frederick the great and his family-第127章

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ngth　of　physique。　She　laid　her　hands　upon　her　cousin　with　cordial　approbation；　and　gazed　lovingly　at　him。

〃You　are　as　beautiful　as　a　hero　and　a　demigod；　and　it　seems　to　me　I　never　loved　you　so　fondly　as　at　this　moment；　when　you　stand　before　me　as　the　victor　over　my　cowardly　husband。　Ah；　I　wish　I　could　have　witnessed　that　scene；　you　proud　and　grand；　and　he　lying　trembling　like　this　miserable　windspiel　at　your　feet；　repeating　the　words　of　retraction　and　repentance　which　you　dictated。〃

〃It　was　indeed　worth　seeing；〃　said　Kindar；　〃but　let　us　speak　now　of　something　more　important；　dear　Camilla。　You　must　leave　Berlin　to…　day；　and　for　a　few　weeks　at　least　withdraw　to　your　estate；　till　the　violence　of　the　storm　has　blown　over。　It　is；　of　course；　most　agreeable　and　flattering　to　me　to　have　my　name　coupled　with　that　of　so　lovely　and　charming　a　womanto　be　looked　upon　with　jealousy　and　alarm　by　the　cowardly　husbands　of　Berlin。　It　will　not；　however；　be　agreeable　to　you　to　be　torn　to　pieces　by　slanderous　tongues。　Every　old　maid；　every　prude；　and　every　hypocritical　coquette　（and　of　such　base　elements　the　feminine　world　is　composed）；　will　find　this　a　happy　occasion　to　exalt　her　own　modesty　and　virtue；　and　denounce　and　condemn　you。〃

〃Not　so；〃　said　Camilla；　proudly；　〃I　will　remain　in　Berlin。　I　have　courage　to　defy　the　whole　world　for　your　sakeI　will　remain　to　prove　that　I　am　not　ashamed　of　my　love。　The　whole　world　shall　know　that　the　brave　and　handsome　Kindar；　the　beloved　of　all　women；　is　my　lover。　Ah；　cousin；　you　merit　this　compensation　at　my　hands；　you　defended　my　honor　against　the　aspersions　of　my　husband；　and　compelled　him　to　a　shameful　retraction。〃

〃Does　Baron　von　Kindar　make　this　boast？〃　cried　a　voice　behind　her。

Camilla　turned　and　saw　Lord　Elliot　standing　in　the　door；　he　looked　at　her　with　a　cold；　contemptuous　glance；　which　wounded　her　far　more　than　a　spoken　insult　would　have　done。

〃Why　are　you　here；　sir？〃　she　cried。　〃With　what　right　do　you　dare　force　yourself　into　my　presence？〃

Lord　Elliot　made　no　reply；　but　smiled　coolly；　and　Camilla's　eyes　filled　with　tears　of　rage。

〃Cousin；〃　said　she；　turning　to　Kindar；　〃will　you　not　free　me　from　the　presence　of　this　contemptible　creature；　who　dares　to　affront　and〃

Suddenly　she　stopped　speaking　and　gazed　in　amazement　at　her　handsome　cousin；　his　countenance　was　not　serene；　he　was　indeed　livid；　and　stood　trembling　and　with　downcast　eyes　before　her　husband。

〃Well；〃　said　Lord　Elliot；　raising　himself　proudly；　〃do　you　not　hear　your　cousin's　command？　Will　you　not　dismiss　this　poor　creature　who　dares　disturb　this　tender　interview？〃

〃I　will　withdraw。〃　stammered　Kindar；　〃I　am　de　trop。　I　have　no　right　to　interfere　between　Lord　Elliot　and　his　wife。　I　take　my　leave。〃

He　tried　to　step　through　the　door；　but　the　powerful　hand　of　Lord　Elliot　held　him　back。

〃Not　so；　my　handsome　gentleman；〃　said　Lord　Elliot；　with　a　hoarse　laugh；　〃you　are　by　no　means　de　trop；　on　the　contrary；　I　desire　your　presence；　you　will　remain　here　and　listen　to　the　charming　and　merry　narrative　I　am　about　to　relate　to　Lady　Elliot。　I　have　come；　madame；　to　give　your　ladyship　the　history　of　a　hunt；　not；　however；　of　a　chase　after　wild　beasts；　of　the　hart　and　the　hare；　but　of　an　all…　conquering　cavalier；　who；　however；　judging　from　the　manner　in　which　he　fled　and　sought　to　save　himself；　must　possess　the　cowardice　of　the　hare；　and　the　fleet　foot　of　the　hart。　You　know；　I　presume；　that　I　speak　of　your　beau　cousin；　and　myself。〃

While　Lord　Elliot　spoke；　Camilla　stared　in　breathless　agony　at　her　cousin。　She　seemed　to　hope　to　read　in　his　pale　face　the　explanation　of　this　incomprehensible　riddle；　she　expected　him　to　command　her　husband　to　be　silent；　and　to　offer　him　some　new　insult。　But　Kindar　did　not　speak；　and　Camilla　came　to　a　desperate　resolution。　She　was　determined　to　know　why　he　stood　so　pale　and　trembling　before　her　husband。　She　would　force　him　to　an　explanation。

〃It　is　wholly　unnecessary；　my　lord；〃　she　said；　in　a　haughty　tone；　〃to　relate　your　history　to　me；　I　am　acquainted　with　all　the　particulars　of　the　chase　of　which　you　speak。　I　know　your　degradation　and　humiliationI　know　that　you　fell　upon　your　knees　and　pleaded　for　pardon　when　satisfaction　was　demanded　of　you。〃

〃Ah！　I　see；　le　beau　cousin　has　changed　roles　with　me；〃　said　Lord　Elliot。　〃That　was　indeed　most　amiable。　Your　lover　must；　of　course；　always　play　the　most　important　part；　and　no　doubt；　he　thought　to　do　me　honor　by　this　change。　I　cannot　take　advantage　of　this　generous　intention；　and　must　correct　a　few　errors　in　his　narrative。〃

〃Speak！　then；　speak！　my　lord；〃　said　Camilla；　whose　eyes　were　still　fixed　sternly　upon　her　lover。

〃As　you　graciously　permit　it；　madame；　I　will　give　you　an　account　of　the　chase。　But　first；　madame；　I　must　clear　myself　from　an　accusation。　I　am　suspected　of　having　challenged　Von　Kindar；　because　he　was　the　lover　of　my　wife。　I　look　upon　that；　however；　as　an　accident；　and　nothing　more。　Le　beau　cousin　happened　to　be　at　hand　when　my　susceptible；　ardent　wife　looked　around　for　a　lover；　and　she　accepted　him；　he　was　the　first；　but　he　will　not　be　the　last。　I　was　not　driven　to　pursue　him　by　jealousy。　I　am　a　true　son　of　this　enlightened　age；　and　shall　not；　like　the　knights　of　the　olden　time；　storm　heaven　and　earth　because　my　wife　has　a　lover。　I　am　a　philosopher。　For　a　noble　wife；　who　had　made　me　happy　in　her　love；　I　might　perhaps　feel　and　act　differently。　I；　however；　married　a　heartless　fool；　and　it　would　have　been　mad　folly　to　risk　my　life　with　a　brainless　fop　for　her　sake。〃

〃Speak；　cousin！〃　cried　Camilla；　springing　forward；　white　with　passion。　〃Speak！　Do　you　not　hear　these　insults？〃　She　laid　her　hands　upon　his　arm；　he　muttered　a　few　incomprehensible　words　and　tried　to　shake　them　off。

〃He　has　heard　every　word；〃　said　Lord　Elliot；　scornfully；　〃but　he　is　without　doubt　too　polite　to　interrupt　me。　He　will　have　the　goodness　still　to　listen　silently。〃

Camilla　let　her　hands　fall；　gnashing　her　teeth　she　turned　away　and　seated　herself　upon　the　divan。　Her　lover　and　her　husband　stood　before　her；　the　one；　trembling　like　a　broken　reed；　leaned　against　the　wall；　the　other　erect　and　proudly　conscious　of　his　own　worth　and　dignity。

〃I　said　that　I　would　not　have　dreamed　of　risking　my　life　with　a　brainless　fop；　for　the　sake　of　a　heartless　fool；　but　this　fop　was　guilty　of　another　crime：　he　was　not　only　the　betrayer　of　my　wife；　but　he　was　the　author　of　a　shameful　and　most　insulting　letter；　which　you；　madame；　had　the　effrontery　to　copy　and　send　me。〃

〃How　do　you　know　that　he　wrote　this　letter？〃　cried　Camilla。

〃In　the　first　place；　madame；　you　are　not　even　capable　of　composing　such　a　letter。　I　took　the　liberty　of　removing　the　original　of　this　letter　from　your　writing…desk。　Armed　with　this　proof；　I　sought　le　beau　cousin；　and　demanded　satisfaction。　Lieutenant　Kaphengst；　a　former　friend　of　this　handsome　cavalier；　accompanied　me。　When　you　deal　with　such　a　man　as　the　one　who　stands　cowering　before　me；　witnesses　are　necessary。　He　is　quite　capable　of　denying　every　thing；　and　changing　the　roles。　The　baron　had　left　home；　he　had　gone　to　Mecklenberg。　Certainly　he　did　not　know　that　I　had　come　to　Berlin　to　seek　him；　or　he　would　have　had　the　courtesy　to　remain　and　receive　my　visit。　I　was　too　impatient　to　await　his　return；　and　followed　his　traces；　even　as　ardently　as　he　has　followed　you；　madame。　I　found　him　at　last；　in　the　hotel　of　a　little　village。　Like　all　other　sentimental　lovers；　he　longed　for　solitude；　and；　not　wishing　to　be　disturbed　in　his　sweet　dreams；　he　rented　the　entire　hotel。　I　was；　however；　bold　enough　to　seek　himwith　swords　and　pistolsand　gave　him　choice　of　weapons；　he　was　peaceable；　and　refused　both　sword　and　pistol。　I　therefore　took　my　third　weapon；　my　trusty　walking…stick。　It　was　a　beautiful　bamboo…rod；　and　neither　broke　nor　split；　though　I　beat　away　valiantly　on　the　back　of　the　knightly　cavalier。〃

〃This　cannot　be　true。　This　is　a　lie！〃　cried　Camilla。

Lord　Elliot　raised　his　arm　and　pointed　slowly　to　Kindar。　〃Ask　him；　madame；　if　this　is　a　lie。〃

Camilla　turned；　and　as　her　eye　rested　upon　him；　she　felt　that　she　had　no　need　to　ask　the　question。

Kindar　leaned　with　pale　cheek　and　tottering　knees　against　the　wall。　He　was　a　living　picture　of　cowardly　despair　and　trembling　terror。

Camilla　groaned　aloud；　and　with　a　look　of　unspeakable　aversion　she　turned　from　him　to　her　husband。　For　the　first　time；　she　did　not　find　him　ugly。　He　was　indeed　imposing。　His　proud　bearing；　his　noble　intellect；　and　manly　worth　impressed　her。　To　her　he　had　never　been　but　the　fond；　tender；　yielding　lovernow　she　saw　before　her　the　firm　and　angry　man；　and　he　pleased　her。　Kindar；　who　had　been　so　handsome　and　so　irresistible；　was　now　hateful　in　her　eyes。

〃Go　on；〃　murmured　Camilla。

〃Well；　I　beat　this　man　with　my　cane　till　he　consented　to　fight　with　me。　We　had；　however；　played　this　little　comedy　too　energetically。　The　people　of　the　hotel　heard　the　noise；　and　fearing　some　fatal　result；　rushed　to　the　rescue　of　this　handsome　cavalier。　We　deferred　the　duel；　therefore；　till　the　next　day；　but　lo！　the　next　morning　le　beau　cousin　had　fled。　Without　doubt　he　had　forgotten　our　little　arrangement；　and　his　thirst　to　see　you　lured　him　back　to　Berlin。　I　was　barbarian　enough　to　follow　him；　and　I　swore　to　shoot　him　down　like　a　mad　dog　if　he　did　not　consent　to　fight。　This　comparison　was　doubtless　somewhat　insulting；　and　he　resolved　at　last　to　fight。〃

〃Ah；　he　accepted　the　challenge！〃　cried　Camilla；　casting　a　sudden　glance　upon　Kindar；　but　oh；　how　ugly；　how　pitiful；　how　repulsive　did　he　now　appear　to　her！　She　closed　her　eyes；　in　order　not　to　see　him。

〃We　rode　on　with　our　seconds　and　our　weapons　to　the　little　village　of　Bernan；　on　the　border　of　Saxony；　but　I　saw；　madame；　that　your　cavalier　had　no　inclination　to　fight　this　duel。　Besides；　I　thought　of　youof　your　great　grief　if　he　should　fall；　and　thus　deprive　you　of　your　pretty　plaything　before　you　had　time　to　replace　it。　You　know　that　my　heart　was　ever　soft　and　compassionate。　I　resolved；　therefore；　to　be　merciful　to　le　beau　cousin。　Arrived　on　the　ground；　I　proposed　to　Kindar；　instead　of　fighting　with　me；　to　sign　a　paper　which　I　had　prepared；　in　which　he　implores　my　pardon　and　my　mercy；　acknowledges　himself　to　be　an　unworthy　scoundrel　and　liar；　and　solemnly　swears　that　every　accusation　he　brought　against　me　in　the　letter　you　copied　was　a　liedeclares　me　to　be　an　irreproachable　cavalier；　who　has　been　deceived　and　betrayed　by　himself　and　Lady　Elliot。　Baron　Kindar　found　this　somewhat　strongly　expressed；　and　preferred　to　fight　rather　than　sign　it。〃

〃God　be　thanked！〃　murmured　Camilla。

〃Well；　we　were　resolved　to　fight；　and　I　was　obliging　enough　to　give　Kindar　the　first　shot。　He　accepted　this　advantage　readily；　and　I　confess　he　aimed　well。　His　hand　trembled；　and　he　shot　too　high；　just　over　my　head。　Now　it　was　my　turn。　I　raised　the　pistol；　and　I　swear　to　you；　madame；　my　hand　did　not　tremble。　Perhaps　Kindar　noticed　thisperhaps　he　wished　to　live　and　find　a　compensation　in　your　love　for　the　terrible　torments　of　the　last　few　days。　It　suffices　to　say；　he　called　out　to　me　not　to　shoot；　as　he　was　ready　to　sign　the　paper　confessing　he　was　a　scoundrel　and　a　liar。　He　signed　it　kneeling　at　my　feet；　and　begging　pardon。　I　then　gave　him　permission　to　return　to　Berlin。