III. RESULTADOS
3.2. Análisis inferencial
The Hunting Lodge
Our journey was long but never tedious,
Our journey was long but never tedious, for I was in a state of great for I was in a state of great excitement fromexcitement from the outset. It was the most wonderful piece
the outset. It was the most wonderful piece of luck that Daisy had come to of luck that Daisy had come to England at thisEngland at this time. She was a very resourceful young woman
traveller. traveller.
I had insisted that we travel first-class and that I should pay
I had insisted that we travel first-class and that I should pay for Daisy as she wasfor Daisy as she was going to be my companion and guide. As we took the train to Harwich and I sat back in going to be my companion and guide. As we took the train to Harwich and I sat back in the first compartment looking at a very complacent
the first compartment looking at a very complacent Daisy, I knew that Cousin Arthur hadDaisy, I knew that Cousin Arthur had been right when he
been right when he had said this was the best thing had said this was the best thing I could do. I was starting a nI could do. I was starting a new lifeew life and I was glad to escape from the last weeks which had become almost intolerable. and I was glad to escape from the last weeks which had become almost intolerable.
I was convinced that from
I was convinced that from now on my life would be now on my life would be adventurous. I had an important projectadventurous. I had an important project in mind and I felt as though I were setting out to seek my fortune.
in mind and I felt as though I were setting out to seek my fortune. The crossing from Harwich to the
The crossing from Harwich to the Hook of Holland was uneventful, and after staying theHook of Holland was uneventful, and after staying the night at an inn we boarded a train and travelled for miles across the flattest country I have ever night at an inn we boarded a train and travelled for miles across the flattest country I have ever seen.
seen.
"Never mind," said Daisy, "you'll have mountains and
"Never mind," said Daisy, "you'll have mountains and forests enough when you get toforests enough when you get to Bruxenstein. Perhaps you'll be wishing for a
Bruxenstein. Perhaps you'll be wishing for a bit of flat there."bit of flat there." "I can't wait to arrive," I said.
"I can't wait to arrive," I said.
"You've got a long way to go yet, Miss Pip." "You've got a long way to go yet, Miss Pip."
How right she was! Once again I had reason to be grateful to Cousin Arthur, who had made How right she was! Once again I had reason to be grateful to Cousin Arthur, who had made the arrangements for us with a company in London that looked after such matters, so we knew the arrangements for us with a company in London that looked after such matters, so we knew exactly which way we had to go. We were to spend a night at Utrecht before taking the train to exactly which way we had to go. We were to spend a night at Utrecht before taking the train to Bavaria, and the journey was beginning to be so interesting that had I not been so eager to reach Bavaria, and the journey was beginning to be so interesting that had I not been so eager to reach my destination, I should have liked to linger
my destination, I should have liked to linger longer over every detail of it.longer over every detail of it.
The first-class carriages had four seats in front and four behind, and each carriage was The first-class carriages had four seats in front and four behind, and each carriage was subdivided into two sections by a central door, just
subdivided into two sections by a central door, just as in our first-class carriages at as in our first-class carriages at home. Buthome. But there was a more formal atmosphere here. One was conscious of a display of discipline, and the there was a more formal atmosphere here. One was conscious of a display of discipline, and the attendants wore cocked hats and carried swords so
attendants wore cocked hats and carried swords so that they looked almost military.that they looked almost military. "We're a bit like that
"We're a bit like that in Bruxenstein," Daisy explained. "All that clicking heels and bowingin Bruxenstein," Daisy explained. "All that clicking heels and bowing from the waist ... It sometimes makes me want to laugh."
from the waist ... It sometimes makes me want to laugh." At Arnheim two men and
At Arnheim two men and a woman joined our carriage. a woman joined our carriage. They looked pleasant and smiled inThey looked pleasant and smiled in our direction. I explained that we
our direction. I explained that we were English, and they thereupon began to talk were English, and they thereupon began to talk to us in our ownto us in our own tongue although they only had a fair
tongue although they only had a fair command of it, and my German, thanks to Miss Elton andcommand of it, and my German, thanks to Miss Elton and my early grounding, was better than
my early grounding, was better than their English.their English. Were we going beyond Utrecht, they wanted to
Were we going beyond Utrecht, they wanted to know? I told them we know? I told them we were travelling towere travelling to Bruxenstein.
Bruxenstein.
"Is that indeed so," said the man. "Interesting place, Bruxenstein ... at the moment." "Is that indeed so," said the man. "Interesting place, Bruxenstein ... at the moment." "Why do you say at the moment?" I asked. "Is there some reason why it is now so?" "Why do you say at the moment?" I asked. "Is there some reason why it is now so?" "Things have been a little . . . what do you call it... in the
"Things have been a little . . . what do you call it... in the boiling pot since the death of theboiling pot since the death of the Baron Rudolph."
Baron Rudolph."
My heart began to beat faster. Daisy sat demurely beside me, like the quiet little maid she My heart began to beat faster. Daisy sat demurely beside me, like the quiet little maid she had said everyone would think she was, because
mistress. mistress.
"Wasn't there some scandal—?" I began. "Wasn't there some scandal—?" I began.
"Scandal indeed. He was shot dead in his hunting lodge. There was a woman with him and "Scandal indeed. He was shot dead in his hunting lodge. There was a woman with him and she was killed too."
she was killed too." "I heard of it." "I heard of it."
"So the news travelled to England." "So the news travelled to England."
The woman said, "That was probably because the
The woman said, "That was probably because the lady in the case was lady in the case was English."English."
"That may be," said the man, "but in any case the country has been a little uneasy since." "That may be," said the man, "but in any case the country has been a little uneasy since." "Mind you," put in the other
"Mind you," put in the other man, "there is always something going on in man, "there is always something going on in these little states.these little states. It's time they were all joined up and became part of the Germanic Empire."
It's time they were all joined up and became part of the Germanic Empire." "Being a Prussian, you would say
"Being a Prussian, you would say that, Otto," said the other with a that, Otto," said the other with a smile.smile. "Do you know what really happened about this shooting matter?" I
"Do you know what really happened about this shooting matter?" I asked.asked. "No-one really knows, but one can guess. There are theories . .
"No-one really knows, but one can guess. There are theories . . . many of them. Perhaps the. many of them. Perhaps the lady had another lover who was
lady had another lover who was jealous. That's one of the theories. But jealous. That's one of the theories. But I don't think that's theI don't think that's the answer. No. Someone did not want
answer. No. Someone did not want Rudolph ruling over the province, so that person—or Rudolph ruling over the province, so that person—or persons —put a bullet through him.
persons —put a bullet through him. Probably someone from the other side."Probably someone from the other side." "You mean he has a rival?"
"You mean he has a rival?"
"There is always someone next in the
"There is always someone next in the line of succession. There's this nephew of theline of succession. There's this nephew of the reigning duke. What's his name, Otto?"
reigning duke. What's his name, Otto?" "Baron Sigmund."
"Baron Sigmund."
"Yes, son of a younger brother
"Yes, son of a younger brother of the Grand Duke. Isn't that so?"of the Grand Duke. Isn't that so?" "Exactly. Some seem to think he'd suit the
"Exactly. Some seem to think he'd suit the part better and that it is not such part better and that it is not such a bada bad thing that Rudolph is out o
thing that Rudolph is out of the way."f the way."
"Murder is rather a drastic way of settling these matters!" I said. "Murder is rather a drastic way of settling these matters!" I said. "Still," went on Otto, "it is better that one—or two-should die
"Still," went on Otto, "it is better that one—or two-should die than that thousandsthan that thousands should be submitted to tyranny."
should be submitted to tyranny."
"Was this Rudolph a tyrant, then?" "Was this Rudolph a tyrant, then?"
"Far from it. I've heard that he was something
"Far from it. I've heard that he was something of a sybarite, a young man too of a sybarite, a young man too fond of fond of pleasure to make a good ruler. That kind always get surrounded by the wrong people who pleasure to make a good ruler. That kind always get surrounded by the wrong people who
rule for them. The present Grand
rule for them. The present Grand Duke has been a Duke has been a good ruler. It's a pity he's so old. Igood ruler. It's a pity he's so old. I gather he was old when
gather he was old when Rudolph was born. He married twice, Rudolph was born. He married twice, the first time beingthe first time being unfruitful. His brother was killed fighting in one of the
unfruitful. His brother was killed fighting in one of the rebellions or wars . . . and rebellions or wars . . . and that leftthat left Sigmund heir after Rudolph."
"You know a great deal about the family." "You know a great deal about the family."
"It's common knowledge. It's a small principality—or dukedom rather—and the "It's common knowledge. It's a small principality—or dukedom rather—and the royal family lives close to the people. Different from in your country, Miss er . royal family lives close to the people. Different from in your country, Miss er . . .". ."
I hesitated and then said quickly, "Ayres. Anne Ayres." I hesitated and then said quickly, "Ayres. Anne Ayres." "Very different, Miss Ayres, although I suppose your
"Very different, Miss Ayres, although I suppose your Queen's private life is not exactlyQueen's private life is not exactly a closed book to your people."
a closed book to your people."
"It is so exemplary," I replied, "that there is no need for it to be.
"It is so exemplary," I replied, "that there is no need for it to be. If there are differences andIf there are differences and family friction, I suppose there would be
family friction, I suppose there would be a tendency to keep that a tendency to keep that secret."secret."
"How right you are! And I daresay there is very much the people of Bruxenstein do not "How right you are! And I daresay there is very much the people of Bruxenstein do not know about their ruling family. Do you intend
know about their ruling family. Do you intend to spend any time in to spend any time in Utrecht?"Utrecht?" "Only an hour or so ... possibly a morning ... as we have to wait for
"Only an hour or so ... possibly a morning ... as we have to wait for trains."trains." "You'll enjoy it. It's one of the
"You'll enjoy it. It's one of the most interesting of the Dutch cities, I most interesting of the Dutch cities, I always thought.always thought. Tremendous history. The Romans built a fortress there
Tremendous history. The Romans built a fortress there to guard the river, one to guard the river, one of the branches of of the branches of the Rhine, you know, where it is joined by the Vecht. You must see the remains of the great the Rhine, you know, where it is joined by the Vecht. You must see the remains of the great cathedral . . ."
cathedral . . ."
I was scarcely listening. My thoughts were with Fr
I was scarcely listening. My thoughts were with Fr ancine lying dead on that bed in ancine lying dead on that bed in thethe hunting lodge.
hunting lodge.
We said goodbye to our travelling companions at Utrecht and
We said goodbye to our travelling companions at Utrecht and continued our journey, and ascontinued our journey, and as we crossed the border into
we crossed the border into Germany my excitement increased. Those fir-covered mountains,Germany my excitement increased. Those fir-covered mountains, those little streams, the glorious river with its castles looking down almost
those little streams, the glorious river with its castles looking down almost scornfully, it seemed,scornfully, it seemed, on the scene below, the
on the scene below, the little villages which seemed to have come little villages which seemed to have come straight out of stories by thestraight out of stories by the brothers Grimm which Miss Elton used to read to us in the original ... all this seemed to me the brothers Grimm which Miss Elton used to read to us in the original ... all this seemed to me the
stuff of legend. This was
stuff of legend. This was the land of goblins and elves, the land of goblins and elves, of trolls and giants, of mountain kings andof trolls and giants, of mountain kings and snow queens and children lost in enchanted woods where wolves roamed
snow queens and children lost in enchanted woods where wolves roamed and there wereand there were gingerbread houses. It was the land
gingerbread houses. It was the land of the Norse gods—Odin, Thor and Baldur of the Norse gods—Odin, Thor and Baldur the beautiful andthe beautiful and mischievous Loki. It was in the
mischievous Loki. It was in the air ... I air ... I could sense it—in Hollenthal Gorge, called the Valley of could sense it—in Hollenthal Gorge, called the Valley of Hell, in the glorious
Hell, in the glorious forests of the Schwarzwald, the Thuringian Wald, and forests of the Schwarzwald, the Thuringian Wald, and thethe Odenwald . . .
Odenwald . . . vine-covered hill slopes. There were miles and vine-covered hill slopes. There were miles and miles of trees—oak,miles of trees—oak, beeches, but mainly the firs and p
beeches, but mainly the firs and pines of the forest. It was the romantic land—Conrad'sines of the forest. It was the romantic land—Conrad's land, and the farther I penetrated, the more I thought of him.
land, and the farther I penetrated, the more I thought of him.
The journey had taken us several days, as it had been the advice of those who The journey had taken us several days, as it had been the advice of those who planned it that we should
planned it that we should take it comfortably. I realized that they were right, and take it comfortably. I realized that they were right, and althoughalthough I longed to be in
I longed to be in Bruxenstein where I was beginning to believe Bruxenstein where I was beginning to believe the answer to the mysterythe answer to the mystery would be found, I did feel that I was getting an understanding of the country and even the would be found, I did feel that I was getting an understanding of the country and even the people, through those I met on the journey.
people, through those I met on the journey. In due course we arrived at
In due course we arrived at the town of Bruxburg which was, the town of Bruxburg which was, I gathered, the capitalI gathered, the capital city of Bruxenstein, and we were able to take a trap out to the cottage which was the city of Bruxenstein, and we were able to take a trap out to the cottage which was the home of Daisy and Hans, and in this we rode through the town. It was quite large, but on home of Daisy and Hans, and in this we rode through the town. It was quite large, but on that occasion I saw very little of it beyond
that occasion I saw very little of it beyond the square with the town hall and the square with the town hall and a fewa few impressive buildings. But I noticed immediately the castle on
were, over the town, and looking very much like those I had seen throughout our journey were, over the town, and looking very much like those I had seen throughout our journey through the country. It looked impressive and
through the country. It looked impressive and very beautiful, I thought, with its towersvery beautiful, I thought, with its towers and grey stone walls.
and grey stone walls.
"We're right below it," said Daisy. "It's easy to get up