frederick the great and his family-第85节
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〃Ah； my friend；〃 said Ranuzi； laughing； 〃you touch the wound of our poor friend。 You do not seem to know that the beautiful Marshal is responsible for the scorn and rage of Count Belleville。 she is indeed a haughty and presumptuous beauty； she not only dared to reject the love of the fascinating count； but she showed him the door； and when afterward he ventured to send her a passionate and tender billet…doux； she informed him； through her servant； that she would give the letter to her chambermaid； for whom； without doubt； it was intended。〃
〃Eh bien； what do you say to this insolence？〃 cried the enraged Frenchman。 〃But she shall do penance for it。 I have already made the necessary arrangements with my friends。 This is not simply a personal affair； it touches the general honor。 The whole French army； all France； is insulted in my person。 It is necessary we should have satisfaction； not only from this presumptuous lady； but from all the ladies of the court！ We will have our revenge this evening！ We will show to these dull dames what we think of their prudery。 And the queen shall see that we are not at all inclined to bow down to her stiff ceremonies。 She is； in our eyes； not a queen simply the wife of an enemy over whom we will soon triumph gloriously。〃
〃I counsel you； however； to wait till the hour of triumph for your revenge；〃 said Ranuzi。 〃Your intentions may lead to the worst consequences for us all。 The great Frederick will never be a harmless adversary till he is dead； and we would all be ignominiously punished for any contempt shown the queen。 You have a personal affair with Fraulein Marshal； well； then； you must make her personally responsible； but do not involve us all in your difficulties。 It would be an easy thing to forfeit even this appearance of freedom。〃
〃You are right；〃 said Giurgenow； 〃we might be banished from Berlin； and that would be a bitter punishment for us all。〃
〃But look！ the doors are being thrown open； and the queen and court will appear； you will have the happiness of seeing your cruel fair one；〃 whispered Ranuzi to the Frenchman。
〃I assure you she shall repent of her cruelty to…night；〃 said Belleville； gnashing his teeth。 Exchanging a significant glance with several French officers； who were standing not far off； he advanced into the saloon to the outer circle； which was formed on both sides； and through which the queen and court must pass。
Now the grand master of ceremonies appeared on the threshold； with his golden staff。 Behind him the queen and the Princess Amelia entered the room； both appeared in all the pomp and splendor of their rank。 A small diamond…crown glittered in the blonde hair of the queen； a magnificent necklace of diamonds and emeralds was clasped around her dazzlingly white and beautifully formed throat。
Bielfeld had once declared that this necklace could purchase a kingdom。 A white robe worked with silver and a dark…red velvet shawl trimmed with ermine fell in graceful folds around the noble and graceful figure of the queen； whose bowed head； and quiet； modest bearing contrasted strangely with the luxury and splendor which surrounded her。
Another striking contrast to the queen was offered in the presence of the Princess Amelia。 Like her royal sister； she appeared in complete toilet； adorned with all her jewelsher arms； her throat； her hair； and her hands flashed with diamonds。 The festoons of her robe of silver gauze were fastened up with diamond buttons； and beneath appeared a green robe embroidered with silver。 The princess knew full well that all this splendor of toilet； all these flashing gems； would bring into contemptuous notice her sharp； angular figure； and her poor deformed visage； she knew that the eyes of all would he fixed upon her in derision； that her appearance alone would be greeted as a cherished source of amusement； and as soon as her back was turned the whole court would laugh merrily。 She assumed； as usual； a cold contemptuous bearing； she met mockery with mockery； and revenged herself by sharp wit and cutting irony for the derisive glances which plainly spoke what the lips dared not utter。 She no sooner entered the saloon than she began to greet her acquaintances； every word contained a poisonous sting； which inflicted a grievous wound。 When she read in the faces of her victims that her sharp arrows had entered the quivering flesh； a malicious fire sparkled in her eyes； and a bitter smile played upon her lips。
Behind the queen and Princess Amelia appeared the Princess Henry。 She was also superbly dressed； but those who looked upon her thought not of her toilet； they were refreshed； enraptured by her adorable beautyby the goodness and purity written on her rosy cheek。 To… day； however； the eyes of the princesses were less clear and dazzling than usuala gleam of sadness shadowed her fair brow； and her coral lips trembled lightly as if in pain。 Perhaps it was the remembrance of the beautiful and happy days； past and gone like a dream； which made the lonely present seem so bitter。 Absentminded and thoughtful； she stepped forward without looking to the right or left； regardless of the flashing orders and stars； of the handsome officers and courtly circle bowing profoundly before her as she passed on。
The court had now passed； the bowed heads were raised； and now the young French officers cast impertinent； almost challenging glances； at the ladies of the queen and the princesses； who drew near and bestowed here and there stolen smiles and light greetings upon their admirers。
Fraulein Marshal did not seem to be aware that the insolent eyes of these haughty Frenchmen were fixed upon her。 Proudly erect she advanced； her large blue eyes were turned toward the princess； she gave neither glance nor smile to any one； her noble and beautiful countenance had a stern； resolved expressionher lips were pouting； and her usually soft eyes told tales of an angry soul。 There was something Juno…like in her appearanceshe was lovely to behold； but cold and stern in her beauty。
As she passed by Count Belleville； he exclaimed with a sigh to his neighbor： 〃Ah； look at this majestic Galatea； this beautiful marble statue； which can only be awaked to life by kisses。〃
Fraulein Marshal trembled slightly； a crimson blush suffused her face； her shoulders； and even her back； but she did not hesitate or turn。 She moved on slowly； though she heard the officers laughing and whisperingthough she felt that their presumptuous eyes were fixed upon her。
The queen and princesses made the grande tournee through the rooms； and then mingled with the guests； all formal etiquette was now laid aside； and a gay and unembarrassed conversation might be carried on till the beginning of the concert。 This seemed to degenerate； on the part of the French officers； to an indiscreet； frenzied levity。 They laughed and talked boisterouslythey walked arm in arm before the ladies； and remarked upon them so boldly； that crimson blushes； or frightened pallor； was the result。 Even the queen remarked the strange and unaccountable excitement of her guests； and to put an end to it； she entered the concert…room and ordered the music to commence。 Even this had no effect。 The royal capello played an overture composed by the king； with masterly precisionthe singers emulated them in an Italian ariabut all this did not silence the noisy conversation of the Frenchmen。 They laughed and chatted without restraint； and neither the amazed glances of the princesses nor the signs of the grand…master of ceremonies； made the slightest impression upon them。
Suddenly there was a slight pause； and the Princess Amelia rose up from her seat and beckoned with her fan to Baron Pollnitz。 In a loud and angry voice； she said： 〃Baron Pollnitz； I insist upon your forcing these shrieking popinjays of the Marquise de Pompadour to silence。 We cannot hear the music for their loud chattering。 The like birds may pass very well in the gallant boudoir of a certain marquise； but not in a royal palace of Berlin。〃
Pollnitz shrank back in alarm； and fixed an imploring look upon the princess。 Amongst the French officers arose an angry murmur； swelling louder and louder； more and more threatening； and completely drowning the music which was just recommencing。
The queen bowed down to the princess。 〃I pray you； sister；〃 said she in a low voice； 〃remember that we are poor； unprotected women； and not in a condition to defend ourselves。 Let us appear not to remark this unmannerly conduct； and let us remember that the king has made it our duty to receive the French officers with marked attention。〃
〃You； sister； are simply a slave to the commands of the king。 He is more truly your master than your husband；〃 said the princess； angrily。
The queen smiled sweetly。 〃You are right； I am his slave； and my soul has chosen him for its lord。 Blame me not； then； for my obedience。〃
〃Do you intend to allow the arrogant presumption of these haughty Frenchmen to go unpunished？〃
〃I will take pains not to observe it；〃 said the queen； turning her attention again to the music。 During all this time； Count Belleville stood behind Fraulein Marshal。 While the concert was going on； he bowed over her and spoke long and impressively。 Fraulein Marshal d
