frederick the great and his family-第37节
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whispers misled my soul。 I sold my honor and became a traitor； and all this for the sake of gold！ So I became what I now am。 I do not reproach you Rosa； for most likely it would have happened without you。〃
〃But what danger threatens you now？〃 asked Rosa。
〃The just punishment for a traitor；〃 said he； hoarsely。 〃Give me some wine； Rosa； so that I can gain strength to go to the king at once。〃
〃To the king at this early hour？〃
〃And why not？ Have I not been with him often at this hour； when I had important news or dispatches to give him？ So give me the wine； Rosa。〃
Rosa left the room； but returned almost instantly。 He took the bottle from her and filled a glass hastily。
〃Now；〃 said he； breathing deeply； 〃I feel that I live again。 My blood flows freely through my veins； and my heart is beating loudly。 Now to the king！〃
He stood before a glass for a moment to arrange his hair； then pressed a cold kiss upon Rosa's pale； trembling lips； and left the room。 With a firm； sure tread； he hurried through the halls and chambers。 No one stopped him； for no one was there to see him。 In the king's antechamber sat Deesen taking his breakfast。
〃Is the king up？〃 asked Weingarten。
〃The sun has been up for hours； and so of course the king is up；〃 said Deesen； proudly。
〃Announce me to his majesty； I have some important news for him。〃
He entered the king's chamber； and returned in a few moments for Weingarten。
The king was sitting in an arm…chair by a window； which he had opened to breathe the fresh summer air。 His white greyhound； Amalthea； lay at his feet； looking up at him with his soft black eyes。 In his right hand the king held his flute。
〃You are early； sir；〃 said he； turning to Weingarten。 〃You must have very important news。〃
〃Yes； sire； very important；〃 said Weingarten； approaching nearer。
The king reached out his hand。 〃Give them to me；〃 said he。
〃Sire； I have no dispatches。〃
〃A verbal message； then。 Speak。〃
〃Sire； all is lost； Count Puebla suspects me。〃
The king was startled for a moment； but collected himself immediately。 〃He suspects； but he is certain of nothing？〃
〃No； sire； but his suspicion amounts almost to certainty。 Yesterday I was copying a dispatch which was to go that evening； and which was of the highest importance to your majesty； when I suddenly perceived Count Puebla standing beside me at my desk。 He had entered my room very quietly； which showed that he had his suspicions； and was watching me。 He snatched my copy from the desk and read it。 'For whom is this？' said he； in a threatening tone。 I stammered forth some excuses； said that I intended writing a history； and that I took a copy of all dispatches for my work。 He would not listen to me。 'You are a traitor！' said he； in a thundering voice。 'I have suspected you for some time； I am now convinced of your treachery。 You shall have an examination tomorrow； for to…night you will remain a prisoner in your room。' He then locked my desk； put the key in his pocket； and； taking with him the dispatch and my copy； left the room。 I heard him lock it and bolt my door。 I was a prisoner。〃
〃How did you get out？〃 said the king。
〃By the window； sire。 And I flew here to throw myself at your majesty's feet； and to beg for mercy and protection。〃
〃I promised you protection and help in case of your detectionI will fulfil my promise。 What are your wishes。 Let us see if they can be realized。〃
〃Will your majesty give me some sure place of refuge where Count Puebla's threats cannot harm me？〃
〃You will remain here in the dwelling of the castle…warder until a suitable residence can be found for you。 What next？ What plans have you made for the future？〃
〃I would humbly beseech your majesty to give me some position in your land worthy of my station； such as your highness promised me。〃
〃You remember too many of my promises；〃 said the king； shrugging his shoulders。
〃Your majesty will not grant me the promised position？〃 said Count Weingarten； tremblingly。
〃I remember no such promise；〃 said Frederick。 〃Men of your stamp are paid； but not rewarded。 I have made use of your treachery； but you are； nevertheless； in my eyes a traitor； and I will have none such in my service。〃
〃Then I am lost！〃 said Weingarten。 〃My honor； my good name； my future are annihilated。〃
〃Your honor has been weighed with gold；〃 said the king； sternly； 〃and I think I have already paid more for it than it was worth。 Your good name； it is true； will be from now changed into a bad one； and your mother will have to blush when she uses it。 Therefore I advise you to let it go； to take another name； to begin a new existence； and to found a new future。〃
〃A future without honor； without name； without position！〃 sighed Weingarten； despairingly。
〃So are men！〃 said the king； softly； 〃insolent and stubborn when they think themselves secure； cowardly and uncertain when they are in danger。 So you were rash enough to think that your treacherous deeds would always remain a secret？ You did not think of a possible detection； or prepare yourself for it。 In treading the road which you have trodden； every step should be considered。 This； it seems to me； you have not done。 You wish to enjoy the fruits of your treachery in perfect security； but you have not the courage to stand before the world as a traitor。 Do away with this name； which will cause you many dangers and insults。 Fly from this place； where you and your deeds are known。 Under a different name look for an asylum in another part of my land。 Money shall not fail you； and if what you have earned from me is not sufficient； turn to me； and I will lend you still more。 I will not forget that to me your treachery has been of great use； and therefore I will not desert you； though I shall despise the traitor。 And now； farewell！ This is our last meeting。 Call this afternoon upon my treasurer； he will pay you two hundred louis d'or。 And now go。〃 And with a scornful look at Weingarten's pale countenance； he turned to the window。
Weingarten hurried past the halls and chambers； and entered Rosa's room。 She read in his pale； sad face that he had no good news to tell her。
〃Has it all been in vain？〃 said she； breathlessly。
〃In vain？〃 cried he； with a scornful smile。 〃No； not in vain。 The king rewarded me well； much better than Judas Iscariot was rewarded。 I have earned a large sum of money； and am still to receive a thousand crowns。 Quiet yourself； Rosa； we will be very happy； for we will have money。 Only I must ask if the proud daughter of the royal castle…warder will give her hand to a man who can offer her no name； no position。 Rosa； I warn you； think well of what you do。 You loved me because I was a count； and had position to offer you。 From to… day； I have no position； no name； no honor； no family。 Like Ahasuerus； I will wander wearily through the world； happy and thanking God if I can find a quiet spot where I am not known； and my name was never heard。 There I will rest； and trust to chance for a name。 Rosa； will you share with me this existence； without sunshine； without honor； without a name？〃
She was trembling so； that she could barely speak。
〃I have no choice；〃 stammered she； at last； 〃I must follow you； for my honor demands that I should be your wife。 I must go with you； fate wills it。〃
With a loud shriek she fainted by his side。 Weingarten did not raise her； he glanced wildly at the pale； lifeless woman at his feet。
〃We are both condemned；〃 murmured he； 〃we have both lost our honor。 And with this Cain's mark upon our foreheads we will wander wearily through the world。〃 ＇Footnote： Count Weingarten escaped from all his troubles happily。 He married his sweetheart； the daughter of the castle…warder； and went to Altmark； where； under the name of Veis； he lived happily for many years。＇
The king； in the mean while； after Weingarten had left him； walked thoughtfully up and down his room。 At times he raised his head and gazed with a proud； questioning glance at the sky。 Great thoughts were at work within him。 Now Frederick throws back his head proudly； and his eyes sparkle。
〃The time has come；〃 said he； in a loud； full voice。 〃The hour for delay is past； now the sword must decide between me and my enemies。〃 He rang a bell hastily； and ordered a valet to send a courier at once to Berlin； to call General Winterfeldt； General Retzow； and also Marshal Schwerin； to Sans…Souci。
CHAPTER VIII。
DECLARATION OF WAR。
A few hours after the departure of the courier； the heavy movement of wheels in the court below announced to the king； who was standing impatiently at his window； the arrival of the expected generals。 In the same moment； his chamberlain； opening wide the library door； ushered them into his presence。
〃Ah！〃 said the king； welcoming them pleasantly； 〃I see I am not so entirely without friends as my enemies think。 I have but to call； and Marshal Schwerin； that is； wisdom and victory； is at my side； and Generals Winterfeldt and Retzow； that is； youth and courage； boldness and bravery； are ready to give me all the assistance in their power。 Sirs； I thank you for coming to me at once。 Let us be seated； listen to what I have to say； and upon what earnest important subjects I wish your advice
