CHAPTER XXXIX.
The Emperor sent Raby two agents of the secret police, who were told offto accompany him wherever he went; both had full powers to claimadmission everywhere, to arrest anyone they desired without respect torank, and to draw the requisite funds they might need from the publicbanks.
One of them, named Plotzlich, was a famous detective, and never so happyas when he was tracking some notorious criminal to his lair, ordexterously unravelling some-deep-laid plot. His personal courage waseverywhere recognised, and he had won high distinction in theperformance of his duties in Vienna, where he was generally respectedand feared; in fact, Raby could hardly have had a better man to protecthim.
However, even Mr. Plotzlich had his limitations, as Raby found out bythe time they were fairly on the road in the diligence. Thepolice-commissioner had never been out of Vienna, and a country journeywas a new experience.
At the sight of the sparrows (which had been exterminated in the towns)he cried, "How very small the pigeons are here!" Then, seeing somecountry peasants hunting marmots out of their holes, he asked what kindof an animal they were, whereupon the farmer he addressed told him itwas an Hungarian mouse. From which it will be seen that the accomplisheddetective's knowledge of zoology was limited, to say the least of it.
When they put up for the night at an inn on the road, Raby noted withsome surprise that Plotzlich drew his sword and laid it in the bedbeside him. Raby assured him that no danger was to be apprehended, asall the doors were barred against possible attacks from robbers.
"Ah! that may be," returned the other, "but," pointing to a mouse hole,"suppose an Hungarian mouse should get in!"
Meantime the long formal document which officially announced Raby'sreadiness to appear before his judges to refute the charges against him,had been drawn up and sent to Pesth, and the head of the police there,as well as the district commissioner were properly notified of the same.
It was growing dusk when Raby and his two conductors arrived in Buda.And this was just as well, so that they should not be recognised. So erethe street lamps were lit they hastened to the police-station, where ithad been arranged they should stay. Over the door hung the greatAustrian eagle, and below a soldier guarded the great shield bearingthe imperial coat of arms, which showed that here no Hungarian hadjurisdiction.
But the chief of the police complained loudly when he heard who hisguest was, and made a very wry face at Raby's name.
"H'm," he said doubtfully, "I have received orders from the governor ofthe city to deliver over to him the prisoner Raby if he should come intomy power."
"But we bring you the imperial mandate," exclaimed the others, "that yougive a shelter here to the noble gentleman, Mr. Mathias Raby, who is oneof his Majesty's chamberlains."
"Well, my friend," answered the Buda official, "remember that hisMajesty is far away, while his Excellency is near."
"Surely the Emperor is a greater man than the governor of Pesth," criedMr. Plotzlich indignantly.
"Well, you will see for yourselves," retorted the Buda chief, "you don'tknow the Pesth authorities as well as I do."
"Yes, but remember we have instructions from the Kaiser," they answered.
"You had better go and interview him yourselves."
And off they went, leaving Raby under the shelter of the Austrianauthorities.
* * * * *
Arrived at the governor's palace, they were received by his Excellency,who, after seeing their credentials, asked abruptly what they desired.
"We are commissioned by his Majesty to accompany hither Mr. Raby, who isto appear for the purpose of confronting his accusers at the PesthAssembly House shortly."
"Do you mean the good-for-nothing fellow who ran away the other day fromprison?"
"May it please your Excellency, he is authorised by the Emperorhimself."
"And he is likewise my prisoner, don't forget that!"
"Pardon me, he is under our special protection, with an imperialsafe-conduct and is here for the fulfilment of a perfectly lawfulpurpose."
"And I have already ordered that he shall be surrendered to the custodyof the Pesth magistracy."
"Then I must emphatically protest in the Kaiser's name. Here is hisauthorisation."
"Then I recommend you to keep it," returned his Excellency drily. "TheKaiser commands in Vienna, but it is my turn here."
And with that the governor got up and rang the bell.
It was answered by a secretary.
"Go to the Assembly House and tell them to send an escort of police toarrest the runaway prisoner Raby," was the peremptory order.
The Vienna police-agents both exclaimed loudly at this defiance of theirprerogative: "We protest, we protest!" they cried angrily. "This issheer rebellion."
"Protest if you dare," retorted his Excellency. "I'll have you bothplaced in irons if you don't make off, and you will have time enough toremember Hungarian justice for the rest of your lives."
And the two commissioners, seeing all protest was futile, thoughtdiscretion was the better part of valour, and hastened away as fast asthey could, till they reached the shelter of the Austrian eagle. There acouncil of war was held by the indignant officials and Raby.
But they had not much time for discussion, for not long after, theprovost of the Pesth prison arrived with an armed guard to arrest Raby.
His Austrian protectors insisted on accompanying their charge, whoseforcible removal they strongly resented, though their protests wereunavailing.
The Vienna officers naturally thought they would cross from Buda toPesth by the bridge; what was their dismay, then, to find that theexpedition meant to ferry across, and this in spite of the drift-icewhich at that season of the year encumbered the Danube and made itdangerous for navigation.
"However shall we get across," they asked, as they gazed inconsternation at the river, which did not look inviting, it must beowned.
"Oh, that's soon done," said the provost airily. "You've only to getinto the boat here," and he led the way to the ferry-boat which wasfastened close at hand.
"Please be good enough to get in," said their conductor.
The prisoner was pushed in first, and the two commissioners dutifullyprepared to follow him.
"However are we going to make our way through the ice?" asked Plotzlichanxiously.
"You'll soon see," was the ready answer.
The helmsman cut her adrift, and the rowers pushed from the shore; butscarcely had they put off, before a huge ice-floe drove them back again.
"Ship your oars," roared the ferry-man, and the rowers dexterouslytrimmed the boat which had well-nigh capsized under the blow, but fortheir skill.
It was too much for the Vienna officials. "We protest in the Emperor'sname!" they yelled, whilst Plotzlich, in mingled fear and anger cried,"I am bound under oath not to allow anyone to cross the river when it isunnavigable through ice, and I won't transgress my own rules, so take usback to the shore!"
And so back they came, and the two Viennese speedily disembarked. "AndMr. Raby as well," they cried.
"Not he!" laughed the provost triumphantly. "You needn't trouble yourheads about him. Whosoever is born to be hanged will not be drowned, ofthat you may be sure."
And once more they put off on their perilous journey, while thepolice-agents took out their red pocket-books and made formal memorandaof what had just happened. Meanwhile, with much trouble and long delay,Raby and his custodians reached the other side, not without narrowlyescaping destruction.
The next morning, the river being free from drift ice, the twocommissioners took their way to Pesth, and by dint of much threateningand imploring, arrived at the door of the prisoner's dungeon, where theycould speak with him.
"Are you there, Mr. Raby?" they asked anxiously, "and what are youdoing?"
"Yes, I'm here sure enough, and clanking my chains for want of any otheramusement," was the answer.
"You don't mean to say you are in irons?" cried
his questioners.
"Yes, indeed, both my hands and feet are fettered fast."
"Well, have no fear, we will soon free you!"
For this was more than the police commissioners could stand; and theydashed off in hot haste to demand Raby's release from the authorities,but they found the latter perfectly obdurate to all their entreaties.Finally, they tackled Laskoy, and extorted from that gentleman a promiseto remove the prisoner's fetters. They also were invited by him toattend the inquiry next morning, when they might see Raby forthemselves, he said, and escort him away a free man.
So the following morning found the two Viennese again at the AssemblyHouse, but there was not a soul about, save a clerk who could give thembut scant information. So they determined to get their news atfirst-hand, and make for Raby's cell. On the way they fell in withJanosics, carrying a brazier containing disinfectants, whose fumesfilled the corridor.
"When does Mr. Raby appear before the court?" they inquired eagerly.
"Not to-day," said the gaoler, "the poor man is ill."
"Let us see him and speak with him."
"You cannot, he is much too bad; besides I have to fumigate the wholeplace on account of his illness."
"But what is his malady then?"
"That I cannot tell you; ask the doctor when he comes out."
And at that moment the cell-door opened and the doctor walked out,carrying a shovel on which some aromatic gum was burning, in one hand,and in the other a pocket-handkerchief soaked with spirits of lavender.He spoke to no one till he had washed his hands in a bowl of vinegar andwater that a heyduke held for him, the commissioners looking on somewhataghast at all these precautions. Raby's malady must be something verycontagious to demand them.
At last Plotzlich summoned up courage to ask what was the matter withthe prisoner.
The doctor took a long inhalation of the lavender and then whispered tothe official, nervously, "It's the oriental plague."
It was enough for the Viennese. They thought no more of the unfortunateman they were leaving behind them, but without more ado, hastened out ofthe infected building as fast as their legs could carry them, to takethe fatal news back to Vienna. As for Raby he was as good as dead andburied, as far as the world was concerned, for his death was a foregoneconclusion.