Barbarossa; An Historical Novel Of The XII Century Part 31

"Sire, I cannot, I must not comply with your wishes."

"Very good!" said the enraged monarch; "since you will not do as I ask, it would be absurd to test your courage any further. Go and prepare for your journey. To-morrow you will return to Germany."

Erwin had not expected this result. He felt sure that with one word he could soften Frederic's displeasure by yielding to his demand. But,--

"No!" he muttered to himself, "I cannot!" and bowing respectfully, he turned and left the Imperial chamber.

"If we could put his disobedience out of the question, we should think him charming," said Frederic. "Did you notice that he would not give way to his emotions, even although his heart was full to bursting?"

"It seems to me entirely natural," replied the Chancellor; "he is a Rechberg, and all of his family bear in this respect a striking resemblance to their relatives of Hohenstauffen."

"We shall miss him greatly," resumed the Emperor. "But the healthy, bracing air of Suabia will soon cure him of these stupid and absurd ideas of marriage."

_CHAPTER XXVII_.

_THE BETROTHAL_.

The entrance of several of the princes turned Barbarossa's attention to a subject of serious importance. Rinaldo's treachery had excited general indignation. The n.o.bles thought themselves dishonored, and their arrival announced a storm. They came in abruptly; their obeisance to the Emperor was less respectful than usual, and all glanced angrily upon the minister.

"To what do we owe the honor of this unexpected visit?" asked Frederic, as they took their seats.

"We have come," replied the Landgrave Louis, "to demand the condign punishment of your Chancellor Rinaldo, who traitorously attacked the Milanese when their envoys, confiding in the sanct.i.ty of our word, and with full trust in our honor, were on their way to the Court."

"Your complaints deeply grieve us," said the Emperor; "we foresee all the evils which may result from these misunderstandings. But let us be just before all things. My lord Chancellor, what have you to plead in your defence?"

Da.s.sel a.s.sumed an air of injured innocence, and in an insinuating tone replied,--

"The accused should have the right to defend his cause always, and particularly in the present case, where there are many excuses to be urged. My fidelity to your Majesty, and the respect which I have always professed for the n.o.bility of the Empire, are in themselves a guarantee for my innocence. May G.o.d preserve me from violating a princely word!

Had I been aware that the Milanese, although the avowed enemies of the Emperor and the Empire, had approached our camp with a safeguard, I should not have presumed to attack them. I can only crave my pardon on the ground of ignorance, if such an excuse be in your eyes worthy of acceptance."

"But, Chancellor, did we not cry, and that too, loudly, that the Italians were under the protection of our word, and that they must not be molested?"

"True, my lords; but the fighting had already begun!" answered Da.s.sel.

"The Milanese hemmed me in on all sides, and I was no longer the aggressor, but in the position of legitimate defence."

"Your representations are not sufficient!" said the Duke of Bohemia; "your tongue is more skilful than ours, and you are our superior in all that is tricky; but your treason must and shall be punished! Are you ready to clear yourself of this stain in single combat?"

"Your lordship must be aware," replied Da.s.sel, with a smile, "that the canons of the Church forbid this mode of justification to the Archbishop of Cologne?"

"Bah!" said the Count. "You are only a layman like us; only a consecration can make you a priest or a bishop. So long as you are not an ecclesiastic, you have no right to shelter yourself behind the privileges of the Church."

"My lords!" cried the Emperor, angrily, "we will not permit this a.s.sault upon a man whose honor and veracity are known to us; we declare him absolved from all blame; we are satisfied with his explanations!"

Rage and mortification were expressed on the faces of the knights.

"If your Majesty wishes to shield your Chancellor, we must obey," said Conrad; "but as some amends for the outrage, we request that you will release the consuls who were captured despite our word of honor as gentlemen and knights."

"It cannot be!" answered Barbarossa. "These consuls are the chiefs of the rebellion, the ringleaders of the conspiracy, which, for many years, has been plotting against us. It would be gross folly, on our part, to send away the promoters of the disorder. They must remain with us as captives, until the surrender of the fortress."

"But, Sire," added the Duke of Bohemia, with difficulty restraining his indignation, "the Milanese will say that we are _disloyal felons_, who desire, not the reduction, but the destruction of their city!"

"As for me," said Conrad, boldly, "my honor is at stake, and I will avoid all intercourse with the Chancellor.--To-morrow, I and my troops will return to our homes."

"Your term of service has expired, and we have no right to detain you,"

answered Barbarossa, calmly. "However, I shall expect you next spring, when you will return with more numerous and better disciplined troops.

If, before that time, Milan shall have fallen, there will still remain enough to do in Italy, before we can restore the Empire to its ancient splendor."

Although these last words were prompted by a desire to flatter the n.o.bles, they left his presence with a discontented and dissatisfied air.

Meanwhile Rechberg, Bonello, and Nigri were standing in front of the city gate, near which the consul's tent was pitched, and Erwin related the circ.u.mstances which had induced the order for his banishment from Italy. The sad and despondent tone of the young man moved Bonello's sympathy.

"If my daughter could esteem you more than she does already," he said, "this injustice would have that effect. I am confident, however, that she will now yield to my wishes and consent to leave Italy."

"You desire then to abandon your country?" asked Rechberg, with surprise.

"Yes, and perhaps forever!" replied Guido. "It is too painful to live in the vicinity of a struggle which threatens one's very existence, without being able to share in it. This, and some other motives, decide me to go to France, where I will remain until the storm is over."

They dismounted, and Gherardo Nigri was released upon his engagement to return, provided Hermengarde was not immediately given up to her father.

"Since you refuse to enter within the city," said Nigri to Erwin, "wait here for a few minutes, and you will be a.s.sured of the lady's liberation. Accept my thanks for the energy with which you defended your honor and my safety against Barbarossa."

Erwin seated himself upon a stone in front of the gate, with his face towards the city, in anxious expectation. At last he heard a loud noise, the ma.s.sive portals swung back, and Bonello appeared, leading his daughter by the hand, while a crowd of wondering citizens lined the ramparts. The young man rose slowly. The thought of their separation and his arbitrary exile saddened him.

"Everything goes on as I desired and predicted," said Bonello.

"Hermengarde is glad to leave the country from which you are banished.

Indeed, I believe that, in spite of all obstacles, she would prefer Suabia to France."

"Are those obstacles insurmountable?" asked Erwin. "Although the ward and va.s.sal of the Emperor, I alone am master in my father's castle."

"It is impossible," replied Bonello, gravely. "You have told me what the Emperor has said, and I fully understand the reasons for which he has sent you away from Italy. Barbarossa is not a man to allow his plans to be thwarted, and we should scarcely arrive in Suabia, before an order for our expulsion would be issued."

Erwin's countenance fell, for he could not deny the truth of the objection.

"Still you can do us a great service," said Guido. "The roads are not safe, and perhaps you can procure an escort?"

"I will attend to that," answered Rechberg; "when do you wish to set out?"

"To-day, without fail; and the sooner the better."

"I will see the Duke of Austria at once. He will be delighted to do all in his power for one who has become so celebrated for her filial affection as your fair daughter."

"Many thanks, n.o.ble Count! Well! Hermengarde, have you not one word of acknowledgment for our benefactor?"

"My lord Count," said she, with a trembling voice, "even could I find words in which to clothe my grat.i.tude, my voice would express imperfectly all the feelings of my heart. We will never forget you, and each day our prayers will mount to the throne of that G.o.d in whose hands is the destiny of all mortals."