Chapter 17 - A Royal Banquet
MADAME, seeing me pacific and unresentful, no doubt judged that I was deceived by her excuse; for her fright dissolved away, and she was soon so importunate1 to have me give an exhibition and kill somebody, that the thing grew to be embarrassing. However, to my relief she was presently interrupted by the call to prayers. I will say this much for the nobility: that, tyrannical, murderous, rapacious2, and morally rotten as they were, they were deeply and enthusiastically religious. Nothing could divert them from the regular and faithful performance of the pieties3 enjoined4 by the Church. More than once I had seen a noble who had gotten his enemy at a disadvantage, stop to pray before cutting his throat; more than once I had seen a noble, after ambushing5 and despatching his enemy, retire to the nearest wayside shrine6 and humbly7 give thanks, without even waiting to rob the body. There was to be nothing finer or sweeter in the life of even Benvenuto Cellini, that rough-hewn saint, ten centuries later. All the nobles of Britain, with their families, attended divine service morning and night daily, in their private chapels8, and even the worst of them had family worship five or six times a day besides. The credit of this belonged entirely9 to the Church. Although I was no friend to that Catholic Church, I was obliged to admit this. And often, in spite of me, I found myself saying, "What would this country be without the Church?"
After prayers we had dinner in a great banqueting hall which was lighted by hundreds of grease-jets, and everything was as fine and lavish10 and rudely splendid as might become the royal degree of the hosts. At the head of the hall, on a dais, was the table of the king, queen, and their son, Prince Uwaine. Stretching down the hall from this, was the general table, on the floor. At this, above the salt, sat the visiting nobles and the grown members of their families, of both sexes, -- the resident Court, in effect -- sixty-one persons; below the salt sat minor12 officers of the household, with their principal subordinates: altogether a hundred and eighteen persons sitting, and about as many liveried servants standing13 behind their chairs, or serving in one capacity or another. It was a very fine show. In a gallery a band with cymbals14, horns, harps15, and other horrors, opened the proceedings16 with what seemed to be the crude first-draft or original agony of the wail17 known to later centuries as "In the Sweet Bye and Bye." It was new, and ought to have been rehearsed a little more. For some reason or other the queen had the composer hanged, after dinner.
After this music, the priest who stood behind the royal table said a noble long grace in ostensible18 Latin. Then the battalion19 of waiters broke away from their posts, and darted20, rushed, flew, fetched and carried, and the mighty21 feeding began; no words anywhere, but absorbing attention to business. The rows of chops opened and shut in vast unison22, and the sound of it was like to the muffled23 burr of subterranean24 machinery25.
The havoc26 continued an hour and a half, and unimaginable was the destruction of substantials. Of the chief feature of the feast -- the huge wild boar that lay stretched out so portly and imposing27 at the start -- nothing was left but the semblance28 of a hoop-skirt; and he was but the type and symbol of what had happened to all the other dishes.
With the pastries29 and so on, the heavy drinking began -- and the talk. Gallon after gallon of wine and mead30 disappeared, and everybody got comfortable, then happy, then sparklingly joyous31 -- both sexes, -- and by and by pretty noisy. Men told anecdotes32 that were terrific to hear, but nobody blushed; and when the nub was sprung, the assemblage let go with a horse-laugh that shook the fortress33. Ladies answered back with historiettes that would almost have made Queen Margaret of Navarre or even the great Elizabeth of England hide behind a handkerchief, but nobody hid here, but only laughed -- howled, you may say. In pretty much all of these dreadful stories, ecclesiastics34 were the hardy35 heroes, but that didn't worry the chaplain any, he had his laugh with the rest; more than that, upon invitation he roared out a song which was of as daring a sort as any that was sung that night.
By midnight everybody was fagged out, and sore with laughing; and, as a rule, drunk: some weepingly, some affectionately, some hilariously36, some quarrelsomely, some dead and under the table. Of the ladies, the worst spectacle was a lovely young duchess, whose wedding-eve this was; and indeed she was a spectacle, sure enough. Just as she was she could have sat in advance for the portrait of the young daughter of the Regent d'Orleans, at the famous dinner whence she was carried, foul-mouthed, intoxicated37, and helpless, to her bed, in the lost and lamented38 days of the Ancient Regime.
Suddenly, even while the priest was lifting his hands, and all conscious heads were bowed in reverent39 expectation of the coming blessing40, there appeared under the arch of the far-off door at the bottom of the hall an old and bent41 and white-haired lady, leaning upon a crutch-stick; and she lifted the stick and pointed42 it toward the queen and cried out:
"The wrath43 and curse of God fall upon you, woman without pity, who have slain44 mine innocent grandchild and made desolate45 this old heart that had nor chick, nor friend nor stay nor comfort in all this world but him!"
Everybody crossed himself in a grisly fright, for a curse was an awful thing to those people; but the queen rose up majestic46, with the death-light in her eye, and flung back this ruthless command:
"Lay hands on her! To the stake with her!"
The guards left their posts to obey. It was a shame; it was a cruel thing to see. What could be done? Sandy gave me a look; I knew she had another inspiration. I said:
"Do what you choose."
She was up and facing toward the queen in a moment. She indicated me, and said:
"Madame, HE saith this may not be. Recall the commandment, or he will dissolve the castle and it shall vanish away like the instable fabric47 of a dream!"
Confound it, what a crazy contract to pledge a person to! What if the queen --
But my consternation48 subsided49 there, and my panic passed off; for the queen, all in a collapse50, made no show of resistance but gave a countermanding51 sign and sunk into her seat. When she reached it she was sober. So were many of the others. The assemblage rose, whiffed ceremony to the winds, and rushed for the door like a mob; overturning chairs, smashing crockery, tugging52, struggling, shouldering, crowding -- anything to get out before I should change my mind and puff53 the castle into the measureless dim vacancies54 of space. Well, well, well, they WERE a superstitious55 lot. It is all a body can do to conceive of it.
The poor queen was so scared and humbled56 that she was even afraid to hang the composer without first consulting me. I was very sorry for her -- indeed, any one would have been, for she was really suffering; so I was willing to do anything that was reasonable, and had no desire to carry things to wanton extremities57. I therefore considered the matter thoughtfully, and ended by having the musicians ordered into our presence to play that Sweet Bye and Bye again, which they did. Then I saw that she was right, and gave her permission to hang the whole band. This little relaxation58 of sternness had a good effect upon the queen. A statesman gains little by the arbitrary exercise of iron-clad authority upon all occasions that offer, for this wounds the just pride of his subordinates, and thus tends to undermine his strength. A little concession59, now and then, where it can do no harm, is the wiser policy.
Now that the queen was at ease in her mind once more, and measurably happy, her wine naturally began to assert itself again, and it got a little the start of her. I mean it set her music going -- her silver bell of a tongue. Dear me, she was a master talker. It would not become me to suggest that it was pretty late and that I was a tired man and very sleepy. I wished I had gone off to bed when I had the chance. Now I must stick it out; there was no other way. So she tinkled60 along and along, in the otherwise profound and ghostly hush61 of the sleeping castle, until by and by there came, as if from deep down under us, a far-away sound, as of a muffled shriek62 -- with an expression of agony about it that made my flesh crawl. The queen stopped, and her eyes lighted with pleasure; she tilted63 her graceful64 head as a bird does when it listens. The sound bored its way up through the stillness again.
"What is it?" I said.
"It is truly a stubborn soul, and endureth long. It is many hours now."
"Endureth what?"
"The rack. Come -- ye shall see a blithe65 sight. An he yield not his secret now, ye shall see him torn asunder66."
What a silky smooth hellion she was; and so composed and serene67, when the cords all down my legs were hurting in sympathy with that man's pain. Conducted by mailed guards bearing flaring68 torches, we tramped along echoing corridors, and down stone stairways dank and dripping, and smelling of mould and ages of imprisoned69 night -- a chill, uncanny journey and a long one, and not made the shorter or the cheerier by the sorceress's talk, which was about this sufferer and his crime. He had been accused by an anonymous70 informer, of having killed a stag in the royal preserves. I said:
"Anonymous testimony71 isn't just the right thing, your Highness. It were fairer to confront the accused with the accuser."
"I had not thought of that, it being but of small consequence. But an I would, I could not, for that the accuser came masked by night, and told the forester, and straightway got him hence again, and so the forester knoweth him not."
"Then is this Unknown the only person who saw the stag killed?"
"Marry, NO man SAW the killing72, but this Unknown saw this hardy wretch73 near to the spot where the stag lay, and came with right loyal zeal74 and betrayed him to the forester."
"So the Unknown was near the dead stag, too? Isn't it just possible that he did the killing himself? His loyal zeal -- in a mask -- looks just a shade suspicious. But what is your highness's idea for racking the prisoner? Where is the profit?"
"He will not confess, else; and then were his soul lost. For his crime his life is forfeited75 by the law -- and of a surety will I see that he payeth it! -- but it were peril76 to my own soul to let him die unconfessed and unabsolved. Nay77, I were a fool to fling me into hell for HIS accommodation."
"But, your Highness, suppose he has nothing to confess?"
"As to that, we shall see, anon. An I rack him to death and he confess not, it will peradventure show that he had indeed naught78 to confess -- ye will grant that that is sooth? Then shall I not be damned for an unconfessed man that had naught to confess -- wherefore, I shall be safe."
It was the stubborn unreasoning of the time. It was useless to argue with her. Arguments have no chance against petrified79 training; they wear it as little as the waves wear a cliff. And her training was everybody's. The brightest intellect in the land would not have been able to see that her position was defective80.
As we entered the rack-cell I caught a picture that will not go from me; I wish it would. A native young giant of thirty or thereabouts lay stretched upon the frame on his back, with his wrists and ankles tied to ropes which led over windlasses at either end. There was no color in him; his features were contorted and set, and sweat-drops stood upon his forehead. A priest bent over him on each side; the executioner stood by; guards were on duty; smoking torches stood in sockets81 along the walls; in a corner crouched82 a poor young creature, her face drawn83 with anguish84, a half-wild and hunted look in her eyes, and in her lap lay a little child asleep. Just as we stepped across the threshold the executioner gave his machine a slight turn, which wrung85 a cry from both the prisoner and the woman; but I shouted, and the executioner released the strain without waiting to see who spoke86. I could not let this horror go on; it would have killed me to see it. I asked the queen to let me clear the place and speak to the prisoner privately87; and when she was going to object I spoke in a low voice and said I did not want to make a scene before her servants, but I must have my way; for I was King Arthur's representative, and was speaking in his name. She saw she had to yield. I asked her to indorse me to these people, and then leave me. It was not pleasant for her, but she took the pill; and even went further than I was meaning to require. I only wanted the backing of her own authority; but she said:
"Ye will do in all things as this lord shall command. It is The Boss."
It was certainly a good word to conjure88 with: you could see it by the squirming of these rats. The queen's guards fell into line, and she and they marched away, with their torch-bearers, and woke the echoes of the cavernous tunnels with the measured beat of their retreating footfalls. I had the prisoner taken from the rack and placed upon his bed, and medicaments applied89 to his hurts, and wine given him to drink. The woman crept near and looked on, eagerly, lovingly, but timorously90, -- like one who fears a repulse91; indeed, she tried furtively92 to touch the man's forehead, and jumped back, the picture of fright, when I turned unconsciously toward her. It was pitiful to see.
"Lord," I said, "stroke him, lass, if you want to. Do anything you're a mind to; don't mind me."
Why, her eyes were as grateful as an animal's, when you do it a kindness that it understands. The baby was out of her way and she had her cheek against the man's in a minute. and her hands fondling his hair, and her happy tears running down. The man revived and caressed93 his wife with his eyes, which was all he could do. I judged I might clear the den11, now, and I did; cleared it of all but the family and myself. Then I said:
"Now, my friend, tell me your side of this matter; I know the other side."
The man moved his head in sign of refusal. But the woman looked pleased -- as it seemed to me -- pleased with my suggestion. I went on --
"You know of me?"
"Yes. All do, in Arthur's realms."
"If my reputation has come to you right and straight, you should not be afraid to speak."
The woman broke in, eagerly:
"Ah, fair my lord, do thou persuade him! Thou canst an thou wilt94. Ah, he suffereth so; and it is for me -- for ME! And how can I bear it? I would I might see him die -- a sweet, swift death; oh, my Hugo, I cannot bear this one!"
And she fell to sobbing95 and grovelling96 about my feet, and still imploring97. Imploring what? The man's death? I could not quite get the bearings of the thing. But Hugo interrupted her and said:
"Peace! Ye wit not what ye ask. Shall I starve whom I love, to win a gentle death? I wend thou knewest me better."
"Well," I said, "I can't quite make this out. It is a puzzle. Now --"
"Ah, dear my lord, an ye will but persuade him! Consider how these his tortures wound me! Oh, and he will not speak! -- whereas, the healing, the solace98 that lie in a blessed swift death --"
"What ARE you maundering about? He's going out from here a free man and whole -- he's not going to die."
The man's white face lit up, and the woman flung herself at me in a most surprising explosion of joy, and cried out:
"He is saved! -- for it is the king's word by the mouth of the king's servant -- Arthur, the king whose word is gold!"
"Well, then you do believe I can be trusted, after all. Why didn't you before?"
"Who doubted? Not I, indeed; and not she."
"Well, why wouldn't you tell me your story, then?"
"Ye had made no promise; else had it been otherwise."
"I see, I see.... And yet I believe I don't quite see, after all. You stood the torture and refused to confess; which shows plain enough to even the dullest understanding that you had nothing to confess --"
"I, my lord? How so? It was I that killed the deer!"
"You DID? Oh, dear, this is the most mixed-up business that ever --"
"Dear lord, I begged him on my knees to confess, but --"
"You DID! It gets thicker and thicker. What did you want him to do that for?"
"Sith it would bring him a quick death and save him all this cruel pain."
"Well -- yes, there is reason in that. But HE didn't want the quick death."
"He? Why, of a surety he DID."
"Well, then, why in the world DIDN'T he confess?"
"Ah, sweet sir, and leave my wife and chick without bread and shelter?"
"Oh, heart of gold, now I see it! The bitter law takes the convicted man's estate and beggars his widow and his orphans99. They could torture you to death, but without conviction or confession100 they could not rob your wife and baby. You stood by them like a man; and YOU -- true wife and the woman that you are -- you would have bought him release from torture at cost to yourself of slow starvation and death -- well, it humbles101 a body to think what your sex can do when it comes to self-sacrifice. I'll book you both for my colony; you'll like it there; it's a Factory where I'm going to turn groping and grubbing automata into MEN."
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