frederick the great and his family-第20章

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Mademoiselle　Marwitz　withdrew　to　get　the　manuscript；　as　she　left　the　room；　she　looked　back　suspiciously　at　Pollnitz　and；　as　if　by　accident；　left　the　door　open　which　led　to　the　dressing…room。

Mademoiselle　Marwitz　had　scarcely　disappeared；　before　Pollnitz　sprang　forward；　with　youthful　agility；　and　closed　the　door。

〃Princess；　this　commission　of　Prince　Henry's　was　only　a　pretext。　I　took　this　order　from　the　princess's　maitre　d'hotel　in　order　to　approach　your　highness　unnoticed；　and　to　get　rid　of　the　watchful　eyes　of　your　Marwitz。　Now　listen　well；　Weingarten；　the　Austrian　secretary　of　Legation；　was　with　me　to…day。〃

〃Ah；　Weingarten；〃　murmured　the　princess；　tremblingly；　〃he　gave　you　a　letter　for　me；　quick；　quick；　give　it　to　me。〃

〃No；　he　gave　me　no　letter；　it　appears　that　he；　who　formerly　sent　letters；　is　no　longer　in　the　condition　to　do　so。〃

〃He　is　dead！〃　cried　Amelia　with　horror；　and　sank　back　as　if　struck　by　lightning。

〃No；　princess；　he　is　not　dead；　but　in　great　danger。　It　appears　that　Weingarten　is　in　great　need　of　money；　for　a　hundred　louis　d'or；　which　I　promised　him；　he　confided　to　me　that　Trenck's　enemies　had　excited　the　suspicions　of　the　king　against　him；　and　declared　that　Trenck　had　designs　against　the　life　of　Frederick。〃

〃The　miserable　liars　and　slanderers！〃　cried　Amelia；　contemptuously。

〃The　king；　as　it　appears；　believes　in　these　charges；　he　has　written　to　his　resident　minister　to　demand　of　the　senate　of　Dantzic　the　delivery　of　Trenck。〃

〃Trenck　is　not　in　Dantzic；　but　in　Vienna。〃

〃He　is　in　Dantzicor；　rather；　he　was　there。〃

〃And　now？〃

〃Now；〃　said　Pollnitz；　solemnly；　〃he　is　on　the　way　to　Konigsberg；　from　that　point　he　will　be　transported　to　some　other　fortress；　first；　however；　he　will　be　brought　to　Berlin。〃

The　unhappy　princess　uttered　a　shriek；　which　sounded　like　a　wild　death…cry。　〃He　is；　then；　a　prisoner？〃

〃Yes；　but；　on　his　way　to　prison；　so　long　as　he　does　not　cross　the　threshold　of　the　fortress；　it　is　possible　to　deliver　him。　Weingarten；　who；　it　appears　to　me；　is　much　devoted　to　your　highness；　has　drawn　for　me　the　plan　of　the　route；　Trenck　is　to　take。　Here　it　is。〃　He　handed　the　princess　a　small　piece　of　paper；　which　she　seized　with　trembling　hands；　and　read　hastily。

〃He　comes　through　Coslin；〃　said　she；　joyfully；　〃that　gives　a　chance　of　safety　in　Coslin！　The　Duke　of　Wurtemberg；　the　friend　of　my　youthful　days；　is　in　Coslin；　he　will　assist　me。　Pollnitz；　quick；　quick；　find　me　a　courier　who　will　carry　a　letter　to　the　duke　for　me　without　delay。〃

〃That　will　be　difficult；　if　not　impossible；〃　said　Pollnitz；　thoughtfully。

Amelia　sprang　from　her　seat；　her　eyes　had　the　old　fire；　her　features　their　youthful　expression　and　elasticity。

The　power　and　ardor　of　her　soul　overcame　the　weakness　of　her　body；　it　found　energy　and　strength。

〃Well；　then；〃　said　she；　decisively；　and　even　her　voice　was　firm　and　soft；　〃I　will　go　myself；　and　woe　to　him　who　dares　withhold　me！　I　have　been　ordered　to　take　sea…baths。　I　will　go　this　hour　to　Coslin　for　that　purpose！　but　no；　no；　I　cannot　travel　so　rashly。　Pollnitz；　you　must　find　me　a　courier。〃

〃I　will　try；〃　said　Pollnitz。　〃One　can　buy　all　the　glories　of　this　world　for　gold；　and；　I　think；　your　highness　will　not　regard　a　few　louis　d'or；　more　or　less。〃

〃Find　me　a　messenger；　and　I　will　pay　every　hour　of　his　journey　with　a　gold　piece。〃

〃I　will　send　my　own　servant；　in　half　an　hour　he　shall　be　ready。〃

〃God　be　thanked！　it　will　then；　be　possible　to　save　him。　Let　me　write　this　letter　at　once；　and　hasten　your　messenger。　Let　him　fly　as　if　he　had　wingsas　if　the　wild　winds　of　heaven　bore　him　onward。　The　sooner　he　brings　me　the　answer　of　the　duke；　the　greater　shall　be　his　reward。　Oh；　I　will　reward　him　as　if　I　were　a　rich　queen；　and　not　a　poor；　forsaken；　sorrowful　princess。〃

〃Write；　princess；　write；〃　cried　Pollnitz；　eagerly：　〃but　not　have　the　goodness　to　give　me　the　hundred　louis　d'or　before　Mademoiselle　Marwitz　returns。　I　promised　them　to　Weingarten　for　his　news；　you　can　add　to　them　the　ducats　you　were　graciously　pleased　to　bestow　upon　me。〃

Amelia　did　not　reply；　she　stepped　to　the　table　and　wrote　a　few　lines；　which　she　handed　to　Pollnitz。

〃Take　this；〃　said　she；　almost　contemptuously；　〃it　is　a　draft　upon　my　banker；　Orguelin。　I　thank　you　for　allowing　your　services　to　be　paid　for；　it　relieves　me　from　all　call　to　gratitude。　Serve　me　faithfully　in　future；　and　you　shall　ever　find　my　hand　open　and　my　purse　full。　And　now　give　me　time　to　write　to　the　duke；　and〃

〃Princess；　I　hear　Mademoiselle　Marwitz　returning！〃

Amelia　left　the　writing…table　hastily；　and　advanced　to　the　door　through　which　Mademoiselle　Marwitz　must　enter。

〃Ah；　you　are　come　at　last；〃　said　she；　as　the　door　opened。　〃I　was　about　to　seek　you。　I　feared　you　could　not　find　the　paper。〃

〃It　was　very　difficult　to　find　amongst　such　a　mass　of　letters　and　papers；〃　said　Mademoiselle　Marwitz；　whose　suspicious　glance　was　now　wandering　round　the　room。　〃I　succeeded；　however；　at　last；　here　is　the　manuscript；　your　highness。〃

The　princess　took　it　and　examined　it　carefully。　〃Ah；　I　thought　so；〃　she　said。　〃A　monologue　which　Voltaire　wrote　for　me；　is　missing。　I　gave　it　to　the　king；　and　I　sec　he　has　not　returned　it。　I　think　my　memory　is　the　only　faculty　which　retains　its　power。　It　is　my　misfortune　that　I　cannot　forget！　I　will　test　it　to…day　and　try　to　write　this　monologue　from　memory。　I　must　be　alone；　however。　I　pray　you；　mademoiselle；　to　go　into　the　saloon　with　Pollnitz；　he　can　entertain　you　with　the　Chronique　Scandaleuse　of　our　most　virtuous　court；　while　I　am　writing。And　now；〃　said　she；　when　she　found　herself　alone；　〃may　God　give　me　power　to　reach　the　heart　of　the　duke；　and　win　him　to　my　purpose！〃

With　a　firm　hand　she　wrote：

〃Because　you　are　happy；　duke；　you　will　have　pity　for　the　wretched。　For　a　few　days　past；　you　have　had　your　young　and　lovely　wife　at　your　side；　and　experienced　the　pure　bliss　of　a　happy　union；　you　will　therefore　comprehend　the　despair　of　those　who　love　as　fondly；　and　can　never　be　united。　And　now；　I　would　remind　you　of　a　day　on　which　it　was　in　my　power　to　obtain　for　you　a　great　favor　from　my　brother　the　king。　At　that　time　you　promised　me　to　return　this　service　tenfold；　should　it　ever　be　in　your　power；　and　you　made　me　promise；　if　I　should　ever　need　assistance；　to　turn　to　you　alone！　My　hour　has　come！　I　need　your　help；　not　for　myself！　God　and　death　alone　can　help　me。　I　demand　your　aid　for　a　man　who　is　chained　with　me　to　the　galleys。　You　know　himhave　mercy　upon　him！　Perhaps　he　will　arrive　at　your　court　in　the　same　hour　with　my　letter。　Duke；　will　you　be　the　jailer　of　the　wretched　and　the　powerless；　who　is　imprisoned　only　because　I　am　the　daughter　of　a　king？　Are　your　officers　constables？　will　you　allow　them　to　cast　into　an　eternal　prison　him　for　whom　I　have　wept　night　and　day　for　many　long　years？〃

〃Oh；　my　God！　My　God！　you　have　given　wings　to　the　birds　of　the　air；　you　have　given　to　the　horse　his　fiery　speed；　you　have　declared　that　man　is　the　king　of　creation；　you　have　marked　upon　his　brow　the　seal　of　freedom；　and　this　is　his　holiest　possession。　Oh；　friend；　will　you　consent　that　a　noble　gentleman；　who　has　nothing　left　but　his　freedom；　shall　be　unjustly　deprived　of　it！　Duke；　I　call　upon　you！　Be　a　providence　for　my　unhappy　friend；　and　set　him　at　liberty。　And　through　my　whole　life　long　I　will　bless　and　honor　you！　　　　AMELIA。〃

〃If　he　does　not　listen　to　this　outcry　of　my　soul；〃　she　whispered；　as　she　folded　and　sealed　the　letter〃if　he　has　the　cruelty　to　let　me　plead　in　vain；　then　in　my　death…hour　I　will　curse　him；　and　charge　him　with　being　the　murderer　of　my　last　hope！〃

The　princess　called　Pollnitz；　and；　with　an　expressive　glance；　she　handed　him　the　letter。

〃Truly；　my　memory　has　not　failed　me；〃　she　said　to　Mademoiselle　Marwitz；　who　entered　behind　Pollnitz；　and　whose　sharp　eyes　were　fixed　upon　the　letter　in　the　baron's　hand。　〃I　have　been　able　to　write　the　whole　monologue。　Give　this　paper　to　my　brother；　Pollnitz；　I　have　added　a　few　friendly　lines；　and　excused　myself　for　declining　the　invitation。　I　cannot　see　this　drama。〃

〃Well；　it　seems　to　me　I　have　made　a　lucrative　affair　of　this；〃　said　Pollnitz　to　himself；　as　he　left　the　princess。　〃I　promised　Weingarten　only　fifty　louis　d'or；　so　fifty　remain　over　for　myself；　without　counting　the　ducats　which　the　princess　intends　for　me。　Besides；　I　shall　be　no　such　fool　as　to　give　my　servant；　who　steals　from　me　every　day；　the　reward　the　princess　has　set　apart　for　him；　and　if　I　give　him　outside　work　to　do；　it　is　my　opportunity；　he　is　my　slave；　and　the　reward　is　properly　mine。〃

〃Listen；　John！〃　Said　Pollnitz　to　his　servant；　as　he　entered　his　apartment。　Poor　John　was；　at　the　same　time；　body…servant；　jockey；　and　coachman。　〃Listen；　do　you　know　exactly　how　much　you　have　loaned　me？〃

〃To　a　copper；　your　excellency；〃　said　John；　joyfully。　Poor　John　thought　that　the　hour　of　settlement　had　come。　〃Your　excellency　owes　me　fifty…three　thalers；　four　groschen；　and　five　pennies。〃

〃Common　soul；〃　cried　Pollnitz；　shrugging　his　shoulders　contemptuously；　〃to　be　able　to　keep　in　remembrance　such　pitiful　things　as　groschen　and　coppers。　Well；　I　have　a　most　pressing　and　important　commission　for　you。　You　must　saddle　your　horse　immediately；　and　hasten　to　deliver　this　letter　to　the　Duke　of　Wurtemberg。　You　must　ride　night　and　day　and　not　rest　till　you　arrive　and　deliver　this　packet　into　the　duke's　own　hands。　I　will　then　allow　you　a　day's　rest　for　yourself　and　horse；　your　return　must　be　equally　rapid。　If　you　are　here　again　in　eight　days；　I　will　reward　you　royally。〃

〃That　is　to　say；　your　excellency〃　said　John；　in　breathless　expectation。

〃That　is　to　say；　I　will　pay　you　half　the　sum　I　owe　you；　if　you　are　here　in　eight　days；　if　you　are　absent　longer；　you　will　get　only　a　third。〃

〃And　if　I　return　a　day　earlier？〃　Said　John；　sighing。

〃I　will　give　you　a　few　extra　thalers　as　a　reward；〃　said　Pollnitz。

〃But　your　excellency　will；　besides　this；　give　me　money　for　the　journey；〃　said　John；　timidly。

〃Miserable；　shameless　beggar！〃　Cried　Pollnitz；　〃always　demanding　more　than　one　is　willing　to　accord　you。　Learn　from　your　noble　master　that　there　is　nothing　more　pitiful；　more　sordid　than　gold；　and　that　those　only　are　truly　noble；　who　serve　others　for　honor's　sake；　and　give　no　thought　to　reward。〃

〃But；　your　grace；　I　have　already　the　honor　to　have　lent　you　all　my　money。　I　have　not　even　a　groschen　to　buy　food　for　myself　and　horse　on　our　journey。〃

〃As　for　your　money；　sir；　it　is；　under　all　circumstances；　much　safer　with　me　than　with　you。　You　would　surely　spend　it　foolishly；　while　I　will　keep　it　together。　Besides　this；　there　is　no　other　way　to　make　servants　faithful　and　submissive　but　to　bind　them　to　you　by　the　miserable　bond　of　selfishness。　You　would　have　left　me　a　hundred　times；　if　you　had　not　been　tied　down　by　your　own　pitiful　interests。　You　know　well　that　if　you　leave　me　without　my　permission；　the　law　allows　me　to　punish　you；　by　giving　the　money　I　owe　you　to　the　poor。　But　enough　of　foolish　talking！　Make　ready　for　the　journey；　in　half　an　hour　you　must　leave　Berlin　behind　you。　I　will　give　you　a　few　thalers　to　buy　food。　Now；　hasten！　Remember；　if　you　remain　away　longer　than　eight　days；　I　will　give　you　only　a　third　of　the　money　I　am　keeping　for　you。〃

This　terrible　threat　had　its　effect　upon　po