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Updated: May 13, 2025
Far below them the moonlight played upon the sluggish waters of the moat. In the distance twinkled the lights of the village of Blentz. From the courtyard and the palace came faintly the sound of voices, and the movement of men. A horse whinnied from the stables. Barney turned his eyes upward. He could see the head and shoulders of Joseph leaning from the window of the chamber directly above them.
He might lose even more men had lost their heads for tampering with the affairs of kings. "Well?" persisted the chancellor. "Lieutenant Butzow is partially correct he honestly believes that he is entirely so," replied the American. "He did ride with me from Lustadt to Blentz to save the man who lies dead here at your feet.
After Butzow and one of the troopers had washed and dressed the wounds of both men Barney asked them to leave the room. "I wish to sleep," he said. "If I require you I will ring." Saluting, the two backed from the apartment. Just as they were passing through the doorway the American called out to Butzow. "You have Peter of Blentz and Maenck in custody?" he asked.
Prince Ludwig von der Tann turned toward the bearded young man. Silence fell upon the crowded cathedral. Peter of Blentz stood awaiting the outcome, ready to demand the crown upon the first indication of wavering belief in the man he knew was not Leopold. "How may we know that you are really Leopold?" again asked Ludwig of Barney.
Presently one of them struck a light Barney could see its flare lighten the window casing for an instant. "The room is empty," came a voice from above him. "Look to the window!" cried Peter of Blentz, and then Barney Custer let go his hold upon the sill and dropped into the blackness below. His fall was a short one, for the window had been directly over a low shed at the side of the inn.
He returned his friend's salute, looked him full in the eyes, and asked where he was riding. "To Blentz, your majesty," replied Butzow, "to demand an audience. I bear important word from Prince von der Tann. He has learned the Austrians are moving an entire army corps into Lutha, together with siege howitzers.
Barney could almost see the smile of satisfaction upon the thin lips of Peter of Blentz as this broad hint fell from the lips of the Austrian diplomat a hint that seemed to the American little short of the death sentence of Leopold, King of Lutha. "We owed you much before, count," said Peter.
He recalled the incidents of the hour of his imprisonment here, thought of old Joseph who had aided his escape, looked at the paneled fireplace, whose secret, it was evident, not even the master of Blentz was familiar with and grinned. "'For at dawn you die!" he repeated to himself, still smiling broadly.
From him Barney learned that Peter of Blentz had succeeded in recruiting a fair-sized army in the lowlands. Two regiments of government infantry and a squadron of cavalry had united forces with him, for there were those who still accepted him as regent, believing his contention that the true king was dead, and that he whose coronation was to be attempted was but the puppet of old Von der Tann.
Before Maenck was half-way through his narrative, Peter of Blentz was wide awake and all attention. His eyes glowed with suddenly aroused interest. "Somewhere in this, prince," concluded Maenck, "there must lie the seed of fortune for you and me." Peter nodded. "Yes," he mused, "there must." For a time both men were buried in thought. Suddenly Maenck snapped his fingers. "I have it!" he cried.
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