frederick the great and his family-第69章

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art　to　her　brother　Frederick。　＇Footnote：　When　the　court　fled；　after　the　battle　of　Kunendorf；　to　Magdeburg；　they　took　the　golden　service　which　the　king　inherited　from　his　mother　with　them；　that　portion　given　to　Frederick　by　the　margravino　was　left　in　Berlin；　and　the　next　year；　1760；　was　seized　by　the　Russians　and　carried　to　Petersburg〃Geschichte　Berlins；〃　vol。　v。；　p。　2。＇

The　queen　and　the　princesses　were　to　appear　in　all　the　splendor　of　their　jewels；　and　by　their　costly　and　exquisite　toilets　impose　upon　these　proud　and　haughty　officers；　whom　fate　had　sent　as　prisoners　of　war　to　Berlin；　and　who　would　not　fail　to　inform　their　respective　governments　of　all　they　saw　in　the　capital。

This　fete　was　a　demonstration　made　by　the　king　to　his　over…confident　enemies。　He　would　prove　to　them　that　if　he　wished　for　peace　it　was　not　because　the　gold　failed　to　carry　on　the　war；　but　because　he　wished　to　give　rest　and　the　opportunity　to　recover　to　Europe；　groaning　and　bleeding　from　a　thousand　wounds。　Besides　this；　the　king　wished　to　show　his　subjects；　by　the　celebration　of　his　brother's　birthday；　how　highly　he　honored　the　princehow　gladly　he　embraced　the　opportunity　to　distinguish　the　young　general　who；　during　the　whole　war；　had　not　lost　a　single　battle；　but；　by　his　bold　and　masterly　movements；　had　come　to　the　king's　help　in　the　most　difficult　and　dangerous　moments。

This　celebration　should　be　a　refutation　of　the　rumors　spread　abroad　by　the　king's　enemies；　that　Frederick　regarded　the　success　and　military　talent　of　his　brother　with　jealous　envy。

There　were；　therefore；　many　reasons　why　Pollnitz　should　make　this　a　luxurious　and　dazzling　feast；　he　knew　also　that　Prince　Henry　would　receive　a　detailed　account　of　the　celebration　from　his　adjutant；　Count　Kalkreuth；　who　had　lingered　some　months　in　Berlin　because　of　his　wounds；　was　now　fully　restored；　and　would　leave　Berlin　the　morning　after　the　ball　to　return　to　the　army。

And　now　the　important　hour　had　arrived。　Pollnitz　wandered　through　the　saloons　with　the　searching　glance　of　a　warrior　on　the　field　of　battle；　he　pronounced　that　all　was　good。

The　saloons　were　dazzling　with　light；　pomp　and　splendor　reigned　throughout；　and　on　entering　the　supper…room　you　were　almost　blinded　by　the　array　of　gold　and　silver　adorning　the　costly　buffet；　on　whose　glittering　surface　the　lights　were　a　thousand　times　reflected。

Suddenly　the　rooms　began　to　fill；　everywhere　gold…embroidered　uniforms；　orders；　stars；　and　flashing　gems　were　to　be　seen；　a　promiscuous　and　strange　crowd　was　moving　through　these　lofty　saloons；　illuminated　by　thousands　of　lights　and　odorous　with　the　fragrance　of　flowers。

Side　by　side　with　the　rich；　fantastic　uniform　of　the　Russian；　was　seen　the　light　and　active　French　chasseur；　here　was　to　be　seen　the　Hungarian　hussar；　whose　variegated　and　tasteful　costume　contrasted　curiously　with　the　dark　and　simple　uniform　of　the　Spaniard；　who　stood　near　him；　both　conversing　gayly　with　an　Italian；　dressed　in　the　white　coat　of　an　Austrian　officer。

It　seemed　as　if　every　nation　in　Europe　had　arranged　a　rendezvous　for　this　day　in　the　royal　palace　at　Berlin；　or　as　it　the　great　Frederick　had　sent　specimens　to　his　people　of　all　the　various　nations　against　whom　he　had　undertaken　this　gigantic　war。

There　were　not　only　Germans　from　all　the　provinces；　but　Italians；　Spaniards；　Russians；　Swedes；　Hungarians；　Netherlanders；　and　Frenchmen。　All　these　were　prisoners　of　wartheir　swords　had　been　stained　with　the　blood　of　Prussians；　the　fate　of　war　now　confined　them　to　the　scabbard；　and　changed　the　enemies　of　the　king　into　guests　at　his　court。

Hundreds　of　captive　officers　were　now　waiting　in　the　saloon　for　the　appearance　of　the　queen；　but　the　Prussian　army　was　scarcely　represented。　All　who　were　fit　for　service　were　in　the　field；　only　the　invalids　and　the　old　warriors；　too　infirm　for　active　duty　had　remained　at　the　capital；　even　the　youths　who　had　not　attained　the　legal　age　for　military　duty；　had　hastened　to　the　army；　full　of　courage　and　enthusiasm；　inspired　by　the　example　of　their　fathers　and　brothers。

The　dazzling　appearance　of　these　royal　saloons　was　therefore　mostly　owing　to　the　flashing　uniforms　of　the　prisoners　of　war。　Only　a　few　old　Prussian　generals；　and　the　courtiers；　whose　duties　prevented　them　from　being　heroes；　were　added　to　the　number。

Herr　von　Giurgenow；　and　his　friend　Captain　Belleville；　were　invited　to　the　ball；　and　were　well　pleased　to　offer　their　homage　to　the　majesty　of　Prussia。　Count　Ranuzi；　who；　reserved　and　silent　as　usual；　had　been　wandering　through　the　saloons；　now　joined　them；　and　they　had　all　withdrawn　to　a　window；　in　order　to　observe　quietly　and　undisturbed　the　gay　crowd　passing　before　them。

〃Look　you；〃　said　Ranuzi；　laughing；　〃this　reminds　me　of　the　frantic　confusion　in　the　anterooms　of　hell；　which　Dante　has　described　in　such　masterly　style。　We　all　wear　our　glittering　masks；　under　which　our　corpses　are　hidden；　one　word　from　our　master　and　this　drapery　would　fall　off；　and　these　grinning　death…heads　be　brought　to　ruin。　It　depends　solely　upon　the　will　of　Frederick　of　Prussia　to　speak　this　word。　He　is　our　master；　and　when　he　commands　it；　we　must　lay　aside　our　swords　and　exchange　our　uniforms　for　the　garments　of　a　malefactor。〃

〃He　will　not　dare　to　do　this；〃　said　Giurgenow；　〃all　Europe　would　call　him　a　barbarian；　and　make　him　answerable　for　his　insolence。〃

〃First；　all　Europe　must　be　in　a　condition　to　call　him　to　account；〃　said　Ranuzi；　laughing；　〃and　that　is　certainly　not　the　case　at　present；　I　am　sorry　to　say。〃

〃You　have　not　heard；　then；〃　said　Belleville；　〃of　the　glorious　victory　which　our　great　General　Broglie　has　gained　over　Duke　Ferdinand　of　Brunswick；　all　France　is　jubilant　over　this　happy　event；　and　the　Marquise　de　Pompadour；　or　rather　King　Louis；　has　made　this　second　Turenne；　our　noble　Broglie；　marshal。〃

〃I　know　of　this；〃　said　Ranuzi；　〃but　I　know　also　that　the　fortune　of　battles　is　inconstant；　otherwise　we　would　not　now　be　here。〃

〃It　is　to　be　hoped　we　will　not　be　here　long；〃　said　Giurgenow；　impatiently。　〃Does　it　not　lie　in　our　power　to　go　at　once？　What　think　you？　Have　we　not　our　swords？　They　have　not　dared　to　take　them　from　us！　They　tremble　before　us；　and　honor；　in　our　persons；　the　nations　we　represent。　Look　at　the　complaisance　and　consideration　with　which　we　are　met　on　all　sides。　The　King　of　Prussia　fears　his　powerful　enemies；　and　does　all　in　his　power　to　conciliate　them。　Suppose　that　to…night；　as　soon　as　the　royal　family　are　assembled；　we　draw　our　swords　and　take　them　all　prisoners；　we　have　overpowering　numbers；　and　I　think　it　would　be　an　easy　victory。　We　could　make　a　fortress　of　this　palace；　and　defend　ourselves；　they　would　not　dare　to　make　a　violent　attack；　as　the　queen　and　princesses　would　be　in　our　power。　What　think　you　of　this　plan；　Count　Ranuzi？〃

Ranuzi　met　the　sharp　and　piercing　glance　of　the　Russian　with　cool　composure。

〃I　think　it　bold；　but　impossible。　We　could　not　maintain　our　position；　one　hour。　The　garrison　of　Berlin　would　overcome　us。　We　have　no　thousands　of　prisoners　in　the　casements　here；　as　in　Kustrin；　to　aid　us　in　such　an　attempt。〃

〃The　count　is　right；〃　said　Belleville；　gayly；　〃such　a　grandiose　and　warlike　conspiracy　would　amount　to　nothing。　We　must　revenge　ourselves　in　another　way　for　the　tedious　ennui　we　are　made　to　endure　here；　and　my　friends　and　myself　are　resolved　to　do　so。　We　will　no　longer　submit　to　the　shackles　of　etiquette；　which　are　laid　upon　us；　we　will　be　free　from　the　wearisome　constraint　which　hems　us　in　on　every　side。　These　proud　ladies　wish　us　to　believe　that　they　are　modest　and　virtuous；　because　they　are　stiff　and　ceremonious。　They　make　a　grimace　at　every　equivoque。　We　will　prove　to　them　that　we　are　not　blinded　by　this　outward　seeming；　and　not　disposed　to　lie　like　Dutchmen；　languishing　at　the　feet　of　our　inexorable　fair　ones。　Our　brave　brothers　have　conquered　the　Prussians　at　Hochkirch　and　at　Bergen；　we　cannot　stand　side　by　side　with　them　in　the　field；　but　here；　at　least；　we　can　humble　the　Prussian　women！〃

〃I　can　well　believe；〃　whispered　Giurgenow；　〃that　you　would　be　pleased　to　humble　the　beautiful　Fraulein　von　Marshal？〃

〃Ah；　my　friend；〃　said　Ranuzi；　laughing；　〃you　touch　the　wound　of　our　poor　friend。　You　do　not　seem　to　know　that　the　beautiful　Marshal　is　responsible　for　the　scorn　and　rage　of　Count　Belleville。　she　is　indeed　a　haughty　and　presumptuous　beauty；　she　not　only　dared　to　reject　the　love　of　the　fascinating　count；　but　she　showed　him　the　door；　and　when　afterward　he　ventured　to　send　her　a　passionate　and　tender　billet…doux；　she　informed　him；　through　her　servant；　that　she　would　give　the　letter　to　her　chambermaid；　for　whom；　without　doubt；　it　was　intended。〃

〃Eh　bien；　what　do　you　say　to　this　insolence？〃　cried　the　enraged　Frenchman。　〃But　she　shall　do　penance　for　it。　I　have　already　made　the　necessary　arrangements　with　my　friends。　This　is　not　simply　a　personal　affair；　it　touches　the　general　honor。　The　whole　French　army；　all　France；　is　insulted　in　my　person。　It　is　necessary　we　should　have　satisfaction；　not　only　from　this　presumptuous　lady；　but　from　all　the　ladies　of　the　court！　We　will　have　our　revenge　this　evening！　We　will　show　to　these　dull　dames　what　we　think　of　their　prudery。　And　the　queen　shall　see　that　we　are　not　at　all　inclined　to　bow　down　to　her　stiff　ceremonies。　She　is；　in　our　eyes；　not　a　queen　simply　the　wife　of　an　enemy　over　whom　we　will　soon　triumph　gloriously。〃

〃I　counsel　you；　however；　to　wait　till　the　hour　of　triumph　for　your　revenge；〃　said　Ranuzi。　〃Your　intentions　may　lead　to　the　worst　consequences　for　us　all。　The　great　Frederick　will　never　be　a　harmless　adversary　till　he　is　dead；　and　we　would　all　be　ignominiously　punished　for　any　contempt　shown　the　queen。　You　have　a　personal　affair　with　Fraulein　Marshal；　well；　then；　you　must　make　her　personally　responsible；　but　do　not　involve　us　all　in　your　difficulties。　It　would　be　an　easy　thing　to　forfeit　even　this　appearance　of　freedom。〃

〃You　are　right；〃　said　Giurgenow；　〃we　might　be　banished　from　Berlin；　and　that　would　be　a　bitter　punishment　for　us　all。〃

〃But　look！　the　doors　are　being　thrown　open；　and　the　queen　and　court　will　appear；　you　will　have　the　happiness　of　seeing　your　cruel　fair　one；〃　whispered　Ranuzi　to　the　Frenchman。

〃I　assure　you　she　shall　repent　of　her　cruelty　to…night；〃　said　Belleville；　gnashing　his　teeth。　Exchanging　a　significant　glance　with　several　French　officers；　who　were　standing　not　far　off；　he　advanced　into　the　saloon　to　the　outer　circle；　which　was　formed　on　both　sides；　and　through　which　the　queen　and　court　must　pass。

Now　the　grand　master　of　ceremonies　appeared　on　the　threshold；　with　his　golden　staff。　Behind　him　the　queen　and　the　Princess　Amelia　entered　the　room；　both　appeared　in　all　the　pomp　and　splendor　of　their　rank。　A　small　diamond…crown　glittered　in　the　blonde　hair　of　the　queen；　a　magnificent　necklace　of　diamonds　and　emeralds　was　clasped　around　her　dazzlingly　white　and　beautifully　formed　throat。

Bielfeld　had　once　declared　that　this　necklace　could　purchase　a　kingdom。　A　white　robe　worked　with　silver　and　a　dark…red　velvet　shawl　trimmed　with　ermine　fell　in　graceful　folds　around　the　noble　and　graceful　figure　of　the　queen；　whose　bowed　head；　and　quiet；　modest　bearing　contrasted　strangely　with　the　luxury　and　splendor　which　surrounded　her。

Another　s