frederick the great and his family-第156节
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ement； and his thirst to see you lured him back to Berlin。 I was barbarian enough to follow him； and I swore to shoot him down like a mad dog if he did not consent to fight。 This comparison was doubtless somewhat insulting； and he resolved at last to fight。〃
〃Ah； he accepted the challenge！〃 cried Camilla； casting a sudden glance upon Kindar； but oh； how ugly； how pitiful； how repulsive did he now appear to her！ She closed her eyes； in order not to see him。
〃We rode on with our seconds and our weapons to the little village of Bernan； on the border of Saxony； but I saw； madame； that your cavalier had no inclination to fight this duel。 Besides； I thought of youof your great grief if he should fall； and thus deprive you of your pretty plaything before you had time to replace it。 You know that my heart was ever soft and compassionate。 I resolved； therefore； to be merciful to le beau cousin。 Arrived on the ground； I proposed to Kindar； instead of fighting with me； to sign a paper which I had prepared； in which he implores my pardon and my mercy； acknowledges himself to be an unworthy scoundrel and liar； and solemnly swears that every accusation he brought against me in the letter you copied was a liedeclares me to be an irreproachable cavalier； who has been deceived and betrayed by himself and Lady Elliot。 Baron Kindar found this somewhat strongly expressed； and preferred to fight rather than sign it。〃
〃God be thanked！〃 murmured Camilla。
〃Well； we were resolved to fight； and I was obliging enough to give Kindar the first shot。 He accepted this advantage readily； and I confess he aimed well。 His hand trembled； and he shot too high； just over my head。 Now it was my turn。 I raised the pistol； and I swear to you； madame； my hand did not tremble。 Perhaps Kindar noticed thisperhaps he wished to live and find a compensation in your love for the terrible torments of the last few days。 It suffices to say； he called out to me not to shoot； as he was ready to sign the paper confessing he was a scoundrel and a liar。 He signed it kneeling at my feet； and begging pardon。 I then gave him permission to return to Berlin。 For myself； I drove to Sans…Souci； asked an audience of the king； and obtained his consent to a divorce。 You know； madame； that I have a soft and yielding nature。 I never could refuse a wish of your heart。 I therefore implored his majesty to allow of your immediate marriage with Baron Kindar。〃
〃Never； never； will that marriage take place！〃 cried Camilla； springing from the divan and gazing with abhorrence upon Kindar。
〃It will take place！〃 said Lord Elliot； firmly and imperiously； 〃you love him； you betrayed me for his sakehe is a base coward； despised by every man； but still you will marry him。 We are divorced； and the king commands this marriage。 From this hour we are nothing to each otheryou are the betrothed of Baron von Kindar。 Allow me to give you this paper； which he signed to save his pitiful life； as a bridal present。〃
He laid the paper upon the table； and bowed to Camilla； who was pale and terrified； and whose teeth chattered as if in an ague…fit。
〃Madame；〃 said Lord Elliot； 〃I have the honor to bid you adieu。 I wish you a long and happy wedded life！〃
Lord Elliot left the room and passed on to the apartment which had been his own。 Every thing had been removed； all the pictures taken from the wall but one； only Camilla's portrait； taken in her bridal dress； remained。 He stood long before this lovely picture； and gazed steadily； as if to impress every lineament upon his soul。 He felt that in taking leave of this painting he was bidding adieu to youth； to happiness； to all the sweet illusions of life。
〃Farewell！〃 said he； aloud〃farewell； Camilla！ my bride！ the dream is over！〃
He took a little knife from his pocket and cut the picture in two pieces； from the top to the bottom； then slowly descended the steps to his carriage； in which his friend； Doctor Blitz awaited him。
〃I am ready； doctor； and I beg you to give me a bed in your house for the present。 During the last ten days I have had a burning fever。〃
While Lord Elliot was driving off； Camilla and le beau cousin stood confronting each other； neither dared to break the fearful silence； or even to look at each other。
Suddenly the door opened； and General von Saldern； the adjutant of the king； entered the room。 Camilla had not the strength to advance to meet him； she returned his salutation by a faint inclination of the head。 The general did not appear to see Kindar； and made no response to his profound bow。
〃Madame；〃 said the general； solemnly； 〃I come at the command of the king； by his authority as king and judge； and as head of the church； he has annulled your marriage with Lord Elliot。 This was done as a proof of his regard to Lord Elliot。 Out of regard to your own family； he insists upon your immediate marriage with Baron Kindar； who has been dismissed from the king's service。〃
〃No； no；〃 cried Camilla； 〃I will never marry him！ Leave me； sirI will never become the wife of this man！〃
〃It is his majesty's express command that you should be married without delay；〃 said General Saldern； 〃he has also commanded me to say to you that this scandalous intrigue； insulting to morals and good manners； should no longer be brought before the public。 You are both； therefore； banished from his court； from Potsdam and Berlin； and commanded to take refuge at your country seat； and lead there a solitary and quiet life。 This is the only punishment he inflicts upon you； and I have nothing more to announce。 If agreeable to you； madame； we will go at once！〃
〃Where？〃 cried Camilla； drawing back in terror from the general； who approached her。
〃In the next room； madame； a priest is waiting； who； at the express command of his majesty； will now perform the marriage ceremony。〃
Camilla uttered a loud shriek and fell senseless into the arms of le beau cousin； who advanced toward her at a nod from the general。 When consciousness returned； the priest was before her and Kindar at her side。 The ceremony was performed； and the unhappy couple left Berlin at once； never to return。 The remainder of their lives was passed in sorrow； solitude； and self…contempt。
CHAPTER XIV。
THE SEPARATION。
The three days the king had allowed his brother to make up his mind in； were past。 Prince Henry had made up his mind。 On the morning of the second day； he had sent off two couriersone to the king at Sans…Souci； the other to his wife at Rheinsberg。 He had remained in Berlin； and had taken possession of the splendid palace opposite the opera…house； that the king had lately built and furnished for him。 He had ordered his major…domo to prepare a handsome dinner； as he wished to open his house by entertaining all the nobility of Berlin。
The feast was to take place the third day after the king's interview with the prince。
The courier who left the morning before； carried a letter to Princess Wilhelmina； requesting her in a few cold； ceremonious words； to come to Berlin and preside at the proposed dinner and concert。
This invitation was to the princess a command she dared not resist。 She left Rheinsberg early in the morning and arrived at the palace an hour before dinner。
Prince Henry met his wife in the large vestibule leading to the front building。 He advanced toward her with a bright smile； passed her arm through his； and led her； pale and trembling； up the steps； making her observe the style of the building and the many conveniences of their new dwelling。 He spoke cheerfully； walking slowly so as to give the followers of the princess； who were occupied with her baggage； time to collect around her and witness the perfect understanding between her and her husband。 When they had mounted the last step； the prince laughingly pointed to the two halls leading from the stairway。
〃Here； madame； commence our separate apartments。 To you belong the right； to me the left wing of the castle。 I will pass through the hall to the right and lead you to the apartments whose mistress you will now become。〃
The princess threw a timid； inquiring glance at him。 She had been so convinced that her husband would demand a divorce； that she had allowed her thoughts to linger upon this possible mode of escape。 Now her heart trembled within her。 〃Perhaps；〃 murmured she as they passed through the long hall〃 perhaps he will murder me as the Duke of Orleans did his wife because she loved the Count de Guiche。〃 She hesitated； therefore； as the prince opened a door and bade her enter。 She looked anxiously around for her followers。
〃Cannot my maids accompany us？〃 said she； softly。
〃No； madame；〃 said the prince； roughly。 〃We go alone。〃
He drew her into the room； entered after her； then closed and locked the door。
Princess Wilhelmina shrieked in terror； and drew away from him。 〃Why do you lock the door？〃 said she； trembling。 〃Do you wish to murder me？〃
The prince laughed aloud。 〃Ah； you wish a tragic end to your romance； madame；〃 said he。 〃Not so； however。 It will be quiet and prosaic。 You will act neither the part of a martyr nor a heroine。 I wish neither to reproach nor punish you。 I leave that to God and your conscience。 I wish only to arrange with you the details of ou
