Barbarossa; An Historical Novel of the XII Century. by Conrad von Bolanden
_CHAPTER XXXI_.
_AT RIVOLI_.
An express was immediately dispatched to Rivoli, bearing to Count Harothe order to get all the apartments of his castle in readiness. Dasselhimself sent forward a train of mules, bearing costly carpets, silvercandlesticks, and massive plate--everything, in short, which was neededto offer a most sumptuous hospitality. The castle, usually so quiet,assumed an air of gayety, and the steward rushed in every direction,arranging and disarranging, ordering, scolding, and hastening on thepreparations.
The chaplain of the castle alone remained calm, in the midst of thegeneral confusion. Evidently, some unusual occurrence condemned him toidleness, for his callous hands showed that his occupations were notpurely intellectual. The servants generally abandoned to him everythingwhich they refused to do, and his appearance was rather that of astable-boy than an ecclesiastic. Although he had received but a limitededucation, Rainulph felt the impropriety of such behavior, and oftencomplained that his spiritual functions were not regarded with becomingreverence. But his murmurs rarely reached the Count's ear, and whenthey did, little attention was paid to them; for Haro, always at Court,knew too well the Emperor's course towards the Pope to be respectful tohis own chaplain.
"Since the Pope," he told him, "obeys Frederic's orders, you must makeup your mind to do as I tell you."
But the chaplain of Rivoli was suddenly aroused from his inactivity bya shrill voice.
"How is this, sluggard?" cried the angry steward; "the stable is notswept yet, everything is out of place, and the horses of His Majestyand the Court will be here directly!"
"I don't care," answered Rainulph; "the manure may stay there; I shallnot touch it!"
The steward could not believe his ears. The conduct of the formerlysubmissive chaplain seemed inexplicable.
"Are you mad? Have you not done that work a hundred times?"
"Yes, and more too! You have made me do the most menial drudgery, and Ihave complained in vain; but it is different to-day."
"I suppose that you hardly intend to appeal to the Emperor?" sneeredthe other. "You will make a fine thing of it. Don't you know, fool,that the Pope and the bishops are as much the servants of the Emperoras the chaplains are of the Castellan? I tell you it is the custom!"
"It is a bad custom, an impious custom! Priests were not ordained toclean out stables, but to discharge their sacred calling."
"Ah! what a noble transport! Wait a minute, till I teach you yourduty!"
At that moment a horseman dashed up, and announced that the prelateswere close at hand. The steward raised his eyes to heaven, tore hishair, ordered the chaplain to be locked up in one of the towers, and,entering the castle, mounted upon a turret.
"May all the saints aid me!" he cried, as he saw the valley shiningwith helmets, and lances, and armor. "What! it is a whole army!--anarmy of knights and counts! How am I to lodge all these in Rivoli,where there is scarcely room for twenty lords with their retinues? Itis impossible; they cannot all come here! They must be blind not to seethat the castle cannot hold them, even were I to stow some of theknights in the barns and the cellars. No! it is not possible! But letus see: they are at the foot of the hill. Ah! the men-at-arms halt, andare letting the prelates take the lead. Quick, Romano, quick! put onyour finest suit, the newest you have. To-day you must be marshal ofthe palace."
Whilst the steward was donning his rich livery, and taking his longsilver-headed staff of office, Eberhard of Salzburg slowly ascended thehill. The old man was tall in stature, of energetic strongly-markedfeatures, whose expression was by no means softened by a pair ofpiercing eyes. His voice was deep and sonorous, and all his wordscarefully selected. He rode easily, in spite of his advanced age, whichhad neither broken down his vigorous physical strength nor weakened hisintellect. His suite and the costume which he himself wore indicatedhis high rank. His surcoat was bordered with ermine, and he wore aroundhis neck a heavy gold chain, to which hung a pastoral cross enrichedwith jewels. The saddle of his courser was ornamented with rings andbuckles of silver.
By his side were Herman, Bishop of Brixen; and Gerhoh, prior ofReichersberg; two noble dignitaries of grave and serious demeanor.Behind them were several abbots, and last, the escort of honor, sent byFrederic, in which could be remarked Count Erwin of Rechberg.
Count Haro hastened to the court-yard to welcome the prelate, as hedismounted; a crowd of servants stood ready to take care of the horses,and soon the noble hosts were introduced to the castle.
Eberhard's own followers remained at the foot of the hill, where theyat once pitched their tents, as was the custom of the time. About twohundred soldiers had accompanied the Archbishop, from Salzburg, andformed an escort sufficiently numerous to hold in awe the mostdesperate highwaymen.
The prelate knew that a display of strength always imposes upon savageand uneducated men, and, although living, in his own house, with almostmonastic simplicity, he never neglected on all public occasions toappear with as much pomp as possible.
Offering his fatigue as an excuse, he partook but lightly of thebanquet, and soon retired to his own apartment; the other ecclesiasticsshortly followed his example; but Haro and the laymen, who were hisguests, remained at table until nightfall.
The pleasures of the feast offered little attraction to Erwin, and hefound still less pleasure in listening to the recital of Barbarossa'svictory over the Milanese, which he had already heard recounted ahundred times, in all its most minute details.
Taking advantage of a beautiful spring evening, he left the hall andthe castle, and descending the hill, soon found himself in the littlepark. He had scarcely taken his seat and begun to reflect that in spiteof the Metropolitan's intercession, his Imperial godfather might,possibly, send him back again to Suabia, when a long whistle attractedhis attention. A little while after, the sound was repeated, andreplied to from the castle; then he heard footsteps, and saw two menapproach each other and converse in a low tone, at a short distancefrom him.
The occurrence appeared mysterious and aroused his curiosity, the moreso, that these night-walkers wore the short cloaks and high hats of theItalian nobility, which almost concealed the face. Rechberg listenedattentively, but could not make out their conversation. He only couldcatch the names of "Pope, Emperor, France, and Eberhard," because theywere uttered with much energy. To his great surprise, he suddenly heardhis own name pronounced.
"Count Erwin of Rechberg!--It is not possible!"
The other added a few words in a smothered voice, to which a curse wasthe reply. Then they separated, one of them moving towards the castle.Erwin determined to accost the Unknown. The stranger with surprisehalted and laid his hand on his sword. Erwin looked at him attentively,but could distinguish nothing, except a pair of flashing eyes and athick black beard.
"It is not my profession to interfere with honest people," he said,"but as you made use of my name, just now, I have the right to ask whoyou are and with what you reproach me."
"Who I am is of no importance to you, Count," answered the stranger;"and if you follow the teachings of your own conscience, I can reproachyou with nothing."
"What do you mean? For whom do you take me?"
"For a frivolous youth, who forgets his promises too easily."
"Villain! withdraw this insult at once, or ----" And he put his hand tohis sword-hilt.
"I have no intention of offending you," replied the Unknown, coolly;"do not draw your sword: not that I fear it, but because I have no wishto fight with a gentleman whose enemy I am not."
"Ah! and yet you do not hesitate to calumniate me!"
"Unpleasant truths are not calumnies. It is positive that you havebroken your word, in a circumstance where it should have been heldsacred."
"The proof! Quickly--or, upon my honor, you shall not repeat the insulta third time!"
"Do you know the Lady of Castellamare?
"Yes."
"You are betrothed to her."
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"Are you not restored to Barbarossa's favor on condition of marryinganother person?"
"I--forget Hermengarde!--such an assertion does not even merit adenial."
"That is strange," said the Unknown, shaking his head.
"What else is there besides?"
"The Emperor banished you on account of your projects of marriage, andyet you are back again."
"You conclude therefore that I have purchased the Imperial favor by theviolation of my word?"
"Such is my conviction."
"Why suppose evil rather than good? Would it not have been morenatural to think that Rechberg had profited by Eberhard's arrival toobtain pardon through his intercession? That would have been reasonableand just, and you would have guessed the correct motive of my return."
"Are you not invited to the Court?"
"I am not."
"If such is the case, your fidelity has been severely tested. Do not beuneasy about your reconciliation with Barbarossa; you come at anopportune moment. He needs you, or, rather, he would like to use you,to accomplish an evil action. Still I hope that you will not allowyourself to be led away."
"Will you explain your meaning?"
"You will learn it soon enough. Misfortune travels quickly. I merelytell you: be faithful to your betrothed, to your wife; do not beseduced or dazzled by ambition. Farewell!----"
"One moment! Cease this equivocation and tell me plainly what all thismeans."
"Still, you must be satisfied with what I have made known to you: youare forewarned; that is all that is necessary. Do not delay me, for mytime is precious; we will meet again in Pavia."
The stranger disappeared, and Rechberg, full of uneasiness, returned tothe castle.