Part 4 (1/2)
Then stop.”
It required some effort on the part of Apafi to make the Pasha understand that it was not the custom to use such terms with the Hungarian n.o.bility. At last he gained permission to write as seemed best to him, only the contents were to be decisive and authoritative.
The circular letter was finished at last. The Pasha ordered a man to mount his horse at once, and gave him instructions to deliver this at full speed.
Apafi shook his pen and sighed to himself;--”I would like to see the man who can tell me what will be the result of all this.”
”Now, until the convention a.s.sembles, stay with me here in camp.”
”May I not go back to my wife and child at home?” asked Apafi, with throbbing heart.
”The devil! That you may run away from us? That is the way all these Hungarians treat the rank of prince. The men we do not wish lie down on us and beg for the honor, and those we do wish take to flight.” And with that the Pasha showed Apafi to his tent and left him, at the same time giving the order to the sentinel stationed at the entrance as a mark of honor, to be sure not to let him escape.
”He got into a pretty sc.r.a.pe that time!” sighed Apafi, in deep resignation. The only hope that remained for him now was that the men summoned would not appear for the convention.
A few days later, in the early morning while Apafi was still in bed, there entered his tent suddenly Stephen Run, John Daczo and Stephen Nalaczy, with all the rest of the n.o.ble Szeklers to whom the letter had been sent.
”For G.o.d's sake!” cried out Apafi, ”what are you here for?”
”Why, your majesty summoned us here,” replied Nalaczy.
”That's true, but you might have had the sense not to come. What can we do now?”
”Enthrone your majesty with all due ceremony and if necessary, defend you in true Szekler fas.h.i.+on,” said Stephen Run.
”You are too few for that, my friends.”
”Have the goodness just to look out in front of the tent,” began Nalaczy, and drawing aside the curtain, he showed him a crowd of Szeklers with swords and lances, who had remained without. ”We are here _c.u.m gentibus_ to prove to your grace that if we acknowledge you as our Prince, this is not done in mere jest.”
Apafi shrugged his shoulders and began to draw on his boots. But he was so thoughtful and melancholy with it all, that an hour pa.s.sed before he was dressed, for he took up each article of dress the wrong way, and put on his coat before he thought of his waistcoat. Several hundred of the n.o.bility had a.s.sembled in Selyk at his call, more than he expected or even wished.
When Ali Pasha came out of his tent, in the presence of all a.s.sembled he took Apafi by the hand and threw about him a new green velvet cloak, set on his head a cap bordered with ermine, and gave the States a.s.sembled to understand that they were to receive this man from this time as their true Prince. The Szeklers roared out a huzza, raised Apafi on their shoulders and set him on a platform covered with velvet that Ali Pasha had ordered built for him.
”Now let the lords betake themselves to the church--and do you give your oath to your Prince according to your custom and swear fealty to each other. The bells have already been rung at my order. Have ma.s.s said in due form.”
”Pardon me, but I am of the Reformed Church,” protested Apafi.
”That suits me all the better. The affair can be conducted with less formality. There is his Reverence Franz, the Magyar, he shall preach the sermon.”
Apafi let them do as they would, only nervously stroking his moustache and shrugging his shoulders when he was questioned. Nalaczy and the rest of the Szeklers considered it proper to meet him in the church with all the reverence due to princes. The Reverend Franz extemporized a powerful sermon, in which he a.s.sured them in thundering language that the G.o.d of Israel who had called David from his sheep to the kingly throne and exalted him above all his enemies, would now too maintain his chosen one in his good pleasure, though his foes were as numerous as the blades of gra.s.s in the field, or the sands of the seash.o.r.e.
This little church could never have dreamed that it would one day be the scene of a convention and a princely election. And Apafi could certainly never have dreamed that all this would have been fulfilled for him. He had neither ear nor eye for the consecration nor for the sermon, for his mind was constantly busied with the thought of what might become of his wife and child and where would they find refuge if he should fall into the hands of Kemeny and they should be driven from house and home. Then it occurred to him that somewhere in the land of the Szeklers he had a brother, Stephen Apafi, with whom he had always had the friendliest relations, and who would certainly take care of them if he saw them in misery. These thoughts made him forget everything about himself so completely that when at the conclusion of the a.s.sembly all present rose and began the Te Deum, he too arose, quite ignoring the fact that these services were in his honor. But some one behind laid his hands on his shoulders and pressed him down into his place, telling him in a low, familiar voice that he was to remain seated. Apafi looked around and fell back on his seat in astonishment, for the man behind him was no other than his brother Stephen.
”You here, too!” said Apafi to him, deeply affected.
”I was a little belated,” said Stephen, ”but I arrived in time and will stay as long as you command.”
”Will you also run into danger?”