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


Rudolph, a slight smile lowering sound
his finely chiseled lips. ''We are not here
to comment upon any of the archbish-
ops delinquences, but granting, for the
sake of argument, that he had en-
croached upon your right, nevertheless,
he was under your roof, and honestly,
| fail to see that you were justified III
cracking his heels against the same.
well, your majesty-again l beg your
majesty's pardon"
20. no matter" said the emperor,
"call me what you like; names signify
little"
IF. then, the emperor" continued the
count. found an intruder sitting on his
throne, would he like it, think you?'
His feeling, perhaps, would be one
of establishment, my Lord Count, but
speaking for the emperor, ! am certain
that he would never lay hands on the
usurper, or treat him like Il sack of
corn in Il yeoman's barn"
The count laughed heartily at this,
and was relieved to find that this quiet
ed him of the tension which the great
presence had at first caused.
Truth to tell. your majesty, / am
sorry | touched him. l should have re-
quested him to withdraw. but my arm
has always been more ready in action
than my tongue as you can readily see
since | came into this room"
Indeed count, your tongue does you
very good service continued the en-
pcror, 'and | am glad to have from you
an expression of regret. | hope, there
fore. that you will have no hesitation in
repeating that declaration to the arch
bishop of Treves.'
Does your majesty mean that 1 am
to apologize to him?'
Yes answered the emperor.
There was moments pause, then the
count said slowly:
Il will surrender to your majesty my
person, my sword, my castle, and my
lands; ] will. at your word, PROSTATE
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 l am not, and
to cringe before him and supplicate his
grace, well. your majesty. as between
man and man, I'll 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 a ghost, my lord
count?" he asked. Winneburg crossed
himself devoutly, a sudden pallor com
ing over his face. Indeed, your males
ty. | have seen strange things. and
things for which there was no account
ing but it has been usually after Il con-
test with the wine fagon. and at the
time my head was none of The clearest
so / would not venture to say whether
thew were ghosts or no."
Imagine. then, that in one of the cor
ridors of your castle at midnight you
met a white robed, transparent figure,
through whose form your sword passed
scathlessly, what would you do, my
lord?"
Indeed, your majesty, / would take
to my heels, and bestow myself else
where as speedily as 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 well,
my lord, you are now confronted with
something against which your stout
arm is as unavailing 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
lost man. The archbishop expects no
apology. He looks for a stalwart. stub
born man, defying himself and the en-
pire combined You think perhaps that
the imperial troops will surround your
castle, and that you may stand a siege.
Now the emperor would rather have
you fight with him than against him,
hut in truth there will be no contest.
II AN n,,I L,
arrested before you leave the precincts
of this palace. You will be thrown into
Il dungeon, your castle and your lands
sequestered, 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
ing that his lordsnip casts covetous eyes
over his boundary, yet nevertheless, he
will probably not refuse to accept your
possessions in reparation for the insult
bestowed upon him Put it this way if
you like: Would you rather pleasure
me or pleasure the archbishop of
Treves?"
There is no question as to that" am
severed the count.
''Then it will please me we'll if you
promise to apologize to his lordship the
archbishop of Treves. That his lordship
will be equally pleased. l very much
doubt"
will your majesty command me in
open court to apologizew
Il shall request You to do so. | must
uphold the feudal law
Then ! beseech your majesty to COM
mand me, for l am loyal subject and
will obey"
God give me many such," said the
emperor fervently, 'and bestow upon
me the wisdom to deserve them."
He extended his hand to the count,
then touched bell ON the table beside
him. The officer who had conducted
Winneburg entered silently and acted
rs his guide back to the thronged apart
ment they had left. The count saw
that the great crimson curtains were
now Topped mp, giving Il view of the no.
bic interior of the room beyond, throng-
ed with the great of the empire. The
hall leading to it was almost deserted,
and the count, under convoy of two lance
men, being nearly as tall as their wea-
pons, passed in to the throne room and
found all eyes turned upon him. He