sketches new and old-第36章
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I have read it； and I am bound to admit that it seems a little mixed at a
first glance。 However； I will peruse it once more。
I have read it again； and it does really seem a good deal more mixed than
ever。
I have read it over five times； but if I can get at the meaning of it I
wish I may get my just deserts。 It won't bear analysis。 There are
things about it which I cannot understand at all。 It don't say whatever
became of William Schuyler。 It just says enough about him to get one
interested in his career； and then drops him。 Who is William Schuyler；
anyhow； and what part of South Park did he live in； and if he started
down…town at six o'clock； did he ever get there； and if he did； did
anything happen to him？ Is he the individual that met with the
〃distressing accident〃？ Considering the elaborate circumstantiality of
detail observable in the item； it seems to me that it ought to contain
more information than it does。 On the contrary； it is obscure and not
only obscure； but utterly incomprehensible。 Was the breaking of Mr。
Schuyler's leg； fifteen years ago； the 〃distressing accident〃 that
plunged Mr。 Bloke into unspeakable grief； and caused him to come up here
at dead of night and stop our press to acquaint the world with the
circumstance？ Or did the 〃distressing accident 〃 consist in the
destruction of Schuyler's mother…in…law's property in early times？
Or did it consist in the death of that person herself three years ago
（albeit it does not appear that she died by accident）？ In a word； what
did that 〃distressing accident〃 consist in？ What did that driveling ass
of a Schuyler stand in the wake of a runaway horse for； with his shouting
and gesticulating； if he wanted to stop him？ And how the mischief could
he get run over by a horse that had already passed beyond him？ And what
are we to take 〃warning〃 by？ And how is this extraordinary chapter of
incomprehensibilities going to be a 〃lesson〃 to us？ And； above all； what
has the intoxicating 〃bowl〃 got to do with it； anyhow？ It is not stated
that Schuyler drank； or that his wife drank； or that his mother…in…law
drank； or that the horse drank wherefore； then； the reference to the
intoxicating bowl？ It does seem to me that if Mr。 Bloke had let the
intoxicating bowl alone himself； he never would have got into so much
trouble about this exasperating imaginary accident。 I have read this。
absurd item over and over again； with all its insinuating plausibility；
until my head swims； but I can make neither head nor tail of it。 There
certainly seems to have been an accident of some kind or other； but it is
impossible to determine what the nature of it was； or who was the
sufferer by it。 I do not like to do it； but I feel compelled to request
that the next time anything happens to one of Mr。 Bloke's friends； he
will append such explanatory notes to his account of it as will enable me
to find out what sort of an accident it was and whom it happened to。 I
had rather all his friends should die than that I should be driven to the
verge of lunacy again in trying to cipher out the meaning of another such
production as the above。
A MEDIEVAL ROMANCE
CHAPTER I
THE SECRET REVEALED。
It was night。 Stillness reigned in the grand old feudal castle of
Klugenstein。 The year 1222 was drawing to a close。 Far away up in the
tallest of the castle's towers a single light glimmered。 A secret
council was being held there。 The stern old lord of Klugenstein sat in
a chair of state meditating。 Presently he； said； with a tender
accent：
〃My daughter！〃
A young man of noble presence； clad from head to heel in knightly mail；
answered：
〃Speak； father！〃
〃My daughter； the time is come for the revealing of the mystery that hath
puzzled all your young life。 Know； then； that it had its birth in the
matters which I shall now unfold。 My brother Ulrich is the great Duke of
Brandenburgh。 Our father； on his deathbed； decreed that if no son were
born to Ulrich； the succession should pass to my house； provided a son
were born to me。 And further； in case no son； were born to either； but
only daughters； then the succession should pass to Ulrich's daughter；
if she proved stainless； if she did not； my daughter should succeed；
if she retained a blameless name。 And so I； and my old wife here； prayed
fervently for the good boon of a son； but the prayer was vain。 You were
born to us。 I was in despair。 I saw the mighty prize slipping from my
grasp； the splendid dream vanishing away。 And I had been so hopeful！
Five years had Ulrich lived in wedlock； and yet his wife had borne no
heir of either sex。
〃'But hold；' I said； 'all is not lost。' A saving scheme had shot athwart
my brain。 You were born at midnight。 Only the leech； the nurse； and six
waiting…women knew your sex。 I hanged them every one before an hour had
sped。 Next morning all the barony went mad with rejoicing over the
proclamation that a son was born to Klugenstein； an heir to mighty
Brandenburgh！ And well the secret has been kept。 Your mother's own
sister nursed your infancy； and from that time forward we feared nothing。
〃When you were ten years old； a daughter was born to Ulrich。 We grieved；
but hoped for good results from measles； or physicians； or other natural
enemies of infancy； but were always disappointed。 She lived； she throve…
…Heaven's malison upon her！ But it is nothing。 We are safe。 For；
Ha…ha！ have we not a son？ And is not our son the future Duke？ Our well…
beloved Conrad； is it not so？for； woman of eight…and…twenty yearsas
you are； my child； none other name than that hath ever fallen to you！
〃Now it hath come to pass that age hath laid its hand upon my brother；
and he waxes feeble。 The cares of state do tax him sore。 Therefore he
wills that you shall come to him and be already Dukein act； though not
yet in name。 Your servitors are readyyou journey forth to…night。
〃Now listen well。 Remember every word I say。 There is a law as old as
Germany that if any woman sit for a single instant in the great ducal
chair before she hath been absolutely crowned in presence of the people；
SHE SHALL DIE！ So heed my ；words。 Pretend humility。 Pronounce your
judgments from the Premier's chair； which stands at the foot of the
throne。 Do this until you are crowned and safe。 It is not likely that
your sex will ever be discovered； but still it is the part of wisdom to
make all things as safe as may be in this treacherous earthly life。〃
〃Oh； my father； is it for this my life hath been a lie！ Was it that I
might cheat my unoffending cousin of her rights？ Spare me； father；
spare your child！〃
〃What； huzzy！ Is this my reward for the august fortune my brain has
wrought for thee？ By the bones of my father； this puling sentiment of
thine but ill accords with my humor。
Betake thee to the Duke； instantly！ And beware how thou meddlest with my
purpose！〃
Let this suffice； of the conversation。 It is enough for us to know that
the prayers； the entreaties and the tears of the gentle…natured girl
availed nothing。 They nor anything could move the stout old lord of
Klugenstein。 And so； at last； with a heavy heart； the daughter saw the
castle gates close behind her； and found herself riding away in the
darkness surrounded by a knightly array of armed； vassals and a brave
following of servants。
The old baron sat silent for many minutes after his daughter's departure；
and then he turned to his sad wife and said：
〃Dame； our matters seem speeding fairly。 It is full three months since I
sent the shrewd and handsome Count Detzin on his devilish mission to my
brother's daughter Constance。 If he fail； we are not wholly safe； but if
he do succeed； no power can bar our girl from being Duchess e'en though
ill…fortune should decree she never should be Duke！〃
〃My heart is full of bodings； yet all may still be well。〃
〃Tush； woman！ Leave the owls to croak。 To bed with ye； and dream of
Brandenburgh and grandeur！〃
CHAPTER II。
FESTIVITY AND TEARS
Six days after the occurrences related in the above chapter； the
brilliant capital of the Duchy of Brandenburgh was resplendent with
mi
