frederick the great and his family-第153节

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　to　him　for　redress；　but　waits　until　it　pleases　him　to　hear；　he　is　not　a　good　king。〃

〃The　man　is　right；〃　said　the　king；　〃I　will　listen　to　him　immediately。〃

He　hastily　advanced　to　the　door　and　opened　it。　Without　stood　an　old　man；　poorly　dressed；　with　a　pale；　thin　face；　from　whose　features　despair　and　sorrow　spoke　plainly　enough　to　be　understood　by　all。　When　his　great；　sunken　eyes　fell　upon　the　king；　he　cried；　joyfully；　〃God　be　thanked；　there　is　the　king！〃　The　king　motioned　to　him　to　approach；　and　the　old　man　sprang　forward　with　a　cry　of　delight。

〃Come　into　the　room；〃　said　the　king；　〃and　now　tell　me　what　you　wish　from　me？〃

〃Justice；　your　majesty；　nothing　but　justice。　I　have　been　through　the　war；　and　I　am　without　bread。　I　have　nothing　to　live　upon；　and　I　have　twice　petitioned　your　majesty　for　a　situation　which　is　now　vacant。〃

〃And　I　refused　it　to　you；　because　I　had　promised　it　to　another。〃

〃They　told　me　that　your　majesty　would　refuse　me　this　situation。〃　cried　the　man；　despairingly。　〃But　I　cannot　believe　it；　for　your　majesty　owes　it　to　me；　and　you　are　usually　a　just　king。　Hasten；　your　majesty；　to　perform　your　duty；　and　justify　yourself　from　a　suspicion　which　is　unworthy　of　your　kingly　fame。〃

The　king　measured　him　with　a　flashing　glance；　which　the　pale；　despairing　suppliant　bore　with　bold　composure。

〃By　what　authority；〃　asked　the　king；　in　a　thundering　voice；　as　he　approached　the　man；　with　his　arm　raised　threateningly〃by　what　authority　do　you　dare　speak　to　me　in　such　a　tone？　and　on　what　do　you　ground　your　shameless　demands？〃

〃On　this；　your　majesty；　that　I　must　starve　if　you　refuse　my　request。　That　is　the　most　sacred　of　all　claims；　and　to　whom　on　earth　dare　I　turn　with　it　if　not　to　my　king？〃

There　lay　in　these　words　a　sorrow　so　heart…breaking；　a　plaint　so　despairing　in　the　voice；　that　the　king　was　involuntarily　much　moved。　He　let　fall　his　uplifted　arm；　and　the　expression　of　his　countenance　became　gentle　and　tender。

〃I　see　that　you　are　very　unhappy　and　despairing；〃　he　said；　kindly；　〃you　were　right　to　come　to　me。　You　shall　have　the　place　for　which　you　asked。　I　will　arrange　it。　Come　here　to…morrow　to　the　Councillor　Muller。　I　will　give　you　some　money；　that　you　may　not　starve　until　then。〃

He　silenced　the　delighted　man's　expressions　of　gratitude；　and　ringing　his　bell　he　summoned　Deesen；　who　kept　his　purse；　in　order　to　give　the　man　a　gold　piece。　But　Deesen　did　not　appear；　and　the　second　chamberlain　announced　in　an　embarrassed　manner　that　lie　was　not　in　the　palace。　The　king　commanded　him　to　give　the　man　the　promised　gold　piece　and　then　to　return　to　him。

〃Where　is　Deesen？〃　asked　the　king；　as　the　chamberlain　returned。

〃Sire；　I　do　not　know；〃　he　stammered；　his　eyes　sinking　beneath　the　piercing　glance　of　the　king。

〃You　do　know！〃　said　the　king；　gravely。　〃Deesen　has　positive　orders　from　me　to　remain　in　the　anteroom；　because　I　might　need　him。　If　he　dares　to　disobey　my　orders；　he　must　have　a　powerful　reason；　and　you　know　it。　Out　with　it！　I　will　know　it。〃

〃If　your　majesty　commands；　I　must　speak；〃　said　the　chamberlain；　sighing。　〃Your　majesty　will　not　permit　us　to　be　married；　but　we　were　made　with　hearts；　and　we　sometimes　fall　in　love。〃

〃Deesen　is　in　love；　then？〃　said　the　king。

〃Yes；　your　majesty；　he　loves　a　beautiful　girl　in　Potsdam；　whose　name　is　Maria　Siegert。　And　although　he　cannot　marry　her；　she　has　consented　to　be　his　beloved。　And　as　to…day　was　the　great　report　day；　Deesen　thought　that　your　majesty　would　not　need　him；　and　that　he　had　time　to　go　to　Potsdam　to　visit　his　sweetheart。　He　seems　to　have　been　delayed。　That　is　the　reason；　your　majesty；　that　Deesen　is　not　in　the　anteroom。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　the　king；　〃as　soon　as　Deesen　returns　he　must　come　to　my　library。　I　forbid　you；　however；　to　repeat　one　word　of　this　conversation。〃

〃Ah；　your　majesty；　I　am　well　pleased　that　I　need　not　do　it；　for　Deesen　is　very　passionate；　and　if　he　learns　that　I　have　betrayed　his　secret　he　is　capable　of　giving　me　a　box　on　the　ear。〃

〃Which　would；　perhaps；　be　very　wholesome　for　you；〃　said　the　king；　as　he　turned　toward　his　library。

A　quarter　of　an　hour　later；　Deesen　entered　the　library　with　a　heated；　anxious　face。

The　king；　who　was　reading　his　beloved　Lucretius　while　he　paced　the　floor；　turned　his　great；　piercing　eyes　with　a　questioning　expression　on　the　anxious　face　of　his　attendant。　〃I　called　for　you；　and　you　did　not　come；〃　said　the　king。

〃I　beg　your　majesty　to　pardon　me；〃　stammered　Deesen。

〃Where　were　you？〃

〃I　was　in　my　room　writing　a　letter；　sire。〃

〃Ah；　a　letter。　You　were　no　doubt　writing　to　that　beautiful　barmaid　at　the　hotel　of　the　Black　Raven　at　Amsterdam；　who　declined　the　attentions　of　the　servant　of　the　brothers　Zoller。〃

This　reference　to　the　journey　to　Amsterdam　showed　Deesen　that　the　king　was　not　very　angry。　He　dared；　therefore；　to　raise　his　eyes　to　those　of　the　king；　and　to　look　pleadingly　at　him。

〃Sit　down。〃　said　the　king；　pointing　to　the　writing…table。　〃I　called　you　because　I　wished　to　dictate　a　letter　for　you　to　write。　Sit　down　and　take　a　pen。〃

Deesen　seated　himself　at　the　table；　and　the　king　began　walking　up　and　down　as　before；　his　hands　and　book　behind　him。

〃Are　you　ready？〃　asked　the　king。

〃I　am　ready；　sire；〃　returned　Deesen；　dipping　his　pen　into　the　ink。　〃Write　then；〃　commanded　the　king；　as　he　placed　himself　immediately　in　front　of　Deesen〃write；　then；　first　the　heading：　'My　beloved'〃

Deesen　started；　and　glanced　inquiringly　at　the　king。　Frederick　looked　earnestly　at　him；　and　repeated；　〃'My　beloved'〃

Deesen　uttered　a　sigh；　and　wrote。

〃Have　you　written　that？〃　asked　the　king。

〃Yes；　sire；　I　have　it'My　beloved。'〃

〃Well；　then；　proceed。　'My　beloved；　that　old　bear；　the　king'　Write；〃　said　the　king；　interrupting　himself　as　he　saw　that　Deesen　grew　pale　and　trembled；　and　could　scarcely　hold　the　pen〃write　without　hesitation；　or　expect　a　severe　punishment。〃

〃Will　your　majesty　have　the　kindness　to　dictate？　I　am　ready　to　write　every　thing；〃　said　Deesen；　as　he　wiped　his　brow。

〃Now　then；　quickly；〃　ordered　the　king；　and　he　dictated？'That　old　bear；　the　king；　counts　every　hour　against　me　that　I　spend　so　charmingly　with　you。　That　my　absence　may　be　shorter　in　the　future；　and　less　observed　by　the　old　scold；　I　wish　you　to　rent　a　room　near　here　in　the　suburbs　of　Brandenburg；　where　we　can　meet　more　conveniently　than　in　the　city。　I　remain　yours　until　death。〃

〃'DEESEN。'〃

〃Have　you　finished？〃　asked　the　king。

〃Yes；　sire；　I　have　finished；〃　groaned　Deesen。

〃Then　fold　the　letter　and　seal　it；　and　write　the　address　'To　the　unmarried　Maria　Siegert；　Yunker　Street；　Potsdam。'〃

〃Mercy；　sire；　mercy！〃　cried　Deseen；　springing　up　and　throwing　himself　at　the　feet　of　the　king。　〃I　see　that　your　majesty　knows　all…　…that　I　have　been　betrayed。〃

〃You　have　betrayed　yourself；　for　to…day　is　the　tenth　time　that　I　have　called　for　you　when　you　were　absent。　Now　send　your　letter　off；　and　see　that　your　Siegert　gets　a　room　here。　If；　however；　you　are　again　absent　when　I　call；　I　will　send　your　beautiful　Maria　to　Spandau；　and　dismiss　you。　Go；　now；　and　dispatch　your　letter。〃

Deesen　hurried　off；　and　the　king　looked　smilingly　after　him　for　a　moment；　and　was　on　the　point　of　returning　to　his　reading；　when　his　attention　was　attracted　by　the　approach　of　a　carriage。

〃Ah；〃　he　murmured　anxiously；　〃I　fear　that　I　shall　be　disturbed　again　by　some　cousin；　who　has　come　to　rob　me　of　my　time　by　hypocritical　professions　of　love。〃

He　looked　anxiously　toward　the　door。　It　was　soon　opened；　and　a　servant　announced　Prince　Henry。

The　king's　countenance　cleared；　and　he　advanced　to　meet　his　brother　with　a　bright　smile。　But　his　greeting　was　not　returned；　and　the　prince　did　not　appear　to　see　the　extended　hand　of　the　king。　A　heavy　cloud　lay　upon　his　browhis　cheeks　were　colorless　and　his　lips　compressed；　as　if　he　wished　to　suppress　the　angry　and　indignant　words　which　his　flashing　eyes　expressed。

〃Ah；　my　brother；〃　said　the　king；　sadly；　〃it　seems　that　you　have　come　to　announce　a　misfortune。〃

〃No；〃　said　the　prince；　〃I　only　came；　your　majesty；　to　recall　a　conversation　which　I　held　with　you　ten　years　ago　in　this　same　room；　on　this　very　spot。〃

〃Ten　years　ago？〃　said　the　king。　〃That　was　at　the　time　of　your　marriage；　Henry。〃

〃Yes；　the　conversation　I　refer　to　concerned　my　marriage；　sire。　You　had　pursued　me　so　long　with　that　subject；　that　I　had　at　length　concluded　to　submit　to　the　yoke　which　was　to　free　me　from　those　unworthy　and　humiliating　persecutions。〃

〃I　think　that　you　could　select　more　fitting　expressions；　my　brother；〃　said　the　king；　with　flashing　eyes。　〃You　forget　that　you　are　speaking　to　your　king。〃

〃But　I　remember　that　I　am　speaking　to　my　brother；　whose　duty　is　to　hear　the　complaints　which　I　have　to　utter　against　the　king。〃

〃Speak；〃　said　the　king；　after　a　slight　pause。　〃Your　brother　will　hear　you。〃

〃I　come　to　remind　you　of　that　hour；〃　said　the　prince；　solemnly；　〃in　which　I　gave　my　consent　to　be　married。　As　I　did　so；　sire；　I　said　to　you　that　I　should　hold　you　responsible　for　this　marriage　which　was　made　for　political　purposes　and　not　from　lovethat　I　would　call　you　to　account　before　the　throne　of　God；　and　there　ask　you　by　what　right　you　robbed　me　of　my　liberty；　by　what　right　you　laid　a　chain　upon　my