the mad king-第5部分

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ance？〃

〃If　you　will　first　escort　this　young　lady　to　a　place　of　safety；〃　replied　Barney。

〃She　will　be　quite　safe　at　Blentz；〃　said　the　lieutenant。

Barney　turned　to　look　at　the　girl；　a　question　in　his　eyes。　　　Before　them　stood　the　soldiers　with　drawn　revolvers；　and　now　at　the　summit　of　the　hill　a　dozen　more　appeared　in　command　of　a　sergeant。　　They　were　two　against　nearly　a　score；　and　Barney　Custer　was　unarmed。

The　girl　shook　her　head。

〃There；　is　no　alternative；　I　am　afraid；　your　majesty；〃　she　said。

Barney　wheeled　toward　the　officer。

〃Very　well；　lieutenant；〃　he　said；　〃we　will　accompany　you。〃

The　party　turned　back　up　the　hillside；　leaving　the　dead　bandit　where　he　laythe　fellow's　neck　had　been　broken　by　the　fall。　　A　short　distance　from　where　the　man　had　confronted　them　the　two　prisoners　were　brought　to　the　main　road　where　they　saw　still　other　troopers；　and　with　them　the　horses　of　those　who　had　gone　into　the　forest　on　foot。

Barney　and　the　girl　were　mounted　on　two　of　the　animals；　the　soldiers　who　had　ridden　them　clambering　up　behind　two　of　their　comrades。　　A　moment　later　the　troop　set　out　along　the　road　which　leads　to　Blentz。

The　prisoners　rode　near　the　center　of　the　column；　sur…　rounded　by　troopers。　　For　a　time　they　were　both　silent。　　Bar…　ney　was　wondering　if　he　had　accidentally　tumbled　into　the　private　grounds　of　Lutha's　largest　madhouse；　or　if；　in　reality；　these　people　mistook　him　for　the　young　kingit　seemed　incredible。

It　had　commenced　slowly　to　dawn　upon　him　that　perhaps　the　girl　was　not　crazy　after　all。　　Had　not　the　officer　addressed　her　as　〃your　highness〃？　Now　that　he　thought　upon　it　he　re…　called　that　she　did　have　quite　a　haughty　and　regal　way　with　her　at　times；　especially　so　when　she　had　addressed　the　officer。

Of　course　she　might　be　mad；　after　all；　and　possibly　the　bandit；　too；　but　it　seemed　unbelievable　that　the　officer　was　mad　and　his　entire　troop　of　cavalry　should　be　composed　of　maniacs；　yet　they　all　persisted　in　speaking　and　acting　as　though　he　were　indeed　the　mad　king　of　Lutha　and　the　young　girl　at　his　side　a　princess。

From　pitying　the　girl　he　had　come　to　feel　a　little　bit　in　awe　of　her。　　To　the　best　of　his　knowledge　he　had　never　be…　fore　associated　with　a　real　princess。　　When　he　recalled　that　he　had　treated　her　as　he　would　an　ordinary　mortal；　and　that　he　had　thought　her　demented；　and　had　tried　to　humor　her　mad　whims；　he　felt　very　foolish　indeed。

Presently　he　turned　a　sheepish　glance　in　her　direction；　to　find　her　looking　at　him。　　He　saw　her　flush　slightly　as　his　eyes　met　hers。

〃Can　your　highness　ever　forgive　me？〃　he　asked。

〃Forgive　　you！〃　she　cried　in　astonishment。　　〃For　what；　your　majesty？〃

〃For　thinking　you　insane；　and　for　getting　you　into　this　horrible　predicament；〃　he　replied。　　〃But　especially　for　think…　ing　you　insane。〃

〃Did　you　think　me　mad？〃　she　asked　in　wide…eyed　aston…　ishment。

〃When　you　insisted　that　I　was　a　king；　yes；〃　he　replied。　　　〃But　now　I　begin　to　believe　that　it　must　be　I　who　am　mad；　after　all；　or　else　I　bear　a　remarkable　resemblance　to　Leopold　of　Lutha。〃

〃You　do；　your　majesty；〃　replied　the　girl。

Barney　saw　it　was　useless　to　attempt　to　convince　them　and　so　he　decided　to　give　up　for　the　time。

〃Have　me　king；　if　you　will；〃　he　said；　〃but　please　do　not　call　me　'your　majesty'　any　more。　　It　gets　on　my　nerves。〃

〃Your　will　is　lawLeopold；〃　replied　the　girl；　hesitating　prettily　before　the　familiar　name；　〃but　do　not　forget　your　part　of　the　compact。〃

He　smiled　at　her。　　A　princess　wasn't　half　so　terrible　after　all。

〃And　your　will　shall　be　my　law；　Emma；〃　he　said。

It　was　almost　dark　when　they　came　to　Blentz。　　The　castle　lay　far　up　on　the　side　of　a　steep　hill　above　the　town。　　It　was　an　ancient　pile；　but　had　been　maintained　in　an　excellent　state　of　repair。　　As　Barney　Custer　looked　up　at　the　grim　tow…　ers　and　mighty；　buttressed　walls　his　heart　sank。　　It　had　taken　the　mad　king　ten　years　to　make　his　escape　from　that　gloomy　and　forbidding　pile！

〃Poor　child；〃　he　murmured；　thinking　of　the　girl。

Before　the　barbican　the　party　was　halted　by　the　guard。　　　An　officer　with　a　lantern　stepped　out　upon　the　lowered　portcullis。　　The　lieutenant　who　had　captured　them　rode　for…　ward　to　meet　him。

〃A　detachment　of　the　Royal　Horse　Guards　escorting　His　Majesty　the　King；　who　is　returning　to　Blentz；〃　he　said　in　reply　to　the　officer's　sharp　challenge。

〃The　king！〃　exclaimed　the　officer。　　〃You　have　found　him？〃　and　he　advanced　with　raised　lantern　searching　for　the　monarch。

〃At　last；〃　whispered　Barney　to　the　girl　at　his　side；　〃I　shall　be　vindicated。　　This　man；　at　least；　who　is　stationed　at　Blentz　must　know　his　king　by　sight。〃

The　officer　came　quite　close；　holding　his　lantern　until　the　rays　fell　full　in　Barney's　face。　　He　scrutinized　the　young　man　for　a　moment。　　There　was　neither　humility　nor　respect　in　his　manner；　so　that　the　American　was　sure　that　the　fellow　had　discovered　the　imposture。

From　the　bottom　of　his　heart　he　hoped　so。　　Then　the　officer　swung　the　lantern　until　its　light　shone　upon　the　girl。

〃And　who's　the　wench　with　him？〃　he　asked　the　officer　who　had　found　them。

The　man　was　standing　close　beside　Barney's　horse；　and　the　words　were　scarce　out　of　his　month　when　the　American　slipped　from　his　saddle　to　the　portcullis　and　struck　the　offi…　cer　full　in　the　face。

〃She　is　the　Princess　von　der　Tann；　you　boor；〃　said　Bar…　ney；　〃and　let　that　help　you　remember　it　in　future。〃

The　officer　scrambled　to　his　feet；　white　with　rage。　　Whip…　ping　out　his　sword　he　rushed　at　Barney。

〃You　shall　die　for　that；　you　half…wit；〃　he　cried。

Lieutenant　Butzow；　he　of　the　Royal　Horse；　rushed　forward　to　prevent　the　assault　and　Emma　von　der　Tann　sprang　from　her　saddle　and　threw　herself　in　front　of　Barney。

Butzow　grasped　the　other　officer's　arm。

〃Are　you　mad；　Schonau？〃　he　cried。　　〃Would　you　kill　the　king？〃

The　fellow　tugged　to　escape　the　grasp　of　Butzow。　　He　was　crazed　with　anger。

〃Why　not？〃　he　bellowed。　　〃You　were　a　fool　not　to　have　done　it　yourself。　　Maenck　will　do　it　and　get　a　baronetcy。　　It　will　mean　a　captaincy　for　me　at　least。　　Let　me　at　himno　man　can　strike　Karl　Schonau　and　live。〃

〃The　king　is　unarmed；〃　cried　Emma　von　der　Tann。　　〃Would　you　murder　him　in　cold　blood？〃

〃He　shall　not　murder　him　at　all；　your　highness；〃　said　Lieutenant　Butzow　quietly。　　〃Give　me　your　sword；　Lieuten…　ant　Schonau。　　I　place　you　under　arrest。　　What　you　have　just　said　will　not　please　the　Regent　when　it　is　reported　to　him。　　　You　should　keep　your　head　better　when　you　are　angry。〃

〃It　is　the　truth；〃　growled　Schonau；　regretting　that　his　anger　had　led　him　into　a　disclosure　of　the　plot　against　the　king's　life；　but　like　most　weak　characters　fearing　to　admit　himself　in　error　even　more　than　he　feared　the　consequences　of　his　rash　words。

〃Do　you　intend　taking　my　sword？〃　asked　Schonau　sud…　denly；　turning　toward　Lieutenant　Butzow　standing　beside　him。

〃We　will　forget　the　whole　occurrence；　lieutenant；〃　replied　Butzow；　〃if　you　will　promise　not　to　harm　his　majesty；　or　offer　him　or　the　Princess　von　der　Tann　further　humiliation。　　　Their　position　is　sufficiently　unpleasant　without　our　adding　to　the　degradation　of　it。〃

〃Very　well；〃　grumbled　Schonau。　　〃Pass　on　into　the　court…　yard。〃

Barney　and　the　girl　remounted　and　the　little　cavalcade　moved　forward　through　the　ballium　and　the　great　gate　into　the　court　beyond。

〃Did　you　notice；〃　said　Barney　to　the　princess；　〃that　even　he　believes　me　to　be　the　king？　I　cannot　fathom　it。〃

Within　the　castle　they　were　met　by　a　number　of　servants　and　soldiers。　　An　officer　escorted　them　to　the　great　hall；　and　presently　a　dark　visaged　captain　of　cavalry　entered　and　approached　them。　　Butzow　saluted。

〃His　Majesty；　the　King；〃　he　announced；　〃has　returned　to　Blentz。　　In　accordance　with　the　commands　of　the　Regent　I　deliver　his　august　person　into　your　safe　keeping；　Captain　Maenck。〃

Maenck　nodded。　　He　was　looking　at　Barney　with　evident　curiosity。

〃Where　did　you　find　him？〃　he　asked　Butzow。

He　made　no　pretense　of　according　to　Barney　the　faintest　indication　of　the　respect　that　is　supposed　to　be　due　to　those　of　royal　blood。　　Barney　commenced　to　hope　that　he　had　finally　come　upon　one　who　would　know　that　he　was　not　king。

Butzow　recounted　the　details　of　the　finding　of　the　king。　　As　he　spoke；　Maenck's　eyes；　restless　and　furtive；　seemed　to　be　appraising　the　personal　charms　of　the　girl　who　stood　just　back　of　Barney。

The　American　did　not　like　the　appearance　of　the　officer；　but　he　saw　that　he　was　evidently　supreme　at　Blentz；　and　he　determined　to　appeal　to　him　in　the　hope　that　the　man　might　believe　his　story　and　untangle　the　ridiculous　muddle　that　a　chance　resemblance　to　a　fugitive　monarch　had　thrown　him　and　the　girl　into。

〃Captain；〃　said　Barney；　stepping　closer　to　the　officer；　〃there　has　been　a　mistake　in　identity　here。　　I　am　not　the　king。　　　I　am　an　American　traveling　for　pleasure　in　Lutha。　　The　fact　that　I　have　gray　eyes　and　wear　a　full　reddish…brown　beard　is　my　only　offense。　　You　are　doubtless　familiar　with　the　king's　appearance　and　so　you　at　least　have　already　seen　that　I　am　not　his　majesty。

〃Not　being　the　king；　there　is　no　cause　to　detain　me　longer；　and　as　I　am　not　a　fugitive　and　never　have　been；　this　young　lady　has　been　guilty　of　no　misdemeanor　or　crime　in　being　in　my　company。　　Therefore　she　too　should　be　released。　　In　the　name　of　justice　and　common　decency　I　am　sure　that　you　will　liberate　us　both　at　once　and　furnish　the　Princess　von　der　Tann；　at　least；　with　a　proper　escort　to　her　home。〃

Maenck　listened　in　silence　until　Barney　had　finished；　a　half　smile　upon　his　thick　lips。

〃I　am　commencing　to　believe　that　you　are　not　so　crazy　as　we　have　all　thought；〃　he　said。　　〃Certainly；〃　and　he　let　his　eyes　rest　upon　Emma　von　der　Tann；　〃you　are　not　mentally　deficient　in　so　far　as　your　judgment　of　a　good…looking　woman　is　concerned。　　I　could　not　have　made　a　better　selection　my…　self。

〃As　for　my　familiarity　with　your　appearance；　you　know　as　well　as　I　that　I　have　never　seen　you　before。　　But　that　is　not　necessaryyou　conform　perfectly　to　the　printed　descrip…　tion　of　you　with　which　the　kingdom　is　flooded。　　Were　that　not　enough；　the　fact　that　you　were　discovered　with　old　Von　der　Tann's　daughter　is　sufficient　to　remove　the　least　doubt　as　to　your　identity。〃

〃You　are