The Swedish trumpets were sounding and the drums beating an alarm, as
Arwed and his groom rode into the camp before Frederickshall. In every
direction the footsoldiers were parading before their barracks under
arms, and the cavalry were standing by their horses, ready to mount.
With great trouble Arwed pressed his steed through the warlike throng,
and finally arrived at the quarters of the king,--where he paused,
looking in every direction for some one to announce him.
At length, an aged officer, in a general's uniform, came along the
passage-way between the tents, bending his steps towards the royal
barrack. The sentinel at the door presented arms to him. Acknowledging
the courtesy in a kindly manner, his glance fell upon Arwed. 'Do you
seek any one here, my son?' asked he in a friendly tone.
'An audience of the king,' answered Arwed: 'of whom I have a personal
request to make.'
'The king is now pressingly engaged,' said the general. 'The princes of
Hesse and Holstein-Gottorp are with him. If you are willing to entrust
your business with me I will faithfully communicate it to him.'
'I thankfully acknowledge your goodness, general,' answered Arwed. 'I
am convinced that my request to be enrolled in the army might safely be
confided to your hands; but I am very desirous to see the face of my
king, a happiness which I have never yet enjoyed. I was not yet born
when he left Stockholm.'
'Whither he has never since returned, I know,' said the general with a
heavy sigh. 'You look so fresh and true hearted that I will do what you
desire. Come with me.'
Arwed followed the general. The door of the royal chamber at that
moment opened. A man was standing by a table, upon which were lying a
bible, a map of Norway and a plan of Frederickshall. His blue,
unornamented riding coat, with large brass buttons, his narrow black
neck-stock, his thin locks, which bristled in every direction, the
broad yellow leather shoulder-band, from which his long sword depended,
and his large cavalry boots, would have led to the conclusion that he
was a subaltern officer,--but his tall, noble figure, his beautiful
forehead, his large soft blue eyes, and his well formed nose, gave to
his whole appearance something so majestic, and so highly distinguished
him from two embroidered, starred and ribboned lords who were with him
in the room, that Arwed instantly recognized his hitherto unknown king.
'The trenches opened on the fourth,' said the king, fretfully tracing
upon the plan with his finger. 'They ought to be further advanced!'
'Certainly, your majesty!' answered Arwed's protector in a sad tone.
'One feels tempted to believe that he who conducts these works either
cannot or will not advance them, and it must be conceded that colonel
Megret understands his business.'
'I know what you would say, Duecker,' said Charles with a severe
countenance. 'But I will give you a useful lesson. You must not speak
ill of any one when you are speaking with your king.'
Making an effort to suppress his feelings, and followed by the scornful
smile of the eldest prince, Duecker retired,--whilst the other, a youth
of about Arwed's age, amused himself with examining the new comer with
a far from becoming hauteur.
The king, following the glance of his nephew, perceived Arwed and
advanced towards him.
'Who?' asked he with some embarrassment.
'Gyllenstierna,' answered Arwed with a profound inclination: 'a Swedish
nobleman, who begs of your majesty that be may be permitted to fight
under your banners.'
'Count Gyllenstierna?' inquired Charles, leaning on his giant sword,
'The father is a determined opponent of my administration!' said he to
his brother-in-law, as Arwed bowed affirmatively, and a convulsive
smile distorted the lips of his well-formed mouth.
'Yet full of devotion for his king and his native land!' earnestly
interposed Arwed. 'If your majesty will but permit his son to prove
it.'
The king gave him a complacent look. 'I am now about to take the
battery called the Golden Lion from the Danes,' said he: 'you can
remain by my side.'
'Heaven reward your majesty!' cried Arwed in ecstasies, and seized the
hand of the hero to kiss it.
'I like not that,' said the king, hastily withdrawing his hand,--and at
that moment adjutant general Siquier, a slender Frenchman, with a
cunning but wasted face, entered the room.
'Every thing is in readiness for the attack, your majesty!' announced
he.
'God with us, comrades!' exclaimed the king, putting on his immense
gauntlets of yellow leather.
'This attack will cost many men!' said Duecker, in an under tone to the
young duke.
'Oh!' whispered Siquier, who overheard the remark, 'a great French
general under whom I once served was accustomed to say before the
slaughter: 'If God will but remain neutral to-day, then shall these
Messieurs be finely flogged.''
The king, who was already at the door, once more returned. 'Your great
general,' said he to Siquier,--indignant at the quotation of the
irreverent speech,--'spoke then like a great fool.'
With a countenance which badly concealed his rage at this unexpected
reproof, Siquier cast down his eyes, and the warriors silently followed
their heroic leader.