frederick the great and his family-第84节
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r profit of his game； he was assured to win； and in this way he obtained his pocket money。
To…day； however； he would not be merry at a strange table； he himself would do the honors； and he had conducted the arrangements of the table with a scholarship and knowledge of details which would have obtained the admiration of the Duke de Richelieu。
On this occasion it was not necessary to restrain his luxurious desires and tastes。 Honor demanded that the court should show itself in full pomp and splendor； and prove to the world that this long； wearisome war had not exhausted the royal treasury； nor the royal table service of silver； in short； that it was an easy thing to carry on the war； without resorting to the private treasures of the royal house。
It was； therefore； necessary to bring out for this great occasion the golden service which had been the king's inheritance from his mother。 Frederick's portion had been lately increased by the death of the Margravino of Baireuth； who had explicitly willed her part to her brother Frederick。 ＇Footnote： When the court fled； after the battle of Kunendorf； to Magdeburg； they took the golden service which the king inherited from his mother with them； that portion given to Frederick by the margravino was left in Berlin； and the next year； 1760； was seized by the Russians and carried to Petersburg〃Geschichte Berlins；〃 vol。 v。； p。 2。＇
The queen and the princesses were to appear in all the splendor of their jewels； and by their costly and exquisite toilets impose upon these proud and haughty officers； whom fate had sent as prisoners of war to Berlin； and who would not fail to inform their respective governments of all they saw in the capital。
This fete was a demonstration made by the king to his over…confident enemies。 He would prove to them that if he wished for peace it was not because the gold failed to carry on the war； but because he wished to give rest and the opportunity to recover to Europe； groaning and bleeding from a thousand wounds。 Besides this； the king wished to show his subjects； by the celebration of his brother's birthday； how highly he honored the princehow gladly he embraced the opportunity to distinguish the young general who； during the whole war； had not lost a single battle； but； by his bold and masterly movements； had come to the king's help in the most difficult and dangerous moments。
This celebration should be a refutation of the rumors spread abroad by the king's enemies； that Frederick regarded the success and military talent of his brother with jealous envy。
There were； therefore； many reasons why Pollnitz should make this a luxurious and dazzling feast； he knew also that Prince Henry would receive a detailed account of the celebration from his adjutant； Count Kalkreuth； who had lingered some months in Berlin because of his wounds； was now fully restored； and would leave Berlin the morning after the ball to return to the army。
And now the important hour had arrived。 Pollnitz wandered through the saloons with the searching glance of a warrior on the field of battle； he pronounced that all was good。
The saloons were dazzling with light； pomp and splendor reigned throughout； and on entering the supper…room you were almost blinded by the array of gold and silver adorning the costly buffet； on whose glittering surface the lights were a thousand times reflected。
Suddenly the rooms began to fill； everywhere gold…embroidered uniforms； orders； stars； and flashing gems were to be seen； a promiscuous and strange crowd was moving through these lofty saloons； illuminated by thousands of lights and odorous with the fragrance of flowers。
Side by side with the rich； fantastic uniform of the Russian； was seen the light and active French chasseur； here was to be seen the Hungarian hussar； whose variegated and tasteful costume contrasted curiously with the dark and simple uniform of the Spaniard； who stood near him； both conversing gayly with an Italian； dressed in the white coat of an Austrian officer。
It seemed as if every nation in Europe had arranged a rendezvous for this day in the royal palace at Berlin； or as it the great Frederick had sent specimens to his people of all the various nations against whom he had undertaken this gigantic war。
There were not only Germans from all the provinces； but Italians； Spaniards； Russians； Swedes； Hungarians； Netherlanders； and Frenchmen。 All these were prisoners of wartheir swords had been stained with the blood of Prussians； the fate of war now confined them to the scabbard； and changed the enemies of the king into guests at his court。
Hundreds of captive officers were now waiting in the saloon for the appearance of the queen； but the Prussian army was scarcely represented。 All who were fit for service were in the field； only the invalids and the old warriors； too infirm for active duty had remained at the capital； even the youths who had not attained the legal age for military duty； had hastened to the army； full of courage and enthusiasm； inspired by the example of their fathers and brothers。
The dazzling appearance of these royal saloons was therefore mostly owing to the flashing uniforms of the prisoners of war。 Only a few old Prussian generals； and the courtiers； whose duties prevented them from being heroes； were added to the number。
Herr von Giurgenow； and his friend Captain Belleville； were invited to the ball； and were well pleased to offer their homage to the majesty of Prussia。 Count Ranuzi； who； reserved and silent as usual； had been wandering through the saloons； now joined them； and they had all withdrawn to a window； in order to observe quietly and undisturbed the gay crowd passing before them。
〃Look you；〃 said Ranuzi； laughing； 〃this reminds me of the frantic confusion in the anterooms of hell； which Dante has described in such masterly style。 We all wear our glittering masks； under which our corpses are hidden； one word from our master and this drapery would fall off； and these grinning death…heads be brought to ruin。 It depends solely upon the will of Frederick of Prussia to speak this word。 He is our master； and when he commands it； we must lay aside our swords and exchange our uniforms for the garments of a malefactor。〃
〃He will not dare to do this；〃 said Giurgenow； 〃all Europe would call him a barbarian； and make him answerable for his insolence。〃
〃First； all Europe must be in a condition to call him to account；〃 said Ranuzi； laughing； 〃and that is certainly not the case at present； I am sorry to say。〃
〃You have not heard； then；〃 said Belleville； 〃of the glorious victory which our great General Broglie has gained over Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick； all France is jubilant over this happy event； and the Marquise de Pompadour； or rather King Louis； has made this second Turenne； our noble Broglie； marshal。〃
〃I know of this；〃 said Ranuzi； 〃but I know also that the fortune of battles is inconstant； otherwise we would not now be here。〃
〃It is to be hoped we will not be here long；〃 said Giurgenow； impatiently。 〃Does it not lie in our power to go at once？ What think you？ Have we not our swords？ They have not dared to take them from us！ They tremble before us； and honor； in our persons； the nations we represent。 Look at the complaisance and consideration with which we are met on all sides。 The King of Prussia fears his powerful enemies； and does all in his power to conciliate them。 Suppose that to…night； as soon as the royal family are assembled； we draw our swords and take them all prisoners； we have overpowering numbers； and I think it would be an easy victory。 We could make a fortress of this palace； and defend ourselves； they would not dare to make a violent attack； as the queen and princesses would be in our power。 What think you of this plan； Count Ranuzi？〃
Ranuzi met the sharp and piercing glance of the Russian with cool composure。
〃I think it bold； but impossible。 We could not maintain our position； one hour。 The garrison of Berlin would overcome us。 We have no thousands of prisoners in the casements here； as in Kustrin； to aid us in such an attempt。〃
〃The count is right；〃 said Belleville； gayly； 〃such a grandiose and warlike conspiracy would amount to nothing。 We must revenge ourselves in another way for the tedious ennui we are made to endure here； and my friends and myself are resolved to do so。 We will no longer submit to the shackles of etiquette； which are laid upon us； we will be free from the wearisome constraint which hems us in on every side。 These proud ladies wish us to believe that they are modest and virtuous； because they are stiff and ceremonious。 They make a grimace at every equivoque。 We will prove to them that we are not blinded by this outward seeming； and not disposed to lie like Dutchmen； languishing at the feet of our inexorable fair ones。 Our brave brothers have conquered the Prussians at Hochkirch and at Bergen； we cannot stand side by side with them in the field； but here； at least； we can humble the Prussian women！〃
〃I can well believe；〃 whispered Giurgenow； 〃that you would be pleased to humble the beautiful Fraulein von Marshal？〃
〃Ah； my friend；〃 said Ranuzi； laughing； 〃you touch the wound of our poor friend。 You do not seem to kn
