will esteem valour in whatever shape it presents itself. He may have seen rougher men in the East, although I doubt it. Now go and tell your garrison that I have taken charge of the castle until the Emperor arrives, and wear just such a scowl as is now on your face when you order them to obey me."
The helpless man laughed scornfully, but nevertheless made no objection, feeling that he had reached a situation which was beyond him, and that possibly his confident niece would retrieve the honour of his house.
In a marvellously short time, under Tekla's crisp direction, the appearance of the castle was completely changed, and old Thuron would not have known itself, so bravely was it decked with silk and bunting, to the great depletion of his Lordship's stores. The Black Count made no attempt to smarten himself and thus follow the example of his castle, but wandered impatiently about, accoutred as he was and always had been, not knowing what to do with himself, manifestly ill at ease, alternately frowning and grimacing at the preparations and decorating going on around him. Once there arose a cry that the Emperor was in sight, and Tekla, in despair, wrung her hands that he came so soon, but it was a false alarm, and Heinrich, going to the battlements, saw with a savage joy that the cause of the commotion was the striking of the tents belonging to the Archbishop's army. The two years' siege was at last raised. The Black Count lifted his clenched fist towards the unoffending sky and hoarsely cursed the departing legion.
From her fear that his Majesty would come too soon, the Countess began to apprehend that he would not come at all. The improvised carpet had been laid between the castle doorway and the gates; broad red cloth flanked by two webs of blue. Purple was looped over the archway, and gaudy streamers floated from the walls.
At last the detachment which had marched through the village began to ascend the slope, and soon from castle gate to river bank they lined each side of the way, forming an avenue of erect lances. Ringing cheers sounded from the village, marking the imperial progress, for the whole population of the country roundabout had turned out: even the opposite banks of the Moselle were thronged by thousands who could not get across.
The Countess Tekla, accompanied by her aunt, stood on the battlements to get thus the first view of the Emperor, although she had commanded her uncle to be in readiness, the moment his Majesty appeared below, to take his place at the open gate, where, supported by his two women folk, he was to offer his Sovereign the castle and the devotion of all within it. Presently horsemen appeared advancing past the southern end of the village, numbering, perhaps, two score, then there was an interval, and all onlookers knew at once it was the Emperor in his glittering armour who rode the prancing white horse, with but one attendant by his side. Following him came another troop of horse, and thus ascended to Castle Thuron the Emperor Rodolph, who but a short time before had slipped away from it, a fugitive in the night.
Those manning the walls of the castle raised a great cheer when they saw his Majesty, and Tekla could scarce refrain from clapping her hands at the brave spectacle. The Black Count looked at the cavalcade with the sombre discontent of one surveying a funeral procession, and Hilda sighed when she saw but a single attendant accompanying the Emperor.
"Uncle, if you will lead us down, we will now take our places at the gate," said Tekla, her voice quavering with conflicting emotions.
The Count obeyed in silence, and stood awkwardly, muttering low maledictions at this mummery, yet knowing there was nothing before him but endurance. His wife took up her position, trembling, at his right and his niece at his left.
The foremost horsemen ranged themselves on each side of the gate, their evolutions, for the moment, concealing the chief personage from the view of those standing in the portal. When the Emperor rode forward with Conrad at his side, Tekla cried out as one in fear, then for a moment leaned against her uncle for support. Heinrich looked at her white face, not knowing what ailed her, and was about to speak roughly, as was his custom, when she gasped hurriedly under her breath:
"Uncle, uncle, look. Who is the Emperor?"
The Black Count turned his gaze once more to the front and cried:
"By my sins, it is no Emperor at all, but Lord Rodolph."
Tekla, quicker of comprehension, whispered, holding bravely off the faintness that had suddenly come upon her:
"Lord Rodolph is the Emperor."
Rodolph swung himself lightly from the horse before Conrad could put hand to stirrup, and advanced quickly towards them, the cavalry coming to a halt behind him.
"My Lord Count," he cried, "you see how easy it is to take your castle when a real warrior comes against it."
The Count, having no answer at hand, made none, being troubled in his mind whether or no he should kneel, but if this neglect to bend the knee was a breach of Court etiquette, he was pleased to note that the Emperor was little likely to take heed of it. His Majesty had eyes for none but the Countess Tekla, who appeared indeed a queen in the stately robes that became her so well. Rodolph seemed suddenly stricken dumb by her beauty, for all the colour had fled from her face, leaving it like chiselled marble, as she stood demurely with her eyes bent on the ground.
"Tekla," he murmured, taking her hand with deep reverence, and raising it to his lips, "is the Prince who returns as welcome as the unknown Lord would have been?"
"Yes——your Majesty," whispered Tekla, casting a swift glance at him, the colour again touching her cheeks.
"And is Countess Tekla willing to become Empress Tekla?"
"The delight of a loyal subject is to obey the imperial command," she said, a smile coming at last to her lips.
Again the Emperor raised her hand and kissed it.
"I suppose," growled the Black Count, gruffly, "there is no further need of my standing here like a fool."
The Emperor laughed heartily, and the Countess Tekla joined him. The tensity of the situation was at once relieved by the unmannerly remark of the master of Thuron.
"No, my Lord, no. What the Countess and I have to say to each other may be very well said without listeners, and it is a pity a man should not enter his own house without asking permission. Ah, Hilda," he continued on seeing the girl, "I have made Conrad a Lord, and he tells me that in spite of his nobility, he loves a maid of low degree, and so we shall soon all be noble who once ventured our for tunes in a slight skiff on the Moselle Tekla," he whispered, as they entered the castle together, "you have now no guardian, for his Lordship of Treves willingly resigns control over so rebellious a vassal. Peace reigneth in the land, and there will be no fewer than three Archbishops at our marriage."
A Woman Intervenes
