unseasonable a visit to a place that for a
considerable time had been closed? Besides, the light was too vivid to
be produced by one single torch, it might have been attributed to a
conflagration; but no smoke was perceptible, no noise was heard, the
window glasses were not broken, everything in short seemed to indicate
an illumination, such as takes place on public and solemn occasions.
Charles, without uttering a word, remained gazing at the windows of the
council-chamber. The Count Brahe, who had already grasped the bell-cord,
was on the point of summoning a page, in order to ascertain the cause of
this singular illumination, when the king suddenly prevented him. "I
will visit the chamber myself," said his majesty; the seriousness of his
deportment and the paleness of his countenance indicating a strange
mixture of determination and superstitious awe. He quitted the cabinet
with the unhesitating step of one resolved to obtain mastery over
himself; the legislator of etiquette, and the regulator of bodies, each
with a lighted taper, followed him with fear and trembling. The keeper
of the keys had already retired to rest; Baumgarten was despatched by
the king to awaken him, and to order him forthwith to open the doors of
the council-chamber. Unbounded was the worthy keeper's surprise at the
unexpected intimation. Benign Providence, however, has ordained monarchs
to command, and created keepers of keys to obey. The prudent Cerberus
yawned, dressed himself in haste, and presented himself before his
sovereign with the insignia of his office, a bunch of keys of various
dimensions suspended at his girdle. He commenced by opening the door of
a gallery, which served as a sort of ante-room to the council-chamber.
The king entered; but his astonishment may be conceived, on finding the
walls of the building entirely hung with black. "By whose order has this
been done?" demanded the king in a tone of anger. "Sire," replied the
trembling keeper of the keys, "I am ignorant; the last time the gallery
was opened it was wainscoted with oak, as usual, most assuredly these
hangings are not from your majesty's wardrobe." The king, however, had
by this time traversed at a rapid pace two-thirds of the gallery,
without stopping to avail himself of the worshipful warden's
conjectures. The latter personage and the grand chamberlain followed his
majesty, whilst the learned doctor lingered a little in the rear.
"Sire," cried the keeper of the key