frederick the great and his family-第68章
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The Princess Amelia shrank back trembling and groaning on the sofa； her eyes were wide open； and staring in the distance。 After a long pause； she said； slowly： 〃Call his name。〃
〃Frederick von Trenck！〃
Amelia shuddered； and uttered a low cry。 〃Trenck！〃 repeated she； softly； 〃oh； what sad melody lies in that word！ It is like the death…cry of my youth。 I think the very air must weep when this name vibrates upon it。 Trenck； Trenck！ How beautiful； how lovely that sounds； it is a sweet； harmonious song； it sings to me softly of the only happiness of my life。 Ah； how long； how long since this song was silenced！ All within me is desolate！ On every side my heart is tornon every side！ Oh； so drear； so fearful！ All！ all！〃 Lost in her own thoughts； these words had been slowly uttered。 She had forgotten that she was not alone with her remembrances； which like a cloud had gathered round about her and shut off the outward world。
Ranuzi did not dare to recall her thoughtshe still knelt at her feet。
Suddenly her whole frame trembled； and she sprang up。 〃My God！ I dream； while he calls me！ I am idly musing； and Trenck has need of me。 Speak； sir； speak！ What do you know of him？ Have you seen him？ Did he send you to me？〃
〃He sent me； your highness； but I have not seen him。 Have the grace to listen to me。 Ah； your highness； in what I now say I lay the safety of a dear and valued friend； yes； his life； at your feet。 One word from you； and he will be delivered over to a court…martial and be shot。 But you will not speak that wordyou are an angel of mercy。〃
〃Speak； sirspeak； sir；〃 said Amelia； breathlessly。 〃My God！ do you not see that I am dying from agitation？〃
〃Princess； Trenck liveshe is in chainshe is in a hole under the earthbut he lives； and as long as he has life； he hopes in you has wild dreams of liberty； and his friends think and hope with him。 Trenck has friends who are ready to offer up their lives for him。 One of them is in the fortress of Magdeburghe is lieutenant of the guard； another is a Captain Kimsky； prisoner of war； I am a third。 I have known Trenck since my youth。 In our beautiful days of mirth and revelry； we swore to stand by each other in every danger。 The moment has come to fulfil my oathTrenck is a prisoner； and I must help to liberate him。 Our numbers are few and dismemberedwe need allies in the fortress； and still more in the city。 We need powerful assistance； and no one but your highness can obtain it for us。〃
〃I have an assured and confidential friend in Magdeburg；〃 said the princess； 〃at a hint from me he will be ready to stand by you to〃
Suddenly she was silent； and cast a searching； threatening glance at Ranuzi。 She had been too often deceived and circumventedsnares had been too often laid at her feetshe was distrustful。 〃No； no；〃 said she； at last； sternly； rudely〃I will take no part in this folly。 Go； sirgo。 You are a poor soothsayer； and I will have nothing to do with you。〃
Ranuzi smiled； and drew a folded paper from his bosom； which he handed to the princess。 It contained these words： 〃Count Ranuzi is an honest manhe can be trusted unconditionally。〃 Under these words was written： 〃Nel tue giorni felici； vicordati da me。〃
The breast of Amelia heaved convulsivelyshe gazed at these written characters； at last her eyes filled with tearsat last her heart was overcome by those painful and passionate feelings which she had so long kept in bondage。 She pressed the paper； the lines on which were written with his blood； to her lips； and hot tears gushed from those poor eyes which for long； long years； had lost the power to weep。
〃Now； sir；〃 said she； 〃I believe in you； I trust you。 Tell me what I have to do。〃
〃Three things fail us； princess： A house in Magdeburg； where Trenck's friends can meet at all hours； and make all necessary preparations； and where he can be concealed after his escape。 Secondly； a few reliable and confiding friends； who will unite with us and aid us。 Thirdly； we must have goldwe must bribe the guard； we must buy horses； we must buy friends in the fortress； and lastly； we must buy French clothing。 Besides this； I must have permission to go for a few days to Magdeburg； and there on the spot I can better make the final preparations。 A fair pretext shall not fail me for this； Captain Kimsky is my near relativehe will be taken suddenly ill； and as a dying request he will beg to see me； one of his comrades will bring me notice of this； and I will turn imploringly to your highness。〃
〃I will obtain you a passport；〃 said Amelia； decisively。
〃While in Magdeburg； the flight will be arranged。〃
〃And you believe you will succeed？〃 said the princess； with a bright smile； which illuminated her poor deformed visage with a golden ray of hope。
〃I do not only believe it； I know it； that is； if your royal highness will assist us。〃
The princess made no reply； she stepped to her desk and took from it several rolls of gold； then seated herself and wrote with a swift hand： 〃You must trust the bearer fully； he is my friend； assist him in all that he undertakes。〃 She folded the paper and sealed it。
Ranuzi followed every movement with flashing eyes and loudly beating heart。 As she took the pen to write the address a ray of wild triumph lighted his dark face； and a proud smile played about his mouth。 As Amelia turned； all this disappeared； and he was dignified and grave as before。
〃Take this； sir；〃 said she； 〃you see that I place in your power a faithful and beloved friend； he is lost if you are false。 As soon as you reach Magdeburg go to him； and he will make other friends and allies known to you。〃
〃Can I make use of this address； and write under it to my friend Kimsky？〃 said Ranuzi。
〃Yes； without danger。 To…day I will find means to inform him that he may expect this letter。 Here is gold； two hundred ducats； all that I have at present。 When this is exhausted； turn again to me and I will again supply you。〃
Ranuzi took the gold and said； smilingly； 〃This is the magic means by which we will break his chains。〃
Amelia took a costly diamond pin； which lay upon the table； and gave it to Ranuzi。 She pointed to the paper marked with blood； which she still held in her hand。
〃This is a most precious jewel which you have given melet us exchange。〃
Ranuzi fell upon his knees and kissed her hand as ho took the pin。
〃And now； sir； go。 My maid is a salaried spy； and a longer interview would make you suspected。 You would be watched； and all discovered。 Go！ If I believed in the power of prayer； I would lie upon my knees night and day； and pray for God's blessing upon your effort。 As it is； I can only follow you with my thoughts and hopes。 Farewell！〃
〃Your royal highness sends no reply to these lines； written with Trenck's heart's blood？〃
Amelia took the pen and wrote a few hasty lines upon the paper； which she handed Ranuzi。 The words were： 〃Ovunque tu sei vicina ti sono。〃
〃Give him that；〃 said she； 〃it is not written with my heart's blood； but my heart bleeds for himbleeds ever inwardly。 And now resume your role of soothsayerI must call my ladies。〃
The afternoon of this day Ranuzi wrote to his friend； Captain Kimsky； prisoner of war at Magdeburg： 〃The train is laid； and will succeed。 The fortress will soon be in our hands。 A romantic； sentimental woman's heart is a good thing； easily moved to intrigues。 Magdeburg will be ours！ Prepare everythingbe ill； and call for me； I shall get a passport。 I have a powerful protectress； and with such； you know； a man mar attain all the desires of his heart！〃
CHAPTER VI。
A COURT DAY IN BERLIN。
It was the birthday of Prince Henry； and was to be celebrated with great pomp at the court。 The king had himself written explicitly on this subject to the master of ceremonies； Baron Pollnitz。 Pollnitz was； therefore； actively occupied in the early morning； and no general ever made his preparations for a battle with more earnestness and importance than the good baron gave his orders for the splendid fete which was to be given in the royal apartments that night。
And this was indeed a great opportunity。 The people of Berlin were to enjoy a ball and a concert； at which all the Italian singers were to be present； and then a rare and costly supper； to which not only the court； but all the officers who were prisoners of war were to be invited。
This supper was to Pollnitz the great circumstance； the middle point of the fete。 Such an entertainment was now rare at the court of Berlin； and many months might pass away ere the queen would think of giving another supper。 Pollnitz knew that when he thirsted now for a luxurious meal he must enjoy it at his own cost； and this thought made him shudder。 The worthy baron was at the same time a spendthrift and a miser。
Four times in every year he had three or four days of rare and rich enjoyment； he lived en grand seigneur； and prepared for himself every earthly luxury； these were the first three or four days of every quarter in which he received his salary。 With a lavish hand he scattered all the gold which he could keep back from his greedy creditors； and felt himself young； rich； and happy。 After these fleeting days of proud glory came months of sad economy； he was obliged to play the role of a parasitical plant； attach himself to some firm； well…rooted stem； and absorb its strength and muscle。 In these days of restraint he watched like a pirate all those who were in the condition to keep a good table； and so soon as he learned that a dinner was on hand； he knew how to conquer a place。 At these times he was also a passionate devotee of the card…table； and it was the greatest proof of his versatility and dexterity that he always succeeded in making up his party； though every man knew it cost gold to play cards with Pollnitz。 The grand…master had the exalted principles of Louis XV。 of France； who was also devoted to cards。 Every evening the great Louis set apart a thousand louis d'or to win or lose。 If the king won； the gold went into his private pocket； if he lost； the state treasury suffered。
Following this royal example； Pollnitz placed the gold he won in his pocket； if he lost； he borrowed the money to payhe considered this borrowed sum as also the clear profit of his game； he was assured to win； and in this way he obtained his pocket money。
To…day； however； he would not be merry at a strange table； he himself would do the honors； and he had conducted the arrangements of the table with a scholarship and knowledge of details which would have obtained the admiration of the Duke de Richelieu。
On this occasion it was not necessary to restrain his luxurious desires and tastes。 Honor demanded that the court should show itself in full pomp and splendor； and prove to the world that this long； wearisome war had not exhausted the royal treasury； nor the royal table service of silver； in short； that it was an easy thing to carry on the war； without resorting to the private treasures of the royal house。
It was； therefore； necessary to bring out for this great occasion the golden service which had been the king's inheritance from his mother。 Frederick's portion had been lately increased by the death of the Margravino of Baireuth； who had explicitly willed her part to her brother Frederic
