King Matthias and the Beggar Boy Part 11

[Footnote 16: One of the Bohemian freebooters.]

"Why should I deny it?" said Michael humbly, well knowing that the king liked the truth even when he was angry. "If Your Highness were disposed to send me on active service somewhere, I _should_ prefer it. But wherever you please to order me, I shall go with a good will; for my life belongs to my king."

"Hm!" said Matthias, fixing his searching eyes upon the speaker; "may be so, but just at present your tongue does not speak the thoughts of your heart."

"Sir! Your Highness!"

"'Highness' I may be, but 'gracious' I am not to-day, am I, Mr. Michael Tornay? You have yourself to thank for it, for you have been putting bad wood on the fire,[17] and you have been going very near what is forbidden fruit."

[Footnote 17: That is, you have been up to mischief.]

"Forbidden fruit?" said Michael, exceedingly cast down by the king's cold treatment of him.

"It is true I did not distinctly forbid it you, but I could not suppose you would take fire so quickly."

Michael said nothing, and the king went on,--

"Don't deny it, for I know everything. You have fallen in love with Esther. It is just fortunate that the girl has more sense than you, and does not trust your fine words."

"I humbly beg your pardon," said Michael, unwilling to let the opportunity slip, "I believe, on the contrary, Your Highness, that Esther--"

"Esther is going to marry Aggtelky Mihaly, the Supreme Count," said the king decidedly; "and now that you know this, it will be as well for you to give up thinking of her. To make it easier for you, and to impress it upon your mind, it will not be amiss for you to spend a few months away from Buda."

"Your Highness," Michael began again in an imploring tone.

"Enough!" said the king in a stern voice. "Now both follow me to the castle chapel. You will receive your instructions after service, and then--to Vienna!"

Michael was in the utmost consternation, but he did not venture another word. It was so strange to see the gay, good-natured king thus unlike himself, that he thought he must either be ill, or must have had very bad news from somewhere, or--was it possible?--that some one had been trying to set him against himself, by telling malicious tales. His rapid advancement, and the favour which the king showed him, had, he knew, excited some envy and jealousy. Had some secret enemy then been at work?

But then King Matthias was not given to listening to tales, and if he had heard anything to Michael's discredit, he would have told him of it plainly, and given him the opportunity of clearing himself.

He glanced interrogatively at Galeotti; but the Italian merely shrugged his shoulders to express his entire bewilderment. They were walking behind the king now, towards the chapel, which they found dressed with lovely flowers as if for a festival; but Michael was so engrossed in his own thoughts, so sore at heart, and so hurt by what he felt to be the just king's injustice, that he had no attention to spare for anything else.

They took their places; the shrill tones of a bell were heard, and the service began and proceeded quietly to its close.

The king rose up, and was about to leave the chapel, when he stopped short, saying, "So--I was forgetting! Another little ceremony takes place here to-day, of course. Follow me."

With that he turned towards the vestry, Michael following him with listless steps.

The door was opened by some one within; but Michael's eyes were bent upon the ground, and he saw nothing but the marble floor, until Galeotti twitched him by the sleeve and made him look up. Then he saw what filled him first with amazement and next with pa.s.sionate indignation.

For there before him, like a beautiful dream, stood Esther--_his_ Esther as he felt her to be, in spite of kings and counts--_his_ Esther, robed in white, with a bridal wreath on her head, and looking as fair and pure as a dove!

Michael turned almost as white as the bride's dress. He had been brought to Visegrad to see her married to the count! That was his first collected thought. Could the king, the master whom he had so loved--_could_ he be so cruel, so heartlessly cruel?

For a moment or two Michael was so torn in pieces between his love for Esther and his love and reverence for the king, that he felt as if he were losing his senses, and might say or do something outrageous.

The king stopped and turned towards him, as if he were about to speak; but Michael did not notice it, for his eyes were fixed upon the bride, and he was trying to master himself.

"Mr. Michael Tornay!"

Michael started at the sound of the king's voice, and looked at him mechanically.

Matthias held in his hand a heavy gold case, with a piece of parchment from which hung a large seal. The clouds had vanished from his face as if by magic, and he was apparently quite himself again, for he looked as bright and pleasant as possible.

"Mr. Michael Tornay," he said in a gay tone, which completed Michael's bewilderment, "you have answered all our expectations. If we have been the making of you, you have given us complete satisfaction in return.

You have won our heart by your faithful affection, your valour, and your love and devotion to your country. And now, see, we herewith endow you with an estate for which we have chosen the name of Aggtelky, from one of the properties included in it. We also entrust you with the administration of the county of Szathmar; and that you may not be lonely, and find the time hang heavy on your hands, we propose to give you this naughty little daughter of Eve to torment you.

"What have you to say to this? Will it suit you better than going to Vienna, little brother--eh? Ah! I thought so," as Michael and his bride fell upon their knees, unable for the moment to utter a word. "Then, if the bride is pleased to accept you after all, Mr. Supreme Count Michael Aggtelky, the wedding shall take place at once."

THE END