frederick the great and his family-第148节

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　companions　upon　the　car　on　their　way　to　execution；　he　said　to　the　gaping　crowd：　〃Eh　bien；　eh　bien；　de　quoi　vous　eurerveillez…vous？　C'eci　n'est　qu'une　comedie　a　la　Robespierre。〃　These　were　Trenck's　last　words；　a　few　moments　afterward　his　head　fell　under　the　guillotine。＇

Suddenly　she　sprang　from　her　seat。　〃I　must　know　Trenck's　future；　I　must　draw　his　horoscope。　I　must　question　the　cards　as　to　his　destiny；　and　know　whether　happiness　or　misery　lies　before　him。　Yes；　I　will　summon　my　fortune…teller。　There　is　a　destiny　which　shapes　our　ends。〃




CHAPTER　X。

THE　STOLEN　CHILD。


It　was　a　dark；　stormy　December　night。　The　long…deserted　streets　of　Berlin　were　covered　with　deep　snow。　By　the　glare　of　a　small　oil…lamp　affixed　to　a　post；　the　tall　form　of　a　man；　wrapped　in　a　large　travelling…cloak；　could　be　seen　leaning　against　a　wall；　he　was　gazing　fixedly　at　the　houses　opposite　him。　The　snow　beat　upon　his　face；　his　limbs　were　stiff　from　the　cold　winter　wind；　his　tooth　chattered；　but　he　did　not　seem　to　feel　it　His　whole　soul。　his　whole　being　was　filled　with　one　thought；　one　desire。　What　mattered　it　to　him　if　he　suffered；　if　he　died？　As　a　dark　shadow　appeared；　in　the　opposite　door；　life　and　energy　once　more　came　back　to　the　stoic。　He　crossed　the　street　hastily。

〃Well；　doctor；〃　said　he；　eagerly；　〃what　have　you　discovered？〃

〃It　is　as　your　servant　informed　you；　my　lord。　Your　wife；　Lady　Elliot；　is　not　at　home。　She　is　at　a　ball　at　Count　Verther's；　and　will　not　return　till　after　midnight。〃

〃But　my　child？　my　daughter？〃　said　Lord　Elliot；　in　a　trembling　voice。

〃She；　of　course；　is　at　home；　my　lord。　She　is　in　the　chamber　adjoining　your　former　sleeping　apartment。　No　one　but　the　nurse　is　with　her。〃

〃It　is　wellI　thank　you；　doctor。　All　I　now　require　of　you　is　to　send　my　valet；　whom　I　sent　to　your　house　after　me；　with　my　baggage。　Farewell！〃

He　was　rushing　away；　but　the　doctor　detained　him。

〃My　lord；〃　said　he；　in　a　low　and　imploring　voice；　〃consider　the　matter　once　more　before　you　act。　Remember　that　you　will　thus　inform　all　Berlin　of　your　unfortunate　wedded　life；　and　become　subject　to　the　jeers　and　laughter　of　the　so…called　nobility；　lowering　the　tragedy　of　your　house　to　a　proverb。〃

〃Be　it　so；〃　said　Lord　Elliot；　proudly；　〃I　have　nothing　to　fear。　The　whole　world　knows　that　my　honor　is　stained；　before　the　whole　world　will　I　cleanse　it。〃

〃But　in　doing　so；　my　lord；　you　disgrace　your　wife。〃

〃Do　you　not　think　she　justly　deserves　it？〃　said　Lord　Elliot；　harshly。

〃But　you　should　have　it　on　her　wish〃

〃Doctor；　when　one　has　suffered　as　I　have；　every　feeling　is　extinguished　from　the　heart　but　hatred。　As　I　have　not　died　of　grief；　I　shall　live　to　revenge　my　sufferings^　My　determination　is　unalterable。　I　must　and　will　tear　my　child　from　the　bad　influence　of　her　mother；　then　I　will　punish　the　guilty。〃

〃Consider　once　more；　my　lordwait　this　one　night。　You　have　just　arrived　from　a　hasty；　disagreeable　journey；　you　are　excited；　your　blood　is　in　a　fever　heat；　and　now　without　allowing　yourself　a　moment's　rest；　you　wish　to　commence　your　sad　work。〃

〃I　must　have　my　child。　You　know　that　as　it　is　a　girl　the　mother　can　dispute　this　right　with　me；　for　by　the　laws　of　this　land　in　case　of　divorce；　the　daughters　are　left　to　their　mother。〃

〃You　should　endeavor　to　obtain　her　by　kindness。〃

〃And　suppose　that　Camilla；　not　out　of　love　to　the　child；　but　to　wound　and　torture　me；　should　refuse　me　my　daughter；　what　then？　Ah！　you　are　silent；　doctor；　you　see　I　cannot　act　otherwise。〃

〃I　fear；　my　lord；　you　will　have　some　trouble　in　getting　the　child。　Lady　Elliot　has　lately　changed　all　the　servants　engaged　by　you；　not　one　of　them　was　allowed　to　remain。　It　is　most　likely　that　none　of　the　present　servants　know　you；　and　therefore　you　will　not　be　obeyed。〃

〃My　plans　are　all　arranged；　they　shall　not　prevent　me　from　fulfilling　them。〃

〃But　if　they　refuse　to　let　you　enter？〃

〃Ah；　but　I　shall　not　ask　them；　for　I　have　the　keys　necessary　to　enter　my　own　house。　When　I　left　home；　Camilla　threw　them　laughing　and　jesting　into　my　trunkI　now　have　them　with　me。　All　your　objections　are　confuted。　Again；　farewell。　If　you　wish　to　give　me　another　token　of　your　friendship；　meet　me　at　the　depot　in　an　hour。　I　will　be　there　with　my　child。〃

He　pressed　the　doctor's　hand　tightly；　and　then　hurried　into　the　house。　Noiselessly　he　mounted　the　steps。　He　now　stood　in　front　of　the　large　glass　door　leading　to　his　dwelling；　he　leaned　for　a　moment　against　the　door　gasping　for　breathfor　a　moment　a　shuddering　doubt　overcame　him；　he　seemed　to　see　the　lovely　countenance　of　Camilla；　bedewed　with　tears；　imploring　his　mercy；　his　pity。　〃No；　no！　no　pity；　no　mercy；〃　he　murmured；　〃onward；　onward！〃

He　drew　forth　a　key；　opened　the　door　and　closed　it　noiselessly　behind　him。　A　bright　lamp　burned　in　the　hall；　sounds　of　laughing　and　merry…making　could　be　heard　from　the　servants'　hall；　the　cries　of　a　child；　and　the　soft　lullaby　of　a　nurse　from　above。　No　one　saw　or　heard　the　dark　form　of　their　returned　master　pass　slowly　through　the　hall。　No　one　saw　him　enter　his　former　sleeping　apartments。　He　was　so　conversant　with　the　room　that　he　found　his　way　in　the　dark　without　difficulty　to　his　secretary。　Taking　from　it　a　candle　and　some　matches；　he　soon　had　a　bright　light。　He　then　glanced　sternly　around　the　room。　All　was　as　usual；　not　a　chair　had　been　moved　since　he　left。　Beneath　the　secretary　were　the　scraps　of　letters　and　papers　he　had　torn　up　the　day　of　his　journey。　Even　the　book　he　had　been　reading　that　morning　lay　upon　the　table　in　front　of　the　sofa；　beside　it　stood　the　same　silver　candlesticks；　with　the　same　half…burnt　candles。　It　had　all　been　untouched；　only　he；　the　master　of　the　apartment；　had　been　touched　by　the　burning　hand　of　misfortunehe　alone　was　changed；　transformed。　He　smiled　bitterly　as　his　eye　glanced　at　every　object　that　formerly　contributed　to　his　happiness。　Then　taking　up　the　light；　he　approached　the　table　upon　which　stood　the　two　silver　candlesticks；　lighting　one　after　the　other；　the　large；　deserted…looking　chamber　became　illuminated；　bringing　the　pictures　on　the　walls；　the　heavy　satin　curtains；　the　handsome　furniture；　the　tables　covered　with　costly　knick…knacks；　the　large　Japan　vases；　and　a　huge　clock　upon　the　mantel…piece；　into　view。　All　bore　a　gay　and　festive　appearance；　much　at　variance　with　the　unfortunate　man's　feelings。

His　glance　had　wandered　everywhere。　Not　once；　however；　had　his　eye　strayed　to　two　large　pictures　hanging　on　the　left　side　of　the　room。　The　one　was　of　himselfgay；　smiling　features；　a　bright　glance　such　as　was　never　now　seen　upon　his　countenance。　The　other　was　Camilla　Camilla　in　her　bridal　robes；　as　beautiful　and　lovely　as　a　dream；　with　her　glorious；　child…like　smile　in　which　he　had　so　long　believedfor　which；　seeing　in　it　the　reflection　of　her　pure；　innocent　soul；　she　was　so　unspeakably　dear　to　him。　To　these　two　pictures　he　had　completely　turned　his　back；　and　was　walking　sadly　up　and　down　the　room。　He　now　raised　his　head　proudly；　and　his　countenance；　which　but　a　moment　before　had　been　sad　and　dejected；　was　now　daring　and　energetic。

〃It　is　time；〃　murmured　he。

With　a　firm　hand　he　grasped　a　bell　lying　upon　the　table。　Its　loud；　resounding　ring　disturbed　the　deep　stillness　that　reigned　throughout　the　apartments；　causing　Lord　Elliot's　heart　to　tremble　with　woe。　But　there　was　no　noiseall　remained　quiet。　Lord　Elliot　waited　awhile；　then　opening　the　door　passed　into　the　hall。　Returning；　he　again　rang　the　bell　long　and　loudly。　〃They　cannot　fail　to　hear　me　now；〃　said　he。

Several　doors　were　now　opened　by　some　of　the　servants；　but　their　terror　was　such　that　they　retreated　in　haste；　slamming　the　doors　behind　them。

Lord　Elliot　rang　again。　A　servant　now　hastened　forward；　another　soon　followed；　a　third　door　was　opened　from　which　sprang　a　lively；　trim…　looking　lady's　maid。　She　was　followed　by　the　house　girl。　Even　the　cook　rushed　up　the　steps。　All　hurried　forward　to　a　room　which　was　generally　kept　locked；　but　which　now　stood　wide　open。　All　gazed　at　the　man　standing　there　scanning　them　with　an　earnest；　commanding　glance。　They　stood　thus　lost　in　wonder　for　a　moment；　then　Lord　Elliot　approached　the　door。

〃Do　you　know　meyou；　there？〃　said　he。

〃No；　we　do　not　know　you；〃　said　the　waiter；　with　some　hesitation。　〃We　do　not　know　you；　and　would　like　to　know　by　what　right〃

〃There　is　no　question　here　of　your　likes　or　dislikes；　but　of　the　orders　you　will　receive　from　me。　Do　you　know　the　picture　next　to　the　one　of　your　mistress？〃

〃We　have　been　told　that　it　is　our　master；　Lord　Elliot。〃

Lord　Elliot　advanced　nearer　the　picture；　and　stood　beneath　it。　〃Do　you　know　me　now？〃　said　he。

The　servants　examined　him　critically　for　a　time；　then　whispered　and　consulted　together。

〃Now　do　you　know　me？〃　repeated　Lord　Elliot。

〃We　think　we　have　the　honor　of　seeing　his　excellency；　Lord　Elliot；〃　said　the　waiter。

〃Yes；　Lord　Elliot；〃　repeated　the　lady's…maid；　the　house…girl；　and　the　cook；　bowing　respectfully。

He　ordered　them　to　enter　the　room。　Tremblingly　they　obeyed　him。

〃Are　these　all　the　servants；　or　are　there　any　more　of　you？〃　said　he。

〃No　one　but　the　nurse；　who　is　with　the　little　lady；　and　the　coach…　man　who　is　in　the　stable。〃

〃That　is　right。　Come　nearer；　all　of　you。〃