Cæsar's Column: A Story of the Twentieth Century
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strangers to me. Why should I believe instrangers when the one whom I loved, and in whom I placedunquestioning trust, has betrayed me, and sold me to the mostdreadful fate?'
"I hung my head.
"'It chances,' I replied, humbly, 'that the instruments of vice maysometimes loathe the work they do. The fearful executioner may,behind his mask, hide the traces of grief and pity. I do not blameyou for your suspicions. I once had aspirations, perhaps as high, andpurity of soul nearly as great as your own. But what are we? Thecreatures of fate; the victims of circumstances. We look upon theMedusa-head of destiny, with its serpent curls, and our wills, if notour souls, are turned into stone. God alone, who knows all, can judgethe heart of man. But I am pledged, by ties the most awful, to asociety which, however terrible its methods may be, is, in its grandconceptions, charitable and just. My life would not be worth a day'spurchase if I did not defend you. One of your friends stands high inthat society.'
"'Which one is that?' she asked eagerly.
"'The smaller and darker one,' I replied.
"'Can you tell me anything about the other?' she asked, and a slightblush seemed to mantle her face, as if she were ashamed of thequestion.
"'Very little,' I replied; 'he is not a member of our Brotherhood;but he is a brave man, and the friend of Mr. Maximilian can not be abad man.'
"'No,' she said, thoughtfully; 'he is of a good and noble nature, andit is in him I trust.'
"'But,' said I, 'I must leave you, or the Prince will wonder at mylong absence.'
"As I took my departure I heard her locking the door behind me. Ireported to the Prince that Miss Washington was quite ill, andconfined to her bed, but that she hoped to do herself the honor ofcalling upon him the next day. He looked glum, but assented. Uponleaving him, I called upon Frederika and requested her to come to myroom. In a few moments she appeared. After seating her I said:
"'Miss Frederika, will you pardon me if I ask you a few questionsupon matters of importance to both of us?'
"'Certainly,' she replied.
"'In the first place,' I said, 'you regard me as your friend, do younot? Have I not always shown a disposition to serve you?'
"She replied with some pleasant smiles and assurances of friendship.
"'Now let me ask you another question,' I continued. 'Do youentertain friendly sentiments to Miss Estella?"
"'Indeed I do,' she replied; 'she is a sweet-tempered, innocent andgentle girl.'
"'I am glad to hear it,' I said; 'did you know that the Prince hasdiscovered her, and has just sent me for her?'
"Her large black eyes fairly blazed.
"'Who has told him of her?' she asked, fiercely, and her voice rosehigh and shrill.
"'Your enemy, Miss Celestine,' I replied. 'I suspected as much,' shesaid.
"''I need not tell you,' I said, 'that Celestine's motive was tosupplant and humble you.'
"'I understand that,' she replied, and her hands twitched nervously,as if she would like to encounter her foe.
"'Now let me ask you another question,' I continued. 'Would you notbe glad to see Estella safely out of this house?'
"'Indeed I would,' she replied, eagerly.
"'If I place my life in your hands, will you be true to me?' I asked.
"She took me earnestly by the hand, and replied:
"'Neither in life nor in death will I betray you.,
"'Then,' said I, 'I will tell you that Estella has friends who are asanxious to get her away from this place as you are. They havearranged to come for her on Monday night next. You must help me toprotect her from the Prince in the meantime, and to facilitate herescape when the time comes.'
"'I will do so,' she said; 'tell me what I can do now?'
"'Make yourself very entertaining to the Prince,' I replied, 'andkeep his thoughts away from the stranger. Estella pleads sickness andkeeps her room; and we may be able to protect her in that way untilthe fateful night arrives. And remember,' I said, touching her uponthe breast and looking earnestly into her eyes, for I have littlefaith in such natures, 'that I am a member of a great secret society,and if any mishap were to happen to me, through your agency, your ownlife would pay the immediate forfeit.'
"She shrank back affrighted, and assured me again of her good faith.And as she desires to be quit of Estella, I think she will not betrayus."
"SUNDAY EVENING, seven o'clock.
"I resume my narrative. I have gone through dreadful scenes since Ilaid down my pen.
"This afternoon about five o'clock the Prince rang for me.
"'Bring Estella,' he said.
"I went at once to her room. I found her looking paler than usual.She had the appearance of one that had not slept.
"'Estella,' I said, 'the Prince has again sent for you. I shallreturn and make the same excuse. Do not worry--all will be well. Weare one day nearer your deliverance.'
"I returned and told the Prince that Estella was even worse than theday before; that she had a high fever; and that she apologized fornot obeying his summons; but that she hoped by to-morrow to be wellenough to pay her respects to him.
"He was in one of his sullen fits. I think Frederika had beenoverdoing her blandishments, and he had become suspicious; for he isone of the most cunning of men.
"'Frederika is behind this business,' he said.
"'Behind what business, my lord?' I asked.
"'This sickness of Estella. Bring her to me, ill or well,' hereplied; 'I want to see her.'
"He was in no humor to be trifled with; and so I returned to my roomto think it over. I saw that Estella would have to barricade herselfin her room. How could she support life in the meantime? The firstrequisite was, therefore, food. I went at once to Michael, the cook'sassistant, who is a trusty friend of mine, and secured from him,secretly and under a pledge of silence, food enough to last until thenext night. I hurried to Estella, told her of her danger, and gaveher the basket of provisions. I instructed her to lock her door.
"'If they break it in,' I said, 'use your knife on the first man thattouches you. If they send you food or drink, do not use them. If theyattempt to chloroform you, stop up the pipe with soap. If the worstcomes to the worst, use the rope-ladder. If you manage to get outsidethe garden gate, call a hack and drive to that address.' Here I gaveher your direction on a small piece of tissue paper. 'If you areabout to be seized, chew up the paper and swallow it. Do not in anyevent destroy yourself,' I added, 'until the last desperate extremityis reached; for you have a powerful organization behind you, and evenif recaptured you will be rescued. Good-by.'
"She thanked me warmly, and as I left the room I heard her again lockthe door.
"I returned to the Prince, and told him that Estella had said she wastoo ill to leave her room, and that she refused to obey his summons.Unaccustomed to contradiction, especially in his own house, he grewfurious.
"'Call the servants,' he shouted; 'we will see who is master here!'
"A few of the men came running; Frederika entered with them; some ofthe women followed. We proceeded up stairs to Estella's door. ThePrince shook it violently.
"'Open the door,' he cried, 'or I will break it down.'
"I began to hope that he would rush to the doom he has so longdeserved.
"The calm, steady voice of Estella was now heard from within theroom; speaking in a high and ringing tone:
"'I appeal to my country. I demand the right to leave this house. Iam an American citizen. The Constitution of the United States forbidshuman slavery. My fathers helped to found this government. No one hasthe right to sell me into the most hideous bondage. I come of a greatand noble race. I demand my release.'
"'Come, come, open the door,' cried the Prince, flinging himselfagainst it until it quivered.
"The voice of Estella was heard again, in solemn tones:
"'The man who enters here dies!'
"The cowardly brute recoiled at once, with terror on every feature ofhis face.
"'Who will break down that door,' he asked, 'and bring out tha
t woman?
"There was a dead silence for a moment; then Joachim, abroad-shouldered, superserviceable knave, who had always tried toingratiate himself with the Prince by spying upon the rest of theservants and tattling, stepped forward, with an air of bravado, andsaid, 'I will bring her out.'
"'Go ahead,' said the Prince, sullenly.
"Joachim made a rush at