THE SILVER RING
"The King lies dead through treachery," he said.
"In Slavna the German woman rules, and her son, and the men who killed the King. Will you have them to rule over you, men of Volseni?"
A shout of "No!" rang out, followed again by absolute silence. Lukovitch drew the curved sword that he wore and raised it in the air. All the armed men followed his example; the rest, with the women and young people, raised their right hands. It was their custom in calling Heaven to witness.
"God hears us!" said Lukovitch, and all the people repeated the words after him.
Dunstanbury whispered to Basil: "Do they mean to fight?" An eagerness stirred in his voice.
"Listen! He's speaking again."
"Whom then will you have for your King, men of Volseni?" asked Lukovitch. "There is one on whose finger the King has put the silver ring of the Bailiffs of Volseni. With his own hand he set it there before he died—he set it there when he made her his Queen, as you have heard. Will you have the Bailiff of Volseni for your King?"
A great shout of "Yes!" answered him.
"You will have Sophia for your King?"
"Sophia for our King!" they cried.
Lukovitch raised his sword again; all raised swords or hands. The solemn words "God hears us!" were spoken from every mouth. Lukovitch turned to Sophy and handed his drawn sword to her. She took it. Then she knelt down and kissed the King's lips. Rising to her feet again, she stood for a moment silent, looking over the thronged market-square; yet she seemed hardly to see; her eyes were vacant. At last she raised the sword to her lips, kissed it, and then held it high in the air.
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