Part 40 (1/2)
”Any time.”
”Does the relief watch come by this gate?”
”Not by this gate.”
”And by which gate can one get into the fortress?”
”By no gate.”
”You give very short answers, my friend, but we must get at Ha.s.san Pasha this very night without fail.”
”You must learn to fly then.”
”Don't joke with me, sir! I have very important tidings for the Vizier; you may possibly find it easier to get into the fortress than we could.
You shall receive from me a hundred ducats on the spot if you inform the Pasha that I, Emeric Tokoly, bring with me as a captive the fugitive Prince of Moldavia, and the Vizier himself will certainly reward you for it richly.”
The Count had no sooner mentioned his name, and pointed at the captive prince, than the Turkish sentinel quickly came forth from beneath the archway, and Tokoly and Ghyka, in astonishment, exclaimed with one voice:
”Feriz Beg!”
”Yes, 'tis I. Keep still. You want to save Mariska, so do I.”
”So it is,” said Tokoly. ”I promised the woman I do not love that I would do it, and I will keep my promise. You need have no secrets from us, for we shall require your a.s.sistance.”
”Your secrets are nought to me.”
The Prince listened with downcast head to the conversation of the two young men; then he intervened, took their hands, and said with deep emotion:
”Feriz! Tokoly! Once upon a time we faced each other as antagonists, and now as self-sacrificing friends we hold each other's hands. I don't want to be smaller than you. A scaffold has been put up in the courtyard of the fortress of Buda, that scaffold awaits a victim, whoever it may be, for the sword which the Sultan draws in his wrath will not remain unsatisfied. That scaffold was prepared for my wife, you must let me take her place. I am well aware that whoever liberates her must be prepared to perish instead of her. Let me perish. You, Feriz, can easily get into the fortress. Tell Ha.s.san that the scaffold shall have the husband instead of the wife--let him surrender the wife for the husband.”
”Leave the scaffold alone, Prince. He who deserves it most shall get to the scaffold.”
”Don't listen to the Prince!” said Tokoly to Feriz; ”he has lost his head evidently, as he wants to make a present of it to Ha.s.san. All I ask of you is to let me into the fortress; once let me get inside, and no harm shall be done. I was born with a caul, so good-luck goes with me.”
”Good. Wait here till the muezzin proclaims midnight, which will not be long, I fancy, as the night is already well advanced; meanwhile, keep your eye on those hors.e.m.e.n below there.”
The men fancied Feriz wanted to join the sentinels when the watch was relieved, and taking him at his word, hid themselves and their horses behind the lofty bank.
The night was now darker than ever, only here and there a lofty star looked down upon them from among the wind-swept clouds.
Ha.s.san had a restless night. Horrible dreams awoke him every instant, and yet he never wholly awoke, one phantom constantly supplanted the other in his agitated brain.
The raging blast broke open one of the windows and beat furiously against the wall, so that the coloured gla.s.ses crashed down upon the floor.
Aroused by the uproar, and gazing but half awake at the window, he saw the long curtain slowly approaching him as if some Dzhin were inside and had come thither to terrify him.
”Who is that?” cried Ha.s.san in terror, laying his hand on his sword.