the mad king-第6部分

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ld　Von　der　Tann's　daughter　is　sufficient　to　remove　the　least　doubt　as　to　your　identity。〃

〃You　are　governor　of　Blentz；〃　cried　Barney；　〃and　yet　you　say　that　you　have　never　seen　the　king？〃

〃Certainly；〃　replied　Maenck。　　〃After　you　escaped　the　en…　tire　personnel　of　the　garrison　here　was　changed；　even　the　old　servants　to　a　man　were　withdrawn　and　others　substituted。　　　You　will　have　difficulty　in　again　escaping；　for　those　who　aided　you　before　are　no　longer　here。〃

〃There　is　no　man　in　the　castle　of　Blentz　who　has　ever　seen　the　king？〃　asked　Barney。

〃None　who　has　seen　him　before　tonight；〃　replied　Maenck。　　　〃But　were　we　in　doubt　we　have　the　word　of　the　Princess　Emma　that　you　are　Leopold。　　Did　she　not　admit　it　to　you；　Butzow？〃

〃When　she　thought　his　majesty　dead　she　admitted　it；〃　replied　Butzow。

〃We　gain　nothing　by　discussing　the　matter；〃　said　Maenck　shortly。　　〃You　are　Leopold　of　Lutha。　　Prince　Peter　says　that　you　are　mad。　　All　that　concerns　me　is　that　you　do　not　escape　again；　and　you　may　rest　assured　that　while　Ernst　Maenck　is　governor　of　Blentz　you　shall　not　escape　and　go　at　large　again。

〃Are　the　royal　apartments　in　readiness　for　his　majesty；　Dr。　Stein？〃　he　concluded；　turning　toward　a　rat…faced　little　man　with　bushy　whiskers；　who　stood　just　behind　him。

The　query　was　propounded　in　an　ironical　tone；　and　with　a　manner　that　made　no　pretense　of　concealing　the　contempt　of　the　speaker　for　the　man　he　thought　the　king。

The　eyes　of　the　Princess　Emma　were　blazing　as　she　caught　the　scant　respect　in　Maenck's　manner。　　She　looked　quickly　toward　Barney　to　see　if　he　intended　rebuking　the　man　for　his　impertinence。　　She　saw　that　the　king　evidently　intended　overlooking　Maenck's　attitude。　　But　Emma　von　der　Tann　was　of　a　different　mind。

She　had　seen　Maenck　several　times　at　social　functions　in　the　capital。　　He　had　even　tried　to　win　a　place　in　her　favor；　but　she　had　always　disliked　him；　even　before　the　nasty　stories　of　his　past　life　had　become　common　gossip；　and　within　the　year　she　had　won　his　hatred　by　definitely　indicating　to　him　that　he　was　persona　non　grata；　in　so　far　as　she　was　concerned。　　Now　she　turned　upon　him；　her　eyes　flashing　with　indignation。

〃Do　you　forget；　sir；　that　you　address　the　king？〃　she　cried。　　　〃That　you　are　without　honor　I　have　heard　men　say；　and　I　may　truly　believe　it　now　that　I　have　seen　what　manner　of　man　you　are。　　The　most　lowly…bred　boor　in　all　Lutha　would　not　be　so　ungenerous　as　to　take　advantage　of　his　king's　help…　lessness　to　heap　indignities　upon　him。

〃Leopold　of　Lutha　shall　come　into　his　own　some　day；　and　my　dearest　hope　is　that　his　first　act　may　be　to　mete　out　to　such　as　you　the　punishment　you　deserve。〃

Maenck　paled　in　anger。　　His　fingers　twitched　nervously；　but　he　controlled　his　temper　remarkably　well；　biding　his　time　for　revenge。

〃Take　the　king　to　his　apartments；　Stein；〃　he　commanded　curtly；　〃and　you；　Lieutenant　Butzow；　accompany　them　with　a　guard；　nor　leave　until　you　see　that　he　is　safely　con…　fined。　　You　may　return　here　afterward　for　my　further　in…　structions。　　In　the　meantime　I　wish　to　examine　the　king's　mistress。〃

For　a　moment　tense　silence　reigned　in　the　apartment　after　Maenck　had　delivered　his　wanton　insult。

Emma　von　der　Tann；　her　little　chin　high　in　the　air；　stood　straight　and　haughty；　nor　was　there　any　sign　in　her　expres…　sion　to　indicate　that　she　had　heard　the　man's　words。

Barney　was　the　first　to　take　cognizance　of　them。

〃You　cur！〃　he　cried；　and　took　a　step　toward　Maenck。　　　〃You're　going　to　eat　that；　word　for　word。〃

Maenck　stepped　back；　his　hand　upon　his　sword。　　Butzow　laid　a　hand　upon　Barney's　arm。

〃Don't；　your　majesty；〃　he　implored；　〃it　will　but　make　your　position　more　unpleasant；　nor　will　it　add　to　the　safety　of　the　Princess　von　der　Tann　for　you　to　strike　him　now。〃

Barney　shook　himself　free　from　Butzow；　and　before　either　Stein　or　the　lieutenant　could　prevent　had　sprung　upon　Maenck。

The　latter　had　not　been　quick　enough　with　his　sword；　so　that　Barney　had　struck　him　twice；　heavily　in　the　face　before　the　officer　was　able　to　draw。　　Butzow　had　sprung　to　the　king's　side；　and　was　attempting　to　interpose　himself　between　Maenck　and　the　American。　　In　a　moment　more　the　sword　of　the　infuriated　captain　would　be　in　the　king's　heart。　　Barney　turned　the　first　thrust　with　his　forearm。

〃Stop！〃　cried　Butzow　to　Maenck。　　〃Are　you　mad；　that　you　would　kill　the　king？〃

Maenck　lunged　again；　viciously；　at　the　unprotected　body　of　his　antagonist。

〃Die；　you　pig　of　an　idiot！〃　he　screamed。

Butzow　saw　that　the　man　really　meant　to　murder　Leopold。　　　He　seized　Barney　by　the　shoulder　and　whirled　him　back…　ward。　　At　the　same　instant　his　own　sword　leaped　from　his　scabbard；　and　now　Maenck　found　himself　facing　grim　steel　in　the　hand　of　a　master　swordsman。

The　governor　of　Blentz　drew　back　from　the　touch　of　that　sharp　point。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　he　cried。　　〃This　is　mutiny。〃

〃When　I　received　my　commission；〃　replied　Butzow；　quietly；　〃I　swore　to　protect　the　person　of　the　king　with　my　life；　and　while　I　live　no　man　shall　affront　Leopold　of　Lutha　in　my　presence；　or　threaten　his　safety　else　he　accounts　to　me　for　his　act。　　Return　your　sword；　Captain　Maenck；　nor　ever　again　draw　it　against　the　king　while　I　be　near。〃

Slowly　Maenck　sheathed　his　weapon。　　Black　hatred　for　Butzow　and　the　man　he　was　protecting　smoldered　in　his　eyes。

〃If　he　wishes　peace；〃　said　Barney；　〃let　him　apologize　to　the　princess。〃

〃You　had　better　apologize；　captain；〃　counseled　Butzow；　〃for　if　the　king　should　command　me　to　do　so　I　should　have　to　compel　you　to；〃　and　the　lieutenant　half　drew　his　sword　once　more。

There　was　something　in　Butzow's　voice　that　warned　Maenck　that　his　subordinate　would　like　nothing　better　than　the　king's　command　to　run　him　through。

He　well　knew　the　fame　of　Butzow's　sword　arm；　and　hav…　ing　no　stomach　for　an　encounter　with　it　he　grumbled　an　apology。

〃And　don't　let　it　occur　again；〃　warned　Barney。

〃Come；〃　said　Dr。　Stein；　〃your　majesty　should　be　in　your　apartments；　away　from　all　excitement；　if　we　are　to　effect　a　cure；　so　that　you　may　return　to　your　throne　quickly。〃

Butzow　formed　the　soldiers　about　the　American；　and　the　party　moved　silently　out　of　the　great　hall；　leaving　Captain　Maenck　and　Princess　Emma　von　der　Tann　its　only　occupants。

Barney　cast　a　troubled　glance　toward　Maenck；　and　half　hesitated。

〃I　am　sorry；　your　majesty；〃　said　Butzow　in　a　low　voice；　〃but　you　must　accompany　us。　　In　this　the　governor　of　Blentz　is　well　within　his　authority；　and　I　must　obey　him。〃

〃Heaven　help　her！〃　murmured　Barney。

〃The　governor　will　not　dare　harm　her；〃　said　Butzow。　　　〃Your　majesty　need　entertain　no　apprehension。〃

〃I　wouldn't　trust　him；〃　replied　the　American。　　〃I　know　his　kind。〃




IV

BARNEY　FINDS　A　FRIEND

AFTER　THE　party　had　left　the　room　Maenck　stood　looking　at　the　princess　for　several　seconds。　　A　cunning　expression　sup…　planted　the　anger　that　had　shown　so　plainly　upon　his　face　but　a　moment　before。　　The　girl　had　moved　to　one　side　of　the　apartment　and　was　pretending　an　interest　in　a　large　tapestry　that　covered　the　wall　at　that　point。　　Maenck　watched　her　with　greedy　eves。　　Presently　he　spoke。

〃Let　us　be　friends；〃　he　said。　　〃You　shall　be　my　guest　at　Blentz　for　a　long　time。　　I　doubt　if　Peter　will　care　to　release　you　soon；　for　he　has　no　love　for　your　fatherand　it　will　he　easier　for　both　if　we　establish　pleasant　relations　from　the　beginning。　　What　do　you　say？〃

〃I　shall　not　be　at　Blentz　long；〃　she　replied；　not　even　looking　in　Maenck's　direction；　〃though　while　I　am　it　shall　be　as　a　prisoner　and　not　as　a　guest。　　It　is　incredible　that　one　could　believe　me　willing　to　pose　as　the　guest　of　a　traitor；　even　were　he　less　impossible　than　the　　notorious　　and　　infamous　Captain　Maenck。〃

Maenck　smiled。　　He　was　one　of　those　who　rather　pride　themselves　upon　the　possession　of　racy　reputations。　　He　walked　across　the　room　to　a　bell　cord　which　he　pulled。　　Then　he　turned　toward　the　girl　again。

〃I　have　given　you　an　opportunity；〃　he　said；　〃to　lighten　the　burdens　of　your　captivity。　　I　hoped　that　you　would　be　sensible　and　accept　my　advances　of　friendship　voluntarily；〃　and　he　emphasized　the　word　〃voluntarily；〃　〃but〃

He　shrugged　his　shoulders。

A　servant　had　entered　the　apartment　in　response　to　Maenck's　summons。

〃Show　the　Princess　von　der　Tann　to　her　apartments；〃　he　commanded　with　a　sinister　tone。

The　man；　who　was　in　the　livery　of　Peter　of　Blentz；　bowed；　and　with　a　deferential　sign　to　the　girl　led　the　way　from　the　room。　　Emma　von　der　Tann　followed　her　guide　up　a　winding　stairway　which　spiraled　within　a　tower　at　the　end　of　a　long　passage。　　On　the　second　floor　of　the　castle　the　servant　led　her　to　a　large　and　beautifully　furnished　suite　of　three　roomsa　bedroom；　dressing…room　and　boudoir。　　After　showing　her　the　rooms　that　were　to　be　hers　the　servant　left　her　alone。

As　soon　as　he　had　gone　the　Princess　von　der　Tann　took　another　turn　through　the　suite；　looking　to　the　doors　and　windows　to　ascertain　how　securely　she　might　barricade　her…　self　against　unwelcome　visitors。

She　found　that　the　three　rooms　lay　in　an　angle　of　the　old；　moss…covered　castle　wall。

The　bedroom　and　dressing…room　were　connected　by　a　doorway；　and　each　in　turn　had　another　door　opening　into　the　boudoir。　　The　only　connection　with　the　corridor　without　was　through　a　single　doorway　from　the　boudoir。　　This　door　was　equipped　with　a　massive　bolt；　which；　when　she　had　shot　it；　gave　her　a　feeling　of　immense　relief　and　security。　　The　windows　were　all　too　high　above　the　court　on　one　side　and　the　moat　upon　the　other　to　cause　her　the　slightest　appre…　hension　of　danger　from　the　outside。

The　girl　found　the　boudoir　not　only　beautiful；　but　ex…　tremely　comfortable　and　cozy。　　A　huge　log…fire　blazed　upon　the　hearth；　and；　though　it　was　summer；　its　warmth　was　most　welcome；　for　the　night　was　chill。　　Across　the　room　from　the　fireplace　a　full　length　oil　of　a　former　Blentz　princess　looked　down　in　arrogance　upon　the　unwilling　occupant　of　the　room。　　It　seemed　to　the　girl　that　there　was　an　expression　of　annoyance　upon　the　painted　countenance　that　another；　and　an　enemy　of　her　house；　should　be　making　free　with　her　belongings。　　She　wondered　a　little；　too；　that　this　huge　oil　should　have　been　bung　in　a　lady's　boudoir。　　It　seemed　singu…　larly　out　of　place。