frederick the great and his family-第71章

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　take　your　flowers；　because　I　will　not　be　a　messenger　of　love　between　you　and　the　prince；　because　I　cannot　accept　the　shame　and　degradation　which　such　an　office　would　lay　upon　me。　Princess　you　have　forgotten；　but　I　remember　there　was　a　wondrous　time　in　which　I；　and　not　the　prince；　was　favored　with　a　like　precious　gift。　At　that　time　you　allowed　me　to　hope　that　this　glowing；　inextinguishable　feeling　which　filled　my　heart；　my　soul；　found　an　echo　in　your　breast；　that　at　least　you　would　not　condemn　me　to　die　unheard；　misunderstood。〃

〃I　knew　not　at　that　time　that　my　husband　loved　me；〃　murmured　the　princess；　〃I　thought　I　was　free　and　justified　in　giving　that　heart　which　no　one　claimed　to　whom　I　would。〃

〃You　had　no　sooner　learned　that　the　prince　loved　you　than　you　turned　from　me；　proud　and　cold；〃　said　the　count；　bitterly；　〃relentlessly；　without　mercy；　without　pity；　you　trampled　my　heart　under　your　feet；　and　not　a　glance；　not　a　word　showed　me　that　you　had　any　remembrance　of　the　past。　I　will　tell　you　what　I　suffered。　You　have　a　cold　heart；　it　will　make　you　happy　to　hear　of　any　anguish。　I　loved　you　so　madly　I　almost　hated　you；　in　the　madness　of　my　passion　I　cursed　you。　I　thanked　God　for　the　war；　which　forced　me　to　that　for　which　I　had　never　found　the　moral　strength　to　leave　you。　Yes；　I　was　grateful　when　the　war　called　me　to　the　fieldI　hoped　to　die。　I　did　not　wish　to　dishonor　my　name　by　suicide。　I　was　recklessly　brave；　because　I　despised　lifeI　rushed　madly　into　the　ranks　of　the　enemy；　seeking　death　at　their　hands；　but　God's　blessed　minister　disdained　me　even　as　you　had　done。　I　was　borne　alive　from　the　battle…field　and　brought　to　Berlin　to　be　nursed　and　kindly　cared　for。　No　one　knew　that　here　I　received　daily　new　and　bitter　wounds。　You　were　always　cruel；　cruel　even　to　the　last　moment；　you　saw　my　sufferings；　but　you　were　inexorable。　Oh；　princess；　it　would　have　been　better　to　refuse　me　entrance；　to　banish　me　from　your　presence；　than　to　make　my　heart　torpid　under　the　influence　of　your　cold　glance；　your　polished　speech；　which　ever　allured　me　and　yet　kept　me　at　a　distance。　You　have　played　a　cruel　game　with　me；　princess　you　mock　me　to　the　last。　Shall　I　be　your　messenger　to　the　prince？　You　know　well　that　I　would　give　my　heart's　blood　for　one　of　those　sweet　flowers；　and　you　send　them　by　me　to　another。　My　humility；　my　subjection　is　at　an　end；　you　have　sinned　against　me　as　a　woman；　and　I　have　therefore　the　right　to　accuse　you　as　a　man。　I　will　not　take　these　flowers！　I　will　not　give　them　to　the　prince！　And　now　I　have　finishedI　beg　you　to　dismiss　me。〃

The　princess　had　listened　tremblingly；　her　face　became　ever　paler　completely　exhausted；　she　leaned　against　the　wall。

〃Before　you　go；〃　whispered　she；　〃listen　to　a　few　words；　it　may　be　that　the　death　you　seek　may　be　found　on　the　battle…fieldthis　may　be　our　last　interview　in　this　world；　in　such　a　moment　we　dare　speak　the　truth　to　each　other；　from　the　souls　which　have　been　closely　veiled；　may　cloud　and　darkness　be　for　one　moment　lifted。　What　I　now　say　to　you　shall　go　as　a　sacred　secret　with　you　to　the　grave；　if　you　fall；　but　if　God　hears　my　prayer；　and　you　return；　I　command　you　to　forget　it；　never　to　remind　me　of　it。　You　say　I　have　a　cold　heart。　Alas！　I　only　choked　the　flame　which　raged　within　me；　I　would　have　my　honor　and　my　duty　burned　to　ashes。　You　say　that　my　eyes　are　never　clouded；　that　they　shed　no　tears。　Ah！　believe　me；　I　have　wept　inwardly；　and　the　silent；　unseen　tears　the　heart　weeps　are　bitterer　than　all　others。　You　reproach　me　for　having　received　you　when　you　returned　here　sick　and　wounded；　and　for　not　having　closed　my　doors　against　you。　I　know　well　that　was　my　duty；　and　a　thousand　times　I　have　prayed　to　God　on　my　knees　for　strength　to　do　this；　but　He　did　not　hear　me　or　He　had　no　mercy。　I　could　not　send　you　off；　had　my　lips　spoken　the　fearful　words；　the　shriek　of　my　heart　would　have　called　you　back。　My　lips　had　strength　to　refuse　an　answer　to　the　question　which　I　read　in　your　face；　in　your　deep　dejection；　but　my　heart　answered　you　in　silence　and　tears。　Like　you；　I　could　not　forgetlike　you　I　remembered　the　bounteous　sweet　past。　Now　you　know　allgo！　As　you　will　not　take　these　flowers　to　the　prince；　they　are　yours；　were　intended　for　you；　I　have　baptized　them　with　my　tears。　Farewell！〃

She　gave　him　the　flowers；　and　without　looking　toward　him；　without　giving　him　time　to　answer；　she　stepped　forward　and　called　her　chamberlain。

〃Count　Saldow；　be　kind　enough　to　accompany　Count　Kalkreuth；　and　give　him　the　books　and　papers　my　husband　has　ordered。〃

Wilhelmina　passed　on　proudly；　calmly；　with　a　smile　on　her　lips；　but　no　one　knew　what　it　cost　her　poor　heart。　She　did　not　look　back。　Kalkreuth　would　have　given　years　to　take　leave　once　more　of　the　lovely　face；　to　ask　pardon　for　the　hard；　rude　words　he　had　dared　to　say。　The　princess　had　still　the　bashful　timidity　of　virtue；　after　the　confession　she　had　made　she　dared　not　look　upon　him。　The　count　controlled　himself；　he　followed　Saldow。　He　was　bewildered；　rapturously　giddy。　As　he　left　the　castle　and　entered　his　carriage　he　looked　up　at　the　window　and　said：　〃I　will　not　die！I　will　return！〃…　…then　pressed　the　bouquet　to　his　lips　and　sank　back　in　the　carriage。




CHAPTER　VIII。

THE　NUTSHELLS　BEHIND　THE　FAUTEUIL　OF　THE　QUEEN。


Princess　Wilhelmina；　as　we　have　said；　did　not　look　back；　she　stepped　silently　through　the　ball…room；　and　approached　the　Princess　Amelia。　She　stood　for　a　moment　behind　a　couple　who　were　dancing　the　Francaise。　The　French　officers　had　just　taught　this　dance　to　the　Prussian　ladies　as　the　newest　Parisian　mode。

It　was　a　graceful　and　coquettish　dance；　approaching　and　avoiding；　the　ladies　stood　opposite　their　cavaliers；　and　advanced　with　smiling　grace；　then　appeared　to　fly　from　them　in　mocking　haste。　They　were　pursued　in　artistic　tours　by　their　cavaliers；　at　the　end　of　the　dance　their　hands　were　clasped　in　each　other's；　and　they　danced　through　the　room　with　the　graceful　time　and　step　of　the　minuet。

Princess　Wilhelmina　stood　silent　and　unobservant；　she　knew　not　the　dance　was　ended；　she　knew　not　that　the　music　was　silenced。　A　softer；　sweeter；　dearer　melody　sounded　in　her　ears；　she　heard　the　echo　of　that　voice　which　had　spoken　scornfully；　despairingly；　and　yet　love　had　been　the　sweet　theme。

The　sudden　stillness　waked　her　from　her　dream　and　she　stepped　forward。　The　general　silence　was　interrupted　by　the　well…known　coarse；　stern　voice　of　the　Princess　Amelia。

〃Does　this　dance　please　you；　Baron　Marshal？　The　French　officers　have　taught　it　to　our　ladies　as　a　return　for　the　dance　which　our　brave　Prussian　soldiers　taught　the　French　at　Rossbach；　at　Rossbach；　however；　they　danced　to　a　quicker；　faster　tempo。　These　Frenchmen　are　now　calling　out；　'En　avant！'　but　at　Rossbach；　I　am　told；　'En　arriere！'　was　the　word　of　command。〃

A　death…like　silence　followed　these　sarcastic　words　of　the　princess；　and　throughout　the　room　her　mocking；　derisive　laugh　which　followed　these　words　was　distinctly　heard。　She　rose；　and　leaning　upon　the　arm　of　Baron　Marshal；　advanced　to　meet　the　Princess　Wilhelmina；　and　cast　a　fierce　glance　at　the　officers；　who　were　assembled　in　groups　and　talking　in　low　tones　but　earnestly　with　each　other。

Suddenly　Belleville；　leaning　on　another　officer；　advanced　from　one　of　these　groups；　they　walked　backward　and　forward；　laughing　and　chattering　loudly；　without　regarding　the　presence　of　the　princess。　They　then　drew　near　the　orchestra；　and　called　out　in　a　jovial　tone：

〃Messieurs；　have　the　kindness　to　play　a　Dutch　waltz；　but　in　the　quick　time　which　the　Austrians　played　at　Hochkirch；　when　they　drove　the　Prussians　before　them；　and　in　which　Field…Marshal　Broglie　played　at　Bergen；　when　he　tramped　upon　the　Prussians！　Play　on；　messieurs！　play　on！〃

Belleville　then　danced　forward　with　great　levity　of　manner　to　Fraulein　Marshal；　who　stood　by　the　side　of　her　father；　without　saluting　her；　he　seized　her　hand。

〃Come；　ma　toute　belle；〃　said　he；　〃you　have　played　the　marble　statue　long　enough　for　one　day；　it　is　time　that　you　should　awake　to　life　in　my　arms。　Come；　then；　and　dance　with　me　your　lascivious　Dutch　waltz；　which　no　respectable　woman　in　France　would　dare　to　dance！　Come！　come！〃

Belleville　tried　to　drag　Fraulein　Marshal　forward；　but　at　the　instant　a　powerful　and　heavy　arm　was　laid　upon　him；　and　his　hand　was　dashed　off　rudely。

〃I　have　heard　you　to　the　end；〃　said　Baron　Marshal；　calmly；　〃I　wished　to　see　a　little　of　the　renowned　gallantry　of　which　the　Frenchman　is　so　proud。　It　appears　to　me　that　a　strange　ton　must　now　reign　in　Paris；　well　suited；　perhaps；　to　the　boudoirs　of　mistresses；　but　not　fitting　or　acceptable　to　the　ears　of　respectable　women。　I　beg　you　therefore；　sir；　not　to　assume　this　ton　in　Berlin；　I　am　resolved　not　to　endure　it。〃

Belleville　laughed　aloud；　drew　very　near　the　baron；　and　looked　him　insolently　in　the　face。

〃Who　are　you；　monsieur；　who　dare　take　the　liberty　of　begging　me；　who　do　not　know　you；　to　do　or　not　do　any　thing？〃

〃I　am　Baron　Marshal；　the　father　of　this　lady　whom　you　have　dared　to　offend！〃

Belleville　laughed　still　louder　than　before。

〃Aha！　that　is　a　beautiful　fairy　tale！　You　who　are　as　hideous　as　a　baboon；　and　have　borrowed　the　eyes　of　the　cat！you　the　father　of　the　lovely　Galatea　Marshal！tell　that　tale　to　other　earsI　do　not　believe　in　such　aberrations　of　Nature。　I　repeat　my　question：　who　are　you？　what　is　your　name？〃

〃I　repeat　to　you；　I　am　Baron　Marshal；　the　father　of　this　lady。〃

〃You　are　more　credulous；　sir；　than　I　am；　if　you　believe　that；〃　said　Belleville；　coarsely。

〃Perhaps　I　am　less　credulous　than　you　suppose；〃　said　Marshal；　quietly。　〃It　would；　for　example；　be　difficult　for　me　to　believe　that　you　are　a　nobleman。　I　can　assure　you；　however；　that　I　am　not　only　noble；　but　a　man　of　honor。〃

Belleville　was　in　the　act　of　giving　a　passionate　answer；　when　the　doors　of　the　supper…room　were　thrown　open；　and　a　sea　of　light　irradiated　the　room。

At　this　moment；　the　queen　and　her　ladies　entered　from　the　card…room；　and；　at　her　appearance；　every　word；　every　sound　was　hushed。　Silently；　and　with　a　conciliatory　smile；　the　queen　passed　through　the　saloon；　and　seated　herself　at　the　table；　she　then　gave　the　sign　to　the　grand…master；　that　her　guests　should　be　seated。　And　now　the　servants；　in　golden　liveries；　flew　from　side　to　side　bearing　silver　plates；　containing　the　rare　and　fragrant　viands　which　the　inventive　head　of　Baron　Pollnitz　had　ordered　for　the　favored　guests　of　her　majesty　the　Queen　of　Prussia。

Nothing　is　so　well　calculated　to　quiet　the　perturbed　soul　as　a　costly　and　well…prepared　feast。　The　haughty　Frenchmen　soon　forgot　their　mortified　vanity　and　resentment；　and　were　well　pleased　to　be　seated　at　the　table　of　the　〃great　Frederick。〃　They　ate　and　drank　right　merrily　in　honor　of　the　bold　and　brave　prince　who　had　sent　them　here　from　Rossbach；　but　if　the　rich　dishes　made　them　forget　their　mortification；　the　fiery　wine　excited　yet　more　their　presumptuous　levity。　They　forgot　that　they　were　the　guests　of　a　queen。　Louder　and　more　extravagant　was　their　gayety；　more　boisterous；　more　indiscreet　their　unrestrained　laughter。　In　their　frantic　merriment　they　dared　to　sing　aloud　some　of　the　little　ambiguous；　equivocal　chansons；　which　belonged　to　the　gamins　of　Paris；　and　at　which　the　Marquise　de　Pompadour　laughed　t