the mad king-第23部分

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ved　in　the　retinue　of　such　an　impostor　as　you；　for　you　upheld　the　prestige　of　the　house　of　Rubinroth　upon　the　battlefield；　and　though　you　might　have　had　a　crown；　you　refused　it　and　brought　the　true　king　into　his　own。〃

Leopold　sat　tapping　his　foot　upon　the　carpet。　　It　was　all　very　well　if　he；　the　king；　chose　to　praise　the　American；　but　there　was　no　need　for　old　von　der　Tann　to　slop　over　so。　The　king　did　not　like　it。　　As　a　matter　of　fact；　he　found　him…　self　becoming　very　jealous　of　the　man　who　had　placed　him　upon　his　throne。

〃There　is　only　one　thing　that　I　can　harbor　against　you；〃　continued　Prince　Ludwig；　〃and　that　is　that　in　a　single　in…　stance　you　deceived　me；　for　an　hour　before　the　coronation　you　told　me　that　you　were　a　Rubinroth。〃

〃I　told　you；　prince；〃　corrected　Barney；　〃that　the　royal　blood　of　Rubinroth　flowed　in　my　veins；　and　so　it　does。　　I　am　the　son　of　the　runaway　Princess　Victoria　of　Lutha。〃

Both　Leopold　and　Ludwig　looked　their　surprise；　and　to　the　king's　eyes　came　a　sudden　look　of　fear。　　With　the　royal　blood　in　his　veins；　what　was　there　to　prevent　this　popular　hero　from　some　day　striving　for　the　throne　he　had　once　re…　fused？　　Leopold　knew　that　the　minds　of　men　were　wont　to　change　most　unaccountably。

〃Butzow；〃　he　said　suddenly　to　the　lieutenant　of　horse；　〃how　many　do　you　imagine　know　positively　that　he　who　has　ruled　Lutha　for　the　past　two　days　and　he　who　was　crowned　in　the　cathedral　this　noon　are　not　one　and　the　same？〃

〃Only　a　few　besides　those　who　are　in　this　room；　your　majesty；〃　replied　Butzow。　　〃Peter　and　Coblich　have　known　it　from　the　first；　and　then　there　is　Kramer；　the　loyal　old　shopkeeper　of　Tafelberg；　who　followed　Coblich　and　Maenck　all　night　and　half　a　day　as　they　dragged　the　king　to　the　hiding…place　where　we　found　him。　　Other　than　these　there　may　be　those　who　guess　the　truth；　but　there　are　none　who　know。〃

For　a　moment　the　king　sat　in　thought。　　Then　he　rose　and　commenced　packing　back　and　forth　the　length　of　the　apart…　ment。

〃Why　should　they　ever　know？〃　he　said　at　last；　halting　before　the　three　men　who　had　been　standing　watching　him。　〃For　the　sake　of　Lutha　they　should　never　know　that　an…　other　than　the　true　king　sat　upon　the　throne　even　for　an　hour。〃

He　was　thinking　of　the　comparison　that　might　be　drawn　between　the　heroic　figure　of　the　American　and　his　own　colorless　part　in　the　events　which　had　led　up　to　his　corona…　tion。　　In　his　heart　of　hearts　he　felt　that　old　Von　der　Tann　rather　regretted　that　the　American　had　not　been　the　king；　and　he　hated　the　old　man　accordingly；　and　was　commenc…　ing　to　hate　the　American　as　well。

Prince　Ludwig　stood　looking　at　the　carpet　after　the　king　had　spoken。　　His　judgment　told　him　that　the　king's　sug…　gestion　was　a　wise　one；　but　he　was　sorry　and　ashamed　that　it　had　come　from　Leopold。　　Butzow's　lips　almost　showed　the　contempt　that　he　felt　for　the　ingratitude　of　his　king。

Barney　Custer　was　the　first　to　speak。

〃I　think　his　majesty　is　quite　right；〃　he　said；　〃and　tonight　I　can　leave　the　palace　after　dark　and　cross　the　border　some　time　tomorrow　evening。　　The　people　need　never　know　the　truth。〃

Leopold　looked　relieved。

〃We　must　reward　you；　Mr。　Custer；〃　he　said。　　〃Name　that　which　it　lies　within　our　power　to　grant　you　and　it　shall　be　yours。〃

Barney　thought　of　the　girl　he　loved；　but　he　did　not　men…　tion　her　name；　for　he　knew　that　she　was　not　for　him　now。

〃There　is　nothing；　your　majesty；〃　he　said。

〃A　money　reward；〃　Leopold　started　to　suggest；　and　then　Barney　Custer　lost　his　temper。

A　flush　mounted　to　his　face；　his　chin　went　up；　and　there　came　to　his　lips　bitter　words　of　sarcasm。　　With　an　effort；　however；　he　held　his　tongue；　and；　turning　his　back　upon　the　king；　his　broad　shoulders　proclaiming　the　contempt　he　felt；　he　walked　slowly　out　of　the　room。

Von　der　Tann　and　Butzow　and　Leopold　of　Lutha　stood　in　silence　as　the　American　passed　out　of　sight　beyond　the　portal。

The　manner　of　his　going　had　been　an　affront　to　the　king；　and　the　young　ruler　had　gone　red　with　anger。

〃Butzow；〃　he　cried；　〃bring　the　fellow　back；　he　shall　be　taught　a　lesson　in　the　deference　that　is　due　kings。〃

Butzow　hesitated。　　〃He　has　risked　his　life　a　dozen　times　for　your　majesty；〃　said　the　lieutenant。

Leopold　flushed。

〃Do　not　humiliate　him；　sire；〃　advised　Von　der　Tann。　　〃He　has　earned　a　greater　reward　at　your　hands　than　that。〃

The　king　resumed　his　pacing　for　a　moment；　coming　to　a　halt　once　more　before　the　two。

〃We　shall　take　no　notice　of　his　insolence；〃　he　said；　〃and　that　shall　be　our　royal　reward　for　his　services。　　More　than　he　deserves；　we　dare　say；　at　that。〃

As　Barney　hastened　through　the　palace　on　his　way　to　his　new　quarters　to　obtain　his　arms　and　order　his　horse　sad…　dled；　he　came　suddenly　upon　a　girlish　figure　gazing　sadly　from　a　window　upon　the　drear　November　worldher　heart　as　sad　as　the　day。

At　the　sound　of　his　footstep　she　turned；　and　as　her　eyes　met　the　gray　ones　of　the　man　she　stood　poised　as　though　of　half　a　mind　to　fly。　　For　a　moment　neither　spoke。

〃Can　your　highness　forgive？〃　he　asked。

For　answer　the　girl　buried　her　face　in　her　hands　and　dropped　upon　the　cushioned　window　seat　before　her。　　The　American　came　close　and　knelt　at　her　side。

〃Don't；〃　he　begged　as　he　saw　her　shoulders　rise　to　the　sudden　sobbing　that　racked　her　slender　frame。　　〃Don't！〃

He　thought　that　she　wept　from　mortification　that　she　had　given　her　kisses　to　another　than　the　king。

〃None　knows；〃　he　continued；　〃what　has　passed　between　us。　　None　but　you　and　I　need　ever　know。　　I　tried　to　make　you　understand　that　I　was　not　Leopold；　but　you　would　not　believe。　　It　is　not　my　fault　that　I　loved　you。　　It　is　not　my　fault　that　I　shall　always　love　you。　　Tell　me　that　you　for…　give　me　my　part　in　the　chain　of　strange　circumstances　that　deceived　you　into　an　acknowledgment　of　a　love　that　you　intended　for　another。　　Forgive　me；　Emma！〃

Down　the　corridor　behind　them　a　tall　figure　approached　on　silent；　noiseless　feet。　　At　sight　of　the　two　at　the　window　seat　it　halted。　　It　was　the　king。

The　girl　looked　up　suddenly　into　the　eyes　of　the　Ameri…　can　bending　so　close　above　her。

〃I　can　never　forgive　you；〃　she　cried；　〃for　not　being　the　king；　for　I　am　betrothed　to　himand　I　love　you！〃

Before　she　could　prevent　him；　Barney　Custer　had　taken　her　in　his　arms；　and　though　at　first　she　made　a　pretense　of　attempting　to　escape；　at　last　she　lay　quite　still。　　Her　arms　found　their　way　about　the　man's　neck；　and　her　lips　returned　the　kisses　that　his　were　showering　upon　her　upturned　mouth。

Presently　her　glance　wandered　above　the　shoulder　of　the　American；　and　of　a　sudden　her　eyes　filled　with　terror；　and；　with　a　little　gasp　of　consternation；　she　struggled　to　free　her…　self。

〃Let　me　go！〃　she　whispered。　　〃Let　me　gothe　king！〃

Barney　sprang　to　his　feet　and；　turning；　faced　Leopold。　The　king　had　gone　quite　white。

〃Failing　to　rob　me　of　my　crown；〃　he　cried　in　a　trembling　voice；　〃you　now　seek　to　rob　me　of　my　betrothed！　　Go　to　your　father　at　once；　and　as　for　youyou　shall　learn　what　it　means　for　you　thus　to　meddle　in　the　affairs　of　kings。〃

Barney　saw　the　terrible　position　in　which　his　love　had　placed　the　Princess　Emma。　　His　only　thought　now　was　for　her。　　Bowing　low　before　her　he　spoke　so　that　the　king　might　hear；　yet　as　though　his　words　were　for　her　ears　alone。

〃Your　highness　knows　the　truth；　now；〃　he　said；　〃and　that　after　all　I　am　not　the　king。　　I　can　only　ask　that　you　will　forgive　me　the　deception。　　Now　go　to　your　father　as　the　king　commands。〃

Slowly　the　girl　turned　away。　　Her　heart　was　torn　between　love　for　this　man；　and　her　duty　toward　the　other　to　whom　she　had　been　betrothed　in　childhood。　　The　hereditary　in…　stinct　of　obedience　to　her　sovereign　was　strong　within　her；　and　the　bonds　of　custom　and　society　held　her　in　their　re…　lentless　shackles。　　With　a　sob　she　passed　up　the　corridor；　curtsying　to　the　king　as　she　passed　him。

When　she　had　gone　Leopold　turned　to　the　American。　There　was　an　evil　look　in　the　little　gray　eyes　of　the　monarch。

〃You　may　go　your　way；〃　he　said　coldly。　　〃We　shall　give　you　forty…eight　hours　to　leave　Lutha。　　Should　you　ever　re…　turn　your　life　shall　be　the　forfeit。〃

The　American　kept　back　the　hot　words　that　were　ready　upon　the　end　of　his　tongue。　　For　her　sake　he　must　bow　to　fate。　　With　a　slight　inclination　of　his　head　toward　Leopold　he　wheeled　and　resumed　his　way　toward　his　quarters。

Half　an　hour　later　as　he　was　about　to　descend　to　the　courtyard　where　a　trooper　of　the　Royal　Horse　held　his　waiting　mount；　Butzow　burst　suddenly　into　his　room。

〃For　God's　sake；〃　cried　the　lieutenant；　〃get　out　of　this。　The　king　has　changed　his　mind；　and　there　is　an　officer　of　the　guard　on　his　way　here　now　with　a　file　of　soldiers　to　place　you　under　arrest。　　Leopold　swears　that　he　will　hang　you　for　treason。　　Princess　Emma　has　spurned　him；　and　he　is　wild　with　rage。〃

The　dismal　November　twilight　had　given　place　to　bleak　night　as　two　men　cantered　from　the　palace　courtyard　and　turned　their　horses'　heads　northward　toward　Lutha's　nearest　boundary。　　All　night　they　rode；　stopping　at　daylight　before　a　distant　farm　to　feed　and　water　their　mounts　and　snatch　a　mouthful　for　themselves。　　Then　onward　once　again　they　pressed　in　their　mad　flight。

Now　that　day　had　come　they　caught　occasional　glimpses　of　a　body　of　horsemen　far　behind　them；　but　the　border　was　near；　and　their　start　such　that　there　was　no　danger　of　their　being　overtaken。

〃For　the　thousandth　time；　Butzow；〃　said　one　of　the　men；　〃will　you　turn　back　before　it　is　too　late？〃

But　the　other　only　shook　his　head　obstinately；　and　so　they　came　to　the　great　granite　monument　which　marks　the　boundary　between　Lutha　and　her　powerful　neighbor　upon　the　north。

Barney　held　out　his　hand。　　〃Good…bye；　old　man；〃　he　said。　〃If　I've　learned　the　ingratitude　of　kings　here　in　Lutha；　I　have　found　something　that　more　than　compensates　me　the　friendship　of　a　brave　man。　　Now　hurry　back　and　tell　them　that　I　escaped　across　the　border　just　as　I　was　about　to　fall　into　your　hands　and　they　will　think　that　you　have　been　pursuing　me　instead　of　aiding　in　my　escape　across　the　border。〃

But　again　Butzow　shook　his　head。

〃I　have　fought　shoulder　to　shoulder　with　you；　my　friend；〃　he　said。　　〃I　have　called　you　king；　and　after　that　I　could　never　serve　the　coward　who　sits　now　upon　the