CHAPTER XI
PERONNE LA PUCELLE
The next morning Duke Charles went down to the great hall of the castleto hear reports from his officers relating to the war that he was aboutto wage against the Swiss. When the duke ascended the three steps of thedais to the ducal throne, he spoke to Campo-Basso who stood upon thefirst step at the duke's right.
"What news, my Lord Count?" asked Charles. "I'm told there is amessenger from Ghent."
"Ill news, my lord," answered Campo-Basso.
"Out with it!" cried the duke. "One should always swallow a bitterdraught quickly."
"We hear the Swiss are gathering their cantons in great numbers," saidCampo-Basso.
"Let the sheep gather," said Charles, waving his hands. "The more theygather to the fold, the more we'll shear." He laughed as if pleased withthe prospect, and continued, "Proceed, my Lord Count."
"The Duke of Lorraine is again trying to muster his subjects againstYour Grace, and sends a polite message asking and offering terms ofagreement. Shall I read the missive, my lord?"
"No!" cried the duke, "Curse his soft words. There is no bad news yet.Proceed."
"It is rumored, Your Grace," continued the count, "that Frederick, Dukeof Styria, is preparing to aid the Swiss against Your Grace."
"With his advice?" asked the duke. "The old pauper has nothing else togive, unless it be the bones of his ancestors."
"It is said, Your Highness, that Wuertemberg will also aid the Swiss, andthat Duke Albert will try to bring about a coalition of the Germanstates for the purpose of assisting the Swiss, aiding Lorraine, andoverthrowing Burgundy. This purpose, our informant tells us, has beenfostered by this same Duke Frederick of Styria."
"This news, I suppose, is intended for our ears by the Duke of Styria.He probably wishes us to know that he is against us," said Charles. "Hewanted our daughter for his clown of a son, and our contempt for hisclaims rankles in his heart. He cannot inflame Wuertemberg, andWuertemberg cannot influence the other German princes."
The duke paused, and Campo-Basso proceeded:--
"The citizens of Ghent, my lord, petition Your Grace for the restorationof certain communal rights, and beg for the abolition of the hearth taxand the salt levy. They also desire the right to elect their ownburgomaster and--"
"Give me the petition," demanded the duke. Campo-Basso handed theparchment to Charles, and he tore it to shreds.
"Send these to the dogs of Ghent, and tell them that for every scrap ofparchment I'll take a score of heads when I return from Switzerland."
"We hear also, my lord," said the Italian, "that King Edward of Englandis marshalling an army, presumably for the invasion of France and,because of the close union that is soon to be between King Louis andBurgundy, I have thought proper to lay the news before Your Grace."
"Edward wants more of King Louis' gold," answered Charles. "We'll lethim get it. We care not how much he has from this crafty miser of theSeine. Louis will buy the English ministers, and the army will suddenlyvanish. When King Edward grows scarce of gold, he musters an army, orpretends to do so, and Louis fills the English coffers. The French kingwould buy an apostle, or the devil, and would sell his soul to either toserve a purpose. Have you more in your budget, Sir Count?"
"I have delivered all, I believe, my lord," answered Campo-Basso.
"It might have been worse," said the duke, rising to quit his throne.
"One moment, my lord! There is another matter to which I wish to callYour Grace's attention before you rise," said the count. "I have foryour signature the warrants for the execution of the Swiss spies, who,Your Highness may remember, were entrapped and arrested by thewatchfulness of Your Grace's faithful servant, the noble Count Calli."
"Give me the warrant," said the duke, "and let the execution take placeat once."
Hymbercourt had been standing in the back part of the room, payinglittle attention to the proceedings, but the mention of Calli's name inconnection with the Swiss spies quickly roused him, and he hurriedlyelbowed his way to the ducal throne. A page was handing Charles a quilland an ink-well when Hymbercourt spoke:--
"My Lord Duke, I beg you not to sign the warrant until I have asked afew questions of my Lord Campo-Basso concerning these alleged spies."
"Why do you say 'alleged spies,' my Lord d'Hymbercourt?" asked the duke."Do you know anything of them? Are they friends of yours?"
"If they are friends of mine, Your Grace may be sure they are notspies," answered Hymbercourt. "I am not sure that I know these men, butI fear a mistake has been made."
A soft cry, a mere exclamation, was heard behind the chancel in theladies' gallery, which was above the throne, a little to the right. Butit caused no comment other than a momentary turning of heads in thatdirection.
"On what ground do you base your suspicion, my lord?" asked Charles.
"Little ground, Your Grace," answered Hymbercourt. "I may be entirelywrong; but I beg the privilege of asking the noble Count Calli two orthree questions before Your Grace signs the death warrant. We may averta grave mistake and prevent a horrible crime."
"It is a waste of valuable time," answered Charles, "but if you will bebrief, you may proceed. Count Calli, come into presence."
Calli stepped forward and saluted the duke on bended knee.
"Your questions, Hymbercourt, and quickly," said Charles, testily. "Weare in haste. Time between the arrest and the hanging of a spyis wasted."
"I thank you, my lord," said Hymbercourt. He then turned to Calli, andasked, "When were these men arrested?"
"More than a fortnight ago," answered Calli.
"How came you to discover they were spies?" asked Hymbercourt.
"I watched them, and their actions were suspicious," replied theItalian.
"In what respect were they suspicious?"
"They went abroad only at night, and one of them was seen near thecastle several evenings after dark," responded Calli.
"Is that your only evidence against them?" demanded Hymbercourt.
"It is surely enough," replied Calli, "but if more is wanted, they wereoverheard to avow their guilt."
"What were they heard to say and where did they say it?" askedHymbercourt.
"I lay concealed, with six men-at-arms, near the river in the garden ofThe Mitre Inn, where the spies had been bathing. We heard them speakmany words of treason against our gracious Lord Duke, but I did not movein their arrest until the younger man said to his companion: 'I willto-morrow gain entrance to the castle as a pedler and will stab thisDuke Charles to death. You remain near the Postern with the horses, andI will try to escape to you. If the gate should be closed, ride awaywithout me and carry the news to the cantons. I would gladly give mylife to save the fatherland.'"
"Hang them," cried the duke. "We are wasting time."
"I pray your patience, my Lord Duke," said Hymbercourt, holding up hishand protestingly. "I know these men whom Count Calli has falselyaccused. They are not spies; they are not Swiss; neither are theyenemies of Burgundy. Were they so, I, my lord, would demand their deathwere they a thousand-fold my friends. I stake my life upon theirhonesty. I offer my person and my estates as hostages for them, andmake myself their champion. Count Calli lies."
Hymbercourt's words caused a great commotion in the hall. Swords anddaggers sprang from the scabbards of the Italians, and cries ofindignation were uttered by the mercenaries, who saw their crimeexposed, and by the Burgundians, who hated the Italians and theirdastardly methods. Charles commanded silence, and Campo-Basso receivedpermission to speak.
"Since when did my Lord d'Hymbercourt turn traitor?" said he. "Hisfealty has always been as loud-mouthed as the baying of a wolf."
"I am a Burgundian, my lord," said Hymbercourt, ignoring the Italian andaddressing Charles. "I receive no pay for my fealty. I am not a foreignmercenary, and I need not defend my loyalty to one who knows me as heknows his own heart."
"My Lord d'Hymbercourt's honor needs no defence," said Charles. "I trusthis honesty a
nd loyalty as I trust myself. He may be mistaken; he may beright. Bring in these spies."
"Surely Your Grace will not contaminate your presence with thesewretches," pleaded Campo-Basso. "Consider the danger to yourself, mydear lord. They are desperate men, who would gladly give their lives totake yours and save their country. I beg you out of the love I bear YourGrace, pause before you bring these traitorous spies into your sacredpresence."
"Bring them before me!" cried the duke. "We will determine this matterfor ourselves. We have a score of brave, well-paid Italians who may beable to protect our person from the onslaught of two manacled men."
* * * * *
On this same morning the guard had been to my cell with bread and water,and had departed. I did not know, of course, whether it was morning,noon, or night, but I had learned to measure with some degree ofaccuracy the lapse of time between the visits of the guard, and wassurprised to hear the rusty lock turn long before the time for hisreappearance. When the man entered my cell, bearing his lantern,he said:--
"Come with me."
The words were both welcome and terrible. I could not know theirmeaning--whether it was liberty or death. I stepped from the cell and,while I waited for the guard to relock the door, I saw the light of alantern at the other end of a passageway. Two men with Max between themcame out of the darkness and stopped in front of me. Our wrists weremanacled behind us, and we could not touch hands. I could have wept forjoy and grief at seeing Max.
"Forgive me, Max, for bringing you to this," I cried.
"Forgive me, Karl. It is I who have brought you to these straits," saidMax. "Which is it to be, think you, Karl, liberty or death?"
"God only knows," I answered.
"For your sake, Karl, I hope He cares more than I. I would prefer deathto the black cell I have just left."
We went through many dark passageways and winding stairs to the audiencehall.
When we entered the hall, the courtiers fell back, leaving an aisle fromthe great double doors to the ducal throne. When we approached the duke,I bent my knee, but Max simply bowed.
"Kneel!" cried Campo-Basso, addressing Max.
"If my Lord of Burgundy demands that I kneel, I will do so, but it ismore meet that he should kneel to me for the outrage that has been putupon me at his court," said Max, gazing unfalteringly into theduke's face.
"Who are you?" demanded the duke, speaking to me.
"I am Sir Karl de Pitti," I replied. "Your Grace may know my family; weare of Italy. It was once my good fortune to serve under your father andyourself. My young friend is known as Sir Maximilian du Guelph."
"He is known as Guelph, but who is he?" demanded Charles.
"That question I may not answer, my lord," said I, speaking in theWalloon tongue.
"You shall answer or die," returned the duke, angrily.
"I hope my Lord of Burgundy will not be so harsh with us," interruptedMax, lifting his head and speaking boldly. "We have committed no crime,and do not know why we have been arrested. We beg that we may be toldthe charge against us, and we would also know who makes the charge."
"Count Calli," said the duke, beckoning that worthy knight, "comeforward and speak."
Calli came forward, knelt to the duke, and said:
"I, my lord, charge these unknown men as being Swiss spies andassassins, who seek to murder Your Grace and to betray Burgundy."
"You lie, you dog," cried Max, looking like an angry young god. "You liein your teeth and in your heart. My Lord of Burgundy, I demand thecombat against this man who seeks my life by treachery and falsehood. Iwaive my rank for the sweet privilege of killing this liar."
"My Lord Duke," I exclaimed, interrupting Max, "if my Lord d'Hymbercourtis in presence, I beg that I may have speech with him."
Hymbercourt stepped to my side, and the duke signified permission tospeak.
"My Lord d'Hymbercourt," said I, turning to my friend, "I beg you totell His Grace that we are not spies. I may not, for reasons well knownto you, give you permission to inform His Grace who my young companionis, and I hope my Lord of Burgundy will be satisfied with your assurancethat we are honest knights who wish only good to this land and itspuissant ruler."
"Indeed, my Lord Duke, I was right," answered Hymbercourt. "Again Ioffer my person and my estates as hostages for these men. They are notspies. They are not of Switzerland, nor are they friends to the Swiss;neither are they enemies of Burgundy. I doubt not they will gladly joinYour Lordship in this war against the cantons. These knights have beenarrested to gratify revenge for personal injury received and deserved bythis traitorous Count Calli."
"It is false," cried Campo-Basso.
"It is true--pitifully true, my lord," returned Hymbercourt. "This youngknight was at the moat bridge near Castleman's House under the Walltalking with a burgher maid, Fraeulein Castleman. Count Calli stole uponthem without warning and insulted the maiden. My young friend knockeddown the ruffian, and, in the conflict that ensued, broke Calli's arm.Your Grace may have seen him carrying it in a sling until within thelast forty-eight hours.
"For this deserved chastisement Count Calli seeks the young man's lifeby bearing false witness against him; and with it that of my old friend,Sir Karl de Pitti. It is Burgundy's shame, my lord, that thesetreacherous mercenaries should be allowed to murder strangers and tooutrage Your Grace's loyal subjects in the name of Your Lordship'sjustice. Sir Maximilian du Guelph has demanded the combat against thisCount Calli. Sir Maximilian is a spurred and belted knight, and underthe laws of chivalry even Your Grace may not gainsay him."
"My lord, I do not fight assassins and spies," said Calli, addressingthe duke.
"I do," cried Max, "when they put injuries upon me as this false cowardhas done. I will prove upon his body, my Lord Duke, who is the assassinand the spy. My Lord d'Hymbercourt will vouch that my rank entitles meto fight in knightly combat with any man in this presence. My wrists aremanacled, my lord, and I have no gage to throw before this false knight;but, my Lord of Burgundy, I again demand the combat. One brave as YourGrace is must also be just. We shall leave Count Calli no excuse toavoid this combat, even if I must tell Your Grace my true rankand station."
"This knight," said Hymbercourt, addressing Charles and extending hishand toward Max, "is of birth entitling him to meet in the lists anyknight in Burgundy, and I will gladly stand his sponsor."
"My Lord d'Hymbercourt's sponsorship proves any man," said the duke,who well knew that Campo-Basso and his friends would commit any crime toavenge an injury, fancied or real.
"My Lord Duke, I pray your patience," said Campo-Basso, obsequiously."No man may impugn my Lord d'Hymbercourt's honesty, but may he not bemistaken? In the face of the evidence against this man, may he not bemistaken? The six men who were with Count Calli will testify to thetreasonable words spoken by this young spy."
"Does any other man in presence know these men?" asked the duke. No oneresponded.
After a little time Hymbercourt broke silence.
"I am grieved and deeply hurt, my lord, that you should want otherevidence than mine against the witnesses who make this charge. I am aBurgundian. These witnesses are Italians who love Your Grace for thesake of the gold they get. I had hoped that my poor services had earnedfor me the right to be believed, but if I may have a little time, I willprocure another man whose word shall be to you as the word ofyour father."
"Bring him into our presence," answered the duke. "We will see himto-morrow at this hour."
"May I not crave Your Grace's indulgence for a half-hour?" pleadedHymbercourt. "I will have this man here within that time."
"Not another minute," replied the duke. "Heralds, cry the rising."
"Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! His Grace, the Duke of Burgundy, is about to rise.His Grace has risen," cried the herald.
The duke left the hall by a small door near the dais.
Hymbercourt was standing beside us when the captain of the guardapproached to lead us back to our cells.
/> "May we not have comfortable quarters, and may we not be placed in onecell?" I asked, appealing to Hymbercourt. "I have been confined in areeking, rayless dungeon unfit for swine, and doubtless Sir Max has beensimilarly outraged."
Hymbercourt put his hand into his pouch and drew forth two gold pieces.These he stealthily placed in the captain's hand, and that worthyofficial said:--
"I shall be glad to oblige, my lord."
Hymbercourt left us, and Campo-Basso, beckoning the captain to one side,spoke to him in low tones. The captain, I was glad to see, was aBurgundian.
After we left the hall we were taken to our old quarters. The captainfollowed me into the cell, leaving his men in the passageway.
"My Lord Count ordered me to bring you here," he said; "but I will, if Ican, soon return with other men who are not Italians and will removeyou to a place of safety."
"Am I not safe here? Is my friend in danger?" I asked.
The man smiled as though amused at my simplicity:--
"If you remain here to-night, there will be no need to hang you in themorning. Our Italian friends have methods of their own that are simpleand sure. But I will try to find a way to remove you before--before theItalians have time to do their work. I will see my Lord d'Hymbercourt,and if the duke has not gone a-hunting, we will induce His Grace toorder your removal to a place of safety."
"But if the duke is gone, cannot you get the order when he returns?" Iasked.
"That will be too late, I fear," he answered, laughing, and with thesecomforting remarks he left me.
After two or three hours--the time seemed days--I heard a key enter thelock of my cell door. If the hand inserting the key was that of anItalian, I might look for death. To my great joy the man was myBurgundian captain.
"The duke had gone a-hunting," he said, "and I could not find my Lordd'Hymbercourt; but Her Highness, the princess, asked me to remove you,and I am willing to risk my neck for her sweet sake. I am to place youin one of the tower rooms, out of the reach of our Italian cut-throats."
"Will my young friend be with me?" I asked eagerly.
"Yes," responded the captain.
Again I met Max with a man-at-arms in the passageway outside my celldoor, and we all went up the steps together. We were hurried throughdark passages to a spiral stairway, which we climbed till my kneesached. But we were going up instead of down, and I was overjoyed to havethe aching leave my heart for my knees.
The room in which the Burgundian left us was large and clean. There weretwo beds of sweet straw upon the floor, and to my unspeakable joy therewas a bar on the door whereby it could be locked from within. There werealso two tubs of water for a bath. On a rude bench was a complete changeof clothing which had been brought by some kind hand from the inn. On anoak table were two bottles of wine, a bowl of honey, a cellar of pepper,white bread, cold meat, and pastry. A soul reaching heaven out ofpurgatory must feel as we felt then. We were too excited to eat, so webathed, dressed, and lay down on the straw beds.
Before leaving us our captain had said:--
"Do not unbolt your door except to the password 'Burgundy.'"
We slept till late in the afternoon. When we wakened the sun was welldown in the west, and we could see only its reflected glare in theeastern sky. There was but one opening in the room through which thelight could enter--a narrow window, less than a foot wide. The light inthe room was dim even at noon, but the long darkness had so affected oureyes that the light from the window was sufficient to illumine theapartment and to make all objects plainly discernible. There was littleto be seen. The arched roof was of solid masonry; the walls were withouta break save the narrow window and the door. Through the window we couldsee only a patch of sky in the east, reddened by the reflection of thesinking sun; but the sight was so beautiful that Max and I were loath toleave it even for supper.
"We must eat before the light dies," said Max, whose young stomach wasmore imperious than mine, "or we shall have to eat in the dark. I havehad more than enough of that."
"Fall to," I said, as we drew the stools to the table. With the firstmouthful of clean, delicious food my appetite returned, and I ateravenously. Had the repast been larger I believe we should have killedourselves. Fortunately it was consumed before we were exhausted, and wecame off alive and victorious. After supper darkness fell, and Max satbeside me on the bench. He was very happy, for he felt that our troubleswould end with the night. I put my arm over his neck and begged him toforgive me for bringing this evil upon him.
"You shall not blame yourself, Karl," he protested. "There is no faultin you. No one is to blame save myself; I should not have gone to thebridge. I wonder what poor Yolanda is doing. Perhaps she is suffering infear and is ignorant of our misfortune. Perhaps she thinks I have brokenmy promise and left Peronne. I can see her stamp her little foot, and Isee her great eyes flashing in anger. Each new humor in her seems morebeautiful than the last, Karl. Knowing her, I seem to have known allmankind--at least, all womankind. She has wakened me to life. Her touchhas unsealed my eyes, and the pain that I take from my love for her islike a foretaste of heaven. I believe that a man comes to his fullstrength, mental and moral, only through the elixir of pain."
"We surely have had our share of late," I said dolefully.
"All will soon be well with us, Karl; do not fear. We shall be freeto-morrow, and I will kill this Calli. Then I'll go back to Styria abetter, wiser, stronger man than I could ever have been had I remainedat home. This last terrible experience has been the keystone of myregeneration. It has taught me to be merciful even to the guilty, andgentle with the accused. No man shall ever suffer at my command until hehas been proved guilty. Doubtless thousands of innocent men as free fromcrime and evil intent as we, are wasting their lives away in dungeons asloathsome as those that imprisoned us."
"Calli will not fight you," I said.
"If he refuses, I will kill him at the steps of the throne of Burgundy,let the result be what it may. God will protect me in my just vengeance.I will then go home; and I'll not return to Burgundy till I do so at thehead of an army, to compel Duke Charles to behead Campo-Basso."
"What will you do about Yolanda, Max?" I asked.
The interference of the princess in our behalf had thrown more light onmy important riddle, and once again I was convinced that shewas Yolanda.
"I'll keep her in my heart till I die, Karl," he responded, "and I prayGod to give her a happier life than mine can be. That is all I can do."
"Will you see her before you go?" I asked, fully intending that thereshould be no doubt on the question.
"Yes, and then--" He paused; and, after a little time, I asked:--
"And what then, Max?"
"God only knows what, Karl. I'm sure I don't," he answered.
We talked till late into the night, lay down on our soft, clean beds ofstraw, and were soon asleep.
I did not know how long I had been sleeping when I was wakened by avoice that seemed to fill the room, low, soft, and musical as the tonesof an Aeolian harp. I groped my way noiselessly in the dark to Max's bedand aroused him. Placing my hand over his mouth to insure silence, Iwhispered:--
"Listen!"
He rested on his elbow, and we waited. After a few seconds the voiceagain resounded through the room, soft as a murmured ave, distinct asthe notes of a bird. Max clutched my hand. Soon the voice came again,and we heard the words:--
"Little Max, do you hear? Answer softly."
"I hear," responded Max.
There was an uncanny note in the music of the voice. It seemed almostcelestial. We could not tell whence it came. Every stone in the wallsand ceiling, every slab in the floor seemed resonant with silvery tones.After Max had answered there was a pause lasting two or three minutes,and the voice spoke again:--
"I love you, Little Max. I tell you because I wish to comfort you. Donot fear. You shall be free to-morrow. Do not answer. Adieu."
"Yolanda! Yolanda!" cried Max, pleadingly; but he received no answer. Heput hi
s hand on my shoulder and said:--
"It was Yolanda, Karl--ah, God must hate a child that He brings intothe world a prince."
For the rest of the night we did not sleep, neither did we speak. Themorrow was to be a day of frightful import to us, and we awaited it ingreat anxiety.
When the morning broke and the sun shot his rays through the narrowwindow, we carefully examined the floor and walls of our room, but wefound no opening through which the voice could have penetrated. In theside of the room formed by the wall of the tower, the mortar had fallenfrom between two stones, leaving one of them somewhat loose, but thecastle wall at that point was fully sixteen feet thick, and it wasimpossible that the voice should have come through the layers of stone.
From my first acquaintance with Yolanda there had seemed to be asupernatural element in her nature, an elfin quality in her face andmanner that could not be described. Max had often told me that sheimpressed him in like manner. The voice in our stone-girt chamber,coming as it did from nowhere, and resounding as it did everywhere,intensified that feeling till it was almost a conviction, though I amslow to accept supernatural explanations--a natural one usually exists.Of course, there are rare instances of supernatural power vested in menand women, and Yolanda's great, burning eyes caused me at times, almostto believe that she was favored with it.
The voice that we had heard was unquestionably Yolanda's, but by whatstrange power it was enabled to penetrate our rock-ribbed prison andgive tongues to the cold stones I could not guess, though I could notstop trying. Here was another riddle set by this marvellous girl for mysolving. This riddle, however, helped to solve the first, and confirmedmy belief that Yolanda was Mary of Burgundy.
After breakfast Max and I were taken to the great hall, where we foundCastleman standing before the ducal throne, speaking to Charles. Theburgher turned toward us, and as we approached I heard him say:--
"My lord, these men are not spies."
"Who are they?" demanded the duke.
Castleman gave our names and told the story of our meeting at Basel,after we had escorted Merchant Franz from Cannstadt. Then he narratedMax's adventure at the moat bridge, closing with:--
"Count Calli grossly insulted Fraeulein Castleman, for which Sir Maxchastised him; and no doubt, my lord, this arrest has been madefor revenge."
"Has the younger man name or title other than you have given?" askedCharles.
The burgher hesitated before he answered:--
"He has, my lord, though I may not disclose it to Your Grace without hispermission, unless you order me so to do upon my fealty. That I humblybeg Your Grace not to do."
"I beg Your Grace not to ask me to disclose my identity at this time,"said Max. "I am willing, should you insist upon knowing who I am, totell it privately in Your Grace's ear; but I am travelling incognitowith my friend, Sir Karl de Pitti, and I beg that I may remain so. Myestate is neither very great nor very small, but what it is I desire formany reasons not to divulge. These reasons in no way touch Burgundy, andI am sure Your Grace will not wish to intrude upon them. Within a month,perhaps within a few days, I will enlighten you. If you will permit meto remain in Peronne, I will communicate my reasons to you personally;if I leave, I will write to Your Grace. I give my parole that I will,within a month, surrender myself to Your Lordship, if you are notsatisfied, upon hearing my explanations, that my word is that of anhonorable knight, and my station one worthy of Your Grace's respect. Ihope my Lord d'Hymbercourt and my good friend Castleman will stand ashostages for me in making this pledge."
Both men eagerly offered their persons and their estates as hostages,and the duke, turning to the captain of the guard, said:--
"Remove the manacles from these knights."
The chains were removed, and the duke, coming down to the last step ofthe dais, looked into Max's face.
Max calmly returned the fierce gaze without so much as the faltering ofan eyelid.
"All step back save this young man," ordered the duke, extending hisopen palm toward the courtiers.
We all fell away, but the duke said:--
"Farther back, farther back, I say! Don't crowd in like a pack of yokelsat a street fight!"
Charles was acting under great excitement. I was not sure that it wasnot anger since his mien looked much like it. I did not know what wasgoing to happen, and was in an agony of suspense. Anything was possiblewith this brutish duke when his brain was crazed with passion.
All who had been near the ducal throne moved back, till no one waswithin ten yards of Charles save Max. The duke wore a dagger and a shirtof mail; Max wore neither arms nor armor. After the courtiers steppedback from the throne a deep, expectant hush fell upon the room. No onecould guess the intentions of this fierce, cruel duke, and I wasterribly apprehensive for Max's safety. Had Max been armed, I shouldhave had no fear for him at the hands of the duke or any other man.
Charles stepped from the dais to the floor beside Max, still gazingfixedly into his face. The men were within four feet of each other. Thesilence in the room was broken only by the heavy breathing of excitedcourtiers. The duke's voice sounded loud and harsh when he spoke to Max,and his breath came in hoarse gusts:--
"You are accused, Sir Knight, by credible witnesses of intent to murderme. For such a crime it is my privilege to kill you here and now with myown hand. What have you to say?"
Charles paused for a reply, drawing his dagger from its sheath. When Maxsaw the naked weapon, I noticed that he gave a start, though it wasalmost imperceptible. He at once recovered himself, and straightening tohis full height, stepped to within two feet of the duke.
"If I plotted or intended to kill you, my lord," said Max, less movedthan any other man in the room, "it is your right to kill me; but evenwere I guilty I doubt if my Lord of Burgundy, who is noted the worldover for his bravery, would strike an unarmed man. If Your Grace wishedto attack me, you would give me arms equal to your own. If you shouldkill me, unarmed as I am, you would be more pitiable than any other manin Burgundy. You would despise yourself, and all mankind wouldspurn you."
"Do you not fear me?" asked the duke, still clutching the hilt of hisunsheathed dagger.
"I do not believe you have the least intent to kill me," answered Max,"but if you have, you may easily do so, and I shall be less to bepitied than you. No, I do not fear you! Do I look it, my lord?"
"No, by God, you don't look it. Neither have you cause to fear me," saidCharles. "There is not another man in Christendom could have stood thisordeal without flinching."
To a brave man, bravery is above all the cardinal virtue. Charles turnedtoward his courtiers and continued:--
"There is one man who does not fear me--man, say I? He is little morethan a boy. Men of Burgundy, take a lesson from this youth, and bear itin mind when we go to war."
The duke began to unbuckle his shirt of mail, speaking as he did so:--
"I'll soon learn who has lied. I'll show this boy that I am as brave ashe."
Charles turned to Calli.
"Sir Count, did you not say this knight wished to kill me, even at thecost of his own life?"
"I so said, my lord, and so maintain upon my honor as a knight and uponmy hope of salvation as a Christian. I so heard him avow,"answered Calli.
"I will quickly prove or disprove your words, Sir Count," said the duke,removing his mail shirt and throwing it to the floor. Then he turned toMax and offered him the hilt of his dagger: "If you would purchase mydeath at the cost of your life, here is my dagger, and you may easilymake the barter. I am unarmed. One blow from that great arm of yourswill end all prospects of war with your Switzerland."
Max hesitatingly took the dagger and looked with a puzzled expressionfrom it to the duke's face. Campo-Basso and his Italian friends movedtoward their lord as if to protect him, but Charles waved them back witha protesting palm.
"Switzerland is not my native land, Your Grace, nor do I seek your life.Take your dagger," said Max.
"I offer you better terms," said Cha
rles. "If you wish to kill me, I nowgive you safe conduct beyond the borders of Burgundy."
"My lord, you are mistaken," said Max, impatiently, tossing the daggerto the floor and stepping back from the duke. A soft ripple of laughterwas heard in the ladies' gallery.
"No, it is not I that am mistaken," said Charles. "It is Campo-Basso andhis friends. Count Calli, prepare to give the combat to this knight,whoever he may be, and God have mercy on your soul, for the day of yourdeath is at hand."
Another ripple of soft laughter came from the ladies' gallery.
"I cannot fight him," wailed Calli. "I am suffering from a broken arm.My horse fell with me three weeks ago, as Your Grace well knows."
"When your arm mends, you must fight and prove your cause, or by thesoul of God, you hang! We'll make a fete of this combat, and another ofyour funeral. There shall be a thousand candles, and masses sufficientto save the soul of Satan himself. My Lord Campo-Basso, let not the likeof this happen again. Vengeance in Burgundy is mine, not my Italians'.Heralds, dismiss the company. These men are free."
All departed save Castleman, Hymbercourt, Max, and myself, who remainedat the duke's request.
"If you will remain at the castle, you are most welcome," said Charles,addressing Max and me.
I would have jumped at the offer, but Max thanked the duke and declined.
"We will, with Your Grace's permission, remain at Grote's inn for ashort time and then ask leave to depart from Burgundy."
The duke answered:--
"As you will. I do not press you. If you change your mind, come to thecastle, and you will be very welcome."
He turned and, with brief adieu, left the great-hall by the small doornear the dais. Castleman, Hymbercourt, and Max passed out through thegreat doors, and I was about to follow them when I was startled by thevoice I had heard in the night:--
"Little Max, Little Max," came softly from the ladies' gallery.
I paused to hear more, but all was silent in the great hall. The wordscould have come from no other lips than Yolanda's--Mary's. True, Ireasoned, Yolanda might be one of the ladies of the court, perhaps anear relative of the duke. Once the horrifying thought that he was herlover came to my mind, but it fled instantly. There was no evilin Yolanda.
Max did not hear the voice. I intended to tell him of it when we shouldreach the inn, and I thought to tell him also that I believed Yolandawas the Princess Mary. I changed my mind, however, and again had reasonto be thankful for my silence.