Part 41

“Yes, yes, Monsieur Goefle, listen,” resumed Martina, assuming, artlessly, a pretty little air of importance. “Two hours ago--or two hours and a half, perhaps--we young folks, as they call us over at the chateau, were playing hide-and-seek in the outer buildings of the new chateau. I was with Margaret and the lieutenant. We had drawn lots for the different parties, and then we should have been afraid, we two young girls, to go all alone into gloomy galleries and dark rooms where we had never been; we were obliged to have a cavalier to accompany us! The lieutenant did not know much more about this part of the chateau than we did ourselves; it is so large! Well, we crossed a long, deserted gallery, and went down a little staircase, that was nearly dark. The lieutenant was leading the way, and as there were no corners or passages anywhere around that would be good for hiding, we went straight on, until we could scarcely see at all, and began to be afraid we should fall down some precipice, and then, at last, he stopped.

“‘I begin to recognize the locality now,’ he said; ‘we have come to the great tower, which is used as a prison. There can be no prisoners in it, for the door is open. If we go down into the cells below, I answer for it that they will have some trouble in finding us there.’

“With that he was going down, but the idea of burying ourselves in those subterranean dungeons, which are said to be so gloomy and terrible, frightened Margaret, and she begged him to stop.

“‘No, no,’ she said; ‘don’t go any further; stay at the entrance. Here is a recess in the wall, almost built up; let us go in there, and don’t talk, for you know there are spies in this game, whose duty it is to wander about and listen, so as to tell the others where we are.’

“We did as Margaret wished; but scarcely were we in our hiding-place when we heard some one coming; and, thinking they were already on our track, we repressed our laughter, and scarcely even ventured to breathe. Then we heard the very words that I am going to repeat to you. They were spoken by two men who came out of the tower, and went through the long gallery that had brought us there. They were talking low, but they stopped for a few moments at the door of the tower, to have an explanation, and this is what they said:

“‘Are you going to put me with the party detailed to guard the Italian again? I am tired of that sort of service.’

“‘No, you are to come with us to the old chateau. The Italian is one of ourselves, at present!’

“‘So; and what is to be done over there?’

“I cannot tell you what the other said, for we did not understand it. It was slang talk, it seems, such as robbers use; but they repeated the name of Christian Waldo several times, and they spoke, also, of the lawyer.

“‘The lawyer,’ one said, ‘oh, he will be of no account. A lawyer always runs away.’”

“That remains to be seen!” cried M. Goefle. “And what then?”

“And then they said something about an ass, and a gold goblet, and a quarrel they were to engage in; it was all more and more incomprehensible. Finally, the two men, who had stopped just before us, as I told you, concluded their arrangements, and went away.

“‘The rendezvous is at eight o’clock, on the lake,’ said one, just as they started.

“‘But suppose he does not come?’ said the other.

“‘In that case we will go on to Stollborg. We shall receive orders.’

“As soon as the two rascals had gone, the lieutenant made us come out of our hiding-place, and said, in a whisper:

“‘Not a word here!’

“He led us back cautiously to the great hunting-gallery, and then said:

“‘Allow me to leave you, and to go in search of the major.’

“The lieutenant had understood the slang of these brigands; they were to accuse M. Christian Waldo of having stolen something, and to attack him, to carry him to the tower, and to kill him if he should defend himself; and they had added:

“‘And that would be the best of all!’

“The lieutenant was indignant. He said, when he left us:

“‘The real mover in this business is perhaps of higher rank than we suppose. Politics is at the bottom of it. Christian Waldo must have some state secret.’”

“I give you my word that I have not,” replied Christian, who could not help smiling at the lieutenant’s simplicity.

“I do not ask you, Monsieur Christian,” replied the good and ingenuous Martina; “but I know that the lieutenant, the major, and Corporal Duff, swore that they would do their duty, and protect you, even if this should prove a signal offence to his lordship the baron. However, they thought the greatest prudence would be necessary, and they urged us to keep the whole matter a profound secret. They started on foot, well armed, and as quietly as possible, for they wanted to take the assassins by surprise, and get possession of their secret.

“‘Go on with the game,’ they said, ‘and try and prevent the others from observing our absence.’

“In fact, Margaret and I pretended to keep on playing, until the time came to separate and go and make our toilets for the evening; but, instead of thinking of dressing ourselves, we could think of nothing but of looking out of the window of my room, so as to try and see what was passing on the lake. But the fog was so thick that it was quite impossible. We could not even distinguish where Stollborg was. And then we listened with all our ears, for sometimes in these thick fogs you can hear the slightest sounds with perfect distinctness. But they were making such a tumult in the chateau, and outside the moat, with their fanfares and fireworks, that it seemed as if they were doing it on purpose, so as to prevent the noise of a quarrel or fight from being heard. And so the time passed; and then suddenly Margaret began to be frightened--”

“And you also, dear Martina,” said Margaret, in some confusion.

“It was you, dear friend, who made me so,” said the fiancée of the lieutenant, frankly. “At last, like two mad creatures, we started off with Peterson, persuaded that we should meet the major and his friends, and that they would restore our courage. We thought, too, as Peterson knows the country perfectly, and scarcely ever makes a mistake, that we should be able to guide them to the old chateau, if they had lost their way. We came on foot, and did not go much astray, except that we arrived at the side of the _gaard_, instead of succeeding in coming straight to the court. But Peterson said:

“‘It is the same thing; we can go in this way just as well.’

“And, in fact, here we are, without well knowing how we got here. But in all this time we have not met a single person; and now that we are a little more tranquil about you, I think we have reason to feel seriously uneasy about the major, and the other officers.”

“Ah, Margaret!” said Christian, in a low voice, to the young countess, while M. Goefle, Martina, and Peterson consulted together to see what had best be done, “you came thus--”

“Ought I,” she replied, “to have allowed such a man as M. Goefle to be assassinated without trying to bring him assistance?”

“No, certainly,” replied Christian, who was too deeply and sincerely grateful to offend her delicacy, even by expressing his gratitude too warmly: “far otherwise; but your courage was none the less sublime. You might have met these bandits. Very few women would have carried their devotion, their humanity, so far as to have come themselves--”

“Martina came with me,” rejoined Margaret, eagerly.

“Martina is engaged to the lieutenant,” said Christian; “she would not, perhaps, have been willing to do so out of consideration--for M. Goefle.”

“I ask your pardon, Monsieur Christian, she would have come to help any one, no matter who, the moment that the life of a human being was at stake. But do not think of that now; can’t you learn whether these gentlemen are coming? for, when all is said, I cannot see that the danger is over.”

“No, in fact,” said Christian, collecting his ideas, “we are actually in danger. It is worth thinking about, now that you are here. My God! why did you come?”

And the young man, torn by conflicting emotions, was at the same time delighted because she had come, and tormented by the thought that she would, perhaps, be exposed to some terrible scene. Besides, would not the presence of these two young girls in Stollborg aggravate the difficulties of their situation in another respect? Might it not serve as the exact pretext that was wanting for an open invasion? Although Countess Elveda was a careless and heartless guardian, it was quite possible that she would notice her niece’s absence, if she had not already done so; that she would have her sought for, followed. Who could say?

“One thing is certain,” said Christian, “and that is that she must not be seen here.”

He thought of conducting her and her companion to Stenson’s _gaard_, where no one would have thought of looking for them; but the enemy, perhaps, were using Stenson’s dwelling, at this very moment, as a post of observation. In the midst of all these perplexities, Christian, who replied in a very distracted manner to M. Goefle’s agitated questions, formed a resolution that he did not impart to any one; this was to quit the apartment, and face the dangers by which he alone was threatened, either in the passages of the old chateau, or on the lake. For this purpose he provided himself with a lantern, so as to make as much show as possible in the fog, and went out without a word. He hoped that M. Goefle would not notice his absence immediately; but he had scarcely crossed the threshold of the door when Margaret started up, crying:

“Where are you going?”

“Yes, where are you going, Christian?” cried M. Goefle, hurrying after him. “Do not go out alone!”

“I am not going out,” answered Christian, slipping rapidly out of the bear-room; “I am going to see whether the second door, that opening on the court, is fastened.”

“What is he doing?” said Margaret to M. Goefle; “are you not afraid?--”

“No, no,” answered the lawyer; “he promised to be prudent.”

“But I hear him drawing the bolts of the second door; he is opening them!”

“He is opening them? Oh, then, our friends have come!”

“No, no! he is going out. I am certain of it!”

And Margaret started up involuntarily, as if to follow Christian. M. Goefle stopped her, and, making a sign to Peterson not to leave the women, he tried to pursue him himself. But Christian had already fastened the outer door, so as to prevent this very thing, and was running towards the main entrance of the court, calling Larrson in a loud voice, and holding himself on guard, in case he should be attacked by the assassins. Suddenly a ball, aimed at him, struck the lantern he was holding out of his hand, and left him enveloped in the white darkness, which the light of the moon could not penetrate, and which was clinging like a shroud to the earth.

At the sound of the pistol-shot a terrible oath escaped M. Goefle, who was excessively alarmed about his young friend: Martina uttered a cry; Margaret sank into a chair, and Peterson ran up to the lawyer. By their united efforts they might have succeeded in opening the door, but they did not understand each other. Peterson, who was devoted to his young mistress, was thinking only of preventing the malefactors from entering, and did not suspect that M. Goefle, on the contrary, wanted it thrown open, so as to fly to Christian’s assistance.

During the delay caused by this misunderstanding, the good lawyer swore roundly, while Christian, delighted at being free to act at last, rushed upon one of the brigands, the first he found in his path. The latter fled--deceived by the fog, he had not supposed him so near, and Christian pursued him, with shouts of insult and defiance, while he, in his turn, was followed, swiftly and silently, by another of the party. He heard the assassin’s steps, plainly audible on the crisp, hard snow, behind him; and, through the ringing in his ears--for he was in a great rage, and the blood was coursing through his veins at a tremendous rate--it seemed to him that he could hear other steps and other voices approaching from the right and left. He could not doubt that he was surrounded, and, without losing his presence of mind, he rushed after his first assailant with more fury than ever, with the idea that it would not do to turn until he had disposed of him, since he might attack him from behind, while he was facing the others. Besides, he did not lose sight of his resolution to remove the struggle as far as possible from Stollborg.

He descended in this way the steep declivity leading to the lake, whose rapid descent, alone, indicated to him the direction in which he was going, for he could see nothing. But, just as he stepped upon the smooth, hard ice of the lake, there were several reports behind him, balls whistled close to his ear, and the man he was pursuing fell at two steps before him. Either the fugitive had been mistaken for him by his accomplices, or the latter had fired upon them both at random, thinking, perhaps, that their companion deserved to be shot, for having taken flight.

The man who had just been struck was Massarelli; at the moment that Christian strode over him he was uttering a last groan of agony, and he recognized his voice. He ran on, so as to gain time and make the most of his position, while the assassins collected about Massarelli, or, at least, stopped to look at him, so as to see who they had killed. Pausing to listen, he heard these words:

“Let him lie; that is all right!”

What did that mean? Had the assassins mistaken Massarelli for their proposed victim, and were they going to withdraw? or had they recognized their mistake, and would they continue to pursue him? By making rapid zigzags in the ice, he hoped to get rid of them, one by one, and he tried to make out, from their steps and voices, how many he had to contend with. He had, without thinking, kept on the soleless and seamless felt boots which had been lent him in the morning for the hunt, and this afforded him an immense advantage. Perfectly supple, he could move about in them as freely as if his feet were bare; and, besides, they made scarcely any sound upon the ice, while he could hear every step of his companions, who were not so well shod for the occasion.

He listened once more. They were approaching him, but they did not see him, and seemed uncertain. Not ten steps off he heard these brief words:

“Hé! It is I.”

Since they were meeting, unexpectedly, in the fog, they must have got separated. From that moment, nothing would have been easier than to escape them. Christian did not even think of such a thing. He was furious; and he wanted, moreover, to prevent the scoundrels from returning to seek him at Stollborg. He called to them in a loud voice, naming himself, and defying them, drawing back scarcely at all, but tacking about, so as to irritate and draw them asunder. His hope was to come up with one of them without allowing himself to be surrounded by all, and he had his wits about him so completely that he succeeded, before long, in counting them. There were three of them still; Massarelli had made the fourth.

In spite of his astonishing self-possession, Christian was tremendously excited, and, mingling with his other emotions, he was conscious of a wild, fierce delight, like the intoxication of gratified vengeance. So strong was this feeling, that he felt almost disappointed when he heard still other steps behind him, steps as soft as his own, which he at once recognized as those of his companions, who were shod, like himself, in felt boots. He was afraid that the bandits would make their escape without fighting. He ran to meet his friends, and whispered, quickly:

“There they are, three of them; we must take them prisoners! Follow me, and silence!”

Turning instantly, he advanced in a straight line upon the enemy, and stopping near where he supposed them to be, shouted out his name again, and mocked and jeered at them for their awkwardness and cowardice. Just then one of the bandits wounded him in the arm with a dagger, and fell at his feet, stunned and suffocated by a blow which Christian gave him full in the breast, with the handle of his Norwegian knife. Christian was only slightly wounded, thanks to his reindeer-skin coat; and he thanked heaven for having enabled him to resist his desire of serving the bandit as he had done the bear on the mountain. It was very important to capture one, at least, of the baron’s bravos, living. The two others, concluding that all was lost with the loss of their chief, ran up to each other, but only to exchange a slang confession of defeat and flight--a despairing _sauve qui peut_; but they did not take into account the major and the lieutenant, who were watching them, and who seized one, while only the third escaped.

“For the love of Heaven! are you wounded, Waldo?” said the major, while Christian assisted him to disarm the bandits.

“No, no!” replied Christian, who would not have felt his wound at all, but for the warmth of the blood that filled his sleeve. “Have you any cords?”

“Yes, certainly; enough to hang them all, if we had the right. We had fully resolved to make these fine gentlemen prisoners. But if you are not too much out of breath, Christian, give a blast on this trumpet, to try and bring up our other friends, whom we have been waiting for and seeking for the last hour. Stay, here is the instrument.”

“We had better fire off our guns,” said Christian.

“No, no, there has been plenty of firing already. Blow the trumpet, I tell you!”

Christian did as he was requested, but the corporal was the only person who joined them.

“You see,” said the major to Christian, “our promenade must have the appearance of a chance excursion, during which we have been lost, and have been looking for each other.”

“I do not understand you.”

“It must be so, I tell you, for a few hours, so that the baron may not suspect the issue of the affair too soon, and send against you the other rogues, whom, no doubt, he has in reserve. As for him,” he added, in a low voice, “his turn will come, do not fear!”

“His turn has already come,” replied Christian; “I will take charge of that.”

“Softly, softly, my dear friend! You have no authority to act in this matter. That is my business; and now that we have a certainty, now that we have proofs, I am fully resolved to take rigorous measures. However, we cannot proceed against a noble, and a member of the Diet, without orders from higher quarters; but do not doubt that we will obtain them. What you have to do for the moment, my dear friend, is to obey me; for I call upon you in the name of the laws, and in the name of honor, to lend me such assistance as I may require, according to the orders that I may give you.”

M. Goefle now ran forward, with his head bare, a torch in one hand and a sword in the other. He had got out through the door of the guard-room, after persuading the two young girls--but not without difficulty, for they were both of them alike fearless for themselves, and solicitous about the absent--to remain shut up in the bear-room under Peterson’s protection.

“Christian! Christian!” he cried, “is this the way that you keep your word?”

“I forgot everything, Monsieur Goefle,” replied Christian, in a low voice; “it was too strong for me. How could I wait there until they came to break down the doors and fire upon the women? But no matter, we are victorious; return to Margaret, and reassure her.”

“Yes, I will go at once,” replied the lawyer, sneezing, “especially as I am catching a frightful cold; I hope,” he added aloud, “that these gentlemen are coming to see us.”

“Yes, certainly, that was the agreement,” replied the major; “but we must first attend to our duties.”

M. Goefle went to reassure the ladies, and the other men proceeded to have Massarelli’s corpse removed. They obliged the two prisoners to carry it to one of the cellars of the _gaard_, keeping them within range of their pistols, in case they should show any disposition to take flight. The prisoners were then firmly bound, and conducted to Stenson’s kitchen, where the lieutenant and corporal made a fire, and installed themselves, to keep them in sight, while the major prepared to examine them in Christian’s presence.

Christian lost all patience at seeing them proceeding so regularly in an affair which the major seemed to understand better than he did himself. However, the major explained to him that with such an adversary as the baron, it was not so easy as he thought to prove even an obvious and recognized fact.

“And then,” he added, “I regret to see that we are somewhat deficient in witnesses. M. Goefle only saw the conclusion of the affair. We find here neither M. Stenson, nor his nephew, nor your servant. I hoped that we should be in greater force to defend you, and to prove the facts _de visu_. The adjutant and the four soldiers whom I have sent for, have not yet appeared. Though our bostoelles and the torps of the soldiers are very near, the fog is so thick that several hours may pass before we have eight men here under arms.”

“But what need of eight men to guard two?”

“Do you suppose, Christian, that the baron is going to remain quiet, when, for the first time, one of his diabolical combinations has failed? I do not know what he will resolve upon, but you may be very sure that he will make an attempt of some kind, even if he should try to burn down Stollborg. That is why I have resolved to pass the night here, so as to be in position, with the help of my soldiers, to seize the other bandits, who will probably arrive before long, either with offers of service, or otherwise. The greater number of the baron’s foreign footmen are nothing more than a band of thieves and assassins, and we must try and seize them all in some flagrant misdemeanor. Then I can guarantee that the magistracy will venture to pursue rigorously this powerful noble, and that he will be left without resources, since his peasants hate him too much to offer him any assistance. If we proceed in any other way, you may be sure that we should be the losing party. The baron would deny having had any responsibility in the matter, or would find means to effect the escape of our prisoners. You would pass for an assassin, and we should pass for visionaries, or at least for young officers without experience, taking the part of a guilty man and arresting honest people; for you can rely upon it that these two bravos are well trained. I am going to examine them, and you will see that they know how to tell their story. I wager that they have learned their lesson, and know it by heart.”

In fact, the two bandits replied impudently that they had come by order of the baron to conduct the man with the marionettes, who was late with his performance, to the chateau; that the latter seeing among them one of his old comrades, against whom he had a grudge, rushed in pursuit of him, and killed him. He had then insulted and challenged the others, and the one who had wounded Christian declared that he had done so by mistake, while trying to seize a furious madman. “So furious,” he added, “that he has broken my breast-bone, and that I am spitting blood.”

“You see,” said Christian to the major, “that I failed in my duty towards these gentlemen, in not allowing myself to be assassinated.”

“And you will see,” replied Larrson, “that the assassins will escape the gallows! According to our laws, capital punishment can only be inflicted upon criminals who confess. These fellows know this well, and however absurd their defence may be, they will stick to it. Your cause, perhaps, will not be as good as theirs. This makes it necessary for us to be doubly on our guard, for do not doubt, Christian, that we shall remain with you, and stand by you through it all.”