sketches new and old-第27章

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chair　before　she　hath　been　absolutely　crowned　in　presence　of　the　people；
SHE　SHALL　DIE！　So　heed　my　；words。　　Pretend　humility。　　Pronounce　your
judgments　from　the　Premier's　chair；　which　stands　at　the　foot　of　the
throne。　　Do　this　until　you　are　crowned　and　safe。　　It　is　not　likely　that
your　sex　will　ever　be　discovered；　but　still　it　is　the　part　of　wisdom　to
make　all　things　as　safe　as　may　be　in　this　treacherous　earthly　life。〃

〃Oh；　my　father；　is　it　for　this　my　life　hath　been　a　lie！　　Was　it　that　I
might　cheat　my　unoffending　cousin　of　her　rights？　　Spare　me；　father；
spare　your　child！〃

〃What；　huzzy！　　Is　this　my　reward　for　the　august　fortune　my　brain　has
wrought　for　thee？　　By　the　bones　of　my　father；　this　puling　sentiment　of
thine　but　ill　accords　with　my　humor。

Betake　thee　to　the　Duke；　instantly！　　And　beware　how　thou　meddlest　with　my
purpose！〃

Let　this　suffice；　of　the　conversation。　　It　is　enough　for　us　to　know　that
the　prayers；　the　entreaties　and　the　tears　of　the　gentle…natured　girl
availed　nothing。　　They　nor　anything　could　move　the　stout　old　lord　of
Klugenstein。　　And　so；　at　last；　with　a　heavy　heart；　the　daughter　saw　the
castle　gates　close　behind　her；　and　found　herself　riding　away　in　the
darkness　surrounded　by　a　knightly　array　of　armed；　vassals　and　a　brave
following　of　servants。

The　old　baron　sat　silent　for　many　minutes　after　his　daughter's　departure；
and　then　he　turned　to　his　sad　wife　and　said：

〃Dame；　our　matters　seem　speeding　fairly。　　It　is　full　three　months　since　I
sent　the　shrewd　and　handsome　Count　Detzin　on　his　devilish　mission　to　my
brother's　daughter　Constance。　　If　he　fail；　we　are　not　wholly　safe；　but　if
he　do　succeed；　no　power　can　bar　our　girl　from　being　Duchess　e'en　though
ill…fortune　should　decree　she　never　should　be　Duke！〃

〃My　heart　is　full　of　bodings；　yet　all　may　still　be　well。〃

〃Tush；　woman！　Leave　the　owls　to　croak。　　To　bed　with　ye；　and　dream　of
Brandenburgh　and　grandeur！〃




CHAPTER　II。

FESTIVITY　AND　TEARS

Six　days　after　the　occurrences　related　in　the　above　chapter；　the
brilliant　capital　of　the　Duchy　of　Brandenburgh　was　resplendent　with
military　pageantry；　and　noisy　with　the　rejoicings　of　loyal　multitudes；
for　Conrad；　the　young　heir　to　the　crown；　was　come。　　The　old　Duke's；　heart
was　full　of　happiness；　for　Conrad's　handsome　person　and　graceful　bearing
had　won　his　love　at　once。　　The　great　halls　of　tie　palace　were　thronged
with　nobles；　who　welcomed　Conrad　bravely；　and　so　bright　and　happy　did　all
things　seem；　that　he　felt　his　fears　and　sorrows　passing　away　and　giving
place　to　a　comforting　contentment。

But　in　a　remote　apartment　of　the　palace　a　scene　of　a　different　nature
was；　transpiring。　　By　a　window　stood　the　Duke's　only　child；　the　Lady
Constance。　　Her　eyes　were　red　and　swollen；　and　full　of　tears。　　She　was
alone。　　Presently　she　fell　to　weeping　anew；　and　said　aloud：

〃The　villain　Detzin　is　gonehas　fled　the　dukedom！　　I　could　not　believe
it　at　first；　but　alas！　it　is　too　true。　　And　I　loved　him　so。　　I　dared　to
love　him　though　I　knew　the　Duke　my　father　would　never　let　me　wed　him。
I　loved　himbut　now　I　hate　him！　　With　all；　my　soul　I　hate　him！　　Oh；　what
is　to　become　of　me！　　I　am　lost；　lost；　lost！。　　I　shall　go　mad！




CHAPTER　III。

THE　PLOT　THICKENS。

Few　months　drifted　by。　　All　men　published　the　praises　of　the　young
Conrad's　government　and　extolled　the　wisdom　of　his　judgments；　the
mercifulness　of　his　sentences；　and　the　modesty　with　which　he　bore　himself
in　his　great　office。　　The　old　Duke　soon　gave　everything　into　his　hands；
and　sat　apart　and　listened　with　proud　satisfaction　while　his　heir
delivered　the　decrees　of　the　crown　from　the　seat　of　the　premier。
It　seemed　plain　that　one　so　loved　and　praised　and　honored　of　all　men
as　Conrad　was；　could　not　be　otherwise　than　happy。　　But　strange　enough；
he　was　not。　　For　he　saw　with　dismay　that　the　Princess　Constance　had　begun
to　love　him！　　The　love　of；　the　rest　of　the　world　was　happy　fortune　for
him；　but　this　was　freighted　with　danger！　　And　he　saw；　moreover；　that　the
delighted　Duke　had　discovered　his　daughter's　passion　likewise；　and　was
already　dreaming　of　a　marriage。　　Every　day　somewhat　of　the　deep　sadness
that　had　been　in　the　princess'　face　faded　away；　every　day　hope　and
animation　beamed　brighter　from　her　eye；　and　by　and　by　even　vagrant　smiles
visited　the　face　that　had　been　so　troubled。

Conrad　was　appalled。　　He　bitterly　cursed　himself　for　having　yielded　to
the　instinct　that　had　made　him　seek　the　companionship　of　one　of　his　own
sex　when　he　was　new　and　a　stranger　in　the　palacewhen　he　was　sorrowful
and　yearned　for　a　sympathy　such　as　only　women　can　give　or　feel。　　He　now
began　to　avoid；　his　cousin。　　But　this　only　made　matters　worse；　for；
naturally　enough；　the　more　he　avoided　her；　the　more　she　cast　herself　in
his　way。　　He　marveled　at　this　at　first；　and　next　it　startled　him。　　The
girl　haunted　him；　she　hunted　him；　she　happened　upon　him　at　all　times　and
in　all　places；　in　the　night　as　well　as　in　the　day。　　She　seemed　singularly
anxious。　　There　was　surely　a　mystery　somewhere。

This　could　not　go　on　forever。　　All　the　world　was　talking　about　it。　　The
Duke　was　beginning　to　look　perplexed。　　Poor　Conrad　was　becoming　a　very
ghost　through　dread　and　dire　distress。　　One　day　as　he　was　emerging　from　a
private　ante…room　attached　to　the　picture　gallery；　Constance　confronted
him；　and　seizing　both　his　hands；　in　hers；　exclaimed：

〃Oh；　why；　do　you　avoid　me？　　What　have　I　donewhat　have　I　said；　to　lose
your　kind　opinion　of　mefor；　surely　I　had　it　once？　　Conrad；　do　not
despise　me；　but　pity　a　tortured　heart？　　I　cannot；；cannot　hold　the　words
unspoken　longer；　lest　they　kill　meI　LOVE　you；　CONRAD！　　There；　despise
me　if　you　must；　but　they　would　be　uttered！〃

Conrad　was　speechless。　　Constance　hesitated　a　moment；　and　then；
misinterpreting　his　silence；　a　wild　gladness　flamed　in　her　eyes；　and　she
flung　her　arms　about　his　neck　and　said：

〃You　relent！　you　relent！　You　can　love　meyou　will　love　me！　Oh；　say　you
will；　my　own；　my　worshipped　Conrad！'〃

〃Conrad　groaned　aloud。　　A　sickly　pallor　overspread　his　countenance；　and
he　trembled　like　an　aspen。　　Presently；　in　desperation；　he　thrust　the　poor
girl　from　him；　and　cried：

You　know　not　what　you　ask！　　It　is　forever　and　ever　impossible！　〃And　then
he　fled　like　a　criminal　and　left　the　princess　stupefied　with　amazement。
A　minute　afterward　she　was　crying　and　sobbing　there；　and　Conrad　was
crying　and　sobbing　in　his　chamber。　　Both　were　in　despair。　　Both　save　ruin
staring　them　in　the　face。

By　and　by　Constance　rose　slowly　to　her　feet　and　moved　away；　saying：

〃To　think　that　he　was　despising　my　love　at　the　very　moment　that　I　thought
it　was　melting　his　cruel　heart！　　I　hate　him！　　He　spurned　medid　this
manhe　spurned　me　from　him　like　a　dog！〃




CHAPTER　IV

THE　AWFUL　REVELATION。

Time　passed　on。　　A　settled　sadness　rested　once　more　upon　the　countenance
of　the　good　Duke's　daughter。　　She　and　Conrad　were　seen　together　no　more
now。　　The　Duke　grieved　at　this。　　But　as　the　weeks　wore　away；　Conrad's
color　came　back　to　his　cheeks　and　his　old…time　vivacity　to　his　eye；　and
he　administered　the　government　with　a　clear　and　steadily　ripening　wisdom。

Presently　a　strange　whisper　began　to　be　heard　about　the　palace。　　It　grew
louder；　it　spread　farther。　　The　gossips　of　the　city　got　hold…of　it。　　It
swept　the　dukedom。　　And　this　is　what　the　whisper　said：　。

〃The　Lady　Constance　hath　given　birth　to　a　child！〃

When　the　lord　of　Klugenstein　heard　it；　he　swung　his　plumed　helmet　thrice
around　his　head　and　shouted：

〃Long　live。　　Duke　Conrad！for　lo；　his　crown　is　sure；　from　this　day
forward！　　Detzin　has　done　his　errand　well；　and　the　good　scoundrel　shall
be　rewarded！〃

And　he　spread；　the　tidings　far　and　wide；　and　for　eight…and…forty　hours　no
soul　in　all　the　barony　but　did　dance　and　sing；　carouse　and　illuminate；　to
celebrate　the　great　event；　and　all　at　proud　and　happy　old　Klugenstein's
expense。




CHAPTER　V。

THE　FRIGHTFUL　CATASTROPHE。

The　trial　was　at　hand。　　All　the　great　lords　and　barons　of　Brandenburgh
were　assembled　in　the　Hall　of　Justice　in　the　ducal　palace。　　No　space　was
left　unoccupied　where　there　was　room　for　a　spectator　to　stand　or　sit。
Conrad；　clad　in　purple　and　ermine；　sat　in　the　premier's　chair；　and　on
either　side　sat　the　great　judges　of　the　realm。　　The　old　Duke　had　sternly
commanded　that　the　trial　of　his　daughter　should　proceed；　without　favor；
and　then　had　taken　to　his　bed　broken…hearted。　　His　days　were　numbered。
Poor　Conrad　had　begged；　as　for　his　very　life；　that　he　might　be　spared　the
misery　of　sitting　in　judgment　upon　his　cousin's　crime；　but　it　did　not
avail。

The　saddest　heart　in　all　that　great　assemblage　was　in　Conrad's　breast。

The　gladdest　was　in　his　father's。　　For；　unknown　to　his　daughter　〃Conrad；〃
the　old　Baron　Klugenstein　was　come；　and　was　among　the　crowd　of　nobles；
triumphant　in　the　swelling　fortunes　of　his　house。

After　the　heralds　had　made　due　proclamation　and　the　other　preliminaries
had　followed；　the　venerable　Lord　Chief　justice　said：

〃Prisoner；　stand　forth！〃

The　unhappy　princess　rose　and　stood　unveiled　before　the　vast　multitude。
The　Lord　Chief　Justice　continued：

〃Most　noble　lady；　before　the　great　judges　of　this　realm　it　hath　been
charged　and　proven　that　out　of　holy　wedlock　your　Grace　hath　given　birth
unto　a　child；；　and　by　our　ancient　law　the　penalty　is　death；　excepting　in
one　sole　contingency；　whereof　his　Grace　the　acting　Duke；　our　good　Lord
Conrad；　will　advertise　you　in　his　solemn　sentence　now；　wherefore；　give
heed。〃

Conrad　stretched　forth　the　reluctant　sceptre；　and　in　the　self…same　moment
the　womanly　heart　beneath　his　robe　yearned　pityingly　toward　the　doomed
prisoner；　and　the　tears　came　into　his　eyes。　　He　opened　his　lips　to　speak；
but　the　Lord　Chief　Justice　said　quickly：

〃Not　there；　your　Grace；　not　there！　　It　is　not　lawful　to　pronounce
judgment　upon　any　of　the　ducal　line　SAVE　FROM　THE　DUCAL　THRONE！〃

A　shudder　went　to　the　heart　of　poor　Conrad；　and　a　tremor　shook　the　iron
frame　of　his　old　father　likewise。　　CONRAD　HAD　NOT　BEEN　CROWNEDdared　he
profane　the　throne？　He　hesitated　and　turned　pale　with　fear。　　But　it　must
be　done。　　Wondering　eyes　were　already　upon　him。　　They　would　be　suspicious
eyes　if　he　hesitated　longer。　　He　ascended　the　throne。　　Presently　he
stretched　forth　the　sceptre　again；　and　said：

Prisoner；　in　the　name　of　our　sovereign　lord；　Ulrich；　Duke　of
Brandenburgh；　I　proceed　to　the　solemn　duty　that　hath　devolved　upon　me。
Give　heed　to　my　words。　　By　the　ancient　law　of　the　land；　except　you
produce　the　partner　of　your　guilt　and　deliver　him　up　to　the　executioner；
you　must　surely　die。　　Embrace　this　opportunitysave　yourself　while　yet
you　may。　　Name　the　father　of　your　child！〃

A　solemn　hush　fell　upon　the　great　courta　silence　so　profound　that　men
could　hear　their　own　hearts　beat。　　Then　the　princess　slowly　turned；　with
eyes　gleaming　with　hate；　and　pointing　her　finger　straight　at　Conrad；
said：

〃Thou　art　the　man！〃

An　appalling　conviction　of　his　helpless；　hopeless　peril　struck　a　chill　to
Conrad's　heart　like　the　chill　of　death　itself。　　What　power　on　earth　could
save　him！　　To　disprove　the　charge；　he　must　reveal　that　he　was　a　woman；
and　for　an　uncrowned　woman　to　sit　in　the　ducal　chair　was　death！　　A