Part 39 (2/2)
”Then what do you intend to do?” Tokoly casually asked Ghyka, just as if he considered it the most extraordinary thing in the world to find him there.
”I also want to save Mariska, and I have hopes of doing so,” said the Prince.
”How? Tell me! Perchance we may be able to unite our efforts.”
”Scarcely, I think. My plan is simply to give myself up instead of my wife. They would execute her for my fault; it is only right that I should appear on the scaffold and take her place.”
”A bad idea!” exclaimed Tokoly, ”a stupid notion. If you deliver yourself up, they will seize you as well as your wife and do for the pair of you. I know a dodge worth two of that. Take horse along with us, and let us make our way into the fortress sword in hand; we shall do much more that way than if we went hobbling in on crutches. Luck belongs to the audacious.”
”You know, Tokoly, that I do not much rely on Turkish humanity; and I am quite prepared, if I deliver myself up, for them to kill both me and her; but at least we shall die together, and that will be some consolation.”
”It is no good talking like that,” cried the young Magyar impatiently.
”Stop! A good idea occurs to me. Yes, and it will be better if you come with us and we all act in common. We will say openly at the gate that we bring with us the fugitive Prince of Moldavia as a captive. At the mere rumour of such a thing they will instantly admit us, not only into the fortress, but into the presence of Ha.s.san likewise. The Pasha knows me pretty well, and if I tell him that I bring you a captive, he will believe me, or I'll break his head for him. He will be delighted to see you. But I will not give you up. I am responsible for you, and must mount guard over you. This will make it necessary to postpone the execution, for we shall have to write to Stambul that the husband has fallen into our hands, and inquire whether the wife is to be sacrificed, and we shall have time to elope ten times over before we get a reply.”
The Prince hesitated. If this desperate expedient had been a mere joke, Tokoly could not have spoken of it with greater nonchalance. The Prince gave him his hand upon it.
”The only question now is: which is the easiest way into the fortress.
Let us draw near the first sentinel whom we find on the bridge or in the garden and wait until they change guard.”
The hors.e.m.e.n thereupon surrounded the Prince as if he was their captive, and escorted him along the river's bank.
It was late. On the black surface of the Danube rocked the shapeless Turkish vessels, their sails creaking in the blast of the strong south wind.
It was scarce possible to see ahead at all, nevertheless the little band of adventurers, constantly pus.h.i.+ng forward, kept looking around to see where the sentinels were, keeping very quiet themselves that they might catch the watchword.
Suddenly a cry was heard, but a cry which ended abruptly, as if the mouth from which it proceeded had been clapped to in mid-utterance.
On reaching the walls of the palace garden, however, one of them perceived that an armed figure was standing in the little wicket gate.
”There's the sentinel!” said Tokoly.
”The rascal must certainly be asleep to let us come right up to him without challenging us,” said Tokoly; and he approached the armed man, who still stood motionless in the gate, and addressed him in the Turkish tongue:
”Hie, Timariot, or whoever you are! Are you guarding this gate?”
”You see that I am.”
”Then why don't you challenge those who approach you?”
”That's none of my business.”
”Then what is your business?”
”To stand here till I am relieved.”
”And when will they relieve you?”
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