frederick the great and his family-第72章

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al　chansons；　which　belonged　to　the　gamins　of　Paris；　and　at　which　the　Marquise　de　Pompadour　laughed　till　she　shed　tears　when　sung　sometimes　by　the　merry　courtiers。

In　vain　the　grand…master　besought　them；　in　his　most　polished　manner；　not　to　sing　at　table。

〃We　have　been　so　long　forced　to　listen　to　the　dull；　screeching　discord　of　your　singers；　that　we　must　have　some　compensation！〃　said　they。　〃Besides；〃　said　Belleville；　in　a　loud　voice；　〃it　belongs　now　to　bon　ton　to　sing　at　the　table；　and　the　Prussian　court　should　thank　us　for　introducing　this　new　Parisian　mode。〃

They　sang；　chatted；　laughed；　and　almost　overpowered　the　music　by　their　boisterous　levity。　Their　presumptuous　revelry　seemed　to　be　every　moment　on　the　increase。　The　Austrian　and　Russian　officers　looked　upon　them　with　disgust　and　alarm；　and　entreated　them　to　desist；　but　the　French　officers　were　regardless　of　all　etiquette。　During　the　dessert；　Belleville　and　some　of　his　friends　arose　and　drew　near　the　table　at　which　the　queen　and　the　princesses　were　seated；　this　was　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　and　slightly　separated　from　the　other　tables。　They　gazed　at　the　princesses　with　insolent　eyes；　and；　placing　themselves　behind　the　chair　of　the　queen；　they　began　to　crack　nuts　with　their　teeth；　and　throw　the　shells　carelessly　upon　the　floor；　near　her　majesty。

The　queen　continued　a　quiet　conversation　with　the　Princess　Wilhelmina；　and　appeared　wholly　unconscious　of　this　rudeness　and　vulgarity；　but　her　face　was　pallid；　and　her　eyes　filled　with　tears。

〃I　pray　your　majesty　to　rise　from　the　table！〃　said　the　Princess　Wilhelmina。　〃Look　at　the　Princess　Amelia；　her　countenance　glows　with　anger；　there　is　a　tempest　on　her　brow；　and　it　is　about　to　burst　upon　us。〃

〃You　are　right；　that　is　the　best　way　to　end　this　torture。〃　She　rose　from　the　table；　and　gave　a　sign　for　a　general　movement。　When　the　queen　and　her　suite　had　left　the　room；　Baron　Marshal　drew　near　Count　Belleville。

〃Sir。〃　said　he。　〃I　told　you　before　that　I　was　not　sufficiently　credulous　to　take　you　for　a　nobleman。　Your　conduct　at　the　table　has　proved　that　I　did　well　to　doubt　you。　Yourself　and　friends　have　shown　that　you　are　strangers　to　the　duties　of　cavaliers；　and　utterly　ignorant　of　the　manners　of　good　society。〃

〃Ah！〃　cried　Belleville；　〃this　offence　demands　satisfaction。〃

〃I　am　ready　to　grant　it；〃　said　Baron　Marshal；　〃name　the　time　and　place　of　meeting。〃

〃You　know　well；〃　cried　Belleville；　〃that　I　am　a　prisoner；　and　have　given　my　word　of　honor　not　to　use　my　sword！〃

〃So　you　were　impertinent　and　shameless；　because　you　knew　you　were　safe？　You　knew　that；　thanks　to　your　word　of　honor；　you　could　not　be　chastised！〃

〃Sir；〃　cried　Belleville；　〃you　forget　that　you　speak　not　only　to　a　nobleman；　but　to　a　soldier。〃

〃　Well；　I　know　that　I　speak　to　a　Frenchman；　who　lost　his　powder…　mantle　and　pomatum…pot　at　Rossbach。〃

Belleville；　beside　himself　with　rage；　seized　his　sword；　and　half　drew　it　from　the　scabbard。

〃God　be　praised；　I　have　a　sword　with　which　to　revenge　insult！〃　he　cried。　〃I　have　given　my　word　not　to　use　it　on　the　battle…field　against　the　Prussians；　but　here　we　stand　as　private　adversaries；　man　to　man；　and　I　challenge　you；　sirI　challenge　you　to　mortal　combat。　I　will　have　satisfaction！　You　have　insulted　me　as　a　nobleman；　as　a　Frenchman；　and　as　a　soldier。　No　consideration　shall　restrain　me。　I　dare　not　use　my　swordwell；　then；　we　will　fight　with　pistols。　As　to　time　and　place；　expect　me　to…morrow；　at　eight　o'clock；　in　the　Thiergarden。〃

〃I　accept　the　conditions；　and　I　will　await　you　with　your　seconds；〃　said　Baron　Marshal。

〃If　the　baron　has　not　chosen　his　seconds；〃　said　a　soft　voice　behind　him；　〃I　beg　to　offer　my　services。〃

Baron　Marshal　turned；　and　saw　an　officer　in　the　Austrian　uniform。

〃Count　Ranuzi；〃　cried　Belleville；　astonished；　〃how；　monsieur！　you　offer　yourself　as　second　to　my　adversary？　I　had　thought　to　ask　this　service　of　you。〃

〃I　suspected　so；　〃said　Ranuzi；　with　his　accustomed　calm　and　quiet　manner；　〃therefore　I　anticipated　you。　The　right　is　certainly　on　the　side　of　Baron　Marshal；　and　in　offering　myself　as　his　second。　I　do　so　in　the　name　of　all　the　Austrian　officers　who　are　present。　They　have　all　seen　the　events　of　this　evening　with　painful　indignation。　Without　doubt　the　world　will　soon　be　acquainted　with　them；　we　wish　to　make　an　open；　public　demonstration　that　we　wholly　disapprove　the　conduct　of　the　French　officers。　The　nutshells　thrown　behind　the　fauteuil　of　the　queen　have　made　us　your　adversaries；　Count　Belleville。〃

〃That　is　not　the　occasion　of　this　duel；　but　the　affront　offered　me　by　Baron　Marshal；〃　cried　Belleville。　〃This　being　the　case；　will　you　still　be　the　second　of　my　opponent？〃

〃I　was　compelled　to　insult　you；〃　said　Baron　Marshal；　〃because　you　would　have　given　me　no　satisfaction　for　the　nutshells　thrown　behind　the　fauteuil　of　the　queen；　but　be　assured　that　I　don't　fight　with　you　in　order　that　you　may　wash　out　my　offence　with　my　blood；　but　wholly　and　alone　that　your　blood　may　wash　away　the　nutshells　from　the　feet　of　the　queen。〃

Baron　Marshal　then　turned　to　Ranuzi。　〃I　accept　your　offer；　sir；　and　rejoice　to　make　the　acquaintance　of　a　true　nobleman。　Have　the　goodness　to　meet　the　seconds　of　Count　Belleville；　and　make　all　necessary　arrangements。　I　will　call　for　you　early　in　the　morning。　I　only　say　further　that　it　is　useless　to　make　any　attempts　at　reconciliationI　shall　not　listen　to　them。　Prussia　and　France　are　at　war。　My　great　king　has　made　no　peaceI　also　will　not　hear　of　it。　The　nutshells　lie　behind　the　fauteuil　of　the　queen；　and　only　the　blood　of　Count　Belleville　can　wash　them　away。〃

He　bowed　to　Ranuzi；　and　joined　his　daughter；　who；　pale　and　trembling；　awaited　him　in　the　next　room。

〃Oh；　father；〃　said　she；　with　tears　gushing　from　her　eyes；　〃your　life　is　in　dangeryou　meet　death　on　my　account　I〃

〃No；　thank　God；　my　child；　your　name　will　not　be　mixed　up　in　this　affair。　No　one　can　say　that　the　mortified　father　revenged　an　insult　offered　to　his　daughter。　I　fight　this　duel　not　for　you；　but　because　of　the　nutshells　behind　the　fauteuil　of　the　queen。〃




CHAPTER　IX。

THE　DUEL　AND　ITS　CONSEQUENCES。


Early　in　the　morning　two　horsemen　dashed　down　the　Linden。　Their　loud　conversation；　their　pert　and　noisy　laughter；　aroused　the　curiosity　of　the　porters　who　stood　yawning　in　the　house…doors；　and　the　maids　opened　the　windows　and　gazed　curiously　at　the　two　gallant　French　officers　who　were　taking　such　an　early　ride　to　the　Thiergarden。　When　the　girls　were　young　and　pretty；　Belleville　threw　them　a　kiss　as　he　passed　by；　and　commanded　them　to　give　it　with　his　tenderest　greeting　to　their　fair　mistress。

〃Happily；〃　said　his　companion；　〃these　good　Berliners　do　not　understand　our　speech　sufficiently　to　inform　their　mistresses　of　this　last　insolence　of　Count　Belleville。〃

〃They　do　not；　but　their　mistresses　do；　and　I　cannot　think　that　they　are　still　sleeping。　No；　I　am　convinced　they　have　risen　early；　and　are　now　standing　behind　their　maids；　and　watching　us　go　by。　In　this　street　dwell　those　who　call　themselves　society；　they　were　at　the　castle　yesterday；　and　know　of　this　duel。　I　think　our　good　marquise　will　one　day　reward　me　richly　for　this　duel；　when　I　tell　her　I　stood　behind　the　queen　and　cracked　nuts　like　a　gamin　in　Paris；　and　that　I　was　shot　at　because　of　the　nutshells。　She　will　laugh　tearstears　which　I　will　strive　to　convert　into　diamonds　for　myself。〃

〃You　feel　assured　that　you　will　return　unharmed　from　this　duel？〃

〃Yes；　I　cannot　doubt　it。　I　always　won　the　prize　at　our　pistol…　shooting　in　Paris；　and　then；　this　stupid　Dutchman　is；　without　doubt；　horrified　at　the　thought　of　shooting　at　a　man；　and　not　at　a　mark。　No；　vraiment；　I　do　not　doubt　but　I　shall　be　victorious；　and　I　rejoice　in　anticipation　of　that　dejeuner　dinatoire　with　which　my　friends　will　celebrate　it。〃

〃But；〃　said　his　second；　〃let　us　for　a　moment　suppose　that　you　are　not　victorious；　one　must　ever　be　prepared　in　this　poor　world；　ruled　by　accident；　for　the　worst　that　can　befall。　In　case　you　fall；　have　you　no　last　commissions　to　give　me？〃

Count　Belleville　stopped　his　horse　as　they　were　in　the　act　of　entering　the　garden。

〃You　positively　insist　on　burying　me？　Well；　then。　I　will　make　my　last　will。　In　case　I　fall　go　instantly　to　my　quarters；　open　my　writing…desk；　and　press　upon　a　small　button　you　will　see　on　the　left　side；　there　you　will　find　letters　and　papers；　tie　them　carefully；　and　send　them　in　the　usual　way　to　Countess　Bernis。　As　to　my　heritage；　you　know　I　have　no　gold；　I　leave　nothing　but　debts　My　clothes　you　can　give　to　my　faithful　servant；　Francois；　for　the　last　year　I　have　paid　him　no　wages　Now　my　testament　is　madeno；　stop；　I　had　forgotten　the　most　important　item。　Should　the　inconceivable；　the　unimaginable　happen；　should　this　Dutch　villagedevil　slay　me；　I　make　it　the　duty　of　the　French　officers　here　to　revenge　me　on　the　haughty　daughter　of　my　adversary；　and　on　all　these　dull　and　prudish　beauties。　They　must　carry　out　what　I　intended　yesterday。　I　have　drawn　a　few　sketches　and　added　a　few　notes；　make　as　many　copies　as　are　required；　and　paste　them　on　the　designated　places。　If　I　fall；　this　must　be　done　the　following　night；　that　my　wandering　soul　may　find　repose　in　the　sweet　consciousness　of　revenge。　If　my　enemy's　ball　strikes　me；　hasten　forward；　and；　before　any　one　dares　lay　his　hand　upon　me；　take　from　my　breast…pocket　a　paper；　which　you　will　find　there；　and　conceal　it；　it　is　the　drawing；　and　it　is　my　legacy　to　my　comrades。　Swear　to　me　to　do　as　I　have　said。〃

〃I　swear！〃

〃And　now；　mon　ami；　let　us　forget　this　stupid　thought　of　death；　and　look　life　saucily　and　merrily　in　the　face。　Life　will　not　have　the　courage　to　break　with　a　brave　son　of　la　belle　France。〃

Belleville　drew　his　bridle　suddenly；　and　sprang　through　the　gate　into　the　garden；　turning　to　the　right；　they　rode　for　some　time　under　the　shadow　of　the　trees；　then　through　a　side　allee；　which　led　to　an　open　place　surrounded　by　lofty　oaks。　At　this　moment　he　heard　the　roll　of　an　open　carriage；　and　turning；　he　saluted　gayly　the　two　gentlemen　who　were　seated　in　it；　he　checked　his　horse　suddenly　in　order　to　ride　by　their　side；　and　provoking　the　beautiful　and　noble　beast　by　the　rude　use　of　his　spurs；　he　forced　it　into　many　difficult　and　artistic　evolutions。　Arrived　at　the　place　of　rendezvous；　he　sprang　lightly　from　the　saddle　and　fastened　his　horse　to　a　tree；　then　drew　near　Baron　Marshal；　who；　with　Ranuzi；　was　just　descending　from　the　carriage。

〃No　man　could　be　more　prudent　than　yourself；　sir；〃　said　he；　laughing；　〃to　come　to　a　rendezvous　in　a　carriage；　truly；　that　is　a　wise　and；　I　think　on　this　occasion；　well…grounded　precaution。〃

〃A　forethought　which　I　have　exercised　on　your　account；〃　said　the　baron；　gravely。　〃You；　sir；　will　require　a　carriage；　and　knowing　you；　as　a　stranger；　had　no　carriage　in　Berlin；　I　brought　mine。　It　shall　be　at　your　service。〃

〃Vraiment！　you　are　too　good！　I　hope；　however；　not　to　make　use　of　your　offer。〃

Now；　according　to　custom；　Ranuzi　drew　near　the　baron　to　make　a　last　attempt　at　reconciliation。　He　answered　sternly：　〃You　know　that　I　am　not　to　blame；　and　therefore　will　take　no　step　in　this　matter。　I　suppose；　Count　Belleville　is　as　little　disposed　as　myself　to　make　apologies。〃

〃I　intend　to　prove　to　you；　sir　baron；　that　I　am　a　nobleman　and　a