frederick the great and his family-第122章

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rd　Elliot　approached　the　door。

〃Do　you　know　meyou；　there？〃　said　he。

〃No；　we　do　not　know　you；〃　said　the　waiter；　with　some　hesitation。　〃We　do　not　know　you；　and　would　like　to　know　by　what　right〃

〃There　is　no　question　here　of　your　likes　or　dislikes；　but　of　the　orders　you　will　receive　from　me。　Do　you　know　the　picture　next　to　the　one　of　your　mistress？〃

〃We　have　been　told　that　it　is　our　master；　Lord　Elliot。〃

Lord　Elliot　advanced　nearer　the　picture；　and　stood　beneath　it。　〃Do　you　know　me　now？〃　said　he。

The　servants　examined　him　critically　for　a　time；　then　whispered　and　consulted　together。

〃Now　do　you　know　me？〃　repeated　Lord　Elliot。

〃We　think　we　have　the　honor　of　seeing　his　excellency；　Lord　Elliot；〃　said　the　waiter。

〃Yes；　Lord　Elliot；〃　repeated　the　lady's…maid；　the　house…girl；　and　the　cook；　bowing　respectfully。

He　ordered　them　to　enter　the　room。　Tremblingly　they　obeyed　him。

〃Are　these　all　the　servants；　or　are　there　any　more　of　you？〃　said　he。

〃No　one　but　the　nurse；　who　is　with　the　little　lady；　and　the　coach…　man　who　is　in　the　stable。〃

〃That　is　right。　Come　nearer；　all　of　you。〃

As　they　obeyed；　he　closed　and　locked　the　door；　dropping　the　key　in　his　pocket。　The　servants　looked　at　him　in　wonder　and　terror；　hardly　daring　to　breathe。　Though　they　had　never　seen　their　master；　they　knew　by　his　stern；　expressive　countenance　that　something　remarkable　was　about　to　transpire。　Like　all　other　servants；　they　were　well　acquainted　with　the　secrets；　the　behavior　of　their　employer。　They　were；　therefore；　convinced　that　their　mistress　was　the　cause　of　their　master's　strange　conduct。

〃Do　not　dare　to　move　from　this　spotdo　not　make　a　sound；〃　said　Lord　Elliot；　taking　a　light　and　advancing　to　a　second　door。　〃Remain　here。　If　I　need　you　I　will　call。〃　Throwing　a　last　look　at　the　servants；　Lord　Elliot　entered　the　adjoining　room；　drawing　the　bolt　quickly　behind　him。

〃All　is　right　now。〃　said　he；　softly。　〃None　of　them　can　fly　to　warn　Camilla　to　return。〃　Candle　in　hand；　he　passed　through　the　chamber；　looking　neither　to　right　nor　left。　He　wished　to　ignore　that　he　was　now　in　Camilla's　room；　which　was　associated　with　so　many　painfully　sweet　remembrances　to　him。　He　entered　another　roomhe　hurried　through　it。　As　he　passed　by　the　large　bedstead　surrounded　by　heavy　silk　curtains；　the　candle　in　his　hand　shook；　and　a　deep　groan　escaped　his　breast。　He　now　stood　at　the　door　of　the　next　chamber。　He　stopped　for　a　moment　to　gain　breath　and　courage。　With　a　hasty　movement　he　threw　open　the　door　and　entered。　His　heart　failed　him　when　he　beheld　the　peaceful　scene　before　him。　A　dark　shady　carpet　covered　the　floor；　simple　green　blinds　hung　at　the　windows。　There　were　no　handsome　paintings　on　the　wall；　no　glittering　chandelier；　no　bright　furniture；　and　still　the　apartment　contained　a　wondrous　tenement；　a　great　treasure。　For　in　the　middle　of　the　room　stood　a　cradle；　in　the　cradle　lay　his　child；　his　first…bornthe　child　of　his　love；　of　his　lost　happiness。　He　knew　by　the　great　joy　that　overcame　him；　by　the　loud　beating　of　his　heart；　by　the　tears　that　welled　to　his　eyes；　that　this　was　his　child。　He　prayed　God　to　bless　ithe　swore　to　love　it　faithfully　to　all　eternity。　He　at　last　found　the　strength　to　approach　the　little　sleeping　being　whose　presence　rilled　him　with　such　wild　joy。

The　nurse　sat　by　the　cradle　fast　asleep。　She　did　not　see　Lord　Elliot　kneel　beside　the　cradle　and　look　tenderly　at　the　sleeping　face　of　her　nurslingshe　did　not　see　him　kiss　the　child；　then　lay　its　little　hands　upon　his　own　bowed　head　as　if　he　needed　his　little　daughter's　blessing　to　strengthen　him。　But　all　at　once　she　was　shaken　by　a　strong　hand；　and　a　loud；　commanding　voice　ordered　her　to　wake　up；　to　open　her　eyes。　She　sprang　from　her　chair　in　terrorshe　had　had　a　bad　dream。　But　there　still　stood　the　strange　man；　saying　in　a　stern　voice；　〃Get　up　and　prepare　to　leave　here　at　once　with　me。〃

She　wished　to　cry　for　help；　but　as　she　opened　her　mouth；　he　threw　his　strong　arm　around　her。　〃If　you　make　a　sound；　I　take　the　child　and　leave　you　here　alone。　I　have　the　right　to　command　hereI　am　the　father　of　this　child。〃

〃Lord　Elliot！〃　cried　the　nurse；　in　amazement。

Lord　Elliot　smiled。　This　involuntary　recognition　of　his　right　did　him　good　and　softened　him。

〃Fear　nothing；〃　said　he；　kindly；　〃no　harm　shall　happen　to　you。　I　take　you　and　the　child。　If　you　love　and　are　kind　to　it；　you　shall　receive　from　me　a　pension　for　life；　from　to…day　your　wages　are　doubled。　For　this　I　demand　nothing；　but　that　you　should　collect　at　once　the　necessary　articles　of　clothing　of　this　child；　and　put　them　together。　If　you　are　ready　in　fifteen　minutes；　I　will　give　you　this　gold　piece。〃

He　looked　at　his　watch；　and　took　from　his　purse　a　gold　piece；　which　lent　wings　to　the　stout　feet　of　the　nurse。

〃Is　all　you　need　in　here？〃　said　he。

Receiving　an　answer　in　the　affirmative；　he　took　his　light　and　left　the　chamber。　Before　leaving；　however；　he　locked　another　door　leading　into　the　hall；　so　as　to　prevent　the　possible　escape　of　the　nurse。

As　he　entered　Camilla's　boudoir　his　countenance　became　dark　and　stern；　every　gentle　and　tender　feeling　that　his　child　had　aroused　now　fled　from　his　heart。　He　was　now　the　insulted　husband；　the　man　whose　honor　was　wounded　in　its　most　sensitive　pointwho　came　to　punish；　to　revenge；　to　seek　the　proofs　of　the　guilt　he　suspected。　He　placed　the　light　upon　the　table；　aud　opened　his　wife's　portfolio　to　seek　for　the　key　of　her　drawer；　which　was　generally　kept　there。　It　was　in　its　usual　place。　Lord　Elliot　shuddered　as　he　touched　it；　it　felt　like　burning　fire　in　his　hand。

〃It　is　the　key　to　my　grave；〃　murmred　he。

With　a　firm　hand　he　put　the　key　in　the　lock；　opened　the　drawer；　and　drew　out　the　letters　and　papers　it　contained。　There　were　his　own　letters；　the　letters　of　love　and　tenderness　he　had　sent　her　from　Copenhagen；　among　them　he　found　others　full　of　passionate　proofs　of　the　criminal　and　unholy　love　he　had　come　to　punish。　Camilla　had　not　had　the　delicacy　to　separate　her　husband's　from　her　lover's　letters；　she　had　carelessly　thrown　them　in　the　same　drawer。　As　Lord　Elliot　saw　this　he　laughed　aloud；　a　feeling　of　inexpressible　contempt　overpowered　his　soul　and　deadened　his　pain。　He　could　not　continue　to　love　one　who　had　not　only　been　faithless　to　him；　but　wanting　in　delicacy　to　the　partner　of　her　sin。

Lord　Elliot　read　but　one　of　the　beau　cousin's　letters；　then　threw　it　carelessly　aside。　He　did　not　care　to　read　more　of　the　silly　speeches；　the　guilty　protestations　of　constancy　of　her　insipid　lover。　He　searched　but　for　one　letter；　he　wished　to　find　the　original　of　the　last　one　Camilla　had　written　to　him；　for　he　knew　her　too　well　to　give　her　credit　for　the　composition　of　that　cold；　sneering；　determined　letter。　He　wished；　therefore；　to　find　the　author；　whose　every　word　had　pierced　his　soul　like　a　dagger；　driving　him　at　first　almost　to　madness。

A　wild；　triumphant　cry　now　escaped　from　him；　resounding　fearfully　in　the　solitary　chambers。　He　had　found　it！　The　letter　was　clutched　tightly　in　his　trembling　hands　as　he　read　the　first　lines。　It　was　in　the　same　hand　as　the　others；　it　was　the　writing　of　his　rival；　Von　Kindar；　her　beau　cousin。

Lord　Elliot　folded　the　paper　carefully　and　hid　it　in　his　bosom；　then　throwing　the　others　into　the　drawer；　he　locked　it；　placing　the　key　in　the　portfolio。

〃It　is　well；〃　said　he；　〃I　have　now　all　I　need。　This　letter　is　his　death…warrant。〃

He　took　the　light　and　left　the　room。　Fifteen　minutes　had　just　elapsed　when　he　entered　his　daughter's　chamber。　The　nurse　advanced　to　meet　him；　the　child　and　a　bundle　of　clothes　in　her　arms；　and　received　the　promised　gold　piece。

〃Now；　we　must　hasten；〃　said　he；　stepping　into　the　hall。

They　passed　silently　through　the　house；　down　the　steps；　and　into　the　court…yard。　Lord　Elliot　walked　hastily　on；　followed　by　the　wondering　nurse。　He　stopped　at　the　stable　door；　calling　loudly　upon　the　coachman　to　get　up　and　prepare　the　horses。　At　twelve　o'clock　the　coachman　was　to　go　for　his　mistress；　he　was　therefore　dressed；　and　had　only　laid　down　for　a　short　nap。

〃Put　the　horses　to　the　carriage；〃　repeated　Lord　Elliot。

The　coachman；　raising　his　lamp；　threw　a　full　glare　of　light　upon　the　stranger。

〃I　do　not　know　you；〃　said　he；　roughly；　〃I　receive　orders　from　no　one　but　my　mistress。〃

For　answer；　Lord　Elliot　drew　from　his　breast　a　pocket　pistol。

〃If　you　are　not　ready　in　five　minutes；　I　will　shoot　you　through　the　head；〃　said　Lord　Elliot；　quietly；　tapping　the　trigger。

〃For　God's　sake；　obey　him；　John；〃　cried　the　nurse；　〃it　is　his　excellency　Lord　Elliot！〃

In　five　minutes　the　carriage　was　ready；　owing　much　more　to　the　loaded　pistol　still　in　Lord　Elliot's　hand　than　to　the　conviction　that　this　strange；　angry…looking　man　was　his　master。

〃To　the　depot！〃　cried　Lord　Elliot；　placing　the　child　and　nurse　in　the　carriage；　then　jumping　in　after　them〃　to　the　depot　in　all　haste！〃

They　reached　the　building　in　a　few　minutes。　There　stood　the　horses　in　readiness；　and　beside　them　Lord　Elliot's　servant；　with　his　baggage。　He　sprang　from　the　carriage；　and；　giving　the　coachman　a　douceur；　ordered　him　to　loosen　the　horses　and　return　home　with　them。

〃But；　your　honor；〃　stammered　the　mystified　coachman；　〃how　am　I　to　call　for　my　lady　if　you　take　the　carriage？〃

〃My　lady　can　wait；〃　said　Lord　Elliot；　jeeringly。　〃If　she　reproaches　you；　tell　her　that　Lord　Elliot　wishes　to　be　remembered　to　her；　that　he　will　return　in　eight　days　with　her　carriage。〃

〃But　she　will　dismiss　me　from　her　service；　my　lord。〃

〃Wait　patiently　for　eight　days；　and　then　you　shall　enter　mine。　And　now；　away　with　you！〃

The　coachman　dared　not　answer；　and　soon　disappeared　with　his　horses。

The　fresh　horses　were　put　to　the　carriage；　the　servant　swung　himself　up　to　his　seat；　Lord　Elliot　stood　in　front　of　the　carriage　with　his　friend　Dr。　Blitz。

〃All　has　happened　as　I　desired；〃　said　he。　〃I　take　my　child　away　with　me；　and；　with　God's　will；　she　shall　never　know　but　that　death　deprived　her　of　her　mother。　Poor　child！　she　has　no　mother；　but　I　will　love　her　with　all　the　strength　of　a　father；　all　the　tenderness　of　a　mother；　and　I　have　a　noble　sister　who　will　guard　and　watch　over　her。　She　awaits　me　at　Kiel。　I　accompany　my　child　so　far；　but　as　soon　as　she　is　in　the　faithful　hands　of　my　sister；　as　soon　as　I　have　placed　them　upon　the　ship　sailing　for　Copenhagen；　I　return　here。〃

〃Why　should　you　return；　my　lord？〃　said　the　doctor；　in　terror。　〃Is　it　not　sufficient　that　you　have　deprived　the　mother　of　her　child？　that　you　have　branded　the　woman　with　shame　before　the　whole　world？　What　more　would　you　do；　my　lord？〃

With　a　strange　smile；　Lord　Elliot　laid　his　hand　upon　the　doctor's　shoulder。

〃Flows　there　milk　instead　of　blood　in　your　veins；　man？　or　have　you　forgotten　that　I　have　been　hit　by　a　poisoned　arrow？　I　must　be　revenged；　if　I　would　not　die　of　this　wound。〃

〃Let　your　wounds　bleed；　my　lordthe　longer　they　bleed；　the　sooner　they　will　heal。　But　why　destroy　the　arrow　that　wounded　you？　Will　you　recover　the　sooner　or　suffer　the　less？〃

〃Again　I　ask　you；　is　there　milk　instead　of　blood　in　your　veins？　My　honor　is　stainedI　must　cleanse　it　with　the　blood　of　my　enemy。〃

〃A　duel；　then；　my　lord？　You　will　suffer　chance　to　decide　your　most　holy　and　sacred　interestsyour　honor　and　life？　And　if　chance