frederick the great and his family-第63章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃The　scene　is　so　very　piquant；〃　said　Giurgenow；　〃I　would　like　to　draw　nearer。　Pardon　me；　gentlemen；　I　must　leave　you；　and　go　upon　the　square。　It　is　interesting　to　hear　what　the　people　say；　and　how　they　receive　such　prophecies。　We　can；　perhaps；　judge　in　this　way　of　the　probabilities　of　peace　and　liberty。　The　voice　of　the　people　is；　in　politics；　ever　the　decisive　voice。〃　He　took　his　hat；　and；　bowing　to　the　gentlemen；　left　the　room　hastily。




CHAPTER　III。

RANUZI


Count　Ranuzi　gazed　after　the　Russian　with　a　mocking　smile。　〃Do　you　know；　Belleville；　where　he　is　going？〃

〃He　has　not　told　us；　but　I　guess　it。　He　is　going　to　approach　this　fortune…teller；　and　give　her　a　sign　that　her　zeal　has　carried　her　too　far；　and　that；　if　not　more　prudent；　she　will　betray　herself。〃

〃You　think；　then；　that　Giurgenow　knows　the　fortune…teller？〃

〃I　am　certain　of　it。　He　has　engaged　these　charlatans　to　rouse　up　the　people；　and　excite　them　against　the　king。　This　is；　indeed；　a　very　common　mode　of　proceeding；　and　often　successful；　but　here；　in　Prussia；　it　can　bear　no　fruit。　The　people　here　have　nothing　to　do　with　politics；　the　king　reigns　alone。　The　people　are　nothing　but　a　mass　of　subjects；　who　obey　implicitly　his　commands；　even　when　they　know；　that　in　so　doing；　they　rush　on　destruction。〃

〃Giurgenow　has　failed；　and　he　might　have　counted　upon　failure！　If　you；　Belleville；　had　resorted　to　these　means；　I　could　have　understood　it。　In　France；　the　people　play　an　important　role　in　politics。　In　order　to　put　down　the　government；　you　must　work　upon　the　people。　You　might　have　been　forgiven　for　this　attempt；　but　Giurgenow　never！〃

〃You　believe；　then；　that　he　is　manoeuvring　here；　in　Berlin；　in　the　interest　of　his　government？〃　said　Belleville；　amazed。

Ranuzi　laughed　heartily。　〃That　is　a　fine　and　diplomatic　mode　of　expressing　the　thing！〃　said　he。　〃Yes；　he　is　here　in　the　interest　of　his　government；　but　when　the　Prussian　government　becomes　acquainted　with　this　fact；　they　will　consider　him　a　spy。　If　discovered；　he　will　be　hung。　If　successful；　when　once　more　at　liberty；　he　may　receive　thanks　and　rewards　from　Russia。　See；　now；　how　rightly　I　have　prophesied！　There　is　Giurgenow；　standing　by　the　side　of　the　prophetess；　and　I　imagine　I　almost　hear　the　words　he　is　whispering　to　her。　She　will　commence　again　to　prophesy；　but　in　a　less　violent　and　fanatical　manner。〃

〃No；　no；　she　will　prophesy　no　more！　The　police　are　breaking　their　way　forcibly　through　the　crowd。　They　do　not　regard　the　cries　of　fear　and　suffering　of　those　they　are　shoving　so　violently　aside。　These　are　the　servants　of　the　police；　they　will　speedily　put　an　end　to　this　prophesying。　Already　the　people　are　flying。　Look　how　adroitly　Giurgenow　slips　away；　and　does　not　condescend　to　give　a　glance　to　the　poor　prophetess　he　inspired。　Only　see　how　little　respect　these　rough　policemen　have　for　these　heaven…inspired　prophets！　They　seize　them　rudely；　and　bear　them　off。　They　will　be　punished　with；　at　least；　twenty…four　hours'　arrest。　In　Prussia；　this　concourse　and　tumult　of　the　people　is　not　allowed。　Come；　monsieur；　let　us　close　the　window；　the　comedy　is　over。　The　prophets　are　in　the　watch…house。　Their　role　is　probably　forever　played　out！〃　said　Belleville；　smilingly。

〃Not　so；　they　will　recommence　it　to…morrow。　These　same　prophets　have　high　and　mighty　protectors　in　Berlin；　the　police　will　not　dare　to　keep　them　long　under　arrest。　The　Princess　Amelia　will　demand　her　fortune…teller。〃

〃Vraiment；　monsieur　le　comte；〃　said　the　Frenchman；　〃you　seem　extraordinarily　well　acquainted　with　all　these　intrigues？〃

〃I　observe　closely；〃　said　Ranuzi；　with　a　meaning　smile。　〃I　am　very　silenttherefore　hear　a　great　deal。〃

〃Well；　I　counsel　you　not　to　give　to　me　or　my　actions　the　honor　of　your　observations；〃　said　Belleville。　〃My　life　offers　few　opportunities　for　discovery。　I　live；　I　eat；　I　sleep；　I　chat；　and　write　poetry　and　caress；　and　seek　to　amuse　myself　as　well　as　possible。　Sometimes　I　catch　myself　praying　to　God　tearfully　for　liberty；　and　truly；　not　from　any　political　considerationssimply　from　the　selfish　wish　to　get　away　from　here。　You　see；　therefore；　I　am　an　innocent　and　harmless　bon　enfant；　not　in　the　least　troubled　about　public　affairs。〃

〃No；〃　said　Ranuzi；　〃you　do　not　love　Fraulein　Marshal　at　all　from　political　reasons；　but　solely　because　of　her　beauty；　her　grace；　and　her　charms。　Behold；　this　is　the　result　of　my　observations。〃

〃You　have；　then；　been　watching　me？〃　said　Belleville；　blushing。　〃I　have　told　you　that　I　was　always　observant。　This　is　here　my　only　distraction　and　recreation；　and　really　I　do　not　know　what　I　should　do　with　my　time　if　I　did　not　kill　the　weary　hours　in　this　way。〃

〃You　do　employ　it　sometimes　to　a　better　purpose？〃　said　the　Frenchman；　in　low　tones。　〃Love　is　still　for　you　a　more　agreeable　diversion；　and　you　understand　the　game　well。〃

〃It　appears　you　are　also　an　observer；〃　said　Ranuzi；　with　an　ironical　smile。　〃Well；　then；　I　do　find　love　a　sweeter　diversion；　and　if　I　should　yield　myself　up　entirely　to　my　love…dreams；　I　would　perhaps　be　less　observant。　But；　Belleville；　why　do　you　take　your　hat？　Will　you　also　leave　me？〃

〃I　must；　perforce。　Through　our　agreeable　conversation　I　had　entirely　forgotten　that　I　had　promised　Fraulein　Marshal　to　ride　with　her。　A　cavalier　must　keep　his　promise　with　a　lady；　at　least　till　he　knows　she　is　ardently　in　love　with　him。〃　He　gave　his　hand　to　the　duke；　and　as　he　left　the　room　he　hummed　a　light　French　chanson。

Ranuzi　looked　after　him　with　a　long；　frowning　glance。　〃Poor　fool；〃　murmured　he；　〃he　believes　he　plays　his　part　so　well　that　he　deceives　even　me。　This　mask　of　folly　and　levity　he　has　assumed　is　thin　and　transparent　enough　I　see　his　true　face　behind　it。　It　is　the　physiognomy　of　a　sly　intriguant。　Oh；　I　know　him　thoroughly；　I　understand　every　emotion　of　his　heart；　and　I　know　well　what　his　passion　for　the　beautiful　Marshal　signifies。　She　is　the　maid　of　honor　of　the　Princess　Henry　this　is　the　secret　of　his　love。　She　is　the　confidante　of　the　princess；　who　receives　every　week　long　and　confidential　letters　from　the　tent　of　her　tender　husband。　Fraulein　Marshal　is　naturally　acquainted　with　their　contents。　The　prince　certainly　speaks　in　these　letters　of　his　love　and　devotion；　but　also　a　little　of　the　king's　plans　of　battle。　Fraulein　von　Marshal　knows　all　this。　If　Belleville　obtains　her　love　and　confidence；　he　will　receive　pretty　correct　information　of　what　goes　on　in　the　tent　of　the　king　and　in　the　camp　councils。　So　Belleville　will　have　most　important　dispatches　to　forward　to　his　Marquise　de　Pompadour　dispatches　for　which　he　will　be　one　day　rewarded　with　honor　and　fortune。　This　is　the　Frenchman's　plan！　I　see　through　him　as　I　do　through　the　Russian。　They　are　both　paid　spies　informers　of　their　governments　nothing　more。　They　will　be　paid；　or　they　will　be　hung；　according　as　accident　is　favorable　or　unfavorable　to　them。〃　Ranuzi　was　silent；　and　walked　hastily　backward　and　forward　in　the　rood。　Upon　his　high；　pale　brow　dark　thoughts　were　written；　and　flashes　of　anger　flamed　from　his　eyes。

〃And　I；〃　said　he；　after　a　long　pause；　〃am　I　in　any　respect　better　than　they？　Will　not　the　day　come　when　I　also　will　be　considered　as　a　purchased　spy？　a　miserable　informer？　and　my　name　branded　with　this　title？　No；　no；　away　with　this　dark　spectre；　which　floats　like　a　black　cloud　between　me　and　my　purpose！　My　aim　is　heaven；　and　what　I　do；　I　do　in　the　name　of　the　Churchin　the　service　of　this　great；　exalted　Church；　whose　servant　and　priest　I　am。　No；　no；　the　world　will　not　call　me　a　spy；　will　not　brand　my　name　with　shame。　God　will　bless　my　efforts　as　the　Holy　Father　in　Rome　has　blessed　them；　and　I　shall　reach　the　goal。〃

Ranuzi　was　brilliantly　handsome　in　this　inspired　mood；　his　noble　and　characteristic　face　seemed　illuminated　and　as　beautiful　as　the　angel　of　darkness；　when　surrounded　by　a　halo　of　heavenly　light。

〃It　is　an　exalted　and　great　aim　which　I　have　set　before　me；〃　said　he；　after　another　pause；　〃a　work　which　the　Holy　Father　himself　confided　to　me。　I　must　and　I　will　accomplish　it　to　the　honor　of　God　and　the　Holy　Madonna。　This　blasphemous　war　must　end；　this　atheistical　and　free…thinking　king　must　be　reduced；　humbled；　and　cast　down　from　the　stage　he　has　mounted　with　such　ostentatious　bravado。　Silesia　must　be　torn　from　the　hands　of　this　profligate　robber　and　incorporated　in　the　crown　of　our　apostolic　majesty　of　Austria。　The　holy　Church　dare　not　lose　any　of　her　provinces；　and　Silesia　will　be　lost　if　it　remains　in　the　hands　of　this　heretical　king；　he　must　be　punished　for　his　insolence　and　scoffing；　for　having　dared　to　oppose　himself　to　the　Holy　Father　at　Rome。　The　injuries　which　he　heaped　upon　the　Queen　of　Poland　must　be　avenged；　and　I　will　not　rest　till　he　is　so　humbled；　so　crushed；　as　to　sue　for　a　shameful　peace；　even　as　Henry　the　Fourth；　clad　like　a　peasant；　pleaded　to　Canoza。　But　the　means；　the　means　to　attain　this　great　object。〃

Hastily　and　silently　he　paced　the　room；　his　head　proudly　thrown　back；　and　a　cold；　defiant　glance　directed　upward。

〃To　kill　him！〃　said　he　suddenly；　as　if　answering　the　voices　which　whispered　in　his　soul；　〃that　would　be　an　imbecile；　miserable　resort；　and；　moreover；　we　would　not　obtain　our　object；　ho　would　not　be　humiliated；　but　a　martyr's　crown　would　be　added　to　his　laurels。　When；　however；　ho　is　completely　humbled；　when；　to　this　great　victory　at　Hochkirch；　we　add　new　triumphs；　when　we　have　taken　Silesia　and　revenged　Saxony；　then　he　might　die；　then　we　will　seek　a　sure　hand　which　understands　the　dagger　and　its　uses。　Until　then；　silence　and　caution；　until　then　this　contest　must　be　carried　on　with　every　weapon　which　wisdom　and　craft　can　place　in　our　hands。　I　think　my　weapons　are　good　and　sharp；　well　fitted　to　give　a　telling　thrust；　and　yet　they　are　so　simple；　so　threadbarea　cunning　fortune…teller；　a　love…sick　fool；　a　noble　coquette；　and　a　poor　prisoner！　these　are　my　only　weapons；　and　with　these　I　will　defeat　the　man　whom　his　flatterers　call　the　heroic　King　of　Prussia。〃　He　laughed　aloud；　but　it　was　a　ferocious；　threatening　laugh；　which　shocked　himself。

〃Down；　down；　ye　evil　spirits；〃　said　he；　〃do　not　press　forward　so　boldly　to　my　lips；　they　are　consecrated　now　to　soft　words　and　tender　sighs　alone。　Silence；　ye　demons！　creep　back　into　my　heart；　and　there；　from　some　dark　corner；　you　can　hear　and　see　if　my　great　role　is　well　played。　It　is　time！　it　is　time！　I　must　once　more　prove　my　weapons。〃

He　stepped　to　the　glass　and　looked　thoughtfully　at　his　face；　examined　his　eyes；　his　lips；　to　see　if　they　betrayed　the　dark　passions　of　his　soul；　then　arranged　his　dark　hair　in　soft；　wavy　lines　over　his　brow；　he　rang　for　his　servant；　put　on　his　Austrian　uniform；　and　buckled　on　the　sword。　The　king　had　been　gracious　enough　to　allow　the　captive　officers　in　Berlin　to　wear　their　swords；　only　requiring　their　word　of　honor　that　they　would　never　use　them　again　in　this　war。　When　Count　Ranuzi；　the　captive　Austrian　captain；　had　completed　his　toilet；　he　took　his　hat　and　entered　the　street。　Ranuzi　had　now　assumed　a　careless；　indifferent　expression；　he　greeted　the　acquaintances　who　met　him　with　a　friendly　smile；　uttering　to　each　a　few　kindly　words　or　gay　jests。　He　reached；　at　last；　a　small　and　insignificant　house　in　the　Frederick　Street；　opened　the　door　which　was　only　slightly　closed；　and　en