the mad king-第46部分

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gned　your　pardon　indicates　that　his　attitude　toward　you　changed　sud…　denlyalmost　within　an　hour。　　There　is　something　at　the　bottom　of　it　all；　and　that　something　I　must　know。〃

〃I　am　Leopold！〃　cried　the　king。　　〃Don't　you　recognize　me；　Prince　Peter？　　Look　at　me！　　Maenck　must　know　me。　　It　was　I　who　wrote　and　signed　the　American's　pardonat　the　point　of　the　American's　revolver。　　He　forced　me　to　exchange　cloth…　ing　with　him；　and　then　he　brought　me　here　to　this　room　and　left　me。〃

The　two　men　looked　at　the　speaker　and　smiled。

〃You　bank　too　strongly；　my　friend；〃　said　Peter　of　Blentz；　〃upon　your　resemblance　to　the　king　of　Lutha。　　I　will　admit　that　it　is　strong；　but　not　so　strong　as　to　convince　me　of　the　truth　of　so　improbable　a　story。　　How　in　the　world　could　the　American　have　brought　you　through　the　castle；　from　one　end　to　the　other；　unseen？　　There　was　a　guard　before　the　king's　door　and　another　before　this。　　No；　Herr　Custer；　you　will　have　to　concoct　a　more　plausible　tale。

〃No；〃　and　Peter　of　Blentz　scowled　savagely；　as　though　to　impress　upon　his　listener　the　importance　of　his　next　utterance；　〃there　were　more　than　you　and　the　king　involved　in　his　sudden　departure　from　Blentz　and　in　his　hasty　change　of　policy　toward　Austria。　　To　be　quite　candid；　it　seems　to　me　that　it　may　be　necessary　to　my　future　welfarevitally　neces…　sary；　I　may　sayto　know　precisely　how　all　this　occurred；　and　just　what　influence　you　have　over　Leopold　of　Lutha。　Who　was　it　that　acted　as　the　go…between　in　the　king's　nego…　tiations　with　you；　or　rather；　yours　with　the　king？　　And　what　argument　did　you　bring　to　bear　to　force　Leopold　to　the　action　he　took？〃

〃I　have　told　you　all　that　I　know　about　the　matter；〃　whined　the　king。　　〃The　American　appeared　suddenly　in　my　apartment。　　When　he　brought　me　here　he　first　blindfolded　me。　　I　have　no　idea　by　what　route　we　traveled　through　the　castle；　and　unless　your　guards　outside　this　door　were　bribed　they　can　tell　you　more　about　how　we　got　in　here　than　I　canprovided　we　entered　through　that　doorway；〃　and　the　king　pointed　to　the　door　which　had　just　opened　to　admit　his　two　visitors。

〃Oh；　pshaw！〃　exclaimed　Maenck。　　〃There　is　but　one　door　to　this　roomif　the　king　came　in　here　at　all；　he　came　through　that　door。〃

〃Enough！〃　cried　Peter　of　Blentz。　　〃I　shall　not　be　trifled　with　longer。　　I　shall　give　you　until　tomorrow　morning　to　make　a　full　explanation　of　the　truth　and　to　form　some　plan　whereby　you　may　utilize　once　more　whatever　influence　you　had　over　Leopold　to　the　end　that　he　grant　to　myself　and　my　associates　his　royal　assurance　that　our　lives　and　property　will　be　safe　in　Lutha。〃

〃But　I　tell　you　it　is　impossible；〃　wailed　the　king。

〃I　think　not；〃　sneered　Prince　Peter；　〃especially　when　I　tell　you　that　if　you　do　not　accede　to　my　wishes　the　order　of　the　Austrian　military　court　that　sentenced　you　to　death　at　Bur…　gova　will　be　carried　out　in　the　morning。〃

With　his　final　words　the　two　men　turned　and　left　the　room。　　Behind　them；　upon　the　floor；　inarticulate　with　terror；　knelt　Leopold　of　Lutha；　his　hands　outstretched　in　supplica…　tion。

The　long　night　wore　its　weary　way　to　dawn　at　last。　　The　sleepless　man；　alternately　tossing　upon　his　bed　and　pacing　the　floor；　looked　fearfully　from　time　to　time　at　the　window　through　which　the　lightening　of　the　sky　would　proclaim　the　coming　day　and　his　last　hour　on　earth。　　His　windows　faced　the　west。　　At　the　foot　of　the　hill　beneath　the　castle　nestled　the　village　of　Blentz；　once　more　enveloped　in　peaceful　si…　lence　since　the　Austrians　were　gone。

An　unmistakable　lessening　of　the　darkness　in　the　east　had　just　announced　the　proximity　of　day；　when　the　king　heard　a　clatter　of　horses'　hoofs　upon　the　road　before　the　castle。　　The　sound　ceased　at　the　gates　and　a　loud　voice　broke　out　upon　the　stillness　of　the　dying　night　demanding　en…　trance　〃in　the　name　of　the　king。〃

New　hope　burst　aflame　in　the　breast　of　the　condemned　man。　　The　impostor　had　not　forsaken　him。　　Leopold　ran　to　the　window；　leaning　far　out。　　He　heard　the　voices　of　the　sentries　in　the　barbican　as　they　conversed　with　the　new…　comers。　　Then　silence　came；　broken　only　by　the　rapid　foot…　steps　of　a　soldier　hastening　from　the　gate　to　the　castle。　　His　hobnail　shoes　pounding　upon　the　cobbles　of　the　courtyard　echoed　among　the　angles　of　the　lofty　walls。　　When　he　had　entered　the　castle　the　silence　became　oppressive。　　For　five　minutes　there　was　no　sound　other　than　the　pawing　of　the　horses　outside　the　barbican　and　the　subdued　conversation　of　their　riders。

Presently　the　soldier　emerged　from　the　castle。　　With　him　was　an　officer。　　The　two　went　to　the　barbican。　　Again　there　was　a　parley　between　the　horsemen　and　the　guard。　　Leo…　pold　could　hear　the　officer　demanding　terms。　　He　would　lower　the　drawbridge　and　admit　them　upon　conditions。

One　of　these　the　king　overheardit　concerned　an　assur…　ance　of　full　pardon　for　Peter　of　Blentz　and　the　garrison；　and　again　Leopold　heard　the　officer　addressing　someone　as　〃your　majesty。〃

Ah；　the　impostor　was　there　in　person。　　Ach；　Gott！　　How　Leopold　of　Lutha　hated　him；　and　yet；　in　the　hands　of　this　American　lay　not　only　his　throne　but　his　very　life　as　well。

Evidently　the　negotiations　proved　unsuccessful　for　after　a　time　the　party　wheeled　their　horses　from　the　gate　and　rode　back　toward　Blentz。　　As　the　sound　of　the　iron…shod　hoofs　diminished　in　the　distance；　with　them　diminished　the　hopes　of　the　king。

When　they　ceased　entirely　his　hopes　were　at　an　end；　to　be　supplanted　by　renewed　terror　at　the　turning　of　the　knob　of　his　prison　door　as　it　swung　open　to　admit　Maenck　and　a　squad　of　soldiers。

〃Come！〃　ordered　the　captain。　　〃The　king　has　refused　to　intercede　in　your　behalf。　　When　he　returns　with　his　army　he　will　find　your　body　at　the　foot　of　the　west　wall　in　the　court…　yard。〃

With　an　ear…piercing　shriek　that　rang　through　the　grim　old　castle；　Leopold　of　Lutha　flung　his　arms　above　his　head　and　lunged　forward　upon　his　face。　　Roughly　the　soldiers　seized　the　unconscious　man　and　dragged　him　from　the　room。

Along　the　corridor　they　hauled　him　and　down　the　wind…　ing　stairs　within　the　north　tower　to　the　narrow　slit　of　a　door　that　opened　upon　the　courtyard。　　To　the　foot　of　the　west　wall　they　brought　him；　tossing　him　brutally　to　the　stone　flagging。　　Here　one　of　the　soldiers　brought　a　flagon　of　water　and　dashed　it　in　the　face　of　the　king。　　The　cold　douche　re…　turned　Leopold　to　a　consciousness　of　the　nearness　of　his　impending　fate。

He　saw　the　little　squad　of　soldiers　before　him。　　He　saw　the　cold；　gray　wall　behind；　and；　above；　the　cold；　gray　sky　of　early　dawn。　　The　dismal　men　leaning　upon　their　shadowy　guns　seemed　unearthly　specters　in　the　weird　light　of　the　hour　that　is　neither　God's　day　nor　devil's　night。　　With　diffi…　culty　two　of　them　dragged　Leopold　to　his　feet。

Then　the　dismal　men　formed　in　line　before　him　at　the　opposite　side　of　the　courtyard。　　Maenck　stood　to　the　left　of　them。　　He　was　giving　commands。　　They　fell　upon　the　doomed　man's　ears　with　all　the　cruelty　of　physical　blows。　　Tears　coursed　down　his　white　cheeks。　　With　incoherent　mumblings　he　begged　for　his　life。　　Leopold；　King　of　Lutha；　trembling　in　the　face　of　death！




XIII

THE　TWO　KINGS

TWENTY　TROOPERS　had　ridden　with　Lieutenant　Butzow　and　the　false　king　from　Lustadt　to　Blentz。　　During　the　long；　hard　ride　there　had　been　little　or　no　conversation　between　the　American　and　his　friend；　for　Butzow　was　still　unsuspicious　of　the　true　identity　of　the　man　who　posed　as　the　ruler　of　Lutha。　　The　lieutenant　was　all　anxiety　to　reach　Blentz　and　rescue　the　American　he　thought　imprisoned　there　and　in　danger　of　being　shot。

At　the　gate　they　were　refused　admittance　unless　the　king　would　accept　conditions。　　Barney　refusedthere　was　another　way　to　gain　entrance　to　Blentz　that　not　even　the　master　of　Blentz　knew。　　Butzow　urged　him　to　accede　to　anything　to　save　the　life　of　the　American。　　He　recalled　all　that　the　latter　had　done　in　the　service　of　Lutha　and　Leopold。　　Barney　leaned　close　to　the　other's　ear。

〃If　they　have　not　already　shot　him；〃　he　whispered；　〃we　shall　save　the　prisoner　yet。　　Let　them　think　that　we　give　up　and　are　returning　to　Lustadt。　　Then　follow　me。〃

Slowly　the　little　cavalcade　rode　down　from　the　castle　of　Blentz　toward　the　village。　　Just　out　of　sight　of　the　grim　pile　where　the　road　wound　down　into　a　ravine　Barney　turned　his　horse's　head　up　the　narrow　defile。　　In　single　file　Butzow　and　the　troopers　followed　until　the　rank　undergrowth　pre…　cluded　farther　advance。　　Here　the　American　directed　that　they　dismount；　and；　leaving　the　horses　in　charge　of　three　troopers；　set　out　once　more　with　the　balance　of　the　com…　pany　on　foot。

It　was　with　difficulty　that　the　men　forced　their　way　through　the　bushes；　but　they　had　not　gone　far　when　their　leader　stopped　before　a　sheer　wall　of　earth　and　stone；　cov…　ered　with　densely　growing　shrubbery。　　Here　he　groped　in　the　dim　light；　feeling　his　way　with　his　hands　before　him；　while　at　his　heels　came　his　followers。　　At　last　he　separated　a　wall　of　bushes　and　disappeared　within　the　aperture　his　hands　had　made。　　One　by　one　his　men　followed；　finding　themselves　in　inky　darkness；　but　upon　a　smooth　stone　floor　and　with　stone　walls　close　upon　either　hand。　　Those　who　lifted　their　hands　above　their　heads　discovered　an　arched　stone　ceiling　close　above　them。

Along　this　buried　corridor　the　〃king〃　led　them；　for　though　he　had　never　traversed　it　himself　the　Princess　Emma　had；　and　from　her　he　had　received　minute　directions。　　Occasionally　he　struck　a　match；　and　presently　in　the　fitful　glare　of　one　of　these　he　and　those　directly　behind　him　saw　the　foot　of　a　ladder　that　disappeared　in　the　Stygian　darkness　above。

〃Follow　me　up　this；　very　quietly；〃　he　said　to　those　behind　him。　　〃Up　to　the　third　landing。〃

They　did　as　he　bid　them。　　At　the　third　landing　Barney　felt　for　the　latch　he　knew　was　therehe　was　on　familiar　ground　now。　　Finding　it　he　pushed　open　the　door　it　held　in　place；　and　through　a　tiny　crack　surveyed　the　room　beyond。　It　was　vacant。　　The　American　threw　the　door　wide　and　stepped　within。　　Directly　behind　him　was　Butzow；　his　eyes　wide　in　wonderment。　　After　him　filed　the　troopers　until　seventeen　of　them　stood　behind　their　lieutenant　and　the　〃king。〃

Through　the　window　overlooking　the　courtyard　came　a　piteous　wailing。　　Barney　ran　to　the　casement　a