Poems by George Pope Morris Part 54

KARL.

By what authority do YOU command my answers? In these realms the king alone commands.

KING (again forgetting himself.) That's true--that's very true--the king alone commands--

WEDGEWOOD (shaking his mallet at the KING.) What, Your Majesty--you will--will you?

KING.

Oh, I have forgotten myself again! (Takes his seat.) Confound the fellow!

KARL (aside.) The king here? Then I have one friend at least on whom I may rely. (To KING.) Shall I--may I speak freely?

KING.

The king has no authority now. (Pointing to the jury-box.) There are the sovereigns of the people, and to them you must appeal. (Aside.) What a situation for a monarch!

ALBERT (to KARL.) You know yon Saxon maid and the Count Laniska?

KARL.

I do, and HATE the count!

ALBERT.

Wherefore?

KARL.

He has thwarted my designs!--No, no, I mean not THAT! I mean that I hate him because he plotted treason against the king, and wrote "Tyrant" upon the vase.

ALBERT.

Did he write it?

KARL.

He did--these eyes beheld him.

COUNT (aside.) The perjured caitiff!

SOPHIA.

O Heaven, have mercy upon us!

COUNTESS.

They are lost!

(COUNTESS leans on FREDERICA. The KING beckons to HAROLD, who goes to him. They engage in earnest conversation, occasionally pointing to KARL. HAROLD is supposed to be informing him of the arrest of KARL in SOPHIA's cell. KARL leaves the witness-box, and is about to retire, but is stopped by HAROLD.)

ALBERT.

Call the German inn-keeper to the stand. [HANS is placed in the box.

KARL (aside.) I tremble with apprehension!

ALBERT (to HANS.) You deal in colors--do you not?

HANS.

Yaw, mynherr.

ALBERT.

Have you sold any in Berlin lately?

HANS.

Yaw, mynheer; I sold some of der Prussian blue to der Hungarian overseer of der factory, who gave me monish to say notting about it. He tried der quality upon dis little sc.r.a.p of baper, vich he forgot, and vich I kept, mit der intention of giving him back ven I saw him again. It is scrawled all over mit der word "Tyrant."

KARL (forgetting himself.) That paper's mine--give it me!

WEDGEWOOD (instantly s.n.a.t.c.hing the paper and holding it up, exclaims in a loud tone) It's not convenient! (Hands the paper to ALBERT, who reads it to the JUDGES.)

ALBERT.

An attempt to imitate the handwriting of the count. Compare it with the word upon the vase.

JUDGE.

It is the same!

CHORUS.

Huzza! huzza! etc.

WEDGEWOOD (forgetting himself, after the chorus has finished, shouts at the top of his voice,) Huzza!--(which the KING observing, rises to call him to order; when WEDGEWOOD, noticing the KING, places his hand upon his own mouth; and looking round, and holding his mallet in a threatening manner over KARL, who is silent by way of excusing his mistake, says)--But silence in the court! (The KING, shaking his finger at WEDGEWOOD, takes his seat; HANS leaves the box.)

ALBERT.

Place that workman on the stand. (It is done.) Did you ever see this vase before?

WORKMAN.

Yes, sir.

ALBERT.

Where?

WORKMAN.

I saw Karl receive it for the furnace, and I saw him marking upon it with a sharp instrument, which he suddenly hid in his bosom. (KARL feels for his dagger, and half draws it, looking at SOPHIA ferociously. SOPHIA observes him narrowly, and with great apprehension.)

ALBERT.

Who took the vase from the furnace?

WORKMAN.

Karl.

ALBERT.

Who had possession of it afterward?

WORKMAN.

Karl.

ALBERT.

Who pointed out the word "Tyrant" to the king at the fete of the countess?