frederick the great and his family-第65章

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th　many　distinguished　persons；　he　is　also　well　received　at　court。　Give　yourself　the　appearance　of　sympathizing　in　all　his　sentiments。　When　you　attend　the　concerts　at　the　castle；　observe　all　that　passes　every　laugh；　every　glance；　every　indistinct　word；　and　inform　me　of　all。　Do　you　understand；　Marietta？will　you　do　this？〃

〃I　understand；　Carlo；　and　I　will　do　this。　Is　this　all？　Can　I　do　nothing　more　to　help　you？〃

〃Yes；　there　are　other　things；　but　they　are　more　difficult；　more　dangerous。〃

〃So　much　the　better；　the　more　dangerous　the　stronger　the　proof　of　my　love。　Speak；　dear　Carlo！〃

〃It　is　forbidden　for　the　captive　officers　to　send　sealed　letters　to　their　friends　or　relatives。　All　our　letters　must　be　read；　and　if　a　word　of　politics　is　found　in　them；　they　are　condemned。　All　other　persons　have　the　right　to　send　sealed　letters　in　every　direction。　Have　you　not　friends　to　whom　you　write；　Marietta？〃

〃I　have；　and　from　this　time　onward　your　friends　will　be　mine；　and　I　will　correspond　with　them。〃

As　she　said　this；　with　a　roguish　smile；　a　ray　of　joy　lighted　up　Ranuzi's　eyes。

〃You　understand　me；　my　beloved；　your　intellect　is　as　clear　and　sharp　as　your　heart　is　warm　and　noble。　Think　well　what　you　dowhat　danger　threatens　you。　I　tell　you　plainly；　Marietta；　this　is　no　question　of　common　friendly　letters；　but　of　the　most　earnest；　grave；　important　interests！〃

She　bowed　to　his　ear　and　whispered：　〃All　that　you　espy　in　Berlin　you　will　confide　to　these　letters；　you　will　concert　with　your　friends；　you　will　design　plans；　perhaps　make　conspiracies。　I　will　address　these　letters　and　take　them　to　the　post；　and　no　one　will　mistrust　me；　for　my　letters　will　be　addressed　to　some　friends　in　Vienna；　or　to　whom　you　will。　Have　I　understood　you；　Carlo？　Is　this　all　right？〃

He　clasped　her　rapturously　in　his　arms；　and　the　words　of　tender　gratitude　which　he　expressed　were　not　entirely　wanting　in　sincerity　and　truth。

Marietta　was　proudly　happy；　and　listened　with　sparkling　eyes　to　his　honeyed　words。

As　Ranuzi；　however；　after　this　long　interview；　arose　to　say　farewell；　she　held　him　back。　Laying　her　hands　upon　his　shoulder；　she　looked　at　him　with　a　curious　expression；　half　laughing；　half　threatening。

〃One　last　word；　Carlo；〃　she　said；　〃I　love　you　boundlessly。　To　prove　my　love　to　you；　I　become　a　traitress　to　this　king；　who　has　been　a　gracious　master　to　me；　whose　bread　I　eatwho　received　and　protects　me。　To　prove　my　love；　I　become　a　spy；　an　informer。　Men　say　this　is　dishonorable　work；　but　for　myself　I　feel　proud　and　happy　to　undertake　it　for　you；　and　not　for　all　the　riches　and　treasures　of　this　world　would　I　betray　you。　But；　Carlo；　if　you　ever　cease　to　love　me；　if　you　deceive　me　and　become　unfaithful；　as　true　as　God　helps　me；　I　will　betray　both　myself　and　you！〃

〃I　believe　truly　she　is　capable　of　it；〃　said　Ranuzi；　as　he　reached　the　street；　〃she　is　a　dangerous　woman；　and　with　her　love　and　hate　she　is　truly　like　a　tigress。　Well；　I　must　be　on　my　guard。　If　she　rages　I　must　draw　her　teeth；　so　that　she　cannot　bite；　or　flee　from　her　furious　leaps。　But　this　danger　is　in　the　distance；　the　principal　thing　is　that　I　have　opened　a　way　to　my　correspondence；　and　that　is　immense　progress　in　my　plans；　for　which　I　might　well　show　my　gratitude　to　my　tender　Marietta　by　a　few　caresses。〃




CHAPTER　IV。

LOUISE　DU　TROUFFLE。


Madame　du　Trouffle　paced　her　room　restlessly；　she　listened　to　every　stroke　of　the　clock；　every　sound　made　her　tremble。

〃He　comes　not！　he　comes　not！〃　murmured　she；　〃he　received　my　irony　of　yesterday　in　earnest　and　is　exasperated。　Alas！　am　I　really　an　old　woman？　Have　I　no　longer　the　power　to　enchain；　to　attract？　Can　it　be　that　I　am　old　and　ugly？　No；　no！　I　am　but　thirty…four　years　of　age　that　is　not　old　for　a　married　woman；　and　as　to　being　ugly〃

She　interrupted　herself；　stepped　hastily　to　the　glass；　and　looked　long　and　curiously　at　her　face。

Yes；　yes！　she　must　confess　her　beauty　was　on　the　wane。　She　was　more　faded　than　her　age　would　justify。　Already　was　seen　around　her　mouth　those　yellow；　treacherous　lines　which　vanished　years　imprint　upon　the　face；　already　her　brow　was　marked　with　light　lines；　and　silver　threads　glimmered　in　her　hair。

Louise　du　Trouffle　sighed　heavily。

〃I　was　too　early　married；　and　then　unhappily　married；　at　eighteen　I　was　a　mother。　All　this　ages　a　womannot　the　years　but　the　storms　of　life　have　marked　these　fearful　lines　in　my　face。　Then　it　is　not　possible　for　a　man　to　feel　any　warm　interest　in　me　when　he　sees　a　grown…up　daughter　by　my　side；　who　will　soon　be　my　rival；　and　strive　with　me　for　the　homage　of　men。　This　is　indeed　exasperating。　Oh；　my　God！　my　God！　a　day　may　come　in　which　I　may　be　jealous　of　my　own　daughter！　May　Heaven　guard　me　from　that！　Grant　that　I　may　see　her　fresh　and　blooming　beauty　without　rancor；　that　I　may　think　more　of　her　happiness　than　my　vanity。〃

Then；　as　if　she　would　strengthen　her　good　resolutions；　Louise　left　her　room　and　hastened　to　the　chamber　of　her　daughter。

Camilla　lay　upon　the　divanher　slender　and　beauteous　form　was　wrapped　in　soft　white　drapery；　her　shining；　soft　dark　hair　fell　around　her　rosy　face　and　over　her　naked　shoulders；　with　whose　alabaster　whiteness　it　contrasted　strongly。　Camilla　was　reading；　and　so　entirely　was　she　occupied　with　her　book　that　she　did　not　hear　her　mother　enter。

Louise　drew　softly　near　the　divan；　and　stood　still；　lost　in　admiration　at　this　lovely；　enchanting　picture；　this　reposing　Hebe。

〃Camilla；〃　said　she；　fondly；　〃what　are　you　reading　so　eagerly？〃

Camilla　started　and　looked　up　suddenly；　then　laughed　aloud。

〃Ah；　mamma；〃　said　she；　in　a　silver；　clear；　and　soft　voice；　〃how　you　frightened　me！　I　thought　it　was　my　tyrannical　governess　already　returned　from　her　walk；　and　that　she　had　surprised　me　with　this　book。〃

〃Without　doubt　she　forbade　you　to　read　it；〃　said　her　mother；　gravely；　stretching　out　her　hand　for　the　book；　but　Camilla　drew　it　back　suddenly。

〃Yes；　certainly；　Madame　Brunnen　forbade　me　to　read　this　book；　but　that　is　no　reason；　mamma；　why　you　should　take　it　away　from　me。　It　is　to　be　hoped　you　will　not　play　the　stern　tyrant　against　your　poor　Camilla。〃

〃I　wish　to　know　what　you　are　reading；　Camilla。〃

〃Well；　then；　Voltaire's　'Pucelle　d'　Orleans；'　and　I　assure　you；　mamma；　I　am　extremely　pleased　with　it。〃

〃Madame　Brunnen　was　right　to　forbid　you　to　read　this　book；　and　I　also　forbid　it。〃

〃And　if　I　refuse　to　obey；　mamma？〃

〃I　will　force　you　to　obedience；〃　cried　her　mother；　sternly。

〃Did　any　one　succeed　in　forcing　you　to　obey　your　mother？〃　said　Camilla；　in　a　transport　of　rage。　〃Did　your　mother　give　her　consent　to　your　elopement　with　the　garden…boy？　You　chose　your　own　path　in　life；　and　I　will　choose　mine。　I　will　no　longer　bear　to　be　treated　as　a　childI　am　thirteen　years　old；　you　were　not　older　when　you　had　the　affair　with　the　garden…boy；　and　were　forced　to　confide　yourself　to　my　father。　Why　do　you　wish　in　treat　me　as　a　little　child；　and　keep　me　in　leading…strings；　when　I　am　a　grown…up　girl？〃

〃You　are　no　grown…up　girl；　Camilla；〃　cried　her　mother；　〃if　you　were；　you　would　not　dare　to　speak　to　your　mother　as　you　have　done：　you　would　know　that　it　was　unseemly；　and　that；　above　all　other　things；　you　should　show　reverence　and　obedience　to　your　mother。　No；　Camilla；　God　be　thanked！　you　are　but　a　foolish　child；　and　therefore　I　forgive　you。〃

Louise　drew　near　her　daughter　and　tried　to　clasp　her　tenderly　in　her　arms；　but　Camilla　struggled　roughly　against　it。

〃You　shall　not　call　me　a　child；〃　said　she；　rudely。　〃I　will　no　longer　bear　it！　it　angers　me！　and　if　you　repeat　it；　mamma；　I　will　declare　to　every　one　that　I　am　sixteen　years　old！〃

〃And　why　will　you　say　that；　Camilla？〃

Camilla　looked　up　with　a　cunning　smile。

〃Why？〃　she　repeated；　〃ah！　you　think　I　do　not　know　why　I　must　always　remain　a　child？　It　is　because　you　wish　to　remain　a　young　woman　therefore　you　declare　to　all　the　world　that　I　am　but　twelve　years　old！　But　no　one　believes　you；　mamma；　not　one　believes　you。　The　world　laughs　at　you；　but　you　do　not　see　ityou　think　you　are　younger　when　you　call　me　a　child。　I　say　to　you　I　will　not　endure　it！　I　will　be　a　ladyI　will　adorn　myself　and　go　into　society。　I　will　not　remain　in　the　school…room　with　a　governess　while　you　are　sparkling　in　the　saloon　and　enchanting　your　followers　by　your　beauty。　I　will　also　have　my　worshippers；　who　pay　court　to　me；　I　will　write　and　receive　love…letters　as　other　maidens　do；　I　will　carry　on　my　own　little　love…affairs　as　all　other　girls　do；　as　you　did；　from　the　time　you　were　twelve　years　old；　and　still　do！〃

〃Silence；　Camilla！　or　I　will　make　you　feel　that　you　are　still　a　child！〃　cried　Louise；　raising　her　arm　threateningly　and　approaching　the　divan。

〃Would　you　strike　me；　mother？〃　said　she；　with　trembling　lips。　〃I　counsel　you　not　to　do　it。　Raise　your　hand　once　more　against　me；　but　think　of　the　consequences。　I　will　run　away！　I　will　fly　to　my　poor；　dear　father；　whom　you；　unhappy　one；　have　made　a　drunkard！　I　will　remain　with　himhe　loves　me　tenderly。　If　I　were　with　him；　he　would　no　longer　drink。〃

〃Oh；　my　God；　my　God！〃　cried　Louise；　with　tears　gushing　from　her　eyes；　〃it　is　he　who　has　planted　this　hate　in　her　hearthe　has　been　the　cause　of　all　my　wretchedness！　She　loves　her　father　who　has　done　nothing　for　her；　and　she　hates　her　mother　who　has　shown　her　nothing　but　love。〃　With　a　loud　cry　of　agony；　she　clasped　her　hands　over　her　face　and　wept　bitterly。

Camilla　drew　close　to　her；　grasped　her　hands　and　pulled　them　forcibly　from　her　face；　then　looked　in　her　eyes　passionately　and　scornfully。　Camilla　was　indeed　no　longer　a　child。　She　stood　erect；　pale；　and　fiercely　excited；　opposite　to　her　mother。　Understanding　and　intellect　flashed　from　her　dark　eyes。　There　were　lines　around　her　mouth　which　betrayed　a　passion　and　a　power　with　which　childhood　has　nothing　to　do。

〃You　say　you　have　shown　me　nothing　but　love；〃　said　Camilla；　in　a　cold　and　cutting　tone。　〃Mother；　what　love　have　you　shown　me？　You　made　my　father　wretched；　and　my　childish　years　were　spent　under　the　curse　of　a　most　unhappy　marriage。　I　have　seen　my　father　weep　while　you　were　laughing　merrilyI　have　seen　him　drunk　and　lying　like　a　beast　at　my　feet；　while　you　were　in　our　gay　saloon　receiving　and　entertaining　guests　with　cool　unconcern。　You　say　you　have　shown　me　nothing　but　love。　You　never　loved　me；　mother；　never！　Had　you　loved　me；　you　would　have　taken　pity　with　my　futureyou　would　not　have　given　me　a　step…father　while　I　had　a　poor；　dear　father；　who　had　nothing　in　the　wide　world　but　me；　me　alone！　You　think　perhaps；　mother；　that　I　am　not　unhappy；　while　I　am　giddy　and　play　foolish　pranks；　you　believe　me　to　be　happy　and　contented。　Ah；　mother；　I　have　an　inward　horror　and　prophetic　fear　of　the　future　which　never　leaves　me；　it　seems　to　me　that　evil　spirits　surround　meas　if　they　enchanted　me　with　strange；　alluring　songs。　I　know　they　will　work　my　destruction；　but　I　cannot　withstand　themI　must　listen；　I　must　succumb　to　them。　I　would　gladly　be　differentbe　better。　I　desire　to　be　a　virtuous　and　modest　girl；　but　alas；　alas；　I　cannot　escape　from　this　magic　circle　to　which　my　mother　has　condemned　me！　I　have　lived　too　fast；　experienced　too　muchI　am　no　longer　a　childI　am　an　experienced　woman。　The　world　and　the　things　of　the　world　call　me　with　a　thousand　alluring　voices；　and　I　shal