THE SUMMONS ANSWERED.
In two weeks JenA''s case came up for trial. Meanwhile the prosecution
had been busy collecting evidence of the rebel commissary-general's
guilt.
"Are you Eugen Baradlay?" asked the judge-advocate.
"I am."
"Are you married?"
"I have a wife and two children."
"Were you commissary-general of the rebel forces?"
"I was."
"Are you the same Eugen Baradlay that drove the administrator from his
chair as presiding officer in your county assembly?"
"The same."
"Did you appear during the March uprising at the head of the Hungarian
deputation that was sent to Vienna, and did you there address the
people in language calculated to stir them to rebellion?"
"I cannot deny it."
"Do you recognise these words as having been spoken by you at that
time?"
The judge-advocate handed him a sheet of paper covered with pencilled
writing in a woman's hand. JenA' had good cause to remember the
contents of the sheet, and to recognise the writing. Had he not seen
Alfonsine taking down the orator's words on that well-remembered night
when they both paused to listen to his brother's eloquence? She had
rested her portfolio against his shoulder while she wrote down the
most striking portions of the address--for her scrap-book.
"Yes," said he, returning the paper, "those were my words."
The judges consulted together. The prompt and positive acknowledgment
of the last charge was more than they had expected; the accused need
not have committed himself. The examination was resumed.
"A brother of yours, a hussar officer, deserted with his men. Did you
use your influence to persuade him to that course?"
So it was not known who had actually persuaded Richard to lead his men
into Hungary; or were they intentionally heaping all the blame on his
head to make his condemnation the surer? He hastened to reply:
"Yes, it was I who did it." He answered so eagerly as to excite some
surprise.
"Have you not another brother,--Edmund or JenA'?"
"Yes; 'JenA'' in Hungarian, 'Edmund' in German."
"Aren't you wrong? Is not 'Eugen' the German for 'JenA',' and 'Edmund'
the German for 'A-dAśn'? I have heard the matter discussed before now."
"No, it is as I say."
"This brother disappeared from Vienna simultaneously with the hussar
officer. Do you know the reason?"
"I believe it was because he found himself thrown out of his place in
the chancellor's office, and was unwilling to pass his time in
idleness."
"What became of him?"
"Ever since then he has been at home, looking after the estate in his
brothers' absence. He took no part whatever in the uprising, but
occupied his leisure hours with painting and music, and in teaching my
little boy. He is still at home."
"Did you not raise and maintain at your own cost a battalion of
volunteers?"
"Yes; two hundred cavalry and three hundred infantry. At the battle of
KAipolna I led the cavalry in person."
"You are anticipating the prosecution. Were you present at the
Debreczen diet?"
"As one cannot be in two places at the same time, I was not."
"At the battle of Forro did you not exert yourself in rallying the
routed forces of the rebels?"
"Yes, I did."
JenA' had committed himself unnecessarily. He seemed not merely
unconcerned as to his fate, but even eager to meet it. The
judge-advocate sought to test him. Searching among his papers, he
finally looked up and said:
"The charge is here made against you that in the expedition among the
mountains you seized and appropriated to your own use all the bullion
stored in the public mints."
At this charge JenA''s face flushed with anger. "That is false!" he
cried. "That is a shameless slander! No Baradlay would commit a
crime!"
This outburst sealed his fate by removing any lingering doubt as to
his identity. Such a passionate denial could have come only from him
whom the charge actually concerned, that is, from A-dAśn Baradlay.
"What have you to say in your defence?" he was asked in closing.
"Our defence is in our deeds," was the proud rejoinder. "Posterity
will judge us."
The jury was then sworn in the presence of the accused, and the latter
was led into a side room to wait until summoned to hear the verdict
and receive his sentence. In a quarter of an hour he was led back
again. Omitting the charge which he had denied, he was found guilty on
all the other counts, and they were amply sufficient to condemn him to
death. He bowed as if well satisfied with his sentence. An early hour
the next morning was assigned for his execution. He heaved a sigh. His
purpose was accomplished. He had but one favour to ask,--the privilege
of writing to his wife, his mother, and his brother, before he died.
His request was granted, and he thanked the court with a smile so
serene and an eye so clear that more than one heart was touched with
compassion.
His judges were not to blame that the Eumenides thirsted for blood.