frederick the great and his family-第126节
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nry； there is no joy or peace in this world for me； you fire my good angel！ Charles Henry Buschman； do you wish me to be a dissolute drunkard？〃
〃How can I wish that； Fritz Kober？〃 whispered Charles Henry。 〃But you could never be a bad man； you have the best and noblest heart in the world！ No man dare injure or abuse you！ You give to those who ask of you； you help those who suffer； and you stand by those who are in difficulty！ Then you are a complete； true man； and know how to maintain your own dignity on every occasion。 All who approach you are compelled to respect you； and no one will ever dare to cast a reproach on Fritz Kober。 You are； at the same time； a hero； a good man； and an innocent child； and my heart rejoices in you。〃
〃What is good in me； I owe to you；〃 said Fritz Kober。 〃Before I knew you； I was a simple blockhead； and lived on stupidly from day to day； thinking of nothing。 Since I knew you； I have learned to open my eyes； and to reflect。 But all this will be changed if you desert me； Charles Henry； and I see that you will do so； yes； you will abandon me。 For three weeks past you have taken no notice of me。 You would not go into my tent with me at Bunzelwitz； but camped out alone。 Here； in the village； you would not come into my hut； but quartered with an old peasant woman。 So I followed you to…day； to ask you； once for all； if you have the heart to leave meto spurn me from you？ Look at me； Charles Henry！ look at me and tell me if you will make a pitiful and unhappy man of me？〃
Charles Henry looked up from his work； and gazed at the pale； agitated face of his comrade； and as he did so； tears gushed from his eyes。
〃God forbid； Fritz Kober； that I should make you unhappy！ I would rather shed my heart's blood to make you happy。〃
〃Hurrah！ hurrah！〃 cried Fritz Kober。 〃If this is so； listen to me and answer me； Charles Henry Buschman； will you be my wife？〃
A glowing blush suffused Charles Henry's face； he bowed down over his work and sewed on in monstrous haste。
Fritz Kober came nearer and bowed so low that he was almost kneeling。
〃Charles Henry Buschman； will you be my wife？〃
Charles Henry did not answer； tears and bobs choked his voice； and trembling with emotion he laid his head on Fritz Kober's shoulder。
〃Does that mean yes？〃 said Fritz； breathlessly。
〃Yes；〃 whispered she； softly。
And now Fritz uttered a wild shout； and threw his arms around the soldier's neck and kissed him heartily。
〃God be thanked that it is over；〃 said he； 〃God be thanked that I did not deceive myselfthat you are truly a girl。 When you were last sick； and the surgeon bled you； I was suspicious。 I said to myself； 'That is not the arm of a man。' I went out； but in the evening you were praying； and you did not know that I was in the tent； and you said； 'You dear parents in heaven； pity your poor daughter。' I could have shouted with rapture and delight； but I held my peace。 I wished to wait and see if you would be good to me。〃
〃But the expression of your eyes was so changed；〃 whispered Charles Henry； 〃I was obliged to turn away when their glance fell upon me。 I felt that my secret was discovered； and therefore I avoided being with you。〃
〃Officer Buschman；〃 cried Deesen； in a commanding voice from the house； 〃is your work finished？〃
〃Immediately； I have but a few stitches to do；〃 cried Charles Henry。 〃Be silent；〃 said he to Fritz； 〃and let me sew。〃
But Fritz was not silent； he crouched near officer Buschman； and whispered many and strange things in his ear。
Charles Henry sewed on zealously； blushed often； and replied in low； embarrassed words。
At last the work was completed； and the knees of the great Frederick's breeches were worthily mended with divers patches。
〃I will carry them myself to the king； as I have a favor to ask him；〃 said Fritz Kober。 〃Come with me； Charles Henry； you must hear what the king says。〃
He took Charles Henry's hand and advanced to the door； but Deesen stood there； and forbade him to enter； he ordered Fritz to give him the breeches。
〃No；〃 said Fritz Kober； resolutely； 〃we have a request to make of the king； and he once gave us permission to come directly to him when we had a favor to ask。〃
He pushed Deesen aside and entered the room with Charles Henry。
The king sat in his bed reading； and was so absorbed that he did not see them enter。 But Fritz stepped up boldly to the bed and laid the breeches upon the chair。
〃Did you mend them； my son？〃 said the king。
〃No； your majesty； Charles Buschman mended them； but I came along to say something to your majesty。 You remember； no doubt； what you said when we returned from the enemy's camp near Kunersdorf； after the battle； when Charles Henry related so beautifully all that we had seen and heard。 You said； 'You are both officers from this day； and if you ever need my assistance call upon me freely。'〃
〃And you wish to do so now？〃 said the king。
〃Yes； your majesty； I have something to ask。〃
〃Well； what is it？〃
Fritz Kober drew up grandly and ceremoniously。
〃I ask your majesty to allow me to marry officer Charles Henry Buschmanto marry him to…day！〃
〃Marry him！〃 said the king； amazed； 〃is； then； officer Buschman〃
〃A woman； your majesty！〃 interrupted Fritz Kober； with joyful impatience。 〃He is a woman； his name is Anna Sophia Detzloff； from Brunen。〃
Frederick's sharp； piercing eye rested for a moment questioningly upon Charles Henry's face； then nodding his head smilingly several times； he said：
〃Your bride is a spruce lad and a brave officer； and knows how to blush in his soldier's uniform。 Officer Charles Henry Buschman； will you be the wife of officer Fritz Kober？〃
〃I will； if your majesty consents；〃 whispered Charles Henry。
〃Well； go to the field…preacher； and be marriedI give my consent。 And now go； I must dress。〃
〃At last；〃 said the king to Le Catt； 〃fortune will be again favorable to me。 Signs and wonders are taking place； as they did with Charles VII。 of France。 When he was in the most dire necessity； surrounded by his enemies； the Lord sent the Maid of Orleans to save him。 To me； also； has the Lord now sent a Joan d'Arc； a maid of Brunen。 With her help I will overcome all my enemies。〃
CHAPTER XVI。
THE AMBASSADOR AND THE KHAN OF TARTARY。
The preparations were completed； the room of the king had become； by means of his inventive genius； a magnificent throne saloon。 The great arm…chair； draped with rich hangings； looked almost imposing； the dirty floor was concealed by a costly Turkish carpet。 The door which led into the entry had been removed； and the opening hung with banners。 The entry itself had been changed by means of carpets； banners； and standards into a tasteful antechamber。
The king wore his general's uniform； and the chain of the order of the Black Eagle； and the generals and staff officers stood near him in their glittering dresses。 The room of the sheriff had indeed become a royal apartment。
And now an imposing train approached this improvised palace。 First appeared two riders； whose gold…embroidered mantles fell below their feet and concealed the well…shaped bodies of the small Arabian horses on which they were mounted； only displaying their slender necks； with their flowing manes and their graceful legs。 It was evident from their dark complexions and flashing eyes that these men were foreigners； the sons of the South。 On each appeared the diamond…headed hilt of a sword； glittering amid the folds of the costly Turkish shawls which encircled their slender waists； and at the side of each hung the jewelled sheath of a Damascus blade； which was held in the right hand； and presented in salutation。 These Turkish warriors were followed by two others； scarcely less richly dressed； and behind them rode four men； in long black robes； with eyes closed； each bearing in his right hand a book bound in gold and velvet； which he pressed prayerfully to his breast； a golden pen was worn in their girdles in place of a weapon； and on the fez an artistically arranged and jewelled peacock's feather。 Now followed two other riders； but these were not alike； as the others had been； but bore the most remarkable and striking contrast to one another。 One of them was dressed in the latest French style； he wore a blue； silver…embroidered velvet coat； with small…clothes of the same material； which met his white silk stockings at the knee； and were fastened by a band with a diamond clasp。 His shoes were also ornamented with diamond buckles and red heels。 He wore a three… cornered hat； with a white feather； which was placed lightly and gracefully upon his stiffly…curled； well…powdered peruke。 Splendid lace covered his breast； and broad lace cuffs fell over his white gloved hands。 It was a perfect ball dress； such as was worn at that time at court by all ambassadors who were not military； in their ceremonious audiences with the sovereign。
Near this man； dressed so gracefully and airily； was another cavalier who presented a great contrast to him。 As the one seemed dressed for a summer day； so the other appeared prepared for the coldest weather； the one was ready for the ball…room； and the other for the steppes of Siberia。 The long； thin figure of the latter was concealed by a fur m
