The Emperor sent Raby two agents of the secret police, who were told off
to accompany him wherever he went; both had full powers to claim
admission everywhere, to arrest anyone they desired without respect to
rank, and to draw the requisite funds they might need from the public
banks.
One of them, named Plotzlich, was a famous detective, and never so happy
as when he was tracking some notorious criminal to his lair, or
dexterously unravelling some-deep-laid plot. His personal courage was
everywhere recognised, and he had won high distinction in the
performance of his duties in Vienna, where he was generally respected
and feared; in fact, Raby could hardly have had a better man to protect
him.
However, even Mr. Plotzlich had his limitations, as Raby found out by
the time they were fairly on the road in the diligence. The
police-commissioner had never been out of Vienna, and a country journey
was a new experience.
At the sight of the sparrows (which had been exterminated in the towns)
he cried, "How very small the pigeons are here!" Then, seeing some
country peasants hunting marmots out of their holes, he asked what kind
of an animal they were, whereupon the farmer he addressed told him it
was an Hungarian mouse. From which it will be seen that the accomplished
detective's knowledge of zoology was limited, to say the least of it.
When they put up for the night at an inn on the road, Raby noted with
some surprise that Plotzlich drew his sword and laid it in the bed
beside him. Raby assured him that no danger was to be apprehended, as
all the doors were barred against possible attacks from robbers.
"Ah! that may be," returned the other, "but," pointing to a mouse hole,
"suppose an Hungarian mouse should get in!"
Meantime the long formal document which officially announced Raby's
readiness to appear before his judges to refute the charges against him,
had been drawn up and sent to Pesth, and the head of the police there,
as well as the district commissioner were properly notified of the same.
It was growing dusk when Raby and his two conductors arrived in Buda.
And this was just as well, so that they should not be recognised. So ere
the street lamps were lit they hastened to the police-station, where it
had been arranged they should stay. Over the door hung the great
Austrian eagle, and below a soldier guarded the great shield bearing
the imperial coat of arms, which showed that here no Hungarian had
jurisdiction.
But the chief of the police complained loudly when he heard who his
guest was, and made a very wry face at Raby's name.
"H'm," he said doubtfully, "I have received orders from the governor of
the city to deliver over to him the prisoner Raby if he should come into
my power."
"But we bring you the imperial mandate," exclaimed the others, "that you
give a shelter here to the noble gentleman, Mr. Mathias Raby, who is one
of his Majesty's chamberlains."
"Well, my friend," answered the Buda official, "remember that his
Majesty is far away, while his Excellency is near."
"Surely the Emperor is a greater man than the governor of Pesth," cried
Mr. Plotzlich indignantly.
"Well, you will see for yourselves," retorted the Buda chief, "you don't
know the Pesth authorities as well as I do."
"Yes, but remember we have instructions from the Kaiser," they answered.
"You had better go and interview him yourselves."
And off they went, leaving Raby under the shelter of the Austrian
authorities.
* * * * *
Arrived at the governor's palace, they were received by his Excellency,
who, after seeing their credentials, asked abruptly what they desired.
"We are commissioned by his Majesty to accompany hither Mr. Raby, who is
to appear for the purpose of confronting his accusers at the Pesth
Assembly House shortly."
"Do you mean the good-for-nothing fellow who ran away the other day from
prison?"
"May it please your Excellency, he is authorised by the Emperor
himself."
"And he is likewise my prisoner, don't forget that!"
"Pardon me, he is under our special protection, with an imperial
safe-conduct and is here for the fulfilment of a perfectly lawful
purpose."
"And I have already ordered that he shall be surrendered to the custody
of the Pesth magistracy."
"Then I must emphatically protest in the Kaiser's name. Here is his
authorisation."
"Then I recommend you to keep it," returned his Excellency drily. "The
Kaiser commands in Vienna, but it is my turn here."
And with that the governor got up and rang the bell.
It was answered by a secretary.
"Go to the Assembly House and tell them to send an escort of police to
arrest the runaway prisoner Raby," was the peremptory order.
The Vienna police-agents both exclaimed loudly at this defiance of their
prerogative: "We protest, we protest!" they cried angrily. "This is
sheer rebellion."
"Protest if you dare," retorted his Excellency. "I'll have you both
placed in irons if you don't make off, and you will have time enough to
remember Hungarian justice for the rest of your lives."
And the two commissioners, seeing all protest was futile, thought
discretion was the better part of valour, and hastened away as fast as
they could, till they reached the shelter of the Austrian eagle. There a
council of war was held by the indignant officials and Raby.
But they had not much time for discussion, for not long after, the
provost of the Pesth prison arrived with an armed guard to arrest Raby.
His Austrian protectors insisted on accompanying their charge, whose
forcible removal they strongly resented, though their protests were
unavailing.
The Vienna officers naturally thought they would cross from Buda to
Pesth by the bridge; what was their dismay, then, to find that the
expedition meant to ferry across, and this in spite of the drift-ice
which at that season of the year encumbered the Danube and made it
dangerous for navigation.
"However shall we get across," they asked, as they gazed in
consternation at the river, which did not look inviting, it must be
owned.
"Oh, that's soon done," said the provost airily. "You've only to get
into the boat here," and he led the way to the ferry-boat which was
fastened close at hand.
"Please be good enough to get in," said their conductor.
The prisoner was pushed in first, and the two commissioners dutifully
prepared to follow him.
"However are we going to make our way through the ice?" asked Plotzlich
anxiously.
"You'll soon see," was the ready answer.
The helmsman cut her adrift, and the rowers pushed from the shore; but
scarcely had they put off, before a huge ice-floe drove them back again.
"Ship your oars," roared the ferry-man, and the rowers dexterously
trimmed the boat which had well-nigh capsized under the blow, but for
their skill.
It was too much for the Vienna officials. "We protest in the Emperor's
name!" they yelled, whilst Plotzlich, in mingled fear and anger cried,
"I am bound under oath not to allow anyone to cross the river when it is
unnavigable through ice, and I won't transgress my own rules, so take us
back to the shore!"
And so back they came, and the two Viennese speedily disembarked. "And
Mr. Raby as well," they cried.
"Not he!" laughed the provost triumphantly. "You needn't trouble your
heads about him. Whosoever is born to be hanged will not be drowned, of
that you may be sure."
And once more they put off on their perilous journey, while the
police-agents took out their red pocket-books and made formal memoranda
of what had just happened. Meanwhile, with much trouble and long delay,
Raby and his custodians reached the other side, not without narrowly
escaping destruction.
The next morning, the river being free from drift ice, the two
commissioners took their way to Pesth, and by dint of much threatening
and imploring, arrived at the door of the prisoner's dungeon, where they
could speak with him.
"Are you there, Mr. Raby?" they asked anxiously, "and what are you
doing?"
"Yes, I'm here sure enough, and clanking my chains for want of any other
amusement," was the answer.
"You don't mean to say you are in irons?" cried his questioners.
"Yes, indeed, both my hands and feet are fettered fast."
"Well, have no fear, we will soon free you!"
For this was more than the police commissioners could stand; and they
dashed off in hot haste to demand Raby's release from the authorities,
but they found the latter perfectly obdurate to all their entreaties.
Finally, they tackled Laskoy, and extorted from that gentleman a promise
to remove the prisoner's fetters. They also were invited by him to
attend the inquiry next morning, when they might see Raby for
themselves, he said, and escort him away a free man.
So the following morning found the two Viennese again at the Assembly
House, but there was not a soul about, save a clerk who could give them
but scant information. So they determined to get their news at
first-hand, and make for Raby's cell. On the way they fell in with
Janosics, carrying a brazier containing disinfectants, whose fumes
filled the corridor.
"When does Mr. Raby appear before the court?" they inquired eagerly.
"Not to-day," said the gaoler, "the poor man is ill."
"Let us see him and speak with him."
"You cannot, he is much too bad; besides I have to fumigate the whole
place on account of his illness."
"But what is his malady then?"
"That I cannot tell you; ask the doctor when he comes out."
And at that moment the cell-door opened and the doctor walked out,
carrying a shovel on which some aromatic gum was burning, in one hand,
and in the other a pocket-handkerchief soaked with spirits of lavender.
He spoke to no one till he had washed his hands in a bowl of vinegar and
water that a heyduke held for him, the commissioners looking on somewhat
aghast at all these precautions. Raby's malady must be something very
contagious to demand them.
At last Plotzlich summoned up courage to ask what was the matter with
the prisoner.
The doctor took a long inhalation of the lavender and then whispered to
the official, nervously, "It's the oriental plague."
It was enough for the Viennese. They thought no more of the unfortunate
man they were leaving behind them, but without more ado, hastened out of
the infected building as fast as their legs could carry them, to take
the fatal news back to Vienna. As for Raby he was as good as dead and
buried, as far as the world was concerned, for his death was a foregone
conclusion.