by Mór Jókai
CHAPTER II
From early morning until evening the enrolment of names went on at theNameless Castle, while from time to time a squad of volunteers,accompanied by Count Vavel himself, would depart amid the blare oftrumpets for the drill-ground.
The count made a fine-looking officer, with the crimson shako on hishead, his mantle flung over one shoulder, his saber in his hand. When hesaluted the ladies on their balconies, his spirited horse would rear anddance proudly. His company, the "Volons," had selected black and crimsonas the colors for their uniform. The shako was ornamented in front witha white death's-head, and one would not have believed that a skull couldbe so ornamental.
The Volons' ensign was not yet finished, but pretty white hands wereembroidering gold letters on the silken streamers; lead would very soonadd further ornamentation!
When Ludwig Vavel opened the door of his castle to the public, he verysoon became acquainted with a very different life from that of the pastsix years. For six years he had dwelt among a people whom he imagined hehad learned to know and understand through his telescope, and from theletters he had received from a clergyman and a young law student.
The reality was quite different.
Every man that was enrolled in his volunteer corps Count Vavel made anobject of special study. He found among them many interestingcharacters, who would have deserved perpetuation, and made of all ofthem excellent soldiers. The men very soon became devoted to theirleader. When the troop was complete--three hundred horsemen in handsomeuniforms, on spirited horses--their ensign was ready for them. Mariethought it would have been only proper for Katharina, the betrothed ofthe leader, to present the flag; but Count Vavel insisted that Mariemust perform the duty. The flag was hers; it would wave over the men whowere going to fight for her cause.
It was an inspiriting sight--three hundred horsemen, every one of nobleHungarian blood. There were among them fathers of families, andbrothers; and all of them soldiers of their own free will. Of suchmaterial was the troop of Volons, commanded by "Count Vavel vonFertoeszeg."
Count Vavel had a second volunteer company, composed of Satan Laczi andhis comrades. This company, however, had been formed and drilled insecret, as the noble Volons would not have tolerated such vagabonds intheir ranks. There were only twenty-four men in Satan Laczi's squad, andthey were expected to undertake only the most hazardous missions of thecampaign.
Ah, how Marie's hand trembled when she knotted the gay streamers to theflag Ludwig held in his hands! She whispered, in a tone so low that onlyhe could hear what she said:
"Don't go away, Ludwig! Stay here with us. Don't waste your preciousblood for me, but let us three fly far away from here."
Those standing apart from the count and his fair ward fancied that thewhispered words were a blessing on the ensign. She did not bless it inwords, but when she saw that Ludwig would not renounce his undertaking,she pressed her lips to the standard which bore the _patrona Hungaria_.That was her blessing! Then she turned and flung herself intoKatharina's arms, sobbing, while hearty cheers rose from the Volons:
"Why don't _you_ try to prevent him from going away from us? Why don'tyou say to him, 'To-morrow we are to be wedded. Why not wait untilthen?'"
But there was no time now to think of marriage. There was one who was ingreater haste than any bridegroom or bride. The great leader of armieswas striding onward, whole kingdoms between his paces. From theslaughter at Ebersburg he passed at once to the walls of Vienna, to thesquare in front of the Cathedral of St. Stephen. From the south, also,came Job's messengers, thick and fast. Archduke John had retreated fromItaly back into Hungary, the viceroy Eugene following on his heels.
General Chasteler had become alarmed at Napoleon's proclamationthreatening him with death, and had removed his entire army from theTyrol. His divisions were surrendering, one after another, to thepursuing foe.
Thus the border on the south and west was open to the enemy; and toaugment the peril which threatened Hungary, Poland menaced her from thenorth, from the Carpathians; and Russia at the same time sent outdeclarations of war.
The countries which had been on friendly terms with one another suddenlybecame enemies--Poland against Hungary, Russia against Austria. Prussiawaited. England hastened to seize an island from Holland. The patrioticcalls of Gentz and Schlegel failed to inspire Germany. The heroicattempts of Kalt, Doernberg, Schill, and Luetzow fell resultless on theindifference of the people. Only Turkey remained a faithful ally, andthe assurance that the Mussulman would protect Hungary in the rearagainst an invasion on the part of Moldavia was the only ray of lightamid the darkness of those days.
Then came a fresh Job's messenger.
General Jelachich, with his five thousand men, had laid down his arms inthe open field before the enemy. Now, indeed, it might be said: "Thetime is come to be up and doing, Hungary!"
He who had neglected to celebrate his nuptials yesterday would have notime for marriage feasts to-morrow. Hannibal was at the gates! The noblemilitia host was set in motion. The Veszprime and Pest regiments movedtoward the Marczal to join Archduke John's forces. The primatial troopsjoined the main body of the army on the banks of the March, and whatthere was of soldiery on the farther side of the Danube hastened toconcentrate in the neighborhood of the Raab--only half equipped, musketswithout flints, without cartridges, without saddles, with halters inlieu of bridles!
Under such circumstances a fully equipped troop like that commanded by"Count Fertoeszeg," with sabers, pistols, carbines, and a leader trainedin the battle-field, was of some value.
The days which followed the flag presentation were certainly notcalculated to whispers of happy love, while the nights were illuminedonly by the light of watch-fires, and the glare over against the horizonof cannonading. Count Ludwig had so many demands on his time that herarely found a few minutes free to visit his dear ones at the manor.Sometimes he came unexpectedly early in the morning, and sometimes latein the evening. And always, when he came, like the insurgent who dashesunceremoniously into your door, there was a confusion and a bustling toconceal what he was not yet to see--Marie's first attempts at drawing,her piano practices, or the miniature portrait Katharina was painting ofher. Sometimes, too, he came when they were at a meal; and then, despitehis protests that he had already dined or supped in camp, he would becompelled to take his seat between the two ladies at the table. Hardlywould he have taken up his fork, however, when a messenger would arrivein great haste to summon him for something or other--some question healone could decide; then all attempts to detain him would prove futile.
The day he received his orders to march, he was forced to take enoughtime to speak on some very important matters to his betrothed wife. Hedelivered into her hands the steel casket, of which so much has beenwritten. When he entered the room where the two ladies were sitting,Marie discreetly rose and left the lovers alone; but she did not go veryfar: she knew that she would be sent for very soon. Why should she stopto hear the exchange of lovers' confidences, hear the mutual confessionswhich made _them_ so happy? She did not want to see the tears which _he_would kiss away.
"May God protect you," sobbed Katharina, reflecting at the same momentthat it would be a great pity were a bullet to strike the spot on thenoble brow where she pressed her farewell kiss.
"You will guard my treasure, Katharina? Take good care of my palladiumand of yourself. Before I go, let me show you what this casket which youmust guard with unceasing care contains."
He drew the steel ring from his thumb, and pushed to one side the crownwhich formed the seal, whereupon a tiny key was revealed. With it heunlocked the casket.
On top lay a packet of English bank-notes of ten thousand pounds each.
"This sum," explained Ludwig, "will defray the expenses of ourundertaking. When I shall have attained my object, I shall be just somuch the poorer. I am not a rich man, Katharina; I must tell you thisbefore our marriage."
"I should love you even were you a beggar," was the sincere response.
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A kiss was her reward.
Underneath the bank-notes were several articles of child's clothing,such as little girls wear.
"Her mother embroidered the three lilies on these with her own hands,"said Ludwig, laying the little garments to one side. Then he took fromthe casket several time-stained documents, and added: "These are thecertificate of baptism, the last lines from the mother to her daughter,and the deposition of the two men who witnessed the exchange of thechildren. This," taking up a miniature-case, "contains a likeness ofMarie, and one of the other little girl who exchanged destinies withher. The Marquis d'Avoncourt, who is now a prisoner in the Castle ofHam,--if he is still alive!--is the only one besides ourselves who knowsof the existence of these things. And now, Katharina, let me beg of youto take good care of them; no matter what happens, do not lose sight ofthis casket."
He locked the casket, and returned the ring to his thumb.
The baroness placed the treasure intrusted to her care in a secretcupboard in the wall of her own room.
And now, one more kiss!
The girl waiting in the adjoining room was doubtless getting weary.Suddenly Ludwig heard the tones of a piano. Some one was playing, in thetimid, uncertain manner of a new beginner, Miska's martial song. Ludwiglistened, and turned questioningly toward his betrothed. Katharina didnot speak; she merely smiled, and walked toward the door of theadjoining room, which she opened.
Marie sprang from the piano toward Ludwig, who caught her in his armsand rewarded her for the surprise. And thus it happened that Marie,after all, was the one to receive Ludwig's last kiss of farewell.