章节正文
"Your education has been more comprehensive than mine,"
said I. "You write it."
And a very tolerable forgery did this versatile hero produce.
"Now, Fritz," said he, "the King goes to bed. He is upset.
No one is to see him till nine o'clock tomorrow. You understand--
no one?"
"I understand," answered Fritz.
"Michael may come, and claim immediate audience.
You'll answer that only princes of the blood are entitled to it."
"That'll annoy Michael," laughed Fritz.
"You quite understand?" asked Sapt again. "If the door of this
room is opened while we're away, you're not to be alive to tell
us about it."
"I need no schooling, colonel," said Fritz, a trifle haughtily.
"Here, wrap yourself in this big cloak," Sapt continued to me,
"and put on this flat cap. My orderly rides with me to the
hunting-lodge tonight."
"There's an obstacle," I observed. "The horse doesn't live
that can carry me forty miles."
"Oh, yes, he does--two of him: one here--one at the lodge.
Now, are you ready?"
"I'm ready," said I.
Fritz held out his hand.
"In case," said he; and we shook hands heartily.
"Damn your sentiment!" growled Sapt. "Come along."
He went, not to the door, but to a panel in the wall.
"In the old King's time," said he, "I knew this way well."
I followed him, and we walked, as I should estimate, near
two hundred yards along a narrow passage. Then we came to
a stout oak door. Sapt unlocked it. We passed through,
and found ourselves in a quiet street that ran along the back
of the Palace gardens. A man was waiting for us with two horses.
One was a magnificent bay, up to any weight; the other a sturdy brown.
Sapt signed to me to mount the bay. Without a word to the man,
we mounted and rode away. The town was full of noise and merriment,
but we took secluded ways. My cloak was wrapped over half my face;
the capacious flat cap hid every lock of my tell-tale hair.
By Sapt's directions, I crouched on my saddle, and rode with
such a round back as I hope never to exhibit on a horse again.
Down a long narrow lane we went, meeting some wanderers and some roisterers;
and, as we rode, we heard the Cathedral bells still clanging out their welcome
to the King. It was half-past six, and still light. At last we came to the
city wall and to a gate.
"Have your weapon ready," whispered Sapt. "We must stop his mouth,
if he talks."
I put my hand on my revolver. Sapt hailed the doorkeeper.
The stars fought for us! A little girl of fourteen tripped out.
"Please, sir, father's gone to see the King."
"He'd better have stayed here," said Sapt to me, grinning.
"But he said I wasn't to open the gate, sir."
"Did he, my dear?" said Sapt, dismounting. "Then give me the key."
The key was in the child's hand. Sapt gave her a crown.
"Here's an order from the King. Show it to your father.
Orderly, open the gate!"
I leapt down. Between us we rolled back the great gate,
led our horses out, and closed it again.
"I shall be sorry for the doorkeeper if Michael finds out that
he wasn't there. Now then, lad, for a canter. We mustn't go too
fast while we're near the town."
Once, however, outside the city, we ran little danger,
for everybody else was inside, merry-making; and as the evening
fell we quickened our pace, my splendid horse bounding along
under me as though I had been a feather. It was a fine night, and
presently the moon appeared. We talked little on the way, and
chiefly about the progress we were making.
"I wonder what the duke's despatches told him," said I, once.
"Ay, I wonder!" responded Sapt.
We stopped for a draught of wine and to bait our horses,
losing half an hour thus. I dared not go into the inn,
and stayed with the horses in the stable. Then we went ahead again,
and had covered some five-and-twenty miles, when Sapt abruptly stopped.
"Hark!" he cried.
I listened. Away, far behind us, in the still of the evening--
it was just half-past nine--we heard the beat of horses' hoofs.
The wind blowing strong behind us, carried the sound.
I glanced at Sapt.
"Come on!" he cried, and spurred his horse into a gallop.
When we next paused to listen, the hoof-beats were not audible,
and we relaxed our pace. Then we heard them again.
Sapt jumped down and laid his ear to the ground.
"There are two," he said. "They're only a mile behind.
Thank God the road curves in and out, and the wind's our way."
We galloped on. We seemed to be holding our own. We had
entered the outskirts of the forest of Zenda, and the trees,
closing in behind us as the track zigged and zagged, prevented
us seeing our pursuers, and them from seeing us.
Another half-hour brought us to a divide of the road.
Sapt drew rein.
"To the right is our road," he said. "To the left, to the Castle.
Each about eight miles. Get down."
"But they'll be on us!" I cried.
"Get down!" he repeated brusquely; and I obeyed. The wood
was dense up to the very edge of the road. We led our horses
into the covert, bound handkerchiefs over their eyes, and stood
beside them.
"You want to see who they are?" I whispered.
"Ay, and where they're going," he answered.
I saw that his revolver was in his hand.
Nearer and nearer came the hoofs. The moon shone out
now clear and full, so that the road was white with it.
The ground was hard, and we had left no traces.
"Here they come!" whispered Sapt.
"It's the duke!"
"I thought so," he answered.
It was the duke; and with him a burly fellow whom I knew well,
and who had cause to know me afterwards--Max Holf, brother to
Johann the keeper, and body-servant to his Highness.
They were up to us: the duke reined up. I saw Sapt's finger
curl lovingly towards the trigger. I believe he would have given
ten years of his life for a shot; and he could have picked off
Black Michael as easily as I could a barn-door fowl in a farmyard.
I laid my hand on his arm. He nodded reassuringly:
he was always ready to sacrifice inclination to duty.
"Which way?" asked Black Michael.
"To the Castle, your Highness," urged his companion.
"There we shall learn the truth."
For an instant the duke hesitated.
"I thought I heard hoofs," said he.
"I think not, your Highness."
"Why shouldn't we go to the lodge?"
"I fear a trap. If all is well, why go to the lodge?
If not, it's a snare to trap us."
Suddenly the duke's horse neighed. In an instant we folded
our cloaks close round our horses' heads, and, holding them
thus, covered the duke and his attendant with our revolvers.
If they had found us, they had been dead men, or our prisoners.
Michael waited a moment longer. Then he cried:
"To Zenda, then!" and setting spurs to his horse, galloped on.
Sapt raised his weapon after him, and there was such an expression of
wistful regret on his face that I had much ado not to burst out laughing.
For ten minutes we stayed where we were.
"You see," said Sapt, "they've sent him news that all is well."
"What does that mean?" I asked.
"God knows," said Sapt, frowning heavily. "But it's brought him
from Strelsau in a rare puzzle."
Then we mounted, and rode as fast as our weary horses could
lay their feet to the ground. For those last eight miles we spoke
no more. Our minds were full of apprehension. "All is well."
What did it mean? Was all well with the King?
At last the lodge came in sight. Spurring our horses to a last
gallop, we rode up to the gate. All was still and quiet. Not a
soul came to meet us. We dismounted in haste. Suddenly Sapt
caught me by the arm.
"Look there!" he said, pointing to the ground.
I looked down. At my feet lay five or six silk handkerchiefs,
torn and slashed and rent. I turned to him questioningly.
"They're what I tied the old woman up with," said he.
"Fasten the horses, and come along."
The handle of the door turned without resistance. We passed
into the room which had been the scene of last night's bout.
It was still strewn with the remnants of our meal and with
empty bottles.
"Come on," cried Sapt, whose marvellous composure had at last
almost given way.
We rushed down the passage towards the cellars. The door of
the coal-cellar stood wide open.
"They found the old woman," said I.
"You might have known that from the handkerchiefs," he said.
Then we came opposite the door of the wine-cellar. It was shut.
It looked in all respects as it had looked when we left it that morning."
"Come, it's all right," said I.
A loud oath from Sapt rang out. His face turned pale, and he
pointed again at the floor. From under the door a red stain had
spread over the floor of the passage and dried there. Sapt sank
against the opposite wall. I tried the door. It was locked.
"Where's Josef?" muttered Sapt.
"Where's the King?" I responded.
Sapt took out a flask and put it to his lips. I ran back to
the dining-room, and seized a heavy poker from the fireplace.
In my terror and excitement I rained blows on the lock of the door,
and I fired a cartridge into it. It gave way, and the door swung
open.
"Give me a light," said I; but Sapt still leant against the wall.
He was, of course, more moved than I, for he loved his master.
Afraid for himself he was not--no man ever saw him that;
but to think what might lie in that dark cellar was enough
to turn any man's face pale. I went myself, and took a silver
candlestick from the dining-table and struck a light, and,
as I returned, I felt the hot wax drip on my naked hand
as the candle swayed to and fro; so that I cannot afford
to despise Colonel Sapt for his agitation.
I came to the door of the cellar. The red stain turning more
and more to a dull brown, stretched inside. I walked two yards
into the cellar, and held the candle high above my head. I saw
the full bins of wine; I saw spiders crawling on the walls;
I saw, too, a couple of empty bottles lying on the floor; and then,
away in the corner, I saw the body of a man, lying flat on his back,
with his arms stretched wide, and a crimson gash across his throat.
I walked to him and knelt down beside him, and commended to
God the soul of a faithful man. For it was the body of Josef,
the little servant, slain in guarding the King.
I felt a hand on my shoulders, and, turning, saw Sapt,
eyes glaring and terror-struck, beside me.
"The King? My God! the King?" he whispered hoarsely.
I threw the candle's gleam over every inch of the cellar.
"The King is not here," said I.
CHAPTER 7
His Majesty Sleeps in Strelsau
I put my arm round Sapt's waist and supported him out of the
cellar, drawing the battered door close after me. For ten minutes
or more we sat silent in the dining-room. Then old Sapt rubbed
said I. "You write it."
And a very tolerable forgery did this versatile hero produce.
"Now, Fritz," said he, "the King goes to bed. He is upset.
No one is to see him till nine o'clock tomorrow. You understand--
no one?"
"I understand," answered Fritz.
"Michael may come, and claim immediate audience.
You'll answer that only princes of the blood are entitled to it."
"That'll annoy Michael," laughed Fritz.
"You quite understand?" asked Sapt again. "If the door of this
room is opened while we're away, you're not to be alive to tell
us about it."
"I need no schooling, colonel," said Fritz, a trifle haughtily.
"Here, wrap yourself in this big cloak," Sapt continued to me,
"and put on this flat cap. My orderly rides with me to the
hunting-lodge tonight."
"There's an obstacle," I observed. "The horse doesn't live
that can carry me forty miles."
"Oh, yes, he does--two of him: one here--one at the lodge.
Now, are you ready?"
"I'm ready," said I.
Fritz held out his hand.
"In case," said he; and we shook hands heartily.
"Damn your sentiment!" growled Sapt. "Come along."
He went, not to the door, but to a panel in the wall.
"In the old King's time," said he, "I knew this way well."
I followed him, and we walked, as I should estimate, near
two hundred yards along a narrow passage. Then we came to
a stout oak door. Sapt unlocked it. We passed through,
and found ourselves in a quiet street that ran along the back
of the Palace gardens. A man was waiting for us with two horses.
One was a magnificent bay, up to any weight; the other a sturdy brown.
Sapt signed to me to mount the bay. Without a word to the man,
we mounted and rode away. The town was full of noise and merriment,
but we took secluded ways. My cloak was wrapped over half my face;
the capacious flat cap hid every lock of my tell-tale hair.
By Sapt's directions, I crouched on my saddle, and rode with
such a round back as I hope never to exhibit on a horse again.
Down a long narrow lane we went, meeting some wanderers and some roisterers;
and, as we rode, we heard the Cathedral bells still clanging out their welcome
to the King. It was half-past six, and still light. At last we came to the
city wall and to a gate.
"Have your weapon ready," whispered Sapt. "We must stop his mouth,
if he talks."
I put my hand on my revolver. Sapt hailed the doorkeeper.
The stars fought for us! A little girl of fourteen tripped out.
"Please, sir, father's gone to see the King."
"He'd better have stayed here," said Sapt to me, grinning.
"But he said I wasn't to open the gate, sir."
"Did he, my dear?" said Sapt, dismounting. "Then give me the key."
The key was in the child's hand. Sapt gave her a crown.
"Here's an order from the King. Show it to your father.
Orderly, open the gate!"
I leapt down. Between us we rolled back the great gate,
led our horses out, and closed it again.
"I shall be sorry for the doorkeeper if Michael finds out that
he wasn't there. Now then, lad, for a canter. We mustn't go too
fast while we're near the town."
Once, however, outside the city, we ran little danger,
for everybody else was inside, merry-making; and as the evening
fell we quickened our pace, my splendid horse bounding along
under me as though I had been a feather. It was a fine night, and
presently the moon appeared. We talked little on the way, and
chiefly about the progress we were making.
"I wonder what the duke's despatches told him," said I, once.
"Ay, I wonder!" responded Sapt.
We stopped for a draught of wine and to bait our horses,
losing half an hour thus. I dared not go into the inn,
and stayed with the horses in the stable. Then we went ahead again,
and had covered some five-and-twenty miles, when Sapt abruptly stopped.
"Hark!" he cried.
I listened. Away, far behind us, in the still of the evening--
it was just half-past nine--we heard the beat of horses' hoofs.
The wind blowing strong behind us, carried the sound.
I glanced at Sapt.
"Come on!" he cried, and spurred his horse into a gallop.
When we next paused to listen, the hoof-beats were not audible,
and we relaxed our pace. Then we heard them again.
Sapt jumped down and laid his ear to the ground.
"There are two," he said. "They're only a mile behind.
Thank God the road curves in and out, and the wind's our way."
We galloped on. We seemed to be holding our own. We had
entered the outskirts of the forest of Zenda, and the trees,
closing in behind us as the track zigged and zagged, prevented
us seeing our pursuers, and them from seeing us.
Another half-hour brought us to a divide of the road.
Sapt drew rein.
"To the right is our road," he said. "To the left, to the Castle.
Each about eight miles. Get down."
"But they'll be on us!" I cried.
"Get down!" he repeated brusquely; and I obeyed. The wood
was dense up to the very edge of the road. We led our horses
into the covert, bound handkerchiefs over their eyes, and stood
beside them.
"You want to see who they are?" I whispered.
"Ay, and where they're going," he answered.
I saw that his revolver was in his hand.
Nearer and nearer came the hoofs. The moon shone out
now clear and full, so that the road was white with it.
The ground was hard, and we had left no traces.
"Here they come!" whispered Sapt.
"It's the duke!"
"I thought so," he answered.
It was the duke; and with him a burly fellow whom I knew well,
and who had cause to know me afterwards--Max Holf, brother to
Johann the keeper, and body-servant to his Highness.
They were up to us: the duke reined up. I saw Sapt's finger
curl lovingly towards the trigger. I believe he would have given
ten years of his life for a shot; and he could have picked off
Black Michael as easily as I could a barn-door fowl in a farmyard.
I laid my hand on his arm. He nodded reassuringly:
he was always ready to sacrifice inclination to duty.
"Which way?" asked Black Michael.
"To the Castle, your Highness," urged his companion.
"There we shall learn the truth."
For an instant the duke hesitated.
"I thought I heard hoofs," said he.
"I think not, your Highness."
"Why shouldn't we go to the lodge?"
"I fear a trap. If all is well, why go to the lodge?
If not, it's a snare to trap us."
Suddenly the duke's horse neighed. In an instant we folded
our cloaks close round our horses' heads, and, holding them
thus, covered the duke and his attendant with our revolvers.
If they had found us, they had been dead men, or our prisoners.
Michael waited a moment longer. Then he cried:
"To Zenda, then!" and setting spurs to his horse, galloped on.
Sapt raised his weapon after him, and there was such an expression of
wistful regret on his face that I had much ado not to burst out laughing.
For ten minutes we stayed where we were.
"You see," said Sapt, "they've sent him news that all is well."
"What does that mean?" I asked.
"God knows," said Sapt, frowning heavily. "But it's brought him
from Strelsau in a rare puzzle."
Then we mounted, and rode as fast as our weary horses could
lay their feet to the ground. For those last eight miles we spoke
no more. Our minds were full of apprehension. "All is well."
What did it mean? Was all well with the King?
At last the lodge came in sight. Spurring our horses to a last
gallop, we rode up to the gate. All was still and quiet. Not a
soul came to meet us. We dismounted in haste. Suddenly Sapt
caught me by the arm.
"Look there!" he said, pointing to the ground.
I looked down. At my feet lay five or six silk handkerchiefs,
torn and slashed and rent. I turned to him questioningly.
"They're what I tied the old woman up with," said he.
"Fasten the horses, and come along."
The handle of the door turned without resistance. We passed
into the room which had been the scene of last night's bout.
It was still strewn with the remnants of our meal and with
empty bottles.
"Come on," cried Sapt, whose marvellous composure had at last
almost given way.
We rushed down the passage towards the cellars. The door of
the coal-cellar stood wide open.
"They found the old woman," said I.
"You might have known that from the handkerchiefs," he said.
Then we came opposite the door of the wine-cellar. It was shut.
It looked in all respects as it had looked when we left it that morning."
"Come, it's all right," said I.
A loud oath from Sapt rang out. His face turned pale, and he
pointed again at the floor. From under the door a red stain had
spread over the floor of the passage and dried there. Sapt sank
against the opposite wall. I tried the door. It was locked.
"Where's Josef?" muttered Sapt.
"Where's the King?" I responded.
Sapt took out a flask and put it to his lips. I ran back to
the dining-room, and seized a heavy poker from the fireplace.
In my terror and excitement I rained blows on the lock of the door,
and I fired a cartridge into it. It gave way, and the door swung
open.
"Give me a light," said I; but Sapt still leant against the wall.
He was, of course, more moved than I, for he loved his master.
Afraid for himself he was not--no man ever saw him that;
but to think what might lie in that dark cellar was enough
to turn any man's face pale. I went myself, and took a silver
candlestick from the dining-table and struck a light, and,
as I returned, I felt the hot wax drip on my naked hand
as the candle swayed to and fro; so that I cannot afford
to despise Colonel Sapt for his agitation.
I came to the door of the cellar. The red stain turning more
and more to a dull brown, stretched inside. I walked two yards
into the cellar, and held the candle high above my head. I saw
the full bins of wine; I saw spiders crawling on the walls;
I saw, too, a couple of empty bottles lying on the floor; and then,
away in the corner, I saw the body of a man, lying flat on his back,
with his arms stretched wide, and a crimson gash across his throat.
I walked to him and knelt down beside him, and commended to
God the soul of a faithful man. For it was the body of Josef,
the little servant, slain in guarding the King.
I felt a hand on my shoulders, and, turning, saw Sapt,
eyes glaring and terror-struck, beside me.
"The King? My God! the King?" he whispered hoarsely.
I threw the candle's gleam over every inch of the cellar.
"The King is not here," said I.
CHAPTER 7
His Majesty Sleeps in Strelsau
I put my arm round Sapt's waist and supported him out of the
cellar, drawing the battered door close after me. For ten minutes
or more we sat silent in the dining-room. Then old Sapt rubbed
- trifle [´traifəl]
n.琐事，小事；少量 (初中英语单词) - orderly [´ɔ:dəli] a.整洁的 n.勤务兵 (初中英语单词)
- estimate [´estimət, ´estimeit] n.估计；评价 vt.估价 (初中英语单词)
- waiting [´weitiŋ] n.等候；伺候 (初中英语单词)
- magnificent [mæg´nifisənt] a.壮丽的；豪华的 (初中英语单词)
- saddle [´sædl] n.鞍子 v.装鞍(于) (初中英语单词)
- exhibit [ig´zibit] vt.展出 n.展览品 (初中英语单词)
- cathedral [kə´θi:drəl] n.大教堂 (初中英语单词)
- weapon [´wepən] n.武器；斗争手段 (初中英语单词)
- feather [´feðə] n.羽毛 (初中英语单词)
- stable [´steibəl] n.马棚 a.稳固的 (初中英语单词)
- abruptly [ə´brʌptli] ad.突然地；粗鲁地 (初中英语单词)
- keeper [´ki:pə] n.管理人；看守；保管人 (初中英语单词)
- instant [´instənt] a.立即的 n.紧迫；瞬间 (初中英语单词)
- attendant [ə´tendənt] n.随员 a.伴随的 (初中英语单词)
- resistance [ri´zistəns] n.抵抗；抵制；耐力 (初中英语单词)
- terror [´terə] n.恐怖；惊骇 (初中英语单词)
- excitement [ik´saitmənt] n.兴奋；骚动；煽动 (初中英语单词)
- cellar [´selə] n.地窑，地下室 (初中英语单词)
- despise [di´spaiz] vt.轻视，藐视 (初中英语单词)
- faithful [´feiθfəl] a.忠实的；可靠的 (初中英语单词)
- majesty [´mædʒisti] n.壮丽；崇高；尊严 (初中英语单词)
- comprehensive [,kɔmpri´hensiv] a.综合的；理解的 (高中英语单词)
- sturdy [´stə:di] a.坚强的；坚定的 (高中英语单词)
- draught [drɑ:ft] n.通风，通气；吸出 (高中英语单词)
- seeing [si:iŋ] see的现在分词 n.视觉 (高中英语单词)
- repeated [ri´pi:tid] a.反复的；重复的 (高中英语单词)
- inclination [,inkli´neiʃən] n.倾斜；爱好；天资 (高中英语单词)
- apprehension [,æpri´henʃən] n.理解；忧虑；逮捕 (高中英语单词)
- strewn [stru:n] strew的过去分词 (高中英语单词)
- colonel [´kə:nəl] n.海(陆)军上校 (高中英语单词)
- crimson [´krimzən] a.&n.深(紫)红(的) (高中英语单词)
- revolver [ri´vɔlvə] n.左轮手枪；旋转者 (英语四级单词)
- setting [´setiŋ] n.安装；排字；布景 (英语四级单词)
- composure [kəm´pəuʒə] n.镇静，沉着 (英语四级单词)
- drawing [´drɔ:iŋ] n.画图；制图；图样 (英语四级单词)
- capacious [kə´peiʃəs] a.广阔的；容积大的 (英语六级单词)
- holding [´həuldiŋ] n.保持，固定，存储 (英语六级单词)
- outskirts [´autskə:ts] n.外边；郊区 (英语六级单词)
- half-hour [´hɑ:f-auə] n.&a.(每)三十分钟的 (英语六级单词)
- covert [kʌvət] a.隐藏的 n.隐藏处 (英语六级单词)
- trigger [´trigə] n.扳机 vt.触发，启动 (英语六级单词)
- cartridge [´kɑ:tridʒ] n.弹药筒；子弹 (英语六级单词)
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章节正文
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