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第135节

louisa of prussia and her times-第135节

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France? You intend to kill him; then?〃

〃The law will judge him; madame;〃 said the general; sternly。 〃I have
myself examined him and requested him to give us the name of the
author of this infamous libel which Mr。 Palm has brought into
general circulation。 Had he done so; he would no longer be held
responsible; and would have been at liberty to return to his house
and to you。 But he refused firmly to state the names of the author
and printer of the pamphlet。〃

〃He does not know either!〃 exclaimed Anna; 〃oh; believe me; sir;
Palm is innocent。 That pamphlet was sent to him; together with an
anonymous letter。〃

〃He ought to have taken care; then; not to circulate it;〃 replied
the general。 〃It is contrary to law to circulate a printed book; the
author and printer of which are unknown to him who circulates it。〃

〃No; general; it is not contrary to the laws of the German free city
of Nuremberg。 By an order of the Emperor of France; Nuremberg has
been given to Bavaria; but the laws and privileges of our more
liberal constitution were guaranteed to our ancient free city。
Hence; Palm has done nothing contrary to law。〃

〃We judge according to our laws;〃 said the general; shrugging his
shoulders; 〃wherever we are there is France; and wherever we are
insulted we hold him who insults us responsible for it; and punish
him according to our laws。 Your husband has committed a great crime;
he has circulated a pamphlet reviling France and the Emperor of the
French in the most outrageous manner。 He refused to mention the
author of this pamphlet; so long as he persists in his refusal; we
take him for the author; and shall punish him accordingly。 As he
declined confessing any thing to me; I have surrendered him to my
superiors。 Mr。 Palm left Nuremberg two hours ago for Anspach; where
Marshal Bernadotte is going to judge him。〃

〃Then I shall go to Anspach; to Marshal Bernadotte;〃 said Anna; and
without deigning to cast another glance at the general; she turned
around and left the room。

She intended to set out this very hour; but her endeavors to find a
conveyance to take her to Anspach proved unavailing。 All the horses
of the postmaster had been retained for the suite and baggage…wagons
of Marshal Berthier; who was about setting out for Munich; and the
proprietors of the livery…stables; owing to the approaching darkness
and insecurity of the roads; refused to let her have any of their
carriages。

Anna had to wait; therefore; until morning; and improved the long
hours of the night in drawing up a petition; which she intended to
send to Marshal Bernadotte; in case he should refuse to grant her an
interview。

Early next morning she at length started; but the roads were sandy
and bad; the horses were lazy and weak; and she reached Anspach only
late at night。

She had again to wait during a long; dreary night。 No one could or
would reply to her anxious inquiries whether Palm was really there;
or whether he had been again sent to some other place。 Trembling
with inward fear and dismay; but firmly determined to dare every
thing; and leave nothing untried that might lead to Palm's
preservation; Anna repaired in the morning to the residence of
Marshal Bernadotte。

The marshal's adjutant received her; and asked her what she wanted。

〃I must see the marshal himself; for I shall read in his mien
whether he will pardon or annihilate my husband;〃 said Anna。 〃I
beseech you; sir; have mercy on the grief of a wife; trembling for
the father of her children。 Induce the marshal to grant me an
audience。〃

〃I will see what can be done;〃 said the adjutant; touched by the
despair depicted on the pale face of the poor lady。 But he returned
in a few minutes after he had left her。

〃Madame;〃 he said; shrugging his shoulders; 〃I am sorry; but your
wish cannot be fulfilled。 The marshal will have nothing whatever to
do with this affair; and declines interfering in it。 For this
reason; too; he did not admit Mr。 Palm; who yesterday; like you;
applied for an interview with the marshal; and I had to receive him
in the place of the marshal; as I have now the honor to receive
you。〃

〃Oh; you have seen my husband?〃 asked Anna; almost joyfully。 〃You
have spoken to him?〃

〃I have told him in the name of the marshal what I am now telling
you; madame。 The marshal is unable to do any thing whatever for your
husband。 The order for his arrest came directly from Paris; from the
emperor's cabinet; and the marshal; therefore; has not the power to
revoke it and to prevent the law from taking its course。 Moreover;
Mr。 Palm is no longer in Anspach; as he was sent to another place
last night。〃

〃Whither? Oh; sir; you will have mercy on me; and tell me whither my
unfortunate husband has been sent。〃

〃Madame;〃 said the adjutant; timidly looking around as if he were
afraid of being overheard by an eavesdropper; 〃he has been sent to
Braunau。〃

Anna uttered a cry of horror。 〃To Braunau!〃 she said; breathlessly。
〃To Braunau; that is to say; out of the country。 You do not wish to
try a citizen and subject of Bavaria; for a crime which he is said
to have committed in his own country; according to the laws of
Bavaria; but according to those of a foreign and hostile state? My
husband has been sent to Austria!〃

〃Pardon me; madame;〃 said the adjutant; smiling; 〃the city of
Braunau does not yet again belong to Austria; up to the present hour
it is still French territory; for we took and occupied it during the
war and have not yet given it back to Austria; hence; Mr。 Palm will
be tried in Braunau according to the laws of France。〃

〃Oh; then he is lost;〃 exclaimed Anna; in despair; 〃there is no more
hope for him。〃

〃If he be guilty; madame; he has deserved punishment; if he be
innocent; no harm can befall him; for the laws of France are
impartial and just。〃

〃Oh; sir;〃 said Anna; almost haughtily; 〃there are things which may
seem deserving of punishment; nay; criminal; according to the laws
of your country; but which; according to the laws of a German state;
would not deserve any punishment; but; on the contrary; praise and
acknowledgment。〃

〃If what Mr。 Palm has done is an offence of this description; I am
sorry for him;〃 said the adjutant; shrugging his shoulders。 〃But;〃
he added; in a lower voice; 〃I will give you some good advice。
Hasten to the French ambassador at Munich。 If he should decline
granting you an audience; send him a petition; stating the case of
your husband truthfully and with full details; and asking for his
intercession。〃

〃And if he should not reply to my petition; if he should refuse to
intercede for me?〃

〃Then a last remedy will remain to you。 In that case; apply to
Marshal Berthier; who is now also at Munich。 He has great power over
the emperor; and will alone be able to help you。 But lose no time。〃

〃I shall set out this very hour; sir; and I thank you for your
advice and sympathy。 I see very well that you cannot do any thing
for me; but you have granted me your compassion; and I thank you for
it。 Farewell; sir。〃

An hour later; Anna was on the road to Munich。 After an exhausting
journey of four daysfor; at that time there were no turnpikes;
much less railroads; in Bavariashe reached Munich; where she
stopped at a hotel。

She was utterly unacquainted in that capital; she had no friends; no
protectors; no recommendations; and; as a matter of course; all
doors were closed against her; and nobody would listen to her。
Nobody felt pity for the poor; despairing lady; nobody would listen
to her complaints; for her complaints were at the same time charged
against the all…powerful man who now held his hand stretched out
over Bavaria; and was able to crush her whenever he chose to do so。

Anna; therefore; met with no encouragement at the hands of the
German authorities; who even refused to hear a statement of her
application。 She went to all the ministers; to all those on whom;
according to their official position; it would have been incumbent
to intercede for her。 She even ventured to enter the royal palace;
and stood for hours in the anteroom; always hoping that her
supplications would be heeded; and that some door would be opened to
her。

But all doors were closed against her; even that of the French
ambassador。 She had vainly applied to him for an audience; when her
request had been refused; she had delivered to his attache a
petition which an attorney had drawn up for her; and in which all
the points for and against Palm were lucidly stated。 For a week she
waited for a reply; for a week she went every morning to the
residence of the French ambassador and asked in the same gentle and
imploring voice; whether there was any reply for her; and whether no
answer had been returned to her application?

On the eighth day she was informed that no reply would be made to
her petition; and that the French ambassador was unable to do any
thing for her。

Anna did not weep and complain; she received this information with
the gentle calmness of a martyr; and prayed instead of bursting into
lamentations。 She prayed to God that He might grant her strength not
to despair; not to succumb to the stunning blow; she prayed to God
that He m

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