the life and adventures of baron trenck-2-第15节

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When　most　my　mind　ought　to　have　been　clear；　I　seemed　to　have　lost　my　understanding。　　I　came　to　a　resolution　which　will　appear　extravagant　and　pitiable。　　I　was　stupid　enough；　mad　enough；　to　form　the　design　of　casting　myself　on　the　magnanimity　of　the　Great　Frederic！　　Should　this　fail；　I　still　thought　my　lieutenant　a　saviour。

Having　heated　my　imagination　with　this　scheme；　I　waited　the　visitation　with　anxiety。　　The　major　entered；　I　bespoke　him　thus：

〃I　know；　sir；　the　great　Prince　Ferdinand　is　again　in　Magdeburg。　Inform　him　that　he　may　examine　my　prison；　double　the　sentinels；　and　give　me　his　commands；　stating　what　hour　will　please　him　I　should　make　my　appearance　on　the　glacis　of　Klosterbergen。　　If　I　prove　myself　capable　of　this；　I　then　hope　for　the　protection　of　Prince　Ferdinand：　　and　that　he　will　relate　my　proceeding　to　the　King；　who　may　he　convinced　of　my　innocence。〃

The　major　was　astonished；　the　proposal　he　held　to　be　ridiculous；　and　the　performance　impossible。　　I　persisted；　he　returned　with　the　sub…　governor；　Reichmann；　the　town…major；　Riding；　and　the　major　of　inspection。　　The　answer　they　delivered　was；　that　the　Prince　promised　me　his　protection；　the　King's　favour；　and　a　release　from　my　chains；　should　I　prove　my　assertion。　　I　required　they　would　appoint　a　time；　they　ridiculed　the　thing　as　impossible；　and　said　that　it　would　be　sufficient　could　I　prove　the　practicability　of　such　a　scheme；　but　should　I　refuse；　they　would　break　up　the　flooring；　and　place　sentinels　in　my　dungeon；　adding；　the　governor　would　not　admit　of　any　breaking　out。

After　promises　of　good　faith；　I　disencumbered　myself　of　my　chains；　raised　my　flooring；　gave　them　my　implements；　and　two　keys；　my　friends　had　procured　me；　to　the　doors　of　the　subterranean　gallery。　This　gallery　I　desired　them　to　sound　with　their　sword　hilts；　at　the　place　through　which　I　was　to　break；　which　might　be　done　in　a　few　minutes。　　I　described　the　road　I　was　to　take　through　the　gallery；　informed　them　that　two　of　the　doors　had　not　been　shut　for　six　months；　and　to　the　others　they　had　the　keys；　adding；　I　had　horses　waiting　at　the　glacis；　that　would　be　now　ready；　the　stables　for　which　were　unknown　to　them。　　They　went；　examined；　returned；　put　questions；　which　I　answered　with　precision。　　They　left　me　with　seeming　friendship；　came　back；　told　me　the　Prince　was　astonished　at　what　he　had　heard；　that　he　wished　me　all　happiness；　and　then　took　me　unfettered；　to　the　guard…house。　　The　major　came　in　the　evening；　treated　us　with　a　supper；　assured　me　everything　would　happen　to　my　wishes；　and　that　Prince　Ferdinand　had　written　to　Berlin。

The　guard　was　reinforced　next　day。　　The　whole　guard　loaded　with　ball　before　my　eyes；　the　drawbridges　were　raised　in　open　day；　and　precautions　were　taken　as　if　I　intended　to　make　attempts　as　desperate　as　those　I　had　made　at　Glatz。

I　now　saw　workmen　employed　on　my　dungeon；　and　carts　bringing　quarry…　stones。　　The　officers　on　guard　behaved　with　kindness；　kept　a　good　table；　at　which　I　ate；　but　two　sentinels；　and　an　under…officer；　never　quitted　the　guard…room。　　Conversation　was　cautious；　and　this　continued　five　or　six　days；　at　length；　it　was　the　lieutenant's　turn　to　mount　guard；　he　appeared　to　be　as　friendly　as　formerly；　but　conference　was　difficult；　he　found　an　opportunity　to　express　his　astonishment　at　my　ill…timed　discovery；　told　me　the　Prince　knew　nothing　of　the　affair；　and　that　the　report　through　the　garrison　was；　I　had　been　surprised　in　making　a　new　attempt。

My　dungeon　was　completed　in　a　week。　　The　town…major　re…conducted　me　to　it。　　My　foot　was　chained　to　the　wall　with　links　twice　as　strong　as　formerly；　the　remainder　of　my　irons　were　never　after　added。

The　dungeon　was　paved　with　flag…stones。　　That　part　of　my　money　only　was　saved　which　I　had　concealed　in　the　panels　of　the　door；　and　the　chimney　of　my　stove；　some　thirty　louis…d'ors；　hidden　about　my　clothes；　were　taken　from　me。

While　the　smith　was　riveting　my　chains；　I　addressed　the　sub…　governor。　　〃Is　this　the　fulfilment　of　the　pledge　of　the　Prince？　Think　not　you　deceive　me；　I　am　acquainted　with　the　false　reports　that　have　been　spread；　the　truth　will　soon　come　to　light；　and　the　unworthy　be　put　to　shame。　　Nay；　I　forewarn　you　that　Trenck　shall　not　be　much　longer　in　your　power；　for　were　you　to　build　your　dungeon　of　steel；　it　would　be　insufficient　to　contain　me。〃

They　smiled　at　me。　　Reichmann　told　me　I　might　soon　obtain　my　freedom　in　a　proper　manner。　　My　firm　reliance　on　my　friend；　the　lieutenant；　gave　me　a　degree　of　confidence　that　amazed　them　all。

It　is　necessary　to　explain　this　affair。　　When　I　obtained　my　liberty；　I　visited　Prince　Ferdinand。　　He　informed　me　the　majors　had　not　made　a　true　report。　　Their　story　was；　they　had　caught　me　at　work；　and；　had　it　not　been　for　their　diligence；　I　should　have　made　my　escape。　Prince　Ferdinand　heard　the　truth；　and　informed　the　King；　who　only　waited　an　opportunity　to　restore　me　to　liberty。

Once　more　I　was　immured。　　I　waited　in　hope　for　the　day　when　my　deliverer　was　to　mount　guard。　　What　again　was　my　despair　when　I　saw　another　lieutenant！　　I　buoyed　myself　up　with　the　hope　that　accident　was　the　occasion　of　this；　but　I　remained　three　weeks；　and　saw　him　no　more。　　I　heard　at　length　that　he　had　left　the　corps　of　grenadiers；　and　was　no　longer　to　mount　guard　at　the　Star　Fort。　　He　has　my　forgiveness；　and　I　applaud　myself　for　never　having　said　anything　by　which　he　might　be　injured。　　He　might　have　repented　his　promise；　he　might　have　trusted　another　friend　with　the　enterprise；　and　have　been　himself　betrayed；　but；　be　it　as　it　may；　his　absence　cut　off　all　hope。

I　now　repented　my　folly　and　vanity；　I　had　brought　my　misfortunes　on　myself。　　I　had　myself　rendered　my　dungeon　impenetrable。　　Death　would　have　followed　but　for　the　dependence　I　placed　in　the　court　of　Vienna。

The　officers　remarked　the　loss　of　my　fortitude　and　thoughtfulness；　the　verses　I　wrote　were　desponding。　　The　only　comfort　they　could　give　was〃Patience；　dear　Trenck；　your　condition　cannot　be　worse；　the　King　may　not　live　for　ever。〃　　Were　I　sick；　they　told　me　I　might　hope　my　sufferings　would　soon　have　an　end。　　If　I　recovered　they　pitied　me；　and　lamented　their　continuance。　　What　man　of　my　rank　and　expectations　ever　endured　what　I　did；　ever　was　treated　as　I　have　been　treated！



CHAPTER　VI。



Peace　had　been　concluded　nine　months。　　I　was　forgotten。　　At　last；　when　I　supposed　all　hope　lost；　the　25th　of　December；　and　the　day　of　freedom；　came。　　At　the　hour　of　parade；　Count　Schlieben；　lieutenant　of　the　guards；　brought　orders　for　my　release！

The　sub…governor　supposed　me　weaker　in　intellect　than　I　was；　and　would　not　too　suddenly　tell　me　these　tidings。　　He　knew　not　the　presence　of　mind；　the　fortitude；　which　the　dangers　I　had　seen　had　made　habitual。

My　doors　for　the　LAST　TIME　resounded！　　Several　people　entered；　their　countenances　were　cheerful；　and　the　sub…governor　at　their　head　at　length　said；　〃This　time；　my　dear　Trenck；　I　am　the　messenger　of　good　news。　　Prince　Ferdinand　has　prevailed　on　the　King　to　let　your　irons　be　taken　off。〃　　Accordingly；　to　work　went　the　smith。　　〃You　shall　also；〃　continued　he；　〃have　a　better　apartment。〃　　〃I　am　free；　then；〃　said　I。　　〃Speak！　fear　not！　　I　can　moderate　my　transports。〃

〃Then　you　are　free！〃　was　the　reply。

The　sub…governor　first　embraced　me；　and　afterwards　his　attendants。

He　asked　me　what　clothes　I　would　wish。　　I　answered；　the　uniform　of　my　regiment。　　The　tailor　took　my　measure。　　Reichmann　told　him　it　must　be　made　by　the　morning。　　The　man　excused　himself　because　it　was　Christmas　Eve。　　〃So；　then；　this　gentleman　must　remain　in　his　dungeon　because　it　is　holiday　with　you。〃　　The　tailor　promised　to　be　ready。

I　was　taken　to　the　guard…room；　congratulations　were　universal；　and　the　town…major　administered　the　oath　customary　to　all　state　prisoners。

1st。　　That　I　should　avenge　myself　on　no　man。

2nd。　　That　I　should　neither　enter　the　Prussian　nor　Saxon　states。

3rd。　　That　I　should　never　relate　by　speech　or　in　writing　what　had　happened　to　me。

4th。　　And　that；　so　long　as　the　King　lived；　I　should　neither　serve　in　a　civil　nor　military　capacity。

Count　Schlieben　delivered　me　a　letter　from　the　imperial　minister；　General　Reidt；　to　the　following　purport：…　That　he　rejoiced　at　having　found　an　opportunity　of　obtaining　my　liberty　from　the　King；　and　that　I　must　obey　the　requisitions　of　Count　Schlieben；　whose　orders　were　to　accompany　me　to　Prague。

〃Yes；　dear　Trenck；〃　said　Schlieben；　〃I　am　to　conduct　you　through　Dresden　to　Prague；　with　orders　not　to　suffer　you　to　speak　to　any　one　on　the　road。　　I　have　received　three　hundred　ducats；　to　defray　the　expenses　of　travelling。　　As　all　things　cannot　be　prepared　today；　the；　sub…governor　has　determined　we　shall　depart　to…morrow　night。〃

I　acquiesced；　and　Count　Schlieben　remained　with　me；　the　others　returned　to　town；　and　I　dined　with　the　major　and　officers　on　guard；　with　General　Walrabe　in　his　prison。

Once　at　liberty；　I　walked　about　the　fortifications；　to　collect　the　money　I　had　concealed　in　my　dungeon。　　To　every　man　on　guard　I　gave　a　ducat；　to　the　sentinels；　each　three；　and　ten　ducats　to　be　divided　among　the　relief…guard。　　I　sent　the　officer　on　guard　a　present　from　Prague；　and　the　remainder　of　my　money　I　bestowed　on　the　widow　of　the　worthy　Gelfhardt。　　H