louisa of prussia and her times-第121节

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philosopher。　Besides；　the　princess　shared　his　enjoyment　after　a
while　by　her　conversation；　sparkling　with　wit　and　humor；　she　was
inexhaustible　in　telling　piquant　anecdotes　and　merry　bon…mots；　she
portrayed　her　friends　and　acquaintances　in　so　skilful　a　manner　that
the　major　did　not　know　whether　to　admire　their　striking　resemblance
or　the　talent　with　which　she　rendered　their　weak　traits　most
conspicuous。

When　they　had　reached　the　dessert；　the　princess　made　a　sign　to　the
footman　to　leave　the　room；　and　she　remained　alone　with　the　major。
With　her　own　fair　hand　she　poured　fragrant　Syracusan　wine　into　his
glass；　and　begged　him　to　drink　the　health　of　Napoleon　the　Great。

〃And　your　highness　will　not　do　me　the　honor　to　take　wine　with　me？〃
asked　the　major；　pointing　at　the　empty　glass　of　the　princess。

She　smiled　and　shook　her　head。　〃I　never　drink　wine；〃　she　said；　〃wine
is　a　magician　who　suddenly　tears　the　mask　from　my　face　and　compels
my　lips　to　speak　the　truth　which　they　would　otherwise；　perhaps；
never　have　uttered。　But　I　will　make　an　exception　this　time；　this
time　I　will　fill　my　glass；　for　I　must　drink　the　health　of　the　great
emperor。　Pour　some　wine　into　it；　and　let　us　cry：　'Long　live　Napoleon
the　Great！'〃

She　drank　some　of　the　fiery　southern　wine；　and　her　prediction　was
fulfilled。　The　wine　took　the　mask　from　her　face；　and　loosened　the
fetters　of　her　tongue。

Her　eyes　beamed　now　with　the　fire　of　enthusiasm；　and　the　rapturous
praise　of　Napoleon　flowed　from　her　lips　like　a　torrent　of　the　most
glowing　poetry。

She　was　wondrously　beautiful　in　her　enthusiastic　ardor；　with　the
flaming　blush　on　her　cheeks；　with　her　flashing　eyes　and　quivering
lips；　the　sweet　smile　of　which　showed　two　rows　of　pearly　teeth。

〃Oh；〃　exclaimed　the　major；　fascinated　by　her　loveliness；　〃why　is　the
great　emperor　not　herewhy　does　he　not　hear　your　enchanting　words
why　is　he　not　permitted　to　admire　you　in　your　radiant　beauty！〃

〃Why　am　I　not　allowed　to　hasten　to　him　in　order　to　sink　down　at　his
feet　and　worship　him？〃　exclaimed　Marianne；　fervently。　〃Why　am　I　not
allowed　to　lie　for　a　blissful　hour　before　him　on　my　knees　in　order
to　beg　with　scalding　tears　his　pardon　for　the　hatred　which　formerly
filled　my　soul　against　him；　and　to　confess　to　him　that　my　hatred　has
been　transformed　into　boundless　love　and　ecstatic　adoration？　Where
shall　I　find　the　friend　who　will　pity　my　longing；　and　open　for　me
the　path　leading　to　him？　Such　a　friend　I　should　reward　with　a　gold…
piece　for　every　minute　of　my　bliss；　for　every　minute　I　should　be
allowed　to　remain　near　the　great　emperor。〃

〃Do　you　speak　in　earnest；　your　highness？〃　asked　Major　von　Brandt；
gravely　and　almost　solemnly。

〃In　solemn　earnest！〃　asseverated　Marianne。　〃A　gold…piece　for　every
minute　of　an　interview　with　the　Emperor　Napoleon。〃

〃Well；　then；〃　said　the　major；　joyfully；　〃I　shall　procure　this
interview　for　you；　your　highness；　and　your　beauty　and　fascinating
loveliness　will　cause　the　emperor　not　to　count　the　minutes；　nor　the
hours　either；　so　that　it　will　be　only　necessary　for　me　to　reduce　the
hours　to　minutes。〃

〃A　gold…piece　for　every　minute！〃　repeated　Marianne；　whose　face　was
radiant　with　joy　and　happiness。　〃Oh；　you　look　at　me　doubtingly；　you
believe　that　I　am　only　joking；　and　shall　not　keep　afterward　what　I
am　now　promising。〃

〃Most　gracious　princess；　I　believe　that　enthusiasm　has　carried　you
away　to　a　promise　the　acceptance　of　which　would　be　an　abuse　of　your
generosity。　Suppose　the　emperor；　fascinated　by　your　wit；　your
beauty；　your　charming　conversation；　should　remain　four　hours　with
you；　that　would　be　a　very　handsome　number　of　gold　pieces　for　me！〃

Instead　of　replying　to　him；　Marianne　took　the　silver　bell　and　rang
it。

〃Bring　me　pen；　ink；　and　paper；　a　burning　candle　and　sealing…wax；〃
she　said　to　the　footman　who　entered。

In　a　few　minutes　every　thing　had　been　brought　to　her；　and　Marianne
hastily　wrote　a　few　lines。　She　then　drew　the　seal…ring　from　her
finger　and　affixed　her　seal　to　the　paper；　which　she　handed　to　the
major。

〃Read　it　aloud；〃　she　said。

The　major　read：

〃I　promise　to　Major　von　Brandt；　in　case　he　should　procure　me　an
interview　with　the　Emperor　Napoleon；　to　pay　him　for　every　minute　of
this　interview　a　louis…d'or　as　a　token　of　my　gratitude。〃

〃MARIANNE；　PRINCESS　VON　EIBENBERG。〃

〃Are　you　content　and　convinced？〃　asked　the　princess。

〃I　am；　your　highness。〃

〃And　you　will　and　can　procure　me　this　interview？〃

〃I　will　and　can　do　so。〃

〃When　will　you　conduct　me　to　Schonbrunn？〃

The　major　reflected　some　time；　and　seemed　to　make　a　calculation。　〃I
hope　to　be　able　to　procure　for　your　highness　to…morrow　evening　an
interview　with　the　emperor；〃　he　said。　〃I　am　quite　well　acquainted
with　M。　de　Bausset；　intendant　of　the　palace；　and　I　besides　know
Constant；　his　majesty's　valet　de　chambre。　These　are　the　two　channels
through　which　the　wish　of　your　highness　will　easily　reach　the
emperor；　and　as　his　majesty　is　a　great　admirer　of　female　beauty；　he
will　assuredly　be　ready　to　grant　the　audience　applied　for。〃

〃Will　you　bring　me　word　to…day？〃　asked　Marianne。

〃Yes；　princess；　to…day。　I　will　immediately　repair　to　Schonbrunn。　The
emperor　arrived　there　yesterday。〃

〃Hasten；　then；〃　said　Marianne；　rising　from　her　seat〃hasten　to
Schonbrunn；　and　remember　that　I　am　waiting　for　your　return　with
trembling　impatience　and　suspense。〃

She　gave　her　hand　to　the　major。

〃Good　Heaven；　your　highness！〃　he　exclaimed；　in　terror；　〃your　hand　is
as　cold　as　marble。〃

〃All　my　blood　is　here；〃　she　said；　pointing　to　her　heart。　〃Hasten　to
Schonbrunn。〃

He　imprinted　a　kiss　on　her　hand　and　left　the　room。

Marianne　smiled　until　the　door　had　closed　behind　him。　Then　her
features　underwent　a　sudden　change；　and　assumed　an　air　of　horror　and
contempt。

〃Oh；　these　miserable　men；　these　venal　souls！〃　she　muttered。　〃They
measure　every　thing　by　their　own　standard；　and　cannot　comprehend　the
longings　and　schemes　of　a　great　soul。　Accursed　be　all　those　who　turn
traitors　to　their　country　and　adhere　to　its　enemies！　May　the　wrath
of　God　and　the　contempt　of　their　fellow…creatures　punish　them！　But　I
will　use　the　traitors　as　tools　for　the　purpose　of　accomplishing　the
sacred　task　which　the　misfortunes　of　Germany　have　obliged　me　to
undertake。　I　will　put　my　house　in　order；　that　I　may　be　ready　when
the　hour　has　come。〃

Madame　Camilla　was　right；　indeed；　something　was　going　on；　and　she
was　able　to　collect　important　news　for　the　French　governor。

The　Princess　von　Eibenberg；　since　her　interview　with　the　major；　had
been　a　prey　to　a　feverish　agitation　and　impatience　which　caused　her
to　wander　restlessly　through　the　various　rooms　of　her　mansion。　At
length；　toward　evening；　the　major　returned；　and　the　news　he　had
brought　must　have　been　highly　welcome；　for　the　countenance　of　the
princess　had　been　ever　since　radiant　with　joy；　and　a　wondrous　smile
was　constantly　playing　on　her　lips。

During　the　following　night　she　was　incessantly　engaged　in　writing；
and　Madame　Camilla　as　well　as　the　maid　were　waiting　in　vain　for
their　mistress　to　call　them；　the　princess　did　not　leave　her　cabinet；
and　did　not　go　to　bed　at　all。　Early　next　morning　she　took　a　ride　in
her　carriage；　and　Madame　Camilla；　who　had　heretofore　invariably
accompanied　the　princess　on　her　rides；　was　ordered　to　stay　at　home。
When　Marianne　returned　after　several　hours；　she　was　pale　and
exhausted；　and　her　eyes　showed　that　she　had　wept。　Then　officers　of
the　city　courts　made　their　appearance；　and　asked　to　see　the
princess；　stating　that　she　had　sent　for　them。　The　princess　locked
her　room　while　conferring　with　them；　and　the　officers　withdrew　only
after　several　hours。　At　the　dinner…table；　to　which；　by　her　express
orders；　no　guests　had　been　admitted　to…day；　she　scarcely　touched　any
food；　and　seemed　absorbed　in　deep　reflections。

Soon　after　dinner　she　repaired　to　her　dressing…room；　and　never
before　had　she　been　so　particular　and　careful　in　choosing　the
various　articles　of　her　costume；　never　before　had　she　watched　her
toilet　with　so　much　attention　and　anxiety。　At　last　the　work　was
finished；　and　the　princess　looked　radiantly　beautiful　in　her　crimson
velvet　dress；　floating　behind　her　in　a　long　train；　and　fastened
under　her　bosom；　only　half　veiled　by　a　clear　lace　collar；　by　means
of　a　wide；　golden　sash。　Her　hair；　framing　her　expansive　brow　in　a
few　black　ringlets　a　la　Josephine；　was　tied　up　in　a　Greek　knot；
adorned　with　pearls　and　diamonds。　Similar　jewels　surrounded　her
queenly　neck　and　the　splendidly…shaped　snow…white　arms。　Her　cheeks
were　transparently　pale　to…day；　and　a　gloomy；　sinister　fire　was
burning　in　her　large　black　eyes。

She　looked　beautiful；　proud；　and　menacing；　like　Judith；　who　has
adorned　herself　for　the　purpose　of　going　to　the　tent　of　Holofernes。
Madame　Camilla　could　not　help　thinking　of　it　when　she　now　saw　the
princess　walk　across　the　room　in　her　proud　beauty；　and　with　her
stern；　solemn　air。　Madame　Camilla　could　not　help　thinking　of　it　when
she　saw　the　princess　draw　an　oblong；　flashing　object　from　a　case
which　the　mistress　of　ceremonies　had　never　beheld　before；　and
hastily　concealed　it　in　her　bosom。

Was　it；　perhaps；　a　dagger；　and　was　the　princess　a　modern　Judith；
goin