frederick the great and his family-第116章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ast？　And　you；　his　relative；　you　will　not　hear　him？　You　will　do　nothing　to　free　this　unfortunate　man　from　his　prison？　You；　the　Austrian　ambassador；　suffer　an　officer　of　your　empress　to　remain　a　prisoner　in　a　strange　land；　without　a　trial；　without　a　hearing。〃

〃When　my　empress　sent　me　here；　she　gave　me　her　instructions；　and　she　informed　me　of　the　extent　and　character　of　my　duties。　She　did　not　request　me　to　exert　myself　for　the　release　of　this　unfortunate　prisoner；　that　is　entirely　beyond　my　sphere　of　action；　and　I　must　be　discreet。〃

〃You　must　be　careful　and　discreet　when　the　life　of　a　man；　a　relative；　is　concerned？　You　have；　then；　no　pity　for　him？〃

〃I　pity　him　deeply；　your　royal　highness；　but　can　do　nothing　more。〃

〃Perhaps　not　you！　Perhaps　another！　Perhaps　I？〃

〃I　do　not　know　if　your　royal　highness　interests　herself　sufficiently　in　the　prisoner　to　work　for　him。〃

〃You　know　not　whether　I　interest　myself　sufficiently　in　Trenck　to　serve　him；〃　cried　Amelia；　with　a　harsh　laugh。　〃You　well　know　it；　the　whole　world　knows　it；　no　one　dares　speak　of　it　aloud；　for　fear　of　the　king's　anger；　but　it　is　whispered　throughout　the　whole　land　why　Trenck　languishes　in　prison。　You；　you　alone；　should　be　ignorant　of　it！　Know；　then；　that　Trenck　is　imprisoned　because　I　love　him！　Yes；　general；　I　love　him！　Why　do　you　not　laugh；　sir？　Is　it　not　laughable　to　hear　an　old；　wrinkled；　broken…down　creature　speak　of　loveto　see　a　wan；　trembling　form；　tottering　to　her　grave　on　a　prop　of　love？　Look　at　this　horribly　disfigured　countenance。　Listen　to　the　rough；　discordant　voice　that　dares　to　speak　of　love；　and　then　laugh；　general；　for　I　tell　you　I　love　Trenck。　I　love　him　with　all　the　strength　and　passion　of　a　young　girl。　Grief　and　age　have　laid　a　fearful　mask　upon　my　countenance；　but　my　heart　is　still　young；　there　burns　within　it　an　undying；　a　sacred　flame。　My　thoughts；　my　desires　are　passionate　and　youthful；　and　my　every　thought；　my　every　desire　is　for　Trenck。　I　could　tell　you　of　all　the　agony；　all　the　despair　I　have　endured　for　his　sake；　but　it　would　be　useless。　There　is　no　question　of　my　sufferings；　but　of　his　who　through　me　has　lost　his　youth　and　his　freedomhis　all！　Nine　years　he　has　lain　in　prison；　for　nine　years　my　one　aim　has　been　to　release　him。　My　existence；　my　soul；　my　heart；　are　bound　up　in　his　prison　walls。　I　only　live　to　release　him。　Though　I　have　ceased　to　look　for　human　assistance；　my　heart　still　prays　earnestly　to　God　for　some　way　of　escape。　If　you　know　any　such；　general；　show　it　to　me；　and　were　it　strewed　with　thorns　and　burning　irons；　I　would　wander　upon　it　in　my　bare　feet。〃

She　raised　her　hands　and　fixed　an　imploring　glance　upon　the　general；　who　had　listened　to　her　in　silence。　When　she　had　ceased　speaking；　he　raised　his　head　and　looked　at　her。　Amelia　could　have　cried　aloud　for　joy；　for　two　bright；　precious　tears　gleamed　in　his　eye。

〃You　weep；〃　cried　she；　〃you　have　some　pity。〃

The　general　took　her　hand；　and　kneeling　reverentially　before　her　he　said：　〃Yes；　I　weep；　but　not　over　you。　I　weep　over　your　great；　self…　sacrificing　soul。　I　do　not　pity　youyour　grief　is　too　great；　too　sacredit　is　above　pity。　But　I　bow　profoundly　before　you；　for　your　suffering　is　worthy　of　all　reverence。　To　me　you　appear　much　more　beautiful　than　all　the　women　of　this　court　who　dance　giddily　through　life。　It　is　not　the　diplomatist　but　the　man　who　kneels　before　you　and　offers　you　his　homage。〃

Gently　Amelia　bade　him　rise。　〃With　a　sweet；　happy　smile　upon　her　lip　she　thanked　him　for　his　sympathy；　and　hoped　they　would　be　good　friends　and　counsel　with　each　other。〃

The　general　was　silent　for　a　few　moments。　〃The　feelings　of　the　empress　must　be　worked　uponshe　must　intercede　with　King　Frederick　for　Trenck。　He　cannot　refuse　her　first　request。〃

〃Will　you　undertake　to　effect　this？〃　said　Amelia；　hastily。　〃Will　you　intercede　for　your　unfortunate　relative？〃

〃I　had　done　so　long　ago　had　it　been　possible。　Alas；　I　dared　not。　Trenck　is　my　relativemy　request　would；　therefore；　have　been　considered　as　that　of　a　prejudiced　person。　My　exalted　empress　possesses　so　strong　a　sense　of　right　that　it　has　become　a　rule　of　hers　never　to　fulfil　a　request　made　by　any　of　her　own　intimate　and　confidential　friends　for　their　families　or　relatives。　She　would　have　paid　no　attention　to　my　request　for　Trenck's　release。　Moreover；　I　would　have　made　enemies　of　a　powerful　and　influential　party　at　courtwith　a　party　whose　wish　it　is　that　Trenck　may　never　be　released；　because　he　would　then　come　and　demand　an　account　of　the　gold；　jewels；　and　property　left　him　by　his　cousin；　the　colonel　of　the　pandours；　thus　causing　a　great　disturbance　amongst　several　noble　families　at　court。　These　families　are　continually　filling　the　ear　of　the　empress　with　accusations　against　the　unfortunate　prisoner；　well　knowing　that　he　cannot　defend　himself。　You　must　appear　to　have　forgotten　that　poor　Trenck　is　languishing　in　prison　while　his　property　is　being　guarded　by　stewards　who　pay　themselves　for　their　heavy　labor　with　the　old　colonel's　money。　It　is　dangerous；　therefore；　to　meddle　with　this　wasp's　nest。　To　serve　Trenck；　the　interceder　must　be　so　harmless　and　insignificant　that　no　one　will　consider　it　worth　while　to　watch　him；　so　that　Trenck's　enemies；　not　suspecting　him；　can　place　no　obstacles　in　his　path。〃

〃Lives　there　such　a　one？〃　said　the　princess。

〃Yes；　your　royal　highness。〃

〃Where　is　he？　What　is　his　name？　What　is　he？〃

〃The　fireman　in　the　apartments　of　the　empress。　He　is　a　poor　Savoyard；　without　name；　without　rank；　without　position；　hut　with　credit　and　influence。〃

〃A　fireman？〃　cried　the　princess；　with　amazement。

〃An　old；　ugly；　deformed　fellow；　called　by　the　other　servants　Gnome　because　of　his　stubborn　silence；　his　want　of　sociability；　his　rough　manner　and　voice；　his　caring　for　nothing　but　his　service；　which　he　performs　with　great　method。　Every　morning　at　six　he　enters　her　majesty's　apartment；　makes　the　fire；　throws　back　the　curtain　to　admit　the　light；　arranges　the　chairs；　and　then　withdraws　without　the　least　noise。　All　this　he　does　without　committing　the　slightest　indiscretion；　always　the　same；　never　lingering　beyond　his　time　never　leaving　before。　He　is　like　a　clock　that　maintains　always　the　same　movement　and　sound。　The　empress；　accustomed　for　thirty　years　to　see　him　enter　daily　her　apartments；　has　become　used　to　his　homeliness；　and　often　in　the　kindness　of　her　heart　enters　into　conversation　with　him。　His　answers　are　always　laconic；　in　a　tone　of　perfect　indifferenceat　times　brusque；　even　harshbut　they　have　a　sensible　and　often　a　deep　meaning。　When　the　empress　speaks　with　him；　he　does　not　cease　his　work　for　a　moment；　and　when　he　has　finished　he　does　not　remain　a　minute　longer；　but　goes　without　asking　if　she　desires　to　continue　the　conversation。　For　thirty　years　he　has　had　the　same　duties　and　has　fulfilled　them　in　the　same　manner。　He　has　never　been　accused　of　a　mistakehe　has　never　been　guilty　of　inquisitiveness　or　intrigue。　Thus　the　empress　has　great　and　firm　confidence　in　him。　She　is　so　convinced　of　his　truth；　disinterestedness；　and　probity；　that　he　has　gained　a　sort　of　influence　over　her；　and　as　she　knows　that　he　is　to　be　won　neither　by　gold；　flattery；　promises　of　position　and　rank；　she　constantly　asks　his　opinion　on　matters　of　importance；　and　not　seldom　is　biassed　by　its　strong；　sensible　tone。〃

〃But　if　this　man　is　so　honest　and　disinterested；　how　are　we　to　influence　him？〃

〃We　must　seek　to　win　his　heart　and　his　head。　He　must　become　interested　in　the　fate　of　the　unfortunate　prisonerhe　must　become　anxious　for　his　release。　When　we　have　done　this　much；　we　can　question　his　self…interest　and　offer　him　gold。〃

〃Gold？　This　wonder　of　probity　and　truth　is　susceptible　to　bribes？〃

〃He　never　has；　perhaps　never　may　be。　He　himself　has　no　desires；　no　necessities；　but　he　has　one　weaknesshis　daughter。　She　is　a　young　and　lovely　girl；　whom　he；　in　his　dark　distrust　of　all　at　court　in　the　form　of　men；　has　had　educated　in　a　convent　far　from　Vienna。　She　is　now　living　with　some　respectable　family　in　Vienna；　but　she　never　visits　him；　never　enters　the　castle　to　inquire　for　him　for　fear　she　should　be　seen　by　some　of　the　court　gentlemen。　This　girl　has　now　formed　an　attachment　to　a　young　doctor。　They　would　like　to　marry；　but　he　has　no　practice；　she　no　money。　Her　father　has　saved　nothing；　but　spent　all　his　wages　on　her　education；　and　has　no　dowry　for　his　daughter。〃

〃And　he　intends　to　plead　with　the　empress　for　this　dower？〃

〃If　such　a　thought　came　to　him　he　would　put　it　away　with　contempt；　for　his　only　ambition　consists　in　making　no　requests；　receiving　no　gifts　from　the　empress。　Nor　would　he　now　act　for　this　gold　alone　contrary　to　his　idea　of　right；　were　his　daughter　to　die　of　sorrow。　As　I　said　before；　his　heart　and　head　must　first　be　won；　then　only　must　we　speak　of　reward。〃

〃If　this　man　has　a　heart；　we　cannot　fail　to　win　it　when　we　tell　him　all　that　Trenck　has　suffered　and　still　endures；〃　cried　the　princess。　〃The　agony　and　despair　that　have　been　heaped　upon　the　head　of　one　poor　mortal　will　surely　touch　both　head　and　heart。　When　we　have　succeeded；　we　will　give　his　daughter　a　handsome　dower。　God　has　so　willed　it　that　I　am　right　rich　now；　and　can　fulfil　my　promises。　My　pension　as　abbess　and　my　salary　as　princess　were　both　paid　in　yesterday。　There　is　a　little　fortune　in　my　desk；　and　I　shall　add　more　to　it。　Do　you　think　four　thousand　louis　d'or　will　be　sufficient　to　win　the　Savoyard's　heart？〃

〃For　any　other　it　would　be　more　than　sufficient；　but　to　win　this　honest　heart；　your　offer　is　not　too　great。〃

〃But　is　it　enough？〃

〃It　is。〃

〃Now；　all　that　we　need　is　some　sure；　cunning　messenger　to　send　to　him；　a　man　whose　heart　and　head；　soul　and　body　are　bound　up　in　the　cause　he　advocates。　General；　where　shall　we　find　such　a　man？〃

General　Riedt　laughed。　〃I　thought　your　royal　highness　had　already　found　him。〃

The　princess　looked　at　him　in　amazement。

〃Ah；〃　cried　she；　〃the　jeweller；　the　man　who　brought　me　the　cup；　who　referred　me　to　you　in　so　wise　and　discreet　a　manner。〃

〃I　think　you　desired　him　to　return　early　to…morrow　morning？〃

〃How　do　you　know　that？　Are　you　acquainted　with　him？〃

General　Riedt　bowed　smilingly。　〃I　ventured　to　send　him　to　your　royal　highness。〃

〃Ah！　I　now　understand　it　all；　and　must　acknowledge　that　the　jeweller　is　as　great　a　negotiator　as　you　are　a　diplomatist。　The　cup　I　showed　you；　you　sent　to　me？〃

〃I　received　it　from　the　Governor　of　Magdeburg；　the　Landgrave　of　Hesse；　as　I　could　do　nothing　with　it；　I　ventured　to　send　it　to　your　royal　highness。〃

〃And　I　thank　you；　general；　for　sending　it　in　so　discreet；　so　wise　a　manner。　We　may；　perhaps；　succeed　in　keeping　all　this　secret　from　my　brother；　so　that　he　cannot　act　against　us。　Hasten　away；　general；　and　give　the　jeweller；　or　whatever　else　he　may　be；　his　instructions。　Send　him　to　me　early　in　the　morning　for　his　reward。〃　＇Footnote：　The　princess　succeeded　in　winning　the　influence　of　the　fireman。　How　he　succeeded　with　the　empress；　can　be　seen　in　〃Thiebault's　Souvenirs　de　Vingt　Ans；〃　vol。　iv。＇




CHAPTER　VII。

THE　ROYAL　HOUSE…SPY。


The　next　morning；　a　carriage　drew　up　before　the　garden　of　Sans…　Souci；　and　a　gentleman；　in　a　glittering；　embroidered　court　uniform；　crept　out　slowly　and　with　much　difficulty。　Coughing　and　murmuring　peevish　words　to　hi