frederick the great and his family-第93章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


this　was　their　last　meeting；　and　that　he　intended　leaving　Berlin　this　night；　perhaps　forever。　Marietta　wished　to　chain　him　to　her　side　and　prevent　his　departure。

Time　flew　by　amid　gay　laughter　and　tender　jests；　and　at　length　Marietta　heard　the　house…door　open　and　hurried　steps　mounting　the　stairway。　It　was　the　maid　who　had　returned。　Marietta's　heart　beat　so　violently　that　she　could　scarcely　conceal　her　emotion。

〃The　maid　has　returned　with　her　purchases；〃　she　said；　hastily；　〃I　will　go　out　and　tell　her　that　you　cannot　remain　with　me　to…day。〃　She　left　the　room　and　met　Sophie　in　the　hall；　who　was　quite　out　of　breath　with　her　hurried　walk；　and　who　handed　her　a　note。　Marietta　broke　the　seal　with　trembling　hands。　It　contained　only　these　words：　〃Keep　him　but　a　few　moments　longer；　and　one　will　arrive　who　will　release　you　from　your　watch；　and　relieve　you　forever　from　your　enemy　by　bearing　him　to　prison。　The　answer　of　the　one　to　whom　I　sent　your　paper　has　come；　he　is　condemned。〃

〃Very　well；　Sophie；〃　said　Marietta；　concealing　the　paper　in　her　bosom。　〃When　the　count　leaves；　you　shall　receive　your　reward。　Now　listen；　the　soldiers　are　coming。　As　soon　as　you　hear　them　on　the　steps；　you　must　tap　at　my　door；　that　I　may　know　they　have　arrived。〃

She　hastened　back　to　Ranuzi；　but　she　no　longer　smiledshe　no　longer　approached　him　with　open　armsbut　she　advanced　toward　him　with　flashing　eyes；　with　her　arms　folded　haughtily　across　her　breast；　and　her　countenance　pale　with　passion。

〃Ranuzi；　the　hour　of　revenge　has　come！　You　have　most　shamefully　betrayed　and　deceived　meyou　have　mocked　my　loveyou　have　trodden　my　heart　under　foot。　Lies　were　upon　your　lipslies　were　in　your　heart。　And　whilst　you　swore　to　me　that　you　loved　no　other；　you　had　already　betrayed　me　to　a　woman。　I　am　acquainted　with　Madame　du　Trouffle；　and　I　know　that　you　visit　her　every　evening。　This　was　the　conference　with　the　Catholic　fathers；　for　whose　sake　you　left　me。　Oh；　I　know　allall！　I　will　not　reproach　you；　I　will　not　tell　you　of　the　martyrdom　I　sufferedof　the　wretched　days　and　nights　through　which　I　wept　and　sighed；　until　at　length　I　overcame　the　love　I　had　borne　you。　That　suffering　is　passed。　But　you　have　not　forgotten　that　I　once　said　to　you：　'Should　you　forsake　me；　or　turn　faithlessly　from　me；　I　will　be　revenged。'〃

〃I　have　not　forgotten；〃　said　Ranuzi；　〃and　I　know　that　you　will　fulfil　your　promise；　but　before　you　do　sobefore　you　point　me　out　to　the　government　as　a　dangerous　spyyou　will　listen　to　my　defence；　and　only　then　if　you　are　not　satisfied；　will　you　condemn　me；　and　revenge　yourself。〃

〃I　have　all…sufficient　proof；〃　she　said。　〃Day　by　day；　hour　by　hour；　have　these　proofs　been　forced　upon　me；　as　the　contents　of　the　poisoned　cup　are　forced　upon　the　condemned　man。　My　love　and　happiness　are　dead；　but　you　also　shall　dieyou　also　shall　suffer　as　I　have　done。　My　love　was　insufficient　to　keep　for　me　a　place　in　your　memory；　perhaps　my　revenge　will　do　so。　When　you　are　wretched　and　miserable；　think　of　me　and　repent。〃

〃Repent　of　what？〃　he　asked；　proudly。〃　I　have　done　nothing　of　which　I　am　ashamednothing　of　which　I　repent。　I　have　offered　up　my　entire　life；　my　every　thought　and　desire；　to　a　holy；　a　noble　cause。　To　it　I　have　subjected　all　my　feelings；　wishes；　and　hopes；　and　had　it　been　necessary；　I　would　without　tears　have　sacrificed　all　that　was　dearest　to　me　on　earth。　It　became　necessary　for　the　good　of　this　cause　that　I　should　appear　to　betray　your　love。　A　plan　had　been　formed　in　which　this　woman　you　have　just　named　could　alone　aid　me。　I　dared　not　ask　my　heart　what　it　suffered；　for　my　head　told　me　that　this　woman　was　necessary　to　me；　and　it　became　my　duty　to　obtain　her　assistance　by　any　means。　So　I　became　the　daily　companion　of　Madame　du　Trouffle；　so〃

A　light　tap　at　the　door　interrupted　the　count；　and　startled　him　inexplicably。

〃What　does　that　mean？〃　he　asked；　turning　pale。

Marietta　laughed　aloud。　〃That　means；〃　she　said；　slowly　and　scornfully；　〃that　you　will　not　go　to　Magdeburg　to…morrowthat　you　cannot　make　use　of　the　passport　which　your　beloved　Madame　du　Trouffle　obtained　for　you。　Ah；　you　wished　to　leave　me　secretlyyou　did　not　wish　me　to　suspect　your　intended　departure。　You　were　mistaken；　Ranuzi。　You　will　remain　in　Berlin；　but　you　will　never　go　to　her　again。　I　will　prevent　that。〃

At　this　moment　loud　knocking　was　heard　at　the　door；　and　two　policemen　entered　the　room　without　waiting　for　an　invitation；　and　through　the　open　door　armed　soldiers　might　be　seen　in　the　hall　guarding　the　entrance。

When　Ranuzi　first　beheld　these　servants　of　justice；　he　shuddered　and　became　deathly　pale；　but　as　they　approached　him；　he　recovered　his　wonted　composure；　and　advanced　proudly　and　coldly　to　meet　them。

〃Are　you　Count　Ranuzi？〃　asked　one　of　the　policemen。

〃I　am；〃　he　said；　calmly。

〃I　arrest　you　in　the　name　of　the　king；　you　are　our　prisoner。〃

〃With　what　offence　am　I　charged？〃　asked　he；　as　he　slowly　placed　his　hand　in　his　bosom。

〃The　court…martial　will　inform　you。〃

〃Ah；　I　am　to　be　tried　by　a　court…martial。　Spies　and　conspirators　are　always　thus　tried。　I　am　charged　then　with　spying　and　conspiring；〃　cried　Ranuzi；　and　then　slowly　turning　to　Marietta；　he　asked：

〃And　this　is　your　work？〃

〃Yes；　this　is　my　work；〃　she　said；　triumphantly。

〃You　must　come　now；〃　said　the　policeman；　roughly；　as　he　stepped　nearer　to　Ranuzi；　at　the　same　time　giving　his　companion　a　sign　to　do　the　same。　〃Come　immediately　and　quietly。　Do　not　compel　us　to　use　force。〃

〃Force；〃　cried　Ranuzi；　shrugging　his　shoulders；　as　he　drew　his　hand　from　his　bosom　and　pointed　a　pistol　toward　the　policemen；　from　which　they　shrunk　back　terrified。　〃You　see　that　I　need　not　fear　force；〃　he　said。　〃If　you　dare　to　approach　nearer　or　lay　your　hand　on　me　I　will　fire　on　both　of　you；　for　happily　my　pistol　has　more　than　one　ball；　and　it　never　fails。　You　see　that　we　are　playing　a　dangerous　game；　upon　whose　issue　may　depend　your　lives　as　well　as　mine。　I　can　shoot　you　if　I　desire　it；　or　I　can　direct　this　weapon　against　my　own　brow　if　I　wish　to　avoid　investigation　or　imprisonment。　But　I　promise　you　to　do　neither　the　one　nor　the　other；　if　you　will　give　me　the　time　to　say　a　few　words　to　this　lady。〃

〃Be　quick；　then；〃　said　the　policeman；　〃or　I　will　call　in　the　soldiers；　and　they　can　shoot　you　as　easily　as　you　could　shoot　us。〃

Ranuzi　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃You　will　be　very　careful　not　to　shoot　me。　The　dead　do　not　speak；　and　it　is　very　important　for　my　judges　that　I　should　speak。　Go　to　that　door；　I　give　my　word　that　I　will　follow　you。〃

As　if　to　strengthen　his　words；　he　raised　the　hand　which　held　the　pistol；　and　the　two　men　withdrew　with　threatening　glances；　to　the　door。

Ranuzi　then　turned　again　to　Marietta；　who　turned　her　great　flashing　eyes　upon　him　with　an　expression　of　anger　and　astonishment；　mixed　with　hatred　and　admiration。

〃Marietta；〃　he　said；　gently。　She　trembled　at　the　sound　of　his　voice。　He　perceived　this；　and　smiled。　〃Marietta；〃　he　repeated；　〃you　have　betrayed　me；　you　have　revenged　your　love！　I　do　not　reproach　you；　my　anaconda；　but　I　pray　you　to　tell　me　one　thing；　did　you　send　the　last　letters　which　I　gave　you　to　the　post？〃

〃No；〃　she　replied；　compelling　her　eyes；　with　a　mighty　effort；　to　meet　his。

〃Wretch！　What　did　you　do　with　them。〃

〃I　sent　them　to　the　King　of　Prussia。〃

Ranuzi　uttered　a　shriek；　and　fell　back　a　step。　〃Then　I　am　indeed　lost；〃　he　murmured；　〃as　well　as　that　unhappy　creature；　who　pines　for　light　and　freedom。　Poor　Trenck！　Poor　Amelia！　All　is　lost；　all　through　the　jealousy　of　this　wretched　woman。　I　tell　you；　Marietta；〃　he　continued　aloud；　as　he　placed　his　hand　heavily　on　her　shoulder；　〃it　is　not　necessary　that　I　should　curse　you；　you　will　do　that　yourself。　This　hour　will　act　as　deadly　poison　on　your　heart；　of　which　you　will　die。　It　is　true；　you　have　revenged　yourself。　Today　you　rejoice　in　this；　for　you　believe　that　you　hate　me；　but　tomorrow　you　will　repent；　to…morrow　grief　will　overtake　you；　and　it　will　grow　with　every　dayyou　will　feel　that　you　must　love　me　for　ever　and　ever；　you　must　love　me；　because　you　have　wrought　my　ruin。　Yes；　you　are　rightyou　have　discovered　the　means　to　keep　yourself　in　my　remembrance。　In　my　dungeon　I　will　think　of　you。　I　will　do　so；　and　curse　you；　but　you　also　will　think　of　me；　and　when　you　do；　you　will　wring　your　hands　and　curse　yourself；　for　revenge　will　not　kill　the　love　in　your　heart。　Be　that　your　punishment。　Farewell！〃

He　passed　before　her；　and　quietly　approached　the　policemen。　〃Come；　gentlemen；　I　am　quite　ready　to　follow　you；　and　that　you　may　be　entirely　at　ease　I　will　leave　my　pistol　here。　It　is　my　legacy　to　that　ladymy　last　souvenir。　Perhaps　she　may　use　it　in　the　future。〃

He　placed　the　pistol　upon　her　writing…table　and　hastily　approached　the　door。　〃Come；　gentlemen；　I　am　your　prisoner！〃

He　signed　to　them　to　follow　him；　and　walked　proudly　through　the　hall。

Marietta　stood　there　trembling　and　deadly　paleher　eyes　dilated；　her　lips　opened；　as　if　to　utter　a　shriek。　Thus　she　watched　him；　breathless；　and　as　if　enchained　with　horror。

Now　she　saw　him　open　the　door　of　the　hall；　and　throwing　back　at　her　one　cold；　flashing　glance；　he　went　out；　followed　by　the　police　and　the　soldiers。

〃He　is　gone！　he　is　gone！〃　she　shrieked；　as　if　in　a　frenzy。　〃They　are　leading　him　to　imprisonmentperhaps　to　death。　Oh；　to　death！　It　is　I　who　have　murdered　him。　He　is　right。　I　am　indeed　cursed。　I　have　murdered　him；　and　I　love　him。〃　And　with　a　wild　shriek　she　sank　fainting　to　the　ground。




CHAPTER　IX。

TRENCK。


Trenck　still　lived；　neither　chains　nor　years　of　loneliness　had　broken　his　strength　or　bowed　his　spirit。　His　tall；　gigantic　form　had　shrunk　to　a　skeleton；　his　hair　had　whitened　and　hung　around　his　hollow　face　like　an　ashen　veil。　Heavy　chains　clasped　his　feet　and　his　throat；　a　broad　iron　band　encircled　his　waist；　which　was　attached　to　the　wall　by　a　short　chaina　thick　bar　held　his　hands　apart；　but　still　he　lived。　For　years　he　had　paced；　with　short；　restless　steps；　this　little　space　that　covered　his　grave；　but　he　smiled　derisively　at　the　coarse　stone　which　bore　his　name。

Trenck　still　lived。　He　lived　because　he　had　a　fixed　desire；　a　grand　aim　in　viewhe　thirsted　for　freedom；　and　believed　it　attainable。　Trenck　could　not　die；　for　without　was　liberty；　the　sun；　life；　and　honor。　He　would　not　die；　for　to　be　willing　to　die；　he　must　first　have　lived。　His　life　had　been　so　shorta　few　fleeting　years　of　youth；　of　careless　enjoymenta　joyous　dream　of　love　and　ambition！　This　had　been　his　fate。　Then　came　long；　weary　years　of　imprisonment…　…a　something　which　he　knew　not；　but　it　was　not　lifehad　crept　to　him　in　his　prison；　and　with　a　cruel　hand　marked　years　upon　his　brow…　…years　through　which　he　had　not　lived；　but　suffered。　And　still　he　remained　young　in　spite　of　gray　hairs　and　wrinkles。　He　glowed　with　hope　and　defiance；　his　sluggish　blood　was　warmed　from　time　to　time　with　new　hopes；　new　expectations。　His　imagination　painted　wonderful　pictures　of　future　happiness。　This　hope　always　remained　smiling　and　vigorous；　notwithstanding　his　many　disappointmentshis　many　useless　attempts　to　escape；　Trenck　still　hoped　for　freedom。　As　often　as　the　subterranean　passages　which　he　dug　were　discovered；　he　recommenced　his　work；　and　dug　new　ones；　when　the　sentinels　whom　he　had　won　by　gold　and　flattery　were