the mad king-第21部分

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〃All　that　we　wish　to　know　positively　is；〃　said　one；　〃that　the　man　who　bears　the　title　of　king　today　is　really　Leopold　of　Lutha；　or　that　he　is　not。　　If　not　then　he　stands　convicted　of　treason；　and　we　shall　know　how　to　conduct　ourselves。〃

Together　the　party　rode　to　the　cathedral；　the　majority　of　the　older　nobility　now　openly　espousing　the　cause　of　the　Regent。


At　the　palace　Barney　was　about　distracted。　　Butzow　was　urging　him　to　take　the　crown　whether　he　was　Leopold　or　not；　for　the　young　lieutenant　saw　no　hope　for　Lutha；　if　either　the　scoundrelly　Regent　or　the　cowardly　man　whom　Barney　had　assured　him　was　the　true　king　should　come　into　power。

It　was　eleven　o'clock。　　In　another　hour　Barney　knew　that　he　must　have　found　some　new　solution　of　his　dilemma；　for　there　seemed　little　probability　that　the　king　would　be　lo…　cated　in　the　brief　interval　that　remained　before　the　corona…　tion。　　He　wondered　what　they　did　to　people　who　stole　thrones。　For　a　time　he　figured　his　chances　of　reaching　the　border　ahead　of　the　enraged　populace。　　All　had　depended　upon　the　finding　of　the　king；　and　he　had　been　so　sure　that　it　could　be　accomplished　in　time；　for　Coblich　and　Maenck　had　had　but　a　few　hours　in　which　to　conceal　the　monarch　before　the　search　was　well　under　way。

Armed　with　the　king's　warrants；　his　troopers　had　ridden　through　the　country；　searching　houses；　and　questioning　all　whom　they　met。　　Patrols　had　guarded　every　road　that　the　fugitives　might　take　either　to　Lustadt；　Blentz；　or　the　border；　but　no　king　had　been　found　and　no　trace　of　his　abductors。

Prince　von　der　Tann；　Barney　was　convinced；　was　on　the　point　of　deserting　him；　and　going　over　to　the　other　side。　　It　was　true　that　the　old　man　had　carried　out　his　instructions　relative　to　the　placing　of　the　machine　guns；　but　they　might　be　used　as　well　against　him；　where　they　stood；　as　for　him。

From　his　window　he　could　see　the　broad　avenue　which　passes　before　the　royal　palace　of　Lutha。　　It　was　crowded　with　throngs　moving　toward　the　cathedral。　　Presently　there　came　a　knock　upon　the　closed　door　of　his　chamber。

At　his　〃Enter〃　a　functionary　announced：　〃His　Royal　High…　ness　Ludwig；　Prince　von　der　Tann！〃

The　old　man　was　much　perturbed　at　the　rumors　he　had　heard　relative　to　the　assassination　of　the　true　Leopold。　Soldier…like；　he　blurted　out　his　suspicions　and　his　ultimatum。

〃None　but　the　royal　blood　of　Rubinroth　may　reign　in　Lutha　while　there　be　a　Rubinroth　left　to　reign　and　old　Von　der　Tann　lives；〃　he　cried　in　conclusion。

At　the　name　〃Rubinroth〃　Barney　started。　　It　was　his　mother's　name。　　Suddenly　the　truth　flashed　upon　him。　　He　understood　now　the　reticence　of　both　his　father　and　mother　relative　to　her　early　life。

〃Prince　Ludwig；〃　said　the　young　man　earnestly；　〃I　have　only　the　good　of　Lutha　in　my　heart。　　For　three　weeks　I　have　labored　and　risked　death　a　hundred　times　to　place　the　legitimate　heir　to　the　crown　of　Lutha　upon　his　throne。　　I〃

He　hesitated；　not　knowing　just　how　to　commence　the　confession　he　was　determined　to　make；　though　he　was　posi…　tive　that　it　would　place　Peter　of　Blentz　upon　the　throne；　since　the　old　prince　had　promised　to　support　the　Regent　could　it　be　proved　that　Barney　was　an　impostor。

〃I；〃　he　started　again；　and　then　there　came　an　interruption　at　the　door。

〃A　messenger；　your　majesty；〃　announced　the　doorman；　〃who　says　that　he　must　have　audience　at　once　upon　a　mat…　ter　of　life　and　death　to　the　king。〃

〃We　will　see　him　in　the　ante…chamber；〃　replied　Barney；　moving　toward　the　door。　　〃Await　us　here；　Prince　Ludwig。〃

A　moment　later　he　re…entered　the　apartment。　　There　was　an　expression　of　renewed　hope　upon　his　face。

〃As　we　were　about　to　remark；　my　dear　prince；〃　he　said；　〃I　swear　that　the　royal　blood　of　the　Rubinroths　flows　in　my　veins；　and　as　God　is　my　judge；　none　other　than　the　true　Leopold　of　Lutha　shall　be　crowned　today。　　And　now　we　must　prepare　for　the　coronation。　　If　there　be　trouble　in　the　cathedral；　Prince　Ludwig；　we　look　to　your　sword　in　pro…　tection　of　the　king。〃

〃When　I　am　with　you；　sire；〃　said　Von　der　Tann；　〃I　know　that　you　are　king。　　When　I　saw　how　you　led　the　troops　in　battle；　I　prayed　that　there　could　be　no　mistake。　　God　give　that　I　am　right。　　But　God　help　you　if　you　are　playing　with　old　Ludwig　von　der　Tann。〃

When　the　old　man　had　left　the　apartment　Barney　sum…　moned　an　aide　and　sent　for　Butzow。　　Then　he　hurried　to　the　bath　that　adjoined　the　apartment；　and　when　the　lieutenant　of　horse　was　announced　Barney　called　through　a　soapy　lather　for　his　confederate　to　enter。

〃What　are　you　doing；　sire？〃　cried　Butzow　in　amazement。

〃Cut　out　the　'sire；'　old　man；〃　shouted　Barney　Custer　of　Beatrice。　　〃this　is　the　fifth　of　November　and　I　am　shaving　off　this　alfalfa。　　The　king　is　found！〃

〃What？〃　cried　Butzow；　and　upon　his　face　there　was　little　to　indicate　the　rejoicing　that　a　loyal　subject　of　Leopold　of　Lutha　should　have　felt　at　that　announcement。

〃There　is　a　man　in　the　next　room；〃　went　on　Barney；　〃who　can　lead　us　to　the　spot　where　Coblich　and　Maenck　guard　the　king。　　Get　him　in　here。〃

Butzow　hastened　to　comply　with　the　American's　instruc…　tions；　and　a　moment　later　returned　to　the　apartment　with　the　old　shopkeeper　of　Tafelberg。

As　Barney　shaved　he　issued　directions　to　the　two。　　Within　the　room　to　the　east；　he　said；　there　were　the　king's　corona…　tion　robes；　and　in　a　smaller　dressingroom　beyond　they　would　find　a　long　gray　cloak。

They　were　to　wrap　all　these　in　a　bundle　which　the　old　shopkeeper　was　to　carry。

〃And；　Butzow；〃　added　Barney；　〃look　to　my　revolvers　and　your　own；　and　lay　my　sword　out　as　well。　　The　chances　are　that　we　shall　have　to　use　them　before　we　are　ten　minutes　older。〃

In　an　incredibly　short　space　of　time　the　young　man　emerged　from　the　bath；　his　luxuriant　beard　gone　forever；　he　hoped。　　Butzow　looked　at　him　with　a　smile。

〃I　must　say　that　the　beard　did　not　add　greatly　to　your　majesty's　good　looks；〃　he　said。

〃Never　mind　the　bouquets；　old　man；〃　cried　Barney；　cram…　ming　his　arms　into　the　sleeves　of　his　khaki　jacket　and　buck…　ling　sword　and　revolver　about　him；　as　he　hurried　toward　a　small　door　that　opened　upon　the　opposite　side　of　the　apart…　ment　to　that　through　which　his　visitors　had　been　conducted。

Together　the　three　hastened　through　a　narrow；　little…used　corridor　and　down　a　flight　of　well…worn　stone　steps　to　a　door　that　let　upon　the　rear　court　of　the　palace。

There　were　grooms　and　servants　there；　and　soldiers　too；　who　saluted　Butzow；　according　the　old　shopkeeper　and　the　smooth…faced　young　stranger　only　cursory　glances。　　It　was　evident　that　without　his　beard　it　was　not　likely　that　Barney　would　be　again　mistaken　for　the　king。

At　the　stables　Butzow　requisitioned　three　horses；　and　soon　the　trio　was　galloping　through　a　little…frequented　street　toward　the　northern；　hilly　environs　of　Lustadt。　　They　rode　in　silence　until　they　came　to　an　old　stone　building；　whose　boarded　windows　and　general　appearance　of　dilapidation　proclaimed　its　long　tenantless　condition。　　Rank　weeds；　now　rustling　dry　and　yellow　in　the　November　wind；　choked　what　once　might　have　been　a　luxuriant　garden。　　A　stone　wall；　which　had　at　one　time　entirely　surrounded　the　grounds；　had　been　almost　completely　removed　from　the　front　to　serve　as　foundation　stone　for　a　smaller　edifice　farther　down　the　mountainside。

The　horsemen　avoided　this　break　in　the　wall；　coming　up　instead　upon　the　rear　side　where　their　approach　was　wholly　screened　from　the　building　by　the　wall　upon　that　exposure。

Close　in　they　dismounted；　and　leaving　the　animals　in　charge　of　the　shopkeeper　of　Tafelberg；　Barney　and　Butzow　hastened　toward　a　small　postern…gate　which　swung；　groan…　ing；　upon　a　single　rusted　hinge。　　Each　felt　that　there　was　no　time　for　caution　or　stratagem。　　Instead　all　depended　upon　the　very　boldness　and　rashness　of　their　attack；　and　so　as　they　came　through　into　the　courtyard　the　two　dashed　headlong　for　the　building。

Chance　accomplished　for　them　what　no　amount　of　careful　execution　might　have　done；　and　they　came　within　the　ruin　unnoticed　by　the　four　who　occupied　the　old；　darkened　library。

Possibly　the　fact　that　one　of　the　men　had　himself　just　entered　and　was　excitedly　talking　to　the　others　may　have　drowned　the　noisy　approach　of　the　two。　　However　that　may　be；　it　is　a　fact　that　Barney　and　the　cavalry　officer　came　to　the　very　door　of　the　library　unheard。

There　they　halted；　listening。　　Coblich　was　speaking。

〃The　Regent　commands　it；　Maenck；〃　he　was　saying。　　〃It　is　the　only　thing　that　can　save　our　necks。　　He　said　that　you　had　better　be　the　one　to　do　it；　since　it　was　your　carelessness　that　permitted　the　fellow　to　escape　from　Blentz。〃

Huddled　in　a　far　corner　of　the　room　was　an　abject　figure　trembling　in　terror。　　At　the　words　of　Coblich　it　staggered　to　its　feet。　　It　was　the　king。

〃Have　pityhave　pity！〃　he　cried。　　〃Do　not　kill　me；　and　I　will　go　away　where　none　will　ever　know　that　I　live。　　You　can　tell　Peter　that　I　am　dead。　　Tell　him　anything；　only　spare　my　life。　　Oh；　why　did　I　ever　listen　to　the　cursed　fool　who　tempted　me　to　think　of　regaining　the　crown　that　has　brought　me　only　misery　and　sufferingthe　crown　that　has　now　placed　the　sentence　of　death　upon　me。〃

〃Why　not　let　him　go？〃　suggested　the　trooper；　who　up　to　this　time　had　not　spoken。　　〃If　we　don't　kill　him；　we　can't　be　hanged　for　his　murder。〃

〃Don't　be　too　sure　of　that；〃　exclaimed　Maenck。　　〃If　he　goes　away　and　never　returns；　what　proof　can　we　offer　that　we　did　not　kill　him；　should　we　be　charged　with　the　crime？　And　if　we　let　him　go；　and　later　he　returns　and　gains　his　throne；　he　will　see　that　we　are　hanged　anyway　for　treason。

〃The　safest　thing　to　do　is　to　put　him　where　he　at　least　cannot　come　back　to　threaten　us；　and　having　done　so　upon　the　orders　of　Peter；　let　the　king's　blood　be　upon　Peter's　head。　　I；　at　least；　shall　obey　my　master；　and　let　you　two　bear　witness　that　I　did　the　thing　with　my　own　hand。〃　　So　saying　he　drew　his　sword　and　crossed　toward　the　king。

But　Captain　Ernst　Maenck　never　reached　his　sovereign。

As　the　terrified　shriek　of　the　sorry　monarch　rang　through　the　interior　of　the　desolate　ruin　another　sound　mingled　with　it；　half…drowning　the　piercing　wail　of　terror。

It　was　the　sharp　crack　of　a　revolver；　and　even　as　it　spoke　Maenck　lunged　awkwardly　forward；　stumbled；　and　collapsed　at　Leopold's　feet。　　With