CHAPTER III
Monsieur le Capitaine Descourcelles rode an excellent horse, was a capital rider, and was plainly very much in love. These three circ.u.mstances combined brought back the gallant soldier from Raab by five o"clock in the afternoon.
The captain of the cuira.s.siers was not a little surprised to find the general"s wife playing cards with the hostile leader.
"General Guillaume agrees to everything," he announced immediately, on entering the room. "He will release the ladies he has been holding as prisoners."
Vavel hastened to shake hands with the bearer of these glad tidings, who was, however, more eager to kiss the hand of Vavel"s partner, and to inquire:
"I hope I find the ladies perfectly comfortable?"
"Very comfortable indeed," replied madame. "_Messieurs les Cannibales_ are very polite, and _leur Catzique_ plays an excellent hand at piquet."
"And where is mademoiselle? I trust she is not suffering from the fatigue of the journey?"
"Oh, no; she is very well. She is making her toilet, and will soon join us. I hope we shall leave here very soon."
Madame now rose, and left the two soldiers alone in the room.
"Here," observed the French captain, handing Vavel a paper, "is the _sauf conduit_."
The pa.s.s contained the information that "Vavel de Versay, expatriated French n.o.bleman and magnate of Hungary, together with the Countess Themire Dealba (alias Baroness Katharina Landsknechtsschild) and Sophie Botta (pretended Princess Marie Charlotte Capet), with attendants, were to be allowed to travel unmolested by any French troops they might chance to meet."
Ludwig Vavel looked at this doc.u.ment a long time.
"Do you doubt the a.s.surance of a French officer, monsieur?" asked the captain.
"No; I was just unable to understand why a word had been used here. I dare say it is a mistake. But no matter. I am greatly obliged to you."
"Pray don"t speak of it," responded the Frenchman, cordially shaking the hand Vavel extended toward him. "I must not forget to tell you that a four weeks" armistice was agreed upon to-day."
The ladies now entered the room, prepared to continue their journey. The face of the younger one wore a more cheerful expression than on her arrival at the parsonage. Madame thanked Vavel for his courtesy, then, with her daughter, entered the carriage and drove away.
Madame Guillaume was forgetful: she neglected to take leave of her host the pastor, and of her wounded countrymen in the church.
Vavel communicated the news of the armistice to his adjutant, and commanded him to return at once with the Volons to Fertoszeg, there to quarter themselves in the Nameless Castle, and await further orders.
Then he mounted his horse, and, accompanied by Master Matyas, galloped out of the village.
Twilight had deepened into night when the two men arrived at Raab. The clocks were striking eight, and the French trumpets were sounding the retreat at every gate. Vavel, therefore, would not be allowed to enter the city until the next morning; but Master Matyas, who did not stop to inquire which was the proper way when he wanted to go anywhere, knew of a little garden that belonged to a certain tanner, and very soon found an entrance along a rather circuitous route among the tan-vats.
Vavel had already seen battered walls, and dwellings ruined by bombs and flames, yet the thought that he should find his loved ones amid these smoke-blackened ruins oppressed his heart.
The two men attracted no attention. In the last days there had been many strangers in the city, deputations from the militia camps, to a.s.sist in establishing the line of demarcation. Master Matyas, without difficulty, led the way among the ruins to the neat little abode where the worthy vice-palatine had established his proteges. When they came within sight of the house Matyas observed:
"The two Frenchmen with their bearskin caps are not on guard to-day. The vice-palatine"s servant seems to be doing sentry-duty."
Vavel applied his spurs and cantered briskly toward the house, but moderated his speed when he came nearer. He remembered how easily Marie was frightened by the clatter of horse-hoofs.
At the corner of the street he alighted, and cautioning Matyas to exercise slowly the fatigued horses, proceeded on foot to the house.
The servant on guard at the door saluted in military fashion with drawn sword. Ludwig hurried into the house. In the hall he encountered the little Laczko, who, at sight of the visitor, dropped the boot and brush he held in his hands, and disappeared through a door at the end of the hall. Vavel followed him, and found himself in the kitchen, where the widow of Satan Laczi also dropped to the floor the cooking-utensil she had in her hand.
The count did not stop to question her, but went on into the adjoining room, whence proceeded the sound of voices, and here he found three acquaintances--the vice-palatine, Dr. Tromfszky, and the surveyor, Herr Doboka. The three started in alarm when they beheld Vavel. The doctor even made as if he would rush from the room--as when in the Nameless Castle the furious invalid had seized his groom by the throat.
The expressions on the three startled countenances brought a sudden fear to Ludwig"s heart.
"Is any one ill here?" he asked.
The vice-palatine and the doctor looked at each other, but did not speak; the surveyor began to stammer:
"I say--I say that--"
"Is Marie ill?" interrupted Vavel, excitedly.
Herr Bernat silently nodded a.s.sent, and pointed toward the door leading into the next room.
Vavel did not stop to inquire further, but strode into the adjoining chamber.
What a familiar little room it was, another fairy-like retreat like that of the Nameless Castle! Here were Marie"s toys, her furniture; the four cats were purring in the window-seat, and the two pugs lay dozing on the sofa.
A canopy-bed stood in the alcove, and among the pillows lay Marie.
Katharina was sitting by the bedside.
"Oh, G.o.d!" cried Vavel, in a tone so full of anguish that every one who heard it, man, woman, and child, burst into tears. The invalid among the pillows alone laughed--laughed aloud for joy.
And had she not cause to rejoice? Ludwig--_her_ Ludwig--did not hasten first to embrace and kiss his betrothed wife. No, _she_, his little Marie, was the first!
He flung himself on his knees by the bed and covered the pale face with kisses and tears.
"Oh, my dearest! My adored saint! My idol!" he sobbed, while Marie"s face glowed with the purest earthly happiness.
She pressed Ludwig"s head to her breast and whispered soothingly:
"Don"t grieve, Ludwig; I am not going to die. I have not got that horrid influenza poor papa Cambray brought with him from Paris. I took a little cold the night we ran away from the bombs; but I shall soon be well again, now that you are come. I want to live, Ludwig, and you, who rescued me from death once before, will know how to do it again."
Katharina laid her hand tenderly on the maid"s head, and said gently:
"Don"t talk any more now, dearest; you know you must not excite yourself."
Marie grasped the white hand and drew it down to Ludwig"s lips.
"Kiss it, Liadwig; kiss this dear, good hand. Oh, she has been a good little mother to me! She has wept so much because of me. If only you knew what she had planned to do when they were going to tear me away from her! But that danger is past, and now that you are come everything will be well. We have been reading about you, Ludwig. What a hero you are--our knight, St. George! I have n"t been really ill, you know, Ludwig; it was only anxiety about you. I shall soon be well again.
Please tell the doctor I don"t need any more medicine. I want to get up--I feel strong already. I want to put on my gown; then I will take your arm and Katharina"s, and we three will promenade to the window. I want to see the evening star. Please send Frau Satan to me; she can lift me more easily than Katharina, for I am very heavy. Ludwig, take Katharina into the next room while I am dressing. I know you have much to say to each other."
Frau Satan now entered in answer to the summons. The doctor had ordered that the invalid"s wishes must be obeyed.