frederick the great and his family-第6节
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Mirth and gayety reigned； the room was crowded with masks。 here stood a group in gay conversation； there was dancing at the other end of the saloon。 Some were listening to the organ…player； as he sang； in comical German and French verses； little incidents and adventures that had occurred during the present year at court； bringing forth laughter； confused silence； and blushes。 Some were amusing themselves with the lively； witty chat of the son of the Prince of Prussia； the little ten…year…old； Prince Frederick William。 He was dressed as the God of Love； with bow and quiver； dancing around； and； with an early…ripened instinct； directing his arrow at the most beautiful and fascinating ladies in the room。
Prince Henry paid no attention to all this； his wandering glance sought only the beautiful Louise； and a deep sigh escaped him at not having found her。 Hastily he stepped through the rows of dancers which separated the two cavaliers from him。
〃It appears；〃 murmured Baron Kalkreuth to his friend； 〃it appears to me that the prince would like to get rid of us。 He wishes to be entirely unobserved。 I think we can profit by this； and therefore I shall take leave of you for a while； and seek my own adventures。〃
〃I advise you；〃 murmured Baron Kaphengst； laughingly； 〃to appoint no rendezvous for to…morrow。〃
〃And why not； friend？〃
〃Because you will not be able to appear； for you will doubtless be in arrest。〃
〃That is true； and I thank you for your prudent advice； and shall arrange all my rendezvous for the day after to…morrow。 Farewell。〃
Baron Kaphengst turned laughingly to another part of the saloon。 Suddenly he felt a hand placed on his shoulder； and a low voice murmured his name。
Terrified； he turned。 〃I am not the one you seek； mask；〃 he said； but as he met those two large； burning eyes； he shuddered； and even his bold； daring heart stood still a moment from terror。 Only the king had such eyes； only he had such a commanding glance。
〃You say you are not the one I seek；〃 said the mask。 〃Well； yes； you speak wisely。 I sought in you a brave and obedient officer； and it appears that you are not that。 You are not； then； Lieutenant von Kaphengst？〃
Kaphengst thought a moment。 He was convinced it was the king that spoke with him； for Frederick had not attempted to disguise his voice。 Kaphengst knew he was discovered。 There remained nothing for him but to try and reconcile the king by a jest。
He bowed close to the king； and whispered： 〃Listen； maskas you have recognized me； I will acknowledge the truth。 Yes； I am Lieutenant von Kaphengst； and am incognito。 You understand meI came to this ball incognito。 He is a scoundrel who repeats it！〃 and； without awaiting an answer； he hastened away to seek the prince and Baron Kalkreuth； acquaint them with the king's presence； and fly with them from his anger。
But Prince Henry； whose fruitless search for his sweetheart had made him angry and defiant； declared he would remain at the ball until it was over； and that it should be optional with the king to insult his brother openly； and to punish and humble a prince of his house before the world。
〃I； unfortunately； do not belong to the princes of the royal house； and I therefore fear that the king might regard me as the cat who had to pull the hot chestnuts from the ashes； and I might suffer for all three。 I therefore pray your highness to allow me to withdraw。〃
〃You may go； and if you meet Kalkreuth； ask him to accompany you。 You officers must not carry your insubordination any further。 I； as prince； and Hohenzollern； dare the worst； but； be assured； I shall pay for my presumption。 Farewell； and hasten！ Do not forget Kalkreuth。〃
Kaphengst sought in vain。 Kalkreuth was nowhere to be found； and he had to wend his way alone to Potsdam。
〃I shall take care not to await the order of the king for my arrest；〃 said Baron Kaphengst to himself； as he rode down the road to Potsdam。 〃I shall be in arrest when his order arrives。 Perhaps that will soften his anger。〃
Accordingly； when Kaphengst arrived at the court guard； in Potsdam； he assumed the character of a drunken； quarrelsome officer； and played his role so well that the commander placed him in arrest。
An hour later the king's order reached the commander to arrest Baron Kaphengst； and with smiling astonishment he received the answer that he had been under arrest for the last hour。
In the mean time； Kaphengst had not miscalculated。 The prince was put under arrest for eight days； Kalkreuth for three。 He was released the next morning； early enough to appear at the parade。 As the king； with his generals； rode down to the front； he immediately noticed the audacious young officer； whose eye met his askance and pleadingly。 The king beckoned to him； and as Baron Kaphengst stood erect before him； the king said； laughingly； 〃It is truly difficult to exchange secrets with one of your height； bow down to me； I have something to whisper in you ear。〃
The comrades and officers； yes； even the generals； saw not without envy that the king was so gracious to the young Lieutenant von Kaphengst； whispered a few words to him confidentially； and then smiling and bowing graciously； moved on。
It was； therefore； natural that； when the king left； all were anxious to congratulate the young lieutenant； and ask him what the king had whispered。 But Baron Kaphengst avoided； with dignified gravity； all inquiries； and only whispered to his commander softly； but loud enough for every one to hear； the words； 〃State secrets；〃 then bowing profoundly； returned with an earnest and grave face to his dwelling； there to meditate at his leisure upon the king's wordswords both gracious and cruel； announcing his advancement； but at the same time condemning him to secrecy。
The king's words were： 〃You are a captain； but he is a scoundrel who repeats it！〃
Thus Baron Kaphengst was captain； but no one suspected it； the captain remained a simple lieutenant in the eyes of the world。
CHAPTER VI。
THE LEGACY OF VON TRENCK； COLONEL OF THE PANDOURS。
Baron Weingarten； the new secretary of legation of the Austrian embassy in Berlin； paced the ambassador's office in great displeasure。 It was the hour in which all who had affairs to arrange with the Austrian ambassador； passports to vise； contracts to sign； were allowed entrance； and it was the baron's duty to receive them。 But no one came； no one desired to make use of his ability or his mediation； and this displeased the baron and put him out of humor。 It was not the want of work and activity that annoyed him； the baron would have welcomed the dolce far niente had it not been unfortunately connected with his earnings； the fees he received for passports； and the arrangement of other affairs； formed part of his salary as secretary of legation； and as he possessed no fortune； this was his only resource。 This indigence alone led him to resign his aristocratic independence and freedom of action。 He had not entered the state service from ambition； but for money； that he might have the means of supporting his mother and unmarried sisters； and enable himself to live according to his rank and old aristocratic name。 Baron Weingarten would have made any sacrifice； submitted to any service； to obtain wealth。 Poverty had demoralized him； pride had laid a mildew on his heart and stifled all noble aspirations。 As he read a letter； just received from his mother； complaining of wants and privations； telling of the attachment of a young officer to his sister； and that poverty alone prevented their marriage； his heart was filled with repining； and at this moment he was prepared to commit a crime； if； by so doing； he could have obtained wealth。
In this despairing and sorrowful mood he had entered the office； and awaited in vain for petitioners who would pay him richly for his services。 But the hours passed in undisturbed quiet； and Baron Weingarten was in the act of leaving the office； as the servant announced Baron von Waltz； and the court councillor； Zetto； from Vienna。
He advanced to meet the two gentlemen； with a smiling countenance； and welcomed his Austrian countrymen heartily。
The two gentlemen seated themselves silently； Weingarten took a seat in front of them。
A painful； embarrassed pause ensued。 The majestic Baron von Waltz looked silently at the ceiling； while the black； piercing eyes of the little Councillor Zetto examined the countenance of Weingarten with a strangely searching and penetrating expression。
〃You are from Vienna？〃 said Weingarten at last； putting an end to this painful silence。
〃We are from Vienna；〃 answered the baron； with a grave bow。 〃And have travelled here post…haste to have an interview with you。〃
〃With me？〃 asked the secretary of legation； astonished。
〃With you alone；〃 said the baron； gravely。
〃We wish you to do the King of Prussia a great service；〃 said Zetto； solemnly。
Weingarten reddened； and said confusedly： 〃The King of Prussia！ You forget； gentlemen； that my services belong alone to the Empress Maria Theresa。〃
〃He defends himself before he is accused；〃 said Zetto； aside。 〃It is then true； as we have been told； he is playing a double gameserves Austria and Prussia at the same time。〃 Turning to Baron W
