frederick the great and his family-第149节
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〃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。〃
As they obeyed； he closed and locked the door； dropping the key in his pocket。 The servants looked at him in wonder and terror； hardly daring to breathe。 Though they had never seen their master； they knew by his stern； expressive countenance that something remarkable was about to transpire。 Like all other servants； they were well acquainted with the secrets； the behavior of their employer。 They were； therefore； convinced that their mistress was the cause of their master's strange conduct。
〃Do not dare to move from this spotdo not make a sound；〃 said Lord Elliot； taking a light and advancing to a second door。 〃Remain here。 If I need you I will call。〃 Throwing a last look at the servants； Lord Elliot entered the adjoining room； drawing the bolt quickly behind him。
〃All is right now。〃 said he； softly。 〃None of them can fly to warn Camilla to return。〃 Candle in hand； he passed through the chamber； looking neither to right nor left。 He wished to ignore that he was now in Camilla's room； which was associated with so many painfully sweet remembrances to him。 He entered another roomhe hurried through it。 As he passed by the large bedstead surrounded by heavy silk curtains； the candle in his hand shook； and a deep groan escaped his breast。 He now stood at the door of the next chamber。 He stopped for a moment to gain breath and courage。 With a hasty movement he threw open the door and entered。 His heart failed him when he beheld the peaceful scene before him。 A dark shady carpet covered the floor； simple green blinds hung at the windows。 There were no handsome paintings on the wall； no glittering chandelier； no bright furniture； and still the apartment contained a wondrous tenement； a great treasure。 For in the middle of the room stood a cradle； in the cradle lay his child； his first…bornthe child of his love； of his lost happiness。 He knew by the great joy that overcame him； by the loud beating of his heart； by the tears that welled to his eyes； that this was his child。 He prayed God to bless ithe swore to love it faithfully to all eternity。 He at last found the strength to approach the little sleeping being whose presence rilled him with such wild joy。
The nurse sat by the cradle fast asleep。 She did not see Lord Elliot kneel beside the cradle and look tenderly at the sleeping face of her nurslingshe did not see him kiss the child； then lay its little hands upon his own bowed head as if he needed his little daughter's blessing to strengthen him。 But all at once she was shaken by a strong hand； and a loud； commanding voice ordered her to wake up； to open her eyes。 She sprang from her chair in terrorshe had had a bad dream。 But there still stood the strange man； saying in a stern voice； 〃Get up and prepare to leave here at once with me。〃
She wished to cry for help； but as she opened her mouth； he threw his strong arm around her。 〃If you make a sound； I take the child and leave you here alone。 I have the right to command hereI am the father of this child。〃
〃Lord Elliot！〃 cried the nurse； in amazement。
Lord Elliot smiled。 This involuntary recognition of his right did him good and softened him。
〃Fear nothing；〃 said he； kindly； 〃no harm shall happen to you。 I take you and the child。 If you love and are kind to it； you shall receive from me a pension for life； from to…day your wages are doubled。 For this I demand nothing； but that you should collect at once the necessary articles of clothing of this child； and put them together。 If you are ready in fifteen minutes； I will give you this gold piece。〃
He looked at his watch； and took from his purse a gold piece； which lent wings to the stout feet of the nurse。
〃Is all you need in here？〃 said he。
Receiving an answer in the affirmative； he took his light and left the chamber。 Before leaving； however； he locked another door leading into the hall； so as to prevent the possible escape of the nurse。
As he entered Camilla's boudoir his countenance became dark and stern； every gentle and tender feeling that his child had aroused now fled from his heart。 He was now the insulted husband； the man whose honor was wounded in its most sensitive pointwho came to punish； to revenge； to seek the proofs of the guilt he suspected。 He placed the light upon the table； aud opened his wife's portfolio to seek for the key of her drawer； which was generally kept there。 It was in its usual place。 Lord Elliot shuddered as he touched it； it felt like burning fire in his hand。
〃It is the key to my grave；〃 murmred he。
With a firm hand he put the key in the lock； opened the drawer； and drew out the letters and papers it contained。 There were his own letters； the letters of love and tenderness he had sent her from Copenhagen； among them he found others full of passionate proofs of the criminal and unholy love he had come to punish。 Camilla had not had the delicacy to separate her husband's from her lover's letters； she had carelessly thrown them in the same drawer。 As Lord Elliot saw this he laughed aloud； a feeling of inexpressible contempt overpowered his soul and deadened his pain。 He could not continue to love one who had not only been faithless to him； but wanting in delicacy to the partner of her sin。
Lord Elliot read but one of the beau cousin's letters； then threw it carelessly aside。 He did not care to read more of the silly speeches； the guilty protestations of constancy of her insipid lover。 He searched but for one letter； he wished to find the original of the last one Camilla had written to him； for he knew her too well to give her credit for the composition of that cold； sneering； determined letter。 He wished； therefore； to find the author； whose every word had pierced his soul like a dagger； driving him at first almost to madness。
A wild； triumphant cry now escaped from him； resounding fearfully in the solitary chambers。 He had found it！ The letter was clutched tightly in his trembling hands as he read the first lines。 It was in the same hand as the others； it was the writing of his rival； Von Kindar； her beau cousin。
Lord Elliot folded the paper carefully and hid it in his bosom； then throwing the others into the drawer； he locked it； placing the key in the portfolio。
〃It is well；〃 said he； 〃I have now all I need。 This letter is his death…warrant。〃
He took the light and left the room。 Fifteen minutes had just elapsed when he entered his daughter's chamber。 The nurse advanced to meet him； the child and a bundle of clothes in her arms； and received the promised gold piece。
〃Now； we must hasten；〃 said he； stepping into the hall。
They passed silently through the house； down the steps； and into the court…yard。 Lord Elliot walked hastily on； followed by the wondering nurse。 He stopped at the stable door； calling loudly upon the coachman to get up and prepare the horses。 At twelve o'clock the coachman was to go for his mistress； he was therefore dressed； and had only laid down for a short nap。
〃Put the horses to the carriage；〃 repeated Lord Elliot。
The coachman； raising his lamp； threw a full glare of light upon the stranger。
〃I do not know you；〃 said he； roughly； 〃I receive orders from no one but my mistress。〃
For answer； Lord Elliot drew from his breast a pocket pistol。
〃If you are not ready in five minutes； I will shoot you through the head；〃 said Lord Elliot； quietly； tapping the trigger。
〃For God's sake； obey him； John；〃 cried the nurse； 〃it is his excellency Lord Elliot！〃
In five minutes the carriage was ready； owing much more to the loaded pistol still in Lord Elliot's hand than to the conviction that this strange； angry…looking man was his master。
〃To the depot！〃 cried Lord Elliot； placing the child and nurse in the carriage； then jumping in after them〃 to the depot in all haste！〃
They reached the building in a few minutes。 There stood the horses in readiness； and beside them Lord Elliot's servant； with his baggage。 He sprang from the carriage； and； giving the coachman a douceur； ordered him to loosen the horses and return home with them。
〃But； your honor；〃 stammered the mystified coachman； 〃how am I to call for my lady if you take the carriage？〃
〃My lady can wait；〃 said Lord Elliot； jeeringly。 〃If she reproaches you； tell her that Lord Elliot wishes to be remembered to her； that he will return in eight days with her carriage。〃
〃But she will dismiss me from her service； my lord。〃
〃Wait patiently for eight days； and then you shall enter mine。 And now； away with you！〃
The coachman dared not answer； and soon disappeared with his horses。
The fresh horses were put to the carriage； the servant swung himself up to his seat； Lord Elliot stood in front of the carriage with his friend Dr。 Blitz。
〃All has happened as I desired；〃 said he。 〃I take my child away with me； and； with God's will； she shall never know but that death deprived her of her mother。 Poor child！ she has no mother； but I will love her with all the strength of a father； all the tenderness of a mother； and I have a noble sister who will guard and watch over her。 She awaits me at Kiel。 I accompany my child so far； but as
