Volume I Part 18 (2/2)
”The murder has been committed within our jurisdiction, and must be punished by our tribunal.”
”And do you call it a murder that Tausdorf, to defend his own life, slew your son against his will?”
”It is not for us two to decide upon this point, Frau von Netz; for I am the father of the murdered, and you are the intended of the murderer. The judges will settle it upon their oaths.”
”Mr. Burgomaster, we are alone; I would not--by Heavens I would not, offend you; but the terrors of death give me courage for the question; can money save Tausdorf? My uncle, von Schindel, is rich; we have friends amongst the n.o.bles of the country. Fix the sum.”
”If you were not a woman,” exclaimed the burgomaster furiously; ”if you were not a woman, you should fare ill with this twofold insult,--to the dignity of my office, and to my heart as a father. Gold for blood! That is one of the maxims of you n.o.bles, when the question, is of a citizen's life. But the Polish times are over, when the high-born murderer had only to fling the price of blood upon the corse of the murdered, and thus remain free from all retribution. When the n.o.bleman of Siegwitz shot the citizen's daughter, his drinking companions thought that such a girl might well be paid for; but the council there did not think so, and the head of the a.s.sa.s.sin fell.”
”Oh my heart!” sighed Althea, and stood for a time struck with grief and horror at these words of wrath; then on a sudden, collecting her spirits, she flung herself before the burgomaster and embraced his knees.
”Mercy!” she cried, and lifted up her beautiful blue eyes to the inexorable one with so much fervour, that in spite of his iron resolution an unpleasant feeling oppressed his heart, and he was leaning down to her with pity, when the marshal entered to announce that the judges had presented themselves to the council and waited for the wors.h.i.+pful burgomaster. At this the old evil spirit returned in him. He started up with vehemence, and sought to disengage Althea's hands from his knees.
”For Heaven's sake, what will you do?” cried the unhappy victim.
”My duty!” replied the man of the stony heart, and walked away with firm and echoing steps.
The sufferer breathed a deep and piercing sigh, as if in that moment the tender thread of her life was broken, and her head fell in a kind swoon upon the seat of the chair before which she had been kneeling.
The criminal court had laid its sentence before the council. Its adoption and immediate execution were unanimously resolved upon, the judges were again collected in their sessions' chamber, and the pale, fettered Tausdorf stood before them with his guard, while the chief of the court read thus:--
”As the n.o.ble and honourable Kaspar Sparrenberger, surnamed Tausdorf, hath stabbed, and thus brought from life to death the in like manner n.o.ble and honourable Francis Friend,--and as this deed is open and manifest,--and he himself cannot, and does not, deny it,--therefore the imperial town-court of Schweidnitz adjudges that Tausdorf, notwithstanding his defence, has forfeited his life for such murder, and consequently, according to the law and custom of the land, shall be executed with the sword.”
With this the provost took up a white-peeled willow wand which lay before him on the table, broke it in two, and throwing the pieces at the feet of the condemned, cried,
”The sentence is spoken, The staff is broken.”
”You must die, and the Lord have mercy on your soul!” exclaimed the provosts, and overturned their seats with a heavy clatter.
”I appeal from this unjust sentence to the prince palatine of Silesia and the emperor,” cried Tausdorf in a loud voice unshaken by this horrid ceremony.
”Such appeal cannot be made according to our privileges and customs,”
replied the chief provost. ”The execution follows here upon the heels of the sentence.”
”Then I appeal to the tribunal of G.o.d,” said Tausdorf, without losing his presence of mind--”to the tribunal of G.o.d, before which we must one day all meet again. When am I to die?”
”In two hours.”
”You are very quick, you gentlemen of Schweidnitz. But I suppose I may see my bride again?”
”The council has forbidden it, as well on account of the loss of time connected with it as of the unavoidable lamentation and disturbance.”
”Ay, indeed! You gentlemen have true hangmen's hearts, with room therein for barbarity as well as injustice. Yet I hope the time will be just sufficient to prepare me fittingly for my departure. I wish to confess first, and receive the holy sacrament. Have the goodness to send me a priest of my persuasion, and afterwards a notary to draw up my last will.”
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