“Don’t be afraid of shocking me,” he said good-humouredly. “I dare say I shan’t hear anything worse than I have deserved, and after all”—with a side smile—“it won’t be worse than having a pistol pointed at my head.”
Johann blushed. But a new objection had occurred to him.
“I forgot to say that the meetings are only open to members,” he observed. “You see, we have to be cautious on account of the police. It has been rumoured that they mean to make a raid upon us before long.”
“They won’t dare to do that after what I said to Herr Moritz,” replied Maximilian, confidently. “As to the other point, what is there to prevent my becoming a member of the League?”
This time the Socialist was fairly staggered. But strange as the suggestion sounded, it was difficult for him to think of any valid reason for rejecting it. On the contrary, it might be that such a step would be most desirable, by committing the King irrevocably, and giving the revolutionary party a stronger hold upon him than the mere private compact which bound him to Johann personally.
He turned the matter over in his mind, and it ended in his procuring a card of membership for Maximilian, which enrolled him as a member of the Socialist League, under the name of Karl Josef. On the following evening at eight o’clock they crossed the threshold of the hall in which the Socialists were assembled.
But they did not make their entrance together. Maximilian followed his introducer at a few paces in the rear, and slipped quietly into a back seat where he was unobserved, while Johann walked boldly forward through the gathering to the seats reserved for members of the governing committee of the League.
As he made his way up the floor he became conscious that the eyes of all present were turned upon him. This was his first appearance among his comrades since his famous expedition to Neustadt, and public rumour had already informed those present that the man who had gone to the Castle on a mission to assassinate King Maximilian, had remained there as his guest and friend. Hence, most of the looks directed at the returning wanderer were of a decidedly unfriendly character, and there was a slight murmur in the hall when they saw one whom they had come to regard as a recreant coolly taking his former place among them as if nothing had happened.
The stir drew the attention of the president, and, seeing that it would be useless to proceed with the other business till the meeting was satisfied as to Johann’s right to be present, he rose abruptly to invite him to make an explanation.
“Comrades,” he said, “I see in the hall a member of the League about whose doings we have heard a good deal during the last few days. It is currently reported that he has been staying in the Castle of Neustadt, and that though he went there with an object which some of us may not have approved, he is now high in the favour of the King. It is naturally difficult for us to reconcile this with his continued membership of our body; but we are Socialists, and we judge no man unheard. Before we proceed with the ordinary business of the meeting, therefore, I deem it right to call upon comrade Johann Mark for an explanation, and I ask all present to give him a fair hearing.”