For Sceptre and Crown Volume I Part 43

In a short time the governor of the castle, Count Alfred Wedel, came out of the station in undress uniform.

He saw with astonishment a crowd of citizens surrounding his carriage as if they wished to block up the road.

"Come, what is going on here?" he asked kindly; "you here, Herr Sonntag? and you too, old Conrad?" and he walked towards the old weather-beaten man, who, with Sonntag, had left the crowd, and going close up to him he offered him his hand.

"Count," said Conrad, the old court saddler, a veteran who had fought in the great wars, and who had been an especial favourite with King Ernest Augustus, who used often to talk to him, and who enjoyed his extremely unceremonious answers, which usually contained a good deal of national wit, "Count," and he pushed aside Herr Sonntag, who was anxious to speak, with his strong hand, "we are all in much trouble and uneasiness about what is going to happen. We do hear, now and then, that war is about to break out, and the king is going to leave us,--that makes all the citizens very uncomfortable about the fate of the town, and we all want to know something for certain."

"Yes," cried the merchant Sonntag, who had freed himself from Conrad's restraining hand, and who now stepped forward; "yes, count, all these gentlemen are very anxious and uneasy, quite ready to lose all courage.

I have taken great pains to calm them, but in vain. I pray you, sir, to tell them what is taking place, and what they ought to do."

An expression of anxiety was seen on all the faces as they turned to the handsome, strongly made young man who before replying examined the crowd for a moment with his clear calm gaze.

"What is taking place?" he then said in a loud firm voice; "that is easily told, war stands before the gate, and the king takes the field with the army."

"And leaves us here behind in an open town!" was murmured by the crowd.

A bright flush pa.s.sed over the young count's brow, and an indignant look flashed from his eyes as he heard the complaint.

"Does not the Hanoverian soldier march and leave his family at home?"

he cried. "The queen and the princesses remain here, and I stay with her majesty."

"Ah!" resounded from the crowd, "if the queen stays here it is not so bad a look-out for the city."

"Bad or good, the queen shares your fate, and the king his soldiers'; is that right or wrong? Answer," cried Count Wedel.

"Right," cried old Conrad in a loud voice, and "Yes! yes!" was faintly echoed by the crowd.

"But," added Count Wedel, in a loud and grave voice, "you have asked me what you are to do."

He advanced a step or two, until, he was quite surrounded by the citizens, and he turned his flashing eyes from one to another.

"What!" he cried, "Hanoverian citizens do not know what they are to do when their country is in danger, and their king and the army take the field? Old Conrad can tell you better than I, what he saw in the old times of which I have only heard the history. The army is on the peace foundation," he continued with animation, "everything is wanting, transport, stores, help of all kinds, the cannon have to be taken from the a.r.s.enal to the railway station, and Hanoverian citizens stand still to murmur and complain? Get horses and workers, and if the horses will not hold out, we will draw them ourselves, for I will be amongst you as soon as my duty permits. The army takes the field," he continued, "and the commissariat must be organized; are the soldiers to starve? Form committees to provide abundance of food and drink here at the railway station from whence it can be sent off to the different magazines as necessity may arise. And," he cried, "to-day or to-morrow the troops may encounter the enemy, there will be plenty of sick and wounded, and you must prevent your wives from complaining and lamenting. Let them make bandages and sc.r.a.pe lint, it will be wanted; go to my wife, she will advise you how to arrange everything. And further, how often have you played at soldiers at your rifle clubs; now the troops are going, shall the queen remain unguarded in Herrenhausen? Is there no citizen who will keep guard over the queen when the king trusts her to his capital? Now," he added slowly, "I have told you what you have to do, and there is so much to be done, that really there is no time for anyone to stand here to idle and grumble."

The citizens were silent; the little merchant Sonntag examined them with looks of triumph.

Old Conrad scratched behind his ear.

"Donnerwetter!" he broke out at last; "the count speaks the truth, and a shame it is that we old fellows should have to be told all that by a young gentleman. But now come on," he cried in a loud voice, "let us all set to work, let us separate, and a.s.semble the citizens, here is Sonntag who understands it, he shall make the committees, I am off to the a.r.s.enal." He walked up to Count Wedel. "You are true Hanoverian blood, count!" he said bluntly, "and you have spoken your mind plainly; but you were quite right, and you shall see the citizens of Hanover on the move--and you old fellow up there!" he cried, taking off his cap and looking up at the bronze statue of King Ernest Augustus, standing in the midst of the square, "you shall see how old Conrad and all the Hanoverians will stand by your son!"

He offered his hand to the count, who shook it heartily.

All the citizens seemed changed as if by magic. The discontent and restlessness had gone from their faces, and their looks expressed high courage and firm determination. They all crowded round Count Wedel as he got into his carriage and offered him their strong hard hands.

The horses started at a rapid pace and the carriage rolled away on the road to Herrenhausen. An hour later the appearance of the town was completely changed.

No longer whispering groups of idlers were seen standing in the streets, everywhere there was intelligent, cheerful, energetic industry, men of all cla.s.ses, artisans and servants, dragged carriages and hand-barrows laden with arms from the a.r.s.enal to the railway.

Others brought cartloads of provisions of every kind, some for the consumption of the troops on their journey, some to be forwarded to the different magazines. The women hurried about the streets with light steps and busy looks, making collections and receiving promises of help. The most influential ladies presented themselves at the door of Count Wedel's new imposing-looking house. They were received by the countess, and formed into one large committee.

Old Conrad was at the a.r.s.enal a.s.sisting in loading the arms, now ordering, now rebuking the unskilful with a round oath, and everywhere, on whatever side you turned, was the merchant Sonntag, paler than usual from excitement, hot with talking so much, ordering, encouraging, animating those around to unceasing and fruitful exertions.

Thus evening fell upon the city, and the sun set for the last time upon the Guelphic king in the castle of his forefathers.

It was nine o'clock when the minister Meding drove rapidly along the broad road, lighted on either side by gas lamps, to Herrenhausen, with the answer to the Prussian ultimatum.

As he mounted the steps, it seemed as if the uneasiness and activity which prevailed in the city had not spread to the palace. The porter stood as usual before his lodge, the servants in their scarlet liveries moved noiselessly through the large vestibules, but on every face appeared deep anxiety.

In the courtyard were several waggons, with lighted lamps, and the under servants were filling them with coffers. With anxious expectation the attendants saw the well-known confidant of the king arrive at so unusual an hour, but severe etiquette prevented a word of inquiry, though the uneasy looks betrayed the fears to which each was a prey.

"Is the king in his cabinet?" inquired Meding.

"His majesty is with the queen."

Meding ascended the stairs to the floor above, which he had so often seen crowded by the brilliant uniforms of officers, and the elegant toilettes of ladies, and which now looked empty and lonely in the light of the candelabra.

Before the door of the queen's apartments her groom of the chambers, with snow-white hair, sat in a large armchair, and the king's groom of the chambers stood beside him.

"Inform his majesty that I am here!" said Herr Meding.

The attendant hesitated a moment.

"Forgive me," he said, "for asking if war is really to break out, and if we shall have the enemy here?"

"It is too true, my dear Mahlmann," said Herr Meding, in a sad voice, "but announce me at once, no time must be lost."

"Oh! my G.o.d! what times!" cried the king's groom of the chambers, as he entered the apartments, while the queen's grey-headed servant covered his face with his hands.

Herr Meding following the king's attendant through the large ante-room and was shown at once into the queen's drawing-room. Here all the royal family were a.s.sembled round the tea-table.

The king wore a general's uniform, and sat beside the queen smiling and cheerful; she commanded herself and repressed the tears she could hardly refrain from shedding. Next the queen sat the Princess Marie, a slender maiden of seventeen, with beautiful and n.o.ble features, and large blue enthusiastic eyes; less accustomed to self-command than her mother, she could not help weeping, and her handkerchief had frequently to be applied to prevent her tears from falling. On the other side of the king sat his eldest daughter, the Princess Frederika; fair, tall, and slender, she greatly resembled her sister, but her face possessed her father's n.o.ble expression, and although she was entirely without haughtiness or self-esteem, her whole bearing, her every movement, bore witness to her royal birth. She did not weep, her large clear blue eyes looked proud and brave, sometimes the beautiful teeth bit the full fresh lips, and in her heart she longed to accompany her father to the field of battle, and dreaded remaining at home in solitary idleness, waiting for tidings of the fate of the army and of her country.

Opposite to her sat, or rather lay back in his chair, the Crown Prince Ernest Augustus, a large tall young man of one-and-twenty. His face had not the smallest resemblance to his father's. A low retreating forehead was almost concealed by his thick smooth brown hair. His nose deeply indented at the bridge was almost flat to his face, and his large mouth with its full rosy lips seemed to move with difficulty over his slowly spoken words. Beautiful teeth and bright good-natured eyes, however, gave a certain charm to the young prince's appearance.

The crown prince wore the uniform of the Guard Hussars, a blue coat ornamented with silver braid, he bit the nails of his left hand, while with his right he patted a little terrier, which appeared devoted to him.

Such was the picture which met Meding's eyes as he entered the room.

With a sigh he looked at the royal family, and he then walked up to the king.

"Good evening, my dear Meding," cried the king in his usual voice. "You bring our answer to Prussia: I hope it is clear and decided?"

"I hope I shall have fulfilled your majesty's wishes," replied Herr Meding as he bowed.

"Do you wish us to leave you?" asked the queen.

"No!" cried the king, "you are all as much interested in this matter as I am. Meding will be so kind as to read us the draft. Seat yourself, my dear Meding, and begin."

"Certainly, your majesty."