The Strange Story of Rab Ráby

  CHAPTER XLIII.

  The Emperor received both of Raby's letters--the forged and the genuineone--nearly at the same time, for the latter had been sent by expresspost. Shortly afterwards, it became known that his Majesty was going topay a visit to Pesth, ostensibly to review some troops. It was this newsthat had hastened the walling up of Raby's cell. The Emperor was not tofind him when he came, and when the Kaiser had gone, they meant torestore the dungeon-door to its place. For they did not intend to killtheir victim outright by burying him alive.

  In order to dry the fresh masonry, they often let the window in thecorridor stand open, and so thick was the rime that you could not seethe walls for it. Nay, the hair and beard of the captive were white toowith it, and from the frozen ceiling, the icicles dropped down upon himas he lay on his straw couch. But the greatest misfortune induced by thecold was that he became so hoarse, he could not answer the voice fromabove, but could only rattle his chains to show that he still lived.

  On the day of the Emperor's arrival, the voice ceased, and he heardmen's footsteps above, as if re-arranging the room, in view perhaps ofthe imperial visit.

  In fact the Kaiser had come, and by mid-day had inspected his troops andwas sitting down to a frugal mid-day meal in the Assembly House, as washis custom, alone, giving orders the while to the crowd ofaides-de-camp, and the various functionaries who came and went. He leftuntasted the glass of old Tokay, poured out for him by the obsequiousLaskoy in a glass of rare Venetian crystal, for to the date of itsvintage he was quite indifferent.

  "And now," said his Majesty, when he had finished, "tell me what hashappened to my commissioner, Mr. Mathias Raby?"

  "Sire, he has gone back some time since to his home in Szent-Endre, andwe had a letter of thanks from him just lately."

  "I have seen that letter," returned the Emperor drily, "likewise anotherwritten from the dungeon of the Assembly House, wherein I learn he isstill a prisoner."

  "Ah, sire, that is easily explained," answered the lieutenant airily."The fact is that we had imprisoned at the same time as Raby, a renownedforger, who has been deceiving even your Majesty by carefully forgedletters in your commissioner's handwriting."

  "What could he have gained by that?" said the Emperor.

  "Probably he knew," returned Laskoy, "that Raby enjoyed your Majesty'sfavour, and reckoned that, as you were coming to visit the Pesth prisonin person, he would thus recall himself to your Majesty and gain ahearing from you."

  "That reminds me," answered the Emperor, "that I have not yet seen theprison, so I will trouble you to lead the way."

  And Laskoy proceeded to conduct the imperial guest to the dungeons, evento the most noisome, regardless of the pestilential atmosphere which metthe visitor. The Emperor had every door unlocked, and insisted on seeingeverything, and it was plain from his sharp scrutiny that he did nottrust his guide.

  Then he inspected the cells where the "noble" culprits were confined,and among them that formerly tenanted by Raby. The bed which theprisoner had occupied, was duly pointed out to the Emperor, and then heproceeded to inspect the rest of the cells in order.

  Three times did he actually pass the door of Raby's dungeon (and theprisoner could hear the clink of his spurs overhead), yet did notdiscover the one he sought. And no suspicion crossed the captive's mindfrom behind his walled-up door that his would-be deliverer was close athand.

  The deception had been only too well carried out. Not even by coming inperson to free him, as the Emperor had promised his emissary, could hesucceed in delivering him.

  And there was not a single man of them all who would point to Raby'scell, and say boldly, "There lies the man whom you are seeking."

  As for Mariska, she had been sent that very day to her aunt's at Buda,for some of the officers had been quartered at the head notary's, and itwas no longer the place for the daughter of the house.

  And the Emperor went that day into camp, but Raby still languished inhis dungeon.