frederick the great and his family-第125章

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ris；　De　Sartines？　That　man　knows　every　thing　that　happens　in　Paris。　He　knows　the　history　of　every　house；　every　family；　and　every　individual。　He　occasionally　warns　the　men　when　their　wives　are　on　the　point　of　flying　from　them。　He　whispers　to　the　wives　the　names　of　those　who　turn　their　husbands　from　them。　He　shows　the　parents　the　faro…bank　at　which　their　sons　are　losing　their　property；　and　sometimes　extends　a　hand　to　save　them　from　destruction。　That　is　a　good　police；　and　it　must　be　acknowledged　that　yours　does　not　resemble　it。〃

〃If　your　majesty　desires　it；　I　can　establish　such　a　police　in　Berlin　as　De　Sartines　has　in　Paris。　But　your　majesty　must　do　two　things：　First；　you　must　give　me　a　million　of　thalers　annually。〃

〃Ah！　a　million！　Your　secret　police　is　rather　expensive。　Continue。　What　do　you　desire　besides　the　million？〃

〃Secondly；　the　permission　to　destroy　the　peace　of　families；　the　happiness　of　your　subjectsto　make　the　son　a　spy　upon　his　father　the　mother　an　informer　against　her　daughterthe　students　and　servants　the　betrayers　of　their　teachers　and　employers。　If　your　majesty　will　permit　me　to　undermine　the　confidence　of　man　to　his　fellow…manof　the　brother　to　his　sisterof　the　parents　to　their　childrenof　the　husbands　to　their　wives　by　buying　their　secrets　from　themif　I　may　reward　such　treachery；　then；　your　majesty；　we　can　have　such　a　police　as　De　Sartines　has　in　Paris。　But　I　do　not　think　that　it　will　promote　propriety　or　prevent　crime。〃

The　king　had　listened　to　him　with　increasing　interest；　his　brow　growing　clearer　and　clearer　as　the　bold　speaker　continued。　When　he　finished；　the　king　ceased　his　walk；　and　stood　motionless　before　him；　looking　fully　into　his　excited　countenance。

〃It　is；　then；　your　positive　conviction　that　a　secret　police　brings　with　it　those　evils　you　have　depicted？〃

〃Yes；　your　majesty；　it　is　my　positive　conviction。〃

〃He　may　be　right；〃　said　the　king；　thoughtfully。　〃Nothing　demoralizes　men　so　much　as　spies　and　denunciations；　and　a　good　government　should　punish　and　not　reward　the　miserable　spies　who　betray　their　fellow…　creatures　for　gold　with　the　wicked　intention　of　bringing　them　into　misfortune。　A　good　government　should　not　follow　the　Jesuits'　rule　'That　the　end　consecrates　the　means。'〃

〃Will　your　majesty；　then；　graciously　allow　me　to　dispense　with　a　secret　police？〃

〃Well；　yes。　We　will　remain　as　we　are；　and　De　Sartines　may　keep　his　secret　police。　It　would　not　suit　us；　and　Berlin　shall　not　be　still　further　demoralized　by　spies　and　betrayers。　Therefore；　no　more　of　the　secret　police。　When　crime　shows　itself　by　day　we　will　punish　it。　We　will　leave　it　to　Providence　to　bring　it　to　light。　Continue　to　report　to　me；　therefore；　who　has　died　and　who　has　been　born；　who　have　arrived　and　who　have　departed；　who　has　stolen　and　who　has　done　a　good　business。　I　am　well　pleased　with　youyou　have　spoken　freely　and　bravely；　and　said　openly　what　you　thought。　That　pleases　me；　I　am　pleased　when　my　agents　have　the　courage　to　speak　the　truth；　and　dare　occasionally　to　oppose　me。　I　hope　you　will　retain　this　virtue。〃

He　bowed　pleasantly　to　the　prefect；　and　offered　him　his　hand。　He　then　dismissed　him；　and　ordered　the　ministers　to　enter　with　their　reports　and　proposals。　After　these　came　the　council；　and　only　after　the　king　had　worked　with　them　uninterruptedly　for　three　hours；　did　he　think　of　taking　some　repose　from　all　this　work；　which　had　occupied　him　from　six　o'clock　in　the　morning　until　nearly　twelve。　He　was　on　the　point　of　entering　his　library　as　loud　voices　in　the　anteroom　arrested　his　attention。

〃But　I　tell　you　that　the　king　gives　no　audiences　to…day；〃　he　heard　one　of　the　servants　say。

〃The　king　has　said　that　every　man　who　wishes　to　speak　to　him　shall　be　admitted！〃　exclaimed　another　voice。　〃I　must　speak　to　the　king；　and　he　must　hear　me。〃

〃If　you　must　speak　to　him；　you　must　arrange　it　by　writing。　The　king　grants　an　audience　to　all　who　demand　it；　but　he　fixes　the　hour　himself。〃

〃Misery　and　despair　cannot　await　a　fixed　hour！〃　cried　the　other。　〃If　the　king　will　not　listen　to　unhappiness　when　it　calls　to　him　for　redress；　but　waits　until　it　pleases　him　to　hear；　he　is　not　a　good　king。〃

〃The　man　is　right；〃　said　the　king；　〃I　will　listen　to　him　immediately。〃

He　hastily　advanced　to　the　door　and　opened　it。　Without　stood　an　old　man；　poorly　dressed；　with　a　pale；　thin　face；　from　whose　features　despair　and　sorrow　spoke　plainly　enough　to　be　understood　by　all。　When　his　great；　sunken　eyes　fell　upon　the　king；　he　cried；　joyfully；　〃God　be　thanked；　there　is　the　king！〃　The　king　motioned　to　him　to　approach；　and　the　old　man　sprang　forward　with　a　cry　of　delight。

〃Come　into　the　room；〃　said　the　king；　〃and　now　tell　me　what　you　wish　from　me？〃

〃Justice；　your　majesty；　nothing　but　justice。　I　have　been　through　the　war；　and　I　am　without　bread。　I　have　nothing　to　live　upon；　and　I　have　twice　petitioned　your　majesty　for　a　situation　which　is　now　vacant。〃

〃And　I　refused　it　to　you；　because　I　had　promised　it　to　another。〃

〃They　told　me　that　your　majesty　would　refuse　me　this　situation。〃　cried　the　man；　despairingly。　〃But　I　cannot　believe　it；　for　your　majesty　owes　it　to　me；　and　you　are　usually　a　just　king。　Hasten；　your　majesty；　to　perform　your　duty；　and　justify　yourself　from　a　suspicion　which　is　unworthy　of　your　kingly　fame。〃

The　king　measured　him　with　a　flashing　glance；　which　the　pale；　despairing　suppliant　bore　with　bold　composure。

〃By　what　authority；〃　asked　the　king；　in　a　thundering　voice；　as　he　approached　the　man；　with　his　arm　raised　threateningly〃by　what　authority　do　you　dare　speak　to　me　in　such　a　tone？　and　on　what　do　you　ground　your　shameless　demands？〃

〃On　this；　your　majesty；　that　I　must　starve　if　you　refuse　my　request。　That　is　the　most　sacred　of　all　claims；　and　to　whom　on　earth　dare　I　turn　with　it　if　not　to　my　king？〃

There　lay　in　these　words　a　sorrow　so　heart…breaking；　a　plaint　so　despairing　in　the　voice；　that　the　king　was　involuntarily　much　moved。　He　let　fall　his　uplifted　arm；　and　the　expression　of　his　countenance　became　gentle　and　tender。

〃I　see　that　you　are　very　unhappy　and　despairing；〃　he　said；　kindly；　〃you　were　right　to　come　to　me。　You　shall　have　the　place　for　which　you　asked。　I　will　arrange　it。　Come　here　to…morrow　to　the　Councillor　Muller。　I　will　give　you　some　money；　that　you　may　not　starve　until　then。〃

He　silenced　the　delighted　man's　expressions　of　gratitude；　and　ringing　his　bell　he　summoned　Deesen；　who　kept　his　purse；　in　order　to　give　the　man　a　gold　piece。　But　Deesen　did　not　appear；　and　the　second　chamberlain　announced　in　an　embarrassed　manner　that　lie　was　not　in　the　palace。　The　king　commanded　him　to　give　the　man　the　promised　gold　piece　and　then　to　return　to　him。

〃Where　is　Deesen？〃　asked　the　king；　as　the　chamberlain　returned。

〃Sire；　I　do　not　know；〃　he　stammered；　his　eyes　sinking　beneath　the　piercing　glance　of　the　king。

〃You　do　know！〃　said　the　king；　gravely。　〃Deesen　has　positive　orders　from　me　to　remain　in　the　anteroom；　because　I　might　need　him。　If　he　dares　to　disobey　my　orders；　he　must　have　a　powerful　reason；　and　you　know　it。　Out　with　it！　I　will　know　it。〃

〃If　your　majesty　commands；　I　must　speak；〃　said　the　chamberlain；　sighing。　〃Your　majesty　will　not　permit　us　to　be　married；　but　we　were　made　with　hearts；　and　we　sometimes　fall　in　love。〃

〃Deesen　is　in　love；　then？〃　said　the　king。

〃Yes；　your　majesty；　he　loves　a　beautiful　girl　in　Potsdam；　whose　name　is　Maria　Siegert。　And　although　he　cannot　marry　her；　she　has　consented　to　be　his　beloved。　And　as　to…day　was　the　great　report　day；　Deesen　thought　that　your　majesty　would　not　need　him；　and　that　he　had　time　to　go　to　Potsdam　to　visit　his　sweetheart。　He　seems　to　have　been　delayed。　That　is　the　reason；　your　majesty；　that　Deesen　is　not　in　the　anteroom。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　the　king；　〃as　soon　as　Deesen　returns　he　must　come　to　my　library。　I　forbid　you；　however；　to　repeat　one　word　of　this　conversation。〃

〃Ah；　your　majesty；　I　am　well　pleased　that　I　need　not　do　it；　for　Deesen　is　very　passionate；　and　if　he　learns　that　I　have　betrayed　his　secret　he　is　capable　of　giving　me　a　box　on　the　ear。〃

〃Which　would；　perhaps；　be　very　wholesome　for　you；〃　said　the　king；　as　he　turned　toward　his　library。

A　quarter　of　an　hour　later；　Deesen　entered　the　library　with　a　heated；　anxious　face。

The　king；　who　was　reading　his　beloved　Lucretius　while　he　paced　the　floor；　turned　his　great；　piercing　eyes　with　a　questioning　expression　on　the　anxious　face　of　his　attendant。　〃I　called　for　you；　and　you　did　not　come；〃　said　the　king。

〃I　beg　your　majesty　to　pardon　me；〃　stammered　Deesen。

〃Where　were　you？〃

〃I　was　in　my　room　writing　a　letter；　sire。〃

〃Ah；　a　letter。　You　were　no　doubt　writing　to　that　beautiful　barmaid　at　the　hotel　of　the　Black　Raven　at　Amsterdam；　who　declined　the　attentions　of　the　servant　of　the　brothers　Zoller。〃

This　reference　to　the　journey　to　Amsterdam　showed　Deesen　that　the　king　was　not　very　angry。　He　dared；　therefore；　to　raise　his　eyes　to　those　of　the　king；　and　to　look　pleadingly　at　him。

〃Sit　down。〃　said　the　king；　pointing　to　the　writing…table。　〃I　called　you　because　I　wished　to　dictate　a　letter　for　you　to　write。　Sit　down　and　take　a　pen。〃

Deesen　seated　himself　at　the　table；　and　the　king　began　walking　up　and　down　as　before；　his　hands　and　book　behind　him。

〃Are　you　ready？〃　asked　the　king。

〃I　am　ready；　sire；〃　returned　Deesen；　dipping　his　pen　into　the　ink。　〃Write　then；〃　commanded　the　king；　as　he　placed　himself　immediately　in　front　of　Deesen〃write；　then；　first　the　heading：　'My　beloved'〃

Deesen　started；　and　glanced　inquiringly　at　the　king。　Frederick　looked　earnestly　at　him；　and　repeated；　〃'My　beloved'〃

Deesen　uttered　a　sigh；　and　wrote。

〃Have　you　written　that？〃　asked　the　king。

〃Yes；　sire；　I　have　it'My　beloved。'〃

〃Well；　then；　proceed。　'My　beloved；　that　old　bear；　the　king'　Write；〃　said　the　king；　interrupting　himself　as　he　saw　that　Deesen　grew　pale　and　trembled；　and　could　scarcely　hold　the　pen〃write　without　hesitation；　or　expect　a　severe　punishment。〃

〃Will　your　majesty　have　the　kindness　to　dictate？　I　am　ready　to　write　every　thing；〃　said　Deesen；　as　he　wiped　his　brow。

〃Now　then；　quickly；〃　ordered　the　king；　and　he　dictated？'That　old　bear；　the　king；　counts　every　hour　against　me　that　I　spend　so　charmingly　with　you。　That　my　absence　may　be　shorter　in　the　future；　and　less　observed　by　the　old　scold；　I　wish　you　to　rent　a　room　near　here　in　the　suburbs　of　Brandenburg；　where　we　can　meet　more　conveniently　than　in　the　city。　I　remain　yours　until　death。〃

〃'DEESEN。'〃

〃Have　you　finished？〃　asked　the　king。

〃Yes；　sire；　I　have　finished；〃　groaned　Deesen。

〃Then　fold　the　letter　and　seal　it；　and　write　the　address　'To　the　unmarried　Maria　Siegert；　Yunker　Street；　Potsdam。'〃

〃Mercy；　sire；　mercy！〃　cried　Deseen；　springing　up　and　throwing　himself　at　the　feet　of　the　king。　〃I　see　that　your　majesty　knows　all…　…that　I　have　been　betrayed。〃

〃You　have　betrayed　yourself；　for　to…day　is　the　tenth　time　that　I　have　called　for　you　when　you　were　absent。　Now　send　your　letter　off；　and　see　that　your　Siegert　gets　a　room　here。　If；　however；　you　are　again　absent　when　I　call；　I　will　send　your　beautiful　Maria　to　Spandau；　and　dismiss　you。　Go；　now；　and　dispatch　your　letter。〃

Deesen　hurried　off；　and　the　king　looked　smilingly　after　him　for　a　moment；　and　was　on　the　point　of　returning　to　his　rea