the mad king-第17部分

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heering　thousands。




IX

THE　KING'S　GUESTS

ONCE　WITHIN　the　palace　Barney　sought　the　seclusion　of　a　small　room　off　the　audience　chamber。　　Here　he　summoned　Butzow。

〃Lieutenant；〃　said　the　American；　〃for　the　sake　of　a　woman；　a　dead　child　and　an　unhappy　king　I　have　become　dictator　of　Lutha　for　forty…eight　hours；　but　at　noon　upon　the　fifth　this　farce　must　cease。　　Then　we　must　place　the　true　Leopold　upon　the　throne；　or　a　new　dictator　must　replace　me。

〃In　vain　I　have　tried　to　convince　you　that　I　am　not　the　king；　and　today　in　the　cathedral　so　great　was　the　tempta…　tion　to　take　advantage　of　the　odd　train　of　circumstances　that　had　placed　a　crown　within　my　reach　that　I　all　but　surrendered　to　itnot　for　the　crown　of　gold；　Butzow；　but　for　an　infinitely　more　sacred　diadem　which　belongs　to　him　to　whom　by　right　of　birth　and　lineage；　belongs　the　crown　of　Lutha。　　I　do　not　ask　you　to　understandit　is　not　neces…　sarybut　this　you　must　know　and　believe：　that　I　am　not　Leopold；　and　that　the　true　Leopold　lies　in　hiding　in　the　sanatorium　at　Tafelberg；　from　which　you　and　I；　Butzow；　must　fetch　him　to　Lustadt　before　noon　on　the　fifth。〃

〃But；　sire〃　commenced　Butzow；　when　Barney　raised　his　hand。

〃Enough　of　that；　Butzow！〃　he　cried　almost　irritably。　　〃I　am　sick　of　being　'sired'　and　'majestied'my　name　is　Custer。　Call　me　that　when　others　are　not　present。　　Believe　what　you　will；　but　ride　with　me　in　secrecy　to　Tafelberg　tonight；　and　together　we　shall　bring　back　Leopold　of　Lutha。　　Then　we　may　call　Prince　Ludwig　into　our　confidence；　and　none　need　ever　know　of　the　substitution。

〃I　doubt　if　many　had　a　sufficiently　close　view　of　me　to…　day　to　realize　the　trick　that　I　have　played　upon　them；　and　if　they　note　a　difference　they　will　attribute　it　to　the　change　in　apparel；　for　we　shall　see　to　it　that　the　king　is　fittingly　garbed　before　we　exhibit　him　to　his　subjects；　while　here…　after　I　shall　continue　in　khaki；　which　becomes　me　better　than　ermine。〃

Butzow　shook　his　head。

〃King　or　dictator；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　all　the　same；　and　I　must　obey　whatever　commands　you　see　fit　to　give；　and　so　I　will　ride　to　Tafelberg　tonight；　though　what　we　shall　find　there　I　cannot　imagine；　unless　there　are　two　Leopolds　of　Lutha。　But　shall　we　also　find　another　royal　ring　upon　the　finger　of　this　other　king？〃

Barney　smiled。　　〃You're　a　typical　hard…headed　Dutchman；　Butzow；〃　he　said。

The　lieutenant　drew　himself　up　haughtily。　　〃I　am　not　a　Dutchman；　your　majesty。　　I　am　a　Luthanian。〃

Barney　laughed。　　〃Whatever　else　you　may　be；　Butzow；　you're　a　brick；〃　he　said；　laying　his　hand　upon　the　other's　arm。

Butzow　looked　at　him　narrowly。

〃From　your　speech；〃　he　said；　〃and　the　occasional　Ameri…　canisms　into　which　you　fall　I　might　believe　that　you　were　other　than　the　king　but　for　the　ring。〃

〃It　is　my　commission　from　the　king；〃　replied　Barney。　　〃Leo…　pold　placed　it　upon　my　finger　in　token　of　his　royal　authority　to　act　in　his　behalf。　　Tonight；　then　Butzow；　you　and　I　shall　ride　to　Tafelberg。　　Have　three　good　horses。　　We　must　lead　one　for　the　king。〃

Butzow　saluted　and　left　the　apartment。　　For　an　hour　or　two　the　American　was　busy　with　tailors　whom　he　had　or…　dered　sent　to　the　palace　to　measure　him　for　the　numerous　garments　of　a　royal　wardrobe；　for　he　knew　the　king　to　be　near　enough　his　own　size　that　he　might　easily　wear　clothes　that　had　been　fitted　to　Barney；　and　it　was　part　of　his　plan　to　have　everything　in　readiness　for　the　substitution　which　was　to　take　place　the　morning　of　the　coronation。

Then　there　were　foreign　dignitaries；　and　the　heads　of　numerous　domestic　and　civic　delegations　to　be　given　audi…　ence。　　Old　Von　der　Tann　stood　close　behind　Barney　prompt…　ing　him　upon　the　royal　duties　that　had　fallen　so　suddenly　upon　his　shoulders；　and　none　thought　it　strange　that　he　was　unfamiliar　with　the　craft　of　kingship；　for　was　it　not　common　knowledge　that　he　had　been　kept　a　close　prisoner　in　Blentz　since　boyhood；　nor　been　given　any　coaching　for　the　duties　Peter　of　Blentz　never　intended　he　should　perform？

After　it　was　all　over　Prince　Ludwig's　grim　and　leathery　face　relaxed　into　a　smile　of　satisfaction。

〃None　who　witnessed　the　conduct　of　your　first　audience；　sire；〃　he　said；　〃could　for　a　moment　doubt　your　royal　line…　ageif　ever　a　man　was　born　to　kingship；　your　majesty；　it　be　you。〃

Barney　smiled；　a　bit　ruefully；　however；　for　in　his　mind's　eye　he　saw　a　future　moment　when　the　proud　old　Prince　von　der　Tann　would　know　the　truth　of　the　imposture　that　had　been　played　upon　him；　and　the　young　man　foresaw　that　he　would　have　a　rather　unpleasant　half…hour。

At　a　little　distance　from　them　Barney　saw　Emma　von　der　Tann　surrounded　by　a　group　of　officials　and　palace　officers。　Since　he　had　come　to　Lustadt　that　day　he　had　had　no　word　with　her；　and　now　he　crossed　toward　her；　amused　as　the　throng　parted　to　form　an　aisle　for　him；　the　men　saluting　and　the　women　curtsying　low。

He　took　both　of　the　girl's　hands　in　his；　and；　drawing　one　through　his　arm；　took　advantage　of　the　prerogatives　of　king…　ship　to　lead　her　away　from　the　throng　of　courtiers。

〃I　thought　that　I　should　never　be　done　with　all　the　tire…　some　business　which　seems　to　devolve　upon　kings；〃　he　said；　laughing。　　〃All　the　while　that　I　should　have　been　bending　my　royal　intellect　to　matters　of　state；　I　was　wondering　just　how　a　king　might　find　a　way　to　see　the　woman　he　loves　without　interruptions　from　the　horde　that　dogs　his　foot…　steps。〃

〃You　seem　to　have　found　a　way；　Leopold；〃　she　whis…　pered；　pressing　his　arm　close　to　her。　　〃Kings　usually　do。〃

〃It　is　not　because　I　am　a　king　that　I　found　a　way；　Emma；〃　he　replied。　　〃It　is　because　I　am　an　American。〃

She　looked　up　at　him　with　an　expression　of　pleading　in　her　eyes。

〃Why　do　you　persist？〃　she　cried。　　〃You　have　come　into　your　own；　and　there　is　no　longer　aught　to　fear　from　Peter　or　any　other。　　To　me　at　least；　it　is　most　unkind　still　to　deny　your　identity。〃

〃I　wonder；〃　said　Barney；　〃if　your　love　could　withstand　the　knowledge　that　I　am　not　the　king。〃

〃It　is　the　MAN　I　love；　Leopold；〃　the　girl　replied。

〃You　think　so　now；〃　he　said；　〃but　wait　until　the　test　comes；　and　when　it　does；　remember　that　I　have　always　done　my　best　to　undeceive　you。　　I　know　that　you　are　not　for　such　as　I；　my　princess；　and　when　I　have　returned　your　true　king　to　you　all　that　I　shall　ask　is　that　you　be　happy　with　him。〃

〃I　shall　always　be　happy　with　my　king；〃　she　whispered；　and　the　look　that　she　gave　him　made　Barney　Custer　curse　the　fate　that　had　failed　to　make　him　a　king　by　birth。

An　hour　later　darkness　had　fallen　upon　the　little　city　of　Lustadt；　and　from　a　small　gateway　in　the　rear　of　the　palace　grounds　two　horsemen　rode　out　into　the　ill…paved　street　and　turned　their　mounts'　heads　toward　the　north。　　At　the　side　of　one　trotted　a　led　horse。

As　they　passed　beneath　the　glare　of　an　arc…light　before　a　cafe　at　the　side　of　the　public　square；　a　diner　sitting　at　a　table　upon　the　walk　spied　the　tall　figure　and　the　bearded　face　of　him　who　rode　a　few　feet　in　advance　of　his　com…　panion。　　Leaping　to　his　feet　the　man　waved　his　napkin　above　his　head。

〃Long　live　the　king！〃　he　cried。　　〃God　save　Leopold　of　Lutha！〃

And　amid　the　din　of　cheering　that　followed；　Barney　Custer　of　Beatrice　and　Lieutenant　Butzow　of　the　Royal　Horse　rode　out　into　the　night　upon　the　road　to　Tafelberg。


When　Peter　of　Blentz　had　escaped　from　the　cathedral　he　had　hastily　mounted　with　a　handful　of　his　followers　and　hurried　out　of　Lustadt　along　the　road　toward　his　formidable　fortress　at　Blentz。　　Half　way　upon　the　journey　he　had　met　a　dusty　and　travel…stained　horseman　hastening　toward　the　capital　city　that　Peter　and　his　lieutenants　had　just　left。

At　sight　of　the　prince　regent　the　fellow　reined　in　and　saluted。

〃May　I　have　a　word　in　private　with　your　highness？〃　he　asked。　　〃I　have　news　of　the　greatest　importance　for　your　ears　alone。〃

Peter　drew　to　one　side　with　the　man。

〃Well；〃　he　asked；　〃and　what　news　have　you　for　Peter　of　Blentz？〃

The　man　leaned　from　his　horse　close　to　Peter's　ear。

〃The　king　is　in　Tafelberg；　your　highness；〃　he　said。

〃The　king　is　dead；〃　snapped　Peter。　　〃There　is　an　impostor　in　the　palace　at　Lustadt。　　But　the　real　Leopold　of　Lutha　was　slain　by　Yellow　Franz's　band　of　brigands　weeks　ago。〃

〃I　heard　the　man　at　Tafelberg　tell　another　that　he　was　the　king；〃　insisted　the　fellow。　　〃Through　the　keyhole　of　his　room　I　saw　him　take　a　great　ring　from　his　fingera　ring　with　a　mighty　ruby　set　in　its　centerand　give　it　to　the　other。　Both　were　bearded　men　with　gray　eyeseither　might　have　passed　for　the　king　by　the　description　upon　the　placards　that　have　covered　Lutha　for　the　past　month。　　At　first　he　denied　his　identity；　but　when　the　other　had　convinced　him　that　he　sought　only　the　king's　welfare　he　at　last　admitted　that　he　was　Leopold。〃

〃Where　is　he　now？〃　cried　Peter。

〃He　is　still　in　the　sanatorium　at　Tafelberg。　　In　room　twenty…seven。　　The　other　promised　to　return　for　him　and　take　him　to　Lustadt；　but　when　I　left　Tafelberg　he　had　not　yet　done　so；　and　if　you　hasten　you　may　reach　there　before　they　take　him　away；　and　if　there　be　any　reward　for　my　loyalty　to　you；　prince；　my　name　is　Ferrath。〃

〃Ride　with　us　and　if　you　have　told　the　truth；　fellow；　there　shall　be　a　reward　and　if　notthen　there　shall　be　deserts；〃　and　Peter　of　Blentz　wheeled　his　horse　and　with　his　company　galloped　on　toward　Tafelberg。

As　he　rode　he　talked　with　his　lieutenants　Coblich；　Maenck；　and　Stein；　and　among　them　it　was　decided　that　it　would　be　best　that　Peter　stop　at　Blentz　for　the　night　while　the　others　rode　on　to　Tafelberg。

〃Do　not　bring　Leopold　to　Blentz；〃　directed　Peter；　〃for　if　it　be　he　who　lies　at　Tafelberg　and　they　find　him　gone　it　will　be　toward　Blentz　that　they　will　first　look。　　Take　him〃

The　Regent　leaned　from　his　saddle　so　that　his　mouth　was　close　to　the　ear　of　Coblich；　that　none　of　the　troopers　might　hear。

Coblich　nodded　his　head。

〃And；　Coblich；　the　fewer　that　ride　to　Tafelberg　tonight　the　surer　the　success　of　the　mission。　　Take　Maenck；　Stein　and　one　other　with　you。　　I　shall　keep　this　man　with　me；　for　it　may　prove　but　a　plot　to　lure　me　to　Tafelberg。〃

Peter　scowled　at　the　now　frightened　hospital　attendant。

〃Tomorrow　I　shall　be　riding　through　the　lowlands；　Cob…　lich；　and　so　you　may　not　find　means　to　communicate　with　me；　but　before　noon　o