frederick the great and his family-第79章

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barbarous　speech；　but　when　they　drew　near　and　saw　the　Austrian　uniforms；　they　passed　them　quietly；　and　were　not　surprised　they　had　not　given　the　pass…word。

At　last　they　passed　the　battle…field；　and　came　on　the　open　plain；　at　the　end　of　which　they　perceived　the　camp…fires　of　the　Russians　and　Austrians。　The　nearer　they　approached；　the　more　lively　was　the　scene。　Shouts；　laughter；　loud　calls；　and　outcriesfrom　time　to　time　a　word　of　command。　And　in　the　midst　of　this　mad　confusion；　here　and　there　soldiers　were　running；　market…women　offering　them　wares　cheap；　and　exulting　soldiers　assembling　around　the　camp…fires。　From　time　to　time　the　regular　step　of　the　patrouille　was　heard；　who　surrounded　the　camp；　and　kept　a　watchful　eye　in　every　direction。

Arm　in　arm　they　passed　steadily　around　the　camp。　〃One　thing　I　know；〃　whispered　Fritz　Kober；　〃they　have　no　thought　of　marching。　They　will　pass　a　quiet；　peaceful　night　by　their　camp…fires。〃

〃I　agree　with　you；〃　said　Charles　Henry；　〃but　let　us　go　forward　and　listen　a　little；　perhaps　we　can　learn　where　the　generals　are　quartered。〃

〃Look；　look！　it　must　he　there；〃　said　Fritz　Kober；　hastily。

〃There　are　no　camp…fires；　but　there　is　a　brilliant　light　in　the　peasants'　huts；　and　it　appears　to　me　that　I　see　a　guard　before　the　doors。　These；　certainly；　are　the　headquarters。〃

〃Let　us　go　there；　then；〃　said　Charles　Henry；　〃but　we　must　approach　the　houses　from　behind；　and　thus　avoid　the　guard。〃

They　moved　cautiously　around；　and　drew　near　the　houses。　Profound　quiet　reigned　in　this　neighborhood；　it　was　the　reverence　of　subordinationthe　effect　which　the　presence　of　superior　officers　ever　exercises　upon　their　men。　Here　stood　groups　of　officers；　lightly　whispering　togetherthere　soldiers　were　leading　their　masters'　horses；　not　far　off　orderlies　were　waiting　on　horseback　sentinels　with　shouldered　arms　were　going　slowly　by。　The　attention　of　all　seemed　to　be　fixed　upon　the　two　small　houses；　and　every　glance　and　every　ear　was　turned　eagerly　toward　the　brilliantly　lighted　windows。

〃We　have　hit　the　mark　exactly；〃　whispered　Fritz　Kober；　he　had　succeeded　with　his　friend　in　forcing　his　way　into　the　little　alley　which　separated　the　two　houses。　〃We　have　now　reached　the　head…　quarters　of　the　generals。　Look！　there　is　an　Austrian　sentinel　with　his　bear's　cap。　Both　the　Austrian　and　Russian　generals　are　here。〃

〃　Let　us　watch　the　Russians　a　little　through　the　window；〃　said　Charles　Henry；　slipping　forward。

They　reached　the　corner；　and　were　hidden　by　the　trunk　of　a　tree　which　overshadowed　the　huts。　Suddenly　they　heard　the　word　of　command；　and　there　was　a　general　movement　among　the　files　of　soldiers　assembled　about　the　square。　The　officers　placed　themselves　in　rank；　the　soldiers　presented　arms；　for；　at　this　moment；　the　Austrian　General　Loudon；　surrounded　by　his　staff；　stepped　from　one　of　the　small　houses　into　the　square。　The　Cossacks；　who　were　crouched　down　on　the　earth　before　the　door；　raised　themselves；　and　also　presented　arms。

While　Loudon　stood　waiting；　the　two　Prussian　grenadiers　slipped　slyly　to　the　other　hut。

〃Let　us　go　behind；〃　whispered　Charles　Henry。　〃There　are　no　sentinels　there；　and　perhaps　we　may　find　a　door；　and　get　into　the　house。〃

Behind　the　hut　was　a　little　garden　whose　thick　shrubs　and　bushes　gave　complete　concealment　to　the　two　grenadiers。　Noiselessly　they　sprang　over　the　little　fence；　and　made　a　reconnoissance　of　the　terrainunseen；　unnoticed；　they　drew　near　the　house。　As　they　stepped　from　behind　the　bushes；　Fritz　Kober　seized　his　friend's　arm；　and　with　difficulty　suppressed　a　cry　of　joy。

The　scene　which　was　presented　to　them　was　well　calculated　to　rejoice　the　hearts　of　brave　soldiers。　They　had　reached　the　goal；　and　might　now　hope　to　fulfil　the　wishes　of　their　king。　The　quarters　of　the　Russian　general　were　plainly　exposed　to　them。　In　this　great　room；　which　was　evidently　the　ball…room　of　the　village；　at　a　long　oak…　table；　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　sat　General　Soltikow；　and　around　him　sat　and　stood　the　generals　and　officers。　At　the　door；　half　a　dozen　Cossacks　were　crouching；　staring　sleepily　on　the　ground。　The　room　was　brilliantly　illuminated　with　wax…lights；　and　gave　the　two　grenadiers　an　opportunity　of　seeing　it　in　every　part。　Fate　appeared　to　favor　them　in　every　way；　and　gave　them　an　opportunity　to　hear　as　well　as　see。　The　window　on　the　garden　was　opened　to　give　entrance　to　the　cool　night　air；　and　near　it　there　was　a　thick　branch　of　a　tree　in　which　a　man　could　conceal　himself。

〃Look　there；〃　said　Charles　Henry；　〃I　will　hide　in　that　tree。　We　will　make　our　observations　from　different　stand…points。　Perhaps　one　of　us　may　see　what　escapes　the　other。　Let　us　attend　closely；　that　we　may　tell　all　to　our　king。〃

No　man　in　this　room　guessed　that　in　the　silent　little　garden　four　flashing　eyes　were　observing　all　that　passed。

At　the　table　sat　the　Russian　commander…in…chief；　surrounded　by　his　generals　and　officers。　Before　him　lay　letters；　maps；　and　plans；　at　which　he　gazed　from　time　to　time；　while　he　dictated　an　account　of　the　battle　to　the　officer　sitting　near　him；　Soltikow　was　preparing　a　dispatch　for　the　Empress　Elizabeth。　A　few　steps　farther　off；　in　stiff　military　bearing；　stood　the　officers　who　were　giving　in　their　reports；　and　whose　statements　brought　a　dark　cloud　to　the　brow　of　the　victorious　commander。　Turning　with　a　hasty　movement　of　the　head　to　the　small　man　with　the　gold…embroidered　uniform　and　the　stiffly…　frizzed　wig；　he　said

〃Did　you　hear　that；　sir　marquis？　Ten　thousand　of　my　brave　soldiers　lie　dead　upon　the　battle…field；　and　as　many　more　are　severely　wounded。〃

〃It　follows　then；〃　said　the　Marquis　Montalembert；　the　French　commissioner　between　the　courts　of　Vienna；　Petersburg；　and　Paris；　〃it　follows　then；　that　the　king　of　Prussia　has　forty　thousand　dead　and　wounded；　and；　consequently；　his　little　army　is　utterly　destroyed。〃

〃Who　knows？〃　said　Soltikow；　〃the　king　of　Prussia　is　accustomed　to　sell　his　defeats　dearly。　I　should　not　be　at　all　surprised　if　he　had　lost　fewer　soldiers　than　we　have。〃　＇Footnote：　Soltikow's　own　words　See　Archenholtz；　p　206。＇　〃Well；　I　think　he　has　now　nothing　more　to　lose；〃　said　the　marquis；　laughing；　〃it　rests　with　you　to　give　the　last　coup　de　grace　to　this　conquered　and　flying　king；　and　forever　prevent〃

The　entrance　of　an　officer　interrupted　him。　The　officer　announced　General　von　Loudon。

Soltikow　arose；　and　advanced　to　the　door　to　welcome　the　Austrian　general。　A　proud　smile　was　on　his　face　as　he　gave　his　hand　to　Loudon；　he　did　this　with　the　air　of　a　gracious　superior　who　wished　to　be　benevolent　to　his　subordinate。

The　quick；　firm　glance　of　Loudon　seemed　to　read　the　haughty　heart　of　his　ally；　and；　no　doubt　for　this　reason；　he　scarcely　touched　Soltikow's　hand。　With　erect　head　and　proud　step　he　advanced　into　the　middle　of　the　room。

〃I　resolved　to　come　to　your　excellency；〃　said　Loudon；　in　a　sharp；　excited　tone；　〃you　have　a　large　room；　while　in　my　hut　I　could　scarcely　find　accommodation　for　you　and　your　adjutants。〃

〃You　come　exactly　at　the　right　hour；〃　said　Soltikow；　with　a　haughty　smile；　〃you　see；　we　were　about　to　hold　a　council　of　war；　and　consider　what　remains　to　be　done。〃

A　dark　and　scornful　expression　was　seen　in　Loudon's　countenance；　and　his　eyes　rested　fiercely　upon　the　smiling　face　of　Soltikow。

〃Impossible；　general！　you　could　not　have　held　a　council　of　war　without　me；〃　said　he；　angrily。

〃Oh；　be　composed；　general；〃　said　Soltikow；　smiling；　〃I　would；　without　doubt；　have　informed　you　immediately　of　our　conclusions。〃

〃I　suppose　you　could　not　possibly　have　come　to　any　conclusion　in　my　absence；〃　said　Loudon；　the　veins　in　whose　forehead　began　to　swell。

Soltikow　bowed　low；　with　the　same　unchanged　and　insolent　smile。

〃Let　us　not　dispute　about　things　which　have　not　yet　taken　place；　your　excellency。　The　council　of　war　had　not　commenced；　but　now　that　you　are　here；　we　may　begin。　Allow　me；　however；　first　to　sign　these　dispatches　which　I　have　written　to　my　gracious　sovereign；　announcing　the　victory　which　the　Russian　troops　have　this　day　achieved　over　the　army　of　the　King　of　Prussia。〃

〃Ah；　general；　this　time　I　am　in　advance　of　you；〃　cried　Loudon；　〃the　dispatches　are　already　sent　off　in　which　I　announced　to　my　empress　the　victory　which　the　Austrian　troops　gained　over　the　Prussians。〃

Soltikow　threw　his　head　back　scornfully；　and　his　little　gray　eyes　flashed　at　the　Austrian。

Loudon　went　on；　calmly：　〃I　assure　your　excellency　that　enthusiasm　at　our　glorious　victory　has　made　me　eloquent。　I　pictured　to　my　empress　the　picturesque　moment　in　which　the　conquering　Prussians　were　rushing　forward　to　take　possession　of　the　batteries　deserted　by　the　flying　Russians；　at　which　time　the　Austrian　horsemen　sprang；　as　it　were；　from　the　ground；　checked　the　conquerors；　and　forced　them　back；　and　by　deeds　of　lionlike　courage　changed　the　fate　of　the　day。〃

While　Loudon；　seeming　entirely　cool　and　careless；　thus　spoke；　the　face　of　the　Russian　general　was　lurid　with　rage。　Panting　for　breath；　he　pressed　his　doubled　fist　upon　the　table。

Every　one　looked　at　him　in　breathless　excitement　and　horrorall　knew　his　passionate　and　unrestrained　rage。　But　the　Marquis　Montalembert　hastened　to　prevent　this　outburst　of　passion；　and　before　Soltikow　found　breath　to　speak；　he　turned　with　a　gay　and　conciliating　expression　to　Loudon。

〃If　you　have　painted　the　battle　of　to…day　so　much　in　detail；〃　said　he；　〃you　have　certainly　not　forgotten　to　depict　the　gallant　conduct　of　the　Russian　troops　to　describe　that　truly　exalted　movement；　when　the　Russians　threw　themselves　to　the　earth；　as　if　dead；　before　advancing　columns　of　the　Prussian　army；　and　allowed　them　to　pass　over　them；　then；　springing　up；　shot　them　in　the　back。〃　＇Footnote：　Archenholtz；　Seven　Years'　War；　p。　257。＇

〃Certainly　I　did　not　forget　that；〃　said　Loudon；　whose　noble；　generous　heart　already　repented　his　momentary　passion　and　jealousy；　〃certainly；　I　am　not　so　cowardly　and　so　unconscionable　as　to　deny　the　weighty　share　which　the　Russian　army　merit　in　the　honor　of　this　day；　but　you　can　well　understand　that　I　will　not　allow　the　gallant　deeds　of　the　Austrians　to　be　swept　away。　We　have　fought　together　and　conquered　together；　and　now　let　us　rejoice　together　over　the　glorious　result。〃

Loudon　gave　his　hand　to　Soltikow　with　so　friendly　an　expression　that　he　could　not　withstand　it。　〃You　are　right；　Loudon；　we　will　rejoice　together　over　this　great　victory；〃　cried　he。　〃Wine；　here！　We　will　first　drink　a　glass　in　honor　of　the　triumph　of　the　day；　then　we　will　empty　a　glass　of　your　beautiful　Rhine　wine　to　the　friendship　of　the　Austrians　and　Russians。　Wine　here！　The　night　is　long　enough　for　council；　let　us　first　celebrate　our　victory。〃

The　Cossacks；　at　a　sign　from　the　adjutants；　sprang　from　the　floor　and　drew　from　a　corner　of　the　room　a　number　of　bottles　and　silver　cups；　which　they　hastened　to　place　upon　the　table。　The　secretaries　moved　the　papers；　maps；　etc。；　and　the　table；　which　a　moment　before　had　quite　a　business…like　aspect；　was　now　changed　into　an　enticing　buffet。

Soltikow　looked　on　enraptured；　but　the　marquis　cast　an　anxious　and　significant　look　upon　the　Austrian　general；　which　was　answered　with　a　slight　shrug　of　the　shoulders。　Both　knew　that　the　brave　General　Soltikow；　next　to　the　thunder　of　cannon　and　the　mad　whirl　of　batt