frederick the great and his family-第92章

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ands；　and　no　one　but　myself　can　see　them。　But　I　will　read　you　what　the　king　says　in　relation　to　this　affair；　and　you　will　surely　believe　my　word　of　honor。　Listen；　then：　'Soyez；　marquis；　le　depositaire　de　mes　secrets；　le　confidant　des　mysteres　de　Madame　Taliazuchi；　l'oreille　du　trone；　et　le　sanctuaire　ou　s'annonceront　les　complots　de　mes　ennemis。'　＇Footnote：　〃I　will　give　the　conclusion　of　this　letter　which　the　polite　marquis　did　not　read　aloud：　'Pour　quitter　le　style　oriental；　je　vous　avertis　que　vous　aurez　l'oreille　rebattue　de　miseres　et　de　petites　intrigues　de　prisonniers　obscurs　et　qui　ne　vaudront　pas　genre　de　Madame　Taliazuchielles　envisagent　les　petites　choses　comme　tres…　importantes；　elles　sont　charmees　de　figurer　en　politique；　de　jouer　un　role；　de　faire　les　capables　d'etaler　avec　faste　le　zele　de　leur　fidelite。　J'ai　vu　souvent　que　ces　beaux　secrets　reveles　n'ont　ete　que　des　intrigues　pour　auirs　au　tiers　ou　an　quart　a　des　gens　auxquelles　ces　sortes　de　personnes　veulet　du　mal。　Ainsi；　quoique　cette　femme　vous　puisse　dire；　gardez…vous　bien　d'y　ajouter　foi；　et　que　votre　cervelle　provencal　ne　s'echauffe　pas　an　premier　bruit　de　ces　recits'〃CEuvres；　vol　xix。；　p。92。＇　Madame；　you　see　that　I　am　fully　empowered　by　the　king　to　receive　your　confidence；　and　I　am　ready　to　hear　what　you　will　have　the　goodness　to　relate。〃　He　led　her　to　a　divan；　and　seated　himself　opposite　to　her。

〃Tell　the　king　to　be　on　his　guard！〃　said　Marietta；　solemnly。　〃A　great　and　wide…spread　conspiracy　threatens　him。　I　have　been　made　a　tool　by　false　pretences；　by　lies　and　treachery　my　confidence　was　surreptitiously　obtained。　Oh；　my　God！〃　cried　she；　suddenly　springing　up；　〃now　all　is　clear。　I　was　nothing　but　an　instrument　of　his　intrigues；　only　the　weak　means　made　use　of　to　attain　his　object。　He　stole　my　love；　and　made　of　it　a　comfortable；　convenient　robe　with　which　to　conceal　his　politics。　Alas！　alas！　I　have　been　his　postillion　de　politique。〃　With　a　loud；　wild　cry；　she　sank　back　upon　the　divan；　and　a　torrent　of　tears　gushed　from　her　eyes。

The　marquis　sprang　up　in　terror；　and　drew　near　the　door；　he　was　now　fully　convinced　that　the　woman　was　mad。

〃Madame；〃　said　he；　〃allow　me　to　call　for　assistance。　You　appear　to　be　truly　suffering；　and　in　a　state　of　great　excitement。　It　will　be　best　for　you；　without　doubt；　to　forget　all　these　political　interests；　and　attend　to　your　physical　condition。〃

Marietta；　however；　had　again　recovered　her　presence　of　mind；　she　glanced　with　a　wan　smile　into　the　anxious　countenance　of　the　marquis。

〃Fear　nothing；　sir；　I　am　not　mad；　return　to　your　seat。　I　have　no　weapons；　and　will　injure　no　one。　The　dagger　which　I　carry　is　piercing　my　own　heart；　and　from　time　to　time　the　wound　pains；　that　is　all。　I　promise　you　to　make　no　sound；　to　be　gentle　and　calmcome；　then。〃

The　marquis　returned；　but　seated　himself　somewhat　farther　from　the　signora。

〃I　tell　you；〃　said　Marietta；　panting　for　breath；　〃that　he　made　use　of　my　credulitymade　me　a　tool　of　his　political　intriguesthese　intrigues　which　threaten　the　lands　if　not　the　life　of　the　king。　The　treason　I　will　disclose　would　place　an　important　fortress　in　the　hands　of　the　Austrians。〃

〃And　you　are　convinced　that　this　is　no　chimera？〃　said　the　marquis；　with　an　incredulous　smile。

〃I　am　convinced　of　it；　and　I　have　the　incontestable　proof　with　me。〃　She　took　the　two　letters　which　she　had　received　from　Ranuzi；　and　gave　them　to　the　marquis。　〃Take　them；　and　send　them　to　the　king；　but；　not　to…morrow；　not　when　it　is　convenient；　but　to…day；　even　this　hour。　If　you　are　not　prompt；　in　eight　days　King　Frederick　will　be　a　fortress　the　poorer。　Besides　this；　say　to　his　majesty　to　be　ever　on　his　guard　against　the　captive　officers　in　Berlin；　especially　on　his　guard　against　my　countryman；　Count　Ranuzi。　He　is　the　soul　of　this　enterprise；　he　has　originated　this　daring　undertaking；　and；　if　this　falls　to　pieces；　he　will　commence　anew。　He　is　a　dangerous　enemya　serpent；　whose　sting　is　most　deadly；　most　to　be　feared　when　he　seems　most　gentle；　most　quiet。　Say　to　King　Frederick　he　will　do　well　to　protect　himself　from　the　traitor；　the　Austrian　spy；　Ranuzi。〃　Marietta　stood　up；　and　bowing　to　the　marquis；　she　advanced　to　the　door。　D'Argens　held　her　back。

〃Madame；〃　said　he；　〃if　these　things　are　really　so；　Count　Ranuzi　is　a　man　to　be　feared；　and　we　should　make　sure　of　him。〃

〃He　is　indeed　a　dangerous　man；〃　said　Marietta；　with　a　peculiar　smile。　〃Ask　the　beautiful　Madame　du　Trouffle；　she　will　confirm　my　words。〃

The　black；　flashing　eyes　of　the　marquis　fixed　themselves　searchingly　upon　the　face　of　the　signora。　He　remembered　that　the　king　had　warned　him　to　be　upon　his　guard　as　to　the　communication　of　Madame　Taliazuchi；　that　such　mysteries　were　often　nothing　more　than　feigned　intrigues；　by　which　the　discoverer　sought　to　bring　sorrow　and　downfall　to　an　enemy。

〃Ah；　signora！　I　understand　now；〃　said　the　marquis；　〃you　did　not　come　here　for　patriotism　or　love　for　Prussia　or　her　king；　but　from　frantic　jealousy；　not　to　serve　King　Frederick；　but　to　overthrow　Ranuzi。〃

Marietta　shrugged　her　shoulders　with　a　contemptuous　expression。

〃I　am　an　Italian；〃　said　she；　laconically。

〃And　the　Italians　love　revenge；〃　said　the　marquis。

〃When　one　dares　to　injure　themyes。〃

〃This　Count　Ranuzi　has　dared　to　injure　you？〃

A　flash　of　scorn　flamed　for　a　moment　in　her　eyes；　then　disappeared。　〃Would　I　otherwise　have　betrayed　him？〃　said　she。　〃I　am　an　Italian；　and　you　cannot　ask　that　I　shall　feel　patriotism　for　King　Frederick　or　for　Prussia。　Count　Ranuzi　is　my　countryman；　judge；　then；　how　deeply　I　have　been　injured　when　I　betray　him；　and　give　him　over　to　death。〃

〃To　death？　it　is　also　then　a　crime　worthy　of　death　which　these　letters　will　disclose　to　the　king？　You　do　not　deceive　yourself？　Your　thirst　for　revenge　does　not　make　these　things　appear　blacker；　more　important　than　they　really　are？〃

〃No；　I　do　not　deceive　myself。　I　speak　but　the　simple　truth。〃

〃Then；〃　said　the　marquis；　with　horror；　〃it　is　dangerous　to　leave　Ranuzi　at　liberty。　I　must　apply　to　the　commandant　of　Berlin；　and　ask　that　he　be　arrested　upon　my　responsibility。〃

Marietta　was　already　at　the　door；　but　these　words　of　the　marquis　arrested　her。　With　her　hand　resting　upon　the　bolt；　she　stood　and　turned　her　pale　face　back　to　D'Argens。　〃Certainly；　it　would　be　best　and　surest　to　arrest　him　instantly；〃　said　she；　and　her　heart　bounded　with　delight　when　she　said　to　herself；　with　cruel　pleasure：　〃When　once　arrested；　he　can　go　no　more　to　Madame　du　Trouffle。〃

The　marquis　did　not　reply；　but　he　stepped　thoughtfully　through　the　room。　Marietta's　eyes　followed　every　movement　with　a　fiery　glance。　At　length　the　marquis　stood　before　her。

〃I　cannot　take　upon　myself　the　responsibility　of　arresting　this　man。　I　do　not　know　that　these　letters；　which　I　shall　send　to　the　king；　are　really　as　dangerous　as　you　say。　The　king　must　decide；　I　will　send　them　off　by　a　courier　to…day。　But；　in　every　event；　Ranuzi　must　be　watched；　and　you　shall　be　his　guard。　You　must　see　that　he　does　not　escape。　I　make　you　answerable。　Ranuzi　must　not　leave　Berlin；　and　when　the　king's　answer　is　received；　he　must　be　found　here。〃

〃You　shall　find　him　with　me；〃　said　she；　〃and　if　not；　I　shall　at　least　be　able　to　tell　you　where　he　is。　Fear　nothing；　he　shall　not　escape！　I　am　his　guard！　When　you　receive　the　reply　of　the　king；　have　the　goodness　to　inform　me。　This　is　the　only　reward　I　demand。〃　＇Footnote：　D'Argens　wrote　to　the　king：　〃Si　votre　majeste　ne　m'avait　point　ecrit　en　propres　termes。　Quoique　cette　femme　puisse　vous　dire；　gardez…vous　bien　d'y　ajouter　foi。　J'anrai　prie　le　commandant　de　faire　arreter　le　nomme　Ranuzi　jusqu'a　ce　qu'elle　eut　mande　ce　qu'elle　veut　qu'on　en　fasse；　cet　homme　me　paraissant　un　espion　de　plus　aeres。　Mais　je　me　suis　contente　de　dire　a　Madame　Taliszuchi　que　si　cet　homme　sortait　de　Berlin；　avant　la　response　de　votre　majeste　elle　en　repondrait；　et　elle　m'a　assure　qu'elle　le　retiendrait。〃　CEuvres；　vol。　xix。；　p。　93。＇

〃I　will　inform　you；　madame；〃　said　the　marquis；　opening　the　door；　〃and；　as　to　the　Count　Ranuzi；　I　read　in　your　features　that　you　hate　him　with　a　bitter　hatred；　and　will　not　allow　him　to　escape。〃




CHAPTER　VIII。

REVENGE。


Five　days　had　passed　since　Marietta's　interview　with　the　marquis。　They　had　wrought　no　change　in　her　heart；　not　for　a　single　instant　had　her　thirst　for　revenge　been　allayed。　Her　hatred　of　Ranuzi　seemed　to　have　become　more　intense；　more　passionate；　since　she　understood　his　planssince　she　had　learned　that　he　had　never　loved　her；　and　that　she　was　merely　the　instrument　of　his　intrigues。　Since　that　time　she　had　watched　his　every　thought　and　deed。

One　day　while　apparently　embracing　him；　and　whispering　words　of　endearment　in　his　ear；　she　had　secretly　drawn　a　folded　paper　from　his　pocket；　which　had　just　been　brought　to　him　by　a　strange　servant　who；　having　vainly　sought　him　at　his　own　house；　had　followed　him　to　that　of　Marietta。　Having　thus　obtained　the　paper；　she　made　an　excuse　for　leaving　the　room　in　order　to　inspect　it。　She　carefully　closed　the　door　of　the　room　in　which　Ranuzi　sat；　and　then　examined　the　paper。　After　reading　it；　she　drew　her　note…book　from　her　pocket；　and　hastily　tearing　out　a　leaf；　she　wrote　upon　it　with　a　pencil。　〃Lose　no　time；　if　you　do　not　wish　him　to　escape。　He　has　received　to…day；　through　the　agency　of　Madame　du　Trouffle；　the　necessary　passport　and　permission　to　go　to　Magdeburg。　I　have　no　longer　the　power　to　detain　him。　What　is　done　must　be　done　quickly。〃

She　folded　the　paper　and　passed　cautiously　through　the　hall　and　into　the　kitchen　where　her　maid　was。　〃Listen；　Sophie；〃　she　said；　〃take　this　note　and　go　as　quickly　as　you　can　to　the　castle　and　ask　for　the　Marquis　d'Argens。　You　must　give　the　note　into　his　own　hands；　and　if　you　bring　me　an　answer　within　the　hour；　I　will　reward　you　as　if　I　were　a　queen。　Do　not　speak；　only　go。〃

The　maid　hurried　down　the　steps；　and　Marietta　returned；　smilingly；　to　Ranuzi；　who　received　her　with　reproaches　for　her　long　absence。

〃I　have　arranged　a　little　supper　for　us；　and　have　sent　my　maid　to　obtain　some　necessary　articles。　You　will　not　leave　me　to…day；　as　you　always　do；　to　go　to　your　conference　with　the　Catholic　priest。〃

〃I　would　not；　Marietta；　but　I　must；〃　said　Ranuzi。　〃Believe　me；　my　dear　child；　if　I　followed　the　dictates　of　my　heart；　I　would　never　leave　this　room；　which　in　my　thoughts　I　always　call　my　paradise；　and　in　which　I　enjoy　my　only　bright　and　happy　moments。　But　what　would　you　have；　my　angel？　It　is　not　ordained　that　men　should　have　undisturbed　possession　of　the　joys　of　paradise。　Mother　Eve　sinned；　and　we　must　expiate　her　misdeeds。　I　must　leave　you　again　to…day　to　join　that　conference　which　you　so　heartily　detest。〃

〃But　not　yet；〃　she　said；　tenderly；　putting　her　arms　about　his　neck。　〃You　will　not　leave　me　yet？〃

Thus　besought；　he　promised　to　remain。　Never　was　he　more　amiable；　more　brilliant；　more　attentive；　or　more　tender。　Never　was　Marietta　gayer；　more　excited；　or　more　enchanting。　Both　had　their　reasons　for　thisboth　had　their　intentions。　Love　smiled　upon　their　lips；　but　it　was　not　in　their　heartseach　wished　to　deceive　the　other。　Ranuzi　wished　to　quiet　every　suspicion　by　his　tendernessshe　must　not　dream　that　this　was　their　last　meeting；　and　that　he　intended　leaving　Berlin　this　night；　perhaps　forever。　Mariet