Part 38 (2/2)

”My lord,” he faltered, ”I have just received an order from Paul Beldi who threatens me with death if any harm happens to the prisoner.”

”You have your choice,” replied Csaki. ”If you obey, it is possible that he will have your head cut off to-morrow. If you do not obey, I will kill you to-day.” The warder trembled as he bowed.

”Raise the draw,” ordered Csaki. ”Let no one enter the castle without permission. Whoever acts contrary to my orders is a dead man.”

Husband and wife slept peacefully. A minute later the door opened with a slight noise and Stephen Pataki entered, terror-stricken and with difficulty restraining his tears. He stepped up to Banfy to awaken him. As he touched his hand, Banfy, seeing Pataki who in his emotion could not speak, tried to rise without waking his wife but she opened her eyes at that very moment and Pataki, who did not wish her to know the terrible message, said in Latin:

”Rise, my lord, the death sentence is here.”

Trembling at the speech in a foreign tongue whose meaning Pataki's face so ill concealed, Banfy's wife asked in terror what it meant.

”Nothing, nothing,” said Banfy, with a tender smile, embracing his wife. ”An urgent message that I must answer at once. I will return soon; lie down and sleep quietly.”

With these words he laid his wife back in her pillows and kissed her tenderly several times, after each kiss saying:

”My soul, my love, my blessing, my Heaven.”

Madame Banfy did not suspect that this was the parting kiss of a man on his way to death. He looked at her so smilingly, feigning joy in his countenance when he stood on the threshold of death.

At this moment the horn rang out before the castle gate. The messenger of the Princess had arrived and demanded admittance in the name of his Excellency. Csaki mounted the stairs in haste and just as Banfy had calmed his wife about his leaving, he pushed open the door suddenly and cried out,

”Why this long parting! Be ready! The sentence awaits its execution!”

At these words Madame Banfy sprang from her couch with a convulsive scream, reached both arms to her husband, looked at him for a moment in silence then laid her hands on her heart and sank back dead among the pillows.

Banfy looked at his foe with deadly bitterness; his veiled eyes seemed to Csaki to hurl forth more curses than any lips could have spoken.

”Miserable wretch!” he thundered at him, ”who ordered you to kill my wife too?”

Csaki turned his head aside and called out harshly,

”Make haste, the time is short.”

”Short for me but it will be long for you, for the time is coming when you will curse life and not die as peacefully as I do. Leave me alone.

I wish to pray and I cannot call on G.o.d in the same room where you are.”

Csaki went away, shocked in spite of himself.

Banfy put his hands to his brow and prayed.

Heavy thunder rolled through the Heavens.

”Oh G.o.d, who in thy anger dost thunder above, take my blood for my sins. Let no drop of it fall on the head of those who have shed it.

Grant that my country may never expiate my death. Guard this poor land from every misfortune. Keep thy vengeance far from the head of this people and mid all perils be their s.h.i.+eld. Forgive my enemies my death as I forgive them.”

The thunder rolled terribly. G.o.d was angry. He did not wish to hear this prayer.

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