the mad king-第40部分

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glass。　　In　it　Barney　saw　his　image。　　The　king　was　looking　at　the　American；　his　eyes　wide　and　his　jaw　dropped。　　Barney　did　not　wonder　at　his　consternation。　　He　himself　was　dumbfounded　by　the　likeness　which　he　bore　to　the　king。　　It　was　positively　uncanny。　　He　approached　Leo…　pold。

〃Remove　your　rings；〃　he　said；　holding　out　his　hand。　　The　king　did　as　he　was　bid；　and　Barney　slipped　the　two　baubles　upon　his　fingers。　　One　of　them　was　the　royal　ring　of　the　kings　of　Lutha。

The　American　now　blindfolded　the　king　and　led　him　to…　ward　the　panel　which　had　given　him　ingress　to　the　room。　Through　it　the　two　men　passed；　Barney　closing　the　panel　after　them。　　then　he　conducted　the　king　back　along　the　dark　passageway　to　the　room　which　the　American　had　but　recently　quitted。　　At　the　back　of　the　panel　which　led　into　his　former　prison　Barney　halted　and　listened。　　No　sound　came　from　beyond　the　partition。　　Gently　Barney　opened　the　secret　door　a　triflejust　enough　to　permit　him　a　quick　survey　of　the　interior　of　the　apartment。　　It　was　empty。　　A　smile　crossed　his　face　as　he　thought　of　the　difficulty　Leopold　might　en…　counter　the　following　morning　in　convincing　his　jailers　that　he　was　not　the　American。

Then　he　recalled　his　reflection　in　the　cheval　glass　and　frowned。　　Could　Leopold　convince　them？　　He　doubted　it　and　what　then？　　The　American　was　sentenced　to　be　shot　at　dawn。　　They　would　shoot　the　king　instead。　　Then　there　would　be　none　to　whom　to　return　the　kingship。　　What　would　he　do　with　it？　　The　temptation　was　great。　　Again　a　throne　lay　within　his　graspa　throne　and　the　woman　he　loved。　　None　might　ever　know　unless　he　chose　to　tellhis　resemblance　to　Leo…　pold　was　too　perfect。　　It　defied　detection。

With　an　exclamation　of　impatience　he　wheeled　about　and　dragged　the　frightened　monarch　back　to　the　room　from　which　he　had　stolen　him。　　As　he　entered　he　heard　a　knock　at　the　door。

〃Do　not　disturb　me　now；〃　he　called。　　〃Come　again　in　half　an　hour。〃

〃But　it　is　Her　Highness；　Princess　Emma；　sire；〃　came　a　voice　from　beyond　the　door。　　〃You　summoned　her。〃

〃She　may　return　to　her　apartments；〃　replied　Barney。

All　the　time　he　kept　his　revolver　leveled　at　the　king；　from　his　eyes　he　had　removed　the　blind　after　they　had　entered　the　apartment。　　He　crossed　to　the　table　where　the　king　had　been　sitting　when　he　surprised　him；　motioning　the　ragged　ruler　to　follow　and　be　seated。

〃Take　that　pen；〃　he　said；　〃and　write　a　full　pardon　for　Mr。　Bernard　Custer；　and　an　order　requiring　that　he　be　fur…　nished　with　money　and　set　at　liberty　at　dawn。〃

The　king　did　as　he　was　bid。　　For　a　moment　the　American　stood　looking　at　him　before　he　spoke　again。

〃You　do　not　deserve　what　I　am　going　to　do　for　you；〃　he　said。　　〃And　Lutha　deserves　a　better　king　than　the　one　my　act　will　give　her；　but　I　am　neither　a　thief　nor　a　murderer；　and　so　I　must　forbear　leaving　you　to　your　just　deserts　and　return　your　throne　to　you。　　I　shall　do　so　after　I　have　insured　my　own　safety　and　done　what　I　can　for　Luthawhat　you　are　too　little　a　man　and　king　to　do　yourself。

〃So　soon　as　they　liberate　you　in　the　morning；　make　the　best　of　your　way　to　Brosnov；　on　the　Serbian　frontier。　　Await　me　there。　　When　I　can；　I　shall　come。　　Again　we　may　ex…　change　clothing　and　you　can　return　to　Lustadt。　　I　shall　cross　over　into　Siberia　out　of　your　reach；　for　I　know　you　too　well　to　believe　that　any　sense　of　honor　or　gratitude　would　prevent　you　signing　my　death…warrant　at　the　first　opportunity。　Now；　come！〃

Once　again　Barney　led　the　blindfolded　king　through　the　dark　corridor　to　the　room　in　the　opposite　towerto　the　prison　of　the　American。　　At　the　open　panel　he　shoved　him　into　the　apartment。　　Then　he　drew　the　door　quietly　to；　leaving　the　king　upon　the　inside；　and　retraced　his　steps　to　the　royal　apartments。　　Crossing　to　the　center　table；　he　touched　an　electric　button。　　A　moment　later　an　officer　knocked　at　the　door；　which；　in　the　meantime；　Barney　had　unbolted。

〃Enter！〃　said　the　American。　　He　stood　with　his　back　to…　ward　the　door　until　he　heard　it　close　behind　the　officer。　When　he　turned　he　was　apparently　examining　his　revolver。　If　the　officer　suspected　his　identity；　it　was　just　as　well　to　be　prepared。　　Slowly　he　raised　his　eyes　to　the　newcomer；　who　stood　stiffly　at　salute。　　The　officer　looked　him　full　in　the　face。

〃I　answered　your　majesty's　summons；〃　said　the　man。

〃Oh；　yes！〃　returned　the　American。　　〃You　may　fetch　the　Princess　Emma。〃

The　officer　saluted　once　more　and　backed　out　of　the　apartment。　　Barney　walked　to　the　table　and　sat　down。　　A　tin　box　of　cigarettes　lay　beside　the　lamp。　　Barney　lighted　one　of　them。　　The　king　had　good　taste　in　the　selection　of　tobacco；　he　thought。　　Well；　a　man　must　need　have　some　redeeming　characteristics。

Outside；　in　the　corridor；　he　heard　voices；　and　again　the　knock　at　the　door。　　He　bade　them　enter。　　As　the　door　opened　Emma　von　der　Tann；　her　head　thrown　back　and　a　flush　of　anger　on　her　face；　entered　the　room。　　Behind　her　was　the　officer　who　had　been　despatched　to　bring　her。　　Barney　nodded　to　the　latter。

〃You　may　go；〃　he　said。　　He　drew　a　chair　from　the　table　and　asked　the　princess　to　be　seated。　　She　ignored　his　re…　quest。

〃What　do　you　wish　of　me？〃　she　asked。　　She　was　looking　straight　into　his　eyes。　　The　officer　had　withdrawn　and　closed　the　door　after　him。　　They　were　alone；　with　nothing　to　fear；　yet　she　did　not　recognize　him。

〃You　are　the　king；〃　she　continued　in　cold；　level　tones；　〃but　if　you　are　also　a　gentleman；　you　will　at　once　order　me　returned　to　my　father　at　Lustadt；　and　with　me　the　man　to　whom　you　owe　so　much。　　I　do　not　expect　it　of　you；　but　I　wish　to　give　you　the　chance。

〃I　shall　not　go　without　him。　　I　am　betrothed　to　you；　but　until　tonight　I　should　rather　have　died　than　wed　you。　　Now　I　am　ready　to　compromise。　　If　you　will　set　Mr。　Custer　at　liberty　in　Serbia　and　return　me　unharmed　to　my　father；　I　will　fulfill　my　part　of　our　betrothal。〃

Barney　Custer　looked　straight　into　the　girl's　face　for　a　long　moment。　　A　half　smile　played　upon　his　lips　at　the　thought　of　her　surprise　when　she　learned　the　truth；　when　suddenly　it　dawned　upon　him　that　she　and　he　were　both　much　safer　if　no　one；　not　even　her　loyal　self；　guessed　that　he　was　other　than　the　king。　　It　is　not　difficult　to　live　a　part；　but　often　it　is　difficult　to　act　one。　　Some　little　word　or　look；　were　she　to　know　that　he　was　Barney　Custer；　might　betray　them；　no；　it　was　better　to　leave　her　in　ignorance；　though　his　conscience　pricked　him　for　the　disloyalty　that　his　act　implied。

It　seemed　a　poor　return　for　her　courage　and　loyalty　to　him　that　her　statement　to　the　man　she　thought　king　had　revealed。　　He　marveled　that　a　Von　der　Tann　could　have　spoken　those　wordsa　Von　der　Tann　who　but　the　day　be…　fore　had　refused　to　save　her　father's　life　at　the　loss　of　the　family　honor。　　It　seemed　incredible　to　the　American　that　he　had　won　such　love　from　such　a　woman。　　Again　came　the　mighty　temptation　to　keep　the　crown　and　the　girl　both；　but　with　a　straightening　of　his　broad　shoulders　he　threw　it　from　him。

She　was　promised　to　the　king；　and　while　he　masqueraded　in　the　king's　clothes；　he　at　least　would　act　the　part　that　a　king　should。　　He　drew　a　folded　paper　from　his　inside　pocket　and　handed　it　to　the　girl。

〃Here　is　the　American's　pardon；〃　he　said；　〃drawn　up　and　signed　by　the　king's　own　hand。〃

She　opened　it　and；　glancing　through　it　hurriedly；　looked　up　at　the　man　before　her　with　a　questioning　expression　in　her　eyes。

〃You　came；　then；〃　she　said；　〃to　a　realization　of　the　enor…　mity　of　your　ingratitude？〃

The　man　shrugged。

〃He　will　never　die　at　my　command；〃　he　said。

〃I　thank　your　majesty；〃　she　said　simply。　　〃As　a　Von　der　Tann；　I　have　tried　to　believe　that　a　Rubinroth　could　not　be　guilty　of　such　baseness。　　And　now；　tell　me　what　your　an…　swer　is　to　my　proposition。〃

〃We　shall　return　to　Lustadt　tonight；〃　he　replied。　　〃I　fear　the　purpose　of　Prince　Peter。　　In　fact；　it　may　be　difficulteven　impossiblefor　us　to　leave　Blentz；　but　we　can　at　least　make　the　attempt。〃

〃Can　we　not　take　Mr。　Custer　with　us？〃　she　asked。　　〃Prince　Peter　may　disregard　your　majesty's　commands　and；　after　you　are　gone；　have　him　shot。　　Do　not　forget　that　he　kept　the　crown　from　Peter　of　Blentzit　is　certain　that　Prince　Peter　will　never　forget　it。〃

〃I　give　you　my　word；　your　highness；　that　I　know　posi…　tively　that　if　I　leave　Blentz　tonight　Prince　Peter　will　not　have　Mr。　Custer　shot　in　the　morning；　and　it　will　so　greatly　jeopardize　his　own　plans　if　we　attempt　to　release　the　prisoner　that　in　all　probability　we　ourselves　will　be　unable　to　es…　cape。〃

She　looked　at　him　thoughtfully　for　a　moment。

〃You　give　me　your　word　that　he　will　be　safe？〃　she　asked。

〃My　royal　word；〃　he　replied。

〃Very　well；　let　us　leave　at　once。〃

Barney　touched　the　bell　once　more；　and　presently　an　officer　of　the　Blentz　faction　answered　the　summons。　　As　the　man　closed　the　door　and　approached；　saluting；　Barney　stepped　close　to　him。

〃We　are　leaving　for　Tann　tonight；〃　he　said；　〃at　once。　　You　will　conduct　us　from　the　castle　and　procure　horses　for　us。　All　the　time　I　shall　walk　at　your　elbow；　and　in　my　hand　I　shall　carry　this；〃　and　he　displayed　the　king's　revolver。　　〃At　the　first　indication　of　defection　upon　your　part　I　shall　kill　you。　　Do　you　perfectly　understand　me？〃

〃But；　your　majesty；〃　exclaimed　the　officer；　〃why　is　it　necessary　that　you　leave　thus　surreptitiously？　　May　not　the　king　go　and　come　in　his　own　kingdom　as　he　desires？　　Let　me　announce　your　wishes　to　Prince　Peter　that　he　may　fur…　nish　you　with　a　proper　escort。　　Doubtless　he　will　wish　to　accompany　you　himself；　sire。〃

〃You　will　do　precisely　what　I　say　without　further　com…　ment；〃　snapped　Barney。　　〃Now　get　a〃　　He　had　been　about　to　say：　〃Now　get　a　move　on　you；〃　when　it　occurred　to　him　that　this　was　not　precisely　the　sort　of　language　that　kings　were　supposed　to　use　to　their　inferiors。　　So　he　changed　it。　〃Now　get　a　couple　of　horses　for　her　highness　and　myself；　as　well　as　your　own；　for　you　will　accompany　us　to　Tann。〃

The　officer　looked　at　the　weapon　in　the　king's　hand。　　He　measured　the　distance　between　himself　and　the　king。　　He　well　knew　the　reputed　cowardice　of　Leopold。　　Could　he　make　the　leap　and　strike　up　the　king's　hand　before　the　timorous　monarch　found　even　the　courage　of　the　cornered　rat　to　fire　at　him？　　Then　his　eyes　sought　the　face　of　t