CHAPTER IX.
THE KING'S WHIM.
Things had been going on very pleasantly for some weeks, and Michael andhis attractive little neighbour had been growing more and more intimatewith each other, when one evening, on entering the room as usual, he sawat once that something was amiss; for Esther's bright face was quiteoverclouded, and her blue eyes looked troubled.
But Euphrosyne was mounting guard over her young mistress as she alwaysdid, and Michael's anxious but cautious inquiries met with evasiveanswers, or passed unnoticed.
How he wished the old woman would find something to look after in thekitchen or elsewhere--anything to get rid of her, if but for a fewminutes!
The conversation was less animated than usual this evening: Estherseemed to find a difficulty in talking and she said positively that shecould not sing; and Michael was becoming quite uneasy and almostinclined to take his departure, when--whether she felt that she was notwanted or not--something or other made Euphrosyne discover, or perhapspretend to discover, that she had something to attend to in anotherroom.
Such a thing had never happened before, and Michael seized hisopportunity, blessing her in his heart for leaving them to themselves,but fearing she would be back before he had said what he wanted to say.
"Now, Esther," he said persuasively, seating himself on the divan by herside--"now, Esther, tell me what has happened. What is troubling you?you look so sad and out of spirits. What is the matter? I am sure thereis something."
"My friend," answered Esther, "I _am_ sad, for I am to leave Buda."
"Why? where are you going?" cried Michael.
"I don't know," said the girl--"I don't know! There! read what he says."And she handed Michael a letter.
"The king's writing!" he exclaimed; and then he read with a beatingheart:--
"MY LITTLE SISTER[13] ESTHER,--Your parents came of distinguished ancestry. You are an orphan; Mr. Samson got possession of all that belonged to you, and since he has paid the penalty of his crimes, his property has come into our treasury. We have lately heard from Munkacs that he has died a natural death, and we are willing to restore a portion of his possessions to you, if you on your part are willing to give your hand to one of our 'Supreme Counts,'[14] a man of very ancient family. If you cannot make up your mind to this, my little sister, then you must go away from here; for your frequent meetings with Mr. Tornay--whose head I will wash for him!--have attracted attention, and will make you talked about.
"MATTHIAS."
[Footnote 13: "Little sister" and "little brother" are usual forms of addressing the young.]
[Footnote 14: _Foe-ispan_, the head and administrator of a county, not a hereditary count.]
Michael let the letter drop from his hand in dismay, and then exclaimedpassionately, "Why, the king placed me here; and, besides, he asked mehimself whether I had made acquaintance with my neighbour."
"True," said Esther sadly, "and I told His Highness so myself; but hegave me quite a scolding for letting you come and see me so often."
"What!" cried Michael, surprised and even startled; "the king has beenhere?"
"He has indeed," said Esther, the tears springing to her eyes."Yesterday, while you were out riding the beautiful cream-coloured horsewith the green silk trappings, the king came. I had never seen himbefore, but as he closed the door behind him, I knew in a moment that itwas the king and no one else. I felt it somehow, I don't know how."
"And what did he say? was he in a good humour?"
"Good? not by any means. He looked at me as fiercely as if I were goingto do him I don't know what injury, and yet I pray for him every day,and have never sinned against him so much as in thought."
"Strange!" said Michael. "And this count! The whirlwind take him and allhis ancient family pedigree away together! Do you know this count? Andis there any count in all the wide world who loves you as well as I do?"
"You?" said Esther, lifting her tearful eyes; "but you see you nevertold me you did."
"I _have_ told you!" said Michael, impetuously seizing Esther's hand andcovering it with kisses; "every word I have uttered has told you so,ever since I first saw you. Ah! you might have understood me,because--I was once a beggar boy, how could I speak more plainly? _I_have no family pedigree, and I shall never be a Supreme Count," hefinished gloomily.
"Is it true?" said Esther, blushing very prettily, but looking severalshades less melancholy than before.
"Why shouldn't it be true, my star? Of course it is true! Don't youbelieve me?" said Michael, drawing her to himself. "But I am the son ofpoor parents, only a beggar boy, and that abominable count, hang him!may--what was I going to say?--well, anyhow, may the grasshoppers fallupon him!"
"Michael," said Esther, a little shyly, "if you do love me--butunderstand well, I mean _really_ love me, really and truly--well then, Iwill just confess that I love you too, with all my heart, truly, as mylife. You are more to me than all the counts in the world, for you aremy Supreme Count; and even if you can't point to a line of ancestors,what does it signify? Somebody has to make a beginning, and you aremaking your own name; surely that is a great deal more than merelyinheriting it! Besides, your family pedigree is as long as any one's inthe world after all; for it reaches back to old Father Adam, and no onecan go further."
At that moment Euphrosyne reappeared with the lights; but Michael caredlittle for her, now that he had found out what he wanted to know. Esthercared for him; what else could possibly matter?
"I must go to the king," said Michael. "He has always been most graciousto me, and why should he want to crush me now, after being the making ofme? Why should he make my heart bitter, when it beats true to him and tomy love? Don't be sad, my star. I will see him to-morrow, and tell himeverything. He is so good, so kind, and so just! and it wouldn't be justto take you away from me, after bringing you here and letting us learnto know one another. If I only knew which count it was! but there aremore than fifty. There is not one of them, though, that found you out inMr. Samson's castle, and you never sang any of their songs, did you now?_Did_ any one ever make songs for you but me?"
"No one! I don't know any count, unless the old gentleman who escortedus was one, and I hardly spoke to him."
But just then they were interrupted, for the door opened, and one of theroyal pages stepped in.
"I have been looking for you in your quarters, lieutenant-general,"said he; "and as I did not find you at home, it is a good thing you arehere. See, this is from the king; please to read it." And he handed anote to Michael, who turned deadly pale as he took it and read asfollows:--
"I wish you all good.
"So you have become very well acquainted indeed with your neighbours! and we suspect that you have spent more time tied to their apron-strings than in exercising the garrison. We shall therefore give you something to do.
"We shall expect you to be at Visegrad by eleven o'clock to-morrow morning, and we will there give you our orders. Be prepared for three months' absence from Buda.
"You will not see your neighbour again; she is to be the bride of Aggtelky Mihaly, one of our best-beloved and most trusty counts. God be with us.[15]
"MATTHIAS."
[Footnote 15: Equivalent to our "adieu."]
The note was written in the most formally polite style. There was no"gossip" or "little brother," there was not even a "thou" in it--nothingfrom beginning to end but "your grace," answering indeed to our "you,"but a good deal more chilling to those accustomed to the friendly "thee"and "thou."
Michael smothered his wrath as best he could, feeling how much he owedto the king, and that it would be the blackest ingratitude to showpassion and resentment because he now crossed his will.
"I will obey His Highness's commands," said he to the page, who at oncewithdrew.
Then he embraced Esther, and said with a hea
vy sigh, "All is not lostyet. The king is good, and--God is better. Keep up your heart."
* * * * *
The next morning the young lieutenant-general was at Visegrad by theappointed time, and went at once to the governor, who told him that theking had arrived a couple of hours previously, very irritable and out ofhumour, as it seemed.
"What can have happened to His Highness?" asked Michael, grieved to hearof the king's ill-humour, and fearing not only that his petition wouldcome at a most unfortunate time, but that the king would not perhaps lethim have speech of him at all.
"Eh!" said the governor, "who knows what our good king has to worryhim? There's trouble enough in the country just now, that's certain, andhe has both his hands full. But I am sure I am not afraid of him; and asfor those who vex him, may they suffer for it as they deserve!"
A long hour passed, and still the king did not send for Michael, thoughthe governor had lost no time in announcing his arrival. But at last,after he had waited what to him seemed a very long time, the summonscame. The page who brought it looked grave, but beyond that his facebetrayed nothing, and Michael hastened with a beating heart into thepresence of the master whom he adored, but now, perhaps for the firsttime in his life, feared to meet.
When he entered the beautiful, well-lighted room, whose painted windowslooked out upon the Danube, he found King Matthias seated near an openwindow, in an arm-chair covered with yellow velvet, and looking moregloomy than he had ever seen him before. He was very plainly, almostcarelessly, attired, and near him was his favourite scholar, thelibrarian Galeotti, who also looked melancholy and stood gazing atvacancy, as if he were trying to peer into the future.
"Is it you?" said Matthias coldly; "you have kept me waiting a longtime."
"Mr. King," answered Michael, "I have been here for the past two hours,as you commanded."
"Ah! true, I was forgetting; of course they announced you. Are youprepared for a long journey?"
"A soldier is ready to march without much preparation," said Michael,with a great want of his usual alacrity. "I am ready to receive yourHighness's orders."
"Good," said the king. "You will start for Vienna in an hour's timethen, with Mr. Galeotti here. He is going on a mission for me to theEmperor Friedrich; and until my friend has completed his business, whichmay perhaps take six months, you are not to leave him."
Michael said nothing.
"Well?" the king went on, in a tone of impatient annoyance. "Perhaps youdon't fancy such an errand; you would prefer, no doubt, to be sentagainst Axamith,[16] who has effected a lodgment again in the north, aswe hear, and is thieving and plundering like a swarm of grasshoppers."
[Footnote 16: One of the Bohemian freebooters.]
"Why should I deny it?" said Michael humbly, well knowing that the kingliked the truth even when he was angry. "If Your Highness were disposedto send me on active service somewhere, I _should_ prefer it. Butwherever you please to order me, I shall go with a good will; for mylife belongs to my king."
"Hm!" said Matthias, fixing his searching eyes upon the speaker; "may beso, but just at present your tongue does not speak the thoughts of yourheart."
"Sir! Your Highness!"
"'Highness' I may be, but 'gracious' I am not to-day, am I, Mr. MichaelTornay? You have yourself to thank for it, for you have been putting badwood on the fire,[17] and you have been going very near what isforbidden fruit."
[Footnote 17: That is, you have been up to mischief.]
"Forbidden fruit?" said Michael, exceedingly cast down by the king'scold treatment of him.
"It is true I did not distinctly forbid it you, but I could not supposeyou would take fire so quickly."
Michael said nothing, and the king went on,--
"Don't deny it, for I know everything. You have fallen in love withEsther. It is just fortunate that the girl has more sense than you, anddoes not trust your fine words."
"I humbly beg your pardon," said Michael, unwilling to let theopportunity slip, "I believe, on the contrary, Your Highness, thatEsther--"
"Esther is going to marry Aggtelky Mihaly, the Supreme Count," said theking decidedly; "and now that you know this, it will be as well for youto give up thinking of her. To make it easier for you, and to impress itupon your mind, it will not be amiss for you to spend a few months awayfrom Buda."
"Your Highness," Michael began again in an imploring tone.
"Enough!" said the king in a stern voice. "Now both follow me to thecastle chapel. You will receive your instructions after service, andthen--to Vienna!"
Michael was in the utmost consternation, but he did not venture anotherword. It was so strange to see the gay, good-natured king thus unlikehimself, that he thought he must either be ill, or must have had verybad news from somewhere, or--was it possible?--that some one had beentrying to set him against himself, by telling malicious tales. Hisrapid advancement, and the favour which the king showed him, had, heknew, excited some envy and jealousy. Had some secret enemy then been atwork?
But then King Matthias was not given to listening to tales, and if hehad heard anything to Michael's discredit, he would have told him of itplainly, and given him the opportunity of clearing himself.
He glanced interrogatively at Galeotti; but the Italian merely shruggedhis shoulders to express his entire bewilderment. They were walkingbehind the king now, towards the chapel, which they found dressed withlovely flowers as if for a festival; but Michael was so engrossed in hisown thoughts, so sore at heart, and so hurt by what he felt to be thejust king's injustice, that he had no attention to spare for anythingelse.
They took their places; the shrill tones of a bell were heard, and theservice began and proceeded quietly to its close.
The king rose up, and was about to leave the chapel, when he stoppedshort, saying, "So--I was forgetting! Another little ceremony takesplace here to-day, of course. Follow me."
With that he turned towards the vestry, Michael following him withlistless steps.
The door was opened by some one within; but Michael's eyes were bentupon the ground, and he saw nothing but the marble floor, until Galeottitwitched him by the sleeve and made him look up. Then he saw what filledhim first with amazement and next with passionate indignation.
For there before him, like a beautiful dream, stood Esther--_his_ Estheras he felt her to be, in spite of kings and counts--_his_ Esther, robedin white, with a bridal wreath on her head, and looking as fair and pureas a dove!
Michael turned almost as white as the bride's dress. He had been broughtto Visegrad to see her married to the count! That was his firstcollected thought. Could the king, the master whom he had soloved--_could_ he be so cruel, so heartlessly cruel?
For a moment or two Michael was so torn in pieces between his love forEsther and his love and reverence for the king, that he felt as if hewere losing his senses, and might say or do something outrageous.
The king stopped and turned towards him, as if he were about to speak;but Michael did not notice it, for his eyes were fixed upon the bride,and he was trying to master himself.
"Mr. Michael Tornay!"
Michael started at the sound of the king's voice, and looked at himmechanically.
Matthias held in his hand a heavy gold case, with a piece of parchmentfrom which hung a large seal. The clouds had vanished from his face asif by magic, and he was apparently quite himself again, for he looked asbright and pleasant as possible.
"Mr. Michael Tornay," he said in a gay tone, which completed Michael'sbewilderment, "you have answered all our expectations. If we have beenthe making of you, you have given us complete satisfaction in return.You have won our heart by your faithful affection, your valour, and yourlove and devotion to your country. And now, see, we herewith endow youwith an estate for which we have chosen the name of Aggtelky, from oneof the properties included in it. We also entrust you with theadministration of the county of Szathmar; and that you may not belonely, and find the time hang heavy on your han
ds, we propose to giveyou this naughty little daughter of Eve to torment you.
"What have you to say to this? Will it suit you better than going toVienna, little brother--eh? Ah! I thought so," as Michael and his bridefell upon their knees, unable for the moment to utter a word. "Then, ifthe bride is pleased to accept you after all, Mr. Supreme Count MichaelAggtelky, the wedding shall take place at once."
THE END