money as he descended. Cautiously he fastened it to the belt of Greusel,
then, snatching his cloak from the ground, he sprang once more across
the stream, and climbed to the waiting Heinrich.
It was broad daylight before they saw the towers of Ehrenfels, and they
found little difficulty in rousing Heinrich's father, for he had slept
as badly that night as Roland himself.
The caretaker flung his arms around the young prisoner.
"Oh, thank God, thank God!" was all he could cry, and "Thank God!" again
he repeated. "Never before have I felt my head so insecure upon my
shoulders. Had you not been here when they came, Highness, their
Lordships would have listened to no explanation."
"Really you were in little danger with such a clever son. The
Archbishops would never have suspected that he was not I, for none of
the three has ever seen me. I am quite sure Heinrich would have effected
my signature excellently, and answered to their satisfaction all
questions they might ask. So long as he complied with their wishes,
there would be no inquiries set afoot, for none would suspect the
change. Indeed, custodian, you have missed the opportunity of your life
in not suppressing me, thus allowing your son to be elected Emperor."
"Your Highness forgets that my poor boy cannot write his own name, much
less yours. Besides, it would be a matter of high treason to forge your
signature, so again I thank God you are here. Indeed, your Highness, I
am in great trouble about my son."
"Oh, the danger is not so serious as you think."
"'Tis not the danger, Highness. That it is his duty to face, but he
takes advantage of his position as prisoner. He knows I dare refuse him
nothing, and he calls for wine, wine, wine, spending his days in revelry
and his nights in stupor."
"You astonish me. Why not cudgel the nonsense out of him? Your arm is
strong enough."
"I dare not lay stick on him, and I beg you to breathe nothing of what I
have told you, for he holds us both in his grasp, and he knows it. If I
called for help to put him in a real dungeon, he would blurt out the
whole secret."
"In that case you must even make terms with him. 'Twill be for but a
very short time, and after that we will reform him. He was frightened
enough of my sword in the forest, and I shall make him dance to its
point once this crisis is over."
"I shall do the best I can, Highness. But you must have been on your way
to Ehrenfels. Had you heard aught of what is afoot?"
"Nothing. 'Twas mere chance that Heinrich and I met in the forest, and
he was within a jot of impinging himself upon my sword in his hurry. I
stood in the darkness, while he himself held a light for the better
convenience of any chance marauder who wished to undo him."
"Unarmed, and without money," said the custodian, "I thought he was
safer than otherwise. But you are surely hungry, Highness. Advance then
within, and I will see to your needs."
So presently the errant Prince consumed an excellent, if early
breakfast, and, without troubling to undress, flung himself upon a
couch, sleeping dreamlessly through the time that Greusel and Ebearhard
were conjuring up motives for him, of which he was entirely innocent.
When Roland woke in the afternoon, he had quite forgotten that a score
of men who, nominally, at least, acknowledged him master, were wondering
what had become of him. He called the custodian, and asked for a sight
of the parchments that his Lordship of Mayence had sent across the river
for his perusal. He found the documents to be a very carefully written
series of demands disguised under the form of requests.
The pledges which were asked of the young Prince were beautifully
engrossed on three parchments, each one a duplicate of the other two. If
Roland accepted them, they were to be signed next day, in presence of
the three Archbishops. Two certainties were impressed upon him when he
had read the scroll: first, the Archbishops were determined to rule; and
second, if he did not promise to obey they would elect some other than
himself Emperor on the death or deposition of his father. The young man
resolved to be acquiescent and allow the future to settle the question
whether he or the Archbishops should be the head of the Empire. A
strange exultation filled him at the prospect, and all thought of other
things vanished from his mind.
Leaving the parchments on the table in the knights' hall, where he had
examined them, he mounted to the battlements to enjoy the fresh breeze
that, no matter how warm the day, blows round the towers of Ehrenfels.
Here a stone promenade, hung high above the Rhine, gave a wonderful view
up and down the river and along the opposite shore. From this elevated,
paved plateau he could see down the river the strongholds of Rheinstein
and Falkenberg, and up the river almost as far as Mayence. He judged by
the altitude of the sun that it was about four o'clock in the afternoon.
The sight of Rheinstein should have suggested to him his deserted
company, for that was the first castle he intended to attack, but the
prospect opened up to him by the communication of the Archbishops had
driven everything else from his mind.
Presently the cautious custodian joined him in his eyrie, and Roland
knew instinctively why he had come. The old man was wondering whether or
not he would make difficulties about signing the parchments. He feared
the heedless impetuosity and conceit of youth; the natural dislike on
the part of a proud young prince to be restricted and bound down by his
elders, and the jailer could not conceal his gratification when the
prisoner informed him that of course he would comply with the desires of
the three prelates.
"You see," he continued, with a smile, "I must attach my signature to
those instruments in order to make good my promises to you."
He was interrupted by a cry of astonishment from his aged comrade.
"Will wonders never cease!" cried the old man. "Those merchants in
Frankfort must be irredeemable fools. Look you there, Highness! Do you
see that barge coming down the river, heavily laden, as I am a sinner,
for she lies low in the water. It is one of the largest of the Frankfort
boats, and those hopeful simpletons doubtless imagine they can make
their way through to Cologne with enough goods left to pay for the
journey. 'Tis madness! Why, the knights of Rheinstein and Falkenberg
alone will loot them before they are out of our sight. If they think to
avoid those rovers by hugging our shore, their mistake will be apparent
before they have gone far."
Roland gazed at the approaching craft, and instantly remembered that he
was responsible for its appearance on the Rhine. He recognized Herr
Goebel's great barge, with its thick mast in the prow, on which no sail
was hoisted because the wind blew upstream. On recollecting his deserted
men, he wondered whether or not Greusel had brought them across the
hills to Assmannshausen. Had they yet discovered that Joseph carried the
bag of gold? He laughed aloud as he thought of the scrimmage that would
ensue when this knowledge came to them. But little as he cared for the
eighteen, he experienced a pang of regret as he estimated the
predicament in which both Greusel and Ebearhard had stood on learning he
had left them without a word. Still, even now he could not see how any
explanation on his part was possible without revealing his identity, and
that he was determined not to do.
Turning round, he said abruptly to the custodian:
"Were the seven hundred thalers paid to you each month?"
"Of a surety," was the reply.
"That will be two thousand one hundred thalers altogether. Did you spend
the money?"
"I have not touched a single coin. That amount is yours, and yours
alone, Prince Roland. If I have been of service I am quite content to
wait for my reward, or should I not be here, I know you will remember my
family."
"May the Lord forget me if I don't. Still, the twenty-one hundred
thalers are all yours, remember, but I beg of you to lend me a thousand,
for I possess not a single gold piece in my bag. Indeed, if it comes to
that, I do not possess even a bag. I had two yesterday, but one I gave
away and the other I threw away."
The old man hurried down, and presently returned with the bag of money
that Roland had asked of him. Before this happened, however, Roland,
watching the barge, saw it round to, and tie up at the shore some
distance above Assmannshausen. He took the gold, and passed down the
stone stair to the courtyard.
"I shall return," he said, "before the sun sets," and without more ado,
this extraordinary captive left his prison, and descended the hill in
the direction of the barge.
After greeting Captain Blumenfels, he learned that the boat had been
delayed by running on a sandbank in the Main during the night, but they
had got it off at daybreak, and here they were. As, standing on the
shore, Roland talked with the captain on the barge, he saw approaching
from Assmannshausen two men whom he recognized. Telling the captain he
might not be ready for several days, he walked along the shore to meet
his astonished friends, who, as was usual with them, jumped at an
erroneous conclusion, and supposed that he arrived on the barge which
they had seen rounding to for the purpose of taking up her berth by the
river-bank.
Greusel and Ebearhard stood still until he came up to them.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen. Are you here alone, or have you brought the
mob with you?"
"Your capable lieutenant, sir," said Ebearhard, before his slower
companion could begin to frame a sentence, "allowed the men to think
they were having their own way, but in reality diverted them into his,
so they are now enjoying a credit of one liter each at the tavern of the
Golden Anker."
"That," said Roland, "is but as a drop of water in a parched desert.
Have they discovered you hold the money, Greusel?"
"No, not yet; but I fear they will begin to suspect by and by. I suppose
you went down the valley of the brook to the Rhine, and overhauled the
barge there?"
"I suppose so," said Roland. "What else did you think I could do?"
"I was sure you had done that, but I feared you would turn the barge
back to Frankfort."
"I never thought of such a thing. Indeed, the captain told me he met
difficulty enough navigating the shallow Main, and I think he prefers
the deeper Rhine. Of course, you know why I left you."
The men looked at each other without reply, and Roland laughed.
"I see you have been harboring dark suspicions, but the case is very
simple. The pious monks tell us that the Scriptures say if a man asks us
to go one league with him, we should go two. My good friends of the
guild last night made a most reasonable request, namely, that I should
bestow upon them three thalers each, and surely, to quote the monks
again, the laborer is worthy of his hire."
"Oh, that is the way you look upon it, then," said Greusel.
"From a scriptural point of view, yes; and I am going to better the
teachings of my young days by giving each of the men ten times the
amount he desired. Thirty thalers each are waiting in this bag for
them."
"By my sword!" cried Ebearhard, "if that isn't setting a premium on
mutiny it comes perilously close."
"Not so, Ebearhard; not so. You and Greusel did not mutiny, therefore to
each of you I give a hundred and thirty thalers, which is the thirty
thalers the mutineers receive, and a hundred thalers extra, as a reward
of virtue because you did not join them. After all, there is much to be
said for the men's point of view. I had led them ruthlessly under a
burning July sun, along a rough and shadeless road, then dragged them
away from the ample wine-vaults of Sonnenberg; next guided them on
through brambles, over streams, into bogs and out again; and lastly,
when they were dog-tired, hungry and ill-tempered, I carelessly pointed
to a section of the landscape, and said, 'There, my dear chaps, is your
bedroom'; lads who had never before slept without blankets and a roof.
No wonder they mutinied; but even then, by the love of God for His
creatures, they did not actually attack me when I stood up with drawn
sword in my hand."
"Of course you have that at least to be thankful for," said Ebearhard.
"Eighteen to one was foul odds."
"I be thankful! Surely you are dreaming, Ebearhard. Why should I be
thankful, except that I escaped the remorse for at least killing a dozen
of them!"
Ebearhard laughed heartily.
"Oh, if so sure of yourself as all that, you need no sympathy from me."
"You thought I would be outmatched? By the Three Kings! do you imagine
me such a fool as to teach you artisans the higher qualities of the
sword? There would have been a woeful surprise for the eighteen had they
ventured another step farther. However, that's all past and done with,
and we'll say no more about it. Let us sit down here on the sward, and
indulge in the more agreeable recreation of counting money."
He spread his cloak on the grass, and poured out the gold upon it.
"I am keeping two hundred thalers for myself, as leader of the
expedition, and covetous. Here are your hundred and thirty thalers,
Greusel, and yours, Ebearhard. You will find remaining five hundred and
forty, which, if divided with reasonable accuracy, should afford thirty
thalers to each of our precious eighteen."
"Aren't you coming with us to Assmannshausen, that you may give this
money to the men yourself?" asked Greusel.
"No; that pleasure falls to my lieutenants, first and second. One may
divide the money while the other delivers the moral lecture against
mutiny, illustrated by the amount that good behavior gains. Say nothing
to the men about the barge being here, merely telling them to prepare
for action. Now that you are in funds, engage a large room, exclusively
for yourselves, at the Golden Anker. Thus you will be the better able to
keep the men from talking with strangers, and so prevent any news of our
intentions drifting across the river to Rheinstein or Falkenberg. You
might put it to them, should they object to the special room, that you
are reconstituting, as it were, the Kaiser cellar of Frankfort in the
village of Assmannshausen. Go forward, therefore, with your usual
meetings of the guild, as it was before I lowered its tone by becoming a
member. Knowing the lads as I do, I suggest that you make your bargain
with them before you deliver the money. No promise; no thirty thalers.
And now, good-by. I shall be exceedingly busy for some days arranging
for a further supply of money, so do not seek me out no matter what
happens."
With this Roland shook hands, and returned to Ehrenfels Castle.
* * * * *
The three sumptuous barges of the Archbishops hove in sight at midday,
two coming up the river and one floating down. They maneuvered to the
landing so that all reached it at the same time, and thus the three
Archbishops were enabled to set foot simultaneously on the firm ground,
as was right and proper, no one of them obtaining precedence over the
other two. On entering the Castle of Ehrenfels in state, they proceeded
to the large hall of the knights, and seated themselves in three equal
chairs that were set along the solid table. Here a repast was spread
before them, accompanied by the finest wine the Rheingau produced, and
although the grand prelates ate lustily, they were most sparing in their
drink, for when they acted in concert none dared risk putting himself at
a disadvantage with the others. They would make up for their abstinence
when each rested in the security of his own castle.
The board being cleared, Roland was summoned, and bowing deeply to each
of the three he took his place, modestly standing on the opposite side
of the table. The Archbishop of Mayence, as the oldest of the trio,
occupied the middle chair; Treves, the next in age, at his right hand,
and Cologne at his left. A keen observer might have noticed that the
deferential, yet dignified, bearing of the young Prince made a favorable
impression upon these rulers who, when they acted together, formed a
power that only nominally was second in the realm.
It was Mayence who broke the silence.
"Prince Roland, some months ago turbulence in the State rendered it
advisable that you, as a probable nominee to the throne, should be
withdrawn from the capital to the greater safety which this house
affords. I hope it has never been suggested to you that this unavoidable
detention merited the harsh name of imprisonment?"
"Never, your Lordships," said Roland, with perfect truth.
The three slightly inclined their heads, and Mayence continued:
"I trust that in the carrying out of our behests you have been put to no
inconvenience during your residence in my Castle of Ehrenfels, but if
you find cause for complaint I shall see to it that the transgressor is
sharply punished."
"My Lord, had such been the case I should at once have communicated with
your Lordship at Mayence. The fact that you have received no such
protest from me answers your question, but I should like to add emphasis
to this reply by saying I have met with the greatest courtesy and
kindness within these walls."
"I speak for my brothers and myself when I assert we are all gratified
to hear the expression that has fallen from your lips. There was sent
for your perusal a document in triplicate. Have you found time to read
it?"
"Yes, my Lord, and I beg to state at once that I will sign it with the
greater pleasure since in any case, if called to the high position you
propose, I should have consulted your Lordships on every matter that I
deemed important enough to be worthy of your attention, and in no
instance could I think of setting up my own opinion against the united
wisdom of your Lordships."
For a few minutes there ensued a whispered conversation among the three,
then Mayence spoke again:
"Once more I voice the sentiments of my colleagues, Prince Roland, when
I assure you that the words you have just spoken give us the utmost
satisfaction. In the whole world to-day there is no prouder honor than
that which it is in the Electors' power to bestow upon you, and it is a
blessed augury for the welfare of our country when the energy and
aspiration of youth in this high place associates itself with the
experience of age."
Here he made a signal, and the aged custodian, who had been standing
with his back against the door, well out of earshot, for the
conversation was carried on in the most subdued and gentle tones,
hurried forward, and Mayence requested him to produce the documents
entrusted to his care. These were spread out before the young man, who
signed each of them amidst a deep silence, broken only by the scratching
of the quill.
Up to this point Roland had been merely a Prince of the Empire; now, to
all practical purposes, he was heir-apparent to the throne. This
distinction was delicately indicated by Mayence, who asked the attendant
to bring forward a chair, and then requested the young man to seat
himself. Roland had supposed the ceremonies at an end, but it was soon
evident that something further remained, for the three venerable heads
were again in juxtaposition, and apparently there was some whispered
difference as to the manner of procedure. Then Cologne, as the youngest
of the three, was prevailed upon to act as spokesman, and with a smile
he regarded the young man before he began.
"I reside farther than my two colleagues from your fair, if turbulent,
city of Frankfort, and perhaps that is one reason why I know little of
the town and its ways from personal observation. You are a young man
who, I may say, has greatly commended himself to us all, and so in
whatever questions I may put, you will not, I hope, imagine that there
is anything underneath them which does not appear on the surface."
Roland drew a long breath, and some of the color left his face.
"What in the name of Heaven is coming now," he said to himself, "that
calls for so ominous a prelude? It must be something more than usually
serious. May the good Lord give me courage to face it!"
But outwardly he merely inclined his head.
"We have all been young ourselves, and I trust none of us forget the
temptations, and perhaps the dangers, that surround youth, especially
when highly placed. I am told that Frankfort is a gay city, and
doubtless you have mixed, to some extent at least, in its society." Here
the Archbishop paused, and, as he evidently expected a reply, Roland
spoke:
"I regret to say, my Lord, that my opportunities for social intercourse
have hitherto been somewhat limited. Greatly absorbed in study, there
has been little time for me to acquire companions, much less friends."
"What your Highness says, so far from being a drawback, as you seem to
imagine, is all to the good. It leaves the future clear of complications
that might otherwise cause you embarrassment." Here the Archbishop
smiled again, and Roland found himself liking the august prelate. "It
was not, however, of men that I desired to speak, but of women."
"Oh, is that all?" cried the impetuous youth. "I feared, my Lord, that
you were about to treat of some serious subject. So far as women are
concerned, I am unacquainted with any, excepting only my mother."
At this the three prelates smiled in differing degrees; even the stern
lips of Mayence relaxing at the young man's confident assumption that
consideration of women was not a matter of importance.
"Your Highness clears the ground admirably for me," continued Cologne,
"and takes a great weight from my mind, because I am entrusted by my
brethren with a proposal which I have found some difficulty in setting
forth. It is this. The choice of an Empress is one of the most momentous
questions that an Emperor is called upon to decide. In all except the
highest rank personal preference has much to do with the selection of a
wife, but in the case of a king do you agree with me that State
considerations must be kept in view?"
"Undoubtedly, my Lord."
"This is a matter to which we three Electors have given the weightiest
consideration, finally agreeing on one whom we believe to possess the
necessary qualifications; a lady highly born, deeply religious,
enormously wealthy, and exceedingly beautiful. She is related to the
most noble in the land. I refer to Hildegunde Lauretta Priscilla Agnes,
Countess of Sayn. If there is any reason why your preference should not
coincide with ours, I beg you quite frankly to state it."
"There is no reason at all, your Lordships," cried Roland, with a deep
sigh of relief on learning that his fears were so unfounded. "I shall be
most happy and honored to wed the lady at any time your Lordships and
she may select."
"Then," said the Archbishop of Mayence, rising to his feet and speaking
with great solemnity, "you are chosen as the future Emperor of our
land."
X
A CALAMITOUS CONFERENCE
The prelate and his ward were met at the doors of Stolzenfels by the
Archbishop of Treves in person, and the welcome they received left
nothing to be desired in point of cordiality. There were many servants,
male and female, about the Castle, but no show of armed men.
The Countess was conducted to a room whose outlook fascinated her. It
occupied one entire floor of a square tower, with windows facing the
four points of the compass, and from this height she could view the
Rhine up to the stern old Castle of Marksburg, and down past Coblentz to
her own realm of Sayn, where it bordered the river, although the
stronghold from which she ruled this domain was hidden by the hills
ending in Ehrenbreitstein.
When she descended on being called to _mittagessen_, she was introduced
to a sister of the Archbishop of Treves, a grave, elderly woman, and to
the Archbishop's niece, a lady about ten years older than Hildegunde.
Neither of these grand dames had much to say, and the conversation at
the meal rested chiefly with the two Archbishops. Indeed, had the
Countess but known it, her presence there was a great disappointment to
the two noblewomen, for the close relationship of the younger to the
Archbishop of Treves rendered it impossible that she should be offered
the honor about to be bestowed upon the younger and more beautiful
Countess von Sayn.
The Archbishop of Mayence, although a resident of the Castle, partook of
refreshment in the smallest room of the suite reserved for him, where he
was waited upon by his own servants and catered for by his own cook.