Volume I Part 24 (2/2)

”Halt!” he called from the threshold of the chamber. ”The Queen is visible for no one.”

For one moment there was complete silence.

Then a powerful voice called out: ”If for thee, Roman, also for us, for her Gothic brethren. Forwards!”

And again the roar of voices arose, and in a moment Cethegus, without the application of any particular violence, was pushed by the press, as if by an irresistible tide, into the farthest corner of the hall, and the foremost intruders stood close before the throne.

They were Hildebrand, Witichis, Teja, a gigantic Goth, unknown to Cethegus, and near this last--there was no doubt about it--the three dukes, Thulun, Ibba, and Pitza, in full armour--three splendid warriors.

The intruders bowed before the throne. Then Duke Thulun called to those behind him, with the gesture of a born ruler:

”Goths, wait yet a short time without! We will try; in your name, to adjust things with the Queen. If we do not succeed, we will call upon you to act--you know in what manner.”

With a shout of applause, the crowd behind him willingly withdrew, and were soon lost in the outer pa.s.sages and halls of the palace.

”Daughter of Theodoric,” began Duke Thulun, ”we are come because thy son, the King, recalled us. Unfortunately we find he is no more alive.

We know that thou hast no delight in seeing us here.”

”If you know it,” said Amalaswintha with dignity, ”how dare you, notwithstanding, appear before our eyes? Who allows you to intrude upon us against our will?”

”Necessity enjoins it, Highness--necessity, which has often forced stronger bolts than the whims of a woman. We have to announce to thee the demands of thy people, which thou wilt fulfil.”

”What language! Knowest thou before whom thou standest, Duke Thulun?”

”Before the daughter of the Amelungs; whose child I honour, even when she errs and transgresses!”

”Rebel!” cried Amalaswintha, and rose indignantly from her throne. ”Thy _King_ stands before thee!”

But Thulun smiled.

”It would be wiser, Amalaswintha, to be silent upon this point. King Theodoric charged thee with the guardians.h.i.+p of thy son--thee, a woman!

It was against the law; but we Goths did not interfere between him and his kindred. He wished this boy to be his successor. That was not prudent; but the n.o.bles and people have honoured the race of the Amelungs and the wish of a King, who else was ever wise. But he never wished, and we should never have allowed, that after the death of that boy a woman should reign over us--the spindle over the spear.”

”So you refuse to acknowledge me as your Queen?” she cried indignantly. ”And thou, too, Hildebrand, old friend of Theodoric, thou disownest his daughter?”

”Queen,” said the old man, ”would that thou wouldst prevent it!”

Thulun continued:

”We do not disown thee--not yet. I only answer thee thus because thou boastest of thy right, and thou must know that thou hast no right. But as we gladly honour n.o.ble birth--in which we honour ourselves--and because at this moment it might lead to evil dissensions in the kingdom if we deprived thee of the crown, I will repeat the conditions under which thou mayst continue to wear it.”

Amalaswintha suffered terribly. How gladly would she have delivered the bold man who spoke such words into the hands of the executioner! And she was obliged to listen helplessly! Tears rose to her eyes; she repressed them, but at the same time sank back exhausted upon the throne, supported by Ca.s.siodorus.

Meanwhile Cethegus had made his way to her side.

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