12
I have told my story up to this point from my own personal experience,
relating in their order, quite simply and faithfully, the things I myself
heard and saw. I can do this, however, no longer. Respecting those matters
that happened when I was not present, I can only repeat what was told me by
others; and as regards certain foregone events in the life of Monsieur
Maurice, I have but vague rumour; and still more vague conjecture upon
which to base my conclusions.
The King had said that Monsieur Maurice's case should be investigated
without the delay of an hour, and, so far as it could then and there be
done, it was investigated immediately on his return to the Château. He
first examined Baron von Bulow's original despatch, and all my father's
minutes of matters relating to the prisoner, including a statement written
immediately after the departure of a stranger calling himself the Count von
Rettel, and detailing from memory, very circumstantially and fully, the
substance of a certain conversation to which I had been accidentally a
witness, and which I have myself recorded elsewhere.
The King, on reading this statement, was observed to be greatly disturbed.
He questioned my father minutely as to the age, complexion, height, and
general appearance of the said Count von Rettel, and with his own hand
noted down my father's replies on the back of my father's manuscript. This
done, His Majesty desired that the man Hartmann should be brought before
him.
But Hartmann was nowhere to be found. His room was empty. His bed had not
been slept in. He had disappeared, in short, as completely as if he had
never dwelt within the precincts of the Château.
It was found, on more particular inquiry being made, that he had not been
seen since the previous evening. Overwhelmed with terror, and perhaps with
remorse, he had rushed out of Monsieur Maurice's presence, never to
return. It was supposed that he had then immediately gathered together all
that belonged to him, and had taken advantage of the bustle and confusion
consequent on the King's arrival, to leave Brühl in one of the return
carriages or fourgons that had brought the royal party from Cologne. I am
not aware that anything more was ever seen or heard of him; or that any
active search for him was judicially instituted either then, or at any
other time. But he might easily have been pursued, and taken, and dealt
with according to the law, without our being any the wiser at Brühl.
Hartmann being gone, the King then sent for the prisoner, and Monsieur
Maurice, for the first time in many weeks, left his own rooms, and was
brought round to the state-apartments. Seeing so many persons about; seeing
also the flowers and flags upon the walls, he seemed surprised, but said
nothing. Being brought into the royal presence, however, he appeared at
once to recognise the King. He bowed profoundly, and a faint flush was seen
to come into his face. He then cast a rapid glance round the room, as if to
see who else was present; bowed also (but less profoundly) to my father,
who was standing behind the King's chair; and waited to be spoken to.
“Vous êtes Français, Monsieur?” said the King, addressing him in French, of
which language my father understood only a few words.
“Je suis Français, votre Majesté,” replied Monsieur Maurice.
“Comment!” said the King, still in French. “Our person, then, is not
unknown to you?”
“I have repeatedly enjoyed the honour of being in your Majesty's presence,”
replied Monsieur Maurice, respectfully.
Being then asked where, and on what occasion, my father understood him to
say that he had seen his Majesty at Erfurt during the great meeting of the
Sovereigns under Napoleon the First, and again at the Congress of Vienna;
and also that he had, at that time, occupied some important office, such,
perhaps, as military secretary, about the person of the Emperor. The King
then proceeded to question him on matters relating to his imprisonment and
his previous history, to all of which Monsieur Maurice seemed to reply at
some length, and with great earnestness of manner. Of these explanations,
however, my father's imperfect knowledge of the language enabled him to
catch only a few words here and there.
Presently, in the midst of a somewhat lengthy statement, Monsieur Maurice
pronounced the name of Baron von Bulow. Hereupon the King checked him by a
gesture; desired all present to withdraw; caused the door to be closed; and
carried on the rest of the examination in private. By and by, after the
lapse of nearly three quarters of an hour, my father was recalled, and an
officer in waiting was despatched to Monsieur Maurice's rooms to fetch what
was left of the bottle of Seltzer-water, which Monsieur Maurice had himself
locked up in the sideboard the night before.
The King then asked if there was any scientific man in Brühl capable of
analysing the liquid; to which my father replied that no such person could
be found nearer than Cologne or Bonn. Hereupon a dog was brought in from
the stables, and, having been made to swallow about a quarter of a pint of
the Seltzer-water, was presently taken with convulsions, and died on the
spot.
The King then desired that the body of the dog, and all that yet remained
in the bottle should be despatched to the Professor of Chemistry at Bonn,
for immediate examination.
This done, he turned to Monsieur Maurice, and said in German, so that all
present might hear and understand:--
“Monsieur, so far as we have the present means of judging, you have
suffered an illegal and unjust imprisonment, and a base attempt has been
made upon your life. You appear to be the victim of a foul conspiracy, and
it will be our first care to sift that conspiracy to the bottom. In the
meanwhile, we restore your liberty, requiring only your _parole
d'honneur_, as a gentleman, a soldier, and a Frenchman, to present
yourself at Berlin, if summoned, at any time required within the next three
months.”