Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-07
The Romantic Prince
By Rafael Sabatinii
copyright 1879 BY and MOpotsA


which the duke himself had found
quarters. He had gone early to bed, in
view of the work to be done tomor-
row. From his slumbers he was awak-
ened abruptly, with Johanna'S voice
ringing in his ears.
It had called his name thrice and 1t
had been so laden with appeal and with
despair that the memory of 1t now
drove into his soul the conviction that
she was in distress or danger, and for
a moment in that conviction he was
frenzied by the thought of the distance
separating them. Then the impression
faded. The calm sway of fully awak-
ened intelligence Supervened. He had
dreamt--that was all. Often voices are
heard so in dreams. What harm should
come to her? She was secure and shell
tered, the honored wife of a prosperous
burgher.
He was so wide awake that to WOO
sleep again was out of all question. He
rose and went forth into the street.
Long he paced there, reviewing and re-
Wiling the course of events since that
evening when he had left Flushing.
From Peronne he had accompanied
the duke to Liege, with this great army
at their heels, brought thither for the
purpose Of int1icting terrible and mer-
cileSS vengeance upon that little inde-
pendent state which had dared with
stand Burgundian Entertainments upon
it's liberties.
This ruthless abuse Of strength had
outraged Count Anthony's sense OF
chivalry. 1t was not for this that he
had brought his men of Guelders into
the ducal army. He had joined hands
with Charles to withstand a menace OF
war from the King of France, not to aio
h1lfRharU Hf q nf a. 1.
sans who had improvised themselves
into soldiers because their homes were
threatened. And butchery. massacre
was Burgundys present object, DELHI
crate and avowed. Liege was to serve
as an example.
The papal legate had come in tear:
to intercede with Charles to spare the
lives at least of those unfortunate
people. Even their own prince bishop
the profiigate Louis Of Bourbon, or
whose worthless behalf this war haC
first been waged, had implored for hi
subjects the lenience of the duke. But
Charles had met their prayers with
scorn. Liege, he declared, should bl
demolished and its people stamped ou
of existence like vermin under the heel:
of his troops.
| Count Anthony's argument was tina
a wise prince would not stamp out
populous, industrious and wealthy cit,
which with its dependencies might We
be brought within the ambit of hi
| dominionS to enrich him. At anothe,
time Liege might proudly and defiantl,
have chung to her independence. Blu
now her pride was broken, her deflanc
stilled. She would submit, if submission
were proposed to her, and submit with
gratitude which should assure her futur
loyalty.
But the obstinate Charles of Bur
gundy, having already determined upo
his Vindictive, remorSeleSs course, wa
but confirmed in it by this opposition.
I'VE desire no such peStiIent sub
jects," was his angry reply.
Thereupon Count Anthony sait
Then believe me when I tell you this
this thing you contemplate is an Out
rage upon chivalry, which, If you pei
sist In 1t. will tarnish your bright es
cutcheon for all time"
THAT is point upon which we d
not agree"
Very well. But let me remind 70
that the lances brought from Gueldel
were brought to defend you from til
threatened onslaught of the King {
France. They are not to be used in
massacre of helpless citizens"
The duke was Scowling again. aye
mean that you will refuse to lead theI
into Liege?"
Holding the views I hold. can I d
less?"
1.-The question is, Can YOU do s
much?" The duke laughed unpleas
antly, revealing his strong white teetl
You forget your brother Adolph. H
Is marshal Of GuelderS and he leads YOU
men. And he'll lead them at my bid
ding, and to win my favor, especial
If he suspects it will annoy you"
And Count Anthony, realizing tn
truth Of this and the defeat and humil
iation that must await him in insist
ence, had gone forth detected. H
would have quilted the dukes camp bli
for the hope cleaning family amid de
SPAR that opportunity might yet b
offered him of doing something in tn
dear cause of chivalry.
There is no more terrible page in tn
terrible history of sacked cities, aban
doned deliberately to the lawless greeC
and lust of a brutal soldiery than tina
which deals with the sack OF Liege
| To each division of the army a dis
trict OF the city was assigned, and with
In that district all was to be their
without restriction. Rapacity. cruelt,
and lust were thus let loose upon LEG
by ducal license. Nothing was spared
The very churches were sacked an,
those who had sought sanctuary II
them butchered without regard to ag
or condition.
For week the sack of Liege en-.
dured. Then, the part of the soldiers
being fully accomplished. they wert
replaced by an army of laborers from
Luxembourg, who were to destroy tn,
city by fire and then level the ruins
with the ground
For seven weeks after the duke:
departure, Liege continued to burn
until only the churches and the house.