The Heart of Princess Osra

ss of Steph

Stephen!

d Lazarus had made a great business of it, and had spent his savings in buying up the better part of the street; but since Jews then might hold no property in Strelsau, he had taken all the deeds in the name of Stephen Nados; and when he came to die, being unable to carry his houses or his money with him, having no kindred, and caring not a straw for any man or woman alive save Stephen, he bade Stephen let the deeds be, and, with a last curse against the Christians (of whom Stephen was one, and a devout one), he kissed the young m

atiently hammering on the closed door with

rother, who had just come back from his travels with half a dozen wild stories spurring after him, yet Henry was a comely youth, as he sat on his chestnut mare, with his blue eyes full of impatience, and his chestnut curls fringing hi

head, "it's thankless work to spend a glance on eithe

ft no debts of that sort unpaid, however deep he might be in the boo

ot very well pleased to see his guest, for it was a ticklish moment with the nose of Saint Peter, and Stephen would have liked to

sir," he observed, pat

," answered Henry. "T

flaxen hair, which he wore long and in thick waves, and played in his yellow beard; and he looked very grave. For when the Lion r

y spoke of his father, Henry surnamed the Lion, now an old man, y

ous with me than he has ever been with Rudolf; aye, even more

f it all, sir, and how i

e Prince with a bitter laugh. "You will be

's ring, the ring is not

a way, about a ring. For you are to be married

ldly. "For it is a thing that a man

among my sister Osra's ladies, a certain dark lady, w

ame, sir," suggested Steph

name is Hilda-Hil

tess Hilda. I have ma

den rapture and so loudly (being carried away by his passion) that the g

observed Stephen. "But, pray, how

e grew more bitte

suggestion of Osra's, made in jest; my fath

ere discovered. Then Osra was scornful, and the King mad, and Rudolf laughed; and when they talked of what was to be done to her, Osra came in with her laughing suggestion. It caught the King's angry fancy, and he swore that it should be so. And, since the Archbishop is away, he has bidden the Bishop of

her; and it is not fitting that a lady of her birth should mate with

e looked kind and gentle, yet was reputed to grow angry at times, and then to be very dangerous. Therefore Prince Henry, knowing (or thinking that he knew) the caprices of women, and how they are caught by this and that, was suddenly seized with a terrible fear that the Countess Hilda might not despise Stephen the smith. Yet he did not express his fear, but said that it was an i

a wife?" cried t

is bound," said

. Yet who is she? Is she any of th

ered Stephen, smiling as though

you pledg

but not s

s she lo

unlikely," said S

Prince despondently. "They will send for you in h

e her

her, however urgently t

ot a glance on the bevy of girls who watched him go; and Stephen, turning into his hous

d after a long pause he added, "I never tho

and no time was to be lost, he followed them as he was, in his apron, without washing his hands or getting rid of the dust that hung about him from his work. However he had finished Saint Peter's nose and

rst bloom of her young beauty; and she was smiling scornfully. Prince Henry stood before his father, and some yards from him was the Countess Hilda, trembling and tearful, supported by one of her companions; and finally, since the Archbishop was gone to Rome to get himself a Scarlet Hat, the Bishop of Modenstein, a young man of noble family, was th

od, which argued no less resolution than his first fierce wrath. There was a grim smile on his face as he

cking graciousness, "well recognises your worth

nce Rudolf alone, sire," interrupted Ste

old her! Is she not handsome? On my word, I envy you, smith. She is beautiful, young, high-born. You are lucky, smith. Nay, no thanks. It is but what you deserve-and no more than she deserves. Take her and be happy,"

and be happ

us in history-lifted up his hands in horror at Rudolf's last whispered jest, and then

on's face. And the Princess Osra sat unmoved, the scornful smile still on her lips; it seemed as

hen the smith. "Does th

r the purpose, smith," grinne

er if she lo

ur King's word must

sty says that

ay so,

rry for her; for as there's a heave

come with marriage, smith; for with marriage love either comes or goes-eh, son Rudolf?-and since in this case it cannot go, you must not doubt, friend Stephen, that it will come." And he threw hi

tted Stephen, "were it not that

nruly things, smith, and must be kept i

sire," answered

been scanning Stephen's figure, here

r whom you love so pas

ll her of my love, madame,

rved Prince Rudolf. "The harm lies

hers, chimed in: "Aye, let's hear about her whom you prefer to this lady. In what shop does she work, smi

man's eyes, and, sinking into a chair, spread his hand across his face. But Stephen, regarding the King with

I would not care if she were. But one day, when the clouds hung dark over our street, she came ridi

ou do for me," rem

when she had given me the bracelet, she rode on again at once and took no more notice of me than of the flies that were crawling up my wall. That was the first and is the last time that I have spoken to her until th

ence in it; for if she prove obdurate, friend Stephen, you will th

oaths," said Stephen, with

said the old King. "He knows what all

with all the country,"

, and the Countess Hilda also looked covertly out from the f

so beautiful

heaven, madame,

etty sister?" asked Ru

iful, sir," an

King, "very much more bea

our son Henry, sire," s

Countess. We cannot all have what we want in this world,

has thrice refused me," t

my lord Bishop here, are waiting. Send for her,

ce Rudolf with a merry smile. "And poor

t a little further for

ill send for her. Indeed I

han I am now; and if she says yes, still I

the Countess, but shall be free to try your fortune with the girl;" for the smith h

her name," said Stephen, "though I had rat

ince Rudolf, "but the thing can be d

said the Princess, her eyes wandering now from the C

ame riding down the street and took away my heart wi

and a deep flush spread over the face of the Princess; while the Countess, her companion, and the younger Prince seemed too astonished to do anything but stare. As for Stephen, having said what

to his daughter, he said: "Come, Osra, you have heard the declaration. It remains only for you to satisfy our good friend

ed no absurd idea of listening to his madness, or of doing anything in the world but laugh at it as it deserved, yet there came on her a strange dislike of the project that she had herself, in sport, suggested: namely, that the smith should be married immediately to the Countess Hilda by the Lord Bishop of Modenstein. The f

fellow as this? Why, to refuse him is a stain

m so much because of h

said she tartly, and she t

ed his eyes on the Princess's face. She felt his gaze, he

d away. But he looked still more intentl

y no three times as

s knowledge of a woman's whims, and, maybe, read something of what was passing in

erefore he professes this ridiculous passion, knowing well that Osra will refuse him, and that he will enjoy the great good fortune of marryi

said Stephen. "I have to

re is! Rudolf has hit the mark. Yet I do not grudge hi

; so that her mind was very greatly disturbed, and she was devoured with eagerness to know the reality of the smith's feelings towards her; for, although he was only a smith, yet he was a wonderfully handsome man-in truth, it was curious that she had not paid attention to his looks before. Thus she was reluctant to refuse him a third time, when the Bishop of Modenstein stood there, waiting only for her word to marry him to the Countess; and she rose suddenly

n, fell to laughing again, swearing to one another that a woman was

can't go on," cr

; and, since this young fool" (and he pointed to his son Henry) "will not wander while she is caged, let h

do, sire?" asked

kled the King, "you may go back to where

me very thoughtful; for it seemed to him that the Countess had been hardly treated, and that the Pri

s, the afternoon wore away fast. So

aring for such a colour; a blackamoor would serve as well! Ah, what had that silly smith meant? It must have been a trick, as Rudolf said. Yet when he spoke first of her riding down the street, there was a look in his eyes that a man can hardly put there of his own will. Did the silly fellow then really--? Nay, that was absurd; she prayed that it might not be true, for she would not have the poor fool unhappy. Nay, he was no fool. It was a tri

it. As she looked a smile came, parting her lips, and she threw her head back as she said: "I will go and ask the smith what he meant." And she smi

t. Then suddenly came a light timid rap at the door; so light was it that the smith doubted if he had really heard, but it came again and he rose leisurely and opened the door. Even as he did so a slight tall f

was not wearing his apron now, but was dressed in a well-cut suit of brown cloth and had put on a

o I am?" asked

e smith, "I have known the sun when I saw

drawn down, and one eye g

," said Osra. "And you do

" asked he, drawing a step nearer, yet

ask. But I am very silly to have com

t could be anything, mada

beautiful-my brother

opinions of Princes

he asked, drawing the v

humble folk-with Prince

their names, though humbler

d have served

she cried in sudden h

t what,

whether you me

ll, that I marvel you

e had in her own chamber. Stephen stood regarding her

e a fancy to ask it. Stephen, was it a trick, or-or was it

to you. If you say no a thi

marry the

bey the Kin

rincess. "A lady of her rank should n

ght so all alo

ick?" she cried in

he said softly: "If she loves the Prince

s birth is

I am of no birth, for I

the Princess; and there was no more of the veil

used me the third time,

and she smiled no more, but was as eager as

morrow at this time," said S

ake a comparison between

wn terms," said the smith. "Yet if you will ref

ou," she cried,

bring the Coun

ve behaved ill to her, Stephen

for amends, m

riously in his face, but he met

should not be here longer, madame

phen the smith walks? No, I will go as I

e not refuse

to-morrow when I com

will ans

ow Stephen opened it for her to pass out;

, shining street, and was gone; and Stephen, having closed the door, passed his hand twic

le of Strelsau, while five mounted men rode at a gallop to each of the five gates of the city, bearing commands that the gates should be closed, and no man, woman, or child be allowed to pass out without an order under the hand of the King's Marshal. And the King swore by heaven, and by much else, that he would lay them-that is to say, the persons whose disappearance caused all this hubbub-by the heels, and that they should know that there was life in the Lion yet; whereat Prince

eremony broke them in; they ransacked every crevice and cranny of every house, and displayed the utmost zeal imaginable; nay, one old lady they so terrified that she had a fit there where she lay in bed, and did not recover for the best part of a month.

the door from the sword-hilt of th

e house, for the window was closely shutter

o house unsearched. Come, we must break in the door!" and he began to examine the

ghed. "Why, in the devil's name, doesn't the fell

me from the insi

e carried and cried "Fire!" and bade his men run and procure a ladder; for plainly the fruit-seller's house was on fire, and it was a more urgent matter to rescue men and women from burning than to find the Countess and the Prince. Presently the ladder came, and a great crowd of people, roused by the whistle and the cries of fire, came also; and then the door of Stephen's house was opened, and Stephen himse

ey are still in the house." And he put his head in at his door and called: "You had better come out, la

they stood watching the fire at the fruit-seller's. Then, seeing that the fire was burning low-which it did very quickly-they did not stay till the attention of the Sergeant was

r," said the tallest apprentic

sir, and a few crowns to repair his sc

and of the Countess into his; and the third apprentice walked s

no trick,

he truth, madame

, "how I am to return to t

and the Countess away fir

his, Stephen the smith went up to him and began to talk to him, the three apprentices standing close by. The Commandant knew Stephen well, and was pleased to talk with him while the gates were opened and the troopers filed through. Stephen kept close by him till the troopers were all through. Then he turned and spoke to the apprent

ughed the Commandant. "We

not," said Stephen earnes

, the gate-warden wan

e then, sir. Hallo, hallo! sto

arted through the half-closed gate, and run swiftly for

e of Our Lady! And now I shall see no more of them till to-morrow! They shall

" said he, "but I have other fish to fry. Well, boys wi

," said Stephen; and the Commandan

Princess

y escape,

hearts, and an angry King behind them. I shoul

ed through the gr

those. How happy they must be,

phen bade the Princess go into the inner room and resume her own dress that she might return to the palace, and that it might not be known where she had been nor how she had aided her brother to evade the King's prohibition; and when she,

hreshold with his staff

t the fire at the fruit-seller's was out) that he had never searched the house of the smith,

he said, "or my orders

seek are not her

f," answered the Sergeant.

she put her head round the door of the inn

, Stephen. At any cost

adame, they shall no

n the house," excl

a house," said Stephen, and he gr

manded the Sergeant. "For the

d he loved sometimes to use it; and above all, he loved to use it now at the bidding an

d body you c

ulder, and the Sergeant's arm fell powerless by his side. Thereupon the Guards cried aloud, and people began to come out of their houses, seeing that there was a fight at Stephen's door. And Stephen's eyes gleamed, and when the Guards thrus

d being very much moved, she kept murmuring to herself, "I have not said no thrice!" And she spent no thought on the Countess or her brother, nor on how she was to return undetected to the palace, but saw on

not yet come up with the quarry. Prince Rudolf laughed and yawned and wished his brother at the devil, but mounted his horse and rode with the King. Thus they traversed the city, riding swiftly, the old King furiously upbraiding every officer and soldier whom he met; then they rode to the gate; and all the gate-wardens said that nobody had gone out, save that one gate-warden admitted that two appr

King could not make head or tail of the babel of voices and different stories. And Prince Rudolf dropped his reins and sat on his horse laughing. But the King, his patience being clean gone, drew his sword and cried fiercely, "Make way!" and

n his hand. Blood flowed from a wound in his head, but he twirled the staff to and fro, and was not weary, and none of the Guard dared to rush in and close with him. Thus he had held the threshold for an hour; yet the Princess Osra could not escape unless he could drive off the Guard for a few moments, and this he hoped to do,

through the crowd that ringed the house round, and the Kin

being carried away by passion, raised his sword and rode full at him. And the Princess from within caught sight of his face, and she fell on her knees with a moan and hid her face. Then Stephen saw that it was the King and none other who rode against him; and even had the King given him time, it may be that he would not have yielded, for he was a very resolute man, and he had pledged his promise to Osra the Princess. But he had no time for thought, for the King was on him in the space of a second, and he could do nothing but drop the staff that he held,

his wound, said with difficulty: "Co

ed from his horse; the Prince supported Stephen inside the house, and

e hers, and if he died her heart would ache sorely for him. Then Stephen, being supported by the arms of Prince Rudolf, made shift to speak, and he told the King how, at his persuasion, the Princess had brought the Countess thither; how he himself had contrived the presence of the Prince at the same time, how again the Princess had been prevailed upon to aid the lovers; how they assumed the disguise of apprentices; and how, hearing the arrival of the Guard, they had escaped out into the street; and lastly, how that the Prince and the Co

w," said he; "but unless he would rather hang than bleed to death, let

he Prince cannot cure me. You still strike

Hold the fellow easily, Rudolf, I would not have him suffer." And this was, they say

cried gently to Osra, "Come, sister, and help me with him." And she rose, and came and sat down by the wall, and gathered Stephen's head into her lap; and there he lay, looking up at her, with a smile on

girl is young, and the m

or he forgot Prince Henry and the Countess, and did not think of sending men in pu

looking up a

They will escape now,

ng for them," sa

nt for a little,

he first day that you rode along the street here; it was always the s

; and it is not for doubt o

a little whi

madame, becaus

weep f

e me live, mad

-no-but I do not

mith smiled, and h

difference to the Princess Osra whe

read all over her cheeks, and she turned her eyes away from his, and

n the Princess whet

s head on her lap. And a bright gleam came into his eyes, and he tried to move a hand towards her hand; and

t refused me thr

nd for a moment it seemed to them that all things became possible, life and jo

low over his head, an

refused you th

ce again, and, being v

will not?

led and turned on his side; and he nestled his head

Osra the Princess had not refused him thrice. And she laid him gently on

is dead,

ir houses; and when all the streets were cleared, the Princess veiled herself, and her brother mounted her on his h

riend to a Friend." But when this monument had stood three days in its place, there came thither a lady closely veiled; she prayed on her knees by the monument for a long while, and then rose and stood regarding it; and her eyes rested on the last words that Prince Henry had written on the stone. Then she came nearer, and kissed the words, and, when she had kissed them, she whis

, Stephen,

e a great thing, a thing that would appear impossible, before he died. And, as Prince Rudolf said, what matter