frederick the great and his family-第91章

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and　inconstancy　upon　him；　how　indolently；　how　carelessly　he　had　laughed；　and　called　her　his　tigress；　his　anaconda。　She　then　recalled　how　suddenly　she　had　felt　his　love　grow　cold；　how　anxiously　she　had　looked　around　to　discover　what　had　changed　him　she　could　detect　nothing。　But　an　accident　came　to　her　assistancea　bad；　malicious　accident。　During　the　war　there　were　no　operas　given　in　Berlin；　and　Marietta　was　entirely　unoccupied；　for　some　time　she　had　been　giving　singing　lessonsperhaps　for　distraction；　perhaps　to　increase　her　income；　she　had；　however；　carefully　preserved　this　secret　from　Ranuziin　the　unselfishness　of　her　love　she　did　not　wish　him　to　know　that　she　had　need　of　gold；　lest　he　might　offer　her　assistance。

One　of　her　first　scholars　was　Camilla　von　Kleist；　the　daughter　of　Madame　du　Trouffle；　and　soon　teacher　and　scholar　became　warm　friends。　Camilla；　still　banished　by　her　mother　to　the　solitude　of　the　nursery；　complained　to　her　new　friend　of　the　sorrows　of　her　home　and　the　weariness　of　her　life。　Carried　away　by　Marietta's　sympathy　and　flattering　friendship；　the　young　girl　had　complained　to　the　stranger　of　her　mother；　in　the　desire　to　make　herself　appear　an　interesting　sacrifice　to　motherly　tyranny；　she　accused　that　mother　relentlessly；　she　told　Madame　Taliazuchi　that　she　was　always　treated　as　a　child　because　her　mother　still　wished　to　appear　young；　that　she　was　never　allowed　to　be　seen　in　the　saloon　in　the　evening；　lest　she　might　ravish　the　worshippers　and　lovers　of　her　mother。　Having　gone　so　far　in　her　confidences；　the　pitiable　daughter　of　this　light…　minded　mother　went　so　far　as　to　speak　of　her　mother's　adorers。　The　last　and　most　dangerous　of　these；　the　one　she　hated　most　bitterly；　because　he　came　most　frequently　and　occupied　most　of　her　mother's　time　and　thoughts；　she　declared　to　be　the　Count　Ranuzi。

This　was　the　beginning　of　those　fearful　torments　which　Marietta　Taliazuchi　had　for　some　months　enduredtortures　which　increased　with　the　conviction　that　there　was　truly　an　understanding　between　Ranuzi　and　Madame　du　Trouffle；　that　Ranuzi；　under　the　pretence　of　being　overwhelmed　with　important　business；　refused　to　pass　the　evening　with　her；　yet　went　regularly　every　evening　to　Madame　du　Trouffle。

Marietta　had　endured　this　torture　silently；　she　denied　herself　the　consolation　of　complaining　to　any　one；　she　had　the　courage；　with　smiling　lips；　to　dispute　the　truth　of　Camilla's　narratives；　and　to　accuse　her　of　slander；　she　would　have　conviction；　she　longed　for　proof；　and　Camilla；　excited　by　her　incredulity；　promised　to　give　it。

One　day；　with　a　triumphant　air；　she　handed　Marietta　a　little　note　she　had　stolen　from　her　mother's　writing…desk。　It　was　a　poem；　written　in　French；　in　which　Ranuzi；　with　the　most　submissive　love；　the　most　glowing　tenderness；　besought　the　beautiful　Louise　to　allow　him　to　come　in　the　evening；　to　kneel　at　her　feet　and　worship　as　the　faithful　worship　the　mother　of　God。

Marietta　read　the　poem　several　times；　and　then　with　quiet　composure　returned　it　to　Camilla；　but　her　cheeks　were　deadly　pale；　and　her　lips　trembled　so　violently；　that　Camilla　asked　her　kindly　if　she　was　not　suffering。

〃Yes；〃　she　replied；　〃I　suffer；　and　we　will　postpone　the　lesson。　I　must　go　home　and　go　to　bed。〃

But　Marietta　did　not　go　home。　Beside　herself；　almost　senseless　with　pain　and　rage；　she　wandered　about　through　the　streets；　meditating；　reflecting　how　she　might　revenge　herself　for　this　degradation；　this　faithlessness　of　her　beloved。

At　last　she　found　the　means；　with　firm　step；　with　crimson　cheeks；　and　a　strange　smile　upon　her　tightly…compressed　lips；　she　turned　toward　the　castle。　There　she　inquired　for　the　Marquis　d'Argens；　and　Ranuzi's　evil　genius　willed　that　D'Argens　should　be　found　at　that　time　in　Berlinhe　was　generally　only　to　be　seen　at　Sans…Souci。　Marietta　did　not　know　the　marquis　personally；　but　she　had　heard　many　anecdotes　of　the　intellectual　and　amiable　Provencal；　she　knew　that　the　marquis　and　the　king　were　warmly　attached；　and　kept　up　a　constant　correspondence。　For　this　reason；　she　addressed　herself　to　D'Argens；　she　knew　it　was　the　easiest　and　quickest　way　to　bring　her　communication　immediately　before　the　king。　The　marquis　received　her　kindly；　and　asked　her　to　make　known　her　request。

At　first　Marietta　was　mute；　regret　and　repentance　overcame　her；　for　a　moment　she　almost　resolved　to　be　silent　and　to　go　away。　Soon；　however；　her　wrath　was　awakened；　and　armed　her　with　the　courage　of　despair：　with　panting　breath；　with　strange　disordered　taste；　she　said：　〃I　have　come　to　tell　you　a　secretan　important　secret；　which　concerns　the　king。〃

The　good　marquis　turned　pale；　and　asked　if　it　related　to　any　attempt　upon　the　life　of　the　king？

〃Not　to　his　life；　but　it　was　a　secret　of　the　greatest　importance；〃　she　replied。　Then；　however；　when　the　marquis　asked　her　to　make　a　full　disclosure；　she　seemed　suddenly　to　see　Ranuzi's　handsome　face　before　her；　he　looked　softly；　reproachfully　at　her　with　his　great　fathomless　eyes；　whose　glance　she　ever　felt　in　the　very　depths　of　her　heart；　she　was　conscious　that　the　old　love　was　again　awake　in　her；　and　by　its　mighty　power　crowding　out　the　passion　of　revenge。　A　lingering　hesitation　and　faint…heartedness　overcame　herconfused　and　stammering；　she　said　she　would　only　confide　her　secret　to　the　king　himself；　or　to　that　person　whom　the　king　would　authorize　to　receive　it。

The　marquis；　in　a　vivacious　manner；　pressed　her　to　speak；　and　made　conjectures　as　to　the　quality　of　her　secret。　Marietta　found　herself　involved　in　a　net　of　cross…questions　and　answers；　and　took　refuge　at　last　in　absolute　silence。　She　rose　and　told　the　marquis　she　would　return　in　eight　days；　to　know　whom　the　king　had　selected　to　receive　her　communication。

The　eight　clays　had　now　passed；　and　Marietta　had；　during　this　time；　many　struggles　with　her　own　hearther　ever　newly　awakening　love　pleaded　eloquently　for　forgivenessfor　the　relinquishment　of　all　her　plans　of　vengeance。　＇Footnote：　The　marquis；　in　one　of　his　letters　to　the　king；　described　his　interview　with　Madame　Taliazuchi；　with　great　vivacity　and　minuteness；　and　expressed　his　own　suspicions　and　conjectures；　which；　indeed；　came　very　near　the　truth；　and　proved　that；　where　he　was　warmly　interested；　he　was　a　good　inquisitor。　He　entreated　Frederick　not　to　look　upon　the　matter　carelessly；　as　in　all　probability　there　was　treason　on　foot；　which　extended　to　Vienna。　Madame　Taliazuchi　had　much　intercourse　in　Berlin　with　the　captive　Italian　officers；　and　it　might　be　that　one　of　these　officers　was　carrying　on　a　dangerous　correspondence　with　Vienna。　In　closing　his　letter；　the　marquis　said：　〃Enfin；　sire；　quand　il　serait　vrai　que　tout　ceci　ne　fut　qu'une　bete　italienne　qui　so　serait　echauffee；　et　qui　aurait　pris　des　chimeres　pour　des　verites；　ce　qui　pourrait　encore　bien　etre；　cette　femme　ne　parait　rien　moins　que　prudente　et　tranquille。　Je　crois；　cependant；　que　la　peine　qu'on　aurait　prise　de　savoir　ce　qu'elle　veut　declarer　serait　si　legere；　qu'on　ne　la　regretterait　pas；　quand　meme　on　decouvrirait　que　cette　femme　n'est　qu'une　folle。〃〃Oeuvres　de　Frederic　le　Grand；〃　vol。　xix。　p。　91。＇　She　had　almost　resolved　not　to　seek　the　marquis　again；　or　if　she　did　so；　to　say　that　she　had　been　deceivedthat　the　secret　was　nothing　that　she　had　only　been　bantered　and　mystified。　But　now；　all　these　softer；　milder　feelings　seemed　burnt　out　in　the　wild　fire　of　revenge　and　scorn　which　blazed　through　her　whole　being。　〃He　is　a　traitora　shameless　liar！〃　she　said；　pressing　her　small　teeth　firmly　and　passionately　together；　〃he　is　a　coward；　and　has　not　the　courage　to　look　a　woman　in　the　face　and　confess　the　truth　when　she　demands　it；　he　is　a　perjurer；　for　he　took　the　oath　which　I　exacted　from　himhe　swore　to　love　me　alone　and　no　other　woman；　he　had　the　impudent　courage　to　call　down　the　vengeance　of　God　upon　himself　if　he　should　break　this　oath。　Why　do　I　hesitate　longer？〃　cried　she；　springing　from　her　seat；　〃the　perjured　traitor　deserves　that　my　betrayed　and　crushed　heart　should　avenge　itself。　He　called　down　the　vengeance　of　God　upon　himself。　Let　it　crush　him　to　atoms！〃

Now　all　was　decision；　courage；　energy；　and　circumspection。　She　took　the　two　letters　she　had　received　from　Ranuzi　and　concealed　them　in　her　bosom；　then　dressed　herself　and　left　her　dwelling。

With　a　firm　step　she　passed　through　the　streets　which　led　to　the　castle。　As　she　drew　near　the　house　of　Madame　du　Trouffle；　she　hesitated；　stood　still；　and　looked　up　at　the　windows。

〃If　only　this　once　he　did　not　deceive　me！　If　he　is　not　here；　if　he　told　me　the　truth！〃　His　countenance　had　been　so　open；　so　calm；　so　smiling　when　he　said　to　her　that　he　had　a　rendezvous　with　some　friends　at　the　Catholic　priest's；　and　in　a　graceful；　roguish　mockery；　asked　her　if　she　was　jealous　of　that　meeting。　No；　no！　this　time　he　was　true。　He　could　not　have　played　the　hypocrite　with　such　smiling　composure。　Scarcely　knowing　what　she　did；　Marietta　entered　the　house；　and　asked　if　Camilla　was　at　homethen　hastened　on　to　the　door　of　Camilla's　room。

The　young　girl　advanced　to　meet　her　with　a　joyous　greeting。　〃I　am　glad　you　have　come；　Marietta。　Without　you　I　should　have　been　condemned　to　pass　the　whole　evening　shut　up　in　my　room；　wearying　myself　with　books。　But　I　am　resolved　what　I　will　do　in　future。　If　mamma　insists　upon　my　being　a　child　still；　and　banishes　me　from　the　parlor　when　she　has　company；　I　will　either　run　away；　or　I　will　invite　company　to　amuse　me。　My　cousin；　Lieutenant　Kienhause；　is　again　in　Berlin；　his　right　arm　is　wounded；　and　the　king　has　given　him　a　furlough；　and　sent　him　home。　When　mamma　is　in　the　saloon；　I　will　invite　my　cousin　here。〃　She　laughed　merrily；　and　drew　Marietta　dancing　forward。　〃Now　I　have　company；　we　will　laugh　and　be　happy。〃

〃Who　is　in　the　saloon？〃　said　Marietta；　〃and　why　are　you　banished　to…　day？〃

〃Well；　because　of　this　Italian　countthis　insufferable　Ranuzi。　He　has　been　here　for　an　hour；　and　mamma　commanded　no　one　to　be　admitted；　as　she　had　important　business　with　the　count。〃

〃And　you　believe　that　he　will　remain　the　whole　evening？〃　said　Marietta。

〃I　know　it；　he　remains　every　evening。〃

Marietta　felt　a　cold　shudder　pass　over　her；　but　she　was　outwardly　calm。

〃Poor　child！〃　said　she；〃　you　are　indeed　to　be　pitied；　and；　if　you　really　desire　it；　you　shall　have　my　society；　but　first；　I　have　a　commission　to　execute；　and　then　I　will　bring　some　notes；　and　we　will　sing　together。〃　She　kissed　Camilla　upon　the　brow；　and　withdrew。

The　last　moment　of　respite　had　expired　for　Ranuzi；　there　was　no　longer　a　ray　of　mercy　in　Marietta's　heart。　Rushing　forward；　she　soon　reached　the　castle；　and　announced　herself　to　the　marquis。　She　was　introduced　into　his　study；　and　the　marquis　advanced　to　meet　her；　smiling；　and　with　an　open　letter　in　his　hand。

〃You　come　at　the　right　time；　madame；〃　said　he；　〃an　hour　since　I　received　this　letter　from　his　majesty。〃

〃Has　the　king　named　the　person　to　whom　I　am　to　confide　my　secret？〃　she　said；　hastily。

〃Yes；　madame；　his　majesty　has　been　pleased　to　appoint　me　for　that　purpose。〃

〃Let　me　see　the　letter；〃　said　Marietta；　extending　her　hand。

The　marquis　drew　back。　〃Pardon　me；〃　said　he；　〃I　never　allow　the　king's　letters　to　pass　out　of　my　own　hands；　and　no　one　but　myself　can　see　them。　But　I　will　read　you　what　the　king　says　in　relation　to　this