the mad king-第39部分

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〃Her　highness；　the　Princess　von　der　Tann；　is　not　a　guest　of　Prince　Peter。〃　　The　girl's　voice　was　low　and　cold。　　〃If　Mr。　Custer　is　a　prisoner；　her　highness；　too；　is　a　prisoner。　　If　he　is　to　be　shot；　she　demands　a　like　fate。　　To　die　by　the　side　of　a　MAN　would　be　infinitely　preferable　to　living　by　the　side　of　your　majesty。〃

Once　again　Leopold　of　Lutha　reddened。　　For　a　moment　he　paced　the　room　angrily　to　hide　his　emotion。　　Then　he　turned　once　to　Maenck。

〃Escort　the　prisoner　to　the　north　tower；〃　he　commanded；　〃and　this　insolent　girl　to　the　chambers　next　to　ours。　　To…　morrow　we　shall　talk　with　her　again。〃

Outside　the　room　Barney　turned　for　a　last　look　at　the　princess　as　he　was　being　led　in　one　direction　and　she　in　another。　　A　smile　of　encouragement　was　on　his　lips　and　cold　hopelessness　in　his　heart。　　She　answered　the　smile　and　her　lips　formed　a　silent　〃good…bye。〃　　They　formed　something　else；　toothree　words　which　he　was　sure　he　could　not　have　mistaken；　and　then　they　parted；　he　for　the　death　chamber　and　she　for　what　fate　she　could　but　guess。

As　his　guard　halted　before　a　door　at　the　far　end　of　a　long　corridor　Barney　Custer　sensed　a　sudden　familiarity　in　his　surroundings。　　He　was　conscious　of　that　sensation　which　is　common　to　all　of　usof　having　lived　through　a　scene　at　some　former　time；　to　each　minutest　detail。

As　the　door　opened　and　he　was　pushed　into　the　room　he　realized　that　there　was　excellent　foundation　for　the　impres…　sionhe　immediately　recognized　the　apartment　as　the　same　in　which　he　had　once　before　been　imprisoned。　　At　that　time　he　had　been　mistaken　for　the　mad　king　who　had　escaped　from　the　clutches　of　Peter　of　Blentz。　　The　same　king　was　now　visiting　as　a　guest　the　fortress　in　which　he　had　spent　ten　bitter　years　as　a　prisoner。

〃Say　your　prayers；　my　friend；〃　admonished　Maenck；　as　he　was　about　to　leave　him　alone；　〃for　at　dawn　you　die　and　this　time　the　firing　squad　will　make　a　better　job　of　it。〃

Barney　did　not　answer　him；　and　the　captain　departed；　locking　the　door　after　him　and　leaving　two　men　on　guard　in　the　corridor。　　Alone；　Barney　looked　about　the　room。　　It　was　in　no　wise　changed　since　his　former　visit　to　it。　　He　recalled　the　incidents　of　the　hour　of　his　imprisonment　here；　thought　of　old　Joseph　who　had　aided　his　escape；　looked　at　the　paneled　fireplace；　whose　secret；　it　was　evident；　not　even　the　master　of　Blentz　was　familiar　withand　grinned。

〃'For　at　dawn　you　die！'〃　he　repeated　to　himself；　still　smiling　broadly。　　Then　he　crossed　quickly　to　the　fireplace；　running　his　fingers　along　the　edge　of　one　of　the　large　tiled　panels　that　hid　the　entrance　to　the　well…like　shaft　that　rose　from　the　cellars　beneath　to　the　towers　above　and　which　opened　through　similar　concealed　exits　upon　each　floor。　　If　the　floor　above　should　be　untenanted　he　might　be　able　to　reach　it　as　he　and　Joseph　had　done　two　years　ago　when　they　opened　the　secret　panel　in　the　fireplace　and　climbed　a　hid…　den　ladder　to　the　room　overhead；　and　then　by　vacant　cor…　ridors　reached　the　far　end　of　the　castle　above　the　suite　in　which　the　princess　had　been　confined　and　near　which　Bar…　ney　had　every　reason　to　believe　she　was　now　imprisoned。

Carefully　Barney's　fingers　traversed　the　edges　of　the　panel。　No　hidden　latch　rewarded　his　search。　　Again　and　again　he　examined　the　perfectly　fitted　joints　until　he　was　convinced　either　that　there　was　no　latch　there　or　that　it　was　hid　be…　yond　possibility　of　discovery。　　With　each　succeeding　minute　the　American's　heart　and　hopes　sank　lower　and　lower。　　Two　years　had　elapsed　since　he　had　seen　the　secret　portal　swing　to　the　touch　of　Joseph's　fingers。　　One　may　forget　much　in　two　years；　but　that　he　was　at　work　upon　the　right　panel　Barney　was　positive。　　However；　it　would　do　no　harm　to　ex…　amine　its　mate　which　resembled　it　in　minutest　detail。

Almost　indifferently　Barney　turned　his　attention　to　the　other　panel。　　He　ran　his　fingers　over　it；　his　eyes　following　them。　　What　was　that？　　A　finger…print？　　Upon　the　left　side　half　way　up　a　tiny　smudge　was　visible。　　Barney　examined　it　more　carefully。　　A　round；　white　figure　of　the　conventional　design　that　was　burned　into　the　tile　bore　the　telltale　smudge。

Otherwise　it　differed　apparently　in　no　way　from　the　numerous　other　round；　white　figures　that　were　repeated　many　times　in　the　scheme　of　decoration。　　Barney　placed　his　thumb　exactly　over　the　mark　that　another　thumb　had　left　there　and　pushed。　　The　figure　sank　into　the　panel　beneath　the　pressure。　　Barney　pushed　harder；　breathless　with　sus…　pense。　　The　panel　swung　in　at　his　effort。　　The　American　could　have　whooped　with　delight。

A　moment　more　and　he　stood　upon　the　opposite　side　of　the　secret　door　in　utter　darkness；　for　he　had　quickly　closed　it　after　him。　　To　strike　a　match　was　but　the　matter　of　a　mo…　ment。　　The　wavering　light　revealed　the　top　of　the　ladder　that　led　downward　and　the　foot　of　another　leading　aloft。　　He　struck　still　more　matches　in　search　of　the　rope。　　It　was　not　there；　but　his　quest　revealed　the　fact　that　the　well　at　this　point　was　much　larger　than　he　had　imaginedit　broadened　into　a　small　chamber。

The　light　of　many　matches　finally　led　him　to　the　discovery　of　a　passageway　directly　behind　the　fireplace。　　It　was　nar…　row；　and　after　spanning　the　chimney　descended　by　a　few　rough　steps　to　a　slightly　lower　level。　　It　led　toward　the　opposite　end　of　the　castle。　　Could　it　be　possible　that　it　con…　nected　directly　with　the　apartments　in　the　farther　tower　in　the　tower　where　the　king　was　and　the　Princess　Emma？　Barney　could　scarce　hope　for　any　such　good　luck；　but　at　least　it　was　worth　investigatingit　must　lead　somewhere。

He　followed　it　warily；　feeling　his　way　with　hands　and

feet　and　occasionally　striking　a　match。　　It　was　evident　that　the　corridor　lay　in　the　thick　wall　of　the　castle；　midway　be…　tween　the　bottoms　of　the　windows　of　the　second　floor　and　the　tops　of　those　upon　the　firstthis　would　account　for　the　slightly　lower　level　of　the　passage　from　the　floor　of　the　second　story。

Barney　had　traversed　some　distance　in　the　darkness　along　the　forgotten　corridor　when　the　sound　of　voices　came　to　him　from　beyond　the　wall　at　his　right。　　He　stopped；　motion…　less；　pressing　his　ear　against　the　side　wall。　　As　he　did　so　he　became　aware　of　the　fact　that　at　this　point　the　wall　was　of　wooda　large　panel　of　hardwood。　　Now　he　could　hear　even　the　words　of　the　speaker　upon　the　opposite　side。

〃Fetch　her　here；　captain；　and　I　will　talk　with　her　alone。〃　The　voice　was　the　king's。　　〃And；　captain；　you　might　remove　the　guard　from　before　the　door　temporarily。　　I　shall　not　re…　quire　them；　nor　do　I　wish　them　to　overhear　my　conversa…　tion　with　the　princess。〃

Barney　could　hear　the　officer　acknowledge　the　commands　of　the　king；　and　then　he　heard　a　door　close。　　The　man　had　gone　to　fetch　the　princess。　　The　American　struck　a　match　and　examined　the　panel　before　him。　　It　reached　to　the　top　of　the　passageway　and　was　some　three　feet　in　width。

At　one　side　were　three　hinges；　and　at　the　other　an　ancient　spring　lock。　　For　an　instant　Barney　stood　in　indecision。　　What　should　he　do？　　His　entry　into　the　apartments　of　the　king　would　result　in　alarming　the　entire　fortress。　　Were　he　sure　the　king　was　alone　it　might　be　accomplished。　　Should　he　enter　now　or　wait　until　the　Princess　Emma　had　been　brought　to　the　king？

With　the　question　came　the　answera　bold　and　daring　scheme。　　His　fingers　sought　the　lock。　　Very　gently；　he　un…　latched　it　and　pushed　outward　upon　the　panel。　　Suddenly　the　great　doorway　gave　beneath　his　touch。　　It　opened　a　crack　letting　a　flood　of　light　into　his　dark　cell　that　almost　blinded　him。

For　a　moment　he　could　see　nothing；　and　then　out　of　the　glaring　blur　grew　the　figure　of　a　man　sitting　at　a　table　with　his　back　toward　the　panel。

It　was　the　king；　and　he　was　alone。　　Noiselessly　Barney　Custer　entered　the　apartment；　closing　the　panel　after　him。　At　his　back　now　was　the　great　oil　painting　of　the　Blentz　princess　that　had　hid　the　secret　entrance　to　the　room。　　He　crossed　the　thick　rugs　until　he　stood　behind　the　king。　　Then　he　clapped　one　hand　over　the　mouth　of　the　monarch　of　Lutha　and　threw　the　other　arm　about　his　neck。

〃Make　the　slightest　outcry　and　I　shall　kill　you；〃　he　whis…　pered　in　the　ear　of　the　terrified　man。

Across　the　room　Barney　saw　a　revolver　lying　upon　a　small　table。　　He　raised　the　king　to　his　feet　and；　turning　his　back　toward　the　weapon　dragged　him　across　the　apartment　until　the　table　was　within　easy　reach。　　Then　he　snatched　up　the　revolver　and　swung　the　king　around　into　a　chair　facing　him；　the　muzzle　of　the　gun　pressed　against　his　face。

〃Silence；〃　he　whispered。

The　king；　white　and　trembling；　gasped　as　his　eyes　fell　upon　the　face　of　the　American。

〃You？〃　　His　voice　was　barely　audible。

〃Take　off　your　clothesevery　stitch　of　themand　if　any　one　asks　for　admittance；　deny　them。　　Quick；　now；〃　as　the　king　hesitated。　　〃My　life　is　forfeited　unless　I　can　escape。　　If　I　am　apprehended　I　shall　see　that　you　pay　for　my　recapture　with　your　lifeif　any　one　enters　this　room　without　my　sanction　they　will　enter　it　to　find　a　dead　king　upon　the　floor；　do　you　understand？〃

The　king　made　no　reply　other　than　to　commence　divesting　himself　of　his　clothing。　　Barney　followed　his　example；　but　not　before　he　had　crossed　to　the　door　that　opened　into　the　main　corridor　and　shot　the　bolt　upon　the　inside。　　When　both　men　had　removed　their　clothing　Barney　pointed　to　the　little　pile　of　soiled　peasant　garb　that　he　had　worn。

〃Put　those　on；〃　he　commanded。

The　king　hesitated；　drawing　back　in　disgust。　　Barney　paused；　half…way　into　the　royal　union　suit；　and　leveled　the　revolver　at　Leopold。　　The　king　picked　up　one　of　the　gar…　ments　gingerly　between　the　tips　of　his　thumb　and　finger。

〃Hurry！〃　admonished　the　American；　drawing　the　silk　half…　hose　of　the　ruler　of　Lutha　over　his　foot。　　〃If　you　don't　hurry；〃　he　added；　〃someone　may　interrupt　us；　and　you　know　what　the　result　would　beto　you。〃

Scowling；　Leopold　donned　the　rough　garments。　　Barney；　fully　clothed　in　the　uniform　the　king　had　been　wearing；　stepped　across　the　apartment　to　where　the　king's　sword　and　helmet　lay　upon　the　side　table　that　had　also　borne　the　re…　volver。　　He　placed　the　helmet　upon　his　head　and　buckled　the　sword…belt　about　his　waist；　then　he　faced　the　king；　behind　whom　was　a　cheval　glass。　　In　it　Barney　saw　his　image。