frederick the great and his family-第4节

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〃No；　Camilla；　no！　you　shall　not　be　lost；　you　must　remain　good　and　pure！　Every　child　has　its　guardian　angel；　pray；　my　child；　pray　that　your　angel　may　watch　over　you！〃

She　pressed　her　again　in　her　arms；　then　returned　to　her　chamber；　sadder　and　more　hopeless　than　she　had　ever　been　before。

But　this　unusual　sadness　commenced　to　annoy　her；　her　heart　was　not　accustomed　to　feel　sorrow；　and　her　remorseful；　dreary　feeling　made　her　shudder。　〃If　the　carriage　would　but　come！〃　she　murmured；　and　then；　as　if　to　excuse　her　thoughtlessness；　she　added；　〃it　is　now　my　holy　duty　to　listen　to　the　prince；　I　must　regain　the　respect　of　my　child。　Yes；　yes；　I　must　become　the　wife　of　Henry　I　I　can　accomplish　this；　for　the　prince　loves　me　truly。〃

And　now；　she　was　again　the　coquette；　whose　captivating　smile　harmonized　perfectly　with　her　alluring　costumeno　longer　the　tender　mother；　no　longer　the　sinner　suffering　from　repentance　and　self…　reproach。

She　stood　before　the　glass；　and　arranged　her　disordered　dress　and　smoothed　her　dishevelled　hair。

〃I　must　be　bewitching　and　fascinating；〃　she　murmured；　with　a　smile　that　showed　two　rows　of　pearl…like　teeth；　〃the　prince　must　gain　courage　from　my　glance；　to　offer　me　his　hand。　Oh；　I　know　he　is　quite　prepared　to　do　so；　if　it　were　only　to　annoy　his　brother！〃　As　she　saw　the　carriage　drive　up；　she　exclaimed；　with　sparkling　eyes；　〃The　battle　beginsto　victory！〃




CHAPTER　IV。

AT　THE　MASKED　BALL。


The　feast　had　commenced。　As　Louise　von　Kleist；　the　beautiful　odalisque；　entered　the　dancing…saloon；　she　was　almost　blinded　by　the　gay　and　sparkling　assembly。　The　fairy…like　and　fantastic　robes　sparkled　with　gold　and　jewels。　The　sea　of　light　thrown　from　the　crystal　chandelier　upon　the　mirrors　and　ornaments　of　the　brilliant　saloon　dazzled　the　eye。　The　entertainments　of　the　Prince　of　Prussia　were　renowned　for　their　taste　and　splendor。

Unrecognized；　the　beautiful　Louise　slipped　through　the　gay　assembly　of　masks；　and；　when　detecting　some　friends　under　the　muffled　forms　of　their　disguise；　she　murmured　their　names；　and　some　mischievous　and　witty　remark；　then　springing　gayly　on　to　shoot　again　her　arrow；　and　excite　astonishment　and　surprise。

〃Oh；　that　life　were　a　masked　ball！〃　she　murmured　softly　to　herself；　〃mysterious　and　sweet！　where　you　find　more　than　you　seek；　and　guess　more　than　is　known。　No　one　recognizes　me　here。　The　brave　and　handsome　Count　Troussel；　who　is　leaning　against　that　pillar；　and　casting　such　melancholy　glances　through　the　crowd；　hunting　for　the　one　his　heart　adores；　never　dreams　that　she　is　standing　opposite　him；　and　is　laughing　at　his　perplexity。　No；　he　does　not　recognize　me；　and　no　one　knows　my　costume　but　the　prince　and　Pollnitz；　and　as　they　have　not　yet　found　me；　I　conclude　they　have　not　arrived。　I　will　therefore　amuse　myself　during　their　absence。〃

She　was　just　approaching　the　sentimental　cavalier；　when　she　suddenly　felt　her　arm　touched；　and；　turning　around；　saw　two　masks　wrapped　in　dark　dominoes　before　her。

〃Beautiful　odalisque；　I　bring　you　your　sultan。〃　murmured　one　of　them；　in　whom　she　recognized　Baron　Pollnitz。

〃And　where　is　my　sultan？〃　she　asked。

〃Here；〃　said　the　second　mask；　offering　the　beautiful　lady　his　arm。　Louise　saw　those　glorious　eyes　beaming　upon　her　through　his　mask…　eyes　which　the　king　and　Prince　Henry　alone　possessed。

〃Ah；　my　prince！〃　she　murmured　softly　and　reproachfully；　〃you　see　that　it　is　I　who　have　waited。〃

The　prince　did　not　answer；　but　conducted　her　hastily　through　the　crowd。　They　had　soon　reached　the　end　of　the　saloon。　A　small　flight　of　steps　led　them　to　a　little　boudoir　opening　on　a　balcony。　Into　this　boudoir　Pollnitz　led　the　silent　pair；　then　bowing　low　he　left　them。

〃My　God！　your　highness；　if　we　should　be　surprised　here！〃

〃Fear　nothing；　we　will　not　be　surprised。　Pollnitz　guards　the　door。　Now；　as　we　are　alone　and　undisturbed；　let　us　lay　aside　our　disguises。〃

Thus　speaking；　the　supposed　prince　removed　his　mask　and　laid　it　upon　the　table。

〃The　king！〃　cried　Louise；　terrified　and　stepping　back。

The　king's　eyes　rested　upon　her　with　a　piercing　glance。　〃What！〃　he　asked；　〃are　you　still　acting？　You　appear　astonished；　and　still　you　must　have　known　me。　Who　but　the　king　would　show　the　beautiful　Madame　von　Kleist　such　an　honor？　In　what　other　cavalier　could　you　place　such　perfect　confidence　as　to　accompany　him　into　this　lonely　boudoir？　With　whom　but　the　king　could　you　have　trusted　your　fair　fame？　You　need　not　be　alarmed；　to　be　in　my　presence　is　to　be　under　my　protectionthe　kind　guardianship　of　your　king。　I　thank　you　that　you　knew　me；　and；　knowing　me；　followed　me　trustingly。〃

The　searching　glance　of　the　king　alarmed　Louise；　his　mocking　words　bewildered　her；　and　she　was　incapable　of　reply。

She　bowed　silently；　and　allowed　herself　to　be　conducted　to　the　divan。

〃Sit　down；　and　let　us　chat　awhile；〃　said　the　king。　〃You　know　I　hate　the　noise　of　a　feast；　and　love　to　retire　into　some　corner；　unnoticed　and　unseen。　I　had　no　sooner　discovered　the　fair　Louise　under　this　charming　costume；　than　I　knew　I　had　found　good　company。　I　ordered　Pollnitz　to　seek　out　for　us　some　quiet　spot；　where　we　might　converse　freely。　Commence；　therefore。〃

〃Of　what　shall　I　speak；　your　majesty？〃　said　Louise；　confused　and　frightened。　She　knew　well　that　the　king　had　not　found　her　by　chance；　but　had　sought　her　with　a　determined　purpose。

〃Oh！　that　is　a　question　whose　naivete　reminds　me　of　the　little　Louise　Schwerin　of　earlier　days。　Well；　let　us　speak　on　that　subject　which　interests　most　deeply　all　who　know　you；　let　us　speak　of　your　happiness。　You　sigh。　Have　you　already　paid　your　tribute？　Do　you　realize　the　fleetness　of　all　earthly　bliss？〃

〃Ah！　your　majesty；　an　unhappy　marriage　is　the　most　bitter　offering　that　can　be　made　to　experience；〃　sighed　Madame　von　Kliest。〃　My　life　was　indeed　wretched　until　released　by　your　kindness　from　that　bondage。〃

〃Ah；　yes；　it　is　true　you　are　divorced。　When　and　upon　whom　will　you　now　bestow　this　small；　white　hand？〃

Louise　looked　up　astonished。　〃What！〃　she　stammered；　confused；　〃your　majesty　means〃

〃That　you　will　certainly　marry　again。　As　beautiful　a　lady　as　you　will　always　be　surrounded　by　lovers；　and　I　sincerely　hope　that　you　will　marry。　You　should　go　forward　as　an　example　to　my　brothers；　your　youthful　playmates；　and　I　will　tell　my　brother　Henry　that　marriage　is　not　so　bad　a　thing；　as　the　beautiful　Madame　von　Kleist　has　tried　it　for　the　second　time。〃

〃I　doubt　very　much；　sire；〃　said　Louise；　timidly；　〃if　the　example　of　so　insignificant　a　person　would　have　the　desired　effect　upon　the　prince。〃

〃You　do　yourself　injustice。　The　prince　has　too　strong　an　admiration　for　you；　not　to　be　influenced　by　your　encouraging　example。　My　brother　must　and　shall　marry　according　to　his　birth。　I　am　assured　that；　contrary　to　my　wishes　and　commands；　he　is　about　to　make　a　secret　and　illegitimate　marriage。　I　am　not　yet　acquainted　with　the　name　of　his　wily　mistress；　but　I　shall　learn　it；　and；　when　once　noted　in　my　memory；　woe　be　unto　her；　for　I　shall　never　acknowledge　such　a　marriage；　and　I　shall　take　care　that　his　mistress　is　not　received　at　courtshe　shall　be　regarded　as　a　dishonored　woman。〃

〃Your　majesty　is　very　stern　and　pitiless　toward　the　poor　prince；〃　said　Madame　Kleist；　who　had　succeeded　in　suppressing　her　own　emotions；　and；　following　the　lead　of　the　king；　she　was　desirous　to　let　it　appear　that　the　subject　was　one　of　no　personal　interest　to　herself。

〃No；〃　said　the　king；　〃I　am　not　cruel　and　not　pitiless。　I　must　forget　that　I　am　a　brother；　and　remember　only　I　am　a　king；　not　only　for　the　good　of　my　family；　but　for　the　prosperity　of　my　people。　My　brother　must　marry　a　princess　of　wealth　and　influence。　Tell　Prince　Henry　this。　Now；〃　said　the　king；　with　an　engaging　smile；　〃let　us　speak　of　your　lovely　self。　You　will；　of　course；　marry　again。　Have　you　not　confidence　enough　in　me　to　tell　me　the　name　of　your　happy　and　favored　lover？〃

〃Sire；〃　said　Louise；　smiling；　〃I　do　not　know　it　myself；　and　to　show　what　unbounded　confidence　I　have　in　your　majesty；　I　modestly　confess　that　I　am　not　positively　certain　whether　among　my　many　followers　there　is　one　who　desires　to　be　the　successor　of　Kleist。　It　is　easy　to　have　many　lovers；　but　somewhat　difficult　to　marry　suitably。〃

〃We　need　a　marrying　man　to　chase　away　the　crowd　of　lovers；〃　said　the　king；　smiling。　〃Think　awhilelet　your　lovers　pass　in　review　before　youperhaps　you　may　find　among　them　one　who　is　both　ardent　and　desirable。〃

Louise　remained　thoughtful　for　a　few　moments。　The　king　observed　her　closely。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　after　a　pause；　〃have　you　made　your　selection？〃

Madame　von　Kleist　sighed；　and　her　beautiful　bright　eyes　filled　with　tears。　She　took　leave　of　her　most　cherished　and　ambitious　dream　bade　farewell　to　her　future　of　regal　pomp　and　splendor。

〃Yes；　sire；　I　have　found　an　e'poitseur；　who　only　needs　encouragement；　to　offer　me　his　heart　and　hand。〃

〃Is　he　of　good　family？〃

〃Yes；　sire。〃

〃Military？〃

〃Yes；　sire。　He　wears　only　a　captain's　epaulets。　Your　majesty　sees　that　I　am　modest。〃

〃On　the　day　of　his　marriage　he　shall　be　major。　When　the　Church　pronounces　her　blessing；　the　king's　blessing　shall　not　be　wanting。　We　are；　of　course；　agreed。　When　will　you　be　engaged？〃

〃Sire；　that　depends　upon　my