frederick the great and his family-第22节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


k　but　little　in　requiring　us　to　take　off　our　shoes　before　entering　your　state　apartment〃　He　stooped　to　undo　the　buckles　of　his　shoes；　and　when　Balby　wished　to　assist　him；　he　resisted。　〃No；　no；　you　shall　not　loosen　my　shoesyou　are　too　worthy　for　that。　Madame　Witte　might　think　that　I　am　a　very　assuming　personthat　I　tyrannize　over　my　brother。　There；　madame；　the　buckles　are　undone；　and　there　lie　my　shoes；　and　now　we　are　ready　to　enter　your　state　apartment。〃

Madame　Witte　opened　the　door　with　cold　gravity；　and　allowed　them　to　pass。　〃To…morrow　I　can　dust　again；〃　she　said；　gleefully；　〃for　the　strangers'　clothes　are　very　dirty。〃

In　the　mean　time；　the　two　strangers　awaited　the　arrival　of　Mr。　Witte。　The　king　enjoyed　his　comic　situation　immensely。　Balby　looked　anxiously　at　the　bare　feet　of　the　king；　and　said　he　should　never　have　submitted　to　Madame　Witte's　caprice。　The　floor　was　cold；　and　the　king　might　be　taken　ill。

〃Oh；　no；〃　said　Frederick；　〃I　do　not　get　sick　so　easilymy　system　can　stand　severer　hardships。　We　should　be　thankful　that　we　have　come　off　so　cheaply；　for　a　rich　banker　like　Witte　in　Amsterdam；　is　equal　to　the　Pope　in　Rome；　and　I　do　not　think　taking　off　our　shoes　is　paying　too　dearly　to　see　the　pope　of　Holland。　Just　think　what　King　Henry　IV。　had　to　lay　aside　before　he　could　see　the　Pope　of　Romenot　only　his　shoes　and　stockings　and　a　few　other　articles；　but　his　royalty　and　majesty。　Madame　Witte　is　really　for　bearing　not　to　require　the　same　costume　of　us。〃

The　door　behind　them　was　opened　hastily；　and　the　banker　Witte　stepped　in。　He　advanced　to　meet　them　with　a　quiet　smile；　but　suddenly　checked　himself；　and　gazed　with　terror　at　the　king。

〃My　God！　his　majesty　the　King　of　Prussia！〃　he　stammered。　〃Oh！　your　majesty！　what　an　undeserved　favor　you　are　doing　my　poor　house　in　honoring　it　with　your　presence！〃

〃You　know　me；　then？〃　said　the　king；　smiling。　〃Well；　I　beg　you　may　not　betray　my　incognito；　and　cash　for　Frederick　Zoller　this　draft　of　ten　thousand　crowns。〃

He　stepped　forward　to　hand　the　banker　the　draft。　Mr。　Witte　uttered　a　cry　of　horror；　and；　wringing　his　hands；　fell　upon　his　knees。　He　had　just　seen　that　the　king　was　barefooted。

〃Oh！　your　majesty！　Mercy！　mercy！〃　he　pleaded。　〃Pardon　my　unhappy　wife　who　could　not　dream　of　the　crime　she　was　committing。　Why　did　your　majesty　consent　to　her　insane　demand？　Why　did　you　not　peremptorily　refuse　to　take　off　your　shoes？〃

〃Why？　Well；　ma　foi；　because　I　wished　to　spare　the　King　of　Prussia　a　humiliation。　I　believe　Madame　Witte　would　rather　have　thrown　me　out　of　the　house　than　allowed　me　to　enter　this　sacred　room　with　my　shoes　on。〃

〃No；　your　majesty；　no。　She　would〃

At　this　moment　the　door　opened；　and　Madame　Witte；　drawn　by　the　loud　voice　of　her　husband；　entered　the　room。

〃Wife！〃　he　cried；　rising；　〃come　forward；　fall　on　your　knees　and　plead　for　forgiveness。〃

〃What　have　I　done？〃　she　asked；　wonderingly。

〃You　compelled　this　gentleman　to　take　off　his　shoes　at　the　door。〃

〃Well；　and　what　of　that？〃

〃Well；〃　said　Mr。　Witte；　solemnly；　as　he　laid　his　arm　upon　his　wife's　shoulder　and　tried　to　force　her　to　her　knees；　〃this　is　his　majesty　the　King　of　Prussia！〃

But　the　all…important　words　had　not　the　expected　effect。　Madame　Witte　remained　quietly　standing；　and　looked　first　upon　her　own　bare　feet　and　then　curiously　at　the　king。

〃Beg　the　king's　pardon　for　your　most　unseemly　conduct；〃　said　Witte。

〃Why　was　it　unseemly？〃　asked　his　better…half。　〃Do　I　not　take　off　my　shoes　every　time　I　enter　this　room？　The　room　is　mine；　and　does　not　belong　to　the　King　of　Prussia。〃

Witte　raised　his　hands　above　his　head　in　despair。　The　king　laughed　loudly　and　heartily。

〃You　see　I　was　right；　sir；〃　he　said。　〃Only　obedience　could　spare　the　King　of　Prussia　a　humiliation。　＇Footnote：　The　king's　own　words。　see　Nicolai's　〃anecdotes　of　Frederick　the　Great；　〃collection　V。；　P。31＇　But　let　us　go　to　your　business　room　and　arrange　our　moneyed　affairs。　There；　madame；　I　suppose　you　will　allow　me　to　put　on　my　shoes。〃

Without　a　word；　Mr。　Witte　rushed　from　the　room　for　the　king's　shoes；　and　hastened　to　put　them；　not　before　the　king；　but　before　the　door　that　led　into　his　counting　room。

With　a　gay　smile；　the　king　stepped　along　the　border　of　the　carpet　to　his　shoes；　and　let　Balby　put　them　on　for　him。

〃Madame；〃　he　said；　〃I　see　that　you　are　really　mistress　in　your　own　house；　and　that　you　are　obeyed；　not　from　force；　but　from　instinct。　God　preserve　you　your　strong　will　and　your　good　husband！〃

〃Now；〃　said　the　king；　after　they　had　received　the　money　and　returned　to　the　hotel；　〃we　must　make　all　our　arrangements　to　return　to…morrow　morning　earlyour　incognito　is　over！　Mr。　Witte　promised　not　to　betray　us；　but　his　wife　is　not　to　be　trusted；　therefore；　by　to…　morrow　morning；　the　world　will　know　that　the　King　of　Prussia　is　in　Amsterdam。　Happily；　Mr。　Witte　does　not　know　where　I　am　stopping。　I　hope　to　be　undisturbed　to…day；　but　by　to…morrow　this　will　be　impossible。〃

The　king　prophesied　aright：　Madame　Witte　was　zealously　engaged　in　telling　her　friends　the　important　news　that　the　King　of　Prussia　had　visited　her　husband；　and　was　now　in　Amsterdam。

The　news　rolled　like　an　avalanche　from　house　to　house；　from　street　to　street；　and　even　reached　the　major's　door；　who；　in　spite　of　the　lateness　of　the　hour；　called　a　meeting　of　the　magistrates；　and　sent　policemen　to　all　the　hotels　to　demand　a　list　of　the　strangers　who　had　arrived　during　the　last　few　days。　In　order　to　greet　the　king；　they　must　first　find　him。

Early　the　next　morning；　a　simple　caleche；　with　two　horses；　stood　at　the　hotel　of　the　〃Black　Raven。〃　The　brothers　Zoller　were　about　to　leave　Amsterdam；　and；　to　Madame　Blaken's　astonishment；　they　not　only　paid　their　bill　without　murmuring；　but　left　a　rich　douceur　for　the　servants。　The　hostess　stepped　to　the　door　to　bid　them　farewell；　and　nodded　kindly　as　they　came　down　the　steps。　Their　servant　followed　with　the　little　carpet…bag　and　the　two　music…cases。

When　Deesen　became　aware　of　the　presence　of　the　hostess；　and　the　two　head…servants；　he　advanced　near　to　the　king。

〃Your　majesty；　may　I　now　speak？〃　he　murmured。

〃Not　yet；〃　said　the　king；　smiling；　〃wait　until　we　are　in　the　carriage。〃

He　descended　the　steps；　with　a　friendly　nod　to　the　hostess。　Balby　and　himself　left　the　house。

〃See；　my　friend；　how　truly　I　prophesied；〃　he　said；　as　he　pointed　down　the　street；　〃let　us　get　in　quickly；　it　is　high　time　to　be　off；　see　the　crowd　advancing。〃

Frederick　was　right；　from　the　end　of　the　street　there　came　a　long　procession　of　men；　headed　by　the　two　mayors；　dressed　in　black　robes；　trimmed　with　broad　red　bands。　They　were　followed　by　the　senators；　clothed　in　the　same　manner。　A　great　number　of　the　rich　aristocrats　of　the　city　accompanied　them。

Madame　Blaken　had　stepped　from　the　house；　and　was　looking　curiously　at　the　approaching　crowd；　and　while　she　and　her　maids　were　wondering　what　this　could　mean；　the　two　Mr。　Zollers　entered　the　carriage；　and　their　servant　had　mounted　the　box。

〃May　I　speak　now？〃　said　Deesen；　turning　to　the　king。

〃Yes；　speak；〃　said　the　king；　〃but　quickly；　or　the　crowd　will　take　your　secret　from　you。〃

〃Hostess！〃　cried　Deesen；　from　the　box；　〃do　you　know　what　that　crowd　means？〃

〃No；〃　she　said；　superciliously。

〃I　will　explain；　listen；　madame。　The　magistrates　are　coming　to　greet　the　King　of　Prussia！〃

〃The　King　of　Prussia！〃　shrieked　the　hostess。　〃Where　is　the　King　of　Prussia？〃

〃Here！〃　cried　Deesen；　with　a　malicious　grin；　as　he　pointed　to　the　king；　〃and　I　am　his　majesty's　cabinet…hussar！　Forward；　postilion！　quick；　forward！〃

The　postilion　whipped　his　horses；　and　the　carriage　dashed　by　the　mayors　and　senators；　who　were　marching　to　greet　the　King　of　Prussia。　They　never　dreamed　that　he　had　just　passed　mischievously　by　them。

Two　days　later；　the　king　and　his　companions　stood　on　the　Prussian　border；　on　the　spot　where；　in　the　beginning　of　their　journey；　the　king　had　written　the　words　〃majesty〃　and　〃sire。〃

〃Look！〃　he　said；　pointing　to　the　ground；　〃the　two　fatal　words　have　not　vanished　away；　the　sun　has　hardened　the　ground；　and　they　are　still　legible。　I　must　lift　them　from　the　sand；　and　wear　them　henceforth　and　forever。　Give　me　your　hand；　Balby；　the　poor　musician；　Frederick　Zoller；　will　bid　farewell　to　his　friend；　and　not　only　to　you；　Balby；　but　farewell　also　to　my　youth。　This　is　my　last　youthful　adventure。　Now；　I　shall　grow　old　and　cold　gracefully。　One　thing　I　wish　to　say　before　I　resume　my　royalty；　confidentially；　I　am　not　entirely　displeased　with　the　change。　It　seems　to　me　difficult　to　fill　the　role　of　a　common　man。　Men　do　not　seem　to　love　and　trust　each　other　fully；　a　man　avenges　himself　on　an　innocent　party　for　the　wrongs　another　has　committed。　Besides；　I　do　not　rightly　understand　the　politenesses　of　common　life；　and；　therefore；　received　many　reproaches。　I　believe；　on　the　whole；　it　is　easier　to　bestow　than　to　receive　them。　Therefore；　I　take　up　my　crown　willingly。〃

〃Will　your　majesty　allow　me　a　word？〃　said　Deesen；　stepping　forward。

〃Speak；　Deesen。〃

〃I　thank　Mr。　Zoller　for　saving　my　life。　As　true　as　God　lives；　I　should　have　stifled　with　rage　if　I　had　not　told　that　haughty　Hollander　who　Mr。　Zoller　was　and　who　I　was。〃

〃Now；　forward！　Farewell；　Frederick　Zoller！　Now　I　am　on　Prus