frederick the great and his family-第129章

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　presented　it　to　me　on　my　marriage　with　you；　and　I　think　I　have　paid　dearly　enough　for　it　to　be　allowed　to　spend　my　time　there　alone。　You　will　not　follow　me　there；　but　will　remain　in　Berlin；　or　travel；　as　it　suits　you。　Do　you　accept　my　conditions；　madame？〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　the　princess；　proudly。　〃I　accept　them。　We　will　live　like　two　galley…slaves；　bound　together　in　chains；　without　one　thought　or　feeling　in　unison。　You　have　devised　a　severe　punishment　for　me；　my　prince。　My　only　fear　is　that　I　am　not　the　only　victim　that　you　also　suffer？〃

〃I　told　you　before；　that　I　wished　to　punish　no　one。　All　I　seek　is　a　little　resta　little　peace；　and　your　presence　in　this　palace　cannot　endanger　that；　for　you；　madame；　have　not　only　annihilated　my　love　for　you；　but　also　the　remembrance　of　it。　And　now；　as　you　have　accepted　my　conditions　for　our　future　life；　I　have　nothing　more　to　say　than　farewell；　until　death！　Farewell；　madame；　may　your　life　be　a　happy　one！〃

〃Farewell；　prince！〃　murmured　Wilhelmina；　in　a　voice　choked　with　tears。　〃Farewell！　and　may　God　teach　your　heart　to　pity　and　forgive！〃

〃You　will　now　have　the　kindness；　madame；　to　arrange　your　toilet；　then　to　follow　me　with　your　court　to　the　great　reception…room。　We　give　to…day　a　splendid　dinner。　At　this　fete　we　will　take　an　eternal　adieu　of　the　past。　It　will　be　the　last　time　we　dine　together。　Farewell；　madame；　I　await　you。〃

He　bowed　profoundly；　then　moved　to　the　door。　The　princess　gazed　after　him　breathlessly；　and　the　tears　that　had　long　stood　in　her　eyes　now　rolled　slowly　down　her　cheeks。

When　the　prince　had　reached　the　threshold；　she　started　forward；　crying　in　a　piteous　voice：

〃Henry！　oh；　Henry！〃

The　prince　did　not　turn；　but　opened　the　door　and　passed　out　of　the　room。

Fifteen　minutes　later；　a　gay　crowd　was　assembled　in　the　reception…　room。　The　prince　received　his　guests　in　his　usual　gay；　cordial　manner。　But　the　princess　was　different。　She　was　more　quiet　and　formal　than　usual。　Her　eyes　did　not　sparkle；　her　cheeks　were　pale　in　spite　of　her　rouge：　her　voice　was　low　and　tremulous；　and　the　smile　she　called　to　her　lip　was　hard　and　forced。　A　still　more　remarkable　change　had　taken　place　in　Count　Kalkreuth's　appearance。　He　who　generally　sparkled　with　gayety　and　wit；　whose　merry　jests　had　been　the　delight　of　the　courthe　who　had　been　the　very　shadow　of　the　princess；　her　most　devoted　cavalierstood　now　pale　and　speechless　at　a　window；　gazing　sadly　at　the　prince；　who　was　laughing　and　talking　with　his　guests；　and　who　had　passed　him　repeatedly　without　turning　his　head。　The　courtiers；　however；　saw　only　the　outward　signs　of　that　agony　that　had　almost　distracted　the　count　in　the　last　four　days。

For　four　days；　since　their　last　meeting　in　the　garden　of　Rheinsberg；　the　prince　had　not　spoken　to　him。　It　was　in　vain　he　had　written　and　implored　an　audience。　The　prince　returned　his　letters　unopened。　In　vain　that　at　almost　every　hour　during　these　four　wretched　days　he　had　had　himself　announced　to　the　prince。　Prince　Henry　would　not　receive　him。　And　still　he　felt　the　inevitable　necessity　of　having　an　explanation　with　the　prince。　His　heart　craved　it　as　the　dying　man　craves　the　last　consolations　of　religion。　This　friendship　for　the　prince；　notwithstanding　he　had　betrayed　and　wounded　it；　was；　and　had　always　been　to　him　a　sort　of　religion；　he　had　sinned　against　it　in　the　folly　of　his　passion；　but　he　had　now　come　to　his　senses；　and　he　repented　his　guilt　bitterly。　Not　a　thought　of　the　princess　lingered　in　his　heart；　it　was　the　prince　he　yearned　after；　he　must　speak　to　him；　he　must　be　forgiven　by　him。　His　love　for　him　was　greater　than　ever。　Now　that　he　had　turned　from　him；　ho　knew　how　much　he　had　lost。　He　had　not　yet　given　up　the　hope　of　an　interview；　for　this；　alone　had　he　come　to　the　dinner。　But　whenever　he　endeavored　to　approach　the　prince；　he　had　turned　from　him　and　entered　into　earnest　conversation　with　some　bystanders。

Now　the　prince　stood　alone　at　a　window；　now　or　never　must　the　count　succeed　in　speaking　to　him。　Passing　through　the　room　hastily；　he　stood　before　Prince　Henry。

〃My　prince；〃　murmured　the　count；　softly；　〃have　pity　on　me。　I　entreat　you　to　listen　to　me　for　fifteen　minutes！〃

The　prince　fixed　his　piercing　eyes　upon　the　count's　pale；　agitated　countenance；　but　did　not　speak。　Then　passing　proudly　before　him；　he　advanced　to　meet　Prince　Frederick　William；　who　had　just　arrived。

The　doors　of　the　dining…saloon　were　now　thrown　open；　and　the　guests　approached　the　richly…covered　table；　at　one　end　of　which　sat　the　prince　and　his　wife。　Not　far　from　them　was　Count　Kalkreuth。　For　more　than　two　hours　he　had　borne　the　agony　of　being　near　the　prince　without　being　addressed　by　him。　For　two　hours　he　had　stood　the　inquiring；　malicious　smiles　and　glances　of　the　courtiers；　who　were　looking　on　with　delight　at　his　humiliation。

His　martyrdom　was　almost　over。　Dinner　was　finished；　and　all　awaited　a　sign　from　the　princely　couple　to　rise　from　the　table。　Prince　Henry　arose；　glass　in　hand；　and　said；　in　a　loud　voice：

〃And　now；　my　guests；　I　have　pleasant　news　for　you；　as　you　are　all　friends　of　Count　Kalkreuth；　what　is　good　news　to　him　will　be　to　you　also。　His　majesty　has　appointed　him　lieutenant…general　of　Prince　Frederick　William's　army　corps　in　Prussia。　The　king；　knowing　my　true　friendship　for　him；　granted　me　the　privilege　of　announcing　his　promotion。　I　am　sorry　to　say　that　through　it　we　lose　him；　for　his　majesty　desires　him；　as　soon　as　we　leave　the　table。　to　hasten　to　Sans…Souci　to　receive　his　commission。　And　now；　gentlemen；　fill　your　glasses；　we　will　drink　to　the　lieutenant…general's　welfare。〃

All　arose　to　drink　the　toast　except　Count　Kalkreuth。　His　head　was　bent　almost　upon　his　breast；　as　if　he　were　ashamed　to　show　his　pale；　agitated　countenance。　He　would　have　given　all　he　possessed　to　have　flown　from　the　hall。　Princess　Wilhelmina　sat　opposite；　she　had　not　yet　looked　at　him；　but　she　now　threw　him　a　glance　full　of　inexpressible　pity；　and　raised　her　glass　hastily　to　her　lips。　It　was　not　wine；　but　her　own　tears　that　she　drank。

The　prince　now　led　the　princess　to　the　reception…room。　He　stood　beside　her　when　Kalkreuth　approached。　The　guests　were　grouped　about　the　room；　every　eye　was　fixed　eagerly　upon　this　trio。

Count　Kalkreuth　was　still　pale　and　unmanned；　with　tottering；　trembling　steps　he　advanced　toward　the　princely　couple。

The　prince　turned　laughingly　to　his　guests；　saying：　〃See　the　strange　effect　of　joy。　It　has　transformed　our　gay　and　witty　count。　He　is　stern　and　solemn　as　if；　instead　of　an　honor；　he　had　received　a　degradation。〃

No　voice　answered　the　prince。　Finally；　in　midst　of　deep　silence；　the　count　said：

〃I　come　to　take　leave　of　your　royal　highness　before　going　to　that　exile　which　his　majesty　has　kindly　chosen　for　me。　For；　although　it　is　promotion；　you　must　permit　me　to　reiterate　that　it　is　also　banishment；　for　at　Konigsberg　I　shall　not　see　my　prince。　But　I　shall　carry　your　picture　in　my　heartthere　it　shall　forever　dwell。〃

〃We　will　not　make　our　parting　more　hard　by　sweet　words；〃　said　Prince　Henry；　emphasizing　the　last　words。　〃Bid　adieu　to　my　wife；　kiss　her　hand；　and　then　God　be　with　you！〃

The　princess；　muttering　a　few　incomprehensible　words；　gave　him　her　hand；　white　and　colorless　as　that　of　a　corpse。　Count　Kalkreuth　touched　his　lips　to　it；　and　they　were　so　cold　that　the　princess　shuddered　as　if　she　had　been　embraced　by　death　itself。

It　was　their　last　meeting！a　cold；　formal　farewell　for　life。　The　count　now　turned　to　the　prince；　who　gave　him　his　hand　smilingly。

〃Farewell；　count；〃　said　he。　Stooping　to　embrace　him；　he　whispered　in　his　ear：　〃You　once　saved　my　life；　we　are　now　quits；　for　you　have　murdered　my　heart。　Farewell！〃

He　turned　from　him。　The　count；　no　longer　able　to　suppress　his　tears；　covered　his　face　with　his　hands　and　tottered　from　the　room。

A　few　hours　later　he　stood　in　the　king's　ante…chamber　at　Sans…Souci。　He　had　just　been　announced。　He　waited　longno　one　came　to　conduct　him　to　the　king；　every　door　remained　closed；　every　thing　around　him　was　dull　and　deserted。　It　was　dark；　the　sharp　April　wind　was　beating　against　the　window　and　howling　through　the　chimney。　The　count's　conscience　was　busy　at　work　in　this　gloomy　chamber。　He　could　endure　it　no　longer；　and　was　preparing　to　leave；　when　the　door　was　opened；　and　an　adjutant　entered　to　conduct　him　to　the　king's　apartments。

The　king　was　in　his　sitting…room。　As　Count　Kalkreuth　entered；　he　laid　aside　the　book　he　had　been　reading；　and　rose。　In　a　stern；　imperious　manner　he　advanced　to　meet　him。

〃As　my　brother　desired　it；　I　have　appointed　you　lieutenant…general　of　the　third　army　corps；〃　said　he；　harshly。　〃You　leave　at　once　for　Konigsbergyou　know　your　duties。　Go；　and　endeavor　to　fulfil　them。〃

〃Sire！〃　said　the　count；　softly。

〃Go！　not　another　word！〃

Count　Kalkreuth；　almost　unable　to　make　the　military　salute；　left　the　room；　stifling　his　anger。

The　king　looked　after　him　thoughtfully。　〃Poor　Henry！〃　murmured　he；　softly；　〃had　you　also　to　receive　the　Judas…kiss　from　a　friend？　Poor　brother！　you　were　so　happywhy　did　cruel　fate　disenchant　you？　There　is　much　in　being　happy　in　your　own　estimationthere　is　upon　the　earth　no　other　sort　of　happiness；　and　whether　true　or　false；　the　peace　it　brings　is　alike。　I；　I　am　so　poor　that　I　no　longer　believe　in　the　one　or　the　other。　And　still　men　envy　me！　Envy　a　poor；　disenchanted；　solitary　manenvy　him　because　he　wears　a　crown！　What　sort　of　an　existence　have　I？　My　life　is　full　of　work；　full　of　sorrow；　nothing　else！　I　work　for　my　subjects；　they　do　not　thank　me；　and　will　greet　and　welcome　my　successor　some　day；　be　he　ever　so　mean　and　contemptible；　as　they　once　greeted　and　welcomed　me。　The　love　of　a　people　for　their　king　is　a　love　full　of　egotism　and　self…interest。　Who　has　ever　loved　me　otherwise　than　selfishly？　I　met　my　friends　with　an　open　heartwhen　with　them　I　forgot　that　I　was　a　king；　but　they　never　forgot　it；　not　one；　not　a　single　one　loved　in　me　the　man。　The　foolish　populace　call　me　a　hero；　and　speak　of　the　laurels　that　crown　my　brow；　but　of　the　thorns　they　have　woven　in　it　they　know　nothing。　Would　I　need　have　no　more　to　do　with　men；　for　they　have　poor；　slavish　souls！　They　deceive　themselvesthey　all　deceive　me。〃

As　the　king　ceased　speaking；　he　felt　his　foot　touched。　Somewhat　startled；　he　looked　down。　His　greyhound　Diana　was　lying　at　his　feet；　gazing　at　him　with　her　large；　intelligent　eyes。　A　soft　smile　crossed　Frederick's　countenance。　Stooping　to　caress　her；　he　said：

〃You　come　to　remind　me　that　there　is　still　love　and　truth　upon　the　earth；　but　one　must　not　be　silly　enough　to　look　for　it　among　men。　Come　here；　Diana；　my　little　companion；　I　was　wrong　to　call　myself　solitary；　for　are　you　not　here？　and　then　have　I　not　my　flute？　Is　she　not　a　loving；　trustworthy　friend；　to　whom　every　thing　can　be　confided？　You　two　shall　be　my　sole　companions　this　evening。〃

Raising　his　flute；　he　commenced　to　play　softly；　walking　up　and　down　his　room。　Diana　followed　him　slowly；　listening　in　seeming　devotion　to　the　long；　wailing　tones　of　her　rival。

Sad　and　wonderful　to　hear　was　the　music　of　this　solitary　king；　like　broken；　dying　sighs　and　sobs　were　its　tones；　and　the　howling　wind；　rushing　in　through　the　window；　added　its　mournful　wail　to　Federick　the　Great's　song　of　woe。







End