the mad king-第33部分

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〃I　think　we　can　accomplish　it；〃　said　Prince　Peter；　after　a　moment　of　thought。　　〃Let　us　see　Leopold。　　His　mind　has　been　prepared　to　receive　almost　gratefully　any　insinuations　against　the　loyalty　of　Von　der　Tann。　　With　proper　evidence　the　king　may　easily　be　persuaded　to　order　the　chancellor's　arrestpossibly　his　execution　as　well。〃

So　they　saw　the　king；　only　to　meet　a　stubborn　refusal　upon　the　part　of　Leopold　to　accede　to　their　suggestions。　　He　still　was　madly　in　love　with　Von　der　Tann's　daughter；　and　he　knew　that　a　blow　delivered　at　her　father　would　only　tend　to　increase　her　bitterness　toward　him。　　The　conspirators　were　nonplussed。

They　had　looked　for　a　comparatively　easy　road　to　the　consummation　of　their　desires。　　What　in　the　world　could　be　the　cause　of　the　king's　stubborn　desire　to　protect　the　man　they　knew　he　feared；　hated；　and　mistrusted　with　all　the　energy　of　his　suspicious　nature？　　It　was　the　king　himself　who　answered　their　unspoken　question。

〃I　cannot　believe　in　the　disloyalty　of　Prince　Ludwig；〃　he　said；　〃nor　could　I；　even　if　I　desired　it；　take　such　drastic　steps　as　you　suggest。　　Some　day　the　Princess　Emma；　his　daughter；　will　be　my　queen。〃

Count　Zellerndorf　was　the　first　to　grasp　the　possibilities　that　lay　in　the　suggestion　the　king's　words　carried。

〃Your　majesty；〃　he　cried；　〃there　is　a　way　to　unite　all　factions　in　Lutha。　　It　would　be　better　to　insure　the　loyalty　of　Von　der　Tann　through　bonds　of　kinship　than　to　an…　tagonize　him。　　Marry　the　Princess　Emma　at　once。

〃Wait；　your　majesty；〃　he　added；　as　Leopold　raised　an　ob…　jecting　hand。　　〃I　am　well　informed　as　to　the　strange　obsti…　nacy　of　the　princess；　but　for　the　welfare　of　the　stateyes；　for　the　sake　of　your　very　throne；　sireyou　should　exert　your　royal　prerogatives　and　command　the　Princess　Emma　to　carry　out　the　terms　of　your　betrothal。〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　Zellerndorf？〃　asked　the　king。

〃I　mean；　sire；　that　we　should　bring　the　princess　here　and　compel　her　to　marry　you。〃

Leopold　shook　his　head。　　〃You　do　not　know　her；〃　he　said。　〃You　do　not　know　the　Von　der　Tann　natureone　cannot　force　a　Von　der　Tann。〃

〃Pardon；　sire；〃　urged　Zellerndorf；　〃but　I　think　it　can　be　accomplished。　　If　the　Princess　Emma　knew　that　your　majesty　believed　her　father　to　be　a　traitorthat　the　order　for　his　arrest　and　execution　but　awaited　your　signatureI　doubt　not　that　she　would　gladly　become　queen　of　Lutha；　with　her　father's　life　and　liberty　as　a　wedding　gift。〃

For　several　minutes　no　one　spoke　after　Count　Zellerndorf　had　ceased。　　Leopold　sat　looking　at　the　toe　of　his　boot。　Peter　of　Blentz；　Maenck；　and　the　Austrian　watched　him　in…　tently。　　The　possibilities　of　the　plan　were　sinking　deep　into　the　minds　of　all　four。　　At　last　the　king　rose。　　He　was　mum…　bling　to　himself　as　though　unconscious　of　the　presence　of　the　others。

〃She　is　a　stubborn　jade；〃　he　mumbled。　　〃It　would　be　an　excellent　lesson　for　her。　　She　needs　to　be　taught　that　I　am　her　king；〃　and　then　as　though　his　conscience　required　a　sop；　〃I　shall　be　very　good　to　her。　　Afterward　she　will　be　happy。〃　　He　turned　toward　Zellerndorf。　　〃You　think　it　can　be　done？〃

〃Most　assuredly；　your　majesty。　　We　shall　take　immediate　steps　to　fetch　the　Princess　Emma　to　Blentz；〃　and　the　Aus…　trian　rose　and　backed　from　the　apartment　lest　the　king　change　his　mind。　　Prince　Peter　and　Maenck　followed　him。


Princess　Emma　von　der　Tann　sat　in　her　boudoir　in　her　father's　castle　in　the　Old　Forest。　　Except　for　servants；　she　was　alone　in　the　fortress；　for　Prince　von　der　Tann　was　in　Lustadt。　　Her　mind　was　occupied　with　memories　of　the　young　American　who　had　entered　her　life　under　such　strange　circumstances　two　years　beforememories　that　had　been　awakened　by　the　return　of　Lieutenant　Otto　Butzow　to　Lutha。　He　had　come　directly　to　her　father　and　had　been　attached　to　the　prince's　personal　staff。

From　him　she　had　heard　a　great　deal　about　Barney　Custer；　and　the　old　interest；　never　a　moment　forgotten　dur…　ing　these　two　years；　was　reawakened　to　all　its　former　in…　tensity。

Butzow　had　accompanied　Prince　Ludwig　to　Lustadt；　but　Princess　Emma　would　not　go　with　them。　　For　two　years　she　had　not　entered　the　capital；　and　much　of　that　period　had　been　spent　in　Paris。　　Only　within　the　past　fortnight　had　she　returned　to　Lutha。

In　the　middle　of　the　morning　her　reveries　were　inter…　rupted　by　the　entrance　of　a　servant　bearing　a　message。　　She　had　to　read　it　twice　before　she　could　realize　its　purport；　though　it　was　plainly　wordedthe　shock　of　it　had　stunned　her。　　It　was　dated　at　Lustadt　and　signed　by　one　of　the　palace　functionaries：


Prince　von　der　Tann　has　suffered　a　slight　stroke。　　Do　not　be　alarmed；　but　come　at　once。　　The　two　troopers　who　bear　this　message　will　act　as　your　escort。


It　required　but　a　few　minutes　for　the　girl　to　change　to　her　riding　clothes；　and　when　she　ran　down　into　the　court　she　found　her　horse　awaiting　her　in　the　hands　of　her　groom；　while　close　by　two　mounted　troopers　raised　their　hands　to　their　helmets　in　salute。

A　moment　later　the　three　clattered　over　the　drawbridge　and　along　the　road　that　leads　toward　Lustadt。　　The　escort　rode　a　short　distance　behind　the　girl；　and　they　were　hard　put　to　it　to　hold　the　mad　pace　which　she　set　them。

A　few　miles　from　Tann　the　road　forks。　　One　branch　leads　toward　the　capital　and　the　other　winds　over　the　hills　in　the　direction　of　Blentz。　　The　fork　occurs　within　the　boundaries　of　the　Old　Forest。　　Great　trees　overhang　the　winding　road；　casting　a　twilight　shade　even　at　high　noon。　　It　is　a　lonely　spot；　far　from　any　habitation。

As　the　Princess　Emma　approached　the　fork　she　reined　in　her　mount；　for　across　the　road　to　Lustadt　a　dozen　horse…　men　barred　her　way。　　At　first　she　thought　nothing　of　it；　turning　her　horse's　head　to　the　righthand　side　of　the　road　to　pass　the　party；　all　of　whom　were　in　uniform；　but　as　she　did　so　one　of　the　men　reined　directly　in　her　path。　　The　act　was　obviously　intentional。

The　girl　looked　quickly　up　into　the　man's　face；　and　her　own　went　white。　　He　who　stopped　her　way　was　Captain　Ernst　Maenck。　　She　had　not　seen　the　man　for　two　years；　but　she　had　good　cause　to　remember　him　as　the　governor　of　the　castle　of　Blentz　and　the　man　who　had　attempted　to　take　advantage　of　her　helplessness　when　she　had　been　a　prisoner　in　Prince　Peter's　fortress。　　Now　she　looked　straight　into　the　fellow's　eyes。

〃Let　me　pass；　please；〃　she　said　coldly。

〃I　am　sorry；〃　replied　Maenck　with　an　evil　smile；　〃but　the　king's　orders　are　that　you　accompany　me　to　Blentzthe　king　is　there。〃

For　answer　the　girl　drove　her　spur　into　her　mount's　side。　The　animal　leaped　forward；　striking　Maenck's　horse　on　the　shoulder　and　half　turning　him　aside；　but　the　man　clutched　at　the　girl's　bridle…rein；　and；　seizing　it；　brought　her　to　a　stop。

〃You　may　as　well　come　voluntarily；　for　come　you　must；〃　he　said。　　〃It　will　be　easier　for　you。〃

〃I　shall　not　come　voluntarily；〃　she　replied。　　〃If　you　take　me　to　Blentz　you　will　have　to　take　me　by　force；　and　if　my　king　is　not　sufficiently　a　gentleman　to　demand　an　account…　ing　of　you；　I　am　at　least　more　fortunate　in　the　possession　of　a　father　who　will。〃

〃Your　father　will　scarce　wish　to　question　the　acts　of　his　king；〃　said　Maenck〃his　king　and　the　husband　of　his　daughter。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　she　cried。

〃That　before　you　are　many　hours　older；　your　highness；　you　will　be　queen　of　Lutha。〃

The　Princess　Emma　turned　toward　her　tardy　escort　that　had　just　arrived　upon　the　scene。

〃This　person　has　stopped　me；〃　she　said；　〃and　will　not　permit　me　to　continue　toward　Lustadt。　　Make　a　way　for　me；　you　are　armed！〃

Maenck　smiled。　　〃Both　of　them　are　my　men；〃　he　explained。

The　girl　saw　it　all　nowthe　whole　scheme　to　lure　her　to　Blentz。　　Even　then；　though；　she　could　not　believe　the　king　had　been　one　of　the　conspirators　of　the　plot。

Weak　as　he　was　he　was　still　a　Rubinroth；　and　it　was　difficult　for　a　Von　der　Tann　to　believe　in　the　duplicity　of　a　member　of　the　house　they　had　served　so　loyally　for　cen…　turies。　　With　bowed　head　the　princess　turned　her　horse　into　the　road　that　led　toward　Blentz。　　Half　the　troopers　pre…　ceded　her；　the　balance　following　behind。

Maenck　wondered　at　the　promptness　of　her　surrender。

〃To　be　a　queenah！　that　was　the　great　temptation；〃　he　thought　but　he　did　not　know　what　was　passing　in　the　girl's　mind。　　She　had　seen　that　escape　for　the　moment　was　im…　possible；　and　so　had　decided　to　bide　her　time　until　a　more　propitious　chance　should　come。　　In　silence　she　rode　among　her　captors。　　The　thought　of　being　brought　to　Blentz　alive　was　unbearable。

Somewhere　along　the　road　there　would　be　an　opportunity　to　escape。　　Her　horse　was　fleet；　with　a　short　start　he　could　easily　outdistance　these　heavier　cavalry　animals　and　as　a　last　resort　she　couldshe　mustfind　some　way　to　end　her　life；　rather　than　to　be　dragged　to　the　altar　beside　Leopold　of　Lutha。

Since　childhood　Emma　von　der　Tann　had　ridden　these　hilly　roads。　　She　knew　every　lane　and　bypath　for　miles　around。　　She　knew　the　short　cuts；　the　gullies　and　ravines。　She　knew　where　one　might；　with　a　good　jumper；　save　a　wide　detour；　and　as　she　rode　toward　Blentz　she　passed　in　review　through　her　mind　each　of　the　many　spots　where　a　sudden　break　for　liberty　might　have　the　best　chance　to　succeed。

And　at　last　she　hit　upon　the　place　where　a　quick　turn　would　take　her　from　the　main　road　into　the　roughest　sort　of　going　for　one　not　familiar　with　the　trail。　　Maenck　and　his　soldiers　had　already　partially　relaxed　their　vigilance。　　The　officer　had　come　to　the　conclusion　that　his　prisoner　was　resigned　to　her　fate　and　that；　after　all；　the　fate　of　being　forced　to　be　queen　did　not　appear　so　dark　to　her。

They　had　wound　up　a　wooded　hill　and　were　half　way　up　to　the　summit。　　The　princess　was　riding　close　to　the　right…　hand　side　of　the　road。　　Quite　suddenly；　and　before　a　hand　could　be　raised　to　stay　her；　she　wheeled　her　mount　between　two　trees；　struck　home　her　spur；　and　was　gone　into　the　wood　upon　the　steep　hillside。

With　an　oath；　Maenck　cried　to　his　men　to　be　after　her。　He　himself　spurred　into　the　forest　at　the　point　where　the　girl　had　disappeared。　　So　sudden　had　been　her　break　for　liberty　and　so　quickly　had　the　foliage　swallowed　her　that　there　was　something　almost　uncanny　in　it。

A　hundred　yards　from　the　road　the　trees　were　further　apart；　and　through　them　the　pursuers　ca