louisa of prussia and her times-第30节

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of　boastful　ostentation；　he　had　tried　to　impart　a　useful　and
charitable　character　to　this　exhibition。　He　had　fixed　a　tablet　over
the　entrance　to　those　rooms；　bearing　the　inscription　of　〃Exhibition
of　Productions　of　Home　Industry；〃　in　addition；　every　visitor　had　to
buy　a　ticket　of　admission　for　a　few　groschen；　the　proceeds　to　be
distributed　among　the　poor。

Every　one　hastened　to　the　banker's　house　in　order　to　admire　the
〃productions　of　home　industry。〃　Even　the　queen　had　come　with　one　of
her　ladies　of　honor　to　inspect　the　gorgeous　display；　and　while
admiring　the　magnificence　of　the　silks　and　velvets　and　the　artistic
setting　of　the　diamonds；　she　had　exclaimed　joyfully：　〃How　glad　I　am
to　see　that　Germany　is　really　able　to　do　entirely　without　France；
and　to　satisfy　all　her　wants　from　her　own　resources！〃

The　queen　had　uttered　these　words　perhaps　on　the　spur　of　the　moment；
but　the　public　imparted　to　them　a　peculiar　meaning　and　tendency；　and
the　newspapers；　the　organs　of　public　opinion；　never　tired　of
praising　the　royal　words；　and　of　admonishing　the　inhabitants　of
Berlin　to　visit　the　patriotic　exhibition　at　the　banker's　house。

Curiosity；　moreover；　stimulated　the　zeal　of　the　ladies；　while
political　feeling　caused　the　male　part　of　the　population　to　appear
at　the　exhibition。　But　when　it　became　known　that　the　French　embassy
had　taken　umbrage　at　the　zeal　manifested　by　the　people　of　Berlin；
and　that　the　French　minister　had　even　dared　at　the　royal　table　to
complain　loudly　and　bitterly　of　the　words　uttered　by　the　queen　in
Herr　Itzig's　house；　the　indignation　became　general；　and　the　visits
to　the　exhibition　assumed　the　character　of　a　national　demonstration
against　the　overbearing　French。　Hosts　of　spectators　now　hastened　to
Herr　Itzig's　house；　and　gay；　mischievous　young　men　took　pleasure　in
stationing　themselves　in　groups　in　the　street　on　which　the　French
minister　was　living；　right　in　front　of　the　house；　in　order　to
converse　loudly　in　the　French　language　about　the　rare　attractions　of
the　banker's　exhibition；　and　to　praise　the　noble　patriot　who
disdained　to　buy　abroad　what　he　could　get　at　home　just　as　well；　if
not　better。

The　success　of　his　exhibition；　however；　far　exceeded　the　wishes　of
the　banker；　and　he　was　glad　when　the　days　during　which　the
exhibition　was　to　continue　were　at　an　end；　so　that　he　could　exclude
the　inquisitive　visitors　from　his　house。

But　to…day　the　house　was　to　be　opened　to　the　invited　guests；　for　to…
day；　as　we　stated　before；　Herr　Itzig　was　going　to　celebrate
simultaneously　the　wedding　of　three　of　his　beautiful　daughters；　and
the　whole　place　was　astir　with　preparations　for　a　becoming
observance　of　the　gala…day。

While　the　footmen　and　other　servants；　under　the　direction　of　skilful
artists；　were　engaged　in　gorgeously　decorating　the　parlors　and
halls；　while　a　hundred　busy　hands　in　the　kitchen　and　cellar　were
preparing　a　sumptuous　repast；　while　Herr　Itzig　and　wife　were　giving
the　last　directions　for　the　details　of　the　festival；　the　three
brides　were　chatting　confidentially　in　their　own　room。　All　of　them
were　quite　young　yet；　the　eldest　sister　having　scarcely　completed
her　twenty…first　year。　They　were　very　beautiful；　and　theirs　was　the
striking　and　energetic　beauty　peculiar　to　the　women　of　the　Orient
that　beauty　of　flaming　black　eyes；　glossy　black　hair；　a　glowing
olive　complexion；　and　slender　but　well…developed　forms。　They　wore　a
full　bridal　costume；　their　bare；　beautifully　rounded　arms　and　necks
were　gorgeously　adorned　with　diamonds　and　other　precious　stones；
their　tall　and　vigorous　figures　were　clad　in　white　silk　dresses；
trimmed　with　superb　laces。　He　who　would　have　seen　them　thus　in　the
full　charm　of　beauty；　grace；　and　youth；　in　their　magnificent
costumes；　and　with　delicate　myrtle…crowns　on　their　heads；　would　have
believed　he　beheld　three　favorite　daughters　of　Fate；　who　had　never
known　care　and　grief；　and　upon　whose　heads　happiness　had　poured　down
an　uninterrupted　sunshine。

Perhaps　it　was　so；　perhaps　it　was　only　the　beautiful　myrtle…crowns
that　cast　a　shadow　over　the　faces　of　the　three　brides；　and　not　their
secret　thoughtstheir　silent　wishes。

They　had　eagerly　conversed　for　a　while；　but　now；　however；　they
paused　and　seemed　deeply　absorbed。　Finally；　one　of　them　slowly
raised　her　glowing　black　eyes　and　cast　a　piercing　glance　upon　her
sisters。　They　felt　the　magic　influence　of　this　glance；　and　raised
their　eyes　at　the　same　time。

〃Why　do　you　look　at　us　so　intently；　Fanny？〃　they　asked。

〃I　want　to　see　if　I　can　read　truth　on　your　brow；〃　said　Fanny；　〃or　if
the　diamonds　and　the　myrtle…crowns　conceal　every　thing。　Girls；
suppose　we　take　off　for　a　moment　the　shining　but　lying　masks　with
which　we　adorn　ourselves　in　the　eyes　of　the　world；　and　show　to　each
other　our　true　and　natural　character？　We　have　always　lied　to　each
other。　We　said　mutually　to　each　other：　'I　am　happy。　I　am　not　jealous
of　you；　for　I　am　just　as　happy　as　you。'　Suppose　we　now　open　our　lips
really　and　tell　the　truth　about　our　hearts？　Would　not　it　be　novel
and　original？　Would　it　not　be　an　excellent　way　of　whiling　away　these
few　minutes　until　our　betrothed　come　and　lead　us　to　the　altar？　See；
this　is　the　last　time　that　we　shall　be　thus　togetherthe　last　time
that　we　bear　the　name　of　our　father；　let　us；　therefore；　for　once
tell　each　other　our　true　sentiments。　Shall　we　do　so？〃

〃Yes；〃　exclaimed　the　two　sisters。　〃But　about　what　do　you　want　us　to
tell　you　the　truth？〃

〃About　our　hearts；〃　replied　Fanny；　gravely。　〃Esther；　you　are　the
eldest　of　us　three。　You　must　commence。　Tell　us；　therefore；　if　you
love　your　betrothed；　Herr　Ephraim？〃

Esther　looked　at　her　in　amazement。　〃If　I　love　him？〃　she　asked。　〃Good
Heaven！　how　should　I　happen　to　love　him？　I　scarcely　know　him。　Father
selected　him　for　me；　it　is　a　brilliant　match；　I　shall　remain　in
Berlin；　I　shall　give　splendid　parties　and　by　my　magnificent　style　of
living　greatly　annoy　those　ladies　of　the　so…called　haute　volee；　who
have　sometimes　dared　to　turn　up　their　noses　at　the　'Jewesses。'
Whether　I　shall　be　able　to　love　Ephraim；　I　do　not　know；　but　we　shall
live　in　brilliant　style；　and　as　we　shall　give　magnificent　dinner…
parties；　we　shall　never　lack　guests　from　the　most　refined　classes　of
society。　Such　are　the　prospects　of　my　future；　and　although　I　cannot
say　that　I　am　content　with　them；　yet　I　know　that　others　will　deem　my
position　a　most　enviable　one；　and　that　is　at　least　something。〃

〃The　first　confession！〃　said　Fanny；　smiling。　〃Now　it　is　your　turn；
Lydia。　Tell　us；　therefore；　do　you　love　Baron　von　Eskeles；　your
future　husband？〃

Lydia　looked　at　her　silently　and　sadly。　〃Do　not　ask　me；〃　she　said；
〃for　you　and　Esther　know　very　well　that　I　do　not　love　him。　I　once
had　a　splendid　dream。　I　beheld　myself　an　adored　wife　by　the　side　of
a　young　man　whom　I　loved　and　who　loved　me　passionately。　He　was　an
artist；　and　when　he　was　sitting　at　his　easel；　he　felt　that　he　was
rich　and　happy；　even　without　money；　for　he　had　his　genius　and　his
art。　When　I　was　looking　at　his　paintings；　and　at　the　handsome　and
inspired　artist　himself；　it　seemed　to　me　there　was　but　one　road　to
happiness　on　earth：　to　belong　to　that　man；　to　love　him；　to　serve
him；　and；　if　it　must　be；　to　suffer　and　starve　with　him。　It　was　a
dream；　and　father　aroused　me　from　it　by　telling　me　that　I　was　to
marry　Baron　von　Eskeles；　that　he　had　already　made　an　agreement　with
the　baron's　father；　and　that　the　wedding　would　take　place　in　two
weeks。〃

〃Poor　Lydia！〃　murmured　the　sisters。

A　pause　ensued。　〃Well；〃　asked　Esther；　〃and　you；　Fanny？　You　examine
us　and　say　nothing　about　yourself。　What　about　your　heart；　my　child？
Do　you　love　your　betrothed；　Baron　von　Arnstein；　the　partner　of
Eskeles；　your　future　brother…in…law？　You　are　silent？　Have　you
nothing　to　say　to　us？〃

〃I　have　to　say　to　you　that　we　are　all　to　be　pitied　and　very
unhappy；〃　said　Fanny；　passionately。　〃Yes；　to　be　pitied　and　very
unhappy；　notwithstanding　our　wealth；　our　diamonds；　and　our　brilliant
future！　We　have　been　sold　like　goods；　no　one　has　cared　about　the
hearts　which　these　goods　happen　to　have；　but　every　one　merely　took
into　consideration　how　much　profit　he　would　derive　from　them。　Oh；　my
sisters；　we　rich　Jewesses　are　treated　just　in　the　same　manner　as　the
poor　princesses；　we　are　sold　to　the　highest　bidder。　And　we　have　not
got　the　necessary　firmness；　energy；　and　independence　to　emancipate
ourselves　from　this　degrading　traffic　in　flesh　and　blood。　We　bow　our
heads　and　obey；　and；　in　the　place　of　love　and　happiness；　we　fill　our
hearts　with　pride　and　ostentation；　and　yet　we　are　starving　and
pining　away　in　the　midst　of　our　riches。〃

〃Yes；〃　sighed　Lydia；　〃and　we　dare　not　even　complain！　Doomed　to
eternal　falsehood；　we　must　feign　a　happiness　we　do　not　experience；
and　a　love　we　do　not　feel。〃

〃I　shall　not　do　so！〃　exclaimed　Fanny；　proudly。　〃It　is　enough　for　me
to　submit　to　compulsion；　and　to　bow　my　head；　but　never　shall　I　stoop
so　low　as　to　lie。〃

〃What！　you　are　going　to　tell　your　husband　that　you　do　not　love　him？〃
asked　the　sisters。

〃I　shall　not　say　that　to　my　husband；　but　to　my　betrothed　as　soon　as
he　makes　his　appearance。〃

〃But　suppose　he　does　not　want　to　marry　a　girl　who　does　not　love
him？〃