situation and submit. What humiliation for the proudest of princesses!
The judge was seated when the prisoners arrived, and by his orders all the doors of the court were closed and everybody was to leave the place. When the princess saw this man, she almost fainted with surprise and astonishment. It was Major Kreutzer, the father of Bathilda, and former commander of Torgau. Too moved to explain anything at first, Kreutzer took his daughter into his arms, and then he quickly sent them back to their prison, whispering to them that he would come to them as soon as he could.
Finally after a few hours, he appeared.
"We have time to talk now," he said. "Under the pretext of being extremely severe, I have given order that you be left in solitary confinement. I should tell you first, that it was the Count of Mersburg who was responsible for your escape from Torgau.
"Yes, we know that," said Adelaide.
"Certainly," said Bathilda, "what he did must have had a good motive."
"Does the count know where you are now?" asked the Major.
"No … But," added the princess, "who has been pursuing us ever since we got out of Torgau? Who had us put in the tower of Schinders and then later in this place? For what reason were we brought here and why are we kept here?"
"All that is unknown to me," answered Kreutzer. "I know only that you were brought before me on the charge of murder. I do not doubt the falsity of the accusations and that all the evidence was forged; but that is usually the case in such courts where one only seeks punishment. It is certain that there is a powerful hand in all this, but the judges never know who these secret agents are. I could have declared you innocent when I judged you, but that would not have saved you. I am going to use another method which should succeed better. In the meantime, is it impossible for you to guess who is back of all this?"
"Absolutely."
"We will know one day, Milady," said Bathilda. "But let's
77
