The Corfuan left us not an instant alone. Mary-Ann and her mother searched the horizon for the soldiers, but saw nothing. I, who am accustomed to active life, fretted at the inactivity. I could have had the range of mountains to add to my herbarium, under guard; but a certain feeling, I knew not what, held me near the ladies. During the night, I slept little; my plan of escape obstinately haunted me. I had noticed the place where the Corfuan laid his dagger before going to sleep; but I would have considered it treachery to have saved myself without Mary-Ann.
Sat.u.r.day morning, between five and six o"clock, an unusual noise drew me towards the King"s cabinet. My toilet was quickly made; I went to bed fully dressed.
Hadgi-Stavros, standing in the midst of his band, was presiding at a noisy council. All the brigands were upon the war path, armed to the teeth. Ten or a dozen coffers which I had not seen before had been piled on some wagon-frames. I divined that they contained the baggage and that our captors were preparing to leave camp. The Corfuan, Vasile, and Sophocles were contesting something at the top of their voices, and all talking together. One could hear from a distance the barking of the outside guards. A courier, in tatters, ran toward the King, crying: "The gendarmes!"
V.
THE GENDARMES.
The King appeared to be little troubled. His eyebrows were, however, drawn a little nearer together than was usual, and the wrinkles on his forehead formed an acute angle between his eyes. He asked the courier:
"Where are they?"
"Near Castia."
"How many companies?"
"One."
"Whose?"
"I do not know."
"Wait!"
A second messenger was seen running toward the King. Hadgi-Stavros cried out to him: "Is it Pericles" company?"
"I do not know; I did not see their number." A shot was heard at a distance. "Listen!" commanded the King, taking out his watch. The men were silent. Four shots followed, a minute apart. The last one was followed by a thundering detonation which resembled platoon-firing. The King, with a smile, put his watch back in his pocket.
"It is all right! Return the baggage to the storeroom, and serve me with wine of Aegina; it is Pericles" company."
He saw me just as he finished the sentence. He called to me, in a jeering tone:
"Come, Monsieur German, you are not _de trop_. It is well to rise early; one sees curious things. Your thirst has awakened you! Will you drink a gla.s.s of wine of Aegina with our brave gendarmes?"
Five minutes later three enormous goat-skin bottles were brought from some secret hiding place. A sentinel approached the King.
"Good news! They are Pericles" men!"
A few of the bandits were in advance of the troops. The Corfuan, a fine talker, skipped along by the Captain"s side, his tongue running. A drum was heard; then a blue flag was seen, and sixty men, fully armed, marched in double file to the King"s Cabinet. I recognized M. Pericles, because I had admired him on the promenade at Athens. He was a young officer of thirty-five, dark, a c.o.xcomb, admired by the ladies, the best waltzer at Court, and wearing his epaulets with grace. He put up his sword, ran to the King of the Mountains, who kissed him on the mouth, saying, "Good morning, G.o.dfather!"
"Good morning, little one," the King replied, caressing his cheek with his hand. "Thou art well?"
"Yes. And thou?"
"As thou seest. And thy family?"
"My uncle, the Bishop, has a fever."
"Bring him here, I will cure him. The Prefect of Police is better?"
"A little; he sends his kind regards; the Minister also."
"What is new?"
"A ball at the Palace on the 15th. It is decided; the "Siecle" publishes it!"
"Thou dancest, then, all the time? And what about the Bourse?"
"There is a general fall in stocks."
"Good! hast thou letters for me?"
"Yes; here they are. Photini"s was not ready. She will send it by the post."
"A gla.s.s of wine: ... Thy health, little one!"
"G.o.d bless thee, G.o.dfather! Who is this Frank who is listening to us?"
"Nothing! A German of no consequence. Thou hast not news for us?"
"The paymaster-general sends 20,000 francs to Argos. They will pa.s.s by the Sciromian Rocks to-morrow night."
"I will be there. Will a large band be necessary?"
"Yes! the coffer is guarded by two companies."
"Good or bad?"
"Detestable! Men who are dead shots."
"I will take all my band. In my absence thou wilt guard our prisoners?"
"With pleasure. Apropos, I have the most rigid orders. Thy English prisoners have written to their Amba.s.sador. They have called the entire army to their aid."
"And it is I who furnished them the paper!"
"It is necessary, in consequence, that I write my report. I will recount a b.l.o.o.d.y battle."
"We will write it out together."
"Yes. This time, G.o.dfather, I must be the victor."
"No!"