Part 37 (1/2)
”Run away?” cried the burgomaster, inexorably giving the act the right name.
”Yes, I have just found these lines on his table.”
The burgomaster turned pale as if he had received a mortal wound. A peal of thunder seemed to echo in his ears--the thunder which had shattered the temple of Jerusalem, whose priest he was! The walls fell, the veil was rent and revealed the place of execution. Golgotha lay before him. He heard the rustling wings of the departing guardian angel of Ammergau. High above, in terrible solitude, towered the cross, but it was empty--he who should hang upon it--had vanished! Grey clouds gathered around the desolate scene.
But from the empty cross issued a light--not a halo, but like the livid, phosph.o.r.escent glimmer of rotten wood! It shone into a chasm where, from a jutting rock, towered a single tree, upon which hung, faithful to his task--Judas!
A peal of jeering laughter rose from the depths. ”You have killed yourself in vain. Your victim has escaped. See the conscientious Judas, who hung himself, while the other is having a life of pleasure!”
Shame and disgrace! ”The Christ has fled from the cross.” Malicious voices echo far and wide, cynicism exults--baseness has conquered, the divine has become a laughing-stock for children--the Pa.s.sion Play a travesty.
The phosph.o.r.escent wood of the cross glimmered before the burgomaster's eyes. Aye, it was rotten and mouldering--this cross--it must crumble--the corruption of the world had infected and undermined it, and this had happened in Oberammergau--under _his_ management.
The unfortunate man, through whose brain this chain of thoughts was whirling, sat like a stone statue before his friend, who stood waiting modestly, without disturbing his grief by a single word.
What the two men felt--each knew--was too great for utterance.
The burgomaster was mechanically holding Freyer's letter in his clenched hand. Now his cold, stiff fingers reminded him of it. He laid it on the table, his eyes resting dully on the large childish characters of the unformed hand: ”Forgive me!” ran the brief contents.
”I am no longer worthy to personate the Saviour! Not from lack of principle, but on account of it do I resign my part. Ere you read these lines, I shall be far away from here! G.o.d will not make His sacred cause depend upon any individual--He will supply my place to you!
Forget me, and forgive the renegade whose heart will be faithful to you unto death! Freyer!”
Postscript:
”Sell my property--the house, the field, and patch of woods which was not burned and divide the proceeds among the poor of Ammergau. I will send you the legal authority from the nearest city.
”Once more, farewell to all!”
The burgomaster sat motionless, gazing at the sheet. He could have read it ten times over--yet he still stared at the lines.
Ludwig Gross saw with terror that his eyes were gla.s.sy, his features changed. The calmness imposed by the iron will had become the rigidity of death. The drawing-master shook him--now, in the altered position, the inert body lost its balance and fell against the back of the chair.
His friend caught the tottering figure and supported the n.o.ble head. It was possible for him to reach the bell with his other hand and summon Kleinhofer. ”The doctor--quick--tell him to come at once!” he shouted.
The man hurried off in terror.
The news that the burgomaster had been stricken with apoplexy ran through the village like wild fire. Every one rushed to the office. The physician ran bare-headed across the street. The confusion was boundless.
Ludwig could scarcely control the tumult. Supporting the burgomaster with one arm, he pushed the throng back with the other. The doctor could scarcely force his way through the crowded room. He rubbed the temples and arteries of the senseless man. ”I don't think it is apoplexy, only a severe congestion of the brain,” he said, ”but we cannot tell what the result may be. He has long been overworked and over-excited.”
The remedies applied began to act, the burgomaster opened his eyes. But as if he were surrounded by invisible fiends which, like wild beasts, were only held in check by the firm gaze of the tamer and, ever ready to spring, were only watching for the moment when they might wrest from him the sacred treasure confided to his care--his dim eyes in a few seconds regained the steady flash of the watchful, imperious master.
And the discipline which his unyielding will was wont to exert over his limbs instantly restored his erect bearing. No one save the physician and Ludwig knew what the effort cost him.
”Yes,” said the doctor in a low tone to the drawing-master: ”This is the consequence of his never granting himself any rest during these terrible exertions.”
The burgomaster had gone to the window and obtained a little air. Then he turned to the by-standers. His voice still trembled slightly, but otherwise not the slightest weakness was perceptible, and nothing betrayed the least emotion.
”I am glad, my friends, that we are all a.s.sembled--otherwise I should have been compelled to summon you. Is the whole parish here? We must hold a consultation at once. Kleinhofer, count them.”
The man obeyed.
”They are all here,” he said.