CHAPTER XLIV.
Raby's persecutors were getting tired of their unavailing efforts tobreak the prisoner's spirit, so they determined on softer measures, andthree days after the Emperor had left Pesth, his dungeon was brokenopen, and Laskoy and Petray arrived to make personal investigations intotheir victim's state.
Truly it was a pitiable spectacle that met their gaze when at last abreach was made in the masonry and they penetrated into the cell. Awasted and attenuated figure they saw half-buried under the snow thathad drifted in on to his straw bed through the grating--snow that wasstained red with the blood that had streamed from the captive's wounds.
"Take the irons off!" ordered Petray, "and wrap the prisoner up in warmcoverings."
And the order was not unnecessary, for it was some time ere thelocksmith could be found, and, meantime the victim was benumbed nearlyto death with cold.
Even the locksmith, as he filed off the fetters from Raby's bleedingwrists and ankles, could not suppress a murmur of pity, for he was onlya public servant who did as he was told, and had a kind heart.
When at last Raby was freed from his chains, he could not stand, and hadto be carried by two heydukes to a neighbouring cell, which was one ofthose he had formerly occupied.
"Let him rest for a little," ordered Petray, "and then I will have aword with him, and meantime, you may bring him some egg-broth withwine."
And the broth revived the wretched prisoner, half-starved and frozen ashe was, with new life, and he eagerly swallowed it. He was conscious ofa feeling of anger against himself for thus being so ready to acceptalleviation for his miserable body, that so little emulated his strong,unconquered soul. One thing alone lightened the memories of hissufferings, and that was the voice that had cheered his loneliness withits encouraging whisper. And lulled by the unaccustomed warmth, he sankinto a comforting slumber, and at his awakening, only had his bandagedlimbs to remind him of his irons. Yet the remembrance that it was toPetray, of all people, that he owed this amelioration of his misery,stung him as with a lash.
But just then the door opened, and in walked his enemy himself. He cameup to Raby's couch and asked the prisoner how he had slept, and whetherhe felt better. But the captive answered these hypocritical enquiries bynever so much as a word.
"You have to thank me for this change, you know," pursued Petray, "for Ihave been chosen as your advocate when you appeal against yoursentence."
"What?" cried Raby, in his excitement springing up, in spite of hisweakness, from the couch. "You to be my defender! You who are alreadygravely impeached in the indictment I have formulated! Why such a falseposition is impossible; it is you who must stand at the bar. Do you meanto say you, who are my worst enemy, are entrusted with my defence?"
Petray smiled. He knew well enough he had a sick man to deal with, whowas physically incapable of attacking him.
"Now you see how unjust it makes you, this misunderstanding. You shallknow that the accused must have a counsel when he is confronted by theindictment. There are two of us, myself and the lieutenant, who have totake your case in hand; which do you prefer, him or me?"
"Neither," cried Raby indignantly. "I am my own counsel, and I know howto defend myself, and do not need any of your help."
"My dear friend, be reasonable; see how unjust this is," said Petray ina wheedling voice. "You think I would defend you badly. But it isbecause I want to prevent you running your head against a wall that I amdoing this. Listen, I'll read you the points of your defence."
And Petray proceeded to read the document in which he had set forthRaby's case with such cunning adroitness, that black appeared white inhis representations, and white wholly black. Such a web of sophistries,in fact, had he woven, that it had been difficult for a hearer todisentangle the truth. In it all the guilt was laid at the door of thedead "pope," and Raby appeared as a too confiding victim of his wilesand misrepresentations. It was a tissue of false statements, yet Rabylistened to the end.
Then he said indignantly: "So you really believe I need all that for myjustification, do you, that the guiltless are to be blamed and thecriminal cleared, in order that the truth be made manifest; that Iwithdraw the impeachment already made against you, that I allowpeaceable and harmless peasants to be attainted as rebels; that Idisavow the responsibility of redressing their grievances, and that forthis, a dead yet innocent man be blamed, and his memory be defamed. Nosuch defence for me, thank you!"
Petray laughed patronisingly.
"My good friend, you are an idealist and always will be. What does the'pope's' reputation matter to you, since he is dead? Do you suppose hetroubles as to what men say of him now? And as for the peasants, we canmake short work of them by putting them in irons. The defence isperfectly in order; you only have to sign that you accept it."
"Let my hand wither in its chains first," cried the prisoner, "ere Isubscribe to such infamy!" and he stretched his wasted hand to heaven.
"Think twice, Raby, before you decide thus," said his tormentor. "Ifyou refuse, you may no longer rely on my help, and then you will just goback to the place you came from."
"Take me there," cried his victim, "but torture me no further, ratherkill me outright. But as long as my soul is master of my body, no painsor persecutions shall cause me to forswear my honour and give the lie totruth!"
His anger lent the prisoner an unwonted energy, and Petray fairlyquailed as Raby dashed up to him and attempted to tear the document fromhis hand; between them it was torn in two, but the leaves were stainedwith blood!
Petray was beside himself with rage; he hastily called for the gaolerand the heydukes, who shortly entered, followed by Laskoy.
"He is an abandoned wretch, a traitor, a madman," cried Petray. "He hasflown at me, and tried to murder me. Put him in irons again directly!"
"Out with the fetters," cried Laskoy. "Where are the heaviest ones?"
And they tore off the bandages from Raby's wounded limbs, and called thelocksmith to rivet them afresh.
But that functionary revolted at this fresh act of cruelty against ahelpless invalid. "I won't do it," he said defiantly. "From this hour Iserve the authorities no longer; I will have no part in such cruelinjustice!" And so saying he left them, never to appear again.
At last, after searching Pesth in vain, they found a locksmith in Pilisto do the work.
But when they thrust Raby back again into his icy dungeon, he cried, asthe door closed upon his tormentors, "I am not dead yet."