andreas hofer-第49部分

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that　he　does　not　mean　what　he　says。　Are　you　so　stupid；　men；　as　not
to　comprehend　that　he　cannot　act　otherwise；　and　that　he　must　speak
thus　and　not　otherwise？　Father；　you　said　I　was　a　true　daughter　of
the　Tyrol；　and　that　you　loved　me　and　were　content　with　me。　I　pray
you；　then；　dearest　father；　spare　the　life　of　my　betrothed　until　to…
morrow　morning；　and　have　him　taken　back　as　a　prisoner　to　our　house
until　then。　Schroepfel　may　watch　him；　and　not　take　his　eyes　from
him。　Oh；　dear；　kind　friends；　brave　men；　have　mercy　upon　me！　Bear　in
mind　that　we　fought　together　for　our　beloved　country；　and　that　you
told　me　you　would　never　forget　me；　and　would　comply　with　my　wishes
whenever　you　could。　I　wish　now　that　you　spare　the　life　of　my
betrothed　only　until　to…morrow　morning。〃

〃He　says　he　is　not　your　betrothed；　Lizzie；　and　will　never　marry
you！〃　exclaimed　the　men；　with　irresolute　faces；　and　already　half
softened　by　the　beseeching；　touching　expression　of　Eliza's
countenance。

〃He　says　so；〃　she　said；　casting　a　fiery　glance　on　the　captain；　who
stood　pale　and　motionless；　heard　every　word；　and　was　unable　to　make
a　reply；　〃he　says　so；　but　I　know　that　he　loves　me；　and　will　be
joyously　ready　to…morrow　morning　to　do　what　I　ask　of　him。　Father；〃
she　added；　in　a　low　voice；　seizing　Anthony　Wallner's　arm；　and
drawing　him　aside　quickly；　〃do　you　not　comprehend；　then；　that　Ulrich
cannot　speak　differently？　Would　not　his　king；　after　his　return　to
Bavaria；　pronounce　him　a　traitor；　and　charge　him　with　having　joined
us　and　the　Austrians；　and　with　having　convicted　himself　by　marrying
a　Tyrolese　girl？　Be　wise；　dearest　father；　and　see　how　shrewdly
Ulrich　manages　every　thing；　and　that　he　acts　precisely　as　I　told
him。　It　must　look　as　though　he　did　not　marry　me　of　his　own　accord；
but　compelled　by　you；　otherwise　his　king　and　his　father；　who　is　a
very　proud　man；　would　never　forgive　him。　But　when　they　hear　what　has
occurred　here；　and　that　you　threatened　to　shoot　Ulrich　because　he
would　not　marry　me；　the　gentlemen　at　Munich　will　understand　that
Ulrich　had　to　take　me　in　order　to　save　his　life。〃

〃And　are　you　satisfied　to　have　it　look　as　though　he　married　you　only
under　compulsion？〃　asked　her　father；　gloomily。

〃I　am；　father；〃　she　said；　〃for　I　love　my　betrothed；　and　he　shall　not
become　unhappy　for　my　sake　and　forfeit　the　good　graces　of　his　king
and　his　father。　State　all　this　to　your　friends；　dear　father；　and
tell　them　to　let　Ulrich　and　me　alone　for　to…day；　but　ask　them　all　to
come　to　our　house　to…morrow　morning　and　accompany　the　bride　and
bridegroom　to　the　church；　for　Ulrich　will　marry　me　at　nine　to…morrow
morning。〃

〃But；　Lizzie；　why　not　to…day？〃　asked　her　father。　〃Why　not　at　this
hour？〃

〃It　will　not　do；　father。　If　you　had　told　me　beforehand　what　was　to
be　done　here；　I　should　have　told　you　at　once　what　I　am　telling　you
now：　it　will　not　do　for　a　young　girl　to　appear　before　God's　altar
without　due　preparation；　and　as　though　she　were　going　to　a　dance。
What　I　am　going　to　do　is　something　very　serious；　and　I　will　do　it
seriously。　I　will　pray　to　God　to…day；　go　to　confession；　and　have　a
great　many　things　to　talk　over　with　Ulrich；　for　I　know　he　wants　me
to　set　out　with　him　immediately　after　we　have　been　married；　and　that
it　may　not　look　as　though　he　had　stayed　voluntarily　with　you　in　our
valley。　I　must；　therefore；　pack　up　my　things　and　prepare　for
departing　as　soon　as　we　have　been　married。　Let　us　alone；　then；　dear
father；　to…day；　and　invite　the　men　to　come　to…morrow　morning　and
attend　my　marriage　with　Captain　Ulrich　von　Hohenberg。〃

〃Well；　then；　Lizzie；　I　will　comply　with　your　wishes；〃　said　Wallner；
after　a　short　reflection。　〃I　will　give　you　and　him　time　until　to…
morrow　morning；　but　I　tell　you；　my　daughter；　if　he　continues　the
same　game　to…morrow；　and　talks　then　in　the　same　strain　as　to…day；　I
shall　take　the　jest　in　dead　earnest；　and　will　not　believe　a　word　of
all　you　say　to　excuse　him：　and　then　his　life　is　forfeited；　and　he
must　die。No；　Schroepfel；　come　here；　take　the　prisoner　back　to　my
house；　and　confine　him　where　you　have　kept　him　for　a　week　past。　But
I　tell　you；　watch　him　well；　and　admit　no　one　to　him　except　Lizzie；
and　prevent　him　from　talking　with　anybody　but　his　betrothed。〃

〃I　will　do　so；　and　watch　him　as　I　have　done　up　to　this　time；〃　said
Schroepfel；　gloomily。　〃He　shall　not　talk　with　anybody；　and　I　should
like　it　best　if　he　were　not　permitted　either　to　speak　with　Lizzie；
for　I　do　not　believe　at　all　that　she　is　his　betrothed。〃

〃We　shall　see　to…morrow　morning；　when　the　marriage　is　to　take
place；〃　said　Anthony　Wallner。〃Take　the　prisoner　away。〃

〃You　let　him　go？〃　exclaimed　the　men。　〃You　spare　his　life？〃

〃Only　until　to…morrow　morning；　because　Lizzie　begged　me　to　do　so；〃
said　Anthony　Wallner。　〃The　wedding　will　take　place　at　nine　to…morrow
morning；　I　invite　you　all　to　attend　it；　men；　and　we　shall　see　then。
To…morrow　morning　there　will　be　a　wedding　or　an　execution。　Now　let
us　speak　no　more　of　it　to…day；　let　us　forget　what　has　happened　to
Anthony　Wallner　and　his　daughter；　and　let　us　bear　in　mind　only　that
we　have　returned　after　delivering　our　dear　Tyrol　from　the　French　and
Bavarians。　Let　us　go　now　to　my　house；　where　my　wife　awaits　us　with　a
keg　of　excellent　wine。　Come；　we　will　drink　to　the　welfare　of　our
fatherland；　and　to　the　health　of　our　dear　Emperor　Francis！〃




CHAPTER　XXII。

ELIZA　AND　ULRICH


Schroepfel；　the　faithful　servant；　had　taken　Ulrich　von　Hohenberg；　in
obedience　to　Anthony　Wallner's　order；　back　to　the　small　room　where
he　had　passed　the　last　eight　days　as　a　prisoner。　Since　he　had　him
again　in　his　custody；　no　additional　precautions　were　necessary；　for
Schroepfel　knew　that　he　could　rely　on　his　own　vigilance；　and　that
the　prisoner　surely　would　never　escape　from　him。　Hence；　he　loosened
the　cords　with　which　he　had　been　tied；　and　removed　the　handkerchief
with　which　he　had　been　gagged。

〃If　it　affords　you　pleasure；〃　said　Schroepfel；　〃you　may　use　your
mouth　and　inveigh　against　Lizzie　Wallner；　who　has　saved　your　life
to…day　a　second　time；　and　whom　you　rewarded　like　a　genuine　Bavarian；
that　is　to　say；　with　black　ingratitude　and　treachery。　But　I　advise
you　not　to　abuse　her　loud　enough　for　me　to　hear　you　outside；　for　I
am　not　a　patient　as　Lizzie；　and　I　shall　never　permit　you　to　abuse
and　treat　so　contemptuously　the　noblest　and　best　girl　in　the　whole
country。　She　acted　toward　you　to…day　as　a　good　Christian　and　a　brave
girl；　for　you　insulted　her；　and　she　not　only　forgave　you；　but
protected　you　and　saved　your　life。　And　now；　sir；　abuse　her　if　you
cannot　help　it；　but　I　tell　you　once　more；　do　not　speak　too　loud　lest
I　should　hear　you。〃

And　Schroepfel　turned　with　a　last　threatening　glance　and　left　the
room。　Outside　he　sat　down　on　the　cane…settee　which；　for　the　past
eight　days；　had　been　his　seat　by　day　and　his　couch　by　night；　and　he
pressed　his　eye　to　the　middle　hole　which　he　had　bored　in　the　door。
He　could　distinctly　see　and　watch　the　captain　through　it。　Ulrich　had
sunk　down　on　a　chair　and　leaned　his　head　on　his　hand；　he　lifted　his
sombre　eyes　to　heaven；　and　there　was　a　strange　expression　of　emotion
and　grief　upon　his　face。　But　he　seemed　not　to　intend　availing
himself　of　the　permission　which　Schroepfel　had　given　him　to　abuse
Lizzie　Wallner；　for　his　lips　were　firmly　compressed；　and　not　a　sound
fell　from　them。　Or　could　Schroepfel；　perhaps；　not　hear　him；　because
the　men　down　in　the　bar…room　were　laughing　and　shouting　so　merrily；
and　speaking　so　loudly　and　enthusiastically　of　the　Tyrol；　and
drinking　the　health　of　the　emperor　and　the　Archduke　John；　who　had
again　taken　possession　of　the　country　and　solemnly　proclaimed　that
he　would　restore　the　ancient　and　liberal　constitution　of　the
Tyrolese？

〃How　merry　they　are　down…stairs！〃　growled　Schroepfel。　〃I　might　be
there　to；　I　have　amply　deserved　to　have　a　little　exercise　and
pleasure。　Instead　of　that　I　must　site　here　with　a　dry　mouth；　and　if
this　goes　on　much　longer；　I　shall　surely　grow　fast　to　my　settee。　And
all　that　for　the　sake　of　the　mean；　perfidious　Bavarian；　who　is
utterly　dishonest；　and　who　treated　our　beautiful；　noble　Lizzie　in　so
infamous　a　manner！　Well；　if　I　were　in　the　girl's　place；　I　would　not
take　the　perfidious　wretch　who　has　denied　her　twice　already。　Oh；　how
merry　they　are　down…stairs！　No　one　thinks　of　me　and　gives　me　a　drop
of　wine　that　I　may　likewise　drink　to　the　welfare　of　the　fatherland。〃

But　Schroepfel　was　mistaken　for　once；　for　quick　footsteps　ascended
the　staircase　at　this　moment；　and　now　appeared　the　lovely　head　of
Eliza　Wallner　above　the　railing；　then　her　whole　form；　and　a　second
afterward　she　stood　in　the　passage　close　before　Schroepfel。　In　her
hands　she　held　a　plate　with　a　large　piece　of　the　fine　cake　which　her
mother　herself　had　baked；　and　a　large　glass　of　excellent　red　wine。

〃There；　good；　faithful　Schroepfel；〃　she　said　in　her　gentle　voice；
nodding　to　him　pleasantly；　and　handing　the　plate　to　him；　〃eat　and
drink；　and　let　me　in　the　mean　time　go　and　see　your　prisoner。〃

〃What　do　you　want　of　him？〃　asked　Schroepfel；　moodily。

〃I　want　to　see　him　about　our　wedding　to…morrow；〃　said　Eliza　calmly；
〃and　you　know　father　has　given　me　permission　to　go　to　him　and　speak
with　him。〃

〃Yes；　he　did；　and　I　cannot　prevent　you　from　entering；　which　I　would
do　otherwise；〃　growled　Schroepfel。　〃Go　in；　then；　but　do　not　stay　too
long；　and　if　he　should　abuse　you　again；　pray　call　me；　and　I　will
assist　you。〃

〃Thank　you；　dear　Schroepfel；〃　said　Eliza；　〃but　pray　admit　me　now。〃

Schroepfel　withdrew　his　settee　from　the　door　and　allowed　Eliza　to
open　it；　and；　entering　to　the　prisoner；　closed　it　again　behind　her。

Ulrich　von　Hohenberg　still　sat；　as　Schroepfel　had　seen　him；　at　the
table；　leaning　his　head　on　his　hand；　only　he　had　now　covered　his
eyes　with　his　hands；　and　long　sighs　issued　from　his　breast。　He
seemed　not　to　know　that　the　door　had　opened　and　some　one　had
entered；　or　rather　perhaps　he　thought　it　was　only　Schroepfel；　and　he
did　not　wish　to　take　any　notice　of　him。

Eliza　Wallner　stood　leaning　against　the　wall；　and　gazed　at　him　a
long　time　with　a　wondrous　expression　of　love　and　grief；　for　a　moment
she　laid　her　hand　on　her　bosom；　as　if　to　stifle　the　cry　which　her
lips　were　a