The mask approaches; it is Angelo himself. The rascal knows his
business well; he must be sure of his facts.--LESSING.
In a dark grove of old oaks, whose dense leaves the pale light of dawn
can scarcely penetrate, a short man approaches another man who is alone,
and seems to waiting for him. The following conversation begins in low
tones:--
“Your worship must excuse me for keeping you waiting; several things
detained me.”
“Such as what?”
“The leader of the mountain men, Kennybol, did not reach the appointed
place until midnight; and we were also disturbed by an unlooked-for
witness.”
“Who?”
“A fellow who thrust himself like a fool into the mine in the midst of
our secret meeting. At first I took him for a spy, and would have put
him to death; but he turned out to be the bearer of a safe-conduct from
some gallows-bird held in great respect by our miners, and they
instantly took him under their protection. When I came to consider the
matter, I made up my mind that he was probably a curious traveller or a
learned fool. At any rate, I have taken all necessary precautions in
regard to him.”
“Is everything else going well?”
“Very well. The miners from Guldsbrandsdal and the Färöe Islands, led by
young Norbith and old Jonas, with the mountain men from Kiölen, under
Kennybol, are probably on the march at this moment. Four miles from Blue
Star, their comrades from Hubfallo and Sund-Moer will join them; those
from Kongsberg and the iron-workers from Lake Miösen, who have already
compelled the Wahlstrom garrison to retreat, as your lordship knows,
will await them a few miles farther on; and finally, my dear and honored
master, these combined forces will halt for the night some two miles
away from Skongen, in the gorges of Black Pillar.”
“But how did they receive your Hans of Iceland?”
“With perfect confidence.”
“Would that I could avenge my son’s death on that monster! What a pity
that he should escape us!”
“My noble lord, first use Hans of Iceland’s name to wreak your revenge
upon Schumacker; then it will be time enough to think of vengeance
against Hans himself. The insurgents will march all day, and halt
to-night in Black Pillar Pass, two miles from Skongen.”
“What! can you venture to let so large a force advance so close to
Skongen? Musdœmon, take care!”
“You are suspicious, noble Count. Your worship may send a messenger at
once to Colonel Vœthaün, whose regiment is probably at Skongen now;
inform him that the rebel forces will encamp to-night in Black Pillar
Pass, and have no misgivings. The place seems made purposely for
ambuscades.”
“I understand you; but why, my dear fellow, did you muster the rebels in
such numbers?”
“The greater the insurrection, sir, the greater will be Schumacker’s
crime and your merit. Besides, it is important that it should be crushed
at a single blow.”
“Very good; but why did you order them to halt so near Skongen?”
“Because it is the only spot in the mountains where all resistance is
impossible. None will ever leave it alive but those whom we select to
appear before the court.”
“Capital! Something tells me, Musdœmon, to finish this business quickly.
If all looks well in this quarter, it looks stormy in another. You know
that we have been making secret search at Copenhagen for the papers
which we feared had fallen into the possession of Dispolsen?”
“Well, sir?”
“Well, I have just discovered that the scheming fellow had mysterious
relations with that accursed astrologer, Cumbysulsum.”
“Who died recently?”
“Yes; and that the old sorcerer delivered certain papers to Schumacker’s
agent before he died.”
“Damnation! He had letters of mine,--a statement of our plot!”
“_Your_ plot, Musdœmon!”
“A thousand pardons, noble Count! But why did your worship put yourself
in the power of such a humbug as Cumbysulsum?--the old traitor!”
“You see, Musdœmon, I am not a sceptic and unbeliever, like you. It is
not without good reason, my dear fellow, that I have always put my trust
in old Cumbysulsum’s magic skill.”
“I wish your worship had had as much doubt of his loyalty as you had
trust in his skill. However, let us not take fright too soon, noble
master. Dispolsen is dead, his papers are lost; in a few days we shall
be safely rid of those whom they might benefit.”
“In any event, what charge could be brought against me?”
“Or me, protected as I am by your Grace?”
“Oh, yes, my dear fellow, of course you can count upon me; but let us
bring this business to a head. I will send the messenger to the colonel.
Come, my people are waiting for me behind those bushes, and we must
return to Throndhjem, which the Mecklenburger must have left ere now.
Continue to serve me faithfully, and in spite of all the Cumbysulsums
and Dispolsens upon earth, you can count on me in life and death!”
“I beg your Grace to believe--The Devil!”
Here they plunged into the thicket, among whose branches their voices
gradually died away; and soon after, no sound was heard save the tread
of their departing steeds.