the mad king-第8部分

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During　the　servant's　explanation　Barney　had　been　casting　about　in　his　mind　for　some　means　of　rescuing　the　princess　without　so　great　risk　of　detection；　and　as　the　plan　of　the　secret　passageway　became　clear　to　him　he　thought　that　he　saw　a　way　to　accomplish　the　thing　with　comparative　safety　in　so　far　as　detection　was　concerned。

〃Who　occupies　the　floor　above　us；　Joseph？〃　he　asked。

〃It　is　vacant；〃　replied　the　old　man。

〃Good！　　Come；　show　me　the　entrance　to　the　shaft；〃　di…　rected　Barney。

〃You　will　go　without　attempting　to　succor　the　Princess　Emma？〃　exclaimed　the　old　fellow　in　ill…concealed　chagrin。

〃Far　from　it；〃　replied　Barney。　　〃Bring　your　rope　and　the　swords。　　I　think　we　are　going　to　find　the　rescuing　of　the　Princess　Emma　the　easiest　part　of　our　adventure。〃

The　old　man　shook　his　head；　but　went　to　another　room　of　the　suite；　from　which　he　presently　emerged　with　a　stout　rope　about　fifty　feet　in　length　and　two　swords。　　As　he　buckled　one　of　the　weapons　to　Barney　his　eyes　fell　upon　the　American's　seal　ring　that　encircled　the　third　finger　of　his　left　hand。

〃The　Royal　Ring　of　Lutha！〃　exclaimed　Joseph。　　〃Where　is　it；　your　majesty？　What　has　become　of　the　Royal　Ring　of　the　Kings　of　Lutha？〃

〃I'm　sure　I　don't　know；　Joseph；〃　replied　the　young　man。　　　〃Should　I　be　wearing　a　royal　ring？〃

〃The　profaning　miscreants！〃　cried　Joseph。　　〃They　have　dared　to　filch　from　you　the　great　ring　that　has　been　handed　down　from　king　to　king　for　three　hundred　years。　　When　did　they　take　it　from　you？〃

〃I　have　never　seen　it；　Joseph；〃　replied　the　young　man；　〃and　possibly　this　fact　may　assure　you　where　all　else　has　failed　that　I　am　no　true　king　of　Lutha；　after　all。〃

〃Ah；　no；　your　majesty；〃　replied　the　old　servitor；　〃it　but　makes　assurance　doubly　sure　as　to　your　true　identity；　for　the　fact　that　you　have　not　the　ring　is　positive　proof　that　you　are　king　and　that　they　have　sought　to　hide　the　fact　by　removing　the　insignia　of　your　divine　right　to　rule　in　Lutha。〃

Barney　could　not　but　smile　at　the　old　fellow's　remarkable　logic。　　He　saw　that　nothing　short　of　a　miracle　would　ever　convince　Joseph　that　he　was　not　the　real　monarch；　and　so；　as　matters　of　greater　importance　were　to　the　fore；　he　would　have　allowed　the　subject　to　drop　had　not　the　man　attempted　to　recall　to　the　impoverished　memory　of　his　king　a　recol…　lection　of　the　historic　and　venerated　relic　of　the　dead　mon…　archs　of　Lutha。

〃Do　you　not　remember；　sir；〃　he　asked；　〃the　great　ruby　that　glared；　blood…red　from　its　center；　and　the　four　sets　of　golden　wings　that　formed　the　setting？　From　the　blood　of　Charlemagne　was　the　ruby　made；　so　history　tells　us；　and　the　setting　represented　the　protecting　wings　of　the　power　of　the　kings　of　Lutha　spread　to　the　four　points　of　the　compass。　　　Now　your　majesty　must　recall　the　royal　ring；　I　am　sure。〃

Barney　only　shook　his　head；　much　to　Joseph's　evident　sorrow。

〃Never　mind　the　ring；　Joseph；〃　said　the　young　man。　　〃Bring　your　rope　and　lead　me　to　the　floor　above。〃

〃The　floor　above？　But；　your　majesty；　we　cannot　reach　the　vaults　and　tunnel　by　going　upward！〃

〃You　forget；　Joseph；　that　we　are　going　to　fetch　the　Princess　Emma　first。〃

〃But　she　is　not　on　the　floor　above　us；　sire；　she　is　upon　the　same　floor　as　we　are；〃　insisted　the　old　man；　hesitating。

〃Joseph；　who　do　you　think　I　am？〃　asked　Barney。

〃You　are　the　king；　my　lord；〃　replied　the　old　man。

〃Then　do　as　your　king　commands；〃　said　the　American　sharply。

Joseph　turned　with　dubious　mutterings　and　approached　the　tiled　panel　at　the　left　of　the　fireplace。　　Here　he　fumbled　about　for　a　moment　until　his　fingers　found　the　hidden　catch　that　held　the　cunningly　devised　door　in　place。　　An　instant　later　the　panel　swung　inward　before　his　touch；　and　stand…　ing　to　one　side；　the　old　fellow　bowed　low　as　he　ushered　Barney　into　the　Stygian　darkness　of　the　space　beyond　their　vision。

Joseph　halted　the　young　man　just　within　the　doorway；　cautioning　him　against　the　danger　of　falling　into　the　shaft；　then　he　closed　the　panel；　and　a　moment　later　had　found　the　lantern　he　had　hidden　there　and　lighted　it。　　The　rays　disclosed　to　the　American　the　rough　masonry　of　the　interior　of　a　narrow；　well…built　shaft。　　A　rude　ladder　standing　upon　a　narrow　ledge　beside　him　extended　upward　to　lose　itself　in　the　shadows　above。　　At　its　foot　the　top　of　another　ladder　was　visible　protruding　through　the　opening　from　the　floor　beneath。

No　sooner　had　Joseph's　lantern　shown　him　the　way　than　Barney　was　ascending　the　ladder　toward　the　floor　above。　　　At　the　next　landing　he　waited　for　the　old　man。

Joseph　put　out　the　light　and　placed　the　lantern　where　they　could　easily　find　it　upon　their　return。　　Then　he　cautiously　slipped　the　catch　that　held　the　panel　in　place　and　slowly　opened　the　door　until　a　narrow　line　of　lesser　darkness　showed　from　without。

For　a　moment　they　stood　in　silence　listening　for　any　sound　from　the　chamber　beyond；　but　as　nothing　occurred　to　indi…　cate　that　the　apartment　was　occupied　the　old　man　opened　the　portal　a　trifle　further；　and　finally　far　enough　to　permit　his　body　to　pass　through。　　Barney　followed　him。　　They　found　themselves　in　a　large；　empty　chamber；　identical　in　size　and　shape　with　that　which　they　had　just　quitted　upon　the　floor　below。

From　this　the　two　passed　into　the　corridor　beyond；　and　thence　to　the　apartments　at　the　far　end　of　the　wing；　directly　over　those　occupied　by　Emma　von　der　Tann。

Barney　hastened　to　a　window　overlooking　the　moat。　　By　leaning　far　out　he　could　see　the　light　from　the　princess's　chamber　shining　upon　the　sill。　　He　wished　that　the　light　was　not　there；　for　the　window　was　in　plain　view　of　the　guard　on　the　lookout　upon　the　barbican。

Suddenly　he　caught　the　sound　of　voices　from　the　chamber　beneath。　　For　an　instant　he　listened；　and　then；　catching　a　few　words　of　the　dialogue；　he　turned　hurriedly　toward　his　companion。

〃The　rope；　Joseph！　And　for　God's　sake　be　quick　about　it。〃




V

THE　ESCAPE

FOR　HALF　an　hour　the　Princess　von　der　Tann　succeeded　ad…　mirably　in　immersing　herself　in　the　periodical；　to　the　ex…　clusion　of　her　unhappy　thoughts　and　the　depressing　influence　of　the　austere　countenance　of　the　Blentz　Princess　hanging　upon　the　wall　behind　her。

But　presently　she　became　unaccountably　nervous。　　At　the　slightest　sound　from　the　palace…life　on　the　floor　below　she　would　start　up　with　a　tremor　of　excitement。　　Once　she　heard　footsteps　in　the　corridor　before　her　door；　but　they　passed　on；　and　she　thought　she　discerned　the　click　of　a　latch　a　short　distance　further　on　along　the　passageway。

Again　she　attempted　to　gather　up　the　thread　of　the　article　she　had　been　reading；　but　she　was　unsuccessful。　　A　stealthy　scratching　brought　her　round　quickly；　staring　in　the　direc…　tion　of　the　great　portrait。　　The　girl　would　have　sworn　that　she　had　heard　a　noise　within　her　chamber。　　She　shuddered　at　the　thought　that　it　might　have　come　from　that　painted　thing　upon　the　wall。

What　was　the　matter　with　her？　Was　she　losing　all　control　of　herself　to　be　frightened　like　a　little　child　by　ghostly　noises？

She　tried　to　return　to　her　reading；　but　for　the　life　of　her　she　could　not　keep　her　eyes　off　the　silent；　painted　woman　who　stared　and　stared　and　stared　in　cold；　threatening　si…　lence　upon　this　ancient　enemy　of　her　house。

Presently　the　girl's　eyes　went　wide　in　horror。　　She　could　feel　the　scalp　upon　her　head　contract　with　fright。　　Her　terror…　filled　gaze　was　frozen　upon　that　awful　figure　that　loomed　so　large　and　sinister　above　her；　for　the　thing　had　moved！　She　had　seen　it　with　her　own　eyes。　　There　could　be　no　mistake　no　hallucination　of　overwrought　nerves　about　it。　　The　Blentz　Princess　was　moving　slowly　toward　her！

Like　one　in　a　trance　the　girl　rose　from　her　chair；　her　eyes　glued　upon　the　awful　apparition　that　seemed　creeping　upon　her。　　Slowly　she　withdrew　toward　the　opposite　side　of　the　chamber。　　As　the　painting　moved　more　quickly　the　truth　flashed　upon　herit　was　mounted　on　a　door。

The　crack　of　the　door　widened　and　beyond　it　the　girl　saw　dimly；　eyes　fastened　upon　her。　　With　difficulty　she　restrained　a　shriek。　　The　portal　swung　wide　and　a　man　in　uniform　stepped　into　the　room。

It　was　Maenck。

Emma　von　der　Tann　gazed　in　unveiled　abhorrence　upon　the　leering　face　of　the　governor　of　Blentz。

〃What　means　this　intrusion？〃　cried　the　girl。

〃What　would　you　have　here？〃

〃You；〃　replied　Maenck。

The　girl　crimsoned。

Maenck　regarded　her　sneeringly。

〃You　coward！〃　she　cried。　　〃Leave　my　apartments　at　once。　Not　even　Peter　of　Blentz　would　countenance　such　abhorrent　treatment　of　a　prisoner。〃

〃You　do　not　know　Peter　my　dear；〃　responded　Maenck。　　　〃But　you　need　not　fear。　　You　shall　be　my　wife。　　Peter　has　promised　me　a　baronetcy　for　the　capture　of　Leopold；　and　before　I　am　done　I　shall　be　made　a　prince；　of　that　you　may　rest　assured；　so　you　see　I　am　not　so　bad　a　match　after　all。〃

He　crossed　over　toward　her　and　would　have　laid　a　rough　hand　upon　her　arm。

The　girl　sprang　away　from　him；　running　to　the　opposite　side　of　the　library　table　at　which　she　had　been　reading。　　　Maenck　started　to　pursue　her；　when　she　seized　a　heavy；　copper　bowl　that　stood　upon　the　table　and　hurled　it　full　in　his　face。　　The　missile　struck　him　a　glancing　blow；　but　the　edge　laid　open　the　flesh　of　one　cheek　almost　to　the　jaw　bone。

With　a　cry　of　pain　and　rage　Captain　Ernst　Maenck　leaped　across　the　table　full　upon　the　young　girl。　　With　vicious；　mur…　derous　fingers　he　seized　upon　her　fair　throat；　shaking　her　as　a　terrier　might　shake　a　rat。　　Futilely　the　girl　struck　at　the　hate…contorted　features　so　close　to　hers。

〃Stop！〃　she　cried。　　〃You　are　killing　me。〃

The　fingers　released　their　hold。

〃No；〃　muttered　the　man；　and　dragged　the　princess　roughly　across　the　room。

Half　a　dozen　steps　he　had　taken　when　there　came　a　sud…　den　crash　of　breaking　glass　from　the　window　across　the　chamber。　　Both　turned　in　astonishment　to　see　the　figure　of　a　man　leap　into　the　room；　carrying　the　shattered　crystal　and　the　casement　with　him。　　In　one　hand　was　a　naked　sword。　　

〃The　king！〃　cried　Emma　von　der　Tann。

〃The　devil！〃　muttered　Maenck；　as；　dropping　the　girl；　he　scurried　toward　the　great　painting　from　behind　which　he　had　found　ingress　to　the　chambers　of　the　princess。

Maenck　was　a　coward；　and　he　had　seen　murder　in　the　eyes　of　the　man　rushing　upon　him。　　Wit