Part 23 (2/2)
”Yes; the same who conducted you over the Alb.” Albert started. ”I had daily intelligence of the most secret affairs. Among other things, I learnt that they had determined to send a trusty spy into the neighbourhood of Tubingen, to gain intelligence and advertise the League of our movements. I heard you were selected for that service. I must tell you honestly, that, though you and your name were indifferent to me, for I did not know you personally, still I regretted that your young blood should be employed on that service, for, as sure as you live, the moment you had pa.s.sed the Alb in the degrading character of a spy, so soon would you have been cut to pieces without grace or mercy.
So much more surprising then was the information to me, when I learned further, that you had refused the service, and had spoken boldly before your employers. The fact also of your having renounced their party, and sworn to keep in a state of neutrality for fourteen days, was also made known to me. How much I rejoice then that you have become our friend also, I leave you to imagine!”
Nothing could have been more gratifying to Albert's feelings than the eulogium pa.s.sed on his conduct by the knight of Lichtenstein. This moment removed all obstacles which had hitherto interrupted the tie between him and Bertha. The only wish of his heart, which he at times thought would never be realised, and had almost given up in despair, he now might hope would be accomplished, for he unknowingly had gained the good will of her father. ”Yes, I renounced their service,” he answered, ”because their intentions outraged my feelings; I became your friend with heart and soul. When I was seated beside the exiled man in the cavern, and heard the disgraceful manner in which the lord of the land and the n.o.bles were treated, I felt the force of his language strengthen my resolutions. In that moment all doubts and difficulties were removed from my mind, every thing was as clear as day, my only desire was, to draw my sword in this cause! And do you think we shall be called into action soon? How stand the Duke's affairs? You must not suppose I am come to you to set with my hands across.”
”I can well imagine your anxiety to be in the field,” said the old knight; ”forty years ago I possessed the same ardour. You are aware, perhaps, in what state our affairs are at present; more upon the decline, I fear, than prosperous. The enemy is in possession of the whole tract of the low country as far up as Urach. Our fate depends upon one solitary circ.u.mstance,----if Tubingen holds out, victory is ours!”
”The honour of forty knights will, I think, answer for its safety,”
replied Albert, with animation; ”the castle is strong, I have never seen a stronger; the garrison is sufficient for its defence, and forty men of n.o.ble blood will not surrender for a trifle. They cannot--they dare not. Have they not the children of the duke, and the treasures of his house, under their protection?--they _must_ hold out.”
”It were well if they were all like-minded with you,” said the old man.
”Tubingen holds a great stake in her hands. If the Duke can bring succour to its relief, he will then have a starting point, whence he will be able to reconquer his country. The place contains large supplies of munitions of war; and most of the n.o.bility are a.s.sembled within its walls. So long as they remain faithful to his cause, so long will the feeling of Wurtemberg be for the Duke, were he only to possess the spot upon which he stands; but I fear, I fear for the result.”
”How? do you think it likely the knights will surrender? Impossible!”
”You have had but little experience in the ways of the world,” replied the old man; ”you are not aware of the many allurements and snares at work, which may make many a man waver in his allegiance. It is on this account, that the Duke, being doubtful of the fidelity of some of them in Tubingen, has sent Maxx Stumpf von Schweinsberg with a letter to the garrison written in strong terms, not only urging them to hold the castle to the last, but to afford him the means of entering therein himself, being ready to sacrifice his life in its defence, if G.o.d should so ordain it.”
”Poor man,” said Albert, moved by the consideration of the Duke's hard fate; ”I cannot believe the n.o.bility of the land will act in a manner unworthy of their rank. His presence among them will encourage their desponding hopes, sorties will be made, the besiegers will be beaten in spite of Bavaria and Fronsberg. We'll join them sword in hand, and drive these Leaguists out of the country.”
”Maxx Stumpf is not yet returned,” replied the knight of Lichtenstein, with a look of anxiety; ”and the firing has ceased since yesterday.
We hear every shot here on the Lichtenstein; but during the last twenty-four hours all is as quiet as the grave.”
”Perhaps they have ceased firing on account of the holidays; you'll see that, to-morrow, or Easter Monday, they will re-commence with redoubled vigour, and make your rocks echo again.”
”What is it you say?” replied the other, ”on account of the holidays?
To serve the Duke faithfully is a pious undertaking; and the saints in Heaven would perhaps rather hear the thunder of cannon in a just cause than that the knights should remain idle. Idleness is the parent of all vice! But, I trust, when Maxx arrives in the castle, he will rouse them out of their slumbers.”
”Do you mean that the Duke had sent the knight of Schweinsberg to Tubingen, and that he intended to follow him, because the garrison has shewn symptoms of surrender? Has he not flown to Mompelgard, as the people say? or is he still in the neighbourhood? Oh, that I could see him, and accompany him!”
A peculiar smile pa.s.sed rapidly over the stern countenance of the old man. ”You will sec him at the proper moment,” he said; ”he will be happy to see you also, for he loves you already. And, if fortune favours us, you shall also go with him to his castle, I give you my word. But for the present I must beg you will remain patiently alone for a short time; some business calls me, but it will be soon finished.
I leave you in the company of some good old wine; make yourself at home in my house; were it not Good Friday, I would invite you to go out hunting.” The old man pressed Albert's hand once more, and left the room; and soon after he saw him ride out of the castle towards the wood.
When the young man found himself alone, he commenced putting his dress in order, which in consequence of his recent adventures, required some attention. Whoever has been in the vicinity of the lady of his love, under Albert's circ.u.mstances, will not blame him for taking advantage of a piece of polished metal, which served as a looking-gla.s.s, hanging on the wall, to arrange his beard and hair. Having brushed his jacket, and removed all traces of having pa.s.sed the night underground, he went into the large saloon, and sought among the many windows which surrounded it, the one which would give him the best view of the path leading up to the castle from the church of the village in the valley below, whither Bertha had gone to hear ma.s.s.
Cheering thoughts pa.s.sed through his mind, in rapid succession, like bright vapours flying under the blue vault of heaven. He was now on the spot which had long been the object of his ardent desire to visit; he viewed the mountains and rocks which Bertha had often spoke about; he felt a charm in being in the same house which had been the dwelling of her childhood, and in which she had grown up to woman's estate.
Albert went into the small spot of ground within the walls of the castle, adorned with flowers, and which a.s.sumed the name of garden.
Again his imagination wandered, in the pleasing supposition that it had been created by her orders; the flowers appeared to speak to him in her name--he was in the act of bending under a tree to pluck a violet, when he heard footsteps at the gate. He turned around to observe who it might be, it was indeed Bertha herself--she stood there wrapt in surprise and motionless, scarcely trusting her eyes. He flew to her, and pressed her to his heart; her astonishment at the unexpected apparition gave way to the conviction that it was really her lover, and not his spirit that embraced her. They had more to ask each other than they knew well how to answer in the first transport of joy, for they could with difficulty convince themselves that it was not a dream, thus to find themselves in each other's presence without fear or interruption. Having returned to the house, Bertha said,
”How much have I suffered on your account, dearest Albert; and with what a heavy heart did I leave Ulm! You had, indeed, sworn to quit the service of the League; but I had no hopes of seeing you so soon. And then, when Hans informed me, that, on your journey with him to Lichtenstein, you had been surprised by the enemy on the road, and dangerously wounded, my heart was almost broken, at the thought that I could not go to you and nurse you.”
Stung with remorse for having given place to the jealousy which the story of the hostess of the Golden Stag at Pfullingen had created in his breast, he sunk in his own estimation before the tender love of Bertha. He sought to conceal his confusion, and related to her, amidst the interruption of her numerous questions, all that had happened to him since their separation; the cause which had favoured his quitting the service of the League with honour; the particulars of his perilous escape from the enemy's patrole; the kind care which the fifer's wife and daughter had taken of him, by which he was enabled to prosecute his journey to Lichtenstein.
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