“The emperor desires that all records of the event shall be at once presented to him by the hand if possible of the notarius who engrossed and certified to them. He does not require the presence of the attesting lords. I believe that Nicolas Jaroslav is the person in question. He will therefore be permitted to depart under guard with such records as the king requires.”
Nicolas at once selected the documents in question; and set forth on his journey to Eger.
Arrived at this place, where Rudolph waited with great impatience, Nicolas was instantly ushered into the imperial presence.
“Representations have been made to me,” said Rudolph, “that certain informalities have been discovered in the proceedings recorded of the marriage of the late king and the Queen Kunigunde. I believe that Bishop Tobias and the duke of Troppau are mistaken. But I feel compelled, in presence of the embarrassing condition of affairs that should result should these statements prove true, to make an investigation.” Rudolph examined the documents, received the sworn answers and explanations as to the professed technicalities of Nicolas, and concluded by an impatient exclamation: “I have a new meaning of my often repeated maxim, ‘Suum cuique,’ and that is that a bishop, and an ambitious intriguer, if he happens to belong to the wrong side of the house, will each exhibit his professional and special peculiarities, and make mischief according to his own devices.”
