the mad king-第22部分

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　at　Leopold's　feet。　　With　a　moan　the　king　shrank　back　from　the　grisly　thing　that　touched　his　boot；　and　then　two　men　were　in　the　center　of　the　room；　and　things　were　happening　with　a　rapidity　that　was　bewildering。

About　all　that　he　could　afterward　recall　with　any　distinct…　ness　was　the　terrified　face　of　Coblich；　as　he　rushed　past　him　toward　a　door　in　the　opposite　side　of　the　room；　and　the　horrid　leer　upon　the　face　of　the　dead　trooper；　who　foolishly；　had　made　a　move　to　draw　his　revolver。


Within　the　cathedral　at　Lustadt　excitement　was　at　fever　heat。　　It　lacked　but　two　minutes　of　noon；　and　as　yet　no　king　had　come　to　claim　the　crown。　　Rumors　were　running　riot　through　the　close…packed　audience。

One　man　had　heard　the　king's　chamberlain　report　to　Prince　von　der　Tann　that　the　master　of　ceremonies　had　found　the　king's　apartments　vacant　when　he　had　gone　to　urge　the　monarch　to　hasten　his　preparations　for　the　coronation。

Another　had　seen　Butzow　and　two　strangers　galloping　north　through　the　city。　　A　third　told　of　a　little　old　man　who　had　come　to　the　king　with　an　urgent　message。

Peter　of　Blentz　and　Prince　Ludwig　were　talking　in　whis…　pers　at　the　foot　of　the　chancel　steps。　　Peter　ascended　the　steps　and　facing　the　assemblage　raised　a　silencing　hand。

〃He　who　claimed　to　be　Leopold　of　Lutha；〃　he　said；　〃was　but　a　mad　adventurer。　　He　would　have　seized　the　throne　of　the　Rubinroths　had　his　nerve　not　failed　him　at　the　last　mo…　ment。　　He　has　fled。　　The　true　king　is　dead。　　Now　I；　Prince　Regent　of　Lutha；　declare　the　throne　vacant；　and　announce　myself　king！〃

There　were　a　few　scattered　cheers　and　some　hissing。　　A　score　of　the　nobles　rose　as　though　to　protest；　but　before　any　could　take　a　step　the　attention　of　all　was　directed　toward　the　sorry　figure　of　a　white…faced　man　who　scurried　up　the　broad　center　aisle。

It　was　Coblich。

He　ran　to　Peter's　side；　and　though　he　attempted　to　speak　in　a　whisper；　so　out　of　breath；　and　so　filled　with　hysterical　terror　was　he　that　his　words　came　out　in　gasps　that　were　audible　to　many　of　those　who　stood　near　by。

〃Maenck　is　dead；〃　he　cried。　　〃The　impostor　has　stolen　the　king。〃

Peter　of　Blentz　went　white　as　his　lieutenant。　　Von　der　Tann　heard　and　demanded　an　explanation。

〃You　said　that　Leopold　was　dead；〃　he　said　accusingly。

Peter　regained　his　self…control　quickly。

〃Coblich　is　excited；〃　he　explained。　　〃He　means　that　the　impostor　has　stolen　the　body　of　the　king　that　Coblich　and　Maenck　had　discovered　and　were　bring　to　Lustadt。〃

Von　der　Tann　looked　troubled。

He　knew　not　what　to　make　of　the　series　of　wild　tales　that　had　come　to　his　ears　within　the　past　hour。　　He　had　hoped　that　the　young　man　whom　he　had　last　seen　in　the　king's　apartments　was　the　true　Leopold。　　He　would　have　been　glad　to　have　served　such　a　one；　but　there　had　been　many　in…　explicable　occurrences　which　tended　to　cast　a　doubt　upon　the　man's　claimsand　yet；　had　he　ever　claimed　to　be　the　king？　　It　suddenly　occurred　to　the　old　prince　that　he　had　not。　　On　the　contrary　he　had　repeatedly　stated　to　Prince　Ludwig's　daughter　and　to　Lieutenant　Butzow　that　he　was　not　Leopold。

It　seemed　that　they　had　all　been　so　anxious　to　believe　him　king　that　they　had　forced　the　false　position　upon　him；　and　now　if　he　had　indeed　committed　the　atrocity　that　Coblich　charged　against　him；　who　could　wonder？　　With　less　provocation　men　had　before　attempted　to　seize　thrones　by　more　dastardly　means。

Peter　of　Blentz　was　speaking。

〃Let　the　coronation　proceed；〃　he　cried；　〃that　Lutha　may　have　a　true　king　to　frustrate　the　plans　of　the　impostor　and　the　traitors　who　had　supported　him。〃

He　cast　a　meaning　glance　at　Prince　von　der　Tann。

There　were　many　cries　for　Peter　of　Blentz。　　〃Let's　have　done　with　treason；　and　place　upon　the　throne　of　Lutha　one　whom　we　know　to　be　both　a　Luthanian　and　sane。　Down　with　the　mad　king！　　Down　with　the　impostor！〃

Peter　turned　to　ascend　the　chancel　steps。

Von　der　Tann　still　hesitated。　　Below　him　upon　one　side　of　the　aisle　were　massed　his　own　retainers。　　Opposite　them　were　the　men　of　the　Regent；　and　dividing　the　two　the　parallel　ranks　of　Horse　Guards　stretched　from　the　chancel　down　the　broad　aisle　to　the　great　doors。　　These　were　strongly　for　the　impostor；　if　impostor　he　was；　who　had　led　them　to　victory　over　the　men　of　the　Blentz　faction。

Von　der　Tann　knew　that　they　would　fight　to　the　last　ditch　for　their　hero　should　he　come　to　claim　the　crown。　　Yet　how　would　they　fightto　which　side　would　they　cleave；　were　he　to　attempt　to　frustrate　the　design　of　the　Regent　to　seize　the　throne　of　Lutha？

Already　Peter　of　Blentz　had　approached　the　bishop；　who；　eager　to　propitiate　whoever　seemed　most　likely　to　become　king；　gave　the　signal　for　the　procession　that　was　to　mark　the　solemn　bearing　of　the　crown　of　Lutha　up　the　aisle　to　the　chancel。

Outside　the　cathedral　there　was　the　sudden　blare　of　trumpets。　　The　great　doors　swung　violently　open；　and　the　entire　throng　were　upon　their　feet　in　an　instant　as　a　trooper　of　the　Royal　Horse　shouted：　〃The　king！　　The　king！　　Make　way　for　Leopold　of　Lutha！〃




XII

THE　GRATITUDE　OF　A　KING

AT　THE　CRY　silence　fell　upon　the　throng。　　Every　head　was　turned　toward　the　great　doors　through　which　the　head　of　a　procession　was　just　visible。　　It　was　a　grim　looking　procession　the　head　of　it；　at　least。

There　were　four　khaki…clad　trumpeters　from　the　Royal　Horse　Guards；　the　gay　and　resplendent　uniforms　which　they　should　have　donned　today　conspicuous　for　their　absence。　From　their　brazen　bugles　sounded　another　loud　fanfare；　and　then　they　separated；　two　upon　each　side　of　the　aisle；　and　between　them　marched　three　men。

One　was　tall；　with　gray　eyes　and　had　a　reddish…brown　beard。　　He　was　fully　clothed　in　the　coronation　robes　of　Leo…　pold。　　Upon　his　either　hand　walked　the　othersLieutenant　Butzow　and　a　gray…eyed；　smooth…faced；　square…jawed　stran…　ger。

Behind　them　marched　the　balance　of　the　Royal　Horse　Guards　that　were　not　already　on　duty　within　the　cathedral。　As　the　eyes　of　the　multitude　fell　upon　the　man　in　the　coronation　robes　there　were　cries　of：　〃The　king！　　Impostor！〃　and　〃Von　der　Tann's　puppet！〃

〃Denounce　him！〃　whispered　one　of　Peter's　henchmen　in　his　master's　ear。

The　Regent　moved　closer　to　the　aisle；　that　he　might　meet　the　impostor　at　the　foot　of　the　chancel　steps。　　The　pro…　cession　was　moving　steadily　up　the　aisle。

Among　the　clan　of　Von　der　Tann　a　young　girl　with　wide　eyes　was　bending　forward　that　she　might　have　a　better　look　at　the　face　of　the　king。　　As　he　came　opposite　her　her　eyes　filled　with　horror；　and　then　she　saw　the　eyes　of　the　smooth…faced　stranger　at　the　king's　side。　　They　were　brave；　laughing　eyes；　and　as　they　looked　straight　into　her　own　the　truth　flashed　upon　her；　and　the　girl　gave　a　gasp　of　dismay　as　she　realized　that　the　king　of　Lutha　and　the　king　of　her　heart　were　not　one　and　the　same。

At　last　the　head　of　the　procession　was　almost　at　the　foot　of　the　chancel　steps。　　There　were　murmurs　of：　〃It　is　not　the　king；〃　and　〃Who　is　this　new　impostor？〃

Leopold's　eyes　were　searching　the　faces　of　the　close…　packed　nobility　about　the　chancel。　　At　last　they　fell　upon　the　face　of　Peter。　　The　young　man　halted　not　two　paces　from　the　Regent。　　The　man　went　white　as　the　king's　eyes　bored　straight　into　his　miserable　soul。

〃Peter　of　Blentz；〃　cried　the　young　man；　〃as　God　is　your　judge；　tell　the　truth　today。　　Who　am　I？〃

The　legs　of　the　Prince　Regent　trembled。　　He　sank　upon　his　knees；　raising　his　hands　in　supplication　toward　the　other。　〃Have　pity　on　me；　your　majesty；　have　pity！〃　he　cried。

〃Who　am　I；　man？〃　insisted　the　king。

〃You　are　Leopold　Rubinroth；　sire；　by　the　grace　of　God；　king　of　Lutha；〃　cried　the　frightened　man。　　〃Have　mercy　on　an　old　man；　your　majesty。〃

〃Wait！　　Am　I　mad？　　Was　I　ever　mad？〃

〃As　God　is　my　judge；　sire；　no！〃　replied　Peter　of　Blentz。

Leopold　turned　to　Butzow。

〃Remove　the　traitor　from　our　presence；〃　he　commanded；　and　at　a　word　from　the　lieutenant　a　dozen　guardsmen　seized　the　trembling　man　and　hustled　him　from　the　cathedral　amid　hisses　and　execrations。


Following　the　coronation　the　king　was　closeted　in　his　private　audience　chamber　in　the　palace　with　Prince　Lud…　wig。

〃I　cannot　understand　what　has　happened；　even　now；　your　majesty；〃　the　old　man　was　saying。　　〃That　you　are　the　true　Leopold　is　all　that　I　am　positive　of；　for　the　discomfiture　of　Prince　Peter　evidenced　that　fact　all　too　plainly。　　But　who　the　impostor　was　who　ruled　Lutha　in　your　name　for　two　days；　disappearing　as　miraculously　as　he　came；　I　cannot　guess。

〃But　for　another　miracle　which　preserved　you　for　us　in　the　nick　of　time　he　might　now　be　wearing　the　crown　of　Lutha　in　your　stead。　　Having　Peter　of　Blentz　safely　in　cus…　tody　our　next　immediate　task　should　be　to　hunt　down　the　impostor　and　bring　him　to　justice　also；　though〃and　the　old　prince　sighed〃he　was　indeed　a　brave　man；　and　a　noble　figure　of　a　king　as　he　led　your　troops　to　battle。〃

The　king　had　been　smiling　as　Von　der　Tann　first　spoke　of　the　〃impostor；〃　but　at　the　old　man's　praise　of　the　other's　bravery　a　slight　flush　tinged　his　cheek；　and　the　shadow　of　a　scowl　crossed　his　brow。

〃Wait；〃　he　said；　〃we　shall　not　have　to　look　far　for　your　'impostor；'〃　and　summoning　an　aide　he　dispatched　him　for　〃Lieutenant　Butzow　and　Mr。　Custer。〃

A　moment　later　the　two　entered　the　audience　chamber。　Barney　found　that　Leopold　the　king；　surrounded　by　com…　forts　and　safety；　was　a　very　different　person　from　Leopold　the　fugitive。　　The　weak　face　now　wore　an　expression　of　ar…　rogance；　though　the　king　spoke　most　graciously　to　the　American。

〃Here；　Von　der　Tann；〃　said　Leopold；　〃is　your　'impostor。'　But　for　him　I　should　doubtless　be　dead　by　now；　or　once　again　a　prisoner　at　Blentz。〃

Barney　and　Butzow　found　it　necessary　to　repeat　their　stories　several　times　before　the　old　man　could　fully　grasp　all　that　had　transpired　beneath　his　very　nose　without　his　being　aware　of　scarce　a　single　detail　of　it。

When　he　was　finally　convinced　that　they　were　telling　the　truth；　he　extended　his　hand　to　the　American。

〃I　knelt　to　you　once；　young　man；〃　he　said；　〃and　kissed　your　hand。　　I　should　be　filled　with　bitterness　and　rage　to…　ward　you。　　On　the　contrary；　I　find　that　I　am　proud　to　have　served　in　the　retinue　of　such　an　impostor　as　you；　for　you　upheld　the　prestige　of　the　house　of　Rubinroth