the mad king-第16部分

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Her　most　poignant　grief；　like　that　of　her　father；　was　for　the　dead　king；　Leopold；　but　to　the　sorrow　of　the　loyal　sub…　ject　was　added　the　grief　of　the　loving　woman；　bereft。　　Close　to　her　heart　she　hugged　the　memory　of　the　brief　hours　spent　with　the　man　whom　she　had　been　taught　since　childhood　to　look　upon　as　her　future　husband；　but　for　whom　the　all…　consuming　fires　of　love　had　only　been　fanned　to　life　within　her　since　that　moment；　now　three　weeks　gone；　that　he　had　crushed　her　to　his　breast　to　cover　her　lips　with　kisses　for　the　short　moment　ere　he　sacrificed　his　life　to　save　her　from　a　fate　worse　than　death。

Before　her　stood　the　Nemesis　of　her　dead　king。　　The　last　act　of　the　hideous　crime　against　the　man　she　had　loved　was　nearing　its　close。　　As　the　crown；　poised　over　the　head　of　Peter　of　Blentz；　sank　slowly　downward　the　girl　felt　that　she　could　scarce　restrain　her　desire　to　shriek　aloud　a　protest　against　the　wicked　actthe　crowning　of　a　murderer　king　of　her　beloved　Lutha。

A　glance　at　the　old　man　at　her　side　showed　her　the　stern；　commanding　features　of　her　sire　molded　in　an　expression　of　haughty　dignity；　only　the　slight　movement　of　the　muscles　of　the　strong　jaw　revealed　the　tensity　of　the　hidden　emotions　of　the　stern　old　warrior。　　He　was　meeting　disappointment　and　defeat　as　a　Von　der　Tann　shouldbrave　to　the　end。

The　crown　had　all　but　touched　the　head　of　Peter　of　Blentz　when　a　sudden　commotion　at　the　back　of　the　cathe…　dral　caused　the　bishop　to　look　up　in　ill…concealed　annoy…　ance。　　At　the　sight　that　met　his　eyes　his　hands　halted　in　mid…air。

The　great　audience　turned　as　one　toward　the　doors　at　the　end　of　the　long　central　aisle。　　There；　through　the　wide…　swung　portals；　they　saw　mounted　men　forcing　their　way　into　the　cathedral。　　The　great　horses　shouldered　aside　the　foot…　soldiers　that　attempted　to　bar　their　way；　and　twenty　troop…　ers　of　the　Royal　Horse　thundered　to　the　very　foot　of　the　chancel　steps。

At　their　head　rode　Lieutenant　Butzow　and　a　tall　young　man　in　soiled　and　tattered　khaki；　whose　gray　eyes　and　full　reddish…brown　beard　brought　an　exclamation　from　Captain　Maenck　who　commanded　the　guard　about　Peter　of　Blentz。

〃Mein　Gottthe　king！〃　cried　Maenck；　and　at　the　words　Peter　went　white。

In　open…mouthed　astonishment　the　spectators　saw　the　hurrying　troopers　and　heard　Butzow's　〃The　king！　　The　king！　Make　way　for　Leopold；　King　of　Lutha！〃

And　a　girl　saw；　and　as　she　saw　her　heart　leaped　to　her　mouth。　　Her　small　hand　gripped　the　sleeve　of　her　father's　coat。　　〃The　king；　father；〃　she　cried。　　〃It　is　the　king。〃

Old　Von　der　Tann；　the　light　of　a　new　hope　firing　his　eyes；　threw　aside　his　cloak　and　leaped　to　the　chancel　steps　beside　Butzow　and　the　others　who　were　mounting　them。　　Behind　him　a　hundred　cloaks　dropped　from　the　shoulders　of　his　fighting　men；　exposing　not　silks　and　satins　and　fine　velvet；　but　the　coarse　tan　of　khaki；　and　grim　cartridge　belts　well　filled；　and　stern　revolvers　slung　to　well…worn　service　belts。

As　Butzow　and　Barney　stepped　upon　the　chancel　Peter　of　Blentz　leaped　forward。　　〃What　mad　treason　is　this？〃　he　fairly　screamed。

〃The　days　of　treason　are　now　past；　prince；〃　replied　But…　zow　meaningly。　　〃Here　is　not　treason；　but　Leopold　of　Lutha　come　to　claim　his　crown　which　he　inherited　from　his　father。〃

〃It　is　a　plot；〃　cried　Peter；　〃to　place　an　impostor　upon　the　throne！　　This　man　is　not　the　king。〃

For　a　moment　there　was　silence。　　The　people　had　not　taken　sides　as　yet。　　They　awaited　a　leader。　　Old　Von　der　Tann　scrutinized　the　American　closely。

〃How　may　we　know　that　you　are　Leopold？〃　he　asked。　〃For　ten　years　we　have　not　seen　our　king。〃

〃The　governor　of　Blentz　has　already　acknowledged　his　identity；〃　cried　Butzow。　　〃Maenck　was　the　first　to　proclaim　the　presence　of　the　putative　king。〃

At　that　someone　near　the　chancel　cried：　〃Long　live　Leo…　pold；　king　of　Lutha！〃　and　at　the　words　the　whole　assemblage　raised　their　voices　in　a　tumultuous：　〃Long　live　the　king！〃

Peter　of　Blentz　turned　toward　Maenck。　　〃The　guard！〃　he　cried。　　〃Arrest　those　traitors；　and　restore　order　in　the　cathe…　dral。　　Let　the　coronation　proceed。〃

Maenck　took　a　step　toward　Barney　and　Butzow；　when　old　Prince　von　der　Tann　interposed　his　giant　frame　with　grim　resolve。

〃Hold！〃　　He　spoke　in　a　low；　stern　voice　that　brought　the　cowardly　Maenck　to　a　sudden　halt。

The　men　of　Tann　had　pressed　eagerly　forward　until　they　stood；　with　bared　swords；　a　solid　rank　of　fighting　men　in　grim　semicircle　behind　their　chief。　　There　were　cries　from　different　parts　of　the　cathedral　of：　〃Crown　Leopold；　our　true　king！　　Down　with　Peter！　　Down　with　the　assassin！〃

〃Enough　of　this；〃　cried　Peter。　　〃Clear　the　cathedral！〃

He　drew　his　own　sword；　and　with　half　a　hundred　loyal　retainers　at　his　back　pressed　forward　to　clear　the　chancel。　There　was　a　brief　fight；　from　which　Barney；　much　to　his　disgust；　was　barred　by　the　mighty　figure　of　the　old　prince　and　the　stalwart　sword…arm　of　Butzow。　　He　did　get　one　crack　at　Maenck；　and　had　the　satisfaction　of　seeing　blood　spurt　from　a　fleshwound　across　the　fellow's　cheek。

〃That　for　the　Princess　Emma；〃　he　called　to　the　governor　of　Blentz；　and　then　men　crowded　between　them　and　he　did　not　see　the　captain　again　during　the　battle。

When　Peter　saw　that　more　than　half　of　the　palace　guard　were　shouting　for　Leopold；　and　fighting　side　by　side　with　the　men　of　Tann；　he　realized　the　futility　of　further　armed　resistance　at　this　time。　　Slowly　he　withdrew；　and　at　last　the　fighting　ceased　and　some　semblance　of　order　was　restored　within　the　cathedral。

Fearfully；　the　bishop　emerged　from　hiding；　his　robes　dis…　heveled　and　his　miter　askew。　　Butzow　grasped　him　none　too　reverently　by　the　arm　and　dragged　him　before　Barney。　　The　crown　of　Lutha　dangled　in　the　priest's　palsied　hands。

〃Crown　the　king！〃　cried　the　lieutenant。　　〃Crown　Leopold；　king　of　Lutha！〃

A　mad　roar　of　acclaim　greeted　this　demand；　and　again　from　all　parts　of　the　cathedral　rose　the　same　wild　cry。　　But　in　the　lull　that　followed　there　were　some　who　demanded　proof　of　the　tattered　young　man　who　stood　before　them　and　claimed　that　he　was　king。

〃Let　Prince　Ludwig　speak！〃　cried　a　dozen　voices。

〃Yes；　Prince　Ludwig！　　Prince　Ludwig！〃　took　up　the　throng。

Prince　Ludwig　von　der　Tann　turned　toward　the　bearded　young　man。　　Silence　fell　upon　the　crowded　cathedral。　　Peter　of　Blentz　stood　awaiting　the　outcome；　ready　to　demand　the　crown　upon　the　first　indication　of　wavering　belief　in　the　man　he　knew　was　not　Leopold。

〃How　may　we　know　that　you　are　really　Leopold？〃　again　asked　Ludwig　of　Barney。

The　American　raised　his　left　hand；　upon　the　third　finger　of　which　gleamed　the　great　ruby　of　the　royal　ring　of　the　kings　of　Lutha。　　Even　Peter　of　Blentz　started　back　in　surprise　as　his　eyes　fell　upon　the　ring。

Where　had　the　man　come　upon　it？

Prince　von　der　Tann　dropped　to　one　knee　before　Mr。　Bernard　Custer　of　Beatrice；　Nebraska；　U。S。A。；　and　lifted　that　gentleman's　hand　to　his　lips；　and　as　the　people　of　Lutha　saw　the　act　they　went　mad　with　joy。

Slowly　Prince　Ludwig　rose　and　addressed　the　bishop。　〃Leopold；　the　rightful　heir　to　the　throne　of　Lutha；　is　here。　Let　the　coronation　proceed。〃

The　quiet　of　the　sepulcher　fell　upon　the　assemblage　as　the　holy　man　raised　the　crown　above　the　head　of　the　king。　　Bar…　ney　saw　from　the　corner　of　his　eye　the　sea　of　faces　up…　turned　toward　him。　　He　saw　the　relief　and　happiness　upon　the　stern　countenance　of　the　old　prince。

He　hated　to　dash　all　their　new　found　joy　by　the　an…　nouncement　that　he　was　not　the　king。　　He　could　not　do　that；　for　the　moment　he　did　Peter　would　step　forward　and　de…　mand　that　his　own　coronation　continue。　　How　was　he　to　save　the　throne　for　Leopold？

Among　the　faces　beneath　him　he　suddenly　descried　that　of　a　beautiful　young　girl　whose　eyes；　filled　with　the　tears　of　a　great　happiness　and　a　greater　love；　were　upturned　to　his。　To　reveal　his　true　identity　would　lose　him　this　girl　forever。　None　save　Peter　knew　that　he　was　not　the　king。　　All　save　Peter　would　hail　him　gladly　as　Leopold　of　Lutha。　　How　easily　he　might　win　a　throne　and　the　woman　he　loved　by　a　moment　of　seeming　passive　compliance。

The　temptation　was　great；　and　then　he　recalled　the　boy；　lying　dead　for　his　king　in　the　desolate　mountains；　and　the　pathetic　light　in　the　eyes　of　the　sorrowful　man　at　Tafelberg；　and　the　great　trust　and　confidence　in　the　heart　of　the　woman　who　had　shown　that　she　loved　him。

Slowly　Barney　Custer　raised　his　palm　toward　the　bishop　in　a　gesture　of　restraint。

〃There　are　those　who　doubt　that　I　am　king；〃　he　said。　　〃In　these　circumstances　there　should　be　no　coronation　in　Lutha　until　all　doubts　are　allayed　and　all　may　unite　in　accepting　without　question　the　royal　right　of　the　true　Leopold　to　the　crown　of　his　father。　　Let　the　coronation　wait；　then；　until　another　day；　and　all　will　be　well。〃

〃It　must　take　place　before　noon　of　the　fifth　day　of　Nov…　ember；　or　not　until　a　year　later；〃　said　Prince　Ludwig。　　〃In　the　meantime　the　Prince　Regent　must　continue　to　rule。　　For　the　sake　of　Lutha　the　coronation　must　take　place　today；　your　majesty。〃

〃What　is　the　date？〃　asked　Barney。

〃The　third；　sire。〃

〃Let　the　coronation　wait　until　the　fifth。〃

〃But　your　majesty；〃　interposed　Von　der　Tann；　〃all　may　be　lost　in　two　days。〃

〃It　is　the　king's　command；〃　said　Barney　quietly。

〃But　Peter　of　Blentz　will　rule　for　these　two　days；　and　in　that　time　with　the　army　at　his　command　there　is　no　telling　what　he　may　accomplish；〃　insisted　the　old　man。

〃Peter　of　Blentz　shall　not　rule　Lutha　for　two　days；　or　two　minutes；〃　replied　Barney。　　〃We　shall　rule。　　Lieutenant　Butzow；　you　may　place　Prince　Peter；　Coblich；　Maenck；　and　Stein　under　arrest。　　We　charge　them　with　treason　against　their　king；　and　conspiring　to　assassinate　their　rightful　mon…　arch。〃

Butzow　smiled　as　he　turned　with　his　troopers　at　his　back　to　execute　this　most　welcome　of　commissions；　but　in　a　mo…　ment　he　was　again　at　Barney's　side。

〃They　have　fled；　your　majesty；〃　he　said。　　〃Shall　I　ride　to　Blentz　after　them？〃

〃Let　them　go；〃　replied　the　American；　and　then；　with　his　retinue　about　him　the　new　king　of　Lutha　passed　down　the　broad　aisle　of　the　cathedral　of　Lustadt　and　took　his　way　to　the　royal　palace　between　ranks　of　saluting　soldiery　backed　by　cheering　thousands。




IX

THE　KING'S　GUESTS

ONCE　WITHIN