frederick the great and his family-第115章

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l'effet　　　　　　Du　bonheur　des　fripons　du　desastre　des　sages。〃

＇Footnote：　　　　　　〃The　nightingale　sings；　and　this　is　the　reason　　　　　　That　he　is　taken　to　sing　in　a　prison。　　　　　　See　now　the　sparrow；　who　does　so　much　evil；　　　　　　Plays　with　life　without　fear　of　cages。　　　　　　　　　　　See　in　this　portrait；　　　　　　　　　　　Which　shows　the　effect　　　　　　Of　the　good　luck　of　rogues；　and　the　misfortune　of　sages。〃＇

Amelia　could　not　control　herself；　she　could　look　no　longer。　She　rarely　wept；　but　now　her　eyes　were　filled　with　tears。　They　fell　upon　the　cup；　as　if　to　kiss　the　letters　which　had　recalled　so　many　touching　and　sad　remembrances。　But　she　had　no　time　for　tears；　she　must　read　on！　With　an　involuntary　movement；　she　dashed　the　tears　from　her　eyes；　and　fixed　them　steadily　upon　the　cup。

Here　was　another　picture。　In　a　cell　lay　a　skeleton　form；　the　hands　and　the　feet　bound　with　heavy　chains。　The　figure　had　raised　itself　slightly　from　the　straw　bed　and　gazed　with　an　agonized　expression　at　the　grating　in　the　wall；　behind　which　the　grim…bearded　face　of　a　soldier　was　seen；　who；　with　wide…open　mouth　seemed　to　be　calling　angrily　to　the　prisoner。　Beneath　this　stood　some　verses　in　German。　＇Footnote：　See　memoirs　of　Trenck；　Thiebault；　in　which　Trenck　describes　one　of　these　cups　and　the　fate　which　befell　it。　One　of　them　was　engraved　for　the　Landgrave　of　Hesse；　and　in　this　way　fell　into　the　hands　of　the　Emperor　Joseph　the　Second；　who　kept　it　in　his　art　cabinet。　Another；　which　had　been　once　in　possession　of　the　wife　of　Frederick　the　Great；　Trenck　afterward　recovered　in　Paris。　Some　of　these　cups　are　still　to　be　seen　in　art　collections　in　Germany；　and　some　are　in　the　museum　in　Berlin。＇　〃Oh　fearful！　most　fearful！〃　sobbed　Amelia；　and；　completely　overcome；　her　head　sank　upon　her　breast。　She　cared　not　that　the　strange　jeweller　saw　her　tears　and　heard　the　despairing　cry　of　her　heart；　she　had　nothing　to　fear；　she　had　no　more　to　lose。　The　assembled　world　might　hear　and　see　her　great　grief。　But　no；　no；　this　must　not　be。　His　agony；　his　tortures；　might　perhaps　be　increased　to　punish　her　through　him！　She　must　not　weep；　she　must　not　complain。　Trenck　lived；　although　in　prison　and　in　chains；　he　still　lived；　so　long　as　he　lived；　she　must　conquer　the　despair　of　her　heart。

As　she　thought　thus；　she　dried　her　tears；　and　raised　her　head　with　proud　resolve。　She　would　be　calm　and　self…possessed；　perhaps　this　man；　sent　to　her　by　the　landgrave；　had　something　still　to　say　to　her。　She　half　turned　her　head　toward　him；　he　appeared　not　to　be　thinking　of　her；　but　was　quietly　engaged　placing　his　treasures　again　in　his　casket。

〃Can　you　tell　me　who　engraved　this　cup？〃

〃Certainly；　your　royal　highness。　A　poor　prisoner；　who　has　been　confined　for　nine　years　in　a　subterranean　cell　in　the　fortress　of　Magdeburg；　engraved　it。　He　is　called　Frederick　von　Trenck。　Your　highness　has　perhaps　never　heard　the　name；　but　in　Magdeburg　every　child　knows　it；　and　speaks　it　with　wonder　and　admiration！　No　one　has　seen　him；　but　every　one　knows　of　his　daring；　his　heroism；　his　unfaltering　courage；　and　endurance；　his　herculean　strength；　and　his　many　and　marvellous　attempts　to　escape。　Trenck　is　the　hero　of　the　nursery　as　well　as　the　saloon。　No　lady　in　Magdeburg　is　acquainted　with　him；　but　all　are　enthusiastic　in　his　praise；　and　all　the　officers　who　know　him　love　and　pity　him。　Many　are　ready　to　risk　their　lives　for　him！〃

The　princess　sighed　deeply；　and　a　ray　of　joy　and　hope　lighted　up　her　countenance。　She　listened　with　suppressed　breath　to　the　jeweller's　wordsthey　sounded　like　far…off　music；　pleasant　but　mournful　to　the　soul。

The　stranger　continued：　〃Some　time　since；　in　order　to　dispel　the　tediousness　of　his　prison…life；　he　began　to　engrave　poems　and　figures　upon　his　tin　cup　with　a　nail　which　he　had　found　in　the　earth　while　making　his　last　attempt　to　undermine　the　floor　of　his　cell。　During　one　of　his　visits　of　observation；　the　commandant　discovered　this　cup；　he　was　delighted　with　the　engravings；　took　the　cup　and　sent　Trenck　another；　hoping　he　would　continue　the　exercise　of　his　art。　Trenck　seized　the　occasion　joyfully；　and　since　then　he　has　been　constantly　occupied　as　an　engraver。　Every　officer　desires　to　have　a　cup　engraved　by　him；　as　a　souvenir。　Every　lady　in　Magdeburg　longs　for　one；　and　prefers　it　to　the　most　costly　jewel。　These　cups　are　now　the　modeindeed；　they　have　become　an　important　article　in　trade。　If　one　of　the　officers　can　be　induced　to　sell　his　cup；　it　will　cost　twenty　louis　d'or。　Trenck　gets　no　money　for　his　work；　but　he　has　gained　far　greater　advantages。　These　cups　give　him　the　opportunity　of　making　known　to　the　world　the　cruel　tortures　to　which　he　is　subject；　they　have　given　him　speech；　and　replaced　the　writing　materials　of　which　they　have　deprived　him。　They　have　answered　even　a　better　and　holier　purpose　than　this；〃　said　the　jeweller；　in　a　low　voice；　〃they　have　procured　him　light　and　air。　In　order　to　give　him　sufficient　light　for　his　work；　the　officers　open　the　doors　into　the　first　corridor；　in　which　there　is　a　large　window；　one　of　the　upper　panes　of　this　window　is　open　every　morning。　As　the　days　are　short　in　the　casemates；　the　commandant　looks　through　his　fingers；　when　the　officers　bring　lights　to　the　poor　prisoner。　Trenck　feels　as　if　his　wretched　prison…cell　was　now　changed　into　the　atelier　of　an　artist。〃

Amelia　was　silent　and　pressed　the　cup　tenderly　to　her　lips；　the　stranger　did　not　regard　her；　but　continued　his　recital　quietly。

〃An　officer　of　the　garrison　told　me　all　this；　your　highness；　when　he　sold　me　this　cup。　They　make　no　secret　of　their　admiration　and　affection　for　Trenck；　they　know　they　would　be　severely　punished　if　the　higher　authorities　discovered　that　they　allowed　Trenck　any　privileges　or　alleviations；　but　they　boast　of　it　and　consider　it　a　humane　action。〃

〃May　God　reward　them　for　it！〃　sighed　Amelia。　〃I　will　buy　this　cup；　sir。　I　do　not　wish　to　be　behind　the　ladies　of　Magdeburg；　and　as　it　is　the　mode　to　possess　a　cup　engraved　by　Trenck；　I　will　take　this。　Name　your　price。〃

The　jeweller　was　silent　for　a　moment；　then　said：

〃Pardon　me；　your　highness；　I　dare　not　sell　you　this　cup；　or　rather　I　implore　your　highness　not　to　desire　it。　If　possible；　I　will　make　it　an　instrument　for　Trenck's　release。〃

〃How　can　this　be　done？〃　said　Amelia；　breathlessly。

〃I　will　take　this　cup　to　General　Riedt；　the　Austrian　ambassador　in　Berlin。　As　all　the　world　is　interesting　itself　for　Trenck；　I　do　not　see　why　I　should　not　do　the　same；　and　endeavor　to　obtain　his　release。　I　shall　therefore　go　to　General　Riedt　with　this　cup。　I　am　told　he　is　a　noble　gentleman　and　a　distant　relation　of　Trenck；　he　cannot　fail　to　sympathize　with　his　unfortunate　cousin。　When　he　hears　of　his　cruel　sufferings　he　will　certainly　strive　to　deliver　him。　General　Riedt　is　exactly　the　man　to　effect　this　great　object；　he　is　thoroughly　acquainted　with　all　the　by…ways　and　intrigues　of　the　court　of　Vienna。　Maria　Theresa　classes　him　among　her　most　trusted　confidants　and　friends。　Whoever　desires　to　free　Trenck　must　consult　with　General　Riedt　and　win　him。〃

Amelia　raised　her　head　and　looked　up　quickly　at　the　stranger；　his　eyes　were　fixed　upon　her　with　a　searching　and　significant　expression；　their　glances　met　and　were　steadily　fixed　for　one　moment；　then　a　scarcely　perceptible　smile　flitted　over　the　face　of　the　jeweller；　and　the　princess　nodded　her　head。　Each　felt　that　they　were　understood。

〃Have　you　nothing　more　to　say？〃　said　Amelia。

〃No；　your　highness；　I　have　only　to　beg　you　will　pardon　me　for　not　selling　you　this　cup。　I　must　take　it　to　General　Riedt。〃

〃Leave　it　with　me；〃　said　Amelia；　after　a　few　moments'　reflection。　〃I　myself　will　show　it　to　him　and　seek　to　interest　him　in　the　fate　of　his　unhappy　relative。　If　I　succeed；　the　cup　is　mine；　and　you　will　not　wish　to　sell　it　to　General　Riedt　Do　you　agree　to　this？　Go；　then；　and　return　to　me　at　th　is　hour　to…morrow；　when　I　will　either　pay　you　the　price　of　the　cup；　or　return　it　to　you；　if　I　am　so　unhappy　as　to　fail。〃

The　jeweller　bowed　profoundly。　〃I　will　punctually　obey　your　highness's　commands。　To…morrow　at　this　hour　I　will　be　here。〃

The　stranger　took　his　casket　and　left　the　room。　The　princess　gazed　after　him　till　the　door　closed。

〃That　man　is　silent　and　discreet；　I　believe　he　can　be　trusted；〃　she　murmured。　〃I　will　write　at　once；　and　desire　an　interview　with　General　Riedt。〃




CHAPTER　VI。

THE　PRINCESS　AND　THE　DIPLOMATIST。


An　hour　later　the　page　of　the　princess　announced　General　von　Riedt；　Austrian　ambassador　at　the　court　of　Berlin。　Amelia　advanced　to　meet　him；　and　gazed　with　a　sharp；　piercing　glance　at　the　general；　who　bowed　respectfully　before　her。

〃I　have　sent　for　you；　general；〃　said　the　princess；　〃to　repair　an　injury。　You　have　been　announced　twice；　and　both　times　I　declined　receiving　you。〃

〃That　was　no　injury；　your　royal　highness；〃　said　the　general；　smiling。　〃I　ventured　to　call　on　you　because　etiquette　demands　that　a　new　ambassador　should　introduce　himself　to　every　member　of　the　royal　house。　Your　royal　highness　declined　to　receive　me；　it　was　not　agreeable；　and　you　were　perfectly　justifiable　in　closing　your　doors　against　me。〃

〃And　now　you　must　wonder　why　I　have　sent　for　you？〃

〃I　never　allow　myself　to　wonder。　Your　order　for　me　to　come　has　made　me　happythat　is　sufficient。〃

〃You　have　no　suspicion　why　I　sent　for　you？〃

〃Your　royal　highness　has　just　informed　me　you　kindly　wished　to　indemnify　me　for　my　two　former　visits。〃

〃You　are　a　good　diplomatist；　you　turn　quickly　about；　are　as　smooth　as　an　eel；　cannot　be　taken　hold　of；　but　slip　through　one's　fingers。　I　am　accustomed　to　go　at　once　to　the　pointI　cannot　diplomatize。　See　here；　why　I　wished　to　see　youI　wished　to　show　you　this　cup。〃

She　took　the　cup　hastily　from　the　table；　and　gave　it　to　the　ambassador。　He　gazed　at　it　long　and　earnestly；　he　turned　it　around；　looking　at　every　picture；　reading　every　verse。　Amelia　watched　him　keenly；　but　his　countenance　betrayed　nothing。　He　was　as　smiling；　as　unembarrassed　as　before。　When　he　had　looked　at　it　attentively；　he　placed　it　on　the　table。

〃Well；　what　do　you　think　of　the　workmanship？〃　said　Amelia。

〃It　is　wonderful；　worthy　of　an　artist；　your　royal　highness。〃

〃And　do　you　know　by　what　artist　it　was　made？〃

〃I　suspect　it；　your　royal　highness。〃

〃Give　me　his　name？〃

〃I　think　he　is　called　Frederick　von　Trenck。〃

〃It　is　so；　and　if　I　do　not　err；　he　is　your　relative？〃

〃My　distant　relativeyes；　your　royal　highness。〃

〃And　can　you　bear　to　have　your　relative　in　chains？　Does　not　your　heart　bleed　for　his　sufferings？〃

〃He　suffers　justly；　I　presume；　or　he　would　not　have　been　condemned。〃

〃Were　he　the　greatest　criminal　that　lived；　it　would　still　be　a　crime　to　make　him　suffer　perpetually。　A　man's　sleep　is　sacred；　be　he　a　criminal　or　a　murderer。　Let　them　kill　the　criminal；　but　they　should　not　murder　sleep。　Look　at　this　picture；　general；　look　at　this　prisoner　lying　upon　the　hard　floor；　he　has　been　torn　from　his　dreams　of　freedom　and　happiness　by　the　rough　voice　of　the　soldier　standing　at　his　door。　Read　the　verse　beneath　itis　not　every　word　of　it　bathed　in　tears？　Breathes　there　not　a　cry　of　terror　throughout　so　fearful；　so　unheard…of；　that　it　must　resound　in　every　breast？　And　you；　his　relative；　you　will　not　hear　him？　You　will　do　nothing　to　free　this　unfortunate　man