“Remove her to her chamber,” said Dr. Coleman, who now appeared; “this agitation will destroy her—her exhausted frame is not able to endure it.”
In fact, the Queen was now completely overpowered, and was carried off by Emma and her attendants in violent hysterics.
Lord Maysworth had not been present at this scene, for his time had been otherwise engaged; and to explain what occupied him, it will be necessary to go back to the prison of Prince Ferdinand. It may be recollected, when Cheops removed Clara, he had informed the prince that Lord Maysworth and Father Murphy would be with him in a few hours. The Mummy’s information was correct, for at the appointed time they came.
“Och!” said Father Murphy, “and where’s Clara? So they’ve let me in after all, ye see; for, knowing Lord Maysworth was your friend, I went to consult him; and when he talked to them and tould them how barbarous it was to deny a poor fellow that was just going to be burnt alive the consolations of religion, they hadn’t the heart to refuse me.”
“Oh!” groaned Prince Ferdinand; “is there no hope of escape?”
“I fear not,” said Lord Maysworth; “for notwithstanding the enormous expense attending public executions, the people are so fond of them, that it is necessary to indulge them now and then; and they are so devoted to Lord Edmund that his adversary has no chance. Besides, they say there are plenty of witnesses to prove that you have addressed the most impassioned language to the Queen; your enthusiasm one night at her singing—”
“I remember,” cried Prince Ferdinand; “idiot that I was—oh! curses on my folly.”
“Ah, that’s right,” exclaimed Father Murphy; “indulge yerself a little, my honey, and it will do ye good. I don’t know a pretthier amusement than cursing and swearing, and finding fault when one’s in throuble; and I’d be far from denying ye a little harmless indulgence; for, as ye’re to die so soon it would be cruel, ye know, not to let ye have all the consolation ye can get hold of.”
“Oh!” exclaimed Prince Ferdinand, “I am the most wretched of human beings.”
“And ye may say that, for I don’t see any great hope ye have, in respect that the people must have a victim, and they’d like to have you betther than Lord Edmund. But never mind that, for the worst that can happen at all, is that ye’ll be roasted alive!”
“Oh!” groaned Prince Ferdinand, not much consoled by this encouraging speech.
“Wehe mir!” exclaimed Hans; “and can nothing be done?—for though roasting alive may be the worst that can happen, I don’t think my master such an amateur in cookery as to wish to try the experiment.”
“Och!” cried Father Murphy, “and I’m quite of your opinion; and so, if the prince would just try, and get readhy a word or two of defence—or if some clevher person that knows the world like yere lordship, for instance, would jist give him a word or two of advice—the thing would be done entirely, and all right.”
“Oh!” cried the prince, clasping his hands together, “save me! I implore you to save me!”
“I will do all I can,” said Lord Maysworth, smiling most graciously; “rely upon me, prince; the suggestion of the holy father shall be attended to. The gratitude I owe your father demands my greatest exertions—and I am most happy to have an opportunity of serving his son. This worthy father’s plan is excellent: I wonder it did not strike me before. Confide securely in me, prince; a proper defence shall be prepared, and I think by it you may escape.”
So saying he retired, leaving Prince Ferdinand somewhat consoled by his assurances, but by no means reconciled even to the possibility of being roasted alive. The intermediate time between this conversation and the day fixed for the trial of the prince, was spent by Lord Maysworth in preparing, with the assistance of those “learned in the law,” this defence: and when it was finished, his rapture was beyond description. Three times did he read it over with still increasing satisfaction, for, as he considered it as his own production, he regarded it with all the true, yet indescribable rapture of a doting parent. We are all so fond of our own children, whether of the mind or of the body, regarding them as emanations from ourselves, upon which we may indulge our self-love without the grossness of undisguised vanity, that the transport of Lord Maysworth is not surprising; though he actually carried it so far, that, notwithstanding his professed attachment and gratitude to the German Emperor, I believe if the means of procuring the prince’s escape had been offered to him, he would rather have let him stay at the risk of being burned alive, than have lost the pleasure he anticipated on hearing the delivery of his speech.
The important day arrived, and the prince, accompanied by his faithful Hans and Lord Maysworth, proceeded to the court; the latter carrying his beloved brief in his own pocket, rightly considering it far too estimable to be entrusted into any other hands than his.
The court was crowded to an excess—for strange tales of the passion and illness of the Queen had gone forth into the world, each edition more wonderful than that which went before it, and the people now thronged to see the prince with that extraordinary feeling, so common amongst the English, which makes them stare at a great man in much the same way as they would at a wild beast.
An automaton judge sat with great dignity upon a magnificent throne, looking, though a little heavy, quite as wise and sagacious as judges are wont to look. A real jury (that is, a jury of flesh and blood,) was ranged upon one side of him, and some automaton counsel
