CHAPTER X
THE HOUSE UNDER THE WALL
To leave Max and myself in our underground dungeon, imprisoned for anunknown, uncommitted crime, while I narrate occurrences outside ourprison walls looks like a romancer's trick, but how else I am to goabout telling this history I do not know. Yolanda is quite as importanta personage in this narrative as Max and myself, and I must tell of hertroubles as I learned of them long afterwards.
Castleman reached home ten days or a fortnight after our arrest,bringing with him his precious silks, velvets, and laces to the lastell. As he had predicted, they were quadrupled in value, and theirincrease made the good burgher a very rich man.
Soon after Castleman reached the House under the Wall, Yolanda camedancing into the room where he was sitting with good Frau Katherine,drinking a bottle of rich Burgundy wine well mixed with pepperand honey.
"Ah, uncle," she cried joyously, "at last you are at home, and I have afine kiss for you."
"Thank you, my dear," said Castleman, "you have spoiled my wine. Thehoney will now taste vinegarish."
"You are a flatterer, uncle--isn't he, tante?" laughed Yolanda, turningto Aunt Castleman.
"I am afraid he is," said the good frau, in mock distress. "Every onetries to spoil him."
"You more than any one, tante," cried Yolanda.
"Tut, tut, child," cried Frau Katherine, "I abate his vanity withfrowns."
Yolanda laughed, and the burgher, pinching his wife's red cheek,protested:--
"_You_ frown? You couldn't frown if you tried. A clear sky may rain aseasily. Get the peering glass, Yolanda, and find, if you can, a wrinkleon her face."
Yolanda, who was always laughing, threw herself upon the frau's lap andpretended to hunt for wrinkles. Soon she reported:--
"No wrinkles, uncle--there, you dear old tante, I'll kiss you to keepyou from growing jealous of uncle on my account."
"If any one about this house has been spoiled, it's you, Yolanda," saidFrau Kate, affectionately.
"When you speak after that fashion, tante, you almost make me weep,"said Yolanda. "Surely you and uncle and Twonette are the only friends Ihave, and give me all the joy I know. But, uncle, now that you are athome, I want you to drink your wine quickly and give me a great deal ofjoy--oh, a great deal."
"Indeed I will, my dear. Tell me where to begin," answered Castleman,draining his goblet.
Yolanda flushed rosily and hesitated. At that moment Twonette, who hadalready greeted her father, entered the room.
"Twonette will tell you," said Yolanda, laughing nervously.
"What shall I tell him?" asked Twonette.
"You will tell him what I want him to do quickly, at once, immediately,"pleaded Yolanda. "You know what I have waited for this long,weary time."
"Tell him yourself what you want quickly, at once, immediately,"answered Twonette. "I, too, have wants."
"What do you want, daughter?" asked Castleman, beaming upon Twonette.
"I want thirty ells of blue velvet for a gown, and I want you to askpermission of the duke for me to wear it."
"Many noble ladies would not dare to ask so much of the duke," suggestedCastleman.
"It is true, George," said Frau Kate, "that only noble ladies of highdegree are permitted to wear velvet of blue; but it is also true thatonly your stubbornness has deprived our daughter of that privilege. Shemight now be noble had you not been stubborn."
"I also want--" began Twonette.
"You shall wear the duke's own color, purple, if you will hold yourtongue about worthless matters and tell your father what I want," criedYolanda, impetuously thrusting Twonette toward Castleman.
"You tell him your own wants," answered Twonette, pouting. "Then perhapshis own daughter may have his ear for a moment or two."
Yolanda laughed at Twonette's display of ill-temper.
"Well, uncle, since I must tell my own tale, I will begin," saidYolanda, blushing. "I want you to go to The Mitre and ask a friend--twofriends--of yours here to supper this evening. I have waited a wearytime for you to give this invitation, and I will not wait another hour,nay, not another minute. We have a fat peacock that longs to be killed;it is so fat that it is tired of life. We have three pheasants that willdie of grief if they are not baked at once. I myself have been feedingthem this fortnight past in anticipation of this feast. We have a dozenwrens for a live pie, so tame they will light on our heads when you cutthe crust. We shall have a famous feast, uncle. There will be presentonly tante, you, Twonette, our two guests, and myself. Now, uncle, thewine is consumed. Hurry to the inn."
"My dear child," said Castleman, seriously, "you know that I am almostpowerless to refuse any request you make, but in this case I mustdo so."
"Ah, uncle, please tell me why," coaxed Yolanda, with trouble in hereyes and grief at the corners of her mouth.
"Because you must see no more of this very pleasing young man," answeredCastleman. "I yielded to your wishes at Basel and brought him with us; Iwas compelled to send him with you from Metz; but now that our journeyis over, I shall thank him and pay him an additional sum, since my goodsare safe home, and say farewell to him. I believe he is a worthy andhonorable young man, but we do not know who he is, and if we did--"
"Ah, but _I_ know who he is," interrupted Yolanda, tossing her head."_We_ may not know, but _I_ know, and that is sufficient."
"Do you know?" asked Castleman. "Pray tell me of him. The informationwas refused me; at least, it was not given. He is probably of noblebirth, but we have nobles here in Peronne whom we would not ask to ourhouse. We know nothing of this wandering young Max, save that he ishonest and brave and good to look upon."
"In God's name, uncle, what more would you ask in a man?" cried Yolanda,stamping her foot. "'Noble, honest, brave, and good to look upon!' Willnot those qualities fit a man for any one's regard and delight anywoman's heart? I tell you I will have my way in this. I tell you I knowhis degree. I know who he is and what he is and all about him, though Idon't intend to tell you anything, and would inform you now that it's nobusiness of yours."
"Did you coax all this information out of him, you little witch?" askedCastleman, smiling against his will.
"I did not," retorted Yolanda, leaning forward and lifting her chindefiantly. "I learned it soon after we reached Basel. I discovered itby--by magic--by sorcery. He will tell you as much."
"By the magic of your eyes and smiles. That's the way you wheedled itout of him, and that's the way you coax every one to your will," saidCastleman, laughing while Yolanda pouted.
"I never saw a girl make such eyes at a man as you made at this SirMax," said Twonette, who was waiting for her blue velvet gown.
"Twonette, you are prettier with your mouth shut. Silence becomes you,"retorted Yolanda, favoring Twonette with a view of her back. "Now,uncle," continued Yolanda, "all is ready: peacock, pheasants, wrens; andI command you to procure the guests."
Castleman laughed at her imperious ways and said:--
"I will obey your commands in all else, Yolanda, but not in this."
The girl, who was more excited than she appeared to be, stood for amoment by her uncle's side, and, drawing her kerchief from its pouch,placed it to her eyes.
"Every one tries to make me unhappy," she sobbed. "There is no one towhom I may turn for kindness. If you will not do this for me, uncle, ifyou will not bring him--them--to me, I give you my sacred word I will goto them at the inn. If you force me to do an act so unmaidenly, I'llleave you and will not return to your house. I shall know that you donot love me!"
Castleman was not ready to yield, though he was sure that in the end hewould do so. He also knew that her threat to go to the inn was by nomeans an idle word.
Yolanda was not given to tears, but she used them when she found shecould accomplish her ends by no other means. A long pause ensued, brokenby Yolanda's sobs.
"Good-by, uncle. Good-by, tante. Good-by, Twonette. I mean what I say,uncle. I am going, and I shall not come back if you will not do
thisthing for me. I am going to the inn."
She kissed them all and started toward the door. The loving old tantecould not hold out. She, too, was weeping, and she added hersupplications to Yolanda's.
"Do what she asks, father--only this once," said Frau Kate.
"Only this once," pleaded Yolanda, turning her tear-moistened eyes uponthe helpless burgher.
"I suppose I must surrender," exclaimed Castleman, rising from hischair. "I have been surrendering to you, your aunt, and Twonette all mylife. First Kate, then Twonette, and of late years they have beenreenforced by you, Yolanda, and my day is lost. I do a little uselessfighting when I know I am in the right, but it is always followed by acowardly surrender."
"But think of your victories in surrender, uncle. Think of yourrewards," cried Yolanda, running to his side and kissing him. "Many aman would fight a score of dragons for that kiss."
"Dragons!" cried Castleman, protestingly. "I would rather fight ahundred dragons than do this thing for you, Yolanda. I know littleconcerning the ways of a girl's heart, but, ignorant as I am, I couldsee--Mother, I never saw a girl so infatuated with a man as our Yolandais with this Sir Max--this stranger."
"There, tante," cried Yolanda, turning triumphantly to Frau Kate, "youhear what uncle says. Now you see the great reason for having himhere--this Sir Max and his friend. But, uncle, if you think I mean tomake a fool of myself about this man, put the notion out of your head. Iknow only too well the barrier between us, but, uncle mine," shecontinued pleadingly, all her wonted joyousness driven from her face, "Iam so wretched, so unhappy. If I may have a moment of joy now, for thelove of the Blessed Virgin don't deny me. I sometimes think you love mechiefly because I so truly deserve your pity. As for this young man, heis gentle, strong, and good, and, as you say, he certainly is good tolook upon. Twonette knows that, don't you, Twonette? He is wise, too,and brave, even against the impulse of his own great heart. He thinksonly of my good and his own duties. I am in no danger from him, uncle.He can do me only good. I shall be happier and better all my life longfor having known him. Now, uncle?"
"I will fetch him," exclaimed Castleman, seeking his hat. "You may beright or you may be wrong, but for persuasiveness I never saw your like.I declare, Yolanda, you have almost made me feel like a villain forrefusing you."
"I wish the world were filled with such villains, uncle. Don't you,tante?" said Yolanda, beaming upon the burgher.
"No," answered the frau, "I should want them all for my husbands."
"God forbid!" cried Yolanda, lifting her hands as she turned toward thedoor, laughing once more. "Tell them to be here by six o'clock, uncle.No! we will say five. Tell them to come on the stroke of five. No! fouro'clock is better; then we will sup at six, and have an hour or twobefore we eat. That's it, uncle; have them here by four. Tell them tofail not by so much as a minute, upon their allegiance. Tell them to behere promptly on the stroke of four."
She ran from the room singing, and Castleman started toward the frontdoor.
"The girl makes a fool of me whenever she wishes," he observed, pausingand turning toward his wife. "She coaxed me to take her to Basel, andlife was a burden till I got her home again. Now she winds me around herfinger and says, 'Uncle Castleman, obey me,' and I obey. Truly, therenever was in all the world such another coaxing, persuasive little witchas our Yolanda."
"Poor child," said Frau Kate, as her husband passed out of the door.
Castleman reached The Mitre near the hour of one, and of course did notfind us. At half-past four, Yolanda entered the great oak room whereTwonette and Frau Kate were stitching tapestry.
"Where suppose you Sir Max is--and Sir Karl?" asked Yolanda, with atouch of anger in her voice. "Why has he not come? I have been watchingbut have not seen him--them. He places little value on our invitationto slight it by half an hour. I am of half a mind not to see him whenhe comes."
"Your uncle is downstairs under the arbor, Yolanda," said FrauCastleman, gently. "He will tell you, sweet one, why Sir Max isnot here."
Frau Katherine and Twonette put aside their tapestry, and went withYolanda to question Castleman in the arbor.
"Well, uncle, where are our guests?" asked Yolanda.
"They are not at the inn, and have not been there since nearly afortnight ago," answered Castleman.
"Gone!" cried Yolanda, aflame with sudden anger. "He gave me his word hewould not go. I'm glad he's gone, and I hope I may never see his faceagain. I deemed his word inviolate, and now he has broken it."
"Do not judge Sir Max too harshly," said Castleman; "you may wrong him.I do not at all understand the absence of our friends. Grote tells methey went to the river one night to bathe and did not return. Theirhorses and arms are at the inn. Their squires, who had left them twohours before, have not been seen since. Grote has heard nothing of ourfriends that will throw light on their whereabouts. Fearing to gethimself into trouble, he has stupidly held his tongue. He was notinclined to speak plainly even to me."
"Blessed Mother, forgive me!" cried Yolanda, sinking back upon asettle. After a long silence she continued: "Two weeks ago! That was afew days after the trouble at the bridge."
"What trouble?" asked Castleman.
"I'll tell you, uncle, and you, tante. Twonette already knows of it,"answered Yolanda. "Less than three weeks ago I was with Sir Max near themoat bridge. It was dark--after night--"
"Yolanda!" exclaimed Castleman, reproachfully.
"Yes, uncle, I know I ought not to have been there, but I was," saidYolanda.
"Alone with Sir Max after dark?" asked the astonished burgher.
"Yes, alone with him, after it was _very_ dark," answered Yolanda. "Ihad met him several times before."
Castleman tried to speak, but Yolanda interrupted him:--
"Uncle, I know and admit the truth of all you would say, so don't sayit. While I was standing very near to Sir Max, uncle, very near, CountCalli came upon us and offered me gross insult. Sir Max, being unarmed,knocked the fellow down, and in the struggle that ensued Count Calli'sarm was broken. I heard the bone snap, then Calli, swearing vengeance,left us. Why Sir Max went out unarmed that night I do not know. Had hebeen armed he might have killed Calli; that would have preventedthis trouble."
"I, too, wonder that Sir Max went out unarmed," said Castleman musingly."Why do you suppose he was so incautious?"
"Perhaps that is the custom in Styria. There may be less danger, lesstreachery, there than in Burgundy," suggested Yolanda.
"In Styria!" exclaimed Castleman. "Sir Karl said that he was from Italy.He did not tell me of Sir Max's home, but I supposed he also was fromItaly, or perhaps from Wuertemberg--there are many Guelphs inthat country."
"Yes, I will tell you of that later, uncle," said Yolanda. "When Callileft us, Sir Max returned safely to the inn, having promised me not toleave Peronne within a month. This trouble has come from Calli andCampo-Basso."
"But you say this young man is from Styria?" asked Castleman, anxiously.
"Yes," replied Yolanda, drooping her head, "he is Maximilian, Count ofHapsburg."
"Great God!" exclaimed Castleman, starting to his feet excitedly. "If Ihave brought these men here to be murdered, I shall die of grief; allEurope will turn upon Burgundy."
Yolanda buried her face in Mother Kate's breast; Castleman walked to andfro, and sympathetic Twonette wept gently. It was not in Twonette'snature to do anything violently. Yolanda, on the contrary, was intensein all her joys and griefs.
"Did Sir Max tell you who he is?" asked Castleman, stopping in front ofYolanda.
"No," she replied, "I will tell you some day how I guessed it. He doesnot know that I know, and I would not have you tell him."
"Tell me, Yolanda," demanded Castleman, "what has passed between you andthis Sir Max?"
"Nothing, uncle, save that I know--ah, uncle, there is nothing. God pityme, there can be nothing. Whatever his great, true heart feels may beknown to me as surely as if he had spoken a thousand vows, but he wouldnot of his own a
ccord so much as touch my hand or speak his love. Heknows that one in his station may not mate with a burgher girl. Hetreats me as a true knight should treat a woman, and if he feels painbecause of the gulf between us, he would not bring a like pain to me. Heis a strong, noble man, Uncle Castleman, and we must save him."
"If I knew where to begin, I would try at once," said Castleman, "but Ido not know, and I cannot think of--"
"I have a plan," interrupted Yolanda, "that will set the matter going.Consult my Lord d'Hymbercourt; he is a friend of Sir Karl's; he may helpus. Tell him of the trouble at the bridge, but say that Twonette, notI, was there. If Lord d'Hymbercourt cannot help us, I'll try another wayif I die for it."
Castleman found Hymbercourt and told him the whole story, substitutingTwonette for Yolanda.
"It is the work of that accursed Basso," said Hymbercourt, stroking hisbeard. "No villany is too black for him and his minions to do."
"But what have they done?" asked Castleman. "They surely would notmurder these men because of the quarrel at the bridge."
"They would do murder for half that cause," replied Hymbercourt. "Abrave man hates an assassin, and I am always wondering why the duke, whois so bold and courageous, keeps this band of Italian cut-throats athis court."
"What can we do to rescue our friends if they still live, or to avengethem if dead?" asked Castleman.
"I do not know," answered Hymbercourt. "Let me think it all over, and Iwill see you at your house to-night. Of this I am certain: you must notmove in the matter. If you are known to be interested, certain facts mayleak out that would ruin you and perhaps bring trouble to one whoalready bears a burden too heavy for young shoulders. We know but oneuseful fact: Calli and Campo-Basso are at the bottom of this evil. Theduke suspects that the states adjacent to Switzerland, including Styria,will give aid to the Swiss in this war with Burgundy, and it may bethat Duke Charles has reasons for the arrest of our friends. He may havelearned that Sir Max is the Count of Hapsburg. I hope his finger is notin the affair. I will learn what I can, and will see you to-night. Tillthen, adieu."
True to his promise, Hymbercourt went to Castleman's that evening, buthe had learned nothing and had thought out no plan of action. Two dayspassed and there was another consultation. Still the mystery was as farfrom solution as on the day of its birth. Yolanda was in tribulation,and declared that she would take the matter into her own hands. Heruncle dissuaded her, however, and she reluctantly agreed to remainsilent for a day or two longer, but she vowed that she would give tongueto her thoughts and arouse all Burgundy in behalf of Max and myself ifwe were not soon discovered.