frederick the great and his family-第157节
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nish you。 I leave that to God and your conscience。 I wish only to arrange with you the details of our future life。 I locked the door； as I do not wish to be disturbed。〃
〃What are these details？〃 said the princess。
〃We will speak of them hereafter； madame。 Will you first do me the honor to read this letter I have just received from the king in answer to mine？ Have the kindness to read it aloud。〃
The princess received the letter and read：
〃MY DEAR BROTHERYour letter has been a great source of consolation to me； for it assures me that you are again a man； and have overcome your grief。 It is not your lot to be only a tender or an avenging husband。 You are； before all else； a prince and a man。 Both qualifications have duties forcing you to submit to life and to become worthy of it。 There is still much to be done in this world by both of us； and a true man should not be turned from his path because a foolish woman places a few thorns beneath his pillow。 Stifling his pain； he continues his road quietly。 I am glad this is also your opinionthat you have given up all thought of a public scandal and denunciation。 In relation to the princess。 I give you full power to make any and every arrangement you see fit。 As to Kalkreuth； he shall receive the place you mentioned。 I have appointed him lieutenant…general of the third army corps in Prussia。 He will leave here at once。 I desire you to inform him of his promotion。 As soon as you dismiss him； send him to me at Sans…Souci。 You tell me you are about to give a feast。 That pleases me right well。 It is better to stifle your pain with bright flowers and gay music； than to tear out your hair and retire to a convent。 May your feast be a bright one； and may it last forever！ FREDERICK。〃 Princess Wilhelmina； having finished the letter； handed it to her husband。 〃I see；〃 whispered she； softly； 〃that you have been noble and generous； my husband。 You shower benefits upon us instead of just anger。〃
〃I do neither the one nor the other；〃 said the prince； coldly； 〃I simply wish to pass a peaceful life； and above all things I would not have the world think me unhappy； for unhappy I am not nor ever mean to be。〃
The princess gave a timid glance at his countenance； so at variance with his words。 The last three days had worked such a fearful change。 His cheeks were thin and pale； his brow dark and clouded about his mouth were deep lines of care never more to be effaced。 Princess Wilhelmina was deeply touched when she saw this change。
〃My husband；〃 said she softly； raising her hands imploringly to him； 〃have pity on yourselfon me。 Hear me before you decide。 I feel that I have sinned heavily against you； but I will endeavor to expiate my sin。 In looking at you and seeing how much you have suffered； the pain that almost bursts my heart tells me how dear you are to me。 I repentI repent； my husband。 I will force my heart to love you； and you alone。 From now on； I will be a faithful wife； the one aim of my life shall be to make you happy。 Here I swear； as before God's altar； that I will love and obey you as my husband and master。 Will you accept this heart； that comes to you full of repentance？ Henry； will you？〃
She held out her hand； with a bright； beaming glance； but he did not take it。
〃No； it is too late；〃 said he。 〃I raised you a temple in my heart。 You have destroyed it； and wish now to build another with the shattered ruins。 No； princess； that which the lightning has struck must remain in ashes。 I could never believe in the stability of your building； but would be expecting it to fall daily。 This temple can never be rebuilt。 I forgive； but can never more love you。 We are separated before God and our own hearts。 But to the world we are still wedded。 We shall both inhabit this palace； but we shall seek never to meet one another。 On grand fete days； when etiquette demands it； we shall dine together； but preside at separate tables。 And you must forgive me if I never address you。 We are dead to one another； and the dead do not speak。 In the summer I shall live at Rheinsberg； the king presented it to me on my marriage with you； and I think I have paid dearly enough for it to be allowed to spend my time there alone。 You will not follow me there； but will remain in Berlin； or travel； as it suits you。 Do you accept my conditions； madame？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 said the princess； proudly。 〃I accept them。 We will live like two galley…slaves； bound together in chains； without one thought or feeling in unison。 You have devised a severe punishment for me； my prince。 My only fear is that I am not the only victim that you also suffer？〃
〃I told you before； that I wished to punish no one。 All I seek is a little resta little peace； and your presence in this palace cannot endanger that； for you； madame； have not only annihilated my love for you； but also the remembrance of it。 And now； as you have accepted my conditions for our future life； I have nothing more to say than farewell； until death！ Farewell； madame； may your life be a happy one！〃
〃Farewell； prince！〃 murmured Wilhelmina； in a voice choked with tears。 〃Farewell！ and may God teach your heart to pity and forgive！〃
〃You will now have the kindness； madame； to arrange your toilet； then to follow me with your court to the great reception…room。 We give to…day a splendid dinner。 At this fete we will take an eternal adieu of the past。 It will be the last time we dine together。 Farewell； madame； I await you。〃
He bowed profoundly； then moved to the door。 The princess gazed after him breathlessly； and the tears that had long stood in her eyes now rolled slowly down her cheeks。
When the prince had reached the threshold； she started forward； crying in a piteous voice：
〃Henry！ oh； Henry！〃
The prince did not turn； but opened the door and passed out of the room。
Fifteen minutes later； a gay crowd was assembled in the reception… room。 The prince received his guests in his usual gay； cordial manner。 But the princess was different。 She was more quiet and formal than usual。 Her eyes did not sparkle； her cheeks were pale in spite of her rouge： her voice was low and tremulous； and the smile she called to her lip was hard and forced。 A still more remarkable change had taken place in Count Kalkreuth's appearance。 He who generally sparkled with gayety and wit； whose merry jests had been the delight of the courthe who had been the very shadow of the princess； her most devoted cavalierstood now pale and speechless at a window； gazing sadly at the prince； who was laughing and talking with his guests； and who had passed him repeatedly without turning his head。 The courtiers； however； saw only the outward signs of that agony that had almost distracted the count in the last four days。
For four days； since their last meeting in the garden of Rheinsberg； the prince had not spoken to him。 It was in vain he had written and implored an audience。 The prince returned his letters unopened。 In vain that at almost every hour during these four wretched days he had had himself announced to the prince。 Prince Henry would not receive him。 And still he felt the inevitable necessity of having an explanation with the prince。 His heart craved it as the dying man craves the last consolations of religion。 This friendship for the prince； notwithstanding he had betrayed and wounded it； was； and had always been to him a sort of religion； he had sinned against it in the folly of his passion； but he had now come to his senses； and he repented his guilt bitterly。 Not a thought of the princess lingered in his heart； it was the prince he yearned after； he must speak to him； he must be forgiven by him。 His love for him was greater than ever。 Now that he had turned from him； ho knew how much he had lost。 He had not yet given up the hope of an interview； for this； alone had he come to the dinner。 But whenever he endeavored to approach the prince； he had turned from him and entered into earnest conversation with some bystanders。
Now the prince stood alone at a window； now or never must the count succeed in speaking to him。 Passing through the room hastily； he stood before Prince Henry。
〃My prince；〃 murmured the count； softly； 〃have pity on me。 I entreat you to listen to me for fifteen minutes！〃
The prince fixed his piercing eyes upon the count's pale； agitated countenance； but did not speak。 Then passing proudly before him； he advanced to meet Prince Frederick William； who had just arrived。
The doors of the dining…saloon were now thrown open； and the guests approached the richly…covered table； at one end of which sat the prince and his wife。 Not far from them was Count Kalkreuth。 For more than two hours he had borne the agony of being near the prince without being addressed by him。 For two hours he had stood the inquiring； malicious smiles and glances of the courtiers； who were looking on with delight at his humiliation。
His martyrdom was almost over。 Dinner was finished； and all awaited a sign from the princely couple to rise from the table。 Prince Henry arose； glass in hand； and said； in a loud voice：
〃And now； my guests； I have pleasant news for you； as you are all friends of Count Kalkreuth； what is good news to him will be to you also。 His majesty has appointed him lieutenant
