THE EMPEROR AT THE HEAD OF HIS ARMY.
Tired as John Surrey was when Rodolph left him with Conrad, the archer
ordered a meal to be served to them, for he was ever ready to eat
heartily. From the table the two travellers went to their well-earned
rest, and slumber came to them speedily.
When they awoke in the morning they found the inn in a commotion, and at
breakfast the ever-curious archer inquired the cause. The innkeeper
himself waited upon them, imagining their quality to be of no common
order, in spite of their tattered apparel, for his commands regarding
the care he was to take of whomsoever the soldier brought to him in the
night or in the day had come from the Palace itself.
"Oh, there is brave news," cried the elated host. "The Emperor is
returned from the East, and the town has put on all its finery to
welcome him. Flags are flying everywhere, and the whole population is
afoot. A great body of horsemen, such as we have never seen in Frankfort
before, is drawn up in the Palace Square, and even they are not
sufficient to keep the people back. One of my men, who went mad, like
all the rest of the town, has just come back from the square and he saw
the Emperor himself, and so could not wait, but hurried here to tell us
about it. The people made such acclamation that the Emperor came out on
the platform which runs along the facade of the Palace, and stood before
them. Gottlieb says his Majesty, Heaven shower its blessings upon him,
was clad from head to foot in silver armour, and looked like a statue of
a stalwart war god. There is a scarlet cross on his breast, which, I
doubt not, has wrought terror in the heart of many a heathen, and there
is a purple cloak hanging from his shoulders. Gottlieb says that no man
in all Germany may be compared with him, so grand and kinglike he looks.
The horsemen, in spite of all discipline, waved their swords in the air,
and roared at the top of their voices, while the people raised one
continuous shout that we heard plainly where I stand. I hope he has
given the Saracen such a thrashing he will not have to turn eastward
again in years to come, as trade is ever dull when the Emperor is away.
For two years there has been little coming and going, and the Court at
Frankfort has been as quiet as if the monarch were dead and they had not
elected his successor."
"It must be a gallant show," said the archer, "and if I were not
commanded to wait here till my orders come, I would go and see it. Dare
we risk it, think you, Conrad?"
"I was told to stay here, and here I stay," answered Conrad, stoutly.
"'Tis a good military resolve, and would be commended by all the
authorities, but nevertheless I should dearly like to see the Emperor."
"So should I; but unless his Majesty comes to us I see not how we are to
go to him."
"There is nothing easier," said their host. "It is said that his Majesty
marches shortly through the western gate to review his troops now on the
Rhine, for there has lately been a great gathering of them by the river,
and his way thither is through this square and past this door. They are
even now clearing the road and lining it with armed men. The officer in
front has just said that my guests are to be specially favoured, and
that a space will be open at my door where you may stand, with none to
obstruct your view. I am myself thought much of at Court, although it
may sound like boasting to proclaim the fact; nevertheless, when
distinguished strangers like yourselves arrive, I have before now
received orders to attend to their wants when it is not convenient,
through reasons of state, into which I have no right to inquire, to
lodge them at the Palace. And thus I wait upon you myself, which is far
from being my custom, though you might think otherwise did I not make
the reason plain. I have asked no question of you further than how you
like your food prepared and served; but I take you to be men of
importance, and, without flattery, I may say of myself that I know a man
of quality when I see him, even though his clothes be somewhat the worse
for wear."
"In this instance, good host, I fear your shrewdness does you a
dis-service if you take us to be aught but what we are--plain, common
folk, having no connection either with King or with Court."
"It is, of course, not for me to inquire closely regarding your affairs
or your standing in the empire, but what you say to me goes no further,
for I am one who meddles not in the doings of others, so long as bills
for lodging and eating are duly paid, and, in addition, I am no
gossiper, being indeed a man of few words."
"I am but an indifferent talker myself," admitted the archer, "and would
have been of more account in the world had I a better conceit of my own
merits and possessed the words with which to convey some knowledge of
the same to others. But if a belief that we are more worthy of
consideration lead you to provide so well for us, as far as meat and
drink are concerned, this wine being the best I ever set lips to, in
heaven's name, then, persons of quality we are, and so shall we remain
while guests of yours."
The landlord chuckled and nodded his head sagely.
"A droop of the eyelids is as good as a wag of the tongue with me, and I
fully understand you, though it please you to speak lightly of your own
worth. I had no doubt of it from the first, for I knew that common folk
are not let through a Frankfort gate at midnight, if their coming is
unwelcome to the Court."
"By my favourite Saint," cried the archer, as if an unaccustomed idea
had penetrated his not too alert mind, "there is something in that,
Conrad, though it had not occurred to me before. You remember how I
dreaded the closed gate, and how the others at the foot of the walls
said they could not get through, yet three raps from my Lord's hilt sent
bolts flying as if he held a wizard's wand. 'Tis most like my Lord is
well known at Court, aye, and well thought of, too."
"That is no news," replied Conrad, quietly. "You yourself heard him tell
the Black Count he knew the Emperor."
"True. So I did, but I did not believe it until now."
The increasing shouts had drawn the incurious landlord from the room,
and he now returned in high excitement.
"The Emperor comes at the head of his horsemen. There is not a moment to
lose, and you will have as good a view of him as though you were one of
his followers; better, indeed, than if you were among the troop of
horse. But come at once."
Conrad immediately sprang to his feet, but the archer hung back a moment
to take another huge mouthful of the black bread and to drain his flagon
to the dregs. Then, drawing the back of his hand across his mouth, he
followed the others, hastily gulping down his food as he went.
The city had indeed undergone a sudden transformation that well deserved
all the landlord's eulogies.
From every window and from every projection of the many-gabled street
hung rainbow-coloured lengths of silk or more common cloth. Flags flew
from every staff, and cheering men clung perilously to the roofs and
eaves of the buildings, or wherever precarious foothold could be found.
Opposite the Golden Flagon a dense crowd was massed, but the cleared way
led directly past the door of the inn and gave colour to the assertion
of the landlord that his hostelry was indeed favoured by the Court. A
continuous line of pikemen, standing shoulder to shoulder, kept back
the jubilant throng, whose volleys of acclamation rang upwards and
joined the cheers from the house-tops.
The most inspiriting sight was the advance of the cavalry, a superb body
of men splendidly mounted, who came two and two because of the
narrowness of some of the streets, but who, with military precision that
betokened accurate drilling, deployed on entering the square, until they
marched in ranks of six, the sun glittering on their polished
breast-plates, and touching with fire the points of their lances. In
front of them came the Emperor and suite, Baron von Brunfels riding by
his sovereign's side. The Emperor was mounted on a snow-white charger,
and his noble bearing quite justified the unbounded enthusiasm of the
people. As the imposing cavalcade approached, the archer with a low cry
of amazement clutched the arm of his comrade, while Conrad stared with
open mouth at the resplendent monarch.
"My God!" cried John Surrey. "It is Lord Rodolph. How has he dared to
impersonate the absent Emperor and befool all these people?"
Conrad was so filled with astonishment at the remarkable spectacle that
for the moment he was speechless.
"Can it be he?" continued the more voluble archer, "or has that good
wine affected our sight, as it sometimes does. He casts no glance
towards us, and seems more stern than ever I saw him, except when he
fought the Black Count?"
"Fought the Black Count?" said Conrad, turning to his friend. "When did
he do that?"
"Oh, I have gone mad and am talking at random. Can my Lord Rodolph have
been really the Emperor, and does that explain the quick opening of the
gates and the babble of the landlord? It is as likely as that Lord
Rodolph should rashly masquerade as the Emperor in a town where the
Emperor must be well known. No. We are dreaming, Conrad, or more drunk
than ever before."
"I am neither drunk nor asleep. Lord Rodolph is indeed the Emperor.
There beside him is the Baron von Brunfels, my former master in Treves,
who asked you to send an arrow through me, and all know the Baron is the
Emperor's closest friend."
"I did not recognise him, but then I had no such cause to remember as
you had."
An officer rode up to the two and cried out:
"Who are you, fellows, to stand covered when your Emperor passes?"
"E' God, he is no Emperor of mine. I am an Englishman," said the archer,
defiantly; but he nevertheless removed his steel cap and stood
uncovered, as did Conrad.
The Emperor paused before them, and the procession behind him came to an
instant stand. Rodolph with difficulty repressed a smile as he looked
down upon his former followers. The officer was about to lay hold of the
archer for his truculent reply and his disrespectful behaviour, but
Rodolph held up his hand and the other fell back.
"I think," said Rodolph, doubtfully, "I have seen you before."
"In truth, my Lord--that is, your Majesty," replied Surrey, scratching
his bare, perplexed head, while he held his steel cap upturned under his
other arm, "I am less certain that I ever met your Lordship--again I
mean, your Majesty,--before."
"It may be I am mistaken, but you seem to me a silent man, not prone to
talk, especially of the affairs of others, and I take you to be an
archer from the packet of arrows on your back. I have need of a skilful,
modest man, and I possess a regiment of archers awaiting your
instruction. Having hoped to meet you again I gave certain commands
concerning you, one of which is that my treasurer fill with gold your
head piece, which you hold so awkwardly and invitingly; so, see to it
that they give you good measure; if they do not, make complaint to me
when I return. Still, I give you fair choice, and should you prefer to
ride with me for several days to come, you shall have your wish, if you
but give it utterance."
A rueful grimace came over the archer's face at the mention of
horsemanship.
"I am well content, my Majesty--I mean your Lord--I will give the
regiment the instruction they perhaps need, your Majesty."
"This is the skilful fellow I told you of. Take charge of him and see
that he has no cause to be dissatisfied with his change of position."
To Conrad, Baron von Brunfels spoke:
"There is a led horse for you in the baggage train. Mount it and follow
us. Come to my tent to-night when we encamp, and you will be fitted with
apparel more suited to your new station. I hear a good account of you,
and understand it is his Majesty's pleasure that you are to meet great
advancement."
Conrad bowed low without reply, and took his place behind the troop,
which now without further halt marched through the western gate and thus
rapidly on its way, overtaking the foot soldiers of the army before
nightfall.