AN EXPERIMENT IN DIPLOMACY.
In loud and sonorous voice Count Bertrich spoke, his words plainly heard
by all on the castle walls and even far down the valley.
"Heinrich of Thuron, sometime Count Palatine, now deposed by lawful
authority duly proclaimed, you are summoned to surrender the Castle of
Thuron at present held by you, to the custody of his High Puissant and
Reverend Lordship, Konrad von Hochstaden, Archbishop of Cologne, and his
ally, the High Puissant and Reverend Lordship, Arnold von Isenberg,
Archbishop of Treves, and in event of such summons not being instantly
obeyed, your life is declared forfeit and all within your walls
outlaws."
"Ask him," whispered the Emperor, "on what authority this summons is
delivered."
"On whose authority do you act?" cried Heinrich, in a voice no less
powerful than that of Bertrich.
"His Lordship the Archbishop of Treves is your over-lord, and as such is
entitled to make the demand I have set forth."
"Then ask him what the devil Cologne is doing in this business," said
Rodolph.
"Why then is the Archbishop of Cologne put first in your proclamation,
and by what right does he claim jurisdiction over me?" cried Heinrich.
The two emissaries of Treves and Cologne consulted for a few moments
together, and it was quite evident that Count Bertrich had little liking
for the turn the colloquy had taken, his haughty nature scorning
lengthened talk with a man whom he considered an inferior, and in any
case the sword was with him a readier weapon than the tongue, as indeed
it was with Heinrich himself, but the envoy of Cologne seemed in a
measure impressed by the replies of the Lord of Thuron, and appeared to
be protesting against what the other was proposing, a backward wave of
the hand seeming to betoken a desire to break off negotiations and
return whence they came. At last Bertrich again spoke.
"Their High and Mighty Lordships of Cologne and Treves are, as I have
said, allies in this quarrel, and they demand your instant answer."
"Say it is impossible for you to recognise Cologne in a matter that
concerns you and Treves only. Add that if Treves alone press the demand
you will make suitable reply," dictated the Emperor.
"A noble answers only to his own over-lord," shouted Heinrich. "If the
Archbishop of Treves make a demand, he shall have my reply, but I stand
no question from his Lordship of Cologne, nor can he justly prefer the
right to question me except through my over-lord."
"Well spoken," said the Emperor, emphatically, "and good feudal law."
Again a conference ensued between the two envoys, Bertrich first
protesting against the decision of his colleague, then reluctantly
accepting it. In his anger shearing Arnold of some of his adjectives,
Bertrich cried:
"In the name of the Archbishop of Treves, my master and yours, I demand
that you surrender to him the castle of Thuron."
"Say that you appeal for justice to the over-lord of all, the Emperor,
and offer to surrender your castle when you see his signature to a
document demanding it," whispered Rodolph.
Heinrich turned to him in astonishment.
"I fear the Emperor less than I do Treves, and have no intention of
surrendering to either. He may have the signature of the Emperor, and
then I should be in serious jeopardy."
"He has it not, nor can he obtain it. The Emperor is in Palestine."
The humour of the situation began to appeal to Heinrich. For the first
time in his turbulent life he was posing as a respecter of the law and a
stickler for forms. The envoy of Cologne sat on his horse awaiting the
answer with an expression on his face which showed that he believed the
Black Count to be more in the right than he had hitherto suspected,
while Bertrich, fuming with impatience and anger, savagely dug spurs
into his horse and then reined in the astonished animal with rude
brutality when it curvetted under the sting of the steel.
"In a case so serious," cried Heinrich, sternly, "I appeal to the
over-lord of the Archbishop, who is my over-lord as well, his Majesty
the Emperor. That no injustice may be done, I will deliver up my castle
to the Emperor, or, in his absence, to any delegate whom he empowers,
the same to show me his credentials signed by his Majesty."
"The Emperor," roared Bertrich, "has already delegated his authority to
the Archbishop, who now acts thus under the power granted him. This
juggling with words will not serve you. I demand----"
But here he was interrupted by the envoy of Cologne, who seemed
surprised when it was alleged that the Emperor had delegated his
authority to the Archbishop of Treves. He laid his hand on Bertrich's
arm and spoke earnestly with him.
"What comes next?" said Heinrich.
"Oh, the rest is most simple," replied Rodolph. "Bertrich has lied, for
there has been no delegating of Imperial authority to his master. Worse
than that, he has sown seeds of dissension between the Archbishop of
Treves and the haughty Lord of Cologne, and Bertrich has not yet the
sense to see it. Tell him you did not know of this bestowal of
authority. Ask for the witnesses, if the delegation was verbal, or for a
document if he has a written commission from his Majesty."
"But he may have it. How can you say whether he has or no?"
"I tell you the man has lied. Would the Emperor, think you, dare to give
to one what he did not give to another? See the surprise on Cologne's
face at such an absurd statement. Have no hesitation. He has few
qualifications fitting him to be a diplomatist."
"I was not aware," cried Heinrich, stoutly, "that the Emperor had so
favoured Treves at the expense of his brother of Cologne. If such is
indeed the case, then we need parley no longer. On proof to me of this
bestowal of Imperial power on his Lordship of Treves, I will at once
surrender my castle to him, leaving the Emperor to adjudicate between
us."
Then did the choleric Count indeed justify Rodolph's prophecy. Shaking
his sword over his head, Bertrich shouted:
"Surrender the castle, you robber dog, or I will knock it down about
your ears, black son of a rooting boar."
The hand of Count Heinrich sprang to the hilt of his blade, and he would
have answered angrily in kind, but the Emperor, touching him gently,
said:
"Softly, softly. Call our astonished friend of Cologne to witness that
you have done everything you could in the way of peace, and the
upholding of the feudal law."
Heinrich drew a deep quivering breath into his huge chest, and
controlled himself with an effort that made his stalwart frame tremble.
"I ask your colleague," he said, at last, in a voice that was somewhat
uncertain, "to bear witness that I have been treated with grave
disrespect while endeavouring to yield deference to all above me; the
Emperor no less than the Archbishops. I am anxious to abide by the
feudal law, and while protecting my own rights, infringe not on the
rights of others."
Bertrich gave vent to a cry of disgusted impatience, spurring his horse
onward and then round until his back was to the castle. The envoy of
Cologne bowed low to Count Heinrich, although he said nothing, which
bow the Black Count handsomely returned. With a blast from the four
trumpets, the glittering cavalcade turned, and at slow, dignified pace,
as befitted an embassy, left the castle.
Rodolph and Heinrich watched the departure in silence, the latter still
struggling with his suppressed emotions, more than half feeling that he
had not acquitted himself as a man should, by neglecting to fling back
in the teeth of his enemy the contemptuous phrases he had received.
"My Lord Count," said Rodolph, "you have conducted the negotiations most
admirably, and I desire to offer you my congratulations."
"I would rather have cut his beggarly throat than bestowed smooth words
upon him," muttered the Count.
"There is much that is commendable and even alluring in the project, and
doubtless before the sun has set, Bertrich will wish you had, for I do
not envy him the meeting with his master. Never was the Archbishop so
rascally served. One of two things will happen now, thanks to your
diplomacy. The Archbishop of Treves, proud as he is, will be compelled
to humble himself before his haughty ally, and declare that Bertrich
failed to speak the truth, or the Archbishop of Cologne will gather his
men about him and depart down the Rhine to the less picturesque
precincts of his famous city. Even if a peace be patched up between
them, there will be deep distrust in von Hochstaden's mind against the
crafty Isenberg, for, knowing the wily Arnold as he does, Cologne will
never believe but his envoy blurted out the truth, in spite of his
master's assurance that it is a lie. Believe me, you might have rained
blows on Bertrich's back and he would consider the chastisement as
nothing compared with the humiliating dilemma in which your words and
calmness have placed him."
"The words were not mine, but yours," said Heinrich, much mollified.
"I will not have you say so. I did indeed give you some hints but you
clothed them in your own language, and in every case added force to
them. It is not flattering to say I did not expect such from you, but I
have to admit the truth. Words, my Lord Count, are often more deadly
than swords. The man of words who can keep his temper will ever rule the
man of the sword. As you acted this morning you might guide an empire."
"And as I acted yesterday, I could not rule my own household," said
Heinrich, dryly.
"So far as I am concerned, my Lord, yesterday is dead. I do not remember
what happened. I deal only with to-day."
"Lord Rodolph," cried Heinrich, with sudden exultation, "we shall beat
these villains yet."
"So the Countess Tekla has prophesied, and so I devoutly believe. In any
case this conference has postponed attack for a few days. It will take
some time for the Archbishops to adjust their differences, and who knows
what may happen later?"
Whether the Countess should prove a true prophet or no remained to be
seen, but Rodolph was quickly shown to be a false one.