Burroughs, Edgar Rice The Mad King

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ness, and he is in such a state of cowardly terror that he is
ready to agree to anything, if you will but spare his life
and set him free across the border."
"It is too late for that now, Coblich," replied Peter.
"There is but one way that Leopold of Lutha can serve
me now, and that is--dead. Were his corpse to be carried
into the cathedral of Lustadt before noon today, and were
those who fetched it to swear that the king was killed by
the impostor after being dragged from the hospital at Tafel-
berg where you and Maenck had located him, and from
which you were attempting to rescue him, I believe that the
people would tear our enemies to pieces. What say you,
Coblich?"
The other stared at Peter of Blentz for several seconds
while the atrocity of his chief's plan filtered through his
brain.
"My God!" he exclaimed at last. "You mean that you
wish me to murder Leopold with my own hands?"
"You put it too crudely, my dear Coblich," replied the
other.
"I cannot do it," muttered Coblich. "I have never killed a
man in my life. I am getting old. No, I could never do it.
I should not sleep nights."
"If it is not done, Coblich, and Leopold comes into his
own," said Peter slowly, "you will be caught and hanged
higher than Haman. And if you do not do it, and the im-
poster is crowned today, then you will be either hanged
officially or knifed unofficially, and without any choice in
the matter whatsoever. Nothing, Coblich, but the dead body
of the true Leopold can save your neck. You have your
choice, therefore, of letting him live to prove your treason,
or letting him die and becoming chancellor of Lutha."
Slowly Coblich turned toward the door. "You are right,"
he said, "but may God have mercy on my soul. I never
thought that I should have to do it with my own hands."
So saying he left the room and a moment later Peter of
Blentz smiled as he heard the pounding of a horse's hoofs
upon the pavement without.
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Then the Regent entered the room he had recently quitted
and spoke to the nobles of Lutha who were gathered there.
"Coblich has found the body of the murdered king," he
said. "I have directed him to bring it to the cathedral. He
came upon the impostor and his confederate, Lieutenant
Butzow, as they were bearing the corpse from the hospital
at Tafelberg where the king has lain unknown since the
rumor was spread by Von der Tann that he had been killed
by bandits.
"He was not killed until last evening, my lords, and you
shall see today the fresh wounds upon him. When the time
comes that we can present this grisly evidence of the guilt
of the impostor and those who uphold him, I shall expect
you all to stand at my side, as you have promised."
With one accord the noblemen pledged anew their alle-
giance to Peter of Blentz if he could produce one-quarter of
the evidence he claimed to possess.
"All that we wish to know positively is," said one, "that
the man who bears the title of king today is really Leopold
of Lutha, or that he is not. If not then he stands convicted
of treason, and we shall know how to conduct ourselves."
Together the party rode to the cathedral, the majority of
the older nobility now openly espousing the cause of the
Regent.
At the palace Barney was about distracted. Butzow was
urging him to take the crown whether he was Leopold or
not, for the young lieutenant saw no hope for Lutha, if
either the scoundrelly Regent or the cowardly man whom
Barney had assured him was the true king should come into
power.
It was eleven o'clock. In another hour Barney knew that
he must have found some new solution of his dilemma, for
there seemed little probability that the king would be lo-
cated in the brief interval that remained before the corona-
tion. He wondered what they did to people who stole thrones.
For a time he figured his chances of reaching the border
ahead of the enraged populace. All had depended upon the
finding of the king, and he had been so sure that it could
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be accomplished in time, for Coblich and Maenck had had
but a few hours in which to conceal the monarch before
the search was well under way.
Armed with the king's warrants, his troopers had ridden
through the country, searching houses, and questioning all
whom they met. Patrols had guarded every road that the
fugitives might take either to Lustadt, Blentz, or the border;
but no king had been found and no trace of his abductors.
Prince von der Tann, Barney was convinced, was on the
point of deserting him, and going over to the other side. It
was true that the old man had carried out his instructions
relative to the placing of the machine guns; but they might
be used as well against him, where they stood, as for him.
From his window he could see the broad avenue which
passes before the royal palace of Lutha. It was crowded
with throngs moving toward the cathedral. Presently there
came a knock upon the closed door of his chamber.
At his "Enter" a functionary announced: "His Royal High-
ness Ludwig, Prince von der Tann!"
The old man was much perturbed at the rumors he had
heard relative to the assassination of the true Leopold.
Soldier-like, he blurted out his suspicions and his ultimatum.
"None but the royal blood of Rubinroth may reign in
Lutha while there be a Rubinroth left to reign and old Von
der Tann lives," he cried in conclusion.
At the name "Rubinroth" Barney started. It was his
mother's name. Suddenly the truth flashed upon him. He
understood now the reticence of both his father and mother
relative to her early life.
"Prince Ludwig," said the young man earnestly, "I have
only the good of Lutha in my heart. For three weeks I have
labored and risked death a hundred times to place the
legitimate heir to the crown of Lutha upon his throne. I--"
He hesitated, not knowing just how to commence the
confession he was determined to make, though he was posi-
tive that it would place Peter of Blentz upon the throne,
since the old prince had promised to support the Regent
could it be proved that Barney was an impostor.
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"I," he started again, and then there came an interruption
at the door.
"A messenger, your majesty," announced the doorman,
"who says that he must have audience at once upon a mat-
ter of life and death to the king."
"We will see him in the ante-chamber," replied Barney,
moving toward the door. "Await us here, Prince Ludwig."
A moment later he re-entered the apartment. There was
an expression of renewed hope upon his face.
"As we were about to remark, my dear prince," he said,
"I swear that the royal blood of the Rubinroths flows in my
veins, and as God is my judge, none other than the true
Leopold of Lutha shall be crowned today. And now we
must prepare for the coronation. If there be trouble in the
cathedral, Prince Ludwig, we look to your sword in pro-
tection of the king."
"When I am with you, sire," said Von der Tann, "I know
that you are king. When I saw how you led the troops in
battle, I prayed that there could be no mistake. God give
that I am right. But God help you if you are playing with
old Ludwig von der Tann."
When the old man had left the apartment Barney sum-
moned an aide and sent for Butzow. Then he hurried to the
bath that adjoined the apartment, and when the lieutenant
of horse was announced Barney called through a soapy
lather for his confederate to enter.
"What are you doing, sire?" cried Butzow in amazement.
"Cut out the 'sire,' old man," shouted Barney Custer of
Beatrice. "this is the fifth of November and I am shaving
off this alfalfa. The king is found!" [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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