As Arwed emerged from the trenches he was met by adjutant Kolbert. 'It
is well that I have found you,' said he eagerly: 'I have been some time
seeking you. Come directly with me.'
'Where?' asked Arwed with moody apathy.
'To general Duecker's,' quickly answered Kolbert.
'There are collected all those who in their hearts were truly devoted
to our fallen hero. The meeting relates to matters of the highest
consequence, which must be discussed in all haste. It is asked, who now
shall wear the crown in our good Sweden?'
'Has the army to decide that question?' asked Arwed earnestly.
'Certainly!' said Kolbert, 'and that according to the anciently
consecrated right of the sword, as formerly exercised by the praetorians
of Rome. Only come with me. There you will not only hear the _how_, but
the _wherefore_, about which, pedantlike, you always first ask.'
He drew Arwed with him towards general Duecker's quarters. They were
already crowded with generals and officers, who were engaged in low and
eager conversation. Suddenly they separated, forming a large circle,
into the middle of which stepped the worthy old Duecker.
'The king is dead!' said he with an agitated voice. 'In the midst of
your affliction for this great loss, I waive until a more suitable time
the important question,--How has the hero fallen? Our present duty is,
faithfully to guard the vacant throne as becomes faithful vassals and
warriors, and to take care that the crown be set upon a worthy head.
You know, comrades, that there are two hands which will be stretched
out for it, and in the opinion of many it is yet doubtful whether the
nephew or the sister of Charles has the best right. I am indeed
entirely convinced, that the son of the elder sister should take
precedence of the younger. But the heroes of the quill may hereafter
fight out these subtleties, if it should become necessary. At present I
abide simply by the will of my king, who has so often been our guiding
star in battle, as the pole star of heaven guides the mariner through
opposing storms. Charles had a father's love for his nephew, and was
reverenced with filial tenderness by him in return. He took him with
himself to the field, that he might under his own eyes train him to
become his worthy successor. For his sister he always had an aversion,
and the thought of female government was as hateful to him, as, since
the days of the apostate Christina, it must be to every true Swede.
Wherefore I believe we fulfill the unwritten testament of the great
departed in raising the duke of Holstein to Sweden's throne. He already
has so far deserved it, that his connection with this realm has cost
him his possessions.
'But whatever be done must be done quickly--for the husband of the
other pretender to the crown is in the camp, and already very active in
availing himself of his field-marshalship to aid her pretensions. I, in
whom he least confides, have already been ordered to depart with my
corps, and I dare not venture to disobey, unless protected by a counter
order from the king. I therefore propose that a deputation from
ourselves repair immediately to the duke, and beg of him to show
himself to the troops. We will have the regiments under arms, proclaim
him king in front of them, and for the rest depend upon our good
swords. Is that your will, my friends?'
'Long live our king Charles XIIIth!' cried the assembled warriors with
one voice, and every sword leaped from its scabbard. While most of the
officers distributed themselves through the soldiers' barracks, to
prepare them for the great movement, Duecker chose, from among those
who remained, the ambassadors who should accompany him to the duke.
Arwed found himself one of the number, and the delegates immediately
repaired to the duke's quarters. The sentinels refused them entrance.
The discussion which this occasioned brought out the valet-de-chambre,
Koepstorf, the favorite and confidant of the young prince.
'It is impossible, your excellency, to announce you now,' said he to
Duecker. 'His grace is so shaken by the intelligence of the king's
death that he has yielded himself up entirely to his sad feelings, and
cannot turn his attention to anything else. The gentlemen must come
again to-morrow morning.'
'My God!' cried Duecker, 'you desire a delay of many hours, when
Sweden's fate, perhaps, hangs upon as many moments. In consequence of
the king's death, the duke is lawful heir to the crown. We have opened
the way to the throne for him. The army is upon his side. He has only
to make his appearance and harangue the troops, and they will call him
to the royal station, in the possession of which he will be protected
by his good right. But if he delay, his aunt will gain possession; and,
once upon the throne, she will thence obtain the power to maintain
herself there. I conjure you, friend, to present all this to your lord,
and beseech him to hear the representations of his true supporters, and
not neglect the favorable moment which for him, perhaps, may never
occur again.'
'I will do what I can,' answered Koepstorf, shrugging his shoulders and
going in.
There stood the well disposed warriors, patiently waiting to ascertain
if the young prince would stoop to take the crown which they were
desirous of laying at his feet. The valet-de-chambre was gone a long
time. The cold morning wind blew keenly from the direction of Sweden,
and they wrapped themselves close in their mantles. At length they
heard the trampling of horses near them, and a troop of some ten
horsemen trotted hastily by them and took the way towards Stroemstadt.
'Do you know what that means?' asked Kolfaert of the general. 'It is
colonel Baumgardt, who, by the command of the fieldmarshal, goes to
meet and arrest the baron von Goertz.'
'Right!' cried Duecker with bitterness. 'A crime more or less, is of no
consequence, when a crown is to be usurped, and it is highly politic to
rob the prince of his best supporters. He is, however, little troubled
by all this, as it seems, and will perhaps patiently wait until he is
himself arrested in his own quarters.'
The valet-de-chambre now again came out. 'My exertions have not been
successful,' said he despondingly. 'I have placed the whole subject
before the prince, but have not obtained a favorable hearing. He merely
allows me to say to your excellency that he cannot speak with any
person now.'
Great dissatisfaction was expressed by the whole company, and Duecker
angrily stamped his foot. 'It is a pity we have taken so much pains and
incurred so much danger,' said he. 'Nothing indeed now remains for us
but obedience, as I have no desire to set my gray head upon a cast for
an ungrateful man. Bear to my regiments the order for their departure,'
said he to his adjutant, and, cursing and swearing by the way, he
returned to his quarters.
Oppressed with concern for the father of his beloved, Arwed followed
the general. 'Grant me one request,' said he urgently as they entered
the quarters of the latter. 'There will now be very little to do here
in the way of fighting, and my presence is no longer necessary. Procure
me a furlough to ride back to Stockholm.'
'To Stockholm?' asked Duecker, startled. 'Now, directly? For what
purpose, captain? Do you wish to become one of the wheels in the
machinery of politics which are now destructively working in opposition
to each other? You appear to me to be much too honest-hearted for
that.'
'From Charles's best friend I will conceal nothing,' said Arwed
resolutely. 'According to my calculation Goertz must now either be in
Stockholm or will soon arrive there. I would warn that true servant of
our late king, that he may be able to escape from the hands of his
revengeful enemies.'
'For which thought may heaven reward you!' cried Duecker, 'but I fear
the issue. In the first place, the prince of Hesse is your chief, and
it will be difficult to procure from him the desired permission, and
secondly, you will hardly be able to outstrip the speed of the officers
already under way for the arrest of Goertz.'
'Obtain me but the permission, general,' persisted Arwed: 'the rest
shall be my care. I ride a Norman of unequalled speed and bottom.'
'I will make the effort,' said Duecker; 'but hardly hope for success.
Since Charles's death I am only the _late_ Duecker, and my influence
has become a shadow.'
He had proceeded as far as the door when he was met by colonel Brenner.
'I come to take leave of you, my old friend,' said the latter, heartily
embracing the general. 'I go this moment with post-horses to the
capital.'
'Every body seems to wish to go to Stockholm tonight,' said Duecker.
'What hast thou to ask there?'
'His royal highness the prince of Hesse, as he already suffers himself
to be called,' answered Brenner ironically, 'has already sent forward
his beloved and trusty Siquier with the mournful news. It might
afterwards, however, have occurred to him that it would not seem
exactly proper to leave the communication of so important an event to
the equivocal Frenchman. Wherefore must an honorable Swede follow him
as the messenger of death; and as I might perhaps be troublesome here,
I am in mercy selected for that duty.'
'Will you do me a pleasure and take the captain with you?' said
Duecker. 'He has a sudden and urgent call to Stockholm, and may not in
any other way be able to obtain leave of absence.'
'The prince has allowed me to choose my companion,' answered Brenner;
'and what would I not do to pleasure you? We set off directly, captain.
Farewell till happier times, my Duecker!'
He hastened forth. Arwed gratefully pressed the general's hand, who in
return drew him to his heart. 'God protect you and bless your
undertaking!' said the latter with emotion--and Arwed rushed forth in
the cold, gray dawn of the awakening mom.