s, "I beseech your majesty to go no
farther. As I have a living soul, there is witchcraft in this matter. At
this hour ... and since the death of the queen, God be gracious to us!
It is said that her majesty walks every night in this gallery." "Hold,
Sire!" cried the Count in his turn, "do you not hear a strange noise
which seems to proceed from the council-chamber? Who can foresee the
danger to which your majesty may expose your sacred person?" "Forward!"
replied the resolute monarch in an imperative tone; and as he stopped
before the door of the council-chamber, "Quick! your keys!" said he to
the keeper. He pushed the door violently with his foot, and the noise,
repeated by the echoes of the vaulted roof, resounded through the
gallery like the report of a cannon. The old keeper trembled; he tried
one key, then another, but without success; his hand shook, his sight
was confused. "A soldier, and afraid?" cried Charles with a smile.
"Come, Count, you must be our usher: open that door." "Sire," replied
the grand chamberlain stepping backwards, "if your majesty command me to
walk up to the mouth of a Danish cannon, I will obey on the instant; but
you will not order me to combat with the devil and his imps?" The
monarch snatched the keys from the palsied hands of the infirm old
keeper. "I see," said his majesty in a tone of contempt, "that I must
finish this adventure"; and before his terrified suite could prevent his
design, he had already opened the massy oaken door, and penetrated into
the council-chamber, first pronouncing the usual formula, "with the help
of God." The companions of his midnight excursion entered along with
him, prompted by a sentiment of curiosity, stronger on this occasion
even than terror; their courage too was reinforced by a feeling of
shame, which forbade them to abandon their sovereign in the hour of
peril. The council-chamber was illuminated with an immense number of
torches. The ancient figured tapestry had been replaced by a black
drapery suspended on the walls, along which were ranged, in regular
order, and according to the custom of those days, German, Danish, and
Muscovite banners, trophies of the victories won by the soldiers of
Gustavus Adolphus. In the middle were distinguished the banners of
Sweden, covered with black crape. A numerous assemblage was seated on
the benches of the hall. The four orders of the state--the nobility, the
clergy, the citizens, and the peasants,--were ranged acc