faithful use only for the dances of their temples and the turban of +the Padisha, and that too on your boots that go through the mud? May +you be burned alive, you godless giaour!" + +"I am the lieutenant reconnoitering in the service of his Excellency, +Michael Apafi," declaimed the former student, with pathetic distress. +"My person is sacred and inviolable. I am the man who provides the +armies of the Sultan with food and drink. I impose the taxes. Let me +go for I am a very important personage." + +This manner of defense pleased the Tartars. The Aga gave his subjects +a tacit sign that meant this was the very man they wanted, and then +began to speak to him in a more friendly tone. + +"You said that it was your business to announce the taxes. My lord, +Ali Pasha of Nagy Varad, has just sent me here to announce a new tax, +so I have met you at the right moment although it is nothing for you +to do; it will, however, be a sensible thing for you to give this out +at the same time." + +"I will do so with pleasure," said Clement, eager to get away. + +"Wait a moment," said the Aga, motioning to him. "You do not know yet +how high the tax is to be. The whole amount is a mere trifle; it is +imposed only so that they may recognize our authority. The tax is only +a penny a head. That is not much, is it?" + +"No indeed," said Clement, agreeing that he might get away the more +quickly. + +"Don't hurry off," said the Aga, checking his haste. "I should be +sorry to see that you did not carry out this order of mine. But as you +would not consider it any perjury not to keep a promise given to us I +will send one of my good men with you, who shall accompany you from +village to village and see that you make the proclamation about the +tax." + +"By all means, your Grace," said Clement, hoping to get rid of the man +in the next village. + +"Mount, Zulfikar," said the Aga, to one of his men. + +The man spoken to was a lean fellow with an evil, squinting glance. +Although he was as dirty as the rest, his features showed that he did +not belong to the same race, and if we paid close attention to so +unimportant individuals, we might remember that we had already seen +him somewhere. + +"One thing more," said the Aga to Clement, eager to get off at any +price. "As soon as you get home lay aside those green boots, for if I +should see them on your feet again you would get five hundred stripes +on the soles of your feet, that you would keep until your wedding +day." + +Clement agreed to everything in his joy to get away at last, and +trotted off toward Gross-Schlatten. His Tartar comrade rode faithfully +by his side. From time to time the Lieutenant gave a side glance at +his companion and then looked away quickly, for as the Turk was +cross-eyed Clement never felt sure which way he was looking. And all +the time he was considering how easily he could dupe the Tartar, a +thought that made him smile to himself, blink and nod with +satisfaction. + +"You will not play any tricks on me, Lieutenant," said the Tartar, +unexpectedly, and in the best of Hungarian, evidently reading these +thoughts on his face. + +Clement almost fell off his horse with fear, unable to comprehend what +fiend he could be to read a man's thoughts on his face, and speak +Hungarian in spite of being a Tartar. + +"You need not rack your brains any more about me," said the Turk, +calmly. "I am a Hungarian deserter once in the service of Emerich +Balassa. I helped seize and imprison Corsar Bey, and when the +Hungarians began to pursue me for it I turned Turk. Now with the +Prophet's aid I shall yet be Pasha, so don't exert yourself to get +the better of me, for be assured you are dealing with an old fox." + +Clement scratched his head in perplexity, and attended by the +deserter, much against his will concluded his official questions with +the announcement of the penny tax which the people all received with +so much favor that most of them paid it over to the Tartar at once. + +But nobody had seen anything of the panther; and had it not been for +their respect for the green boots with their trimmings they would +probably have laughed in his face when the Lieutenant put that +question. + +There was still one small Wallachian village, Marisel, far away in the +mountains. Beyond that began the territorial jurisdiction of Banfy, +and the Lieutenant's authority was at an end. There too the deserter +followed him. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +SANGA-MOARTA + + +The Lieutenant and his comrade had already been more than twelve hours +in the wilderness of Batrina on their way to Marisel. Clement asked +everybody he met if the village were not near, always receiving the +same answer that it was still some distance farther. Now and then they +met a Wallachian peasant with an ox-team; the man shouting to his lazy +beasts, trying to goad them into a quicker gait. Then there was a pool +to wade through, where a half-naked, picturesque company of gypsies +washing the gold out of the sand, stared at the questioning strangers +like wild beasts. Sometimes along the road there would be the picture +of a saint in the mossy hollow of a tree, with only the dull gilding +left of the weather-beaten paint. In the natural niche there would be +the pomana,--a pitcher of spring water which some young Wallachian +girl, as an act of piety, had placed there for thirsty travelers. + +The way led them through valleys and over heights, and the greater +part of their way they had to lead their horses by the bridle instead +of riding. On all sides was the forest, tall, slender beeches mingled +with dark green firs. + +In one place they came to a fork of the roads; one way led along the +valley and the other to the top of a bald, steep mountain with +out-jetting cliff. + +"Which way now?" said Clement. "I have never been so far." + +"Take the traveled road," replied Zulfikar. "Only a fool would climb +this steep height. It probably leads to some foundry." + +Clement looked doubtfully around him. Suddenly he caught sight of a +man seated on the rock overhanging the road. He was a young Wallachian +with white face and long curling hair; his leather coat was open on +his breast and his cap lay beside him on the ground. There he sat, +bent over on the edge of the high cliff dangling his feet in the air, +with his stony face in his hands gazing out into the distance. + +"Ho there!" cried Clement, and in a mixture of Hungarian, Latin, and +Wallachian asked, "Which way does this road go?" + +The Wallachian did not seem to hear the cry. He remained in the same +position, staring fixedly. + +"He is either deaf or dead," said Zulfikar, when they had both shouted +at him in vain. "We had better follow the regular road." + +And they set off on a trot. The Wallachian did not even look after +them. Evening was near and the way to Marisel had no end. It went from +valley to valley, never once passing a human habitation. The rocks in +the way and the streams crossing at different points made it almost +impassable. At last in one part of the forest a column of fire rose +before them and the sound of singing fell on their ears. As they came +nearer they saw the fire of a pyre built up of whole tree-trunks, in a +spot shaded by trees the foliage of which was scorched by the flames. +Near this was a crowd of Wallachians leaping wildly with violent +gestures; at the same time they beat the ground with long clubs and +seemed to be treading letters into the ground, waving their arms +frantically, while they howled out verses that were formulated +imprecations, as if they were driving out some kind of evil spirit. A +circle of young women danced round the men. The lovely creatures, with +their black hair interwoven with ribbons and jewels, their +flower-embroidered dresses, pleated neckerchiefs, broad-striped +aprons, gold earrings, necklaces of silver coins and high-heeled red +boots, formed an agreeable contrast to the wild, defiant-looking men, +with their high cocked hats on the heavy shocks of hair, their +sunburned necks, greasy waistcoats and broad girdles. The dance and +the songs were also strange. The women circled in and out among their +husbands, raising a mournful wail, while the men stamped on the +ground and joined in with yells of triumph. The fire threw a red light +and dark shadows over the wild group. On a tree stump beyond sat an +old piper, and from a goatskin drew forth monotonous tones that +mingled with the song in wild discord. When the fire was burned down +to ashes the dancers suddenly separated, dragged out the figure of a +woman stuffed with straw and dressed in rags, laid it on two poles and +carried it to the fire crying wildly in Hungarian, "Tuesday +evening,[1] Tuesday evening!" and repeated three times, "Burn to +ashes, you accursed witch of Tuesday evening!" Then they threw it into +the glowing coals and the women danced round with cries of joy until +the effigy was entirely burned, while the men leaped about with wild +shouts. + +[Footnote 1: On this day superstition assigns peculiar power to the +witches.] + +"Who are you? And what are you doing here?" called out Clement, who +had until then escaped their notice. + +"We live in Marisel and have burned up Tuesday evening," they answered +with one voice and with earnest look as if they had accomplished +something very sensible. + +"Get through with it quickly and come to your village, for I am here +at the command of the Prince to ask some lawful questions." + +"And I," said Zulfikar, "at the command of the mighty Pasha of Nagy +Varad, to impose a new tax." + +The Wallachians looked after the Lieutenant in silence until he +vanished from their sight, and then said with clenched fists: + +"May Tuesday evening carry him off!" And then they moved off with the +bagpiper at their head singing as they went to the village. + + * * * * * + +It was a small straggling Wallachian village into which the Lieutenant +rode with his comrade. One house was just like another; mud huts with +high roofs, projecting rafters, and enclosed within quick set hedges. +The doors were so low that one must stoop to enter. Every house +consisted of a single room in which the entire family lived, together +with hens and goats. + +At the entrance to the village was a large triumphal arch of stone, +and over the main gate was the torso of a Minerva. In front were +figures of a battle finely cut, and underneath an inscription in large +letters in Latin: "This town the invincible Trojan had built in memory +of his triumph." Behind this were miserable mud huts. + +Before a house of mourning on the capital of a fallen Corinthian +column sat Prefika, the oldest of the old women of the village, +weeping paid tears over the corpse of the young woman on the bier +within. + +In front of a grass-grown hill was a grand stone building. In former +times it might have been a temple erected to the memory of some Roman +hero, but now the Wallachian villagers had made it their church, +covering the temple with a pointed roof and spoiling the interior with +dreadful paintings. For lack of any other public place the Lieutenant +called the people together in this church. The setting sun through the +round panes, lighted up strangely the interior of this old building +with its walls covered from top to bottom with hideous pictures of +saints, whom the monstrous fancies of peasant artists had clad in red +cloaks and spurred boots. Among the many pictures was the well-known +allegory which represents Death dragging off a king, a beggar and a +priest. And scattered among the pictures of the saints were those +representing devils with tongues outstretched, holding sinners by the +hair of the head. Behind the altar stood the village priest and the +Lieutenant. + +When Clement had read aloud to the people his warrant of authority he +called up the village magnate and asked him these questions: + +"Are there any wizards or sorcerers among you who can call on the +devil for help?" + +At this question there was a timid whispering throughout the company, +and after a long pause the priest answered: + +"In former years, great and good lord, there was a godless reprobate +in our midst who had liver spots on his neck and body; since these are +sent by the devil, they did not pain him, even if they were burned +with hot coals. We sent him before the Council at Weissenburg, and as +he could not stand the test of water he was burned to death." + +"Are there any among you who are witches, vampires, people who can +harm the children of others, go through the air, turn milk red, hatch +out serpents' eggs or find grasses that open locks; or, in short, know +how to do anything supernatural?" + +To this question there were a hundred answers at once. Everybody +strove to tell the questioner his experiences. The young married women +in particular crowded about the Lieutenant. + +"One at a time," said the Lieutenant, authoritatively. "The judge +shall tell what he knows." + +"Yes, there was an old witch in the village," said the judge, slily, +"we called her Dainitza. For a long time she practiced her evil among +us, for her eyes were red. When she chose she could bring on a storm, +so that the wind would take the roofs off. Once when she went out to +get a hail storm the lightning struck the village in three places. At +that the women grew furious, caught her and threw her in the pool. But +even there the witch still cried out, 'Take care, you will yet ask me +for the water, that you are now giving me to drink.' Then the women +fished the body out of the water, where it had caught on a stone, +thrust an arrow through her heart, buried her in the valley and rolled +a great stone over her grave. But the witch's curse against us still +held, all summer long not a drop of rain fell in our boundaries. +Everything dried up and pestilence carried off our cattle. Dainitza +had drunk up all the rain and all the dew. So we went to her grave, +saying, 'Drink, drink your fill, cursed vampire; don't lap up all the +water and dew away from us;' and at last the drought ended." + +The priest testified that this was true and Clement wrote it down +carefully on his parchment. + +Now came the third question: + +"Is there anybody among you who dares smoke tobacco; either cutting up +the leaves and putting them in his pipe, or laying them on the fire +and breathing the smoke that rises?" + +"There is not anybody, my lord; we do not know this food." + +"See to it, that no one tries to learn it; for if anybody is caught +doing it, by decision of the states the pipe will be thrust through +his nose and the guilty man led through the entire market place." + +The fourth question was: + +"Is there any one among the peasants here who wears cloth dress, +marten cap, or morocco boots?" + +"Why not," replied the judge, "if our poverty would permit? not that +we long for dyed cloth and morocco." + +"It is not allowed; the states of the country have forbidden the +peasants to wear clothes fitting their masters." + +Now came the fifth question: + +"Who were the people who acted contrary to the decision of the states +that the peasants should exterminate the sparrows, and mocked those +who were appointed to collect the sparrows' heads?" + +The judge advanced humbly toward the Lieutenant: + +"Believe me, my great and good lord, on account of the drought the +sparrows have all left the country. Say to the Prince that we have not +been able to find one single one all summer long." + +"That is a lie," said Clement. + +"It is just as I say," persisted the judge, seizing Clement by the +hand and skilfully pressing into it two silver groschen. + +"It is not impossible," said the Lieutenant, appeased. "Finally, +answer this question: Has any one of you seen wandering about in this +region, foreign animals, beasts of prey from other countries?" + +"Yes, indeed, my lord, we have seen them in great numbers." + +"And what kind of animals were they?" asked Clement, in joyful +curiosity. + +"Why, dog-headed Tartars"-- + +"You fool! I am not asking for them. I wish to know whether in your +wanderings through the forest you have not seen a foreign, four-footed +beast of prey with striped skin." + +The judge shook his head incredulously, looked at his people and +answered with a shrug of his shoulders: + +"We have seen no such strange animal. It may be that Sanga-moarta has +seen it, for he is forever wandering through the woods and ravines in +his foolish way." + +"Who is this Sanga-moarta? Summon him." + +"Ah, my lord, he is hard to find; he rarely comes into the village. +His mother may be here." + +"Here she is! Here she is," cried several peasants, and pushed forward +an old woman with sunken features, whose head was wound round several +times with a white cloth. + +"What kind of a foolish name[2] have you given your son?" asked the +Lieutenant of her. "Whoever heard of giving a human being the name +dead-man's-blood?" + +[Footnote 2: That name is the Hungarian for dead man's blood. +(Transcriber's Note: The footnote is incorrect. "Sanga-moarta" is not +Hungarian, but rather Romanian.)] + +"I did not give him this name, my lord," said the old woman, with +quavering voice. "The people of the village call him that because no +one has ever seen him laugh. He never talks to anybody, and if you +speak to him he does not answer. He did not weep when his father died +and he never cared for any girl. He is always wandering about in the +woods." + +"All right, old woman, that does not concern me." + +"I know, my lord, it does not concern you; but you must hear that the +handsomest girl in the village, the beautiful Floriza, fell in love +with my son. There is not a more beautiful girl in all the country +round! Such black eyes, such long black braids, such rosy cheeks, such +a slender figure! There was not the like far and wide. Then too, she +was so industrious and loved my son so. She had sixteen shifts in her +outfit, that she herself had spun and woven, and she wore a necklace +of two hundred silver pieces and twenty gold guldens--Sanga-moarta +never looked at the girl. When Floriza made him wreaths he would not +put them around his hat. When she gave him kerchiefs he would not +fasten them to his buttonhole. No matter what beautiful songs the girl +sang as he passed her door, Sanga-moarta never stopped. Yet she loved +him. Often she would say to him when they met on the street;--'You +never come to see me. I suppose you would not look at me if I should +die,' and Sanga-moarta would say:--'Yes, I should.' 'Then I will die +soon,' the maiden would say sorrowfully. 'I will come to see you +then,' Sanga-moarta would answer, and pass on. Are you tired of the +story, my good lord? it is almost done. The beautiful Floriza is dead. +Her heart was broken. There she lies on her bier. Before the house are +the branches of mourning. When Sanga-moarta sees this and learns that +Floriza is dead he will come out of the woods to look at his dead love +as he promised, for he always keeps his word. Then you can talk with +him." + +"Very well," said Clement, who had grown serious and was almost +annoyed that peasants who had certainly not read Horace's Ars Poetica +should have their own poetry. + +"You must watch for your son's coming and let me know." + +"It will be better for you to go yourself," said the old woman; "for I +hardly think that he will answer anybody else." + +"Then take me there," said the Lieutenant. + +The entire company set out in the direction of the house of mourning, +at the extreme edge of the village. This end of Marisel is so far from +the church that it was night before they reached the house. + +The moon had come up behind the mountains: in front of the houses were +fir trees and through their dark needles gleamed its rays. In the +distance was heard the melancholy sound of a shepherd's pipe. The +paid mourner sobbed outside the door. The wreaths swayed in the +breeze. Within lay the beautiful girl, dead, waiting for her restless, +wandering lover. The moonlight fell on her white face. + + * * * * * + +The people surrounded the house. They crept stealthily through the +courtyard and looked through the window and whispered, "There he is, +there he is!" + +The Lieutenant, the priest, the judge and Sanga-moarta's mother +entered the room. Stretched across the threshold lay the girl's +father, dead drunk. In his great sorrow he had drunk so much the day +before that he would hardly sleep it off before another day. In the +middle of the room stood the coffin made of pine, painted with bright +roses by the brush of the village artist; within lay the girl of +barely sixteen years. Her beautiful brow was encircled with a wreath; +in one hand had been placed a wax candle and in the other a small +coin: at the head of the coffin were two wax candles stuck in a jar +covered with gingerbread; at the foot of the coffin on a painted chair +with high back, sat Sanga-moarta, bent over with his eyes fixed on the +girl's face. The priest and the judge remained standing at the door in +superstitious piety. Clement walked up to the youth and at a glance +recognized him as the one who had not been willing to direct him on +his way. + +"Hello, young man, so you are the one who does not answer people's +questions?" + +The youth verified his words by making no reply. + +"Now listen to me and answer what I ask you; I am the Lieutenant of +the district. Do you hear?" + +Sanga-moarta gazed in silence at Floriza, lost in melancholy and as +immovable as the dead. His mother, the worthy woman, took him fondly +by the hand and spoke to him by his true name. + +"Jova, my son, answer this gentleman. Look at me, I am your dear +mother." + +"In the name of my master, the Prince, I command you to answer," +shouted the Lieutenant, his voice growing more and more angry. The +Wallachian was still silent. + +"I ask you whether in your wanderings through the forest you have +noticed anywhere a foreign beast. I mean a beast of prey, called +panther by the learned." + +Sanga-moarta seemed to start with terror as if he had been wakened +from a sleep. Suddenly he turned his usually fixed eyes to the +questioner. Over his face came a feverish color, and fairly trembling, +he stammered out, + +"I have seen it--I have seen it--I have seen it." + +And with that he covered his eyes so that he should not look at the +dead. + +"Where have you seen it?" asked the Lieutenant. + +"Far--far from here," whispered the Wallachian. Then he became silent +again and buried his face in his hands. + +"Name the place,--where?" + +The Wallachian looked timidly about him, shivered as if a chill had +gone over him and whispered to the Lieutenant, with timidly rolling +eyes, + +"In the neighborhood of Gregyina-Drakuluj."[3] + +[Footnote 3: Devil's Garden.] + +The priest and the judge crossed themselves three times, and the +latter raised his eyes most devoutly to a picture of Peter, hanging on +the wall, as if he would call on him for help. + +"You seem to me a courageous youth since you dare go near the Devil's +garden," said the Lieutenant. "Will you show me the way?" + +The Wallachian expressed by the pleasure in his face that he would +gladly show him the way. + +"In the name of Saint Nicholas and all the archangels, do not go +there, my lord!" cried the priest. "Nobody who has ever wandered there +has returned. The godly do not turn their steps that way. This youth +has been led thither by his sins." + +"I do not go there of my own accord," said Clement, scratching his +head. "Not that I am afraid of the name of the country, but I do not +like to climb around over mountains. However my office requires it and +I must fulfil my duty." + +"Then at least fasten a consecrated boat on your cap," urged the +anxious shepherd of souls. "Or else take a picture of Saint Michael +with you so that the devils cannot come near you." + +"Thank you, my good people. But you would do better if you would get +me a pair of sandals; I cannot go through the mountains in these +spurred boots. Your safeguards I can make no use of, for I am a +Unitarian." + +At this reply the priest crossed himself and said with a sigh: + +"I thought you were a true believer, you inquired so zealously about +the witches." + +"This is only my official duty, not my belief. Send me the Turk." + +As he went out, the Pope murmured half aloud, + +"You go well together,--two pagans." + +"Comrade Zulfikar," called out Clement to the Turk as he entered, +fastening on the sandals that had been brought, "you can look out for +your own route now, for I must take a little side-dodge into the +mountains." + +"If you dodge, I will dodge too," replied the distrustful deserter. +"Wherever you go, I will go." + +"Where I am going, my dear friend, there is nothing to put in your +pocket; it must be you wish to bag the devil, for no human being has +ever set foot there." + +"How do I know where the people live in this confounded country of +yours! My orders were to go with you until I reached the +starting-point again." + +"All the better, for there will be more of us. Help me draw my sword +out of the scabbard, so I can defend myself if necessary." + +"So you carry a sword that it takes two men to draw. Let me get hold +of it." + +The two men planted their feet, grasped the sword with both hands and +tugged at it for some time. At last it came out of its scabbard, +almost throwing Clement over backward. Then Clement took a pitcher of +honey, rubbed the rusty sword with the sticky stuff and put it back +into its scabbard. + +"Now we must be on our way, young man," he said to the Wallachian. + +The latter at once took up his hat and his axe from the ground and +went ahead without as much as one glance back at the dead. His mother +seized him by the hand. + +"Will you not kiss your dead love?" + +Sanga-moarta did not so much as look--pulled his hand away from his +mother's, and went with the two strangers out into the deep darkness +of the forest. + + * * * * * + +All night long these adventurers wandered through a deep valley from +which they could just catch sight of the giant summits rising on all +sides; directly overhead glimmered a strip of starry sky. Toward +morning they reached the midst of the mountains. What a sight that +was! Along the shining crystal peaks stretched dark green forest--on +one side rose a crag of basalt, with columns like organ pipes in rows, +topped by trees. In front of this crag of basalt a white cloud moved, +but the summit and base of the rock were to be seen; from time to time +the lightning flashed through the cloud but it was some time before +the roll of the thunder rang through the organ pipes. At a little +distance is a cleft in the rocks, and the two parts look as if their +jagged edges would fit together. Through the ravine several fathoms +wide, a branch of the cold Szomas forces its way and is lost again +among the thick oaks along the shore. In another place the rocks are +piled up in stairs not intended however for human foot, for each step +is as high as a house. Again the rocks are tumbled together in such a +way that the entire mountain mass would fall into other forms if the +rock beneath were moved from its position. Everything indicates that +here the rule of man has found its limit. From the dizzying height not +a single hut is seen; on all sides are bold crags and yawning chasms +through which the mountain streams roll tumultuously. Only the ibex +wanders from crag to crag. + +"Which way are we going?" Clement asked his guide, looking anxiously +about, where there was every possibility of losing oneself +irrecoverably. + +"Trust yourself to me," replied Sanga-moarta, and he led them with +confident knowledge of the place through this unfrequented region. + +In places where a path seemed hardly possible, he knew where to find +the way over the cleft rocks. He had noticed every root that could +help one in climbing; every tree-trunk bridging a chasm; every narrow +ledge of rock where one could step by clinging to its projections; in +short, he moved through this labyrinth with the utmost confidence. + +"We are near the end," he said, suddenly, after he had climbed a steep +wall of rock and looked over the country, and he stretched his hand +down and drew the others up after him. The scene was now changed. The +declivity of the rock that they had mounted was under them; a smooth +surface in semi-circular shape formed a basin hundreds of fathoms +deep, where the dark green water of a mountain lake gleamed. There +was no breeze but the lake was broken with foam. The opposite side of +the basin was formed by a group of mountains with fir trees at the +base, and where the two mountain masses came together a small stream +flowed into this lake, over which the ice that tumbled into the valley +made a crystal arch. + +"Where will that bring us?" Clement asked, with horror. + +"To the head of the stream," replied Sanga-moarta. "It has made its +way through the ice and if we follow its track we shall reach the +place we seek." + +"But how shall we get there? This wall of rock is as smooth as glass, +one slip and there is nothing between us and the bottom of the lake." + +"You must take care, that is all. You will have to lie down on your +back and slip down sidewise. Now and then you will find a bush of +Alpine roses that you can cling to; but there is no danger of slipping +if you are barefoot,--follow my example." + +A blood-curdling pleasure awaited them. The men took off their shoes +and clung firmly with hands and feet to the smooth wall of stone. They +had gone barely half way when there was a mysterious sound from the +opposite mountains; it seemed as if the rocks beneath them trembled. + +"Stay where you are," shouted Sanga-moarta to the others. "There is a +snow-slide." + +And the next moment could be seen the white ball set in motion in the +remote mountains, rolling down the steep heights, tearing along with +it rocks and uprooted trees, growing every instant more terrible; and +as it made great bounds to the valley it shook the mountain to its +very foundations. + +"Oh my God!" cried Clement, trying to reach the guide with one hand +while he clung to the rock with the other. "It will come and kill us +all." + +"Stay where you are," Sanga-moarta called out to them, when he saw +that they were trying to climb up and would so expose themselves to +the danger of slipping back. "This slide is going toward that rock and +there it will be either broken or held fast." + +It was true that the snow-slide, now grown to mammoth size, was +rolling toward a jutting cliff that seemed dwarf-like in comparison. +The roll of the avalanche had grown so loud that every other sound was +lost in its thundering roar. Now the snow plunged against the rock in +its path, struck its peak with a fearful bound and gave the whole +mountain such a shock that it quivered to its foundations. For a +moment the entire vicinity was covered with a cloud of snow flying +with the velocity of steam. After the last clap, the thunder ceased. +Then followed a frightful cracking. The avalanche had torn the +opposing rock from its base and the two plunged down into the lake +below them. This, lashed to foam, engulfed the mass and its waves, +mounting fearfully, rose to the height of fifty fathoms, where the +bold climbers were clinging to the face of the rock. Then the waves +settled back, for a few moments took the form of a towering green +column which finally subsided, and after some time quiet again ruled +over the waters. + +Clement lay there more dead than alive, while Sanga-moarta's first +look was to see if the bed of the stream had been overflowed by the +war of the waters. But the mass of snow had plunged into the lake +without raising it a foot; all had disappeared in the bottomless +depths; a mountain lake neither rises nor falls. + +"Let us go on our way," said Sanga-moarta. "It will be all the easier +now that the rock is wet, to climb down." + +In the course of half an hour they had reached the mouth of the +stream. A wonderful passage opened before them. The stream had its +source in a warm spring, which following the course of the valley, was +buried under mountains and avalanches. The warm water had hollowed out +a covered passage, so melting the ice that only its outer surface +remained frozen, and this was constantly added to by the influence of +the atmosphere, while within it was as constantly melted by the warmth +of the spring; the result was that the stream flowed under a crystal +archway with glittering icicles. Into this passage Sanga-moarta led +his companions. Clement could only think of the magic palaces in fairy +tales, where the enchanted mortal got the sunlight through transparent +water. As they were wading along the stream at one point the +underground passage suddenly grew dark. Heavy masses took the place of +the transparent vaulting. The crusting of ice was thicker; it changed +to dark blue, and to black; the noise of the waters was the only +guide. The men, up to their knees in the water, found it growing +warmer and warmer until finally they heard a hissing, and through a +cleft in the rock caught sight of the sunlight once more. At the +source of the spring, as they clung to some bushes to resist the force +of the boiling waters, they found themselves in a deep, well-like +valley. + +"We are in the Gregyina-Drakuluj." + +It is a round valley with mountains rising about it several hundred +feet high. If you would look down from their summits you must crawl on +your stomach to the edge of the cliff, and then unless you have strong +nerves you will fall from the dizzying height. In this valley-bed +below the flowers are always in bloom; in the sternest winter season +here you can find those dark green plants with broad indented leaves; +those small round-leaved trees that are nowhere else in the country. +The yellow cups of the leather-leaved water-lilies open just at this +time. The place is covered, summer and winter, with freshest green; +the wild laurel climbs high in the crevices of the rocks and throws +its red berries down into the valley, while all around is cold and +dead. + +The whole winter through the valley is covered with the rarest +flowers. That is why the Wallachian calls it the Devil's garden, and +is afraid to go near it. Yet the miracle has a purely natural cause. +In a hole in the depth of the valley is a hot mineral spring that +never comes to light, but warms through the earth above; and, as warm +waters have their own peculiar flora, these strange plants flourish +there beside their quickening element. The whole place is like a +greenhouse in the open air amid storms and ice mountains. + +Sanga-moarta beckoned silently to his comrades to follow him. A +feverish unrest was noticeable throughout his whole being. After a few +steps he pointed with trembling hand to a dark hollow where there was +an iron door. + +"What is that?" cried Clement, reaching for his sword. "Is this hollow +inhabited?" + +"Yes," replied Sanga-moarta, with blood evidently on fire and his +temples swollen to bursting. "There in that pool she bathes; here I +have listened day after day, but have not had the courage to go near." +He stammered in scarcely audible words though they were passionate. + +"Who?" asked the Lieutenant, perplexed. + +"The fairy," stammered the Wallachian, with quivering lips, and buried +his burning lips in his hands. + +"What kind of a fairy?" said Clement, turning to Zulfikar. "I am +looking for a panther." + +"Hush, there is the sound of a key in the door," said Zulfikar, "step +back." + +The two men had to pull Sanga-moarta from the door. This opened +noiselessly and a woman stepped forth leading a panther by a spiked +collar of gold. Sanga-moarta had good cause to call her a fairy. A +magnificent woman stood there in delicate Oriental garb. The long gold +tassel of her red fez fell down over her white turban; above her +ermine-embroidered caftan gleamed her ivory white shoulders; her +movements were sinuous and bewitching. The three men held their breath +while the woman passed by without noticing them. + +"Ha, there she is!" whispered Zulfikar, when she had passed. + +"Who is she? So you know her," said Clement. + +"Azraele, once the favorite of Corsar Bey." + +"Where are we then?" + +"Be still, or she will hear us." + +Meantime the woman had reached the pool, seated herself on a stone +bench and loosed her turban. The dark curls fell down over her +shoulders. + +Sanga-moarta's hot panting was heard in the darkness. The panther lay +quietly at the feet of his mistress, his wise head resting on his +forepaws. Azraele now took her gay Persian shawl from her waist and +made ready to lay aside her caftan. But first she made a few steps +toward the cliff, which shut her off from the sight of the men. +Sanga-moarta was ready to plunge after her. + +"You are crazy," said Zulfikar in his ear. "Are you going to betray us +by your curiosity?" + +"The boy is in love with the woman," whispered Clement. + +At this instant a splash was heard in the water as if some one had +jumped in and was playing in the waves. Sanga-moarta tore himself +madly from the grasp of his comrades and ran with a wild cry down to +the pool. At this cry Azraele, in all her enchanting beauty, sprang +out of the water, looked with flashing eyes at the bold man, and said +to her panther, + +"Oglan, seize him!" + +Until then the panther had lain motionless, but the instant his +mistress called him to a struggle he jumped up with a snarl, caught +hold of the Wallachian, and with one movement drew him to the ground. + +Sanga-moarta did not defend himself against the beast, but stretched +out his hands entreatingly to the charming woman, appeared to be +drawing in her beauty with his thirsty glance, while he dragged +himself with a groan to her feet; Azraele gazed at him wildly, and, +wrapped in her cloak, watched her pet panther tear the youth; for the +beast was never drawn to any one except for his death. + +"I'll go to his help," said Clement, mad with terror,--and drew his +sword. + +"Stop. Don't be foolish," said Zulfikar. "There is something more +sensible for us to do. The iron door has been left open; let us slip +in while the lady is occupied and find out what there is of interest +here for our masters. If not of interest to yours it certainly will be +to mine." + +With that the two men stole through the doorway, groped their way +along the narrow passage that seemed to be hewn into the rock and at +its end discovered, by the light of a lamp hanging from the ceiling, +that there were several small doors on both sides. They opened one +door after another and came to a room with no other doorway. The light +of the outer world came through the window. Through this they hurried +on and coming to a second iron door, passed through and found +themselves in a large court surrounded by high walls. By climbing the +wall they saw from its summit the vale of Szamos stretched below them; +and then they discovered a footpath leading from the wall into the +forest below. Down they ran breathlessly. There first the two men +dared look at each other. Clement thought he still heard the wild, +clear voice of the demon-woman, the growl of the panther and death-cry +of the Wallachian. + +"We have done well to take this path," said Zulfikar. "For we never +could have found our way back without a guide over the way we came. +From here we shall easily make our way." + +They now found two woodcutters who were fastening their rafts to the +bank. + +"What is this castle?" asked Clement. + +"Where? What castle?" + +Clement looked behind him to point out the castle, and lo, there was +nothing that could be seen to resemble a castle even from afar. One +rock was like another. The peasants laughed aloud. + +"It is better not to say anything," said Zulfikar; "evidently they do +not know what is in this vicinity. From the outside there is nothing +to be seen but unhewn stone; the bushes cover the very opening that we +came through." + +Then they asked their way; and turned back to Marisel, where they did +not stay to be questioned about Sanga-moarta's absence but mounted +their horses and rode off. + +Zulfikar would have been glad if Clement would have gone with him to +Banfy-hunyad, but when he learned that this place was under the +direction of Dionysius Banfy he started off alone to collect the tax, +although the Lieutenant gave him the comforting assurance that he +could count on blows there more surely than on tribute. + + * * * * * + +Clement gave Ladislaus Csaki exact information of what he had seen and +received as a reward for his discovery a hundred gold pieces, with the +green boots thrown in. + +Zulfikar had a more unusual experience. When he reached Nagy-Varad he +gave Ali Pasha the tax collected and told him what he had learned of +Azraele. Corsar Bey had stolen her from Ali Pasha when she was +thirteen years old. Ali had offered two hundred gold pieces as reward +to the man who should bring him information of the abode of his +favorite, so Zulfikar came away with the purse of two hundred gold +pieces when he left the Pasha. The Aga over Zulfikar learning of this, +found a pretext to bind the deserter and sentenced him to a hundred +blows on the soles of his feet unless he bought off every blow with a +ducat. + +"That I will not do," replied Zulfikar, "but I will put in your hands +the present that Dionysius Banfy sent Ali Pasha when I tried to impose +a tax in his name. You give this little box to the Pasha and I wager +that he will reward you with enough for your lifetime." + +The Aga caught at the offer greedily, received the carefully sealed +box which Zulfikar should have given over to the Pasha, and presented +it with the following words: + +"See, most gracious Pasha. Here I bring you that princely present +which Dionysius Banfy sent you instead of the tax." + +Ali Pasha took the box and when he had cut the string, broken the seal +and raised the cover, there fell out on his caftan a dried-up grey +pig's tail, the most fearful insult, the most horrible disgrace, a man +can offer a Turk. + +Ali Pasha jumped almost to the ceiling in his anger, threw his turban +on the ground, and gave orders to have the Aga, who stood petrified, +impaled that instant outside the gate. + +Zulfikar walked off, his two hundred gold pieces intact. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A GREAT LORD IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY + + +There was racing and running in the castle of Bonczida. Dionysius +Banfy was expected back from Ebesfalva. The castle gate, which +displayed a huge crest between the claws of a gilded lion, was +overshadowed with green boughs and gay flags. On the street in a long +line stood the school children, dressed in their Sunday clothes, with +the teacher at their head. Farther back, with Sunday mien, stood the +dependents, and in front of a hill were drawn up in orderly ranks the +mounted nobility of the county of Klausenburg, about eight hundred +men, noble, warlike figures, armed with broad swords and clubs. They +had come to greet their superior officer, the general of the nobility. +On the walls were Banfy's own warriors; about six hundred, in full +armor, with long Turkish guns and with Scythian helmets. On the +bastion toward Szamos were eight mortars, and several feet away burned +a fire in which the cannoneers heated the ends of their long iron rods +to use as a slow match. At every gate, at every door, stood two pages +in scarlet cloaks and blue stockings, their entire costume adorned +with silver lacings. At the window of the high tower was stationed a +lookout to announce with the trumpet the arrival of the lord. The wind +struggled above his head with a great purple banner, only swaying the +heavy gold tassels that hung from it. From every window eager servants +looked out. Lords and ladies appeared expectant. Only three windows +were without gay groups. In their place were fragrant jasmine and +quivering mimosa in beautiful porcelain jars, behind which one could +just discern a pale, gentle woman, leaning on an embroidered cushion, +in sentimental melancholy. This was Banfy's wife. + +It might have been ten o'clock in the morning when the watcher on the +tower inferred the arrival of the first carriages from the clouds of +dust along the road and blew his trumpet mightily. The priests and +teachers hurried to their pupils; the lieutenants brought their ranks +into order and the trumpeters began to play their latest march. Soon +came the carriages, attended by troops from the rest of the counties. +Before and behind rode an armed throng in whose costume and equipment +the greatest splendor of color was shown. The horses were of all kinds +and colors: Arabian stallions, Transylvanian thoroughbreds, small +Wallachian ponies, slender English racers and lightfooted horses from +Barbary. There were horses with flesh-colored manes, with jeweled +bridles, and with housings embroidered with butterflies, and in every +color. There was, too, all the war equipment of days gone by: the +slender Damascene, the spiked mace and those long, three-bladed +daggers the points of which dragged on the ground. Each division +carried the crest of its county on its gay standards. In front of the +band rode the captain of the nobility, George Veer, a stout, muscular +man of forty years. + +The chief sat in a carriage drawn by five black horses; on both +carriage doors was Banfy's crest in gilding. Behind were two hussars. +Dionysius Banfy in proud dignity sat in splendor on the velvet +cushions of his coach. All the magnificence displayed about him +harmonized with his appearance. + +The troops drawn up in line lowered their swords before him, the +school children greeted him with songs, his vassals waved their hats, +music sounded out along the walls, the priests made speeches and the +guests in the windows waved their handkerchiefs and caps. + +Banfy received all these marks of honor with accustomed dignity and +noble nonchalance, like a man who feels that it is all his due. His +eyes wandered to the three windows of jasmine and mimosa and his +expression grew serious as he saw no one there. + +From another window looked down an old man in a long soutane-like +coat; but his bearing did not indicate that he took part in the +general homage. At his side was a lady in mourning, on whose +countenance were unmistakable signs of anger and contempt; and at a +window below them stood Stephen Nalaczy with crossed arms, watching +the whole procession with a scornful smile. + +"Was there ever a Prince with so much splendor as this single baron?" +said the lady in mourning to the old man. "I have been present at a +coronation, an installation, an inauguration and a triumphal +procession, but never before have I seen such a stir made over a +single man. If it were a Prince it might pass, but what is this +Banfy?--a nobleman like ourselves, with this difference only that he +advances arrogantly and knows how to make pretensions; yet this +princely splendor is not appropriate for him. I know the proper thing, +for I have carried on lawsuits with greater lords than my Lord Banfy." + +"Just see how my colleagues crowd forward to kiss his hand," muttered +Koncz, to himself. "My learned companion, Csehfalusi, takes pleasure +in being allowed to assist his Grace from the carriage; well may he, +for Dionysius Banfy is a great patron of the Calvinists; for a poor +Unitarian clergyman like me a place behind the door is quite good +enough." + +"Just see--do see--how they carry him on their shoulders to the gate! +It is a good thing they do not carry him in a chair the way they do +princes;--as if he were their lord because he is serving them to-day!" + +"Let the people do him homage," said Nalaczy; "my men will provide +salt for the entertainment. He will get his comb cut!" + +Meanwhile Banfy had mounted the stairs, the people crowding in at the +same time to deposit their load at the end of the hall. In the surging +throng the clergy succeeded in maintaining their places only with +great difficulty, being knocked about by the godless crowd without +mercy, while George Veer forced his way to the over-lord with many a +thrust of his elbow. As many of the nobility crowded into the hall as +it could contain; the rest filled the corridors. The dependents +remained in the courtyard and, although they caught only the noise, +took great satisfaction in that. + +"My noble friends," said Banfy, after it had become somewhat quiet and +he had allowed his glance to run over the throng;--"it is not without +cause that I wish to see you before me in arms. The history of our +poor fatherland is familiar to you, how much our nation has suffered +because our princes, either dissatisfied with what they already +possessed or else incapable of maintaining it, have persistently +called foreign troops into the country. Of these days of contest the +historians have described only what was to the credit of the princes, +the victories, the battles; they have forgotten to mention that in the +year 1617 as a result of the misery caused by the war throughout all +Transylvania not a single child was born, but we know it, for we felt +it with the people. Now, thanks to Heaven, we are masters in our +native land. By the peace of Saint Gotthard both the Roman Emperor and +the Turkish have alike agreed not to send any more of their troops +into Transylvania, and have put such a restraint upon each other that +they have assured us some respite, so that we are not compelled either +to take up arms against the one or for the other, but can give our +energies to healing the wounds of our fatherland that have bled for a +century. For a Golden Age is dawning. The entire land struggles and +bleeds; we alone enjoy peace; in our country only is the Hungarian +master independent. It is true the country is not large, but it +belongs to us, and even if we are a small people we recognize no +greater ones over us. But now there are people who would shorten the +Golden Age: there are people who do not concern themselves with the +cost to the country of a war unwisely begun, if only their ambition, +if only their greed, be fattened. And if by chance their opponent +conquers they will not be ruined with their fatherland, but will +simply turn their coat, join the conqueror and share with him the +booty." + +"That's a slander!" was hissed from the rear, in a voice that Banfy +recognized as Nalaczy's. + +The crowd turned threateningly toward the corner from which the voice +had come. + +"Let him alone, my friends," said Banfy. "Very likely it is some +satellite of Michael Teleki's. He too shall have the advantage of +freedom of speech. But I, who know the swift mode of thought of the +states throughout the country, I can tell you quietly that this rash +step will never be taken in lawful fashion. But should secret +stratagems, or unforeseen violence attempt to accomplish what would +not succeed in open attack, they will find me on the spot. If +necessary I will defend the country even against the Prince. Hear now +what the intriguers have planned in order to entangle us against our +will in snares out of which we have escaped. In spite of the peace, +Turks and Tartars at times fall upon our borders, plunder the people, +set the towns on fire,--in short, in every possible way obtrude upon +us their friendship. A week ago they laid waste Schassburg and before +that they made raids in the vicinity of Csik. But that is not my +affair. That concerns the Saxon magistrate and the general of the +Szeklers. The mouth of his majesty, Ali Pasha, has for a long time +been watering for my province but he is not yet quite sure of the way +to catch me. Lately he had the circuit Lieutenant of the Prince caught +by Tartars and forced him to declare throughout the entire +neighborhood that the people were to pay a new tax, a penny a head. +The poor peasantry were delighted to get off so cheaply and made haste +to pay the tax, without asking me first whether this could be justly +levied. In this way the sly Turk accomplished a twofold purpose; in +the first place he had compelled the people to recognize the tax, and +in the second place he had found out how many taxpayers there were; +then he at once imposed the frightful tax of two Hungarian florins a +head." + +The crowd expressed their indignation. + +"At once I forbade all further payments. It is true this tax was not a +burden to us, for we are of the nobility, but for that very reason are +we the lords of the peasantry that we may not allow them to be robbed +of their last farthing. Instead of any reply I sent his Turkish +majesty a pig's tail in a box, and if he comes himself to collect the +tax I swear by the God in heaven to receive him in such a way that he +will remember it all his life." + +"We will cut him to pieces," threatened the crowd, clashing their +swords and swinging their clubs in the air. + +"Now, my faithful followers, go to your tents," said Banfy. "The +master of the kitchen will look out for your entertainment. I will +decide whether there shall be war." + +The excited nobility withdrew amid lively expressions of approval and +the clinking of swords. Only a few with requests to make, remained +behind. The Professors from Klausenburg invited their patron to the +public examinations. Banfy promised to come, and offered prizes for +the best pupils. When they had withdrawn he indicated those whom he +would see in turn. In the first place he motioned to him Martin Koncz, +leader of the Unitarians in Klausenburg. + +"How can I serve you, worthy sir?" + +"I have a complaint to bring before you, gracious lord," replied +Koncz, bowing and scraping. "The city council of Klausenburg has taken +by violence the market booths belonging to the Unitarian church. I beg +you to assist in their recovery." + +"I regret, worthy sir, that I cannot help you in this case," replied +Banfy, as he fastened up his coat. "That is a privilege by +establishment and concerns the Prince. It is true the territory is +mine but the affairs must come up before him for judgment." + +"This is the reply that the Prince made me, only reversed: 'It is true +the decision in the matter is mine, but the territory is Banfy's, and +you must go to him.'" + +Banfy smiled good-naturedly, but Koncz did not find the affair so +entertaining. + +"Listen, there is no way for me to turn, even though justice is most +clearly on my side." + +Banfy shrugged his shoulders. + +"You would like to have justice, worthy sir, but that can hardly be +attained." + +"Then he is as badly off as I am," cried a voice, and as Banfy looked, +he saw Madame Szent-Pali coming toward him. The great lord acted as if +he had not noticed the widow and fingered indifferently the diamond +clasp of his cloak; but the widow placed herself directly in front of +him and began to speak: + +"Your Grace has been pleased to look beyond me, but it is in vain. I +am here, even though unbidden." + +Banfy looked at her without a word, half smiling and half amused. + +"Or has your Grace perhaps forgotten my name?" asked the woman, +sharply, and smiting her breast. "I am the noble, well-born"-- + +"And knightly," said Banfy, completing her words with a laugh. + +"I am the widow of George Szent-Pali," continued the lady, without +allowing herself to be disconcerted,--"whose family in all its +branches is quite as noble as is the Prince himself, and that too +since the beginning of the world. I have never forgotten my name when +asked, and have already stood in the presence of princes and generals +greater even than your Grace." + +"Well, well, gracious lady, I know that already, I have heard it so +often. Tell me quickly now anything good that you may have to say." + +"Quickly! I suppose your Grace thinks that a few words will set forth +what has been a lawsuit between us now for four years, and between the +town and my family for sixty-three." + +"To cut it short I will tell you the story," interrupted Banfy. "The +gracious lady may then make her additions. The gracious lady owns a +dilapidated little house in the centre of the Klausenburg market +place"-- + +"The idea! A manor house just as good as your Grace's castle!" + +"These barracks have for a long time disfigured the market place. It +was in vain the city council entered into negotiations with your +family--went before the courts to buy the house and move it off." + +"We did not yield. You are quite right. A true nobleman does not sell +his property gained by heritage. It belongs to me and within my four +walls neither country nor Prince has any authority over me--not even +you, General!" + +"I certainly did not demand this noble ruin of you for nothing. I +offered you ten thousand florins for it. For that sum of money I could +have bought the entire gypsy quarter, and yet there is not a single +house in it so dilapidated as yours." + +"Let my lord keep his money. I do not give up my house. Two hundred +years ago an ancestor of mine built it. Cease, I beg, your scornful +words. I was born there; my father and my mother were buried from +there. If it offends your Grace's sense of beauty to look down from +your magnificent palace upon the roof of my poor house, yet it does me +good to be able to live out my days in the room in which my poor +husband breathed away his life, and I would not accept any palace in +exchange." + +At the mention of her dear departed husband the lady began to sob; +this gave Banfy an opportunity to speak, and he took advantage to +reply vehemently: + +"As I have said, so shall it be. The masons are already on the way to +tear down your house. You will receive your ten thousand florins at +the public treasury." + +"I do not wish them. Throw them to your dogs!" screamed the lady, in a +passion. "I am no peasant woman to be hunted from my property. I +advise nobody to enter my courtyard unless he wishes to be driven out +with a broom like a dog. I have been to the Prince, I have been to the +Diet, and here you have an official document in which the Diet forbids +anybody to trespass on my land. I will nail it to the gate, it is good +legible handwriting, then I will see who dares force his way into my +possessions." + +"And I tell you that to-morrow your house shall be moved off, even if +it is surrounded by armed troops. If the Diet pleases it may have the +place rebuilt." + +With that Banfy was going away full of anger, when Nalaczy met him. +The two men greeted each other with forced friendliness, and while +Madame Szent-Pali moved away uttering imprecations, Nalaczy began in +sweet tones, after a little preparation, + +"His Highness, the Prince, wishes to inform your Grace of a very +unpleasant incident." + +"I will hear." + +"During this year the Turk has already forced from us, under one +pretext or another, presents on three different occasions." + +"He ought not to be allowed to force them." + +"If we refuse him he threatens to force on us as Prince the fugitive, +Nicholas Zolyomi, living at Constantinople." + +"He has only to bring him here and we will drive him out at once, +together with his protector." + +"Quite true. But the Prince is so wearied of this bitter hatred that +he has decided, partly out of fright too, to pardon Zolyomi and permit +him to return." + +"Let him do so, in God's name." + +"Right, quite right. But your Grace certainly knows that the estates +of Zolyomi are at present in the possession of your Grace. The +Prince, therefore, finds himself compelled to demand of your Grace +that you should with all good feeling give over these estates to +Zolyomi on his return." + +"What!" cried Banfy, stepping back. "And you think that I will give up +these estates! The Diet gave them over to me with the burdensome +condition that I should equip two regiments for the defence of the +country. This burdensome condition I have complied with, and do you +think that now I will give up these estates that you may have one more +fool in the country?" + +"But if it is the Prince's wish?" + +"It matters not who wishes it, I will not give them back." + +"And shall I carry back this answer?" + +"This unmistakable answer," replied Banfy, accenting every syllable. +"I do not give them up." + +"Your most humble servant," said Nalaczy, bowed mockingly, and +withdrew. + +"Slave!" Banfy threw after him contemptuously. Then he looked out into +the corridor and seeing some of his dependents waiting there hat in +hand, he shouted: "Come in, what do you want?" + +When the simple folk saw that their over-lord was in a bad humor they +hesitated to enter until the castle steward pushed them in. + +"We ought to have brought the tithe," began the oldest peasant, with +eyes downcast and in tearful voice, "but we really could not. It was +not possible." + +"Why could you not?" said Banfy, harshly. + +"Because we have nothing, gracious lord,--the rain has failed, crops +have gone to ruin, we have not harvested enough corn for the sowing; +the people in the village are living on roots and mushrooms, so long +as they last. After that God knows what will become of them!" + +"There it is," said Banfy. "A new blow of fortune and we are still +longing for war. Here, steward, you must have the storehouses opened +at once and furnish grain for sowing; and the poor must be provided +with sufficient food for the winter." + +The poor peasant wanted to kiss Banfy's hand but he would not allow +it. The tears stood in his eyes. + +"That is what I am your master for--to lighten your fate if I see you +in need. My agents will carry out my orders; if my own granaries +become empty they must order grain for you from Moldavia for cash," +and with that he went away. + + * * * * * + +Banfy's wife listened with throbbing heart as the familiar footsteps +came nearer. There she sat among the fragrant jasmine and quivering +mimosa, as tremulous as the mimosa and as pale as the jasmine. +Everything about her shone with splendor. On the walls hung polished +Venetian mirrors in gold frames, portraits of kings and princes, the +most beautiful of which was John Kemény's, painted when he was still +attached to the Turk, with smooth shaven hair and a long beard, at +that time quite fashionable with Hungarian gentlemen. On one side of +the room was an artistic cabinet with countless drawers, inlaid with +mother-of-pearl, lapis lazuli and tortoise-shell. In the middle of the +room stood a beautifully painted table with wonderfully wrought silver +candelabra; in glass cases the family jewels were displayed to view, +beakers covered with precious stones; stags enameled in gold, their +heads made to unscrew; several large silver baskets of flowers, +marvels of filagree work, hardly worth a dollar in weight; the +bouquets in these baskets were of various-colored jewels; a gold +butterfly alighted on an emerald leaf, so cunningly made that +everything gleamed through its wings as it swayed gracefully. From the +high windows heavy red silk curtains hung down to the ground and the +sills were covered with the most beautiful flowers of those times. +Amid all these flowers only the quivering mimosa and the pale jasmine +seemed suited to the lady, so melancholy a contrast did her face make +to the splendor of her house. + +The delicate little figure was almost lost in the high-vaulted room, +in which she could with difficulty move one of the heavy armchairs or +lift one of the huge candelabra or push aside a hanging. Every noise, +every footstep set her nerves quivering. When the familiar step +touched her threshold all the blood streamed into her face. She wanted +to jump up to meet him but after the door opened she turned pale again +and was unable to rise from her seat. Banfy hurried toward his +trembling wife whose voice was too stifled for words, clasped both her +hands, delicate as dewdrops, and looked kindly into the dreamy eyes. + +"How beautiful you are, and yet how sad!" + +The lady tried to smile. + +"This smile even is melancholy," said Banfy, gently, and put his arm +around his fairy wife. + +Madame Banfy drew close to her husband, put her arms around his neck, +drew his face down to hers and kissed it. + +"This very kiss is sorrowful!" + +She turned away to hide her tears. + +"What is the matter with you?" Banfy asked, and smoothed her brow. +"What has happened to you? why are you so pale? what is the matter?" + +"What is the matter with me?" replied Madame Banfy, raising her eyes +full of tears and sighing deeply; then she dried her eyes, put her arm +in her husband's and led him to her flowers as if to turn the +conversation. "Just see this poor passionflower, how faded it is; yet +it is planted in a porcelain vase and I water it daily with distilled +water. Once I forgot to raise the curtains, and just see how the poor +thing is faded. It lacks nothing except sunlight." + +"Ah," whispered Banfy in subdued voice. "It seems we speak with each +other in the language of the flowers." + +"What is the matter with me?" said Madame Banfy with a sob, as she +clung to her husband's neck;--"my sunlight is wanting--your love!" + +Banfy felt himself unpleasantly affected. He sat down beside his wife, +drew her gently toward him and asked in the most friendly, though +excited voice, + +"Do I not know how to express this to you as well as formerly?" + +"Oh yes, but I see you so rarely. You have been away now nearly six +weeks, and I could not be with you." + +"Wife, are you ambitious? would you shine at the Prince's court? +Believe me your court is more splendid than his and not nearly so +dangerous." + +"Oh, you know that I do not seek splendor nor fear danger. When you +were banished, when a little hut sheltered us and often only a tent +covered us in the snow, then you would lay my head on your breast, +cover me with your cloak--and I was so happy! Often noise of battle +and thunder of cannon would frighten sleep from our eyes and yet I was +so happy! You would mount your horse while I sank down in prayer, and +when you came back covered with blood and dust, how happy I was!" + +"Heaven grant that you may be so again. But there is a fortune that +stands higher than that of family life. There are times when your mere +glance would hinder me--would stand in my way"-- + +"Yes, I know them. Gay adventures, beautiful women--am I not right?" +said Madame Banfy in a jesting tone, but perhaps not without +significance in the background. + +"Certainly!" said Banfy, springing hastily from his chair. "I was +thinking of the fatherland." With that he paced angrily the length of +the room. + +When a husband falls into a rage over such a jest it is a sign that he +feels himself hit. With smoothed brow Banfy stood before his trembling +wife, who in the few moments since her husband had entered the room +had been a prey to the most varied feelings; joy and sorrow, fear and +anger, love and jealousy struggled in her excited bosom. + +"Margaret," he began, in a dull voice, "you are jealous, and jealousy +is the first step toward hatred." + +"Then hate me, rather than forget me!" said his wife, bursting out +vehemently, and then regretting it at once. + +"What then do you wish of me? have you any ground for your suspicions? +You certainly do not wish me to give you an account of the roads I +have taken and the people I have spoken with, like the simpleton Giola +Bertai, who when he goes away from home takes a diary with him and +makes out a report of every hour for his other half. Neither do I keep +you under lock and key the way Abraham Thoroczkai does his wife. He +has a lock put on his wife's room during his entire absence and when +he returns requires the whole village to give an oath that his wife +has not spoken with any one in the interval." + +Madame Banfy laughed, but the laugh ended in a sigh. + +"You evade the question with a jest. I do not accuse you, I do not +keep watch of you, and if you should deceive me I should never find it +out. But listen; there is in the heart of woman a something, a certain +distressing feeling which causes pain without one's knowing why, which +knows how to give information whether the love of one who is our all +is coming or going, without being able to support itself by reasons. I +do not know, and I will not learn where you spend your time, but this +I do know, that you stay away a long while at a time and do not make +haste to come home. Banfy, I suffer--suffer more than you can +imagine." + +"Madame," said Banfy, looking at her coldly as he stood before her; +"in this country a suit for divorce does not require much time." + +Madame Banfy fell back in her chair, clasped her hands over her heart +in terror and struggled for breath. A trembling cry broke from her +lips and they did not close again. It was as if some one had cut the +strings of her heart with a sword. Half-fainting she stared at her +husband as if doubting whether his words could have been in earnest or +whether she ought not to take them for a horrible jest. + +"You are unhappy," Banfy went on, "and I cannot help you. You love to +dream and I do not understand you in the least. Possibly my soul does +hurt yours, but it is unintentional. It is a fact that your feelings +hurt mine and that I will not endure. I recognize no tyrant over me, +not even in love. I will not be importuned even with tears. Let us +tear our hearts apart. Better for us to do it now while they would +still bleed, than to wait until they fall apart naturally. Better for +us to separate now while we love each other, than to wait until we +come to hatred." + +During this terrible speech the lady struggled, gasping for breath, as +if some dread phantom oppressed her heart and robbed her of speech, +until at last her passion made its way by force and she uttered the +piercing cry: + +"Banfy, you have killed me!" + +Her voice, the expression of her face, seemed to make Banfy tremble; +and though he was already on the point of leaving the room in haste, +he stopped half-way and looked once more at his wife. He did not +notice at this moment that the door had opened and that some one had +entered. He saw only that in the face of his wife, so ravaged with +despair, there came suddenly an indescribably distressed smile; this +forced smile on her agonized features was something terrible. Banfy +thought his wife was losing her mind. But Madame Banfy rose, bustling +from her seat and cried out, + +"Anna, my dear sister," and rushed to the door. + +Then for the first time Banfy turned toward the door and saw Anna +Bornemissa, wife of Michael Apafi. + +This keen-eyed woman had not failed to take in the situation in which +she had surprised these married people, although they knew well how to +assume a calm air in an instant; but she acted as if she had noticed +nothing. She drew Margaret to her breast and extended her hand to +Banfy in the most friendly fashion. Her sister had not yet fully +recovered. + +"I heard your voices outside," said Madame Apafi, "and that is why I +came here without being announced." + +"Oh yes, we were laughing," said Madame Banfy, and made haste to dry +her tears with her handkerchief. + +"To what circumstances are we indebted for this extraordinary good +fortune?" asked Banfy, hiding his confusion behind rare courtesy. + +"As you did not bring my sister to me," began Madame Apafi with +smiling reproach, "I came on a visit to my poor relative exiled to +Hungary." + +Banfy felt the sting under these last words and said as he stroked his +beard: + +"Here my lovely sister-in-law can do with me what she pleases. She can +use me as the target of her wit and overthrow me with her jests. +Before the Prince's throne, in the national hall, we face each other +as foes. Here on the contrary you are my ruler. Here I am nothing +except your most loyal subject, who does homage to your grace and is +beside himself with joy that he may have you as a guest." + +While he was saying this Banfy threw his arms around the dignified +Madame Apafi with familiarity. Not without significance he added +turning to his wife, "It is to be hoped that you will not be jealous +of Anna." + +Madame Apafi took it upon herself to answer in Margaret's place. + +"I am more inclined to think that you cannot trust yourself to me." + +"If you were my wife that might be so. And that came very near being +the state of affairs; there was a time when I wanted to marry you." + +"But it did not advance beyond the beginning," replied the Princess +with a laugh. + +"We recognized each other soon," continued Banfy. "Two such heads as +ours would have been too much for one house; there is not even room +for them both in one country. We both like to rule and we should have +been well sold if we had been obliged to obey each other. It is better +as it is; we have both found our corresponding halves; you, Apafi; and +I, Margaret; and we are both happy." + +With these words Banfy kissed his wife's hand tenderly, which she +acknowledged with equal tenderness, and then he left the two sisters +alone. Anna with sweet seriousness laid her hand on her sister's, who +looked up to her with a smile, like an innocent child to her good +genius. + +"You have been crying," began Madame Apafi. "It is of no use for you +to assume the appearance of good spirits." + +"I have not been crying," replied Margaret, asserting her assumed calm +with astonishing strength of mind. + +"Very well, I am glad that you hide it. It shows that you love him; +and if ever you needed to love your husband, to watch over and +protect him, it is now." + +"Your words bewilder me. You seem to have something extraordinary to +say." + +"You must have wondered already at my coming here. You can well +understand that I have not come without a reason. We have both of us +one person to fear, in like degree, and of whom we must be jealous; +and if we do not understand each other one of us may lose an +individual dear to her." + +"Speak, oh speak!" replied Madame Banfy, and drew her sister down to +her on a sofa in a corner of the room. + +"Our husbands have hated each other from the first. They were always +of opposite opinions, in different parties, and had become accustomed +to consider each other as foes. Woe to us if this hatred should come +to open battle and we should see our dear ones fall at each other's +hands." + +"I can assure you positively that Banfy cherishes no unfriendly +intentions toward your husband." + +"I am not afraid of Apafi's overthrow, but of your husband's. The +throne to which he was called by force has worked a great change in +Apafi. I notice with astonishment that he is beginning to be jealous +of his power. Already at Neuhaüsel he expressed himself in the +presence of the Grand Vizier as disturbed because Gabriel Haller had +aspirations toward the Prince's crown; in consequence of which the +Vizier had poor Haller beheaded at once without my husband's +knowledge. Even now Apafi recalls the message which your husband once +had sent to him, that in a short time he would tear his green velvet +cloak from off his shoulders." + +"Oh my God, what must I fear!" + +"Nothing so long as I have not lost my husband's favor. While others +sleep I am awake at my husband's side and keep watch for the +manifestations of his feelings; and God has given me the strength to +be able to struggle against monsters who would drown in blood the +memory of his rule. In spite of all this, now and then there appears +in my husband a condition of mind when my influence loses all its +magic, when he steps out of his own nature and his gentleness turns to +a brutality demanding action. Then his eyes, which at other times +overflow with tears at the death of a servant, become bloodshot and +seem eager for murder; he who at other times is so cautious, then +becomes hasty. And this condition, I blush to acknowledge to you, is +drunkenness. I do not bring it up against him as a complaint, the man +we love has no faults for us, we forgive him everything"-- + +"With one exception--his infidelity." + +"That too--that too," the Princess made haste to add. "When his life +is at stake we must forgive that too." + +"Oh, Anna," said Margaret, in distress, "you leave me to suspect +mysteries that you do not reveal." + +"What you must learn, you shall. A little time since, your husband +with proud recklessness set himself against a mighty party which +joined with kings against kings. It may be said that your husband +intends to thwart fate. He is proud enough not to take into +consideration the peril which he has raised up against himself in this +way. Or perhaps he thinks that those who are whetting their weapons +against a ruling king would defer an instant if one of your people +should show his face against them. Banfy has insulted, mocked and +threatened the men, and tangled the threads in their fine-spun plans; +in fact he has insulted both them and the Prince face to face, and +that too in the presence of each other." + +Madame Banfy folded her hands timidly. + +"I see the storm that is gathering over Banfy's head." + +"In his drunkenness Apafi has let fall allusions in my presence that +have filled my soul with terror, and for the sake of others I am not +willing that Apafi's hand should be the one to strike him. On all +sides they are going to seek occasions of quarrel with him. I will +exert myself to keep off the blow, but if it must fall you shall ward +it from him. We two must keep the love of our husbands to the +uttermost that we may be able in this spiritual power to throw +ourselves between them if they should attack each other. Think how +terrible it would be if one should fall by the hand of the other, and +one of us should have caused the other's mourning!" + +"What shall I do? Oh my God, what can I do, where does my strength +lie?" + +"Your strength? In love, watchfulness and self-sacrifice," replied +Madame Apafi, striving by her own strong soul to fill her weak +sister's with courage. + +The fate of two men was in that moment given over into the hands of +two angels: and the fate of these two men was one with the destiny of +Transylvania. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE NIGHT + + +When Dionysius Banfy left his wife's room and went down the back +stairway to the hall of the ground floor, he saw a young rider bound +into the courtyard. The rider was covered with dust and foam; when he +sprang from his horse, the tired beast lay down. The rider asked +hastily for Banfy, who recognized in him Gabriel Burkö, and went to +him with the question: + +"What's the matter?" + +"My lord," began the exhausted rider, recovering his breath, "Ali +Pasha has attacked Banfy-Hunyad." + +"Very good," said Banfy, who appeared to take pleasure in the fact +that fate offered his agitated soul something to crush. "Call George +Veer," he shouted to his men. "And do you tell me, as soon as you have +your breath, just what has happened." + +"I must be quick, my lord, I have come out of the midst of the fight. +A troop of Kurdish raiders came to Banfy-Hunyad yesterday. Your +Grace's captain, Gregory Sötar, suspecting that they had come to +plunder, marched against them with the hussars of the castle, engaged +in conflict with them and after a short struggle drove them from the +walls. Not content with that, however, he gave the signal for an +attack and pursued the retreating troops in the direction of Zeutelke. +While the Kurds were fleeing before us we saw ourselves suddenly +attacked on the flank. In a trice the entire open space was covered +with Turkish riders, who crowded upon us like a heap of ants. I cannot +give their number definitely but this much I know;--three horse tails +were visible in their midst, and that means that there is a Pasha in +the army. Sötar could no longer make his retreat to Hunyad." + +"The Devil!" interrupted Banfy. + +"Every one of us had to encounter two or three. Sötar himself took his +spiked club in one hand and his sword in the other and shouted to me +as I came near: 'My son, leave the battlefield, force your way +through, hurry to Bonczida and tell the news.' What more he said I did +not hear, for the struggling masses separated us. With that I threw my +shield over my back, laid my head on my horse's neck, used my spurs +and galloped off the battlefield. A hundred horsemen hurried after to +catch me; the arrows fell like hailstones on my shield; but my clever +horse took in the danger, doubled his speed and so the pursuers lost +me." + +"You come straight from Bonczida?" + +"I could not resist, gracious lord, making a détour to Banfy-Hunyad +to inform the people there of their peril so they might flee to the +mountains in time." + +"That was wise on your part. So the inhabitants have taken to flight." + +"Far from it. Directly in front of Madame Vizaknai's gate I told the +people the frightful news. Their faces turned pale, then suddenly the +lady of the house came out with drawn sword and stood in the midst of +the people with flashing eyes, as if she had the spirit of a hundred +men, and she said to them: 'Are you men! If you are, seize your +weapons. Go upon the walls and know how to defend the place where your +children live and your fathers are buried. But if you are cowards, +then take to flight. The women will stay behind with me and show the +furious foe that when it is a matter of fighting for hearth and home +nobody is too weak.'" + +Banfy called out to his squire in a hoarse voice to bring him his +shield, lance and helmet, and motioned to the panting messenger to go +on with his story. + +"At these words, there was a cry of rage among the people. The women +ran for arms like so many furies and by the side of their husbands who +were changed into heroes by the decision of their wives, they mounted +the walls. Everybody took what he could find, scythes, shovels or +flails. Madame Vizaknai was everywhere at once; gave orders, +encouraged the fighters, had the church barricaded, oil and brimstone +boiled and the bridges torn down, so that when I rode out of the town +it was already in a state of defence. I swam the Körös, to avoid that +long way, and came through the forests and bypaths." + +By the end of this story, Banfy seemed to be beside himself. He did +not wait for armor or helmet, shouted for a horse and as he mounted, +called back to Veer;--"Follow me to Banfy-Hunyad. Let the foot +soldiers ascend Mount Gyalu by a détour; the horsemen may follow me to +Klausenburg. When you are near, light fires on the mountains that I +may make an attack on the enemy at once with the van of the cavalry." + +"Would it not be better for your Excellency to stay with the main +army?" said Veer, anxiously. + +"Do as I bid you," said Banfy, and giving spur to his horse he bounded +off. Ten to twenty horsemen joined him. + +"What does he mean," said Veer, "that he neither waits for us, nor +tells his wife nor the Princess, who is a guest here?" + +"When I informed him that Madame Vizaknai was defending Banfy-Hunyad +he was dismayed," said Burkö, by way of explanation. "She is a +youthful love of his whom he forgot in later life, but now that he +hears of her bravery the old love seems to have sprung up again." + +George Veer was quite content with this explanation, ordered his +troops to mount at once and rode off, first giving orders to inform +Madame Banfy of a trifling engagement with the troops at Klausenburg. +The command of the infantry he intrusted to Captain Michael Angyal, +who did not set out until evening, for the way to the snow mountains +was a shorter one. + + * * * * * + +When George Veer reached Klausenburg he did not find Banfy there; the +general had gone on an hour before with two hundred horse. Veer +ordered his troops not to halt long and followed after Banfy, but +could not overtake him. He kept ahead all the way, sometimes several +hours' march. It was already late at night when Banfy with his two +hundred riders reached the point where the Körös cuts its way through +the wooded valley. At the bridge the Turks had encamped. The Bedouins +lay there with their long weapons, on the watch. It was not possible +to take them by surprise. In the direction of Banfy-Hunyad there was a +glow on the heavens, sometimes sinking, sometimes mounting high again. +Banfy left his men in concealment on the further bank, while he +himself, attended by only four men went down to the river to find a +ford. The Körös is here so furious that it sweeps the horseman from +his horse; but fortunately, on account of the drought of the hot +summer, it had so fallen that Banfy soon found a place where it flowed +quietly, and waded through with his comrades. Then he sent one of them +back to bring the rest, but he himself remained gazing fixedly in the +direction where the fire was in sight. + +Meantime, one of the six Bedouin horsemen on guard noticed the three +riders, and the leader called out to them to stand. Banfy tried to +retreat, but three Bedouins sprang on him from behind and three more +rushed toward him, lances in rest. + +"Bend down on your horses' necks and seize your spear in your left +hand," Banfy shouted to his men, and drew his sword against the +assailants; so in the darkness of the night they fell upon one another +silently. Banfy was in the middle. The lances of the three Bedouins +whizzed through the air at the same time. Banfy's comrades fell on +both sides from their horses, while he with his left hand skilfully +wrested the lance from one of the guards and with the right hand dealt +him a blow that cleft his skull. When Banfy saw that he was alone he +turned at once on his two foes and struck one down with his lance and +the other with his sword. Three more horsemen came furiously toward +him from the bank. "Come on," growled Banfy, with that grim humor so +characteristic of certain warriors in the moment of danger. "I'll +teach you how to handle the spear," he added, with a smile; shielded +on the rear by a group of trees, he thrust his sword into its sheath, +grasped his spear with both hands and within two minutes all three lay +stretched on the ground. Then he looked round and saw with joy that +the enemy at the bridge were too far away to notice the fight, and his +two hundred horsemen were already at the bank and now crossed +noiselessly. Some of the Bedouins on the ground still groaned and +sighed. + +"Knock their skulls in, so they will not betray us by their noise." + +"Shall we not wait for Veer's troops?" asked the standard-bearer. + +"We cannot, we have no time," said Banfy, directing his glance toward +the reddened horizon, and the little band moved quietly across fields +and thickets. Soon there was the sound of a distant roar and when they +had reached the top of a height before them Banfy-Hunyad came in +sight. The leader breathed more easily. It was not the town that was +on fire but only some hay-ricks. The roofs of the houses had been +taken off by the inhabitants in advance, so that the enemy could not +set fire to them. Church and bell-tower too were stripped of their +roofs, and one could see by the glare of the fire that they were +surrounded by the Turkish army, while from the top of the tower +brimstone and pitch with heavy beams fell like a rain of fire on the +assailants and crowded them from the walls. + +Ali Pasha had not waited for his artillery which had been detained by +the bad roads, because he thought he could take by storm in a single +attack a place defended only by peasants and women; but it is well +known that despair makes soldiers of everybody and axes and scythes +are good weapons in the hands of the resolute. + +At this spectacle Banfy's face suddenly glowed; he thought he saw a +woman's figure on the battlement of the tower. At once he put spurs to +his horse and rushed forward like a whirlwind, calling back to his +men: + +"Do not count the foe now; time enough for that when he is down." + +And within a quarter of an hour the small band reached the camp before +the town. There everybody was asleep. While one part of the army made +the attack there was time for the other to rest. Even the guards had +let their heads droop in sleep; there they lay by their staked horses, +and were only roused from their dreams when Banfy had already ridden +wildly through their ranks in every direction. The Baron, who intended +to hasten on alone to the relief of the besieged, in a trice ran down +the confused troops who, startled from their sleep, seized horse and +lance and mistaking one another the enemy crowded together and cut +down their own troops. In vain did the Turkish leaders strive to +control the frantic men. + +Meanwhile, Banfy appeared boldly and unexpectedly in the midst of the +Turkish army storming the church. The front ranks gave way in terror +at his unexpected onset but at once an advancing brigade made up of +Ali Pasha's chosen Mamelukes, brought the fugitives to a stand. A +giant Moor stood at the head of the troops. His horse too was an +unusually tall one, sixteen hands high. He himself was seven feet +tall; his great swollen muscles shone like steel in the fiendish light +of the burning hay-ricks; his broad mouth bled from the blow of a +stone and the whites of his eyes shone in a ghastly fashion from his +black face. + +"Halt, Giaour!" roared the Moor, with a voice that sounded above the +thunder of battle, and made his way toward Banfy. In his clenched fist +shone a broad scimitar that seemed too heavy even for him. + +Two hussars riding before Banfy fell at one blow from the monster; one +to the right, the other to the left of his horse. As he raised his arm +for the third blow the Moor rose in his saddle and shouted: "I am +Kariassar, the Invincible! Thank God that you fall by my hand." And +with that he threw his sword backward and dealt a frightful blow in +the direction of Banfy's head. The Baron drew his sword coolly in +front of his face and when Kariassar struck, made a very skilful +movement at the hand of the Moor and struck off four fingers at once +from Kariassar's hand, so that they fell noiselessly to the ground. An +expression of terror and rage overspread the dark features. He threw +himself quickly with a frightful roar at Banfy, and paying no heed to +the wounds received on face and shoulders, with his left hand grasped +the Hungarian's right and gave him such a push that, had not Banfy +been firm in his saddle, he must have fallen from his horse. It seemed +as if the Moor were still able with one hand to crush him. As Banfy +was a good rider he used his spurs, and while the giant struggled with +the master, pulling at his lacerated arm with lion strength, the +battle-horse turned himself suddenly against the Moor, dealt him a +blow in the thigh with his hoof, bit his breast with his foaming mouth +and pushed against him with his teeth. Kariassar cried out with the +maddening pain and letting go the Baron suddenly, reached for his +dagger with his left hand and drew it from its sheath. Just at this +moment Banfy struck at the giant's neck and the monstrous head rolled +to the ground. While the blood gushed out in a threefold stream, the +headless figure remained seated upon his unguided horse,--a terrible +spectacle! At sight of him the frightened Mamelukes scattered, +dashing over hedges and fences on their horses, riding one another +down. + +At the same time the people who were defending the church broke +down the barricades and made a sally on the assailants. At their +head was Madame Vizaknai with drawn sword--behind the clergy as +standard-bearers, with the church banners. + +The great army of besiegers, now fallen between two fires, parted and +opened a free course for the scythes of the peasants, and for the +tschakany. This last is a mighty weapon; in the hands of the expert +its blow is almost unfailing. The long pointed blade strikes with such +weight as it falls that there is neither helmet nor shield it cannot +go through, and the sword offers no defence against its crooked steel. + +Soon the two armies met. The janissaries who, though half dead still +struck with their hangers at the feet of the horses riding over them, +scattered like chaff. + +Madame Vizaknai sprang toward Dionysius Banfy and seized his horse by +the bridle. + +"The danger is great, gracious lord. The Turks are twenty times our +number. Come behind the church wall." + +"I'll not go a step further," replied Banfy, coldly. "Save yourself +behind the barricades." + +"Neither will I," replied Madame Vizaknai. + +"I can defend myself," said Banfy, fiercely. + +"So can I," replied the woman, proudly. + +New forces streamed out from every direction as if they had come down +from the clouds or up from the ground. Foot soldiers and horse, with +long weapons, bows and lances arose from every side with a shout that +reached the heavens:--"Ali, Ali, Allah Akbar!" + +The Hungarian force, with backs to the church drew themselves up in +line of battle and waited the attack. From the end of the street a +gleaming troop of horsemen appeared to be advancing. It was a picked +company of spahis on stately Arab horses; the housings gleaming with +emeralds in the firelight. In the middle rode Ali on a slender +snow-white barb; in his hand a crooked sword with diamond-set hilt and +on his head a turbaned helmet. His long beard fell over his silver +armor. When he was within range of Banfy he called a halt and drew up +his men. Until then Banfy had not touched his pistols, the wonderfully +carved ivory handles of which were just in sight above the saddlebags. +Now he drew them and handed them both to Madame Vizaknai. + +"Take them," he said, "you ought to have something for self-defence." + +Just then Ali Pasha sent a herald who brought this message to the +Hungarians: + +"My lord, Ali Pasha, commands you unbelieving giaours to surrender. +Every way of escape is closed; spare yourself further useless +efforts, lay down your weapons at his feet and surrender yourselves to +his mercy." + +The herald had hardly uttered the last words when two shots were heard +and he fell dead from his horse. Madame Vizaknai, instead of any reply +had fired off both pistols at him. + +Ali Pasha, infuriated, gave a signal to the troops around him and +there was a shower of darts and balls from every side upon the little +Hungarian band. + +Madame Vizaknai stepped up to Banfy's stirrups and resting against him +one hand and swinging her sword with the other, said: + +"Fear nothing, my friend." + +Her words were followed by a sound as of thunder and a whizzing of +darts. Madame Vizaknai's body came between Banfy and danger. When the +noise of the firing passed over he felt her hold on his arm grow +weaker;--an arrow had struck the lady just above the heart. + +"The arrow was meant for you," said Madame Vizaknai, with feeble +voice, and sank down dead on the ground. + +"Poor soul!" said Banfy, looking down at her. "She always loved me and +never showed it." + +And then blood flowed instead of tears. + +The Hungarians were surrounded by the Turks and could not force their +way through at any point. Already Banfy was fighting with the eighth +spahi who, like all the rest, gave way before his extraordinary +dexterity. Ali Pasha was beside himself with rage. + +"So then, you cannot kill this detestable dog," he roared, in his +anger, and striking the people before him with the flat of his sword, +he galloped toward Banfy. + +"I stand before you, you miserable hog, son of a dog," he said, +gnashing his teeth. + +"Keep your names for yourself," said Banfy; rode up to the Pasha, and +let fall on his helmet so mighty a blow that it was shivered, and +Banfy's sword too, and both men drew back stunned. Ali took a round +shield from one of his armor-bearers and a steel tschakany was handed +Banfy. The tschakany fell with frightful force on the shield, making a +hole. Ali Pasha drew his sword and this time Banfy saved his life only +by a skilful spring to one side. + +"I'll play ball with your head," said Ali, scornfully. + +"And I will make a broom out of your beard," replied Banfy. + +"I will have your coat of arms nailed up in my stable." + +"And I will have your hide stuffed with sawdust and use it for a +scarecrow." + +"You rebel of a slave!" + +"You barber's apprentice made into a general!" + +Every taunt was accompanied with a fresh thrust. + +"You shameless kidnapper!" shouted the pasha. "You carry off Turkish +girls, do you? I will carry off your wife and make her the lowest +slave of my harem." + +Everything swam before Banfy's eyes; he had received three wounds that +took from him all humanity. + +"Cursed devil!" he roared, and gnashing his teeth, grasped his +tschakany in the middle, bounded nearer to Ali and whirled his weapon +with lightning swiftness about his head so that it flew about in his +hand like the arms of a windmill, now driving at the opposing shield +with the handle and now with the ball-like end of the weapon, serving +alike for attack and defence. Ali Pasha, overwhelmed by this unwonted +mode of attack tried to withdraw, but the two war-horses shared their +masters' struggle by biting each other in the neck and chest and could +not be separated. The spahis, who saw their master reel, threw +themselves between the two and drove off the hussars surrounding +Banfy. When he saw that all his men were fleeing toward the church he +quickly let fall one last blow on Ali's shield, which struck through, +and as he surmised from Ali's roar, just at the point where the shield +fits on the arm. Banfy had no time for a second blow for he was +surrounded on all sides. Just then there was heard in the rear of the +combatants a familiar braying of trumpets, and a fresh war cry +sounding from all sides mingled with the confusion. + +"God! Michael Angyal!" George Veer had arrived with his troops. + +"God! Michael Angyal!" shouted the leader, towering above the rest in +his coat of mail with a bearskin thrown over one shoulder; with a +notched club he forced his way through the midst of the surprised +Turks. + +The attack was skilfully made. The knights crowded forward from all +sides and threw the army of the Turks into confusion at every point at +once so that no division could bring help to another, and the outer +ranks were constantly trampled down by this superior foe. + +Ali Pasha had received a bad wound on his arm from Banfy's last +thrust, that took away his courage; he put spurs to his horse and gave +the signal for retreat. The army of the Turks was driven headlong out +of the town. The leaders strove to bring the troops to the mountains +of Gyerto, where they thought they could gather their forces again in +the passes. + +Outside the town the battle went on in spite of the order to retreat. +The Hungarians scattered the burning hay and in the darkness of the +night became so mixed with their foes that they could only be +distinguished by the war cry. The retreating army of the Turks in the +darkness and confusion now fled toward the enemy, now cut down their +own comrades, and in their effort to imitate the war cry of the +Hungarians met with still greater misfortune, for since they could not +pronounce Michael Angyal but shouted Michael Andschal instead, they +were the more easily recognized by the Hungarians. The Turkish army +was utterly defeated. They left more than a thousand dead in the +streets and vicinity of the church; and had it not been for the +mountain ravines where it was not advisable for the Hungarians to +follow, they would have been completely annihilated. + +George Veer ordered the trumpet to sound for the rally of the +scattered troops, while Banfy in his restless rage sought to pursue +the fleeing foe. In vain! Every way was closed by the hastily felled +trees. + +"We are forced to let them escape," said Veer, sheathing his sword. + +"Maybe not," said Banfy, excited, and rode up a hill where he appeared +to see something. Suddenly he shouted joyfully:--"Look there! The +signal fires are just being lighted." And it was a fact! The signal +bonfires were seen blazing in a long line along the Gyalu mountains. + +"There are our men!" shouted Banfy, with fresh enthusiasm. "The Turk +is in a snare!" + +And he collected his forces again and galloped toward the barricaded +streets, giving no heed to the warning of the more cautious Veer. + + * * * * * + +Ali Pasha had meantime sent ahead his tents, camels and the +booty-laden wagons, with Dschem-Haman to open up the road over the +mountain. While Dschem-Haman went forward in the darkness, leveling a +road, he suddenly heard a conversation on the steep rocks towering +above his head and saw a troop of armed men come in sight. Both troops +spoke at once,--"Who are you? What are you doing?" + +"We are carrying stones," replied Dschem-Haman. "We too are carrying +stones," shouted those above. + +"We are Dschem-Haman's men, who are clearing the stones out of the way +for Ali Pasha,--and you, are you not Csaki's men?" + +"We are gathering stones to throw at the head of Ali Pasha, and are +Michael Angyal's men," was the reply from above; and at the same +moment there fell on the head of the Turk a rain of stones, as if by +way of confirmation. + +"Is Angyal here too?" growled the Turks, starting back in terror and +alarming those in the rear, who feared they were about to be +surrounded. At this information the army of the Turks formed in a +solid mass, rear and van alike harassed by the fear that the Hungarian +forces in possession of the mountain-heights would begin at daybreak +to roll down huge rocks. + +Ali Pasha tried to force his way through, now in one place and now in +another, but was beaten back every time with frightful loss, by masses +of rock and trunks of trees rolled down from above. The boldest +rangers, who had fought hand to hand in hundreds of battles, fled +terror-stricken before these thundering rocks which so crushed +everything in their path that horse and rider could not be +distinguished from each other. Ali, seeing that he and his entire host +were all but caught, tore his beard with rage that he must lay down +his arms before an army to which his own was even now superior in +numbers. + +"There is nowhere either help or defence except with Almighty God!" he +cried, broke his sword in two in his despair, drew his pistol and +aimed it at his own breast. At that instant a hand tore his weapon +from him and Ali Pasha saw Zulfikar before him. + +"What do you want, you madman?" he shouted at him. "You surely would +not have me fall into the hands of these unbelievers alive!" + +"I will set you and your army free," said Zulfikar. + +"By the soul of Allah, you make great promises, and if you should be +able to fulfil them I would make you second in command." + +"That is not necessary. Promise me a thousand ducats and send me to +Banfy as messenger." + +"So you can betray my position to him, you dog!" + +"I do not need to do that, he can see for himself from the mountain +height, and in any case you are as well done for as if you were dead +already, so you have no choice whether you will believe me or not. +Within ten days you and I and your noblest knights will die of hunger; +in this one respect all are alike and have no advantage over one +another." + +"And what will you attempt, miserable slave?" + +"Influence Banfy to withdraw his troops from the road leading toward +Kalota and so leave us a way of escape." + +"And you think that is possible?" + +"Either it is possible, or it is not possible. Where death is certain, +a man is not risking his life. If I can speak with Banfy this evening, +you can think of escape by night. If it succeeds, good; if it does +not, you can come back here again." + +"The boy speaks boldly. Well, act according to your judgment. I trust +it to you. God sees all. Go." + +Zulfikar laid down his arms and followed the defile leading toward +Kalota. As he came to the Hungarian outpost he saw the length of the +street, long rows of trees with Turks hung to the branches; but this +sight did not disturb the composure of the deserter. He walked boldly +into the midst of the enemy and when they stopped him said quietly in +Hungarian, "Take me to Dionysius Banfy, I am his spy!" + +"You lie!" they shouted. "Hang him to a tree!" + +"I can prove it," continued Zulfikar, firmly, took a folded letter out +of his turban and gave it to the captain. + +In the letter were these words. "I, Gregory Sötar, inform the captains +that the bearer of this letter, Zulfikar, is my faithful war spy. He +is to be allowed free pass everywhere." The captain gave back the +letter sullenly and motioned to two soldiers to lead him to Banfy, and +in case the latter did not recognize him, strike him down at once. +Banfy recognized him at the first glance as Pongracz, once servant of +Balassa, and motioned to his servant to leave him alone with him. + +"So you have turned Turk?" Banfy asked. + +"Do not ask, my lord, I have a great deal to say beside that. Let me +tell my story quietly to the end and I will be brief. Emerich Balassa +turned me out of his house when he learned that I had assisted you in +carrying off Azraele." + +"Good," said Banfy, contracting his eyebrows. "The girl has fled from +me too and I do not know where she has gone." + +"I do, my lord. But the worst of it is that there are others who know +too. Near Gregyina-Drakuluj there is a hidden dwelling among the rocks +that is her property." + +"Still," cried Banfy, frightened. "How do you know that?" + +"Balassa entered a complaint to the Prince that his wife had been +stolen. The affair is not so trifling as you think. Azraele is the +Sultan's daughter, who was betrothed to Ali and carried off by Corsar. +Balassa's poison alone saved Corsar from a silken rope, while Balassa +has given up his native land for the sake of the girl. This woman has +brought misfortune to everybody who has rejoiced in the possession of +her. Now it is your turn. After the Prince had promised the disgraced +Ladislaus Csaki everything in his power if he would discover the place +where you had concealed the girl, Csaki craftily commissioned the +Lieutenant of the circuit to make inquiries among the people whether a +panther had not been seen in the forest, for he felt quite sure that +this tamed beast would wander widely. In this way they got trace of +the hiding place among the rocks, saw the girl,--and all is betrayed." + +"Hell and the devil!" said Banfy, turning white. + +"Hear the rest. Csaki communicated his plan to Ali Pasha, who was the +one concerned; according to this plan, when Ali fell upon +Banfy-Hunyad, Csaki with his thousand Wallachians was to go up into +the mountain under pretext of a hunt and storm Gregyina-Drakuluj." + +"Unheard of knavery!" cried Banfy, with his hand on his sword. + +"It is possible, my lord, that you may yet get there in time," added +the deserter, cunningly,--"if you do not delay too long." + +"Let us start at once," said Banfy, pale with rage. "I'll teach these +sycophants to touch the possession of a free nobleman while he himself +is fighting against the foe of his fatherland. A few hundred men will +be enough to hold Ali Pasha in check here; with the rest I'll wager +that I can make it uncomfortable for Ladislaus Csaki if he crosses my +borders." + +And at once Banfy sent orders to his men to start for Marisel in +perfect silence; he ordered the few troops remaining to light a great +many fires in the forest to make the enemy believe that the entire +force was still there, and he himself hurried on to Azraele's hiding +place. For Zulfikar he counted out five hundred gold pieces for his +information. + +Ali Pasha, according to agreement, had attacked by night with his +entire force the line of military posts left by Banfy and held by a +few hundred men; had driven them back after a short resistance and +leaving behind two thousand dead and all his baggage, and swallowing +down his vexation at a great defeat, had hurried away to ward Gross +Nagy Varad. From him too Zulfikar received the thousand gold pieces +stipulated; he had done a service alike to the Hungarian and to the +Turk, and had allowed himself to receive pay from both parties. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE COURT OF JUSTICE IN THE BANQUET HALL + + +A blast of hunting horns echoed from the mountains of Batrina and the +din of the chase drew nearer. A group of distinguished-looking riders +was seen in the cavalcade and at their head rode Ladislaus Csaki. + +"After him! After him!" rang out from all sides. Evidently the beast +had been started when the group of riders, coming out of a thicket +into a clearing, met a group from the other direction in which all +recognized Dionysius Banfy as leader, and astounded they cut short +their chase. + +Banfy rode toward the group with a scornful smile. "Welcome, my lords, +to my estate! I am very glad that this good fortune is mine. Probably +you have lost your way, otherwise you are my guests and so welcome. +But why do you stare at me so wildly? you call to mind the Hindoo +proverb; 'He who hunts a deer in the forest often comes upon lions.'" + +"We consider you neither deer nor lion," replied Csaki, blushing in +his confusion to his very ears;--"but we expected to find ourselves on +lawful ground." + +"Quite right," replied Banfy, with an offended laugh. "You are on my +territory and that is comparatively lawful. I really do not know how I +can express my pleasure at this honor. Doubtless you are weary; I +invite you to my house at Bonczida to a friendly meal." + +"Thank you," replied Csaki, angrily, "but at present we cannot +accept." + +"That is my affair. I am not accustomed to allow those to go away +hungry and thirsty who have come to me as guests. I cannot treat you +as poachers so I must look upon you as my guests, I suppose." + +"There is still a third condition possible." + +"I recognize none." + +"Your Excellency shall learn it at once from me." + +"Very good, but there will be time for that over the midday meal. Let +us turn our horses toward Bonczida, my lords." + +"I have already said that we would not accept the invitation." + +"What do you say? have you then so poor an opinion of my hospitality +as to think that I will not myself drag you away by force? You must +not overlook Bonczida: since you already know my game, you must now +make acquaintance with my domestic animals. At all events, I shall +take you with me, even by force." + +"Have done with jesting, Banfy; it is not in place here." + +"I think that it is you who are jesting, for I am perfectly serious +when I say that I intend to take you with me even against your will." + +"We will see." + +"You may be assured that you will," said Banfy; he blew his horn and +from all sides appeared armed men out of the forest. Csaki's men were +surrounded. + +"This is certainly treason!" cried Csaki, infuriated. + +"Oh no, only a little Carnival fun," replied Banfy, laughing. "This +once the game catches the hunter. Forward, my men, take the horses of +these gentlemen by the bridle and follow me with them to Bonczida. If +any one of them does not go willingly, fasten his legs firmly to the +stirrups." + +"I protest against this violence," said Csaki, raging. "I call upon +you to bear witness that I have entered a protest against this law of +violence." + +"And I, on my part, call on everybody to witness," said Banfy, +laughing as he imitated him; "that I have invited these gentlemen in +the most friendly fashion to a banquet." + +"I protest it is violence!" + +"It is diversion--Hungarian hospitality." + +Some of the gentlemen laughed and the rest cursed. Finally, since +Banfy had the power, Csaki's men sullenly yielded to the act of +violence and allowed themselves to be led away to Bonczida. + +Along the road Csaki called out to all who met them. He called on them +to bear witness that Banfy was doing them an act of violence, while +Banfy in turn laughingly strove to make it clear to them that the +noble gentleman was a little befogged and that they were playing him a +joke befitting nobility. + +"You will be sorry for this yet," snarled Csaki, beside himself with +rage. + +As they were passing through a village one of Csaki's suite, a young +nobleman called Szantho by his comrades, made his way out of the +throng and before they could pursue him, was out of sight. + +"The Devil take him!" said Banfy. "However we can sport merrily +without him can we not, my Lord Ladislaus Csaki?" + +Gradually Csaki regained his composure and laid aside his anger. As +they came to Bonczida he wore a smiling countenance for he saw that it +would be unbecoming and ridiculous in the presence of ladies to wear +an angry expression, so without annoyance he allowed himself to be +presented to Madame Banfy and Madame Apafi as a guest picked up by the +way. + +Banfy crowned his insult by pointing Csaki to the seat of honor at the +upper end of the table near his wife, placed himself opposite and +bestowed on him constantly the highest expressions of honor, at the +same time allowing the most biting scorn to show through. Csaki did +not dare have it seen to what extent he felt this. The merrier their +spirits grew toward the close of the meal, the more exasperated Csaki +became. He sat on burning coals and had to smile. At last Banfy +thought of one more vexation for him. Taking up his glass he drank to +his health. Csaki had to accept the civility and empty his glass and +so face Banfy's laugh. Every drop of the liquor turned to poison under +this scornful laughter; and the torture was so subtly veiled that the +two ladies did not notice any of it. As the guests were at their +merriest, the middle door flew open and without any announcement there +entered Michael Apafi, the Prince, to whom the escaped Szantho had +carried the news of Csaki's capture. + +The two ladies hurried toward the unexpected guest with cries of joy +and surprise, while the gentlemen at once discerned the threatening +storm on the countenance of the Prince and became serious. Banfy alone +knew how to maintain his customary distinguished serenity, which was +wont to express even anger with smiles. He sprang hastily from his +seat and met the Prince with a joyful face. + +"Your Highness has come in the very moment that we had emptied our +glasses to your health. I call that an unexpected but most opportune +appearance." + +Apafi received his greeting with a slight nod and leading the ladies +back to their places took Banfy's chair at the table. + +Several of the guests hastened to offer their seats to Banfy, but the +Prince motioned to him: + +"You may remain standing, Banfy. We wish to make a friendly trial of +your case." + +"If we may be permitted to be the judges, your +Excellency,"--interrupted the learned Csehfalusi, "the necessary +inquiries have already been made." + +"I alone will pass judgment," said Apafi, "although I do not know +whether the master in Bonczida is Dionysius Banfy or I." + +"The law of the land is master of us both, your Highness," replied +Banfy. + +"Well answered. Then you certainly mean to remind us that a Hungarian +nobleman in his own house does not allow any one to sit in judgment on +him. It is only a little 'Carnival fun' that is under discussion. You +began it, you gave it this name, and we continue it." + +Tense expectancy was on the faces of those present for they did not +know whether all this was to end as a joke or as something serious. + +"You seized by violence our messenger Ladislaus Csaki and brought him +to your house." + +"Indeed!" said Banfy, with feigned astonishment. "Is that his office? +why did not the Count say at once that your Highness had sent him to +hunt on my estate? And then when your Highness has a desire to hunt +within my preserves, why do you not inform me instead? I could have +far better deer shot for your Highness than Ladislaus Csaki can." + +"This is not a question of deer, my lord baron. You know perfectly +well what the affair turns on. Do not oblige me to speak more plainly +in the presence of the ladies." + +At these words Madame Banfy would have risen but the Princess held her +back. + +"You must stay," she whispered in her ear. + +"Thus far I do not understand a word of all that has been said," Banfy +remarked in an aggrieved tone. + +"You do not? then we will recall to your memory a few circumstances. +In your forests a panther has been seen by the peasants." + +"That is possible," replied Banfy, with a laugh. (For a Hungarian +noble may be permitted to jest with his guests but never to be rude, +no matter how much he may be annoyed.) "It is quite possible that the +panther is a descendant of the one which came into the country with +Arpad, and so might be called an ancestral panther." + +"It is no joke, my lord. That beast of prey has torn to pieces in the +sight of several persons a Wallachian, on whose account I sent out +the lord, Ladislaus Csaki, to hunt down the beast and kill him. And +Csaki had seen the creature and given chase when you met him in the +forest." + +"My lord, Ladislaus Csaki has merely mistaken his own tiger skin for a +panther." + +"Do not sneer. The lair of that monster has been discovered. Do you +understand now?" + +"I understand, your Highness. For that reason it was a pity to put my +lord Csaki to so much trouble. So it was he who discovered the +building which I had hewn in the rocks in my love for a hot spring. +This will hardly earn him the title of a Christopher Columbus." + +"We still mock, do we? So you do not wish to bend your proud head to +the dust? What if I knew the secret which caused you to have that lair +made so quietly?" + +Banfy began to change color. He answered in a low tone of voice like a +man who found it hard not to speak the truth. + +"The cause of this, my lord, is quite simple. Borvölgy too I had +discovered, and hardly had the news of it spread abroad when the +public took possession of this spring: again near Gregyina-Drakuluj I +found a spring of mineral waters, and to prevent everybody from going +there I had a little pleasure house made in secret among the rocks." +By these last words, Banfy intended to signify to the Prince that he +would like to spare his wife, but he accomplished quite the opposite +effect. + +"Ah, my lord, that is base hypocrisy!" cried out the Prince, +passionately, and struck his clenched fist on the table. "You wish to +use your wife as a cloak and yet you are keeping in that place a +Turkish girl, on whose account the Sultan is now preparing war against +our country." + +Madame Banfy uttered a piercing cry. Her sister whispered in her ear, +"Be strong. Show your resolution now." + +Banfy bit his lips in anger but he knew how to control his feelings +and answered quietly: + +"That is not true. I dispute it." + +"What! Is it not true? there are people who have seen her." + +"Who has seen her?" + +"Clement, the Lieutenant of the Circuit." + +"Clement, the poet? lying is the poet's trade." + +"Good, my lord baron! Since you deny everything I shall convince +myself personally of all these matters. I shall myself go to the place +in question and if I find proof of the accusation brought against you, +be assured that a threefold punishment awaits you; for the abduction +of the Turkish girl, for the violence done a messenger of the Prince +and for your infidelity. But one of these charges is alone sufficient +to bring you down from your fancied height. Csaki, conduct us to the +place mentioned. My lord, Dionysius Banfy, will remain here in the +meantime." + +Banfy stood colorless and as if rooted to the ground. His wife had +risen, and summoning all her strength with a mighty effort, advanced +to the Prince and said: + +"My lord,--pardon my husband,--he knows of nothing--the guilt is mine; +that woman whom you are looking for found herself pursued and turned +to me for protection and I hid her in that place without the knowledge +of my husband." + +Each word that she spoke seemed to cost the pale, weak woman more than +human strength. + +Banfy blushed and dropped his eyes before her. Madame Apafi looked at +her sister triumphantly and pressed her hand. + +"Good! that is noble. You were strong." + +Apafi saw through the generous deceit and turned angrily toward Banfy, +determined that he should not escape him in this way. + +"And you permit your wife to take risks which might easily plunge your +family--yes, your country--into peril! for this you deserve +punishment. It is my wish that here in the presence of your guests, to +my satisfaction, you set her right." Madame Banfy sank down on her +knees before the guests, with an air of resignation, and dropped her +head like a criminal who awaits her punishment. + +"That is not my custom," replied Banfy, hoarsely. + +"Then I will do it," said Apafi, and stepped up to the lady. + +"This deed of yours deserves to be punished by imprisonment." + +"That I will not permit, my lord," muttered Banfy, between his teeth. + +He was already white as a corpse. All the blood seemed to have settled +in his eyes as at a focal point. All his muscles quivered with rage +and shame. + +"My lords,"--rang out a bell-like voice, the sound of which was +grateful in this rude contest of men. It was Madame Apafi who had +stepped between the prostrate lady and the men.--"Formerly noble men +were wont to honor noble women." + +"You are on hand again, to defend those whom I bring to justice," said +the Prince, with annoyance. + +"I am on hand to save your Highness from an injustice; to defend my +sister is always my right; when everybody fails her then it certainly +is my duty." + +With these words the Princess put her arms around Margaret who, +feeling herself supported by the stronger nature suddenly sank down in +a faint in her sister's arms, her overtaxed physical and mental +strength failing her. Banfy would have hastened to his wife's aid but +Madame Apafi held him back. + +"Go," she said, "I will assume the care of her." + +"So you intend to remain here?" said the Prince to his wife, in a tone +wavering between anger and sympathy. + +"My sister needs me--and you, I see, do not." + +Since Apafi had heard his wife speak his voice had become noticeably +dejected, and fearing that she would utterly rout him he left the +battlefield in great haste with only half a triumph. + +The Prince was naturally very much dissatisfied with this result. He +felt that Banfy had been struck in a weak spot and at the same time +that the blow was not deadly. The great lord had been affronted but +not humbled. So much the worse for him! + +What will not bend must break! + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE DIET OF KARLSBURG + + +The states of the country were already assembled in Karlsburg, in the +stately palace of John Sigmund. Only the Prince's place was still +vacant. There sat in a row the Transylvanian patricians, the leaders +of the Hungarian nobility, the most influential by intelligence, +wealth, and bravery; the Bethlens, Kornis, Csakis, Lazars, Keménys, +Mikes and Banfys. The will of these medićval clans represented the +nation, their deeds shaped its history, their ancestors, grandfathers +and fathers, had fallen on the battlefield in defence of their princes +or, in case they had risen against them, on the scaffold; and yet +their descendants did not fail to follow the example of their +forefathers. A new prince came to the helm and they took up the sword +fallen from the hand of their fathers to wield it for or against him, +as fate willed. + +In picturesque contrast to the splendor of the Hungarian nobles were +the deputies and nobility of the Szeklers in their simpler costume and +with their serious inflexible features; and the Saxon states with +their simple faces and their ancestral German costume. + +The crowd gathered in the galleries and behind the balustrades formed +a gay picture. Here and there one or another familiar figure was +pointed out and sometimes a threatening fist was shaken at some +offender. Finally a blare of trumpets announced that the Prince had +come. The seneschals threw wide the doors: the crowd cried huzza! and +the Prince entered attended by his courtiers. At their head marched +Dionysius Banfy as first marshal, with the national standard in his +right hand. By his side Paul Beldi of Uzoni with the princely mace, as +general of the Szeklers. Behind them came solemnly the prime minister, +Michael Teleki, carrying wrapped in silk the official seal. + +All these lords were in splendid court costume. In the middle came the +Prince himself in long, princely caftan with ermine bordered cap,--the +sceptre in his hand. Around and behind him crowded the ambassadors +from foreign courts. In the first row was the Sultan's representative, +in jeweled costume; then followed the ambassadors of Louis XIV., +Forval, a courtly, good-looking man in a silk-trimmed dolman, with +gold lace on his hat and an embroidered sword-knot, and an abbé with +smiling face, wearing a lilac robe and purple girdle. Then came +Sobieski's representative in cloak with slashed sleeves, so like the +Hungarian dress. All these lords took their places on the right and +left. The ambassadors of the foreign courts remained behind the +Prince's seat and several of them carried on a lively conversation +with the Hungarian nobles while the tedious protocol of the last Diet +was being read. + +Among the last was Nicholas Bethlen, whose features became familiar to +us in Zrinyi's hunting-party. He was a lively, sensible man who in his +youth had traveled through all the civilized countries of Europe and +had made the acquaintance of the most important men, even of princes; +yet his national character had not been impaired although he had +adopted the most advanced ideas of his time. The French say that it +was he who first acquainted them with the hussar costume, and by the +pattern of the cloak which excited admiration on his figure, Louis +XIV. had several regiments equipped. + +When Bethlen caught sight of Forval, whom he had known in France, he +hastened to him and greeted him cordially. Forval, hearing that +something was being read aloud, said to the young nobleman: + +"Will you not lose the thread of the deliberation?" + +"The present business can go on without me; the measures which are now +being carried turn on the question how many dishes a man should set +before his servant; or at the most how the poor can be made to grow +rich so they can pay their taxes. As soon as they come to important +matters I will be in my place." + +"Come then and tell me meantime, which are worthy men here and which +are not. In Transylvania everybody is known, of course." + +"This classification is not at all easy. Before I had ever been out of +Transylvania, and while I belonged either to one party or the other, I +was convinced that all the adherents of my party were worthy men but +those on the opposite side were worth nothing. But since I have lived +in foreign lands and been somewhat withdrawn from the sight of +political machinery I begin to see that one may really be as good a +patriot, as brave a fighter and as honest a man in one party as in the +other. It all depends on which is managing affairs more intelligently. +However, if you wish I will share with you my party views; you can +then form your own opinions. This man of proud bearing at the Prince's +right is Dionysius Banfy, the one at his left is Paul Beldi; both are +among the most distinguished lords of the country and both are +decidedly opposed to the impending war. At the same time they are +opposed to each other. On one point only do they stand together. Banfy +is evidently in league with the Roman Emperor and the other with the +Turk. According to their opinion Transylvania is quite strong enough +to drive out any foe which forces its way into the territory, and +sensible enough not to strive after the possessions of others. Now +turn your eyes toward that man with thin hair at the Prince's left. It +is this man's clearness that holds the two in check. He is a near +kinsman of the Prince's, and when the Hungarian National party has +been overthrown he will again take up the unsuccessful campaign. The +contest between the strength and cunning of these three men is going +to offer an interesting spectacle." + +"What if the peace party should prevail?" + +"Then the nation will have closed its career." + +"And the king cannot oppose this?" + +"Here, my friend, we are not at the court of Versailles where the king +may be allowed to say 'L'État c'est moi.' These men here are, each one +of them, as mighty as the Prince himself. Their strength acts in union +with the Prince; but let him try to act in opposition to the will of +the nation and he will soon discover that he stands alone. In the same +way these lords would be isolated if they should undertake anything +against the decision of the nation." + +"Tell the truth. Do you hope the war-party will carry off the +victory?" + +"Hardly, this time. I do not yet see the man who could accomplish it. +In the entire Hungarian nation there is no man who could serve as +ideal to this war-loving people. The leaders have gone to ruin. +Rakoczi has changed parties. Teleki knows how to overthrow parties +but not how to create any. Besides he is no soldier and in such a +position a warrior is needed; he represents cold reason and here a +soul of fire is needed. He does not feel a mission within him, he has +only an interest in having Hungary go to war. One of the great +Hungarian lords, that smooth-faced youth there, has sued for the hand +of his daughter in order to interest him in his party. You can be +assured he will not end where he has begun. One idea leads him +on,--power. Fate is changeful and he avails himself of every means." + +This cold consolation was not agreeable to Forval; meanwhile the +tedious reading had come to an end and Bethlen returned to his seat. + +The Prince explained to the lords, with great depression of spirits, +that the affair which had occasioned their coming together would be +explained by Teleki; he then wrapped himself more closely in his +caftan and settled down into a corner of the throne. + +Teleki rose, waited until the murmur of the people had gradually +subsided, then cast a tranquil glance at Banfy and began as follows: + +"Noble Knights and States, you are acquainted with the events which +have recently taken place in Hungary; even if you were not acquainted +with them, you would need only to cast a glance about you and you +would see the sad faces worn with despair which swell our assembly; +these are our Hungarian brothers, once the flower of our nation, now +withered leaves which the storm has driven. You have not refused to +share with your brothers in their misfortunes your hearth and your +bread, and you have mingled your tears with theirs; but they have +turned to us, not for the bread of charity, nor for woman's +tears--you, Bocskai, and you, Bethlen, whose portraits look down upon +us in silent reproach, whose victorious banners covered with dust wave +above the princely throne, why could you not rise in hero form to +seize these banners and to thunder out to this irresolute modern +generation: 'The exiles demand of you their home, you must win back +for the homeless their fatherland by war!'" . . . . + + * * * * * + +Here Teleki paused, as if he awaited objections. Everybody was wrapped +in silence, feeling that thus far it was only a matter of rhetorical +figures. This silence constrained Teleki to avoid the bombastic in his +speech. + +"You meet my speech with silence. This is the same as, 'Qui tacet, +negat.' I will not believe that your heart is cold and that it is for +that reason you do not become excited. You waver because you are +taking counsel with your strength, but you must know that not alone +shall we move to the field of battle; the confiscated churches, the +fate of the clergy dragged away to the galleys, has forced weapons +into the hands of all the Protestant princes of Europe. Even the King +of Belgium, who has least concern for our fate, has by force rescued +the clergy of our faith from Neapolitan galleys. The sword of Gustavus +Adolphus too has not yet rusted in its scabbard. Yes, even the +Catholic princes and those who acknowledge Mohammed are ready to grant +their assistance in our affairs. See, the King of France, at present +the mightiest ruler of Europe, not only in his own land but also in +Poland recruits armies for us. If it should be necessary the Sultan +will not hesitate to break the enforced peace; or if he should not do +this, still it will be an easy matter to assure ourselves of his +border troops for pay. And now when the noise of battle roars about us +on all sides, when everybody has seized his sword, ought we alone to +leave ours in the sheath? We, who have the most duties to fulfil +toward our brothers and even toward ourselves? What happened to them +yesterday, may happen to us to-day. What country shall then give us +refuge? therefore, sons of my fatherland, listen to the entreaties of +the exiled as if you were in the same position; for I tell you the +time may come when you will be in the position of your brothers, and +as you treat them Fate will treat you." + +With these words Teleki came to an end; he fixed his eyes on Dionysius +Banfy as if he knew in advance that he would be the first to oppose +him. Banfy arose; it was evident from his countenance that he had done +violence to his feelings in order to keep cool. + +"Noble comrades,"--he began in an unusually calm voice,--"sympathy for +the unfortunate and hatred for old enemies are both passions befitting +men. The life of states however offers no room for passions. Here we +are not kinsmen nor friends, nor even enemies. Here we are only +patriots who reckon coolly; for the decision will determine the fate +of the whole country, quite apart from the question of how many will +weep or lament in consequence of the decision. This is the real +question,--'Shall we stake the existence of Transylvania for Hungary, +that it may arise again by our blood?' Let us not follow the voice of +our hearts; this would lead us to feel only, the head must think. At +present, Transylvania lives in peace. The people begin to feel +prosperous. The towns are building up. The garb of mourning is +gradually disappearing and on the bloody battlefields the blade shoots +into the ear. Now the Hungarian within Transylvania is his own master; +no stranger forces tribute from him; he has neither foe nor patron; +nobody dares mix in his councils: the neighboring powers are under +obligation to protect him, and he has no homage to pay them. Consider +this well before you hazard everything for one chance. Do you wish to +see Transylvania once more turned into a great battlefield and your +subjects into armies? and there is still the question whether these +armies would be victorious. Even if our fighting force were sufficient +another important question arises:--Who is to be our leader? Not one +of us has inherited the spirit of Bethlen or Bocskai. Neither I, nor +my lord Teleki. On whom can we count outside ourselves? on the mood of +Louis XIV.? his policy is easily made to waver by a pair of beautiful +eyes; and when we should be in the deepest distress it is possible +that a little intrigue at Versailles might be the cause of our being +left alone on the battlefield." + +A slight cough of vexation was heard from Forval. + +"However," went on Banfy, "Sobieski will not pick a quarrel with the +Emperor his present ally, for our beautiful eyes, unless there is +every other cause. Nor will the Sultan so easily break his oath as my +lord, Michael Bethlen, imagines. What course is there left us? To call +into Hungary the Tartar Nomads? The poor Hungarian people would +certainly return most hearty thanks for such assistance! The brave +Nicholas Zrinyi, who stands as the ideal to every Hungarian, once +related a fable bearing on this which deserves to be handed down. The +devil was dragging a Szekler along on his back. A neighbor of his met +him and said: 'Which way are you going, my good friend?' 'I am being +dragged to hell,' replied the other. 'Indeed, that is truly +unfortunate,' said the other. 'It would be still more unfortunate,' +replied the rogue, 'if the Devil should seat himself on my back, drive +his spurs into me and make me carry him.' I leave you to make the +application. For my part I should not know how to decide aright which +I ought to fear more, the enmity of the one, or the friendship of the +other. And what is to be the result of this war? If we conquer with +the aid of the Sultan Transylvania becomes a Turkish pashalic. If we +are conquered we sink into the condition of an Austrian province, +while now we are, by God's grace, an independent country. Hungary's +fate anticipates improvement in every case, and it lies just as +heavily on my heart as on the hearts of those who think that the sick +man can be healed by the sword. But nothing is to be attained in this +way. How much blood has already flowed without the slightest result! +Let us try at once another way. Ought not the Hungarian to possess so +much strength of soul that he can overthrow, by intellectual +superiority, the foe whom he cannot conquer by force of arms? Subdue +your conqueror. You who in understanding, activity, wealth and manly +beauty are the first of the kingdom, why do you not take the high +position which is becoming you? Were you there where the Pazmans and +Esterhazys spread themselves no empty place would then remain for a +Lobkowitz. If, instead of fighting these small battles without result, +you would fight it out with your intelligences and your influence you +might make your land prosperous and that without the cost of a drop of +blood. It rests with you to conjure up again the period of Louis the +Great. At that time when the foreign prince was so enamored of his +chosen people he understood how to become a Hungarian and so, with the +help of the nations, became strong and powerful. If in your eyes the +prosperity of the nations is of the first importance, change your +rôle: let the states of Transylvania undertake to promote peace +between the Emperor and the nation, to get back for you your property +and your rank and I will be the first to offer a helping hand for that +purpose, and Michael Teleki surely will be the second. If you do not +accept this proposition then consider what you can do. So far as that +prophecy goes of first one and then another, you need not be concerned +about Transylvania. I will wager that everybody who crosses +Transylvania by force of arms, let him be who he may, will find a +force to match him. I also wager that this Transylvanian fighting +force will never for the love of anybody rashly cross the borders of a +foreign country." + +"So then you think Hungary is a foreign country!" rang out a mocking +voice from the crowd. + +This interruption disturbed Banfy's composure. He turned angrily +toward the corner from which the remark had come, and when he met the +cold, disdainful glances of the Hungarians grouped together, he forgot +himself; everything swam before him, and throwing his kalpac on the +ground he cried out: + +"As you say, quite right. You have always been strangers to us; nay +more, stepchildren! You have always done wrong and we have always +suffered for it. We have fought and you have trifled away the results +of our conquests. Three times have your dissensions plunged your +country into the grave, and three times has Transylvania brought it to +resurrection. We have furnished you heroes and you have furnished us +traitors." These last words Banfy had fairly to shout to make himself +heard above the increasing din. Soon all were shouting confusedly. The +Hungarian lords sprang up from their places and broke out in anathemas +against Banfy. The more serious of the peace-party shook their heads +thoughtfully when they saw that this inconsiderate expression of +Banfy's was the occasion of stirring up so much violence of feeling. + +Beldi rose; and the rest who would gladly see peace restored, shouted: +"Let us listen to Beldi." + +At this moment a young man suddenly made his way forward and stood in +front of Banfy with glowing face and his hand resting on Teleki's +seat. It was Emerich Tököli. + +"I too ask for a word," he shouted, with a voice that drowned all +else. "By law and justice, speech is mine at this bar. If you in +Hungary deny your mother and would make boundaries between her and +you, then I too will speak. I am just as strong a landed nobleman +in Transylvania as you, proud little god, whose father was one of +those heroes in whose name you are heaping up insults on the +mother-country." + +Beldi tried to get to Tököli to restrain him from speaking, but just +then he was seized from behind by the hand, and when he looked around +he saw to his surprise his son-in-law, Paul Wesselenyi, who called him +out into the entrance hall "just for a word." Beldi went into the hall +while Tököli's thundering words sounded through the entire room, +drowning out the ceaseless noise. In this entrance hall a veiled lady +waited for Beldi. When she uncovered her face it was only with the +greatest difficulty that he recognized his own daughter Sophie, the +wife of Paul Wesselenyi, so much had sorrow changed and broken her. +She had wept her beautiful eyes out. + +"We are fugitives from our country," sobbed Sophie, falling on her +father's breast. "Our estates in Hungary have been taken from us. My +husband has been driven from his castle and is fleeing for his life." + +Beldi grew serious. This unexpected Job's messenger brought war to his +soul. Within thundered Tököli's voice summoning them to an uprising +and Beldi no longer was in a hurry to check it. + +"Stay with me," he said, sorrowfully. "Here you can live in peace +until the fate of the country meets with a change." + +"Too late," replied Wesselenyi. "I have already enlisted as common +soldier under the standard of the French general, Count Bohan." + +"You, a common soldier! You, a descendant of the Palatine Wesselenyi! +And what is to become of my daughter meantime?" + +"She is to remain with you and to be widowed until the struggle for +Hungary is over." + +When he had finished speaking he placed his young wife Sophie in +Beldi's arms, kissed her brow and went away with dry eyes. + +Within the people were clamoring. Beldi saw his daughter sob and a +bitter feeling began to blaze in his breast, not unlike revenge. He +began to feel almost content that within there was a cry for war and +he stood ready to draw his sword--he, the leader of the peace +party!--to rush into the hall of the Diet and cry aloud, "War and +retaliation!" + +At this moment the pages conducted to the door of the entrance hall an +old man, pale as death who, recognizing Beldi, hastened to him and +addressed him with trembling voice: + +"My lord, surely you are the general of the Szeklers, Paul Beldi, of +Uzoni?" + +"Yes, what do you wish of me?" + +"I am," stammered, in dying voice, the sick old man, "Benfalva's last +inhabitant. The rest have all been carried off by +war--famine--pestilence. I alone am left; after I came away the place +was entirely deserted; I too feel my release near and so I have +brought with me to give over to you, the public seal, and the--village +bell--give them over to the nation--let them be kept in the +archives--and let it be written above: 'This was the bell and the seal +of Benfalva, in which village everybody to the last man is dead'!" At +this Beldi let his hand fall from his sword hilt in dismay and freed +himself from the embrace of his daughter who was still clinging to +him. + +"Go home to your mother at Bodola, and learn to bear your fate nobly." + +He then took the seal out of the hand of the death-stricken old man +and hurried back into the hall just as Tököli had finished his speech, +causing a terrible effect on the entire assembly. The French +ambassador pressed his hand. Beldi took his place at the Szeklers' +table and laid down the seal. He was universally respected and when +they saw that he was ready to speak there was perfect silence. + +"See," he said in excited tones; "a desolated village sends here to +the country its official seal by its last inhabitant, and he too is at +the point of death. . . . Of such villages there are already enough in +Transylvania and in time there may be still more. Famine and war have +laid waste the most beautiful portions of our country. . . . This +seal, my lords, you must not forget to place among the symbols of your +victories." + +These last words Beldi uttered hardly above a whisper yet they were +heard in every corner of the hall, so deep a silence reigned. A tremor +passed over the faces of the men. + +"Outside the door I hear some one weeping," Beldi went on with +quivering lips. "It is my own daughter, the wife of Paul Wesselenyi, +who has been driven from her country and who has thrown herself +sobbing at my feet that I in revenge for her wrongs may allow +retaliation to prevail. . . . And I say to you, let my child weep, let +her perish, let me--and if necessary my entire family, be set apart +for destruction, but let nobody in Transylvania suffer on account of +my sorrow--even if every one of you has agreed to the war--I am +against it--My lords--do not forget, I pray you, to lay among your +trophies this seal, and soon the rest too." + +When he had spoken, Beldi took his place again. Long after his words +were ended the silence of the grave reigned throughout the hall. +Teleki, ascribing this silence to disapproval rose, sure of his +position, and made the states give their votes. But this one time he +had not taken the public pulse correctly, for the majority of the +states, affected by the previous scene voted for peace, so great was +the influence of Beldi and Banfy still over the country. + +Teleki looked in confusion toward his son-in-law. The latter muttered +bitterly with clenched fists and tears in his eyes: + +"Flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo." + +When the assembly had broken up Forval and Nicholas Bethlen met. + +"So then there is no future hope of seeing Transylvania take up arms," +said the Frenchman, somewhat dejectedly. + +"On the contrary we just begin to hope with good reason," replied +Bethlen, laying his hand on his friend's shoulder. + +"Did you listen when the young man spoke?" + +"He spoke beautifully." + +"It is not a question of beautiful speaking. I think that is the man +you are looking for." + +"A King of Hungary?" + +"Or a fugitive fleeing from country to country, just as the dice +fall." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE LEAGUE + + +In accordance with a good old custom every festivity must close with a +banquet, so this noisy Diet was closed with a still noisier revel at +which Michael Apafi again presided, and this time with justice, for +according to the old chronicles a skin of wine was not enough for him +at a sitting. + +Wine gives a peculiar fire not only to love but also to hatred. If +ladies are at table we must look out for our hearts; but when men are +together then our heads are in danger. + +After the feasting, in true Transylvanian fashion the drinking was +continued standing. The entertainment took on a livelier cast and the +Prince turned to each one of the lords as they stood, holding out a +full beaker to them and challenging them to drink. + +"Drink! to my health! to the welfare of the country--or to whatever +else you please!" The men were all in good spirits, quarreling with +each other good-naturedly and becoming reconciled again. One man only +who never drank, Michael Teleki, remained sober. + +Beware of those who remain sober when everybody gets drunk! Teleki +went round among the lords who were drinking together on a wager and +joking, and had for some time been moving stealthily about Banfy, when +Banfy noticed him and turned toward him jestingly. + +"How sad you are!" he said, with a pitying laugh; "just like a man who +has lost a palatinate." + +This remark came very aptly for Teleki. With a smile out of which +gleamed a deadly dagger, he replied: + +"No thanks to you! If Paul Beldi had not been present you would have +been alone with your vote. But it has happened once more, in the +presence of so influential a man as Paul Beldi we must all bow. His +words are for all the country like the amen in the prayer." + +Teleki bowed with a show of deep respect as he thrust this poisoned +steel into the great lord's heart, for there was nothing could so +touch him as to have somebody considered greater than himself, +especially when it was a man who deserved it. Teleki now turned to +Beldi, drew him into the recess of a window and gently demanded speech +with him. + +"I have always regarded you as a very noble-hearted man; to-day I +learned, although to my own disadvantage, to recognize you as doubly +so. The Diet knows only that you sacrificed your love for your +daughter when you voted for peace. I know besides that you sacrificed +at the same time your hatred for Banfy." + +"I--I never hated Banfy!" + +"I know why you have concealed this hatred. You think that your +reasons for it are not known to anybody. Oh my friend, we who are men +know well that one may pardon a dagger thrust but never a kiss!" + +Beldi drew himself up and knew not how to answer this man who had +thrust the most painful sting of jealousy into his heart, broken off +the point and now left him with a smile. + +At this moment Banfy came up behind him. In Banfy burned the desire to +make Beldi feel his arrogance and he sought an opportunity of coming +to blows with him. Beldi did not notice him at first and when the +Prince, by chance, reached that part of the hall at that moment and +with friendly words offered him the jewel-studded beaker in his hand, +Beldi thought that the invitation was to him alone and never once +suspecting that anybody else was reaching for the beaker, he took it +from the hand of the Prince and drained it off to his health at the +very moment that Banfy reached out his hand for it. Banfy grew purple +with rage and turning haughtily to Beldi, he said in an insulting +tone: + +"Not so fast, Szekler, you might at least, since I am the general of +the country, show me sufficient respect not to take the glass from my +very lips. I would have you understand that if you continue in such +insolence we may easily come to blows." + +Had Beldi been in any other state of mind he would have excused +himself for his mistake with his wonted moderation, but now the desire +had been roused within him to measure his strength. He looked at Banfy +calmly from head to foot and said with suppressed anger: + +"I would have you understand, Dionysius, that I am a heavy Szekler. If +by chance I should happen to fall on you I should crush you so that +you would not again on this earth sound your horn." + +"What foolishness is this?" said the Prince, coming between them. "I +am surprised at my lords. Drink now! Inter pocula non sunt seria +tractanda!" + +And the Prince compelled the two great lords to approach each other +and placed the hand of the one in that of the other. Then he let the +matter rest and went on, thinking that it was only a quarrel over the +cups. + +But Teleki observed that after this scene both lords left the hall, +and soon learned that they had gone away from Karlsburg suddenly, so +giving free play to the further plans of the minister. Teleki and his +faithful men remained alone with the intoxicated Prince. + +"Drink, my lords, be merry!" said Apafi. "Let not a man of you leave +me! Who has gone already?" + +"Beldi!" shouted several. + +"Very well, the poor fellow has not seen his wife for a long time; let +him go to her. And who else?" + +"Banfy!" + +"Hm! He too! Why did he go?" + +"He went home to reign," said Ladislaus Szekeli, scornfully; he was +one of Teleki's creatures. + +"He cannot stay in a place where he feels that any one is his +superior," Nalaczy added. + +"Just to please his Excellency I am sure I shall not lay down the +Prince's crown." + +"That he does not need at all," Teleki rejoined. "He knows how to rule +in Transylvania without a crown. What he commands the country must +comply with, and what the country commands he pushes aside with +disdain." + +"I should like to see him!" muttered Apafi, angrily. + +"And yet 'tis so. We wish war, he does not, and we must yield. We wish +peace and it occurs to him to carry on war at his own expense with our +ally. The throne is ours, the country his." + +"Do not say that, my lord Michael Teleki." + +"Do you too speak for me, Nalaczy. What answer did he make in the +affair of Zolyomi?" + +"He sent word," Nalaczy made haste to take up the conversation,--"that +if the country demanded back from him the Gyalu property for Zolyomi +he would like in exchange the Szamosujvar estate." + +"What!" cried the Prince. "The estate which the country set apart for +my revenue? my own princely income?" + +"So he said; and otherwise he will not consent even if Zolyomi should +set the Turk against us this very day." + +"I will soon settle that with him. Not another word, my lords." + +"The affront to the Prince," Teleki joined in, "your Highness may +overlook as long as it pleases you, but Banfy's conduct toward the +people, toward the nobility,--that we cannot let pass in any such way. +He has recently taken a violent course against the noble lady +Szent-Pali;--the ancestral house of the poor widow offended the house +of my great lord because it interfered with the view from his palace; +at once he ordered the poor woman's house to be appraised and pulled +down. The authorities gave her a letter of protection but my lord tore +this in two and ordered the work of destruction to go on and the home +of the poor widow's ancestors to be razed to the ground. The country +might build it up again if it chose, he said. Such a deed in ordinary +times my lord, costs the doer his head." + +Apafi was silent. The flame of anger leaped into his eyes. + +"But that was not all," continued Teleki; "the insult of the +individual vanishes when the fate of the country is at stake. This +great lord who knows so well how to talk about the blessings of +peace--let us see how he exerts himself for its maintenance. He takes +the sword out of our hand, closes our lips that we may not raise any +protestations because Kecskemet has been burned to ashes and its +inhabitants massacred; and then he himself assembles an army and +incites the Turks to war against the country while we are unable to +make such royal gifts as might have some effect against his schemes. +Three letters have come to us, one from the Pasha of Nagy Varad, +another from the General of the forces at Ofen and the third from the +Sultan himself, in all of which satisfaction is demanded of us for the +defeat which the Pasha of Nagy Varad suffered at the hands of Banfy, +or else an indemnity of a hundred and fifty thousand piastres. Since +it is useless to talk of satisfaction with Banfy will it please your +Highness to consider where we can raise the money demanded?" + +"Nowhere!" said Apafi, furiously, breaking his glass against the +table. "I will show that I am in a position to gain satisfaction from +any man even one so mighty as Banfy." + +"Then I could wish that your Highness would acquaint us with the +manner of this satisfaction, for we know that Banfy will not appear if +summoned. If we should compel him by force he has shown that he alone +is stronger than the whole country. He orders the countries to +assemble, the frontier troops to march, and we might have the same +experience that my lord Ladislaus Csaki had when Banfy seized the +official sent for his arrest and held us up to ridicule." + +"What would you counsel, since you know how to give counsel in such +affairs?" Apafi asked, with annoyance. + +"I know of only one remedy that will heal the evil thoroughly." + +"Prescribe it. What are the means?" + +"The jus ligatum." + +In spite of his drunkenness Apafi shrank from this suggestion; he +threw himself into an armchair and gazed fixedly at Teleki. + +"Are you not ashamed?" he mumbled in the broken sentences of the +drunken--"to propose a secret league against a free nobleman?--in +violation of the fundamental law of our country to bind yourself in +secret against him?" + +"The shame does not fall on me," replied Teleki, quietly and steadily, +"it rests rather in the fact that the country has not sufficient power +to bring a rebel to justice; that in our fatherland there is a man who +can openly defy the law and deride the decisions of the Prince. When +in such a case there is no alternative except the jus ligatum, the +shame for such a state of affairs does not fall upon me but on the +Prince!" + +Apafi sprang from his seat in anger and paced the room with long +strides. The lords watched him in deep silence. At length he stopped +beside Teleki and leaning on the back of his chair asked: + +"How do you think the league can be brought about?" Nalaczy and +Szekeli smiled at each other; evidently the idea had impressed the +Prince. Teleki motioned to Szekeli to bring writing materials and a +roll of parchment and arranging these before him replied: + +"We will draw up at once the counts of the indictment that can be +brought against Banfy; your Highness shall sign them and in secret we +will win over the nobles of the country to agree to Banfy's arrest and +to stand by the league before any legal steps are taken." + +At this many of the lords present began to chew their beards +thoughtfully. Teleki noticed the movement and said pertinently: + +"As I observe that nobody here has the courage to give his signature +first, I have a man all ready who alone is in a position so far as +power is concerned to oppose Banfy and when once this man has signed +all the rest will follow." + +"Who is that?" asked Apafi. + +"Paul Beldi," was the answer. + +The Prince shook his head. + +"He will not do it. He is far too honorable a man." These words spoken +in the bravery of his intoxication threw Teleki completely out of his +composure. + +"Are we then planning a dishonorable action?" he demanded of the +Prince, vehemently. + +"What I meant to say was that he would not voluntarily begin action +against anybody, for he is a peace-loving man." + +"But I know his weak spot which you have only to touch with your +little finger to rouse him to blows and make a lion out of a lamb. I +will bring him to the point." + +At this moment the door opened and to the astonishment of all the +Princess entered. This time her appearance was no chance. It was easy +to see by the excitement in her face that she knew well what had +happened. The lords grew confused and Apafi himself was so dismayed, +in spite of the irascibility incident to his drunkenness, that he +whispered to Teleki, + +"Put that paper aside." + +Teleki alone remained composed and instead of putting it aside spread +it out the more. + +"What are my lords doing?" asked Madame Apafi; she was pale and her +bosom heaved. + +"We are taking counsel," answered Teleki, firmly. + +"You are taking counsel?" asked Anna, approaching nearer to the +table. + +"At the same time we would put to your Grace the question, who gave +you the right to disturb us when we are making decisions about the +most important affairs of the country?" continued Teleki, in a hard +tone of voice. + +"You are making decisions about the most important affairs of the +country," replied Madame Apafi, slowly repeating Teleki's words, while +she looked at him sharply; then suddenly she broke out in a resonant +voice,--"and that over your wine cups! You consult about the fate of +the country while the man at its head is intoxicated, so that you may +bring all to confusion." + +Teleki sprang from his seat and turned to the Prince. + +"May it please your Majesty to dismiss us? Evidently a domestic scene +is in progress." + +"Anna," cried Apafi, red with shame and the glow of the wine, "leave +this hall this instant. It is our order and from this day on for a +week do not appear again before our eyes." + +"Very well, Apafi. I have nothing more to say to you for you are not +in your senses. But to you, my Lord High Counsellor, who are always +sober, I have a word to say:--I raised you from the dust; I helped you +to your present position; in gratitude for this you have forced +yourself between my heart and the Prince's so that whenever I would +approach my husband I find you in my path. You have taken the sceptre +out of the Prince's hand and in its stead you have forced into his +hand the headsman's sword, so that he begins to rule by that. Now let +me tell you that if I am not allowed to get to the Prince's heart yet +I will stand in the way of the headsman's sword. Whenever it is to +fall I shall be found between the blow and the victim; and you two +choice menials,--barons--you Szekeli and you Nalaczy who cannot +yourselves tell now how you so suddenly became great lords, remember +that the wheel goes down as often as up and that the judgment which +to-day you pass against others by to-morrow may be carried out against +yourselves. And the rest of you intriguing lords, who get courage for +your timid hearts out of the wine cups, remember, and shudder at the +thought, that in the bumpers in your hands not wine, but the blood of +the innocent, foams. Shame on you all, that you give your Prince wine +that you may demand of him blood! And now, your Highness, add two +weeks more to my term of exile." + +With these words the Princess quickly left the hall. The lords were +silent and dared not look at each other. Teleki rose, closed the door, +dipped his quill and said: + +"Let us continue from where we left off." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +DEATH FOR A KISS + + +Paul Beldi took the direct route from Karlsburg to Bodola. All the way +he was tormented by the thought which Teleki's words had called up +again. In itself a kiss is a very innocent matter but if another knows +of it, has noticed it?--if this should be only one pole of the world +of distrust about which the soul revolves bringing up now this, now +that, which might have happened before and after,--and then too +another knows of it?--The husband thought that a kiss nobody knew +about caused no defect in his wife's virtue--but now it lived on the +lips of others; perhaps still more; perhaps the world was dragging his +honor in the dust while he supposed it well guarded, and the first +sound of the derision to him so deadly had just reached his ear, and +that too from his most hated foe. . . . + +Night interrupted his thoughts. The horses were tired out, Beldi had +given them no rest, had had no fresh relays,--only on and on. He +wished to get home as quickly as possible--to have under his eyes that +wife who had cost him such disgrace--who knows how much!-- But is it +sufficient satisfaction to see a woman weep or die when a man still +lives on whom he might take revenge?--a man too who had been his enemy +from the time when they had both served as pages of Gabriel Bethlen +and who now sought out the most sensitive spot in his heart to tear it +with his ruthless hand. + +"Turn about!" he shouted to the driver. "Take the road to +Klausenburg." + +The old servant shook his head, turned into a side road and soon lost +the road so completely in this wandering by night that he was at last +obliged to confess to his master that he did not know himself where +they were. Beldi trembled with inward emotion. Looking about him he +saw not far off a light, and quite out of temper he bade the coachman +drive toward it. They drove into the courtyard of a lonely country +house. The barking of the great house-dog brought out the master, in +whom Beldi recognized old Adam Gyergyai one of his dearest friends +who, as he recognized Beldi, hurried forward to embrace him, beside +himself with joy. + +"Good-evening, my dear friend," said the good old man, covering his +guest with kisses:--"I do not ask what good fortune has brought you to +me." + +"To tell the truth, I have lost my way. I was on my way to +Klausenburg. I shall go on this very night, and with your permission +leave my horses here to rest." + +"What have you to do there that is so pressing?" + +"I must carry some news," said Beldi, evasively. + +"If that is all, why need you hasten so? You can certainly trust it to +a letter and one of my servants on horse shall carry it at once to the +place while you stay here." + +"You are right," said Beldi, after some consideration;--"it will be +better for me to manage the matter by letter." So he asked for writing +materials, sat down and wrote Banfy. Writing usually brings a certain +soberness to one's thoughts, so this letter was in quite a moderate +tone. He informed Banfy that he summoned him to Szamos-Ujvar to adjust +an affair of honor. With that Beldi sealed the letter and intrusted it +to Gyergyai with the request that he be so kind as to send it. + +"So you are writing to Banfy, my good friend," said the old man, +looking at the address of the letter. "You could have talked with him +a little while ago. What have you two to arrange with each other that +is so urgent?" + +"You remember, my friend," replied Beldi, "that you saw me once in the +lists with Banfy, at the time of the tournament when George Rakoczi +was the master?" + +"Oh yes, you had overcome all other contestants but could do nothing +against each other." + +"On that occasion you said that you would like to see which one of us +would carry off the victory in a real engagement." + +"Yes, I remember that too." + +"Now you shall see." + +Gyergyai looked Beldi in the eye. + +"My friend, I do not know what this letter contains but from your +expression I infer your thought. I have heard my father say that a man +should not send off the same day a letter written under excitement, +but should lay it under his pillow and sleep on it. The advice is not +bad. Do not send your letter off before morning; in fact I will not +send it to-night." + +Beldi complied with the old man's advice. He put the letter under his +pillow, lay down, fell asleep and dreamed. In his dream he was happy +with his wife and children. The noise of a wagon passing by in the +morning awakened him. The first thing that his hand touched was his +letter to Banfy. He broke it open, read it through again, and--was +very much ashamed that he had written anything of the kind. + +"Where was your understanding, Beldi?" he asked himself with a smile, +tore the letter in two and threw it into the fire. "How they would +have laughed at you!" he thought. "They would have said you were an +old fool to whom it had occurred late in life to be jealous of the +mother of his children on account of a kiss given by a man in his +cups and received against the lady's will." What a weapon he would +have given Banfy if he had announced that he was not sure of his wife +on Banfy's account. "We will go straight to Bodola," he said gently to +his servant when he entered, and then he took leave of his host. + +"And what about the letter you were going to send?" asked Gyergyai +with concern. + +"I have already conveyed it--to the flames!" replied Beldi, smiling, +and went on his way with his feelings quite changed. As he approached +Bodola he noticed from a distance the members of his family who had +been watching for him from the castle balcony; as soon as they +recognized his carriage they hurried down to meet him. When he reached +the foot of the castle hill there they all were,--his wife and +children; they threw themselves on his neck with cries of joy and he +kissed each one several times over, but especially his dear devoted +wife on whom he feasted his eyes. It seemed to him that her eyes were +brighter, her face more charming, her lips sweeter than ever. "What +fools men are!" thought Beldi. "When they do not see their wives they +are ready to believe everything bad of them, and when they do see them +they forget it all." + +He was so abandoned to his joy that he did not observe that there was +a stranger in the family circle, but the stranger made haste to +attract his attention. He was Feriz Bey, a handsome, well-built young +Turk, with frank, noble features resembling a Hungarian's. + +"You do not notice me, or perhaps you do not remember me," said the +youth, stepping up to Beldi. + +Beldi glanced at him and thought he recognized him, but did not +venture to call him by name until his younger daughter Aranka hanging +on her father's arm said with a childlike laugh: + +"Have you forgotten Feriz Bey? I knew him at once." + +Beldi extended his hand to the youth with a cordial greeting. + +"My father sends me to you with an urgent message and had you not come +I should have ridden after you. When your family rejoicing is over +call me, for my mission admits of no delay." + +Beldi was surprised at the serious tone of the youth, and as soon as +he reached the castle called him aside to a private room. Then the +young Bey gave him a roll fastened with a yellow seal and tied with +cords. Beldi broke it open and read as follows: + + "May heaven protect and defend you and your family. + Transylvania is in peril; the Grand Seignior is + aroused by the conflict between Dionysius Banfy and + the Pasha of Nagy Varad. It is reported that this + nobleman is in correspondence with the Roman emperor. + See to it that the country bridles Banfy; you have + still force sufficient. The Sultan has sworn that if + the Prince should not prove a match for him and know + how to command he will drive them both out of the + country and intrust the control of Transylvania to a + pasha. The pashas of Nagy Varad and Temesvar, the + princes on the frontier and Tartar Khan have received + orders to hold themselves in readiness to make their + way into Transylvania from all sides at the first + signal. Keep that noble lord under check for death + hangs over your heads by a mere thread. + + "Your good friend, + "KUTSCHUK PASHA." + +Beldi's face grew dark as he read these lines. So then it was in vain +for him to put Banfy's name out of his mind; this letter called it up +again and in an aspect still more hateful. He folded the letter, and +in a few words gave the serious youth a reply for his father. + +"Inform your father that our action shall anticipate the threatened +evil. I send my thanks for the warning." + +With this reply Feriz Bey left the castle. Beldi remained alone in his +room; deep in thought he paced back and forth, and racked his brain to +find out some way to meet the peril, but he saw none. It was not to be +expected that a man of Banfy's pride would make any concessions to +the Pasha, especially after his victory and in a just cause. And yet +the justice of the cause must give way to the welfare of the country. +Deep in these and similar thoughts he did not notice that some one was +knocking at his door. When no answer was made to the thrice-repeated +knock the door opened and Beldi, rousing himself from his meditation, +saw Michael Teleki. Beldi was at first so bewildered that his speech +forsook him. "You seem surprised at my coming," said Teleki, noticing +Beldi's astonishment. "You are amazed that I should have followed you +such a distance after an absence of barely twenty-four hours. Great +changes have taken place. Transylvania is threatened by a peril which +must be prevented at once." + +"I know it," replied Beldi, and let Teleki read Kutschuk Pasha's +letter with the exception of the signature. + +"You know more than I," said the minister; "what I wished to say of +this affair is a secret which not even walls may hear." + +"I understand," said Beldi, and at once gave orders that no one should +come into the entrance hall, stationed guards under the windows and +had the curtains drawn. Only one way was left unguarded, and that was +a door in the arras at the back of the room, which led by a narrow +hallway to his wife's sleeping room, an arrangement often found in the +houses of the Hungarian nobility. By way of precaution Beldi closed +even that door. + +"Do you feel safe enough?" he asked Teleki. + +"One thing more. Give me your word of honor that in case the +information communicated to you does not meet your approval you will +at least guard it as a secret." + +"I promise solemnly," replied Beldi, tense for the development. With +that Teleki drew out a sheet of parchment folded several times, spread +it out and held it under Beldi's eyes without letting it go out of his +hands. It was the League formed against Banfy signed and sealed by the +Prince. The farther Beldi read in the document the gloomier he grew. +Finally he turned to Teleki and thrust the paper from him with +loathing. + +"My lord, that is a dirty piece of work!" + +Teleki was prepared for such a reception and summoned his usual +sophistry to his aid. + +"Beldi," he said, "this is no time for strait-laced notions. It is the +end and not the means in this case. This is the worst only because it +is the last. It is the last because there is no other way left. If +anybody in the country has attained to such despotism that the arm of +the law is no longer strong enough to bring him into the courts, then +he has only himself to thank if the state is compelled to conspire +against him. The man who cannot be reached by the executioner's axe +is struck by the dagger of the assassin. When Dionysius Banfy set at +naught the commands of the Prince and began war on his own account he +put himself outside the law. In such a case when the justice of the +state has lost its authority it is natural to take refuge in secret +justice. If anybody has wronged me and the law cannot procure me +satisfaction I make use of my own weapons and shoot him down wherever +I find him. If the country is wronged by anybody who escapes +punishment, it must make use of the jus ligatum and have the man +seized. The general welfare demands this and the general peril drives +us to it." + +"God's hand controls us," said Beldi. "If he will destroy our +fatherland let us bow our heads and die with a quiet conscience--die +in the defence of liberty; but let us never raise our arms to the +destruction of our own hereditary justice. Rather let us endure the +evils that have their origin in this freedom, than lay the axe to its +very root. Let war and conflict over freedom enter our land rather +than any conspiracy contrary to its laws. The one sheds the blood of +the nation but the other kills her soul. I disapprove of this League +and will fight against it." + +At this Michael Teleki rose, fell on his knees before Beldi and said +with his hands raised to heaven: + +"I swear by the Almighty Living God: so may he grant me salvation, +protect my life, prosper my wife, my children, as I am your true +friend; and because I know that Banfy's every effort is directed to +destroy you and your home therefore do I announce to you that if you +love your life, that of your wife, your children, you must meet this +impending danger by signing the League. Now I have said all that I +could to save you and the fatherland and that too at my own peril. I +wash my hands in innocence." + +Beldi turned in calm dignity toward the Prince's minister and said in +a tone of firm conviction: + +"Fiat justitia, pereat mundus." + + * * * * * + +A few minutes after Teleki's arrival at Bodola a rider came bounding +into the castle yard. It was Andrew the faithful old servant of Madame +Apafi, who inquired for Madame Beldi, handed her a letter from the +Princess and added that this was the more urgent as he had recognized +Teleki's carriage in the courtyard, which he should have preceded. + +Madame Beldi broke open the letter, and read: + + "MY DEAR FRIEND: Michael Teleki has gone to your + husband. His purpose is to ruin Banfy secretly by + Beldi's hand. The nobles have taken an oath to break + the law. Fortunately every one of them has a wife in + whose heart the better feelings are not yet dead. I + have called on each one separately to guard her + husband against Teleki's malice. I hope to attain the + greatest result through you. Beldi is the most + distinguished among them; if he agrees to the League + the rest will follow his example; but he is also the + most honorable man and the best husband. I count on + your firmness; use every means. + + "Your friend, + "ANNA BORNEMISSA." + +Madame Beldi almost gave way when she read this letter. Teleki had +been talking for half-an-hour with her husband and the servants had +brought word that every one had been ordered away from the lords' +vicinity, even from the entrance hall. The entire situation became +clear to the lady's mind at once. She was terrified! perhaps it was +already too late and she could not get to her husband. What should she +do? Then she remembered the secret way from her room to her husband's +and she hurried along, reached the arras door, stood there and +listened. She heard only the voice of Teleki, who spoke with growing +passion amounting to vehemence. She looked through the key hole and +saw how Teleki knelt before her husband and with upraised hands and +oaths sought to persuade him. At this sight Madame Beldi was +terror-stricken. Why did the proud, powerful man kneel before Beldi? +What was he swearing so passionately? Suddenly Banfy's name rang on +her ear. Horror seized her, and at the moment when Beldi answered: +"Let justice prevail though the world fall," she thought in her +ignorance of Latin that her husband had consented, and in her despair +she pressed the latch of the door. When this did not open she pulled +at it with frenzied strength and shouted passionately; "My husband, my +beloved master! Lord of my heart! Do not believe one word Teleki says, +for he will ruin you!" + +At this passionate outcry the man started up in affright and Beldi +arose with annoyance, went to the door and said to his wife angrily: +"Stay in your own province, my wife." + +Madame Beldi lost her presence of mind entirely. The thought that her +husband might assent to Teleki's plan made it impossible for her to +comprehend the situation. She forgot that even the best man is ashamed +to have it publicly known that he is under the control of his wife, +and merely to prove the contrary would be inclined to be untrue to the +very convictions he would have followed without compulsion. +Consequently Madame Beldi rushed into the room, sank down at her +husband's feet, clung to his knees and called out in an impassioned +voice: + +"Sweet lord of my heart! By the Almighty God, I implore you, do not +believe this man. Do not be influenced by him to bring innocent blood +on your head. You have always been just. You cannot turn hangman!" + +"Wife, you are mad!" + +"I know what I am saying. I saw him on his knees before you. He who +believes in God does not kneel before any man. He means through you to +ruin Dionysius Banfy. Woe to us if you do that, for if he is the first +you will be the second." + +When Teleki saw his secret disclosed in this way he was furious. + +"If my wife did that to me," he said, violently, "I would tear her +eyes out of her head. If anybody wished to help me for my own safety I +should thank him for it rather than leave him to be met by my wife in +an insulting way." + +Beldi called out angrily to his wife to leave at once. + +"I shall stay even if you kill me: for this is a case of life and +death. Here the peace of your family is at stake and in that I have a +right. I too may speak. I beg, I entreat you, undertake nothing +against Banfy." + +Beldi was ashamed of this attack upon his manly supremacy and could +hardly control himself. When his wife mentioned Banfy he started as if +a viper had stung him. The effect of this name did not escape Teleki +and he said ironically and with meaning: + +"It seems women pardon certain things more readily than their +husbands." The sharp allusion went through Beldi's soul like +lightning. The kiss came into his mind. The kiss! Pale and speechless +he seized his wife by the arm and her sob only serving to fan his +jealousy, he dragged her through the arras door and locked it behind +her. There she lay sobbing violently, cursing the princely counsellor +loudly and beating against the closed door with her hand. Beldi sat +down white as death and with teeth set, called out to Teleki: + +"Where is the document?" + +Teleki spread it out before him on the table. Without a word Beldi +took his pen and with steady hand wrote his name under that of Michael +Apafi's. A smile of triumph played about Teleki's lips. When that had +been accomplished there was once more a threatening, an accusing knock +at Beldi's heart. He laid his hand on the paper and turned with +serious glance toward Teleki. + +"I make one condition," he said, hoarsely. "If Banfy does not oppose +his arrest with weapons right and justice must be granted him +according to legal forms." + +"It shall be so--just so," replied the Prince's counsellor, and +reached for the paper. + +And still Beldi did not give it up. Still he did not let it go out of +his hand. + +"My lord," he said, "promise me also, that you will not put Banfy to +death secretly, but when he is arrested you will bring suit against +him according to the usual mode of procedure, in a regular court of +justice. If you do not assure me of this, then I will tear this paper +in two and throw it into the fire with the Prince's signature and +mine." + +"I assure you, on my word!" promised the Princely counsellor, at the +same time inwardly smiling at the man who while he was still upright +showed himself weak, and when he had already fallen strove to show +himself firm. + +With the League signed Teleki went the same day to Ladislaus Csaki, +from him to Haller and then to Bethlen. As soon as they saw Beldi's +name they signed, for all hated Banfy. In every house the husbands +fell out with their wives. Nowhere did Teleki escape calumny. +Nevertheless the League was established. + +So Transylvania made her own grave. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +WIFE AND ODALISQUE + + +Since that painful interview Madame Banfy had not seen her husband. +Fate had willed that Banfy should remain away continually; he was +hardly back from the assembly at Karlsburg when he was called to +Somlyo where his troops had taken a stand against the Turks. During +the few hours he had spent in his house in the intervals, his wife had +secluded herself from him and had not admitted any of the retinue to +her presence. She did not leave her room, and received nobody. + +One day both husband and wife were invited to be god-parents at +Roppand, in the house of Gabriel Vitez to whom a son had been born, +and who knew nothing of the existing variance. It was impossible to +refuse the invitation. On the appointed day Madame Banfy from +Bonczida, and her husband from Somlyo, to their mutual surprise met at +the house of rejoicing. At first they shrank from meeting each other; +their inclination had long sought such a meeting but pride had +restrained them. So they were both glad and indignant at this accident +but could not express both feelings. In a circle of friends their +conduct must be such that no one should know that this meeting was not +of daily occurrence with them. + +Toward the close of the festivity and banquet, which lasted until late +at night, Vitez took care that all his guests should be lodged with +due comfort. The wives were with their husbands, the young girls had +an apartment to themselves and the young men the rooms assigned to the +hunters. + +For Banfy and his wife a pavilion in the garden had been fitted up, +which promised to be the quietest spot as it was quite separated from +the noisy court. As an especial mark of attention the master himself +conducted them there. It had been some time since they had slept under +the same roof but in the presence of so many acquaintances they could +not show their feelings and were compelled to accept the provision +made for them. It was not enough to accompany them there himself but +the host indulged in many jests and finally left them alone after many +times wishing them good-night. + +The pavilion consisted of two adjoining rooms. They looked very +pleasant; in one of them a merry fire blazed high in the chimney and +the tall clock in the corner ticked familiarly. Behind the parted +brocade curtains of the high bed were seen the snow-white feather-beds +inviting to rest, and two small red-bordered pillows on them. In the +other room partly lighted by the firelight was a sofa covered with a +bear's skin and with one cushion of deerskin. Evidently it had not +been expected that anybody would sleep here. + +Banfy looked at his wife sadly. Now for the first time, since he could +no longer come near her he saw what a treasure he had had in this +beautiful and noble woman. Gentle, sorrowful, with eyes downcast, his +wife stood before him. In her heart too many traitorous feelings were +pleading for her husband. Pride and injured wifely dignity, that +inflexible judge, began almost to waver. In a noble heart love does +not give way to hatred but to pain. + +Banfy stepped nearer to his wife, took her hand in his and pressed it. +He felt the hand tremble, but there was no return of his pressure. He +kissed her gently on the forehead, cheeks and lips: the lady permitted +this but without return, and yet--had she looked up at her husband she +would have seen in his eyes two tears of most sincere penitence. Banfy +sat down speechless with a sigh, still holding Margaret's hand in his. +It needed only a friendly word from his wife and he would have thrown +himself at her feet and wept like a repentant child. Instead of that +Madame Banfy with a self-denying affectation said: + +"Do you wish to stay in this room and shall I go into the other?" Her +frosty tone touched Banfy. He sighed deeply and his eyes looked +sorrowfully at the Paradise closed against him by his wife's joyless +countenance. Sadly he rose from the chair, drew his wife's hand to his +lips, whispered a barely audible "Good-night" and with unsteady steps +entered the next room and closed the door. + +Madame Banfy made ready to undress, but sorrow filled her heart and +she threw herself on the bed, buried her face in her hands and +remained lost in grief. + +Can there be a greater pain than when the heart struggles with its own +feelings, than when a wife attains to the conviction that the ideal of +her love whom she adored next to God, is only an ordinary man, and +that the man whom she had loved so devotedly is deserving only of her +contempt? yet she is not able to stop loving him. She feels that she +must hate him and separate herself from him; she knows that she cannot +live without him; she would gladly die for him and yet no opportunity +for death offers. Only an unlocked door separated them,--they were +only a few steps apart. How small the distance and yet how great! + +She sank into a deep revery. The fire had entirely burned down and the +room was growing darker and darker. Only the woman's figure with her +head buried in her hands was still lighted by the glowing coals. +Suddenly it seemed to her in the stillness of the night and of her +thoughts, as if she heard whispers and stealthy steps at the door. +Madame Banfy really did hear this but she was in that first sleep when +we hear without noticing what we hear; when we know what passes +without heed. There was a whispering outside the window too, and it +seemed to her that she heard besides a slight noise of swords. Half +asleep, half awake, she thought she had risen and bolted the door but +this was only a dream; the door was not fastened. Then there was the +noise of the latch--she dreamed that her husband came out to her and +entreated her. + +"Let us separate, Banfy," she tried to say, but the words died on her +lips. The figure in the dream whispered to her, "I am not Banfy, but +the headsman," and took her by the hand. At this cold touch Madame +Banfy cried out in terror and awoke. Two men stood before her with +daggers drawn. The lady looked at them with a shudder; both were +well-known figures; one was Caspar Kornis, Captain at Maros, and the +other was John Daczo, Captain at Csik, who stood there threatening her +with the points of their bared daggers at her breast. + +"No noise, my gracious lady!" said Daczo, sternly. "Where is Banfy?" + +The lady, wakened from her first sleep, could scarcely distinguish the +objects about her. Terror robbed her of speech. Suddenly she noticed +through the door that the passage-way was filled with armed men and +with that sight her presence of mind seemed to return at once. She +took in the significance of the moment and when Daczo, gnashing his +teeth once more asked where Banfy was she sprang up, ran to the door +opening to her husband's room, turned the key quickly and shouted with +all her might: + +"Banfy, save yourself! They want your life!" + +Daczo ran forward to stop the woman's mouth and wrest the key from +her. With rare presence of mind Madame Banfy threw the key into the +coals and cried: + +"Flee, Banfy, your enemies are here!" + +Daczo tried to get the key out of the coals and burned his hand badly; +still more infuriated he rushed at the lady with his dagger unsheathed +intending to thrust her through, but Kornis held him back. + +"Stop, my lord, we have no orders to kill the lady nor would it be +worthy of us. Let us rather break in the door as quickly as possible." + +Both men pushed with their shoulders against the door, Daczo cursing +by all the devils, while Madame Banfy on her knees prayed God her +husband might escape. + + * * * * * + +Banfy had fallen asleep and he too had a distressing dream. He +thought he was in prison, and when Margaret's cry rang out he sprang +in terror from his couch, tore open the window of the pavilion without +stopping to think and with one bound was in the garden. Here he looked +round him quickly. The house was surrounded on all sides by armed +Szeklers and the rear of the garden was bordered by a broad ditch +filled with stagnant rain-water. Among the foot-soldiers was a group +of four or five stable boys standing beside the horses from which the +leaders had just dismounted. There was no time to plan. Under cover of +the darkness Banfy hurried up to one of the servants, struck him a +blow that made the blood flow from nose and mouth, sprang on the horse +he was holding and struck the stirrup into its flank. At the outcry of +the servant thrown down by the horse but still holding to the halter +the Szeklers came running up with wild cries. It suddenly occurred to +Banfy to put his hand in the saddlebags where there were always +pistols, and seizing one he fired two shots into the crowd pressing +about him. In the confusion that resulted he made his horse rear and +fled through the garden. The stable boy still clung to the halter and +was dragged along until his head struck against the trunk of a tree +and he lay there senseless. Banfy galloped to the ditch and crossed it +with a bold leap. His pursuers dared not follow him and had to go +round by the gate, by which Banfy gained on them several hundred +paces, gave rein to the beast, maddened by the noise of pursuit, and +chased away over sticks and stones, hills and valleys, without aim or +direction. + + * * * * * + +"A curse on the woman!" growled Daczo, when he learned that Banfy had +succeeded in escaping, and he threatened the wife with clenched fist. +"You are to blame that Banfy has escaped us!" + +"Thanks to Thee, Almighty God!" said Margaret, with hands upraised to +heaven. + +The Szeklers, exasperated at the husband's escape, rushed at the wife +with weapons aimed to kill her. + +"Let her die!" "Death on her head!" they roared, with inhuman fury. + +"Kill me. I shall be glad to die," said Margaret, kneeling before +them. "I had only that one wish left, to be able to die for him. I am +in God's hand." + +"Get away from here!" cried out Kornis; struck down the Szeklers' +weapons with his sword and covered the kneeling woman with his long +cloak. + +"Are you not ashamed of yourselves! Would you kill a woman, you mob +more pagan than Tartar! Since you have let Banfy escape, go after +him!" + +"We will kill her!" "We will put an end to her!" roared the Szeklers, +and tried to pull Kornis away. + +"You cursed beasts! who is in command here? am I not your captain?" + +"Not ours," replied a stiff-necked Szekler. "Our captain is Nicholas +Bethlen and he is not here!" + +"Go find him. But first one word; if a man stays in this room I'll +crush him to pulp!" + +This did not humble the Szeklers, however, until some one cried: "Let +us go to Bonczida!" The others took up the cry "To Bonczida!" and went +off with loud curses and in great disorder. + +Caspar Kornis took Madame Banfy at once to a carriage and had her +driven to Bethlen castle, which was at that time Beldi's property, +hoping that if Banfy knew his wife were imprisoned he would be more +manageable. + + * * * * * + +After Dionysius Banfy had freed himself from the snare set and the +sound of the pursuit grew faint, he began to take his bearings in the +starry night, and chose his way so successfully through forests and +over stubble fields that by daybreak the towers of Klausenburg were in +sight. Rage now took the place of fear. At first he thought that the +night attack had been only an attempt of his personal enemies, planned +without the knowledge of the Prince by those who knew well that it +was easier to get approval for a deed done than for one to be done. +But the attempt had not succeeded and the lion escaped from the toils +of his foes had still strength enough and the will necessary to turn +on his pursuers and impress them with respect for the law. + +In the open field outside the town Banfy's troops were going through +their manoeuvres in the early morning, when their leader rode up to +them with haggard face, head bare, without his caftan and without his +weapons. His chief men hurried to him in terror and met him with a +questioning look. + +"I have just escaped from a murderous attack," said Banfy, with husky +voice and breathing hard. "My enemies fell upon me; I have escaped but +my wife is in their hands. By their voices I recognized Kornis and +Daczo among my pursuers." + +"In fact Daczo's name is worked on the trappings of this horse," said +Michael Angyal, who came up just then. + +Banfy's face was perturbed as if he could get no clear idea of either +past or present. + +"I cannot understand the whole affair. If the attack followed a +command of the Prince then there must have been a suit, a summons or +certainly a sentence. If it was only private revenge then my hand is +more than a match for both these good Szeklers. In that case stay here +outside the city ready for an attack, while I hurry back to my +castle. In a few hours I shall know what course we must take." + +Banfy rode into town accompanied by Michael Angyal. As he turned the +corner of his palace he had to pass the place where Madame +Szent-Pali's house had stood. Only a corner stone was left, and as +Banfy chanced to look that way he saw sitting on this one stone the +former mistress of the house, who was waiting there for the lord with +her face lighted with fiendish joy, and as he turned his head aside +greeted him mockingly. + +"Good-morning, my gracious lord." + +But Banfy galloped on defiantly. At the castle gate his steward from +Bonczida was already waiting for him. After the Szeklers had forced +their way into Bonczida he had escaped; but not willing to make a +sensation with his Job's message had told nobody, and now only +whispered briefly to his lord that everything in the castle from top +to bottom was upturned and that the Szeklers had entertained +themselves after their own heart. Banfy answered not a word. He called +for his armor and his war-horse and made his preparations quietly. + +"My gracious lord would perhaps do well to make haste," urged the +steward. "The Szeklers are already in the house." + +"It is well," answered Banfy, pacing up and down with folded arms. + +"No, my gracious lord, it is not well. They have destroyed everything +in the rooms, cut the carpets, divided up the valuables, let the wine +in the cellar run out and finally stolen the horses." + +"It is no matter," answered the magnate, gloomily. What did he care at +that moment for all the valuables, wine or riding horses? + +"They have done even more, my lord. They have forced their way into +your wife's sleeping-room, used the portrait of the gracious lady as a +target and disfigured it horribly." + +"What! the portrait of my wife!" cried Banfy, laying his hand on his +sword. "The portrait of my wife did you say?" he repeated, with +flashing eyes. "Ah," he cried, tearing his sword from its sheath and +turning his face upward with an expression never before seen on it. He +was like an exasperated tiger in chains, with bloodshot eyes, thick +swollen veins in his brow and bloodthirsty lips. + +"May God have mercy on them!" he cried out in a fearful voice, and +throwing himself on his horse rode out to his troops. + +"My friends," he cried, before he reached the ranks, "a swarm of +hornets has fallen on my castle and plundered it. They have destroyed +everything in my rooms, cleared my stables, robbed my family +treasures; but I care not for that, let them gorge their fill, let +them have what they never knew before, let them steal me even, I +should still be master and even after this robbery, with one hand +could pay off all these beggarly Szekler princes. But they have abused +the portrait of my wife--of my wife! And I will have my revenge for +it--a frightful revenge! Follow me. The trees in the garden at +Bonczida have not borne any fruit for some time now but they shall +bear some." + +The general battle-cry of the troops showed that the army was ready to +follow Banfy. The leaders drew up their men in ranks and the trumpet +had sounded the second time when a company of twelve horsemen came in +sight of Banfy's army. In the central figure they recognized the +herald of the Prince, a broad-shouldered man of giant size who rode up +to Banfy and the officers around him, and said: + +"Halt!" + +"We are halting. If you have eyes you can see," said Michael Angyal. + +"In the name of his Excellency the Prince I summon you, Dionysius +Banfy, to appear in three days before the court in Karlsburg to defend +yourself in legal form against the indictment found against you. Until +that time your wife remains in custody, as hostage for your deeds." + +"We will come," replied Michael Angyal. "You can see for yourself that +we were on the point of starting out only we did not know until now +which way to go." + +"Still, my lord captain!" said Banfy. "One should not use mockery with +a messenger from the Prince." The messenger turned then to the +officers: + +"This summons does not concern you. For you I have another message to +give in the name of the Prince." + +"You may keep it to yourself or I will say something to you that will +make your ears tingle," sneered the captain, aiming his pistol at the +herald. + +"Down with your pistol!" Banfy called out to him. "Let him give the +Prince's message. Give him opportunity to speak freely." + +The herald straightened himself in his saddle and surveying the +soldiers said in a loud voice: + +"The Prince forbids you to give further obedience to Banfy; any man +that takes up weapons for him is a traitor to his country." + +"That's what you are yourself," growled Michael Angyal. + +The next moment the disorganized troops had turned with rage and +threats toward the herald: a hundred swords flashed at the same time +above his head. + +"Stop!" said Banfy, in a thundering voice and at the same time +standing before the herald. "The life of this man is sacred and +inviolable. Keep your places. Let no man put his hand to his sword. I +order you--I, your leader." + +"Three cheers!" shouted the brigades, and at the word of command +formed in ranks and stood like a wall. + +"You will not bear me ill-will," said Banfy to the herald who had +turned pale, "that these men have this once more obeyed me. Go back to +your Prince and tell him that I will appear before him within three +days." + +"We will be there too," shouted the captain. The herald and his +retinue moved away. Banfy dropped his head in deep thought. The +trumpet sounded, for the banners were unfurled, but Banfy still stared +into space, speechless, heavy-hearted and gloomy. + +"Draw your sword, my lord," Angyal said to him. "Put yourself at our +head and let us start, first for Bonczida, and then for Karlsburg." + +"What is that you say?" said Banfy. "What do you mean?" + +"Why, that since the law has expressed itself by the sword, the sword +shall be our defence." + +"Such a case at law would be called civil war." + +"We did not start it: neither shall we add fuel to the flame." + +"It is no longer a war against my personal enemies but against the +Prince, and he is the head of our country." + +"And you are his right hand. If they are going to light the torch of +war in the country it shall not be extinguished in your blood." + +"And why should my blood flow for that? have I committed a capital +crime? can anybody accuse me of such?" + +"You are powerful and that is reason enough to kill you." + +"It is all the same to me. I will go and what is more, alone. My wife +is in their hands. They have it in their power to make me suffer their +vengeance. If there were no other reason for my appearing, to set her +free is my duty as a knight." + +"With weapons you can set her free more easily, and also yourself." + +"I have nothing to fear. I have never done anything for which I need +blush in the sight of the law. Even if they should intrigue against +me, still stay here, summon my troops at Somlyo and throw yourself +into the breach there when injustice is practiced against me." + +"Oh, my lord, the army is worth nothing when its leader has +surrendered himself. To-day it would still go through fire for you and +be ready to hail you as Prince; but to-morrow if it should learn that +you had obeyed the summons it would disband and deny you." + +"You must not tell any one of my intention. I will take a carriage at +once and drive to Karlsburg; you tell the troops that I have gone to +Somlyo to collect the rest of my army; keep them together under good +discipline, till news of me comes." + +With that Banfy rode off to Klausenburg, while Michael Angyal sullenly +sheathed his sword and proclaimed to the troops that they might go to +rest in case they were tired. + + * * * * * + +An hour later we see Banfy in a carriage drawn by five horses, rolling +along the way to Torda. A servant on horse led by the bridle a +saddle-horse. The farther Banfy separated himself from the seat of his +power the greater his anxiety became; his soul was irresolute and he +began to see spectres brought nearer by every step forward. Pride +alone kept him from changing his purpose. Everything seemed to him +different from what it had formerly been. He thought he read the +feelings toward him of those whom he met, in their faces and forms of +greeting; if anybody smiled he thought it was from pity, if the +greeting was sullen he saw hatred. Now he stopped and questioned all +those with whom he had even the slightest acquaintance; people whom he +formerly deemed unworthy of a glance or else looked down upon. +Misfortune recalls to the memory of men the faces of acquaintances, +and a man who once would have even repelled the hand-shake of a friend +now extends his hand to a foe while yet afar off. + +Suddenly he saw that an open carriage was coming toward him from +Torda, and that the one seat was occupied by a man wrapped in a grey +duster, in whom Banfy as he rode past recognized Martin Koncz, the +Bishop of the Unitarians. He called to him to stop a moment. The +Bishop on account of the noise of the wheels did not hear him, took +off his hat and drove on. Banfy considered this an intentional +avoidance and looked upon it as a bad omen. The man who once had borne +all perils so lightly now shrank back before every fancy of his brain. +He ordered his carriage to stop, mounted his horse and told his +coachman to drive on to Torda and wait for him there. Then he galloped +after the Bishop's carriage. When the Bishop saw him riding up he had +his carriage stopped, while Banfy breathlessly shouted from a +distance: + +"So then you will not enter into conversation with me?" + +"At your good pleasure, my lord; I did not know that you wished to +speak with me." + +"You know already what has happened to me, I suppose. What do you say +to it? what ought I to do?" + +"In such a case my lord, it is as difficult to give advice as it is to +receive it." + +"I have determined to obey the summons." + +"As you say, my lord." + +"I certainly have nothing to fear. I feel the justice of my cause." + +"It is possible that you are in the right my lord, but you will +hardly receive justice for that reason. In the world of to-day +everything is possible." + +Banfy caught the allusion. He had once used the same words to the +bishop and now he had not sufficient strength of soul to withdraw +proudly, but allowed himself to continue the discussion. + +"It is true the Prince is my enemy, but the Princess has always +defended me and I can put confidence in her character." + +"The relations between the Prince and his wife are at present +strained. It is said that he has even forbidden her to enter his +apartment." + +This news seemed to stun Banfy, but one consoling thought was left to +him. + +"I do not suppose they will venture to do me an injustice for they +know that I have troops in Somlyo and Klausenburg ready for action, +who may call them to account." + +"My lord, it is difficult to lead an army when one is in prison; and +remember that a live dog is a more powerful beast than a dead lion." + +These words caused a change in Banfy's decision. For some time he rode +along beside Koncz's carriage, still considering; after a long time he +replied gloomily:--"You are right," gave spurs to his horse and rode +back to Klausenburg, resolved not to be enticed away from the centre +of his troops. + +When he reached the spot where barely six hours before the troops had +shouted their huzzas in his honor, to his great astonishment he came +upon a group of gypsies who seemed to be hunting for something on the +ground. + +"What are you doing here?" he said, when he was in their midst. At +this question their chief came forward and recognizing Banfy, took off +his cap humbly. + +"My gracious lord, the gypsies have come out to gather up the +cartridges which my lords the nobles had scattered here." + +"Where are the noble lords now?" + +"Oh, my gracious lord, some have gone in one way and some in another." + +"What do you mean? Where have they gone?" + +"When they found that your Grace had left Klausenburg, they scattered +to the four winds." + +Banfy turned pale. + +"And Michael Angyal?" + +"He was the first to hurry away." + +Banfy felt a dizziness seize him; tears stood in his eyes. Thus to be +deserted by all, by man, by fate and even by his own consciousness! +What was left to him of all his power! whither should he turn? what +should he plan? every way was closed to him. He could neither use the +sword nor fight with the arm of the law, nor flee. Mechanically he +allowed his horse to carry him on. With gloomy face he sat in his +saddle, staring vacantly at the ground and at the clouds. In heaven, +on earth even as in his own heart, all was desolate. Nowhere did he +find a place of refuge. The one passion of his soul, which had +entirely filled it, was pride. Now that this was gone the world was +empty. He rode on and on wherever his horse took him. Before him +stretched out great forests. He thought: "What lies beyond these +forests? high mountains; and what beyond those? still higher peaks; +and what further? summits of snow--and not a house to offer me +refuge." So at the first stroke did everybody turn from him? was the +man who the day before had ruled half Transylvania and had castles at +his disposal not to find a hut to shelter him that night? was he to be +an object of ridicule to his foes and not have the satisfaction of +being able to laugh in the hour of death? was he to die ingloriously +like a hunted beast? He considered how he could arrange it so that +since he must die at least he should not be derided after death. + +Gradually an idea began to develop in his mind. With this thought the +color came back to his cheeks, and as if strengthening him to a +decision he heard an inner voice saying: + +"Yes, thither, thither." + +He turned the bridle of his horse toward the forest before him and +disappeared among the trees. + + * * * * * + +The storm raged, the trees creaked in the wind, the rain fell and the +swollen streams roared. The horizon was surrounded by steep rocks and +at their feet in a pathless valley a rider stumbled along, who from +the heights above looked like a mere ant. May God be gracious to him +in this storm, at night, in such a place! It is Gregyina-Drakuluj. + + * * * * * + +Before our eyes is a splendid Oriental apartment, hundreds of wax +candles are lighted, but the ceiling is too high for their gleam to +reach; two rows of columns support the heavy architrave, slender +columns with the heads of animals for capitals, such as are found in +Persian temples. The space between the columns is hung with bright +draperies, the walls are covered with arabesques. This was the hidden +apartment of the Devil's Garden, and the one who dwelt here, woman, +fairy or demon, was Azraele. Here she shaped the future, made endless +plans, dreamed of power and battles, and new countries in which she +should be queen, of new stars in which she should be the sun. + +Suddenly she heard a sound as if some one had ridden over the vaulted +ceiling: steps were heard in the passage adjoining and there were +three knocks at the door. She sprang hurriedly from her couch, drew +the heavy bolts and pulled open the door. There stood Dionysius Banfy, +sad, silent and dispirited, with no greeting for this beautiful woman. +A shiver passed over him. It is true he wore a tiger-skin over his +usual clothing, but the heavy rain had penetrated it. + +"You are wet through," said Azraele. "Warm yourself quickly. Come here +and rest." + +With these words she drew Banfy to a sofa, took off his cloak and +covered him with her own lined with fur, and placed a cushion under +his feet. But Banfy was cold and silent. His misfortune seemed written +on his face even to a less keen eye and to a mind more free from +suspicion than Azraele's. It could not be concealed that his proud +features no longer bore the stamp of the lord in power but of a fallen +king, whose fall had been the lower since his height was great; who +had not come because he wished to leave all that was dear to him but +because he was left by everybody. Not for all the world would Azraele +have shown that she noticed the change in Banfy's face. She tripped +off like a doe and came back bearing a great silver tray of gold +drinking cups. + +"Not the gold ones, they do not break when you throw them at the wall. +Let us have our wine in Venetian crystal." He seized the first glass +and said in bitter scorn, "This glass to my friends!" He drank it off +and hurled it in contempt to the wall where it was shattered to +pieces. + +At once he seized a second. "This second glass to my enemies!" and +emptying the glass he hurled it with mad laughter into the air. It +went almost to the ceiling and when it fell dropped on a cushion, and +did not break. + +"See, it mocks me still and is unbroken!" said Banfy, with blazing +eyes. + +Azraele sprang up, caught up the glass and crushed it under her feet. + +Then Banfy took the third glass. + +"This glass for Transylvania!" And he emptied it, but when he had +taken it from his lips the smile died from his face and instead of +hurling it at the wall he set it on the table. A cold shudder ran +through his whole frame at the meaning of his own words, "This glass +for Transylvania!" He did not take his hand from the glass but +timorously attempted to raise it from the table, when the glass +without visible cause cracked and fell into fragments in his hand. The +diamond ring on his finger had scratched the glass and like all badly +cooled crystal, it went to pieces at the slightest scratch. Banfy +sprang back in terror as if he had seen an omen. + +The girl took up his glass and with lips quivering with passion cried +out, "And this glass for love!" + +The words recalled Banfy from his bewilderment to the present +surroundings. + +"For me there is no love!" + +"Your heart has been full of lofty plans. Fate had determined you to +be the ruler of a country and perhaps the hero of half a world,--a man +who should fill a page of history with his name." + +"All that is past," said Banfy, "I am nobody and nothing!" + +"Ah!" cried Azraele. "Have your enemies triumphed over you?" + +"A curse upon their heads! I had sympathy and I fell." + +"Is Csaki among them?" + +"Yes, he pursues me most bitterly." + +"And have all your faithful friends left you?" + +"The fallen has no faithful friends." + +"You could hire mercenaries and begin the fight. You certainly are +rich enough for that." + +"My wealth has gone!" + +"You might get help from a foreign country." + +"I have fallen, and know what is before me--I must die! Yet my enemies +shall not have the triumph of making my death a festival and of +laughing when I am pale with death. I will die alone!" + +"I will show you something!" and with these words she drew aside the +rug, lifted a trap-door and there was a low room, with thick short +columns among which casks were ranged. + +"True," said Banfy, "that is the powder I hid there after John +Kemény's fall." + +"See this long fuse," said Azraele, drawing forth a thick woolen cord +connected with the casks; "while all is still here below and above is +the roaring of the storm and your enemies, there shall come an +earth-shaking thunder which shall send the rocks crashing against one +another and carry word to heaven and hell that nobody need seek you +here on earth!" + +"Azraele, you are a demon!" + +An hour later the hall was dark; no light was visible except a glow as +of a fiery-eyed monster piercing the smoke, and a slowly creeping +snake of fire which ran along the length of the room. Banfy slept for +a long time then suddenly awakened. All was dark about him. His +bewildered brain required some time to recall who he was and why he +was there. He felt a cold breath of wind through the room and +presently he discovered that the door was open and the outer air was +pouring in. Gradually he recalled it all, and taking some coals from +the fire lighted a wax candle. This single light was not sufficient to +let him see through the entire room, but the first thing he saw was +the fuse cut in two. Pierced through with the cold air he drew his +cloak about him. A paper fell at his feet and taking it up he read +the following words: + +"My lord, you read hearts poorly. You have forfeited your power and +when all had forsaken you you thought me alone faithful, who loved in +you only your power. The man who rises I adore: I hate the falling. +You should have taken Corsar Bey's fate for warning." . . . Banfy +could not read it through. His face was darkened with shame to be so +degraded. + +"It is cowardice and disgrace for a man who has lived as I have to be +willing to die this way; for a man who has always faced his enemy to +hide himself away now in his last moments--shame on him! That I could +forget the wife who freed me from my enemy's hands by the sacrifice of +herself! It is not too late. I cannot save my life now but I can my +pride. No one hereafter shall boast that he betrayed me. My enemies +shall not say that I tried to hide from them and they found me. I will +go boldly into their presence as I should have done at first." + +With this decision Banfy went out into the hidden court where he had +left his horse. To his surprise he found that it was not there; the +odalisque had taken it. At that he could but smile. + +"I should regret it very much if she had not stolen me too at the same +time." + +He went back into the hall, lighted again the fuse, came out again, +closed the iron door and made his way along the bank of the Szamos. +Toward noon he sat down on the bank to rest and had sat there hardly a +quarter of an hour when he heard the sound of horses' hoofs +approaching and looked up. The thicket concealed him and at the head +of an armed band of men he saw Ladislaus Csaki and Azraele riding on +one horse. The girl seemed to be pointing out something to him in the +direction of the cliffs, at which the man was evidently delighted. +Banfy smiled scornfully:--Poor Tartar! As soon as the band had passed +Banfy continued on his way. Soon he met in the forest a poor peasant +cutting wood. + +"Do you know in which direction those armed men have gone?" he asked +him. + +"Yes, my lord, they have gone to seize Dionysius Banfy. A great price +is set on his head." + +"How much?" + +"If a nobleman takes him, he is to receive an estate; if a peasant, +two hundred ducats." + +"That is not much though I suppose it will be enough for you. I am +Dionysius Banfy." + +The peasant took off his cap. + +"Is there any place you wish me to guide you to, my lord?" + +"Guide me to the place where they will pay you the two hundred +ducats." + + * * * * * + +In another quarter of an hour a frightful explosion reëchoed in the +mountains and made the earth quake for half a mile around. The +enchanted hollow of Gregyina-Drakuluj was in inaccessible confusion. + +Fortunately for Csaki he had delayed a little, otherwise he with his +followers would have all been destroyed there. When he came back Banfy +had already been arrested and he robbed of the glory of having +captured his foe. He hurried at once to meet him and by way of +exquisite revenge took with him the odalisque who looked at Banfy as +coldly as if she had never seen him before. However, since Banfy had +voluntarily surrendered himself, he had quite regained his former +strength of spirit and looking down at Csaki, he said, + +"So then, your Grace intends to wear my cast-off clothing from now +on." + +Azraele hissed like a snake whose tail had been stepped on, when she +heard these words of biting scorn; while Csaki colored to his ears and +forced a smile. + +"Does your Excellency wish any favor from me?" asked Csaki, with +insulting kindness. + +"You have none to give and I have need of none. What I demand is that +since I have appeared,--yes, even under arrest without knowing why, +you shall now let my wife go free." + +"So then at last you will go whimpering back to your wife?" + +"That is not what I meant. I do not intend to go back to my wife; on +the contrary I wish that as soon as I am led into prison she shall be +set free from the same." + +"It shall be as you wish, most gracious lord," replied Csaki, with +ironical friendliness. + +Banfy gave him an unutterably contemptuous glance, turned to one of +the jailers present and began a conversation with him without giving +any further heed to the grandee. + + * * * * * + +When Teleki learned of Banfy's arrest he ordered him brought to +Bethlen castle at once. In Bethlen castle the provost of Klausenburg, +Stephen Pataki, received him, at sight of whom Banfy jestingly asked: + +"So you have been appointed my confessor, have you?" + +Pataki wept, while Banfy smiled lightly. The Provost conducted Banfy +up the steps, showing him the greatest respect. Deeply affected he +remained standing at the threshold. In the room was a lady in mourning +who at sight of him turned pale as death and leaned against the table +unable to move. Banfy felt all the blood rushing to his heart. The +next moment he rushed passionately to her and cried, + +"My wife! Margaret!" + +The lady, speechless, threw herself in her husband's arms and sobbed +violently. + +"They did not set you free?" asked Banfy, turning pale. + +"Of my own accord I did not go," replied Margaret. "I could not leave +you in the prison." + +Tears gushed from Banfy's eyes. He sank down at her feet and covered +her hands with kisses. + +"So long as the world believed us happy we could avoid each other," +said Margaret, with stifled voice. "Misfortune has brought us together +again." . . . + +She bent over to kiss her husband's brow; Banfy was completely +overpowered; his feelings were all at once so mightily overcome that +even his strong heart could bear no more. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE JUDGMENT + + +The Diet assembled at Karlsburg opposed the secret procedure against +Banfy. Paul Beldi himself was the first to say distinctly that even if +Banfy's arrest through conspiracy had been permitted his judgment must +be given in the presence of the Diet and not before any secret +tribunal, and demanded that personal safety should be assured him. + +The Prince appeared in the assembly, angry, with heavy head and red +eyes; the usual sign with him of perplexity. As Teleki had no +authority over the Diet he had the Prince dissolve it, making him +believe that Banfy if brought before the national assembly would +escape on the way, or would know how to turn his two-edged sword in +such a way as to overpower the Prince. + +In the presence of the judge the opposition made by Kozma Horvath to +the illegal procedure was in vain. The conspiracy brought thirty-seven +indictments against Banfy, advanced by Judge Martin Saros-Pataki. + +Banfy stood indicted. The greater number of the counts were so +unimportant that no answer needed to be brought against them. They +did not dare to introduce among them his pretensions to the +throne--that remained a secret indictment. + +Banfy answered in manly fashion to every charge. It was in vain. +Defend himself as he would those who had arrested him knew too well +how great a wrong they had done him, now to let him live. The case +came to a verdict and he was sentenced to death. + +On the day that this happened nobody could gain access to the Prince +except the confederates in this secret league, who with hasty, eager +expressions went in and out of the Prince's apartments continually. +Toward evening they succeeded in rousing the drunken Apafi to ratify +the decision. This Prince usually so gentle, so kind-hearted, now +poisoned with terror did not know himself. + +Ever since noon saddled horses and carriages in waiting had been +standing before the gate. Suddenly Ladislaus Csaki came hurrying out +of the hall, concealing a paper in his pocket and calling for his +horse; he mounted, motioned in silence to the lords following him and +galloping off. The other lords too as if pursued, hurried into the +carriages standing in a row before the palace, and taking leave of +each other with mysterious whisperings, quickly fled so that the +Prince in a few moments was left alone. Teleki was the last to leave +him. The Prince accompanied this lord to the vestibule, his +countenance showing deep sorrow; he could hardly let Teleki go. The +latter withdrew his hand coldly from the Prince's. + +"You need have no fancies about this, my lord. The principles of a +country are concerned here, not a human life. If my own head stood in +the way I should say cut it off and I say the same about the head of +another." + +And with that he went away. + +Apafi did not stay in his room, he felt the need of fresh air. Within +something threatened to choke him so oppressive was the air,--or was +it his spirits? He went out into the vestibule. The cool night air +soothed his bewildered spirits and the sight of the starry heavens was +good to his clouded mind. Leaning against the balustrade he gazed in +silence into the still night as if he expected that some star greater +than all the rest would fall from Heaven, or that somebody miles away +from him would cry out. Suddenly a cry did strike his ear. With a +shudder he looked about but remained speechless in terror. His wife +stood before him, whom his lord councillors had kept away from him for +weeks by causing a division between the stupefied husband and the +high-spirited wife. When the last grandee had withdrawn her loyal men +had informed her that the Prince had signed the death sentence and the +shocked wife, forcing her way through castle guards had rushed to her +husband; now meeting him in the vestibule she hurried to him and in +her excitement cried out: + +"Accursed man, do not shed the blood of that innocent one!" + +Apafi drew back timidly before his wife. + +"What do you wish of me?" he asked, sullenly. "What are you saying?" + +"You have signed Banfy's death sentence." + +"I?" asked Apafi dully, and reached for his wife's hand. + +"Away with your hand, the blood of my kinsman is on it!" + +"You do not approve it? I did not wish it;" stammered Apafi. "The +lords compelled me to it." + +The Princess clasped her hands together and looked at her husband in +despair. + +"You have brought blood on our family, a curse on the country, a curse +on me that I did not leave you to die in the hands of the Tartars. +Even virtue becomes through you a crime!" + +Apafi was contrite. In the presence of his wife all his spirit was +gone. + +"I did not want to kill him"--he stammered. "I do not now either--and +if you wish I will grant him amnesty. Take my seal ring; send a rider +to Bethlen after Csaki; show favor to your kinsman and leave me in +peace." + +The Princess called in a piercing voice, "Who is here?" Among the +courtiers who hurried forward, the steward was the first. + +"Take four of the Prince's racers," said Anna, meanwhile she wrote the +pardon with her own hand, had her husband sign it and stamped it with +the seal. "Take this letter and hurry with it to Bethlen castle. If +the horse falls under you, take another. Do not delay a minute +anywhere; a human life is in your hands." + +The grooms led up the racers. The steward mounted one, fastening the +rest by the bridle, and chased away. + + * * * * * + +At about the same hour, perhaps the same minute, Paul Beldi called out +to his groom the order to mount the swiftest horse and ride to Bethlen +and say to the castle warder that he would cut his head off if Banfy +received the least harm at Bethlen. He too did not wish to meet his +wife in this hour. + +And perhaps in the same hour, perhaps in the same minute, Teleki +pressed the hand of his future son-in-law Emerich Tököli, and +whispered in his ear;--"We are one step nearer;" under the pressure of +the youth's iron hand the betrothal ring that bound him to Teleki's +daughter broke, and Teleki regarded it almost as a prophecy that the +hand of the youth should be stronger than his. + +All Transylvania was alarmed that night. Wolfgang Bethlen could not +sleep in his bed the whole night through. Stephen Apor grew so uneasy +that he had to make confession: Kornis became so confused on the +familiar road home that he was compelled to spend the night under his +carriage. And what took place in the heavens? About midnight a shower +came up; such that the oldest inhabitant could not recall its like. +The lightning set fire to forests and towers, and floods poured from +the riven clouds. The alarm-bell sounded everywhere. God's judgment +held sway that night. Almost the entire nation was sleepless. Only the +reconciled husband and wife slept quietly and sweetly. At times the +lady wept in her dreams; tears fell on her pillow; she dreamed of her +happy bridal days or of the sweet moment when she laid her first child +in her husband's arms. Her husband lay with calm countenance, at odds +with the world but reconciled with himself--with the better half of +his soul. The happiness which had fled from him in the palace sought +him out in the prison. The hanging lamp threw its pale light on their +sleeping forms. In this frightful night four single riders galloped +separately toward Bethlen castle, hardly a thousand paces apart. By +the lightning flashes they saw each other at times and each one struck +spurs the harder to his horse. The first rider reached the castle +gate and gave the signal with the horn; the drawbridge fell +threateningly, the rider sprang into the courtyard and laid a letter +in the hand of the warder who hurried forward. It was Paul Beldi's +message. + +The second rider who reached the castle, ordered the gate opened in +the name of the Prince. He gave the castle warder a second paper. It +was Ladislaus Csaki. The warder turned pale as he read this message. + +"My lord," he faltered, "I have just received an order from Paul Beldi +who threatens me with death if any harm happens to the prisoner." + +"You have your choice," replied Csaki. "If you obey, it is possible +that he will have your head cut off to-morrow. If you do not obey, I +will kill you to-day." The warder trembled as he bowed. + +"Raise the draw," ordered Csaki. "Let no one enter the castle without +permission. Whoever acts contrary to my orders is a dead man." + + * * * * * + +Husband and wife slept peacefully. A minute later the door opened with +a slight noise and Stephen Pataki entered, terror-stricken and with +difficulty restraining his tears. He stepped up to Banfy to awaken +him. As he touched his hand, Banfy, seeing Pataki who in his emotion +could not speak, tried to rise without waking his wife but she opened +her eyes at that very moment and Pataki, who did not wish her to know +the terrible message, said in Latin: + +"Rise, my lord, the death sentence is here." + +Trembling at the speech in a foreign tongue whose meaning Pataki's +face so ill concealed, Banfy's wife asked in terror what it meant. + +"Nothing, nothing," said Banfy, with a tender smile, embracing his +wife. "An urgent message that I must answer at once. I will return +soon; lie down and sleep quietly." + +With these words he laid his wife back in her pillows and kissed her +tenderly several times, after each kiss saying: + +"My soul, my love, my blessing, my Heaven." + +Madame Banfy did not suspect that this was the parting kiss of a man +on his way to death. He looked at her so smilingly, feigning joy in +his countenance when he stood on the threshold of death. + +At this moment the horn rang out before the castle gate. The messenger +of the Princess had arrived and demanded admittance in the name of his +Excellency. Csaki mounted the stairs in haste and just as Banfy had +calmed his wife about his leaving, he pushed open the door suddenly +and cried out, + +"Why this long parting! Be ready! The sentence awaits its execution!" + +At these words Madame Banfy sprang from her couch with a convulsive +scream, reached both arms to her husband, looked at him for a moment +in silence then laid her hands on her heart and sank back dead among +the pillows. + +Banfy looked at his foe with deadly bitterness; his veiled eyes seemed +to Csaki to hurl forth more curses than any lips could have spoken. + +"Miserable wretch!" he thundered at him, "who ordered you to kill my +wife too?" + +Csaki turned his head aside and called out harshly, + +"Make haste, the time is short." + +"Short for me but it will be long for you, for the time is coming when +you will curse life and not die as peacefully as I do. Leave me alone. +I wish to pray and I cannot call on God in the same room where you +are." + +Csaki went away, shocked in spite of himself. + +Banfy put his hands to his brow and prayed. + +Heavy thunder rolled through the Heavens. + +"Oh God, who in thy anger dost thunder above, take my blood for my +sins. Let no drop of it fall on the head of those who have shed it. +Grant that my country may never expiate my death. Guard this poor land +from every misfortune. Keep thy vengeance far from the head of this +people and mid all perils be their shield. Forgive my enemies my death +as I forgive them." + +The thunder rolled terribly. God was angry. He did not wish to hear +this prayer. + +Banfy went back to his dead wife, kissed her white face for the last +time and then went quietly to Csaki. + +"I am ready." + + * * * * * + +After another quarter of an hour Csaki permitted the messenger to +enter. + +"What do you bring?" he asked the steward. + +"The Prince's pardon for the prisoner." + +"You have come too late." + +The head of the highest noble of Transylvania had already fallen to +the ground. + + * * * * * + +The tragedy comes to an end with the death of the hero. Other forms, +other leaders, continue the course of events. The fate, the form, the +history of Transylvania is changed. The sword-stroke that killed Banfy +marked off an epoch. The ruling figure was buried in the earth of +Bethlen chapel and no one inherited that spirit. + +Only when misfortune threatens Transylvania, so says the +chronicle,--to the terror of the people, to the astonishment of the +world, the blood of the fallen patriot is wont to gush forth from this +humble grave. + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +_12mo, cloth, $1.25_ + +"KITTY" + +By "RITA" + +"This is a thoroughly good novel with an admirable +plot."--_Lebanon Courier._ + +"Rita writes ably and only too naturally of her sex's frailties. +She is always clever and amusing. This book is written with a +sobriety of style that greatly enhances its intrinsic charm, while +in the centre character the author has painted an artistic and +carefully finished portrait, whose vivid realism is felt in every +touch."--_Chicago Lever._ + +"'Kitty' is an interesting novel, with all the essentials in the +way of plot and incidents to hold the reader's attention."--_New +London Day._ + +"Rita is a very clever and amusing writer. 'Kitty' is a vivid and +sympathetic study of feminine character."--_San Francisco +Bulletin._ + +"The book is thoroughly regular and conventional; but, for that +very reason, it will attract the large clientele who really enjoy +their fiction of this kind."--_Hartford Times._ + +"'Rita' in her new story called 'Kitty' evidently follows the +advice of Wilkie Collins, 'Make 'em laugh, make 'em cry, make 'em +wait'."--_San Francisco Argonaut._ + +"This is an English story, interesting from the start and +continuing so throughout the entire book. The characters are all +cleverly drawn and the incidents told in a masterly +manner."--_Southern Star._ + + +NEW YORK +R. F. FENNO & COMPANY + + + + +Transcriber's Note: The original print edition of this book did not +contain a table of contents. A table of contents has been created for +this electronic edition. Also, the following typographical errors have +been corrected. + +On the copyright page, "Translyvania" was changed to "Transylvania". + +In Chapter I, "now that in was stretched out" was changed to "now that +it was stretched out", and "the old hunstman David" was changed to +"the old huntsman David". + +In Chapter V, a missing period was added after "still unharmed". + +In Chapter VI, "By the advice of Stephen Aapfi" was changed to "By the +advice of Stephen Apafi". + +In Chapter VII, "Olahfalve" was changed to "Olahfalu" in several +places, "Apaffi" was changed to "Apafi" in two places, and "followed +Moses Zagony" was changed to "followed Moses Zagoni". + +In Chapter VIII, "turn about and while" was changed to "turn about +while". + +In Chapter X, "between Torocho" was changed to "between Torocko". + +In Chapter XI, "replied Sange-moarta, with blood" was changed to +"replied Sanga-moarta, with blood". + +In Chapter XII, "Csefalusi" was changed to "Csehfalusi". + +In Chapter XIII, a missing period was added after "the little +Hungarian band". + +In Chapter XIV, "Balfy began to change color" was changed to "Banfy +began to change color". + +In Chapter XV, "There strength acts in union" was changed to "Their +strength acts in union", "gradully subsided" was changed to "gradually +subsided", and "Rakoczy" was changed to "Rakoczi". + +In Chapter XVII, "Rakoczy" was changed to "Rakoczi", and "in those +heart" was changed to "in whose heart". + +In Chapter XVIII, "ong cloak" was changed to "long cloak", and +"Koncgin's carriage" was changed to "Koncz's carriage". + +In the advertisement for "Kitty", a missing period was added after +"Southern Star". + +Punctuation, hyphenation, and spelling in the original text were +somewhat irregular. Except as noted above, no alterations have been +made. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Golden Age in Transylvania, by Mór Jókai + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOLDEN AGE IN TRANSYLVANIA *** + +***** This file should be named 32708-8.txt or 32708-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/7/0/32708/ + +Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +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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