United States or Barbados ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
For one of the first faces he beheld, one of the few unmasked faces in that brilliantly lit salon, was the face of Ankarstrom, and Ankarstrom appeared to be watching the entrance.
Yet possibly he did not suffer more than his victim, whose agony had lasted for thirteen days, and who perished miserably in the consciousness that he deserved his fate, whilst Ankarstrom was uplifted and fortified by his fanaticism. The scaffold was erected on the Stora Torget, facing the Opera House of Stockholm, where the assassination had taken place.
The lesser nobility of Sweden were angered by a measure following upon so many others that bore peculiarly heavily upon themselves; and out of that anger, fanned by one man John Jacob Ankarstrom who had felt the vindictive spirit of royal injustice, flamed in secret the conspiracy against the King's life which Bjelke had discovered.
He had drained a little phial just before stepping into the presence of Lillesparre, as they discovered upon inquiries made after he had collapsed dead at their feet. This caused them to bring back Ankarstrom, that he might be searched, lest he, too, should take some similar way of escaping them.
Above all Swedes he had cause to fear John Jacobi Ankarstrom, for, foully as he had wronged many men in his time, he had wronged none more deeply than that proud, high-minded nobleman. He hated Ankarstrom as we must always hate those whom we have wronged, and he hated him the more because he knew himself despised by Ankarstrom with a cold and deadly contempt that at every turn proclaimed itself.
Presently came Duke Charles, the King's brother, and Benzelstjerna with the list of those who had been present at the ball. "Tell me," he asked, before the list was read to him, "is the name of Ankarstrom included in it?" "He was the last to sign, Sire," replied the chamberlain. The King smiled grimly. "Tell Lillesparre to have him arrested and questioned." Armfelt flung forward.
But they had not saved him from the vindictiveness of Gustavus. He had kept his lust of vengeance warm, and very patiently had he watched and waited for his opportunity to destroy the man, who had struck him. That chance had come four years ago in 1788 during the war with Russia. Ankarstrom commanded the forces defending the island of Gothland.
It was the cold, passionless voice of Ankarstrom that spoke. "My pistol was loaded with rusty nails. I intended to make quite sure of ridding my country of that perjured tyrant." Armfelt stared at the prisoner a moment with furious, bloodshot eyes. Then he broke into imprecations, stemmed only when Lillesparre ordered Ankarstrom to be removed.
Gustavus checked in his stride, a tremor ran through him, and he stiffened in his sudden apprehension, for the sight of the tall figure and haughty, resolute face of the nobleman he had wronged was of more significance than at first might seem. Ever since his infamous trial Ankarstrom had been at pains to seize every occasion of marking his contempt for his Prince.
"Very well," he said, and suffered them to thrust him back into his carriage and carry him away to the waiting Lillesparre. He found Armfelt in the office of the chief of the police, haranguing Ankarstrom, who was already there under arrest. The favourite broke off as Bjelke was brought in. "You were privy to this infamy, Bjelke," he cried. "If the King does not recover " "He will not recover."
Word Of The Day