Part 10 (1/2)
This exclamation burst suddenly from the lips of the man called Max Graub.
”What ails you?” said Thord, turning full upon him his glittering eyes that flashed ferocity from under their s.h.a.ggy brows--”Are you afraid?”
”Afraid? Not I!” protested Graub--”But, gentlemen, think a moment! You speak of putting us--myself and my friends--through an examination! Why should you examine us? We are three poor adventurers--what can we have to tell?”
”Much, I should imagine!” retorted Zegota--”Adventurers are not such without adventures! Your white hairs testify to some experience of life.”
”My white hairs--_my_ white hairs!” exclaimed Graub, when a touch from Axel Regor apparently recalled something to his mind for he began to laugh--”True, gentlemen! Very true! I had forgotten! I have had some adventures and some experiences! My good friend there, Pasquin Leroy, has also had adventures and experiences,--so have we all! Myself, I am a poor German, grown old in the service of a bad king! I have been kicked out of that service--Ach!--just for telling the truth; which is very much the end of all truth telling, is it not? Tell lies,--and kings will reward you and make you rich and great!--but tell truth, and see what the kings will give you for it! Kicks, and no halfpence! Pardon! I interrupt this so pleasant meeting!”
All the men present looked at him curiously, but said nothing in response to his outburst. Johan Zegota, seating himself next to Sergius Thord, opened a large parchment volume that lay on the table, and taking up a pen addressed himself to Thord, saying--
”Will you ask the questions, or shall I?”
”You, by all means! Proceed in the usual manner.”
Whereupon Zegota began.--
”Stand forth, comrades!”
The three strangers advanced.
”Your names? Each one answer separately, please!”
”Pasquin Leroy!”
”Axel Regor!”
”Max Graub!”
”Of what nationality, Pasquin Leroy?”
Leroy smiled. ”Truly I claim none!” he said; ”I was born a slave.”
”A slave!”
The words were repeated in tones of astonishment round the room.
”Why, yes, a slave!” repeated Leroy quietly. ”You have heard of black slaves,--have you not heard of white ones too? There are countries still, where men purchase other men of their own blood and colour;--tyrannous governments, which force such men to work for them, chained to one particular place till they die. I am one of those,--though escaped for the present. You can ask me more of my country if you will; but a slave has no country save that of his master. If you care at all for my services, you will spare me further examination on this subject!”
Zegota looked enquiringly at Thord.
”We will pa.s.s that question,” said the latter, in a low tone.
Zegota resumed--
”You, Axel Regor--are you a slave too?”
Axel Regor smiled languidly.
”No! I am what is called a free-born subject of the realm. I do what I like, though not always how I like, or when I like!”