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Away!" cried he, to the lancers, who, horror-stricken hut powerless to refuse, went on their diabolical mission, "And now," continued Melac, "we will ride to the gates to see what sort of entertainment our hospitable hosts of Speier are preparing for us there." He galloped off with such swiftness that his guardian-angel was left behind.
General Melac slackened his pace, and rode deliberately along the market-place, as if to give that weeping multitude the opportunity of looking upon his cruel face, and reading there that from him no mercy was to be expected. The bells ceased, and their tones were yet trembling on the air, when the women and children lifted up their voices and began to chant: "In my trouble I called on the Lord!"
After plundering their houses of every necessary of life, General Melac now required of them tribute in the shape of twenty thousand florins. To raise one-fourth of the sum was an impossibility in Esslingen; and the burghers of the town had gone in a body to the castle to beg for mercy.
The covetous eyes of Melac glittered, and the blood mounted to his brow. "Two millions!" gasped he. "One for you and one for our brotherhood. Do you swear to keep the secret?" "Most unquestionably." "And also swear that no one but ourselves shall know the place of its concealment?" "I swear, most willingly, for I do not intend to divide my share of the booty with anybody living.
But Melac was insatiable; his eyes feasted on the scarlet hue of German blood, his ears were ravished with the sounds of German groans and sighs; and oftentimes, when the poor hunted fugitives were flying from his presence, he made a pastime of their misery for himself, by aiming at them with his own musket, to see how many he could bring down before they passed out of sight.
General Melac was so interested in a fight between two soldiers and two women whose children had been driven off in the wagons, that, before he was aware of his danger, a sword was uplifted over his head, and a frenzied face was almost thrust into his own.
"Our men act much less like the brave soldiers of a Christian king, than like demons that have been let loose from hell." "You do not flatter us," replied Melac. "And I am curious to know whether anybody else here present shares your opinion." "We are all of one mind," was the unanimous reply.
Melac, laughing at their wretchedness, spurred his horse onward, and plunged into their midst, scattering them right and left like a flock of frightened sheep; and the clang of his horse's hoofs on the stone pavement sounded to his unhappy victims like the riveting of nails in the great coffin wherein their beautiful city was shortly to be buried. But they were not noisy in their grief.
She could frame no words wherewith to cry for mercy, but her soul was with God; and for a few moments she was rapt in an ecstasy that bore her far, far away from the weeping multitude around. She was recalled from her pious transport by the voice of her uncle, one of the deputies, who was addressing the people. General Melac had mocked at their petition.
It lies in the tower of the cathedral, close by the belfry." "Come, then, come; show me the way." They entered the massive doors. The sentry saluted the general, and they passed on. "Let nothing more be done until I return," said Melac to the sentry. "I wish to go over the old building before we consign it to the flames."
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