frederick the great and his family-第9章

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〃Poor　mother！　it　is　long　since　I　saw　you。〃

〃It　is　true；　the　queen　complained　of　it　the　last　time　I　spoke　with　her；〃　said　Pollnitz；　with　a　perfectly　serious　face；　but　with　inward　rejoicing。

Another　pause　ensued。　The　prince　appeared　to　reflect；　and　to　struggle　with　his　own　thoughts　and　wishes。　Pollnitz　stood　behind　him；　and　noted　every　motion；　every　sigh　that　he　uttered；　with　his　malicious　smiles。

〃I　believe；〃　said　the　prince；　with　still　averted　face；　perhaps　to　prevent　Pollnitz　from　seeing　his　blushes〃I　believe　it　would　be　proper　for　me　to　inquire　to…day　personally　after　my　mother's　health；　it　is　not　only　my　duty　to　do　so；　but　the　desire　of　my　heart。〃

〃Her　majesty　will　be　pleased　to　see　her　beloved　son　again；　and　this　pleasure　will　hasten　her　recovery。〃

The　prince　turned　hastily　and　glanced　sharply　at　Pollnitz；　as　if　he　wished　to　read　his　inmost　thoughts。　But　the　countenance　of　the　courtier　was　earnest　and　respectful。

〃If　that　is　your　opinion；〃　said　the　prince；　with　a　happy　smile；　〃my　duty　as　a　son　demands　that　I　should　hasten　to　the　queen；　and　I　will　go　immediately　to　Berlin。　But　as　I　am　going　to　my　mother；　and　solely　on　her　account；　I　will　do　it　in　the　proper　form。　Have；　therefore；　the　kindness　to　obtain　my　leave　of　the　kingbring　me　my　brother's　answer　immediately；　I　only　await　it　to　depart。〃

〃And　I　hasten　to　bring　it　to　your　highness；〃　said　Pollnitz；　withdrawing。

Prince　Henry　looked　thoughtfully　after　him。

〃I　shall　see　her；〃　he　murmured；　〃I　shall　speak　with　her；　and　shall　learn　why　she　withdrew　herself　so　long　from　me。　Oh；　I　know　she　will　be　able　to　justify　herself；　and　these　slanders　and　evil　reports　will　flee　before　her　glance　as　clouds　before　the　rays　of　the　sun。〃

In　the　mean　while；　Pollnitz　hastened　to　Sans　Souci；　where　he　was　immediately　received　by　the　king。

〃Your　majesty；〃　he　said；　joyfully；　〃the　young　lion　has　fallen　into　the　net　that　we　set　for　him。〃

〃He　goes　then　to　Berlin；　to　the　queen…mother？〃　asked　the　king；　quickly。

〃He　begs　your　majesty's　permission　to　take　this　little　trip。〃

〃He　really　charged　you　with　this　commission？〃

〃Yes；　sire：　it　appears　that　his　obstinacy　is　beginning　to　relent；　and　that　he　thinks　of　submitting。〃

The　king　was　silent；　and　walked　thoughtfully　to　and　fro；　with　clouded　brow；　then　remained　standing　before　Pollnitz；　and　looked　sharply　and　piercingly　at　him。

〃You　rejoice；〃　he　said；　coldly；　〃but　you　only　think　of　your　own　advantage。　You　are　indifferent　to　the　sorrow　we　are　preparing　for　my　brother。　You　only　think　that　your　debts　will　be　paid。　Yes；　I　will　pay　them；　but　I　shall　never　forget　that　you　have　betrayed　my　brother's　confidence。〃

〃I　only　acted　according　to　your　majesty's　commands；〃　said　Pollnitz；　confounded。　〃Certainly；　but　if　you　had　resisted　my　commands；　I　would　have　esteemed　and　prized　you　the　more。　Now；　I　shall　pay　your　debts；　but　I　shall　despise　you。　No　one　has　reasons　for　thanking　you。〃

〃Sire；　I　desire　no　other　thanks。　Had　I　been　paid　with　money　for　my　services；　instead　of　fine　speeches；　I　would　have　been　as　rich　as　Croesus。〃

〃And　a　beggar　in　virtue；〃　said　the　king；　smiling。　〃But　go；　I　was　wrong　to　reproach　you。　I　shall　now　go　to　Berlin；　and　when　my　brother　arrives　he　shall　find　me　there。　Go　now；　my　grand　chamberlain；　and　take　the　prince　my　permission　for　a　three　days'　absence。〃




CHAPTER　IX。

THE　FIRST　DISAPPOINTMENT。


A　few　hours　later　the　equipage　of　Prince　Henry　arrived　in　the　court…　yard　of　Monbijou；　and　the　prince　demanded　of　his　mother；　the　widowed　queen；　permission　to　pay　her　his　respects。

Sophia　Dorothea　was　suffering　greatly。　The　gout；　that　slow　but　fatal　disease；　which　does　not　kill　at　once；　but　limb　by　limb；　had　already　paralyzed　the　feet　of　the　poor　queen；　and　confined　her　to　her　chair。　To…day　her　sufferings　were　greater　than　usual；　and　she　was　not　able　to　leave　her　bed。　Therefore；　she　could　not　receive　the　prince　as　a　queen；　but　only　as　a　mother；　without　ceremony　or　etiquette。　That　the　meeting　might　be　entirely　without　constraint；　the　maids　of　honor　left　the　queen's　room；　and　as　the　prince　entered；　he　saw　the　ladies　disappearing　by　another　door；　the　last　one　had　just　made　her　farewell　bow；　and　was　kissing　respectfully　the　queen's　hand。

This　was　Louise　von　Kleist；　for　whose　sake　the　prince　had　come；　and　for　whom　his　heart　throbbed　painfully。　He　could　have　cried　aloud　for　joy　as　he　saw　her　in　her　bewildering　loveliness；　her　luxuriant　beauty。　He　longed　to　seize　her　hands　and　cover　them　with　kissesto　tell　her　how　much　he　had　suffered；　how　much　he　was　still　suffering　for　her　sake。

But　Louise　appeared　not　to　have　seen　him；　not　to　have　noticed　his　entrance。　She　had　only　eyes　and　ears　for　the　queen；　who　was　just　dismissing　her　with　winning　words；　telling　her　to　remain　in　the　castle　and　return　when　she　desired　to　see　her。

〃I　shall　remain　and　await　your　majesty's　commands；〃　said　Louise；　withdrawing　hastily。

The　queen　now　greeted　the　prince　as　if　she　had　just　observed　him；　and　invited　him　to　be　seated　on　the　fauteuil　near　her　couch。　The　prince　obeyed；　but　he　was　absent…minded　and　restless；　and　the　more　the　queen　endeavored　to　engage　him　in　harmless　and　unconstrained　conversation；　the　more　monosyllabic　and　preoccupied　he　became。　The　poor　prince　remembered　only　that　his　beloved　was　so　near；　that　only　a　door　separated　them；　and　prevented　him　from　gazing　on　her　beauty。

Yes；　Louise　was　really　in　the　next　room；　in　the　cabinet　of　the　queen；　sorrowful　and　exhausted；　she　had　fallen　upon　the　little　sofa　near　the　door；　the　smile　had　left　her　lips；　and　her　brilliant；　bewitching　eyes　were　filled　with　tears。　Louise　wept；　she　wept　for　her　last　youthful　dream；　her　last　hope　of　happiness　and　virtue；　for　her　sad；　shadowed　future　and　wounded　pride；　for　to…day　she　had　to　resign　forever　the　proud　hopes；　the　brilliant　future　for　which　she　had　striven　with　so　much　energy。

But　it　was　vain　to　struggle　against　this　hard　necessity。　The　king　had　given　her　his　orders　and　was　there　to　see　them　carried　out。　He　sat　behind　that　portiere　that　led　into　the　grand　saloon；　he　had　just　left　Louise；　and；　before　going；　had　said　to　her；　in　a　stern；　commanding　tone：

〃You　will　fulfil　my　commands　accurately。　You　know　that　Fritz　Wendel　still　lives；　and　that　I　shall　be　inexorable　if　you　do　not　act　as　you　have　promised。〃

Louise　submitted　respectfully　to　the　king's　commands；　she　accepted　her　fate；　but　she　wept　bitterly；　and　when　she　felt　that　the　king's　eyes　were　no　longer　upon　her；　her　tears　flowed　unceasingly。　Perhaps　Frederick　still　saw　her；　or　suspected　her　weakness；　for　the　portiere　opened　slightly；　and　his　noble；　but　stern　countenance　appeared。

〃Madame；〃　he　said；　〃if　the　prince　sees　you　with　tearful　eyes；　he　will　not　believe　in　your　happiness。〃

Louise　smiled　painfully。　〃Ah！　sire；　he　will　believe　I　am　weeping　for　joy。　I　have　often　heard　of　joyful　tears。〃

The　king　did　not　reply；　he　felt　for　her　agony；　and　closed　the　partiere。

〃I　will　cry　no　more；〃　she　said；　〃I　have　accepted　my　destiny；　and　will　fulfil　it　bravely　for　the　sake　of　my　daughter。　It　concerns　Camilla's　happiness　more　than　my　own。　I　will　deserve　the　respect　of　my　unfortunate　child。〃

In　saying　this；　a　smile　like　a　sunbeam　illuminated　her　countenance。　But　now　she　started　up；　and　laid　her　hand　in　terror　upon　her　heart。　She　heard　steps　approaching。　The　door　moved；　and　in　a　moment　the　king　appeared　and　motioned　to　her。

〃Courage；　courage！〃　murmured　Louise；　and　with　instinctive　fear　she　flew　away　from　the　door　and　placed　herself　in　the　niche　of　the　last　window。

To　reach　her；　the　prince　must　cross　the　saloon；　that　would　give　her　a　few　moments　to　recover。　The　door　opened　and　Prince　Henry　entered；　his　glance　flew　quickly　over　the　saloon；　and　found　the　one　he　sought。

Louise　could　have　shrieked　with　agony　when　she　saw　the　tender　smile　with　which　he　greeted　her。　Never　had　he　appeared　so　handsome；　so　noble　as　at　this　moment；　when　she　must　resign　him　forever。

But　there　was　no　time　to　think　of　this；　no　time　for　complaints　or　regrets。　He　was　there；　he　stood　before　her；　offered　both　his　hands；　and　greeted　her　with　the　tenderest　words　of　love。

Louise　had　a　stern　part　to　play；　and　she　dared　not　listen　to　her　heart's　pleadings。

〃Ah；　my　prince；〃　she　said；　with　a　laugh　that　sounded　to　herself　like　the　wail　of　a　lost　soul〃ah；　my　prince；　take　care！　we　women　are　very　credulous；　and　I　might　take　your　jesting　words　for　truth。〃

〃I　advise　you　to　do　so；〃　said　the　prince；　happy　and　unconcerned。　〃Yes；　Louise；　I　advise　you　to　do　so；　for　you　know　well　that　my　jesting　words　have　an　earnest　meaning。　And　now　that　we　are　alone；　we　will　dispense　with　ceremony。　You　must　justify　yourself　before　a　lovera　lover　who　is　unfortunately　very　jealous。　Yes；　yes；　Louise；　that　is　my　weakness；　I　do　not　deny　it；　I　am　jealousjealous　of　all　those　who　keep　you　from　me；　who　prevent　my　receiving　your　letters。〃

〃My　letters！〃　said　Louise；　astonished；　〃why　should　I　have　written　letters　to　your　highness？　I　do　not　believe　it　is　the　custom　for　ladies　to　write　to　gentlemen　voluntarily。　It　has　been　two　weeks　since　I　received　a　letter　from　your　highness。〃

〃Because　it　was　impossible　for　my　messenger　to　deliver　them；　Louise：　you　were　so　unapproachable；　at　least　for　me。　But　you　must　have　known　that　my　thoughts　were　always　with　you；　that　my　heart　pined　for　news　and　comfort　from　you。〃

〃Non；　vraiment；　I　did　not　know　it；〃　said　Louise；　laughingly。

〃You　did　not　know　it？〃　asked　Henry；　wonderingly。　〃Well；　what　did　you　suppose？〃

〃I　thought；〃　she　said；　carelessly〃I　thought　that　Prince　Henry　had　overcome　or　forgotten　his　little　folly　of　the　carnival。〃

〃And　then？〃

〃Then　I　determined　to　follow　his　example。　Then　I　preached　a　long　sermon　to　my　foolish　eyesthey　were　misty　with　tears。　Listen；　I　said　to　them：　'You　foolish　things　you　have　no　reason　to　weep；　you　should　always　look　bright　and　dazzling；　even　if　you　never　see　Prince　Henry　again。　Really；　the　absence　of　the　prince　has　been　most　fortunate　for　you。　You　might　have　whispered　all　kinds　of　foolish　things　to　my　weak　heart。　The　prince　is　young；　handsome；　and　amiable；　and　it　amuses　him　to　win　the　love　of　fair　ladies。　Had　you　seen　him　more　frequently；　it　is　possible　he　might　have　succeeded　with　poor　Louise；　and　the　little　flirtation　we　carried　on　together　would　have　resulted　in　earnest　love　on　my　part。　That　would　have　been　a　great　misfortune。　Laugh　and　look　joyous；　beautiful　eyes；　you　have　saved　me　from　an　unrequited　love。　You　should　not　weep；　but　rejoice。　Look　around　and　find　another　suitor；　who　would；　perhaps；　love　me　so　fondly　that　he　could　not　forget　me　in　a　few　days；　whose　love　I　might　return　with　ardor。'　This；　my　prince；　is　the　sermon　I　preached　to　my　eyes　when　they　grew　dim　with　tears。〃

〃And　was　your　sermon　effective？〃　said　the　prince；　with　pale；　trembling　lips。　〃Did　your　eyes；　those　obedient　slaves；　look　around　and　find　another　lover？〃

〃Ah！　your　highness；　how　can　you　doubt　it？　My　eyes　are　indeed　my　slaves；　and　must　obey。　Yes；　they　looked　and　found　the　happiness　they　sought。〃

〃What　happiness；〃　asked　Henry；　apparently　quite　tranquil；　but　he　pressed　his　hand　nervously　on　the　chair　that　stood　by　him〃what　happiness　did　your　eyes　find？〃

Louise　looked　at　him　and　sighed　deeply。　〃The　happiness；〃　she　said；　and　against　her　will　her　voice　trembled　and　falter