And swift approaching failure frets,
Pray the Lord that He this hour
May raise you to some place of power;
And while the nation wants and suffers,
Fill your own from the people's coffers."
"Outrageous!" screamed the lady of the Minister; "who is the insolent
wretch that dares such an insult?"
"Pleashe your exshellenshy," answered Julian, imitating the Jewish
dialect in voice and manner, "I vash only intendsh to shing you a
pretty shong. I am de Shew Abraham Levi, vell known at dish court. Your
ladyship knowsh me ver' well."
"How dare you tell such a lie, you villain?" exclaimed a voice,
trembling with rage, at one of the windows; "how dare you say you are
Abraham Levi? I am Abraham Levi! You are a cheat!"
"Call the police!" cried the Countess. "Have that man arrested!"
At these words the party confusedly withdrew from the windows. Nor did
the Prince remain where he was, but quickly effected his escape through
a cross-street. A crowd of servants rushed out of the palace, led by
the secretaries of the Finance Minister, and commenced a search for the
offender. "We have him!" cried some, as the rest eagerly approached. It
was in fact the real guardian of the night, who was carefully
perambulating his beat, in innocent unconsciousness of any offence. In
spite of all he could say, he was disarmed and carried off to the
watch-house, and charged with causing a disturbance by singing
libellous songs. The officer of the police shook his head at the
unaccountable event, and said: "We have already one watchman in
custody, whose verses about some girl caused a very serious affray
between the town's people and the garrison."
The prisoner would confess to nothing, but swore prodigiously at the
tipsy young people who had disturbed him in the fulfilment of his duty.
One of the secretaries of the Finance Minister repeated the whole verse
to him. The soldiers standing about laughed aloud, but the ancient
watchman swore with tears in his eyes that he had never thought of such
a thing. While the examination was going on, and one of the secretaries
of the Finance Minister began to be doubtful whether the poor watchman
was really in fault or not, an uproar was heard outside, and loud cries
of "Watch, watch!"
The guard rushed out, and in a few minutes the Field-Marshal entered
the office, accompanied by the captain of the guards on duty. "Have
that scoundrel locked up tight," said the Marshal, pointing behind
him--and two soldiers brought in a watchman, whom they held close
prisoner, and whom they had disarmed of his staff and horn.
"Are the watchmen gone all mad to-night?" exclaimed the chief of police.
"I'll have the rascal punished for his infamous verses," said the
Field-Marshal angrily.
"Your excellency," exclaimed the trembling watchman, "as true as I
live, I never made a verse in my born days."
"Silence, knave!" roared the Marshal. "I'll have you hanged for them!
And if you contradict me again, I'll cut you in two on the spot."
The police officer respectfully observed to the Field-Marshal that
there must be some poetical epidemic among the watchmen, for three had
been brought before him within the last quarter of an hour, accused of
the same offence.
"Gentlemen," said the Marshal to the officers who had accompanied him,
"since the scoundrel refuses to confess, it will be necessary to take
down from your remembrance the worlds of his atrocious libel. Let them
be written down while you still recollect them. Come, who can say them?"
The officer of police wrote to the dictation of the gentlemen who
remembered the whole verses between them:
"On empty head a flaunting feather,
A long queue tied with tape and leather;
Padded breast and waist so little,
Make the soldier to a tittle;
By cards and dance, and dissipation,
He's sure to win a Marshal's station."
"Do you deny, you rascal," cried the Field-Marshal to the terrified
watchman; "do you deny that you sang these infamous lines as I was
coming out of my house?"
"They may sing it who like, it was not me," said the watchman.
"Why did you run away, then, when you saw me?"
"I did not run away."
"What!" said the two officers who had accompanied the Marshal--"not run
away? Were you not out of breath when at last we laid hold of you there
by the market?"
"Yes, but it was with fright at being so ferociously attacked. I am
trembling yet in every limb."
"Lock the obstinate dog up till the morning," said the Marshal; "he
will come to his senses by that time!" With these words the wrathful
dignitary went away. These incidents had set the whole police force of
the city on the qui vive. In the next ten minutes two more watchmen
were brought to the office on similar charges with the others. One was
accused of singing a libel under the window of the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, in which it was insinuated that there were no affairs to which
he was more foreign than those of his own department. The other had
sung some verses before the door of the Bishop's palace, informing him
that the "lights of the church" were by no means deficient in tallow,
but gave a great deal more smoke than illumination. The Prince, who had
wrought the poor watchmen all this woe, was always lucky enough to
escape, and grew bolder and bolder with every new attempt. The affair
was talked of everywhere. The Minister of Police, who was at cards with
the King, was informed of the insurrection among the hitherto peaceful
watchmen, and, as a proof of it, some of the verses were given to him
in writing. The King laughed very heartily at the doggerel verse about
the miserable police, who were always putting their noses into other
people's family affairs, but could never smell anything amiss in their
own, and were therefore lawful game, and ordered the next poetical
watchman who should be taken to be brought before him. He broke up the
card-table, for he saw that the Minister of Police had lost his good
humor.
X.
In the dancing-hall next to the card-room, Philip had looked at his
watch, and discovered that the time of his appointment with Rose at St.
Gregory's had nearly come. He was by no means sorry at the prospect of
giving back his silk mantle and plumed bonnet to his substitute, for he
began to find high life not quite to his taste. As he was going to the
door, the Negro once more came up to him, and whispered: "Your
Highness, Duke Herrman is seeking for you everywhere." Philip shook his
head impatiently and hurried out, followed by the Negro. When they got
to the ante-chamber, the Negro cried out, "By Heaven, here comes the
Duke!"--and slipped back into the hall.
A tall black mask walked fiercely up to Philip, and said: "Stay a
moment, sir; I've a word or two to say to you; I've been seeking for
you long."
"Quick, then," said Philip, "for I have no time to lose."
"I would not waste a moment, sir; I have sought you long enough; you
owe me satisfaction, you have injured me infamously."
"Not that I am aware of."
"You don't know me, perhaps," said the Duke, lifting up his mask; "now
that you see me, your own conscience will save me any more words. I
demand satisfaction. You and the cursed Salmoni have deceived me!"
"I know nothing about it," said Philip.
"You got up that shameful scene in the cellar of the baker's daughter.
It was at your instigation that Colonel Kalt made an assault upon me
with a cudgel."
"There's not a word of truth in what you say."
"What!--you deny it? The Lady Blankenswerd, the Marshal's lady, was an
eye-witness of it all, and she has told me every circumstance."
"She has told your grace a fancy tale--I have had nothing to do with
it; if you made an ass of yourself in the baker's cellar, that was your
own fault."
"I ask, once more, will you give me satisfaction? If not, I will expose
you. Follow me instantly to the King. You shall either fight with me,
or--go to his Majesty."
Philip was nonplussed. "Your grace," he said, "I have no wish either to
fight with you or to go to the King."
This was indeed the truth, for he was afraid he should be obliged to
unmask, and would be punished, of course, for the part he had played.
He therefore tried to get off by every means, and watched the door to
seize a favorable moment for effecting his escape. The Duke, on the
other hand, observed the uneasiness of the Prince (as he thought him),
and waxed more valorous every minute. At last he seized poor Philip by
the arm, and was dragging him into the hall.
"What do you want with me?" said Philip, sorely frightened, and shook
off the Duke.
"To the King. He shall hear how shamefully you insult a guest at his
court."
"Very good," replied Philip, who saw no hope of escape, except by
continuing the character of the Prince. "Very good. Come, then, I am
ready. By good luck I happen to have the agreement with me between you
and the baker's daughter, in which you promise--"
"Nonsense! stuff!" answered the Duke, "that was only a piece of fun,
which may be allowed surely with a baker's daughter. Show it if you
like, I will explain all that."
But it appeared that the Duke was not quite so sure of the explanation,
for he no longer urged Philip to go before the King. He, however,
insisted more earnestly than ever on getting into his carriage, and
going that moment--Heaven knows where--to decide the matter with sword
and pistol, an arrangement which did not suit our watchman at all.
Philip pointed out the danger and consequences of such a proceeding,
but the Duke overruled all objections. He had made every preparation,
and when it was over he would leave the city that same night.
"If you are not the greatest coward in Europe, you will follow me to
the carriage--Prince!"
"I--am--no--prince," at last stuttered Philip, now driven to
extremities.
"You are! Everybody recognized you at the ball. I know you by your hat.
You sha'n't escape me."
Philip lifted up his mask, and showed the Duke his face.
"Now, then, am I a prince?"
Duke Herrman, when he saw the countenance of a man he had never seen
before, started back, and stood gazing as if he had been petrified. To
have revealed his secrets to a perfect stranger! 'T was horrible beyond
conception! But before he had recovered from his surprise, Philip had
opened the door and effected his escape.
XI.
The moment he found himself at liberty he took off his hat and
feathers, and wrapping them in his silk mantle, rushed through the
streets towards St. Gregory's, carrying them under his arm. There stood
Rose already, in a corner of the high church door, expecting his
arrival.
"Ah, Philip, dear Philip," she said, pressing his hand, "how happy you
have made me! how lucky we are! I was very uneasy to get away from my
friend's house, and I have been waiting here this quarter of an hour,
but never cared for the frost and snow--my happiness was so great: I am
so glad you're come back."
"And I too, dear Rose, thank God that I have got back to you. May the
eagles fly away with these trinkum-trankums of great people. But I'll
tell you some other time of the scenes I've had. Tell me now, my
darling, how you are, and whether you love me still!"
"Ah! Philip, you've become a great man now, and it would be better to
ask if you still care anything for me."
"Thunder! How came you to know so soon that I've been a great man?"
"Why, you told me yourself. Ah! Philip, Philip, I only hope you won't
be proud, now that you've grown so rich. I am but a poor girl, and not
good enough for you now--and I have been thinking, Philip, if you
forsake me, I would rather have had you continue a poor gardener. I
should fret myself to death if you forsook me."
"What are you talking about, Rose? 'T is true that for one half-hour I
have been a prince; 't was but a joke, and I want no more of such jokes
in my life. Now I am a watchman again, and as poor as ever. To be sure,
I have five thousand dollars in my pocket, that I got from a Mameluke;
that would make us rich, but unfortunately they don't belong to me!"
"You're speaking nonsense, Philip," said Rose, giving him the purse of
gold that the Prince had given her. "Here, take back your money, 't is
too heavy for my bag."
"What should I do with all this gold? Where did you get it, Rose?"
"You won it in the lottery, Philip."
"What! have I won? and they told me at the office my number was not yet
out. I had hoped and wished that it might come to give us a setting up
in the world; but gardener Redman said to me as I went a second time
towards the office: 'Poor Philip--a blank.' Huzzah! I have won! Now I
will buy a large garden and marry you. How much is it?"
"Are you crazy, Philip, or have you drunk too much? You must know
better than I can tell you how much it is. I only looked at it quietly
under the table at my friend's, and was frightened to see so many
glittering coins, all of gold, Philip. Ah! then I thought, no wonder
Philip was so impertinent--for, you know, you were very impertinent,
Philip,--but I can't blame you for it. Oh, I could throw my own arms
round your neck and cry for joy."
"Rose, if you will do it I shall make no objections. But there's some
misunderstanding here. Who was it that gave you this money, and told
you it was my prize in the lottery? I have my ticket safe in my drawer
at home, and nobody has asked me for it."
"Ah! Philip, don't play your jokes on me! you yourself told me it half
an hour ago, and gave me the purse with your own hand."
"Rose--try to recollect yourself. This morning I saw you at mass, and
we agreed to meet here to-night, but since that time I have not seen
you for an instant."
"No, except half an hour ago, when I saw you at Steinman's door. But
what is that bundle under your arm? why are you without a hat this cold
night? Philip! Philip! be careful. All that gold may turn your brain.
You've been in some tavern, Philip, and have drunk more than you
should. But tell me, what is in the bundle? Why--here's a woman's silk
gown.--Philip, Philip, where have you been?"
"Certainly not with you half an hour ago; you want to play tricks on
me, I fancy; where have you got that money, I should like to know?"
"Answer me first, Philip, where you got that woman's gown. Where have
you been, sir?"
They were both impatient for explanations, both a little jealous--and
finally began to quarrel.
XII.
But as this was a lovers' quarrel, it ended as lovers' quarrels
invariably do. When Rose took out her white pocket-handkerchief, put it
to her beautiful eyes, and turned away her head as the sighs burst
forth from her breast, this sole argument proved instantly that she was
in the right, and Philip decidedly in the wrong. He confessed he was to
blame for everything, and told her that he had been at a masked ball,
and that his bundle was not a silk gown, but a man's mantle and a hat
and feathers. And now he had to undergo a rigid examination. Every
maiden knows that a masked ball is a dangerous maze for unprotected
hearts. It is like plunging into a whelming sea of dangers, and you
will be drowned if you are not a good swimmer. Rose did not consider
Philip the best swimmer in the world--it is difficult to say why. He
denied having danced, but when she asked him, he could not deny having
talked with some feminine masks. He related the whole story to her, yet
would constantly add: "The ladies were of high rank, and they took me
for another." Rose doubted him a little, but she suppressed her
resentment until he said they took him for Prince Julian. Then she
shook her little head, and still more when she heard that Prince Julian
was transformed into a watchman while Philip was at the ball. But he
smothered her doubts by saying that in a few minutes the Prince would
appear at St. Gregory's Church and exchange his watch-coat for the mask.
Rose, in return, related all her adventure; but when she came to the
incident of the kiss--
"Hold there!" cried Philip; "I didn't kiss you, nor, I am sure, did you
kiss me in return."
"I am sure 'twas INTENDED for you, then," replied Rose, whilst her
lover rubbed his hair down, for fear it should stand on end.
"If 'twas not you," continued Rose, anxiously, "I will believe all that
you have been telling me."
But as she went on in her story a light seemed to break in on her, and
she exclaimed: "And, after all, I do not believe it was Prince Julian
in your coat!"
Philip was certain it was, and cried: "The rascal! He stole my
kisses--now I understand! That's the reason why he wanted to take my
place and gave me his mask!" And now the stories he had heard at the
masquerade came into Philip's head. He asked if anybody had called at
her mother's to offer her money; if any gentleman was much about Milk
Street; if she saw any one watching her at church; but to all his
questions her answers were so satisfactory, that it was impossible to
doubt her total ignorance of all the machinations of the rascally
courtiers. He warned her against all the advances of philanthropical
and compassionate princes--and Rose warned him against the dangers of a
masked ball and adventures with ladies of rank, by which many young men
have been made unhappy--and as everything was now forgiven, in
consideration of the kiss not been wilfully bestowed, he was on the
point of claiming for himself the one of which he had been cheated,
when his designs were interrupted by an unexpected incident. A man out
of breath with his rapid flight rushed against them. By the great-coat,
staff, and horn, Philip recognized his deputy. He, on the other hand,
snatched at the silk cloak and hat. "Ah! sir," said Philip, "here are
your things. I would not change places with you again in this world! I
should be no gainer by the operation."
"Quick! quick!" cried the Prince, and threw the watchman's apparel on
the snow and fastened on his mask, hat, and cloak. Philip returned to
his old beaver and coat, and took up the lantern and staff. Rose had
shrunk back into the door.
"I promised thee a dole, comrade--but it's a positive fact--I have not
got my purse."
"I've got it here," said Philip, and held it out to him. "You gave it
to my intended there; but, please your Highness, I must forbid all
presents in that quarter."
"Comrade, keep what you've got, and be off as quick as you can. You are
not safe here."
The Prince was flying off as he spoke, but Philip held him by the
mantle.
"One thing, my Lord, we have to settle--"
"Run! watchman! I tell you. They're in search of you."
"I have nothing to run for. But your purse, here--"
"Keep it, I tell you. Fly! if you can run."
"And a billet of Marshal Blankenswerd's for five thousand dollars--"
"Ha! what the plague do you know about Marshal Blankenswerd?"
"He said it was a gambling debt he owed you. He and his lady start
to-night for their estates in Poland."
"Are you mad? how do you know that? Who gave you the message for me?"
"And, your Highness, the Minister of Finance will pay all your debts to
Abraham Levi and others if you will use your influence with the King to
keep him in office."
"Watchman! you've been tampering with Old Nick."
"But I rejected the offer."
"YOU rejected the offer of the Minister?"
"Yes, your Highness. And, moreover, I have entirely reconciled the
Baroness Bonau with the Chamberlain Pilzou."
"Which of us two is a fool?"
"Another thing, your Highness. Signora Rollina is a bad woman. I have
heard of some love affairs of hers. You are deceived--I therefore
thought her not worthy of your attentions, and put off the meeting
to-night at her house."
"Signora Rollina! How did you come to hear of her?"
"Another thing. Duke Herrman is terribly enraged about that business in
the cellar. He is going to complain of you to the King."
"The Duke! Who told you about that?"
"Himself. You are not secure yet--but I don't think he'll go to the
King, for I threatened him with his agreement with the baker's
daughter. But he wants to fight you; be on yoor guard."
"Once for all--do you know how the Duke was informed of all this?"
"Through the Marshal's wife. She told all, and confessed she had acted
the witch in the ghost-raising."
The Prince took Philip by the arm. "My good fellow," he said, "you are
no watchman." He turned his face towards a lamp, and started when he
saw the face of this strange man.
"Are you possessed by Satan, or...Who are you?" said Julian, who had
now become quite sober.
"I am Philip Stark, the gardener, son of old Gottlieb Stark, the
watchman," said Philip, quietly.
XIII.
"Lay hold on him! That's the man!" cried many voices, and Philip, Rose,
and Julian saw themselves surrounded by six lusty servants of the
police. Rose screamed, Philip took her hand, and told her not to be
alarmed. The Prince clapped his hand on Philip's shoulder.
"'Tis a stupid business," he said, "and you should have escaped when I
told you. But don't be frightened; there shall no harm befall you."
"That's to be seen," said one of the captors. "In the meantime he must
come along with us."
"Where to?" inquired Philip; "I am doing my duty. I am watchman of this
beat."
"That's the reason we take you. Come."
The Prince stepped forward. "Let the man go, good people," he said, and
searched in all his pockets for his purse. As he found it nowhere, he
was going to whisper to Philip to give it him, but the police tore them
apart, and one of them shouted: "On! We can't stop to talk here."
"The masked fellow must go with us too; he is suspicious-looking."
"Not so," exclaimed Philip; "you are in search of the watchman. Here I
am, if you choose to answer for taking me from my duty. But let this
gentleman go."
"We don't want any lessons from you in our duty," replied the sergeant;
"march! all of them!"
"The damsel too?" asked Philip; "you don't want her surely!"
"No, she may go; but we must see her face, and take down her name and
residence; it may be of use."
"She is the daughter of Widow Bittner," said Philip; and was not a
little enraged when the whole party took Rose to a lamp and gazed on
her tearful face.
"Go home, Rose, and don't be alarmed on my account," said Philip,
trying to comfort her; "my conscience is clear."
But Rose sobbed so as to move even the policemen to pity her. The
Prince, availing himself of the opportunity, attempted to spring out of
his captors' hands, but one of the men was a better jumper than he, and
put an obstacle in his way.
"Hallo!" cried the sergeant, "this conscience is not quite so clear;
hold him firm; march!"
"Whither?" said the Prince.
"Directly to the Minister of Police."
"Listen," said the Prince, seriously but affably, for he did not like
the turn affairs were taking, as he was anxious to keep his watchman
frolic concealed. "I have nothing to do with this business. I belong to
the court. If you venture to force me to go with you, you will be sorry
for it when you are feasting on bread and water tomorrow in prison."
"For Heaven's sake, let the gentleman go," cried Philip; "I give you my
word he is a great lord, and will make you repent your conduct. He is--"
"Hush; be silent," interrupted Julian; "tell no human being who I am.
Whatever happens keep my name a secret. Do you hear? an entire secret
from every one!"
"We do our duty," said the sergeant, "and nobody can punish us for
that; you may go to a prison yourself; we have often had fellows speak
as high, and threaten as fiercely; forward!"
"Men! take advice; he is a distinguished man at court."
"If it were a king himself he should go with us. He is a suspicious
character, and we must do our duty."
While the contest about the Prince went on, a carriage, with eight
horses and outriders, bearing flambeaux, drove past the church.
"Stop!" said a voice from the carriage, as it was passing the crowd of
policemen who had the Prince in custody.
The carriage stopped. The door flew open, and a gentleman, with a
brilliant star on the breast of his surtout, leaped out. He pushed
through the party, and examined the Prince from head to foot.
"I thought," he said, "I knew the bird by his feathers. Mask, who are
you?"
Julian was taken by surprise, for in the inquirer he recognized Duke
Herrman.
"Answer me," roared Herrman in a voice of thunder.