the mad king-第49部分

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　　Just　now　he　has　ridden　out　toward　Lustadt　with　the　men　of　the　Royal　Horse　who　captured　the　castle　yesterday。〃

Before　Maenck　was　half…way　through　his　narrative；　Peter　of　Blentz　was　wide　awake　and　all　attention。　　His　eyes　glowed　with　suddenly　aroused　interest。

〃Somewhere　in　this；　prince；〃　concluded　Maenck；　〃there　must　lie　the　seed　of　fortune　for　you　and　me。〃

Peter　nodded。　　〃Yes；〃　he　mused；　〃there　must。〃

For　a　time　both　men　were　buried　in　thought。　　Suddenly　Maenck　snapped　his　fingers。　　〃I　have　it！〃　he　cried。　　He　bent　toward　Prince　Peter's　ear　and　whispered　his　plan。　　When　he　was　done　the　Blentz　prince　grasped　his　hand。

〃Just　the　thing；　Maenck！〃　he　cried。　　〃Just　the　thing。　　Leo…　pold　will　never　again　listen　to　idle　gossip　directed　against　our　loyalty。　　If　I　know　himand　who　should　know　him　betterhe　will　heap　honors　upon　you；　my　Maenck；　and　as　for　me；　he　will　at　least　forgive　me　and　take　me　back　into　his　confidence。　　Lose　no　time　now；　my　friend。　　We　are　free　now　to　go　and　come；　since　the　king's　soldiers　have　been　withdrawn。〃

In　the　garden　back　of　the　castle　an　old　man　was　busy　digging　a　hole。　　It　was　a　long；　narrow　hole；　and；　when　it　was　completed；　nearly　four　feet　deep。　　It　looked　like　a　grave。　When　he　had　finished　the　old　man　hobbled　to　a　shed　that　leaned　against　the　south　wall。　　Here　were　boards；　tools；　and　a　bench。　　It　was　the　castle　workshop。　　The　old　man　selected　a　number　of　rough　pine　boards。　　These　he　measured　and　sawed；　fitted　and　nailed；　working　all　the　balance　of　the　night。　　By　dawn；　he　had　a　long；　narrow　box；　just　a　trifle　smaller　than　the　hole　he　had　dug　in　the　garden。　　The　box　resembled　a　crude　coffin。　　When　it　was　quite　finished；　in…　cluding　a　cover；　he　dragged　it　out　into　the　garden　and　set　it　upon　two　boards　that　spanned　the　hole；　so　that　it　rested　precisely　over　the　excavation。

All　these　precautions　methodically　made；　he　returned　to　the　castle。　　In　a　little　storeroom　he　searched　for　and　found　an　ax。　　With　his　thumb　he　felt　of　the　edgefor　an　ax　it　was　marvelously　sharp。　　The　old　fellow　grinned　and　shook　his　head；　as　one　who　appreciates　in　anticipation　the　consumma…　tion　of　a　good　joke。　　Then　he　crept　noiselessly　through　the　castle's　corridors　and　up　the　spiral　stairway　in　the　north　tower。　　In　one　hand　was　the　sharp　ax。


The　moment　Lieutenant　Butzow　had　reached　Lustadt　he　had　gone　directly　to　Prince　von　der　Tann；　but　the　moment　his　message　had　been　delivered　to　the　chancellor　he　sought　out　the　chancellor's　daughter；　to　tell　her　all　that　had　oc…　curred　at　Blentz。

〃I　saw　but　little　of　Mr。　Custer；〃　he　said。　　〃He　was　very　quiet。　　I　think　all　that　he　has　been　through　has　unnerved　him。　　He　was　slightly　wounded　in　the　left　leg。　　The　king　was　wounded　in　the　breast。　　His　majesty　conducted　himself　in　a　most　valiant　and　generous　manner。　　Wounded；　he　lay　upon　his　stomach　in　the　courtyard　of　the　castle　and　defended　Mr。　Custer；　who　was；　of　course；　unarmed。　　The　king　shot　three　of　Prince　Peter's　soldiers　who　were　attempting　to　assassinate　Mr。　Custer。〃

Emma　von　der　Tann　smiled。　　It　was　evident　that　Lieuten…　ant　Butzow　had　not　discovered　the　deception　that　had　been　practiced　upon　him　in　common　with　all　Luthashe　being　the　only　exception。　　It　seemed　incredible　that　this　good　friend　of　the　American　had　not　seen　in　the　heroism　of　the　man　who　wore　the　king's　clothes　the　attributes　and　ear…marks　of　Bar…　ney　Custer。　　She　glowed　with　pride　at　the　narration　of　his　heroism；　though　she　suffered　with　him　because　of　his　wound。

It　was　not　yet　noon　when　the　detachment　of　the　Royal　Horse　arrived　in　Lustadt　from　Blentz。　　At　their　head　rode　one　whom　all　upon　the　streets　of　the　capital　greeted　enthusi…　astically　as　king。　　The　party　rode　directly　to　the　royal　palace；　and　the　king　retired　immediately　to　his　apartments。　　A　half　hour　later　an　officer　of　the　king's　household　knocked　upon　the　door　of　the　Princess　Emma　von　der　Tann's　boudoir。　　In　accord　with　her　summons　he　entered；　saluted　respectfully；　and　handed　her　a　note。

It　was　written　upon　the　personal　stationary　of　Leopold　of　Lutha。　　The　girl　read　and　reread　it。　　For　some　time　she　could　not　seem　to　grasp　the　enormity　of　the　thing　that　had　over…　whelmed　herthe　daring　of　the　action　that　the　message　explained。　　The　note　was　short　and　to　the　point；　and　was　signed　only　with　initials。

DEAREST　EMMA：


The　king　died　of　his　wounds　just　before　midnight。　　I　shall　keep　the　throne。　　There　is　no　other　way。　　None　knows　and　none　must　ever　know　the　truth。　　Your　father　alone　may　suspect；　but　if　we　are　married　at　once　our　alliance　will　cement　him　and　his　faction　to　us。　　Send　word　by　the　bearer　that　you　agree　with　the　wisdom　of　my　plan；　and　that　we　may　be　wed　at　oncethis　afternoon；　in　fact。

The　people　may　wonder　for　a　few　days　at　the　strange　haste；　but　my　answer　shall　be　that　I　am　going　to　the　front　with　my　troops。　　The　son　and　many　of　the　high　officials　of　the　Kaiser　have　already　established　the　prece…　dent；　marrying　hurriedly　upon　the　eve　of　their　departure　for　the　front。

With　every　assurance　of　my　undying　love；　believe　me；

Yours；　B。　C。


The　girl　walked　slowly　across　the　room　to　her　writing　table。　　The　officer　stood　in　respectful　silence　awaiting　the　answer　that　the　king　had　told　him　to　bring。　　The　princess　sat　down　before　the　carved　bit　of　furniture。　　Mechanically　she　drew　a　piece　of　note　paper　from　a　drawer。　　Many　times　she　dipped　her　pen　in　the　ink　before　she　could　determine　what　reply　to　send。　　Ages　of　ingrained　royalistic　principles　were　shocked　and　shattered　by　the　enormity　of　the　thing　the　man　she　loved　had　asked　of　her；　and　yet　cold　reason　told　her　that　it　was　the　only　way。

Lutha　would　be　lost　should　the　truth　be　knownthat　the　king　was　dead；　for　there　was　no　heir　of　closer　blood　con…　nection　with　the　royal　house　than　Prince　Peter　of　Blentz；　whose　great…grandmother　had　been　a　Rubinroth　princess。　Slowly；　at　last；　she　wrote　as　follows：


SIRE：　The　king's　will　is　law。　EMMA



That　was　all。　　Placing　the　note　in　an　envelope　she　sealed　it　and　handed　it　to　the　officer；　who　bowed　and　left　the　room。

A　half　hour　later　officers　of　the　Royal　Horse　were　riding　through　the　streets　of　Lustadt。　　Some　announced　to　the　people　upon　the　streets　the　coming　marriage　of　the　king　and　princess。　　Others　rode　to　the　houses　of　the　nobility　with　the　king's　command　that　they　be　present　at　the　ceremony　in　the　old　cathedral　at　four　o'clock　that　afternoon。

Never　had　there　been　such　bustling　about　the　royal　pal…　ace　or　in　the　palaces　of　the　nobles　of　Lutha。　　The　buzz　and　hum　of　excited　conversation　filled　the　whole　town。　　That　the　choice　of　the　king　met　the　approval　of　his　subjects　was　more　than　evident。　　Upon　every　lip　was　praise　and　love　of　the　Princess　Emma　von　der　Tann。　　The　future　of　Lutha　seemed　assured　with　a　king　who　could　fight　joined　in　marriage　to　a　daughter　of　the　warrior　line　of　Von　der　Tann。

The　princess　was　busy　up　to　the　last　minute。　　She　had　not　seen　her　future　husband　since　his　return　from　Blentz；　for　he；　too；　had　been　busy。　　Twice　he　had　sent　word　to　her；　but　on　both　occasions　had　regretted　that　he　could　not　come　personally　because　of　the　pressure　of　state　matters　and　the　preparations　for　the　ceremony　that　was　to　take　place　in　the　cathedral　in　so　short　a　time。

At　last　the　hour　arrived。　　The　cathedral　was　filled　to　over…　flowing。　　After　the　custom　of　Lutha；　the　bride　had　walked　alone　up　the　broad　center　aisle　to　the　foot　of　the　chancel。　Guardsmen　lining　the　way　on　either　hand　stood　rigidly　at　salute　until　she　stopped　at　the　end　of　the　soft；　rose…strewn　carpet　and　turned　to　await　the　coming　of　the　king。

Presently　the　doors　at　the　opposite　end　of　the　cathedral　opened。　　There　was　a　fanfare　of　trumpets；　and　up　the　center　aisle　toward　the　waiting　girl　walked　the　royal　groom。　　It　seemed　ages　to　the　princess　since　she　had　seen　her　lover。　　Her　eyes　devoured　him　as　he　approached　her。　　She　noticed　that　he　limped；　and　wondered；　but　for　a　moment　the　fact　car…　ried　no　special　suggestion　to　her　brain。

The　people　had　risen　as　the　king　entered。　　Again；　the　pieces　of　the　guardsmen　had　snapped　to　present；　but　si…　lence；　intense　and　utter；　reigned　over　the　vast　assembly。　The　only　movement　was　the　measured　stride　of　the　king　as　he　advanced　to　claim　his　bride。

At　the　head　of　each　line　of　guardsmen；　nearest　the　chan…　cel　and　upon　either　side　of　the　bridal　party；　the　ranks　were　formed　of　commissioned　officers。　　Butzow　was　among　them。　He；　too；　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye　watched　the　advancing　figure。　　Suddenly　he　noted　the　limp；　and　gave　a　little　in…　voluntary　gasp。　　He　looked　at　the　Princess　Emma；　and　saw　her　eyes　suddenly　widen　with　consternation。

Slowly　at　first；　and　then　in　a　sudden　tidal　wave　of　mem…　ory；　Butzow's　story　of　the　fight　in　the　courtyard　at　Blentz　came　back　to　her。

〃I　saw　but　little　of　Mr。　Custer；〃　he　had　said。　　〃He　was　slightly　wounded　in　the　left　leg。　　The　king　was　wounded　in　the　breast。〃　　But　Lieutenant　Butzow　had　not　known　the　true　identity　of　either。

The　real　Leopold　it　was　who　had　been　wounded　in　the　left　leg；　and　the　man　who　was　approaching　her　up　the　broad　cathedral　aisle　was　limping　noticeablyand　favoring　his　left　leg。　　The　man　to　whom　she　was　to　be　married　was　not　Barney　Custerhe　was　Leopold　of　Lutha！

A　hundred　mad　schemes　rioted　through　her　brain。　　The　wedding　must　not　go　on！　　But　how　was　she　to　avert　it？　　The　king　was　within　a　few　paces　of　her　now。　　There　was　a　smile　upon　his　lips；　and　in　that　smile　she　saw　the　final　confirma…　tion　of　her　fears。　　When　Leopold　of　Lutha　smiled　his　upper　lip　curved　just　a　trifle　into　a　shadow　of　a　sneer。　　It　was　a　trivial　characteristic　that　Barney　Custer　did　not　share　in　common　with　the　king。

Half　mad　with　terror；　the　girl　seized　upon　the　only　sub…　terfuge　which　seemed　at　all　likely　to　succeed。　　It　would；　at　least；　give　her　a　slight　reprievea　little　time　in　which　to　think；　and　possibly　find　an　avenue　from　her　predicament。

She　staggered　forward　a　step；　clapped　her　two　hands　above　her　heart；　and　reeled　as　though　to　fall。　　Butzow；　who　had　been　watching　her　narrowly；　sprang　forward　and　caught　her　in　his　arms；　where　she　lay　limp　with　closed　eyes　as　though　in　a　dead　faint。　　The　king　ran　forward。　　The　people　craned　their　necks。　　A　sudden　burst　of　exclamations　rose　throughout　the　cathedral；　and　then　Lieutenant