frederick the great and his family-第121章
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onsciousness that every breath I draw finds this echo in a cavern of the earth。 You have released me from bondage； oh； my brother； and henceforth I will love you with all the strength of my being。 Yes； I will love you；〃 cried she； eagerly； 〃I will cling to you with unchanging constancy； you will ever find in me a faithful ally。 I can be useful。 I cannot act； but I can listen and watch。 I will be your spy。 I will tell you all I see。 I will read all hearts and make known to you their thoughts。 Even now I have something to disclose； do not trust your brothers。 Above all others put no faith in Prince Henry； he hates you with a perfect hatred for the sake of Augustus William； who； he says； died of your contempt and cruelty。 Trust him in nothing； he is ambitious； he envies you your throne； he hates me also； and calls me always 'La fee malfaisant。' He shall be justified in this！ I will be for him La fee malfaisant。 I will revenge myself for this hatred。 Without my help； however； he will soon be sufficiently punished。 His beautiful Wilhelmina will revenge me。〃
She broke out in wild and convulsive laughter； and repeated again and again in joyous tones； 〃Yes； yes； his beautiful Wilhelmina will punish him for calling me an old witch。〃
The king shuddered at her mad laughter； and was oppressed by her presence； her mirth was sadder than her tears。 He bade her a silent adieu； and hastened away as if flying from a pestilence。 The princess did not detain him； she had fallen upon a chair； and staring immovably before her； she cried out： 〃Trenck is free！ Trenck is free！ Life is his once more！ I must； I will live till I have seen him once more。 Then； when my poor eyes have looked upon him yet once again； then I will diedie！〃 ＇Footnote： This wish of the princess was fulfilled after the death of Frederick the Great。 Trenck received permission from his successor； Frederick William II。； to return to Berlin。 He was graciously received at court； his first visit； even before he was announced to the king； was paid to the Princess Amelia。 She received him in the same room in which； forty… seven years before； they had passed so many happy hours。 Upon the same spot； where； beautiful in youth and grace； they had once sworn eternal love and faith； they now looked upon each other and sought in vain； in these fallen and withered features； for any trace of those charms； which had once enraptured them。 Trenck remained many hours with her； they had much to relate。 He confessed freely all the events of his fantastic and adventurous life。 She listened with a gentle smile； and forgave him for all his wanderings and all his sins。 On taking leave he promised the princess to bring his oldest daughter and present her； and Amelia promised to be a mother to her。 Death； however； prevented the fulfilment of these promises。 It appeared as if this interview had exhausted her remaining strength。 In 1786； a few days after the meeting with Trenck； Amelia died。 Trenck lived but a few years； he went to France and died under the guillotine in 1793。 As he sat with his companions upon the car on their way to execution； he said to the gaping crowd： 〃Eh bien； eh bien； de quoi vous eurerveillez…vous？ C'eci n'est qu'une comedie a la Robespierre。〃 These were Trenck's last words； a few moments afterward his head fell under the guillotine。＇
Suddenly she sprang from her seat。 〃I must know Trenck's future； I must draw his horoscope。 I must question the cards as to his destiny； and know whether happiness or misery lies before him。 Yes； I will summon my fortune…teller。 There is a destiny which shapes our ends。〃
CHAPTER X。
THE STOLEN CHILD。
It was a dark； stormy December night。 The long…deserted streets of Berlin were covered with deep snow。 By the glare of a small oil…lamp affixed to a post； the tall form of a man； wrapped in a large travelling…cloak； could be seen leaning against a wall； he was gazing fixedly at the houses opposite him。 The snow beat upon his face； his limbs were stiff from the cold winter wind； his tooth chattered； but he did not seem to feel it His whole soul。 his whole being was filled with one thought； one desire。 What mattered it to him if he suffered； if he died？ As a dark shadow appeared； in the opposite door； life and energy once more came back to the stoic。 He crossed the street hastily。
〃Well； doctor；〃 said he； eagerly； 〃what have you discovered？〃
〃It is as your servant informed you； my lord。 Your wife； Lady Elliot； is not at home。 She is at a ball at Count Verther's； and will not return till after midnight。〃
〃But my child？ my daughter？〃 said Lord Elliot； in a trembling voice。
〃She； of course； is at home； my lord。 She is in the chamber adjoining your former sleeping apartment。 No one but the nurse is with her。〃
〃It is wellI thank you； doctor。 All I now require of you is to send my valet； whom I sent to your house after me； with my baggage。 Farewell！〃
He was rushing away； but the doctor detained him。
〃My lord；〃 said he； in a low and imploring voice； 〃consider the matter once more before you act。 Remember that you will thus inform all Berlin of your unfortunate wedded life； and become subject to the jeers and laughter of the so…called nobility； lowering the tragedy of your house to a proverb。〃
〃Be it so；〃 said Lord Elliot； proudly； 〃I have nothing to fear。 The whole world knows that my honor is stained； before the whole world will I cleanse it。〃
〃But in doing so； my lord； you disgrace your wife。〃
〃Do you not think she justly deserves it？〃 said Lord Elliot； harshly。
〃But you should have it on her wish〃
〃Doctor； when one has suffered as I have； every feeling is extinguished from the heart but hatred。 As I have not died of grief； I shall live to revenge my sufferings^ My determination is unalterable。 I must and will tear my child from the bad influence of her mother； then I will punish the guilty。〃
〃Consider once more； my lordwait this one night。 You have just arrived from a hasty； disagreeable journey； you are excited； your blood is in a fever heat； and now without allowing yourself a moment's rest； you wish to commence your sad work。〃
〃I must have my child。 You know that as it is a girl the mother can dispute this right with me； for by the laws of this land in case of divorce； the daughters are left to their mother。〃
〃You should endeavor to obtain her by kindness。〃
〃And suppose that Camilla； not out of love to the child； but to wound and torture me； should refuse me my daughter； what then？ Ah！ you are silent； doctor； you see I cannot act otherwise。〃
〃I fear； my lord； you will have some trouble in getting the child。 Lady Elliot has lately changed all the servants engaged by you； not one of them was allowed to remain。 It is most likely that none of the present servants know you； and therefore you will not be obeyed。〃
〃My plans are all arranged； they shall not prevent me from fulfilling them。〃
〃But if they refuse to let you enter？〃
〃Ah； but I shall not ask them； for I have the keys necessary to enter my own house。 When I left home； Camilla threw them laughing and jesting into my trunkI now have them with me。 All your objections are confuted。 Again； farewell。 If you wish to give me another token of your friendship； meet me at the depot in an hour。 I will be there with my child。〃
He pressed the doctor's hand tightly； and then hurried into the house。 Noiselessly he mounted the steps。 He now stood in front of the large glass door leading to his dwelling； he leaned for a moment against the door gasping for breathfor a moment a shuddering doubt overcame him； he seemed to see the lovely countenance of Camilla； bedewed with tears； imploring his mercy； his pity。 〃No； no！ no pity； no mercy；〃 he murmured； 〃onward； onward！〃
He drew forth a key； opened the door and closed it noiselessly behind him。 A bright lamp burned in the hall； sounds of laughing and merry…making could be heard from the servants' hall； the cries of a child； and the soft lullaby of a nurse from above。 No one saw or heard the dark form of their returned master pass slowly through the hall。 No one saw him enter his former sleeping apartments。 He was so conversant with the room that he found his way in the dark without difficulty to his secretary。 Taking from it a candle and some matches； he soon had a bright light。 He then glanced sternly around the room。 All was as usual； not a chair had been moved since he left。 Beneath the secretary were the scraps of letters and papers he had torn up the day of his journey。 Even the book he had been reading that morning lay upon the table in front of the sofa； beside it stood the same silver candlesticks； with the same half…burnt candles。 It had all been untouched； only he； the master of the apartment； had been touched by the burning hand of misfortunehe alone was changed； transformed。 He smiled bitterly as his eye glanced at every object that formerly contributed to his happiness。 Then taking up the light； he approached the table upon which stood the two silver candlesticks； lighting one after the other； the large； deserted…looking chamber became illuminated； bringing the pictures on the walls； the heavy satin curtains； the handsome furniture； the tables covered with costly knick…knacks； the large Japan vases； and a huge clock upon the mantel…piece； into view。 All bore a gay and festive appearance； much at variance with the unfortunate man's feelings。
His glance had wandered everywhere。 Not once； however； had his eye strayed to two large pictures hanging on the left side of the room。 The one was of himselfgay； smiling features； a bright glance such as was never now seen upon his countenance。 The other was Camilla Camilla in her bridal robes； as beautiful and lovely as a dream； with her glorious； child…like smile in which he had so long believedfor which； seeing in it the reflection of her pure； innocent soul； she was so unspeakably dear to him。 To these two pictures he had completely turned his back； and was walking sadly up and down the room。 He now raised his head proudly； and his countenance； which but a moment before had been sad and dejected； was now daring and energetic。
〃It is time；〃 murmured he。
With a firm hand he grasped a bell lying upon the table。 Its loud； resounding ring disturbed the deep stillness that reigned throughout the apartments； causing Lord Elliot's heart to tremble with woe。 But there was no noiseall remained quiet。 Lord Elliot waited awhile； then opening the door passed into the hall。 Returning； he again rang the bell long and loudly。 〃They cannot fail to hear me now；〃 said he。
Several doors were now opened by some of the servants； but their terror was such that they retreated in haste； slamming the doors behind them。
Lord Elliot rang again。 A servant now hastened forward； another soon followed； a third door was opened from which sprang a lively； trim… looking lady's maid。 She was followed by the house girl。 Even the cook rushed up the steps。 All hurried forward to a room which was generally kept locked； but which now stood wide open。 All gazed at the man standing there scanning them with an earnest； commanding glance。 They stood thus lost in wonder for a moment； then Lord Elliot approached the door。
〃Do you know meyou； there？〃 said he。
〃No； we do not know you；〃
