frederick the great and his family-第117章

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court　uniform；　crept　out　slowly　and　with　much　difficulty。　Coughing　and　murmuring　peevish　words　to　himself；　he　slipped　into　the　allee　leading　to　the　terraces。　His　back　was　bent；　and　from　under　the　three…cornered　hat；　ornamented　with　rich　gold　lace；　came　sparsely；　here　and　there；　a　few　silver　hairs。　Who　could　have　recognized；　in　this　doubled…up；　decrepit　form；　now　with　tottering　knees　creeping　up　the　terrace；　the　once　gay；　careless；　unconcerned　grand…master　of　ceremonies；　Baron　von　Pollnitz？　Who　could　have　supposed　that　this　old　weatherbeaten　visage；　deformed　with　a　thousand　wrinkles；　once　belonged　to　the　dashing　cavalier？　And　yet；　it　was　even　so。　Pollnitz　had　grown　old；　and　his　back　was　bowed　down　under　the　yoke　which　the　monster　Time　lays　at　last　upon　humanity；　but　his　spirit　remained　unchanged。　He　had　preserved　his　vivacity；　his　malice；　his　egotism。　He　had　the　same　passion　for　goldmuch　gold；　not；　however；　to　hoard；　but　to　lavish。　His　life　was　ever　divided　between　base　covetousness　and　thoughtless　prodigality。　When　he　had　revelled　and　gormandized　through　the　first　days　of　every　month；　he　was　forced；　during　the　last　weeks；　to　suffer　privation　and　hunger；　or　to　borrow　from　those　who　were　good…natured　and　credulous　enough　to　lend　him。　There　was　also　one　other　source　of　revenue　which　the　adroit　courtier　knew　how　to　use　to　his　advantage。　He　was　a　splendid　ecarte　player；　and；　as　it　was　his　duty；　as　grand…　master　of　ceremonies；　to　provide　amusements　for　the　court；　to　choose　places　and　partners　for　the　card…tables；　he　always　arranged　it　so　as　to　bring　himself　in　contact　with　wealthy　and　eager　card…players；　from　some　of　whom　he　could　win；　and　from　others　borrow　a　few　louis　d'or。　Besides　this；　since　the　return　of　the　king；　Pollnitz　had　voluntarily　taken　up　his　old　trade　of　spy；　and　informed　Frederick　of　all　he　saw　and　heard　at　court；　for　this；　from　time　to　time；　he　demanded　a　small　reward。

〃Curious　idea；〃　he　said；　as；　puffing　and　blowing；　he　clambered　up　the　terrace。　〃Curious　idea　to　live　in　this　wearisome　desert；　when　he　has　respectable　and　comfortable　castles　in　the　midst　of　the　city；　and　on　a　level　plain。　One　might　truly　think　that　the　king；　even　in　life；　wishes　to　draw　nearer　to　heaven；　and　withdraws　from　the　children　of　man；　to　pray　and　prepare　himself　for　paradise。〃

The　baron　laughed　aloud；　it　seemed　to　him　a　droll　idea　to　look　at　the　king　as　a　prayerful　hermit。　This　conception　amused　him；　and　gave　him　strength　to　go　onward　more　rapidly；　and　he　soon　reached　the　upper　platform　of　the　terrace；　upon　which　the　castle　stood。　Without　difficulty；　he　advanced　to　the　antechamber；　but　there　stood　Deesen；　and　forbade　him　entrance　to　the　king。

〃His　majesty　holds　a　cabinet　council；〃　said　he；　〃and　it　is　expressly　commanded　to　allow　no　one　to　enter。〃

〃Then　I　will　force　an　entrance；〃　said　Pollnitz；　stepping　boldly　to　the　door。　〃I　must　speak　to　his　majesty；　I　have　something　most　important　to　communicate。〃

〃I　think　it　cannot　be　more　important　than　that　which　now　occupies　the　king's　attention；〃　said　the　intrepid　Deesen。　〃I　am　commanded　to　allow　no　one　to　enter；　I　shall　obey　the　order　of　the　king。〃

〃I　am　resolved　to　enter；〃　said　Pollnitz；　in　a　loud　voice；　but　Deesen　spread　his　broad　figure　threateningly　before　the　door。　An　angry　dispute　arose；　and　Pollnitz　made　his　screeching　voice　resound　so　powerfully；　he　might　well　hope　the　king　would　hear　him；　and　in　this　he　was　not　deceived；　the　king　heard　and　appeared　at　once　upon　the　threshold。

〃Pollnitz；〃　said　he；　〃you　are　and　will　always　be　an　incorrigible　fool；　you　are　crowing　as　loud　as　a　Gallic　cock；　who　is　declaring　war　against　my　people。　I　have　made　peace　with　the　Gauls；　mark　that；　and　do　not　dare　again　to　crow　so　loud。　What　do　you　want？　Do　your　creditors　wish　to　cast　you　in　prison；　or　do　you　wish　to　inform　me　that　you　have　become　a　Jew；　and　wish　to　accept　some　lucrative　place　as　Rabbi？〃

〃No；　sire；　I　remain　a　reformed　Christian；　and　my　creditors　will　never　take　the　trouble　to　arrest　me；　they　know　that　would　avail　nothing。　I　come　on　most　grave　and　important　matters　of　business；　and　I　pray　your　majesty　to　grant　me　a　private　audience。〃

Frederick　looked　sternly　at　him。　〃Listen；　Pollnitz；　you　are　still　a　long…winded　and　doubtful　companion；　notwithstanding　your　seventy…six　years。　Deliberate　a　moment；　if　that　which　you　tell　me　is　not　important；　and　requiring　speedy　attention；　I　will　punish　you　severely　for　having　dared　to　interrupt　me　in　my　cabinet　council；　I　will　withhold　your　salary　for　the　next　month。〃

〃Your　majesty；　the　business　is　weighty；　and　requires　immediate　attention；　I　stake　my　salary　upon　it。〃

〃Come；　then；　into　my　cabinet；　but　be　brief；〃　said　Frederick；　stepping　into　the　adjoining　room。　〃Now　speak；〃　said　he；　as　he　closed　the　door。

〃Sire；　first；　I　must　ask　your　pardon　for　daring　to　allude　to　a　subject　which　is　so　old　that　its　teeth　are　shaky　and　its　countenance　wrinkled。〃

〃You　wish；　then；　to　speak　of　yourself？〃　said　Frederick。

〃No；　sire；　I　will　speak　of　a　subject　which　bloomed　before　the　war；　and　since　then　has　withered　and　faded　in　a　subterranean　prison；　but　it　now　threatens　to　put　forth　new　buds；　to　unfold　new　leaves；　and　I　fear　your　majesty　will　find　that　undesirable。〃

〃Speak；　then；　clearly；　and　without　circumlocution。　I　am　convinced　it　is　only　some　gossiping　or　slander　you　wish　to　retail。　You　come　as　a　salaried　family　spy　who　has　snapped　up　some　greasy　morsels　of　scandal。　Your　eyes　are　glowing　with　malicious　pleasure；　as　they　always　do　when　you　are　about　to　commit　some　base　trick。　Now；　then；　out　with　it！　Of　whom　will　you　speak？〃

〃Of　the　Princess　Amelia　and　Trenck；〃　whispered　Pollnitz。

The　king　gazed　at　him　fiercely　for　a　moment；　then　turned　and　walked　silently　backward　and　forward。

〃Well；　what　is　your　narrative？〃　said　Frederick；　at　last；　turning　his　back　upon　Pollnitz；　and　stepping　to　the　window　as　if　to　look　out。

〃Sire；　if　your　majesty　does　not　interfere；　the　Princess　Amelia　will　send　a　negotiator　to　Vienna；　who　undertakes　to　induce　the　Empress　Maria　Theresa　to　apply　to　you　for　the　release　of　Trenck。　This　negotiator　is　richly　provided　with　gold　and　instructions；　and　the　Austrian　ambassador　has　pointed　out　to　the　princess　a　sure　way　to　reach　the　ear　of　the　empress；　and　to　obtain　an　intercessor　with　her。　She　will　appeal　to　the　fireman　of　the　empress；　and　this　influential　man　will　undertake　to　entreat　Maria　Theresa　to　ask　for　Trenck's　release。　This　will　take　place　immediately；　an　hour　since　the　messenger　received　his　instructions　from　General　Riedt；　and　a　quarter　of　an　hour　since　he　received　four　thousand　louis　d'or　from　the　princess　to　bribe　the　fireman。　If　the　intrigue　succeeds；　the　princess　has　promised　him　a　thousand　louis　d'or　for　himself。〃

〃Go　on；〃　said　the　king；　as　Pollnitz　ceased　speaking。

〃Go　on！〃　said　Pollnitz；　with　a　stupefied　air。　〃I　have　nothing　more　to　say；　it　seems　to　me　the　history　is　sufficiently　important。〃

〃And　it　seems　to　me　a　silly　fairy　tale；〃　said　Frederick；　turning　angrily　upon　the　grand…master。　〃If　you　think　to　squeeze　gold　out　of　me　by　such　ridiculous　and　senseless　narratives；　you　are　greatly　mistaken。　Not　one　farthing　will　I　pay　for　these　lies。　Do　you　think　that　Austria　lies　on　the　borders　of　Tartary？　There；　a　barber　is　minister；　and　you；　forsooth；　will　make　a　fireman　the　confidential　friend　of　the　empress！　Why；　Scheherezade　would　not　have　dared　to　relate　such　an　absurd　fairy　tale　to　her　sleepy　sultan；　as　you；　sir；　now　seek　to　impose　upon　me！〃

〃But；　sire；　it　is　no　fairy　tale；　but　the　unvarnished　truth。　The　page　of　the　princess　listened；　and　immediately　repeated　all　that　he　heard　to　me。〃

〃Have　you　paid　the　page　for　this　intelligence；　which　he　asserts　he　overheard？〃

〃No；　sire。〃

〃Then　go　quickly　to　Berlin　and　reward　him　by　two　sound　boxes　on　the　ear；　then　go　to　bed　and　drink　chamomile　tea。　It　appears　to　me　your　head　is　weak。〃

〃But；　sire；　I　have　told　you　nothing　but　the　pure　truth；　no　matter　how　fabulous　it　may　appear。〃

Frederick　gazed　at　him　scornfully。　〃It　is　a　silly　tale；〃　he　cried；　in　a　loud　commanding　voice。　〃Do　not　say　another　word；　and　do　not　dare　to　repeat　to　any　one　what　you　have　now　related。　Go；　I　say！　and　forget　this　nonsense。〃

Pollnitz　crept　sighing　and　with　bowed　head　to　the　door；　but；　before　he　opened　it；　he　turned　once　more　to　the　king。

〃Sire；　this　is　the　last　day　of　the　month；　this　wretched　October　has　thirty…one　days。　Even　if　in　your　majesty's　wisdom　you　decide　this　story　to　be　untrue；　you　should　at　least　remember　my　zeal。〃

〃I　should　reward　you　for　your　zeal　in　doing　evil？〃　said　Frederick；　shaking　his　head。　〃But　truly　this　is　the　way　of　the　world；　evil　is　rewarded　and　good　actions　trodden　under　foot。　You　are　not　worth　a　kick！　Go　and　get　your　reward；　tell　my　servant　to　give　you　ten　Fredericks　d'orbut　on　one　condition。〃

〃What　condition？〃　said　Pollnitz；　joyfully。

〃As　soon　as　you　arrive　in　Berlin；　go　to　the　castle；　call　the　page　of　the　princess；　and　box　him　soundly　for　his　villany。　Go！〃

The　king　stood　sunk　in　deep　thought　in　the　window…niche；　long　after　Pollnitz　had　left　the　room；　he　appeared　to　forget　that　his　ministers　were　waiting　for　him；　he　thought　of　his　sister　Amelia's　long；　sad　life；　of　her　constancy　and　resignation；　and　a　profound　and　painful　pity　filled　his　heart。

〃Surely　I　dare　at　length　grant　her　the　poor　consolation　of　having　brought　about　his　release；〃　said　he　to　himself。　〃She　has　been　so　long　and　so　terribly　punished　for　this　unhappy　passion；　that　I　will　give　her　the　consolation　of　plucking　a　few　scentless　blossoms　from　the　grave　of　her　heart。　Let　her　turn　to　the　fireman　of　the　empress；　and　may　my　pious　aunt　be　warmed　up　by　his　representations　and　prayers！　I　will　not　interfere；　and　if　Maria　Theresa　intercedes　for　Trenck；　I　will　not　remember　that　he　is　a　rebellious　subject　and　a　traitor；　worthy　of　death。　I　will　remember　that　Amelia　has　suffered　inexpressibly　for　his　sake；　that　her　life　is　lonely　and　desolatea　horrible　night；　in　which　one　feeble　ray　of　sunshine　may　surely　be　allowed　to　fall。　Poor　Amelia！　she　loves　him　still！〃

As　Frederick　stepped　from　the　window　and　passed　into　the　other　room；　he　murmured　to　himself：

〃There　is　something　beautiful　in　a　great；　rich　human　heart。　Better　to　die　of　grief　and　disappointment　than　to　be　made　insensible　by　scorn　and　disdainto　be　turned　to　stone！〃




CHAPTER　VIII。

THE　CLOUDS　GATHER。


While　the　king　lived　alone　and　quiet　in　Sans…Souci；　and　occupied　himself　with　his　studies　and　his　government；　the　gayeties　and　festivities　continued　uninterrupted　in　Rheinsberg。　It　seemed　that　Prince　Henry　had　no　other　thought；　no　other　desire　than　to　prepare　new　pleasures；　new　amusements　for　his　wife。　His　life　had　been　given　up　for　so　many　years　to　earnest　cares；　that　he　now　sought　to　indemnify　himself　by　an　eager　pursuit　after　pleasure。　Fete　succeeded　fete；　and　all　of　the　most　elegant　and　accomplished　persons　in　Berlin；　all　those　who　had　any　claim　to　youth；　beauty；　and　amiability；　were　invariably　welcome　at　the　palace　of　the　prince。

It　was　late　in　the　autumn；　and　Prince　Henry　had　determined　to　conclude　the　long　succession　of　wood　and　garden　parties　by　a　singular　and　fantastic　entertainment。　Before　they　returned　to　the　saloons；　the　winter…quarters　of　pleasure；　they　wished　to　bid　farewell　to　Nature。　The　nymphs　of　the　wood　and