frederick the great and his family-第124章

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〃You　despise　me；〃　cried　Wilhelmina；　bursting　into　tears。

〃I　think　I　am　justified　in　doing　so；〃　said　he；　coldly。　〃Stand　up；　and　give　me　the　key。〃

She　rose　and　staggered　to　the　table。　〃Here　is　the　key。〃

The　prince　opened　the　secretary。　〃Where　are　the　letters；　madame？〃

〃In　the　upper　drawer　to　the　left。〃

〃Ah；〃　said　lie　with　a　rude　laugh；　〃not　even　in　a　secret　compartment　have　you　guarded　these　precious　letters。　You　were　so　sure　of　my　blind　confidence　in　you　that　you　did　not　even　conceal　your　jewels。〃

Princess　Wilhelmina　did　not　answer；　but　as　the　prince　read　one　after　the　other　of　the　letters；　she　sank　again　upon　her　knees。　〃My　God；　my　God！〃　murmured　she；　〃have　pity　upon　me！　Send　Thy　lightning　and　crush　me。　Oh；　my　God！　why　will　not　the　earth　cover　me　and　hide　me　from　his　glance！〃

Rivers　of　tears　burst　from　her　eyes；　and　raising　her　arms　to　heaven；　she　uttered　prayers　of　anguish　and　repentance。

The　prince　read　on；　on；　in　these　unholy　letters。　Once　he　exclaimed　aloud；　and　rushed　with　the　letter　to　the　princess。

〃Is　this　true？〃　said　he〃is　this　which　you　have　written；　true？〃

〃What？　Is　what　true？〃　said　Wilhelmina；　rising　slowly　from　her　knees。

〃He　thanks　you　in　this　letter　for　having　written　to　him　that　you　have　never　loved　any　man　but　himselfhimKalkreuth　alone！　Did　you　write　the　truth？〃

〃I　wrote　it；　and　it　is　the　truth；〃　said　the　princess；　who　had　now　fully　recovered　her　energy　and　her　composure。　〃Yes；　sir；　I　have　loved　no　one　but　Kalkreuth　alone。　I　could　not　force　my　heart　to　love　youyou　who　in　the　beginning　disdained　me；　then　one　day　in　an　idle　mood　were　pleased　to　love　me；　to　offer　me　your　favor。　I　was　no　slave　to　be　set　aside　when　you　were　in　the　humor；　and　to　count　myself　blessed　amongst　women　when　you　should　find　me　worthy　of　your　high　regard。　I　was　afree　born　woman；　and　as　I　could　not　give　my　hand　to　him　I　loved；　I　gave　my　heartthat　heart　which　you　rejected。　You　have　the　right　to　kill　me；　but　not　to　despise　meto　dishonor　me。〃

〃Do　I　dishonor　you　when　I　speak　the　truth？〃　cried　the　prince。

〃You　do　not　speak　the　truth。　I　have　sinned　heavily　against　you。　I　suffered　your　loveI　could　not　return　it。　I　had　not　the　courage　when　I　saw　you；　who　had　so　long　disdained　me；　lying　at　my　feet；　declaring　your　passion　and　imploring　my　love　in　return；　to　confess　to　you　that　I　could　never　love　youthat　my　heart　was　no　longer　free。　This　is　my　crimethis　alone。　I　could　not　force　my　heart　to　love　you；　but　I　could　be　faithful　to　my　duty；　and　I　have　been　so。　It　is　not　necessary　for　me　to　blush　and　cast　my　eyes　down　before　my　husband。　My　love　is　puremy　virtue　untarnished。　I　have　broken　no　faith　with　you。〃

〃Miserable　play　on　words！〃　said　the　prince。　〃You　have　been　a　hypocriteyour　crime　is　twofold：　you　have　sinned　against　meyou　have　sinned　against　your　love。　You　have　been　a　base　coward　who　had　not　the　courage　to　do　justice　to　the　feelings　of　your　own　heart。　What　mean　you　by　saying　you　have　broken　no　faith　with　me？　You　have　acted　a　daily　lie。　Oh；　madame；　how　have　I　loved　you！　Both　body　and　soul　were　lost　in　that　wild　love。　When　you　stood　with　your　lover　and　listened　well　pleased　to　those　glowing　confessions　of　his　sinful　love；　you　excused　yourself　and　thought；　forsooth；　you　were　breaking　no　faith。　You　have　defrauded　me　of　the　woman　I　loved　and　the　friend　whom　I　trusted。　May　God　curse　you；　even　as　I　do！　May　Heaven　chastise　you；　even　as　I　shall！〃

He　raised　both　his　hands　over　her　as　if　he　would　call　down　Heaven's　curse　upon　her　guilty　head；　then　turned　and　left　the　room。




CHAPTER　XII。

THE　MORNING　AT　SANS…SOUCI。


It　was　five　o'clock　in　the　morning。　Deep　silence　reigned；　the　darkness　of　night　still　encompassed　the　world；　the　weary　might　still　sleep　and　rest；　life　had　recommenced　nowhere；　nowhere　except　at　Sans…Souci；　nowhere　except　in　the　apartment　of　the　king；　while　his　people　slept；　the　king　watched；　he　watched　to　work　and　think　for　his　people。　Without　the　wind　howled　and　blew　the　snow　against　his　window；　and　made　even　the　fire　in　his　room　flicker；　but　the　king　heeded　it　not。　He　had　completed　his　toilet　and　drunk　his　chocolate；　now　he　was　working。　It　did　not　disturb　him　that　his　room　was　cold；　that　the　candle　on　his　table　gave　but　a　poor　light；　and　even　seemed　to　increase　the　appearance　of　discomfort　in　his　apartment；　it　gave　sufficient　light　to　enable　him　to　read　the　letters　which　lay　upon　his　table；　and　which　had　arrived　the　previous　day。　His　ministers　might　sleepthe　king　waked　and　worked。　He　read　every　letter　and　petition；　and　wrote　a　few　words　of　answer　on　the　margin　of　each。　After　reading　all　business　communications；　the　king　took　his　own　letters；　those　that　were　addressed　to　him　personally；　and　came　from　his　absent　friends。　His　countenance；　which　before　was　grave　and　determined；　assumed　a　soft　and　gentle　expression；　and　a　smile　played　upon　his　lips。　The　receipts　for　to…day　were　small。　There　were　but　few　letters；　and　the　large　proportion　of　them　came　from　relations　of　the　king；　or　from　distant　acquaintances。

〃No　letter　from　D'Argens；〃　said　the　king；　smiling。　〃My　ecclesiastic　letter　has　accomplished　the　desired　end；　and　the　good　marquis　will　arrive　here　to…day　to　rail　at；　and　then　forgive　me。　Ah；　here　is　a　letter　from　D'Alembert。　Well；　this　is　doubtless　an　agreeable　letter；　for　it　will　inform　me　that　D'Alembert　accepts　my　proposal；　and　has　decided　to　become　the　president　of　my　Academy　of　Science。〃

He　hastily　broke　the　seal；　and　while　he　read　a　dark　cloud　overshadowed　his　brow。　〃He　declines　my　offer；〃　he　said；　discontentedly。　〃His　pride　consists　in　a　disregard　for　princes；　he　wishes　posterity　to　admire　him　for　his　unselfishness。　Oh；　he　does　not　yet　know　posterity。　She　will　either　be　utterly　silent　on　this　subject　or；　should　it　be　spoken　of；　it　will　be　considered　an　act　of　folly　which　D'Alembert　committed。　He　is　a　proud　and　haughty　man；　as　they　all　are。〃　He　again　took　the　letter　and　read　it　once　more；　but　more　slowly　and　more　carefully　than　before；　gradually　the　clouds　disappeared　from　his　brow；　and　his　eyes　beamed　with　pleasure。

〃No；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　misjudged　D'Alembert。　My　displeasure　at　a　disappointed　hope　blinded　me；　D'Alembert　is　not　a　small；　vain　man；　but　a　free　and　great　spirit。　He　now　refuses　my　presidency；　with　a　salary　of　six　thousand　thalers；　as　he　last　year　refused　the　position　of　tutor　to　the　heir　of　the　throne　of　Russia；　with　a　salary　of　a　hundred　thousand　francs。　He　prefers　to　be　poor　and　needy；　and　to　live　up　five　flights　of　stairs；　and　be　his　own　master；　than　to　live　in　a　palace　as　the　servant　of　a　prince。　I　cannot　be　angry　with　him；　for　he　has　thought　and　acted　as　a　wise　man；　and　were　I　not　Frederick；　I　would　gladly　be　D'Alembert。　I　will　not　love　him　less　because　he　has　refused　my　offer。　Ah；　it　is　a　real　pleasure　to　know　that　there　are　still　men　who　are　independent　enough　to　exercise　their　will　and　judgment　in　opposition　to　the　king。　Princes　would　be　more　noble；　if　those　with　whom　they　associated　were　not　so　miserable　and　shallow…hearted。　D'Alembert　shall　be　a　lesson　and　a　consolation　to　me；　there　are　still　men　who　are　not　deceivers　and　flatterers；　fools　and　betrayers；　but　really　men。〃

He　carefully　refolded　the　letter；　and；　before　placing　it　in　his　portfolio；　nodded　to　it　as　pleasantly　as　if　it　had　been　D'Alembert　himself。　He　then　took　another　letter。

〃I　do　not　recognize　this　writing；〃　he　said；　as　he　examined　the　address。　〃It　is　from　Switzerland；　and　is　directed　to　me　personally。　From　whom　is　it？〃

He　opened　the　letter；　and　glanced　first　at　the　signature。

〃Ah；〃　he　said；　〃from　Jean　Jacques　Rousseau！　I　promised　him　an　asylum。　The　free　Switzers　persecuted　the　unhappy　philosopher；　and　my　good　Lord　Marshal　prayed　my　assistance　for　him。　Lord　Marshal　is　now　in　Scotland；　and　it　will　not　benefit　him　to　have　his　friend　here。　Well；　perhaps　it　may　lead　to　his　return；　if　he　hopes　to　find　Rousseau　here。　I　must　see　what　the　philosopher　says。〃

The　letter　contained　only　a　few　lines；　which　the　king　read　with　utter　astonishment。　〃Vraiment！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃philosophers　all　belong　to　the　devil。　This　Jean　Jacques　does　not　content　himself　with　declining　my　offer；　but　he　does　it　in　an　unheard…of　manner。　This　is　a　work　of　art；　I　must　read　it　again。〃

The　king　read　aloud　in　a　most　pathetic　voice：　〃Votre　majeste　m'offre　un　asyle；　et　m'y　prome　la　liberte；　mais　vous　avez　une　epee；　et　vous　etes　roi。　Vous　m'offrez　une　pension；　a　moi；　qui　n'a　rien　fait　pour　vous。　Mais　en　avez…vous　donne　a　tous　les　braves　gens　qui　ont　perdu　bras　et　jambes　en　vos　services？〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　king；　laughing；　〃if　being　a　ruffian　makes　one　a　philosopher；　Jean　Jacques　Rousseau　deserves　to　be　called　the　greatest　philosopher　in　the　world。　Truly；　Fortune　is　playing　curious　pranks　with　me　to…day；　and　seems　determined　to　lower　my　royal　pride。　Two　refusals　at　one　time；　two　philosophers　who　decline　my　invitation。　No；　not　two　philosophersD'Alembert　is　a　philosopher；　but　Rousseau　is　in　truth　a　fool。〃

He　tore　this　letter；　and　threw　the　pieces　in　the　fire。　He　then　seized　another　letter；　but　laid　it　down　again　before　opening　it。　He　had　heard　the　great　clock　in　the　hall　strike　eight。　That　was　the　sign　that　the　business　of　the　day；　which　he　shared　with　his　attendants；　should　begin；　and　that　the　king　had　no　more　time　to　devote　to　his　private　correspondence。　The　last　stroke　of　the　clock　had　scarcely　sounded；　as　a　light　knock　was　heard　at　the　door；　which　was　instantly　opened　by　the　command　of　the　king。

Baron　von　Kircheisen；　the　prefect　of　Berlin；　entered　the　room。　He　came　to　make　his　weekly　report　to　the　king。　His　respectful　greeting　was　returned　merely　by　a　dark　side…glance；　and　the　king　listened　to　his　report　with　evident　displeasure。

〃And　that　is　your　entire　report？〃　asked　his　majesty；　when　the　prefect　had　finished。　〃You　are　the　head　of　police　for　the　city　of　Berlin；　and　you　have　nothing　more　to　tell　me　than　any　policemen　might　know。　You　inform　me　of　the　number　of　arrivals　and　departures；　of　the　births　and　deaths；　and　of　the　thefts　which　have　been　committed；　and　that　is　the　extent　of　your　report。〃

〃But　I　cannot　inform　your　majesty　of　things　that　have　not　occurred；〃　returned　Baron　von　Kircheisen。

〃So　nothing　else　has　occurred　in　Berlin。　Berlin　is　then　a　most　quiet；　innocent　city；　where　at　the　worst　a　few　greatly…to…be…pitied　individuals　occasionally　disturb　the　repose　of　the　righteous　by　mistaking　the　property　of　others　for　their　own。　You　know　nothing。　You　do　not　know　that　Berlin　is　the　most　vicious　and　immoral　of　cities。　You　can　tell　me　nothing　of　the　crimes　which　are　certainly　not　of　a　kind　to　be　punished　by　the　law；　but　which　are　creeping　from　house　to　house；　poisoning　the　happiness　of　entire　families；　and　spreading　shame　and　misery　on　every　hand。　You　know　nothing　of　the　many　broken　marriage…vows；　of　the　dissension　in　families；　of　the　frivolity　of　the　young　people　who　have　given　themselves　up　to　gambling　and　dissipation　of　all　kinds。　Much　misery　might　be　avoided　if　you　knew　more　of　these　matters；　and　were　ready　with　a　warning　at　the　right　moment。〃

〃Sire；　will　you　permit　me　to　say　that　is　not　the　task　of　the　ordinary　police；　for　such　matters　a　secret　police　is　required。〃

〃Well；　why　do　you　not　have　a　secret　police？　Why　do　you　not　follow　the　example　of　the　new　minister　of　police　at　Paris；　De　Sartines？　That　man　knows　e