Tales from the German Arwed Gyllenstierna (I) (Paperback)

Excerpt: ...father, by even undeserved kindness towards his son. Yet must you be informed, that a man who has declared open war against the state through his audacious acts, cannot remain in his country's service, and that the government must be secured from any repetition of his offences. Therefore receive from me your dismission from the Swedish army. You may thank your heroism before Frederickshall, and the distinction of which my royal brother-in-law thought you worthy, that this dismissal is united with the title of major, which you will henceforth be entitled to bear. Yet your crime must not go entirely unpunished. Wherefore the queen banishes you forever from the limits of the capital, and exacts from you a promise that you will never pass the frontier of the nation, and that you will never again meddle with the political affairs of this kingdom, under pain of death. Your father will receive your promise, and will determine your future place of residence. May time make you wiser ' Handing to the youth the paper containing his discharge from the service, he departed and was followed by Rank. 'God bless your royal highness ' cried the elder Gyllenstierna after him. 'So, I am a prisoner of state in Sweden, ' said Arwed with a bitter smile. 'It is fortunate that my prison is tolerably spacious. Where is it your pleasure that I shall go, my father?' 'To Gyllensten, to my brother, ' answered the counsellor, 'after you have signed the required promise, which I must return to her majesty.' He pointed to a paper lying upon the marble table. Arwed hastily run his eye through the written promise, and subscribed his name to it; upon which the two officers, who had hitherto guarded the door, immediately left the room. 'To Gyllensten ' exclaimed Arwed, gratefully kissing his father's hand, 'to the loved resort of my childhood, to my good old-uncle How good you still are, my father, even when you punish. How deeply do I regret that I have caused you so much sorrow.'...