frederick the great and his family-第86节
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the concert was going on； he bowed over her and spoke long and impressively。 Fraulein Marshal did not reply； neither his ardent love…assurances； nor his glowing reproaches； nor his passionate entreaties； nor his bold and offensive insolence； could draw from her one word； one look。
When the concert was over； and they were about to return to the saloon where； until supper； they could dance and amuse themselves； the young maiden turned with calm composure and indifference to Count Belleville。 〃Sir； I forbid you to molest me with your presence； and I counsel you no longer to offend my ears with these indecent romances； which you have no doubt learned upon the streets of Paris。 But if； believing that I am unprotected； you still dare to insult me； I Inform you that my father has this moment arrived； and will certainly relieve me from your disagreeable and troublesome society。〃 She spoke aloud； and not only Belleville； but the group of French officers who stood behind him； heard every word。 She passed by them with calm indifference and joined a large； elderly officer； who was leaning against a pillar； and who stretched out his hand smilingly toward her。
〃Father；〃 she said； 〃God himself put it in your heart to come to Berlin this day。 You are by my side； and I have nothing to fear。 I know you can protect me。〃
In the mean time； the musicians commenced to play the grave and at the same time coquettish minuet； and the officers drew near the ladies to lead them to the dance。 This was done； however； in so bold and unconstrained a manner； with such manifest nonchalance； the request was made with such levity； the words were so little respectful； that the ladies drew back frightened。 Princess Amelia called Fraulein Marshal to her side。 She took her hand with a kindly smile。
〃My child；〃 she said； 〃I rejoice that you have the courage to defy these shameless coxcombs。 Go on； and count upon my protection。 Why are you not dancing？〃
〃Because no one has asked me。〃
At this moment an officer drew near with diligent haste； apparently to lead her to the dance。 While in the act of offering his hand to her he made a sudden movement； as if he had just recognized the lady； turned his back； and withdrew without a word of apology。
The princess was enraged。 〃I promise you they shall be punished for this presumption。 〃She turned to Baron Marshal； who stood behind his daughter： 〃Baron；〃 said she； 〃if this leads to a duel； I will be your second！〃
CHAPTER VII。
IN THE WINDOW…NICHE。
While these events were occurring in the dancing…room； and the queen was seated at the card…table； the Princess Wilhelmina； wife of Prince Henry； stood in the window…niche of the ball…room and conversed with Count Kalkreuth； the friend and adjutant of her husband。 The count had been sent home amongst the wounded； but he was now restored and about to return to the camp。 They spoke quickly and impressively together； but the music drowned their words and made them indistinct to all others。 What said they to each other？ Seemingly petty and indifferent things。 They had； perhaps； a deeper； secret meaning； for the countenance of the princess and that of the count were grave； and the sweet smile had vanished from the charming face of the princess。 They spoke of unimportant things； perhaps； because they had not the courage for the great word which must be spokenthe word farewell！
〃Your royal highness has then no further commission to give me for the prince？〃 said the count； after a pause。
〃No；〃 said the princess； 〃I wrote to him yesterday by the courier。 Describe the ball to him； and tell him how we are； and how you left me。〃
〃I must tell him； then； that your highness is perfectly gay； entirely happy； and glowing with health and beauty；〃 said the count。 These were simple and suitable words； but they were spoken in a hard and bitter tone。
The princess fixed her large soft eyes with an almost pleading expression upon the count； then with a quick movement she took a wreath of white roses； which she wore in her bosom； and held them toward him。 〃As a proof that I am gay and happy；〃 said she； 〃take these flowers to my husband； and tell him I adorned myself with them in honor of his fete。〃
The count pressed his lips convulsively together and looked angrily upon the princess； but he did not raise his hand to take the flowersdid not appear to see that she held them toward him。
〃Well； sir；〃 said the Princess Wilhelmina； 〃you do not take the flowers？〃
〃No；〃 said he； passionately； 〃I will not take them。〃 The princess looked anxiously around； she feared some one might have heard this stormy 〃No。〃 She soon convinced herself that there was no listener nearer than her maid of honor； Fraulein Marshal was still near the Princess Amelia； and she was somewhat isolated by etiquette； she saw； therefore； that she dared carry on this conversation。
〃Why will you not take my flowers？〃 she said； proudly。
The count drew nearer。 〃I will tell you； princess；〃 said he〃I will tell you； if this passionate pain now burning in my breast does not slay me。 I will not take your flowers； because I will not be a messenger of love between you and the prince； because I cannot accept the shame and degradation which such an office would lay upon me。 Princess you have forgotten； but I remember there was a wondrous time in which I； and not the prince； was favored with a like precious gift。 At that time you allowed me to hope that this glowing； inextinguishable feeling which filled my heart； my soul； found an echo in your breast； that at least you would not condemn me to die unheard； misunderstood。〃
〃I knew not at that time that my husband loved me；〃 murmured the princess； 〃I thought I was free and justified in giving that heart which no one claimed to whom I would。〃
〃You had no sooner learned that the prince loved you than you turned from me； proud and cold；〃 said the count； bitterly； 〃relentlessly； without mercy； without pity； you trampled my heart under your feet； and not a glance； not a word showed me that you had any remembrance of the past。 I will tell you what I suffered。 You have a cold heart； it will make you happy to hear of any anguish。 I loved you so madly I almost hated you； in the madness of my passion I cursed you。 I thanked God for the war； which forced me to that for which I had never found the moral strength to leave you。 Yes； I was grateful when the war called me to the fieldI hoped to die。 I did not wish to dishonor my name by suicide。 I was recklessly brave； because I despised lifeI rushed madly into the ranks of the enemy； seeking death at their hands； but God's blessed minister disdained me even as you had done。 I was borne alive from the battle…field and brought to Berlin to be nursed and kindly cared for。 No one knew that here I received daily new and bitter wounds。 You were always cruel； cruel even to the last moment； you saw my sufferings； but you were inexorable。 Oh； princess； it would have been better to refuse me entrance； to banish me from your presence； than to make my heart torpid under the influence of your cold glance； your polished speech； which ever allured me and yet kept me at a distance。 You have played a cruel game with me； princess you mock me to the last。 Shall I be your messenger to the prince？ You know well that I would give my heart's blood for one of those sweet flowers； and you send them by me to another。 My humility； my subjection is at an end； you have sinned against me as a woman； and I have therefore the right to accuse you as a man。 I will not take these flowers！ I will not give them to the prince！ And now I have finishedI beg you to dismiss me。〃
The princess had listened tremblingly； her face became ever paler completely exhausted； she leaned against the wall。
〃Before you go；〃 whispered she； 〃listen to a few words； it may be that the death you seek may be found on the battle…fieldthis may be our last interview in this world； in such a moment we dare speak the truth to each other； from the souls which have been closely veiled； may cloud and darkness be for one moment lifted。 What I now say to you shall go as a sacred secret with you to the grave； if you fall； but if God hears my prayer； and you return； I command you to forget it； never to remind me of it。 You say I have a cold heart。 Alas！ I only choked the flame which raged within me； I would have my honor and my duty burned to ashes。 You say that my eyes are never clouded； that they shed no tears。 Ah！ believe me； I have wept inwardly； and the silent； unseen tears the heart weeps are bitterer than all others。 You reproach me for having received you when you returned here sick and wounded； and for not having closed my doors against you。 I know well that was my duty； and a thousand times I have prayed to God on my knees for strength to do this； but He did not hear me or He had no mercy。 I could not send you off； had my lips spoken the fearful words； the shriek of my heart would have called you back。 My lips had strength to refuse an answer to the question which I read in your face； in your deep dejection； but my heart answered you in silence and tears。 Like you； I could not forgetlike you I remembered the bounteous sweet past。 Now you know allgo！ As you will not take these flow
