louisa of prussia and her times-第119节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


its　most　powerful　passages；　and；　finally；　book…sellers　who　will
venture　to　offer　so　bold　a　work　to　their　customers？〃

〃Give　your　manuscript　to　ME！〃　exclaimed　Marianne；　enthusiastically；
〃I　will　cause　it　to　be　printed；　and　if　there　should　be　no
booksellers　to　circulate　it；　I　will　travel　as　your　agent　throughout
the　whole　of　Germany；　and　in　the　night…time　secretly　scatter　your
pamphlet　in　the　streets　of　all　the　German　cities；　so　that　their
inhabitants　may　find　it　in　the　morninga　manna　fallen　from　heaven
to　nourish　and　invigorate　them。　Give　your　manuscript　to　me；
Frederick　Gentz；　let　it　be　the　first　solemn　act　of　our　secret
league！〃

〃Just　see　how　well　I　understood　you；　and　how　entirely　I　counted　on
your　cooperation；　Marianne；〃　said　Gentz；　drawing　a　small　package
from　his　side　pocket　and　placing　it　in　her　hands。　〃Here　is　my
manuscript；　seek　for　a　printer　and　for　a　bookseller　to　publish　it；
give　it　the　blessing　of　your　protection；　and　promote　its　general
circulation　to　the　best　of　your　ability。〃

〃I　shall　do　so　most　assuredly；〃　replied　Marianne；　placing　her　hand
on　the　package；　as　though　she　were　taking　an　oath。　〃In　less　than　a
month's　time　the　German　people　shall　read　this　pamphlet。　It　shall　be
only　the　first　comet　which　the　secret　league　of　which　we　are　now
members　causes　to　appear　on　the　dark　firmament。　Count　on　me；　your
manuscript　will　be　published。〃

Gentz　bent　over　her　hand　and　kissed　it。　He　then　rose。

〃My　purpose　is　accomplished；〃　he　said；　〃I　came　to　Vienna　only　to　see
you　and　enlist　you　as　a　member　of　my　secret　society。　My　purpose　is
accomplished；　and　I　shall　set　out　within　an　hour。〃

〃And　why　are　you　in　such　a　hurry；　my　friend？　Why　depart　in　so　stormy
and　wintry　a　night？〃　asked　Marianne。　〃Remain　with　me　for　another
day。〃

〃It　is　impossible；　Marianne；〃　said　Gentz；　deprecatingly。　〃Friends
like　ourselves　must　have　no　secrets　from　each　other；　and　are　allowed
fearlessly　to　tell　each　other　every　thing。　The　Countess　of
Lankoronska　is　waiting　for　me；　I　shall　set　out　with　her　for
Breslau。〃

〃Ah；〃　exclaimed　Marianne；　reproachfully；　〃Lord　Paget；　too；　is　going
to　leave　Vienna；　but　I　do　not　desert　you　in　order　to　accompany　him；
I　remain。〃

〃You　are　the　sun　around　which　the　planets　are　revolving；〃　said
Gentz；　smiling；　〃but　I　am　nothing　but　a　planet。　I　am　revolving
around　my　sun。〃

〃You　love　the　Countess　of　Lankoronska；　then？〃

〃She　is　to　me　the　quintessence　of　all　womanly　and　of　many　manly
accomplishments！〃　exclaimed　Gentz；　enthusiastically。

〃And　she　will　also　join　our　secret　society？〃　asked　Marianne。　〃No；〃
said　Gentz；　hastily。　〃My　heart　adores　her；　but　my　mind　will　never
forget　that　she　is　a　Russian。　Next　to　cold　death　and　the　French；　I
hate　nothing　so　cordially　as　the　Russians。〃

〃Still　you　have　lived　for　a　month　with　a　Russian　lady；　of　whom　you
are　enamoured。〃

〃And　precisely　in　this　month　my　hatred　has　increased　to　an
astonishing　extent。　I　despise　the　Austrians；　I　am　indignant　at　their
weakness；　but　still　I　also　pity　them；　and　when　I　see　them；　as　was
the　case　this　time；　trampled　under　foot　by　the　Russian　barbarians；
my　German　bowels　turn；　and　I　feel　that　the　Austrians　are　my
brethren。　During　the　last　few　days　I　have　frequently　met
Constantine；　the　grand…duke；　and　the　other　distinguished　Russians；
and　the　blind；　stupid；　and　impudent　national　pride　with　which　they
assailed　Austria　and　Germany　generally；　calling　our　country　a
despicable　part　of　earth；　where　none　but　traitors　and　cowards　were
to　be　found；　cut　me　to　the　quick。　I　know　very　well　that　we　are　at
present　scarcely　allowed　to　maintain　our　dignity　as　Germans；　our
government　has　reduced　us　to　so　degrading　a　position；　but　when　we
keep　in　mind　what　the　Russians　are；　compared　with　US；　when　we　have
mournfully　witnessed　for　two　months　that　they　are　unable；　in　spite
of　the　bravery　of　their　troops；　to　make　any　headway　against　the
French；　and　that　they　have　injured　rather　than　improved　our
condition；　when　we　see　those　insulting　and　scorning　us　who　cannot
even　claim　the　merit　of　having　saved　us；　only　then　we　become　fully
alive　to　the　consciousness　of　our　present　degradation　and　abject
misery！〃　＇Footnote：　Gentz's　own　words〃Correspondence；〃　pp。　159；
167。＇

〃God　be　praised　that　such　are　your　thoughts！〃　exclaimed　Marianne；
〃for　now　I　may　hope　at　least　that　the　Countess　of　Lankoronska；　even
though　every　thing　should　fail　here；　will　not　succeed　in　enticing
you　to　Russia。　I　am　sure；　Gentz；　you　will　not　accompany　her　to　the
cold；　distant　north。〃

〃God　forbid！〃　replied　Gentz；　shuddering。〃　If　every　thing　should
fail；　I　shall　settle　somewhere　in　the　southern　provinces　of　Austria；
in　Carinthia　or　in　the　Tyrol；　where　one　may　hear　the　people　speak
German；　and　live　there　with　the　plants　and　stars　which　I　know　and
love；　and　with　God；　in　some　warm　nook；　no　matter　what　tyrant　or
proconsul　may　rule　over　me。　＇Footnote：　Ibid。；　p。　167＇　And　now；
Marianne；　let　us　part。　I　do　not　promise　that　our　meeting　will　be　a
joyful　one；　for　I　hardly　count　on　any　more　joyful　days；　but　I　say
that　we　will　meet　at　the　right　hour。　And　the　right　hour　will　be　for
us　only　the　hour　when　we　shall　have　reached　the　goal　of　our　secret
league；　when　we　shall　have　aroused　the　German　people；　and　when　they
will　rise　like　a　courageous　giant　whom　no　one　is　able　to　withstand；
and　who　will　expel　the　invader　with　his　hordes　from　the　soil　of
Germany！　Farewell！〃

〃Farewell；〃　said　Marianne；　feelingly。　〃My　friend　will　always　be
welcome；　and　cordial　greetings　will　be　in　store　for　him　whenever　he
comes。　Remember　that；　my　friend；　I　say　no　more　'my　beloved；'　for　the
Countess　of　Lankoronska　might　be　jealous！〃

〃And　she　might　inform　Lord　Paget　of　it；〃　said　Gentz；　smiling。　He
then　kissed　Marianne's　hand；　and　took　his　hat　and　overcoat。
〃Farewell；　Marianne；　and　do　not　forget　our　league　and　my
manuscript。〃

〃I　shall　not　forget　any　thing；　for　I　shall　not　forget　you；〃　she
replied；　giving　him　her　hand。

Thus；　hand　in　hand；　they　walked　to　the　door；　then　they　nodded　a　last
silent　greeting　to　each　other；　and　Gentz　left　the　room。

Marianne　listened　to　his　steps　until　they　had　died　away。　She　then
drew　a　deep　breath；　and　commenced　once　more　slowly　pacing　the　room。

The　tapers　on　the　silver　chandeliers　had　burned　down　very　low；　and
their　liquid　wax　trickled　slowly　and　lazily　on　the　marble　table。
Whenever　Marianne　passed　them；　the　draught　fanned　them　to　a　blaze；
then　they　shed　a　lurid　light　on　the　tall；　queenly　form　in　the
magnificent　dress；　and　grew　dim　again　when　Marianne　stepped　back
into　the　darker　parts　of　the　long　room。

Suddenly　she　exclaimed　in　a　joyful　voice：　〃Yes；　I　have　found　it　at
last！　That　is　the　path　leading　to　the　goal；　that　is　the　path　I　have
to　pursue。〃　With　rapid　steps　she　hastened　back　to　the　looking…glass。
〃Marianne　Meier；〃　she　cried　aloud？〃Marianne　Meier；　listen　to　what
I　am　going　to　tell　you。　The　Princess　von　Eibenberg　has　discovered　a
remedy　to　dispel　her　weariness　and　dull　reposea　remedy　that　will
immortalize　her　name。　Good…night；　Marianne　Meier；　now　you　may　go　to
sleep；　for　the　Princess　von　Eibenberg　will　take　care　of　herself！〃




CHAPTER　LI。

JUDITH。


Marianne　was　awakened　after　a　short　and　calm　slumber　by　the　low
sound　of　stealthy　steps　approaching　her　couch。　She　opened　her　eyes
hastily；　and　beheld　her　mistress　of　ceremonies；　who　stood　at　her
bedside；　holding　in　her　hand　a　golden　salver　with　a　letter　on　it。

〃What；　Camilla；〃　she　asked；　in　terror；　〃you　have　not　yet　dispatched
the　letter　which　I　gave　you　last　night？　Did　I　not　instruct　you　to
have　it　delivered　by　the　footman　early　in　the　morning？〃

〃Yes；　your　highness；　and　I　have　faithfully　carried　out　your　orders。〃

〃Well；　and　this　letter？〃

〃Is　the　major's　reply。　Your　highness　ordered　me　to　awaken　you　as
soon　as　the　footman　would　bring　the　answer。〃

Marianne　hastily　seized　the　letter　and　broke　the　seal。

〃He　will　come；〃　she　said；　loudly　and　joyfully；　after　reading　the　few
lines　the　letter　contained。　〃What　o'clock　is　it；　Camilla？〃

〃Your　highness；　it　is　just　ten　o'clock。〃

〃And　I　am　looking　for　visitors　already　at　eleven　o'clock。　Quick；
Madame　Camilla；　tell　my　maid　to　arrange　every　thing　in　the　dressing…
room。　Please　see　to　it　yourself　that　I　may　find　there　an　elegant；
rich；　and　not　too　matronly；　morning　costume。〃

〃Will　your　highness　put　on　the　dress　which　Lord　Paget　received　the
other　day　for　you　from　Loudon？〃　asked　Madame　Camilla。　〃Your　highness
has　never　yet　worn　it；　and　his　lordship　would　doubtless　rejoice　at
seeing　your　highness　in　this　charming　costume。〃

〃I　do　not　expect　Lord　Paget；〃　said　Marianne；　with　a　stern　glance；
〃besides；　you　ought　to　confine　your　advice　to　matters　relating　to　my
toilet。　Do　not　forget　it　any　more。　Now　bring　me　my　chocolate；　I　will
take　it　in　bed。　In　the　mean　time　cause　an　invigorating；　perfumed
bath　to　be　prepared；　and　tell　the　cook　that　I　wish　him　to　serve　up　a
sumptuous　breakfast　for　two　persons　in　the　small　dining…room　in　the
course　of　an　hour。　Go。〃

Madame　Camilla　withdrew　to　carry　out　the　various　orders　her　mistress
had　given　her；　but　she　did　not　do　so　joyfully　and　readily　as　usual；
but　with　a　grave　face　and　careworn　air。

〃There　is　something　going　on；〃　she　whispered；　slowly