CHAPTER 14
A Night Outside the Castle
It would have surprised the good people of Ruritania to know of theforegoing talk; for, according to the official reports, I had suffered agrievous and dangerous hurt from an accidental spear-thrust, received inthe course of my sport. I caused the bulletins to be of a very seriouscharacter, and created great public excitement, whereby three thingsoccurred: first, I gravely offended the medical faculty of Strelsau byrefusing to summon to my bedside any of them, save a young man, a friendof Fritz's, whom we could trust; secondly, I received word from MarshalStrakencz that my orders seemed to have no more weight than his, andthat the Princess Flavia was leaving for Tarlenheim under his unwillingescort (news whereat I strove not to be glad and proud); and thirdly, mybrother, the Duke of Strelsau, although too well informed to believe theaccount of the origin of my sickness, was yet persuaded by the reportsand by my seeming inactivity that I was in truth incapable of action,and that my life was in some danger. This I learnt from the man Johann,whom I was compelled to trust and send back to Zenda, where, by the way,Rupert Hentzau had him soundly flogged for daring to smirch the moralsof Zenda by staying out all night in the pursuits of love. This, fromRupert, Johann deeply resented, and the duke's approval of it did moreto bind the keeper to my side than all my promises.
On Flavia's arrival I cannot dwell. Her joy at finding me up and well,instead of on my back and fighting with death, makes a picture thateven now dances before my eyes till they grow too dim to see it; and herreproaches that I had not trusted even her must excuse the means I tookto quiet them. In truth, to have her with me once more was like a tasteof heaven to a damned soul, the sweeter for the inevitable doom thatwas to follow; and I rejoiced in being able to waste two whole days withher. And when I had wasted two days, the Duke of Strelsau arranged ahunting-party.
The stroke was near now. For Sapt and I, after anxious consultations,had resolved that we must risk a blow, our resolution being clinchedby Johann's news that the King grew peaked, pale, and ill, and that hishealth was breaking down under his rigorous confinement. Now a man--behe king or no king--may as well die swiftly and as becomes a gentleman,from bullet or thrust, as rot his life out in a cellar! That thoughtmade prompt action advisable in the interests of the King; from my ownpoint of view, it grew more and more necessary. For Strakencz urged onme the need of a speedy marriage, and my own inclinations seconded himwith such terrible insistence that I feared for my resolution. I do notbelieve that I should have done the deed I dreamt of; but I might havecome to flight, and my flight would have ruined the cause. And--yes, Iam no saint (ask my little sister-in-law), and worse still might havehappened.
It is perhaps as strange a thing as has ever been in the history of acountry that the King's brother and the King's personator, in a time ofprofound outward peace, near a placid, undisturbed country town, undersemblance of amity, should wage a desperate war for the person and lifeof the King. Yet such was the struggle that began now between Zenda andTarlenheim. When I look back on the time, I seem to myself to have beenhalf mad. Sapt has told me that I suffered no interference and listenedto no remonstrances; and if ever a King of Ruritania ruled like adespot, I was, in those days, the man. Look where I would, I saw nothingthat made life sweet to me, and I took my life in my hand and carried itcarelessly as a man dangles an old glove. At first they strove to guardme, to keep me safe, to persuade me not to expose myself; but when theysaw how I was set, there grew up among them--whether they knew the truthor not--a feeling that Fate ruled the issue, and that I must be left toplay my game with Michael my own way.
Late next night I rose from table, where Flavia had sat by me, andconducted her to the door of her apartments. There I kissed her hand,and bade her sleep sound and wake to happy days. Then I changed myclothes and went out. Sapt and Fritz were waiting for me with six menand the horses. Over his saddle Sapt carried a long coil of rope, andboth were heavily armed. I had with me a short stout cudgel and a longknife. Making a circuit, we avoided the town, and in an hour foundourselves slowly mounting the hill that led to the Castle of Zenda. Thenight was dark and very stormy; gusts of wind and spits of rain caughtus as we breasted the incline, and the great trees moaned and sighed.When we came to a thick clump, about a quarter of a mile from theCastle, we bade our six friends hide there with the horses. Sapt had awhistle, and they could rejoin us in a few moments if danger came: but,up to now, we had met no one. I hoped that Michael was still off hisguard, believing me to be safe in bed. However that might be, we gainedthe top of the hill without accident, and found ourselves on the edge ofthe moat where it sweeps under the road, separating the Old Castlefrom it. A tree stood on the edge of the bank, and Sapt, silently anddiligently, set to make fast the rope. I stripped off my boots, took apull at a flask of brandy, loosened the knife in its sheath, and tookthe cudgel between my teeth. Then I shook hands with my friends, notheeding a last look of entreaty from Fritz, and laid hold of the rope. Iwas going to have a look at "Jacob's Ladder."
Gently I lowered myself into the water. Though the night was wild, theday had been warm and bright, and the water was not cold. I struck out,and began to swim round the great walls which frowned above me. I couldsee only three yards ahead; I had then good hopes of not being seen,as I crept along close under the damp, moss-grown masonry. There werelights from the new part of the Castle on the other side, and now andagain I heard laughter and merry shouts. I fancied I recognized youngRupert Hentzau's ringing tones, and pictured him flushed with wine.Recalling my thoughts to the business in hand, I rested a moment. IfJohann's description were right, I must be near the window now. Veryslowly I moved; and out of the darkness ahead loomed a shape. It wasthe pipe, curving from the window to the water: about four feet of itssurface were displayed; it was as big round as two men. I was about toapproach it, when I saw something else, and my heart stood still.The nose of a boat protruded beyond the pipe on the other side; andlistening intently, I heard a slight shuffle--as of a man shifting hisposition. Who was the man who guarded Michael's invention? Was he awakeor was he asleep? I felt if my knife were ready, and trod water; asI did so, I found bottom under my feet. The foundations of the Castleextended some fifteen inches, making a ledge; and I stood on it, out ofwater from my armpits upwards. Then I crouched and peered through thedarkness under the pipe, where, curving, it left a space.
There was a man in the boat. A rifle lay by him--I saw the gleam ofthe barrel. Here was the sentinel! He sat very still. I listened; hebreathed heavily, regularly, monotonously. By heaven, he slept! Kneelingon the shelf, I drew forward under the pipe till my face was within twofeet of his. He was a big man, I saw. It was Max Holf, the brother ofJohann. My hand stole to my belt, and I drew out my knife. Of all thedeeds of my life, I love the least to think of this, and whether it werethe act of a man or a traitor I will not ask. I said to myself: "It iswar--and the King's life is the stake." And I raised myself from beneaththe pipe and stood up by the boat, which lay moored by the ledge.Holding my breath, I marked the spot and raised my arm. The great fellowstirred. He opened his eyes--wide, wider. He grasped in terror at myface and clutched at his rifle. I struck home. And I heard the chorus ofa love-song from the opposite bank.
Leaving him where he lay, a huddled mass, I turned to "Jacob's Ladder."My time was short. This fellow's turn of watching might be overdirectly, and relief would come. Leaning over the pipe, I examined it,from the end near the water to the topmost extremity where it passed, orseemed to pass, through the masonry of the wall. There was no breakin it, no chink. Dropping on my knees, I tested the under side. Andmy breath went quick and fast, for on this lower side, where the pipeshould have clung close to the masonry, there was a gleam of light! Thatlight must come from the cell of the King! I set my shoulder against thepipe and exerted my strength. The chink widened a very, very little,and hastily I desisted; I had done enough to show that the pipe was notfixed in the masonry at the lower side.
Then I heard a voice--a harsh, grat
ing voice:
"Well, sire, if you have had enough of my society, I will leave you torepose; but I must fasten the little ornaments first."
It was Detchard! I caught the English accent in a moment.
"Have you anything to ask, sire, before we part?"
The King's voice followed. It was his, though it was faint andhollow--different from the merry tones I had heard in the glades of theforest.
"Pray my brother," said the King, "to kill me. I am dying by incheshere."
"The duke does not desire your death, sire--yet," sneered Detchard;"when he does behold your path to heaven!"
The King answered:
"So be it! And now, if your orders allow it, pray leave me."
"May you dream of paradise!" said the ruffian.
The light disappeared. I heard the bolts of the door run home. And thenI heard the sobs of the King. He was alone, as he thought. Who daresmock at him?
I did not venture to speak to him. The risk of some exclamation escapinghim in surprise was too great. I dared do nothing that night; and mytask now was to get myself away in safety, and to carry off the carcassof the dead man. To leave him there would tell too much. Casting loosethe boat, I got in. The wind was blowing a gale now, and there waslittle danger of oars being heard. I rowed swiftly round to where myfriends waited. I had just reached the spot, when a loud whistle soundedover the moat behind me.
"Hullo, Max!" I heard shouted.
I hailed Sapt in a low tone. The rope came down. I tied it round thecorpse, and then went up it myself.
"Whistle you too," I whispered, "for our men, and haul in the line. Notalk now."
They hauled up the body. Just as it reached the road, three men onhorseback swept round from the front of the Castle. We saw them; but,being on foot ourselves, we escaped their notice. But we heard our mencoming up with a shout.
"The devil, but it's dark!" cried a ringing voice.
It was young Rupert. A moment later, shots rang out. Our people had metthem. I started forward at a run, Sapt and Fritz following me.
"Thrust, thrust!" cried Rupert again, and a loud groan following toldthat he himself was not behind-hand.
"I'm done, Rupert!" cried a voice. "They're three to one. Saveyourself!"
I ran on, holding my cudgel in my hand. Suddenly a horse came towardsme. A man was on it, leaning over his shoulder.
"Are you cooked too, Krafstein?" he cried.
There was no answer.
I sprang to the horse's head. It was Rupert Hentzau.
"At last!" I cried.
For we seemed to have him. He had only his sword in his hand. My menwere hot upon him; Sapt and Fritz were running up. I had outstrippedthem; but if they got close enough to fire, he must die or surrender.
"At last!" I cried.
"It's the play-actor!" cried he, slashing at my cudgel. He cut it cleanin two; and, judging discretion better than death, I ducked my headand (I blush to tell it) scampered for my life. The devil was in RupertHentzau; for he put spurs to his horse, and I, turning to look, saw himride, full gallop, to the edge of the moat and leap in, while the shotsof our party fell thick round him like hail. With one gleam of moonlightwe should have riddled him with balls; but, in the darkness, he won tothe corner of the Castle, and vanished from our sight.
"The deuce take him!" grinned Sapt.
"It's a pity," said I, "that he's a villain. Whom have we got?"
We had Lauengram and Krafstein: they lay dead; and, concealment beingno longer possible, we flung them, with Max, into the moat; and, drawingtogether in a compact body, rode off down the hill. And, in our midst,went the bodies of three gallant gentlemen. Thus we travelled home,heavy at heart for the death of our friends, sore uneasy concerningthe King, and cut to the quick that young Rupert had played yet anotherwinning hand with us.
For my own part, I was vexed and angry that I had killed no man in openfight, but only stabbed a knave in his sleep. And I did not love to hearRupert call me a play-actor.