Part 104 (2/2)
”Yes, Your Majesty; Baum is here.”
”Let him enter.”
Baum felt fully conscious of his importance. The king had not ordered him to report to the chamberlain, but had said, ”Let him enter.” He desired to confer with him in person. The confidential position which he had craved was already his.
Baum's usually grave and submissive manner seemed more impressive than ever before.
”Have you a message?” asked the king.
”No, Your Majesty.”
”What have you there?”
”Your Majesty,” replied Baum, placing his bundle on the chair and untying it, ”I found this hat of Countess von Wildenort in the lake, and these shoes among the willows on the sh.o.r.e.”
The king put forth his hand, as if to grasp these tokens, and then drew it back and pressed it to his heart. He stared at Baum and seemed lost in surprise.
”What does it all mean?” he asked, raising his hand to his head, as if to smooth down his hair which stood on end.
”Your Majesty,” continued Baum, who himself trembled when he saw the king's agitated manner, ”the countess wore these articles when she rode out with me and ran away.”
”Ran away? and--”
Baum laid his hand on his watch, and, although he could not see the dial, he counted the seconds, nevertheless; after which he softly answered:
”The countess drowned herself in the lake last night--no, it was night before last. The boatman saw the body of a female rise on the waters and sink again; and tomorrow, which is the third day, the lake will give her up.”
The king motioned him to stop--it was enough--his hand trembled; he grasped the back of a chair to support himself, and stared at the hat and shoes.
Baum dropped his eyes. He felt that the king's gaze was fixed upon him, but he still kept looking on the floor, which seemed to be rising and lifting the lackey to the level of the throne. In his mind's eye, he already beheld himself at the king's side, and as the confidant of royalty. Baum modestly inclined his head still lower. He heard the king pacing the room, but still he did not look up.
”A downcast air,” thought he, ”betokens perfect obedience and unqualified devotion.” The king now stopped before him.
”How do you know it was suicide?”
”I don't know. If it is Your Majesty's pleasure, the countess was drowned by others--”
”My pleasure? I? How?”
”I humbly beg Your Majesty's permission--may I tell all?”
”You must--!”
Summoning all his strength, Baum now said:
”Your Majesty, I found the shoes myself, but I got the hat from a man who is fit to do anything--the gend'arme thinks--that it may perhaps be good for the man--he might be pardoned at the end of a year and sent to America--a brother of his--is said to be--there--”
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