frederick the great and his family-第9节
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the Princess Amelia。 They had never reached her！
And not those tender epistles of a tearful and unhappy love must bear witness against the writer； and condemn him for the second time！
〃It is his handwriting；〃 said the king； as he laid the letters again in the box。 〃I thank you； Baron Weingarten； you have saved me from a disagreeable occurrence； for； if I will not even believe that Trenck intended murder； he was at all events willing to create a scene； if only to gratify his vanity。 It appears that he has now played out his role at Vienna； as well as in St。 Petersburg and Berlin； and the world would forget him if he did not attract its attention by some mad piece of folly。 How he intended to accomplish this I do not know； but certainly not by a murderno； I cannot believe that！〃
〃Your majesty is always noble and magnanimous； but it appears to me that these words can have but one meaning。 'I shall go to Konigsberg；' writes Baron Trenck； 'and there do in the presence of the king what no one has done before me； and what no one will do after me。' Does not this make his intention pretty clear？〃
〃Only for those who know his intentions or suspect them； for others they could have any other signification； some romantic threat； nothing more。 Baron Trenck is a known adventurer； a species of Don Quixote； always fighting against windmills； and believing that warriors and kings honor him so far as to be his enemies。 I punished Trenck when he was in my service； for insubordination； now he is no longer in my service； and I have forgotten him； but woe be unto him if he forces me to remember him！〃
〃Your majesty will soon see if he is falsely accused。 These reliable and irreproachable men came especially to warn your majesty； through me。 You will discover if they have calumniated Trenck； by giving this testimony。 If he does not go to Dantzic； does not enter Prussia； they have sworn falsely； and Trenck is innocent。〃
〃He will not dare to cross the borders of my state； for he knows he will be court…martialled as a deserter。 But I am convinced that he is a bold adventurer； he has boasted that he will defy me； that is certainly what no one has done before him； and what no one will do after him； but it will rest there； you may believe me。〃
Baron Weingarten bowed silently。 The king continued； with an engaging smile。
〃However； monsieur； I owe you many thanks； and it would please me to have an opportunity of rewarding you。〃
Until this moment； Weingarten had been standing with bowed head； he now stood erect； and his eye dared to meet that of the king。
〃Sire；〃 he said； with the noble expression of offended innocence； 〃I demand and wish no other reward than that you may profit by my warning。 If the fearful danger that threatens your majesty is averted through me； that will be my all…sufficient recompense。 I must decline any other。〃
The king smiled approvingly。 〃You speak emphatically； and it appears that you really believe in this danger。 Well； I thank you only as that is your desire。 I will respect your warning and guard myself from the danger that you believe threatens me； but to do that； and at the same time to convince ourselves of Trenck's evil intentions； we must observe the most perfect silence in this whole affair； and you must promise me to speak of it to no one。〃
〃Sire； secrecy appeared to me so necessary； that I did not even communicate it to Baron Puebla； but came to your majesty on my own responsibility。〃
〃You did well； for now Trenck will fall unwarned into the trap we set for him。 Be silent； therefore； upon the subject。 If you should ever have a favor to ask； come to me with this tabatiere in your hand。 I will remember this hour； and if it is in my power will grant you what you wish。〃
He handed Weingarten his gold； diamond…studded tabatiere； and received his thanks with approving smiles。 After he had dismissed the secretary of legation； and was alone； the smile faded from his face； and his countenance was sad and disturbed。
〃It has come to this；〃 he said； as he paced his room； with his hands folded behind his back。 〃This man； whom I once loved so warmly； wishes to murder me。 Ah！ ye proud princes； who imagine yourselves gods on earth； you are not even safe from a murderer's dagger； and you are as vulnerable as the commonest beggar。 Why does he wish my death？ Were I a fantastic； romantic hero； I might say he hoped to claim his sweetheart over my dead body！ But Amelia is no longer a person for whom a man would risk his life； she is but a faint and sad resemblance of the pasther rare beauty is tear…stained and turned to ashes； but her heart still lives； it is young and warm； and belongs to Trenck！ And shall I dissipate this last illusion？ Must she now learn that he to whom she sacrificed so much is but a common murderer？ No； I will spare her this sorrow！ I will not give Trenck the opportunity to fulfil his work； even his intention shall remain doubtful。 I shall not go to Konigsberg； and if； in his presumptuous thirst for notoriety or for vengeance； he should enter Prussia； he shall be cared forhe shall not escape his punishment。 Let him but try to cross my bordershe will find a snare spread； a cage from which he cannot escape。 Yes； so it shall be。 But neither the world nor Trenck shall suspect why this is done。 If my brothers and envious persons hold him up in future as an example of my hardness of heart； what do I care for their approval； or the praise of short…sighted men！ I do my duty； and am answerable only to God and myself。 Trenck intends to murder meI must preserve myself for my people。 My mission is not yet accomplished； and if a poisonous insect crosses my path； I must crush it。〃
CHAPTER VIII。
THE UNWILLING BRIDEGROOM。
Prince Henry had again passed eight days in arresteight tedious days； days of powerless anger and painful humiliation。 This arrest had been； by the king's express orders； so strict； that no one was allowed to see the prince but Pollnitz； who belonged； as the king said； to the inventory of the house of Hohenzollern； and； therefore； all doors were open to him。
Pollnitz alone had； therefore； the pleasure of hearing the complaints； and reproaches； and bitter accusations of the prince against his brother。 Pollnitz always had an attentive ear for these complaints； and after listening to the prince with every appearance of real feeling and warm sympathy； he would hasten to the king； and with drooping eyelids and rejoicing heart repeat the bitter and hateful words of the unsuspicious princewords that were well calculated to increase the king's displeasure。 The prince still declared that he would not marry； and the king insisted that he must submit to his will and commands。
Thus the eight days had passed； and Pollnitz came to…day with the joyful news that his arrest was at an end； and he was now free。
〃That means；〃 said the prince； bitterly； 〃that I am free to wander through the stupid streets of Potsdam； appear at his table； that my clothes may be soiled by his unbearable four…legged friends； and my ears deafened by the dull； pedantic conversation of his no less unbearable two…legged friends。〃
〃Your highness can save yourself from all these small annoyances；〃 said Pollnitz； 〃you have only to marry。〃
〃Marry； bah！ That means to give my poor sister…in…law； Elizabeth Christine； a companion； that they may sing their sorrows to each other。 No； I have not the bravery of my kingly brother； to make a feeling； human being unhappy in order to satisfy state politics。 No； I possess not the egotism to purchase my freedom with the life…long misery of another。〃
〃But； mon Dieu！ my prince；〃 said Pollnitz； in his cynical way； 〃you look at it in too virtuous a manner。 All women are not as good and pure as poor Elizabeth Christine； and know how to compensate themselves in other quarters for the indifference of their husbands。 We are not speaking here of a common marriage； but of the betrothal of a prince。 You do not marry your heart； but your hand。 Truly such a marriage…ceremony is a protecting talisman； that may be held up to other women as an iron shield upon which； all their egotistical wishes； all their extravagant demands must rebound。 Moreover； a married man is entirely sans consequence for all unmarried women； and if they should love such a one； the happy mortal may be convinced that his love is really a caprice of the heart； and not a selfish calculation or desire to marry。〃
The prince regarded the smiling courtier earnestly； almost angrily。 〃Do you know；〃 he said； 〃that what you say appears to me very immoral？〃
〃Immoral？〃 asked Pollnitz； astonished； 〃what is that？ Your princely highness knows that I received my education at the French court； under the protection of the Regent of Orleans and the Princess of the Palatinate； and there I never heard this word immoral。 Perhaps your highness will have the kindness to explain it to me。〃
〃That would be preaching to deaf ears；〃 said the prince； shrugging his shoulders。 〃We will not quarrel about the meaning of a word。 I only wish to make you understand that I would not marry at my brother's bon plaisir。 I will not continue this race of miserable princes； that are entirely useless； and consequently a burden to the state。 Oh！ if
