frederick the great and his family-第73章

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ed　as　myself　to　make　apologies。〃

〃I　intend　to　prove　to　you；　sir　baron；　that　I　am　a　nobleman　and　a　brave　one；　and　as　to　the　nuts　which　I　cracked　behind　the　queen；　my　only　regret　is；　that　they；　like　every　thing　else　in　your　detested　Berlin；　were　hollow〃

〃No；　sir；　they　were　not　at　all　hollow；〃　said　Baron　Marshal；　drawing　up　the　cock　of　his　pistol；　〃in　one　of　those　nuts　I　saw　a　death…worm；　which　will　soon　bore　into　your　flesh。〃

He　bowed　to　Belleville　and　took　the　place　pointed　out　by　his　second。　The　second　of　Belleville　then　drew　near；　and　led　him　to　the　outermost　point　of　the　line。

The　Frenchman　laughed　aloud。　〃How；〃　said　he；　〃you　will　take　me　to　the　end　of　the　world　to　secure　me　from　the　ball　of　my　enemy？〃

〃Sir；〃　said　the　grave　and　solemn　voice　of　the　baron；　〃you　will　still　be　too　near　me。〃

〃Well；　sir　baron；　I　give　you　precedence；〃　said　Belleville；　laughing；　〃though；　I　believe；　I　have　the　right；　but　age　must　have　the　precedencefire；　sir。〃

〃No；　young　man；〃　said　Marshal；　sadly；　〃I　will　grant　you　one　more　glance　at　the　glad　sun　and　the　fresh；　green　earth；　you　shall　fire　first；　and　I　council　you　to　lay　aside　your　levity；　let　your　hand　be　firm　and　your　aim　steady；　if　you　fail；　you　are　lost。　I　am　a　good　shot；　and　I　am　without　mercy。〃

There　was　something　so　convincing；　so　gloomy　in　his　tone；　that　Belleville　was　involuntarily　affected　by　it。　For　the　first　time　his　brow　was　clouded；　and　a　slight　pallor　took　possession　of　his　cheek；　but　he　forced　back　this　prophetic　shudder　quickly；　and　raised　his　pistol　with　a　firm　hand。

Far　away；　in　the　still　park；　sounded　the　echo　of　his　shot；　but　opposite　to　him　stood　his　adversary；　firm　and　calm　as　before；　with　his　eye　fixed　steadily　upon　him。

Belleville　threw　his　pistol　to　the　ground；　and　drawing　his　gold　snuff…box　from　his　vest…pocket　with　his　small　white　hands；　adorned　with　cuffs　of　lace；　he　played　carelessly　upon　the　lid；　then　opened　it；　and　slowly　and　gracefully　took　a　pinch　of　snuff；　saying；　coolly；　〃I　await　your　ball。〃

Marshal　raised　his　pistol　and　aimed　directly　at　the　head　of　his　enemy；　who　looked　him　firmly　in　the　eye。　The　appearance　of　this　youthful；　fresh；　and　brave　face　softened；　against　his　will；　the　noble　and　magnanimous　soul　of　this　good　man。　He　let　his　arm　fall。　〃Sir；〃　said　he；　〃you　are　so　young；　perhaps　your　life　may　improve。　I　will　not　kill　you。　But　you　need　for　this　life　a　great；　impressive　lesson　and　a　lasting　warning。　I　will　therefore　shoot　you　through　the　right　leg；　just　above　the　knee。〃　＇Footnote：　The　words　of　Baron　Marshal。See　Thiebault。＇　He　raised　the　pistol　quickly；　and　fired。　As　the　smoke　was　lifted；　Belleville　was　seen　lying　bleeding　on　the　ground。　The　shot　had　gone　right　through　the　knee　and　broken　the　knee…pan。

As　his　second　bowed　over　him；　Belleville　whispered；　with　broken　eyes　and　trembling　lips：　〃My　legacy！　do　not　forget　my　legacy！　I　believe　I　shall　die；　this　pain　is　horrible。〃

The　Frenchman　took　the　paper　from　his　pocket　and　concealed　it　〃I　will　be　avenged；〃　said　Belleville；　with　a　convulsive　smile；　then　sank　into　unconsciousness。

Belleville　was　placed　in　the　carriage　of　Baron　Marshal　and　carried　to　the　city。　Baron　Marshal　went　immediately　to　the　commandant　of　Berlin；　gave　notice　of　what　had　taken　place；　and　declared　himself　under　arrest。

The　commandant　took　his　hand　kindly。　〃The　laws　forbid　duelling；　and　I　must　consider　you　under　arrest　until　I　receive　further　orders。　That　is　to　say；　house…arrest；　you　must　give　me　your　word　not　to　leave　your　house。　I　will　send　a　courier　immediately　to　the　king。　I　was　in　the　castle　last　night；　and　witness　to　all　the　circumstances　which　led　to　this　duel；　witnessed　the　conduct　of　these　Frenchmen；　and　in　your　place　I　would　have　acted　just　as　you　have　done。〃

The　French　officers　fulfilled　the　vow　they　had　made　to　their　wounded　comrade；　they　had　promised　to　revenge　him　on　Fraulein　Marshal　and　the　other　ladies　of　the　court。

The　morning　after　the　duel；　on　the　corners　of　all　the　principal　streets；　placards　were　pasted；　which　were　soon　surrounded　by　crowds　of　men；　exhibiting　astonishment　and　indignation。　These　placards　contained　a　register　of　all　the　young　and　beautiful　women　of　the　court　and　city；　to　these　names　were　added　a　frivolous　and　voluptuous　personal　description　of　every　lady；　and　to　this　the　name　of　the　French　officer　which　each　was　supposed　to　favor。　＇Footnote：　Thiebault；　p。　90。＇

An　outcry　of　scorn　and　rage　was　heard　throughout　Berlin；　every　one　was　excited　at　the　boundless　shamelessness　of　the　French　officers；　and　on　this　occasion　the　mass　of　the　people　took　the　part　of　the　rich　and　the　distinguished；　whom　generally　they　envied　and　despised。　They　felt　themselves　aggrieved　by　the　contempt　and　ridicule　which　these　Frenchmen　had　cast　upon　the　daughters　of　Prussians；　and　no　police　force　was　necessary　to　tear　these　placards　from　the　walls；　they　were　torn　off　and　trampled　under　foot；　or　torn　into　a　thousand　pieces　and　scattered　to　the　winds。　If　a　Frenchman　dared　to　show　himself　on　the　street；　he　was　received　with　curses　and　threats；　and　the　police　were　obliged　to　forbid　them　to　appear　in　any　public　place；　as　they　feared　they　would　not　be　able　to　protect　them　from　the　fierce　indignation　of　the　people。　The　doors　of　all　the　prominent　houses；　in　which　heretofore　they　had　received　so　much　attention；　were　now　closed　against　them。　The　commandant　of　Berlin　had　sent　a　detailed　account　of　the　conduct　of　the　French　officers　to　the　king；　and　the　answer　had　been　received。

Eight　days　after　the　placards　had　been　pasted　up　by　the　Frenchmen；　exactly　upon　the　same　places　new　placards　were　to　be　found；　around　which　the　people　were　again　assembled；　on　every　face　was　seen　a　happy　smile；　from　every　lip　was　heard　expressions　of　harmony　and　approbation。　This　was　a　greeting　of　the　king　not　only　to　his　Berliners；　but　to　Prussia　and　to　the　world；　he　was　now　〃the　Great　Frederick；〃　and　all　Europe　listened　when　he　spake。　Frederick's　greeting　read　thus：

〃It　is　known　to　all　Europe　that　I　have　provided　every　possible　comfort　to　all　officers　who　are　prisoners　of　war。　Swedes；　Frenchmen；　Russians；　Austrians　I　have　allowed　to　pass　the　time　of　their　captivity　at　my　capital。　Many　among　them　have　taken　advantage　of　the　confidence　reposed　in　them　and　carried　on　a　forbidden　correspondence；　they　have　also；　by　unmannerly　and　presumptuous　conduct；　greatly　abused　the　privileges　allowed　them；　I　therefore　feel　myself　constrained　to　send　them　to　Spandau；　which　city　must　not　be　confounded　with　the　fortress　of　the　same　name　at　Spandau；　they　will　be　no　more　restricted　than　in　Berlin；　but　they　will　be　more　closely　watched。〃

〃For　this　decision　I　cannot　be　blamed。　The　law　of　nations　and　the　example　of　my　allied　enemies　justify　me　fully。　The　Austrians　have　not　allowed　any　of　my　officers　who　have　fallen　into　their　hands　to　go　to　Vienna。　The　Russians　have　sent　their　captives　to　Kasan。　My　enemies　lose　no　opportunity　to　give　a　false　aspect　to　my　acts；　I　have；　therefore；　thought　it　wise　to　make　known　the　causes　which　lead　me　to　change　my　policy　with　regard　to　the　prisoners　of　war。〃

〃FREDERICK。〃

Two　of　the　officers；　with　whom　we　are　acquainted；　were　not　included　in　this　sentence　of　banishment。

One　was　Count　Belleville。　On　the　day　that　his　comrades；　deprived　of　their　swords；　left　Berlin；　his　corpse　was　carried　through　the　outer　gate。　The　shot　of　Baron　Marshal　made　an　amputation　necessary；　and　death　was　the　consequence。　While　his　friends；　whose　condemnation　he　had　brought　about；　marched　sadly　to　Spandau；　his　body　was　laid　in　the　〃Friedhof。〃　To　the　corpse　had　been　granted　a　favor　denied　to　the　livinghis　sword　was　allowed　to　deck　his　coffin。

The　Austrian　officer；　Ranuzi；　because　of　his　wise　and　prudent　conduct　and　the　powerful　support　he　gave　to　Baron　Marshal；　was　permitted　to　remain　in　Berlin。　Ranuzi　received　this　permission　with　triumphant　joy。　As　he　looked　from　his　window　at　the　prisoners　marching　toward　Spandau；　he　said　with　a　proud　smile〃It　is　written；　'Be　wise　as　a　serpent。'　These　fools　have　not　regarded　the　words　of　Holy　Writ；　and　therefore　they　are　punished；　while　I　shall　be　rewarded。　Yes；　my　work　will　succeed！　God　gives　me　a　visible　blessing。　Patience；　then；　patience！　A　day　will　come　when　I　will　take　vengeance　on　this　haughty　enemy　of　the　Church。　On　that　day　the　colors　of　the　apostolic　majesty　of　Austria　shall　be　planted　on　the　fortress　of　Magdeburg！〃




CHAPTER　X。

THE　FIVE　COURIERS。


It　was　the　morning　of　the　thirteenth　of　August。　The　streets　of　Berlin　were　quiet　and　empty。　Here　and　there　might　be　seen　a　workman　with　his　axe　upon　his　shoulder；　or　a　tradesman　stepping　slowly　to　his　comptoir。　The　upper　circle　of　Berlin　still　slumbered　and　refreshed　itself　after　the　emotions　and　excitements　of　yesterday。

Yesterday　had　been　a　day　of　rejoicing；　it　had　brought　the　news　of　the　great　and　glorious　victory　which　the　crown　prince；　Ferdinand　of　Brunswick；　had　gained　at　Minden；　over　the　French　army　under　Broglie　and　Contades。

The　crown　prince　had　ever　remembered　that　great　moment　in　the　beginning　of　the　war；　when　his　mother　took　leave　of　him　in　the　presence　of　the　Brunswick　regiments。　Embracing　him　for　the　last　time；　she　said：　〃I　forbid　you　to　appear　before　me　till　you　have　performed　deeds　of　valor　worthy　of　your　birth　and　your　allies！〃　＇Footnote：　Bodman。＇

Her　son；　the　worthy　nephew　of　Frederick　the　Great　had　now　bought　the　right　to　appear　before　his　mother。

By　the　victories　of　Gotsfeld　and　Minden　he　had　now　wiped　out　the　defeat　at　Bergen；　and　the　laurels　which　Brissac　had　won　there　were　now　withered　and　dead。

Berlin　had　just　received　this　joyful　news。　After　so　much　sorrow；　so　much　humiliation　and　disappointment；　she　might　now　indulge　herself　in　a　day　of　festal　joy；　and；　by　public　declarations　and　testimonials；　make　known　to　the　world　how　dear　to　her　heart　was　this　victory　of　her　king　and　his　generals；　and　how　deep　and　warm　was　the　sympathy　she　felt。

All　work　was　set　aside　in　honor　of　this　great　celebrationthe　people　were　spread　abroad　in　the　meadows　and　woods；　shouting　and　rejoicing；　playing　and　dancing；　the　rich　and　the　distinguished　joined　them　without　ceremony；　to　prove　to　the　world　that　in　such　great　moments；　all　differences　of　rank　were　forgottenthat　they　were　all　members　of　one　bodyunited　in　joy　and　in　sorrow　by　an　electric　chain。

So　they　slumbered　on；　the　streets　were　still　empty；　the　windows　still　closed。

But　see！　There　comes　a　horseman　through　the　Frankfort　gate；　dusty　and　breathless；　his　glowing　face　was　radiant　with　joy！　As　he　dashed　through　the　streets　he　waved　a　white　handkerchief　high　in　the　air；　and　with　a　loud　and　powerful　voice；　cried　out；　〃Victory！　victory！〃

This　one　word　had　a　magic　influence。　The　windows　flew　up；　the　doors　were　dashed　open；　and　shouting　and　screaming　crowds　of　men　rushed　after　the　horseman。　At　a　corner　they　surrounded　his　horse　and　compelled　him　to　stop。　〃Who　is　victorious？〃　cried　they　tumultuously。

〃The　kingthe　great　Frederick！　He　has　whipped　the　Russians　at　Kunersdorf！〃

A　cry　of　rapture　burst　from　every　lip。　〃The　king　is　victorious！　he　has　defeated　the　Russians！〃

Onward　flew　the　courier　to　the　palace；　after　him　streamed　the　mad　people。　〃The　days　of　mourning　are　overthe　blood　of　our　sons　has　not　been　shed　in　vain；　they　are　the　honored　deadtheir　death　brought　victo