The Works of Lord Byron Volume V Part 93

_Iden._ Humph!--not exactly.

_Stral._ Or, at least, suspected?

_Iden._ Oh! for that matter, very much suspected.

_Stral._ Who may he be?

_Iden._ Why, don't _you_ know, my Lord? 200

_Stral._ How should I? I was fast asleep.

_Iden._ And so Was I--and that's the cause I know no more Than does your Excellency.

_Stral._ Dolt!

_Iden._ Why, if Your Lordship, being robbed, don't recognise The rogue; how should I, not being robbed, identify The thief among so many? In the crowd, May it please your Excellency, your thief looks Exactly like the rest, or rather better: 'Tis only at the bar and in the dungeon, That wise men know your felon by his features; 210 But I'll engage, that if seen there but once, Whether he be found criminal or no, His face shall be so.

_Stral._ (_to_ FRITZ). Prithee, Fritz, inform me What hath been done to trace the fellow?

_Fritz_. Faith!

My Lord, not much as yet, except conjecture.

_Stral._ Besides the loss (which, I must own, affects me Just now materially), I needs would find The villain out of public motives; for So dexterous a spoiler, who could creep Through my attendants, and so many peopled 220 And lighted chambers, on my rest, and s.n.a.t.c.h The gold before my scarce-closed eyes, would soon Leave bare your borough, Sir Intendant!

_Iden._ True; If there were aught to carry off, my Lord.

_Ulr._ What is all this?

_Stral._ You joined us but this morning, And have not heard that I was robbed last night.

_Ulr._ Some rumour of it reached me as I pa.s.sed The outer chambers of the palace, but I know no further.

_Stral._ It is a strange business: The Intendant can inform you of the facts. 230

_Iden._ Most willingly. You see----

_Stral._ (_impatiently_). Defer your tale, Till certain of the hearer's patience.

_Iden._ That Can only be approved by proofs. You see----

_Stral._ (_again interrupting him, and addressing_ ULRIC).

In short, I was asleep upon my chair, My cabinet before me, with some gold Upon it (more than I much like to lose, Though in part only): some ingenious person Contrived to glide through all my own attendants, Besides those of the place, and bore away A hundred golden ducats, which to find 240 I would be fain, and there's an end. Perhaps You (as I still am rather faint) would add To yesterday's great obligation, this, Though slighter, yet not slight, to aid these men (Who seem but lukewarm) in recovering it?

_Ulr._ Most willingly, and without loss of time-- (_To_ IDENSTEIN.) Come hither, mynheer!

_Iden._ But so much haste bodes Right little speed, and----

_Ulr._ Standing motionless None; so let's march: we'll talk as we go on.

_Iden._ But----

_Ulr._ Show the spot, and then I'll answer you. 250

_Fritz_. I will, sir, with his Excellency's leave.

_Stral._ Do so, and take yon old a.s.s with you.

_Fritz_. Hence!

_Ulr._ Come on, old oracle, expound thy riddle!

[_Exit with_ IDENSTEIN _and_ FRITZ.

_Stral._ (_solus_). A stalwart, active, soldier-looking stripling, Handsome as Hercules ere his first labour, And with a brow of thought beyond his years When in repose, till his eye kindles up In answering yours. I wish I could engage him: I have need of some such spirits near me now, For this inheritance is worth a struggle. 260 And though I am not the man to yield without one, Neither are they who now rise up between me And my desire. The boy, they say, 's a bold one; But he hath played the truant in some hour Of freakish folly, leaving fortune to Champion his claims. That's well. The father, whom For years I've tracked, as does the blood-hound, never In sight, but constantly in scent, had put me To fault; but _here_ I _have_ him, and that's better.

It must be _he_! All circ.u.mstance proclaims it; 270 And careless voices, knowing not the cause Of my enquiries, still confirm it.--Yes!

The man, his bearing, and the mystery Of his arrival, and the time; the account, too, The Intendant gave (for I have not beheld her) Of his wife's dignified but foreign aspect; Besides the antipathy with which we met, As snakes and lions shrink back from each other By secret instinct that both must be foes Deadly, without being natural prey to either; 280 All--all--confirm it to my mind. However, We'll grapple, ne'ertheless. In a few hours The order comes from Frankfort, if these waters Rise not the higher (and the weather favours Their quick abatement), and I'll have him safe Within a dungeon, where he may avouch His real estate and name; and there's no harm done, Should he prove other than I deem. This robbery (Save for the actual loss) is lucky also; He's poor, and that's suspicious--he's unknown, 290 And that's defenceless.--True, we have no proofs Of guilt--but what hath he of innocence?

Were he a man indifferent to my prospects, In other bearings, I should rather lay The inculpation on the Hungarian, who Hath something which I like not; and alone Of all around, except the Intendant, and The Prince's household and my own, had ingress Familiar to the chamber.

_Enter_ GABOR.

Friend, how fare you?

_Gab._ As those who fare well everywhere, when they 300 Have supped and slumbered, no great matter how-- And you, my Lord?

_Stral._ Better in rest than purse: Mine inn is like to cost me dear.

_Gab._ I heard Of your late loss; but 'tis a trifle to One of your order.

_Stral._ You would hardly think so, Were the loss yours.

_Gab._ I never had so much (At once) in my whole life, and therefore am not Fit to decide. But I came here to seek you.

Your couriers are turned back--I have outstripped them, In my return.

_Stral._ You!--Why?

_Gab._ I went at daybreak, 310 To watch for the abatement of the river, As being anxious to resume my journey.

Your messengers were all checked like myself; And, seeing the case hopeless, I await The current's pleasure.

_Stral._ Would the dogs were in it!

Why did they not, at least, attempt the pa.s.sage?

I ordered this at all risks.

_Gab._ Could you order The Oder to divide, as Moses did The Red Sea (scarcely redder than the flood Of the swoln stream), and be obeyed, perhaps 320 They might have ventured.

_Stral._ I must see to it: The knaves! the slaves!--but they shall smart for this.

[_Exit_ STRALENHEIM.

_Gab._ (_solus_). There goes my n.o.ble, feudal, self-willed Baron!

Epitome of what brave chivalry The preux Chevaliers of the good old times Have left us. Yesterday he would have given His lands[175] (if he hath any), and, still dearer, His sixteen quarterings, for as much fresh air As would have filled a bladder, while he lay Gurgling and foaming half way through the window 330 Of his o'erset and water-logged conveyance; And now he storms at half a dozen wretches Because they love their lives too! Yet, he's right: 'Tis strange they should, when such as he may put them To hazard at his pleasure. Oh, thou world!