Volume I Part 17 (1/2)
”Keep yourselves out of harm's way, good people,” cried Tausdorf, turning round his horse: ”I am well armed, and have nothing to do with you.”
”You have slain the son of our burgomaster, and are therefore forfeited to our criminal law,” retorted two of the marshalmen, waving their swords, while the others came up and surrounded the knight.
”Surrender!” exclaimed the chief of them, ”that we may not have to use force, by which you are sure to come off worst.”
”Not alive!” cried Tausdorf. ”I am here in the Furstentein territory, and to the Furstentein tribunal will I surrender myself, that the _Oberlandeshauptmann_ may try me for my deed. To the sentence of the court of Schweidnitz I never will submit.”
”By no means,” replied the marshal. ”Where you have committed the crime, there must you be judged. Therefore, yield yourself immediately, or I'll have you rode down, and the damage is your own.”
In the meantime the tumult, the cry of murder, and the loud parley, had brought the peasants of Saltzbrunn thither. They came with poles and spears, and stared at the parties, whom they surrounded.
”Help us to seize the murderer!” cried the marshalman, who had but little inclination to venture on the single man with his whole troop.
”Not at all,” replied the village magistrate. ”You are here, gentlemen, upon the imperial fief of Saltzbrunn; and, as I understand, the knight is willing to give himself up to our tribunal. That is law, and so it must be. In the meantime I answer for the prisoner till I have informed our gracious mistress, the Lady of Hochberg, and afterwards right will be done to all parties.”
”That I should have to dispute thus with a village magistrate about obeying the commands of the council at Schweidnitz!” exclaimed the marshal indignantly. ”Peasants, I again warn you to help us seize the murderer, as good and true neighbours. You expose yourselves to a heavy responsibility if he escapes us through your fault; while, on the contrary, I promise you a rich reward for your services from the n.o.ble council.”
”Here's an opportunity of gaining something,” whispered one peasant to the other; and soon the whole party cried out in chorus, with lifted poles, ”Surrender yourself, Sir knight.”
”For G.o.d's sake, do not compel me to murder!” said Tausdorf earnestly, and waved his sword.
”Forwards!” commanded the marshal, and rushed with his hors.e.m.e.n upon Tausdorf; who instantly fired his pistol, but the ball only struck one of the horses. The knight now used his sword gallantly, but his enemies were too powerful, and his steed was too much exhausted for him to wheel about amongst them with the skill and tricks of horsemans.h.i.+p.
During this, too, the peasants had come on with courage, and struck at him from a distance with their long poles. The opposition of the honest magistrate was lost, amidst this murderous uproar. At last a pole struck Tausdorf's head: he fell senseless from his horse, and the crowd rushed upon him with rude shouts of scorn and laughter. Bound with disgraceful bonds, they set him upon a horse, and the police returned in triumph with him to Schweidnitz.
In the hour of midnight the council was collected in the senate-house at Schweidnitz. The two tall candles which stood on the table lighted the high and gloomy Sessions'-room but sparingly. The council had collected in single groups, and conversed in low and troubled whispers.
Alone, and with his hands behind his back, as was his custom, paced Erasmus, up and down, slow and silent; but on his old and venerable face the storm of the most violent pa.s.sions was throwing up its waves.
”Tausdorf is just brought in and placed in the Hildebrand,” announced the Marshal Clement Kernichen.
”G.o.d be praised!” said Erasmus, with a dreadful look towards heaven, and went to his seat.
”_Ad loca_, gentlemen!” he exclaimed to the counsellors; and when they had taken their places, he said with proud dignity, ”The murderer is in our power; it is time, then, for us to do our duty. Let double watches be placed at the door. These will remain closed against every one till justice is satisfied. At the break of day the judges shall hold a criminal court; and as the murdered person was my son, Doctor Jacob Grenwitz will preside in my place. I do not conceal from you, colleagues, that the criminal has a strong party here, and that all the n.o.bles will be on his side. Therefore, that justice may have its course, unchecked of human fears, I herewith declare the town in danger, and the council permanent. The horse-police shall be collectively summoned, and mount guard before the Sessions'-house completely armed; the gens d'armes shall be at their alarm-posts; the various guilds be warned to hold themselves in readiness with their weapons, that they may come forward at the first sound of the alarm-bell. Put all this into execution immediately, Mr. Marshalman, and then return to our sessions to report progress and receive our farther orders.”
”G.o.d deliver us! how will all this end?” sighed Kernichen, and left the room; in which a deadly silence prevailed, as each of the council was sufficiently occupied with his own thoughts, and yet hesitated to impart them to another. In the midst of this the city-serjeant, Rudolph, announced Doctor Heidenreich, who wished to speak in private with the burgomaster.
”In the little room by the judges' chamber,” said Erasmus, whither he went himself. The doctor was already waiting for him, and by his dress it might be seen that he had just jumped out of bed, and flung them on in a hurry.
”Let my hurry excuse the carelessness of my attire, Mr. Burgomaster; necessity knows no law. A report runs through the town, that Tausdorf has been seized at Saltzbrunn by your servants, and now lies a prisoner in the Hildebrand.”
”Such is the truth,” replied Erasmus calmly.
”That is a great misfortune for the town,” sighed Heidenreich.
”Are you out of your senses? If you have nothing more rational to bring forward, you had better have remained in bed and slept off your wonderful dreams.”
”Mr. Burgomaster!” cried Heidenreich firmly, and seized the old man's hand; ”you know me for an honest citizen of this town, and a true friend to your family. The last, in particular, I should think I proved to you not very long ago. I, therefore, of all others, may well speak out to you boldly and plainly; and now entreat you, by the ancient honour of your office, do not this time give way to your love of vengeance, however alluring may seem the opportunity.”
”What are you dreaming of?” cried Erasmus, tearing away his hand from him. ”Do I intend sitting in judgment myself on the murderer of my own son? Doctor Grenwitz will preside, in my place, over the criminal tribunal.”