by Mór Jókai
PART X
CONCLUSION
CHAPTER I
When Count Vavel returned from his skirmish with De Fervlans's demons,he sent his betrothed at once to Raab, with instructions not to separateherself again from Marie.
He had not been able to accompany Katharina on her journey, as he hadreceived marching orders immediately on his return to camp. On partingwith his betrothed, however, he had promised to pay a visit to her andMarie at an early day, and to write to both of them daily.
The first part of his promise he had not been able to fulfil; his timewas too fully occupied with the duties of the field. But he sentfrequent messages to his loved ones; while every day, no matter where hemight be, he would be sure to receive his letter from Raab--one sheetcovered to the edges with Katharina's writing, and the other withMarie's.
Their letters were always cheerful, and filled with hope and confidencefor the future. Ludwig fancied he could see the scene as Katharinadescribed it, when Marie had opened the steel casket.
He knew just how delighted the young girl had been when she beheldnothing but ashes instead of the little garments, the documents, theportraits, the bank-notes; and he could hear her joyous laugh on findingherself relieved of the burden of her greatness. But what he could nothear was Katharina reciting his brave exploits during the fiercestruggle on the Hansag, a recital Marie insisted on hearing every day.
Then the two, Marie and Katharina, would go every morning to church, topray for Ludwig, to ask God to protect him, and bring him safely back tothem. This was their daily pleasure and consolation.
Then came the bloody days of Karako, Papa, Raab, and Acs. The militiatroops took active part in all these battles, and proved themselvesvaliant warriors.
Vavel with his Volons had been assigned to Mesko's brigade, and hadshared its adventurous march from Abda, around Lake Balaton to Veszprim.Here he found his spy and scout, Master Matyas, awaiting him.
For weeks he had not had a word from his loved ones. When he had sentthem to Raab he believed he had selected a secure haven for them, butthe course which events had taken proved that he had made a mistake inhis calculations. Katharina and Marie were now surrounded on all sidesby the enemy.
It was while he was oppressed with these gloomy thoughts that his spyand scout suddenly appeared before him. Noah in his ark had not lookedmore longingly for the dove than had he for his brave Matyas.
"Well, Master Matyas, what news?"
"All sorts, Herr Count."
"Good or bad?"
"Well, mixed. Both good and bad. I will leave the good till the last. Tobegin: Poor Satan Laczi was buried yesterday--may God have mercy on hissinful soul! They fired three salvos over his grave, and the primatehimself said the prayers for his soul. If Satan Laczi himself could haveseen it all, he could hardly have believed that so much honor would beshown to his dead body. Poor Laczi! His last words were a greeting tohis kind patron."
"His life closed well!" observed the count. "He got what he longedfor--a soldier's death. But tell me what you know about Raab."
"I know all about it. I come from there."
"Ah, did you see them? Has not the enemy besieged the city?"
"Yes; the city as well as the fortress is in the hands of the enemy, andthe baroness and the princess are both in it."
"Who told you to call her a princess?" demanded Count Vavel, his facedarkening.
"I will come to that all in good time," composedly replied Matyas, whowas not to be hurried. "Colonel Pechy," he went on, "bravely defendedthe fortress for ten days against the Frenchmen; but he had to yield atlast--"
"Where are Katharina and Marie?" impatiently interrupted Vavel. "Whatbecame of them when the city capitulated?"
"All in good time, Herr Count, all in good time! I can tell you allabout them, for I am just come from them."
"Were they in any danger?"
"Danger? No, indeed! When the city surrendered they were concealed in ahouse where they passed as the nieces of the Herr Vice-palatineGoeroemboelyi."
"Is the vice-palatine with them now?"
"Certainly. He has surrendered, too."
"Excellent man! Who commands the Frenchmen at Raab?"
"General Guillaume--"
"General Guillaume?" excitedly interrupted Vavel.
"Yes, certainly; Guillaume--that is his name. And he is a very politegentleman. He does not ill-treat the citizens; on the contrary, the verynext day after he entered the city he gave a ball in the large hotel,and invited all the distinguished citizens with their wives anddaughters. The Herr Count's dear ones also received an invitation."
"As the nieces of the vice-palatine, of course?"
"Not exactly! I saw the invitation-card, and it was to 'Madame laComtesse de Alba, avec la Princesse Marie.'"
"Princess Marie?" echoed Vavel.
"As I tell you; and that is how I come to know she is a princess."
Vavel's brain seemed paralyzed. He could not even think.
"The vice-palatine," nonchalantly continued Matyas, "protested that amistake had been made; but the French general replied that he knew verywell who the ladies were, and that he had received instructions how totreat them. From that day, two French grenadiers began to guard thebaroness's door, day and night, just exactly as if they were standingguard over a potentate."
Vavel paced the floor, mute with rage and fear.
"Why did I desert them!" he exclaimed at last, in desperation. "Why didI not do as Marie wished--flee with her and Katharina into the wideworld--we three alone!"
"Well, you see you did n't, and this is the way matters stand now,"responded Master Matyas. "The general's adjutant visits the house twiceevery day to inquire after the ladies; then he reports to his superior."
"If only Cambray had not died!" ejaculated the count.
"Yes, but I helped to bury him, too," added Matyas, shaking his head.
"Yes, so I was told. How did you manage to get the body from behind themetal screen?"
"Oh, that was easy enough. You know the spring is connected with thebell in your study; when the screen unrolled, the bell rang. It was onlynecessary to reverse the operation: by pulling the bell-wire in theHerr Count's study the screen was rolled up."
"A very simple arrangement, indeed," observed Count Vavel, smiling inspite of his gloom. "Ah, Master Matyas, if only you were clever enoughto open for me the locks which now imprison my dear ones! That would bea masterpiece, indeed!"
"I can do that easily enough," was the confident rejoinder.
"You can? How?"
"Did n't I say I would leave the good news until the last?"
"Yes, yes. Tell me what you have in view."
"I must whisper the secret in your ear; I have often overheard importantsecrets listening at the keyhole or while hiding under a bed, and what Ihave done another may be doing."
Vavel bent his head so that Master Matyas might whisper the importantinformation in his ear.
The words were few, but they served to restore Vavel to a cheerful mood.
He laughed heartily, slapped Master Matyas on the shoulder, andexclaimed:
"You are truly a wonderful fellow!" Then he took a roll of bank-notesfrom his pocket, and pressed it into Matyas's hand. "Here--take these,and buy what is necessary. We will make the attempt at once."
Master Matyas thrust the money into his own pocket, and darted from theroom as if he had stolen it. Ludwig hastened to his general, to beg forleave of absence.