frederick the great and his family-第2章
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himself； as he dared not show mercy to his brother。 Seizing the silver bell； he rang it hastily。
〃Take that picture from the wall； and carry it immediately to the inspector； and tell him to hang it in the picture…gallery；〃 said Frederick。
He looked on quietly as the servant took the picture down and carried it from the room； then sighed and gazed long at the plane where it had hung。
〃Empty and cold！ The last token of my youth is gone！ I am now the king； and； with God's blessing； will be the father of my people。〃
CHAPTER II。
PRINCE HENRY。
Prince Henry sat quiet and motionless in his lonely room； dark thoughts seemed to trouble him； his brow was clouded； his lips compressed。 Had you not known him； you would have taken him for the king； so great was the resemblance of the two brothers； but it was only an outward resemblance。 The prince had not the spiritual expression； his eyes had not the passionate fire； his face （beautiful as it was） wanted the fascinating geniality； the sparkling inspiration； that at all times lighted the king's countenance like a sunbeam。
The prince possessed a greater mind； a clearer understanding； but he wanted soul and poetic feeling； and allowed himself at times to ridicule his brother's poetic efforts。 The king； knowing this； was inclined to regard the shortcomings of the prince as a determined contempt and resistance to his command； and as the prince became more reckless and more indifferent； he became more severe and harsh。 Thus the struggle commenced that had existed for some time between the two brothers。
For the last four days the prince had been in arrest for disobeying orders； but the hour of his release was approaching； and he awaited it with impatience。
The bell of the nearest church had just announced the hour of six。 The door opened immediately； and an officer； in the name of the king； pronounced his arrest at an end。
The prince answered with a low bow； and remained seated； pointing haughtily to the door； but as the officer left him he arose and paced hastily to and fro。
〃He treats me like a school…boy；〃 he murmured； 〃but I shall show him that I have a will of my own！ I will not be intimidatedI will not submit； and if the king does not cease to annoy me； if he continues to forget that I am not a slave； but son and brother of a king； no motives shall restrain me； and I also will forget； as he does； that I am a prince； and remember only that I am a free； responsible man。 He wishes me to marry； and therefore has me followed； and surrounds me with spies。 He wishes to force me to marry。 Well； I will marry； but I will choose my own wife！〃
The prince had just made this resolve； when the door opened； and the servant announced that Messrs。 Kalkreuth and Kaphengst awaited his commands。
He bade them enter； and advancing smilingly gave them his hand。
〃Welcome！ welcome！〃 he said； 〃the cage is open； and I may enjoy a little air and sunshine； let us not delay to make use of this opportunity。 Our horses shall be saddled。〃
〃They are already saddled； prince；〃 said Baron Kalkreuth。 〃I have ordered them to the court； and as soon as it is dark we will mount them。〃
〃What！ is it not best that we should mount before my door and ride openly away？〃 said the prince； wonderingly。
〃It is my opinion that is the best plan；〃 cried Baron Kaphengst； laughing gayly。 〃Every one will believe your highness to be simply taking a ride； while curiosity would be raised if we left the city on foot。〃
〃I think leaving in the dark； and on foot； looks as if I were afraid；〃 said the prince； thoughtfully。
〃Secrecy is good for priests and old women； but not for us；〃 cried Kaphengst。
〃Secrecy suits all who wish to do wrong；〃 said Kalkreuth； earnestly。
The prince glanced hastily at him。 〃You believe； then； we are about to do wrong？〃
〃I dare not speak of your highness； but we two are certainly doing wrong； we are about to commit an act of insubordination。 But still； my prince； I am ready to do so； as your highness wishes us to accompany you。〃
The prince did not answer； but stepped to the window； and looked out thoughtfully and silently。 In a few moments he returned； looking calm and resolute。
〃Kalkreuth is rightwe were going to do wrong； and we must avoid it。 I shall write to the king； and ask leave for you and myself to go to Berlin。〃
〃That is； unfortunately； impossible；〃 said a sweet voice behind him； and as the prince turned he saw the smiling face of Pollnitz。 〃I beg pardon； your highness； for having entered unannounced； but you allowed me to come at this hour and give you an account of the commissions you gave me。〃
〃Why do you say it is impossible to obtain leave of the king today？〃 asked Henry； hastily。
〃Because his majesty is already in the concert…saloon； and your highness knows that he has strictly forbidden any one to disturb him there。〃
〃We shall； then； have to give up our plan and remain here；〃 said the prince。
Kaphengst glanced angrily and threateningly at his friend。
〃And why should your highness do this？〃 asked Pollnitz； astonished。 〃All your preparations are made； all your commands fulfilled。 I have procured your costumes； no one will recognize you； and if they should； would not dare to betray you to the king。 Only two persons know that you are to visit the ball； the Prince of Prussia； and a lovely lady； whose beautiful eyes were misty with tears when I delivered her your message。 'Tell the prince；' she murmured； in a tender voice； 'I will await him there； even if I knew the king would crush me with his anger。'〃
The prince blushed with joy。 〃And you say it is impossible for me to see the king？〃
〃Impossible； my prince。〃
〃Well； we will have to renounce it；〃 said the prince； sighing。
〃Renounce seeing the king； yes！ for he will not leave his rooms in Sans…Souci today。〃
〃Then we would be entirely safe； he would not notice our departure；〃 said Kaphengst； quickly。
〃Entirely safe；〃 said Pollnitz。
〃That is； if Baron Pollnitz does not himself inform the king；〃 said Baron Kalkreuth； whose quick； clear glance rested upon the smiling face of the courtier； and appeared to read his inmost thoughts。
Baron Pollnitz cast a suspicious and angry glance at Kalkreuth。 〃I did not know that borrowing money from you gave you the right to speak rudely to me！〃
〃Silence！ gentlemen；〃 cried the prince； who； until now； had stood quietly struggling with his own wishes。 〃Take your cloaks and let us walk。 Did you not say that horses were awaiting us at the door； Baron Kalkreuth？〃
〃I said so； your highness。〃
〃And you Pollnitz？ Did you not say that three costumes awaited us in Berlin？〃
〃Yes； your highness。〃
〃Well； then；〃 said the prince； smiling； 〃we must not allow the horses and costumes to await us any longer。 Come； gentlemen； we will ride to Berlin。〃
〃Really it was hard to get him off；〃 murmured Pollnitz； as he regained the street； and saw the three young men fading in the distance。 〃The good prince had quite a dutiful emotion； if the king only knew it； he would forgive him all； and renounce the idea of his marriage。 But that would not suit memy debts would not be paid！ I must not tell the king of his brother's inward struggle。〃
〃Well！〃 said the king； as Pollnitz entered； 〃has my brother really gone to Berlin？〃
〃Yes； your majesty； and accompanied by the two Messieurs〃
〃Silence！〃 cried the king； hastily； 〃I do not wish to know their names； I should have to punish them also。 He has then gone； and without any hesitation； any reluctance？〃
〃Yes； sire； without hesitation。 He thinks he has the right to go where he pleases； and to amuse himself as he can。〃
〃Order the carriage； Pollnitz；〃 said the king。 〃Without doubt my brother has taken the shortest road to Berlin？〃
〃Yes； sire。〃
〃Then there is no danger of our meeting them and being recognized； and as we have relays on the road； we will reach Berlin before them。〃
CHAPTER III。
LOUISE VON KLEIST。
Madame von Kleist was alone in her boudoir。 She had just completed her toilet； and was viewing herself with considerable pleasure in a large Venetian glass。 She had reason to be pleased。 The costume of an odalisque became her wonderfully； suited her luxuriant beauty； her large； dreamy blue eyes； her full red lips； her slender； swaying form。 At twenty…eight； Louise von Kleist was still a sparkling beauty； the many trials and sorrows she had passed through had not scattered the roses from her cheek； nor banished youth from her heart。
Louise von Kleist resembled greatly the little Louise von Schwerin of earlier daysthe little dreamer who found it romantic to love a gardener； and was quite ready to flee with him to a paradise of love。 The king's watchfulness saved her from this romantic folly； and gave her another husband。 This unhappy match was now at an end。 Louise was again free。 She still felt in her heart some of the wild love of romance and adventure of the little Louise； she was the same daring； dreamy； impressible Louise； only now she was less innocent。 The little coquette from instinct was changed into a coquette from knowledge。
She stood before the glass and surveyed once more her appearance； then acknowledged with a pleased smile that she was beautiful enough to fascinate all men； to arouse in all hearts a painful longing。
〃But I shall love no one but the prince；〃 she said； 〃and when my power over him is sufficient to induce him to marry me； I shall reward him by my faith； and entire submission to his wishes。 Oh！ I shall he a virtuous wife； a true and faithful mother； and my lovely little Camilla shall find in her mother a good and noble example。 I shall promise this to my angel with my farewell kiss； and thento the ball！〃
She entered the next chamber； and stood at her child's bed。 What a strange sight！ This woman； in a fantastic； luxuriant costume； bending over the cot of the little girl； with such tender； pious looks； with folded hands； and soft； murmuring lips； uttering a prayer or holy wish！
〃How beautiful she is！〃 murmured Louise； not dreaming that her own beauty at this moment beamed with touching splendorthat mother love had changed the alluring coquette into an adorable saint〃how beautiful she is！〃
The gay； ringing laughter of her daughter interrupted her； the child opened her large black eyes； and looked amused。
〃You naughty child； you were not asleep；〃 said Louise。
〃No； mamma； I was not asleep； I was playing comedy。〃
〃Ah！ and who taught you to play comedy； you silly child？〃 said Louise； tenderly。
The child looked earnestly before her for a few moments as children are wont to do when a question surprises them。
〃I believe； mamma；〃 she said； slowly〃I believe I learned it from you。〃
〃From me； Camilla？ When have you seen me act？〃
〃Oh； very often；〃 she cried； laughing。 〃Just a few days ago； mamma； don't you remember when we were laughing and talking so merrily together； Prince Henry was announced； and you sent me into the next room； but the door was open； and I saw very well that you made a sad face； and I heard the prince ask you how you were； and you answered； 'I am sick； your highness； and how could it be otherwise； as I am always sad or weeping？' Now； mother； was not that acting？〃
Louise did not answer。 Breathing hea
