"Then I will tell you the true one," rather haughtily rejoined Count Vavel, believing that his visitor was inclined to be sarcastic. "I do not attend your meetings because I look upon the entire law as a jest--mere child"s play. It begins with the mental reservation, "The Hungarian n.o.ble militia will be called into service _only_ in case of imminent danger of an attack from a foreign enemy, and then only if the attacking army be so powerful that the regular imperial troops shall be unable to withstand it!" That the enemy is the more powerful no commander-in-chief finds out until he has been thoroughly whipped! The mission of the Hungarian n.o.ble militia, therefore, is to move into the field--untrained for service--when the regular troops find they cannot cope with a superior foe! This is utterly ridiculous! And, moreover, what sort of an organization must that be in which "all n.o.bles who have an income of more than three thousand guilders shall become cavalry soldiers, those having less shall become foot-soldiers"? The money-bag decides the question between cavalry and infantry! Again, "every village selects its own trooper, and equips him." A fine squadron they will make! And to think of sending such a crew into the field against soldiers who have won their epaulets under the baptismal fires of battle! Again, to wage war requires money first of all; and this fact has been entirely ignored by the authorities. You have no money, gentlemen; do you propose that the n.o.ble militia host shall march only so long as the supply of food in their knapsacks holds out? Are they to return home when the provisions shall have given out? Never fear, Herr Vice-palatine! when it becomes necessary to shoulder arms and march against the enemy, I shall be among the first to respond to the first call. But I have no desire to be even a spectator of a comedy, much less take part in one. But let us not discuss this farce any further. I fancy, Herr Vice-palatine, we may be able to find a more sensible subject for discussion. There is a quiet little nook in this old castle where are to be found some excellent wines, and some of the best latakia you--"
"What?" with lively interest interrupted the vice-palatine. "Latakia?
Why, that is tobacco."
"Certainly--and Turkish tobacco, too, at that!" responded Count Vavel.
"Come, we will retire to this nook, empty one gla.s.s after another, enjoy a smoke, and tell anecdotes without end!"
"Then you do smoke, Herr Count?"
"Certainly; but I never smoke anywhere but in the nook before mentioned, and never in the clothes I wear ordinarily."
"Aha!--that a certain person may not detect the fumes, eh?"
"You have guessed it."
"Then there is not an atom of truth in the reports malicious tongues have spread abroad about you, for I know very well that a certain lady has not the least objection to tobacco smoke. I do not refer to the Herr Count"s donna who lives here in the castle--you may be sure I shall take good care not to ask any more questions about _her_. No; I am not talking about that one, but about the other one, who has puzzled me a good deal of late. She takes the Herr Count"s part everywhere, and is always ready to defend you. Had she not a.s.sured me that I might with perfect safety venture to call here again, I should have sent my secretary to you with the _Sigillum compulsorium_. I tell you, Herr Count, ardent partizanship of that sort from the other donna looks a trifle suspicious!"
The count laughed, then said:
"Herr Vice-palatine, you remind me of the critic who, at the conclusion of a concert, said to a gentleman near whom he was standing: "Who is that lady who sings so frightfully out of tune?" "The lady is my wife."
"Ah, I did not mean the one who sang, but the lady who accompanied her on the piano--the one who performs so execrably." "That lady is my sister." "I beg a thousand pardons! I made a mistake; it is the music, the composition, that is so horrible. I wonder who composed it?" "I did.""
Herr Bernat was charmed--completely vanquished. This count not only smoked: he could also relate an anecdote! Truly he was a man worth knowing--a gentleman from crown to sole.
Toward the conclusion of the excellent dinner, to which Herr Bernat did ample justice, he ventured to propose a toast:
"I cannot refrain, Herr Count, from drinking to the welfare of this castle"s mistress; and since I do not know whether there be one or two, I lift a gla.s.s in each hand. Vivant!"
Without a word the count likewise raised two gla.s.ses, and drained first one, then the other, leaving not enough liquor in either to "wet his finger-nail."
By the time the meal was over Herr Bernat was in a most generous mood; and when he took leave of his agreeable host, he a.s.sured him that the occupants of the Nameless Castle might always depend on the protection and good will of the vice-palatine.
Count Vavel waited until his guest was out of sight; then he changed his clothes, and when the regular dinner-hour arrived joined Marie, as usual, in the dining-room, to enjoy with her the delicate snail-soup and other dainties.
CHAPTER III
At last war was declared; but it brought only days of increased unhappiness and discontent to the tiger imprisoned in his cage at the Nameless Castle--as if burning oil were being poured into his open wounds.
The snail-like movements of the Austrian army had put an end to the appearance of the apocalyptic destroying angel.
Ludwig Vavel waited like the tiger crouched in ambush, ready to spring forth at the sound of his watchword, and heard at last what he had least expected to hear.
The single-headed eagle had not hesitated to take possession of that which the double-headed eagle had hesitated to grasp.
Napoleon had issued his memorable call to the Hungarian people to a.s.sert their independence and choose their king from among themselves.
Count Ludwig received a copy of this proclamation still damp from the press, and at once decided that the cause to which he had sacrificed his best years was wholly lost.
He was acquainted with but a few of the people among whom he dwelt in seclusion, but he believed he knew them well enough to decide that the incendiary proclamation could have no other result than an enthusiastic and far-reaching response. All was at an end, and he might as well go to his rest!
In one of his gloomiest, most dissatisfied hours, he heard the sound of a spurred boot in the silent corridor.
It was an old acquaintance, the vice-palatine. He did not remove his hat, which was ornamented with an eagle"s feather, when he entered the count"s study, and ostentatiously clinked the sword in its sheath which hung at his side. A wolfskin was flung with elaborate care over his left shoulder.
"Well, Herr Count," he began in a cheery tone, "I come like the gypsy who broke into a house through the oven, and, finding the family a.s.sembled in the room, asked if they did not want to buy a flue-cleanser. At last the watchword has arrived: "To horse, soldier! To cow, farmer." The militia law is no longer a dead letter. We shall march, _c.u.m gentibus_, to repulse the invading foe. Here is the royal order, and here is the call to the nation."[3]
[Footnote 3: Written by Alexander Kisfalndy, by order of the palatine. A memorable doc.u.ment.]
Count Vavel"s face at these words became suddenly transfigured--like the features of a dead man who has been restored to life. His eyes sparkled, his lips parted, his cheeks glowed with color--his whole countenance was eloquent; his tongue alone was silent.
He could not speak. He rushed toward his sword, which was hanging on the wall, tore it from its sheath, and pressed his lips to the keen blade.
Then he laid it on the table, and dashed like a madman from the room--down the corridor to Marie"s apartment. Without knocking, he opened the door, rushed toward the young girl, raised her in his arms as if she were a little child, and, carrying her thus, returned to his guest. "Here--here she is!" he cried breathlessly. "Behold her! Now you may look on her face--now the whole world may behold her countenance and read in it her ill.u.s.trious descent. This is my idol--my G.o.ddess, for whom I have lived, for whom I would die!"
He had placed the maid on a sort of throne between the two bookcases, and alternately kissed the hem of her gown and his sword.
"Can you imagine a more glorious queen?" he demanded, in a transport of ecstasy, flinging one arm over the vice-palatine"s shoulder, and pointing with the other toward the confused and blushing girl. "Is there anywhere else on earth so much love, so much goodness and purity, a glance so benevolent--all the virtues G.o.d bestows upon his favorites? Is not this the angel who has been called to destroy the Leviathan of the Apocalypse?"
The vice-palatine gazed in perplexity at the young girl, then said in a low tone:
"She is the image of the unfortunate Queen, Marie Antoinette, who looked just like that when she was a bride."
Involuntarily Marie lifted her hands and hid her face behind them. She had grown accustomed to the piercing rays of the sun, but not to the questioning glances from strange eyes.
"What--what does--this mean, Ludwig?" she stammered, in bewilderment. "I don"t understand you."
Count Vavel stepped to the opposite side of the room, where a large map concealed the wall. He drew a cord, and the map rolled up, revealing a long hall-like chamber, which, large as it was, was filled to the ceiling with swords, firearms, saddles, and harness.
"I will equip a company of cavalry, and command it myself. The entire equipment, to the last cartridge, is ready here."
He conducted the vice-palatine into the a.r.s.enal, and exhibited his terrible treasures.
"Are you satisfied with my preparations for war?" he asked.
"I can only reply as did the poor little Saros farmer when his neighbor, a wealthy landowner, told him he expected to harvest two thousand yoke of wheat: "That is not so bad.""
"Now _I_ intend to hold a l.u.s.tration, Herr Vice-palatine," resumed the count. "Here are weapons. Are enough men and horses to be had for the asking?"
"I might answer as did the gypsy woman when her son asked for a piece of bread: "You are always wanting what is not to be had.""
"Do you mean that there are no men?"
"I mean," hastily interposed Herr Bernat, "that there are enough men, and horses, too; but the treasure-chest is empty, and the _Aerar_ has not yet sent the promised subsidy."
"What care I about the Aerar and its money!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Count Vavel, contemptuously. "_I_ will supply the funds necessary to equip a company--and support them, into the bargain! And if the county needs money, my purse-strings are loose! I give everything that belongs to me--and myself, too--to this cause!"