frederick the great and his family-第103节

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〃I　have　marked　it　all　out　with　pins；〃　said　Father　Anselmo；　〃the　black　pins　signify　the　army　of　the　allies；　the　white　pins　the　army　of　the　King　of　Prussia。〃

The　prior　bowed　over　the　map；　and　his　eye　followed　thoughtfully　the　lines　which　Father　Anselmo　marked　out。　〃Your　pins　are　a　sad　omen；〃　he　said；　shaking　his　head。　〃The　black　ones　surround　like　a　churchyard　wall　the　white　ones；　which　stand　like　crosses　upon　the　solitary　graves　in　the　midst　of　their　black　enclosures。〃

〃But　the　white　pins　will　break　through　the　enclosure；〃　said　Father　Anselmo；　confidently。　〃The　great　king〃　Father　Anselmo　stopped　speaking；　suddenly　the　door　opened；　and　the　father　guardian　asked　if　he　might　enter。

The　prior　blushed　slightly；　and　stepped　back　from　the　table　as　the　sharp　eyes　of　the　father　guardian　wandered　around　the　room　and　fell　at　last　with　a　sarcastic　expression　upon　the　table　covered　with　maps　and　plans。

〃Welcome；　Brother　Theodore；〃　said　the　prior；　with　a　slight　nod　of　the　head。

〃I　fear　that　I　disturb　your　worship　in　your　favorite　occupation；〃　said　the　father　guardian；　pointing　to　the　maps。　〃Your　worship　is　considering　the　unfortunate　condition　of　the　heretical　king　whom　God；　as　it　appears；　will　soon　cast　down　in　the　dust；　and　crush　at　the　feet　of　the　triumphant　Church。〃

〃We　must　leave　results；　at　all　events；　to　God；〃　said　the　prior；　softly；　〃He　has　so　often　evidently　lent　his　aid　to　the　King　of　Prussia；　that　I　think　no　one　can　count　confidently　upon　Frederick's　destruction　now。〃

〃The　Holy　Father　at　Rome　has　blessed　the　weapons　of　his　adversaries；　consequently　they　must　triumph；〃　cried　Father　Theodore；　unctuously。　〃But　pardon；　your　worship；　I　forgot　my　errand。　A　stranger　wishes　to　see　the　prior　of　the　cloister；　he　has　rare　and　beautiful　relics　to　sell；　which　he　will　only　show　to　your　worship。〃

〃Our　church　is　rich　enough　in　relics；〃　said　the　prior。

〃Your　worship　does　not　attach　any　especial　value　to　such　things；〃　said　the　father　guardian　with　a　derisive　smile；　〃but　I　must　allow　myself　to　recall　to　you　that　the　Holy　Father　in　Rome　has　only　lately　addressed　a　circular　to　all　the　cloisters；　recommending　the　purchase　of　rare　relics　to　the　awakening　and　advancing　of　the　true　faith。〃

〃You；　father　guardian；　must　understand　that　matter　best；〃　said　Brother　Anselmo；　sticking　four　new　pins　into　his　map。　〃I　think　you　brought　back　this　circular　about　six　months　since；　when　you　returned　to　take　the　place　of　guardian。〃

The　father　was　in　the　act　of　giving　an　angry　answer；　but　the　prior　came　forward；　and　pointing　to　the　door；　said；　〃Introduce　the　stranger　with　the　relics。〃

A　few　moments　later　the　traveller　from　the　hotel　of　Signor　Montardo　entered　the　prior's　room。　He　received　a　kindly　welcome；　and　was　asked　to　show　his　treasures。

The　stranger　hesitated；　and　looked　significantly　at　the　two　monks。　〃I　begged　to　be　allowed　to　show　them　to　your　worship　alone；〃　said　he。

〃These　two　fathers　are　consecrated　priests；　and　may　therefore　dare　to　look　upon　the　holy　treasures；〃　said　the　prior；　with　a　scarcely　perceptible　smile。

〃I　solemnly　swore　to　the　man　from　whom　I　bought　these　relics　that　I　would　only　show　them　to　the　most　worthy　member　of　your　order；　he　was　a　very　pious　man；　and　bitter　necessity　alone　forced　him　to　sell　his　precious　treasures；　he　prayed　to　God　to　grant　them　a　worthy　place；　and　never　to　allow　them　to　be　desecrated　by　unholy　eyes　or　hands。　As　the　most　holy　and　worthy　brother　is　ever　chosen　to　be　the　prior；　I　swore　to　show　the　relics　only　to　the　prior。　Your　worship　will　surely　not　ask　me　to　break　my　oath？〃

The　prior　made　no　answer；　but　nodded　to　the　two　monks；　who　silently　left　the　room。

〃And　now；　sir；　show　your　treasures；〃　said　the　prior；　as　the　door　closed　behind　them。

〃Your　worship；〃　said　the　stranger；　rapidly；　〃I　have　nothing　but　a　letter　from　the　Abbe　Bastiani；　which　I　was　to　give　to　your　own　hands。〃　He　drew　a　letter　from　his　bosom；　which　he　handed　to　the　prior；　who　received　it　with　anxious　haste　and　hid　it　in　his　robe；　then；　with　quick　but　noiseless　steps　he　passed　hastily　through　the　room；　and　with　a　rapid　movement　dashed　open　the　door；　a　low　cry　was　heard；　and　a　black　figure　tumbled　back　upon　the　floor。

〃Ah！　is　that　you；　father　guardian？〃　said　the　prior；　in　a　tone　of　sympathy。　〃I　fear　that　I　hurt　you。〃

〃Not　so；　your　worship；　I　only　returned　to　say　to　you　that　it　is　the　hour　for　dinner；　and　the　pious　brothers　are　already　assembled　in　the　hall。〃

〃And　I　opened　the　door　to　call　after　you；　father；　and　entreat　you　to　take　my　place　at　the　table。　As　I　am　in　the　act　of　looking　at　these　holy　relics；　and　touching　them；　I　dare　not　soil　my　hands　so　soon　afterward　with　earthly　food。　You　will；　therefore；　kindly　take　my　place；　and　I　will　not　appear　till　the　evening　meal。　Go；　then；　worthy　brother；　and　may　God　bless　you　richly。〃　He　bowed　and　raising　his　right　hand；　made　the　sign　of　the　cross；　while　the　father　guardian　slowly；　and　with　a　frowning　brow；　passed　through　the　room。　Having　reached　the　opposite　door；　he　paused　and　looked　back；　but　seeing　the　prior　still　standing　upon　the　threshold　of　his　room；　and　gazing　after　him；　he　dashed　open　the　door　and　disappeared。　〃Now；　sir；〃　said　the　prior；　entering　and　closing　the　door　carefully；　〃we　are　alone；　and　I　am　ready　to　listen　to　you。〃

〃I　pray　your　worship　to　read　first　the　letter　of　your　brother；　the　Abbe　Bastiani。〃

〃Ah！　he　has　told　you　that　I　am　his　brother？〃　said　the　prior；　eagerly。　〃He　trusts　you　then；　fully？　Well；　I　will　read　the　letter。〃　He　opened　and　read　it　impatiently。　〃This　is　a　very　laconic　and　enigmatical　letter；〃　said　he。　〃My　brother　refers　me　wholly　to　you；　he　assures　me　I　can　confide　entirely　in　your　silence　and　discretion；　and　entreats　me　to　assist　you　in　the　attainment　of　your　object。　Make　known　to　me　then；　signor；　in　what　way　I　can　serve　you；　and　what　aim　you　have　in　view。〃

〃First；　I　will　give　your　worship　a　proof　that　I　trust　you　fully　and　unconditionally。　I　will　tell　you　who　I　am；　and　then　make　known　my　purpose；　you　will　then　be　able　to　decide　how　far　you　can　give　me　counsel　and　aid。〃

〃Let　us　step　into　this　window…niche；〃　said　the　prior；　〃we　will　be　more　secure　from　eavesdroppers。　Now；　signor；　I　am　ready　to　listen。〃

The　stranger　bowed。　〃First；　I　must　pray　your　worship's　forgiveness；　for　having　dared　to　deceive　you。　I　am　no　merchant；　and　have　nothing　to　do　with　relics；　I　am　a　soldier！　my　name　is　Cocceji；　and　I　have　the　honor　to　be　an　adjutant　of　the　King　of　Prussia。　My　royal　master　has　intrusted　me　with　a　most　important　and　secret　mission；　and　I　am　commissioned　by　your　brother；　the　Abbe　Bastiani；　to　ask　in　his　name　for　your　assistance　in　this　great　matter。〃

〃In　what　does　your　mission　consist？〃　said　the　prior；　calmly。

The　Baron　Cocceji　smiled。　〃It　is　difficultyes；　impossible　to　tell　you　in　a　few　words。　Your　worship　must　allow　me　a　wider　scope；　in　order　to　explain　myself　fully。〃

〃Speak　on！〃　said　the　prior。

〃I　see；　by　the　maps　and　the　arrangements　of　the　pins；　that　your　worship　knows　exactly　the　position　and　circumstances　of　my　royal　master；　whom　all　Europe　admires　and　wonders　at；　and　whom　his　enemies　fear　most　when　they　have　just　defeated　him。　They　know　that　my　king　is　never　so　great；　never　so　energetic　and　bold　in　action；　as　when　he　is　seemingly　at　a　disadvantage；　and　overwhelmed　by　misfortunes。　The　bold　glance　of　the　great　Frederick　discovers　ever…new　fountains　of　help；　he　creates　in　himself　both　power　and　strength；　and　when　his　enemies　think　they　have　caught　the　royal　lion　in　their　nets；　his　bold　eye　has　already　discovered　the　weak　spot；　he　tears　it　apart；　and　makes　his　foes；　bewildered　with　terror　and　astonishment；　fly　before　him。　It　is　true；　the　king　has　just　lost　three　battles！　The　Austrians　and　Russians　defeated　him　at　Hochkirch；　at　Kunersdorf；　and　at　Mayen。　But　what　have　they　gained？　They　have；　in　these　three　battles；　lost　more　than　the　king；　they　have　exhausted　their　resourcestheir　own；　and　those　of　their　allies；　but　Frederick　stands　still　opposed　to　them；　full　of　strength　and　power。　His　army　is　enlarged；　from　every　side；　from　every　province；　shouting　crowds　stream　onward　to　join　the　colors　of　their　king。　Enthusiasm　makes　a　youth　of　the　graybeard；　and　changes　boys　to　men。　Each　one　of　them　will　have　his　part　in　the　experience　and　fame　of　the　great　Frederick；　and　demands　this　of　him　as　a　holy　right。　The　king's　treasury　is　not　exhausted；　the　people；　with　joy　and　gladness；　have　offered　up　upon　the　altar　of　the　fatherland；　their　possessions；　their　jewels；　and　their　precious　things；　and　submit　with　enthusiasm　to　all　the　restrictions　and　self…denials　which　the　war　imposes　upon　them。　They　desire　nothing　but　to　see　their　king　victorious；　to　help　him　to　this；　they　will　give　property；　bloodyes；　life　itself。　It　is　this　warm；　enthusiastic　love　of　his　people　which　makes　the　king　so　fearful　to　his　enemies；　it　protects　him　like　a　diamond　shield；　steels　him　against　the　balls　of　his　adversaries；　and　fills　his　proud；　heroic　soul　with　assurances　of　triumph。　All　Europe　shares　this　enthusiasm　and　these　convictions　of　ultimate　success　with　the　Prussians　and　their　dear…loved　king。　All　Europe　greets　the　hero　with　loud　hosannas；　who　alone　defies　so　many　and　such　mighty　foes；　who　has　often　overcome　them；　and　from　whom　they　have　not　yet　wrung　o