"o base assyrian knight, what is thy news?
let king cophetua know the truth thereof."
the king next morning was pacing his library with unquiet step. he was disgusted with every one and all the world, and with nothing so much as himself. to begin with, the marquis de tricotrin's disquisition on the kingly office had made a deep and unpleasant impression upon him. he felt the frenchman was perfectly right in all he had said, and that a king, to do his duty, must be practically a nonentity. it was like a crown to his old trouble. long he had grieved over his enforced inaction, and now, just when he hoped to find an escape, and spread his wings as wide as king stork, he found himself crowned king log by the very hand, by the very facts, by the cogency of the very philosophy in which he had put his trust.
it was true that the marquis had suggested to him a path by which he might still climb to the far-off heights on which his eyes were always fixed; but yet he knew it was only[pg 197] done to amuse him, to get him, as it were, out of the way. he was man of the world enough to know that m. de tricotrin could not have meant what he said. and yet, was it not the truth? was not the sublime life, after all, the life of moral influence rather than the life of action? was it not a grander thing to implant a living spirit of nobility into his people than to try and amend them by what were only little bits of tinkering after all?
yes; no doubt the marquis was right unconsciously; but how to live the life he praised? alone, without sympathy, without encouragement, he could not do it, and there was no one to whom he could go and say, "help me!" there was no one who would even understand what he meant. at least only one, and since last night she was cut off as far as the rest. ah! if she had only been what he had almost thought her, how all his troubles would have been ended? at last he might have ceased to resist the snares and cunning of the heartless daughters of eve; he might have taken the lovely woman in his arms, to find in her beauty and refinement, in her spiritual influence and tender sympathy, the divine secret of the noble life. all that was wanting in him she would have supplied; and when those soft eyes lit up with the light of love, as they watched the efforts which she inspired, and which she alone could understand, it would be reward[pg 198] and encouragement enough to lead him ever onward, upward, hand in hand with her.
but there were no such women now. it was only a boyish dream to think of it; and it only made him angrier with himself to recognise how much her sympathy must have been to him, since now that he had lost it he could muse so childishly. he laughed bitterly to think of himself like a baby crying for the moon, or at least for something as pure and gentle and serenely bright, and as far off and as impossible to attain.
he strode to the window to watch those that came and went at the palace gates, and so dissolve his thoughts. the beggars were crouching there as usual in the blazing sunlight, making deep-blue shadows under their broad hats and voluminous turbans and tattered cloaks. here and there a leg or an arm, or a shaggy breast, baked to a ruddy brown, gave a glowing bit of colour amidst the grey of filth; and here and there in the blue shadows a forbidding face could be dimly seen distorted and screwed into deep-marked wrinkles, to keep out the fierce glare which beat on them from the parched roadway and the dusty walls.
like all who pretended to any taste at that time, the king was an authority on chiaroscuro, and was never tired of studying the picture at his gates. but to-day it brought no sense of art. it only raised again the memory of penelophon, and then all at once[pg 199] perfect purity and gentleness and the serenity of an unsullied soul seemed close within his grasp. it almost alarmed him to find how that which had been a mere fancy was growing in his mind to be a possibility. he began to think his senses must be strangely unhinged if for one moment he could harbour the preposterous thought that perhaps here after all was what he sought. the painting above the hearth seemed to be gaining over him the mystic influence which he had always permitted to the old knight's armour. in vain he recalled the beggar-maid in her dirt and ignorance; in vain he told himself it could never be as long as reason remained to him. still the prospect would always be returning to him, and at each return it gained new strength.
he was turning away from the window that he might not see the beggars any longer, when a commotion amongst them attracted his attention. the bright lights and blue shadows and bits of warm colour broke up and intermingled into new combinations as they lazily scrambled together to pick up some coins that had been flung to them; and then he saw hurry by them the beautiful figure of mlle de tricotrin. she was coming for her morning walk, which she always took now, at his invitation, in the shady alleys of the palace gardens. he marked her downcast looks, the graceful folds of her clinging gown, gathered daintily[pg 200] at her breast with a flowing knot of ribbon, and the gentle refinement which her every movement told of. he watched her as she passed beneath his window, and felt his eyes dim at the sight of the marvellous beauty that could never be his.
suddenly she raised her head to look up where he was, and ere he could withdraw their eyes had met. he had seen the sad, pleading look beneath the dark lashes; he had seen the soft flush that spread over the matchless face; he had seen the shapely head bowed again in deepest resignation down upon the troubled breast as she passed on from the cold, unanswering look he gave her; and now he was pacing the room again in strange agitation.
could such beauty be the outward sign of the baseness which he had been taught to believe in? if one woman could be as good and pure and gentle as penelophon, why should not another? why should not this one? if she had jarred upon him so last night, did it not show that she was not the perfect schemer he had thought her? a knock at the door came to his relief. it was the chancellor's hour of audience, and turbo entered as calm and snarling and business-like as ever.
"good morning, chancellor," said the king, as usual. "is there any business?"
"none, sire," answered turbo—"at least, none of mine; but i believe general dolabella has something to report."
[pg 201]
"why, what is that?" exclaimed the king.
"oh, nothing, i fancy," said the chancellor. "some blunder of the officer in command of the party of gendarmes who arrived last night. there was a stupid brawl with the townsfolk, or something of that kind."
"but that seems to me serious," said the king, "considering how necessary secrecy is to my purpose. let him be admitted at once."
general dolabella was ushered in, wearing a look of tremendous mystery and importance, and with official brevity reported that a party of gendarmes arriving in the city during the previous night had encountered a man maltreating a girl, and that in endeavouring to arrest him and prevent further violence, one of the privates had been shot dead by the miscreant; "and if your majesty pleases," concluded the general, with an even greater air of mystery than before, "the officer is in attendance to give further details."
"i will question him immediately," said the king.
"would your majesty wish to make the examination in private?" said turbo. "if so, i will retire."
"i see no occasion," answered the king, before the commander-in-chief could interpose. "besides, i shall probably need your assistance. let the officer enter."
[pg 202]
the hero of the last night's adventure was at once introduced. he saluted the king with spirit, and then stood rigidly at attention, without in the least noticing the chancellor.
"this is a most grave affair, sir," began the king. "have you any light to throw on the parties concerned?"
"i believe, sire, i have identified the girl," replied the gendarme.
"and who do you suppose she is?"
"she is a servant of mlle de tricotrin.
"in what capacity?"
"i do not know, sire; but it may elucidate the point if i inform your majesty of a curious statement she made to me."
"well, sir, proceed," said the king, as the officer hesitated.
"she spoke very strangely," replied the gendarme, "of having been rescued from some danger by your majesty."
"and what of the man?" asked the king, endeavouring to conceal his interest.
"as to that, i cannot speak with such certainty," answered the officer.
"but of what kind was he?"
"he was dressed, sire, like a beggar."
"hear, chancellor! hear, general! to what a pitch of insolence these wretches are coming!" said the king hotly. "it is growing past bearing. we have not acted a moment too soon."
[pg 203]
"not a moment," said the general.
"not a moment, i quite agree," said the chancellor.
"if you could recognise the man," pursued the king. "i would have him arrested at once."
"it is possible, sire, that i might," said the officer, as rigid as ever. "he was a beggar with a limp, deformed shoulders, and a peculiarly educated voice for one of his class. and, further, i think i can tell your majesty where to inquire for him."
"what do you mean, sir?" said the king. "proceed as shortly as possible."
"he took refuge in the high chancellor's garden," said the officer.
"are you sure of this?" asked the king, growing suddenly calm.
"i took particular pains not to be mistaken, sire," answered the gendarme, "because the fellow had the impudence to say he was the chancellor himself."
"what is the meaning of this?" said the king, turning on the chancellor.
"a lie to cover a lamentable piece of incompetency, i should say," said turbo coolly.
"that, sire, is a very natural solution for his excellency to offer," said the general, coming with subdued excitement to the aid of his subordinate; "but it hardly explains the fact that this note, directed in mlle de tricotrin's hand to his excellency, was found upon this unfortunate girl."
[pg 204]
with all his self-control turbo could not suppress an uneasy movement as the general produced the little note and handed it to the king. in the excitement of having the girl in his power he had quite forgotten this part of the arrangement, and so had omitted to possess himself of the evidence of mlle de tricotrin's treachery.
"it appears to be meant for you, chancellor," said the king quietly, passing on the note to him. "you see?"
turbo took it and read it through with deliberation. "it was intended for me, sire," he said imperturbably.
"then the beggar who was guilty of this crime," said the king, with affected calm, "is no other than the high chancellor of oneiria."
"your majesty's conjecture is perfectly correct," replied turbo, who saw that all hope of concealment was now at an end.
"before heaven, this is too much!" exclaimed kophetua, still in a well-controlled voice, but growing white with anger. "general dolabella, you will arrest his excellency."
the general came forward with an uneasy air to receive the chancellor's sword. turbo drew it quietly from its sheath, and presented it with elaborate politeness.
"shall i take his excellency's parole?" asked the general, "or will your majesty?"
"neither, sir," answered the king. "you[pg 205] will call a guard, and remove him to the tower immediately."
the general, after looking at the king for a moment in blank amazement, bowed, and despatched the officer for some files of the palace watch. a distressing silence followed his departure, which turbo seemed to enjoy immensely, till at last he broke it himself.
"i do not wish," said he, with affected humility, "to complain of your majesty's vigour. in my old pupil i can only warmly admire it. but as your majesty has adopted this spirited course, i would beg the privilege of the meanest prisoner, and demand on what charge i am arrested."
"you may inform the prisoner," said the king, addressing dolabella, "that he is arrested on confession of murder and abduction."
"your majesty is extremely kind," answered turbo, "and it is only right that i should show my sense of your clemency by letting you know that you are acting in error both of law and fact."
"i must beg," said kophetua, "that all further communication between us shall be made through the proper channel."
"as your majesty pleases," replied the chancellor. "but as your experience in these matters is not extensive, i thought i could save your majesty from an undignified position, and from the publication of matters[pg 206] which you would prefer to have concealed. if you would read this note, sire, you would see at once what i mean."
kophetua was, in spite of himself, impressed by the calmness of the chancellor, and, moreover, was sensible of considerable curiosity to see what mlle de tricotrin could have written to him. so he took the note, and read it with a shock that he was not fully sensible of till some time after.
"you see, sire," said the chancellor, "this girl had been lawfully assigned to me in writing. your majesty is too well aware of the paternal nature of the laws regulating domestic service in this country to be ignorant that i was within my rights in using reasonable violence to compel a servant so assigned to assume her duties. the interference of the gendarmerie was, therefore, quite illegal, and the homicide which i unfortunately committed a justifiable act of self-defence."
poor kophetua! he saw in a moment how precipitate he had been. he saw that the chancellor was perfectly right. technically no offence whatever had been committed, and even had there been one, he confessed it would have been impossible to charge the chancellor with it. for if he were to put turbo on his trial, the whole circumstances of his own connection with penelophon must inevitably come to light. and what was worse, mlle de tricotrin's[pg 207] conduct could not be concealed. abominable as it was in kophetua's eyes, still his perhaps fantastic sense of chivalry forbade him to expose her. after all, it was only for him another example of what must be expected from the levity and weakness of women; it was a thing to shield, and not to resent.
as the bitter truth flashed through his mind, and he recognised the full meaning of the infamous plot, a sense of despair possessed him—a sense of incompetency, of powerlessness, of utter disappointment, which told him his struggle was hopeless, that it was wisdom to yield.
"general dolabella," he said at last, after some moments of silence, "this document reveals to me circumstances which render it necessary to proceed in this matter with extreme caution."
"yes, sire?" replied the general, in a tone of innocent inquiry, as if he were quite unaware of the contents of the compromising document.
"they are circumstances," continued the king, "opening up a prospect the painfulness of which can only be increased by any precipitate action."
"what steps then," asked the general, "would your majesty desire me to take?"
"i desire you to take none," answered kophetua. "i desire you to retrace those you have already taken."
[pg 208]
this the king said with the air of having given his instructions; and the commander-in-chief, after a moment's hesitation, as though not quite sure of his sovereign's meaning, advanced to turbo, and with a profound bow handed him back his sword; but the chancellor stood with his hands behind him, without making the slightest motion of accepting the proffered weapon.
"his majesty," he said, with a malicious look at kophetua, "is making another mistake. it is not such a little matter for a king to arrest his chief minister. so bold a stride is not so easily retraced. there is danger even for a monarch in playing with edged tools. i, the high chancellor of oneiria, have suffered the disgrace of a public arrest. by this time our zealous gendarme may have spread the news all over the palace. his majesty must see that the affront i have suffered is not to be expiated by an offhand return of my sword, and i refuse to accept it."
the poor general stood holding out the slender weapon, and feeling very foolish, which indeed was no more than he looked. it was a situation of extreme sweetness to turbo, and the king tried hastily to end it.
"chancellor," said he peremptorily, "take your sword. it is i, the king, who command you."
"with great submission to your majesty,"[pg 209] answered turbo, without moving, "you have no power to command this."
"why, what folly is this?" cried the king. "it is i who took away your liberty, and it is i who have power to give it back."
"your majesty will pardon me," said turbo. "you had power to arrest me. you have exercised that power, and there your prerogative ends. i am now in the bosom of the law, which is above your majesty, nor can you take me from it without its consent or mine. if i have contravened any term of the social contract, by my arrest you have invoked the jurisdiction by which alone such breaches may be considered. we are king and subject no longer. we are parties to a suit. the tribunal of eternal justice stands between us, and to that i appeal."
"general dolabella!" exclaimed the king abruptly, "have the kindness to leave us for a few minutes."
the general retired, and master and pupil were left confronting each other, like gladiators seeking for a favourable moment to close.
"what do you mean by all this?" asked the king, in a low, calm voice. "just now you wished to save us all from having this miserable business brought to light."
"and i am still willing to do so," answered turbo.
"then why refuse to receive your sword?"[pg 210] asked kophetua. "why all this nonsense about demanding a trial?"
"sire," said the chancellor, "upon this affair we have thrown off all disguise. i will continue, then, to be frank. you want this beggar-maid, so do i. i do not seek to deny it. i am in a position to demand terms of you, and i ask for her."
"do i understand you to say," said the king, "that it is only on the surrender of this unhappy girl that you will forego your right to an inquiry."
"your majesty takes my meaning accurately," answered turbo.
kophetua did not answer. the two paths opened before him, and he knew not which to take. upon neither could he go without irreparable injury to a woman. by the one he must condemn penelophon to the hateful lot from which he had rescued her; by the other he must expose the iniquitous conduct of mlle de tricotrin, to say nothing of the quixotic part he himself had played in the drama, which every one would misunderstand, and of which he felt heartily ashamed. still, that was but a little thing. had he had himself alone to consider, he would not have hesitated, painful as the ridicule would have been which the exposure of his boyish knight-errantry must have entailed. it was for mlle de tricotrin that he felt. he held the secret of her shameless perfidy, and his whole nature revolted from making it[pg 211] known. it was well enough to chatter lightly of women's worthlessness, but when it came to laying bare before the world the infamy of a tender, gentle thing like this, one whom he had deemed his friend, it seemed an action so unmanly, so unchivalrous, so cowardly, that he could not bring himself to do it. she deserved it all, and more; he knew that well enough. nothing could have been more detestable in his eyes than what she had done. yet who would befriend her or pity her if he gave her up. the more he thought of her crime the greater it seemed; but that only brought a stronger reason for shielding her from its consequences, and he resolved to shield her.
but then the alternative—to betray the very incarnation of his ideal of womanhood to what for her was worse than hell itself; to shake off the delicate despairing suppliant who had clung to him so trustingly. no, that was impossible too. he was at his wits' end, and turbo knew it well as he watched his sovereign's silence with his snarling smile.
"chancellor," said kophetua at last, "i will consider your terms. meanwhile, i would request you to receive your sword, and confine yourself to your house till i come to a determination."
"your majesty must pardon me," replied turbo, "if i insist on my rights, unless you pass your word to me at this moment to accept my condition."
[pg 212]
kophetua's face changed to an expression which turbo had never seen there. there was within his pupil a smouldering fire. the soft gales which had hitherto stirred his soul had never fanned it into a blaze. it was the sacred fire which had been kindled in the hour of his birth; it was the immortal spark which had been handed on from descendant to descendant, down from the very flame that had burned in the heart of the old knight.
as kophetua sank deeper and deeper in desperation, and struggled to find an escape, he looked ever into the shadow beneath the ancient morion. the grim face grew very distinct there, and as turbo spoke his last word it seemed to look down at the king with an expression where sorrow struggled with contempt, and kophetua started up, desperate indeed, with the fire of his fathers' soul glittering in his eyes.
"by the splendour of god!" he cried, springing from his seat with the oath that had been the founder's favourite, "you shall not use me so! you shall have neither terms nor trial, except that which is the birthright of every man!"
"does your majesty threaten me?" said turbo, trying to keep up the insolent tone he had adopted, though in truth feeling he was faced by a force that was beyond his control.
"that is what i do!" cried the king,[pg 213] drawing the glittering rapier on which his hand was laid. "you have outraged the woman i have sworn to protect, and, by the soul of the knight! here and now we will see whose she shall be. take your sword, you double cur and coward! take it, or receive my point where you stand!"
with that he fell en garde, with his blade straight at the chancellors throat. turbo saw the time for words was gone by. they had often fenced together, and he knew, in spite of his lameness, he was the better man. yet so fiercely did the king's eye fix his, that it was with no sense of ease that he took up his sword from the table at his side, where dolabella had laid it.
with such fury did kophetua attack when they were once engaged that turbo had to give ground fast. already he was forced against a table, and was barely defending himself with his utmost skill, when the door burst open, and dolabella, alarmed by the quick clink of steel, rushed in, followed by the gendarme and two files of the palace watch. kophetua retreated immediately, and dropped his point.
"you come most inopportunely," said the king angrily.
"nay, your majesty," said the general. "permit me to say most opportunely."
"yes, most opportunely, with your majesty's pardon," echoed the officer, to whom dolabella had confided the king's[pg 214] difficulty about the chancellor's arrest. "i can take his excellency red-handed, and no trial will be necessary now."
it was true. the officer of gendarmes knew his work well, and valued at its true worth his favourite and most dreaded weapon—red-handed justice. he was quick enough to see that here was a solution of the difficulty which his commander had confided to him.
for a moment the king hesitated before the temptation, but it was a meanness of which he was incapable.
"no, general," he said, as he sheathed his sword; "the chancellor will retire to his house, and doubtless give us his word to remain there till we are resolved how to deal with his case. i fancy," he continued, with a defiant look at turbo, "that we have found a method of settling our differences amicably."
the chancellor recognised that he had aroused a spirit in the king which it would be well to let cool. there came vividly before him the ominous scene when the long rapier had fallen into his pupil's hands, and the kind of awe he had experienced then was upon him now. so he too sheathed his sword, and, having passed his word as the king suggested, left the room.
"has your majesty any further orders for me," said the officer, saluting.
"what is your name?" asked the king.
"pertinax," answered the officer. "captain pertinax, at your majesty's service."
"then, captain pertinax," answered the king, "i commend your conduct, and shall not forget it. you may retire."
"and what, sire," he asked diffidently, "shall i do with the girl?"
"i confide her to your custody," replied kophetua, after a little hesitation, during which he eyed the gendarme with careful scrutiny. "you will keep her where she is, with liberty of the park, till further orders."
