frederick the great and his family-第21章

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u　only　a　third　of　the　money　I　am　keeping　for　you。〃

This　terrible　threat　had　its　effect　upon　poor　John。

In　eight　days　Pollnitz　sought　the　princess；　and　with　a　triumphant　glance；　slipped　a　letter　into　her　hand；　which　read　thus：

〃I　thank　you；　princess；　that　you　have　remembered　me；　and　given　me　an　opportunity　to　aid　the　unhappy。　You　are　right。　God　made　man　to　be　free。　I　am　no　jailer；　and　my　officers　are　not　constables。　They　have；　indeed；　the　duty　to　conduct　the　unhappy　man　who　has　been　for　three　days　the　guest　of　my　house；　farther　on　toward　the　fortress；　but　his　feet　and　his　hands　shall　be　free；　and　if　he　takes　a　lesson　from　the　bird　in　velocity；　and　from　the　wild　horse　in　speed；　his　present　escape　will　cost　him　less　than　his　flight　from　Glatz。　My　officers　cannot　be　always　on　the　watch；　and　God's　world　is　large；　it　is　impossible　to　guard　every　point。　My　soldiers　accompany　him　to　the　brook　Coslin。　I　commend　the　officer　who　will　be　discharged　for　neglect　of　duty　to　your　highness。　　　FERDINAND。〃

〃He　will　have　my　help　and　my　eternal　gratitude；〃　whispered　Amelia；　she　then　pressed　the　letter　of　the　duke　passionately　to　her　lips。　〃Oh；　my　God！　I　feel　to…day　what　I　have　never　before　thought　possible；　that　one　can　be　happy　without　happiness。　If　fate　will　be　merciful；　and　not　thwart　the　noble　purpose　of　Duke　Ferdinand；　from　this　time　onward　I　will　never　murmurnever　complain。　I　will　demand　nothing　of　the　future；　never　more　to　see　him；　never　more　to　hear　from　him；　only　that　he　may　be　free　and　happy。〃

In　the　joy　of　her　heart　she　not　only　fulfilled　her　promise　to　give　the　messenger　a　gold　piece　for　every　hour　of　his　journey；　but　she　added　a　costly　diamond　pin　for　Pollnitz；　which　the　experienced　baron；　even　while　receiving　it　from　the　trembling　hand　of　the　princess；　valued　at　fifty　louis　d'or。

The　baron　returned　with　a　well…filled　purse　and　a　diamond　pin　to　his　dwelling；　and　with　imposing　solemnity　he　called　John　into　his　boudoir。

〃John；〃　said　he；　〃I　am　content　with　you。　You　have　promptly　fulfilled　my　commands。　You　returned　the　seventh　day；　and　have　earned　the　extra　thalers。　As　for　your　money；　how　much　do　I　owe　you？〃

〃Fifty…three　thalers；　four　groschen；　and　five　pennies。〃

〃And　the　half　of　this　is〃

〃Twenty…seven　thalers；　fourteen　groschen；　two　and　a　half　pennies；〃　said　John；　with　a　loudly　beating　heart　and　an　expectant　smile。　He　saw　that　the　purse　was　well　filled；　and　that　his　master　was　taking　out　the　gold　pieces。

〃I　will　give　you；　including　your　extra　guldens；　twenty…eight　thalers；　fourteen　groschen；　two　and　a　half　pennies。〃　said　Pollnitz。　laying　some　gold　pieces　on　the　table。　〃Here　are　six　louis　d'or；　or　thirty…six　thalers　in　gold　to　reckon　up；　the　fractions　you　claim　are　beneath　my　dignity。　Take　them；　John；　they　are　yours。〃

John　uttered　a　cry　of　rapture；　and　sprang　forward　with　outstretched　hands　to　seize　his　gold。　He　had　succeeded　in　gathering　up　three　louis　d'or；　when　the　powerful　hand　of　the　baron　seized　him　and　held　him　back。

〃John；〃　said　he；　〃I　read　in　your　wild；　disordered　countenance　that　you　are　a　spendthrift；　and　this　gold；　which　you　have　earned　honestly；　will　soon　be　wasted　in　boundless　follies。　It　is　my　duty；　as　your　conscientious　master　and　friend；　to　prevent　this。　I　cannot　allow　you　to　take　all　of　this　moneyonly　one…half；　only　three　louis　d'or。　I　will　put　the　other　three　with　the　sum　which　I　still　hold；　and　take　care　of　it　for　you。〃

With　an　appearance　of　firm　principle　and　piety；　he　grasped　the　three　louis　d'or　upon　which　the　sighing　John　fixed　his　tearful　eyes。

〃And　now；　what　is　the　amount；〃　said　Pollnitz；　gravely；　〃which　you　have　placed　in　my　hands　for　safe…keeping？〃

〃Thirty…two　thalers；　fourteen　groschen；　and　five　pennies；〃　said　John；　〃and　then　the　fractions　from　the　three　louis　d'ors　makes　a　thaler　and　eight　groschen。〃

〃Pitiful　miser！　You　dare　to　reckon　fractions　against　your　master；　who；　in　his　magnanimity；　has　just　presented；　you　with　gold！　This　is　a　meanness　which　merits　exemplary　punishment。〃




CHAPTER　II。

TRENCK　ON　HIS　WAY　TO　PRISON。


Before　the　palace　of　the　Duke　of　Wurtemberg；　in　Coslin；　stood　the　light；　open　carriage　in　which　the　duke　was　accustomed　to　make　excursions；　when　inclined　to　carry　the　reins　himself；　and　enjoy　freedom　and　the　pure；　fresh　air；　without　etiquette　and　ceremony。

To…day；　however；　the　carriage　was　not　intended　for　an　ordinary　excursion；　but　to　transport　a　prisoner。　This　prisoner　was　no　other　than　the　unhappy　Frederick　Trenck；　whom　the　cowardly　republic　of　Dantzic；　terrified　at　the　menaces　of　the　king；　had　delivered　up　to　the　Prussian　police。

The　intelligence　of　his　unhappy　fate　flew　like　a　herald　before　him。　He　was　guarded　by　twelve　hussars；　and　the　sad　procession　was　received　everywhere　throughout　the　journey　with　kindly　sympathy。　All　exerted　themselves　to　give　undoubted　proofs　of　pity　and　consideration。　Even　the　officers　in　command；　who　sat　by　him　in　the　carriage；　and　who　were　changed　at　every　station；　treated　him　as　a　loved　comrade　in　arms；　and　not　as　a　state　prisoner。

But　while　all　sighed　and　trembled　for　him；　Trenck　alone　was　gay；　his　countenance　alone　was　calm　and　courageous。　Not　one　moment；　during　the　three　days　he　passed　in　the　palace　of　the　duke；　was　his　youthful　and　handsome　face　clouded　by　a　single　shadow。　Not　one　moment　did　that　happy；　cheerful　manner；　by　which　he　won　all　hearts；　desert　him。　At　the　table；　he　was　the　brightest　and　wittiest；　his　amusing　narratives；　anecdotes；　and　droll　ideas　made　not　only　the　duke；　but　the　duchess　and　her　maids；　laugh　merrily。　In　the　afternoons；　in　the　saloon　of　the　duchess；　he　astonished　and　enraptured　the　whole　court　circle　by　improvising　upon　any　given　theme；　and　by　the　tasteful　and　artistic　manner　in　which　he　sang　the　national　ballads　he　had　learned　on　his　journeys　through　Italy；　Germany；　and　Russia。　At　other　times；　he　conversed　with　the　duke　upon　philosophy　and　state　policy；　and　he　was　amazed　at　the　varied　information　and　wisdom　of　this　young　man；　who　seemed　an　experienced　soldier　and　an　adroit　diplomat；　a　profound　statesman；　and　a　learned　historian。　By　his　dazzling　talents；　he　not　only　interested　but　enchained　his　listeners。

The　duke　felt　sadly　that　it　was　not　possible　to　retain　the　prisoner　longer　in　Coslin。　Three　days　of　rest　was　the　utmost　that　could　be　granted　Trenck；　without　exciting　suspicion。　He　sighed；　as　he　told　Trenck　that　his　duty　required　of　him　to　send　him　further　on　his　dark　journey。

Trenck　received　this　announcement　with　perfect　composure；　with　calm　self…possession。　He　took　leave　of　the　duke　and　duchess；　and　thanked　them　gayly　for　their　gracious　reception。

〃I　hope　that　my　imprisonment　will　be　of　short　duration；　and　then　your　highness　will；　I　trust；　allow　me　to　return　to　you；　and　offer　the　thanks　of　a　free　man。〃

〃May　we　soon　meet　again！〃　said　the　duke；　and　he　looked　searchingly　upon　Trenck；　as　if　he　wished　to　read　his　innermost　thoughts。　〃As　soon　as　you　are　free；　come　to　me。　I　will　not　forsake　you；　no　matter　under　what　circumstances　you　obtain　your　freedom。〃

Had　Trenck　observed　the　last　emphatic　words　of　the　duke；　and　did　he　understand　their　meaning？　The　duke　did　not　know。　No　wink　of　the　eyelid；　not　the　slightest　sign；　gave　evidence　that　Trenck　had　noticed　their　significance。　He　bowed　smilingly；　left　the　room　with　a　firm　step；　and　entered　the　carriage。

The　duke　called　back　the　ordnance　officer　who　was　to　conduct　him　to　the　next　station。

〃You　have　not　forgotten　my　command？〃　said　he。

〃No；　your　highness；　I　have　not　forgotten；　and　obedience　is　a　joyful　duty；　which　I　will　perform　punctually。〃

〃You　will　repeat　this　command；　in　my　name；　to　the　officer　at　the　next　station；　and　commission　him　to　have　it　repeated　at　every　station　where　my　regiments　are　quartered。　Every　one　shall　give　Trenck　an　opportunity　to　escape；　but　silently；　no　word　must　be　spoken　to　him　on　the　subject。　It　must　depend　upon　him　to　make　use　of　the　most　favorable　moment。　My　intentions　toward　him　must　be　understood　by　him　without　explanations。　He　who　is　so　unfortunate　as　to　allow　the　prisoner　to　escape；　can　only　be　blamed　for　carelessness　in　duty。　Upon　me　alone　will　rest　the　responsibility　to　the　King　of　Prussia。　You　shall　proceed　but　five　or　six　miles　each　day；　at　this　rate　of　travel　it　will　take　four　days　to　reach　the　last　barracks　of　my　soldiers；　and　almost　the　entire　journey　lies　through　dark；　thick　woods；　and　solitary　highways。　Now　go；　and　may　God　be　with　you！〃

The　duke　stepped　to　the　window　to　see　Trenck　depart；　and　to　give　him　a　last　greeting。

〃Well；　if　he　is　not　at　liberty　in　the　next　few　days；　it　will　surely　not　be　my　fault；〃　murmured　Duke　Ferdinand；　〃and　Princess　Amelia　cannot　reproach　me。〃

As　Trenck　drove　from　the　gate；　Duke　Ferdinand　turned　thoughtfully　away。　He　was；　against　his　will；　oppressed　by　sad　presentiments。　For　Trenck；　this　journey　over　the　highways　in　the　light；　open　carriage；　was　actual　enjoyment。　He　inhaled　joyfully　the　pure；　warm；　summer　airhis　eyes　rested　with　rapture　upon　the　waving　corn…fields；　and　the　blooming；　fragrant　meadows　through　which　they　passed。　With　gay　shouts　and　songs　he　seemed　to　rival　the　lark　as　she　winged　her　way　into　the　clouds　above　him。　He　was　innocent；　careless；　and　happy　as　a　child。　The　world　of　Nature　had　been　shut　out　from　him　in　the　dark；　close　carriage　which　had　brought　him　to　Coslin；　she　greeted　him　now　with　glad　smiles　and　gay　adorning。　It　seemed　as　if　she　were　decorated　for　him　with　her　most　odorous　blossoms　and　most　glorious　sunshineas　if　she　sent　her　softest　breeze　to　kiss　his　cheek　and　whisper　lovegreetings　in　his　ear。　With　upturned；　dreamy　glance；　he　followed　the　graceful　movements　of　the　pure；　white　clouds；　and　the　rapid　flight　of　the　birds。　Trenck　was　so　happy　in　even　this　appearance　of　freedom；　that　he　mistook　it　for　liberty。

The　carriage　rolled　slowly　over　the　sandy　highways；　and　now　entered　a　wood。　The　sweet　odor　of　the　fir…trees　drew　from　Trenck　a　cry　of　rapture。　He　had　felt　the　heat　of　the　sun　to　be　oppressive；　and　he　now　laid　his　head　back　under　the　shadow　of　the　thick　trees　with　a　feeling　of　gladness。

〃It　will　take　us　some　hours　to　get　through　this　forest；〃　said　the　ordnance　officer；　〃It　is　one　of　the　thickest　woods　in　this　region；　and　the　terror　of　the　police。　The　escaped　prisoner　who　succeeds　in　concealing　himself　here；　may　defy　discovery。　It　is　impossible　to　pursue　him　in　these　dark；　tangled　woods；　and　a　few　hours　conduct　him　to　the　sea…shore；　where　there　are　ever　small　fishing…boats　ready　to　receive　the　fugitive　and　place　him　safely　upon　some　passing　ship。　But　excuse　me；　sir！　the　sun　has　been　blazing　down　so　hotly　upon　my　head　that　I　feel　thoroughly　wearied；　and　will　follow　the　example　of　my　coachman。　Look！　he　is　fast　asleep；　and　the　horses　are　moving　on　of　their　own　good…will。　Good…night；　Baron　Trenck。〃

He　closed　his　eyes；　and　in　a　short　time　his　loud　snores　and　the　nodding　of　his　head　from　side　to　side　gave　assurance　that　he；　also；　was　locked　in　slumber。

Profound　stillness　reigned　around。　Trenck　gave　himself　wholly　to　the　enjoyment　of　the　moment。　The　peaceful　stillness　of　the　forest；　interrupted　only　at　intervals　by　the　snorting　of　the　horses；　the　sleepy　chatter　of　the　birds　among　the　dark　green　branches；　and　the　soft　rustling　and　whispering　of　the　trees；　filled　him　with　delight。

〃It　is　clear；〃　he　said