The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-11

said the count slowly, "by taking re-
freshment under it, / shall be glad of
your company afterwards, to Frank
fort. in obedience to his majesty's COM
mands."
The messenger bowed low, accepted
the hospitality, and together they made
way across the Moselle. and along the
Roman road to the capital.
Within the walls of Frankfort the
count was lodged in rooms near the
palace, to which his conductor guided
him. ands although it was still held that
he was not a priosoner, an armed man
paced to and fro before his door all
night. The day following his arrival
Count Winneburg was summoned to the
court. and in q large anteroom found
himself one of numerous throng, con-
spicuous among them all by reason of
his great hight and bulk. The huge hall
was hung with tapestry, and at the
further end were great curtains. at each
edge of which stood half dozen armOr-
ed men, the detachments being officers.
\ Occasionally the curtains were parted by
menials. who stood there to perform that
duty, and high mobiles entered. or came
out. singly and in groups. Down the
sides of the hall We're packed some hun
dreds of people, chattering together for
the most part, and gazing ut those who
passed up and down the open space i'll
the center. The count surmised that the
emperor held this court in whatever
apartment was behind the crimson cur
tains He felt the owes of the multi
tude upon him, and shifted uneasily from
one foot TO another, cursing has ungain-
illness, ashamed of the tingling of the
blood in his cheeks. He was out OF
place in this laughing. talking crowd, eX-
periencing the sensa tons of an uncOuth
rustic suddenly thrust into the turmoil
of n metropolis, resenting bitterly the
supposed sneers that were flung at him.
He suspected that the whispering and
the gigglng were directed toward him
self. and burned to draw his sword and
let these popinjays know for once what
man could do. As a matter Of fact it
was a buzz of admiration at his stature
which went up when he entered, but the
count had so little of self-conceit III his
soul that he never even guessed the
truth. Two mobiles, pacing near him,
he heard one of them say distinctly:
THAT is the fellow who threw the
archbishop over his head" while the 9TH
err. CHANGING at him, said;
by the coat, he seems capable of up
setting the three Of them, and /, for one,
wish more power TO his muscle should
he attempt it.
The count shrank against the tapes
tried walls, hot with anger, wishing HIM
self n dwarf that he might escape the
gaze of so many inquiring eyes. just
as the scrutiny was becoming unbear-
able his companion touched him on the
elbow and said:
Count Winneburg, follow me.
He held aside the tapestry at the back
of the count, and that noble, nothing
10th, disappeared from view behind it.
Entering a narrow passageway, they
traversed it until they came to closed
door. at each Intel of which stood Il
pikeman. fronted with a shining breast
plate of metal The counts conductor
opened it, holding it so that the count
could pass in, and when he had done SO
the door closed softly behind him. To
his amazement, Winneburg saw before
him, standing at the further end of the
small room, the Emperor Rudolph, en-
tirely alone. The count awkwardly was
about to kneel when his liege strobe for
ward and prevented him.
Count Winneblirg," he said, from
what / hear of you, your elbow joints
are more supple than those of your
knees. therefore, let us be thankful that
on this occasion there is no need to use
either. | see you are under the mis-
taken impression that the emperor is
present. But that thought from your
mind. and regard me SIMPLY as Lord
Rudolph. one gentleman wishing to have
some little conversation with another
"Your majesty" stammered the count.
Il have but this moment suggested
that YOU use the title, my lord. But
leaving aside all question of salutation,
let us get to the heart of the matter,
for think we are both direct men. You
are summoned to- Frankfort because
that high and mighty prince of the
church, the archbishop of Treves, has
made complaint Ito the emperor against
YOU. alleging what seems to be an I'M
pardonable indignity suffered by him at
your hands,"
your majesty-my lord, / mean' fal-
tered the count "The indignity was of
his own seeking: he sat down in my
chair, where he had no right to place
himself, and-I-persuade him to re-
linquish his position"