The next morning, as lieutenant general Rank was mounting the steps to
Arwed's quarters, the latter, coming furiously out, rushed directly
against him.
'Whither so hasty, my good Gyllenstierna?' cried Rank, grasping his
arm. 'I was coming to seek you, and have something of importance to
say.'
'And I have something of yet greater importance to do, sir general,'
answered Arwed in a singular tone. 'I shall take upon myself to act as
a lawyer, and talk to the judges about a second appeal.'
'I fear you are planning some evil, and shall not suffer you to go
out!' cried Rank, dragging the youth entirely up the steps. When they
had reached his room he gave him a searching look. From Arwed's pale
countenance, wild glaring eyes and disordered dress, it was evident
that he had not been in bed the preceding night, and the handles of a
pair of pistols were seen projecting from the bosom of his coat.
'Young man, what do you intend?' asked Rank. 'I have become your
friend, and cannot allow you to make yourself unhappy.'
'The injustice,' answered Arwed, 'which conducted Goertz to the
scaffold, has robbed me of all the happiness of my existence. Georgina
has rejected me and bidden an eternal farewell to Sweden. I will now
devote the rest of my miserable life to some useful purpose, and assume
the office of Nemesis. The judges who condemned the innocent, shall
answer it to me before the mouth of my pistol or the point of my sword,
and with their worthy president will I make a beginning!'
'Calm yourself,' said Rank. Count Ribbing cannot be called to account
by you.'
'He shall, he must!' cried Arwed, with flashing eyes. 'The wretch, by
signing the sentence, has declared that Goertz had lived dishonorably
and should therefore die ignominiously! It will be honor enough for him
to die as a cavalier by the hands of an honorable man!'
'He can no longer be held answerable to you,' repeated Rank. 'He is
dead!'
'Dead!' reiterated Arwed, shuddering.
'Even before the execution of Goertz, was he attacked by apoplexy,'
pursued Rank, 'and instantly expired. His death was for a time kept a
secret from the people, who might have drawn various sinister
conclusions from the occurrence, but I cannot understand how you could
have remained so long ignorant of it.'
'I have paid no attention to the news of the capital during the last
week,' answered Arwed in a low tone of voice. 'Dead! The executioner
gone before the victim! I am sorry for it. I will then seek the public
prosecutor, and thank him for the gratitude he evinced towards his
patron.'
'Would you contend with a cripple? Fehmann also has been smitten. He
now lies very low, and, if he ever recover, he will, nevertheless,
remain a maimed man the remainder of his life. The living body of the
wretched Hylten is daily consumed by worms, and doctor Molin has fallen
backwards from his seat and broken his neck.'
'And thus all the ringleaders escape me!' cried Arwed, stamping with
his foot. 'Stiernkrona is innocent, and the rest were little more than
miserable tools.'
'You see, my young friend,' said Rank, seizing Arwed's hand, 'that God
himself will fulfill the duties of judge in this case. Assume not the
office of avenger with bold presumption!'
'Only one of them now remains,' cried Arwed fiercely; 'but he shall not
escape me!'
'Whom do you mean?' anxiously asked Rank.
'Colonel Baumgardt,' answered Arwed, 'who arrested the martyr, in
obedience to the commands of a man who at that time had no authority to
issue such an order. Had it not been for his shameful readiness on that
occasion, the noble blood of Goertz would not have flowed.'
'You are right, but I warn you,' said Rank. 'Directly by means of that
arrest has Baumgardt acquired great favor with the queen. A challenge
upon that ground would not be accepted by him, and would bring you to a
prison.'
'I thank you for the warning,' answered Arwed. 'But fortunately the
colonel has injured me personally, and is therefore prepared to receive
a challenge from me.'
'If that be the case,' said Rank, 'and you are not provided with a
second, I offer you my services in that capacity.'
'You, general!' cried Arwed with astonishment.
'I am your friend,' said Rank, 'and will openly prove it, and at the
same time abjure my political faith. Let it be considered as settled.
Before the duel, however, I advise you to resign your commission.
Indeed it was for that purpose I came to seek you. You have made many
and powerful enemies. Nothing but your father's power and influence has
hitherto preserved you, and even he is angry with you now. If he also
should give you up, you would be lost without redemption.'
'Only he who gives himself up, is lost,' said Arwed. 'Yet will I follow
your good counsel. Under the present circumstances there is no longer
honor nor pleasure for me in the Swedish service.'
'It is unfortunate for you, Gyllenstierna,' cried Rank dejectedly. You
have in you the metal for a Horn or a Torstenson, and it is to be
regretted that your talents cannot be devoted to the service of your
country. Whenever you need my services in your proposed affair, you
know where to find me.'
He took his leave, and Arwed accompanied him to the door. On his return
he passed a mirror, and the reflection of his disordered figure caught
his attention.
'I look as bad,' cried he, 'as a highway robber, going forth in pursuit
of his prey. This is not as it should be. Even the just anger of an
honorable man should not wear this appearance. Stern business should be
sternly executed; but with a due regard to outward appearances, so that
the wretch whom I am about to punish may not be able to complain that I
have neglected what good manners prescribe.'
He drew the pistols from his bosom, and laid them aside. Then ringing
for his servant, he dressed himself with unusual care. The rich gala
uniform contrasted strangely and frightfully with the suppressed anger
upon his beautiful pale face. He buckled on his sword again, and
proceeded to the Ritterholm in search of his antagonist.
The parade before the palace had commenced. The troops were already
marched to the square, and the officers were walking to and fro in
masses, or conversing together in isolated groups. 'Have you heard of
it?' asked adjutant Kolbert, slopping up to Arwed; Baumgardt has become
a major general, and had conferred upon him the order of the seraphim.
It will be announced to-day in general orders.'
'There he comes already,' scoffingly observed count Posse, who had
joined the group; 'and his face shines as did that of Moses when he
retired from the presence of the Most Holy.'
'I am glad of it,' said Arwed, 'I shall have an opportunity to
congratulate him upon the spot.'
Meanwhile Baumgardt had descended the palace steps with a stately air,
and now approached them. Already, at a distance, glistened the star and
band upon his breast, and with proud condescension he bowed right and
left to the subaltern officers who gathered round for the purpose of
congratulating him.
With firm and rapid strides Arwed stepped directly in front of the
fortunate man. The latter was somewhat surprised when he recognised
him, and turned pale upon observing the frightful earnestness expressed
by his features. 'I must most respectfully request a short conversation
with you, sir major general,' said Arwed very courteously. 'You will
have the goodness to remember that I reserved this claim when we
separated at Amal.'
'I know not....' stammered Baumgardt, in the embarrassment of his
surprise.
'You allowed yourself,' proceeded Arwed, 'in the parsonage at Tanum and
in the camp before Frederickshall, to use certain expressions injurious
to my honor, and my situation now for the first time allows me to ask
an explanation of them.'
'Whatever I may have said,' answered Baumgardt sullenly, 'was in the
discharge of my official duty, and therefore I am not to be called to
account for it by any person.'
'According to my view,' said Arwed coolly, 'on that occasion you
overstepped the bounds of your duty. You will therefore have the
goodness to give me the satisfaction due to a man of honor.'
'I do not know,' answered Baumgardt, 'whether I as a general am bound
to fight with a captain.'
'But as a cavalier you dare not refuse satisfaction to the count
Gyllenstierna,' cried Arwed warmly. 'If, however, you have any doubts
upon that point, the corps of officers at the capitol may decide the
matter.'
'I doubt only,' said Baumgardt scornfully, 'whether you can find any
one willing to act as your second in so extraordinary an affair, in
which I see only the quixotism of youth, which I am willing to pardon.'
'I have consented to act as the count's second,' said Rank, who had
just joined them.
'Your excellency!' exclaimed Baumgardt with surprise. 'That is indeed
quite another affair. I fight with pistols, and fire advancing,' said
he to Arwed, after a moment's reflection.
'The choice was yours,' answered Arwed, bowing. 'I thank you for
meeting my wishes in this manner. When shall it be?'
'To-morrow morning at ten o'clock, upon the Peckholm, opposite the
park,' answered Baumgardt, gloomily.
'I shall have the honor to await you there,' said Arwed, with a very
low bow, and turned upon his heel.