But the effect upon him was nevertheless good, for
he took the reins again with a renewed energy, and called to the
horses gaily enough.
"Allons," he said; "we shall reach Dantzig safely by nightfall, and
there we shall find your husband awaiting us, and laughing at us for
our foolish journey."
But being an old man, the beer could not warm his heart for long,
and he soon lapsed again into melancholy and silence. Nevertheless,
they reached Dantzig by nightfall, and although it was a bitter
twilight--colder than the night itself--the streets were full. Men
stood in groups and talked. In the brief time required to journey
to Thorn something had happened. Something happened every day in
Dantzig; for when history wakes from her slumber and moves, it is
with a heavy and restless tread.
"What is it?" asked Barlasch of the sentry at the town gate, while
they waited for their passports to be returned to them.
"It is a proclamation from the Emperor of Russia--no one knows how
it has got here."
"And what does he proclaim--that citizen?"
"He bids the Dantzigers rise and turn us out," answered the soldier,
with a grim laugh.
"Is that all?"
"No, comrade, that is not all," was the answer in a graver voice.
"He proclaims that every Pole who submits now will be forgiven and
set at liberty; the past, he says, will be committed to an eternal
oblivion and a profound silence--those are his words."
"Ah!"
"Yes, and half the defenders of Dantzig are Poles--there are your
passports--pass on.
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