The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-12-13

NJ 4 II
his ma iestv has been informed. replied
RudoIph. a slight smile hoverlng rouhd
his finely rhiScled lips. " are not mere
n comment upon any OF the archpl9h-
ans dnlinGucnces. hut granting. for the
sake Of argument. that he Aad en-
croached upon Your right. nevertheltSN
ha was under your roof and honestly
I foil To see that you were JustlIleu III
cracking his heels against the same
We'll. your majeSty-a@ain beG your
majeSty's pardon
20. 10 matter. SAID the ellpeIoi'
"caIl me what You like, names SlShhH
little" a.
If. then. the emperor, continued the
count .found an intruder sitting on his
throne. would he like ii. think YOU:
His feeling. perhaps. would be one
If aStonishment. my Lord Count, but
sroaking for the emperor. | am certain
that he would never lay hands ON me
rsnrper. or treat him like a sack 81
corn in Il yeomln'S barn
The count laughed heartily 1T this,
and was relieved 10 find that this quiet
ed him OF the tension which he great
presence had ut first caused.
Truth to tell. Your majesty. | am
sorry touched him. / should nave re
oucsted him 70 withdraw. but my arm
has always been more ready III 2c'loli
than my tongue rs YOU can readily see
since [ came into this room.
Indeed count. your tongue does YOU
yary good service" continued the en-
reror. and | am glad to AVE from You
an EXPRESSION Of regret. | hope. there
fore. that YOU will have 10 hesitation III
reueatinc that declaration 10 the arch
bishop Of TreyeS.
Does your majesty mean that | am
to apologize to him:
YES" answered the emperor.
There was a moments pause. then the
count said slowly:
Il will surrender to your majesty my
person. my sword. my castle, Il my
lands: ] Will. ut 0 word, prostrate
myself at your feet. and humbly beg
pardon for any offense [ have com
mitted against YOU, but TO tell the arch
bishop | am sorry. when | am not, and
to cringe before him and supplicatc his
grace. well, your majesty. rs between
man and man. III see him damned
first
Again the emperor had some difficulty
in preserving that rigidity Of expression
which he had evidently resolved to
maintain.
"Have YOU ever met 4 ghost. my lord
~count?' he asked. Winneburg crossed
himself devoutIy. u sudden pallor com
ing over his face. Indeed, your majes-
ty. | have seen strange things. and
things for which there was no account
inc. but it has been usually after q on
| test with the wine tlagon. and at the
time my head was none Of the dearest
50 | would :sot venture TO say whether
they We're ghosts or no
"Imagine. then. that in one Of the cor
ridorS Of Your castle at midnight you
met Il white roled. transparent figure.
through whose form our sword passed
scathlessly. what would You DO, my
lord?'
Indeed. your majesty. | would take
to my heels. and bostow myself else
whore as speedily az possible
Most wisely spoken, and YOU. who
are no coward. who would face willingly
in combat anything natural, would
in certain circumstances trust to swift
fight for your protection. Very we'll.
my lord. YOU are now confronted with
something against which your stout
arm Is rs ~unayailing as it would be if
an apparition stood in your path. There
is before YOU the spectre Of Subtility.
Use arm instead Of brain. and YOU are II
lost man. The archbishop expects no
apology. He looks for Il stalwart, stub
iOI Ildil. utiA lIl1 himself dlll the en-
pire combined. You think perhaps that
the imperial troops will surround Your
castle. and that YOU may stand Il siege.
Now the emperor would rather have
You fight with him than against him.
hut in truth there Will be no contest.
Hold to your refusal. and YOU will be
arrested before You leave the precincts
Of this palace. You will be thrown into
a dungeon, your castle and your lands
sequcStercd, and ! call your attention
TO the fact that your estate adjoinS the
possessions Of the archbishop at Co
chem. and heaven fend me for hint
inc that his lordSnip casts covetous eyes
over his boundary. vet nevertheless. he
will probably not refuse to accept yonr
possessions in reparation for the insult
bestowed upon him Put il this way if
You like: Would YOU rather pleasure
me or pleasure the archbishop Of
Treycs:"
There is no question as to that" an
severed the count.
Then it will please me we'll if Won
promise to apologize to his lordship the
archbishop Of Treves. That his Iord~hip
VIII he equally pleased. l very much
Doubt
Will Your majesty me in
open court to apologize?'
4 Shall request You TO do SO. must
uphold the feudal law
Then leseech your majesty to com
mand me. for am 4 loyal subject and
Will obey
God give me many such" said the
emperor fervently, and bestow upon
me the wisdom to deserve them,'
lie extended his hand to the count.
then touched 1 bell on the table beside
him. The officer who had conducted
Ninncburg entered silently and acted
as his guide back TO the thronced apart
I4ent they had left. The count saw
that the great crimson curtains were
now loopod up, giving Il view oe tho ~
PIE interior Of the room beyond. thronc-
ed with the great Of the empire. The
hail leading TO il was almost deserted
ana the count under convoy Of two lance
men, helnG nearly IS tall as their woa-
pons. passed in to the throne room and
found all eyes turned uron him. Ha
was brought to 4 stand before an oIo.