frederick the great and his family-第83节

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Suddenly　her　whole　frame　trembled；　and　she　sprang　up。　〃My　God！　I　dream；　while　he　calls　me！　I　am　idly　musing；　and　Trenck　has　need　of　me。　Speak；　sir；　speak！　What　do　you　know　of　him？　Have　you　seen　him？　Did　he　send　you　to　me？〃

〃He　sent　me；　your　highness；　but　I　have　not　seen　him。　Have　the　grace　to　listen　to　me。　Ah；　your　highness；　in　what　I　now　say　I　lay　the　safety　of　a　dear　and　valued　friend；　yes；　his　life；　at　your　feet。　One　word　from　you；　and　he　will　be　delivered　over　to　a　court…martial　and　be　shot。　But　you　will　not　speak　that　wordyou　are　an　angel　of　mercy。〃

〃Speak；　sirspeak；　sir；〃　said　Amelia；　breathlessly。　〃My　God！　do　you　not　see　that　I　am　dying　from　agitation？〃

〃Princess；　Trenck　liveshe　is　in　chainshe　is　in　a　hole　under　the　earthbut　he　lives；　and　as　long　as　he　has　life；　he　hopes　in　you　has　wild　dreams　of　liberty；　and　his　friends　think　and　hope　with　him。　Trenck　has　friends　who　are　ready　to　offer　up　their　lives　for　him。　One　of　them　is　in　the　fortress　of　Magdeburghe　is　lieutenant　of　the　guard；　another　is　a　Captain　Kimsky；　prisoner　of　war；　I　am　a　third。　I　have　known　Trenck　since　my　youth。　In　our　beautiful　days　of　mirth　and　revelry；　we　swore　to　stand　by　each　other　in　every　danger。　The　moment　has　come　to　fulfil　my　oathTrenck　is　a　prisoner；　and　I　must　help　to　liberate　him。　Our　numbers　are　few　and　dismemberedwe　need　allies　in　the　fortress；　and　still　more　in　the　city。　We　need　powerful　assistance；　and　no　one　but　your　highness　can　obtain　it　for　us。〃

〃I　have　an　assured　and　confidential　friend　in　Magdeburg；〃　said　the　princess；　〃at　a　hint　from　me　he　will　be　ready　to　stand　by　you　to〃

Suddenly　she　was　silent；　and　cast　a　searching；　threatening　glance　at　Ranuzi。　She　had　been　too　often　deceived　and　circumventedsnares　had　been　too　often　laid　at　her　feetshe　was　distrustful。　〃No；　no；〃　said　she；　at　last；　sternly；　rudely〃I　will　take　no　part　in　this　folly。　Go；　sirgo。　You　are　a　poor　soothsayer；　and　I　will　have　nothing　to　do　with　you。〃

Ranuzi　smiled；　and　drew　a　folded　paper　from　his　bosom；　which　he　handed　to　the　princess。　It　contained　these　words：　〃Count　Ranuzi　is　an　honest　manhe　can　be　trusted　unconditionally。〃　Under　these　words　was　written：　〃Nel　tue　giorni　felici；　vicordati　da　me。〃

The　breast　of　Amelia　heaved　convulsivelyshe　gazed　at　these　written　characters；　at　last　her　eyes　filled　with　tearsat　last　her　heart　was　overcome　by　those　painful　and　passionate　feelings　which　she　had　so　long　kept　in　bondage。　She　pressed　the　paper；　the　lines　on　which　were　written　with　his　blood；　to　her　lips；　and　hot　tears　gushed　from　those　poor　eyes　which　for　long；　long　years；　had　lost　the　power　to　weep。

〃Now；　sir；〃　said　she；　〃I　believe　in　you；　I　trust　you。　Tell　me　what　I　have　to　do。〃

〃Three　things　fail　us；　princess：　A　house　in　Magdeburg；　where　Trenck's　friends　can　meet　at　all　hours；　and　make　all　necessary　preparations；　and　where　he　can　be　concealed　after　his　escape。　Secondly；　a　few　reliable　and　confiding　friends；　who　will　unite　with　us　and　aid　us。　Thirdly；　we　must　have　goldwe　must　bribe　the　guard；　we　must　buy　horses；　we　must　buy　friends　in　the　fortress；　and　lastly；　we　must　buy　French　clothing。　Besides　this；　I　must　have　permission　to　go　for　a　few　days　to　Magdeburg；　and　there　on　the　spot　I　can　better　make　the　final　preparations。　A　fair　pretext　shall　not　fail　me　for　this；　Captain　Kimsky　is　my　near　relativehe　will　be　taken　suddenly　ill；　and　as　a　dying　request　he　will　beg　to　see　me；　one　of　his　comrades　will　bring　me　notice　of　this；　and　I　will　turn　imploringly　to　your　highness。〃

〃I　will　obtain　you　a　passport；〃　said　Amelia；　decisively。

〃While　in　Magdeburg；　the　flight　will　be　arranged。〃

〃And　you　believe　you　will　succeed？〃　said　the　princess；　with　a　bright　smile；　which　illuminated　her　poor　deformed　visage　with　a　golden　ray　of　hope。

〃I　do　not　only　believe　it；　I　know　it；　that　is；　if　your　royal　highness　will　assist　us。〃

The　princess　made　no　reply；　she　stepped　to　her　desk　and　took　from　it　several　rolls　of　gold；　then　seated　herself　and　wrote　with　a　swift　hand：　〃You　must　trust　the　bearer　fully；　he　is　my　friend；　assist　him　in　all　that　he　undertakes。〃　She　folded　the　paper　and　sealed　it。

Ranuzi　followed　every　movement　with　flashing　eyes　and　loudly　beating　heart。　As　she　took　the　pen　to　write　the　address　a　ray　of　wild　triumph　lighted　his　dark　face；　and　a　proud　smile　played　about　his　mouth。　As　Amelia　turned；　all　this　disappeared；　and　he　was　dignified　and　grave　as　before。

〃Take　this；　sir；〃　said　she；　〃you　see　that　I　place　in　your　power　a　faithful　and　beloved　friend；　he　is　lost　if　you　are　false。　As　soon　as　you　reach　Magdeburg　go　to　him；　and　he　will　make　other　friends　and　allies　known　to　you。〃

〃Can　I　make　use　of　this　address；　and　write　under　it　to　my　friend　Kimsky？〃　said　Ranuzi。

〃Yes；　without　danger。　To…day　I　will　find　means　to　inform　him　that　he　may　expect　this　letter。　Here　is　gold；　two　hundred　ducats；　all　that　I　have　at　present。　When　this　is　exhausted；　turn　again　to　me　and　I　will　again　supply　you。〃

Ranuzi　took　the　gold　and　said；　smilingly；　〃This　is　the　magic　means　by　which　we　will　break　his　chains。〃

Amelia　took　a　costly　diamond　pin；　which　lay　upon　the　table；　and　gave　it　to　Ranuzi。　She　pointed　to　the　paper　marked　with　blood；　which　she　still　held　in　her　hand。

〃This　is　a　most　precious　jewel　which　you　have　given　melet　us　exchange。〃

Ranuzi　fell　upon　his　knees　and　kissed　her　hand　as　ho　took　the　pin。

〃And　now；　sir；　go。　My　maid　is　a　salaried　spy；　and　a　longer　interview　would　make　you　suspected。　You　would　be　watched；　and　all　discovered。　Go！　If　I　believed　in　the　power　of　prayer；　I　would　lie　upon　my　knees　night　and　day；　and　pray　for　God's　blessing　upon　your　effort。　As　it　is；　I　can　only　follow　you　with　my　thoughts　and　hopes。　Farewell！〃

〃Your　royal　highness　sends　no　reply　to　these　lines；　written　with　Trenck's　heart's　blood？〃

Amelia　took　the　pen　and　wrote　a　few　hasty　lines　upon　the　paper；　which　she　handed　Ranuzi。　The　words　were：　〃Ovunque　tu　sei　vicina　ti　sono。〃

〃Give　him　that；〃　said　she；　〃it　is　not　written　with　my　heart's　blood；　but　my　heart　bleeds　for　himbleeds　ever　inwardly。　And　now　resume　your　role　of　soothsayerI　must　call　my　ladies。〃

The　afternoon　of　this　day　Ranuzi　wrote　to　his　friend；　Captain　Kimsky；　prisoner　of　war　at　Magdeburg：　〃The　train　is　laid；　and　will　succeed。　The　fortress　will　soon　be　in　our　hands。　A　romantic；　sentimental　woman's　heart　is　a　good　thing；　easily　moved　to　intrigues。　Magdeburg　will　be　ours！　Prepare　everythingbe　ill；　and　call　for　me；　I　shall　get　a　passport。　I　have　a　powerful　protectress；　and　with　such；　you　know；　a　man　mar　attain　all　the　desires　of　his　heart！〃




CHAPTER　VI。

A　COURT　DAY　IN　BERLIN。


It　was　the　birthday　of　Prince　Henry；　and　was　to　be　celebrated　with　great　pomp　at　the　court。　The　king　had　himself　written　explicitly　on　this　subject　to　the　master　of　ceremonies；　Baron　Pollnitz。　Pollnitz　was；　therefore；　actively　occupied　in　the　early　morning；　and　no　general　ever　made　his　preparations　for　a　battle　with　more　earnestness　and　importance　than　the　good　baron　gave　his　orders　for　the　splendid　fete　which　was　to　be　given　in　the　royal　apartments　that　night。

And　this　was　indeed　a　great　opportunity。　The　people　of　Berlin　were　to　enjoy　a　ball　and　a　concert；　at　which　all　the　Italian　singers　were　to　be　present；　and　then　a　rare　and　costly　supper；　to　which　not　only　the　court；　but　all　the　officers　who　were　prisoners　of　war　were　to　be　invited。

This　supper　was　to　Pollnitz　the　great　circumstance；　the　middle　point　of　the　fete。　Such　an　entertainment　was　now　rare　at　the　court　of　Berlin；　and　many　months　might　pass　away　ere　the　queen　would　think　of　giving　another　supper。　Pollnitz　knew　that　when　he　thirsted　now　for　a　luxurious　meal　he　must　enjoy　it　at　his　own　cost；　and　this　thought　made　him　shudder。　The　worthy　baron　was　at　the　same　time　a　spendthrift　and　a　miser。

Four　times　in　every　year　he　had　three　or　four　days　of　rare　and　rich　enjoyment；　he　lived　en　grand　seigneur；　and　prepared　for　himself　every　earthly　luxury；　these　were　the　first　three　or　four　days　of　every　quarter　in　which　he　received　his　salary。　With　a　lavish　hand　he　scattered　all　the　gold　which　he　could　keep　back　from　his　greedy　creditors；　and　felt　himself　young；　rich；　and　happy。　After　these　fleeting　days　of　proud　glory　came　months　of　sad　economy；　he　was　obliged　to　play　the　role　of　a　parasitical　plant；　attach　himself　to　some　firm；　well…rooted　stem；　and　absorb　its　strength　and　muscle。　In　these　days　of　restraint　he　watched　like　a　pirate　all　those　who　were　in　the　condition　to　keep　a　good　table；　and　so　soon　as　he　learned　that　a　dinner　was　on　hand；　he　knew　how　to　conquer　a　place。　At　these　times　he　was　also　a　passionate　devotee　of　the　card…table；　and　it　was　the　greatest　proof　of　his　versatility　and　dexterity　that　he　always　succeeded　in　making　up　his　party；　though　every　man　knew　it　cost　gold　to　play　cards　with　Pollnitz。　The　grand…master　had　the　exalted　principles　of　Louis　XV。　of　France；　who　was　also　devoted　to　cards。　Every　evening　the　great　Louis　set　apart　a　thousand　louis　d'or　to　win　or　lose。　If　the　king　won；　the　gold　went　into　his　private　pocket；　if　he　lost；　the　state　treasury　suffered。

Following　this　royal　example；　Pollnitz　placed　the　gold　he　won　in　his　pocket；　if　he　lost；　he　borrowed　the　money　to　payhe　considered　this　borrowed　sum　as　also　the　clear　profit　of　h