the mad king-第48部分

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The　king　went　livid。　　He　came　to　his　feet　beside　the　cot。　For　the　moment；　his　wound　was　forgotten。　　He　tottered　to…　ward　the　impostor。

〃You　scoundrel！〃　he　screamed。　　〃You　scoundrel！　　You　have　stolen　my　identity　and　my　throne　and　now　you　wish　to　steal　the　woman　who　loves　me。〃

〃Don't　get　excited；　Leo；〃　warned　the　American；　〃and　don't　talk　so　loud。　　The　Princess　doesn't　love　you；　and　you　know　it　as　well　as　I。　　She　will　never　marry　you。　　If　you　want　your　dinky　throne　back　you'll　have　to　do　as　I　desire；　that　is；　sign　the　release　and　the　sanction。

〃Now　let's　don't　have　any　heroics　about　it。　　You　have　the　proposition。　　Now　I　am　going　to　sleep。　　In　the　meantime　you　may　think　it　over。　　If　the　papers　are　not　ready　when　it　comes　time　for　us　to　leave；　and　from　the　way　I　feel　now　I　rather　think　I　shall　be　ready　to　mount　a　horse　by　morning；　I　shall　ride　back　to　Lustadt　as　king　of　Lutha；　and　I　shall　marry　her　highness　into　the　bargain；　and　you　may　go　hang！

〃How　the　devil　you　will　earn　a　living　with　that　king　job　taken　away　from　you　I　don't　know。　　You're　a　long　way　from　New　York；　and　in　the　present　state　of　carnage　in　Europe　I　rather　doubt　that　there　are　many　headwaiters　jobs　open　this　side　of　the　American　metropolis；　and　I　can't　for　the　moment　think　of　anything　else　at　which　you　would　shine　with　all　due　respect　to　some　excellent　headwaiters　I　have　known。〃

For　some　time　the　king　remained　silent。　　He　was　thinking。　He　realized　that　it　lay　in　the　power　of　the　American　to　do　precisely　what　he　had　threatened　to　do。　　No　one　would　doubt　his　identity。　　Even　Peter　of　Blentz　had　not　recognized　the　real　king　despite　Leopold's　repeated　and　hysterical　claims。

Lieutenant　Butzow；　the　American's　best　friend；　had　no　more　suspected　the　exchange　of　identities。　　Von　der　Tann；　too；　must　have　been　deceived。　　Everyone　had　been　deceived。　There　was　no　hope　that　the　people；　who　really　saw　so　little　of　their　king；　would　guess　the　deception　that　was　being　played　upon　them。　　Leopold　groaned。　　Barney　opened　his　eyes　and　turned　toward　him。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　he　asked。

〃I　will　sign　the　release　and　the　sanction　of　her　highness'　marriage　to　you；〃　said　the　king。

〃Good！〃　exclaimed　the　American。　　〃You　will　then　go　at　once　to　Brosnov　as　originally　planned。　　I　will　return　to　Lus…　tadt　and　get　her　highness；　and　we　will　immediately　leave　Lutha　via　Brosnov。　　There　you　and　I　will　effect　a　change　of　raiment；　and　you　will　ride　back　to　Lustadt　with　the　small　guard　that　accompanies　her　highness　and　me　to　the　frontier。〃

〃Why　do　you　not　remain　in　Lustadt？〃　asked　the　king。　〃You　could　as　well　be　married　there　as　elsewhere。〃

〃Because　I　don't　trust　your　majesty；〃　replied　the　American。　〃It　must　be　done　precisely　as　I　say　or　not　at　all。　　Are　you　agreeable？〃

The　king　assented　with　a　grumpy　nod。

〃Then　get　up　and　write　as　I　dictate；〃　said　Barney。　　Leo…　pold　of　Lutha　did　as　he　was　bid。　　The　result　was　two　short；　crisply　worded　documents。　　At　the　bottom　of　each　was　the　signature　of　Leopold　of　Lutha。　　Barney　took　the　two　papers　and　carefully　tucked　them　beneath　his　pillow。

〃Now　let's　sleep；〃　he　said。　　〃It　is　getting　late　and　we　both　need　the　rest。　　In　the　morning　we　have　long　rides　ahead　of　us。　　Good　night。〃

The　king　did　not　respond。　　In　a　short　time　Barney　was　fast　asleep。　　The　light　still　burned。




XIV

〃THE　KING'S　WILL　IS　LAW〃

THE　BLENTZ　princess　frowned　down　upon　the　king　and　impostor　impartially　from　her　great　gilt　frame。　　It　must　have　been　close　to　midnight　that　the　painting　movedjust　a　frac…　tion　of　an　inch。　　Then　it　remained　motionless　for　a　time。　Again　it　moved。　　This　time　it　revealed　a　narrow　crack　at　its　edge。　　In　the　crack　an　eye　shone。

One　of　the　sleepers　moved。　　He　opened　his　eyes。　　Stealthily　he　raised　himself　on　his　elbow　and　gazed　at　the　other　across　the　apartment。　　He　listened　intently。　　The　regular　breathing　of　the　sleeper　proclaimed　the　soundness　of　his　slumber。　　Gin…　gerly　the　man　placed　one　foot　upon　the　floor。　　The　eye　glued　to　the　crack　at　the　edge　of　the　great；　gilt　frame　of　the　Blentz　princess　remained　fastened　upon　him。　　He　let　his　other　foot　slip　to　the　floor　beside　the　first。　　Carefully　he　raised　himself　until　he　stood　erect　upon　the　floor。　　Then；　on　tiptoe　he　started　across　the　room。

The　eye　in　the　dark　followed　him。　　The　man　reached　the　side　of　the　sleeper。　　Bending　over　he　listened　intently　to　the　other's　breathing。　　Satisfied　that　slumber　was　profound　he　stepped　quickly　to　a　wardrobe　in　which　a　soldier　had　hung　the　clothing　of　both　the　king　and　the　American。　　He　took　down　the　uniform　of　the　former；　casting　from　time　to　time　apprehensive　glances　toward　the　sleeper。　　The　latter　did　not　stir；　and　the　other　passed　to　the　little　dressing…room　adjoin…　ing。

A　few　minutes　later　he　reentered　the　apartment　fully　clothed　and　wearing　the　accouterments　of　Leopold　of　Lutha。　In　his　hand　was　a　drawn　sword。　　Silently　and　swiftly　he　crossed　to　the　side　of　the　sleeping　man。　　The　eye　at　the　crack　beside　the　gilded　frame　pressed　closer　to　the　aperture。　　The　sword　was　raised　above　the　body　of　the　slumbererits　point　hovered　above　his　heart。　　The　face　of　the　man　who　wielded　it　was　hard　with　firm　resolve。

His　muscles　tensed　to　drive　home　the　blade；　but　some…　thing　held　his　hand。　　His　face　paled。　　His　shoulders　con…　tracted　with　a　little　shudder；　and　he　turned　toward　the　door　of　the　apartment；　almost　running　across　the　floor　in　his　anxiety　to　escape。　　The　eye　in　the　dark　maintained　its　un…　blinking　vigilance。

With　his　hand　upon　the　knob　a　sudden　thought　stayed　the　fugitive's　flight。　　He　glanced　quickly　back　at　the　sleeper　he　had　not　moved。　　Then　the　man　who　wore　the　uniform　of　the　king　of　Lutha　recrossed　the　apartment　to　the　bed；　reached　beneath　one　of　the　pillows　and　withdrew　two　neatly　folded　official…looking　documents。　　These　he　placed　in　the　breastpocket　of　his　uniform。　　A　moment　later　he　was　walk…　ing　down　the　spiral　stairway　to　the　main　floor　of　the　castle。

In　the　guardroom　the　troopers　of　the　Royal　Horse　who　were　not　on　guard　were　stretched　in　slumber。　　Only　a　cor…　poral　remained　awake。　　As　the　man　entered　the　guardroom　the　corporal　glanced　up；　and　as　his　eyes　fell　upon　the　new…　comer；　he　sprang　to　his　feet；　saluting。

〃Turn　out　the　guard！〃　he　cried。　　〃Turn　out　the　guard　for　his　majesty；　the　king！〃

The　sleeping　soldiers；　but　half　awake；　scrambled　to　their　feet；　their　muscles　reacting　to　the　command　that　their　brains　but　half　perceived。　　They　snatched　their　guns　from　the　racks　and　formed　a　line　behind　the　corporal。　　The　king　raised　his　fingers　to　the　vizor　of　his　helmet　in　acknowledgment　of　their　salute。

〃Saddle　up　quietly；　corporal；〃　he　said。　　〃We　shall　ride　to　Lustadt　tonight。〃

The　non…commissioned　officer　saluted。　　〃And　an　extra　horse　for　Herr　Custer？〃　he　said。

The　king　shook　his　head。　　〃The　man　died　of　his　wound　about　an　hour　ago；〃　he　said。　　〃While　you　are　saddling　up　I　shall　arrange　with　some　of　the　Blentz　servants　for　his　burial　now　hurry！〃

The　corporal　marched　his　troopers　from　the　guardroom　toward　the　stables。　　The　man　in　the　king's　clothes　touched　a　bell　which　was　obviously　a　servant　call。　　He　waited　impa…　tiently　a　reply　to　his　summons；　tapping　his　finger…tips　against　the　sword…scabbard　that　was　belted　to　his　side。　　At　last　a　sleepy…eyed　man　respondeda　man　who　had　grown　gray　in　the　service　of　Peter　of　Blentz。　　At　sight　of　the　king　he　opened　his　eyes　in　astonishment；　pulled　his　foretop；　and　bowed　uneasily。

〃Come　closer；〃　whispered　the　king。　　The　man　did　so；　and　the　king　spoke　in　his　ear　earnestly；　but　in　scarce　audible　tones。　　The　eyes　of　the　listener　narrowed　to　mere　slitsof　avarice　and　cunning；　cruelly　cold　and　calculating。　　The　speak…　er　searched　through　the　pockets　of　the　king's　clothes　that　covered　him。　　At　last　he　withdrew　a　roll　of　bills。　　The　amount　must　have　been　a　large　one；　but　he　did　not　stop　to　count　it。　He　held　the　money　under　the　eyes　of　the　servant。　　The　fel…　low's　claw…like　fingers　reached　for　the　tempting　wealth。　　He　nodded　his　head　affirmatively。

〃You　may　trust　me；　sire；〃　he　whispered。

The　king　slipped　the　money　into　the　other's　palm。　　〃And　as　much　more；〃　he　said；　〃when　I　receive　proof　that　my　wishes　have　been　fulfilled。〃

〃Thank　you；　sire；〃　said　the　servant。

The　king　looked　steadily　into　the　other's　face　before　he　spoke　again。

〃And　if　you　fail　me；〃　he　said；　〃may　God　have　mercy　on　your　soul。〃　　Then　he　wheeled　and　left　the　guardroom；　walk…　ing　out　into　the　courtyard　where　the　soldiers　were　busy　saddling　their　mounts。

A　few　minutes　later　the　party　clattered　over　the　draw…　bridge　and　down　the　road　toward　Blentz　and　Lustadt。　　From　a　window　of　the　apartments　of　Peter　of　Blentz　a　man　watched　them　depart。　　When　they　passed　across　a　strip　of　moonlit　road；　and　he　had　counted　them；　he　smiled　with　re…　lief。

A　moment　later　he　entered　a　panel　beside　the　huge　fire…　place　in　the　west　wall　and　disappeared。　　There　he　struck　a　match；　found　a　candle　and　lighted　it。　　Walking　a　few　steps　he　came　to　a　figure　sleeping　upon　a　pile　of　clothing。　　He　stooped　and　shook　the　sleeper　by　the　shoulder。

〃Wake　up！〃　he　cried　in　a　subdued　voice。　　〃Wake　up；　Prince　Peter；　I　have　good　news　for　you。〃

The　other　opened　his　eyes；　stretched；　and　at　last　sat　up。

〃What　is　it；　Maenck？〃　he　asked　querulously。

〃Great　news；　my　prince；〃　replied　the　other。

〃While　you　have　been　sleeping　many　things　have　trans…　pired　within　the　walls　of　your　castle。　　The　king's　troopers　have　departed；　but　that　is　a　small　matter　compared　with　the　other。　　Here；　behind　the　portrait　of　your　great…grand…　mother；　I　have　listened　and　watched　all　night。　　I　opened　the　secret　door　a　fraction　of　an　inchjust　enough　to　permit　me　to　look　into　the　apartment　where　the　king　and　the　American　lay　wounded。　　They　had　been　talking　as　I　opened　the　door；　but　after　that　they　ceasedthe　king　falling　asleep　at　once　the　American　feigning　slumber。　　For　a　long　time　I　watched；　but　nothing　happened　until　near　midnight。　　Then　the　Ameri…　can　arose　and　donned　the　king's　clothes。

〃He　approached　Leopold　with　drawn　sword；　but　when　he　would　have　thrust　it　through　the　heart　of　the　sleeping　man　his　nerve　failed　him。　　Then　he　stole　some　papers　from　the　room　and　left。　　Just　now　he　has　ridden　out　toward　Lustadt　with　the　men　of　the　Royal　Horse　who　captured　the