The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-04-17

to my heels and bestow myself else.
where as speedily as possible"
''Most wisely spoken, and you, who
are no coward. who would face willing
~ in combat anything natural. would
in certain circumstances trust to swift
flight 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 IL
an apparition stood in your path. There
is before you the specter Of subtlety.
Use arm instead of brain. and you are
a 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 viii surround your
castle and that you may stand siege.
Now. the emperor would rather have
you fight with him than against him.
but 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
sequestered. and call your attention
to the fact that your estate adjoins the
possessions of the archbishop Mt Co
chem. and heaven fend me for hint
ing that his lordship casts covetous
eyes over his boundary. yet neverthe-
less he will probably not refuse to ac-
cept your possessions in reparation for
the insult bestowed upon him. Put
1t this way, II you like: Would you
rather pleasure me or pleasure the
archbishop Of Treves?"
"There is no question as to that" an.
swered the count.
''Then 1t will please me well If you
promise to apologize to his lordship the
archbishop Of Treves. That his lord.
ship will be equally pleased very
much doubt"
''Will your majesty command me in
open court to apologize"
II shall request you to do so. must
uphold the feudal law"
command me. for am loyal subject
and will obey
"God give me many SUCH" said the
emperor feryently. land bestow upon
me the wisdom to deserve themw
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
as his guide back to the thronged
apartment they had left. The count
saw that the great crimson curtains
were now topped up. giving view
of the noble interior of the room be-
yond. thronged with the great Of the
empire. The hall leading to it was
almost deserted. and the count. under
convoy Of two lancemen, being nearly
as tall as their weapons. passed in to
the throneroon and found all eyes
turned upon him. He was brought to
stand before an elevated dais. the
center of which was occupied by a
lofty throne. which at the moment
was empty. Near it on the elevation
stood the three archbishops Of Treves.
Cologne and Aiayence. on the other
side the count palatine of the Rhine
with the remaining three electors. The
mobiles of the realm occupied places
according to their degree. AS the stall
wart count came in a buzz Of CONVEX
sation swept over the hall like breeze,
among the leaves of q forest. ma
lignant scowl darkened the counte-
nance Of the archbishop of Treves. but
the faces Of Cologne and Mayence ex.
pressed certain Christian resigna-
ton regarding the contumely that had
been endured by their colleague. The
count stood stolidly where he was
placed and gazed at the vacant throne.
turning his eyes neither to the right
nor the left. Suddenly there was Il
fanfare of trumpets. and instant ST.
lence smote the assembly. First came
officers of the imperial guard in shin
Ing armor. then the immediate adj
yisers and councillors Of his majesty
and last Of all the emperor himself, a
robe of great richness clasped at his
throat and trailing behind him. the
crown of the empire upon his head.
Ills face was pale and stern, looking
what he was, monarch and a man.
The count rubbed his eyes and could
scarcely believe that he stood now in
the presence of, one who had chatted
amiably with him but a few moments
before.
The emperor sat on his throne, and
one of his councillors whispered for
some moments to him. Then the EN-.
peror said in a low, clear voice that
penetrated to the farthest corner OF
the vast apartment:
"Is the Count of Winneburg here?'
Eyes, your majesty"
"Let him stand forward"
The count strobe two long steps to
the front and stood there, red faced
and abashed. The officer at his side
whispered:
"Kneel. you fool. kneel."
| And the count got himself somewhat
clumsily down upon his knees, like an
elephant preparing to receive its bur-
den. The face Of the emperor remain
ed impassive. and he said harshly:
"Stand up!'
The count. once more upon his feet
breathed deep sigh of satisfaction at
1 finding himself once more in an nm.