At the council house upon the Suedermalm, in the arched and grated room
occupied by Goertz, the pale Georgina sat waiting, her weary head
resting upon Arwed's shoulder. With a melancholy glance the youth
surveyed the mean table and wooden stool which composed all the
furniture in the dwelling-place of the once all-powerful prime
minister. At length a confused noise was heard without, and from the
midst of the crowd of soldiers by whom he was surrounded, the worthy
Goertz entered the room. He was accompanied by lieutenant general Rank
and the pastor Conradi, A clerk of the court followed, who remained
upon the threshold with a timepiece in his hand, while the gaoler
bolted the door behind him on the outside.
Georgina rushed with a loud scream to meet her father, pressing his
chained hand to her lips.
'Behold, my Georgina,' said the old man encouragingly, 'a joyful moment
after so many sad days! God disposes all things for the best. But you
must not weep, my daughter. Your tears move me powerfully, and I have
need of repose. I am harassed in mind as well as in body. Standing up
through a six hours' examination has much weakened me.'
'How!' asked Arwed indignantly, 'did they not allow you to be seated?'
'I requested it,' answered Goertz, sinking down upon his wooden stool,
'but the lords were of opinion that they could not allow a man like me
to sit in their presence. The words were yet harder than the refusal
itself. But let that pass. What is your sister about, Georgina? She is
well? Why did you not bring her with you?'
'The permission was only allowed to myself and Arwed,' said Georgina.
'They would not allow the child to come in, and I was compelled to send
her back from the door.'
'They are very strict with me in every respect,' said Goertz, 'whilst
they permit themselves every latitude to my disadvantage. This day's
examination furnishes sufficient proof of this.'
'I must hope, my old friend,' said Rank much moved, 'that the
commission will allow you every legal and proper indulgence.'
'A copy of the accusation has never once been laid before me,' answered
Goertz. 'I begged that my process might not be overhastened. I begged
also for permission to make a written defence. Both were denied me. I
begged to be allowed the assistance of professional counsel. This legal
aid also, which every murderer enjoys, was withheld from me.'
'Unheard of!' cried Rank indignantly. 'The queen cannot refuse these
requests consistently with her own honor. I will speak to her about
it.'
'My good Rank,' said Goertz, extending his hand to him with a smile of
gratitude, 'put not yourself to any inconvenience on my account. I am
not to be saved. When the blood of my king flowed, the same moment was
my sentence pronounced. Sweden thirsts for my blood, and it must be
drunken. This conviction has its benefits. It raises me above delusive
hopes, and confers upon me the quiet repose of resignation.'
'My dear father!' sobbed Georgina, who had sunk down before him, with
her head resting upon his knees.
'My good child!' said Goertz, lifting up her face and looking at her
with an expression of unutterable tenderness. 'Thou hast thy mother's
eyes,' added he, laying his hand softly upon her cheek. 'I must take a
long look that every lineament may remain in my memory. For this
enjoyment may never again be allowed to me.'
'This is the only interview which I could prevail upon the inexorable
Ribbing to grant,' said Rank sadly. 'They will not, however, refuse you
a farewell conversation with your daughters after the trial.'
Goertz kissed the tears from his daughter's eyes. But his parental
feelings became too strong for him. 'Leave me!' said he springing up:
'this trial is too great for me!' and he walked up and down the room
with hasty strides.
'One satisfaction,' resumed he suddenly, as if wishing to divert his
thoughts to other objects by the observation: 'one satisfaction have I
yet had in those hours when every one seemed to aim at my utter
prostration. Fehmann, my accuser, read, as a proof that I had
calumniated his subjects to the king, a letter, in which I had
complained to Charles of the neglect of his duty by a governor of a
province, and recommended his dismission. When he had read thus far he
laid the letter aside. I requested that the remainder might be read;
the commission decided in my favor, and Fehmann was now compelled to
read a description of himself as an able and faithful man whom I
recommended to the king for the place.'
'And did not the wretch throw himself at your feet overwhelmed with
shame and contrition?' cried Arwed in a rage.
'My good captain,' answered Goertz, 'the minds of the people who pursue
me are so perfectly settled, that they are incapable of such emotions.'
'Can I then do nothing, nothing at all, for you?' sobbed Georgina. 'I
will go with Magdalena to all your judges, clasp their knees and
entreat for mercy; the prayers and tears of innocent children, whom
they are about to make orphans, will, perhaps, move their flinty,
hearts.'
'I forbid your doing that!' answered Goertz with decision. 'What you
could ask for me has already been attempted by true friends, and
attempted in vain.'
At this moment the court scribe held out the watch in his hand, and
cried, 'the time has expired!'
'My God! the time has expired!' shrieked Georgina: 'and I had so many
things to say, and so many questions to ask you, my father, but your
sufferings have put them all out of my head. Have you nothing to charge
me with?'
'The crown of Sweden,' answered Goertz with a melancholy smile, 'has
relieved me of the care of my earthly possessions. My palace is
plundered, my funds and papers are all seized, and will probably be
confiscated for the benefit of the royal treasury. What it may be
necessary for you to know, in relation to these affairs you will find
in my testament, which I hope to be able to finish in the course of the
next few days.'
'And have you nothing else to say?' cried she, weeping upon his neck.
'We shall meet once more before my last hour,' answered Goertz with a
failing voice. 'Leave me now, my dear daughter.' He gently disengaged
himself from her arms and walked to the grated window, concealing his
face in his handkerchief.
'Father!' shrieked Georgina with desperation, and, springing after him,
again clasped him in her arms.
'Really, two minutes have already elapsed beyond the time, your
excellency,' said the clerk importunately, holding up his watch to
lieutenant general Rank. 'I shall be made answerable for any further
delay.'
'Take her hence!' cried Goertz, placing Georgina in Arwed's arms.
'Obey, my daughter!'--and Arwed bore the fainting sufferer out.