frederick the great and his family-第79节

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tenance　assumed　a　kind　and　clear　expression。　〃It　shall　be　so；　Marietta！　Freedom　shall　unite　us　both　eternally；　death　only　shall　separate　us！　But　when　may　we　hope　for　this　great；　this　glorious；　this　beautiful　hour？　When　will　the　blessed　day　dawn　in　which　I　can　take　your　hand　and　say　to　you；　'Come；　Marietta；　come；　the　world　belongs　to　us　and　our　love。　Let　us　fly　and　enjoy　our　happiness。'　Oh；　beloved；　if　you　truly　love　me；　help　me　to　snatch　this　happy　day　from　fate！　Stand　by　me　with　your　love；　that　I　may　attain　my　freedom。〃

〃Tell　me　what　I　can　do；　and　it　is　done；〃　said　she　resolutely；　〃there　is　nothing　I　will　not　undertake　and　dare　for　you。〃

Ranuzi　took　her　small　head　in　his　hands　and　gazed　long　and　smilingly　into　her　glowing　face。

〃Are　you　sure　of　yourself？〃　said　he。

〃I　am　sure。　Tell　me；　Carlo；　what　I　must　do；　and　it　is　done。〃

〃And　if　it　is　dangerous；　Marietta？〃

〃I　know　but　one　danger。〃

〃What　is　that？〃

〃To　lose　your　love；　Carlo！〃

〃Then　this　world　has　no　danger　for　you；　Marietta！〃

〃Speak；　Carlo；　speak！　How　can　I　aid　you？　What　can　I　do　to　obtain　your　liberty？〃

Ranuzi　threw　a　quick　and　searching　glance　around　the　room；　as　if　to　convince　himself　that　they　were　alone；　then　bowed　down　close　to　her　ear　and　whispered：

〃I　can　never　be　free　till　the　King　of　Prussia　is　completely　conquered　and　subjected；　and　only　if　I　bring　all　my　strength　and　capabilities　to　this　object；　may　I　hope　to　be　free；　and　rich；　and　honored。　The　King　of　Prussia　is　my　enemy；　he　is　the　enemy　of　the　Church；　the　enemy　of　my　gracious　sovereign　of　Austria；　to　whom　I　have　sworn　fealty。　A　man　may　strive　to　conquer　his　enemies　with　every　weapon；　even　with　craft。　Will　you　stand　by　me　in　this？〃

〃I　will。〃

〃Then　observe　and　listen；　and　search　all　around　you。　Repeat　to　me　all　that　you　hear　and　seeseem　to　be　an　enthusiastic　adherent　of　the　King　of　Prussia；　you　will　then　be　confided　in　and　know　all　that　is　taking　place。　Be　kind　and　sympathetic　to　your　husband；　he　is　a　sincere　follower　of　the　king；　and　has　free　intercourse　with　many　distinguished　persons；　he　is　also　well　received　at　court。　Give　yourself　the　appearance　of　sympathizing　in　all　his　sentiments。　When　you　attend　the　concerts　at　the　castle；　observe　all　that　passes　every　laugh；　every　glance；　every　indistinct　word；　and　inform　me　of　all。　Do　you　understand；　Marietta？will　you　do　this？〃

〃I　understand；　Carlo；　and　I　will　do　this。　Is　this　all？　Can　I　do　nothing　more　to　help　you？〃

〃Yes；　there　are　other　things；　but　they　are　more　difficult；　more　dangerous。〃

〃So　much　the　better；　the　more　dangerous　the　stronger　the　proof　of　my　love。　Speak；　dear　Carlo！〃

〃It　is　forbidden　for　the　captive　officers　to　send　sealed　letters　to　their　friends　or　relatives。　All　our　letters　must　be　read；　and　if　a　word　of　politics　is　found　in　them；　they　are　condemned。　All　other　persons　have　the　right　to　send　sealed　letters　in　every　direction。　Have　you　not　friends　to　whom　you　write；　Marietta？〃

〃I　have；　and　from　this　time　onward　your　friends　will　be　mine；　and　I　will　correspond　with　them。〃

As　she　said　this；　with　a　roguish　smile；　a　ray　of　joy　lighted　up　Ranuzi's　eyes。

〃You　understand　me；　my　beloved；　your　intellect　is　as　clear　and　sharp　as　your　heart　is　warm　and　noble。　Think　well　what　you　dowhat　danger　threatens　you。　I　tell　you　plainly；　Marietta；　this　is　no　question　of　common　friendly　letters；　but　of　the　most　earnest；　grave；　important　interests！〃

She　bowed　to　his　ear　and　whispered：　〃All　that　you　espy　in　Berlin　you　will　confide　to　these　letters；　you　will　concert　with　your　friends；　you　will　design　plans；　perhaps　make　conspiracies。　I　will　address　these　letters　and　take　them　to　the　post；　and　no　one　will　mistrust　me；　for　my　letters　will　be　addressed　to　some　friends　in　Vienna；　or　to　whom　you　will。　Have　I　understood　you；　Carlo？　Is　this　all　right？〃

He　clasped　her　rapturously　in　his　arms；　and　the　words　of　tender　gratitude　which　he　expressed　were　not　entirely　wanting　in　sincerity　and　truth。

Marietta　was　proudly　happy；　and　listened　with　sparkling　eyes　to　his　honeyed　words。

As　Ranuzi；　however；　after　this　long　interview；　arose　to　say　farewell；　she　held　him　back。　Laying　her　hands　upon　his　shoulder；　she　looked　at　him　with　a　curious　expression；　half　laughing；　half　threatening。

〃One　last　word；　Carlo；〃　she　said；　〃I　love　you　boundlessly。　To　prove　my　love　to　you；　I　become　a　traitress　to　this　king；　who　has　been　a　gracious　master　to　me；　whose　bread　I　eatwho　received　and　protects　me。　To　prove　my　love；　I　become　a　spy；　an　informer。　Men　say　this　is　dishonorable　work；　but　for　myself　I　feel　proud　and　happy　to　undertake　it　for　you；　and　not　for　all　the　riches　and　treasures　of　this　world　would　I　betray　you。　But；　Carlo；　if　you　ever　cease　to　love　me；　if　you　deceive　me　and　become　unfaithful；　as　true　as　God　helps　me；　I　will　betray　both　myself　and　you！〃

〃I　believe　truly　she　is　capable　of　it；〃　said　Ranuzi；　as　he　reached　the　street；　〃she　is　a　dangerous　woman；　and　with　her　love　and　hate　she　is　truly　like　a　tigress。　Well；　I　must　be　on　my　guard。　If　she　rages　I　must　draw　her　teeth；　so　that　she　cannot　bite；　or　flee　from　her　furious　leaps。　But　this　danger　is　in　the　distance；　the　principal　thing　is　that　I　have　opened　a　way　to　my　correspondence；　and　that　is　immense　progress　in　my　plans；　for　which　I　might　well　show　my　gratitude　to　my　tender　Marietta　by　a　few　caresses。〃




CHAPTER　IV。

LOUISE　DU　TROUFFLE。


Madame　du　Trouffle　paced　her　room　restlessly；　she　listened　to　every　stroke　of　the　clock；　every　sound　made　her　tremble。

〃He　comes　not！　he　comes　not！〃　murmured　she；　〃he　received　my　irony　of　yesterday　in　earnest　and　is　exasperated。　Alas！　am　I　really　an　old　woman？　Have　I　no　longer　the　power　to　enchain；　to　attract？　Can　it　be　that　I　am　old　and　ugly？　No；　no！　I　am　but　thirty…four　years　of　age　that　is　not　old　for　a　married　woman；　and　as　to　being　ugly〃

She　interrupted　herself；　stepped　hastily　to　the　glass；　and　looked　long　and　curiously　at　her　face。

Yes；　yes！　she　must　confess　her　beauty　was　on　the　wane。　She　was　more　faded　than　her　age　would　justify。　Already　was　seen　around　her　mouth　those　yellow；　treacherous　lines　which　vanished　years　imprint　upon　the　face；　already　her　brow　was　marked　with　light　lines；　and　silver　threads　glimmered　in　her　hair。

Louise　du　Trouffle　sighed　heavily。

〃I　was　too　early　married；　and　then　unhappily　married；　at　eighteen　I　was　a　mother。　All　this　ages　a　womannot　the　years　but　the　storms　of　life　have　marked　these　fearful　lines　in　my　face。　Then　it　is　not　possible　for　a　man　to　feel　any　warm　interest　in　me　when　he　sees　a　grown…up　daughter　by　my　side；　who　will　soon　be　my　rival；　and　strive　with　me　for　the　homage　of　men。　This　is　indeed　exasperating。　Oh；　my　God！　my　God！　a　day　may　come　in　which　I　may　be　jealous　of　my　own　daughter！　May　Heaven　guard　me　from　that！　Grant　that　I　may　see　her　fresh　and　blooming　beauty　without　rancor；　that　I　may　think　more　of　her　happiness　than　my　vanity。〃

Then；　as　if　she　would　strengthen　her　good　resolutions；　Louise　left　her　room　and　hastened　to　the　chamber　of　her　daughter。

Camilla　lay　upon　the　divanher　slender　and　beauteous　form　was　wrapped　in　soft　white　drapery；　her　shining；　soft　dark　hair　fell　around　her　rosy　face　and　over　her　naked　shoulders；　with　whose　alabaster　whiteness　it　contrasted　strongly。　Camilla　was　reading；　and　so　entirely　was　she　occupied　with　her　book　that　she　did　not　hear　her　mother　enter。

Louise　drew　softly　near　the　divan；　and　stood　still；　lost　in　admiration　at　this　lovely；　enchanting　picture；　this　reposing　Hebe。

〃Camilla；〃　said　she；　fondly；　〃what　are　you　reading　so　eagerly？〃

Camilla　started　and　looked　up　suddenly；　then　laughed　aloud。

〃Ah；　mamma；〃　said　she；　in　a　silver；　clear；　and　soft　voice；　〃how　you　frightened　me！　I　thought　it　was　my　tyrannical　governess　already　returned　from　her　walk；　and　that　she　had　surprised　me　with　this　book。〃

〃Without　doubt　she　forbade　you　to　read　it；〃　said　her　mother；　gravely；　stretching　out　her　hand　for　the　book；　but　Camilla　drew　it　back　suddenly。

〃Yes；　certainly；　Madame　Brunnen　forbade　me　to　read　this　book；　but　that　is　no　reason；　mamma；　why　you　should　take　it　away　from　me。　It　is　to　be　hoped　you　will　not　play　the　stern　tyrant　against　your　poor　Camilla。〃

〃I　wish　to　know　what　you　are　reading；　Camilla。〃

〃Well；　then；　Voltaire's　'Pucelle　d'　Orleans；'　and　I　assure　you；　mamma；　I　am　extremely　pleased　with　it。〃

〃Madame　Brunnen　was　right　to　forbid　you　to　read　this　book；　and　I　also　forbid　it。〃

〃And　if　I　refuse　to　obey；　mamma？〃

〃I　will　force　you　to　obedience；〃　cried　her　mother；　sternly。

〃Did　any　one　succeed　in　forcing　you　to　obey　your　mother？〃　said　Camilla；　in　a　transport　of　rage。　〃Did　your　mother　give　her　consent　to　your　elopement　with　the　garden…boy？　You　chose　your　own　path　in　life；　and　I　will　choose　mine。　I　will　no　longer　bear　to　be　treated　as　a　childI　am　thirteen　years　old；　you　were　not　older　when　you　had　the　affair　with　the　garden…boy；　and　were　forced　to　confide　yourself　to　my　father。　Why　do　you　wish　in　treat　me　as　a　little　child；　and　keep　me　in　leading…strings；　when　I　am　a　grown…up　girl？〃

〃You　are　no　grown…up　girl；　Camilla；〃　cried　her　mother；　〃if　you　were；　you　would　not　dare　to　speak　to　your　mother　as　you　have　done：　you　would　know　that　it　was　unseemly；　and　that；　above　all　other　things；　you　should　show　reverence