frederick the great and his family-第10章

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Louise　looked　at　him　and　sighed　deeply。　〃The　happiness；〃　she　said；　and　against　her　will　her　voice　trembled　and　faltered〃the　happiness　that　a　true；　earnest　love　alone　can　givewhich　I　have　received　joyously　into　my　heart　as　a　gift　from　God。〃

The　prince　laughed　aloud；　but　his　face　had　a　wild；　despairing　expression；　and　his　hands　clasped　the　chair　more　firmly。

〃I　do　not　understand　your　holy；　pious　words。　What　do　they　mean？　What　do　you　wish　to　say？〃

〃They　mean　that　I　now　love　so　truly　and　so　earnestly　that　I　have　promised　to　become　the　wife　of　the　man　I　love；〃　said　Louise；　with　forced　gayety。

The　prince　uttered　a　wild　cry；　and　raised　his　hands　as　if　to　curse　the　one　who　had　wounded　him　so　painfully。

〃If　this　is　true；〃　he　said；　in　a　deep；　hollow　voice〃if　this　is　true；　I　despise；　I　hate　you；　and　they　are　right　who　call　you　a　heartless　coquette。〃

〃Ah；　my　prince；　you　insult　me；〃　cried　Louise。

〃I　insult　you！〃　he　said；　with　a　wild　laugh；　〃verily；　I　believe　this　woman　has　the　effrontery　to　reproach　meI　who　believed　in　and　defended　her　against　every　accusationI　that　had　the　courage　to　love　and　trust；　when　all　others　distrusted　and　despised　her。　Yes；　madame；　I　loved　you：　I　saw　in　you　a　goddess；　where　others　saw　only　a　coquette。　I　adored　you　as　an　innocent　sacrifice　to　envy　and　malice；　I　saw　a　martyr's　crown　upon　your　brow；　and　wished　to　change　it　for　the　myrtle…crown　of　marriage。　And　my　love　and　hopes　are　dust　and　ashes；　it　is　enough　to　drive　me　madenough　to　stifle　me　with　rage　and　shame。〃　Carried　away　by　passion；　the　prince　ran　wildly　through　the　saloon；　gasping　for　air；　struggling　for　composure；　and　now　and　then　uttering　words　of　imprecation　and　despair。

Louise　waited；　in　silence　and　resignation；　the　end　of　this　stormy　crisis。　She　questioned　her　heart　if　this　bitter　hour　was　not　sufficient　atonement　for　all　her　faults　and　follies；　if　the　agony　she　now　suffered　did　not　wipe　out　and　extirpate　the　past。

The　prince　still　paced　the　room　violently。　Suddenly；　as　if　a　new　thought　had　seized　him；　he　remained　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　saloon；　and　looked　at　Louise　with　a　strangely　altered　countenance。　She　had　forgotten　for　a　moment　the　part　she　was　condemned　to　play；　and　leaned；　pale　and　sad；　against　the　window。

Perhaps　he　heard　her　sorrowful　sighsperhaps　he　saw　her　tears　as　they　rolled　one　by　one　from　her　eyes；　and　fell　like　pearls　upon　her　small　white　hands。

Anger　disappeared　from　his　face；　his　brow　cleared；　and　as　he　approached　Louise　his　eyes　sparkled　with　another　and　milder　fire。

〃Louise；〃　he　said；　softly；　and　his　voice；　which　had　before　raged　like　a　stormy　wind；　was　now　mild　and　tender〃Louise；　I　have　divined　your　purposeI　know　all　now。　At　first；　I　did　not　understand　your　words；　in　my　folly　and　jealousy　I　misconceived　your　meaning；　you　only　wished　to　try　me；　to　see　if　my　love　was　armed　and　strong；　if　it　was　as　bold　and　faithful　as　I　have　sworn　it　to　be。　Well；　I　stood　the　test　badly；　was　weak　and　faint…hearted；　but　forgive　meforgive　me；　Louise；　and　strengthen　my　heart　by　confidence　and　faith　in　me。〃

He　tried　to　take　her　hand；　but　she　withdrew　it。

〃Must　I　repeat　to　your　highness　what　I　have　said　before？　I　do　not　understand　you。　What　do　you　mean？〃

〃Ah；〃　said　the　prince；　〃you　are　again　my　naughty；　sportive　Louise。　Well；　then；　I　will　explain。　Did　you　not　say　that　you　now　love　so　truly；　that　you　have　promised　to　become　the　wife　of　the　man　you　love？〃

〃Yes；　I　said　that；　your　highness。〃

〃And　I；〃　said　the　prince；　seizing　both　her　hands　and　gazing　at　her　ardently〃I　was　so　short…sighted；　so　ungrateful；　as　not　to　understand　you。　The　many　sorrows　and　vexations　I　suffer　away　from　you　have　dimmed　my　eyes　and　prevented　me　from　seeing　what　is　written　with　golden　letters　upon　your　smiling　lips　and　beaming　eyes。　Ah；　Louise；　I　thank　you　for　your　precious　words；　at　last　you　are　captured；　at　last　you　have　resolved　to　become　the　wife　of　him　who　adores　you。　I　thank　you；　Louise；　I　thank　you；　and　I　swear　that　no　earthly　pomp　or　power　could　make　me　as　proud　and　happy　as　this　assurance　of　your　love。〃

Louise　gazed　into　his　beautiful；　smiling　face　with　terror。

〃Ah；　my　prince；　my　words　have　not　the　meaning　you　imagine。　I　spoke　the　simple　truth。　My　heart　has　made　its　choicesince　yesterday；　I　am　the　betrothed　wife　of　Captain　du　Trouffle。〃

〃That　is　not　true；〃　cried　the　prince；　casting　her　hands　violently　from　him。　〃You　are　very　cruel　today；　you　torture　me　with　your　fearful　jests。〃

〃No；　your　highness；　I　speak　the　truth。　I　am　the　betrothed　of　Captain　du　Trouffle。〃

〃Since　yesterday　you　are　the　betrothed　of　Captain　du　Trouffle！〃　repeated　the　prince；　staring　at　her　wildly。　〃And　you　say　you　love　him；　Louise？〃

〃Yes；　your　highness；　I　love　him；〃　said　Louise；　with　a　faint　smile。

〃It　is　impossible；〃　cried　the　prince；　〃it　is　not　true。〃

〃And　why　should　I　deceive　your　highness？〃

〃Why？ah；　I　understand　all。　Oh；　Louise；　my　poor　darling；　how　short…　sighted　I　have　been！　Why　did　I　not　immediately　suspect　my　brother？　he　has　spies　to　watch　all　my　movements；　they　have　at　last　discovered　my　love　for　you。　Pollnitz；　who　would　do　any　thing　for　gold；　has　betrayed　us　to　the　king；　who　condemns　me　to　marry　according　to　my　rank；　and；　to　carry　out　his　purpose　surely；　he　now　forces　you　to　marry。　Oh；　Louise；　say　that　this　is　so；　acknowledge　that　the　power　of　the　king；　and　not　your　own　heart；　forced　you　to　this　engagement。　It　is　impossible；　it　cannot　be　that　you　have　forgotten　the　vows　that　we　exchanged　scarcely　two　weeks　ago。　It　cannot　be　that　you　look　upon　the　heart　that　loved　you　so　deeply；　so　purely；　as　an　idle　plaything；　to　be　thrown　away　so　lightly！　No；　no；　Louise；　I　have　seen　often　in　your　beaming　eyes；　your　eloquent　smiles；　I　have　felt　in　your　soft　and　tender　tones；　that　you　loved　me　fondly；　and　now　in　your　pale；　sad　face　I　see　that　you　love　me　still；　and　that　it　is　the　king　who　wishes　to　separate　us。　My　poor；　lovely　child；　you　have　been　intimidated；　you　think　that　my　brother；　who　reigns　supreme　over　millions；　will　yield　to　no　obstacle；　that　it　is　vain　to　resist　him。　But　you　are　mistaken；　Louise；　you　have　forgotten　that　I　am　Frederick's　brother；　that　the　proud；　unconquerable　blood　of　the　Hohenzollerns　flows　also　in　my　veins。　Let　my　brother　try　to　force　me　to　his　purpose；　I　shall　be　no　weak　tool　in　his　hands。　You　had　not　firm　confidence　in　your　lover；　Louise；　you　did　not　know　that　I　would　resign　cheerfully　rank　and　all　family　ties　for　your　sake；　you　did　not　know　that　I　had　sworn　to　marry　only　the　woman　I　love。　This　I　must　do　to　satisfy　my　heart　and　my　honor；　and　also　to　show　the　king　that　Prince　Henry　is　a　free　man。　Now　tell　me；　Louise；　if　I　have　not　divined　all。　Is　not　this　the　king's　cruel　work？　Ah；　you　do　not　answer；　you　are　silent。　I　understandthe　king　has　made　you　swear　not　to　betray　him。　Now　look　at　me；　Louise；　make　me　a　sign　with　your　hand；　tell　me　with　your　eyes；　and　I　will　comprehend　youI　will　take　you　in　my　arms　and　carry　you　to　the　altar。　My　God！　Louise　do　you　not　see　that　I　am　waiting　for　this　sign？that　you　are　torturing　me？〃

Louise　raised　her　head；　her　heart　was　melting　within　her；　she　forgot　her　terror；　and　was　ready　to　resist　God；　the　king；　and　the　whole　world；　to　grasp　the　noble　and　unselfish　love　that　the　prince　offered　her。　But　her　glance　fell　involuntarily　upon　the　curtain；　behind　which　the　king　stood；　and　it　seemed　to　her　as　if　she　saw　the　angry；　burning　eyes　of　Frederick　threatening　to　destroy　her。　She　remembered　her　daughter；　Fritz　Wendel；　and　the　world's　mocking　laughter；　and　was　overcome。

〃You　are　still　silent；〃　said　the　prince；　〃you　give　me　neither　sign　nor　glance。〃

Louise　felt　as　if　an　iron　hand　was　tearing　her　heart　asunder。

〃I　really　am　at　a　loss　what　more　to　say　or　do；〃　she　said；　in　a　careless　tone；　that　made　her　own　heart　shudder。　〃It　pleases　your　highness　to　make　a　jest　of　what　I　say。　I　am　innocent；　my　prince；　of　any　double　meaning。　Five　weeks　have　passed　since　I　saw　youI　believed　you　had　forgotten　me；　I　did　not　reproach　you；　neither　was　I　in　despair。　I　soon　found　that　it　was　stupid　and　dreary　to　have　my　heart　unoccupied；　and　I　sought　for　and　soon　found　a　lover；　to　whom　my　heart　became　a　willing　captive。　Therefore；　when　Captain　Trouffle　pleaded　earnestly　for　my　hand；　I　had　not　the　courage　to　say　no。　This　is　my　only　crime；　your　highness。　I　was　not　cruel　to　myself；　I　received　the　happiness　that　was　offered。　I　have　been　called　a　coquette；　my　prince；　it　is　time　to　bind　myself　in　marriage　bonds；　and　show　the　world　that　love　can　make　an　honest　woman　of　me。　Can　your　highness　blame　me　for　this？〃

The　prince　listened　with　breathless　attention；　gradually　his　countenance　changed；　the　color　faded　from　his　cheeks；　the　light　from　his　eyes；　a　smile　was　still　on　his　lips；　but　it　was　cold　and　mocking；　his　eyes　burned　with　anger　and　contempt。

〃No；　madame；〃　he　said；　with　calm；　proud　indifference；　〃I　do　not　blame　youI　praise；　I　congratulate　you。　Captain　du　Trouffle　is　a　most　fortunate　manhe　will　possess　a　most　beautiful　wife。　When　will　this　happy　ceremony　be　performed？〃

Madame　von　Kleist　was　unable　to　reply。　She　gazed　with　wild　terror　into　his　cold；　iron　faceshe　listened　with　horror　to　that　voice；　whose　mild；　soft　tone　had　become　suddenly　so　harsh；　so　stern。

The　prince　repeated　his　question；　and　his　tone　was　harder　and　more　imperious。

〃The　day　is　not　fixed；〃　said　Louise；　〃we　must　first　obtain　the　king's　consent　to　our　marriage。〃

〃I　shall　take　care　it　does　not　fail　you；〃　said　the　prince；　quietly。

〃I　will　strengthen　your　petition　to　the　king。　Now；　madame；　you　must　forgive　me　for　leaving　you。　Many　greetings　to　your　betrothedI　shall　be　introduced　to　him　to…morrow　at　the　parade。　Farewell；　madame！〃

The　prince　made　a　slight　bow；　and；　without　glancing　at　her　again；　left　the　room　slowly　and　proudly。

Louise　gazed　after　him　with　mournful　eyes；　but　he　did　not　see　it；　he　did　not　see　how　she　fell；　as　if　broken；　to　the　floor；　as　if　struck　by　lightning；　and　when　the　door　closed　on　him　she　held　her　hands　to　Heaven　pleadingly　for　mercy　and　forgiveness。

The　portiere　now　opened；　and　the　king　entered；　his　countenance　was　pale；　his　eyes　tearful；　but　they　sparkled　with　anger　when　he　saw　Louise　upon　the　floor。　For　him　she　was　but　a　heartless　coquette；　and　he　was　angry　with　her　because　of　the　suffering　she　had　caused　his　brother；　for　whom　he　felt　the　deepest　pity　and　compassion。

But　that　was　now　past；　the　brother　could　weep　a　tear　of　pity；　the　king　must　be　firm　and　relentless。

As　he　approached　her；　she　raised　herself　from　the　ground　and　made　a　profound　and　ceremonious　bow。

〃You　have　repaired　much　of　the　evil　you　have　done；　madame；〃　said　the　king；　sternly。　〃You　have　played　a　dishonorable　game　with　my　brother。　You　enticed　him　to　love　you。〃

〃I　think　I　have　atoned；　sire；〃　said　Louise；　faintly；　〃the　prince　no　longer　loves　but　despises　me。　Your　commands　are　fulfilled　to　the　letter；　and　I　now　beg　your　majesty's　permission　to　withdraw。〃

〃Go；　madame；　you　have　done　your　duty　to…day；　and　I　will　also　do　mine。　I　shall　not　forget　what　I　promised　you　when　you　are　Madame　du　Trouffle。　We　will　forget　all　the　faults　of　Madame　von　Kleist。〃

He　dismissed　her　with　a　slight　bow；　and　gazed　after　her　until　she　had　disappeared。

At　this　moment；　a　heavy　fall　was　heard　in　the　antechamber。　The　door　opened　immediately；　and　the　p